Chapter 12: President! Brothers, We’ve Finally Found You!

The long-missed fresh air filled my lungs as I strolled down Crescent Town’s streets. It’d been nearly ten days since I last went out for fun. Between experiments and crafting magic engraving tools, I’d been cooped up at home so long I was going moldy. I didn’t want to become a shut-in like Monaluna. Sure, in my past life, I was a true homebody—but that was for unchangeable reasons. This life, even if things blew up, I’d strive to be a social butterfly!

My knowledge of Crescent Town barely went beyond shopping trips with Helle. The rest of my time was spent at the Old Mage’s manor. Gazing around this medieval European-style town again, everything felt thrillingly new.

“President?! Is that you, President?” A shout rang out from behind me.

President? Did this small town even have associations? I hadn’t expected Crescent Town’s residents to be so enthusiastic about clubs! I turned, scanning for the legendary president. Curiosity bubbled—what kind of group could it be? No one was there. Weird. The voice had definitely come this way! Could it be…

“President, have you finally escaped the demon’s den?” A freckled young man greeted me.

Holy crap—it really was me? When had I become president? “Who… who are you?”

“President, it’s me, Miches! Miches Will! We met in the dense forest, remember? We sailed back to Crescent Town together!”

“Oh, right—you, Miches!” I quickly replied. Back when I first arrived, I’d met most of the town’s young men. I vaguely recalled this kid. “But why call me president? I never founded any association. Are you mistaken?”

“No mistake, President Mashang! Among the town’s youths, who else dares approach within five meters of the ‘Redhaired Witch’? Only you—the great and brave President Klars Masha!”

“You’re praising me seriously, but I still don’t get it! Could you explain everything from the moment the Creation Goddess shaped the world?”

“President, come with me first! The brothers are all waiting! I never thought I, Miches, would be the first to find you. Now everyone will look up to me!” Miches beamed with excitement. “I’ll explain on the way. Follow me!”

I had nothing better to do, and with my strength, no one here could threaten my life. Might as well see what these jokers were up to. Miches hinted it tied to my last shopping trip with Helle—but last time, they’d bolted after half a conversation. Since I was out to relax anyway, I followed closely.

On the walk, I coaxed the whole story from Miches: Days ago, the town’s boys spotted the foreign kid who’d followed the Old Mage back—me—staying overnight in the “demon’s den,” then appearing unharmed on the streets, casually chatting with the “Redhaired Witch”! Most shocking? She’d seemed respectful!

The boys decided they needed “fifth-kind contact” with this “outsider” to understand him. They gathered, picking a dozen of the bravest and most respected to tail Helle and me. Nervously trailing us, they finally cornered us in the alley beside Uncle Galak’s butcher shop. Using the terrain, they separated the “Redhaired Witch” from me—leading to that alley chat.

Afterward, they’d expected the “outsider” to retreat, fully grasping the witch’s terror. They’d even parroted nonsense like, “Keep trying—we’ll rescue Miss Monaluna from Inferno together!”—words no one believed. Most thought I’d flee. “Little Wine Barrel,” the innkeeper’s son, even bet on how many days I’d last.

“But then,” Miches continued, eyes shining with admiration, “we heard fierce fighting from the demon’s den! We asked experienced mercenaries—they sensed clear magical fluctuations from the manor! All basic spells, with occasional intermediate bursts! The Mage Lord wouldn’t waste time on such minor magic so densely. That’s when we realized a brave warrior was battling the ‘Redhaired Witch’!”

Being stared at worshipfully by a peer made me blush, even with my older mindset. So they’d heard about my “practical experiments” with Monaluna. Pity they misunderstood—I’d fought a witch, but it was the “Blonde Witch”!

Seeing my muted reaction, Miches pressed on. “The magical clashes lasted three days, then silence. We guessed the fight was over. Embarrassingly, we lacked courage to check the manor. On day five, violent explosions erupted—lasting three days straight! We regrouped to discuss it. ‘Skinface’ theorized: Some nobles torture prisoners for fun. The great Klars Masha must’ve been captured by the ‘Redhaired Witch’ and was being tortured! Those explosions were from her cruelty!”

