Chapter 29

The people of the temple were all very supportive of the hero. Even considering Adam’s image as the prophesied great hero, it was clear they wanted to build personal connections with him.

‘Adam must have noticed this too.’

Was there something more complex going on? Or maybe another reason?

‘Ah, my head hurts. I can’t deliver prophecies anymore. I don’t even know what’s ahead of me.’

Who would think about what happens after the game’s ending?

The Demon King is dead, and the hero can no longer hear the prophecies. Wouldn’t it make sense for him to retire near the Demon King’s castle and live a peaceful life? Honestly, Adam achieved everything. Even without me, his mastery of swordsmanship and brilliant mind could rival anyone.

The god who abandoned him after the Demon King’s death was something Adam no longer needed.

“I’m not sure what voice you’re referring to, but I didn’t hear anything,” Eveline said.

“I see,” Adam replied, though his brief look of disappointment was clear.

He might have thought she was lying and trying to gain his sympathy, or maybe he was genuinely so disappointed that he couldn’t hide his emotions.

However, the moment of disappointment passed, and Adam quickly put his usual kind expression back on, smiling gently.

“Still, I’m glad you returned safely, Eve.”

If his intention was to make her feel guilty, then he succeeded perfectly.

She was already debating whether to confess the truth.

“…Yes, I’m lucky to be alive,” she admitted.

If it had truly been an explosion from the relic, and she had been caught in it, she wouldn’t have survived.

She could’ve died without even being able to return to her original world.

‘The hero’s well-being…’

 

[Stress – 73%]

 

Seeing the number above Adam’s head, she sighed involuntarily. Adam seemed to think it was a sigh of relief, so he didn’t question it, but Eveline felt the weight pressing on her.

‘It seems like lowering that number to zero should be my top priority. But how?’

The stress gauge, which had taken months of careful work to reduce, was back to its starting point after the incident with the sacred relic.

“Oh, and don’t worry about the relic disappearing!” Eveline said quickly, finally finding a moment to bring it up. She raised the sacred relic that she had been holding in her hand.

Adam blinked in surprise and just stared at her.

“Here, it’s safe!” she said, holding out the relic. After all, it originally belonged to Adam.

She reached out to place the ring in his hand.

Thud—

“…Ah.”

A suffocating silence filled the room.

Adam had knocked her hand away, sending the sacred relic flying and rolling across the floor.

Half shocked that this had happened inside the temple—the very place where the relic was revered—and half startled by Adam’s sudden reaction, Eveline froze with her mouth open.

“I apologize, Eve. Something important just came to mind,” Adam said abruptly.

“Oh, um… alright,” Eveline stammered.

Without another word, Adam left the room, leaving her standing there, unable to stop him, watching his figure disappear.

‘Did he dislike me trying to hand it to him?’ she wondered.

It wasn’t unusual for Adam to react this way. He’d often refuse to get close to certain people, especially when former comrades like the Mercenary Queen or the bandit leader acted too familiar with him.

Maybe this was one of those moments.

Trying to dismiss the incident, she stood up and picked up the ring from where it had rolled away.

‘So, do I have to return it myself?’

Since only the chosen could touch the relic, it looked like she had no choice but to handle it. She thought Adam would take care of it, but clearly, that wasn’t going to happen.

Rising from her seat, Eveline stepped out of the room.

This whole visit to the temple had nearly exposed her identity due to that strange system.

It wasn’t some special power she’d gained from being in the game world; it had to be the ring that was the problem.

‘Is this the medium?’ she wondered.

The ring could let her see Adam’s thoughts and send him prophecies.

Honestly, the idea was tempting.

Even if she didn’t deliver any more prophecies, she could disable and enable the synchronization at will, allowing her to see into Adam’s mind at critical moments. It was the perfect tool to understand him, a man who always smiled but never revealed his true thoughts.

‘But I can’t just walk off with this.’

The relic belonged to the temple, or more specifically, to Adam.

Since he had rejected it, it now belonged to the temple. No matter how much she might want to keep it, she couldn’t. Reluctantly, she headed toward the chapel to return it.

When she entered, there were a few priests and the High Priest inside.

Ugh, I really don’t like the High Priest.

However, upon spotting me, he immediately approached with a friendly smile.

“What brings you here? Are you feeling well?”

“I came to return the sacred relic. They told me no one else can touch it.”

“Ah, yes. I recall that you, Miss Eveline, can handle it,” he said with a pleasant smile.

“Yes, even now.”

I held out the ring on my palm to show him.

The High Priest smiled wider and reached out, not toward me, but toward the ring.

Crackle—

I didn’t feel a thing, but the High Priest’s hand was repelled by some invisible force. His fingers swelled slightly.

He quickly hid his injured hand in the wide sleeve of his robe, his expression unchanged, still wearing that overly kind smile.

His smile deepened even more than when we first met, and his eyes glimmered as they focused on me.

“It seems it’s not the relic that’s unusual. Perhaps the person chosen by the gods this time is you, Miss Eveline.”

“That can’t be. The hero is right here.”

“It doesn’t have to be just one chosen person per generation. The first Saintess was also chosen alongside someone tasked with slaying the Demon King.”

I remained unconvinced, but the High Priest pushed on.

“And since the hero didn’t take the relic with him, it was simply on display here. I’m sure the gods intend for you to take it, Miss Eveline.”

Please tell the gods I have no such intention.

Was it really okay to just hand over the sacred relic like this to anyone?

Even though I wasn’t keen on the idea, the High Priest’s insistence made it hard to refuse. It seemed useful, but something about it still felt off. However, given the circumstances, I didn’t see a good reason not to accept it.

The priest waiting nearby handed me a string. I slipped the ring onto the string and wore it like a necklace.

The ring was a bit too large to wear on my finger, and even if it fit, I felt uncomfortable wearing a sacred relic like a regular piece of jewelry.

‘Being able to read the hero’s thoughts is quite the advantage.’

Even if I didn’t use it often, the ability to send messages to him could come in handy.

For now, though, the synchronization was off.

As I thought about asking Ben to prepare a special meal for Adam once we returned to the Demon King’s castle, I set off to find him.

I hadn’t collapsed from any real injury, only faking it because I didn’t know what else to say after the barrier lifted. I was perfectly fine.

I headed back to the room to tell Adam about the relic. When I arrived, Adam was already inside, apparently having finished his conversation with the High Priest.

‘Wait, wasn’t the High Priest in the chapel?’

Well, I suppose we could’ve missed each other on the way.

I really didn’t want to stay at the temple any longer, considering how many unexpected things kept happening. I was sure Adam felt the same.

“Warrior, let’s head back. I’m completely fine, and we’ve finished what we came here to do!” I rushed over to Adam, waving my arms around to show that I was unharmed.

The ring around my neck jingled softly as I moved.

Adam’s gaze shifted to the sacred relic hanging from my neck, then back to meet my eyes.

“You collapsed earlier.”

“That was just from the shock, but now I’m really fine,” I insisted.

Adam had been the one to suggest returning to the Demon King’s castle, but now it seemed like I was the one impatient to leave.

“No,” Adam said, smiling warmly.

Um, I’m fine though?

But Adam’s smile deepened.

“Just in case, it would be better for the temple to make sure there are no lingering issues before we leave. I’m sure they wouldn’t feel comfortable letting you go just yet.”

“I’d really rather head home…”

“There might be something you don’t remember that could come to mind later,” Adam added.

“…”

Even with that smile, I could feel an unspoken pressure.

This hero, it seems, intends to wait until I tell the whole truth.