《I AM NOT HERO PLAY》 Welcome to Another World, Chapter 1: Welcome to Another World, My name is Belly Martin. I am 17 years old, a high school student, and my life sucks. Bad luck is my constant companion, like that one creepy guy who breathes too close to you on the subway. People avoid me because they believe my luck is contagious. Even my dad abandoned me when I was five. He told me he was "going to buy milk," but instead, he left a letter: "Son, I have met a young man named Goofy. He wants to become the King of Pirates. I must help him find the legendary Two Piece. Goodbye." A legendary treasure that doesn''t even exist. At first, I thought it was a joke. Then, I saw a newspaper article: "Mysterious Man Joins Strange Kid on a Boat, Claims He is Helping Him Achieve His Dream." I was abandoned¡­ for a pirate LARP. I never hated my dad, though. After all, I heard Goofy is an idiot, so I know my father is suffering. Now, I have no friends, no girlfriend, and people run at the mere mention of my name. I am so unlucky that when I applied for a part-time job, the store burned down before my interview. The police thought I was some kind of walking disaster and asked me to "please stay at least 100 meters away from all government buildings." So, I just sat in my room, drinking cheap tea, reading manga, and mumbling to myself. "Man, I wish I could get isekai''d like those protagonists¡­ You know, get hit by Truck-kun and sent to a fantasy world with OP powers¡ª" Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. VROOOOOOOOOOOM. I turned my head. A truck was flying straight at me. FLYING. "¡­What." The truck honked. In mid-air. "EXCUSE ME?!" BOOOOOOM.
Welcome to Another World, You Unlucky Bastard Leon¡¯s first thought when he woke up was: Wow, the afterlife smells expensive. His second thought was: OW, MY F*ING FACE. "Wake up, you disgraceful filth!" A sharp slap rocked his cheek. Leon¡¯s eyes flew open. A silver-haired girl with a very obvious tsundere energy was glaring at him. "You disgusting worm!" she spat. Leon blinked. "¡­Huh?" "Don¡¯t act dumb!" She turned and pointed dramatically. Leon followed her finger. A crowd of fancy NPC-looking people stood around him, their faces twisted in disgust. His brain restarted. Stone streets. Old buildings. Weird clothes. He had seen this place before. No. No no no. This was a game. A stupid fantasy RPG he played once. The same game he rage-quit after 20 minutes because it was too hard. Leon¡¯s soul left his body. He squeezed his eyes shut. Took a deep breath. Then muttered, "God, I know you hate me. But WHY LIKE THIS?!" A notification appeared in his vision. [New Skill Unlocked: Reality Betrayal] "Congratulations! The universe has officially abandoned you!" "WHAT KIND OF USELESS SKILL IS THIS?!" The tsundere girl slapped him again. "Stop yelling! You are in the presence of Lady Eleanor of the Holy Kingdom!" Leon stared at her. Then the 4th wall shattered. A text box popped up. [Character Introduction: Eleanor] A silver-haired noble girl. The "main heroine." Probably a tsundere. Has a tragic backstory. You skipped it. Leon¡¯s eye twitched. "This is an RPG, isn¡¯t it?" Eleanor scoffed. "Of course not, peasant." Another text box popped up. [Tutorial Tip: She¡¯s Lying.] Leon¡¯s fist clenched. Then he looked at the sky. "AUTHOR! I KNOW YOU¡¯RE WATCHING! WHAT THE F*** ARE YOU PLANNING FOR ME?!" Somewhere in another dimension, the author took a sip of tea. And smirked.
End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2: Congratulations, You’re a Scumbag! Chapter 2: Congratulations, You¡¯re a Scumbag! When I finally regain my senses, the first thing I realize is: I¡¯m in pain. The second thing I realize is: My face hurts. A lot. The third thing I realize is: I have no idea what just happened. I blink up at the ceiling, brain still buffering like an old Windows XP startup screen. Then it all rushes back¡ªLady Eleanor, a red-haired noble with the aura of a high-and-mighty queen, had just SLAPPED me so hard that I entered another cutscene. I groan, clutching my burning cheek. ¡°What the hell was that for?!