《Pumpkin's Path》


 Chapter: 0 -(End and the Beginning)

    Ah, the infamous Evil Continent. It goes by many names¡ªdemonic continent, Dark Land, Charred Land¡ªbut I prefer to keep it simple: evil continent, because, well, it''s pretty evil. You might be wondering how a piece of land can be inherently evil. Let me enlighten you with a few examples.


    First off, plants don''t exactly flourish here. Sure, you might plant a fruit tree, but instead of juicy apples or sweet oranges, you''ll end up with monstrous trees sprouting tentacles that are more interested in impaling unsuspecting passersby than providing a healthy snack. Not exactly paradise, huh?


    And the air? Poisonous gas. The water? Poisonous swamp. Basically, if it''s life-sustaining, you won''t find it here. Oh, and did I mention the evil continent has a rather nasty habit of growing by devouring the land around it? Yeah, it''s like a hungry beast that just can''t stop munching.


    But enough about the evil continent. Let''s talk about my current predicament.


    Here I am, locked in the fight of my life at the Devouring Palace, nestled deep within the core of this malevolent land. And who''s my opponent, you ask? None other than the big bad himself, the Evil Lord, also known as the mightiest evil, the enemy of the world, Demon God, Devouring Emperor Melos.


    Now, before you get too impressed, I should probably introduce myself. Embarrassing as it is to admit, I''m the so-called savior of humanity, Hero Titus. Yep, that''s me. And right now, I''m doing what heroes do best¡ªtrying to kick some evil butt.


    You''d think, being the strongest hero in history, I''d have this in the bag. But Melos? He''s no pushover. We''ve been at it for seven grueling days, and let me tell you, the Devouring Palace? It''s seen better days. Instead of a majestic fortress, we''ve turned it into a massive crater, courtesy of our little brawl.


    As for my party? Well, let''s just say they decided to bail on me before things got too messy. Cowards, the lot of them. But hey, who needs ''em, right? I''ve got enough heroism for everyone.


    Now, as for the current state of affairs, I''m not exactly in the best shape. Melos''s last attack cost me a limb or two¡ªleft leg, left hand, gone in a flash. But hey, at least I managed to leave a mark on him too. My holy sword, Durandal, landed a pretty sweet blow¡ªthe Divine Slash, I call it. Took out the lower half of his body, it did.


    Now, he''s floating there, trying to patch himself up with his ultimate regeneration skills. But guess what? Evil aura may be powerful, but it''s got nothing on the Divine Slash. His wound ain''t healing anytime soon.


    And yet, despite his precarious situation, he''s still grinning like a maniac, laughing like there''s no tomorrow. Big, intimidating, and oozing evil aura¡ªjust another day at the office for ol'' Melos.


    "Hero Titus! You are simply the best. I''ve been waiting for a fight like this for eons. Many heroes before you tried, but all failed. Some couldn''t even scratch me, while others willingly joined hands with me just to save their skins. But you! You''re different. Why don¡¯t you join me? I can transform you into an evil being. Together, we can take the whole world and rule it for eternity. What do you think?" Melos asked, his grin stretching from ear to ear.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    "You must be kidding! I don¡¯t want to grow horns and become as ugly as you by joining the evil race. I still want to marry a beautiful wife after defeating you," I replied, a hint of disgust creeping into my voice.


    "Too bad. It would have been interesting. On the other hand, killing each other is the best," Melos said with madness gleaming in his eyes.


    After our exchange, we both prepared for our final attack and unleashed our strongest moves. The collision shook the entire evil continent to its core.


    When the dust settled, both of us stood still. Well, sort of. I had a massive hole in the middle of my chest, where my heart used to be. And Melos? Well, he was standing there, holding my heart in his hand, with a giant golden sword sticking out of his own chest.


    We were both as good as dead.


    "Good job, hero! Your name will be written in history as the one and only hero who was able to kill me. Be proud. You have the right to do so!" Melos said, admiration lacing his words.


    "I am always proud of myself; I don¡¯t need your recognition!" I replied weakly.


