Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 43

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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 43

“Ah, my handkerchief?”

As if I finally understood what he was saying, I responded to his words.

“Right, wouldn’t it be better to hand over your handkerchief to me? If I like it, I might give you one of my hunting prizes.”

“Ah… I see.”

When a lukewarm response came out, Count Youngsik flared up.

“What, don’t tell me you think I won’t win? Don’t worry. I have a sword made by that famous craftsman, Dern!”

“Dern’s sword?”

“Surely you’ve heard of it before?”

“I don’t know.”

Don’t know? How many times have I played this game.

Of course, Dern was a good blacksmith.

Adam had also received and used swords from him several times.

However, didn’t someone say that skill is inversely proportional to personality?

Getting a sword from the eccentric Dern was no small hassle.

But this kind of person, who lives intoxicated with his own greatness, managed to please him?

He was someone who only made swords for people he liked, whether noble or commoner.

If a noble sent a servant, he was the type to sneer and ignore them.

It’s definitely a lie.

Adam had such a hard time listening to that old man’s words.

“If you look at this blade, you’ll see how much effort the craftsman put into making it.”

Cort Youngsik drew his sword from its sheath.

“It’s a sword that your beggar commoner Hero could never obtain even with a lifetime of effort.”

With a tired expression, as I pondered how to send him back, I recalled a trivial piece of information I had forgotten.

And I clapped my hands together.

“Ah, that’s right! Now that you mention it, I think I’ve heard of it. Since Dern’s swords are famous, there are many counterfeits, so Dern engraves a distinctive mark on the blade. Naturally, Cort Youngsik’s would have one too, right?”

“…Huh?”

It seemed like news to him.

I approached him as he stood there dumbfounded and pulled the sword handle toward me.

While he was going “Uh, uh,” Cort Youngsik just showed me the sword.

I examined the sword thoroughly and then shouted loudly and exaggeratedly.

“Oh my? There’s nothing written on the sword! Youngsik, can you see? There’s nothing! It’s completely blank! So clean!”

“Qu-quiet down! You must be looking wrong!”

“My goodness. No marking. Youngsik must have been scammed! Surely Youngsik wouldn’t be impersonating that great Dern’s sword, would he? Shouldn’t we catch the person who sold this sword right away?”

“No matter what you say, this is genuine! It can cut through anything.”

“Aha. So Youngsik can’t do anything without that sword?”

“…Wh-what?”

“No… you’ve been bragging about your sword this whole time. Our Hero can cut through rocks in one stroke even with a standard-issue sword…”

I lowered my gaze to his sword, then looked back at Youngsik.

“Your skills are a bit… Oh no! Since I grew up only watching our Hero, I don’t really know the level of other nobles.”

I said this while blinking my eyelashes several times in a disgusting manner.

I covered my mouth with my hand as if I was truly sorry.

Of course, beneath my palm was an unmistakable sneer.

“It’s okay, Youngsik. It’s because our Hero is too strong. Cheer up! If you work hard, you might become as strong as our Hero someday.”

Maybe… in your next life?

I’m not cheering you on… but! I’m not expecting anything either…

Anyway, do your best.

After hearing my soulless encouragement, Cort Youngsik finally seemed to grasp the situation.

He shouted “Hey!” with a face red as a beet, but I didn’t even blink.

“Yes, Count Youngsik.”

Instead, I responded diligently to his call.

“Is there something bothering you? My parents always taught me to respect elders. Please speak comfortably to me.”

“El-elder? Respect? Are you calling me an old man right now?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. You seemed to be around our Hero’s parents’ age. If I may ask, how old are you…?”

“I’m only twenty years old!”

“I made a mistake. You look so mature that I…”

“This is…!”

Now Youngsik, his face flushed red and blue with anger, flared up.

“Pfft!”

One of the nobles who had been watching our confrontation with great interest burst into laughter.

Then those around him also burst into laughter one after another.

Though they didn’t laugh out loud like the first one, they were all obviously trembling their shoulders.

“Count Cort Youngsik. Let’s stop this and go prepare for the hunt.”

“No, this maid doesn’t know her place…!”

“That’s right. But wouldn’t it be more infuriating to watch other nobles catch all our prey?”

He said this while putting his arm around Count Cort Youngsik’s neck in a friendly manner.

And he winked at me when Youngsik couldn’t see.

“…?”

I didn’t know what it was, but it felt unpleasant.

When Count Cort Youngsik and his friend left, the other nobles also departed one by one to prepare for hunting.

‘Sigh… I’m tired.’

That’s when Adam came looking for me.

“Eve. Your clothes are getting dirty.”

“Oh, Hero!”

Adam approached me as I crouched on the ground, not even making eye contact with those who were leaving.

“Thank you.”

I took his outstretched hand and stood up, then suddenly looked down at the grass tickling my ankles.

And despite him helping me up, I bent my knees again to look down at the ground.

Adam also bent his knees as if following my lead. Since it seemed like ordinary grass to Adam’s eyes, he tilted his head and asked.

“What is this?”

“As far as I know, it’s a poisonous plant.”

“Then why are you looking at it with such an excited face?”

“It’s an interesting plant that’s surprisingly hard to find! It is poisonous, but when it touches skin, it causes terrible itching, hives, and rashes, though it’s not life-threatening. Should I give you some?”

If I had spotted it quickly, I would have secretly fed it to that yapping Cort Youngsik.

I clicked my tongue in regret.

However he interpreted my bitter expression, Adam readily accepted my proposal.

“I don’t think I’ll have much use for it, but if Eve gives it to me, I’ll keep it.”

Good. I wrapped the poisonous plant in a spare handkerchief I had in my pocket as I plucked it.

Then I folded it neatly on the handkerchief and put it back in my pocket.

Adam’s gaze fell on my handkerchief, but I didn’t notice and examined the ground.

I hadn’t noticed while being too busy watching, but various types of plants were scattered around this area.

“This plant is medicinal. It’s an herb that works well on wounds, so the moment an herbalist spots it, it would be picked clean. Seeing that some remain, this forest must have little human traffic.”

“The forest where the Demon King’s Castle is located and this Mia’s Forest are gray zones. Places that don’t receive the Empire’s protection, or more precisely, places they cannot protect.”

Adam explained slowly in his characteristically low voice.

I stood up and reached out to give him the poisonous plant, but when he shook his head slightly, I obediently extended both hands to him.

“A gray zone similar to the Demon King’s Castle means…”

“It’s a place where many die. Without even finding their bodies…”

Adam answered matter-of-factly while brushing the dirt off my hands.

I gasped in shock.

“Is it okay to hunt in such a dangerous place?”

“Still, we’ve divided the areas with golden ropes to mark where you can and can’t enter, so it should be fine until you cross into those zones. If people value their lives, they’ll figure it out on their own.”

With just a single rope?

The golden color would be visible even in the dark, but it still wasn’t a perfect solution.

However, considering this was a place where unknown forces were at work—just like how monsters spawned from the Demon King’s demonic energy—it was unavoidable.

Still, I wanted to dig into the Emperor’s head to see what made him choose this place as the hunting competition venue.

“But what if someone accidentally enters!”

“Wouldn’t that be what he’s hoping for?”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

Nothing my foot.

I clearly heard him say that’s what the Emperor was hoping for.

But Adam smiled brightly and brushed off my suspicion lightly.

Does he think I’ll let it slide if he smiles that prettily?

Of course I have to let it slide.

I felt like I was losing somehow, but since I couldn’t understand the reason for this feeling, I ended up moving stiffly and awkwardly.

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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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