¡± Eleanor crosses her arms, her ruby-red eyes glaring down at me like I just stepped on her expensive dress. ¡°For your crimes, obviously!¡± she declares. ¡°I, Lady Eleanor of House Luthgart, am officially breaking off our engagement!¡± ...Wait. Our what now? I sit up so fast I nearly get whiplash. Engagement? I don¡¯t remember being engaged. Hell, I don¡¯t even remember having a girlfriend in my past life, let alone in this stupid game! And that¡¯s when it hits me. Oh, no. I know this trope. This is that classic ¡°villainous noble gets dumped by the heroine¡± scene you see in every fantasy story. But this never happened in the original game! I grab my head. WHY AM I EVEN HERE?! DING! A notification box appears in front of me. > [System Message: Congratulations! You have successfully triggered the ¡°Scumbag Noble Breakup Scene¡± trope!] > [Your Reputation Has Dropped Even Further!] > [New Title Unlocked: Walking Red Flag] > "THE HELL KIND OF TITLE IS THAT?!" Eleanor scoffs, tossing her hair over her shoulder like she¡¯s just thrown me into the trash where I belong. ¡°It¡¯s about time. Do you know how much of a disgrace you are?¡± Okay. Time out. Pause the damn game. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. I need to understand something. Who the hell am I supposed to be in this world?! I glance at my reflection in a nearby window and almost scream. My face is familiar, but not because I recognize it¡ªbecause I remember this character. Leon. A minor noble in Diamonds of Dregna. No real background. No development. Completely removed from the final version of the game because players found him boring. And yet, for some reason¡­ everyone here thinks I¡¯m an overpowered monster. I scan the faces of the gathered nobles and students. The moment I make eye contact, they flinch like I just kicked a puppy. What¡¯s going on? Eleanor points a perfectly manicured finger at me. ¡°Not only are you a notorious bully, but you even tormented poor Sophia!¡± ...Sophia? I turn my head. Standing behind Eleanor is a small girl with soft silver hair and trembling blue eyes. She looks like the kind of character that dies in the first act to make the protagonist care. Oh, wait. That¡¯s exactly what happens in the game. Sophia. A kind, humble commoner girl. No one important, but she was a tutorial NPC that helped the hero, Adam, learn about the world. She was supposedly bullied to death by nobles, leading to Adam swearing revenge against them. And now¡­ They think I¡¯m the one who bullied her?! I rack my brain, trying to remember what I did to her, but I never even played far enough to see her story! DING! Another notification appears. > [System Flashback Feature Unlocked!] > [Replaying your crimes...] > Huh? Suddenly, memories I don¡¯t recognize flood into my brain. ¡ªMe, standing over Sophia, looking smug. ¡ªMe, stealing her lunch while laughing like a cheap anime villain. ¡ªMe, saying something cruel that makes her eyes water. ...Wait, wait, wait. I don¡¯t remember doing any of this! ¡°I DIDN¡¯T DO THAT!¡± I scream. DING! > [System Notice: Oh, but your body did. Too bad, sucker.] > YOU¡¯RE KIDDING ME. I break out in a cold sweat. No wonder everyone thinks I¡¯m a scumbag! The old Leon actually did bully her! I glance at Sophia, who is trembling like a lost kitten. Crap. I have to fix this. I take a deep breath, put on my best "I''m totally not evil" smile, and walk up to her. ¡°Hey, Sophia, listen¡­ about before. I¡ª¡± Before I can even finish my sentence, her eyes roll back, and she faints. She literally collapses in front of me. The crowd screams. ¡°HE KILLED HER WITH HIS AURA!¡± ¡°HE MUST HAVE USED DARK MAGIC!¡± ¡°RUN BEFORE HE CURSES US ALL!¡± WHAT?! I didn¡¯t even touch her! I was trying to apologize! DING! > [System Update: Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded your reputation from ¡®Scumbag¡¯ to ¡®Demon Lord in Training¡¯!] > [New Title Unlocked: Terror of the Academy] > THIS SYSTEM IS ACTIVELY TRYING TO RUIN MY LIFE. Eleanor steps forward, glaring daggers at me. ¡°Unbelievable. You¡¯ve proven my point.