I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 489

Chapter 36: A Burden

On a makeshift podium, Xue Nuo Andweisi, the head teacher for the first years, droned on in a detached tone about the rules for the upcoming final combat exam.

“The exam will be divided into two parts. First, form teams to traverse the front of the ruins and reach the downstream of the creek. You will encounter supervising teachers there, and the remaining exam content will be selected at random by them.”

“A familiar will record your entire examination process and score you accordingly. This exam will determine which mentor selects their personal apprentices, so please take it seriously and don’t disappoint your mentors’ expectations.”

Roy couldn’t shake the feeling that the gaze of the Silver-Haired Girl kept drifting over to him, intentionally or not.

The exam was team-based, with team lists decided by the administration office. Depending on the makeup of each team, they would enter through different difficulty entrances of the ruins. The drawn exam content would also be tailored to each specific team, making it very personalized compared to everyone sharing the same written exam.

Following the teacher’s guidance, Roy found his team, but he was left a bit stunned.

“Ugh, it’s you?”

“I’m White Olayah, and it’s an honor to work with you, Mr. Roy.”

One of them was none other than the brown-haired troublemaker Mark from the tutoring class, and his displeasure was practically dripping from his face like he’d just been robbed of five million.

The other team member, decked out in a blue school uniform, appeared to be a stereotypical southern nobleman with a cold demeanor and a hint of arrogance in his voice; his words seemed polite but felt rather dismissive.

What luck! Out of the four team members, two were obviously not fond of him.

Forget about Mark. It was no surprise that White, a noble from the southern country, had a grudge. After all, their prince Jason had taken a serious hit at Roy’s hands during that faction skirmish, so it made sense that the nobility under him would hold a grudge.

But seriously, if this guy can’t even disguise his disdain, he’s still too green to be a noble.

With a sigh, Roy turned to the last girl in the group: “And this classmate is…?”

The girl wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but her youthfulness shone through. Beneath her fluffy, short hair was a rather delicate face, and in a soft voice, she said, “I-I’m Giaka! I’m also a part of the Lionheart’s people, and I’ve always admired you, Roy! Please, please take care of me!”

Oh look, I have a little fangirl!

Just as Roy was about to respond warmly and indulge the girl’s fan aspirations, he suddenly felt four needles of gaze pricking him from behind, making the hair on his neck stand up and his expression stiffen.

No need to think hard to know who it was: Charlotte and her crew!

But wait, why four? Who’s the fourth person?!

Recalling the recent odd behavior from his little maid, Roy felt a wave of unease wash over him.

…Nah, it must be a misconception. The little maid is so obedient; she wouldn’t get unnecessarily jealous, right?

“Please take care of me.” Roy managed to reply in a nonchalant tone.

Even so, Giaka beamed cheerfully, lifting her spirits high.

This caused both boys beside her to darken their expressions.

As the final combat officially began, each team entered the ruins from their designated entrances.

Inside the ruins, light was low, only illuminated by two rows of flickering candles that outlined their vague path. The walls and floor were covered in dust, cobwebs, and the ravages of time. Faint traces of wall paintings hinted at their previous existence but were nearly unrecognizable.

Minutes later, a blinding ray of light opened up the path ahead.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, filling the air with a wet fragrance. Towering peaks surrounded the entire creek, and the lush trees and peculiar vegetation painted a rich, timeless watercolor. In the distance, a waterfall cascaded down from a cliff, creating a slender stream that spread out like veins.

From the exterior of the ruins, it looked like just an ordinary forest. Even knowing the truth inside, the four still couldn’t help but pause to admire the magnificent scenery.

Until a colorful array of birds flitted past from the dense branches, snapping them back to reality, and they continued onward.

Not gonna lie, this place does have a bit of a mythical vibe with the towering plants and vibrant birds.

But this creek is far from as beautiful as it seems.

The winding, broken stone steps were covered in moss, and the route twisted both up and down, making it a tough trek.

Creatures would occasionally spring out from the sides to trouble them.

Except for Giaka, who only had Sequence 8, the other three were all Sequence 7, which was quite decent for first graders.

Even so, dealing with the constant interruptions was hardly easy—of course, the exam wasn’t a life-or-death fight, so Roy didn’t get too serious about it.

Mark, with his Bronze Bloodline [Fire Fist], excelled in close combat, while White, boasting a Silver Bloodline [Ocean Ranger], was skilled at mid-range support with bows and daggers.

The two took the lead, unfazed by the surroundings, and were tearing through the monsters, leaving a trail of their carcasses in their wake, and soon Roy and Giaka were trailing behind.

“Hey, Roy! Aren’t you supposed to be good at close combat? Get up here and show us!” Mark taunted after smashing a bird.

“Mr. Roy, time is pressing; I hope you can pick up the pace. Unlike that laggard, your speed shouldn’t be so slow,” Giaka added, biting her lip in an attempt to hurry.

But she stumbled just then and nearly slipped. Thankfully, Roy caught her, so she didn’t embarrass herself.

“Th-thank you,” the girl mumbled, her face turning red.

Roy smiled at her but then turned exasperated at the two knuckleheads ahead: “No need to rush so much.”

“Isn’t it better to take care of our teammates a bit?”

Both rolled their eyes, uninterested in replying.

“They say the Lionheart’s people are courageous—it seems this guy might be scared,” Mark sneered.

White just shook his head, looking down on him: “Maybe he’s more concerned about that useless woman than the exam.”

“Hah, after all, he’s just a freeloader dating three girls at once!” Mark nodded vigorously.

But while they were busy cursing, thinking of all the lovely faces surrounding Roy, both fell silent for a moment.

They were cursing and looking down on him, but there was a hint of envy in their hearts.

Whether commoner or noble, the yearning for outstanding opposite sexes is the purest desire of teenage boys.

Not willing to admit this jealousy, the two boys could only vent their frustrations on the incoming monsters.

Giaka bit her lip, feeling guilty: “I’m sorry; I’m the one holding Roy back.”

Roy smiled gently and gave a response that the girl hadn’t anticipated: “No, the real burden is them.”

“Eh?”

“You’ll understand soon.”

Looking up at the trees overhead, a playful glint flickered in the young boy’s eyes.