I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 529

Chapter 76: The Initial Intentions

In the morning cafeteria, whispers about campus gossip floated around as usual.

“I heard Roy and Xue Nuo went on a trip together!”

“What trip? Didn’t they say it was for extracurricular practice?”

“Are you stupid?! A guy and a girl, extracurricular practice my foot! People saw them shopping together during the Saint’s Festival, even returning to the dorm together! This so-called trip is just an excuse… heh, those who get it, get it!”

Whenever such rumors popped up, someone would joke with Winter, congratulating him on gaining a nice brother-in-law.

Honestly, if it weren’t for the prince’s face and his kind persona, Winter would have lost his cool a long time ago.

But recently, he could just laugh off such jokes.

“Roy? That guy’s not bad. If Xue Nuo likes him, then why not?”

The engagement between the imperial prince and the duke’s daughter was never a secret in noble circles.

Seeing Winter remain unfazed, people were amazed at his generosity, truly not caring at all.

Only Winter himself knew that being gracious toward a mere dead man was perfectly fine.

Anyone daring to mess with his things would pay the price!

As for whether Xue Nuo would get hurt?

He had advised her not to take action against Xue Nuo. With her strength, it was unlikely she would run into trouble.

In fact, a little injury might be better.

Having lost his personal apprentice and now bearing scars, it was the perfect time for him to step in and console her, right?

Thinking this way, Winter found his cup of morning tea tasted like a vintage brew.

However, at that moment, a carriage rolled past the cafeteria door.

The Golden-Winged Griffin and the pure white silver wolf proved the identity of the visitors.

Unfortunately, such a fine magical beast was now without an owner.

Just as Winter was thinking about it, he saw the figures of the familiar duo on the carriage.

Two came when they left, and not a single one was missing.

“Teacher Xue Nuo, I’ve already said I’m completely fine, no need to help me…”

“There’s no point in arguing. Your vitality is depleted; you shouldn’t exert yourself. You’re the apprentice, I’m the teacher, and this little matter is nothing.”

Even though Roy wanted to complain that even apprentices and teachers wouldn’t be this intimate, Xue Nuo just kept holding onto his arm, not giving him a chance to refuse, seemingly afraid he might encounter some accident again.

Roy felt a ridiculous sense of being tightly held by a domineering female CEO, unable to break free, leaving him amused and exasperated.

However, to outsiders, this action seemed to show the cold-faced girl forcefully grabbing hold of the one she cared for, unwilling to let go.

Those gossip-loving eyes saw everything as fodder for gossip. A little girl in the cafeteria even started screaming, while some teachers exclaimed they did a great job.

“Tsk tsk tsk, the dark-haired little handsome guy and the silver-haired big beauty, looking at it like this, that little bro seems pretty compatible with your cousin after all!”

Colleagues surrounded Winter, patting his shoulder and laughing heartily.

Winter laughed along with a forced smile, but deeply clenched his fists, sinking into immense confusion and anger.

Why was he still alive?

Why were he and Xue Nuo even closer now than before?

What the hell was going on?!

——————————

“Anyway, that’s what happened.”

After resting for a few days, Roy arrived at the director’s office to report on the events of this trip to the Sunny Valley to the Sage.

Even the Sage, upon hearing about the joint actions of a group of cultists, was slightly surprised. Sipping from his hot tea, he sighed, “It’s rare to see four priests and one high priest mobilize all at once, all for a low rank. This kind of treatment hasn’t even been seen since the days of Rolynn.”

“Who would want such treatment?” Roy also took a sip of tea but frowned immediately.

Why was this tea so sweet? If the old man drank this every day in his past life, he’d already be diabetic…

Perhaps strong people’s tastes were just that peculiar.

Booker picked up a piece of twisted bread, popping it into his mouth, showing a somewhat pleased expression as he teased, “On the bright side, it means you posed an unprecedented threat to them, forcing them into this desperate tactic.”

“Fortunately, now that you’ve gained the power of the Phoenix Lady, it isn’t necessary for you to venture out for a while.”

Booker glanced over, a hint of warmth and fondness flickering in his aged eyes, making Roy strangely uneasy.

It seemed he had the charm to turn a straight girl, but he definitely didn’t want to bend straight men.

Noticing Roy’s increasingly odd expression, the old man chuckled and turned his gaze away.

“As long as you’re in the academy, they won’t dare to act against you. Even someone like Enwei, who tries tricky things, wouldn’t pose much of a threat to you.”

“… You didn’t already know Enwei had problems, did you?” Roy asked suspiciously.

“Ha ha, for you, that level isn’t even a problem. If an issue really arises, I’ll ensure he becomes non-problematic.” Booker stroked his beard, his eyes deep, his tone casual, revealing confidence as if regarding the other as mere insects.

Yet Roy couldn’t help but retort, “So there’s still no news about the traitor?”

As soon as these words were out, the old man’s expression collapsed in an instant. He looked elsewhere, muttering something about “long fishing for big fish” and “the waters here are deep.”

Great, so basically no progress then.

Roy had nearly grown accustomed to their Schrödinger-like reliability.

In fact, even high-level extraordinary beings weren’t omnipotent, especially when they were in high positions with various limitations. Roy could understand that.

Roy had personally interrogated Gifting and could confirm that the other truly didn’t know the true identity of the traitor.

Previously, he set up a barrier to obscure the aura of the False King, allowing him to operate under the guise of the Sword Demon. This time he was also given leads on the Phoenix Lady, strongly recommending he bring Xue Nuo. The help from the director hadn’t been too little.

“However, I really don’t understand why there are always fools willing to team up with cultists.” Roy thought of the Lionheart Prince, shaking his head.

Even if they gain temporary power, no matter how adept they are at political maneuvers, trying to control a group of lunatics believing in a false god will ultimately result in self-immolation.

Upon hearing this, the old man displayed a hint of deep helplessness on his face: “For many, discerning right from wrong is a luxury.”

“People’s hearts differ; the distinctions between individuals can sometimes be as vast as between merfolk and goblins. This has been the case throughout history.”

Although his humor infused a touch of self-deprecation, Roy couldn’t help but remember the history of the third era, where humans were said to be almost as powerful as the demon race.

Yet at the war’s outset, human forces ignored the imminent threat and fought amongst themselves, full of contradictions, ultimately missing the opportunity and suffering crushing defeat at the hands of the demon race, costing humanity dearly.

How could a few lines in a textbook encapsulate the horrors of that time?

It seemed the Sage, as a firsthand witness of that era, must have seen plenty of the absurdity and ugliness of humanity.

“However, fortunately, while there are vile and treacherous degenerates wandering down the path of evil, there are also excellent young people who uphold their hearts.” As he spoke, the old man looked straight at Roy, carrying a faint warmth and hope, “As long as there are people like that, humanity still has a future.”

In response, Roy simply smiled lightly, “I’m just looking out for myself and the people I care about.”

Humanity, the world, hope, heroes—such grand, ethereal notions felt too distant. Roy just wanted to handle the present well and protect those around him, that’s all.

Hearing this, the old man’s eyebrows raised with a hint of playful interest, “Perhaps that is indeed the initial intention a hero should have, who knows?”