## Chapter 1369 – Friends

“Looks like it’s about time for you to head back. Barbarian bastard.”
“Yeah. What are you going to do, Ninja?”
“For now, I’ll have to find work in the city, right? Well, that’s not so important. Barbarian bastard. Is it true you got the entire devastated central region of the kingdom?”
“Yeah.”

ㅡThud.

콥슨 put down his beer glass.

“If the Barbarian bastard is going to build a kingdom in a place like that, it’ll take quite some time. Well, I’m not thick-skinned enough to go there and cause trouble when things aren’t settled. So, I’ll visit later. I trust you’ll call me when the time comes.”

The guy was spouting very sensible things with a straight face.

“This bastard… you were even thinking about that?”
“I’m originally a very considerate man.”
“Hehehe, you crazy bastard.”
“Do well. Honestly, I believe that if it’s the Barbarian bastard, you’ll manage somehow. Well, of course, I don’t think you have any talent for ruling, but if things don’t go well, you can always use your fists.”
“You know me well, 콥슨.”

I also gulped down my beer. 콥슨 said he had a lot to do. Apparently, they’re recruiting workers for reconstruction everywhere, so he’d be able to make a living somehow.

Anyway, I’ll call him when I’ve laid the groundwork.

Though it seems like it’ll take a few years.

“Wow. But a king. I’m just amazed.”

메리아 still seemed amazed.

“Be even more amazed. From now on, just being my friend will lead to countless amazing things. All sorts of people will come asking about you.”
“When that happens, can I reveal all the old stories?”
“Hehehe, of course, you can reveal them all. But you have to glorify them heroically.”
“Wow. Really?”
“If you don’t glorify them, you’ll get nothing.”
“Oh my gosh!”

All I can do is laugh.

“Come to think of it, what about 리나?”
“Ah, yes.”

When I asked 리나, who was eating, she immediately wiped her mouth and answered.

“I’m the same. I’m thinking of continuing to work… but it’s not that difficult anymore. I’ve gained a lot of stamina. And I’ve learned a lot of tricks.”
“Hoo.”

That shabby girl has now grown up to some extent and learned how to live on her own. She’s developing independence admirably.

“Well, 리나, you too, come visit my country a few years later when it’s stabilized. I can hook you up with a job.”
“Really!!!”
“Aren’t we comrades in arms, in a way?”

It was a negative relationship that started with 10 silver, but we’ve done a lot of things together in our own way. And so, it became positive.

“Thank you!!”

As 리나 expressed her gratitude, 메리아 pointed at herself and asked with high tension.

“Me? Me?!”
“메리아, you said you were going to open a clothing store, right?”
“Yeah! Yeah!”

She looked very expectant.

“Well, if you save up money and open a store, I’ll give you a tax exemption.”
“What! Really! You’ll give me a tax exemption?! Is that okay?!”
“Hehehe, damn it, I’m the king, you think I can’t even do that?”

Originally, being a king doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want, but if that king is a transcendent master, the story is different. It’s a position where you can do whatever you want.

“Yay! Thank you! I’ll save money diligently!”

Seeing her so happy at the mention of a tax exemption, it seemed she was taking her dream of opening a clothing store very seriously. In that case, it’ll be rewarding to help her out.

“Ah! What about store rent? And loans?”
“No. Were you even thinking that far ahead…”
“I was making plans.”

메리아 said that she would save money while being an adventurer, then use that experience to get citizenship, and then add a loan to her capital to open a store.

That’s quite serious.

“Interest-free is out of the question, so I’ll introduce you to a low-interest company. And rent, you idiot! You have to pay it since it’s your business!”
“I guess it’s not possible… Well, I’m just kidding. Just kidding.”
“Endure it with the tax exemption.”
“Endure? It’s too good.”

Maybe it was because the conversation flowed this way. 메리아 took a swig of her beer and started explaining what kind of business she would do. She said she would buy and sell clothes and do this and that, and as expected, it was clear that she had seriously looked into it. Adventurers don’t usually plan their businesses this seriously.

If she has the ability, she might be able to start a women’s clothing company.

“Well, then, let’s have a toast!”
“Raise your glasses.”
“Yes.”

리나 also picked up her glass and enjoyed her drink, and time passed.

I said my final goodbyes to my friends. I don’t know when I’ll see them again, but I believe that when I do, I’ll have settled down by then.

* * *

“Celestial Demon Divine Art, Celestial Demon Radar.”

ㅡWhoosh!

I crossed the sky of the uncharted territory.

As originally planned, I scouted the uncharted territory. I’ve said goodbye to everyone I needed to, and now, after I finish this, I just need to see 엘리제 one last time and then return.

Anyway, that bastard Lich.

Now that the demons are gone, the most dangerous guy is that bastard, and if I find him, I’m just going to stuff him. I will kill that evil bastard. No. Killing him isn’t enough. I’ll use him for something.

Well, it might be nice to use his bones to open a children’s science class. Science labs usually have a skull model.

“Hmm.”

I flew while spreading my senses and detecting widely, but I didn’t feel anything… Well, I wouldn’t be able to find something like that easily. Nevertheless, I spent several hours slowly flying and looking around.

ㅡ…

As I was flying, all kinds of flying monsters came into view from afar. Among them were a group of harpies, and seeing them suddenly reminded me of something from the past.

“Those harpy bitches.”

I was once kidnapped by those crazy bitches. I don’t know how many years ago that was. That escape was truly extreme. If I hadn’t remembered the heart of the Black Birdman at the last moment, I would have been screwed.

Thinking about how I can actually fly now makes me very happy.

“…”

There were no other gains. I also went to the place where I killed the ancient vampire lord 콜트라헨 a long time ago, but there was nothing there.

The boring scouting ended here.

