## Chapter 1362 – Friends

“Rina, I’ve told you time and time again, being an adventurer is an uncertain profession. You might not even survive.”
“Ah… yes.”

Since the topic came up, I decided to lecture Rina like a grumpy old man. But this wasn’t just nagging; it was good advice that would nourish her mind and body.

Besides, my words as a god were practically gospel.

“Got it? Rina, you need to prioritize your life.”
“Y-yes, I know.”
“Barbarian, don’t bully her too much.”
“This is education, education.”

Rina listened to me as usual. This seemingly pitiful Rina had aged since I first met her. It’s strange to see the changes.

“More than that… it’s just amazing. I first saw you catching goblins, and now, in just a few years, you’ve become this.”

Meriah circled around me, speaking.

“What? Even after hearing the rumors about me, you’re still surprised?”
“Yeah.”
“Geniuses and heroes are extraordinary from a young age, you know.”
“Genius and hero?”
“Yeah. Those guys achieve great things even before they’re old. That’s how it is. You’re witnessing history firsthand. You’re one of the people who observed the life of a hero up close.”

When I stated the obvious, Meriah reacted as if she was dumbfounded.

“I don’t even know how to respond. But you’re still fun to talk to.”
“By the way, listen to me, Miss Meriah.”
“Yeah?”
“That guy is already a king.”
“King?!”

Copson repeated the story I had just told him to Meriah. Meriah was simply astonished.

“Hmm…”

Meriah also asked about the truth of the rumors. I answered each one diligently. Since we couldn’t keep walking, we went to a suitable place. Of course, my idea of a suitable place was the best restaurant in the city.

When I said I would pay for everything, Meriah, Copson, and Rina cheered. We took our seats and ordered food.

“Wow! I’m lucky to have friends who bring me to places like this!”
“You pay your share.”
“Dutch pay?”
“Pay for your own stuff.”
“Ah! Barbarian! Please! Have mercy!”
“Hehehe, just kidding. Order whatever you want.”
“Thanks!!!”

What a comedian.

“C-can I really…?”
“Order whatever you want.”
“Yes!”
“Meriah and Elise, too.”
“Thank you, Saint.”

Come to think of it, was this the first time I had treated Meriah like this? Meriah looked a little dazed but couldn’t take her eyes off the menu.

“Wow, just walking into a place like this. I guess a hero lives like this every day?”
“I could if I wanted to. But I don’t have time because of work.”
“No time?”

When I explained that I had a lot to do, Meriah nodded.

“As expected of the Saint. Even though you could enjoy wealth and glory, you’re constantly working. And for the sake of this world!”

Elise had reached a point where she praised me no matter what she heard. She had that tendency before, but now that I was a hero, it was even stronger.

“I have as much work as I have power, Elise. I do get days off, but I usually spend them working.”
“Such a noble spirit! All hail the Saint!”
“Hehehe, all hail!”
“All hail the Barbarian!”
“All hail!”

Copson’s hair fluttered as he shouted. Seriously… I could cut that off and make a wig and sell it for a lot of money. Noble ladies might pay a high price for it. I always get that thought whenever I see that guy’s hair.

“Then, Elise? Should we go out and do Divine Friend again?”
“That bizarre act again!”
“Hahaha!”

Anyway, the food soon started coming out, and the others, except for me and Elise, devoured it like they were starving. Seeing them eat so heartily made me feel good as the one who was paying.

“Saint, the festival is in full swing.”

We talked while eating for a long time. Darkness was slowly settling outside the window. Nevertheless, the festival’s heat didn’t seem to cool down. No. It seemed to get stronger as the sun set…

“It reminds me of the Undead Festival, Barbarian.”
“That time?”

That was a long time ago.

“When you caught and killed the Flash Golem.”
“Ah, I heard about that a long time ago. It was before I went down to the sewers with you, right?”
“Meriah? Didn’t you participate in the festival back then?”
“Of course, I did.”

Everyone was in Isvant then. Come to think of it, that’s when I met Rina. I glanced at Rina, and she smiled awkwardly.

“Hehehe, it was a festive atmosphere back then too.”
“Just like now! Cheers!”

Copson raised his glass, and I grabbed mine as well.

*

We talked for a long time, and night fell.

“Hic! Ba… Bar… Bar… barian.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

Copson, who was completely drunk, muttered as if he was trying to surprise me… This guy. It wasn’t so much surprising as it was just shocking.

“Copson, please come to your senses.”

Even Elise was disgusted.

“Let’s get up. Copson’s not in his right mind.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”

He’s always been weak with alcohol.

I stood up with Copson slung over my shoulder. I went outside and paid the bill. The employees bowed deeply to me, and I simply acknowledged them.

“Hmm.”

The night air is cold.

“Hey, Rina, and Meriah. It was nice seeing you after a long time.”
“Yeah, me too. It’s good to see you after so long.”
“I enjoyed it too.”
“Yeah, me too. Let’s call it a night. It’s getting dark.”

ㅡWhoosh.

I turned on a small halo to illuminate the surroundings.

“Wow… Anyway, how much longer are you planning to stay?”
“I don’t know… but not for long.”

Once I say hello to everyone I need to, I’m going back to work. I need to work hard on the nation-building project.

“Then at least call me again when you’re leaving. So I can say goodbye.”
“Hehehe, okay. I’ll let you know when I’m leaving.”
“Nghaaal… Don’t forget…”
“What’s with this guy with the flowing hair?”
“Ah…! Anyway, let me down… I can go back on my own…”
“This guy. He’s definitely gotten bigger. He knows how to handle his body even when he’s drunk.”
“I always could!”

I let Copson down, and we said goodbye.

“See you!”
“Goodbye.”

Meriah waved as she walked away, and Rina bowed politely. Copson staggered away, singing.

