## Chapter 1361 – Friends

From then on, Copson kept acting like he was my true friend or something, making a huge fuss. Of course, even without that kind of appeal, the fact that this bastard risked his life to save me in the Alaune Jungle is eternal.

Truly an eternal friendship forged with his life on the line.

“You fucking lunatic.”

That’s why I can’t help but curse whenever I see this chin-protruding bastard’s face.

“Why the cursing? Anyway, I’m really looking forward to it. I’m about to repay your kindness, heh heh heh.”

His mouth was practically stretched to his ears. It was the kind of smile unique to someone who firmly believes their future will be rosy.

Copson seriously explained that if he got such a position, getting a wife would be a piece of cake.

“Well, since I was an adventurer, I thought it would be really hard to get a wife. But if I have a position in the Barbarian bastard’s kingdom, the story will be different. It wouldn’t be a dream to have multiple wives like the Barbarian bastard.”

ㅡThwack!

Copson clenched his fist tightly.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you moron.”
“Heh heh heh, the Barbarian bastard might think it’s all ridiculous. But my predictions have never been wrong. Wasn’t I the first to think you would become such a hero?”

If I had to be precise, it was Claudie.

“Well, I’m not going to pour cold water on you. Just despair when the time comes.”
“I’m sure only infinite happiness awaits.”

Anyway, it’s fun talking to him.

As we were talking, Elise said,

“I’ve enjoyed hearing your story, Saint. Then, I’d like to continue our previous conversation… Do you plan to establish a kingdom on the land you received?”

Just a kingdom?

A great empire is also possible.

“Yeah. I’ll gradually work towards that. My own kingdom is the foundation.”
“Hmm…”
“Elise, this world is still too chaotic. The way the current nobles govern has many inefficient aspects. So, since I’m taking over all the land, I’m going to do it properly.”

Of course, I have the will to govern.

Based on the ideology of Fusion Confucianism, I must benefit this world. Well, the thought of making the land where my children will live an amazing place comes first, though.

“Very properly. I plan to govern with all my heart. Securing public order. Correcting the declining morality. A kingdom based on justice.”

Anyway.

Living in this other world, there were so many things I couldn’t understand.

During my adventurer days, I solved requests from various villages and received money.

Villages located far from the cities where the lords lived. The residents there would form self-governing groups and deal with small monsters, but if they judged that they couldn’t handle it themselves, they would collect money and call in adventurers to resolve the situation.

The adventurers would receive that money and save the village from crisis, but this was originally the lord’s job. The lord was simply saving money by using the adventurer group.

Making them throw away cheap labor and lives like flies. They were outsourcing the work that their own army should be doing to adventurers at a bargain price. In other words, it was a harsh subcontracting system.

Of course, the lords also deployed their armies to solve problems that adventurers couldn’t handle… but this was also inefficient.

In the first place, adventurers are all truly useless, hopeless lives, and even armed. They’re just trash who turn into robbers if they don’t like something.

From the lord’s perspective, it’s good if these bastards die while working and fighting. Conversely, it’s good if they do well and get promoted to D-rank. Either way, it’s profitable to just use them. That’s why the Adventurers’ Guild isn’t very kind to low-rank adventurers. They don’t care if they die or not, as long as they don’t cause problems.

Well, this is only possible because it’s another world.

In the first place, there are plenty of hopeless lives who can become adventurers in this world… and if these bastards ever formed a union to improve their rights, they would just be crushed by the superhuman lords.

It’s truly an exploitative structure that’s only possible in another world.

To establish proper public order, this kind of thing has to be eliminated. A dedicated public order security force must be created using strong centralization. And that centralization will be eternal with me, the superhuman Heavenly Demon.

“Saint…”

Elise looked at me for a moment.

“I can really feel a strong will from you, Saint.”

It seems she was moved.

