Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 145

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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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Part 2, Chapter 12

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Adam had been in a good mood lately.

He had already dealt with the annoying matters, and had brought Iberis back as well.

Everything was going so smoothly that it couldn’t be better.

The one who interrupted Adam’s good mood, which was pleasant enough to make him hum unconsciously, was always the same person.

He could sense the Elderly High Priest’s presence outside the door. Though he was pretending to be calm, his tense footsteps gave him away.

Adam had thought the man would simply pass by after their encounter in the hallway, but he had come to visit when Adam was alone.

The story must have been conveyed through the High Priests who had been glancing around the hallway.

The news that he would support Judith at the upcoming ball.

‘Again, is it.’

After handing over the throne to Judith, the Elderly High Priest had changed completely.

The Elderly High Priest, who had thrown off his mask of pretending to be gentle, raged at Adam in fury.

How could he hand over the throne to the child of his enemy?

He angrily asked if Adam wasn’t ashamed to face his dead father.

Adam didn’t have much affection for a father he had never even seen. He had taken revenge for him as well, so hadn’t he fulfilled his duty as a son?

What the man wanted anyway was to rule politics to his own taste from behind Adam, who had become Emperor as his godson.

He probably thought Adam was still young and ignorant of political affairs, and would try to seize control of the Imperial Palace with the power of the High Priests under his command.

However, Adam, who had long known the Elderly High Priest’s secret intentions, had replaced all the High Priests.

The purge was easy since he invoked God’s name.

The Elderly High Priest knew it was false but couldn’t protest.

If he said the divine revelation was false, it would mean denying the temple’s Hero. In the end, the Elderly High Priest had to step back and could only watch Adam’s movements.

Eventually, when the Elderly High Priest saw that Adam didn’t seem to listen to his words, he recently changed his approach.

Adam slowly rose from his seat.

Since he was in a good mood today, he thought it wouldn’t be bad to have a private meeting with the Elderly High Priest.

“What brings the Elderly High Priest all the way here?”

“What’s wrong with me, a High Priest, coming to a room in the temple?”

The Elderly High Priest said with a bright smile.

Even at this unexpected visit, Adam smiled as if he had expected it.

The Elderly High Priest looked at Adam with a gentle smile.

In the Elderly High Priest’s mind, the Prince was not fit to be Emperor.

Because he was the son of the one he hated and despised so much.

Then now that he had killed the Emperor as the Elderly High Priest desired, what difference was there between Judith and the Emperor that the Elderly High Priest wanted?

However, the Elderly High Priest he faced did not look satisfied at all, as he had expected.

“I heard you met with His Highness the Prince.”

“That’s correct.”

Adam readily agreed.

He had known from the beginning that the Elderly High Priest had put a tail on him.

So Adam had met Judith openly. To tell him to quickly abandon his vain hopes.

“And he’s not the Prince, but the Emperor. Elderly High Priest.”

Adam spoke in a lightly reproachful tone. However, the content within was not light at all.

He was saying that handing over the crown to Judith had been entirely Adam’s choice.

The Elderly High Priest’s face twitched as he grasped the underlying meaning.

“He is untrustworthy. If he really intended to help the Hero, he should have done so before killing the Demon King! Like the dead Emperor, he probably wished for the Hero to die at the Demon King’s hands.”

Adam looked at the Elderly High Priest with annoyance.

Whatever he said, Adam had no intention of changing his plans.

In the long run, it was much better for the Empire’s citizens that Judith, who had been educated as royalty, ascended to the throne.

However, it was not a good choice for the Elderly High Priest. And perhaps for the High Priests and nobles who had conspired with him.

‘Even though I was the one who decided to hand over the throne from the beginning, he blames Judith first.’

Adam had never been interested in the throne from the start.

It was merely a means to drag the Emperor down to hell.

“I believe it’s just temporarily delegated. He is the enemy’s son!”

