Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 177

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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 44

 

Stress Level – 5%

 

As expected, the stress level had decreased.

 

His mood fluctuated with each of my actions.

 

As if someone was watching Adam’s thoughts from the side.

 

However, whoever created this system clearly doesn’t want me to return right now.

 

They don’t want me to complete the Quest by making the stress level 0%.

 

Then I might as well use it to my advantage.

 

I no longer wanted to return to the original world anyway.

 

At least for this moment, I wanted to be with Adam.

 

Adam’s eyes widened as if wondering what I was talking about.

 

However, seeing my confident tone, different from what I’d said before, he smiled and asked.

 

“How long?”

 

“Hmm, forever?”

 

I said with a soft laugh. Then the numbers changed before my eyes.

 

Stress Level – 7%

 

Wait, hold on.

 

Wasn’t the mood good just now?

 

‘I expected it to go down by 1%, not up?’

 

It wasn’t a good atmosphere—it was the start of a crisis.

 

I unconsciously tightened my grip on Adam’s cheek.

 

‘Why is the stress level going up!’

 

I screamed inwardly in shock.

 

But then I suddenly realized the reason.

 

I said the same thing last time and then ran away.

 

No, it wasn’t even running away to begin with. I ended up entering the game because of his contract.

 

Still, I felt a bit wronged.

 

Adam seemed to notice why I was shocked and said lightly with a smile.

 

“That word has lost its credibility.”

 

“Ahem, but I came back, didn’t I?”

 

I said defensively in response to Adam’s words.

 

Since I ended up staying by Adam’s side, wouldn’t that be okay?

 

But Adam didn’t seem satisfied with just that. He seemed to want visible reassurance.

 

I pondered seriously before opening my mouth.

 

“Then how about 100 years? It’s a generous period where we absolutely can’t be separated before we die.”

 

At my suggestion, Adam burst into laughter.

 

“That’s enough.”

 

It was just a silly joke that could be brushed off as playful, but Adam laughed as if satisfied.

 

It was exactly like Adam’s innocent laughter from the old days.

 

Stress Level – 1%

 

As if waiting for the right moment, the stress level dropped. Then the stress level stopped changing.

 

Even so, it felt like the end was truly approaching now.

 

* * *

 

Upon reaching the destination, Iberis got out of the carriage.

 

Then, as if waiting for her, attendants and maids respectfully greeted Iberis.

 

“Thank you for visiting Evant Manor.”

 

It was the Evant estate that I had only visited when recruiting Kyrillos as a companion in the game. Seeing it like this felt fresh.

 

A few days ago, Iberis received an invitation from the House of Evant. However, it wasn’t Kyrillos’s doing.

 

If it had been Kyrillos’s invitation, Adam would have probably burned it long ago.

 

However, since what was written on the invitation was from someone else in the House of Evant, it could safely reach her hands.

 

Iberis was guided by the attendant and arrived at the greenhouse. Then a noblewoman sitting at the head seat suddenly stood up and walked toward her.

 

“Thank you so much for accepting my invitation, Lady Iberis.”

 

“Not at all. I’m the one who should be grateful for the invitation.”

 

It was an invitation from none other than Kyrillos’s sister.

 

Her name was Hailin Evant, wasn’t it?

 

She was the noblewoman who had previously asked Adam through Kyrillos to escort her to the debutante ball.

 

However, after Adam refused, she had a wonderful debutante ball with Kyrillos.

 

She held a small tea party in the large greenhouse in the garden of Evant Manor.

 

And Iberis, who received several lines of content saying she would be truly grateful if she could attend, ultimately couldn’t refuse.

 

Even though Hailin sent such a lengthy letter, she didn’t seem to think Iberis would actually attend, as she lost her composure and smiled brightly when she appeared.

 

When the maid beside her coughed softly, she belatedly managed her expression.

 

And naturally, Iberis took the seat next to Hailin.

 

The other young ladies also subtly made room as if it was the right thing to do.

 

“When my brother said he was close to Lady Iberis, I was skeptical, but it was really true.”

 

Hailin said in an excited voice.

 

“Actually, I wanted to attend the ball too.”

 

She sighed deeply as if truly regretful.

 

“My brother absolutely wouldn’t give me an invitation.”

 

As Hailin thought of Kyrillos, annoyance briefly crossed her face.

 

Are these realistic siblings too? Iberis smiled slightly.

 

“Oh, of course my brother was worried about me. But it was a chance to see Lady Iberis in person! If things went well, I might have become an even closer friend than my brother.”

 

“Yes, it really is regrettable…”

 

She didn’t know when she and Kyrillos had been officially established as close friends in Princess Hailin’s mind.

 

It was probably because of Kyrillos’s way of speaking, befriending everyone.

 

Rather than correcting the misunderstanding, Iberis just smiled.

 

“But Lady Evant invited me, so we met like this.”

 

At those words, Hailin smiled brightly.

 

The young ladies beside them looked at her fondly.

 

“You don’t know how much Lady Evant talked about Lady Iberis.”

 

“She said there was something she really wanted to hear about…”

 

“Lady Lein…!”

 

At the sudden introduction of the main topic, Hailin waved her hand slightly in denial.

 

The noblewoman who brought it up laughed as if she found her cute.

 

However, perhaps curious, Hailin coughed softly and said.

 

“How did you meet the Hero? I’m curious about your heroic tales of how you killed the Demon King!”

 

“We were so curious we lost sleep over it.”

 

“Ah.”

 

If it was that, no one would know better than her.

 

Iberis wore a confident expression.

 

Everyone’s eyes sparkled as they waited only for her words.

 

It was as if she had taken on the role of reading a fairy tale to children.

 

“Unlike previous heroes, to subjugate the Demon King alone…”

 

Iberis cleared her throat and began the story.

 

It was a story she knew inside and out without Adam having to tell her.

 

However, it was a story that no one in the world knew, only theirs.

 

When the heroic tale of killing the Demon King ended, the young ladies’ eyes sparkled.

 

After that, ordinary conversation followed.

 

After seeing off the other young ladies first, Hailin walked through the greenhouse with Iberis.

 

She seemed to have wanted to talk more about Adam but held back until now, afraid the young ladies might tease her.

 

“Even hearing it again, it’s truly amazing! But to subjugate the Demon King alone…”

 

Hailin said with a tearful expression.

 

It seemed that to a noblewoman who had been raised in comfort, Adam’s life appeared to have too many pitiful aspects.

 

Even though she hadn’t told her everything.

 

Iberis smiled bitterly.

 

Hailin whispered to her in a small voice.

 

“Is that why he’s been hurt so much? If it’s to the extent that you’d specially ask my brother for medicine…”

 

“Medicine?”

 

Iberis asked back.

 

Then Hailin’s eyes widened as she said.

 

“Isn’t that right? I happened to overhear my brother grumbling that the Hero is probably the only one in the Empire who makes the Duke run medicine errands every time…”

 

Hailin said while rolling her eyes as if recalling that moment.

 

“Then I guess that’s not it!”

 

Hailin laughed and waved her hands dismissively.

 

However, Iberis couldn’t just let it pass due to her uneasiness.

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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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