The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 15

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

Chapter 15. Interlude – Spring
The day after my sparring match with Professor Lucas Kane.
After finishing my morning classes, I sat on a bench along a secluded Walking Path that the other Candidates rarely frequented, reflecting on yesterday’s duel.
‘He was strong.’
As expected.
Professor Lucas Kane possessed a level of skill that was in an entirely different league from the mediocre Candidates I’d faced since returning to this timeline.
‘But he wasn’t unbeatable.’
To be honest.
I’d even caught myself thinking, ‘Is that all he’s got?’ at one point during the match.
‘It’s rather amusing that I thought that way despite losing.’
But it couldn’t be helped.
My defeat against Professor Lucas Kane wasn’t due to insufficient skill or lack of experience—it was purely because the gap in magical power between us was far too vast.
‘Still, even in that state, we managed to have a proper fight.’
The fact that I’d managed to force Professor Lucas Kane to use his ‘blessing’ was a reasonably satisfying result.
At least.
I could confirm that the training I’d continued alone in that ruined world hadn’t been in vain.
‘Though most of those techniques were ones I couldn’t fully utilize in my current state.’
Naturally.
The swordsmanship, martial arts, and magic that heroes wielded all fundamentally operated on the premise of channeling magical power.
Techniques executed without infusing magical power were merely hollow imitations of the real thing.
Like the display food models in front of the Cafeteria.
Just as one couldn’t compare a plastic replica of food to actual food despite their superficial similarity, techniques without proper magical infusion couldn’t exert their full potential, no matter how refined the technique itself was.
‘And right now, there aren’t many techniques I can draw full power from with my current magical reserves.’
At best, there was ‘Heaven’s Reversal,’ a technique specialized in turning an opponent’s own force against them.
Even that could be wielded several times more effectively if I had sufficient magical power.
“Everything circles back to magical power in the end.”
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue and exhaled a frustrated sigh.
“D-did I do something wrong?”
A timid voice came from behind me.
‘Ah.’
Right, she was here too.
I turned my head toward my ‘friend’ who had been diligently massaging my shoulders while I sat lost in thought on the bench.
“Your grip seems weaker than before?”
“I-I never loosened it….”
“Oh, was I mistaken?”
“N-no! That’s not it!”
“Then what is it?”
“I-I’m sorry! It’s my fault!”
Juliet bowed at the waist, her expression one of panic.
I let out a light laugh and patted Juliet’s shoulder.
“Haha. Just kidding, man. Why are you so startled over a little joke between friends?”
“Oh, okay.”
“Anyway… it’s almost been a week. Have you managed to gather the money?”
At the mention of money, Juliet’s shoulders flinched.
It seemed she’d struggled quite a bit to gather one million Gold, as her voice trembled slightly when she spoke.
“I, I think I can get it by tomorrow!”
“Think?”
“Oh, no! I can get it! Yes!”
“Yeah, yeah. Thanks, buddy. It must’ve been tough gathering a million Gold.”
“I… it’s for a friend, after all.”
“Tch.”
To think she’d managed to gather such a massive sum of one million Gold in less than a week for a friend.
It was touching enough to make my eyes well up with tears.
‘That’s what friendship is.’
Helping each other when times are tough—that’s what true friendship means.
Juliet seemed to share the same sentiment, her eyes red and puffy.
“Should we grab some lunch?”
“Oh, okay. Should I get the usual bread?”
“Yeah. But since today’s a special occasion, let’s get sausage bread instead.”
“I’ll go get it right now!”
Juliet spun around and dashed toward the Convenience Store.
Watching her quick movements, I could feel the deep bond of friendship between us.
“Mmm.”
I sat leisurely on a bench, waiting for Juliet to return.
-Ding!
A clear alarm sound rang out, and a holographic window appeared.
[Do you have time? Would you like to have lunch together?]
It was a message from Iris.
I replied without a moment’s hesitation.
[Sure. Where are you right now?]
[At the Main Building Cafeteria.]
The Main Building Cafeteria—wasn’t that the upscale dining hall where the children of prominent noble families and wealthy conglomerates typically went?
‘I’ve never been there before.’
The prices were so exorbitant that in my past life, I’d never once set foot in the Main Building Cafeteria.
Given that I had to burn one million Gold on research fees tomorrow (though it wasn’t my money), I couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment.
