Chapter 9: Pu and the Brave Man’s Incognito Visit

The Dustfolk always had endless hardships to endure, and there was never an end to the work on the black land.

No one understood why the young soldier who came to help could work so joyfully, his sweat-drenched face shining with a rare hope and optimism for this land.

Moreover… he seemed to never tire, his whole body brimming with inexhaustible strength, stronger than oxen or horses, mightier even than a dragon.

In just an hour, he dug out all the silt from the entire village.

His efficiency rivaled that of heavy construction machinery.

Liya watched with fascination, like enjoying a Bilibili excavator de-stress video.

But no matter how satisfying, after an hour, it became dull.

Just then, she noticed a few Black Puffpuff rolling in the mud with her peripheral vision and suddenly felt a spark of experimental curiosity.

Liya tried to crawl out from Jon’s arms.

At that moment, Jon was leaning on a hoe, resting and chatting casually with the village chief.

“Although we’ve suffered a disaster, at least the land is still fertile. Once the riverbank is rebuilt and we sow seeds next spring, life is bound to get better, right?”

Jon mused about the future.

The village chief could only force a bitter smile.

In truth, how could things get better?

The autumn harvest was flooded, and just surviving this winter would see countless deaths from hunger.

Those who survived would have to mortgage their land, borrow grain to get through winter, or even sell their children…

But he was embarrassed to share such bleak words with this big-hearted young man before him.

Especially since the other had just returned bleeding from the Magic World Discovery, and would at least be a minor military noble in the future.

Saying too much might offend him.

“Yes,” the village chief could only vaguely agree.

At this moment, a pink, humanoid creature suddenly crawled out from the hero’s collar…

“Magic beast!”

The village chief cried out in shock, pointing at Liya.

“Child, be careful! There’s a magic beast hidden in your clothes!”

The word “magic beast” seemed like an alarm.

The surrounding able-bodied men quickly gathered, tense.

Jon gently caught Liya, placed her in his palm, and hurriedly explained, “Everyone, don’t worry. This isn’t a dangerous magic beast, just a Puffpuff.”

“Puffpuff?”

The village chief was suspicious.

He stared at Liya for a long time, and seeing that her material matched that of the Pink Puffpuff, finally relaxed and marveled, “I’ve learned something new today. There’s even a Puffpuff that looks like a person.”

“Hehe… cough.”

Jon tried to cover his embarrassment.

“This is a new species discovered in the Magic World Discovery.”

“Huh? It’s a Pink Puffpuff and so beautiful, does that mean Jon is…”

A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy suddenly grinned meaningfully.

“What’s wrong with a Pink Puffpuff?”

Jon was confused by the ambiguous looks from the men around him.

“You don’t know?”

The young boy was amazed.

“Know what?”

Jon was even more confused.

Maybe because working together had blurred the lines between soldiers and villagers, the boy began to share some private knowledge with Jon.

“I heard it from traveling merchants… Tried it myself, so it’s not just talk. Jon, you see, if you poke a Pink Puffpuff, make a hole, shape it a bit, then do this and that… it’s even better than a real woman.”

Jon: “?!”

Liya: “!?!!”

Both of them were stunned, their minds going blank.

—There are such depraved operations?!

“Jon, don’t you think Pink Puffpuffs smell wonderful? Actually, the scent has an aphrodisiac effect on humans. In the city, lonely Noblewoman often spray Perfume made from Pink Puffpuff and attend balls to seduce handsome young male servants. From another angle, it’s like we’re sleeping with those Noblewoman~”

This hardworking pilot really didn’t treat Jon as an outsider, enthusiastically sharing his ‘aerospace insights’.

Jon’s face turned scarlet, and he shook his head desperately.

“No! That’s too absurd! You must be lying! How can a person and a Puffpuff… How can a person and a Puffpuff…”

“What’s wrong with Puffpuffs? Jon, haven’t you ever been to a Succubus Shop?”

The pilot began sharing forbidden knowledge again.

