I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 20

Chapter 20: I Want to Become an Extraordinary Being

“You did well!”

By the rosewood desk, the usually calm and low-key Carl couldn’t help but praise Roy, his slightly disheveled beard trembling as he smiled.

In just a few days, news of Roy’s favor with the princess had spread throughout the country.

Previously, whenever Carl went out drinking and someone asked about his family’s situation, he would shy away from mentioning Roy. But now, his old buddies were green with envy.

“How did your son manage to get on the princess’s radar?! I wish my lazy boys could learn a thing or two!”

More than just a noble or an extraordinary being, Carl was simply a man—a middle-aged guy worried about his son’s marriage prospects.

Carl didn’t want Roy to achieve great things; he just wished for the family bloodline to continue.

Roy’s bad reputation had always been Carl’s sore point.

In fact, after assigning the matchmaking task to Roy that night, Carl had regretted it.

Even if Roy wanted to mend his ways, years of a bad reputation wouldn’t vanish overnight. In the eyes of noble daughters who valued character and reputation, that was a critical strike against him.

Yet, Roy managed to win over the Lionheart Princess in just one matchmaking session!

There wasn’t a better woman in the entire Lionheart Kingdom than Charlotte Reinhardt.

Carl was glowing with pride, looking like he couldn’t wait to hold a grandchild: “So, when’s the wedding?”

“Calm down, Dad. We just met once for matchmaking; it’s not time for marriage yet!” Roy said with a mix of exasperation and amusement.

“And the rumors are way exaggerated. We’re just ordinary friends.” Roy added, feeling a hint of regret: “Charlotte didn’t even stay for dinner.”

Roy couldn’t help but recall that moment.

The red-haired princess blushing in front of him, hesitant to speak, her gaze soft—she looked so delicate that even the setting sun dimmed in comparison.

To be fair, at that moment, he truly thought Charlotte had a thing for him.

Still, becoming friends with Charlotte was already a lot better than Roy had expected.

“Oh.” Hearing this, Carl finally calmed down.

According to the noble etiquette of the Lionheart Kingdom, not having dinner together meant they weren’t yet considered a couple. There was indeed time before engagement.

But so what?

His son was still miles ahead of other boys his age!

“So when’s your next date?”

“Dad. I just told you to calm down.” Roy facepalmed in disbelief.

“Ha ha, just kidding. I won’t meddle in your young affairs.”

Carl waved his hand, his smile softening: “Let’s talk serious matters.”

Seeing Carl’s expression turn serious, Roy straightened up.

Discussing matchmaking could easily be a light dinner talk, but Carl specifically calling him to the study clearly meant there was something more important at hand.

Roy had a vague idea of what it was.

In front of the desk stood an ancient yet exquisitely crafted metal box, embellished with crossed blood-red swords and shields, giving off a faint aura of solemnity.

That was the Ainbrad family crest, a symbol of the Iron Blood bloodline.

The treasure contained in such a finely crafted crest box could only mean one thing.

The Iron Blood magic potion.

“Now that even the princess acknowledges you, I think it’s time I give this to you.”

Roy instinctively reached out for it.

But Carl suddenly pressed down on the box.

His voice grew heavy: “Honestly, I don’t want you to become an extraordinary being.”

Roy wasn’t too surprised: “I can understand; after all, my past self really didn’t qualify to inherit the power of Iron Blood.”

However, Carl’s next words caught Roy off guard, as he wore a bitter smile.

“It’s not that you’re unworthy. It’s that I don’t want it.”

“Roy, what do you think an extraordinary being is?”

Roy answered with some confusion, going for the literal meaning: “An existence that transcends ordinary people?”

“That’s right. Precisely because they transcend ordinary people, they must bear responsibilities far beyond those of ordinary folk,” Carl said, his gaze growing distant, his voice hoarse and solemn.

“For thousands of years, the epochs belonged to dragons, to mages, to nameless horrors lurking in the dark abyss. It wasn’t until the fourth epoch that humanity awoke to the extraordinary, and this continent truly became a realm of humans.”

Though this power was familiar to Roy, listening to Carl Ainbrad—the pinnacle of extraordinary beings in the human realm—talk about it made Roy feel as if he had returned to that era of both darkness and glory, when humanity first forged its path.

“But this world remains dangerous.”

At this point, a serious scarlet glinted in Carl’s eyes.

“Colossal ancient beasts in the mountains and forests, cults hiding in cities, the nameless demon races from the farthest West… as extraordinary beings, we will one day have to face them on behalf of humanity.”

“As nobles, you can be mediocre, can be useless, can lack skills, can be trifling and wasteful—you can live your whole life just coasting off the benefits given by commoners and ancestors.”

“But extraordinary beings can’t do that. Especially our Ainbrad family; as the sword and shield of the Lionheart Kingdom, we have no room for avoidance.”

“Whether you possess extraordinary talent or come from a noble background, whether you want it or not, when that day comes, the only thing you can rely on is yourself.”

“Do you possess that resolve?”

Carl shifted from a fatherly affection to a gaze sharp as a blade, assessing Roy like an eagle eyeing its prey.

Roy had never considered such questions before and found himself at a loss for answers.

Not that anyone could understand this stuff, right?

Isn’t “Angel’s Wheel Dance” just a yuri galgame about dating in an academy?! Why suddenly hit me with this serious worldview?

“Think it over slowly; this question is really important.” Carl’s tone softened a bit.

Jokes aside, Roy knew this was likely a pivotal choice determining his fate, so he took a deep breath and steadied himself.

If possible, he too would like to be a useless young master.

But the “Fated Node” on his panel always gave him an inexplicable sense of crisis.

Having barely survived the “Fated Nodes” involving Alice and Charlotte, what if he didn’t make it through next time?

No one could guarantee that future “Fated Nodes” wouldn’t require combat power. There was a long way to go before Alice became the Destined Saintess, and Roy needed the strength to protect himself.

Moreover, there was also the ‘cult’ that Carl just mentioned.

In the original story, “bad boy Roy” didn’t merely meet his end for mistreating Alice and crossing paths with the heavenly beauties; he was also stained by the cult.

In Veszyra’s view, those who sell their souls to dark gods can no longer be considered human. In fact, those beasts were utterly inhumane, making “bad boy Roy” look almost like a lovable little brother by comparison.

Charlotte’s matchmaking incident reminded Roy once again that this wasn’t a game—there were no save points or options, and things wouldn’t always unfold as he envisioned.

Even if he did nothing to provoke the cult, he couldn’t be sure they wouldn’t target him.

With less than a year left until “Angel’s Wheel Dance” officially started, he couldn’t afford to sit back and wait.

“Father, I’ve made up my mind.”

“I want to become an extraordinary being.”

Roy finally reached out and grasped the box containing the Iron Blood magic potion.

He didn’t notice the deep sorrow in Carl’s gaze as he looked at him.