“If it’s you, Saint, you will surely be able to govern the country well. A country operated based on your righteous founding ideology and moral judgment will surely be beautiful.”
“Heh heh heh, yeah. That’s right. Come visit later.”
“Yes. I will definitely come to visit.”

Elise smiled brightly.
As if there was nothing more to add.

“Barbarian bastard… It’s hard to get used to you saying something smart.”
“I’m originally smart, you moron.”
“Well, if you’re a hero, I guess so. I believe in you.”
“Oh, this bastard.”
“Ugh!”

I poked Copson with a finger strike and said to Elise,

“Ah, Elise. I’ve already built a palace. If you’re coming to visit, come there.”
“Excuse me? Saint? You said you built a palace?”
“Yeah.”
“Kuaaak! Barbarian bastard! I was wrong!”

I stopped there and released the finger strike. And I decided to reveal the aerial fortress.

“Yeah. You know the demons brought an airship, right?”
“I’ve seen it from afar. It was a very… evil ship.”
“Kuh… I’ve never actually seen it. Just the ruins.”

Copson and Elise talked about the airship. Elise had seen it, but Copson hadn’t.

“Actually, I captured it.”
“What!!!”
“Saint?! You mean you captured it?!”
“Yeah.”

Those words struck them like lightning.

“Then…!”

While both were surprised, I continued,

“Right now, I’m roughly extracting the demons’ technology.”
“The demons’ technology!”
“It looks like there’s a lot of useful stuff. So, I’m going to extract it all and use it for the people.”
“As expected of you, Saint!!!”

ㅡPaaat!

Elise’s eyes lit up as she grabbed both of my hands.

“The demons’ evil technology! No matter how evil the technology is, if it passes through your hands, Saint, there will be no problems!”
“Heh heh heh, yeah.”
“You are truly the hope of humanity, Saint! The light!”

Seeing her so happy makes me feel rewarded.

“But Barbarian bastard, what does that have to do with the palace?”
“You know those guys brought an aerial fortress, right?”
“What? Barbarian bastard?”
“I took that too.”
“Heok! Saint!!! You mean that wasn’t just a rumor!!!”

Once again, Elise and Copson were shocked. It’s only natural, since they were already surprised by just the airship. I explained the aerial fortress in detail, and after hearing the explanation, Elise and Copson almost fainted and screamed. It was that surprising.

“Heh heh heh, so I’m using that as my palace.”
“I will definitely come to visit, Saint.”
“Hmm… But isn’t that a bit dangerous? It’s something the demons used…”
“It’s okay. I’ve already subdued everything.”
“Amazing.”

We walked and talked about various things.

ㅡWhiririk!
ㅡPaaat!

As we were doing that, street performances and such were being held in earnest, as if the festival had officially begun.

Watching them was quite enjoyable.

Honestly, there were many people who bothered me, calling me Angel-nim or Sister Elise, but after waving my hand once, they all scattered. We enjoyed the festival with that kind of feeling.

“Ah…”
“Ah!”
“Ooh…!”

Of course, not everyone was just freaking out at the sight of me.

“Angel-nim…”

There were also those who knelt in worship, and there were groups who tried to give me carts full of various gifts, saying they were offerings to the Angel-nim.

While there were people who were moved as if they were trying to worship me, I thought,

Is Commander Barkerel not here?
The Brass Holy Angel Society should all be here too.

“Elise, do you know where the Brass Holy Angel Society people are?”
“Ah, they are all in this city. In the first place, both Isvant and Krasheim had branches, didn’t they?”
“That’s right.”
“I assume they are out on missions. They are busy.”
“Is that so?”

If they heard my news, they would come to see me.

“I will only accept your hearts as offerings!!! Those who are kneeling now! Continue to live virtuously while thinking of me!!!”
“Ooh…!”

I said that to the people who were trying to worship me. This kind of work was repeated throughout the walk.

“Hmm?”

In the midst of all this, I discovered a familiar kid.

“Ah…!”

Looking at her, Lina was running towards me.
So she was alive.

