Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 175

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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 42

 

“Still…!”

 

It seemed like something strange had just passed by.

 

Iberis tried to scold him with a slightly raised voice.

 

However, she hesitated at the warmth that gently grasped her hand.

 

In that moment, Adam struck first.

 

“Think of it as last year’s birthday present.”

 

…Then there’s nothing to say.

 

It’s my fault for leaving Adam for 3 years, yes.

 

In the end, Iberis, defeated once again, looked at him with sullen eyes.

 

Then Adam smiled with utmost satisfaction.

 

Was this all part of Adam’s plan too?

 

I don’t know if everything Adam said was true, but it’s certain he absolutely didn’t refuse Judith’s goodwill.

 

Surely Adam didn’t ask first, but the moment Adam subtly hinted at it, Judith probably jumped at it.

 

Even without seeing it directly, the scene was painted before my eyes.

 

“And if we’re going to paint a portrait of the two of us, we can stay close together, right?”

 

Adam added in a small voice with a gentle smile.

 

At his words, Iberis’s face instantly flushed.

 

Iberis lightly hit Adam’s shoulder.

 

“There are people here!”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Adam replied cheekily as if he truly didn’t know.

 

The portrait artist who had been there from the beginning felt wronged.

 

In fact, having finished talking with the butler earlier, he had been quietly waiting for the right timing to speak.

 

In other words, he had heard their entire conversation.

 

Especially since the Hero had looked directly at him while speaking as if telling him to listen carefully…

 

His mission was burdensome.

 

The portrait artist, who had taken on such a weighty mission, squeezed his eyes shut.

 

Before being sent here, His Majesty the Emperor had earnestly commanded him.

 

No matter what happens, you must not go against the lady of the house’s mood!

 

At first, the portrait artist found the Emperor’s request strange, but now he seemed to understand.

 

Right in front of him, the one known as the Hero of the world, or rather, now properly called Count, was openly acting as if he cherished his future lady.

 

As if he would kill anyone who made even the slightest mistake toward her.

 

However, instead of the Emperor’s command, the artist now had only one thought in his mind.

 

‘I want to go home quickly.’

 

I want to finish the portrait quickly and go home.

 

This thought became even more intense as he watched the future Count couple flirting in front of him, seemingly having forgotten his existence.

 

It was a time when he missed his home where rabbit-like paints and bear-like canvases were waiting.

 

* * *

 

The portrait work was being completed smoothly.

 

Every time we sat side by side, Adam would lean on me or play around, which initially flustered the portrait artist, but by the end, he had transformed into the perfect face of a gentleman who understood everything.

 

Nevertheless, the artist who didn’t lose his professionalism completed the portrait in less than a week.

 

And as soon as Adam said he had worked hard, he left the room.

 

His steps looked light as he practically flew out of the room.

 

Indeed, no matter what work one completes, going home seems to be the best reward.

 

Adam and I in the completed portrait truly looked like lovers in a painting.

 

Anyone who knew nothing would probably see us as a peaceful couple.

 

And seeing the god-crafted painting by the imperial court artist, there was also a terrible work that naturally came to mind.

 

I looked down coldly as if I had forgotten I was smiling and said.

 

“I should have burned it…”

 

I muttered quietly in regret.

 

Last night, when I went to dispose of it while Adam was sleeping, it had disappeared without a trace.

 

It seemed Adam had cleaned it up in advance, knowing I would come back for it.

 

He must have been tired from sitting in the chair continuously while posing for the portrait, yet when did he move so meticulously?

 

“I won’t give up. I swear I’ll come back for it!”

 

I will rescue my drawing that fell into Adam’s hands.

 

And… I will burn it.

 

“I look forward to it.”

 

But knowing Adam’s personality, he’s surely hidden it somewhere I can’t reach.

 

I considered using some underhanded method that Adam would never figure out, then stopped.

 

‘I could easily find out his inner thoughts using the Relic, but he’d think it strange.’

 

If I spoke to him through the Relic when my divine identity had already been exposed, he’d think it odd.

 

I decided to forget about the drawing’s existence in my mind.

 

After all, there’s a much more wonderful portrait right before my eyes.

 

‘But why does it seem like more effort was put into my appearance than Adam’s?’

 

Usually, isn’t the subject of a portrait the master of that mansion? This seemed like I was drawn as more important than Adam.

 

‘It must be my imagination.’

 

More than that, why is Adam more obsessed with my drawing than this portrait?

 

I sighed involuntarily at Adam’s incomprehensible behavior.

 

I soon looked at the portrait that had been hung in a beautiful frame by the butler’s hands.

 

The butler went outside, making a fuss about finding a good position to hang the portrait.

 

I reached out and traced Adam’s face in the portrait over the glass.

 

Adam in the painting looked incredibly happy.

 

Is this how we look to others?

 

“If I leave later…”

 

I muttered without realizing it.

 

The more happy days continued with Adam, the more pressure about the Quest naturally intensified.

 

Unlike before, it wasn’t because I wanted to finish the Quest early.

 

Rather, it was the opposite.

 

I wanted to drag out the time as much as possible to enjoy this time more.

 

Because I might have to return when the Quest ends.

 

The Quest couldn’t remain ongoing forever.

 

If a Quest has a beginning, an end will inevitably come someday.

 

I didn’t know when that would be, but I could only hope it would be as late as possible.

 

It was the moment I was muttering quietly with such wishes.

 

“You’re leaving?”

 

“No…”

 

Adam, who had just entered the room, looked at me with a rigidly hardened face.

 

The face that had been grinning with satisfaction after the portrait’s completion was completely nowhere to be found.

 

He urgently ran to my side and asked.

 

“This time too, are you leaving me?”

 

“That’s not it!”

 

I shouted loudly, seeing Adam who had already turned pale as if abandoned.

 

Adam seemed to finally come to his senses from the strong stimulus of me gripping his cheeks hard, as focus entered his yellow eyes.

 

When I entered his pupils, the trembling that had been shaking like caught in a downpour finally stopped.

 

I let out a small sigh and stroked the now-calm Adam’s head. He obediently lowered his head and accepted my touch.

 

Is it therapeutic for both the person stroking and the person receiving?

 

Anyway, since my divine identity was exposed, I could no longer hide anything more from him.

 

“Actually, as I mentioned before, I have a reason for coming here.”

 

I continued speaking slowly.

 

For the first time since coming to this place, I had told someone about my circumstances.

 

Like confessing to a High Priest in a confessional.

 

The loneliness I felt when I first fell into this place without anyone on my side had now completely disappeared.

 

“That’s probably the work of someone with great power.”

 

“….”

 

“But that person set a condition. If I complete the Quest, they’ll send me back to my original world.”

 

“Don’t go.”

 

Adam urgently grabbed hold of me.

 

“Is that mission thing finished? Is that why you’re trying to leave me?”

 

“I’m telling you it’s really not that!”

 

Once suspicion began, it seemed to bloom endlessly within Adam.

 

Having inevitably become the shepherd girl who cried wolf, Adam’s reaction was unavoidable.

 

I continued to soothe Adam before continuing my words.

 

“Probably to finish the Quest… the condition would be to completely remove the curse placed on Adam.”

 

If I’m constantly anxious about when Adam’s curse might go berserk, there’s no way I could be happy.

 

The content of the Quest would likely follow a similar context.

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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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