The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 139

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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 139. Interlude – Heir of the Iron Fist (2)
“….”
Gilbert extends his hand gently, watching Berald sob.
Gilbert’s hand strokes the bowed head of Berald.
“Father….”
When Berald lifts his head, his face streaked with tears.
Crack!
Gilbert’s hand comes down sharply across the back of Berald’s head.
“Ugh!”
Berald cries out, clutching the back of his head.
Gilbert glances at him and clicks his tongue. “Tsk.”
“What kind of man whines and snivels right from the start?”
“Wait, no! After all these years of finally regaining consciousness, that’s the first thing you say to me?!”
“Seeing my son blubber like that after so many years apart makes my blood boil.”
“You really are an insufferable old man!”
“What did you just say, you brat? Is that how you speak to your father? Huh?”
The father and son begin raising their voices, arguing with each other.
‘What is this.’
Iris and I, standing in the room (Yuren and Camilla had stayed away to avoid interfering with the treatment), exchange blank stares as we watch the two of them quarrel.
“Father, that’s always been your problem! You need to read the room better, understand?”
“And you’re one to talk?”
“Are you saying I can’t read the room?”
“To be precise, it’s not that you can’t read the room—it’s that you’re just plain stupid.”
“Ugh! Is that what you say to your own son?”
“Since it’s you, I’ll just say it and move on, but anyone else would’ve lost their mind by now!”
“Damn old geezer!”
“You disrespectful brat! How did your parents raise you to turn out like this?”
“That’s rich coming from you?!”
Now the father and son are grabbing each other by the collar, shouting at the top of their lungs.
As I watch quietly, the door suddenly bursts open and a middle-aged woman with a warm expression enters the room.
“Oh, my lord…! You’ve regained consciousness!”
Anna sees Gilbert and covers her mouth, tears of joy streaming down her face.
But only for a moment.
“Anna! Look at this disrespectful son of mine! He just cursed at his own father, calling me a damn old geezer!”
“That’s because you hit me on the head out of nowhere!”
“….”
Anna’s expression gradually hardens.
The warmth that had filled her face vanishes, and her expression twists into something as fierce as a demon.
“My lord. Young master.”
Her voice, now cold as ice, cools the heated atmosphere of the room.
“Y-yes. What’s wrong?”
“Ahem! Is there some kind of problem…?”
Gilbert and Berald exchanged glances, both avoiding Anna’s gaze.
Anna looked at the two of them and smiled softly.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“….”
“….”
It was a moment when the hierarchy within the Ryu Family Estate became unmistakably clear.
* * *
After the brief commotion settled.
Berald told Gilbert everything that had happened in the meantime.
How Gilbert had suffered a grave wound after the battle with the Demon God Church five years ago.
How he’d developed delirium as an aftereffect.
How he’d enrolled in the Hero Academy, and formed a party with me, Yuren, Iris, and Camilla Bediche.
“Ha. Five years… five years have passed?”
Gilbert let out a hollow laugh, running his hand across his forehead.
“…You don’t remember anything at all?”
“No. I remember fragments. Not clearly, but….”
Gilbert slowly recalled the memories of the past five years.
With a bitter smile on his lips, he turned to Berald.
“You must have suffered greatly because of me, your wayward father.”
Gilbert gently placed his hand on Berald’s shoulder.
Berald bit his lip firmly and turned his head away from Gilbert’s gaze.
“…That doesn’t suit you. What are you doing?”
“Heh. You’re right… it doesn’t suit me.”
And yet.
“I’m proud of you, my son. You’ve grown so much in the time I’ve been away.”
Gilbert smiled faintly and stroked Berald’s hair.
“….”
Berald kept his mouth firmly shut, his head bowed low.
“Are you crying again?”
“W-who said I was crying!”
Gilbert chuckled softly.
“Haha. Who do you take after, shedding tears so easily?”
“Well, it must be from Father, right?”
“You brat. I’ve never cried once in my entire life!”
“From what I remember, it’s been more than five times….”
“Ahem. Enough of this.”
Gilbert cleared his throat and turned his head away.
He looked at me and Iris and asked.
“Are these the people who helped you?”
“There are two more.”
“Bring them in.”
Berald nodded and walked out of the room.
Soon, Yuren and Camilla entered the room with Berald.
“Ah… hello.”
“It’s an honor to meet the elder of the Ryu Family Estate.”
Yuren and Camilla bowed respectfully to Gilbert.
Gilbert turned to look at the two of them, then slowly rose from his bed.
He swayed.
Just as Berald rushed forward, concerned that Gilbert had lost his balance, the old man steadied himself.
“I’m fine.”
