"Young master, we are very far from the capital now. The master sent a pigeon this morning and asked how long we are planning on staying here."
The old butler spoke in a careful voice while standing near the wooden door. His hands held the rolled said letter.
A young man was beside a tall wide window looking outside.
Red hair slipped over his shoulders in the faint sunlight. His face looked handsome at first glance. But his eyes naturally showed a coldness to it. Making his all over expression carried a faint trace of arrogance. If someone placed him inside a story, he would easily pass as the villain who laughed while sitting on a throne.
After a long silence, the old butler noticed Clay simply stared outside.
Everything was dull, grass fields, a few distant hills and some smoke could be seen rising from the chimneys of the small house of farmers.
The road that went through the village was dirt. It looked like a brown scar, on the land. Some farmers were pulling a cart that was filled with hay. They were moving it slowly towards the town square.
It was a poor region.
Backward.
Far away from the capital.
Which was exactly why the old butler still could not understand why his young master had rushed here so suddenly.
Just a week ago the head of the family had announced a marriage arrangement. It should have been wonderful news. The girl came from a respected family and possessed a legendary physique known among mana cultivators as the Absolute Ice Body, a rare condition where a person's body naturally stored an immense amount of mana.
Such people were treasures.
Many great families fought bloody battles just to secure one.
But the moment Clay heard the news, he packed his belongings and disappeared from the capital overnight, traveling days across the kingdom until he reached this quiet estate hidden near the countryside.
Three days had passed.
Three days of silence.
Three days of staring out the window.
The old butler cleared his throat again hoping to break the silence that felt really heavy.
"Young master, the master is waiting for your answer."
Clay did not move until the old butler spoke.
He turned his head slowly.
His face looked calm. "I don't want to marry that girl."
The old butler blinked at times like he was not sure if he heard correctly.
Clay walked away from the window. Stopped at a wooden desk in the room.
He put his fingers on the desk. Looked down at his hands.
For a moment he just stood there thinking.
Then he said quietly "In fact I do not want anything to do with that girl."
The old butler was silent for a moment because he was really surprised by Clay's answer.
Finally he took a step forward. Spoke again sounding confused and worried.
"Young master Clay, what is wrong with that girl? She has the Absolute Ice Body, which means her body collects a lot of mana every day.
If you practice with her your own mana will grow fast. Many people wish they had this chance. They never get it."
The old servant raised his hand a little like he was trying to make a point.
"If you marry her your power could increase quickly like a dragon flying up into the sky.
You could become an expert in just one night."
When Clay heard this he started choking on his saliva.
This took a while.
When Clay could breathe again he just rolled his eyes at the thing.
He turned back, to the window.
Clay said "I am not interested."
The old butler frowned slightly because the situation was becoming more difficult than he expected.
"Are you certain about this, young master? Your position inside the family depends heavily on this marriage arrangement, and if you refuse it without a proper reason—"
"Go."
Clay raised one hand lazily without turning around.
He said "I do not care about my position and I am honestly tired of explaining the thing again and again. You have already asked me this question every day for the past three days."
Clay's voice had a faint edge of annoyance now.
"Tell my father and tell him clearly that I will not return to the capital unless he cancels that marriage arrangement."
Then Clay paused briefly before adding another sentence in a voice.
Clay said ". Make sure that girl is never harmed by anyone."
The old butler froze when he heard the part because Clay's words felt strangely protective which only made the situation with Clay more confusing.
The servant thought about it for a bit. Then he nodded really slowly.
The servant said "As you wish, young master".
He turned around and then he walked to the door. Next, the wooden door closed behind the servant with a click.
Only when the room became completely silent did Clay allow his shoulders to relax.
A long breath escaped from Clay's lungs.
Clay muttered "Finally he's gone" while leaning back in the chair and staring toward the ceiling.
For seconds Clay simply sat there while rubbing his forehead slowly.
Clay was still thinking about the marriage arrangement and the girl.
Then the thought returned again.
Was I really reincarnated into a novel as a minor villain… or did someone place these strange memories inside my head for some kind of dangerous plan that would put me in danger?
Clay still could not answer that question.
To him, this world had always felt normal until a few days ago when those strange memories suddenly appeared inside his mind. It brought knowledge about his other life on a distant world called Earth.
According to those memories, this world resembled the cultivation stories he once read, except the entire system had developed differently.
People who practice cultivation do not get to the Qi Infusion Realm they get to the Mana Infusion Realm.
Next they do not move to the Qi Condensation Realm they move to the Mana Condensation Realm when they make progress.
The traditional Foundation Establishment stage had its own version called the Mana Foundation Realm.
And the higher realms continued beyond that.
The concept was similar but shaped by a completely different culture and environment.
Clay had to admit that the system sounded dangerous because cultivation worlds were famous for violence, betrayal, and constant fighting for resources.
However, the strange part was that his body possessed extremely good talent.
His mana flowed smoothly.
His senses were sharp.
His family was powerful.
In other words, he perfectly matched the profile of the arrogant young masters who usually appeared in stories as early villains.
The final confirmation came when his father announced the engagement.
The Absolute Ice Body girl.
