Chapter 145: If It Means Defeating the Demon Lord, I’d Spend Every Last Coin!

​“Huh? Why are you looking at me like I’ve just summoned a demon?”

​The mage’s signature crimson robes shimmered beneath the hallway’s light, their deep hues making the figure inside burn all the brighter.

​Lin Wei froze, caught off guard—his thoughts emptied, unable to conceal the shock on his face.

​Across from him, Iresha rested her chin on one hand, curiosity sparkling in her eyes as she examined him. The way she tilted her head back emphasized the elegant line of her neck, accentuating the soft, graceful contours of her form. Everything about her—from her delicate, feminine build to the seeming effortlessness of her posture—was flawless in his eyes, no matter how closely he looked.

​And to top it all off, for someone so stubborn and fiercely tsundere, she certainly had no trouble in the assets department. If this were one of those easygoing isekai slice-of-life stories, she’d be a max-rank harem heroine without even trying.

​Clearing his throat, Lin Wei forced himself out of his daze. “It’s just… I didn’t expect to run into you here, of all places.”

​He desperately reached for the first excuse that came to mind, then tried to steer the conversation forward, sounding as offhand as possible. “So, what’s the Hero’s party doing all the way out here?”

​“Last I heard, after that fight you all had with him, the party was worried about being underleveled—didn’t think you’d be ready to face the Demon Lord yet. Are you out here near the capital, grinding in the dungeons?”

​A sense of unease still clung to him. Running into the Hero’s party right after stepping out of the teleportation array… Surely, that couldn’t be a coincidence. It made the imperial capital feel so safe it was suspicious.

​His eyes flicked unconsciously to the array—its runes still glowing in the shadows behind him. If the Hero showed up right now and chose a fight, even the slightest slip of Lin Wei’s true strength could bring disaster. If there was so much as a whiff of danger, he wouldn’t hesitate to bolt.

​“Nope.”

​Iresha’s reply caught Lin Wei by surprise.

​Just moments before, she’d seemed perfectly at ease, but his question drew a small frown to her lips.

​There was something strangely cute about her delicate features—caught between imperial poise and a foreign sharpness—pinched into a mild pout.

​“The Hero and the others are training with Eileen in another region. I’m here on my own, just happened to take an adventurer commission nearby, that’s all.”

​“Oh, and in the meantime, I’ve been practicing those techniques you talked about last time—layered spellcasting and the like. I’ve mastered all of them! Why don’t you take a look?”

​With a casual flick of her hand, she conjured a miniature triple-layered whirlwind, inscribing the spell’s runes with near-effortless grace.

​For someone who’d looked so sour at the mention of her teammates, Iresha could barely hide her pride as she displayed her mastery for Lin Wei’s eyes alone.

​“Well? I told you—I’m a genius mage! I just hadn’t heard of this style before; once I learned it, it was easy.”

​“You… you’re not still suspicious about me joining the Hero’s party, are you?”

​Her bright smile all but shouted, “Hurry up and praise me!”

​So the rest of the party wasn’t around? Relief swept through Lin Wei.

​All the more reason to make his exit now, before anyone else could show up and ruin his plans.

​“Incredible, Miss Iresha! Truly worthy of being called a genius mage.”

​“Well then, I’ll leave you to your quest. I’ve got business in Brook, so I’ll be heading out.”

​“Let’s meet again sometime, alright?—Whoa!”

​Lin Wei barely managed a perfunctory farewell before spinning on his heel, ready to dash for the city-state of Brook.

​He didn’t get far before someone caught his sleeve.

​“Hey, what’s this for?”

​“Ah! Sorry, I didn’t mean to—just a reflex…”

​Iresha seemed just as startled by her own gesture. Meeting Lin Wei’s gaze, she released him at once, even taking a hurried step back, anxiety dappling her face.

​She wasn’t sure why she’d done it; the impulse had simply overtaken her. After running into him again, she’d wanted, just for a moment, to keep him near. Before she knew it, her hand had acted on its own.

​But stopping someone from leaving like that… maybe that was going too far.

​“It’s just… it’s been so long. I was curious how you’ve been, that’s all.”

​Behind her back, Iresha’s fingers twisted together, fidgeting uncontrollably. She drew a small breath, forcing herself to find any excuse to keep the conversation going.

​“Actually, I’m about to head out for an adventurer commission. It’s a difficult one, honestly, a bit more than I can handle alone.”

​“But since fate brought us together, what do you say—want to tackle it together? We can catch up along the way.”

