Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 26

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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 26

Even in 【Hero’s Awakening】, brief information about the Hero appeared, but it was really just common knowledge for understanding the worldview, not proper information.

‘Since this is a story I don’t know, it’s probably when he was eight years old, just before the oracle was given.’

How cute must young Adam have been?

She listened to Adam’s words with great interest.

“So I wondered what it was, but the next day and the day after that, something kept hitting me. It turned out to be acorns.”

“…”

“I felt sorry for a baby squirrel that was shivering without food in winter, so I brought it fruit a few times. The squirrel that survived the winter just fine was now following me around, dropping acorns.”

Adam didn’t know it, but he was smiling now.

Seeing that pure smile befitting his age, Iberis unconsciously opened her mouth wide.

So this is what Adam looks like when recalling happy memories from the past.

Today she was seeing many sides of him for the first time.

Then Adam made eye contact with her. When she met those brilliant golden eyes, Iberis unconsciously flinched her shoulders.

“Now that I look again, Eve resembles that squirrel.”

“…”

“That might be why I can’t chase you away. That small thing that only follows me around…”

Adam trailed off. It was then that Iberis, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stood up.

“I resemble a brave tiger rather than a squirrel!”

“Yes. You really do.”

She was serious, but Adam answered halfheartedly.

Iberis pondered and then asked.

“What happened to that squirrel?”

“It died.”

Adam said calmly.

At the unexpected answer, she closed her mouth.

“It died because it got involved with me.”

He had only given it food a few times, but the clever squirrel had become close enough to climb onto his shoulder.

Adam, who had no friends, secretly liked that small animal too.

But that day.

When the usual unannounced violence poured down, the foolish squirrel was struck dead by his father’s hand. Adam tried to protect it belatedly, but it was already too late.

Was it only the squirrel?

The squirrel wasn’t the first to die miserably by his side.

And it wasn’t the end either.

Adam recalled the endless nightmare and slowly closed his eyes. It was agonizing. The sense of loss was indescribably terrible, to the point where loneliness with no one by his side would be better.

‘That person left the same way.’

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Iberis, who was listening attentively to his words, and smiled.

Iberis, who resembled the squirrel.

In the end, she too would die.

“Everyone around me dies. So Eve, please leave me quickly too.”

Adam continued speaking calmly.

“I don’t want to lose anyone anymore. Whether somewhere I don’t know, or right before my eyes.”

This time too, Adam habitually pushed her away.

Would she leave if he said this?

She had always wanted to know his true feelings.

Now that he had shown her what she wanted, he hoped she would obediently leave.

However, she, who always went against his expectations, didn’t back down but instead shouted in frustration.

“Then!”

Adam closed his mouth.

His golden eyes trembled slightly. They were eyes mixed with fear. Looking into them quietly, Iberis felt a surge of emotion.

Why was he pretending to be calm while talking about how people around him would die?

In truth, he was just an ordinary person who was afraid of losing and couldn’t let people come close.

“Of course, I might die by the Hero’s side.”

This was true.

Adam wasn’t telling absurd stories but talking about reality.

She knew better than anyone that he wasn’t the type to scare people away with lies.

“But even if I die in some remote place after leaving the Hero, I’ll still die anyway.”

Everyone dies.

For some it comes quickly, for others after a long time.

But one thing was certain…

“Neither would be the Hero’s fault. But if I die because the Hero chases me away, I’ll resent the Hero a little before I die.”

“…”

“I’ll die with resentment and cling to the Hero’s side, so don’t worry about me resenting the Hero!”

“You know my persistence well, don’t you?” Iberis added.

Suddenly she recalled how Adam’s attitude had become strangely gentle recently. He was thinking of sending her away. So he had been smiling to make her last memories good.

Pretending to trust her, pretending to open his heart while preparing for farewell alone.

Somehow it seemed foolish.

Iberis pressed her lips together at the surge of sadness, then lifted her head and said.

“So please don’t think about chasing me away before I leave on my own.”

“…I’m saying this out of concern for Eve.”

“I know!”

Knowing made it worse.

Hadn’t he kindly explained earlier that he pushes her away because he doesn’t want to lose her, rather than because of his preferences?

That made her even angrier.

“The Demon King is dead too. The world has become peaceful and returned to normal to the point where Heroes are no longer needed, hasn’t it?”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

“…”

“Because my usefulness has disappeared. People who found me bothersome until now will make their move. Heroes aren’t needed in a peaceful world.”

What on earth did people think of Heroes?

Did the Heroes who appeared until now go through similar ordeals?

Suddenly she remembered the book 【The Last Days of a Certain Hero】 that she had seen in the Demon King’s Castle.

It contained the histories of all Heroes, and strangely, they all died before the age of thirty.

Not because of the Demon King, but for other reasons.

Dogs are eaten when the hunt is over.

That saying applied to Heroes too.

He had devoted half his life to being made into an existence that would kill the Demon King.

Killing the Demon King wasn’t that simple, nor did becoming a Hero suddenly grant tremendous power.

She looked down at Adam’s hands, covered with scars.

Iberis made a firm resolution and glared at Adam again.

“Then let’s make a promise.”

Before Adam could say anything, she added.

“Just one year. If I survive one year, it’s my victory.”

She would personally refute his claim that everyone who stays by his side dies.

Iberis’s eyes showed unwavering resolve, not retreating an inch.

Adam couldn’t bring himself to stop her and slowly continued.

“You’ll die before then.”

“I absolutely won’t die.”

“…”

“I won’t let myself die.”

Iberis smiled.

Just like when she had once answered the young Hero’s question about what to do if the Hero’s life ended in miserable death among countless cycles.

This time too, I answered confidently that I absolutely wouldn’t die.

* * *

When morning came, we visited the sanctuary with the Elderly High Priest leading the way.

Yesterday we couldn’t do it due to the chaos, but all visitors to the Temple must pay their respects to the gods.

‘Far from paying respects, I feel like I’m going to die from sleepiness…’

After declaring my bold aspirations yesterday, I played several more rounds of games with Adam.

Of course, all the victories belonged to Adam.

And then… I eventually fell asleep.

When I woke up, I found myself alone in the room. Seeing that I was covered with a blanket, it seemed Adam had covered me before leaving.

Because I hadn’t slept properly, I felt like my legs were moving on their own.

The High Priests beside me proudly explained that divine power was abundant within the Temple, so I would feel energized.

“How is it? Can’t you feel the sacred divine energy?”

“Yes. I think so.”

I didn’t know about that, but I was just tired.

It seemed like things had become a bit awkward between Adam and me too.

Perhaps thinking that his objections wouldn’t stop me anyway, Adam’s reaction was unexpectedly calm.

‘Still, he came to the sanctuary with us.’

When I glanced back, Adam was following behind us along with the other High Priests.

When the Elderly High Priest opened the door, a high ceiling came into view.

As Iberis entered the sanctuary, she let out a small gasp of admiration.

“Wow…”

She opened her mouth wide at the sight of the massive stone statue positioned in the distance.

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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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