I’m Really Not Trying to Be Chased by the Heroine as the Villainous Playboy! – Chapter 546

Chapter 93: Winter Festival

After all the commotion, Booker, now with a footprint on his face, was overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.

Meanwhile, the red-haired little girl blushed, sighed while holding her forehead, yet she didn’t go back on her promise.

“I acknowledge you, but that’s all. I’ll grant you some protection to witness your journey, but if you want more power, you’ll need to prove yourself…”

“Humans are worth saving.”

Booker nodded solemnly, “That’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Under the golden morning light, the young mage and the little girl resembling a phoenix set off on their quest to save humanity.

“By the way, what should I call you when we’re outside?”

“Anything works.”

“Lord Phoenix?”

The little girl angrily waved her fists, “Calling me by my real name is so disrespectful! Can’t you pick something cuter?”

The clueless mage scratched his head, “How about… FiFi?”

“……Fine, let’s go with that.”

As the light flickered and time rewound, outside the window, the black-haired boy lying in bed didn’t rise, still immersed in the unknown past, filled with deep emotions.

The relationship between the Sage and the Phoenix wasn’t shallow, which explained his understanding of the Phoenix.

At the same time, it also clarified why the Sage could rise to a higher tier and be revered as one of the “Six Heroes” who save humanity.

Whether burdened with the legacy of nobility or mastering mystical potions, mid-tier was already the limit.

High-tier extraordinary beings were truly mythical creatures, possessing a hint of divinity—a feat not achievable merely by human effort.

Historical records on how the Sage reached high-tier were always vague, but if a demigod personally bestowed divine power, it would make sense.

The young mage and the girl-like deity put aside their barriers and joined hands to rescue humanity from darkness, like the opening of a fairy tale, beautiful yet somewhat unreal.

However, when the Phoenix was mentioned, the Sage’s expression turned melancholic.

Why did he say the Phoenix couldn’t possibly be alive?

Even more intriguingly, while other Six Heroes continued to actively engage in frontline battles for various factions, why did only the Sage remain at the academy, retreating to the background?

The story behind all this surely isn’t as pleasant as a fairy tale.

Sigh, I always feel a bit melancholic when looking back on these past events.

But they are who they are, and I am who I am.

The paths of those before have ended; my own path must be forged by me.

With that thought, Roy gathered his emotions and started checking his recent gains.

【Phoenix’s Protection】:

【Soul Enhancement】: Your soul has been significantly fortified, making it sufficient to bridge extraordinary beings; future links to divine power will be smoother!

…Is that it?

Roy swiped through the panel, failing to find any other upgrades, questioning life for a moment.

Wait, what even is a soul? Can I eat it? I can’t feel any difference at all!

Can’t they offer something tangible, you know?!

That old man really said this was the power I needed most. Isn’t he just blowing smoke?!

Roy tried to check again, only to find that no other abilities had improved; who knows what “links to divine power will be smoother” even means.

Just then, a fleeting, ethereal murmur echoed in his ear.

“You… little… brat…”

“I… am… great…!”

Wait, was someone talking?!

Startled, Roy dug at his ears, but the voice vanished instantly.

Could it be a demigod’s whisper? I felt something similar when I took the potion earlier, but that time, listening even a bit felt like my head would split open—like ants facing a deity.

What I heard just now sounded more like…

A loli’s strange cries?

…Probably just a figment of my imagination.

With the False King temporarily unable to level up, it would be wise to first focus on the Iron Blood’s strength.

Thanks to the cultists, the brutal battle allowed Iron Blood’s lineage to rise significantly once again, and he was not far from Sequence 6.

Who knows, if I ever find myself in a tight spot, it might even become the breakthrough to reach Sequence 6.

Outside the window, banners were flying, the crowd bustling, the lively atmosphere already waking the once-silent castle.

Today is the Winter Festival; I should first take care of the pressing matters.

——————————

Snowflakes danced in the air, but they couldn’t dampen the people’s enthusiasm.

The Winter Festival is not dedicated to commemorating the harsh winter but to honor those who died for the nation at the borders, remember fellow warriors who sacrificed against the demon race, and express gratitude to the current border soldiers.

Except for the Lionheart Kingdom, no other faction shows such enthusiasm for their soldiers.

The Winter Festival begins not with fireworks or dances, but with a grand military parade.

Warriors clad in heavy armor, riding white bears, and wielding dual-bladed battle-axes, paraded slowly before the crowd and under the scrutiny of countless nobles from above the castle.

Like the Gale Knights, the Winter Iron Guards are also a pride of the Empire, composed entirely of extraordinary beings.

The difference is that each faction’s extraordinary military remains firmly under their control.

Only the Andewis family of the Empire, recognized by the first Empress, holds an organized extraordinary army, second only to the royal family.

The common army’s size nears ten thousand, not inferior to the Empress’s direct troops.

And that’s just the scale of a single Snowwind Fortress.

As Winter soldiers braved the chilling winds, filled with an aura of solemnity, Winter’s expression remained somewhat stiff.

He truly couldn’t understand why the first Empress relinquished such military power.

Any other royal would probably find it hard to smile in the face of this situation.

The silver-haired girl draped in a gray wolf fur coat stood at the front, and with a simple wave of her hand and a quiet word, “You all have worked hard,” she evoked a wave of cheers from the soldiers and civilians.

Even though she hasn’t officially taken over the title of Duchess, no one would doubt her authority in Snowwind Fortress and throughout the Empire’s borders.

This is not only because the former Duke had a strong reputation, ruling efficiently and earning the people’s trust, but also because Xue Nuo, despite her tragic past, faced adversity head-on, remaining on the front lines of battle as an extraordinary being in her youth.

Perhaps she only sought revenge against the demon race, but that tumultuous period has now become her most solid political capital, winning her public support.

After the daytime parade, the nighttime castle was filled with a grand banquet.

Being on the border of a snowy land, there were naturally few beautiful maids, elegant dances, or the lavish atmosphere of high society.

What replaced it was ruggedness and fervor. The hall, with its brown theme, had no crystals or gems adorning the walls, but rather the heads of various fierce beasts; an endless long table was filled with the stench of strong wine and overflowing meats.

Seated at the highest table were not only the lord of Snowwind Fortress, Xue Nuo Andewis, but also the imperial prince, Winter Rose, with the rest of the key nobles flanking them on either side, subtly forming an opposing stance.

Hmph, that lad is here too.

Noticing the black-haired boy, just below the count and countess position, Winter felt a twinge of displeasure, silently cursing the cultist for being so persuasive yet utterly ineffective in their tasks.