The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 128

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 128. Intermission – The Lowly Hero
-Ah, Candidate Yuren? This is Professor Lucas Kane.
When I received the call from Professor Lucas Kane.
He asked if Dale could stay in my room for a while until the break began.
I couldn’t help but let out a cheer without even realizing it.
‘Living together with Dale…!’
For a moment, I felt such absurd joy that I wondered if my entire life as ‘Yuren’ up until now had been leading to this very day.
“F-first, let me clean up.”
Yurina glanced around the living room scattered with clothes and trash everywhere, moving with practiced efficiency.
After finishing the cleaning I’d been putting off with various excuses, I even found scented candles to add a subtle fragrance to the room.
With the thought of cooking for Dale when he arrived, I searched for beginner-friendly recipes and even bought the ingredients in advance.
‘Beginner-friendly, my foot!’
Of course, since it was my first attempt at cooking, I ended up making a complete mess of it.
Still, Dale smiled without a single harsh word and offered to teach me how to cook properly.
‘Dale.’
His touch felt so warm after all this time.
Just thinking of the sensation of Dale stroking my hair made my lips curl into a foolish, blissful smile.
“By the way….”
After finishing dinner with Dale.
While practicing mana cultivation alone in my room before sleep.
‘Huh?’
I felt the mana dwelling within my stigma had increased noticeably.
‘Why all of a sudden?’
Mana breathing becomes less efficient the more mana one possesses.
In other words, for a mana monster like me, the mana gained through mana breathing was extremely minimal.
Such a sudden increase in mana would be impossible unless I consumed some elixir.
And only an elixir so rare that ten million gold couldn’t even buy it.
‘Could it be… because of the Blessing of Moonlight from earlier?’
When I declared I would grow stronger to protect Dale.
I recalled how the Blessing of Moonlight suddenly burst with radiance.
‘The activation condition for the Blessing of Moonlight is… thinking of someone precious.’
In other words.
My mana had increased because I thought of Dale so deeply.
“Ugh….”
The moment I realized this fact, my face burned as if seared by fire.
Though no one was watching, I hugged my knees as if to hide my flushed cheeks, burying my head between my thighs.
‘When did I start thinking only of Dale like this?’
Of course, I knew the answer to this question better than anyone.
-Yuren… or was it Yurina?
That day.
The day the moon was about to swallow the sun.
-I’ve come to pick you up.
When I saw Dale appear like a prince from a fairy tale my older brother had told me as a child.
When he became my new ‘sun’.
There was no longer any room in my heart for anyone but Dale.
“But Dale….”
With my face buried between my knees, I quietly puffed out my cheeks.
Ever since he became my sun, I’ve become more conscious of his gaze than before.
And through that, I could understand one thing.
‘What Dale looks at… isn’t me, but Iris.’
I could sense it instinctively.
Just as Dale fills my entire being, Iris fills every corner of Dale’s heart.
“…How cruel.”
I bit my lip and clenched my fists.
‘I could do more for Dale.’
‘I could be more helpful to Dale.’
‘I could be Dale’s greater support.’
I know it.
I know that these thoughts churning in my head right now are nothing but petty jealousy.
And yet.
“…I don’t want to just give up and do nothing like this.”
I slowly lifted my head from between my knees.
No matter how much I know Dale’s heart is turned toward Iris,
I couldn’t simply sit idle and wait for Dale and Iris to come together.
“…Courage.”
Dale had told me that.
That I was braver than anyone, that I would never falter before any fear or bend before any despair.
That I would never yield to any darkness.
‘Though I think Dale was just praising me too much with that assessment.’
I don’t know why Dale called me ‘courageous’ when I used to tremble just seeing Mother’s face.
“But still… I need to be brave.”
Because that’s what Dale said.
“Hah.”
I exhaled deeply and pushed myself up.
Rising from the bed, I carefully opened the door.
A distance of barely twenty meters.
Dale’s room—which had originally been my closet—stood firmly shut before me.
Click.
“Um… Dale.”
“What?”
“W-well… would it be okay if we slept together just for tonight?”
“…What?”
Dale’s eyes opened in surprise at the sudden proposal.
I hurriedly explained everything before he could refuse.
“So… when I was with you earlier, the Blessing of Moonlight manifested, and because of that my mana increased, right?”
“Y-yeah.”
“And if I sleep with you, that Blessing of Moonlight will manifest even more?”
“That’s not certain. But… I still think it’s worth trying.”
As I laid out the excuse I’d prepared beforehand, Dale fell into serious contemplation.
“Well, if that’s the case, I understand.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
With those words, Dale lay down on the mat.
I carefully lay beside him and took his hand.
‘Ah.’
The warm heat transmitted through our joined hands.
I wanted to act spoiled and ask him to stroke my head right then and there, but this wasn’t the time for that.
‘Is Dale… nervous too?’
Through our clasped hands, I could sense his nervousness.
“Hehe.”
Pleased by that realization, a silly laugh escaped me without thinking.
“Sleep well, Dale.”
“…Yeah.”
Dale answered in a small voice, then turned his head to the other side.
Though I couldn’t see it from here, the sweat beading on our clasped hands suggested that Dale’s cheeks were flushed crimson on the side he’d turned away.