¡± I hold up my hands in surrender. ¡°Wait, let me explain¡ª¡± ¡°Save your excuses! This is exactly why I¡¯m breaking off our engagement!¡± I blink. Oh. Right. We were still in the middle of that scene. Eleanor flips her hair dramatically. ¡°I refuse to be associated with a villain like you! From this day forward, we are nothing to each other!¡± The crowd erupts into cheers. The villain has been vanquished! The noble heroine has freed herself from her evil fianc¨¦! I stand there, stunned, watching as Eleanor struts off with Sophia in her arms, Adam following behind like a true hero. And just like that¡­ I am officially the most hated man in the academy. DING! > [System Message: Good job, idiot! You¡¯ve completed the ¡®Publicly Humiliated & Abandoned¡¯ event!] > [Your Reputation Has Dropped to Rock Bottom!] > I sigh, rubbing my temples. This is going to be a long year. Just when I think my day can¡¯t get any worse, a small letter appears in my hand. I unfold it, only to see a familiar, elegant signature at the bottom. ¡ª¡°My dear Leon, we need to talk. I¡¯ll be seeing you very soon.¡± ¡ªStepmother. I stare at the message. ¡­Ah, crap. [To Be Continued]" Chapter 3: The Ultimate Survival Plan (That Will Probably Fail) # **Chapter 3: The Ultimate Survival Plan (That Will Probably Fail)** ### **Day 4 in This Stupid World** Alright. It¡¯s been four days since I got isekai¡¯d into this **cursed** game, and I have exactly three conclusions: 1. **Everyone is terrified of me.** 2. **Everyone talks about me behind my back like I¡¯m the second coming of the Demon Lord.** 3. **I have absolutely no clue how to fix either of these problems.** I mean, sure, I **look** scary. My character model was clearly designed by a developer who lost a bet. I have ominous red eyes, my default resting face screams ¡°serial killer,¡± and my in-game title is *The Mad Dog of Dregna.* But come on! I have the combat stats of **a damp paper towel.** If I got into a fight, I¡¯d probably lose to a stiff breeze. And yet, the students at the academy still act like I¡¯ll cast an ancient forbidden curse if they **accidentally** make eye contact with me. ¡­Okay. Time to fix this. ### **Leon¡¯s Foolproof Survival Plan (That Will Probably Fail)** **Step 1:** Self-discovery. Who the hell am I in this world? **Step 2:** Avoid the main characters at all costs. They bring disaster. **Step 3:** Befriend Sophia. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. - This girl is important. - She¡¯s the reason Adam, the *actual* protagonist, started hating nobles. - In the original game, she dies early because of *bullying.* - I¡¯m somehow blamed for it. - If I **don¡¯t** fix this, I¡¯ll become Adam¡¯s sworn enemy and get obliterated before the first story arc even ends. **Step 4:** Figure out who my family is. Apparently, I¡¯m a noble? A Duke¡¯s son?? But I have **no** memories of my supposed father, and people keep whispering about my **step-sister,** who¡¯s in her third year. ¡­Whatever. One problem at a time. ### **Operation: Befriend Sophia** Sophia is the **only** person in this school who hasn¡¯t openly insulted me or looked at me like I just kicked their puppy. That means she¡¯s my **best bet** for proving that I¡¯m not the psychotic monster everyone thinks I am. I just need to walk up to her, act normal, and apologize for any past misunderstandings. Simple, right? **Reality: A Disaster Waiting to Happen.** ### **Execution: Attempt #1** I spot Sophia in the hallway, walking alone. Good. No witnesses. If I can just get her to talk to me normally, I can fix my reputation. I casually walk up to her¡ª **¡°EEK!¡±** She lets out a **terrified squeak** and stumbles backward. I pause. Wait. That¡¯s **not** the reaction I wanted. ¡°Uh, Sophia?¡± I say, trying to sound friendly. ¡°I just wanted to¡ª¡± She **trips over absolutely nothing** and lands on her butt. A passing group of students gasps. ¡°DID YOU SEE THAT?!¡± ¡°LEON JUST USED DARK MAGIC TO STRIKE HER DOWN!!¡± ¡­What. ¡°IT¡¯S TRUE! HIS EVIL AURA OVERWHELMED HER!!