Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 17

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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 17

Could it be a book with the Hero as the protagonist? My interest was piqued, but Adam placed another book on top as if trying to hide the title.

“If Eve wants to read it too, you may.”

I didn’t know what exactly he was looking for, but in an Empire where divine authority held great power, heresy was the kind of thing one shouldn’t get involved with.

“I’ll go to the library later and find something myself.”

Something that’s not a heretical book.

“Alright.”

Adam nodded readily.

‘What could Adam want to know so badly that he’d reach for heretical documents?’

Would I be able to find out if I went to the library first? But I wanted to see content about Heroes.

While I knew various information about Adam, I probably knew less about ‘Heroes’ than the Empire’s citizens. In the game, Adam was simply the 7th Hero, a character chosen by a new player who received the mission to kill the Demon King.

I had been curious about what happened to Heroes who killed Demon Kings.

At least they wouldn’t just stay in the Demon King’s Castle, being used for a god’s amusement.

I left Adam behind, who somehow looked lonely, and went outside.

* * *

The Demon King’s Castle library.

This was the first time I’d come to read books since morning. However, as soon as I entered the library, I gaped at the sight before me.

“Wow, how many rooms’ worth of space is this?”

The library was enormous, as if three rooms had been combined. With so many books here, no wonder Adam couldn’t find the information he wanted even after staying up all night reading.

It’s not like there’s a book search system here either.

While wandering around between the large bookshelves and looking around, one peculiar book caught my eye.

I moved a ladder that was placed nearby and climbed up.

I pulled out a thick book with no writing on its spine. This one was definitely strange.

Unlike the other books, it had no title and wasn’t covered in white dust either.

This meant someone had read it recently.

But it wasn’t Adam. The books Adam read were scattered carelessly somewhere in his study, for which I had once scolded him.

Then the person who read this book must be Abracxas, the demon of the Demon King’s Castle.

Or…

‘Only the Demon King.’

Of course, there was also the possibility that Adam had read it and put it back.

‘But aside from having no title, there’s nothing particularly special about it.’

While I was turning the book this way and that to examine it, I heard a familiar voice from below.

“Eve.”

“Hero, hello!”

This is the first time I’m seeing from above, how interesting.

It had been a while since Adam looked up at me.

In the game, Adam always used to look at the sky.

I think it was because he thought the god in the heavens would send down divine revelations to earth.

I always thought he was cute when he did that.

‘If I reach out from here, I think I could touch Adam’s head.’

I stretched out one arm.

But before my hand could touch his soft silver hair, my body swayed.

“Whoa?”

“Ladders are dangerous, so come down, Eve…!”

At that moment, with a creaking sound, the step of the ladder I was standing on broke.

Fortunately, Adam, who was below, caught me as I fell. While being held by him, I awkwardly expressed my gratitude.

“Hehe. Thank you.”

“Being with Eve, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough to stay safe.”

After politely greeting him, I moved away from him.

‘Phew, I held back well.’

Adam looked puzzled when I pushed him away and ran off as if I’d been held by a stranger, despite him having just saved me.

But I couldn’t help it.

Whether on the ladder or in Adam’s arms, if I reached out, it felt like I could touch his head.

I almost committed the insubordination of placing my hand on the head of the Hero I serve without realizing it.

Hmm, that wouldn’t be right. No, it wouldn’t.

“The Demon King’s Castle has many facilities that have deteriorated from disuse. This ladder is one of them, so be careful when I’m not around.”

“I understand.”

Does that mean it’s okay when Adam is around because he’ll save me? Before I could ask, Adam spoke first.

“What’s that book?”

Adam pointed to the book I was holding and asked.

“I just took it out because it looked interesting! Would you like to read it, Hero?”

“I’ll pass.”

Tch, I was going to suggest he read it first and let me know if it was interesting. I closely followed Adam as he moved to another bookshelf.

“Did you also come to look for books, Hero?”

“Yes. But the book I want doesn’t seem to be here.”

I opened my mouth slightly and looked around.

“But this place is so spacious?”

“Well, the owner was the Demon King after all. So I thought conversely, what I’m looking for might not be here…”

If it’s a book the Demon King wouldn’t have collected…

“Are you looking for something about the temple… about Heroes?”

“Yes, something like that.”

But why does he have that expression? I stood on my tiptoes and reached my finger toward Adam’s brow.

Adam’s eyelashes twitched, but he didn’t avoid it.

“Ah, you were frowning. If you keep frowning like that, it’ll become a habit later.”

I answered before Adam could ask. Then he said “Ah” and rubbed his forehead where my hand had touched.

“Then are you thinking of going to the archive at the temple?”

“Well, I am a Hero anyway, so they’ll probably call for me first. I plan to go then. I don’t want to owe them a debt.”

He frowned again. But Adam didn’t seem to notice.

I don’t know why, but he seems to dislike the temple.

However, for this proposition to be true, there would need to be some reason between him and the temple.

‘But in this playthrough, I minimized contact with the temple?’

With little contact, we didn’t encounter situations where friction could occur.

Far from meeting with the temple, we didn’t even stop by the imperial palace, and as soon as Adam’s growth was complete, we rushed to the Demon King’s Castle.

‘No, that might be more of a problem.’

Because he didn’t make his presence known or show faithful behavior, the temple might have harbored some dissatisfaction.

Adam also had little connection with the temple, so he didn’t have any particular attachment either.

To ask the temple for help or have some kind of exchange, Adam was strong and excellent enough on his own.

“Does the temple perhaps keep you in check, Hero?”

“Not yet.”

Adam spoke as if it was no big deal.

‘Not yet?’

I sent him an earnest look as if asking him to tell me more, but he kept his mouth shut.

When Adam acted like that, I couldn’t dig any deeper. However, today he had uncharacteristically shared a lot of information.

Had I perhaps become a bit more comfortable to him?

“But it’s not something Eve needs to worry about, so don’t be concerned.”

Why do you always have to add disappointing remarks at the end!

I silently said words I couldn’t actually voice to Adam’s retreating head.

* * *

“Why does the Hero draw such lines with people? Please give me some objective third-party perspective!”

After leaving the library, Iberis spotted his prey and immediately ran toward him.

Thanks to this, Abracxas, who had been sweeping the corridor with a broom, ended up listening to relationship advice in the middle of his work.

“I really don’t understand.”

It’s not like he lacks social skills either.

Our Adam couldn’t be like that.

Iberis sat down on a book he had brought from the library and rested his chin on his hand.

Abracxas made an expression of disbelief at his shameless attitude.

However, since this was also a problem he had been thinking about, an answer came quickly.

For demons, the most enjoyable topic was gossiping about the Hero. Abracxas smiled brightly and whispered in his ear.

“Originally, ability and personality are inversely proportional.”

“Ah… I think I understand. I know someone like that too.”

Iberis nodded obediently.

Mm mm, I know very well.

A person whose personality and ability are inversely proportional. No, a demon.

“Really? But why are you looking at me while saying that?”

“Haha.”

Abracxas kept asking from the side, but Iberis consistently only laughed.

‘But Adam has a good personality.’

If Adam’s character hadn’t been good in the first place, he wouldn’t have saved the world. He would have just quietly watched whether it perished or not.

‘Damn world, just go ahead and perish’, he would have said.

Ah, but I made him save it, so he was forced to do it.

But he never rebelled once against killing the Demon King!

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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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