    But deep down, I couldn''t help but wonder what my aristocrat party members would say. Would they celebrate my victory, or would they brand me a traitor and claim the achievement for themselves?


    "Oh? So, you think that your companions will betray you? And still, you sacrificed your life for such people?" Melos asked, genuine surprise in his voice.


    "Stop reading my mind! I will not die," I retorted angrily.


    Just as Melos was about to respond, the already dark evil continent was engulfed in pitch-black darkness. An extremely powerful evil aura, hundreds of times stronger than Melos''s, swept over us, forcing both of us to our knees. Even Melos looked shaken by its power.


    For the first time in my life, I felt insignificant¡ªa mere speck of dust in the face of such overwhelming power. The darkness consumed not just the evil continent, but the entire world.


    But just as suddenly as it had appeared, the pressure vanished, leaving no trace behind.


    When everything calmed down, Melos started laughing maniacally again.


    "Hero Titus! You people never fail to amuse me. It looks like you''ve given birth to another monster just like me, but much, much stronger, with your endless greed, lust, and envy. So, you died for nothing. Even I feel sorry for you. But not as much as I feel sorry for the people of the world. However, it''s not your burden anymore, as you are already dead," Melos said, his voice tinged with pity.


    "I already told you I will not die!" I replied, my frown deepening.


    "What do you¡­ oh! You are blessed with such a powerful skill," Melos exclaimed, genuinely surprised.


    "Stop reading my mind and just die!" I said, anger seeping into my voice.


    "What''s the use of being alive? Do you think you can defeat that monster from before? Just die and end your suffering," Melos teased.


    With that, the mighty evil king, the Devouring Emperor, disintegrated into the air. As a result, a large amount of evil aura vanished, and the size of the evil continent shrank, no longer devouring the surrounding lands.


    I was also dying.


    So, this is what death feels like? It''s like slowly fading into darkness, memories of my life flashing before my eyes. Hardly any good memories to speak of. What a crappy life it''s been.


    Even though I won''t truly die because of my skill, is it worth living my life again? Maybe I should take Melos''s advice and just die. Besides, that monster from before is way out of my league.


    But then again, the thought of following Melos''s advice really ticks me off. Just the idea of meeting him in hell while he laughs at me for committing suicide makes my blood boil.


    "Melos, you bastard! Go burn in hell for eternity. Just you wait, I''ll send that new monster your way so you can both burn and lament while hugging each other in hell," I cursed loudly for one last time.


    And with that, I activated my skill and took my final breath.

 Chapter: 1 ( I am the Protagonist, right?)

    Title: I am the Protagonist, right?


    Suru Village.


    A remote fishing village nestled in the heart of the Reca continent, one of the five major continents of the world. The village hugged the banks of a lively river, its waters serving as both the lifeline and livelihood for the locals.


    Today, Suru was unrecognizable. The annual fair had transformed this usually sleepy hamlet into a bustling carnival of sights, sounds, and smells. It was the highlight of the year, a time eagerly anticipated by the villagers. Merchants from far-off lands arrived, their carts brimming with both essential goods and luxury items that made the villagers¡¯ eyes light up like fireflies in the night.


    The festive air was contagious. Children darted around in bright, mismatched clothes, their faces painted with wide grins as they ogled toy stalls and mouthwatering food stands. For them, the fair was a wonderland. Adults, on the other hand, indulged in more adult versions of fun¡ªsome a little less wholesome.


    One group huddled around a makeshift gambling corner, where dreams were shattered with the roll of a dice. A particularly unlucky fisherman was seen slamming his head into the ground after losing his entire year¡¯s savings to a cackling merchant. Meanwhile, a cluster of men guzzled cheap liquor, their drunken brawls doubling as accidental vomit fights.


    In the midst of this chaos, love was in the air¡ªor at least something resembling it. Young couples shyly flirted under the shade of the fair tents, exchanging nervous glances and whispered promises. Older couples, unbothered by shame or decency, clung to each other in full public displays of affection. On occasion, one might spot an older man getting smacked over the head with a fish for his wandering eyes. And, of course, no village fair was complete without that one pervert suspiciously offering candies to kids who wisely stayed at arm''s length.


