Chapter 26

In ‘The Awakening of the Hero’, a brief mention of the warrior’s background had been provided, but it was more like general knowledge necessary to understand the world rather than any substantial information.

‘This must be from a time I don’t know about, probably when he was eight, right before the prophecy was given.’

How cute must young Adam have been?

Eveline listened to Adam’s words with great interest.

“So, I kept wondering what was happening, and the next day, and the day after that, something kept hitting me. Turns out, it was acorns.”

“…”

“A baby squirrel, trembling through winter without food, must have felt pitiful to me. I gave it some fruits a few times, and somehow, that squirrel managed to survive the winter. But now it started following me around, dropping acorns in my path.”

Adam, unaware, was smiling now.

Seeing him with that innocent smile, one typical of that age, Eveline found herself unconsciously smiling as well.

This is what Adam looks like when he’s recalling happy memories from his past.

Today, she was seeing many sides of him she had never seen before.

At that moment, Adam met her eyes. When their gaze connected, his dazzling golden eyes made Eveline’s shoulders flinch without her realizing it.

“Now that I think about it, Eve, you remind me of that squirrel.”

“…”

“Maybe that’s why I can’t push you away. That little thing that kept following me…”

Adam trailed off. It was then that Eveline, who had been listening quietly, suddenly stood up.

“I resemble a brave tiger more than a squirrel!”

“Yes. You certainly do,” Adam answered absentmindedly.

She had been serious, but Adam’s reply was half-hearted.

After a moment of contemplation, Eveline asked, “What happened to that squirrel?”

“It died.”

Adam answered calmly.

Caught off guard by his unexpected response, she shut her mouth.

“It got caught up in my mess and died.”

He had only fed the clever little squirrel a few times, but it had grown so fond of him that it would even climb onto his shoulder.

Adam, who had no friends, secretly liked that small animal.

But then that day came.

As usual, the violence that always came without warning rained down, and the foolish squirrel was struck by his father’s hand and died. Adam had tried to shield it, but by then, it was already too late.

The squirrel wasn’t the only one.

The squirrel was just the first to die a miserable death beside him.

And it wouldn’t be the last.

Recalling the never-ending nightmare, Adam slowly closed his eyes. The pain was unbearable. The grief of losing those around him was so agonizing that it made him prefer the isolation of having no one at all.

‘She left me like that too.’

Slowly opening his eyes, Adam looked at Eveline, who was attentively listening to him, and smiled.

Eveline, who reminded him of that squirrel.

In the end, she too would meet the same fate.

“Everyone around me dies. So, Eve, you should leave me too, before it’s too late.”

Adam continued speaking calmly.

“I don’t want to lose anyone anymore. Whether it’s someone I don’t know or someone right in front of me.”

Once again, Adam instinctively tried to push her away.

If he said this, would she finally leave?

She had always wanted to know his true feelings.

Now that he had shown her exactly that, he hoped she would quietly walk away.

But as always, she defied his expectations. Instead of retreating, Eveline burst out with frustration.

“Then!”

Adam fell silent.

His golden eyes trembled slightly—there was fear in them. Seeing that vulnerability, Eveline felt a surge of emotion.

Why did he pretend to be so calm when talking about the people around him dying?

The truth was, he was just a normal person, too scared of losing someone to let them get close.

“Of course, I might die by your side, warrior.”

That was a fact.

Adam wasn’t telling some wild tale; he was speaking about reality.

She knew better than anyone that Adam wasn’t someone who would lie to scare people away.

“But if I leave and die somewhere far away from you, I’ll die all the same.”

Everyone dies.

Some sooner, some after a long time.

But one thing was certain…

“Neither would be your fault. But if I die because you pushed me away, I might resent you just a little before I go.”

“…”

“And since I’ll die holding a grudge, I might just linger by your side, so you better not worry about me blaming you!”

“You know how stubborn I am, right?” Eveline added with a smirk.

Suddenly, she recalled how Adam’s attitude had softened recently. He had been planning to send her away. That’s why he had been smiling at her, trying to make their final moments together pleasant.

Pretending to trust her, pretending to open up, all while silently preparing to say goodbye.

It seemed so foolish to her.

Eveline clamped her mouth shut, trying to hold back the rush of sorrow, then lifted her head and declared.

“So, don’t even think about kicking me out before I leave on my own!”

“I’m saying this because I’m worried about you, Eve.”

“I know!”

And knowing only made it worse.

Hadn’t he just kindly explained that he was pushing her away not because he wanted to, but because he couldn’t bear to lose her?

That’s why she was even angrier.

“The Demon King is dead. The world has returned to peace, and we don’t even need a warrior anymore, do we?”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

“…”

“Because I’m no longer useful. Now, those who’ve resented me will start making their moves. In a peaceful world, no one needs a warrior anymore.”

What did people even think of warriors?

Had other warriors in history met the same grim fate as him?

Suddenly, she recalled a book she had once seen in the Demon King’s castle, ‘The Final Days of a Hero’.

It detailed the fates of every hero, and strangely, none of them lived past the age of thirty.

They didn’t die because of the Demon King, but for other reasons.

When the hunt is over, the hunting dog is slaughtered.

That phrase applied to heroes as well.

Half of their lives had been dedicated to becoming the ones to kill the Demon King.

Killing the Demon King wasn’t as simple as it sounded, nor did becoming a hero suddenly grant them immense power.

Eveline looked down at Adam’s hands, scarred and battered.

With firm resolve, she glared back at him.

“Then make me a promise.”

Before Adam could say anything, she added, “Just one year. If I survive a year, I win.”

She would personally disprove his claim that everyone around him died.

There was an unwavering determination in Eveline’s eyes, not a hint of retreat.

Adam couldn’t bring himself to argue, and slowly, he responded, “You’ll die before then.”

“I won’t die.”

“…”

“I won’t let you die either.”

Eveline smiled.

Just as she had answered the young hero’s question long ago, when he had asked what would happen if a hero’s end were always a miserable death.

This time, too, she confidently answered that neither of them would die.

* * *

The next morning, Eveline visited the chapel, led by the High Priest.

She had been too flustered yesterday to do so, but every visitor to the temple had to greet the gods.

‘I feel like I’m going to fall asleep instead of offering greetings…’

After making her bold declaration the night before, she had played several rounds of games with Adam.

Of course, Adam won every single one.

And then… she had fallen asleep.

When she woke up, she found herself alone in the room. Judging by the blanket covering her, it seemed Adam had tucked her in before leaving.

Her legs felt like they had a mind of their own, probably from the lack of proper sleep.

The priests beside her proudly spoke of the temple’s abundant divine energy, claiming it would replenish her strength.

“How are you feeling? Can’t you sense the divine presence of the gods?”

“Yes, I think I can.”

She wasn’t sure about that, but she was definitely exhausted.

Things felt a bit awkward between her and Adam, too.

Perhaps he realized that no matter how much he tried to stop her, she wouldn’t listen. His reaction was surprisingly calm.

‘But at least he came to the chapel with me.’

Glancing behind her, she saw Adam following quietly with the other priests.

When the High Priest opened the door, the chapel’s towering ceiling came into view.

Eveline let out a small gasp as she entered.

“Wow…”

She gaped at the enormous statue seated far away.