The Elderly High Priest approached Adam almost pleadingly.

However, his face was grotesquely distorted.

Acting Emperor, he really only sees what he wants to see.

Adam replied indifferently.

“How can I take back a throne that’s already been handed over?”

“You shouldn’t have entrusted the throne to him in the first place!”

However, Adam pretended to know nothing and asked.

“So what do you want to say this time?”

The days of private meetings with him were increasing daily, and each time, another wrinkle appeared on the Elderly High Priest’s face.

He didn’t feel sorry about the man’s aging.

However, the Elderly High Priest, who realized he didn’t have much time left to live, became more stubborn with each passing day.

He pretends to be a good person to him, but in the end, he reveals his true nature like this.

“He is a political enemy, Hero. I don’t know what tricks he’s using to bewitch you, but he will surely stab you in the back soon! That bloodline can’t go anywhere. So you must reclaim the throne as soon as possible. Before he solidifies his position as Emperor even more firmly…”

“Isn’t there something more important than that?”

Seeing the Elderly High Priest’s eyes gleaming with desire, Adam spoke with a sigh.

He had clearly said before that the important thing was not something like the throne.

The Elderly High Priest seemed to see nothing but the throne.

“This is not something to dismiss as ‘such a thing.’ This is a position that countless royals have desired throughout history. Why are you refusing it?”

Whether countless royals wanted it or not, Adam had no intention of becoming Emperor.

And there was something important remaining.

After killing the Emperor, he had already confirmed it in his room.

The Empire’s survival was in danger.

“The Demon King has been resurrected. Is my succession to the throne more important than finding the resurrected Demon King?”

“Actually, that’s also hard to believe. Though I’m not doubting your thoughts, Hero, offering sacrifices to resurrect the Demon King?”

“Three years ago, didn’t monster incidents and disappearance cases occur one after another? It seems to be connected to that.”

“That can’t be. It’s needless worry.”

The Elderly High Priest didn’t believe his words. No, he didn’t even try to believe them.

Because if the Empire wasn’t stable, Adam would surely go to deal with it under the pretext of being the Hero.

“Hasn’t Lady Iberis also returned? So you should give her the best seat beside you.”

The Elderly High Priest abandoned his good-natured smile and approached Adam almost clinging to him.

If he told him what expression the Elderly High Priest had made when he first said he had found Iberis, he wouldn’t dare mention her name.

“Eve doesn’t want that.”

At Adam’s words, the Elderly High Priest’s expression became distorted.

“What on earth is Lady Iberis to you that makes you so blind!”

“Watch your tongue, Elderly High Priest.”

Adam’s voice lowered.

His golden eyes glared at him oppressively.

The Elderly High Priest bit his lips, realizing he had crossed the line.

“And now I must prepare for the Demon King’s resurrection, so it’s better for Judith to have the throne.”

As Adam tried to end the conversation, the Elderly High Priest hurriedly began to persuade him.

“There’s no need to announce it. It’s a hard-won peace, so there’s no need to shatter that hope!”

“…”

Adam fell silent.

For the Elderly High Priest, who should work for the stability of the Empire’s citizens along with the Imperial Family, to say such words.

Adam quietly looked at the Elderly High Priest.

Whether the Elderly High Priest had become smaller, or Adam had grown larger.

Adam found himself looking down at him at some point.

He felt no sense of intimidation, leisure, or joy.

He just felt pitiful.

To the extent that he wondered if the Elderly High Priest had similar feelings when he first saw him.

What the Elderly High Priest wanted was probably the power to control the Empire at will. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be casually dismissing the Emperor’s death and only talking about the throne.

Since he hadn’t trusted him, there was no disappointment either.

He could have given him lip service, but Adam deliberately chose not to.

However, he felt like he didn’t want to bother writing answers on such an easy answer sheet.

What exactly is power?

What is it that makes him so ugly?

Adam suddenly found himself missing Iberis.

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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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