    Yet, amidst all the commotion, one corner of the fair was attracting more attention than any stall or stage. A cluster of children had gathered, their excited chatter building like a swarm of bees.


    At the center of the crowd stood a little girl¡ªexcept ¡°ordinary¡± didn¡¯t quite apply to her. She looked like a tiny princess, her outfit so fancy and out of place it was as though she¡¯d been plucked straight out of a royal ball and dropped among a flock of scruffy chickens.


    Some of the boys in the group were clearly smitten. Armed with their newest toys, they clumsily tried to impress her.


    ¡°Hey, look at this!¡± one boy said, waving a wooden top with so much force it flew out of his hand and bonked another child on the head.


    The girl, however, didn¡¯t seem to notice their efforts. Instead, she stood motionless, her wide eyes scanning her surroundings like she¡¯d woken up in a foreign land.


    Suddenly, she bolted toward a mirror stall, grabbed a small mirror with trembling hands, and stared at her reflection. The next moment, she let out a scream so piercing it silenced the entire group of kids.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± the boys chorused, rushing to her side.


    One particularly bold boy¡ªwho had the swagger of a rooster and the brainpower of a particularly dim rock and is the village bully¡ªtook charge. ¡°Hmph! You losers, back off! This beauty will be my girlfriend!¡± he declared, puffing out his chest like a warrior claiming a kingdom.


    He strode up to the girl, chest puffed out further than his sense of reality. ¡°Hey, little beauty, don¡¯t cry! Come with me, and I¡¯ll buy you so many toys your tiny head will spin. My father¡¯s the head of this village, you know!¡± He grinned like a king bestowing charity upon his loyal subjects.


    The girl didn¡¯t even glance at him. She was still too busy shrieking like she¡¯d seen a ghost. The crowd of kids exploded into laughter, their jeering cutting deeper than the cold wind.


    Embarrassed but undeterred, the bully grabbed the girl¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll protect you. From now on, you¡¯ll be my little girlfriend.¡±


    At his touch, the girl stopped screaming. Her wide eyes blinked as if snapping back to reality.


    ¡°Girlfriend?¡± she repeated, her voice weak, confused.


    ¡°Yes,¡± the boy said smugly. ¡°Now no one will dare to mess with you!¡± He shot a triumphant glare at the other boys, who shrank back like scolded puppies.


    Before he could bask in his imaginary victory, the girl¡¯s grip on his hand tightened¡ªno, crushed¡ªit.


    ¡°Girlfriend?¡± she hissed, her expression darkening like a thundercloud. ¡°What do you mean, girlfriend? I¡¯M A BOY, YOU IDIOT!¡±


    The air froze. The next moment, the supposed ¡°girl¡± launched a punch squarely at the bully¡¯s face, sending him sprawling onto the dirt. Gasps and screams erupted as the boy flailed under a relentless barrage of kicks and punches.


    ¡°Help! Somebody help me!¡± the bully cried, his voice cracking as his dreams of romance shattered alongside his pride. ¡°Why is this little beauty so strong? What did I do to deserve this?!¡±


    It was only after relentless begging¡ªand several teary cries of ¡°Grandaddy, please forgive me!¡±¡ªthat the beating finally stopped.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The ¡°girl¡± gave one last kick for good measure. ¡°Don¡¯t ever call me a girl again. Got it?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Grandaddy!¡± the boy wailed, bolting away like a scared rabbit. As he ran, he muttered to himself, ¡°I thought I found a beauty for a girlfriend¡­ Turns out she¡¯s a mountain gorilla in disguise!¡±


    Meanwhile, the ¡°girl¡± stood still, her chest heaving as she tried to calm herself. After a moment, her hands moved nervously toward her crotch. Her face tensed as she checked¡ªand then relaxed.


