## Chapter 1360 – Friends

ㅡSwish, swish.

The golden hair, reflecting sunlight and fluttering in the breeze, looked like a bundle of threads made of pure gold. Or perhaps… a field of golden wheat in harvest season, the kind that evokes nostalgia as it sways in the wind.

“Barbarian Sh**!!! Over here!!! Over here, I say!!!!”

But the reality was revealed as soon as I looked down.

Freckles and an unbelievably prominent overbite. It was Copson, desperately needing orthognathic surgery. He was grinning from ear to ear, waving his hand as he ran towards me, as if he couldn’t be happier.

“Barbarian Sh**!!!”

Anyway, the sight of him was such a stark contrast to that magnificent hair that for a moment, I thought I was dreaming. It felt unreal. Utterly surreal. Wouldn’t you agree? Did this He-Man-looking bastard have all his nutrients go to his hair as he grew? It felt like some kind of malicious urban legend.

Of course, that bizarre feeling was just that—a bizarre feeling.

In an instant, a surge of joy erupted within me.

“You son of a b*tch!”

Copson ran right up to us and caught his breath.

“Haa… Barbarian Sh**! It really is you! No matter how much you’ve grown, you can’t fool my eyes! It’s been so long!”

Copson shouted, seemingly overjoyed. I was just as happy to see this He-Man after all this time.

“It has been a while. But what’s with your gear? It’s in pretty good shape.”

Copson’s equipment had improved considerably. He was literally covered in proper armor. For him to afford armor with his income… it wasn’t impossible, but still. Could it be that he’d finally quit gambling?

Was this still a dream? From the start, his hair had felt unreal. Even the circumstantial evidence that he’d quit gambling felt fake.

“I’ve been working hard since then, you see.”
“Did you quit gambling or something?”
“I’m always trying to quit. Ah! Ah! Anyway! I’ve already heard the rumors!!!”

Copson stretched out his body and jumped up, shouting, “Yippee!” spreading his arms and legs wide. It was like a scene from a classic video game when you pick up a star.

“The rumors that a paladin with black hair became a hero, defeated countless monsters, and repelled the demonic forces!!! I’ve heard it all!!! And I’m sure it’s all true!!! That paladin must be Barbarian Sh**!!”

This guy seemed extremely happy.

“Heh heh heh, it’s all true.”
“I knew it!”
“Of course it is. But what’s with you? Did something good happen? Why are you so cheerful?”
“Wouldn’t I be happy to see an old friend again!”
“Oh, shut up.”

As I said this with a chuckle, Copson revealed the truth.

“Well, the truth is, I’m happy, but I also owe Barbarian Sh** a great debt. That gratitude plays a part too, you see.”
“What debt?”

What could he possibly owe me?

“When I bragged that I was friends with the famous hero, so many people wanted to hear my stories. So, well, I had quite a bit of fun.”
“Wait. You’ve been selling my name?”

That son of a b*tch must have been shamelessly using the friend card. What a sly bastard!

“Heh heh heh, isn’t that what friends are for? Well, a hero would naturally be generous, right?”
“You rotten bastard.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his familiar and cheeky attitude. Chuckling, I jabbed a finger into the joints of Copson, who was 30-40cm shorter than me.

“Ack! Aagh! Ugh! Barbarian Sh**! Stop with those pranks!”
“Heh heh heh, you sell your friend’s name. Do you think this hero will forgive you?”
“Please forgive me! What are friends for!!!”

Well, as long as he didn’t borrow money using my name, I didn’t really care.

When I stopped jabbing him, Copson spoke, still in pain.

“Ugh… By the way. Isn’t that Sister Elysee over there!!!”

Elysee was standing quietly beside me.

“…”

Looking at her face, I thought her expression seemed a little stiff… What? No. It wasn’t stiff, it looked almost fierce… Wondering what was going on, I blinked and looked again, and Elysee had a faint smile on her face.

“It’s good to see you, Copson-nim. I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”

What did I just see?
Elysee greeted him with her usual demeanor.

