"How are your retirement days going? Are you happy?" A girl who looked only about twenty smiled and greeted Melanie from the computer screen.
The girl had short gray hair and looked very capable. Vaguely, Melanie could see the luxurious interior of the room behind the girl.
This girl was Melanie's old friend, and also the human powerhouse who discovered Melanie, this piece of precious jade.
"I'm a little... unsure what to do." Melanie sat on the bed hugging her knees, her eyes full of confusion. "Leticia has her own life, and I don't know what I can do for her."
After spending two days together, Melanie realized she was the one who needed to be taken care of. She had almost no common life knowledge; she didn't even know how to boil water.
Was there really any need for a sister like her?
The gray-haired girl showed an unsurprised expression. She had long guessed the various problems Melanie would encounter after returning to ordinary life.
"The meaning of life is something you need to discover for yourself. My advice is to go out more and make more friends."
"Friends?" Melanie repeated the word softly.
In her twenty-plus years of life, she had never had a friend. As a child, she was ostracized by her peers due to her unusual hair and eye color, so friendship was out of the question.
Later, she became the Stellar Sword Saint. As a Sword Saint, she had no friends and no comrades; she was always alone.
The person she probably had the best relationship with was the airplane pilot. Melanie always took that plane when executing missions.
Naturally, she had become familiar with the muscular uncle who looked a bit fierce but had a very nice personality.
"I originally wanted to tell you to find a boyfriend, but seeing how you are now, it's better to take it slowly." The girl chuckled a few times. Her voice gave people a trustworthy feeling, whether it was her talent or her ability.
"What are those retired heroes doing now?" Melanie asked.
She was not the first hero to retire, nor would she be the last.
Before her, many heroes had left the Hero Association for various reasons and become part of the general public.
The most famous among them should be the seniors who turned the tide thirty years ago during humanity's first contact with the alien races.
By the time Melanie joined the Hero Association, those seniors had already faded from public view—in other words, they had retired.
"This is top-secret information, you know." The girl winked at Melanie. "But since you're asking, I suppose I can tell you."
"'Great Sage' became a teacher after retiring. His teaching ability is quite outstanding, and his students all love him; the Songstress went back to her old career and is now a popular singer; 'Fist of Thunder and Fire' became a fitness coach and is also quite popular."
The girl casually mentioned several great heroes who were famous just a few years ago. Their retirement lives seemed quite vibrant.
"They're doing very well." Melanie whispered, unsure if it was envy or some other emotion she felt.
"They all had flaws in their personalities when they were heroes, but now, they have overcome those flaws." The girl paused, then continued, "And York Rose, your problem is the easiest to solve in my opinion."
"Make a few friends, hang out with them, and you will gradually adapt to this world."
"For example, the young girl downstairs—you could totally be friends with her. She's about your age, just a bit of a homebody."
Her? Leticia? Melanie's expression became quite complex.
Was Senior Sang serious?
"I checked on this girl named Quinn Sukina. Her background is clean, and her academic performance used to be good. I just don't know why she ended up like this after graduation."
"That... Quinn Sukina, she..." Melanie wanted to remind the gray-haired girl of Leticia's true identity, but the words were swallowed before they left her mouth.
If Senior Sang found out that Leticia lived here, something bad would probably happen.
If a battle broke out in Central City, Melanie would not have the spare capacity to protect the city's safety and the lives of its residents.
The current Leticia seems harmless, but Melanie knows that deep down in the heart of that black-haired girl still resides a Demon King who is unwilling to be ordinary.
That Demon King is currently deeply sealed, but when the time is right, the Demon King will break the shackles on her body and once again announce her return to the world.
"I will try my best." Melanie nodded.
Therefore, the best method was for her to act as the strongest chain. As long as she didn't let Leticia out of her sight, the Demon King couldn't possibly return.
This way, she would also be contributing to the world.
"I feel like you're hiding something from me, York Rose." The gray-haired girl said thoughtfully, resting her chin in her hand.
"Yes." Melanie did not deny it.
"Can you tell me what it is?"
"Quinn Sukina is very strong." Melanie raised her head and said seriously, "I will manage her."
"Oh, well..."