Am I the Villain?

After entering the town, Xiao Ying wore a perfect smile on her face, while Su Mo, walking behind her, bore multiple bite marks across his body.

Eventually, Su Mo couldn’t help but laugh out loud, which made Xiao Ying feel something was off. After Su Mo explained the truth, he earned another loving bite from Xiao Ying.

“Hmph, to be so violent toward someone who admires you—what would you do if you knew my true identity?”

With his naturally easygoing personality, Su Mo decided not to argue with Xiao Ying about it.

“But come to think of it, am I a man or a woman now?”

Suddenly pondering this question, Su Mo fell into thought.

Logically, his current male appearance was created by a mask, and Edenia’s form was his true self. More importantly, even in his male form, he still lacked the familiar “little brother” below.

“So… I’m actually a girl? But why hide my identity?

Could it be that I’m actually some kind of villain boss?”

Thinking this, Su Mo shivered involuntarily.

“No, no way. How could a villain look this good? In games, characters like this are usually just there to wield knives and trick players’ tears.”

“What are you mumbling about?”

Xiao Ying, walking ahead, turned around, puzzled to see Su Mo muttering to himself with his head down.

“Ah, nothing. Just thinking how much cuter Xiao Ying has become.”

Hearing this, a blush instantly appeared on Xiao Ying’s face. She let out a slightly tsundere huff, turned her head, and spoke in a voice brimming with happiness:

“Don’t try that on me—you tricked me first! I won’t forgive you so easily.”

If Su Mo hadn’t explained, Xiao Ying might have gone around the town asking everyone, “Can you be my stubborn fool?”

If anyone actually understood that, Xiao Ying felt she’d socially die and never come back to this town.

Once inside, the scene was as described in most novels and anime: streets lined with many stalls, passersby, travelers, and merchants.

And, of course, adventurer teams.

After all, this world had demons, so cliché plots like “defeat the demon king” naturally happened here.

However, despite being called a town, the area was no bigger than a large village.

It was located far from the Ogiris Kingdom, essentially a small town in the remote outskirts.

“Oh, isn’t this Xiao Ying and Su Mo? Here to preach again today?”

After walking a short distance, a middle-aged woman selling clothes greeted them, and other shopkeepers turned their attention toward the two.

“Wow, it really is you.”

“It’s been so long since we last saw you in town! I thought the church had sent you elsewhere to preach. I was sad thinking I wouldn’t see you.”

“Yes, it’s so good to see you still so energetic.”

Everyone showed their goodwill toward Xiao Ying and Su Mo, making Xiao Ying forget her business mode. She felt at home and greeted everyone naturally.

“Thank you all for your concern. I’ve missed everyone while being away, and it’s great to see you all are the same as before.”

Because she was so familiar with everyone, they could easily tell her business persona from her true personality.

At this moment, a middle-aged man with a golden beard spoke to Su Mo:

“Su Mo, you haven’t bullied Xiao Ying recently, have you? If you dare, I’ll kick your butt with my boots like you said.”

Hearing this, Su Mo smiled helplessly.

“Come on, Uncle Tom, how could I bully Xiao Ying? Look at these bite marks on me—who’s really bullying whom?”

Seeing Su Mo act pitifully, the surrounding people couldn’t help but laugh.

After chatting with the shopkeepers, the two said their goodbyes and continued wandering through the town.

It was impossible to recruit the town’s locals, as they were too familiar with the duo and clearly uninterested in joining.

Xiao Ying wouldn’t force anyone, so their main targets in town were the transient visitors.

Su Mo nibbled on a red fruit, tasting exactly like an apple, though he didn’t know its name.

Xiao Ying returned to her business mode, preaching to newcomers in the town.

Even without Su Mo causing trouble, after an entire morning, she hadn’t convinced a single person.

A few adventurers, seeing Xiao Ying’s appearance, feigned interest in joining, but were quickly punched by Su Mo into questioning their life choices.

Although this version of Su Mo had no special abilities, he was incredibly strong, making him a perfect personal bodyguard for Xiao Ying.

“Ugh, why isn’t anyone wanting to join? Is my method wrong, Su Mo?”

Sitting on a bench, Xiao Ying rested her chin in her hands, sighing in frustration as she asked.

“Then just do as I say, right?”

Su Mo, hands behind his head, glanced at the glaring sky and yawned lightly in response.

“You mean use eggs as a reward for joining the church?

No way! That turns it into a transactional recruitment. Those followers would only come for eggs, not because they truly believe in Goddess Saint Lia.”

Hearing this, Su Mo wanted to retort that believing in your goddess wouldn’t help anyway, but if he did, Xiao Ying would likely bite him again, so he resigned himself.

Just as Xiao Ying fretted, she noticed a crowd gathering not far away.

“That place… I think that’s the Adventurer’s Guild quest board?”

Seeing the crowd, Xiao Ying remarked.

“Ah, what? You want to check it out?”

Su Mo asked casually.

“Of course not… never mind, let’s go see.”

Initially reluctant, Xiao Ying changed her mind, realizing the crowd might contain potential recruits. She stood up, grabbed Su Mo’s hand, and strode quickly toward the people.

“They won’t run away; why the rush?”

Once again yanked forward, Su Mo stumbled and couldn’t help but complain.