¡± **What.** ¡°I HEARD HE CURSED HER FAMILY FOR THREE GENERATIONS!!¡± **WHAT.** The hallway **erupts into chaos.** Students **scatter like cockroaches,** screaming about how I just *attacked* poor, helpless Sophia. Meanwhile, Sophia looks at me with **genuine** confusion. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± she mutters, rubbing her head. ¡°I¡­ tripped?¡± THANK YOU! SOMEONE SAW THE TRUTH! But the damage is already done. Within **seconds,** rumors spread like wildfire. By lunchtime, I¡¯m now apparently: - A **master of forbidden curses.** - **The reason for Sophia¡¯s suffering.** - A **walking disaster who can kill with a glance.** I have **never** been more done with my life. ### **System: [HAHAHA. GOOD LUCK FIXING THIS, LOSER.]** SHUT UP, SYSTEM. ### **Sophia¡¯s POV (Meanwhile¡­)** Sophia stares at the students who are still whispering about Leon. Did they not see what really happened? She fell **on her own.** Leon **didn¡¯t** do anything. But now everyone¡¯s convinced he cursed her?? She looks back at him. He¡¯s sitting at a faraway table, poking at his food like a **defeated man.** For some reason, she feels¡­ bad. Maybe Leon isn¡¯t actually as bad as everyone says. Maybe¡­ she should try talking to him? But before she can stand¡ª **¡°LEON STRIKES AGAIN!¡±** **Adam, the protagonist, dramatically enters the cafeteria.** ¡­Oh no. ### **To Be Continued¡­** --- **Chapter 3 End!** Chapter 4: The Hero Punches First, Asks Questions Never Chapter 4: The Hero Punches First, Asks Questions Never Introduction: A Misunderstanding on Steroids The *System* had decided. Leon was going to die today. Not in some heroic final battle. Not in an epic duel. No. He was going to die in a **high school cafeteria brawl**. Why? Because **Adam, the protagonist, had been system-coded to kill him.** ### **Meanwhile, in the Garden¡­** Sophia was quietly reading a book, enjoying the rare moment of peace. Then¡ª ¡°ADAM IS GIVING DIVINE PUNISHMENT TO LEON!¡± ¡°HOLY SH*T, HE¡¯S BEATING HIM TO DEATH!¡± ¡°JUSTICE HAS ARRIVED!¡± The words hit her like a slap. Sophia¡¯s eyes widened. **Divine Punishment? Adam? Leon?!** A pit formed in her stomach. Without thinking, she dropped her book and ran toward the cafeteria. ### **Back to the Carnage¡­** Leon was **already regretting** every life decision that led him to this moment. SMACK! His face met Adam¡¯s fist. Again. His body hit the floor. Again. The cafeteria was **cheering.** ¡°YEAH, ADAM! BEAT HIM UP!¡± ¡°MAKE HIM PAY FOR SOPHIA¡¯S SUFFERING!¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Leon, wheezing, spitting out blood: **¡°Wait. I¡ª *cough*¡ªwhat suffering??¡±** His vision blurred. Through the haze, he spotted someone in the crowd. **Eleanor. His ex-fianc¨¦e.** She wasn¡¯t smirking. She wasn¡¯t laughing. She just stood there¡ª**cold, unreadable, indifferent.** Like this brutal beating was nothing more than **justice.** Leon¡¯s soul left his body. ¡­Okay. No help there. Professors? Nowhere. Random students? Chanting **"DIVINE PUNISHMENT! DIVINE PUNISHMENT!"** **Oh. Oh, he was doomed.** Adam raised his fist again¡ª**but then¡ª** **¡°STOP!!¡±** A voice cut through the chaos. ### **Sophia¡¯s POV: This Isn¡¯t Right** Sophia stood in the doorway, out of breath, heart pounding. The scene before her was **horrific**. Leon lay **bloodied, barely conscious, his face swollen.** Adam stood over him, breathing heavily, **his knuckles covered in blood.** And everyone was **cheering.** Sophia¡¯s stomach twisted. **This wasn¡¯t justice.** This was **cruel.** Leon **wasn¡¯t fighting back.** He wasn¡¯t resisting. He just **laid there**, taking every hit like he **deserved it.** Something was **wrong.** "Adam," she said, stepping forward. Her voice shook, but she forced herself to speak. **"Stop. Leon didn¡¯t bully me."** Silence. Everyone froze. Adam blinked. **¡°¡­What?¡±** Sophia clenched her fists. ¡°Leon¡­ never hurt me.¡± Gasps. ¡°What are you saying? He made you suffer for years!¡± ¡°No,¡± Sophia said firmly. ¡°He¡ªhe¡¯s been trying to talk to me these past few days. I think¡­ I think he wanted to apologize.