“Ah, thank you! Sister Elysee! By the way, your name is all over the streets!”
“Yes…”

I already know that.

Anyway, I explained to Copson that I had come to see Elysee. He seemed shocked and complained that I had forgotten about him, but it wasn’t something to worry about.

“Wow. By the way, for Barbarian Sh** to become a hero, not just a paladin! I already knew it. I knew that Barbarian Sh**, who possessed mysterious barbaric power, would become a powerful warrior! Yes! Absolutely!”

Copson praised me as if he was bursting with pride. This guy… I wouldn’t gain anything from being praised by a guy like this.

“Since when have you had such good judgment?”
“My judgment is quite good. I’m only revealing this now, but I’ve been sure that you would become like this ever since you showed that courage in front of Ouga.”

He nodded, spouting nonsense as if he were stating an obvious fact.

“It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s time to say it… Yes. I knew it from then on.”
“Heh heh heh, oh, this guy is really something. He’s really crazy, seriously.”
“It’s not nonsense.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Seriously. You haven’t changed at all.”
“Barbarian Sh** hasn’t changed at all either. You’ve gotten stronger and a bit bigger, but you’ve always been extraordinary. You saved us in the haunted house too. Really… you were already showing the qualities of a hero back then.”

Seeing this guy, all I can say is that he’s crazy.

Speaking of the haunted house.

Come to think of it, there were Meria and Lina too.

“Right. Hey, Copson. Do you know anything about Meria and Lina?”
“Hmm… I haven’t seen Meria in a while, but I saw her once in Isvant a while ago. But I haven’t seen her since this happened… Still, I’m sure they evacuated together when the evacuation order was issued, so they’re probably somewhere in Krasheim, right?”
“Hmm, well. If they evacuated together, there wouldn’t have been any problems.”

Elysee spoke at those words.

“If it’s Meria-nim… I haven’t seen her, but there haven’t been that many engagements with the demonic landing force since the evacuation order was issued. There were casualties, but if she was with the evacuee column, she’s sure to be alive.”
“Oh. That’s reassuring. What about Lina?”
“I’ve seen her too, but I haven’t seen her since this happened.”

Then she’s probably doing well too. Lina’s survival skills, strengthened by my training and guidance, are at an incredible level. Elysee, Lina, and I even crushed some heretics in the past.

“She might show up during the festival.”

If everyone from the Martial Arts Guild evacuated properly, they’re likely to be alive too. Being in the outskirts has its advantages. They were spared the worst when the center was destroyed.

“Anyway, Barbarian Sh**. It’s been a long time, so there’s a lot to talk about. And it’s a festival, isn’t it? Let’s hang out together!”

Copson shouted cheerfully.

I was planning to go to Elysee’s room, but well. Since I met Copson like this. Let’s go with Elysee’s opinion.

“Today is a very good day! To meet my friend who became a hero again!”

This guy really looks so happy.

“Elysee? What do you think?”
“…”

Elysee’s answer came a little late.

“Haa… I suppose it can’t be helped. Copson-nim is also a comrade, so it might not be bad to enjoy the festival together.”
“Alright. If Elysee’s okay with it. Let’s go see that another time.”
“…Another time?”
“No. Well, not really another time. I was planning to stay here for a while anyway.”

Then Elysee’s face brightened.

“Then it’s fine.”
“Great. Hey. Copson. Do you know any good places?”
“Don’t you know them well, Barbarian Sh**? This is Krasheim.”
“Ah. That’s right. Anyway, let’s go together.”
“Alright!”

Copson, who answered energetically, turned around, his blond hair fluttering.

And so, we strolled together through the streets, which were bustling with preparations for the festival.

**

As we walked, I called out to Copson.

“Hey. Copson. You son of a b*tch. Take a look at this.”
“What are you tal… Huh!!!”

ㅡFlap!

Wings of light soared from my back.

“S, such wings…!”

He pointed at me with one hand covering his mouth.

“I can only be amazed! A true hero! As expected!”
“How is it? A little holy?”
“It’s so holy! Just looking at it fills my heart…!”
“Heh heh heh, well. If you’re thinking of worshiping me, you can do it as much as you want.”
“That’s a bit much.”
“What’s wrong with you?”

