Do Heroes Need Welfare Too? - Chapter 9

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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 9

The Three Great Heavenly Kings… no, the three great demon races who serve as the Demon King’s limbs.

Abracxas.

So-and-so.

What’s-his-name.

Among them, Abracxas, the youngest, was a character familiar enough for me to remember his name.

‘I forgot about the other two.’

Due to his reckless personality, he was also the demon who died first every time we attacked the Demon King’s Castle. The other two wouldn’t come to the castle unless certain conditions were met.

‘Was visiting the imperial capital the requirement to summon the other two great demons? It was useless and only created more enemies, so I deliberately avoided it.’

Then he started to look pathetic.

‘He was the character who signaled the start of the Demon King’s Castle infiltration episode, since you could kill him any way you wanted without needing a guide…’

When I looked at him with eyes full of pity, melancholy, sympathy, compassion, and disdain, Abracxas raised one eyebrow as if something bothered him.

“What’s with that look?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Hmph, that’s a very impure gaze for a lowly human to direct at the great Lord Abracxas!”

Abracxas’s red eyes gleamed. That was definitely the signal right before a great demon uses magic…

“Quiet. You haven’t forgotten our contract, have you?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. Hero. I said I’d do anything if you just spared my life. Hehe.”

Abracxas, who had been glaring murderously, immediately bowed and groveled before Adam.

Gone was his previous dignified appearance; before my eyes was nothing but a sycophant who had knelt before power.

Adam ignored him and said,

“Abracxas cannot disobey my orders, so he won’t lay a hand on Eve either.”

I pondered for a moment and asked.

In an empire where oaths were common, it wouldn’t be strange for a commoner girl to ask.

“Is that also something like an oath?”

“Similar.”

Adam nodded in affirmation. Then he said he had things to do and went outside.

He added that I didn’t need to worry about Abracxas at all, but not to get friendly with him.

‘Hmm, I had no intention of getting friendly anyway…’

The Hero is scary, but humans are annoying.

Once Adam disappeared, Abracxas returned to how he was before Adam appeared.

Arrogant and living for his own self-importance, like a typical demon.

“Hmm. A mere human who isn’t even a Hero staying in the Demon King’s Castle. What nerve.”

Abracxas said, raising one eyebrow crookedly.

Gone was the expression ready to lick the Hero’s feet while wearing a foolish smile.

“Come to think of it, you’re the human I saw in the forest?”

“Huh?”

Then Abracxas started acting familiar.

“A young human fearlessly entered the Night Forest, so I was going to mess with them, but they ran away just from me leaking a bit of magic. It was pretty funny!”

Abracxas bent over and burst into laughter while spouting incomprehensible words.

‘Night Forest?’

Don’t tell me the presence I felt last time was Abracxas’s magic?

“That was!”

Of course I’d be startled and run away if someone appeared when I thought I was alone!

It’s not just me – any normal person would react that way.

“You’ve turned into a radish.”

“…!!”

This demon was serious about teasing people.

My face flushed so red I couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment.

Seeing this, Abracxas curved his eyes and giggled.

“Even your neck turned red.”

“…Says someone with red eyes.”

“These are a symbol of the demon race! These red eyes prove I’m chosen, having received magic from the Demon King! I don’t tremble and turn my whole body red like you.”

“…”

He was right, but I didn’t want to admit it.

If I got into a war of words with this guy, I’d get dragged in. That’s why the old saying about not even talking to demons is never wrong.

Demons bewitch people.

Abracxas kept needling me from the side, but I didn’t take the bait until the end.

Then he gave up on teasing and asked,

“But what work did the Hero tell you to do? He usually sends demonic beasts to drive away any humans who wander here, so what’s special about you?”

Special. If I had to say, I wasn’t particularly special or outstanding as a human.

The game had already ended, and I had just possessed an ordinary village girl without knowing what came after.

…I’m just an ordinary person who came to take care of the Hero’s welfare?

I couldn’t say that directly, so I mumbled vaguely. He wouldn’t understand anyway.

“I came as a maid for the Demon King’s Castle. I have to clean it. It’s too big for one human to handle alone.”

When the Demon King’s Castle was mentioned, Abracxas’s eyes sparkled. He looked excited like a child whose favorite topic had come up.

“That’s right! The Demon King’s Castle is bigger and more magnificent than human castles! Our Demon King is the best! Better than that stupid human king.”

Abracxas giggled as he compared our king to their king.

“He’s dead anyway.”

I replied coldly.

Your house doesn’t even have a king, does it? We do.

“Ugh…! That’s not true! Our Demon King is alive! He just went to hell temporarily, he’ll be back soon!”

“More like heaven!”

Leaving him behind repeating only “No… that’s not true!” I went to find cleaning supplies.

After grabbing a broom and mop in one hand, I pondered briefly.

Then I graciously placed them in the hands of Abracxas, who was rolling on the floor shedding tears.

“Well then, good luck.”

Abracxas, who had been making a small fuss, jumped up.

“What are you talking about, human! Didn’t you say you came here to work?”

“That’s right?”

“Right! So why are you giving this to me!”

As expected, Abracxas threw a fit and tossed the broom in front of me.

Of course, given Adam’s warning, he couldn’t directly harm me.

Seeing this, I smiled triumphantly.

Abracxas flinched but didn’t back down.

I decided to kindly explain to him.

“But if the Hero is the boss, then I’m middle management, right?”

Then I pointed at Abracxas with my thumb.

“You’re a low-level subcontractor.”

“What! I am a noble great aristocrat…”

I snorted at his timid rebellion. Then I crossed my arms smugly and opened my mouth.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll call the Hero and tell him that the great aristocrat’s treatment is too unfair, so you want to serve by the Hero’s side twenty-four hours a day!”

And I turned around without a moment’s hesitation. Less than a second later, the great aristocrat demon called out to me.

“Waaaaait!”

Got him. I suppressed my rising smirk and turned around with a prim expression.

“What is it? Your precious great aristocrat lordship.”

“I, I was going to ask what to clean first.”

“Hmm.”

The broom he had thrown was now in his hands.

It was the perfect posture of a house-elf… no, a worker.

“First, sweep and mop the entire interior of the Demon King’s Castle, then come report to me. Oh, and if I find even a speck of dust when I check, I’ll inform the Hero, so keep that in mind.”

“…I’ll be careful.”

He turned around and grumbled quite a bit, but couldn’t make any proper objections and went off to do what I had ordered.

After sending Abracxas away, I thought about what I could do for Adam.

‘Should I make that dish I couldn’t deliver last time?’

I recalled what I couldn’t deliver because the monster had devoured it all last time.

I carefully examined the interior of the Demon King’s Castle and entered what appeared to be the kitchen.

“Ugh, there’s so much dust accumulated.”

Actually, I was surprised that the Demon King’s Castle even had kitchen facilities.

For hundreds of years since the Demon King’s Castle was built, neither the Demon King nor his subordinates had ever cooked, but it seemed to exist because it was modeled after other castles.

Come to think of it, the Demon King’s tastes seem quite consistent. Considering he always appears in the same Demon King’s Castle.

‘There aren’t many ingredients.’

Potatoes starting to sprout green shoots, shriveled radishes, and carrots covered in dirt that looked primordial…

I took out the ingredients, pondered for a moment, then rolled up my sleeves.

‘I should do it like Ben did.’

But without adding any weird spices!

And so, for the first time in hundreds of years, the kitchen of the Demon King’s Castle began to fill with the aroma of warm food.

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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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