Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 83

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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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Chapter 83

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“So you’re the child who sent that cute letter?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right! Iselda-nim.”

As expected, Iselda coming all the way here wasn’t a coincidence—she was on her way after seeing my letter.

“Thank you so much for saving me.”

“I couldn’t just leave a good citizen in danger. And if the Hero from the Demon King’s Castle you mentioned saw the same thing I did, I thought he would definitely come here.”

“And that thought was right on target,” Iselda said with a laugh.

“I thought it was a rejection since there was no reply.”

I said while looking up at her.

Iselda felt like a celebrity even before being my lifesaver.

Even though this was only the second time I’d seen one of Adam’s former companions, my heart was pounding when I saw Iselda.

Standing under the moonlight coming through the clouds, her features were so striking they stood out even in the night.

Overall, she was a beauty who resembled a rose.

Her elongated eyes, her entire body adorned in alluring red, and the distinctive feature was a rose-pattern mark under her right eye.

The rumor that while some people might never see the Mercenary Queen, no one who sees her once could forget her was true.

Anyone who saw a face like hers would follow her devotedly, ready to give their heart and soul.

She had even saved me.

I looked up at Iselda with sparkling eyes, and she, seemingly accustomed to such gazes, smiled with one corner of her mouth raised.

“Mercenaries don’t stay in one place, you know? I might not have been there. I saw your letter quite quickly!”

Iselda laughed heartily while patting my back hard.

Ow, that hurts. My body ached with muscle pain and minor cuts after being tense and then relaxing.

“Hmm, okay. I got it. Sorry, sorry.”

“?”

Suddenly Iselda stepped away from me and raised both arms.

I turned my head to look at Iselda.

Iselda and Adam had been together, and perhaps because of her very tall height, she seemed to match well with Adam.

However, Adam had his usual expressionless face, while Iselda was full of smiles.

Unable to contain my curiosity about their contrasting expressions, I asked.

“Did something happen?”

“Of course there was a lot—”

“Nothing happened at all. Eve.”

“Right, right, nothing happened.”

Iselda chuckled and changed her words to side with Adam.

I was puzzled by their suddenly close distance, but they seemed united in keeping their mouths shut.

However, I couldn’t think deeply about that because the footsteps that had been following us were too bothersome.

‘What should I do…’

After thinking for a moment, I stopped walking and turned around.

When I suddenly stopped walking, Iselda met my gaze.

“What’s wrong, kid? That thing earlier really was nothing.”

“That’s not it. Iselda-nim. I don’t know how you’ll think about this, but there’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

I looked toward the bushes where Adam’s gaze had been directed.

I wasn’t certain, but I definitely saw a light glowing brightly like a will-o’-the-wisp in the pitch-black darkness.

It disappeared into the bushes in an instant though.

“Potato, come out.”

I called the name of the monster that had probably been circling around the village.

Then the bushes shook violently, and Potato poked out just his face.

“A monster!”

At that moment, Iselda lowered her stance and put her hand on the sword at her waist.

“It’s not necessary.”

Adam pressed down her hand.

However, Iselda also resisted with force.

It was a hostile instinct toward monsters.

She had a face that couldn’t understand Adam blocking her. When an expression of “Is this a trap?” appeared on her face, I spoke up.

“I’m slowly taming them, and even the monsters I haven’t tamed are safe because of the subjugation stone.”

A mercenary coming to the Demon King’s Castle wasn’t an easy matter.

If Iselda came, she would inevitably encounter monsters.

Monsters born from the Demon King’s demonic energy roam most around the Demon King’s Castle where the demonic energy is strongest.

It was uncertain whether mercenaries, who had probably killed monsters second only to Heroes, could understand, but I decided not to give up my small hope.

I couldn’t hide it and not tell them forever.

“They’re not enemies, so it’s okay. Come here.”

Potato bared his teeth and threatened while facing Iselda who was pointing her sword at him, but at my gesture, he immediately lowered his tail and ran over.

Then he bumped his head against my palm and rubbed his face on his own.

Iselda made exactly the same face as Adam when he first saw this.

She unconsciously let her sword drop down.

She seemed to have forgotten to put strength in her hand in this unbelievable situation.

“What is this… Don’t tell me you’re the Demon King’s minion…”

“That’s not it. Monsters just aren’t dangerous.”

I shook my head as I spoke.

However, Iselda seemed unconvinced.

I could see the veins standing out on the back of her hand, but Adam was beside her.

Because I had faith that he would stop her if necessary, I could continue my explanation calmly.

“Um, then do you kill bears and tigers that come down to residential areas because there’s no food in the forest the moment you encounter them?”

“Those are different from monsters!”

“They’re similar. They’re creatures with enough intelligence to be sufficiently tamed.”

As if knowing I was talking about him, Potato wagged his tail.

“You just need to respect their territory. Then there won’t be any danger.”

“Hah… What on earth is going on here.”

Iselda rubbed her face as if troubled.

Her gaze glaring at Potato was still murderous, but after hesitating a bit, she sheathed her sword.

Nevertheless, her red eyes still held murderous hostility.

I could understand since it was like the instinct of mercenaries.

“Even so, I can’t believe it. What if that thing is deceiving people?”

“It’s been over half a year since the Demon King died. The monsters are still alive. But have monsters ever killed people?”

“…”

“Or have you ever received a request to kill monsters that attack people?”

“…”

There definitely wouldn’t have been any.

Monsters tend not to leave their territory, and even if they encounter humans, the monsters following Adam’s orders would avoid them.

They were clearly different beings from the Demon King and demons who killed humans for entertainment.

As expected, Iselda, who recalled that such requests had completely stopped, relaxed her posture.

“Hero. Is this true?”

Adam nodded readily. When the very person who killed the Demon King said so, she faced the hard-to-believe truth.

Iselda let out a deep sigh and roughly tousled her hair.

“You know mercenaries are good at grasping rumors, right? Mercenaries are spread throughout the Empire, and they must react sensitively to rumors to prepare in advance for what requests might come, so collecting information is essential for mercenaries.”

“I know.”

“Lately, bad rumors about the Hero have been spreading. That the Hero is the Demon King’s minion or something… That he was bewitched by the Demon King’s power and betrayed people.”

“I see.”

Even though people’s resentment might be directed at the Hero, Adam maintained his usual attitude.

Rather, he seemed annoyed at having to mention this fact.

Iselda also seemed to notice his reaction and let out a sigh.

“Of course, it’s still just rumors circulating, and there’s no actual physical evidence, so hardly anyone believes it. Also, when I saw him trying to go into the flames to rescue people trapped inside, it didn’t look to me like the Hero from the rumors would do such a thing.”

“You flatter me. What would you do if I really had betrayed humanity and sided with the Demon King to hide him?”

When she took his side, Adam suddenly reacted sharply.

I just gaped between the two of them.

‘Wait, she’s taking your side, so why are you suddenly being contrary? Does Adam prefer people who give him a hard time?’

Iselda, who had been approaching him with a hearty laugh, stopped moving.

And she narrowed her eyes appraisingly, just as she had done to me earlier.

“Then I’m thinking of finding evidence that you conspired with the Demon King, killing you, and getting treated like a Hero? If the Mercenary Queen killed the Demon King, the treatment of mercenaries would improve as well.”

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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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