Chapter 37

“So, you’re saying the warrior will leave the Demon King’s castle?”

Eveline offered Ahern a mix of truth and subtle deception.

‘Friend, or a fraud.’

The latter was more likely. The issue lay in Ahern’s unsettling awareness of Adam’s seemingly time-sensitive behavior and obsessive tendencies.

Introducing someone so uncertain to Adam felt deeply troubling. Especially when Ahern smiled—that smile triggered an instinctive sense of dread.

Unsure of the reason behind it, Eveline quietly held her ground.

What Ahern sought to uncover was the warrior’s future plans, including why he chose to remain in the Demon King’s castle. Eveline simply responded, “Because he’s disillusioned with people and is staying in the castle until his emotions calm.”

‘Stress is an emotion too, after all.’

It wasn’t exactly a lie.

Judging by his expression, Ahern seemed to have secrets of his own. The two faced each other, each wearing a masked smile, subtly trying to gauge the other’s hand.

When Ahern finally asked his question in a tone of disbelief, Eveline nodded.

“That’s right. There’s not much to see there anyway.”

“…”

Ahern kept his mouth shut, though words were clearly on the tip of his tongue. He forced his smile to remain.

“Then let me help you!”

“Ah… No thanks.”

Eveline’s expression made it clear that her prior kindness in answering his questions was nothing more than courtesy.

Ahern scrambled to reply, desperation creeping into his tone.

“I can help you get better supplies, keep you company, even lend an ear to your worries! And now you say you don’t need any of that?”

“Hmm…”

Eveline pretended to consider it, her eyes shifting as though in deep thought.

“No, I don’t.”

Despite her drawn-out hesitation, she gave the same curt answer. Ahern seethed inwardly but worked hard to maintain his composure.

He couldn’t afford to lose his chance with Eveline—she was his last lifeline.

‘If getting the warrior to leave means helping her, then so be it.’

Ahern’s plan was simple.

Based on what the little maid had told him, once the warrior’s state stabilized, he’d leave the castle. Like any other warrior who had defeated the Demon King, Adam would likely head to the capital and stay there.

The Demon King’s castle would naturally become vacant.

But Eveline, unaware of Ahern’s grand ambitions, shattered his expectations.

The warrior wasn’t lingering in the castle for any ulterior motive. He was simply disenchanted with humanity and avoiding the capital for now.

Ahern knew she was lying but decided to play along for the moment.

The immediate priority was winning her over.

“Isn’t it better for him to get used to being around more people? Maybe even make some friends.”

“Friends?”

The suggestion took Eveline by surprise. She nodded thoughtfully as if considering the idea. Ahern, despite throwing it out half-heartedly, seemed to have accidentally hit upon something meaningful.

Now she understood what Adam was missing.

Friends.

Someone to share his thoughts with, someone who could understand him.

In previous iterations, he’d always been surrounded by companions and hadn’t noticed the absence. This time, without a single ally by his side, he’d gone to face the Demon King alone, without forging any meaningful bonds.

‘That’s why he’s staying in this dreary castle just because someone told him to.’

Recalling Adam’s lacking social skills, Eveline decided it was time for her to intervene.

“That’s a wonderful idea.”

“Right? So, maybe he could start by—”

“Transforming the Demon King’s castle and inviting people over!”

“What—what?!”

Eveline’s thunderous declaration left Ahern aghast.

His plan to lure the warrior out of the Demon King’s castle was now teetering on the brink of failure. If she overhauled the entire place and brought people in, he’d lose the castle entirely.

Change the castle? What if they ventured into the underground?

Ahern hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

“Why would you invite people to the Demon King’s castle?”

“Well, Adam doesn’t have a title or any intention of obtaining one, which means he has no personal estate. The castle’s previous owner is dead, so it’s essentially his now. Why not invite people?”

I’m the owner, for crying out loud!

Ahern screamed internally, his unspoken words echoing in his mind.

Oblivious to his inner turmoil, Eveline’s thoughts raced ahead—none of which would end well for him.

“Thank you, Lord Ahern. I didn’t expect much when you offered to help, but your advice turned out to be surprisingly useful!”

“Y-yeah…”

Though he had finally earned her trust, Ahern felt no satisfaction whatsoever.

It felt as though he had dug his own grave.

And Ahern’s unease was entirely justified.

Eveline was already deep in thought, contemplating how to remodel the Demon King’s castle—his beloved castle.

‘It might be better to just tear it down…’

Her reasoning? To create a space where Adam could make friends.

Throughout the many iterations, Adam’s companions had often changed. While some core figures remained consistent, others varied with each round.

Among those recurring figures was Meriel.

Meriel, whom Eveline had seen at the temple, had left a deep impression with her angelic demeanor and soft, soothing voice. Eveline had been utterly charmed by her, though she ultimately set her aside.

Part of the reason was Adam’s aversion to temples. But more importantly, Meriel, groomed as a future High Priestess from a young age, was unlikely to step foot in the Demon King’s castle.

With Meriel out of the picture, Eveline’s mind turned to others, such as the mercenary queen, Isella.

In the end, however, only one candidate remained.

‘If we’re talking about Adam’s friends, Isella’s the best choice.’

Unlike other companions, Isella shared a similar background with Adam.

Known more widely as the mercenary queen than by her name, Isella stood at the apex of the mercenary world.

Most knights were noble-born and tended to avoid grueling or hazardous work. Yet, there were always situations that required strength rather than skill, and Isella had inherited and expanded her father’s mercenary band brilliantly.

Their work often involved traveling to villages in need, completing tasks in exchange for payment. The jobs they undertook were crucial for maintaining a peaceful daily life.

Despite their vital contributions, mercenaries were rarely viewed in a favorable light.

 

“Aren’t they just dimwits who only know how to fight?”

 

Isella had worked tirelessly to change that perception.

However, few cared to listen to the mercenary queen’s defense of her people.

One of those few was Adam.

 

“Then why not join me in defeating the Demon King and clearing that stigma?”

 

It was an enticing offer Isella couldn’t refuse.

If she, as the mercenary queen, helped the warrior defeat the Demon King and bring peace to the world, public opinion about mercenaries was bound to shift.

But since Adam had defeated the Demon King on his own, attitudes toward mercenaries remained unchanged.

They still wandered without a stable home, unwelcome in many villages due to their rough reputation and the dangers associated with their work.

Many townspeople didn’t want mercenaries lingering in their villages.

As a result, mercenaries drifted from one place to another, searching for work when there was none.

‘What if I create a place where mercenaries can rest comfortably?’

Such a space would naturally increase interactions with Isella. Her outgoing nature contrasted sharply with Adam’s reserved personality, but her bold and proactive demeanor always managed to forge a bond with him in no time.

Of course, the idea of turning the former Demon King’s castle into a sanctuary was somewhat unsettling.

Still, the castle couldn’t remain tied to the name of the Demon King forever.

‘The land wasn’t created specifically for the Demon King’s castle in the first place. Changing it now shouldn’t be an issue.’

Eveline felt a pang of guilt for the first Demon King, who had likely put great effort into building the castle.

But then again, if he had chosen to live honestly and refrain from killing people, things might have turned out differently.

‘The dead Demon King can’t complain, can he?’

Eveline smirked to herself, her inner thoughts dripping with mockery.

At that moment, a shiver ran down Ahern’s spine.