Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 117

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 117

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Just when I thought spring was coming, the weather suddenly turned cold and visitors to the Demon King’s Castle stopped coming entirely.

It had been a long time since the Demon King’s Castle was this quiet, without the sound of voices.

If it weren’t for Adam’s steady breathing beside me, I might have had the illusion that I was truly left alone in this vast Demon King’s Castle.

‘How on earth did Adam stay here alone all this time?’

An ordinary person would have gone mad.

Waiting indefinitely for someone who wouldn’t come in this empty Demon King’s Castle…

I poured tea for Adam and sipped my herbal tea while looking outside.

As the warm tea went down my throat, my body naturally became drowsy.

‘Kyrillos said he went to his sister’s Debutante Ball, right?’

That was the reason why he, who always came to the Demon King’s Castle, had completely stopped visiting for several days.

The first ball announcing spring.

It was precisely the Debutante Ball for young ladies who had just completed their coming-of-age ceremony.

I had been curious about why Kyrillos had Adam meet his sister, and apparently it was to request him as a partner for the Debutante Ball.

He had also planned to introduce Adam to the nobles while he was at it, but it failed.

If he had gone with Princess Hailin, it would have been easy for him to integrate into noble society in many ways.

‘But Adam was rejected.’

The young lady herself had rejected Adam.

Did she think he wasn’t suitable as her Debutante Ball partner?

Comforting the dejected-looking Adam was quite a difficult task.

In the end, I had to stay by his side for a while.

Adam usually seemed normal, but whenever our eyes met, he would immediately act depressed.

‘He must be showing his true feelings only in front of me, right?’

Becoming someone trustworthy was a gratifying thing.

I looked at Adam triumphantly.

“Kyrillos must be at the Debutante Ball by now, right?”

“He probably is.”

“By now, the Debutante Ball held at the Imperial Palace must be packed with people. Kyrillos described it as a terribly dreadful place.”

Adam nodded his head.

Kyrillos said he couldn’t send his sister to her first Debutante Ball without a reliable partner, so he ended up going with her.

Even though he grumbled about feeling like beans stuffed in a sack, tagging along everywhere.

It would have been better if he had done that from the beginning.

Kyrillos seemed to have many regrets about not being able to take Adam, as he came again yesterday evening to ask.

However, Adam said he wouldn’t leave me behind, and I also didn’t want to set foot in the Imperial Palace.

Kyrillos seemed to understand that feeling too.

As I recalled last night’s events, my words were momentarily cut off.

Perhaps interpreting my silence in some way, Adam carefully asked.

“Does Eve want to go too?”

“I’m not sure.”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t want to go.

I was curious about the lives of high-ranking nobles too.

A ball just for young ladies coming of age – if it were the old me, I would have pestered Adam to go.

How could I not go when an event was unfolding right before my eyes!

However, these small and precious moments were also enjoyable, so it wasn’t worth giving up to go.

“I am curious about the orchestra that plays beautiful music and the dancers. Oh, and the delicious food, the atmosphere, and dancing with handsome men is enviable too!”

Initially, I tried to list the good points of not going to the Debutante Ball, but the more fingers I folded, the more advantages there seemed to be.

I was folding my fourth finger when I slowly raised my head at the shadow cast in front of me.

Adam, who had been quietly listening to my story, had suddenly come to me.

And he extended his hand to me.

“Then how about here? This is also a castle, after all.”

“Huh?”

I was flustered and looked at Adam with wide eyes.

But Adam’s gaze was serious without a hint of falsehood. It wasn’t something said in jest.

I couldn’t help but be bewildered by such an expression.

No, this is the Demon King’s Castle, you know?

Even though it was a castle, it certainly couldn’t compare to the Imperial Palace.

Of course, the Demon King’s aesthetic sense was admirable except for the coloring, but comparing it to the Imperial Palace would be an insult.

“Come on.”

“Ah!”

As I delayed with my contemplation, Adam gently grasped my hand.