Why are they gathering one by one? What is this, the Bremen Town Musicians or something?

“Aren’t you Lina?”
“Ah, yes! Oppa! Long time no see!”

Lina shouted with a bright smile.

“Wow. What a coincidence?”
“No! I heard the rumors and was looking for you!”

Lina greeted me while catching her breath.

“It’s Lina.”
“Nice to see you, Lina.”

Copson and Elise also greeted Lina. They had both worked with her several times. Lina also greeted them.

“You really became a hero… and even an angel-like being…”

Lina was happy at first, but then looked bewildered.

“Of course I am. Didn’t you know from the first time we met? That I’m an angel-like being?”

I spared Lina, who stole 5 silver from me and even conspired to commit murder. I was already a saint from that time.

“That’s… well, I can’t deny that.”
“Right? Anyway, it’s been a long time since we met like this. Want to walk together for a bit? I’m actually walking with Elise and Copson too.”
“Yes!”

Just confirming that she was alive made me feel good.
I asked Lina about her recent activities.

“I haven’t seen any demons… I was just running away.”
“Good job. That’s what you have to do to survive. You’ll die if you act recklessly.”
“Yes. I remember everything you said back then… I think that’s why I survived.”
“That’s right, you moron. My words are all becoming your blood and flesh.”

I somehow want to lecture Lina whenever I see her.

“As expected, the words of a hero are different.”
“You learn too, you bastard.”
“I’m practicing well.”

It seems so.

“Nothing is as beneficial as the Saint’s teachings.”
“Elise, now that I think about it, when I was running the prison, I made a book by compiling my teachings, right? Did I tell you about that?”
“I haven’t heard! That book! If you have any copies, please share them with me!”
“I’ll give it to you next time, next time.”

After hearing about the book, Elise became very interested in my Fusion Confucianism and asked me various questions. I hadn’t told her about the prison story in the first place, so I told her that story too. While roughly buying and seeing things,

“Oh! I found you! What? Sister and Copson are here too?”
“Miss Meria?”

Meria was running towards us from over there.

“Hey! Miss Meria is here!”
“Don’t deepen your voice, you moron.”

How long has it been since I saw her?
More than that, what’s with the successive deployments?

“Hi hi.”

Meria, who had run over, waved her hand and greeted us.

“Yeah. I’m doing well too, Meria. How many years has it been since I saw you?”
“It’s been a really long time… As expected. You really became a hero? I didn’t know what to think when I heard the rumors…”
“Can you see it? My aura?”
“A lot… It’s so different from when we were at the haunted house.”
“Heh heh heh, that was several years ago.”

Anyway, Meria knew Copson, Elise, and Lina, so we all shared the joy of reunion.

“Copson? Nothing has changed except for your equipment? Your hairstyle is the same too. Are you getting it managed?”
“Isn’t it my strength? I have to manage it.”
“That’s true.”
“This bastard Copson is always deepening his voice.”
“Who is deepening their voice!”

He hasn’t changed.

“Hehe, I couldn’t see you normally… As expected of the Saint’s fame and reputation. Everyone can come just by hearing the Saint’s name.”
“It’s something to see everyone become heroes.”

Anyway, after Elise, Copson, Lina, and Meria. I never thought I would see them all. Actually, it’s not a coincidence. My rumors were spreading like crazy.

Still, it’s really nice to see them like this.

“Hey, but. Meria. Your shield is really big? How much is it?”
“This is expensive. I’ve been working hard.”
“Ah, what was it. You said you were going to open a store? By saving money?”
“Huh? You remembered that? Didn’t I say that a long time ago?”
“I just suddenly remembered. Seeing your face.”
“Hee… You have a good memory. Is that why you’re hanging out with such pretty girls?”
“Heh heh heh, there’s that too.”

It was the first time I had seen Meria in a long time, but her sociability was still the same.

“Lina? Are you still an E-rank adventurer?”
“Yes.”
“You still have a long way to go.”