When Liya sleepily rubbed her eyes, pretending she had just “woken up,” Elder Brother Jon had already tucked away those heavy emotions unfit for a hero.
“Did you sleep well?”
He poked Liya lightly twice as if nothing had happened.
Seeing her nod, he gently lifted the petite “girl” and placed her on top of his head, like wearing a light pink hat.
Jon casually stacked his armor, pulled out a beast sinew rope to tie it together, and carried it with ease, like picking up groceries.
On the way back to the town, Liya stayed sprawled atop Jon’s head, gripping his blond hair as reins—she was probably the only person in the world brave enough to “ride” on a hero’s head and sing.
The pocket-sized girl’s cherry lips moved nonstop, tangling Jon in all sorts of chatter.
“Friend! Did you know?”
“Our Pupu tribe has an ancient myth, a legend that long, long ago, a handsome hero was cursed by a sinister witch, turning him into a Pupu.”
“He needed a beautiful girl’s sincere kiss to turn back into a hero…”
Jon joked, “Why bother turning back? Honestly, I think being a Pupu isn’t bad—bouncing around every day, silly and carefree, happy with just a sip of honey water. So, where do you find the witch you mentioned?”
Liya’s voice caught in her throat.
She never expected a hero to have such a twisted sense of logic.
But then again, if a hero also became a Pupu…
Liya imagined the scene and suddenly shivered.
Hero Pupu! What a beautiful and abstract stat!
Probably could bounce straight to the moon; dash like a Waterdrop from , blowing up two thousand cosmic battleships in five minutes; even the splashes of Pupu water could enchant hundreds of Supreme Slashes.
That’s way too powerful… Cough, cough, no, no, must not imagine, must not imagine.
Compared to the “Hero Pupu,” the magic engineering industry she wanted to develop felt too costly and slow to show results, as if it had lost all meaning.
If she got too obsessed, Liya feared she’d lose her motivation to develop, her mind filled with shortcuts—like figuring out how to turn the hero into a Pupu and integrate him into the Pupu network.
She had worked so hard to gain so much hero magic, all to kickstart magic engineering…
If only for Jon’s sake, she had to at least give it a try, right?
After all, in the early stages of the magic engineering industry, a Craftsman Savant’s universal assistance was indispensable, just perfect to help Elder Jon solve Hope Town’s employment problem.
Once Universal Education spread and enough Engineers were cultivated among the townsfolk, her shortage of intellectual resources would ease, pushing the magic engineering industry forward.
Liya was by no means a goody-two-shoes, but if it was within her power, she never minded lending a hand.
The demons were a living example.
Besides, the person she was helping was a hero she didn’t dislike.
One person and one Pupu returned to the town.
By then, those who should leave had left, those who should stay remained, the banquet nearing its end, past grievances resolved.
Hope Town had shrunk from over three thousand in the morning to seven or eight hundred.
With his heart settled, Jon felt both glad and surprised at how many stayed.
The Empire had lasted a thousand years, royal authority deeply rooted in people’s hearts, yet with just a few trivial deeds, he had gained such support.
—How could he betray this trust?
Jon’s blood boiled again, energy and drive surging through him.
He rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight on.
As he walked, people stood and raised their cups in greeting.
No one knelt this time; after all, those who remained all had a bit of rebellious spirit, defiant of authority at heart.
But their gazes made Jon feel more comfortable and happy than ever.
It was hard to describe—almost as if they truly “saw” him.
Not as a hero, nor as a noble in high office, nor as a manufactured symbol, but purely and warmly… respecting him as Jon.
“Hero!”
Suddenly, a youth stood in the crowd, mustering courage to ask,
“The men left here definitely aren’t leaving. When will you bring the princess out for everyone to see?”
Jon scratched his nose, a little embarrassed.
“Why not just call me ‘Elder Brother Jon’ like before? Feels better to me.”
“Alright, whatever you say, big brother.”
The youth laughed cheerfully.
Not long after, Margaret was reluctantly pushed forward.
Facing all the sharp, staring eyes, she first showed disgust, then pride, raising her elegant neck to apologize unwillingly:
“Fine, fine, fine, it’s come to this. On behalf of the Empire, I apologize to you all. It was our royal family’s lax oversight that allowed a corrupt official like Lord Rossi to harm the country and people.”
Unfortunately, these words might fool obedient dustfolk, but there was no way this gang of little rebels led by a big rebel would buy it.
“Wasn’t the real culprit National Teacher Antonia?”
Someone immediately yelled from below, though only half understanding, then asked a friend nearby:
“What’s a National Teacher’s official position?”
“Should be… the nation’s teacher? Someone in charge of church schools?”
Someone beside them, half understanding, explained.
A knowledgeable one quickly corrected,
“Nonsense! I heard from a storyteller in the city—a National Teacher—one rank below the Emperor, above tens of thousands. Second in Imperial power, nothing less. Antonia was even the teacher of princes and princesses.”
“Oh~”
Everyone’s eyes toward Princess Margaret changed again.
“So she’s a little trouble raised by a great corrupt official!”
Margaret’s eyes widened.
She could hardly believe her ears.
What did she just hear? She heard all of it?
These people dared slander the National Teacher behind her back, even called her… a little trouble???
Are they all crazy?
Margaret’s face turned iron blue with anger.
She was both humiliated and furious.
“You are all traitors! Traitors!”
She shouted.
“Do you really think a hero can protect you for life? I tell you! If you keep this up, sooner or later—”
“I can.”
Jon suddenly cut Margaret off.
Margaret felt like her throat had been cut off mid-sentence.
She couldn’t utter another word, because she realized: it was true.
For a mere thousand rebellious dustfolk, the Emperor wouldn’t even bother arguing with a hero.
Seeing the princess defeated, her face purple as if she’d swallowed a weight, the crowd burst into cheers.
“Oooh oooh oooh oooh——!”
“The little trouble is about to explode——!”
Someone threw a stone at the princess.
Someone else raised a cracked bowl, gulped down water wine, and shouted at the princess:
“Don’t think you can threaten us like this! So what if you can’t protect us? We die, so what! My life’s cheap! Even for a princess, I’d spit just the same!”
When had Margaret ever suffered such humiliation?
She felt like all the humiliation she’d ever experienced in her life was less than what she’d endured tonight.
Worse yet, those daring to insult her were the very dustfolk she usually despised.
“Jon!”
She turned to Jon, seeking help, her tone even carrying a touch of girlish plea.
“We were comrades who fought side by side, after all. Are you really going to let them bully me?”
“Or what?”
Jon spread his hands.
Before Margaret could retort, Jon suddenly stood.
Just that movement was enough to make Margaret shrink back, instinctively covering her backside.
“They only said a few words, and you can’t take it.”
Jon spoke each word earnestly, eyes serious.
“Miss Margaret, when you wanted to push them to death, did you ever consider whether they could bear it?”
“I…I…”
Margaret choked up, tears welling, her eyes growing red and wet.
“Don’t play dumb or dodge the issue, Miss Margaret.”
“Did His Majesty never teach you what to do when you make a mistake?”
“If he didn’t, then today—let me teach you.”
Jon stepped closer, and in Margaret’s eyes, his shadow loomed larger and darker, pressing in like a deep abyss.
She retreated, step by step, sweat soaking her back until it pressed against the wall.
With no way to escape, Margaret could no longer face the pressure Jon brought, nor the fear rising from her heart.
Tears burst forth.
She lowered her proud head, slowly and quietly, finally mumbling like a small animal:
“S…sorry…Jon…”
“Please forgive me, everyone…”
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