# 128. The Hero Party That Raised Me Is Restraining Me (5)
Good morning!
Bright light poured through the window, and warm air circulated around the room.
It was the moment when Hero Luna's daily routine began.
"Haah... I should wash my face first..."
She lightly washed her face with water and checked her appearance in the mirror.
For an adolescent girl, acne was a problem similar to death.
Fortunately, Luna's skin remained fair and clear.
"Great! This is perfect!"
Now I can move!
Luna hurriedly left her room and ran toward her destination.
Usually, she would go to the dining hall to help the old man, but today Luna's destination was a bit different.
Kwang—!!
"Old man! Good morning! How are you feeling today!!"
"...Open the door gently, Luna."
A rough morning call to wake the old man.
Luna approached the old man lying in bed with a beaming smile.
His body was still tightly bound with rope.
Luna stopped Lee Jun-woo from getting up and declared firmly.
"You still can't move, old man! Your wounds haven't healed yet!"
"I told you I'm fine. The chest wound will heal over time—"
"No! According to our party's doctor! Dr. Estia! You need to rest!"
Absolutely!
You absolutely must not get up!
"The doctor's word is absolute!"
"...Don't you all just want me to rest?"
"Th-that's... a secret! Just hurry up and rest!"
The fierce cry of the morning chick.
After confirming that Lee Jun-woo was awake, Luna left.
Left alone in the room, Lee Jun-woo lay in bed and stared quietly at the ceiling.
"Restraint and confinement... I didn't read about this in the books..."
Dimension Rope.
Anyone bound by this magic tool rope would have the strength of a five-year-old girl and couldn't untie it themselves unless someone else released them.
He never expected to be subjected to this by the Hero Party with that magic tool.
"I can't even get angry since it's what I did to them in the past."
For now, he was staying still, but...
If his restricted movement continued to build up frustration,
he would have to speak seriously to the Hero Party.
Lee Jun-woo decided to let it slide for now.
Creak—
"Old man! Time to eat!"
This time more carefully.
Luna walked in carrying food(?) on a plate.
Hare was also hiding behind Luna.
"Did you two make that foo...d together?"
"Y-yes... How does it look...? Does it look like food...?"
"Well..."
Something brownish on the plate.
A fragrance mixing savory and burnt smells.
A visual like food crushed with a hammer.
Only one answer came to Lee Jun-woo's mind.
"Mashed potato. A dish made from mashed potatoes."
"No, this is steak..."
"...Why?"
"When we grilled the meat, it turned out like this...? We did it the way you do it, old man... How is it...?"
"..."
Did they want an evaluation of this object?
Lee Jun-woo pondered how to avoid hurting Luna and Hare's feelings.
*...No matter how I think about it, there's no way.*
Grow strong.
Lee Jun-woo expressed his honest impression of the food.
"Honestly, it doesn't make me want to eat it."
"...Really? When we ate it, it wasn't as good as your food, old man, but it was tasty..."
"Go give it to BlackMeow. That one will eat it well."
"..."
Was Hare the head chef?
Hare hung her head dejectedly.
Even prisoners of war were given edible food, but calling this food was problematic.
"Since a nutritious meal seems impossible, untie this rope. I'll prepare the meal—"
"No, old man, you have to eat our food. You have no right to refuse!"
"What?"
"Come on, open your mouth! You have to enjoy eating the food we made!"
Open your mouth!
Luna scooped up the steak with a spoon.
*Why is steak being scooped with a spoon?*
That part was questionable, but
since the spoon was approaching his mouth, Lee Jun-woo couldn't think any further.
"You have to eat the food filled with our love and affection! The love is from Hare... and the affection is mine!"
"...Wait, how about we resolve this through conversation? Luna, what do you think?"
"First, take one bite and then we'll start! We have plenty of time for conversation! Hehe!"
"..."
So there was no right to refuse.
Having no choice, Lee Jun-woo opened his mouth and put the steak-like food in.
The most important thing, the taste of the food, was:
"Very..."
"Very? How is it, old man?!"
"Very mysterious in taste."
Neither delicious
nor undelicious.
"It's a taste I've never experienced in my life."
"I-is that saying it's special?!"
"No, it's saying to throw it away to BlackMeow."
"...I told you that you have no right to refuse, old man. Come on, finish it all!"
Luna attempting torture through food.
Her eyes held the determination to make him eat no matter what.
Having no choice, Lee Jun-woo was forced to accept the food Luna offered.
