Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 38

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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 38

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“You want to change the Demon King’s Castle? Go ahead.”

Adam’s permission came readily.

I closed my mouth, having prepared various arguments to persuade him.

Though I received easier permission than expected, I felt uneasy about it.

When I asked for the reason, Adam smiled bitterly and said.

“Thinking of Eve running around the Demon King’s Castle tearing curtains last time, I realized you wouldn’t listen even if I tried to stop you.”

“But people get depressed easily when they’re in dark, gloomy places!”

It was something that had to be done.

From watching him closely, I noticed Adam would sometimes stare blankly at walls, gaze into empty space while muttering incomprehensible words, or make assumptions about people’s inner thoughts without actually experiencing them firsthand. He did this especially often with the Elderly High Priest.

Moreover, he couldn’t sleep properly even in this dreary environment.

It was one of the symptoms of depression that only those who’ve experienced it would know.

I recalled my small apartment with blackout curtains that didn’t let in a single ray of sunlight.

Living in such a place had made my social skills deteriorate and left me easily consumed by depression.

Seeing Adam show similar tendencies, I couldn’t help but worry.

So I had only made small adjustments while going back and forth through the Demon King’s Castle. I never dreamed that Adam had been watching from behind with a terrified expression.

I thought he was just watching with satisfaction.

“How do you plan to change it?”

“First, I want to make it easy for people to come. Not just villagers, but mercenaries too should be able to come and go comfortably. And also…”

Adam, who had been repeating ‘Ah, mercenaries’ after my words, smiled and said.

“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to.”

I paused mid-sentence while counting on my fingers and enthusiastically reciting my plans, stopped by Adam’s unusually firm voice.

When I looked up with a sense of betrayal, Adam wore an annoyed expression despite speaking with two tongues.

“You said it was fine earlier?”

“I didn’t know you’d call mercenaries then. I thought you’d bring villagers at most.”

“But mercenaries aren’t any different from other people!”

Could it be that Adam shared the same thoughts as those who discriminate against mercenaries?

Those ridiculous rumors that mercenaries are all loud and ignorant, and that places they’ve been are littered with monster corpses and blood.

But considering how well he got along with Iselda, his perception of mercenaries shouldn’t be that bad.

‘I was trying to arrange a place where he could become friends with Iselda, his former colleague.’

Even if it’s a past they don’t remember, they were companions who defeated the Demon King together, so is there some law saying they can’t be friends even in peaceful times?

Adam easily trampled on my grand yet modest wish.

This is all for your sake!

However, I couldn’t tell him that Iselda was your close colleague and friend.

Words wouldn’t come out as if my mouth was glued shut.

Bringing up stories that even Adam doesn’t remember would only increase confusion.

“That…!”

As I could only open and close my mouth without being able to speak, Adam slowly continued.

“The mercenaries probably wouldn’t want to come here either.”

“Mercenaries are among those unwelcome in villages due to their image of being loud and vulgar. But this place, which is distant from ordinary villages yet easily accessible to both villages and the capital, would be perfect for them!”

“The proximity to the capital would appeal to mercenaries, but…”

Adam, who had been indifferently reciting words of refusal, looked at me as if something had occurred to him and fell into brief contemplation.

His golden eyes sparkled.

“…Is that your own thought, Eve?”

“Pardon?”

“You didn’t hear it from someone else?”

Oh no, how did Adam know about Aphene?

Remembering what reaction Adam might show if he knew I sat and conversed with a stranger, recalling the incident at the temple, I hastily denied it.

However, my cracking voice made it worse than saying nothing.

“I thought something was strange. Suddenly wanting to change the Demon King’s Castle and all…”

Adam nodded as if relieved.

“Then let’s do that.”

“Pardon?”

I could only blink at Adam’s attitude, which had completely reversed 180 degrees.

Hadn’t he just said he disliked mercenaries and had no intention of changing the Demon King’s Castle?

Bewildered by his easily changed mind, like flipping a palm, I was flustered.

‘Could Aphene really be Adam’s friend?’

When I proposed it, he immediately said he didn’t want to do it?

I narrowed my eyes and secretly glared at Adam.

Perhaps noticing my intense gaze, Adam, who had been resting his chin in thought, turned to look at me.

Startled, I demurely lowered my eyes.

Nothing happened at all.

“Then shall we send a letter to Lady Iselda?”

“Let’s do that.”

Adam immediately got up from his seat, took out blank paper and a fountain pen, and scribbled hastily.

Unable to overcome my curiosity about the letter completed in an instant, I peeked my head out to read it.

‘…Isn’t this a duel challenge?’

I looked back and forth between Adam and the letter with a dubious expression.

Mercenary Queen Iselda. I am well aware of your reputation. X month, XX day. Let us meet at the Demon King’s Castle. It is your freedom to respond to this proposal, but refusing would be nothing short of foolish. I expect a wise decision.

That was the summary.

“I asked you to write a letter, so why are you provoking her?”

Adam looked puzzled as if he didn’t understand what I meant. I thrust the letter in front of his nose and pointed with my finger.

“You said it would be foolish to refuse the proposal. If this isn’t a challenge to fight, then what is it?”

“If the Mercenary Queen refuses, others will come, and there’s nothing more foolish than that. It’s like letting gold slip away before your eyes.”

My mouth fell open at Adam’s explanation.

Even so, mixing threats and mockery in a letter?

But Adam still looked like he didn’t know what was wrong.

Right, thinking about it, I didn’t exactly raise Adam to be refined either. But I didn’t raise him to write threatening letters either, did I?

“Should I rewrite it? Actually, to make sure she can’t even think of refusing…”

“Ah, no. Thinking about it, it would be better if I wrote it!”

Feeling dizzy, I snatched the paper and fountain pen from Adam’s hands.

Having had everything in his hands taken away, Adam looked back and forth between me and his hands like a raccoon whose cotton candy had been washed in water.

“Why…? Didn’t I write it well?”

Is he really asking because he doesn’t know?

Or is he saying that after saying this much, I should write it properly myself?

But looking at Adam’s innocent expression, it seemed like the former. Though I didn’t want to believe it.

I couldn’t bring myself to lie and awkwardly left the study.

Dear Lady Iselda. I am Iberis, a maid who assists the Hero. I have heard much about your reputation and stories from the Hero. However, I understand that mercenaries, due to the nature of their profession, wander from village to village. Wanting to help mercenaries, I looked into various options, and considering the location and scale of the Demon King’s Castle, it seems it could accommodate many mercenaries, so I make this proposal. If this proposal appeals to you, please send a reply. From Iberis at the Demon King’s Castle.

While writing my name at the bottom of the letter, I thought about Iselda.

‘What was the Mercenary Queen’s personality like?’

Iselda inherited the position from her father, who had become the Mercenary King at a young age.

However, the process was by no means smooth.

People judged that young, female Iselda was unsuited for a position commanding mercenaries, and eventually several mercenaries left her service.

However, young Iselda didn’t forcibly drag them back by invoking contracts.

The mercenary world was all about strength.

To make those who worship strength follow you, you had to show overwhelming power.

Iselda did what had to be done.

“Anyone who doesn’t like me being the Mercenary King, step forward!”

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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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