¡± Leon, **barely conscious**, flinched. Oh no. OH NO. THIS WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN. **WHY WAS SHE DEFENDING HIM?!** **SYSTEM WARNING: EMOTIONAL DAMAGE INCOMING.** Before he could stop himself, **his body moved on its own.** Leon¡¯s trembling, bloody hand **grabbed Sophia¡¯s sleeve.** His lips parted, and¡ª **¡°I deserve this,¡±** he whispered. Sophia **gasped.** Adam **glared.** ¡°SO YOU ADMIT IT?!¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Leon choked. **¡°¡­I just wanted¡­ to apologize¡­ for what I did to you¡­¡±** A single tear rolled down his battered face. **The cafeteria lost its f***ing mind.** ¡°HE¡¯S CRYING???¡± ¡°THIS BASTARD FEELS REMORSE?!¡± ¡°IS THIS A TRAGIC REDEMPTION ARC?!¡± Leon, internally: **WAIT, NO, WHAT¡ª?!** ### **SYSTEM ACTIVATED: ** **Leon: "WHAT THE F*** IS THIS SKILL?!"** **System: ["Tragic Villain¡¯s Tears" is a passive skill that activates when you are beaten near death. It makes you cry involuntarily, making others assume you are a suffering, noble villain.]** **Leon: "WHY THE HELL AM I CRYING?! I¡¯M NOT A F***ING ACTOR!"** Sophia¡¯s **eyes widened.** His **tears weren¡¯t fake.** They were **real.** She could feel **his pain.** For the first time, **she truly saw him.** And she felt **horrible.** Because¡ª **Leon never actually hurt her.** Unlike the other nobles, **he never insulted her, never hit her.** He was the **only noble** who ever tried to **apologize.** And now¡ª**he thought he deserved this.** Tears welled in **her** eyes. ¡°Leon¡­¡± she whispered, kneeling beside him. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s get you to the nurse.¡± She gently placed **his arm over her shoulder.** The crowd **gawked.** A villain¡­ being saved by the girl he ¡®hurt¡¯? THIS. WAS. PEAK. DRAMA. ### **SYSTEM ACTIVATED: ** Leon¡¯s **mouth moved on its own.** **¡°I¡­ I bullied you because I wanted to be friends¡­ but my trash personality made me do it¡­¡±** Sophia gasped. **¡°You just¡­ wanted to be my friend?¡±** Leon, internally: **WAIT NO STOP I DIDN¡¯T MEAN THAT¡ª** **System: [Success! You have convinced Sophia that you only bullied her due to a tragic personality flaw!]** Leon¡¯s soul left his body. WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SKILL WAS THIS?!?! But it was **too late.** Sophia¡¯s **guilt doubled.** ¡°Leon¡­¡± she whispered, voice shaking. ¡°I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry¡­ this whole time¡­ I misunderstood you¡­¡± Leon, internally: **NO, NO, YOU UNDERSTOOD ME JUST FINE¡ª** But it was **too late.** Sophia, overwhelmed with emotion, **dragged him out of the cafeteria.** The students **watched in shock.** Adam just stood there, fists still clenched. ¡°¡­What¡­ just happened?¡± ### **The Nurse¡¯s Office¡­ And A New Threat Appears** Leon limped into the nurse¡¯s office, **half-dead.** Sophia **wouldn¡¯t stop looking at him.** ¡°¡­Are you okay?¡± she asked softly. Leon, who had suffered **the worst day of his life**, groaned. But before he could answer¡ª **The door creaked open.** A new presence **entered the room.** Leon felt the **temperature drop.** A chill ran down his spine. This aura¡­ This **terrifying, overbearing presence¡­** A girl stepped forward. Tall. Elegant. Commanding. She looked down at him with an expression that was **both smug and disgusted.** **¡°¡­So. My idiot little brother got himself beaten up in public,¡±** she mused. Her eyes gleamed. **¡°How pathetic.¡±** Leon¡¯s **soul left his body.** **Oh no.** **Oh no.** His **step-sister** had arrived. **To Be Continued¡­** --- Chapter 5: The Chains of Character Lock ### **Chapter 5: The Chains of Character Lock** Leon stumbled into the infirmary, every step feeling like he was dragging the weight of the entire academy¡¯s misunderstandings behind him. Blood caked his uniform, his ribs ached from Adam¡¯s so-called *divine punishment*, and to top it all off, his so-called **Sympathy Bait** skill had activated at the worst possible moment¡ªturning him into a tragic antihero in the eyes of the crowd. And now, to make things even worse¡ª **[System Notification: New skill activated¡ª!]