    ¡°Oh, thank goodness,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯ve still got my balls.¡± Then, with sudden relief, she shouted for the world to hear, ¡°I¡¯VE GOT BALLS! I¡¯VE GOT BALLS!¡±


    The surrounding villagers froze, their heads swiveling toward the peculiar little ¡°girl.¡± A collective wave of pity swept over them.


    ¡°Poor thing,¡± one old woman whispered to her husband. ¡°She¡¯s so cute, but she clearly doesn¡¯t have all her marbles.¡±


    ¡°Alas,¡± another sighed, shaking his head. ¡°God is too cruel sometimes.¡±


    But right now, the ¡°girl¡± was far too ecstatic to care about the judgmental stares of the villagers. In fact, he¡ªyes, he¡ªwas overjoyed to be a man again.


    ¡°I remember dying after defeating the Evil Emperor,¡± he thought, a triumphant grin forming on his face. ¡°And just before dying, I activated my one-time skill, Second Life. After that, everything went blank.¡± His expression grew contemplative.


    ¡°Did I take over this boy¡¯s body?¡± He paused, inspecting his reflection in a nearby puddle. ¡°No... this face looks exactly like mine when I was a child, even though I¡¯m dressed like a cursed princess. I didn¡¯t possess anyone¡ªI am this kid!¡±


    He paced aimlessly through the fair, piecing together the puzzle. ¡°If I had to guess, I reincarnated using my skill. My memories must¡¯ve been locked away because this young body couldn¡¯t handle all my greatness at once.¡± He smirked at his own brilliance, his confidence swelling.


    ¡°Still¡­ why can¡¯t I remember anything from my current life? Maybe my brain¡¯s just taking time to sync my past and present memories?¡± He nodded, feeling quite pleased with his deduction.


    Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the ¡°princess¡± you¡¯re looking at is none other than Titus, the legendary hero reborn!


    As he wandered through the bustling fair, lost in thought, he stumbled into a particularly lively area. Merchants were shouting their sales pitches, customers haggling loudly, and children tugging at their parents for sweets. But amidst the noise and chaos, one peculiar figure caught his attention.


    The man looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties, though it was hard to tell because his hair was such a chaotic mess it could be mistaken for a black pumpkin. He was average in height and appearance, yet something about him screamed bizarre. He wore a bright yellow cape, sunglasses that covered half his face, and sat perched atop a massive brown box that was roughly his own size.


    The whole ensemble¡ªthe hair, the cape, the shades, and the box¡ªwas so outlandish that he looked less like a man and more like a traveling circus act gone rogue.


    As soon as Titus¡¯s eyes landed on this man, a sharp pain shot through his head. His knees buckled slightly, and memories began to flood back into his mind.


    Meanwhile, the peculiar man was busy trying to recruit a young girl, no older than ten, who stood before him with wide, suspicious eyes.


    ¡°Hey, young lady!¡± the man began, his voice dripping with self-assured mystique. ¡°You have the perfect bone structure to become the future hero! You just need the right training. But don¡¯t worry¡ªunder my guidance, The Great Grand Master¡¯s training, nothing is impossible! What do you say? Care to join me as my student?¡±


    The girl took a cautious step back, her mother¡¯s warnings echoing in her head. ¡°But my mom told me not to follow strange people,¡± she replied, narrowing her eyes.


    ¡°Strange? Me?!¡± The man pointed to himself in exaggerated disbelief. ¡°I am not strange! Look at this!¡± He whipped out a piece of candy from seemingly nowhere and dangled it in front of her face. ¡°See? I¡¯m perfectly trustworthy. I even have candy!¡±


    The combination of his grin, his wild getup, and the suspiciously conjured candy sent the girl bolting in the opposite direction.


    ¡°Ayah! Another failed attempt,¡± he muttered, slumping back onto his box. ¡°Maybe I just need more candies¡­¡±


    Just as he was about to chase after the girl, his eyes landed on another target: a bruised and battered ¡°bully¡± boy limping toward him.


    ¡°Ah!¡± The strange man¡¯s face lit up like he¡¯d struck gold. ¡°Young man! What injustice has been done to you? How could someone as strong and valiant as you suffer such a cruel defeat?¡± He placed a sympathetic hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder.


