Chapter 18: I Choose to Slack Off 

Feeling Velrian’s warmth, Eze thought for a moment, rolled his eyes, and slumped into a nearby chair, shaking his head weakly:  

“Plans? None. I’ve quit being a hero—what plans could I have? I just want to sleep for days, then find a place to mooch and wait for death.”  

Of course, that was a lie.  

His identity was sensitive, tangled in all sorts of shady messes.  

As a hero, he’d thoroughly trounced nobles, the church, and the royal family. 

Once they learned he’d left the team, they’d surely react.  

So, even if he wanted to slack off, he had to deal with those troubles first, or he wouldn’t know how he’d die.  

But he couldn’t let Velrian know that.  

Eze wasn’t about to trust someone based on their word alone, especially a recent enemy.  

And since she outright said she’d tag along with him, he had to be extra cautious.  

So, he put on a “I’m done” act to downplay his value and test her reaction.  

Velrian, hearing his response, paused, tilting her head in surprise:  

“Really?”  

“Really.”  

“Hm, I thought you’d rally a team and storm the church to get revenge on your old teammates.”  

“…Not that extreme.”  

Starting a hero civil war in the face of a major enemy wasn’t just personal—it could drag all human nations down with it.  

As mentioned before, Eze had no intention of involving the innocent or those who’d supported him.  

Besides, did dealing with those three really need such effort?  

They dug their own graves like moles, happily jumping in. If Eze wanted revenge, he could’ve done it while still on the team without all this fuss.  

Laughable.  

Keeping those thoughts to himself, Eze put on an exhausted expression, half-closing his eyes to feign sleepiness while watching Velrian’s reaction.  

To his slacker attitude, Velrian showed no displeasure, even smiling:  

“Want to mooch and wait for death? Easy—stay here.”  

“Here… hm?”  

Speaking of which, where *was* he?  

He’d initially thought Velrian took him to demon territory, but the conversation suggested otherwise.  

As if answering his unspoken question, the witch walked to the window and flung open the ornate curtains.  

Outside were neat streets filled with well-dressed, even lavish pedestrians—familiar.  

“Know where this is?”  

“Uh… Tafia’s noble district?”  

“Correct.”  

Eze let out a soft hum, his expression unchanged, but his mind raced.  

A Great Witch, openly lounging in a noble’s mansion in the heart of a human stronghold? 

Wasn’t that treason?  

A long list of suspects for a purge instantly formed in his head. If he hadn’t quit, he’d be leading his knights to interrogate every house here.  

“This is my own place, you know.”  

As if sensing his thoughts, Velrian quickly added:  

“I said I had no memories from before, but that’s not entirely true. Besides witch-related stuff, the only thing I remember is this house. I even kept the key.”  

“Then couldn’t you investigate to figure out your identity?”  

She shook her head.  

“I tried, but this place hadn’t been lived in for decades before I came. Local nobles don’t know who owns it, but anyway—”  

The witch leaned close to Eze, flashing a smile that inexplicably chilled him:  

“I used some tricks to create a fake identity. Officially, I’m a minor human noble now. Got plenty of money saved up from my leader days. Want to mooch? Stay—I’ll take care of you”  

***

When Heidi returned to the Anlin Plain base, night had fully fallen.  

“Ow, ow, ow—that damn witch—”  

After her injuries, rushing around without rest was too much, even for a defense-type hero like Heidi. Dismounting, her body ached so much she grimaced.  

But compared to the frustration Eze caused, it was nothing.  

Her once-obedient fiancé dared defy her after just one day—definitely because of that woman.  

If she left him there for days, who knows what could happen?  

The more Heidi thought, the angrier and more anxious she got.  

She had to sort out the situation here quickly, go back, grab Eze, and deal with that woman…  

“Lady Heidi.”  

As Heidi muttered to herself, her expression twisting, a young man’s voice came from behind.  

“…Yes, I’m here. What is it?”  

In an instant, the princess composed herself, turning with her usual smile.  

Standing there was a man in his mid-twenties with short gray hair and a stern expression.  

Constantine Wilkes, one of the knight commanders in this operation, one of Eze’s most trusted subordinates, and his aide and bodyguard.  

Facing Heidi, Constantine gave a blank-faced bow and said:  

“Lady Liya wants to see you.”  

Hearing this, Heidi’s already foul mood worsened by about fifty percent—if that woman wasn’t so thoughtless, would Eze have been driven away?  

Of course, all her negativity was perfectly masked by a textbook fake smile. 

She nodded: “Got it, I’ll go now.”  

Watching Constantine disappear around the camp’s corner, Heidi finally let out a disgusted breath, no longer holding back.  

“If Eze doesn’t come back, I’ll be stuck dealing with that woman. Tch—”  

The thought was nauseating.  

But nauseating or not, she had to go.  

With a belly full of frustration, Heidi entered Liya’s tent.  

Liya was frowning, muttering over a map on the table. 

Noticing Heidi, she looked up and asked flatly:  

“You’re awake. How’s your injury?”  

Heidi knew Liya’s temper—if she learned Heidi went after Eze, she’d throw a fit.  

So, before chasing him, Heidi had silenced everyone, claiming she was still unconscious.  

The princess stretched her shoulders, feigning exhaustion:  

“Can’t move too much for a while, but I’m fine. Why the urgency?”  

“There’s something very important you need to handle immediately.”  

Heidi scoffed inwardly.  

Order her? 

Laughable.  

Both heroes, but she was a princess while Liya was just a former knight—talk about nerves.  

And whenever that woman got a bright idea, it was never good news.  

But to get Eze back, Heidi had to play nice for now.  

Suppressing her anger, she replied:  

“What is it? Leave it to me.”  

Liya stood, tossing a letter onto the table in front of Heidi with a smug grin, commanding:  

“Go to the border city of Tafia immediately, deliver this letter to the lord there, and request their support.”