My friends all disappeared into the lights of the festival.

“Ugh. It’s night. Elise.”

Now it was just Elise and me.

“Haa… It’s already this late. I should have gone back a long time ago. To be out this long without reporting…”
“What, Elise has a curfew?”
“Of course. I know you have a mission, but I’ve exceeded the time without reporting.”
“Well, I’ll say I kept you. What can they do when an angel keeps you?”
“Hehe, thank you.”

Elise smiled as she expressed her gratitude.

What should we do now? Elise closed her mouth.

“…”

Amid the cheers of the festival, Elise and I stood there silently. I guess she was feeling sad about saying goodbye.

“Elise.”
“Saint.”

We spoke at the same time.

“Ah, well…”
“Elise, you go first.”
“Yes. Um, Saint? Where are you planning to sleep tonight? It’s getting late.”
“It is getting late. But there are plenty of places to sleep. I have a lot of money. Why? Are we going to see each other again tomorrow morning? I’ll see Elise for a bit in the morning and then go say hello to my acquaintances.”
“…”

Elise seemed to be pondering something.

And then.

“Saint, if you don’t have a place to stay, you’re welcome to stay at our Radiant Light Cross Society for the night.”

She said.

“At Radiant Light?”

I don’t really need to sleep in the first place. If I really had to, I was going to fly far away and spend time training, but if I could sleep in a quiet space, that would be nice too.

“Sure, let’s go, Elise. We were going to look at the spoils anyway.”
“Ah, I understand! Then let’s go right away!”

It probably won’t be a great place, but it’s just for one night.

“Let’s go, Saint!”
“Hehehe, yeah. I’ve been there once before anyway. Let’s go say hello.”
“Of course!”

Elise was overjoyed when I said I would go.

So I walked with Elise.

ㅡWhoosh!
ㅡBoom!

Fireworks exploded. The night was deep, but the festival’s heat was at its peak. If fireworks were going off, that said it all. Elise stopped for a moment and looked at the fireworks.

“Hmm… They must be in a difficult situation. Wasting gunpowder.”
“It’s not a waste if people are happy.”
“Ah, that perspective. There’s so much to learn from the Saint.”
“Hehehe, is there?”

Anyway, as we were walking.

ㅡThud.

Over there.

In the middle of that festival. I found someone I knew. A blonde woman wearing a robe like a cheongsam. There were countless people and noise, but it couldn’t escape the eyes of the transcendent Heavenly Demon.

It’s on the way anyway.

I should meet her by feigning coincidence.

“Still, it seems like people are enjoying themselves thanks to the festival…”

As I was walking with Elise in that direction.

At some point, I reached Mariel.

ㅡSwoosh.

The moment I deliberately made a noise.

“Saint?”

Elise called out to me, and at the same time, Mariel, who was enjoying the festival, turned to me.

“Ah.”

It didn’t take long for Mariel’s face, with her eyes wide open, to be filled with shock.

“Ah. Ah!!! Aah!!!! You’re the Heavenly Demon!!!!!!”

Mariel pointed at me with the same feeling as usual and shouted.

“Finger. You finger, you little shit. You want to point at me?”
“H-Heok! It’s really! It’s really the Heavenly Demon!!! The Heavenly Demon who’s rumored to have become an angel these days!!!”
“Oh, you know?”
“This…!”

Still with her eyes wide open, Mariel stared at me. Elise, who was standing next to me, was glaring at Mariel with a very stiff face. She must have realized that she was a hostile presence from my attitude.

“Mariel? Do you have something to say?”
“…!”

Mariel continued to stare at me, then nodded slightly as if she had made a decision.

ㅡWhoosh!

She turned around and tried to run away.

“Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Heavenly Demon Aerial Subjugation of Objects, you little shit.”

Dare to run away?

“Aaaah!!!!”

I gently pressed down on Mariel’s shoulder with my power, stopping her from running after she kicked off the ground. For me, who can devastate an area with the Heavenly Demon Supreme Steps, manipulating my power to stop someone is nothing.

It’s kind of like telekinesis. The Heavenly Demon Supreme Steps is a technique that strongly pulls down everything in the area.

“Saint. Who is that person…”
“She’s not my friend. Just someone I know. As you can see, we’re not on good terms.”
“…Is that so.”

As Elise glared at Mariel’s back again, I used Heavenly Demon Aerial Subjugation of Objects to pull Mariel down and knock her over.

“Kugh!! Please! Please have mercy!! Heavenly Demon!!!”
“No. What’s with you? Who said I was going to kill you?”
“If, if not that…?”

She was convinced that I was going to kill her!

“Ha, this little shit. Needs to be hit to come to her senses.”
“I apologize!!!!!!”

Mariel shouted so loudly that I felt sorry for her, then turned around and bowed to me.

“Hey, hey. Stop the nonsense. Get up. Liz-noona wrote you a letter.”
“Wh-what? Guild Master… a letter?”
“Yeah. Get up. Take this.”

When I took out the letter, Mariel awkwardly got up and took it.

“A letter from the Guild Master…”
“Yeah. Read it here.”
“What’s the purpose?”
“I don’t know. She probably has something to tell you.”
“Ha! There’s no such thing!”
“What?”
“I no longer need to receive the Guild Master’s orders!”
“This little shit?”

Insubordination?

“Heavenly Demon! I fear you before my eyes, but I don’t fear the Guild Master far away! If you ever meet the Guild Master again, tell her my words! That I will no longer live under the Guild Master!”
“You little shit.”

ㅡGah!!!!!!!!!!!!

“Kyaaaaaaaak!!!”

When I scolded her, Mariel screamed and fell over.

“Saint? What kind of person is that?”
“I don’t know… this little shit…”

Seriously, what a funny little shit…