His calloused hand, which fully represented his hard life, was placed over mine.

I followed as if enchanted by his pull.

Before I knew it, we were standing in the middle of the hall, looking at each other.

The desolate Demon King’s Castle with no music, no delicious food, and no people either.

I couldn’t understand what he wanted anymore.

“Lady, would you dance one song with me?”

Like a prince from some book, Adam slightly bent his waist and kissed the back of my clasped hand. It seemed like he wouldn’t lift his lips until I agreed, and just as I found myself nodding without realizing it.

Then Abracxas, who appeared from somewhere, snapped his fingers.

He, who had been particularly quiet lately, had somehow appeared and positioned himself in one corner of the hall.

True to being called the demon of alcohol and music, a gentle song quietly filled the previously silent hall.

“Music after a long time is nice too.”

In an instant, sweet musical melodies flowed through the previously quiet interior of the hall.

Like the song of some siren that enchants sailors, the beautiful melody enveloped the space between us two.

Adam’s gaze lingered on him for a moment.

When Abracxas shrugged his shoulders, Adam turned his gaze back to me.

The corners of his mouth turned up pleasantly.

I realized anew that Adam, who was no different from usual, was indeed handsome.

‘Is he accommodating me because I said I wanted to dance with a handsome person?’

If that was the case, I’d welcome it twice or three times over. Finally, Adam was giving himself credit for his own appearance!

Even when I always praised him as a rare handsome man, he would say frustrating things like ‘I’d be happy if that’s how I look only to Eve.’

Our Adam has changed.

I wiggled the hand that was firmly held.

I had secretly compared his hand with mine before, but holding them tightly together like this, my hand was completely covered by his.

I moved my fingers to trace the calluses embedded in Adam’s fingers.

Adam flinched, but I didn’t stop.

Even while doing so, I diligently stepped through each dance step.

It was the most basic dance line that Kyrillos had taught me for fun.

Adam was much better at it than me.

Had he learned this too?

Well, being with Kyrillos, he would probably learn not only dancing but singing as well.

Adam singing.

Imagining it made me giggle.

“Focus, Eve.”

“Ah!”

At that moment, our fingers intertwined tightly as if they could never let go again. My hand grew warm from Adam’s fingers that were intertwined like knots.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking about Adam.”

I didn’t mix in a single lie.

Even my brief misstep was because I had such unexpected thoughts.

It seemed my sincerity had reached him, as he wore a satisfied expression.

‘I wish times like this could last forever.’

The Demon King was dead, and the Hero who had achieved great merit had found his place, so couldn’t I hope for a little happiness now? Adam had worked so hard too. He had suffered greatly and struggled immensely.

I knew this well, having watched every step of Adam’s growth into a Hero.

And now Adam was smiling as if he were happy.

I didn’t want to see that smile disappear.

I could do anything to maintain it.

Not because of the Quest, but truly.

When did these feelings become so genuine?

Was it when Adam showed me a real smile instead of a fake one?

Or when he gave me special treatment? Or perhaps…

‘When did I…’

When did I come to like Adam this much?

My head almost bowed involuntarily at this newly realized feeling.

Adam wasn’t particularly happy when he was by my side.

Rather, he was unhappy.

The answer to a question I had asked him once still lingered.

Adam simply wanted an ordinary life. A life where he could make his own choices and take full responsibility for the consequences.

Why did that moment I had brushed off, thinking “so this setting exists too,” come to mind now?

And his wish had not come true.

The protagonist’s life was the complete opposite of Adam’s desires.

God had issued a divine oracle, forcing him to become a Hero, making him someone who couldn’t live ordinarily like others, and he had killed the Demon King.

But what returned to him wasn’t wealth and honor, but a life cursed by the Demon King—a ticking time bomb existence that could explode at any moment.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I’m thinking that Adam dances better than I expected. When did you learn to dance like this?”

However, the warmth of Adam’s hand holding mine firmly was comforting.

“Kyrillos forced me to learn.”

At his voice, clearly fed up, I couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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