Chapter 29: Coco, Do You Want to Watch Fireworks?

The blacksmith’s heart instantly went cold when he saw a church knight walk into his forge.

With a quick motion, he stuffed the Holy Ring “Heaven’s Punishment” he was holding into the cabinet beside the furnace.

Not to mention the witch standing before him—just possessing a church holy relic was a capital crime, whether real or fake.

Sweat poured down his face like a waterfall; rumors claimed the witch’s power was strong enough to blow up a whole city with a wave of her hand, and if this church knight really recognized her, his forge and the entire town would vanish.

The blacksmith had devoted his whole life to forging and had never crafted a heaven-grade weapon; he never expected this to be the day he died.

But the witch across from him and her maid behind her were not nervous at all and even greeted the knight cheerfully.

Ah, this!

Truly, strength meant fearlessness—terrifying.

“Hi, Sir Knight~”

“Huh?”

“Oh! Beautiful lady, praise the Lord, your appearance is simply angelic.”

Yiluo blinked and happily said, “Thank you, Sir Knight, others say that too.”

“Hahaha, miss, you are truly cheerful and humorous.” The knight turned to the blacksmith, noticed his awful expression, and suspiciously asked, “Master, did you do something guilty?”

Already extremely nervous, the blacksmith panicked even more and stuttered, “K-k-k-knight, n-no, never.”

“Really?” The suspicion in the knight’s eyes grew deeper.

“Re… really!” The blacksmith’s raised voice completely betrayed him.

“Forget it, you’d better come with me.” Just as the knight was about to take him away, Yiluo blushed and said, “I just saw Aunt Wang next door—the pretty lady who sells glass beads—hugging the blacksmith. When I came in, I didn’t dare look and covered my eyes, and when my maid called me, only the blacksmith was left.”

Huh?

The widow Wang next door was pretty, but when did she ever come here, let alone hug him?

The blacksmith was full of confusion.

“Ahem!” After hearing Yiluo’s words, the young knight also blushed, then glared at the blacksmith and said, “Under the Lord’s radiance you dare commit such indecency… ahem, in front of such an innocent beautiful lady… utterly shameless!”

“You must be punished!”

A disaster falling from the sky.

The blacksmith cried out internally—widow Wang was clearly flirting with the shopkeeper next door!

“But the blacksmith still needs to forge me a beautiful sword—one as pretty as a holy artifact—and he even gave me a discount. Sir Knight, can you let him off just this once?”

The knight had never seen such a beautiful and kind young lady; he softened instantly and scolded the blacksmith, “This is your only warning. I’ll spare you this time for the lady’s sake!”

“Make her sword beautiful—just like a holy artifact!”

“Thank you, thank you!” The blacksmith said tearfully.

“Sigh, but beautiful lady, your demi-human servant isn’t wearing shackles. Next time, remember to bring them.”

The knight’s tone toward the blacksmith and toward Yiluo was like heaven and earth—same errors, opposite treatment.

“Hehe~”

“Hahaha, maybe the lady is simply too kind, but rules must still be followed.”

Yiluo smiled shyly.

The knight even laughed along and helped her justify it.

The blacksmith screamed internally—why was the difference so huge?!

Don’t be fooled, knight—that’s a witch!

But thinking again, he felt comforted. If the knight couldn’t recognize her, he was safe.

“Hey pervy blacksmith, have you seen this person? Strict inspections lately. If you know and don’t report, you’re dead.”

Just as he was relieved, the knight pulled out a colorful wanted poster with Alice’s huge portrait, labeled “Evil Witch,” bounty: 10,000 gold.

Speak of the devil. Sweat poured down again, leaving him speechless.

At that moment, Yiluo walked forward, took off her straw hat, held it behind her with both hands, bent forward, and poked her head out. “Mr. Blacksmith, have you seen this evil witch?”

The blacksmith stared at her face beside the poster—the resemblance was over 80 percent. His heart pounded wildly.

Why couldn’t she just keep the hat on?! Why make herself easier to recognize?!

“N-no… never seen her.”

What else could he do? He could only insist he hadn’t.

As the knight began doubting him, Yiluo took the poster, held it beside her head, and said curiously, “Wow, the witch looks a lot like me.”

…

Thud—

The blacksmith couldn’t handle the stress anymore and fainted.

“Huh? Is he okay?”

The knight was startled—how could a grown man, a blacksmith, faint just like that?

Coco, barely holding in her laughter, quickly explained, “It’s so hot in here, and he’s been sweating nonstop. Probably heatstroke. A nap will fix it.”

Another person fainted thanks to Miss Yiluo—or rather, out of fear.

The knight accepted the explanation. He compared Yiluo’s face with the poster and said, “The lady is so playful, even mimicking the expression on the poster.”

“You’re far cuter, kinder, and more beautiful than the witch.”

Yiluo tilted her head, returned the poster, and asked, “Not similar?”

The knight waved. “Your features are similar, but you’re clearly much younger.

And your beautiful silver hair and gemstone-like red eyes are totally different from her golden hair and blue eyes.”

“Hair can be dyed. Eyes can be changed with magic potions.” Yiluo said joyfully, continuing to tease him.

The young knight laughed, calling her interesting.

He glanced at her figure, then at the lower half of the poster, and before leaving said, “Beautiful lady, if you learn anything about the witch, come to the church. I wish you an early… growth.”

???

Yiluo’s happy expression froze instantly.

What do you mean wish me to grow up soon?! Idiot knight!

Am I small?! Where am I small?!

She puffed out her barely-B-sized chest, fuming silently.

“Pfft—Miss Yiluo, don’t worry, you’ll grow.”

Coco snickered.

Yiluo looked at Coco’s fuller curves and felt pure jealousy.

Why?

Coco grew, but she shrank. In battle her reduced weight made her faster—it should bring double happiness, yet all she felt was sour envy.

It must be the fault of the body’s original owner—Alice!

Damn it, being influenced by that evil woman again?!

I will never give in!

“Hmph, I don’t care. I’m even lighter now—super happy!”

“Coco, do you want to watch fireworks? The kind where burning wood lights up the night sky?”

“As long as my master wants to watch, I want to watch.”

Coco looked at her petty little master, finding her adorable.

She imagined the two of them sitting on a tall building under the stars, watching flames flicker in the distance—it felt romantic, and her cheeks flushed.

The town’s church… in danger.