“Pa.”
This time, Jon held back his strength.
The branch didn’t draw blood again, only leaving a red mark, but to Margaret, the pain still cut to the bone.
Her heart, which should have been as solid as a rock, wavered.
For a moment, Margaret even felt—this guy was more dignified, more imposing than her own father, the Emperor.
“Do you know what you did wrong?”
Jon asked her.
After the beating, Margaret was no longer wild or proud.
She bit back her humiliation, forcing herself to act meek and obedient.
She sobbed, tears in her eyes, looking pitiful.
“I-I know… I shouldn’t have disregarded human life, interfered with your disaster relief, and ignored the Dead Lining the Roads and Cannibalism among thousands of victims…”
“You know???”
Jon’s eyes widened, making it even harder for him to understand.
If the princess didn’t know about Dead Lining the Roads or Cannibalism, he could explain it as arrogance, childishness, and recklessness—ignorant of the consequences of her own meddling.
But if the princess knew—if she was more aware than anyone—
What did that mean?
Jon didn’t dare think deeper.
The beliefs he’d trusted for eighteen years, the order he’d lived by since childhood, even the blue sky overhead—all began to crumble in that moment.
The branch came down again, this time a bit harder.
He really couldn’t hold back.
After a while, he took a deep breath, his expression heavy.
“Miss Margaret, you’ll be responsible for your own people in the future. You need to be a good noble, like His Majesty—love your people as your own children, be generous, virtuous, and care for the common folk. Do you understand?”
“I understand… Jon, I’ll always listen to you.”
Margaret nodded immediately, obedient as a child in a magic lesson, facing that strict Court Mage.
Her voice was weak, losing its former volume, now gentle and even charming, with a hint of sorrow.
In the distance, the Imperial Guards turned their heads, not daring to watch.
They whispered among themselves.
“Hey, brother, are we really not going to step in? Won’t the princess blame us later?”
“Come on, what’s more important, the princess or your life? Besides, the Hero used a branch to hit the princess—that’s flirting. If he hits us—”
The clever guard pointed at a pillar stuck in the ground.
“—He uses that thing. And swings it with both man and dragon together. Are you scared?”
“…I wouldn’t say scared. Mainly, I can’t bear to lose my dragon.”
“So, let’s play dumb. Look at our captain—he’s the warning. He was knocked out by the Hero before and still hasn’t woken up.”
Kobirio, pretending to sleep on the ground: “……”
How did I end up unconscious for days so silently and naturally? Help! This is bad!
Jon lectured the princess endlessly, from her attitude toward the common folk to being a good person, even more seriously than the morals teachers from her childhood.
He was truly afraid—afraid that a princess like this would one day govern her own land and bring about a disaster a hundred times worse than yesterday.
The princess agreed to everything, more earnest and obedient than anyone.
Jon finally showed a relieved smile.
But as young as he was, he still underestimated the acting skills innate to beautiful women.
“Jon, ride my dragon. I’ll take you back.”
On the way back, Margaret suddenly invited.
Her long lashes fluttered, like two seductive little fans.
Jon, however, hurried over to Kobirio, leaving behind a rejection.
“No, I need to check on Teacher. I feel bad for injuring him.”
Margaret watched Jon’s back as he left, the softness on her face melting away like snow, replaced by a cold emptiness.
The autumn wind was piercing.
On the back of the flying dragon, lifted by the cold wind, Kobirio slowly ‘woke up.’
Looking at Jon’s sincere concern, his feelings were mixed.
“Thanks, Jon.”
He thanked Jon quietly.
Jon thought he was being thanked for his care and grew embarrassed.
“It’s nothing. I was the one who hurt you. I was too rough. Sorry, Teacher.”
Kobirio took a painful gulp of strong liquor, glancing at the White Dragon leading the way.
Suddenly, he sighed, feeling desolate.
“Jon, you’re a good person, but people like you get devoured by the pack of wolves in the Imperial Capital.”
“Listen to your Teacher—when you get to the Capital, don’t say anything, don’t do anything. Whatever His Majesty orders, just accept it, and get to the Borderlands as soon as possible. Never come back unless you have to. Be like Duke Konstantin… the outside is your stage, understand?”
“I don’t really get it, but I trust you, Teacher.”
Jon answered with a smile.
“Mm.”
Kobirio patted Jon’s shoulder, also smiling with relief.
He passed over his flask, sharing the good liquor he’d saved for over four months.
At least in that moment, they were as close as master and student could be.
The speed of a flying dragon was nothing like ordinary beasts of burden.
In no time, Jon was returned to the ruins of the Succubus Shop.
Kobirio sat on the Deputy’s dragon, hovering high in the sky.
He waved at Jon from afar, then followed after the princess.
The people at the Succubus Shop watched this scene with trepidation, unable to tell who had won or lost.
Only Lia, sprawled atop the village chief’s shiny bald head, looked bored, utterly unconcerned by the outcome.
[Go ahead and fight.]
[When more unfortunates like me pile up, you’ll all realize the true value of this Demon King.]
Because she’d been defeated by the Hero so quickly, both humans and demons were starting to look down on her.
During her first defeat, while hiding and recovering, some in the Demon race even claimed she wasn’t even worthy of being called a Demon God’s Chosen and couldn’t fight at all!
Back when she unified the Demon Realm and won a hundred battles, it was all political maneuvering, money, and bribery for fake matches.
Otherwise, why would she have always avoided the Hero, only to be instantly defeated when they finally met?
In truth, Lia was a cautious person.
If she wasn’t one hundred percent certain, she’d never act.
After the battle started, she analyzed the Magic Shadow of every fight the Hero took part in and reached one conclusion:
“This bastard can use Time Stop!”
So even after hiding from the Hero, she kept researching strategies to counter Time Stop.
But reality far exceeded her expectations.
After painstakingly recreating Ancient Transcendent Elf Magic and gaining real Time Stop ability, she finally discovered—the Hero didn’t use Time Stop at all!
His stats were just off the charts! So fast that the Magic Shadow couldn’t even keep up!
What was even more terrifying was that when she stopped the entire world with Time Stop, she found the Hero’s eyes still slowly following her.
At that moment, Lia finally understood the terror Dio felt facing Jotaro.
To deal with the Hero, Lia prepared three separate Ancient Magic Arrays for Time Stop, deploying them in hidden spots around the battlefield—the limit of what she could manage at the time.
The first Time Stop, the Hero could only move his eyes and consciousness, while she didn’t have enough magic left to break through his defenses.
The second Time Stop, she shortened the duration, kept more magic power, and used a killing move.
But by then, the Hero had adapted to Time Stop and blocked her attack with his sword.
As Time Stop ended, the Hero suddenly said:
“I’ve learned it.”
“As long as you’re fast enough, right?”
Lia: “???”
——No! What did you learn?! Brother! Is that right?