    At first, the bully flinched, startled by the man¡¯s ridiculous appearance. But when he saw the genuine concern in his eyes, he sniffled and nodded.


    ¡°Fear not!¡± the man declared, leaping off his box dramatically. ¡°I can see the sleeping tiger within you! With the proper training, you¡¯ll become so strong that no underhanded tactics could ever defeat you again. Join me, and I shall make you unstoppable!¡±


    The boy¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope, his bruises momentarily forgotten. ¡°Master! I want to be your student! Please, tell me your honorable name!¡±


    The strange man¡¯s face split into a victorious grin. ¡°At last!¡± he thought to himself. ¡°I finally hooked a fish¡ªI mean, found a student!¡± He chuckled maniacally, his laugh so theatrical it made nearby passersby pause in confusion.


    Noticing the boy¡¯s wary expression, the man quickly cleared his throat and struck a pose. ¡°Ahem. I am the Great Grand Master! The world knows me by the name of Grand Master Pumpkin.¡±


    He placed a hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Come, my young apprentice! Let me introduce you to your senior student.¡± He pointed toward Titus¡ªstill dressed in a princess gown¡ªwho was clutching his head and groaning as fragmented memories pieced themselves together.


    ¡°Ah, there she is! Your senior sister, Potat!¡± Pumpkin declared with gusto. ¡°She¡¯s as beautiful as a pumpkin pie. Feel free to woo her, if you think you¡¯re capable. Consider it a welcome gift from your master!¡±


    Titus¡ªor rather, Potat¡ªfroze mid-groan. His eyes widened in horror as his mind finally connected all the dots.


    ¡°I remember! I finally remember everything!¡± he shouted, relief surging through him. But when he turned and saw Pumpkin¡¯s grinning face inches from his own, that relief turned to despair.


    ¡°Wait¡­ no. NO! I wish I didn¡¯t remember!¡± he wailed.


    Pumpkin blinked, tilting his head. ¡°Did this kid hit his head or something? He better not ruin my brilliant plans,¡± he thought.


    ¡°Hmph! Where are your manners, Potat?¡± Pumpkin scolded, wagging his finger like a disappointed teacher. ¡°Is that how you greet your master? Honestly, I expected better from you.¡±


    Titus¡¯s eye twitched. ¡°Don¡¯t call me Potat!¡± he snapped.


    Pumpkin ignored him entirely. ¡°Anyway,¡± he said, turning to the bully boy, ¡°this is your senior sister, Potat. Isn¡¯t she lovely? From now on, you¡¯ll train together. What a wonderful start to your heroic journey!¡±


    Titus clutched his head and wailed again. ¡°No! It can¡¯t be! How did I, the legendary hero, end up as the student of this fraud? And why does it feel like I¡¯m just a side character in his story?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Potat,¡± Pumpkin said, his voice full of mock concern. ¡°Did you eat something weird again? Let me check your belly.¡±


    ¡°Stay away from me, you crazy bastard!¡± Titus yelled, jumping back. ¡°And don¡¯t ever call me Potat!¡±


    And so, the strange journey of the Great Grand Master Pumpkin and the reincarnated hero Titus¡ªbegrudgingly known as Potat¡ªbegan.

 Chapter: 2 (Pumpkin vs The Mob)

    In the world of Dystopia, peace was more of a myth than a reality. War, famine, plagues, natural disasters, magical beast stampedes, and, most terrifying of all, the creeping threat of the Evil Continent were just a few of the daily dangers that haunted its people.


    But at this very moment, in a remote village on the Reca continent, the impossible was happening¡ªa rare moment of peace. The village fair had become a sanctuary, a place where villagers could forget their hardships and immerse themselves in the joy of food, laughter, and festivities.


    Well, almost everyone.


    There was one notable exception: a ¡°bully¡± looking boy, somewhere between the ages of 11 and 12, who was currently sprinting through the fair as if a demon was hot on his trail. His chubby little legs pumped furiously, sweat pouring down his red, puffy face.


