The Villain Bought the Heroine

Chapter 41

Klang⎯klang⎯!!

In just a few short seconds, numerous clashes unfolded.

Artellion and Alicia.

Both wielded massive swords surpassing their upper bodies, yet they swung them as if forgetting mass and weight, appearing natural.

In the midst of battle, their eyes analyzed each other, identifying weaknesses.

Clang⎯!

Swords clashed.

The power struggle didn’t last long.

After deflecting a strike, they aimed for openings again, ringing out clarity once more.

A swift battle where their swords would not be visible unless one watched closely.

“⎯!”

As Artellion’s sword rapidly thrusts, Alicia swiftly moves her body to dodge or parries with her own sword.

Alicia wasn’t merely on the defensive; she based her movements on the swordsmanship and experience she had acquired.

Smooth yet sharp.

Approaching like a cavalry charge.

Swish⎯!

Alicia’s sword gleaming in blue, the light reflecting in her eyes like a fierce beast.

Artellion chose to directly confront each of her strikes without evading deliberately.

“Not bad.”

“Kkuh…!”

Alisia also knew that fact.

Every time Artellion directly clashed with her attack, it felt like intense pain as if swinging a sword against an iron-made rock.

Although they were the same person and both were oars made of the same mana, their masses were different.

The densities were different.

The time poured into the sword was different.

-Kagagagagak!

Artellion, who seemed unwilling to allow the sword to strike, pushed with force.

The sound of the oar being split was heard.

Although they appeared similar in brightness, the difference in intensity was clear. Alisia’s oar was slowly chipping away. Alisia, who was gradually retreating, gritted her teeth and poured out mana.

If this continued, she would be cut through by the sword.

Alisia instinctively sensed this.

Thwack!

Alisia’s leap.

Like a gymnast, she drew a large semicircle and leaped behind Artellion. Using wind magic, she exhibited a propulsive force that seemed like she had momentarily donned a rocket.

Even in that fleeting moment of passing, she found Artellion’s weakness with her eyes. She memorized all of his movements.

She observed his movements and deduced.

The movement of muscles. Momentary glances. Direction of the toes. Minor changes were clues to predict future actions.

If everything went as planned.

Artellion’s sword, aimed as if piercing through space, was directed where she would land.

In that case.

-Taang!!

The sound of a gunshot. It wasn’t a gun. It was Alisia’s elemental magic.

The highly compressed air burst out, providing more kinetic energy than when she leaped.

A rush in midair.

Speed enough to leave a trace.

“–!”

However.

Alisia’s sword veered off course from her intended destination.

Having noticed her change, Artellion stopped the motion of thrusting the sword and evaded her attack.

An almost unbelievable reflex ability.

And a body that made it possible.

He transcended ordinary humans by far.

-Excellent skill.

Just before crashing to the ground.

Artellion murmured softly.

He reached out towards Alisia’s back, which was fading into the ground.

This match wasn’t about aiming for life. It was a structure where one would be declared out if they incapacitated or touched the opponent’s back.

Artellion judged that he had thoroughly confirmed Alisia’s skill and sincerity, and he intended to eliminate her based on the orthodox rules.

This woman, Alisia, possesses quite remarkable talent. If the opportunity arises in the future, properly…

“What?”

As she raised her hand, her body burst as if it were filled with black smoke. The odorless thick smoke obscured Artellion’s view.

Sensory perception is limited.

This is illusion magic.

Since only those sensitive to it can use it, she was probably capable.

Of all things, it had to be a magic like Achilles’ heel for Artellion.

Directly in front of Artellion.

The smoke is drawn towards the center.

Shuaak!

Alicia comes rushing through the dense smoke. As the drawn smoke disperses, her figure comes into view.

For the first time since their battle, Artellion was impressed.

Even with exceptional physical abilities like Artellion’s, it is difficult to resist this. There’s no avoiding it. It must be blocked.

However, if he were to swing his sword to block, there is a high probability it will be deflected.

There is no moment to reinforce the handle, no distance to accelerate the sword. Alicia’s approach is more akin to striking down with the sword than thrusting.

Countless thoughts intersect like this.

In the end, the sword is swung.

Ah!

With a clear sound, the severed sword body spins in the air and falls to the ground. Despite being surrounded by aura, the blade was sliced off effortlessly.

“Oh, this is…”

Nias, who was observing the battle, showed a surprised expression, and Artellion looked at Alicia with sunken eyes.

“…”

Alicia regained her composure, fixing her disheveled posture. Click. Her sword points at Artellion.

However, the situation had already been settled.

Alicia’s sword was halved and shortened to a dagger length.

Artellion’s intact sword was glowing brightly red, more vividly than when it was blue.

A new color of aura.

Alicia immediately sensed that this red aura was extraordinary.

The red sword rises towards Alicia.

Although it exuded an intimidating presence as if it would cut through everything, the aura pouring out did not harbor hostility towards Alicia.

Artellion spoke. His voice, carried through the vibrations in the air, was as calm as ripples on a lake.

“…You harbor an eagle within you. Though still a fledgling, soon you will gaze down upon heaven and earth.”

“…”

“What a waste. To possess the talent to command the sky and yet be confined within a cage.”

Alicia understood what he meant by the cage.

The cage belonged to the Shugenhardt family.

Which meant Baragan.

“…”

The recent ranking match with Liam and the current situation overlapped in her mind.

Though the words they expressed were different, their meanings aligned.

Freedom.

Alicia currently lacks freedom and is deemed to be under Baragan’s oppression.

Upon seeing this, Liam actively tried to help Alicia.

Artellion expressed sympathy.

It’s not that they don’t understand.

It’s simply because they don’t know.

They are unaware of how much she has received from Baragan.

