Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 146
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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 13
Everyone demanded things from him that were beyond his station.
Saying it was for his sake, that they all wanted him to do well.
They only spouted honeyed words to him.
While in reality, they were only trying to get what they wanted through him.
The Elderly High Priest was the same.
The Elderly High Priest was anxious about losing his position.
“Still, everything was done for the Hero’s sake. You know that, don’t you?”
Adam quietly gazed at the wrinkles that had settled on the Elderly High Priest’s face.
The divine power that had once been abundant was leaving him as he aged.
Having lost his former vigor, only malice remained as he thirsted for revenge against him.
How was that any different from the Emperor?
He had never expected him to be completely on his side from the beginning anyway.
Adam smiled as usual and answered.
“Of course.”
* * *
“Oh, Adam?”
While I was talking with Meriel about the remaining villagers, I brightly called out to him when I saw him emerge.
Meriel looked displeased but didn’t stop me.
Adam, who had suddenly appeared, hugged me as soon as he saw me.
“…!”
I froze completely at the unexpected embrace.
For a moment, I almost mistook him for someone else instead of Adam.
“A-Adam?”
R-right. Friends can hug each other!
They can… can’t they?
I tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but I failed.
Do people greet each other like this at the Temple when they’re happy to see each other?
When I slyly rolled my eyes to look around, the High Priests’ eyes were bulging as if they might pop out.
“T-this Hero! How dare you in front of me!”
Meriel, who had been standing there with her mouth agape, grasped the situation and clenched her fists.
However, the High Priests nearby held her back.
“M-Meriel! Just once, just this once, please let it slide!”
“Please calm down!”
To avoid Meriel’s string of curses, I hurriedly took him to the quiet library.
When I closed the library door, the surroundings became quiet.
And after a while, I whispered to him.
“Adam, people will misunderstand if you do this.”
Of course, I’m okay with it.
But I secretly swallowed those words.
However, Adam only leaned his head closer while still holding me.
Whenever Adam occasionally shows his vulnerable side and leans on me, I don’t know how to act.
Is it okay for me to take advantage of the gap he only shows me?
Can I be a little more greedy?
Adam seemed to have calmed down a bit.
“I wish everyone in the world was like Eve.”
Adam muttered as if lamenting.
“No, maybe it’s because there’s only one Eve that I treasure you so specially…”
Since I heard he had a private meeting with the Elderly High Priest, he must have tormented Adam.
No, now that he’s even killed the Emperor, isn’t it time to let Adam go?
I quietly gritted my teeth at the obvious behavior of not being able to give up the idea of using Adam.
‘As I thought, there’s no one trustworthy enough to leave Adam with!’
Thanks to that, Adam’s separation anxiety seemed to have grown.
Since coming to the Temple, many new people had increased, so I thought Adam would have made many friends, but that didn’t seem to be the case either.
With the Elderly High Priest around, that would be difficult.
Adam initially hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe, then slowly pulled away.
When the warmth disappeared, I felt a little regretful.
But my face must have turned bright red, so as soon as his arms loosened, I quickly moved away from him.
“Eve…”
Adam called my name as if regretful.
He’s enchanting me. He’ll definitely enchant me!
I tried to pull myself together, but because Adam was looking up at me so adoringly, I ultimately failed. With one shoulder offered to him, I only rolled my eyes around.
Adam seemed anxious and leaning on me because he only had one person to trust.
It seemed like he was worried that even I might change and leave him.
‘There are more people remaining by Adam’s side than he thinks.’
Even Meriel, though she pretended otherwise, understood Adam’s loneliness.
She had even subtly asked about his condition.
I recalled my memory of visiting the library in the Demon King’s Castle before.
I remembered the contents of the book I saw then.
And also the passage that said they met their deaths with no one remaining by their side.
“Adam isn’t alone. I’m here, and Kyrillos is here, and Iselda is here, and Meriel is here too. So you can just speak comfortably.”
Even if I wasn’t sure about others, I could trust them.
They hadn’t betrayed Adam even while crossing between life and death together.
That’s why I wanted to keep them by Adam’s side even more.
Because they were the ones who would stop Adam if he headed in the wrong direction.
But now, for some reason, their relationship seemed distant…
‘No, even if their relationship is just bad!’
They didn’t hate Adam.
It was closer to disapproving of what Adam was doing. It was something that required a certain foundation of affection. If they really hated him, they would have ignored whatever Adam did and lived their lives.
They hadn’t spent three years building their relationship carelessly.
“I know well. I also know they’re not the type to easily betray me.”
Adam smiled slightly.
After staying quiet for a while, Adam asked.
“Eve, do you want to leave?”
It was the library within the Temple, but he probably wasn’t referring to this place.
Unlike when he brought me to the mansion without any explanation, he looked intimidated.
It seemed to be because he had suffered such humiliation in the place he had brought me to ensure the greatest safety.
“Adam, why are you still anxious?”
I reached out my hand to Adam. Then he naturally leaned his cheek against it.
I should know now.
‘Is the incident from three years ago still remaining as trauma?’
Hmm, that would be troublesome.
Adam tucked my hair behind my ear and said.
“I want Eve to only be in front of my eyes. Not going anywhere, where I can always see you.”
It was similar to but different from when he tried to prevent me from leaving when I first came to the Temple.
Back then, he was trying to find traces of God, but now he was focused only on me, not even on God.
‘Since when did Adam start looking at me with those eyes?’
He smiled as if joking and said.
“How wonderful it would be if I could just lock you up so only I could see you.”
It was the moment I was choosing my response to Adam’s words.
With a crash, a High Priest inside the library fell over.
Having lost his footing while carrying books, he pushed up his cracked round glasses.
Spotting Adam who happened to be there, he smiled happily and said.
“Oh, Hero! You haven’t been going to the Sanctuary lately, but here you are! Not even praying.”
Adam flinched at the words thrown out so suddenly.
My gaze slowly shifted toward his profile.
Was the Hero originally supposed to go to the Sanctuary too?
Then what had Adam been doing all this time?
I thought of Adam, who never left my side except when meeting privately with the Elderly High Priest.
That’s why I didn’t say anything even when Adam pointlessly lingered around me.
But this changes things.
I protested to Adam with my eyes.
“…What are you talking about. I pray so devoutly.”
“Ehhh, that’s a lie! You used to always stop and pray, saying you were conversing with God, but lately you just grin and only hang around with the maid. Anyone would think she’s the deity, kek…”
Adam, who had somehow moved beside him, casually put his arm around his shoulder.
“High Priest, it would be best if you kept your mouth quiet…”
“Kyaak. Lord Iberis. Please spare me!”
I watched their confrontation with a warm expression.
Laughing and joking around. Adam’s personality seemed to have softened considerably.
Making such close friends, Adam really does have a good personality after all.
‘It seems he made a new friend while I wasn’t looking.’
Hmm, I’m not sure exactly what kind of relationship they have, but it was a good thing.
Look at that, can’t you see the High Priest smiling brightly?
The small whisper saying ‘Smile, smile’ that I could hear was surely just my imagination.
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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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