Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 61

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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 61

That day, strangely enough, he was able to fall into proper sleep.

He didn’t even have the nightmares that would approach him the moment he closed his eyes.

…

The door opened with a rustling sound.

Was it Iberis?

However, his body felt strangely heavy.

He needed to wake up from sleep, but thinking it was Iberis, his body’s cells that should have reacted swiftly didn’t respond.

As he lay still, someone slowly left his room and spoke.

“Sweet dreams, Hero.”

It was too low a resonance to be Iberis’s voice.

And somehow the voice calling him was eerie, and seemed like something he had heard somewhere before…

However, Adam, who had awakened lightly, fell back into deep sleep.

When he opened his eyes again.

Everything was empty.

It felt as if he had been left alone in this world.

When he closed his eyes a couple of times and opened them, someone appeared beside him.

Ah.

Adam let out a small sigh.

It was a familiar face.

It was the face of his dear comrades whom he had seen countless times.

And Adam smiled as if he were about to cry.

Someone who had been wearing a longed-for smile ran out into the blank void of nothingness.

Adam reached out his hand but couldn’t quite reach him. And he collapsed on the spot, spitting blood. In the completely white space, the red blood was so terrible it felt alien.

‘This is…’

He hadn’t had a nightmare.

This wasn’t a dream…

Because it was the reality he had experienced.

When he blinked again, the completely white space had changed into the Demon King’s Castle.

Not the Demon King’s Castle that Iberis had changed, but one thoroughly stained with the blood of monsters, demons, and those who had been his comrades.

And once again, time rewound.

At first, he thought all Heroes were like this.

He thought it was the foundation that prevented Heroes, chosen by God with transcendent power, from losing to the Demon King.

Adam kept challenging, and failed just as much.

Even if he didn’t die, the lives of those around him would disappear. Once, twice, …ten times.

Those who had been friends and trusted comrades stopped breathing.

They took swords to protect him, and were killed by those they had trusted.

‘Why do I have to struggle so desperately to live…’

Adam in the dream lowered his sword.

He would die anyway.

His close friend had died, his comrades had died, and his parents had all died too.

The people remaining by his side would face death again that they couldn’t even remember…

Even if they didn’t die, they would leave him.

When he pushed them away because he didn’t want to be hurt anymore, those who remembered nothing treated him like a strange person and grew distant.

Since it was better than watching them die, he decided to keep building walls.

He resolved not to bring close friends as comrades.

Instead, he chose unfamiliar faces.

And… he almost lost someone…

‘Who was that?’

So… God?

I curse you.

‘No… That’s not it…’

Adam thought blankly.

‘I wanted to see you again.’

What was the reason?

…Was it revenge?

Black smoke swirled beside Adam who sat on the edge of the bed.

His bright golden eyes reflected in the mirror had turned red.

Then he heard the sound of uniform knocking from close by.

And the wooden door opened softly.

‘I can’t remember anything.’

The voices that used to command him, the things that told him to do this and that.

And the one voice that was by his side during both painful and happy times.

[Your one and only God worries about you.]

Don’t lie.

You’re going to abandon me and leave anyway.

Everyone died and left me alone in this place.

That’s why I wanted to go back.

No, was it God who sent me back?

Adam didn’t want to die like that.

I don’t want to die.

“Kill all those you love and destroy yourself.”

Rather, it seemed like he wanted to kill.

A voice reciting curses mixed with sinister laughter rang savagely in Adam’s ears.

Adam closed and opened his eyes while clutching his forehead as if in agony.

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils were a vivid red color.

‘If I kill the God I resent, can I escape from this emotion…’

[Your one and only God worries about you.]

That lying voice was heard again.

He couldn’t distinguish whether it was a dream recalling the past, or if this was the terrible reality.

“Adam…”

Ah, I finally found her.

The person I must kill.

Adam reached out his hand toward the slender neck.

Crack—

“Huk…”

Pain great enough to bring him to his senses at once struck his hand.

It clearly showed how strong a shock had hit his blackened fingertips.

Only then did Adam come to his senses and cover his mouth with his hand.

Just now, what happened?

What was I trying to do…

I had definitely tried to kill the God I loved so dearly.

And in front of him was Iberis.

‘Why is Iberis here…’

Adam knew what he had done himself.

He wished his memory would disappear instead, but the thoughts that had dominated him until just now still remained clearly.

Adam pressed his eyelids with his wrist and muttered unconsciously.

He had really thought it was her.

The face, the real voice, and that person whose age he didn’t even know, and Iberis…

“Why do you keep…”

Does she overlap with her?

Adam gritted his teeth.

If the Sacred Relic hadn’t awakened him, he would have nearly harmed someone again with his own hands.

Just like that day long ago.

Like the past when he suddenly killed his companions while laughing and chatting after defeating the Demon King.

This time while mistaking someone for another.

His body was trembling uncontrollably without direction.

Even at that moment, Iberis couldn’t grasp the situation and was looking up at him with a face that knew nothing.

“Are you alright, Hero?”

She was actually worried about him.

Showing concern in front of the person who had nearly killed her just moments ago.

A bitter smile formed on his tightly shut lips.

If the sacred relic hadn’t blocked the evil approaching its master, he would have with his own hands…

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…”

Adam hurriedly rushed outside.

Iberis, left alone in the room, couldn’t hide her bewildered emotions.

* * *

‘…What was that just now?’

She had only entered his room because screams and groans could be heard all the way to her room.

Panicked by the suddenly stopped sounds, she entered his room, but it was darkness with no light at all.

Inside the room so dark that not even a person’s face could be seen.

It wasn’t a mistake – even when she brought a lamp, she couldn’t see ahead.

Am I still dreaming?

She unconsciously turned her head to look to the side. The gentle lamplight moved to the desk and neatly arranged books.

And she stared in the other direction. The bed where Adam should be.

Still, nothing could be seen.

Iberis narrowed her eyes and looked beyond.

‘It’s not that the room is dark.’

Thick black smoke was surrounding him, making Adam invisible.

‘And…’

Stress – 81%

Something had crossed a critical point.

The feeling that something that shouldn’t be crossed had been crossed came from the goosebumps rising along her wrist.

It had definitely been a stable number just before they parted, but for some reason it had rapidly increased.

She grabbed his shoulders and shook him, but his vacant focus didn’t return to normal.

She recalled the story Adam had told with a smile before going to sleep.

Adam’s face as he spoke calmly, as if he had foreseen this moment.

Remembering his calm tone telling her to immediately inform Abracxas if he didn’t wake up no matter how much she tried to wake him, she decided not to follow his words.

She doesn’t properly know what kind of pact he made with Abracxas.

However, judging from the attitude Abracxas shows knowingly or unknowingly, it probably isn’t 100% favorable conditions for Adam.

And that too, by Adam’s own will.

That’s why Iberis couldn’t bring herself to follow his words. Because he’s a Hero who values all other things highly but treats himself harshly.

Somehow she felt that shouldn’t happen.

“Hero, are you conscious?”

“…”

Without answering, Adam’s head, which had been swaying as she shook him, slowly turned toward her.

Did their gazes meet?

His gaze was directed at her, but she didn’t feel like they were looking at each other at all.

A large hand reached out toward Iberis, whose expression had hardened with the strange feeling.

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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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