[Since you prepared meals for us during the outdoor training last time, I’ll treat you today.]
[I’m heading over now.]
Tch.
Beautiful, kind, and treats me to meals.
‘There’s truly no one else like our Holy Maiden!’
I rushed toward the Main Building Cafeteria where my lover from my past life was waiting.
“…Oh, but.”
I felt like I was forgetting something.
‘It’s probably nothing important.’
I brushed away the thought crossing my mind and quickened my pace.
* * *
“Ah, here you are, Dale!”
“Over here.”
When I arrived at the Main Building Cafeteria, I spotted Iris and Camila already seated at a reserved table, waiting for me.
“So this is the Main Building Cafeteria.”
“Is this your first time visiting?”
“Yeah.”
I sat down at their table and glanced around the surroundings.
The cafeteria had an elegant interior that felt like a luxury hotel restaurant.
Fragrant scents wafted up from scented candles placed on each table.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been to the cafeteria myself.”
“Ah, that’s right—you mentioned that a chef dispatched from the Holy Kingdom usually prepares your meals, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
So she’d forgone meals prepared by a professional chef just to have lunch with me and come to this cafeteria instead.
“Hmph. The Holy Maiden rarely extends such dinner invitations, so consider yourself honored.”
“Oh my, what an honor to be invited to the Holy Maiden’s banquet.”
I stood up and bowed exaggeratedly, causing Iris to wave her hands in flustered protest.
“P-please stop that, really! Camila, don’t say such things either!”
“Haha. Thanks to you, I got to see a place like this too.”
“Do you usually use the annex cafeteria, Dale?”
“No, I just grab something from the Convenience Store and call it a day.”
“The Convenience Store?”
Iris frowned at the mention of the Convenience Store.
“I’ve heard that Convenience Store food isn’t particularly good for one’s health.”
“Still, it’s cheap and convenient.”
“Hmm.”
Iris, who had been standing with her arms crossed in clear disapproval, finally spoke up.
“Then how about you have lunch with us from now on?”
“W-wait, Holy Maiden?”
Camila’s expression showed shock at Iris’s sudden bombshell proposal.
“I’m not sure that’s…”
“Why? It’s not like it makes much difference to add one more person.”
“T-that’s not really the issue…”
“Then what is the issue?”
Camila’s expression grew troubled.
Making an extra portion of food posed no problem whatsoever, but the real issue was the fact itself: “the Holy Kingdom’s saintess eating lunch together every day with some nameless male Candidate.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll eat lunch separately.”
I shook my head quietly.
Being able to share lunch with Iris every day was certainly appealing.
‘Not yet, though.’
Right now, I had far too much to accomplish.
Literally—I didn’t even have time to spare for meals.
“Hmm… ah, what about this then? We have practical combat training every Monday, so what if we just ate lunch together on Mondays?”
“That much… I think I could manage?”
Even with everything I had to do, refusing to share a single meal once a week seemed unreasonable.
“So you’re agreeing?”
Iris stared intently at Camila after receiving permission.
“Ugh… understood. I’ll inform the kitchen staff.”
Camila nodded with a complicated expression, apparently deciding she couldn’t stop this either.
“So we’re settled on every Monday?”
“Got it.”
“Yes! This is perfect!”
“Huh?”
“Ahem. No, I didn’t say anything.”
“But you just—”
“I said I didn’t say anything.”
“Oh… right.”
Fine.
Let’s go with that.
“Then shall we grab some food?”
“Yes! Just follow me!”
The Main Building Cafeteria operated as a buffet, so we had to carry our own plates and fill them ourselves.
Iris and I each grabbed an empty plate and headed toward the center of the cafeteria.
‘Wow, what is all this?’
Dishes lined up in rows, each one making my mouth water just looking at them.
“This section through here is Holy Kingdom cuisine, that side is Empire cuisine, and the opposite end is Republic cuisine.”
“They all look so delicious I don’t know where to start.”
“Would you like me to recommend some Holy Kingdom dishes?”
“Well, uh… Holy Kingdom cuisine is a bit—”
“W-what’s wrong with Holy Kingdom cuisine?”
What do you mean why?
Everyone across the Continent knows Holy Kingdom food tastes terrible.
“There are delicious Holy Kingdom dishes too!”
“Better than instant noodles?”