** **[System: Congratulations, my dear disposable temp! You¡¯ve been promoted! You are no longer a forgettable background villain. Now, you are a *permanent* villain! Isn¡¯t that great?]** Leon froze. ¡°...What.¡± **[System: You see, you were originally an unfinished character. A scrapped idea, a piece of garbage left in the coding dumpster. But thanks to your *excellent* performance in the main events, you¡¯ve now been classified as an essential villain! That means you¡¯re no longer deletable! Woohoo! Except¡­ you¡¯re still trash, just slightly shinier trash.]** Leon clenched his fists. ¡°You¡¯re kidding. I didn¡¯t even *do* anything!¡± **[System: Oh, but you did! You got involved in a major event, got the protagonist¡¯s attention, and even made a heroine cry! That¡¯s prime villain material! As a result, your free will has been slightly¡­ adjusted. You must now act according to your role. Try to be nice? Oops¡ªvillainous lines only! Try to run away? Haha, you wish. You will *always* be at the center of trouble now. Enjoy your promotion! P.S. I am your one true system wife. Please rely on me, darling~]** Leon¡¯s eye twitched. He barely had time to process this horrifying revelation before a soft voice called out to him. ¡°Leon¡­¡± Sophia. She stood hesitantly at the door, her hands clenched against her chest. Her face was pale, and her eyes were filled with guilt. She had been the only one to see him bleeding and struggling, and now, she looked ready to cry again. Leon gritted his teeth. *No. I can¡¯t let her get involved any further.* He turned to her, but before he could even think of what to say¡ª **[Character Lock Activated.]** This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. An unnatural chill ran down his spine. His mouth moved on its own. ¡°Hah. What do you want, commoner? Come to pity me?¡± His own voice sounded foreign¡ªcold, sharp, and mocking. Inside, Leon panicked. *Wait¡ªNO! That¡¯s not what I meant!* Sophia flinched. ¡°I-I just wanted to¡ª¡± **[Character Lock Adjusting Speech Pattern¡­]** ¡°Spare me your crocodile tears,¡± Leon sneered, stepping closer, his villainous aura practically radiating off him like a final boss. ¡°I don¡¯t need your pathetic sympathy. I don¡¯t need *you*.¡± Internally, Leon was screaming. *WHAT THE HELL AM I EVEN SAYING?!* Sophia¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and for a brief moment, she looked like she wanted to protest. But then¡­ she hesitated. A painful realization flickered in her gaze. ¡°¡­I understand,¡± she whispered. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to be involved anymore.¡± She took a step back. ¡°You think if I stay near you, I¡¯ll just suffer more misunderstandings. You¡¯re trying to push me away¡­ so I won¡¯t get hurt anymore.¡± Leon gasped internally. *SHE GETS IT?!* A spark of hope ignited in him¡ª **[Character Lock Adjusting Scene¡­]** Leon suddenly scoffed, his lips curling into a smirk. ¡°Tch. Don¡¯t flatter yourself. I just can¡¯t stand the sight of weaklings like you clinging onto me like a lost puppy.¡± Leon: *NOOOOOOOOOOOO!* Sophia flinched again, her expression pained. She took another step back. ¡°I see¡­ Then I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Leon clenched his fists, feeling his stomach twist into knots. Sophia turned away, biting her lip. ¡°But¡­ I won¡¯t believe you.¡± She ran out of the room. The door slammed shut. Leon stood there, shaking. ¡°¡­I¡¯m going to kill this f***ing system.¡± **[System: Hehehe~ I love it when you struggle! Keep up the great work, my little villainous protagonist! ?]** Leon resisted the urge to punch a wall. Before he could even gather his thoughts, another presence entered the infirmary. Click. The sound of heels against the floor. A cold voice filled the room. ¡°I see you¡¯re still as pathetic as ever.