However, more painful than that moment was the 'fear.'
*Why do people eat three meals a day?*
How sad.
The fact that this time would repeat three more times approached Lee Jun-woo as a great terror.
This was what happened on the first day of rope restraint.
How boring.
Today I did nothing.
I just lay in bed looking at the ceiling and ate meals that came at scheduled times.
The disconnect from my usual life of constant movement was significant.
"...Hare."
"Y-yes...! Old man...!"
"Don't just stare at me silently like that, say something."
It's burdensome.
Only then did Hare open her mouth as if she'd been waiting.
"Th-then... I'm curious about something. What will you do when the world becomes peaceful, old man...?"
"..."
What would I do with my life?
I couldn't answer that question honestly.
*I have no intention of living.*
Better to deflect vaguely.
"I plan to spend time fishing until I die."
"I-I see... Fishing... That's not bad either..."
Hare said it wasn't bad, but
judging by her expression, she didn't seem too pleased.
"Old man, there's something that suits you better than fishing..."
"Something that suits me?"
"Yes...! There's something that suits you better, old man...! You're a symbol of peace...! You should become the emperor of the empire...!"
Become the emperor of the empire...!
Govern the people and eliminate evil...!
"Make the citizens control each other so they can't do bad things... and if they do something against your will, punish them...! Punish the traitors...!"
"Don't you think that's a rather dangerous idea?"
"You saved the world...! You should at least do that much...!"
Was she serious?
Hare stood up excitedly and shouted.
"The Hero Party that defeated all the Demon Kings...! To the old man who is the teacher of that Hero Party... someone should grant a wish...! The emperor of the empire should—"
"No, the emperor won't grant that."
Come to think of it, I hadn't told the Hero Party.
"If you defeat all the Demon Kings, the Goddess Minerva will grant you a wish."
"I-is that so...? Then I'll make you the emperor—"
"...Don't use that wish. I don't particularly want to become emperor."
"Then okay... I'll think of something else..."
Hare said that and blinked as if pondering for a moment.
After some time passed, Luna, who had finished training, arrived, so I told Luna about the wish again.
"What?! She'll grant us a wish?!"
"Yes, didn't you know?"
"How would we know if you didn't tell us! What have you been doing!"
That's true.
I nodded at Luna's words.
Hare looked at Luna and asked about the wish.
"L-Luna...! What wish will you make...?"
"Me? Obviously money! Lots and lots of money to ease my family's worries!"
Luna, the young breadwinner.
No matter how I thought about it, that was the only wish for Luna.
"Good choice, Luna. Lots of money makes life easier."
"Right? A hero doesn't even fail at choosing! I'll use the money to turn our village into a city! And I'll become the village chief!"
Village Chief Luna...
She'd probably do quite well at first,
but later she'd go bankrupt and hand over the chief position to someone else.
That worry automatically came to mind.
*Well, she'll manage fine without me.*
Her skills won't rust and she'll be called the strongest.
Even if she loses all the money, she'll live well as an adventurer.
As I was having small worries, the two began whispering.
"I'm suddenly curious what Estia would say."
"I know... What wish would Estia make...?"
"Then, let's ask her!"
"Okay...!"
Thud thud thud—
The two left the room to find Estia.
With the two restless people gone, the room became quiet.
"It feels twice as noisy when Luna's around."
Why is the hero so talkative?
I thought heroes were supposed to be solemn and weighty.
Was that my misconception?
The moment I thought about the hero of the original world,
the two appeared again, carrying Estia.
"Whaat... I was in bed... Where is this...?"
"Estia! They'll grant us a wish if we defeat the Demon King! What wish will you make?!"
"Me...? I just... want to sleep, lie down, and rest forever..."
Thud—
Estia left only those words and collapsed on the floor.
She seemed to fall asleep right there, breathing peacefully.
"What! She's sleeping on the floor!"
"Estia only moves after 1 o'clock."
"When does she sleep?"
"10 o'clock."
Estia went to bed early and woke up late.
She was the type who slept unnecessarily much.
While it was noisy after hearing Estia's wish,
Crash—!!
Someone's presence was heard from upstairs.
There was only one person not here,
so the owner of that sound could be identified immediately.
"Saten."
I heard she had fought with Luna and Hare.
Had she finally woken up?
My arms were tied but my legs were alive,
so I quickly headed toward Saten's room.
Among the Hero Party, Saten was in the worst condition.