The awakening and teaching of talent in magic and swordsmanship.

Luxurious clothes she’s never worn before and all living expenses.

Golden opportunities like becoming a hero.

……

They don’t know. They don’t know.

They know nothing.

Because they know nothing, they pity her and see her only as someone in need of help.

Every time she hears such words.

Every time such a situation arises.

Alicia had to taste strange emotions she had never felt before. This fierce emotion, which seemed like hot and stinging anger, was similar to it but had something unfamiliar about it.

“…No. That’s wrong.”

Alicia murmured quietly, taking a breath.

As a small breath passed through her throat, she extracted that unknown emotion.

However, it didn’t subside but rather surged back, swelling her body.

The edge of that emotion turned into words, revealing itself to the world, and finally solidified.

“You are wrong, Artellion.”

The rebuke wasn’t just in her tone.

In her gaze.

In her posture.

Even in her mindset.

Alicia looked at Artellion with a clear and resolute gaze and spoke.

As if to say she would no longer tolerate any more unnecessary clutter.

Everything was firm.

“My sky is here.”

⎯Taht!

Before the words could finish, she fiercely charged forward.

With a sword that shattered into pieces.

Containing a radiant blue aura brighter than ever before.

There were many things she wanted to say.

An explanation of her situation.

Clarification of misunderstandings and prejudices about the nobleman she serves.

Also, she wanted to reveal that even the current situation was under his plan to show his greatness.

However, she didn’t.

Because even if she talked a hundred times, it would be futile.

Due to this, Alicia concluded her words succinctly, expressing her opinion, and once again plunged into battle.

To clash swords.

Simply because she wanted to.

The difference in their skills is clear.

She knows.

She knew from the start.

Her master also did not wish for victory.

“Capture him, Alicia.”

She knows.

She knows that her current actions are irrational.

If she simply wanted to buy time, engaging in conversation would be better. He didn’t seem completely averse to it either.

However.

Crack.

Under Alicia’s intense aura, the air seemed to shimmer as if about to vanish.

Artellion remembers the surge of power from the moment he unleashed the red aura. An explosive power and flexibility incomparable to her own.

Tick-tock.

In that fleeting moment of getting closer to Artellion.

Even the short time that didn’t even allow a breath to settle.

From seconds to minutes, from minutes to hours, it seemed to flow slowly.

Alicia poured more magic into the handle she held.

Quantity alone is not good. Superior mana. High purity. And the flexibility to create a more perfect form…!

Tremor.

A weak wind that barely made the small grass leaves on the field nod slightly.

That gentle and innocent energy was conveyed strongly to Alicia, who was reaching out fiercely.

A change occurred in her sword that was just emitting light.

It wasn’t a remarkable trace. Just a gentle breeze. A feeble movement like a mountain breeze blowing. The fine threads of that breeze came together one by one.

One thread.

Yet another.

Gradually thickening into a strand, then rapidly growing uncontrollably.

The strand was a cluster of wind.

And that wind was made of very fine aura.

Eventually, when all the swordsmen were covered in a new form of power.

The two drew closer.

“I want to prove that my way is right!”

The sword swung.

Imbued with her unwavering determination.

With that single-minded determination, Alicia clashed with Artellion.

Clangggg!!

Even Alicia, with her aura-clad, was surprised by the new power. A power she intended, yet was not conscious of.

It was not a red aura.

It’s not just a simple Aura.

It feels like a typhoon enveloping darkness.

“…!”

Arctelion, facing the sword, noticed Alicia’s Aura had changed.

He couldn’t help but notice.

It was different from the power moments ago.

The blue Aura possessed a special attribute and took on a form imbued in the sword.

This was the advanced form of basic Aura, one step towards the red Aura.

“Attribute Establishment.”

Through this brief battle, Alicia reached a point of infusing her Aura with attributes.

Realizing this, Arctelion unconsciously formed a faint smile on his lips.

Looking at her, who had her own faith.

She seemed to be more than just a woman with exceptional talent.

Such thoughts briefly crossed his mind.

—

⎯Paaah!

“The king of 2nd Division, ‘Osel Solus Rauka,’ has died. The king of the 2nd Division has died. All remaining members of the 2nd Division will be automatically out. Once again…”

Arctelion stood still, listening to the mechanical voice broadcast.

He had been defeated.

It was his second defeat at the hands of the same person, the second major setback in his life.

“…Did I anticipate my arrival and make a move?”

Arctelion calmly assessed the situation.

The communication connected to Palon seemed to have gone silent with no response. Bargan, who had been waiting at the base, was an impostor mimicking his appearance.

Bargan had predicted his ambush, prepared in advance, and was now watching for an opportunity elsewhere. Since a mere impostor couldn’t be crowned king, he must have swiftly moved after finishing the large-scale image magic. Arctelion couldn’t even imagine seeing the spirits following him properly before they disappeared.

“…”

An indisputable and complete defeat.

However, unlike the entrance exam, it didn’t feel humiliating or shameful.

It was rather refreshing, to some extent. Perhaps it felt this way because of her role in it.

“…She’s an interesting woman.”

Arctelion looked down at the fallen Alicia. She was just unconscious for a moment, not severely injured.

She would probably get up soon.

She would do her best to return to the battlefield.

Although she was currently eliminated, since Bargan had taken down the king of the 2nd Division, she would be revived according to the rules of the game.

If a king of another class is defeated, the revival of previously eliminated members is possible.

It was only one-third of the entire division, but with her abilities and resilience, she would get back on her feet and return to the battlefield.

Having finished his brief contemplation, Arctelion turned his body to leave.

Niass, who had been watching from a distance, caught his eye.

Arctelion kept moving away without stopping, leaving a word for Niass like a trace.

“Tell the owner that there won’t be a third time.”