​“And afterwards—let me treat you! There’s an amazing place to eat nearby. I’ll book the biggest tavern—no, the whole restaurant!—just for the two of us, to celebrate this reunion!”

​Her offer only grew wilder with each sentence, until she sounded every bit the extravagant noble heiress she was.

​Lin Wei stared at her, caught between amazement and disbelief. Was this truly the sort of reunion that warranted buying out an entire tavern?

​“That’s really not necessary,” he said with an awkward wave. “I’ve actually been quite busy myself. Let’s save the celebration for some other time.”

​He paused, then added, “If you think the mission is too much for you alone, why not wait for the Hero’s group to return and discuss it then?”

​“I mean, since you’re all teammates, wouldn’t it go smoother with the whole party—why are you looking at me like that?”

​A moment ago, a trace of a smile had remained on her lips. Now, the warmth was draining from her face like water from a cup.

​Lin Wei’s brow furrowed. That was when he noticed: Iresha’s head hung low, her gaze fixed to the floor, her entire expression clouded by something hard to name.

​He supposed a little conflict among the Hero’s party could only work to his advantage—as the former Demon Lord, how could it not?

​Yet this proud rich girl had once dropped hundreds of thousands of gold coins into his hands. That counted for something.

​After a moment of hesitation, Lin Wei gently pried further.

​“Don’t tell me… did your teammates ditch you again? Is that why you don’t want to talk about them?”

​“No! Why would—why would they ever do that to me?!”

​Her voice tried for sharp indignation, but with each word, her defiance shrank until she was mumbling—barely more than a whisper.

​Standing there, hands fretfully knotting together, Iresha seemed truly forlorn.

​Several long moments drifted by in silence before she finally let out a quiet, almost aggrieved confession.

​“It’s just… the Hero and Eileen won’t even tell me where they’re training.”

​“We’d arranged to meet here, then go back to the capital to restock. But now… something’s happened again—delays, more delays. It’s been almost a week past the agreed-upon time.”

​Being excluded, ignored—even stood up outright by her own companions.

​Lin Wei remembered from their last argument that most of the Hero’s party’s funds came directly from Iresha herself.

​She was basically the one bankrolling the whole operation, and yet she was being treated like a nobody—barely even an afterthought.

​For a fleeting instant, Lin Wei looked at the battered mage with genuine sympathy.

​He wanted to offer something reassuring, but the words didn’t come. In the end, he only managed an awkward pat on her shoulder and a weary sigh.

​“Honestly. That’s shameless.”

​Could they be any more blatant about using her as their walking gold pouch?

​“Didn’t most of the party’s money come from your family’s coffers?”

​“And yet, instead of treating you as their leader, they’re constantly chasing after that archer, Eileen—right?”

​“If I were you, I’d just quit. Start your own team. At the very least, cut off their funding—let them feel the consequences.”

​Lin Wei had witnessed his share of adventurer party drama, but never anything quite this absurd.

​Judging from their last argument, whatever was between Iresha and the so-called Hero was long past repair.

​So why—after all that pain—was she still putting herself through this?

​“I… can’t.”

​Those softly murmured words made everything clear for Lin Wei in an instant.

​She exhaled, collecting herself piece by piece.

​Her spirits were as low as they’d been all day, yet her eyes still shone with determination—a grim, unwavering seriousness.

​“If we want to defeat the Demon Lord,” Iresha said softly, “we don’t have any choice but to rely on the Hero’s power.”

​She forced a fragile smile. “Sometimes, the Heroes go too far. But as long as they slay the demons—as long as they can defeat the Demon Lord—what’s a little gold matter in comparison?”

​“Back when I was a princess,” she added, “I would never have begrudged such a sum. Not when it meant protecting my people.”

​Flames tearing through the city—the iron stench of blood thick in the smoke.

​Echoes from her childhood: the guttural howling of demons, her people’s despairing cries, and a lone figure standing before the battered gates, trying in vain to hold back disaster.

​No matter how many years passed, those memories would never leave her.

​Iresha drew a deep breath. If enduring all this meant striking down the Demon Lord, the price was one she would pay again and again.

​No matter how much gold it cost, she would spend it—gladly.

​“Alright, if you have things to do, I won’t keep you any longer.” She aimed for lightheartedness, but her voice was thin.

​“It’s probably just another demon rumor. This is the Empire’s borderlands, after all—false alarms happen all the time.”

​“I’ll take a look myself in a bit. If fate wills it, we’ll meet again—Lin Wei—”

​But before she could finish, Lin Wei cut in, brows knitting in alarm.

​“Wait—did you say demon activity? Here? Right here?”