Chapter 51: Is it really because they didn't try hard enough?

"May I come in?"

Outside the door, Lord Hero Kevin tried his best to appear as gentlemanly as possible.

Previously, when the Elf Queen was hosting him, she had subtly hinted that he could meet her daughter, Renée, later on.

If the two were mutually attracted, perhaps they could develop something beyond friendship.

What is something beyond friendship?

Let's just say... those in the know, know!

Kevin was no longer the ignorant peasant boy from the dilapidated village he had been when he started.

Now, he was the highly anticipated Lord Hero, and the [Mark of the Hero] on the back of his hand was the best proof.

Not to mention the high-and-mighty nobles, even the King, who stood above ten thousand, would treat him with courtesy.

His teammates were all Geniuses among Geniuses.

Accompanying him on this trip were a nun from the Church of Light and the princess of the Otto Kingdom.

Unsurprisingly, both were stunning beauties, and his relationship with them was ambiguous.

If he added the Elven Race princess to the mix...

Kevin felt a little excited inside.

However, the lack of response from within the door made him somewhat puzzled.

Wasn't it said that she was a die-hard fan of Lord Hero?

Why did it feel like there was no reaction?

Could she have just fallen asleep and not heard?

Knock, knock, knock—

Kevin knocked on the door again.

"Your Highness?"

Inside the door.

Renée's expression was conflicted. She raised her hand, then lowered it again, ultimately failing to open the door.

She took a deep breath and spoke.

"Lord Hero, if there's nothing else, let's just talk like this!"

Just like this... talk?

Talk through a door?

So he couldn't even get through the door?

Kevin's expression stiffened for a moment.

He glanced around and noticed some Elven Race warriors guarding the area.

He couldn't help but feel a bit displeased and embarrassed.

Kevin felt that Renée was giving him, this Lord Hero, a bit too little Face.

But thinking that he still 'needed' something from her, he couldn't show it for the time being.

"Can't we talk Face-to-Face?"

"I heard from your mother that your dream since childhood has been to meet Lord Hero."

"Now that I am standing here, you don't need to be too nervous. I'm not some man-eating monster..."

Kevin was unwilling to give up, trying to coax her.

Renée's attitude remained firm.

"Sorry, my mind is very messy right now, and it's not convenient to receive guests."

She paused.

The young girl seemed to remember something and said.

"However, I do have a question I really want to ask Lord Hero."

Hearing this, Kevin's eyes lit up immediately.

Wasn't this a Breakthrough handed to him on a silver platter?

He patted the armor on his chest and feigned generosity.

"Go ahead and ask! As long as it's something I know, I will tell you everything!"

Renée didn't hesitate and asked directly.

"I don't know if you know a Silver Knight named Raul Croft."

"The other party claims to be one of your Hero Party members. I wonder if it's true or false?"

Actually.

When asking this question, Renée was incomparably anxious inside.

She was somewhat afraid that this Lord Hero would actually admit it.

And thereby shatter the 'holy filter' she had for the Hero and his Hero Party members.

But if she didn't ask, this matter would linger in her heart like a Heart Demon, unable to dissipate for a long time.

Kevin was clearly stunned for a moment.

He didn't seem to expect that the other party would ask such a question.

He thought the girl would ask about his hobbies as a Hero or stories about his adventures on the road.

Of course.

For him, answering this question wasn't too difficult.

"Raul? You actually know that guy?"

"He is indeed one of the members of our Hero Party, but he didn't come along today. Why?"

Kevin admitted it straightforwardly.

Little did he know, Renée's breathing stalled behind the door.

It was as if a crack had begun to form in the faith within her heart.

"Then do you know what he is doing?"

"He deliberately attacks innocent passersby and sells them to slave traders in exchange for rewards."

"He even intentionally raises prices, making it so that the bottom-level commoners can't even afford the cheapest black bread!"

"Many people have starved to death because of this, or were forced onto the path of crime!"

The more the girl spoke, the more her Life Qi surged, and she silently clenched her small fists.

It was hard to imagine, she really couldn't imagine that such 'scum' could be one of the members of the Hero Party!

Just as Renée wanted to hear Kevin's explanation, the other party casually blurted out a sentence.

"So what? What can you do?"

Renée widened her beautiful eyes in disbelief.

She couldn't believe that such cold words would come out of his mouth.

Kevin, however, still felt he hadn't said anything wrong and continued to talk eloquently, trying to capture the young girl's heart.

"Most of those people Raul caught were demi-humans or beast-folk."

"They are naturally low-born races; who knows, they might have starved to death or been killed by monsters in the labyrinth anyway."

"Being sold to nobles might even grant them a better life."

"As for raising prices so commoners can't afford black bread, that's even more of a fallacy."

"Food in the labyrinth is originally very precious. How is it expensive to sell a black bread for fifty copper coins?"

"It's been this price for so many years. Don't talk nonsense with your eyes open. The labyrinth is so dangerous; those merchants selling food have it hard too!"

"Sometimes, let them look for the reasons within themselves. After so many years, have they worked hard enough? Have they seriously taken on adventure quests to earn rewards?"

"Taking a step back, all of this is so that our Hero Party can obtain enough funds to contribute to the subsequent journey to defeat the Devil King."

"They can be considered indirect participants in this operation, and should feel honored for it!"

These words were like sharp knives constantly stabbing into Renée's heart, completely shattering her beautiful filter for the Hero.

She never expected that the so-called Lord Hero could be such a mean, cold-blooded, and heartless person.

In Renée's mind, the things she had seen and heard along the way flashed by from time to time.

That pair of grandparents who were indirectly killed by this world because they couldn't afford food and magic potions...

The many innocent demi-humans sold to slave traders, among whom were even members of their own Elven Race...

Is it really because they didn't work hard enough?

Just because of defeating the Devil King, they all deserve to die and become stepping stones?

[I don't understand! I really don't understand!!!]

Renée's heart was filled with an invisible rage.

She wanted to retort loudly, and she wanted to push open the door and slap the so-called Lord Hero hard.

But in the end, she did nothing, and could do nothing; she could only lower her head silently.

Just as her mother said.

No one can resist fate.

She was no exception.

After a long time.

A girl's voice, slightly cold and distant, came from behind the door.

"I'm tired, Lord Hero, please... go back."

Kevin frowned, very confused.

What was going on?

He felt he hadn't said anything wrong!

Why did the other party suddenly show him the door?

However, seeing that he couldn't go in to 'have some fun', Kevin had no choice but to leave dejectedly.

...