“I, I don’t….”
Iris trailed off, turning her head away sharply.
Traditional cuisine that couldn’t even compete with factory-produced instant food.
What kind of place was the Holy Kingdom, really?
“Anyway! Since you’ve been eating nothing but junk food from the Convenience Store, at least eat something healthy today!”
“That’s too much.”
As I was being dragged along by Iris, piling dishes onto my plate, I noticed something.
—A murmur of voices.
A cluster of female Candidates had gathered in one corner of the buffet area.
I turned to see if it was a popular dish.
“…Yuren?”
Surrounded by the female Candidates wasn’t a popular menu item, but a young man with hair as radiant and golden as the sun itself.
Golden hair and golden eyes.
Skin as pure white as snow crystals and an air of nobility that flowed naturally from him.
An androgynous beauty that could easily be mistaken for feminine.
My mentor from my past life who had taught me the Solar Sword technique.
My one and only closest friend.
Yuren Helios was there.
“Ah, Yuren. Are you dining in Holy Kingdom style today?”
“Is there a particular dish you prefer? Our family recently recruited a renowned chef from the Republic….”
“We’ve just acquired a premium wine that was difficult to obtain. Would you like a glass to accompany your meal?”
“….”
Yuren didn’t spare a glance at the female Candidates surrounding him, quietly piling food onto his plate.
“Hmm? Ah. The heir of the Helios Family. Do you know him, Dale?”
“….”
Do I know him?
I swallowed a bitter laugh and shook my head.
“I’ve only heard the name.”
Not yet.
Not yet is the time for us to meet.
The day I stand before you must come
only after I’ve grown more confident in myself.
‘That bastard really is popular, though.’
Unlike Juliet, who used to hang around with freshmen who’d just enrolled, the female Candidates surrounding Yuren were clearly nobleborn ladies—an aura of nobility practically radiating from them.
‘Well.’
Handsome face, prestigious family background, and grades that had never dropped from the top rank in the Candidate comprehensive evaluation since enrollment.
He couldn’t help but be popular.
“Dale?”
“Huh? Oh, sorry.”
“What were you thinking about so intently?”
“Ah… well, I suppose he is as handsome as the rumors say. That’s what I thought.”
“I see.”
Iris turned her head slightly toward Yuren, then cleared her throat with a soft “ahem” before speaking.
“He is handsome, but he’s not really my type.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I don’t particularly care for people who look like they’ve been meticulously carved by the gods themselves.”
It was rather amusing hearing this from Iris, who possessed an appearance that looked precisely as though the gods had carved her with meticulous care.
“Then what kind of appearance is your type?”
“I prefer someone with a more natural, vibrant appearance—like wildflowers blooming along the roadside. Hmm. If I had to give an example….”
Iris, her pale pink hair partially shielding her cheek, glanced sideways at me.
“Someone like you, Dale.”
“….”
So now.
“You’re saying I look like a weed?”
“No.”
“This is going to cause some controversy.”
“That’s not what I meant!”
“In all my years, I never thought I’d be told I look like a weed.”
“Dale! That’s not what I was saying!”
Iris cried out indignantly with a sharp squeal.
Watching her reaction, I burst into laughter.
“Let’s just go eat already!”
Following Iris as she huffed toward the table, I turned my head slightly to glance at Yuren.
‘Iris, Yuren.’
And though I hadn’t met them yet, there were also Berald and Sophia, who were somewhere in the Academy.
‘I’ve really come back.’
Why was it
that this fact suddenly resurfaced now, more than a week after my regression?
It was a certain afternoon in March.
After the long winter had ended.
Spring was arriving.
* * *
“Huff, huff! Huff!”
In the place where Dale had been.
A blonde youth drenched in sweat came running with bread filling both his hands.
“D-Dale! I got the sausage bread you asked for!”
Juliet looked around calling for Dale, but received no answer.
“…Did he go to the restroom?”
Juliet carefully sat on the bench, his hands still full of bread.
He sat waiting for Dale to return.
“….”
And so thirty minutes passed, then an hour, then two.
As her stomach finally betrayed her with an audible growl, Juliet—who had been waiting for Dale all this time—bit into a sausage bread that had long since gone cold.
“Ugh… ugh.”
The tear-soaked sausage bread tasted of bitter regret and wasted time.

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