Ah, he meant the failed explosions from my magic engraving tool crafting. These guys had courage near zero but imaginations that broke the sky! MAX brainpower!

“By day four, explosions dropped sharply. Day five—total silence. We assumed you’d died. We almost held a memorial. But Martin argued: Though cruel, the ‘Redhaired Witch’ is the Old Mage’s servant. He dotes on her, but you’re his disciple—you shouldn’t be killed. So, under Luke and Martin’s lead, we founded the ‘Association for Resisting the Redhaired Witch’s Tyranny and Unifying Crescent Town to Rescue Miss Monaluna’s Happiness’! All thirty-two members unanimously elected you—great frontline warrior Klars Masha—as president! Martin Sibers and Cook Lucient became vice presidents.”

My god—that name was endless! Didn’t they tire of saying it?

“This morning, the vice presidents passed the association’s first order: ‘Rescue President Mashang!’ We were to search town for signs you were alive.”

Even the abbreviation was eight characters—I was speechless. They did care… but if they thought I was locked in the manor by the “Redhaired Witch,” why search town for “alive traces”? Thanks a ton.

As we talked, we reached an abandoned warehouse in the southeast. A sign hung on its door: “Main Base of the Association for Resisting the Redhaired Witch’s Tyranny and Unifying Crescent Town to Rescue Miss Monaluna’s Happiness.” Amazing they found such a long sign—and a rundown warehouse sturdy enough to hold it. I almost admired them. But couldn’t they use this energy to learn skills, build courage, and ditch childhood trauma?

“Everyone! Come out! I found the president! He’s alive!” Miches shouted, tears welling in his eyes.

Thump-thump-thump—a flurry of footsteps. The door burst open. Over twenty boys rushed out, staring at me with terrified faces.

“Is it really the president?!”

“Alive—he’s really alive!”

“Goddess protect us! Goddess protect us!”

Whoosh—the crowd surged forward, startling me! I activated energy arrays in both palms. Vice presidents Luke and Martin sprinted fastest. In a blink, big Luke crushed me in a bear hug. Martin laughed through tears, pounding my shoulder and repeating, “I knew you’d be fine! I knew you’d be fine! I knew…”

I stared at their earnest, tear-streaked faces. My mind screamed “What the hell!” but the吐槽 stuck in my throat. This wasn’t a prank—they truly believed I was dead.

So this was being cared for by friends. My past-life childhood drowned in darkness and hatred. Only after university, when things settled, did I touch the ordinary world and meet my first true friend—my roommate, Lao Pao. Never expected so many heartfelt brothers here. Though their “friendship starter pack” was… hard to swallow.

“I’m fine—as you see, unharmed!” I vowed to help these adorably dumb friends, like erasing that childhood trauma. “And I bring good news!” I squeezed onto a dirt mound, facing the crowd. “The ‘Redhaired Witch’ is subdued! I’ve signed a gentleman’s agreement with her! If you don’t harm her, she can’t attack you without cause.”

Silence. Every face froze in shock—childhood shadows ran deep.

“We’ve won! We’re liberated!! We’re free!!!” I shouted.

“We’re free?!” someone whispered in disbelief.

“Victory? We won? That she-devil’s defeated?” another asked shakily.

“Sob… I never thought I’d live to see this day!” a third wept.

“Long live President Klars! Long live!” someone cheered wildly.

Watching their ecstatic chaos, I didn’t know whether to smile or cry for them.

“Later, I’ll bring Helle to greet you. Then you’ll believe me—seeing is believing!”

The crowd instantly hushed.

“President, that’s not necessary!”

“Yeah, we trust you—but meeting her? No thanks.”

Backing out already? Seriously.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there. I’ll keep the ‘Redhaired Witch’ in check,” I promised.

“Sob… President, you’re truly great!”

“We’ll follow you for life, President!”