He immediately had a warning signal go off in his head. It was so loud that he knew he had to get out of there fast. So he packed up all his stuff. Ran away from the capital. He did this before anyone could catch him and stop him from leaving.
Because he knew exactly how those stories usually progressed.
The villain bullied the hero.
The hero defeated the villain.
The villain died.
Clay refused to join their game, what more of becoming a stepping stone!?
Suddenly a loud mechanical noise echoed in his head.
ALERT! ALERT!
Clay straightened instantly.
"Huh?"
A screen was in front of him... Then a voice erupted inside his mind.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
THE HOST IS NOT ACTING ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPT, LEFT THE CAPITAL, AND REFUSED THE ENGAGEMENT. THE HOST IS NOT FOLLOWING THE STORYLINE. PLEASE RETURN TO THE STORYLINE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE RETURN TO THE STORYLINE IMMEDIATELY.
The voice continued without pause, repeating the command again and again while listing things he should do.
HOST CLAY SHOULD ACCEPT THE ENGAGEMENT. HOST CLAY SHOULD ATTEND THE ROYAL BANQUET. HOST CLAY SHOULD TRY TO HUMILIATE THE PROTAGONIST DURING THE BANQUET. HOST CLAY SHOULD INSULT THE HEROINE AND TRIGGER THE PROTAGONIST'S ANGER. HOST CLAY SHOULD CONTINUE PROVOKING THE PROTAGONIST UNTIL DEFEAT. HOST CLAY SHOULD CHALLENGE THE PROTAGONIST AGAIN INSIDE THE SECRET REALM. HOST CLAY SHOULD LOSE AGAIN. HOST CLAY SHOULD BECOME MORE HATEFUL AND IRRATIONAL. HOST CLAY SHOULD FINALLY ATTACK THE PROTAGONIST IN DESPERATION AND DIE BY THE PROTAGONIST'S HAND.
The commands kept repeating like a broken drum in his ear. Clay seemed to have no choice but to listen quietly.
Then he frowned.
"…Why the.... fuck would I do all that?"
The voice paused.
Then it answered.
IF THE HOST COMPLETES THE STORYLINE, THE HOST WILL RECEIVE REWARDS AND WILL RETURN TO THE REAL WORLD AS A TRILLIONAIRE.
Clay coughed lightly and leaned against the window.
"Why would I want to be a trillionaire back there?"
The voice immediately launched into another explanation that sounded like a long advertisement.
THE MODERN WORLD HAS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, AIR CONDITIONING, CLEAN WATER SYSTEMS, SOFT BEDS, TELEVISION, INTERNET, STREAMING ENTERTAINMENT, VIDEO GAMES, SOCIAL MEDIA, HIGH SPEED TRANSPORTATION, MASSIVE CITIES, MODERN MEDICINE, AND COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLES FAR SUPERIOR TO THIS PRIMITIVE WORLD.
Clay gazed out the window while he listened.
Then he casually spat out system contradictory words.
"That argument doesn't make sense, " And he added, "It's garbage."
He pointed toward the fields
"I'm right, inside a world where people can actually fly and shoot lightning from their hands."
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Give the humans a few thousand years. They'll be able to build the same stuff thats out there too."
Then he said with a smile "Besides Earth was really boring. There was no Zombie Apocalypse, no dragons, no magic and no alien invasion. Even the wars there seemed dull compared to what magic users can do. Here everything is way more interesting and far more colorful."
The system remained silent for several seconds before finally replying.
[…]
Clay smirked.
"Exactly…"
The voice tried again.
THE HOST CAN RECEIVE AN ULTIMATE VILLAIN SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE HOST TO GROW STRONGER AND FIGHT THE PROTAGONIST. HOWEVER, THE HOST'S DESTINY REMAINS TO DIE AND RETURN TO EARTH.
Clay laughed softly.
"I don't want that destiny."
He crossed his arms.
"I just want a peaceful life, strong cultivation, good wine, and beautiful women—" he paused, "No!" Then he added, "I want beautiful maids around me."
Then he glanced upward with suspicion.
"And honestly, what are you going to do after my body if I die?"
The room suddenly became cold.
"Take it over!?" Clay said with a sneer. "No way I will let you-"
He's not even done speaking when he immediately feels a lot of pain all of a sudden. It was like fire was spreading through the very veins in his body.
Soon, Clay's body started to shake on its own. He unknowingly took a step forward. This really scared him. He was in a lot of pain and Clay did not know what to do. Somehow, he felt like he was a puppet.
"My body! It's moving on its own!"
Soon, it took another step.
"What? Is someone controlling me? Is it you? Whatever you are!"
Suddenly, he mumbled with a smirk, "Crazy, you can't bribe me so you want to force me to take that role?"
Another step followed. Clay became even more furious.
"What will happen if I make myself unable to join your game?"
In a moment of desperation he hit his middle dantian.
Bang!
Clay fell to his knees struggling to breathe as the magic energy inside him went fast like water from a broken jar.
Next thing happened, the words inside the glowing blue window changed:
HOST UNSUITABLE FOR THE MISSION.
Clay clenched his teeth in pain.
"My cultivation..."
Then—
knock knock.
A voice came from outside the door.
"Young master, shall we enter with the maid I found for you, young master?"