Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 88

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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 88

Almost from the very beginning.

I wanted to pretend I had a leg cramp and collapse right then and there.

However, Adam’s arm supporting me firmly seemed like it would never allow that to happen.

I unconsciously touched his arm and was startled.

It was too cold.

Had he gone outside perhaps?

I kept rubbing his arm to warm it up.

“….”

Adam quietly watched what I was doing.

He flinched occasionally but didn’t stop me.

After warming his body to a satisfactory degree, I asked him.

“Then why did you get up?”

“I couldn’t fall asleep.”

Dark shadows were cast under Adam’s eyes as he said this.

He looked tired at first glance.

Perhaps he was deliberately trying to sleep late because he often had nightmares.

Was there anything I could do for him?

Then something flashed through my mind.

“Then shall I make you some tea?”

“….”

Adam nodded slightly.

I went into the kitchen and rummaged through the things I had received from the villagers long ago until I found a tea container.

I put tea in the teapot and steeped it as Violet had taught me.

Then I served it to Adam.

Adam’s eyes widened slightly as if a bit surprised after drinking the tea.

“It’s delicious.”

“Right? It’s tea that helps you sleep well. It seems like you’ve been having nightmares more frequently lately.”

It might be an overreaction, but Adam’s nightmare symptoms seemed to have worsened since that day he almost burned to death.

I had searched for and brought herbs good for deep sleep, and fortunately Adam seemed to like it too.

Stress – 63%

His stress was steadily decreasing, but the frequency of nightmares was increasing.

‘Is it a psychological issue? Or is there another factor at play?’

When did he start having nightmares so frequently?

However, Adam’s expression now looked much more comfortable.

I hoped the warm tea would heat up his cold body.

I waited until he finished drinking the tea, then spoke up.

“And about the curse you mentioned that time….”

I tried to bring up the topic I had buried all day since returning to the Demon King’s Castle.

But the words wouldn’t come out properly.

I had no idea that such a curse would be placed on the Hero who killed the Demon King.

I hesitated but finally opened my mouth.

“That dawn, Adam’s eyes looked almost red. Is this also related to the curse?”

“…Yes. Probably.”

Adam nodded with a pained expression.

Since I had expected this from when I first heard about the curse from Adam, I wasn’t too shocked.

‘Then how did Aphene know?’

Didn’t he act as if he knew Adam’s composure would crumble unlike usual and his magic would go on a rampage to the brink….

But could Aphene be related to the Demon King or the curse?

Of course, all the attitudes he had shown so far had suspicious aspects.

However, Aphene with his ash-black hair and grayish-black eyes wasn’t among the important figures I knew.

And hadn’t he just gotten beaten up by thugs loitering around the village and collapsed?

‘What could such a weak person possibly do?’

It would be impossible unless the dead Demon King returned.

If a new Demon King appeared, they wouldn’t know about the curse so they couldn’t mention it.

Unless someone forcibly awakened the Demon King who had entered the coffin, no one should know about his curse.

‘Hmm? But didn’t they say the 6th Hero Lawrence also died from a similar curse?’

How did the Demon King come to use the same curse as the previous Demon King?

‘As if the previous Demon King and current Demon King were the same person.’

I frowned at the doubt that suddenly arose in my mind.

Then, interpreting my expression somehow, Adam let out a self-deprecating laugh as if he knew everything and comforted me.

“I’ll make sure I’m never dangerous again.”

His assurance relaxed my tension a little.

To lighten the mood, I also playfully responded to his words.

“Then I’ll run away before Adam goes berserk! Of course, it’s not that I don’t trust Adam. There’s probably a specific condition….”

“….”

Adam smiled faintly and said nothing in particular.

Seeing his smile, I could tell he had a vague understanding of the specific condition, if not everything.

“I’ll give up before such a thing happens.”

Adam rubbed his chin as if lost in thought.

I captured Adam’s appearance in my eyes.

After the fire, Adam had become much gentler. It wasn’t that his personality had improved. It was just that the range of expressions he showed me had become more varied.

He had torn down the wall he had been trying to build and ultimately saved me.

Feeling somehow tingly, I pressed my palm firmly against my chest.

“I am, after all… one who serves God.”

“Kill all those you love and destroy yourself.”

“Eve will absolutely never be in danger.”

Adam smiled hazily.

* * *

After that, everything coming from the Imperial Palace became a target of caution for me.

I became especially careful and watchful of people.

For example, the human in front of me who claimed to have come from the Imperial Palace for investigation.

I was on full alert with suspicious eyes.

“Hello, Hero. Ah, and Maid. Nice to meet you!”

On the cloak worn by the man who waved and greeted cheerfully, a golden lion was embroidered, proving he belonged to the Imperial Palace.

Following his movements, blue-tinged gray hair swayed back and forth through the iron bars of the tightly closed castle gate.

“Aren’t you going to open the door?”

When our eyes met, he curved his violet eyes in a smile.

What was more distinctive was that he was handsome enough to recognize from afar.

‘That person is….’

The young lord of Evant, called a scoundrel.

The troublemaker of a prestigious family and the eldest son who would inherit the ducal house.

And he was one of the few characters from 【Hero Chronicles】 that I knew.

‘Kirillos Evant.’

Kirillos was a close friend Adam had gotten along with during the early rounds.

Of course, since his skills were also outstanding, I had often taken him along as Adam’s companion.

Having grown up hearing tales of heroes, he admired heroic stories and was also an excellent mage.

He was such an outstanding talent that the Tower of Mages would select him as the next tower master.

He was a man who would live a very successful life even if he wasn’t the Hero’s companion.

A scoundrel who lived freely without being bound by anything, living a life where no one could say anything to him.

So why did he come to the Demon King’s Castle?

The more I thought about Kyrillos, the more I couldn’t understand his visit.

But I couldn’t leave him standing outside wearing the Imperial Palace cloak that was visible even from hundreds of meters away. No matter how much no one came near the Demon King’s Castle, if I kept him standing there, the Hero might be the one to face the aftermath.

“Please come in.”

Whether he knew of my suspicions or not, Kyrillos smiled and entered.

Even as he naturally headed toward the reception room, his head couldn’t stay still for a moment as he looked around at the scenery of the Demon King’s Castle.

Kyrillos, who had taken off his cumbersome cloak, smiled and said.

“Ah, I’m late with introductions. My name is Kirillos Evant. Wow, I’m so excited to meet the Hero I’ve only heard about in rumors and the cute maid!”

“Nice to meet you too.”

Even as I smiled back and spoke, my eyes carefully examined Kyrillos.

‘Which time was it. In the early attempts, he would have taken him along every time…’

After how many retries was it that he stopped making him a companion?

Kyrillos would use magic to block the approach of monsters or help with others’ attacks.

However, when they almost killed the Demon King but failed.

One day, Kyrillos met a gruesome death at the hands of the Demon King.

It must have been from then.

That Adam suddenly refused to make Kyrillos a companion.

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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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