Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 189
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Part 2, Chapter 56
Yes, the Hero had always been that kind of existence.
From ancient times, they could never escape the role of throwing their lives away to subjugate the Demon King, a task that made people click their tongues and say it was impossible.
Even if they had memories of being wronged by people, they were the ones who had to rightfully run toward death to protect them.
Certainly Adam had once returned alive from that death trap, but Judith felt strangely uneasy.
‘He’s too calm.’
No matter how much he believed in his own strength, how could he act like that in a situation where he might die?
Unless he had resolved himself to death.
Judith’s mouth opened faster than his thoughts.
“What about Iberis? He asked me to take good care of you, but I can’t leave you alone and go.”
It was as if he was asking while assuming his death.
Judith was surprised by his own question.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Adam, but the Demon King before his eyes was so much like pure evil…
“Eve always knows things one step ahead.”
However, Adam burst into laughter.
It was a tone that didn’t match this situation.
“As expected, my Eve.”
But the small talk ended there. Adam, who had wiped away his smile, spoke to him.
“But it’s fine. Your Majesty.”
Adam had an unconcerned expression.
Who would have thought that expression, which always seemed indifferent to the world as usual, would actually be reassuring.
“If the Demon King had properly revived, I—no, all the Empire’s citizens would have known. This means it’s not a proper revival right now.”
‘…Is that so.’
Until now, whenever the Demon King revived, the entire sky would be covered with demonic energy starting from the Demon King’s Castle where the Demon King resided.
It was proof that the Demon King’s demonic energy was that tremendous and truly wicked.
And if something similar had happened now, Judith definitely wouldn’t have opened the ballroom doors.
But no such signs were visible.
Judith gradually came to believe Adam’s words.
“So please leave. There’s nothing Your Majesty can do here. This is a fight between the Hero and the Demon King.”
Adam answered firmly.
And without even listening to a response, Adam opened the door and sent him out.
“There’s nothing good to see. Your Majesty should preserve yourself. If we both die, who will inherit the throne?”
“Hey!”
The ballroom door, heavy as a rock, closed completely.
Judith knocked on the door with thuds, but it wouldn’t open, as if it had been blocked with holy power.
* * *
Having sent away the hindrance, Adam approached the Demon King with light steps.
Nothing had changed.
Only the location had changed from the Demon King’s Castle to the Imperial Palace.
The Demon King looking down at him quietly, and himself looking up at him from below.
Adam somehow thought it felt like a regression that had started again.
“We’re acquainted.”
“Mm, that’s right.”
Aphene gazed at Adam.
Aphene belatedly realized that Adam’s mention of being acquainted wasn’t referring to when they faced each other at the Demon King’s Castle.
He was talking about when he was the boy Aphene.
When he had lost his power and acted like a child who knew nothing.
“Ah, shall I change my face for you?”
Aphene, who had been giggling, snapped his fingers.
Then his short hair quickly grew down to his waist.
It wasn’t just the length of his hair that changed.
The boyish appearance completely disappeared and a middle-aged face was revealed.
It was the appearance of the Demon King that Adam had seen countless times.
Red eyes that announced he had regained his power looked down at Adam.
“That wasn’t necessary though.”
Adam took another step forward.
Then Aphene watched with interested eyes.
The ballroom was already filled with thick demonic energy.
He should know that the Demon King had regained his power, so what confidence was this?
However, the demonic energy didn’t attack Adam.
It made subtle attacks but showed a lukewarm response.
Confirming this, Aphene smiled. There was only one reason why demonic energy wouldn’t attack someone with holy power.
Either they had lost their holy power, or the proportion of demonic energy in their body was higher.
However, the Hero, seemingly unaware of anything, calmly continued speaking.
“You may not know me, but I’ve always known you.”
“A love confession from the Hero, how sweet.”
Aphene said mockingly.
The Hero had no choice but to know the Demon King.
Countless records by the old Temple priests who loved to document things had written about the Demon King’s activities.
But at the same time, the Demon King also knew the Hero.
Because when they looked into him, the Demon King also watched them.
So even though this generation’s Hero had exceptionally quickly grasped his weaknesses and defeated him in a short time, Aphene didn’t think much of it.
It was only 6 records.
How could that brat assert that he knew him with just that much?
But Adam calmly continued speaking.
What followed was content that even Aphene hadn’t expected.
“I have some gratitude toward you.”
The Hero expressing gratitude to the Demon King?
Whatever scheme this was, if others had seen it, they would have stared at him with bulging eyes.
“Puhaha, are you trying to flatter the Demon King?”
Aphene laughed with gleaming eyes.
He was indeed an unpredictable Hero.
That made him even more appealing.
If only he could dig into what thoughts lay beyond that face.
Adam’s bright yellow eyes captured Aphene.
Aphene’s mood quickly sank as their gazes met.
Those eyes.
Yes, they had bothered him from the first time they met.
They weren’t eyes a brat should have.
They were eyes similar to his own.
The weary eyes of someone who had experienced everything.
However, there was still a light of hope remaining in Adam’s eyes.
“Thanks to you, I met her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have chosen me, and I wouldn’t have known either.”
Aphene tried to gauge the identity of that light.
And when he recalled its identity, his interest completely faded.
Aphene slowly leaned back against the backrest.
“Hmm, that human… Are you talking about Iberis?”
Aphene, who had been tapping the armrest with his fingers, spoke as if he finally remembered.
“Please don’t mention her name with that filthy name of yours.”
Then Adam’s aura became even more murderous.
It was an emotional whirlwind that hadn’t appeared even when his lifelong enemy was brought before him, and Aphene watched with interest.
“Do as you please.”
Aphene laughed as if it didn’t matter and spun the glass he was holding round and round.
He decided to end this tedious story that didn’t particularly pique his interest here.
Aphene smiled, baring his teeth.
“So, how does it feel to witness again the Demon King you killed with your own hands?”
“….”
Adam quietly stared into the Demon King’s red eyes. They were the same color as the red wine now flowing down the Demon King’s throat.
“It’s tiresome.”
Saying that, Adam smiled brilliantly.
“So let’s end this ill-fated relationship now.”
For Iberis who would remain behind, if nothing else.
“End it, you say….”
A rookie Hero declares he will accomplish what even those who were more praised and expected than him could not achieve.
Aphene shuddered with excitement.
‘How interesting indeed…!’
Had there ever been a time before when a Hero who was merely a rookie grew like this and faced him again?
No, there hadn’t been.
They had all gone mad from his curse, destroyed their surroundings, and then taken their own lives.
“But even if you sacrifice your life to kill me, do you think I won’t be able to resurrect?”
Different Location, but the same individuals.
The Demon King looking down and the Hero opposing him.
After no small amount of time had passed, the two met again.
Instead of answering, Adam pointed his holy sword at him.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————