The Villain Purchased the Heroine

Between Spaces.

The Space of Nothingness and Illusion.

Traveling through Warp Magic is so fast that one typically passes through without even feeling the space.

However, right now, Erica was processing a massive amount of information in her head, filling that vast expanse.

What the heck did you do, Schugenharz!

Erica barely managed to use Warp Magic to evade Vargan's fierce attack.

To be honest, if it weren't for the Class Battle, she would have wanted to engage him in an intense fight. Saying "fight" might not even be accurate. She just wanted to deliver a one-sided beating.

She wished to make that shiny face so horrific he'd never show it again.

So he could never boastfully laugh again.

But no matter how humiliated and furious she felt, she wasn't blind to reality.

He was strong.

Had her genius of a rival shed the word "effort" like dirt sliding off soap? Suddenly, he was re-energized.

His mana had grown exponentially.

It had been about a year since Erica and Vargan last met. Back then, when their families had met, there was an opportunity to gauge each other's growth, but comparing it to his current mana level was almost embarrassing.

He must have poured in an overwhelming amount of mana to control those monsters.

Since wielding the mace, he'd started to extract mana effortlessly, maintaining a calm demeanor.

As if he'd just been slacking off until now.

So annoying, so annoying, so annoying…!!

In the Space of Nothingness, her body wasn't maintaining its usual form.

Erica stomped her feet on the imaginary ground, frustrated.

Where he's drawing that vast supply of mana from, she didn't know, but it was clear he was quite tired.

If just three—no, even two—of the reinforcements she asked from Class 5 had come, she might have had a chance to take him down.

It was surely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The reality glaring back at Erica was different.

⎯Erica, pull yourself together. No matter how long you wait, reinforcements won't come.

His mocking tone stirred up the frustration that had been simmering within her.

As if he had read her thoughts perfectly, Vargan spoke during the continued battle.

⎯Are you okay with staying like this? The fact that reinforcements aren't coming means there's a situation that prevents sending them.

It was frustrating, but there was a high chance that what he said was true.

The likelihood of his words being true was quite high.

I delivered the exact location and purpose to Diphelia.

It wasn't just the burden of having many reinforcements. If that were the case, it would take more time, but Erica would have contacted the main base of Class 4 she belonged to.

Nevertheless, the fact that no one had come meant that either the situation had become unreachable or something beyond that had occurred.

Because of this, Erica was currently heading to the base of Class 5 instead of Class 4.

While Warp Magic was efficient for quick movement with low mana consumption when the visibility was established close by…

Erica had burnt quite a bit of mana in her battle with Vargan, and since Class 5 was geographically closer, it made more sense to stop by there first—using that as an excuse, she tried to ignore her worry for Diphelia.

As her troubled heart settled down somewhat…

⎯Zing.

The relocation was complete.

The foreign feeling she had while passing through the Space of Nothingness vanished, and her body, which had been divided into millions of tiny particles, was properly reassembled.

It was just as it was at the moment shown by Diphelia's familiar.

Even with Warp Magic allowing for arbitrary movement in space, it was only natural that one couldn't go to areas not perceived visually.

A liberating sensation.

Before the air had even fully circulated around her body,

Erica's senses activated, causing her to focus intently on quickly assessing the situation.

The sharp tip of a spear seemed like it would pierce her at any moment.

Glowing eyes surrounded her, belonging to the owners of that spear.

At a slight distance, a girl sitting in a wheeled chair wore a sad expression.

Though her eyes were closed, it felt as if she could see the trembling of her pupils.

"Diphelia. What the heck is going on right now?"

The Saint's group had surrounded Erica.

With evident hostility.

"Erica… why… why did you come here?"

"Well, it's the most reliable way to contact you—"

"—I had a familiar I entrusted to Erica! Even if I warped to the main base of Class 4, there were ways to contact you. So why… why on Earth!"

Diphelia kept mumbling that word, "why."

Unlike those around her, she didn't express anger towards Erica. Instead, a questioning emotion repeatedly jabbed at Diphelia's heart.

"Why… did you come here… Erica."

It would have been better if she hadn't come.

Erica read into the implications hidden in her words.

The wooden furniture around Diphelia transformed. It expanded like a sponge soaked with water, writhing like a living creature.

A small bird perched on Diphelia's shoulder chattered away. Though it wasn't in direct contact with Erica, its voice reached her ears.

Diphelia's communication network was intact.

⎯Diphelia! As I mentioned, I think we will have to give up defending the second intermediate base! Class 1 has too many numbers!

The second intermediate base?

Not the first one?

There was static due to the distance, but she heard it clearly.

It was strange.

The place the Allied Forces were attacking was the first intermediate base occupied by Class 1.

The second intermediate base was the point where Class 5 had planted its flag, which should mostly consist of students from Class 5….

There should be some…

"Ah."

Her dilemma was forcibly resolved.

Like a lightning bolt, a certain someone's face instantly came to mind.

At the same time, she recalled her current situation.

The actions he had taken came flooding back.

There were some empty puzzle pieces scattered here and there, but she could tell what kind of picture was being formed overall.

That's right, she.

Having moved through the warp,

"Schugenharz…!"

