Chapter 83
Chapter 83
“So you’re the kid who sent that cute letter?”
“Ah, yes! That’s me, Lady Isella.”
As expected, the reason Isella had come all the way here wasn’t a coincidence—she must’ve seen my letter and come this way because of it.
“Thank you so much for saving us.”
“I couldn’t just leave a good citizen in danger. And if the hero from the Demon King’s castle you mentioned is who I think he is, I figured he’d come here if he saw what I saw.”
“And I was right,” Isella added with a smile.
“I thought it was a rejection since I didn’t get a reply.”
I looked up at her as I spoke.
Isella felt less like a lifesaver and more like a celebrity.
Even though this was only the second time I’d seen one of Adam’s former companions in person, my heart fluttered when I saw her.
Standing beneath the moonlight breaking through the clouds, she stood out even at night with her striking features.
She was a beauty who resembled a rose.
With long, elegant eyes and her whole body adorned in deep, seductive shades of red, the most unique feature was the rose-like mark beneath her right eye.
The rumors were true—people might not have seen the Mercenary Queen before, but no one ever saw her just once.
If someone saw a face like hers, they’d probably offer up their liver and gallbladder to follow her.
And she even saved me.
I looked up at her with sparkling eyes, and she, seemingly used to such gazes, smirked and curled up one side of her lips.
“You know mercenaries never stay in one place, right? I might not have been there when your letter arrived! You’re lucky I saw it in time!”
She let out a hearty laugh and patted me roughly on the back.
Ow, that hurt. My body was already sore from tension and minor cuts, so it stung.
“Hm, okay, okay. I get it. My bad, sorry.”
“?”
Suddenly, Isella stepped away from me and raised both hands in mock surrender.
I turned my head to look at her.
She and Adam were standing together, and maybe because she was so tall, they actually looked good side by side.
But Adam, as usual, had a calm, blank expression, while Isella was smiling brightly.
The contrast between them made me curious, and I couldn’t help but ask.
“Did something happen?”
“Of course—”
“Nothing happened. Eve.”
“Yes, yes, nothing at all.”
Isella quickly changed her tune and backed up Adam with a chuckle.
I was puzzled by how suddenly close they seemed, but they fell silent as if in agreement.
Still, I didn’t have time to think about it too deeply, because footsteps had been following us for a while, and they were starting to bother me.
‘What should I do…’
After a bit of hesitation, I stopped walking and turned around.
When I suddenly halted, Isella met my eyes.
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? If it’s about earlier, really, it was nothing.”
“That’s not it, Lady Isella. I don’t know how you’ll take this, but… I have something to say.”
“And what might that be?”
I looked toward the bushes Adam had been staring at earlier.
I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was certain I’d seen a pair of glowing eyes shining like will-o’-the-wisps in the pitch-black darkness.
They disappeared into the brush in an instant.
“Potato, come out.”
I called the name of the beast that had probably been circling around the edge of the village.
The bushes rustled violently, and then Potato poked its head out.
“A monster beast?!”
At that moment, Isella lowered her stance and reached for the sword at her waist.
“There’s no need.”
Adam gently pushed her hand down.
But Isella didn’t back down and applied more force.
It was a natural, instinctive hostility toward monster beasts.
She had a look on her face that said she didn’t understand why Adam was stopping her. Just as suspicion started to flicker across her expression, I spoke.
“I’m slowly taming it. And even the untamed ones are safe thanks to obedience stones.”
It wasn’t easy for a mercenary to come to the Demon King’s castle.
If Isella were to come, it was inevitable that she would encounter monster beasts.
Since they’re born from the Demon King’s demonic energy, they naturally roam in greatest numbers around the castle, where that energy is strongest.
I didn’t know whether mercenaries, who probably killed more monster beasts than anyone besides the hero, could understand that—but I didn’t want to give up hope.
I couldn’t hide it forever and stay silent about it.
“It’s not an enemy, so it’s okay. Come here.”
Potato bared its teeth at Isella, who had drawn her sword, returning her gaze with a growl. But at my signal, it lowered its tail and came running to me.
It bumped its head against my palm and nuzzled its face into me.
Isella looked exactly like Adam had when he’d first seen it.
She instinctively let her sword drop.
It was like she was so shocked by what she saw that she forgot to grip her weapon.
“What is this…? Don’t tell me—you’re one of the Demon King’s minions…”
“That’s not it. Monster beasts aren’t dangerous.”
I shook my head as I spoke.
But Isella didn’t seem convinced.
I could see the tendons tense on the back of her hand, but Adam stood beside her.
Believing he would stop her if needed, I was able to keep explaining calmly.
“Okay, then let me ask—if a bear or a tiger comes down from the forest into the village because there’s no food, do you kill it on sight?”
“Those are nothing like monster beasts!”
“They’re similar. Creatures with enough intelligence to be tamed.”
Maybe because it knew I was talking about it, Potato wagged its tail.
“If you respect their territory, there’s no danger.”
“Sigh… What on earth is going on here.”
Isella ran a hand down her face, looking troubled.
Though she was still glaring daggers at Potato, she hesitated, then sheathed her sword.
Even so, her red eyes were still filled with hostility.
It was understandable. It was a mercenary’s instinct.
“No matter what you say, I can’t trust it. What if that thing is just pretending?”
“It’s been over six months since the Demon King died. The monster beasts are still alive. But have any of them killed a person?”
“…”
“Or has there ever been a request to hunt a monster beast that attacked someone?”
“…”
There definitely hadn’t been.
Monster beasts usually don’t leave their territory. And even if they encountered humans, those following Adam’s commands would avoid them.
They were fundamentally different from the Demon King and his demons, who killed humans for amusement.
As expected, Isella remembered that such requests had completely stopped and shifted her stance.
“Hero. Is it true?”
Adam nodded without hesitation. And with the very person who had killed the Demon King affirming it, the truth became undeniable.
Isella let out a deep sigh and ruffled her hair roughly.
“You know mercenaries are good at keeping up with rumors, right? Mercenaries are spread all across the Empire, and we need to react quickly to gossip to prepare for incoming requests. So gathering intel is essential for us.”
“I understand.”
“These days, some pretty nasty rumors about the hero are going around. That he’s one of the Demon King’s minions… that he was seduced by the Demon King’s power and betrayed humanity.”
“I see.”
It was something that could easily make people direct their resentment toward the hero, yet Adam showed no change in his demeanor.
If anything, he seemed annoyed by the very act of discussing it.
Isella seemed to catch on to his reaction and sighed again.
“Of course, it’s only gossip so far. There’s no real evidence, so not many people believe it. And honestly, when I saw you charging into a burning building to save people, I didn’t think the hero in those rumors could be the same person.”
“You’re too kind. But what would you do if I really had betrayed humanity, sided with the Demon King, and was hiding him right now?”
Adam snapped sharply, even though she’d been defending him.
I stood between them, mouth agape.
‘Wait, why’s he getting prickly when she’s clearly on his side? Does Adam like people who treat him harshly or something?’
Isella, who had been approaching him with a light laugh, suddenly stopped in her tracks.
Then, just like she had done to me earlier, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
“Then I’d find proof that you conspired with the Demon King… and kill you. If the Mercenary Queen is the one who took down the Demon King, the reputation of mercenaries would rise right along with it.”