“….”
Thinking that Dale felt the same way I did, my nervousness eased considerably.
‘I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of the tension.’
Yet lying in bed holding Dale’s hand, sleep came pouring down on me.
I closed my eyes without resisting the drowsiness.
* * *
“Mmm….”
How much time had passed?
Waking from sleep, I lifted my head and looked around.
The sun hadn’t risen yet, and the window remained dark outside.
‘Did the Blessing of Moonlight not activate?’
The moment I woke, I checked the mana dwelling within my stigma, but I felt no significant difference from last night.
‘Well… it wouldn’t be that easy to gain mana anyway.’
Still, I was satisfied just knowing that being with Dale allowed me to increase my mana through the Blessing of Moonlight.
‘Is Dale… still asleep?’
When I turned my head, I could see Dale with his eyes closed.
Soft moonlight filtered through the window, illuminating his face.
Dark gray hair and skin as pale and smooth as a child’s.
Not so much handsome as sculpted, but rather radiating a vibrant, living presence.
“…How cute.”
I gazed at sleeping Dale’s face and smiled softly.
Even after watching for several minutes, I felt no fatigue.
The eyebrows touched by gray hair. Eyes gently closed. Earlobes that looked so soft. A perfectly proportioned nose.
And.
Lips with a faintly pale hue.
“….”
Gulp.
A dry swallow traveling down my throat.
‘No, wait! That’s definitely not it!’
I shook my head urgently, my eyes squeezed shut.
To steal a kiss from sleeping Dale’s lips.
That was something I absolutely should not do.
‘But….’
I bit my lip, my gaze conflicted.
As I continued to wrestle with the dilemma, I slowly moved my head.
Peck.
After gently pressing my lips to Dale’s cheek, I quickly pulled away and rose from the bed.
‘D-did he wake up?’
I lowered my head to check on Dale, but there was no sign of him waking.
“Phew.”
I exhaled in relief and carefully left the room, making sure not to wake Dale.
Click.
After Yurina closed the door and left.
“….”
Dale, who had been sleeping, slowly opened his eyes.
“Haa.”
Half-rising from the mat, he exhaled a deep sigh and gently touched the cheek where Yurina’s lips had made contact.
“…This is driving me crazy, seriously.”
Dale ran his hand through his gray hair, sighing repeatedly.
* * *
And so my brief cohabitation with Yurina came to an end.
“I can see everyone’s already excited about the break.”
Lucas Kane entered the Classroom and surveyed the Candidates’ faces with disapproval, clicking his tongue.
“Well, you’re not children anymore, so there’s nothing special to warn you about. Those heading home, have a safe trip, and for those going off to some resort, don’t cause any trouble while you’re there.”
Lucas Kane casually strolled through the Classroom and placed a hand on one Candidate’s shoulder.
“Albert.”
“H-hyiek!”
Albert’s face contorted as though he’d glimpsed a ghost itself.
“W-why are you doing this, Professor…?”
“Enjoy your break, kid.”
Lucas Kane grinned wickedly and ruffled Albert’s hair.
Albert exhaled a sigh of relief and nodded.
“Yes, Professor.”
“Hehe. I’m counting on you next semester too.”
“…Counting on me for what?”
“Let’s see, then next would be…”
“Wait! What do you mean counting on me!”
Leaving Albert’s urgent cries behind, Lucas Kane returned to the lectern.
“Now then, finally we have the first semester comprehensive ranking announcement. Everyone, activate your Hero Watch.”
Following Lucas Kane’s words, the candidates channeled their mana into their Hero Watches.
A hologram window materialized, displaying the message [Grades Updating].
‘Finally, the grade announcement.’
I activated my Hero Watch to check my current ranking.
[Candidate Information]
Name: Dale Han
Origin: Republic
Grade: 3rd Year
Department: Warrior Department
Candidate Comprehensive Ranking: 472 / 472
A ranking I’d grown all too familiar with.
But today would be the last time.
‘Well… the midterm evaluation went so poorly that expecting a high ranking would be unrealistic.’
Still, I’d finally escape this wretched dead last position.
‘I obtained the Diamond Badge, and my Party contribution score should be first. So maybe I can at least break into the top fifty?’
I gazed at the candidate information window with hopeful eyes.
[Grade update complete.]
[Please refresh the candidate information window.]
Here it is—the grades announcing my fresh start in life!
[Candidate Information]
Name: Dale Han
Origin: Republic
Grade: 3rd Year
Department: Warrior Department
Candidate Comprehensive Ranking: 472 / 472
“Huh?”
What is this?
Why hasn’t my ranking changed?
“Ah, by the way, Dale received three or more suspensions during the semester, so all of his exam scores were marked as zero.”
“….”
“Wow, receiving three suspensions in a single semester is quite the feat… You’ve accomplished something remarkable, Dale.”
-Hmm. I suppose… Is it truly meaningless?
A week ago.
I recalled the meaningful smile Lucas Kane had worn when handing down my third suspension.
“Hahaha! You were in first place for the final evaluation, but what a shame it turned out this way!”
Lucas Kane smiled at me with that same expression as before.
I stared blankly at the number ‘472nd’ displayed on the Candidate Program information window.
“No.”
When will I ever escape this?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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