Chapter 149: Return (1)
In truth, unlike what Merilda, Rin, and the Crimson Dragon thought, the Hero King had genuinely fainted.
It made sense because the Hero King had not let her guard down for even a moment since the legion commanders in the Demon Realm began discussing Lartania.
Even after wiping out the commanders, she ignored the deep fatigue that weighed her body down and kept herself focused until Kelva opened the portal to return to her original world.
After crossing over to the Middle Realm, she endured weeks of excruciating pain to break through the seal that Kelva had erected to hinder her after their battle.
In such a state, unable to fully recover her strength, she immediately returned to Lartania to confirm the Lord's return, so it was only natural that she couldn't hold out.
It was about five hours later that Kim Hyunwoo could talk to the Hero King again.
As Kim Hyunwoo quietly watched the sunset over the mountains, he turned his gaze to the Hero King, whose skin had become slightly duller.
"......"
Neither of them spoke.
They simply maintained silence in the quiet office.
"It's been a while."
It was Kim Hyunwoo who first broke the silence.
"Yes, it...has been."
Watching the Hero King - or rather, Charyll - awkwardly respond, Kim Hyunwoo became even more certain.
He realized that his emotional limits had even blocked his thoughts about his previous heroes.
Until now, he had never felt anything beyond mild gladness when meeting Merilda and Rin, but seeing Charyll brought many thoughts to his mind.
He felt joy at seeing the hero he had raised himself standing before him.
At the same time, he felt annoyance remembering how much money she had drained from him during his school days.
As countless emotions swirled within him, Kim Hyunwoo quietly watched her.
"...How have you been these past ten years?"
He soon asked.
The Hero King looked at Kim Hyunwoo with slightly trembling eyes, then seemed to ponder for a moment.
"For the first year after you left, I didn't believe it."
She began her story calmly.
It was a rather long story.
Charyll's story continued until the sun dipped below the mountains and night fell.
And when night fully settled in and moonlight softly illuminated the office terrace,
"...That's how it was."
The Hero King finished her story.
"......"
Kim Hyunwoo was at a loss for words.
It was because the story that came out of the Hero King's mouth was heavier than he had expected.
'...She went to the Demon Realm because of me...'
As he listened to the Hero King's story, Kim Hyunwoo felt a strange sense of guilt.
Of course, Kim Hyunwoo knew well enough that he didn't need to feel guilty about the Hero King's story.
After all, Charyll had gone to the Demon Realm of her own volition.
But even though it was her choice, the fact that it was driven by her desire to meet Kim Hyunwoo filled him with guilt, more than anyone else might feel.
If Kim Hyunwoo hadn't left so suddenly, she wouldn't have gone to the Demon Realm and suffered so much.
"......"
With his heart feeling strangely heavy, Kim Hyunwoo...
"I'm sorry."
...Soon saw Charyll bow her head, having just shared her story of the past ten years.
And before Kim Hyunwoo could say anything, she continued.
"I knew, I knew you were struggling, Lord. I knew it was hard for you to prepare our gifts, and to put up with our complaints."
Charyll's voice trembled.
"But still, I...I ignored you. I even blackmailed you for gifts better than the other heroes and interfered with your work just to spend more time with you."
Her trembling voice was thick with tears.
"I was...foolish... Even though I knew how much you cared about me, I still wanted to keep being reassured."
Tears streamed down from her eyes.
"I'm sorry...really, really sorry... Please forgive me...just once... Sob."
And she begged for forgiveness.
"......"
The sound of the Hero King sobbing reached Kim Hyunwoo's ears.
Plop—
The sound of her tears falling seemed to echo louder.
In that situation, Kim Hyunwoo kept his mouth shut.
"......"
It was true that Kim Hyunwoo quit the game because of the heroes' excessive demands.
At the time, he was still young, and the heroes' demands were unreasonably excessive, their blackmail enough to cool his affection for Arteil and the heroes he had invested so much in.
So eventually, he quit the game.
But even though he quit, this was not the outcome he had wished for.
At least for him, there were times when he cursed at the heroes who demanded gifts and felt annoyed, but he never wanted them to go through such hardships.
No matter how much he complained, in the end, they were heroes he had poured his love into.
He never wanted them to live each day in terrible pain.
With a heavy heart, Kim Hyunwoo looked at the weeping Charyll and quietly began to speak.
"Sigh—"
He sighed lightly and smiled as he spoke.
"You don't need to ask for forgiveness."
"...What-"
"Charyll, you didn't do anything wrong... Well, it was a bit annoying when you asked for gifts, but-"
"I knew it-"
Seeing Charyll on the verge of tears again, Kim Hyunwoo quickly added,
"Wait, I told you, right? It was just a little annoying, but it doesn't mean you need to ask for forgiveness. I really mean it."
"So...will you take me back?"
Charyll looked at Kim Hyunwoo with eyes reddened like a rabbit's.
And then.
[Would you like to offer recruitment to the ★★★★★☆ Hero 'Hero King'? Y/N]
[※Caution: This hero is a demon, and recruiting them may cause hostile territories and nations to arise]
[※Caution: She is a demon!]
[※You may become a public enemy of the Continent if you accept a demon!]
As the familiar window appeared, Kim Hyunwoo's vision filled with notification windows.
Unlike the notifications for Merilda and Rin, this one ominously warned that recruiting a demon could cause hostile territories and nations to form.
"......"
Kim Hyunwoo's hand hesitated for a moment, but only briefly, before he moved it.
He knew how foolish this action was even as he moved his hand.
If he accepted her at this moment, it was clear that Lartania would suffer greatly.
But despite knowing this, Kim Hyunwoo didn't stop his finger from moving toward the 'Y' button.
[Norba Kingdom Relationship:
-111]
[Kalan Kingdom Relationship:
-333]
[Eastern Alliance Clan Relationship:
-233]
[Sertoa Territory Relationship:
-442]
[Harlancia Territory Relationship:
-552]
[Altronia Territory Relationship:
-661]
[Kamia Territory Relationship:
-772]
[Ebroa Territory Relationship:
-334]
[Chelba Territory Relationship:
-552]
[Anderm Territory Relationship:
-723]
[Kehalam Territory Relationship:
-921]
...
...
..
.
...And as if to stop Kim Hyunwoo from making that decision, a new notification window appeared before his eyes.
A notification window that seemed to warn him against making a wrong choice.
But Kim Hyunwoo's finger didn't hesitate.
Another notification window appeared before him.
※Caution: If you recruit the ★★★★★☆ Hero 'Hero King', the notoriety of the 'Demon' race will cause disadvantages in attracting new residents to your territory
If your Territory Development Level is high enough, you can neutralize the notoriety of the recruited hero.
[Demon's Notoriety: 2,748,738]
[Lartania Territory Development Level: 5,072]
Current Territory Influx Rate: 42%
New Territory Influx Rate:
-123,475%
It was as if the notifications were now clearly trying to stop him from pressing the button.
But even as he took in all the words on the notifications with his eyes, Kim Hyunwoo didn't stop his finger from moving toward the 'Y' button.
In fact, he moved toward the 'Y' button even faster than before.
And then.
"Of course, I'll take you back."
As Kim Hyunwoo muttered, his finger pressed the 'Y' button.
[You have recruited the ★★★★★☆ Hero 'Hero King' to Lartania territory!]
A notification window popped up before his eyes.
[Ah]
"...!"
In Kim Hyunwoo's ear...
[What a pity. If only you'd held out a little longer, it would have all been over. How truly unfortunate]
Loria's voice echoed.