Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 12

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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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Episode 12

I’ve been watching Adam for years, so there’s no way I wouldn’t notice something like that. His habits and mannerisms were already in the palm of my hand.

Unlike when I used to look up at him from below, I could observe him closely now that he had fallen.

Thanks to that, I was able to see his delicate features in detail.

‘Come to think of it, he looks more tired than before…’

The shadows under his eyes were unusually dark.

Did he not sleep at night, and not sleep during the day either?

I frowned as I recalled Adam’s room, which had been lit up for several nights in a row.

‘Is this not muscle loss but sleep deprivation?’

Hmm, no. This is Adam who didn’t collapse even after staying up for several nights rebuilding the Demon King’s Castle, so there’s no way he’d collapse after doing nothing special for a few days.

Unless he hadn’t properly rested even once since killing the Demon King.

…Somehow I had an ominous feeling that this hypothesis might be correct.

“You look tired, so please feel free to sleep. I’ll take responsibility for keeping Abracxas quiet!”

“No. I’m worried that the monsters might cause damage to the residential areas…”

He was saying he would take responsibility for stopping the monsters in preparation for any possible situation.

I recalled his behavior of watching the monsters’ actions from the garden overlooking the forest during the day, and searching for something in the evening.

But isn’t there the Subjugation Stone?

I clearly remembered Adam fiddling with the Subjugation Stone when I first met him.

When I hesitated, Adam seemed to think I wouldn’t force him any further and got up from his seat to straighten his clothes.

He looked neat and tidy as if nothing had happened earlier.

However, it was ruined by Abracxas who popped out from the side.

“What does it matter when there’s a Subjugation Stone?”

“Abracxas.”

Adam muttered quietly, warning him.

“Oh, was that a secret? I thought you were using it just fine.”

However, Abracxas observed him with a mischievous face this time as well.

Watching such Abracxas, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘He deliberately interfered.’

As he said, the monsters could be controlled with the Subjugation Stone found among the Demon King’s possessions.

The reason Abracxas knows this is probably because he’s one of the three great demons who served right beside the Demon King.

…Though he’s more of a combat power measuring device guarding the main gate rather than serving the Demon King from the core.

Before Abracxas could add anything more, Adam seemed to decide to cut me off first and quickly added his words.

“I’m grateful for Eve’s suggestion, but I’m fine.”

Ah, I’m telling you you’re not fine.

The reason he was trying not to show weakness was because of Abracxas’s presence.

This time I could have gotten through to him!

I glared at Abracxas with drowsy eyes.

He shrugged his shoulders as if feeling wronged.

I pretended not to know and firmly stepped on his foot. Abracxas couldn’t even scream and fell back, clutching his painful foot and groaning. Not missing that opportunity, I approached Adam.

“I really prepared a sunny spot and brought a soft chair, so don’t refuse and please sleep!”

This time I didn’t give in obediently.

His fatigue had accumulated to the point where he’d collapse just from standing still, yet he says it’s unnecessary.

Too much refusal is also a problem!

I grabbed Adam’s sleeve and dragged him along.

He was so tired that he couldn’t think properly, so he followed along in a daze.

However, when he saw the chair placed by the window, he seemed to come to his senses a little and refused while pressing his throbbing forehead.

“I’m fine.”

“Do you know how many times you’ve said you’re fine? You don’t even realize you’re just repeating those words, do you?”

“…”

Adam closed his mouth. He clearly didn’t know if he was speaking proper language right now.

I forcibly made him sit in the chair. It was called a chair, but it was made of soft leather and looked so comfortable that he’d fall asleep as soon as he lay down.

As if proving this, his eyes slowly closed. To him who kept muttering that it wouldn’t do, I whispered “it’s okay” and covered his eyelids with my hand.

I touched his shoulder to cover him with the blanket I had prepared earlier, but it wasn’t visible as if I had dropped it somewhere.

I looked back at Abracxas, who had been following along like he was watching something interesting.

“Abracxas. Bring a blanket.”

“Eh, me? This guy keeps ignoring me and I…”

“Abracxas.”

I glared at Abracxas with cold eyes.

As if I wouldn’t accept any further objections.

It was punishment for mentioning the Subjugation Stone and making the Hero even more like an iron fortress.

“I’m perfect for this kind of role! I’ll go and come back.”

After barely sending Abracxas away, I rested my chin on my hand and admired his face.

He was too handsome to be the face of a sick person.

‘I was going to brew some herbal tea that’s good for sleep since he seemed unable to sleep…’

Just laying him down made him fall into such a deep sleep.

How little sleep must he have gotten to be like this?

Then, a faint voice flowed from Adam’s mouth.

“Don’t go…”

“…”

Large but slender fingers grasped my hand.

The calluses embedded in his palm were proof of how fiercely Adam had lived until now.

Considering his usual grip strength, it was a faint force, but I couldn’t even think of pulling my hand away.

I moved my lips.

“Who are you…”

“Human! Is this one okay too?”

“…!”

At the voice from behind, I unconsciously slapped Adam’s hand away with a smacking sound.

It was an instinctive action.

I hadn’t done anything strange, but it felt more guilty because it seemed like something that pricked my conscience.

The flustered Abracxas actually felt sorry for the Hero.

“…Why did you push him away so coldly?”

Abracxas’s eyes narrowed.

“But the Hero still doesn’t wake up.”

He muttered quietly.

His vertically slit red eyes rippled ominously.

“I don’t think it would be good to get any funny ideas.”

I quietly warned him as he licked his lips in regret.

Even so, I felt self-loathing for my own actions.

‘Actually, the person who should be warned isn’t him but me.’

A man from outside is sleeping so deeply that no one would know if someone took him away, and I’m not thinking of leaving and just watching him?

After covering Adam with the blanket Abracxas brought, I quickly got up from my seat.

“Your neck is red.”

“I know!”

I should go outside and dunk my face in the fountain.

Abracxas wouldn’t be able to harm the Hero anyway because of the covenant.

I hurriedly left my seat.

However, there was a shadow that blatantly followed me.

At first I ignored it and walked, but when the footsteps that followed me to the garden didn’t get farther from me, I finally had to ask.

“Why are you following me?”

“Then what, should I stay there and watch the Hero’s sleeping face when I’m not even a pervert?”

“….”

Actually, someone who did exactly that is standing right before your eyes.

I kept my mouth shut and quickened my pace. However, Abracxas quickly followed, making my efforts futile.

“Why are you following….”

Just as I couldn’t stand it anymore and was about to say something to him.

“Kyang!”

“Ah! You are….”

What suddenly blocked our path was a leopard-type monster that jumped out of nowhere.

When the large creature leaped in, I instinctively crouched down, but my tension eased at the monster’s friendly behavior of licking my arm.

‘Is it because of Abracxas?’

I heard that animals submit to the strong according to hierarchy.

Animal-type monsters seemed to have similar habits.

Perhaps it was acting more friendly because Abracxas was beside me.

“What? Why is it acting like this?”

However, Abracxas made an expression similar to Adam’s from before.

Though it was an expression even more filled with bewilderment than Adam’s.

“Kking.”

The monster called out to Abracxas with an affectionate voice.

Oh, so demons and monsters can communicate with each other.

“What are you saying? Stop whimpering and speak properly.”

“I have my dignity to maintain, so I couldn’t greet you immediately. Lord Abracxas.”

The monster that had been making squeaking sounds just moments ago spoke in perfect human language.

I widened my eyes and looked back and forth between the two, finally settling my gaze on the monster.

I grabbed both of the monster’s cheeks and stretched them as I spoke.

“You could talk this whole time?”

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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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