    ¡°Help! Somebody, anybody, please help me!¡± he screamed, his voice cracking with desperation.


    And what, you ask, was this boy¡¯s nightmare?


    Could it be the suspicious-looking man chasing him? The one wearing a yellow cape, oversized sunglasses, and carrying a massive, dirty box on his head? The man who was shouting, ¡°Don¡¯t run, my precious! I¡¯ll throw in some homemade pumpkin candy and let you woo my first student as your girlfriend!¡±


    Or perhaps it was the cute little ¡°girl¡± in a frilly princess dress running behind the man, her face red with fury as she panted, ¡°Stop! You stupid old man! I¡¯ll kill you for tricking me into wearing this stupid dress and using me as bait!¡±


    Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the village bully¡¯s worst nightmare was none other than the self-proclaimed Grand Master Pumpkin and his unfortunate disciple, the former great hero now known as Potat.


    And yes, Potat was currently cross-dressing.


    The bully had learned the hard way that Pumpkin was not the wise and noble mentor he¡¯d been promised. After discovering that Pumpkin was the master of the so-called ¡°mountain gorilla¡± (aka Potat, the ¡°princess¡± who had beaten him to a pulp earlier), the bully had concluded that this yellow-caped weirdo was a fraud. And now, seeing Pumpkin barreling toward him with his big box and creepy candy, the bully was convinced that his worst fears were about to come true¡ªa second beating in a single day.


    ¡°No! Don¡¯t come near me! Stay away!¡± he cried, tears streaming down his face.


    ¡°This is what I get for being greedy!¡± the bully thought bitterly. ¡°Why did I try to impress a cute ¡®girl¡¯ when I look like a squashed potato?!¡±


    Despite his desperate attempts to escape, Pumpkin was gaining on him, even with the massive box balanced on his head. Just as the bully braced himself for the inevitable, something miraculous happened.


    ¡°Stop right there, you pervert!¡±


    Standing between the bully and Pumpkin was a middle-aged woman, her round figure casting an imposing shadow. In her hands was a bamboo broom that looked like it had seen its fair share of action. Her furious glare could have melted stone.


    The bully didn¡¯t waste a second. He let out a sigh of relief, darted past the woman, and disappeared into the crowd, leaving his nightmare behind.


    Pumpkin blinked at the woman a few times, his momentum halting. ¡°Hmm, who might you be, madam? Do you need something from me?¡±


    At that moment, he noticed a frightened young girl clinging to the woman¡¯s side. Recognition flashed across his face.


    ¡°Ah, I see! You¡¯ve returned to become my student!¡± Pumpkin exclaimed, his tone brimming with pride. ¡°I knew it. No one in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to train under The Great Grand Master Pumpkin! Ha ha ha!¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Behind him, Potat snorted so loudly it almost drowned out Pumpkin¡¯s laughter.


    ¡°Hmph.¡±


    Pumpkin ignored the disdainful noise and puffed out his chest. But before he could shower himself with more praise, the little girl spoke up, her voice trembling.


    ¡°Mummy, this is the bad man who tried to take me away!¡± she cried, pointing an accusing finger at Pumpkin.


    The middle-aged woman¡¯s eyes blazed with fury. Her grip on the bamboo broom tightened, and she raised it high, ready to deliver justice in the form of a thorough beating.


    Sensing danger, Pumpkin¡¯s brain went into overdrive. He straightened up and adopted a dignified tone.


    ¡°Misunderstanding! This is all a huge misunderstanding!¡± he said, holding up his hands defensively. ¡°Beautiful young lady, do you really think an upright man like me would kidnap anyone? If I were to kidnap someone, I¡¯d at least choose someone as stunningly beautiful as you.¡±


    The woman froze mid-swing, her expression shifting from rage to surprise. ¡°You think I¡¯m¡­ beautiful?¡± she asked, a blush creeping across her cheeks.


    Pumpkin¡¯s instincts kicked into high gear. ¡°Of course!¡± he declared, flashing a confident grin.


