Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 171

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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 38

 

Only the curtains fluttered in the wind coming through the open window.

 

‘…Aphene.’

 

Iberis gritted his teeth as he recalled that sly face.

 

How many people had he deceived with that youthful appearance and bright smile?

 

And what kind of havoc would the resurrected Aphene wreak in the future?

 

Knowing everything, he couldn’t just sit still.

 

Iberis shot up from his seat to find Adam.

 

‘Adam has killed the Demon King before, so he’ll know well. Even in this cycle, he cut off his breath before I could even give advice, didn’t he?’

 

Adam was always like that.

 

After infiltrating the Demon King’s Castle without the monsters or demons guarding the Demon King knowing, he naturally found the Demon King’s location before she could even tell him.

 

And he acted as if he knew exactly where all of the Demon King’s attacks would land.

 

‘…Before I could even tell him.’

 

His behavior seemed to know far too well how to kill the Demon King.

 

And Adam’s actions, as if he had been expecting it all, passed through his mind one after another.

 

Iberis’s footsteps gradually slowed.

 

Suddenly raising his head at the doubt that arose, Iberis kicked off the ground and ran without even catching his breath.

 

Whenever he asked about the Demon King, Adam always gave an ambiguous smile.

 

‘No way….’

 

It was strange. It had been strange.

 

He definitely shouldn’t be able to remember….

 

It was definitely just a vanished cycle!

 

“I know well. I also know that they are not the type to easily betray me.”

 

“Because I’ve experienced it several times already.”

 

“I know.”

 

He recalled Adam’s words that he had failed to notice.

 

Things that definitely weren’t from this cycle, but were so natural to her that she had forgotten about them.

 

It was exactly like the behavior of someone who remembered repeating countless regressions.

 

He had thought nothing of Adam’s strangely weary and seemingly bored expressions.

 

It had been an understandable situation, and there was the Emperor who acted terribly annoying.

 

‘Why didn’t I notice until now?’

 

Adam… remembered everything.

 

Even when he subtly showed such behavior, he thought it was absolutely impossible.

 

Because if he remembered everything, Adam would never have shown her such a face.

 

Because he wouldn’t whisper sweet words to her every night and speak of happiness.

 

Because he remembered everything, he should have resented her.

 

The foolish Hero couldn’t blame others.

 

Instead, he gave her overwhelming affection.

 

‘He remembered everything…!’

 

His steps leaving the room were urgent.

 

His mind was so jumbled that he didn’t know what to say.

 

But right now, he wanted to go and embrace Adam.

 

Adam, who remembered countless deaths that no one else remembered, that only he alone remembered.

 

He only wanted to comfort the past Adam who had desperately pretended not to know.

 

* * *

 

“Huff, huff….”

 

Iberis, who had rushed out of the room, moved his steps while hearing the butler’s voice.

 

“Ah. Lord Iberis. The master has just returned home.”

 

The butler was flustered seeing her face that had turned pale in just a moment, but quickly told him where Adam was.

 

However, Iberis could no longer move his feet, as if he had entered a place he shouldn’t have come to.

 

It felt like his feet were stuck in a swamp.

 

If he stayed still, it seemed like he would sink even deeper inside.

 

But as if Adam already knew she was in front of his room door, he opened it with a smile.

 

“Iberis? Why did you come running so urgently?”

 

Adam drew a bright smile as soon as he saw Iberis.

 

Feeling the touch of his hand reaching out to arrange the hair stuck to his cheek, Iberis looked at the face full of loving concern.

 

Looking at him like this, he was such a foolishly beautiful person.

 

It was such an innocent face that it seemed like the resolve he had just made would crumble.

 

He wanted to pretend he knew nothing instead.

 

Then he could maintain this glass-like peaceful life.

 

But he couldn’t do that.

 

He could no longer deceive him who was so brilliant.

 

“Adam, I….”

 

Iberis hesitated as if choosing his words.

 

“I’m not as good as you think. I’m not altruistic either, I’m incredibly selfish….”

 

“….”

 

Even at the words pouring out suddenly, Adam quietly listened.

 

His consideration was so gentle that it took his breath away.

 

Iberis’s eyes grew hot.

 

“And, and…. What I’m hiding from you….”

 

Tears fell drop by drop.

 

He absolutely couldn’t raise his head to look at Adam.

 

The tears wetted the hallway as they were.

 

But Adam warmly took her hand again this time too.

 

“It’s okay. Whatever you’re hiding from me, all of it.”

 

“No! It won’t be okay when Adam hears it. I, I….”

 

Iberis said while sobbing.

 

His throat was choked up so the words he wanted to say wouldn’t come out.

 

But he had to say it right now.

 

If he didn’t confess now, he would never be able to say it until the end.

 

“I’m probably the god that Adam knows about.”

 

She was the one who sent his life to hell.

 

It was also me who made him experience the deaths of countless comrades.

 

Because she kept resetting.

 

Because she kept trying just to see the hidden ending for no reason.

 

Not having the courage to look at Adam’s face, Iberis spoke with her eyes closed.

 

Either his heart stopped, or it beat so loudly that he couldn’t hear anything at all.

 

The whole world felt like silence.

 

“….”

 

It wasn’t a mistake—there was no answer coming back.

 

After a moment’s hesitation, Iberis slowly raised his head to check his face.

 

Adam didn’t look surprised at all.

 

And she too should have questioned the fact that Adam wasn’t surprised.

 

But somehow her heart was surprisingly quiet.

 

Iberis lowered his head and let out a small bitter laugh.

 

Without her knowing, she had realized that Adam already knew.

 

She just hadn’t been aware of it.

 

Without Iberis knowing, words just came out.

 

She didn’t know if it was a question to herself or a question to Adam.

 

“…Since when?”

 

“Well. Around the time I came to love you more than my God.”

 

Adam smiled with a slightly bitter expression.

 

“But how can you not resent me? How… How can you be like this? I, I…”

 

“Don’t cry.”

 

Adam raised his hand and wiped away the tears flowing down Iberis’s cheeks.

 

The more he did so, the more Iberis wanted to run away right then and there.

 

He considers and worries about others before himself.

 

Feeling like she might suffocate from his tenderness, Iberis burst into tears.

 

As he wiped away her endlessly flowing tears, Adam had the same thought.

 

He remembers the regressions.

 

He never thought it was special, nor did he think it was a privilege.

 

The endlessly repeating regressions had eaten away at his mind.

 

But with someone here crying for him like this, Adam strangely felt good.

 

Her single tear made him feel as if all his past pain and efforts were being rewarded.

 

Of course, there were many moments when he wanted to give up. It would have been the same for Iberis.

 

But this person saved me until the very end.

 

She never gave up, never threw him into the gutter out of annoyance.

 

He too remembered her efforts and felt her desperation.

 

How could I hate someone like you?

 

Adam finally couldn’t hold back and showed his greed.

 

Because Iberis always said it was okay. Because Iberis always looked at him with that clear face.

 

Since she was the one who told him to be greedy, she would surely forgive him this much.

 

Adam lowered his head and kissed her.

 

The soft sensation that felt like a dream slowly settled upon her.

 

Iberis slowly opened her closed eyes.

 

Bright yellow eyes resembling gold visible beneath long, thin eyelashes.

 

It was the beloved face of the person she loved.

 

That face was flushed as it looked at her.

 

Unlike her usual troubling expectations, Adam was always consistent.

 

If this was a dream, it was a sweet reality she never wanted to wake up from.

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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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