She hadn't chosen to come here; she had been 'guided' to do so. With her arrival, the picture Vargan wanted was complete.

"Erica… Class 1 successfully defended and rushed to the second Intermediate Base… as if they knew the location…"

The once inanimate wooden figures began wriggling and stretching their stems.

Soon, they started to envelop the space around Erica.

"Why… is this happening?"

In stark contrast to Diphelia's heartfelt tone, filled with a desire to believe in Erica until the end,

The twisted branches aggressively surged from all directions to overwhelm Erica.

*

– Caw, caw!

"You don't need to act so cute; I'd pet you anyway, such a sweet little thing."

As Erica gently caressed the crow Familiar she had dropped, the black creature seemed pleased, rubbing its face against her.

It was so blissfully happy, closing its eyes, and presenting its shiny body.

So adorable.

She felt like she could take it back from Erica.

If the owner would abandon such a lovable Familiar, wouldn't it be okay for them to be forsaken?

Could I take it with me?

As she barely suppressed the surging desire to snatch it away, she found herself at her destination before she knew it.

The mystery of a Familiar's magical essence…

"Young Master. We've successfully secured the second Intermediate Base."

The first to greet me was Alicia. She came rushing over and began reporting on the situation.

She quantified the status of the outed members and the extent of the damage.

"…Therefore, we can consider the current Class 1's power to be around 80% of its original strength."

"That's sufficient."

It was a satisfactory result.

There were indeed exhausted members, but even taking that into account, it was impressive compared to the chaotic states of Class 4 and Class 5.

We could take advantage of that commotion to charge in.

"..."

Alicia was staring up at me intently.

It seemed she was deep in thought, but it didn't look like she had anything specific to say.

"What's the matter?"

"Ah, I apologize. It just feels like it's been a while since we met… or rather, I was checking to see if Naias was imitating you, Young Master. I apologize for any irreverent behavior."

"If it were her, she would have returned to her sword form. I cut off the supply of mana."

Having finished her role, I couldn't let her enjoy herself alone.

It was quite a distance, and she required more mana.

"Young Master, I haven't heard the subsequent plans. How are we proceeding? I think I can now move… just a little, according to your wishes."

"Oh, it's a rare thing to see you showing confidence."

Could it be that awakening to the new stage of hallucinations and aura affected her?

She seemed to hold a higher opinion of herself now.

After all, her previous self-assessment had been alarmingly low, so it was only normal to rise.

You shouldn't be going up there normally.

"Uh… um…"

Alicia's voice is getting quieter by the second, almost inaudible.

"I felt like the Young Master acknowledged me…"

Huh?

Is she talking about the communication with the twin owl familiars? I didn't say much. Besides 'You did well,' what else did I say?

"If it was acknowledgment, didn't you do that from the start? The utmost acknowledgment I could give was from that crazy genius."

"Ah… that's right! The Young Master has always encouraged me. I'm really grateful for that. But… this time, it's a bit different, I guess…"

"Different feeling?"

"Oh, no! Just forget what I said! It was more of a mumble!"

Alicia hurriedly finishes her sentence, flustered.

If I touched that flushed cheek, it would probably feel as hot as a boiling kettle.

Well, anyway.

What comes next.

"That doesn't exist."

"I showed an embarrassing side… Wait? Ah, that wasn't the case?"

"Right, I've done all I need to. Now there's only one thing left."

"One thing…."

"A full-scale war."

The Enemy Forces have been reduced to the maximum extent possible.

On the other hand, we still have enough power left to sprint at full speed. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we've already shown the audience everything during the class battle.

If possible, wouldn't it be better to wrap things up nicely till the very end?

"Let's give even the fools goosebumps."

As they say, you see what you know; very few in the audience will grasp the full meaning of all my preparations this time.

Let's make it dazzling.

So grand that it's hard to take it all in at once.

"Plum, prepare the video magic."

"Y-yes! I'll get it ready soon!"

Even though I didn't call her out loudly, Plum, with her messy hair, started moving busily, fully alert.

She's the one who helped me cast video magic when the class battle began.

"Alicia, isn't there a New Student Council?"

"Yes, it's the research society you created, Young Master."

"From this moment on, the name will change."

"Does that mean…."

The New Student Council was just a banner to attract attention, nothing more, nothing less.

I have no intention of lifting up the Student Council, but I also don't plan to sever ties with them. To be precise, there's no need to 'bother' with them.

I'm busy with other things; why bother with the Student Council?

I'd rather spend that time recruiting even one more talented individual.

The atmosphere has ripened.

Only the final battle remains.

If I'm going to announce it to everyone, now is the right time.

Let's firmly plant our flag in this fertile land.

Plum quickly completed the preparations for the video magic and projected a sphere before me.

This time, I loosened my throat through conversation with Alicia, so there's no need to gather myself.

『This is a declaration of war. Erica, Diphelia.』

All members of Class 1, waiting around, firmly grasp their respective weapons.

The swordsman holds a sword.

The magician holds an accessory.

The archer holds a bow.

Each now holds the weapon they've grown used to.

『Now, let's put an end to this.』

Squeezing out all our strength.