He’s so lucky to have a good friend.

“But Barbarian Sh**.”

Suddenly, Copson called out to me in a secretive tone.

“What.”
“That promise… it’s still valid, right?”

Oh, I wondered what he was going to say.

“Hey, hey. Do you think I’d lie about what I said? Don’t worry. Just stay alive. I’ll give you a position.”
“Ooh!!!”
“But do you have the ability to do well if I give you a position? I’m saying this because we’re friends, but honestly, I don’t trust adventurers. They’re all useless.”

Adventurers are by no means a positive occupation.

When I build a kingdom, I think I’ll have to get rid of all the mercenaries and adventurers for the sake of public order. Monster hunting should be done by hired experts. By creating a dedicated unit. No matter how strong I am, I can’t possibly wipe out all the monsters hiding in the forests around the world.

Anyway, although I trust Copson completely, I don’t expect him to have any administrative abilities at all. There’s no way an adventurer would know anything about administration.

“Didn’t Barbarian Sh** become a hero by going through such a process? Don’t worry. I’m also a born talent.”
“Heh heh heh, you crazy bastard.”

Of course I can give him a position.

“If you don’t have the ability, you’re fired, got it?”
“Don’t worry.”
“And if you embezzle money to gamble, I’ll send you to prison.”
“Don’t say such scary things! That won’t happen! Barbarian Sh**, don’t you trust me!”
“No.”
“Oh dear.”

As I was talking to Copson, Elysee spoke.

“Copson-nim. What has happened in the meantime?”
“Ah, that is.”
“Yeah. I’m a little curious about that. Tell me about it.”
“Alright.”

We stopped at a stall for a moment to buy something to chew on. Copson tore into a cotton candy-like snack and began to tell his story with a serious face.

“Suddenly, they told us to evacuate… But I had already heard about it. The fact that the demonic forces had invaded. Actually, I don’t really know what those demonic forces are. I just thought they were demons or something.”

So that’s why everyone was able to evacuate without hesitation.

“As I lived while evacuating, I eventually heard the news that Isvant had been destroyed. It was really unfortunate… Still, I blended in well with the evacuees, so there weren’t any problems. I was a little hungry, though.”
“It must have been a difficult time. For everyone.”
“That’s right, Sister Elysee. It was a very difficult and harsh time.”

Elysee deeply sympathized with the sadness of the evacuees.

“Above all… those demonic landing forces were really terrifying. It felt even more serious than when the demons invaded in the old days.”
“Well, they were strong.”

Anyway, everything worked out well. But if I told this guy that I killed the Demon King, he’d be really surprised. Right now, Copson had only heard vague rumors. Vague rumors that I had killed all the demonic forces.

He doesn’t know the real truth.

“Ah, by the way, Barbarian Sh**. If you’re a hero, don’t you get something? Like land. If I were the king, I would have gladly given the hero a county. Because you defeated the demonic forces.”

A county?

This guy’s imagination is lacking.

“A county? It’s more than that.”
“What?”
“Saint?”

They both looked surprised at my words.

“I got a lot of land. It’s still devastated, though. I’ve taken almost all of the central part of the kingdom.”
“H-huh!!!”
“S, Saint…!”

Copson’s mouth dropped open like Luffy’s from One Piece.
Specifically, like Luffy when he saw Ace’s death.

“Then are you a grand duke now!”

I’ve surpassed the level of a grand duke. Because I’m a king. Come to think of it, I haven’t told them about the aerial fortress yet.

“Saint. Does that mean…! You’re going to live while ruling that area now!”

Even Elysee was surprised, and I smiled and nodded.

“Well, pretty much. I’ve only received a bunch of land that was destroyed by the demonic forces, but well, I can manage it little by little.”
“As expected…! Saint is…!”
“Barbarian Sh**!!! Are you!! Are you busy now!!”
“Not yet, you son of a b*tch. But there’s a lot to do if I want to run it properly.”