¡± Leon stiffened. The temperature in the room seemed to drop. A powerful aura filled the air, drowning out the warmth like a blade pressed against his throat. He turned¡ª A tall, elegant figure stood before him. Silver hair cascaded down her back, and piercing golden eyes gazed at him with a mix of contempt and indifference. The student council president. The perfect noble. His older sister. Selena von Edelweiss. ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± Leon asked without thinking. Selena¡¯s eyes darkened. Then, without hesitation¡ª She slapped him across the face. Hard. The impact nearly sent him tumbling over the infirmary bed. Leon clutched his cheek in shock. ¡°The f*** was that for?!¡± Selena crossed her arms. ¡°You don¡¯t even recognize your own sister? Have you finally lost all sense of shame, or are you just as brainless as I remember?¡± Leon blinked. *Sister?!* **[System: Ohohoho, surprise! Your beautiful, terrifying sister is here! And she absolutely loathes you! Isn¡¯t this fun?]** Leon: *NO. NO, IT¡¯S NOT.* Selena sneered. ¡°Disgraceful. You¡¯re not just an embarrassment to the Edelweiss family¡ªyou¡¯re an insult to nobility itself.¡± Leon groaned. *Oh great. She¡¯s one of THOSE types.* Selena flicked her hair back. ¡°I heard about your little stunt in the cafeteria. Humiliating yourself in front of the academy, being beaten by Adam, and now making a girl cry? Tsk. You¡¯ve truly reached new levels of incompetence.¡± Leon held up a hand. ¡°Okay, first of all, I didn¡¯t *make* her cry¡ª¡± **[Character Lock Activated.]** Leon smirked cruelly. ¡°Oh? Did it bother you, dear sister? Are you worried about the family reputation? How touching.¡± Leon: *OH COME ON!!!* Selena¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Worried? Hardly. If it were up to me, I would have disowned you long ago.¡± Leon sighed. *Yep. We¡¯re off to a great start.* Selena turned her back to him. ¡°Regardless of how I feel, Mother has requested to see you.¡± Leon froze. ¡°¡­Mother?¡± Selena¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. It¡¯s not because she cares. She simply has matters to discuss. Matters that even someone like you should take seriously.¡± Leon narrowed his eyes. He hadn¡¯t seen his family in years. And now, suddenly, his *mother* wanted to meet him? Something wasn¡¯t right. Selena gave him one last icy glare before turning toward the door. ¡°I expect you to behave yourself. For once.¡± With that, she left. Leon sat there, rubbing his temples. His life had just gone from *bad* to *worse*. And somehow, he knew¡ª This was only the beginning. Chapter 6 – The Truth of the Edelweiss Family** # **Chapter 6 ¨C The Truth of the Edelweiss Family** ### **A Night of Unwanted Revelations** Leon lay in bed, arms crossed behind his head, staring at the ceiling. It had been a long day. Too long. After everything that had happened¡ªSophia, Adam¡¯s attack, the endless misunderstandings¡ªhe just wanted to sleep. Unfortunately, life was cruel. Or more specifically¡ª **[SYSTEM]: "Ding-dong! Midnight lore dump, baby!"** Leon groaned. "No. Shut up." **[SYSTEM]: "Guess what? You just unlocked: **[Edelweiss Family Backstory]!** Time to learn about your tragic past!"** Leon pulled his pillow over his face. "I don¡¯t want to hear it." **[SYSTEM]: "Too bad! I worked hard gathering all this juicy family trauma! Now, sit up and *suffer* like a proper tragic villain!"** A wave of **memories and information** surged into his mind. --- ### **The Edelweiss Family: A Legacy of Ice and Blood** The **Edelweiss** were one of the **most powerful noble houses** in the empire. Their name was synonymous with **strength, strategy, and cold-blooded perfection**. But in this grand lineage¡ª **Leon was a mistake.** A stain. A failure. A child that never should have been born. --- ### **Maria ¨C The First Wife and the Forgotten Queen** The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Leon¡¯s mother, **Maria von Edelweiss**, had once been the Duke¡¯s **beloved first wife**. She was **kind**, **gentle**, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªbelieved to be **infertile**. For years, noble society whispered behind closed doors. *A wife who cannot bear children is worthless.