We arrived in a bustling city just in time for the Festival of Radiant Heroes.
It was... awkward.
There were banners everywhere.
Kids running around with toy swords, yelling "JUSTICE BEAM!"
Vendors selling plushies of famous heroes.
And in the center plaza—a massive stage for the Hero Parade.
The problem?
There were wanted posters of me hanging beside the hero banners.
Myra giggled. "You're famous!"
Mimi was munching cotton candy. "They even have a balloon of you."
She pointed to a giant, inflatable me… accidentally stepping on a cartoon pigeon.
I wanted to cry.
---
Liria dragged us into a tavern to lay low.
Inside, people were watching something on a magic crystal screen.
I peeked over.
It was... a cursed TikTok?
The screen showed clips of me:
Tripping over my cape.
Getting slapped by a slime.
Crying over burnt pancakes.
Overlayed with sparkly edits and text like:
> "#VillainBoi #PigeonDestroyer #LowkeyHot?"
Myra was already filming a new one.
"Stop making me viral!" I hissed.
"You're the people's villain now," she said proudly.
---
Then it got worse.
A cheer rose outside.
A booming voice echoed:
> "Citizens! Rejoice! Your savior has arrived!"
I peeked out and froze.
A guy with golden armor, a perfect smile, and a sword taller than Mimi strutted through the plaza.
"It's the Hero of Light," Liria whispered. "Real name: Leo. Super strong. Super famous. Super punchable."
"Why punchable?"
"He once tried to purify a kitten because it scratched him."
"…Wow."
---
Leo stopped near our tavern. Looked right at us.
Myra panicked. "He's scanning the crowd!"
Rina pulled out her spoon. "The spoon says he's looking for you."
I bolted for the back door.
Mimi yelled, "TOO LATE—HE'S COMING!"
Cue chaos.
We dashed through alleyways. Dodged a food cart. Knocked over a mime (sorry, mime).
All while the Hero of Light chased us yelling,
"STOP IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE! AND ALSO BECAUSE YOU OWE ME PANCAKES!"
"…What?" I yelled back.
"YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!"
I didn't.
But we ran faster anyway.
---
[Next Chapter: Spoon Duel, Cult Reunion, and the Legendary Ramen of Destiny]
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