Chapter 84
Chapter 84
“Ha.”
A short laugh escaped Adam’s lips—sharp enough to sound like a scoff.
It was followed by a mutter that sounded like, “Some things never change.”
“Unfortunately, that won’t happen. I’m not bold enough to disobey an order given by that person when they were still here.”
“You mean the god who gives the hero divine messages?”
“…”
Adam suddenly shut his mouth tightly, so I answered in his place to save him from the awkward silence.
“Yes!”
As if proud, Isella gently stroked my hair and said,
“That’s strange. From what I’ve heard, the god only chooses the hero, but doesn’t interfere in anything else.”
Really? But the game wouldn’t progress unless I chose the dialogue options…
“Still, that doesn’t mean the god abandons the hero. But the way you talk… it sounds like they’re no longer with you.”
While enjoying her pleasant touch, I visibly froze.
Isella hadn’t reached the rank of Mercenary Queen just by luck. She clearly didn’t get there without skill.
Adam and I both stiffened at her blunt words—each for different reasons.
‘But… but I’m right here beside him…’
I couldn’t bring myself to explain that to her.
“That’s enough.”
“Got it~”
Adam coldly shut down her near-perfect deduction.
Though I felt relief that the secret hadn’t been exposed, he didn’t seem shaken—just low in spirits.
But if what Isella said was true—that gods rarely interfered in human affairs—then it would be believable that a god left once the hero’s role was fulfilled.
‘Even if that’s not the case, I could just pretend I’m still around.’
Who would prove that the divine messages were fake, anyway?
Isella continued walking ahead at an easy pace, but the distance between her and Adam and me widened.
Adam matched his steps to mine, so we fell behind.
Isella, realizing she’d gone too far, turned back and waited patiently.
“Sweetheart, are you in pain? Want me to carry you?”
“…No, thank you.”
Knowing full well why I was walking slowly, Isella didn’t blame me—she offered me the choice.
But when I absentmindedly nodded at her offer, I remembered how she once leapt from a third-story building. I quickly refused.
It was a survival instinct.
When I declined, Isella nodded without complaint.
Her high ponytail swayed gently with the motion.
Even in the dark, her bright red hair stood out and suited her well.
“Hmph, I’m a busy woman, you know. All right.”
She walked on again with a hint of regret.
Still, knowing my own condition, I let out a sigh.
After confirming Isella had gone a good distance ahead, I spoke to Adam in a hushed voice.
“Do you think Lady Isella still holds any prejudice toward Potato—or monster beasts in general?”
“It’s hard for people to let go of lifelong prejudices. Especially mercenaries. They’ve received countless requests to kill monster beasts, fought them, and been killed by them… Even if she trusts you, I can’t say for certain she’d side with us.”
I had thought about riding on Potato’s back, but Adam’s response made me sigh again.
“Then let’s just do this.”
Adam looked me over, then suddenly slipped his arm under my knees and picked me up.
“Wahh!”
My startled squeal made Isella glance our way.
But before I could say anything to her, I was too afraid of falling and instinctively wrapped my arms around Adam’s neck.
“You can’t just pick me up like that out of nowhere!”
“If you can’t ride the monster, then I’ll carry you myself.”
What kind of extreme logic was that?
But Adam must’ve taken the way I clung to his neck as silent agreement, because he immediately dashed off toward where Isella was waiting.
“Oh, you two are getting along well.”
With her eyes curved like crescent moons, she smiled as if she’d misunderstood completely.
Lady Isella, no, that’s not what this is…
Just as I opened my mouth to explain, both Isella and Adam took off at the same time.
I closed my eyes tight, then couldn’t help but marvel at their speed and coordination.
Even while holding me, Adam kept pace with Isella.
And she, too, showed no sign of heavy breathing despite sprinting.
“Looks like he’s not a hero in name only, huh?”
She chuckled while glancing at him.
Though our destination was still halfway off, it felt like we arrived in barely a fraction of the time.
As the main gates of the Demon King’s castle came into view, I asked Adam to put me down. He obliged without resistance.
Once inside the castle, Isella whistled at the unexpectedly spacious interior.
“I thought the Demon King’s castle would be gloomy and sinister, but that was just my bias.”
“It was like that. I changed it all.”
I proudly shrugged toward Adam.
I had replaced all the heavy curtains that blocked out light, and just a few days ago, Ben and I redid the wallpaper inside the castle.
Though I couldn’t renovate the entire castle, I had completely transformed Adam’s office into a place where even bright green plants would look at home.
I led Isella into the parlor.
Despite Abraxas having polished it to a shine before, it seemed no one had entered in the few days I was gone—there was now a fine layer of dust on the surfaces.
Before Isella could see it, I quickly wiped the dust away with my hand and seated her across from me.
Then I got straight to the point.
“You’re really going to let the mercenaries use the Demon King’s castle?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… it’s a really good offer, but…”
Despite her previously positive attitude, Isella now wore a thoughtful expression.
It was a different reaction from just moments ago, when she’d praised the castle’s size and location, saying, “The Demon King had good taste.”
“Isn’t it a good place for mercenaries to rest while traveling between the capital and other towns? And since they wouldn’t have to pay to stay, it wouldn’t be a burden…”
“…Wait, you’re saying it’s free?”
For the first time, Isella looked genuinely surprised. She must’ve been worried about the cost.
The castle was closer to the capital than expected and large enough to accommodate many mercenaries.
“The land around the Demon King’s castle was abandoned by the emperor, right? So, whoever claims it first owns it. It doesn’t matter who I give it to. Oh, and of course, the hero has given his permission too.”
I flashed her a big grin.
Isella looked at me, her eyes narrowing sharply as if assessing something.
Then her gaze shifted to Adam, who stood behind me.
Despite the sharp glare aimed at him, Adam said nothing.
But for Isella, that silence seemed to be all the confirmation she needed.
She wiped the smile from her face and straightened her posture.
“Mercenary Queen Isella accepts your offer.”
Then, without warning, she knelt on one knee in front of me.
As she bowed her head, her single-tied red hair swayed—the same hair I always had to look up to see.
Flustered, I hurriedly told her to get up.
When she finally raised her head, she was wearing the same mischievous smile as before. But instead of rising immediately, she untied her hair and wrapped a long red ribbon around my wrist.
“This is my favor in return.”
Favor for favor, hostility for hostility.
She looked like someone chanting a mercenary’s creed. Only after checking that the ribbon was tied securely did she stand up.
I fidgeted with the ribbon on my wrist.
She’d tied it so tightly that it didn’t come undone easily.
“If you show that, the mercenaries will help you at least once.”
She burst into laughter as she said that accepting favors without giving something in return always came back to bite you.
She followed Adam to his office and even signed a formal agreement. After reading over the terms, she nodded in satisfaction.
“I’ll explain everything to the mercenaries. So if one shows up you don’t recognize, don’t drive them off.”
“Of course.”
Isella extended her hand to me, and we shook hands.
After a few pumps, she turned and offered her hand to Adam as well.
Adam extended his right hand, but Isella glanced at the sword hanging from his left hip and let out a chuckle.
“Clearly a lefty! I don’t believe in those silly superstitions, so let’s shake properly.”
She clapped Adam heartily on the back.
Adam, a little flustered, was overwhelmed by her energy and reached out with his left hand for the handshake.
Still holding his hand, Isella tilted her head and asked,
“Haven’t we done this before?”