Jon certainly knew what a Succubus Shop was—according to the data, it was a Spy Succubus Organization under Demon King Liya.

Demon King Liya had set up Succubus Shops everywhere, using these succubi to gather information on various regions and influential figures, deducing intelligence from the data.

For example, if a region’s Succubus Shop suddenly became packed with burly, silent men, it indicated the Holy Church army had arrived.

Or, if the military supply officers, logistics officers, or military advisors in a city stopped visiting Succubus Shops, it suggested the city was tense and preparing for large-scale military action.

With information provided by the Succubus Shops, Demon King Liya was nearly omniscient and unbeatable in the early stages.

Later, Holy Maiden Yuna came up with a counter-strategy: she sent iron-willed men from the Holy Church army to win over the succubi, establishing the Spy Succubus Organization.

Evidently, demon men couldn’t outlast church men, and the intelligence war ultimately ended in humanity’s favor.

This was historically known as the Grand Operation of Male Beauty.

“I’ve never been to that kind of place.”

Jon shook his head like a rattle-drum.

At that moment, the Puffpuff in his hands started to struggle, and he quickly held it tighter, his expression awkward.

“I think… things like that should be mutual to be truly good, right?”

Jon’s innocent idea made everyone smile knowingly.

But who hasn’t had such pure thoughts before?

No one mocked Jon, in fact, some were envious.

“That’s great, Jon. Your marriage will surely be happy.”

“If everyone longs for mutual affection, why not pursue happiness?”

Jon asked, puzzled.

The pilot only shook his head.

“We can’t even secure our own lives. What right do we have to chase happiness?”

Jon was speechless, stunned.

He suddenly realized how lucky he was, how blessed by the gods.

Compared to the countless struggling countrymen in the world, his own grievances were as light as a feather.

The short rest ended quickly.

Jon went back to work, while Liya continued to struggle and act cute in the hero’s hand, finally earning a rare moment of freedom.

The “legs” formed by liquid kept dissolving, so Liya anxiously crawled across the ground, hiding in a dark spot away from the hero’s sight.

She was still shaken.

Oh my god, humans here are too perverse! How can there be such things as Puffpuff-fucking!

With so many beautiful girls around the dog hero, he shouldn’t target me, right?

He shouldn’t… right?

Thinking of those three otherworldly, beautiful powerhouses, Liya felt a bit more at ease.

Once she calmed down, Liya started pondering over the current hero party…

The scatterbrained hero, the grumpy princess, the fun-loving elf, and the pink-and-black saint.

And herself, the reverse-traitor Puffpuff demon king.

Tsk, with this lineup, why not just form a band?

She even had a name ready—Mother Hen Card.

Everyone in the Mother Hen Card Band wants to poke Great Xiang Sensei…

And everyone in the Rooster Card Band…

Liya poked left and bumped right, absentmindedly directing the Black Puffpuff to follow.

She replayed the day’s events seriously and suddenly sensed a hint of crisis from nearly being eaten.

As the ancients said: the infighting after victory is the hardest to endure.

Though her appearance was pure coincidence, the way she was treated made it clear that the hero team had already begun harboring individual ambitions.

Some aimed high for power, some schemed to fan the flames, some sabotaged, hoping to see the team explode.

By sticking with the hero, she risked becoming the focal point of these struggles.

But this had its advantages too—the more others tried to harm her, the more the hero would be forced to value her.

Either way, having more skills was always better.

Liya’s gaze fell on the long line of silly Black Puffpuff behind her.

Rock Puffpuff, 19 centimeters tall, heavy weight, volume nearly six liters.

Special ability is “hardening”—can temporarily harden itself, rebound physical attacks, or jump up and use its heavy, hardened body to smash enemies’ toes.

Don’t underestimate it—it’s considered one of the more formidable Puffpuff.

“……”

Still so weak!

Liya felt a headache coming.

In terms of combat strength, Puffpuffs were truly pitiful.

However, after years running the Magic World Discovery, and being adept at waste utilization, she quickly came up with some interesting ideas.