Your Hero Treatment Isn't Great, Huh

For the next two days, Yoru Machi didn't rush back to town. Instead, he meticulously dismembered the useful materials from the Poisonous Demon Dragon and waited outside the village to watch the show.

It wasn't until the third day that Yoru Machi, with his superior senses, heard the bustling sounds from within the village. A large number of villagers had gathered in the central square. Yoru Machi knew that what he had anticipated had indeed come to pass.

At this very moment, Shimada Yousuke was in a miserable state. He was bound to a rack, his body weak and powerless. A large pile of firewood had been placed beneath him, and many villagers were surrounding him, hurling insults and pointing fingers. The old village chief held a torch, clearly preparing to cremate Shimada Yousuke on the spot.

But just as the torch was about to ignite the wood, a sharp glint of steel sliced through the air. The torch in the old village chief's hand was instantly split in two, and Yoru Machi's figure slowly appeared in everyone's sight.

"Yo, Yousuke, haven't seen you in two days, and it seems the treatment you're getting as a Hero isn't all that great.

Are you moved by me? This should be the second time I've saved you."

Seeing Yoru Machi appear, Shimada Yousuke, who was tied to the rack, had a complex expression. He hadn't expected things to unfold exactly as Yoru Machi had predicted.

After Yoru Machi left that day, when Shimada Yousuke expressed that he had a way to solve the village's water problem, the old village chief and the others were ecstatic. They even offered the village's meager remaining water and food to entertain Shimada Yousuke.

Unfortunately, due to his appearance, the girls assigned by the village chief were reluctant to approach Shimada Yousuke. Their reason was that he looked like a half-beastman, and they couldn't bring themselves to get close to him.

However, even though the villagers looked at him with prejudice, Shimada Yousuke was still very helpful and solved the village's water problem.

Using magic and modern knowledge, he created a jar that could automatically produce water. But he didn't know that this village had religious beliefs. They believed that water was only pure if it flowed from underground or was obtained from rivers.

Water created out of thin air by Shimada Yousuke was considered "Demon Water" because it had no source.

Coupled with his half-beastman appearance and now this "Demon Water," Shimada Yousuke was naturally deemed a forbidden existence.

In terms of combat power, the villagers were naturally no match for Shimada Yousuke. However, using the excuse of "gratitude" for his help, the old village chief and the others invited Shimada Yousuke to a feast.

This feast, however, was clearly enhanced compared to the previous one.

When Shimada Yousuke woke up again, he found his limbs bound and powerless, which was the scene Yoru Machi had just witnessed.

"You are the adventurer who slew the Poisonous Demon Dragon. You haven't left yet? We know this half-beastman is someone you know, but he has violated our village's taboos. Do not stop us from performing his purification."

Seeing Yoru Machi appear, the old village chief looked somewhat flustered. An adventurer capable of slaying the Poisonous Demon Dragon could wipe them all out as easily as playing a game.

The main reason he dared to face Yoru Machi and speak these words now was that he knew adventurers couldn't indiscriminately kill the innocent.

"You call this purification? How about I throw you into the fire for a bath first? My friend here helped you out of good intentions. Perhaps he accidentally violated your religious beliefs, but your method of handling this is a bit excessive, don't you think?"

Hearing Yoru Machi's words, the old village chief, holding a fork, said with feigned ferocity, "We do indeed desperately want to solve the water problem, but no matter what, we will not drink the rootless Demon Water, as it will erode our souls!"

Watching the old village chief's indignant display, Yoru Machi let out a scoff. He then walked over to the magic jar created by Shimada Yousuke, scooped up a ladle of water, and drank it in front of everyone. "Stop treating your ignorance as faith. The rainwater that falls from the sky, the well water that flows from the ground, the water in the rivers – do you really think these are gifts from the gods? They are merely the atmosphere and water vapor... Forget it, you country bumpkins wouldn't understand even if I explained more. The magic my friend uses is Elf Magic, used in communication with spirits. Therefore, the water he creates originates from Water Sprites. Demon Water? It's utter nonsense. If your gods were so mighty, why didn't they come to your aid when you were being ravaged by the Poisonous Demon Dragon? For a deity who abandoned you in your time of need, you're now going to burn someone who offered you help. Don't you find your actions utterly ridiculous?"

Yoru Machi's speech stunned everyone present. The old village chief tried to speak several times, but the words caught in his throat. He found himself unable to come up with a rebuttal. And if he were to resort to force... it was out of the question. Facing a powerful individual who could single-handedly slay the Poisonous Demon Dragon, they, a group of ordinary people armed with farming tools, were no different from mere ants.

Shimada Yousuke was eventually rescued by Yoru Machi, and the villagers dared not utter a single word.

It wasn't until a long time after Yoru Machi and his group had left that some villagers, driven by unbearable thirst, boldly approached the magic jar created by Shimada Yousuke. They imitated Yoru Machi's action, scooping up a ladle of water and drinking it.

"Village Chief, this water is so sweet. It's really no different from the water we usually drink."

Hearing this villager's words, the others, who could no longer hold back, crowded forward, scrambling for the sole source of water.

"You saved my life again. Thank you so much, Yoru Machi. But how did you know I would be in danger?"

With the help of the spirits, the poison in Shimada Yousuke was quickly dispelled. Looking at Yoru Machi beside him, Shimada Yousuke once again expressed his gratitude and asked the question that had been on his mind.

I should have intervened a little later. At least I should have waited until that old man lit the fire and it started burning your backside. I wanted to teach you a lesson, but it seems this lesson wasn't profound enough. I told you before, this isn't a game; it's a real otherworld. Not everyone is worth helping. Put away your Saintly Heart, or one day you won't even know how you died. You might not be so lucky next time. Don't expect me to always be nearby and willing to save you.

With a silent sigh, Yoru Machi didn't know how to explain it to this naive child, so he chose to quicken his pace and leave.