Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Reward
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Do-yoon headed straight for the guild house the moment he and the World Tree group arrived at the lord's castle. Eloa's condition had looked poor the instant she laid eyes on his face.
She was desperately suppressing the emotions welling up inside her, ready to burst forth. Do-yoon didn't want to make her suffer any longer.
On the way, he and Eloa rode alone in one carriage, while the others took separate ones.
Inside the carriage, Eloa clung to Do-yoon's chest and sobbed just as before.
"Huuu... Waaah..."
"Don't cry, Eloa, our little chick. I'm sorry, alright?"
"Huuu..."
Do-yoon silently patted her back to soothe her, just like last time. He felt truly apologetic for causing her unnecessary heartache under the pretense of fetching a gift.
A hundred years ago, Enoch had once fought an assassin squad right in front of the city, showing up covered in blood before Eloa.
From the next day onward, whenever the hero said he was going anywhere, she'd thrown tantrums, wailing for him to just stay home. It had lasted about a week, giving him no small amount of trouble. The scene must have left a deep scar on the young child's heart.
'Same as ever inside, huh.'
As he watched her hiccupping sobs against him, Do-yoon felt a mix of guilt and pity, yet an oddly pleased smile crept onto his face. Her current self overlapped with the chick-like innocence of her childhood.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ By the time Eloa's crying subsided, she gently lifted her face from Do-yoon's chest. Her eyes met his, and she caught the faint smile he hadn't quite hidden.
She flinched. Then her cheeks flushed red. Now that she looked closely, the hero's new body was...
'Y-You're so handsome...'
The hero from a hundred years ago hadn't been ugly, of course. But his appeal lay less in his looks and more in his aura and the man himself—a deep, magnetic charm.
Yet now... it was hard to tear her eyes away.
He was truly handsome. Not quite the continent's top beauty, perhaps.
But the hero possessed that signature, ripened masculinity and restrained charisma that had always stood out, even in his previous life.
There was a saying from another dimension: heroes love women. But Eloa dismissed it immediately upon hearing it.
Having watched over Enoch, she knew better. It wasn't the hero chasing women—it was women flocking to the hero.
Enoch in his previous life hadn't been particularly handsome. Yet around him gathered the guild's alluring and powerful elder sisters, beauties of various races, even noble and royal daughters. Suitors never stopped coming.
A hero who cast aside all worldly values, pressing forward solely for the world's salvation. Such an Enoch stirred in women a longing to admire him, protect him, claim him, care for him.
He drew them in. Made them fall in love. Even without intending to.
This went beyond mere atmosphere or unique traits. It was something closer to a chemical pheromone—an intensely potent force that compelled the opposite sex to love him. The very essence of male 'allure.'
Combined with an exotic handsomeness by this world's standards, bold facial lines, and the hero's distinctive presence and vibe, it was irresistibly captivating.
She hadn't noticed amid all the chaos before, but facing him this closely made it hit home.
Eloa felt a tightening deep in her lower abdomen. Heat bloomed between her legs.
A new sensation, one her immature child body and mind from a hundred years ago could never have known.
"All done crying?"
Do-yoon stroked Eloa's hair. She shivered at the touch, so different from before.
"Y-Yes..."
Eloa buried her face back in his chest. She feared he'd notice her trembling pupils and flushed face.
Unconsciously, she pressed her thighs together. The growing heat down there made her feel exposed, ashamed, guilty before him. The slickness felt utterly foreign.
"Once we reach the house, let's sip some of 'Uncle's' special tea and pick up our chat where we left off. We can unwrap the gift I've prepared, too."
"A gift?"
Eloa looked up at him, eyes wide.
Come to think of it, the hero had gone to Rockenmeyer for a gift.
"What kind?"
"The kind that's universally loved across all races, with no divide in tastes since ancient times—the absolute best. It's pretty bulky, so we'll open it in the house vault."
"Hehe. Okay!"
Eloa beamed, forgetting she'd been crying moments ago.
She paid no mind to his mention of the 'vault.' He must have misspoke for 'warehouse.'
That's what she thought.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Eloa and Do-yoon headed straight to the guild vault. When she asked why the vault of all places, he brushed it off with, "You'll see when we get there."
Soon enough, her eyes widened in shock, her beaming smile frozen.
"Th-This... all of it...?"
"It's your gift, Eloa."
Eloa stood speechless before the mountain of gold filling the guild vault. Was this... all real money? For real?
"H-How much...?"
"Hmm. Around forty thousand gold coins, I'd say."
"F-Forty... thousand!"
Forty thousand gold coins.
An astronomical sum. Even for a massive guild like World Tree, it was enough to live lavishly without worry for years.
In the recent bidding war to recruit Han Do-yoon, every guild had staked their all.
Those sums reflected not so much 'Han Do-yoon's value' as 'every coin the guilds could muster on the spot'—just shy of bankruptcy.
For reference, the highest bid excluding World Tree's had been 6,500 gold coins.
And now, forty thousand. Forty thousand.
Even for Eloa, World Tree's master who'd handled vast fortunes, the figure made her head spin.
"This... is the gift...? You mean it...?"
"Yes. All yours, Eloa."
Eloa trembled, speechless, pupils shaking. But she soon collected herself and looked up at Do-yoon.
"B-But... is it really okay to give me so much? This is basically all your wealth..."
"Eloa."
Do-yoon cut her off.
"Back in the day, they called me the continent's greatest moneymaker."
He spoke with a hint of pride.
More than being the strongest hero, he'd always taken pride in his wealth. Slaying monsters and saving the world was just par for the course.
"I've got over a hundred thousand gold coins stashed away, so spend it freely. If it runs out, I'll fetch more."
"Ahh..."
Eloa gazed up at him with moved eyes. Do-yoon felt awkwardly bashful and turned to leave the vault.
"Hero..."
Thus, he missed the way her gaze grew hazy, the way she subtly squeezed her thighs together.
Soon, Eloa followed him out.
Her honey-dripping eyes never left the hero's broad back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Skeletania's capital. There stood a white mansion of moderate size, showing some age.
A century ago, it had been the family home of the Sword Emperor, history's mightiest swordsman. Now, it housed his disciple, Skeletania's hero Brudet.
Clad in flowing white robes, Brudet sat with his sword across his knees, eyes closed in meditation.
His posture was serene as a calm river, sharp as a blade—utterly unwavering.
Moments later, he sensed footsteps approaching from outside.
She stopped before the door. Without even a knock, Brudet spoke softly.
"Come in."
The door slid open, and a neatly dressed maid entered, bowing toward his back.
"The World Tree master has returned from the expedition."
"Mm."
Brudet slowly opened his eyes.
"They say this invasion was single-handedly repelled by one of World Tree's hidden swords."
"Yes."
Brudet knew that man was the newly recruited Boss Monster Killer.
He too had been urged by the royals to join the Cradle inspection team, but he'd refused, unwilling to wrong his old friend the dean.
'Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've seen him.'
Having known each other for over a century, Brudet and Eloa shared a bond like childhood friends. They were among the last few who cherished memories of the guild.
But lately, they rarely met. Brudet had secluded himself, chasing a faint clue to enlightenment.
Recently, though, he'd realized it wasn't something to attain through a month or two of focus. It required steadfast patience and practice, arriving naturally in time.
'Curious about that Boss Monster Killer too...'
Maybe it was time for a visit.
He rose, sheathing his sword.
"Send word to Eloa."
"Yes."
The maid bowed deeply once more as Brudet left the room.