Gilbert shook his head and planted his feet firmly on the ground, standing upright.
His massive frame rivaled even Berald’s in size.
Though his body had withered with age, the aura radiating from him was fierce as a wild beast.
“Thank you for accompanying my inadequate son.”
Gilbert bowed respectfully.
I and my party members returned the bow.
“By the way, you said you enrolled at the Hero Academy?”
“Hehe. Yes, sir. I’m a second-year student now.”
“Then you met all these party members at the Academy?”
“That’s right.”
Berald nodded and introduced us one by one.
“This handsome gentleman is Yuren! He’s the young master of the famous Helios Family!”
“Helios? The Helios Family, you say…?”
“Hehe. That’s right! Yuren is the descendant of the legendary Sun Swordsman!”
“…Huh.”
Gilbert let out an incredulous laugh.
He turned to look at Berald and Yuren, muttering softly.
“…Is this also fate, then?”
“Hm? What’s this sudden talk of fate?”
“Never mind. What about the others?”
Berald continued enthusiastically with the introductions.
“This is Camilla!”
“Senior.”
“Ah, ahem! Anyway, Camilla is such an exceptional holy knight that she’s been selected as a candidate for the Sword of Holy Nation!”
“A candidate for the Sword of Holy Nation…?”
“And this beautiful lady is Iris! She’s the Holy Maiden of the Holy Kingdom! She’s the one who healed Father this time!”
“The Holy Maiden of the Holy Kingdom?”
Gilbert stared at Berald with an expression of disbelief.
“What on earth were you doing at the Academy to end up connected with such distinguished people?”
“Hehe. It’s all thanks to Dale!”
Berald turned to me with a hearty laugh.
“Dale is our Party’s leader and my mentor!”
“Hmm.”
Gilbert regarded me with evident interest.
“You’re the Party’s leader?”
“Yes.”
“Well now. The heir of the Sun Swordsman, the Holy Kingdom’s saint, and the next Sword of Holy Nation all in the same Party, yet you’re the one leading them….”
Gilbert shook his head in disbelief, as if he couldn’t fathom just how remarkable this Dale must be.
“And how did you come to know each other?”
“We met during supplementary classes last year!”
“I see. Supplementary classes… wait?”
Supplementary classes?
“…Berald.”
Gilbert’s eyes suddenly turned sharp.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Don’t tell me your Academy grades were so poor you had to take supplementary classes?”
“Uh, w-well….”
Berald trailed off and hastily averted his gaze.
Gilbert roughly grabbed his son’s ear.
“Ow! W-what are you doing?!”
“What am I doing?! How did you manage to tank your grades so badly you needed supplementary classes?!”
Though Gilbert had raised Berald with considerable freedom since childhood, he was still a father.
What parent in the world didn’t worry about their child’s grades?
“My heart is breaking! Supplementary classes, of all things…!”
Supplementary classes were only given to those ranking in the bottom thirty of the Candidate Program’s comprehensive evaluations.
During my time as a Candidate, I’d wondered what kind of fool would end up in those classes. I never imagined his son would be one of them.
“Sigh. I always knew he wasn’t the brightest….”
Gilbert exhaled deeply.
He turned to me and spoke.
“You must have had a hard time because of my son.”
“Not at all, sir.”
“Right. You met during supplementary classes, you said? Hehe. In this day and age, to find such a fine young man willing to mentor his juniors during precious vacation time….”
“…Pardon?”
Mentoring? A fine young man?
What is he talking about?
“Come to think of it, I also received advice from my seniors regarding coursework during my Candidate days. It was certainly a different kind of wisdom than what the professors taught.”
“….”
Ah, so that’s what he meant.
Does he think I’m some kind-hearted senior going out of my way to help struggling junior Candidates during the break season?
“Hehe. So you’re Dale, was it? To form a Party with a junior you met while tutoring… I can see just how exemplary your character is.”
“….”
“Extending a hand to those who fall behind—that is the true virtue of a hero. I trust you’ll continue to lead our Berald well.”
“Ah… Yes. O-of course.”
I grasped the hand Gilbert offered, forcing an awkward smile.
“Oh, by the way, how are Dale’s grades at the Academy?”
Gilbert’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he asked, clearly eager to know the academic standing of the leader commanding the descendant of the Sun Swordsman, the Saint of the Holy Kingdom, and the future Sword of the Holy Kingdom in a single Party.
“….”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
As I continued my silence, Gilbert tilted his head in confusion.
After a moment of contemplation, he let out a small exclamation.
“Hahaha! I have no intention of comparing your grades and criticizing my son, so feel free to tell me.”
“….”
“What’s your overall evaluation ranking?”
A chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat trickled down my back.

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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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