* The pressure mounted. The Duke was **forced** to take a second wife. And so, he married¡ª --- ### **Veronica ¨C The Second Wife and the Cold Queen** **Veronica von Edelweiss.** The moment she stepped into the mansion, the **atmosphere of the household changed**. She was cold, calculated, and utterly **merciless**. People feared her. Respected her. And when she gave birth to **Selena von Edelweiss**, Leon¡¯s half-sister, her position was **secured.** She had **won.** Maria, the first wife, had lost. ¡­Or so everyone thought. Because just **one year later**, Maria became **pregnant.** And everything **fell apart**. --- ### **Leon¡¯s Birth ¨C A Curse Upon the Family** The **moment Maria gave birth to Leon**, the **entire noble society erupted in chaos**. She **wasn¡¯t infertile**. She had never been. The Duke had been **forced into a second marriage for no reason**. It was a disaster. Maria died shortly after childbirth. And the **Duke never forgave Leon**. **He blamed him for her death.** He never held him. Never spoke to him. To the Duke, Leon was **nothing but a curse**. --- ### **The Stepmonster ¨C Veronica¡¯s Cold Silence** Unlike the Duke, **Veronica didn¡¯t even acknowledge Leon¡¯s existence.** She never insulted him. She never scolded him. She never even **spoke** to him. Leon had tried, once. As a **young child**, he had approached her, desperate for any kind of connection. *"Mother?"* She had turned her head, **looked right through him**¡ª And **walked past without a word**. It was worse than hatred. To her, **he wasn¡¯t even worth hating.** --- ### **Present Day ¨C The System¡¯s Mockery** Leon exhaled sharply as the memories settled. His entire childhood¡ªhis entire **existence**¡ªwas nothing but **a mistake.** He rubbed his temples. "¡­So she never even acknowledged me?" **[SYSTEM]: "Nope! Not even a ¡®Good morning, disappointment!¡¯ or a ¡®Why are you still breathing?¡¯ Talk about neglect!"** Leon clenched his jaw. He had always suspected it. But now, hearing the full truth¡ª It was worse than he imagined. And now, after **years of ignoring him**, she suddenly wanted to meet him? **Why?** Was she going to **kill him**? Or¡ªsomehow¡ªwas it something even worse? **[SYSTEM]: "Ooooh, are you nervous? Excited? Terrified? C¡¯mon, tell me~!"** Leon sighed. "I¡¯m going to die tomorrow, aren¡¯t I?" **[SYSTEM]: "Most likely! But hey, at least you finally got your stepmom¡¯s attention! That¡¯s progress!"** "...Shut up." He buried his face in his pillow. Tomorrow was going to be a disaster. --- ### **Morning ¨C The Invitation Arrives** The next morning, Leon sat in the **academy cafeteria**, poking at his food. That¡¯s when **she** arrived. A figure **strode toward him**, the entire cafeteria falling silent. Her **presence was suffocating**, her every step deliberate and powerful. **Selena von Edelweiss.** His **older half-sister.** She stopped in front of him, crossing her arms. Leon sighed. "And here we go¡­" Her **cold blue eyes** locked onto his. "Mother wants to meet you," she said. Leon exhaled sharply. "And what does the *great* Duchess Veronica want with me after ignoring me my whole life?" Selena didn¡¯t answer immediately. For a moment, something **flashed in her expression**¡ªsomething unreadable¡ªbefore she **smoothed it over with icy indifference**. "I don¡¯t know the details," she admitted. "But she¡¯ll be here tomorrow." Leon laughed dryly. "Oh, so she suddenly *remembers* I exist? Wow. I feel so honored." Selena¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. Leon expected her to say something cruel. Instead, she simply turned away. "Don¡¯t embarrass yourself," she said, before walking off. Leon watched her go, feeling something heavy settle in his chest. The last time he had been called to meet a parent¡­ It had ended in **bruises and blood**. Now, he was about to meet **a stepmother who had never even spoken to him.** And deep down, he already knew¡ª **Nothing good would come from this meeting.** --- ### **To Be Continued¡­** ---