* * *

“Saint, so you’re going back now.”
“Yeah. It’s about time to go back.”
“…”

엘리제 looked at me with an unreadable expression.

A face with various emotions crossing it. It was clear that she was deeply troubled. Come to think of it, 엘리제 seemed to have been troubled about something all along. It’s not like I wouldn’t notice that.

“엘리제. I’m asking this because it’s me.”
“Yes?”

I can usually figure out everything about 엘리제. I’m a Divine Friend, after all. I can immediately tell that something is bothering her.

“Is there something bothering you?”
“…Trouble, you say?”

ㅡGlower!

At that moment, 엘리제 made that scary face where she widened her eyes and contracted her pupils, and glared at me!

“Wh-wh-what! 엘리제! 엘리제, why! What’s wrong!”

Why!

“Yes? Ah. No. It’s nothing… No. That’s not it either. Yes. I do have some concerns. It seems that I became sharp for a moment because of that.”
“…Really?”

The expression that had turned scary returned.

I thought my heart was going to explode, damn it.
Just how big of a problem is it that she’s reacting like this…!

“Anyway, what’s bothering you? Tell me. It’s me you’re talking to. 엘리제’s Saint is just a problem-solving expert. Just a damn expert.”
“Not at all.”
“Hmm?”
“Yes? No. It’s nothing… Haa.”

엘리제 sighed. Well… even 엘리제 has worries. And deep worries at that. I want to resolve them if possible.

“Is it something so difficult that you’re sighing? 엘리제. I know everything. I can see what’s bothering you just by looking at you.”
“Yes? What nonsense are you…”
“What?”
“No. It’s nothing. Saint? So, what do you think is bothering me?”
“I’ll only know if 엘리제 tells me.”
“You just said you knew everything…”
“That’s not important, 엘리제. What’s making you so troubled?”
“That’s…”

엘리제 looked at my face for a moment, then lowered her head and said while looking at the ground.

“There are things that don’t go as I wish.”

ㅡTap tap tap.

엘리제, sitting on the bench, tapped the ground with her foot. I, sitting next to her, drank my drink and looked at the sky.

“Things that don’t go as you wish, huh.”

I should just listen in times like this.

“Yes. That’s right. I’m always trying to do well, but when things actually happen, I can’t bring myself to speak… I don’t know what to do, and my mind goes blank…”

엘리제 has such timid worries?

The 엘리제 I know is bold.

“Sometimes, even when I make up my mind, there are obstacles from those around me.”
“I know. That kind of thing. Whenever you try to do something, there are always obstacles.”
“That’s exactly right. Haa…”

It’s rare to see 엘리제 sigh like this.

“Is it because I lack confidence… I’m also afraid of something. But… I… want to resolve that worry. In the direction I want.”

She wants something. And she wants to do it. But she doesn’t know how to do it and lacks confidence? Or has she made up her mind but can’t put it into action? Is that the situation?

What the hell is going on?

I pretended to listen to her words with a serious face, nodding and trying to think as much as possible…! How could I just stand by when 엘리제 is so troubled?

But I can’t think of anything.

“…”

Silence arose.

In the silence, I said.

“엘리제. That, that worry, you see.”
“Yes.”
“It’s not a real worry when you’re just holding it in.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The situation that comes after you face head-on and shout out loud about what’s making you worry, that’s the real worry.”
“Yes?”
“That’s what I think.”

It’s a bit difficult.

But isn’t worry ultimately due to a lack of confidence in the outcome? Something you shouted out ends up being a disaster. That’s the real problem.

“The act of doing it itself is over once you shout it out. But the repercussions. What comes crashing down. That’s the problem.”

You don’t need to worry about shouting it out, just do it coolly. Because the real situation that will come soon is the worry.

Worrying about whether to buy a random box or not is just a fake worry. After you buy it. The real worry is when a shitty, trashy item pops up.

And that’s an unresolvable worry. You have to live with it for the rest of your life, and to resolve it, you have no choice but to accept it with something else. Or acknowledge it and look forward to the next time.

“엘리제. So, what I’m saying is, if there aren’t any repercussions or anything like that, just shout it out coolly. Shouting out the coolest way to resolve that worry. In the direction you want.”
“Repercussions… you say.”
“Yeah.”

엘리제 was silent for a moment, but soon spoke again in a low voice.

“It’s just that the repercussions seem too big…”
“Re-really? Then that’s a very difficult worry.”

Somehow, I feel like I’m giving 엘리제 relationship advice. Anyway, 엘리제 sat next to me and continued to speak.

“…I also wonder if I’m not mature enough yet.”
“엘리제 is mature. I know it.”
“Is that so.”

She’s an inhuman beauty, so of course she’s mature. It’s unfortunate that she can’t distinguish between front and back, but her beautiful proportions and matching physique are feminine enough.

“But… that’s not the problem. It’s just… somehow. I also think that my worry is something bad.”
“엘리제 is having bad worries?”

What’s bad?

The things that 엘리제 would consider bad would be doctrinal aspects. Or religious aspects. And moral aspects.

Is she thinking of some kind of deviation?

Religious worries?

There’s a possibility that she has doubts about her faith due to the demon invasions.

“I have bad worries to that extent.”
“Yeah. That’s also proof that you’re mature. So. What is it? What is it?”
“Hmm… To put it in order properly. It might not be a very serious matter… but I think… because I also think it’s a bad thing… I keep worrying. And I seem to hesitate.”

No, damn it, I’m dying of curiosity.

“What kind of bad thing is it?”
“That, I cannot say.”

Damn it.

“Is it a girl’s worry?”
“I am not a girl. I am a mature adult.”
“That’s right. 엘리제 is a mature adult.”
“You say that, but I don’t think you think so at all inside.”
“No. It’s a misunderstanding. 엘리제.”