    The woman¡¯s face turned a deep shade of red. ¡°Oh, my¡­ I had no idea I was so attractive¡­¡±


    Potat, standing a few steps behind Pumpkin, slapped his own forehead in exasperation. ¡°This is the guy who¡¯s supposed to teach me? I¡¯m doomed.¡±


    Meanwhile, Pumpkin mentally congratulated himself. ¡°Pumpkin, oh Pumpkin, your charm is truly unstoppable. Women can¡¯t help but fall for you!¡±


    After Pumpkin¡¯s little flight of fancy, he decided to speak again, his voice dripping with exaggerated charm.


    ¡°No! I was wrong! You¡¯re not beautiful.¡±


    The middle-aged woman froze. Her joyous expression soured, replaced by one of both disappointment and bubbling anger. ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    But before she could swing her trusty bamboo broom, Pumpkin raised a hand dramatically, a sly smile spreading across his face. His next words made the woman beam like a pig who¡¯d stumbled across a whole bucket of rotten vegetables.


    ¡°That¡¯s because the word beautiful isn¡¯t worthy of describing your beauty!¡± he declared, throwing his arms wide. ¡°Even the moon is ashamed to show its face before you, and the sun burns with jealousy of your radiant smile. Look at it¡ªtrying so hard to outshine you!¡±


    He pointed dramatically at the blazing summer sun hanging in the sky, as if it were part of some celestial conspiracy.


    The middle-aged woman¡¯s face lit up, her barrel-like body swaying with joy like a toddler who¡¯d just been handed a lollipop. She let out a hearty, childlike laugh, thoroughly enchanted by Pumpkin¡¯s oily flattery.


    Potat, however, was far from charmed. Watching the woman giggle and wiggle, combined with Pumpkin¡¯s over-the-top bootlicking, was too much for him. He gagged audibly.


    ¡°Ugh¡­ I think I¡¯m gonna puke.¡±


    Pumpkin, confident he had the situation well under control, decided to push his luck further. A dreadful smile spread across his face¡ªa smile so unnerving that the little girl beside the middle-aged woman shuddered.


    ¡°Now I understand why your daughter has such incredible dormant potential!¡± Pumpkin exclaimed; his tone heavy with fake admiration. ¡°She must¡¯ve inherited it from you, of course. In fact, I¡¯d say your hidden potential even surpasses hers! Why don¡¯t both of you become my students? Together, we¡¯ll carve your names into history as the greatest heroes of the future!¡±


    The middle-aged woman¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. She seemed seconds away from making the worst decision of her life when, once again, fate intervened.


    This time, it came in the form of a towering, muscular man¡ªa bald giant over two meters tall with arms thicker than most tree trunks. He stormed toward the scene, his heavy footsteps making the ground tremble slightly.


    Unlike the middle-aged woman, this man was not swayed by Pumpkin¡¯s sweet words. He didn¡¯t bother with pleasantries or questions. Instead, he grabbed Pumpkin by the collar and hoisted him into the air like a scrawny chicken.


    ¡°Brat!¡± the giant boomed, his voice deep enough to make nearby children cry. ¡°Not only did you try to kidnap my daughter, but now you¡¯re seducing my wife?! You must have a death wish!¡±


    Dangling helplessly in the air, Pumpkin flailed like a fish out of water, his oversized sunglasses slipping down his nose. ¡°Wait, wait! This is all a misunderstanding!¡± he squeaked, trying to squirm free.


    Watching from a safe distance, Potat was practically rolling on the ground laughing. ¡°Serves you right, you stupid old man!¡± he howled, clutching his sides.


    The giant¡¯s grip on Pumpkin tightened, veins bulging on his massive arms. ¡°You¡¯ve got ten seconds to explain yourself before I turn you into Pumpkin stew,¡± he growled, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.


    Meanwhile, Pumpkin¡¯s mind raced. He quickly realized that his usual charm and flattery weren¡¯t going to work here. For the first time in a long while, the so-called ¡°Grand Master Pumpkin¡± was truly out of his depth.