Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 30

* * *

As if his worries weren’t unfounded, Adam showed no intention of leaving the temple. He used to hate the temple so much, yet now he was deliberately doing something that wouldn’t be good for anyone, which was somehow chilling.

Was the incident from that day really the problem?

However, I couldn’t just openly tell Adam right now that I was his god.

It would be fortunate if Adam just laughed it off as if he was hearing some absurd nonsense.

The worst-case scenario would be him finding out the identity of the god who had harshly treated him as a Hero for 10 years and completely changing his attitude.

In the end, I postponed revealing the truth to Adam, but he was persistent.

Persistent enough to confine himself in the temple he hated, together with me.

I thought it would be more enjoyable to have conversations with Abracxas or Potato back at the Demon King’s Castle.

Wherever we went in the temple, High Priests would follow us around, keeping just a slight distance. At first, I thought I was mistaken, but as we spent more time outside the building, I realized it wasn’t my imagination when I saw the number of following High Priests gradually increase.

‘Should I run away too…?’

At this fleeting thought, I suddenly sprang up from my seat.

When I saw that even the Holy Knights guarding the temple gates were nowhere to be seen, I ran toward them as if enchanted. However, before I could even approach the gate, two High Priests appeared from somewhere and stood on either side of me.

“Hello, Lady Iberis. Is there something you need?”

“If there’s anything you require, please feel free to let us know.”

The suddenly appearing High Priests spoke with bright smiles.

They were telling me not to think about going out, and to tell them if I wanted anything instead.

I considered trying to break through their iron defense to get outside, but even if I managed to get out, I couldn’t return to the Demon King’s Castle alone anyway.

In the end, I took a step back and declared surrender.

“…I was just taking a walk and stopped by.”

“I see!”

The High Priest nodded with his characteristic bright smile.

Anyway, running away wasn’t going to work.

I quickly gave up and started walking back toward the temple building.

However, there were several sets of footsteps persistently following me.

Don’t tell me they still think I’m going to run away?

I unconsciously fiddled with the necklace bearing the sacred relic. Surely they weren’t keeping such a keen watch on me because of this.

But whether I touched the sacred relic or not, they seemed uninterested, so I casually asked.

“Why are you following me?”

“Ah, the Hero specifically told us that if Lady Iberis tries to do anything, we should follow her around and protect her.”

‘Adam…!’

It’s surveillance, not protection.

However, for some reason, both High Priests had warm expressions as they touched under their noses.

“For the Hero to care this much… you two must truly have a close relationship.”

What exactly looks good about this situation?

The High Priests seemed to have rose-colored glasses firmly in place. Well, it would be strange if they didn’t, since he was their Hero.

Adam was handsome, had a good personality, was strong, and didn’t give up easily.

He was the kind of talent anyone would have to like.

However, as I recalled Adam’s praise, I crossed out the part about having a good personality. Seeing how he was getting revenge like this, his personality wasn’t good at all. This was a truth those High Priests were completely unaware of.

“What exactly did the Hero ask you High Priests to do?”

“He said dangerous things could happen like last time, so he asked us to keep a close watch from nearby!”

They recited Adam’s words with bright faces. I could guess what kind of expression and tone he used when saying such things. However, I saw this as an opportunity.

“But, High Priests. He said to watch me closely because it could be dangerous, but where do you think the safest place in the temple is?”

Even at this sudden question, the High Priests seriously pondered.

“Um, the sanctuary…?”

“Actually, there’s no dangerous place in the temple. But since there’s the saying ‘just in case,’ I understand why the Hero is worried. No one could have known that such an incident would happen a few days ago either.”

But as if wondering why I was asking this, two pairs of eyes turned toward me.

“The safest place is by the Hero’s side.”

This couldn’t be denied.

Even if they encountered a dangerous situation, they had the perception in their minds that their Hero would somehow handle it.

“I’ll go to the Hero now, so please rest comfortably, High Priests.”

“…!”

Whether my words sounded reasonable, the two High Priests whispered to each other so I couldn’t hear, then nodded.

Somehow their cheekbones seemed raised.

‘It’s probably just my imagination…?’

I left that spot to look for Adam.

Finding him wouldn’t be difficult. When I turned on synchronization and focused on what he was doing, I could immediately know his location.

Your Hero is blankly staring at a statue in the sanctuary.

The sanctuary!

“Hero!”

I confirmed no one was around and ran to him. Adam was indeed standing blankly inside the sanctuary. It would look more comfortable if he sat down, but he wasn’t even sitting in a chair, just standing still.

When I called him, he finally turned his head to look at me.

“Were you looking at the statue?”

“…Yes.”

Adam’s eyes slowly returned to the statue. Was he seeing god in that faceless statue? I felt somehow restless and fiddled with my fingernails.

Then, while keeping his gaze fixed on the statue, Adam asked.

“Do you feel anything, Eve?”

It was just an ordinary statue. There was no reason for the statue I’d seen a few days ago to look different.

“I don’t really know.”

At my calm tone, Adam nodded. He still seemed to think the divine revelation had transferred to me.

‘I’m the one in question here.’

Since I couldn’t tell him the truth, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.

“More importantly, when are we returning to the Demon King’s Castle? It seems like you’ve finished your business too, Hero, so let’s go back!”

“I was going to, but I’m worried about Eve. The temple is overflowing with abundant divine power, so just staying here should help with recovery.”

“I don’t have any injuries that require special treatment.”

Adam smiled slightly as he spoke. He didn’t look like someone who was worried.

“How can you be so confident when you’re someone who collapsed once?”

“I’m really perfectly fine though…”

That fainting was fake too!

Even though Adam clearly knew this, his face looked calm as he recited lies.

“But I heard you’re not eating well and keep wandering around outside.”

“The temple food doesn’t really agree with me…”

The dining table was full of only green foods. They didn’t even put dressing on the salad! Something about experiencing the natural flavors without any sauce.

Wondering who taught him such behavior, I glared at Adam with fierce eyes.

“I’m just repaying the kindness Eve showed me.”

So you’re getting revenge now? It is revenge!

In a situation where I was uncertain, Adam’s last words drove the nail in. He must have kept in mind how I fed, clothed, and housed him at the Demon King’s Castle.

I recalled Adam staying at the temple, staring intently at me eating, or looking at me piercingly whenever he was bored.

“It feels like my body and mind are being completely purified…”

“That’s truly wonderful.”

“Right… It’s so wonderful that I’m almost moved to tears…”

I tried protesting to him while squeezing out tears that wouldn’t come, but it didn’t work at all.

Trudging outside, I walked through the temple’s garden, which was even more boring than the Demon King’s Castle.

At least it was fortunate that the High Priests who had been following me earlier were nowhere to be seen.

When I went to other places, the gazes of High Priests looking at me with strangely excited faces felt burdensome. Whether Adam felt the same way, he also didn’t come out of his room.

He seemed to dislike the temple just as much, but Adam’s determination to choose staying at the temple to torment me was frightening.

Not knowing where High Priests might pop out from, my steps naturally headed toward less populated areas. As I went further, only gardens with increasingly gloomy atmospheres continued, so I wasn’t expecting much, but there was a fountain in the center.

As I approached the fountain, a person who had been hidden by the water streams revealed herself.

It seemed like light was pouring down only around her.

Her white hair loosely tied in a single braid and her benevolent smile—it was a face I knew well.

“Oh, High Priest Meriel!”

“Oh… Hello there, you’re the distinguished guest who came with the Hero, aren’t you?”

Meriel smiled warmly as she greeted me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————