The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 160

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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 160. Witch of Night (1)
Night descended like a curtain of darkness.
Upon a towering rock formation that seemed to pierce the heavens stood a white-haired youth, perched casually at its edge.
Thud, thud, thud.
The earth trembled with each thunderous vibration as something colossal approached him.
Or more precisely, an elderly man riding atop that massive creature.
“Has the plan encountered another setback?”
The old man regarded the white-haired youth, his voice cracked and rasping as he posed the question.
The white-haired youth offered a bitter smile and nodded quietly.
“It appears so.”
“Tsk, tsk. For the Archbishop of Ruin to suffer repeated failures—how rare indeed.”
“The world rarely unfolds according to our designs.”
Mephistopheles, the white-haired youth known as the Archbishop of Ruin, shrugged and gazed down toward the distant Valhalla City.
Lights sprawled across the darkness like a galaxy turned upside down.
The artificial stars born of human civilization illuminated the night sky with radiant brilliance.
“Serpente, was it? If memory serves, that creature held considerable value to you.”
At Jackal’s words, Mephistopheles’ shoulders tensed momentarily.
But only for an instant.
Mephistopheles smiled thinly and continued.
“It matters little. After all, she was merely a long-term pawn to be used and discarded as needed.”
“Hmm. You would do well to cultivate greater affection for your subordinates.”
Jackal sighed and gently stroked the back of the demonic beast he rode.
Grrrrgh.
With each stroke, pained whimpers escaped the creature’s maw.
Watching this, Mephistopheles swallowed a bitter smile and adjusted his golden monocle.
“That is hardly a lesson I wish to hear from you, Jackal.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
Jackal laughed, a phlegmy rattle emanating from his throat.
“Speaking of which, what is that brat up to these days? He’s been unusually quiet of late.”
“I’m afraid I cannot say what Seto is doing or where he might be.”
“Hmm. And Lactasia has gone silent as well… Tsk, tsk. With such sparse communication among the Archbishops, how are we to unseal the Demon God?”
….
At the mention of the Demon God’s seal, a peculiar smile crossed Mephistopheles’ lips.
“It is hardly a matter of days or weeks. What cause for concern?”
“Tsk. True enough. Ah, but what of that ‘Witch’ you mentioned before?”
“That matter proceeds without complication.”
Mephistopheles’ lips curved upward as he shrugged.
“I do not doubt your word, but still… I find it difficult to believe. Can a mere Candidate Program girl truly possess the power to annihilate half the Continent in an instant?”
To be honest, even he found it impossible to destroy half this vast Continent in a single moment.
Perhaps only the current Archbishop ranked first—the Archbishop of Ruin—could even attempt such a feat.
“Well, you can simply observe how things unfold in due time.”
Mephistopheles continued with a deep smile playing across his lips.
“Soon enough, the Witch of Night will open her eyes.”
* * *
“Phew. Finally, I can have some time to myself.”
I sat in my newly refurbished Dormitory room and splashed water on my face to freshen up.
Having endured the recent clash of wills (?) between Iris and Yurina, moments of solitude had become precious.
‘Well, if you asked whether I’m happy or not, I suppose I am.’
How could I be unhappy when I’d gained two beautiful lovers—Iris and Yurina?
When I first confessed to both of them, guilt had plagued me so severely I couldn’t sleep properly, but recently my heart had grown considerably lighter.
‘As for Elisha…’
As my heart eased, the image of Elisha naturally surfaced in my mind.
‘I’ll think about that later.’
For now, even managing Iris and Yurina alone was challenging enough.
“Let me see, then…”
This rare moment of leisure I’d finally gained.
I calmly organized my current situation in my thoughts.
‘It’s incomparably better than my previous life.’
When I’d regressed half a year ago, I’d resolved to change the future and guide my comrades.
But honestly, I never expected things to unfold this smoothly.
Not just Iris, Yurina, Berald, and Sophia—but even Elisha, Camilla, and Juliet, people I’d never even spoken to in my previous life, let alone worked alongside.
Everything was progressing so seamlessly that comparing it to my past life felt almost embarrassing.
However.
“I can’t let my guard down yet.”
The Demon God is formidable.
Or rather, it was an entity so fundamentally different in scale that the word “formidable” itself lost meaning.
Less an intelligent being with consciousness and more a natural disaster bent solely on the world’s destruction.
To stand against it, my current full strength would be woefully insufficient.
‘The best outcome would be to prevent the seal from breaking in the first place.’
Without knowing what might happen in the future, I had to prepare for every contingency I could.
“Among the people currently at the Academy, those worth cultivating connections with…”
The top priority was obvious without question—Aaron Baek, the “Meteor Spear.”
Among the fourth-year Candidates, where the most brilliant talents gathered, he confidently held first place, and he was the caliber of hero who would be called Yuren’s rival in the future—a formidable prospect indeed.
‘If I can bring Aaron Baek into my circle, he’ll become an incredible asset in the future.’
Yuren himself had said this directly in my previous life.
That no matter how hard he tried, he could never surpass Aaron.
‘A talent even Yurina would acknowledge.’
If I could elevate his abilities further, just as I had with Yurina and Berald.
Aaron Baek would undoubtedly become a major pillar of my strength alongside Yurina and Berald.
“…But before that.”
Building a connection with Aaron is important, but first there’s one assignment I need to handle.
A problem I’ve been continuously postponing.
“….”
An issue I’ve kept pushing back.
A being so dangerous that one careless move could freeze half the Continent solid.
The monster that had given me the most horrifying nightmares in my previous life.
‘The Witch of Night, Raneez Malam.’
The moment her name crosses my mind, a chilling shudder races down my spine.
The Snowy Wasteland, buried beneath blizzards, unfolds in my thoughts.
“Ah, ugh.”
A sensation as though my breath is being strangled.
I trembled violently, my hands clutching at my chest.
The reason I’ve never once sought her out, despite knowing the Witch of Night attends the same Academy.
The reason was far simpler than I’d imagined.
‘I’m terrified.’
Yes.
I’m afraid of facing the Witch of Night.
I dread the terrible calamity she wrought, the irreversible nightmare being recreated.
Unbearably.
Insufferably.
Terrifying.
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped between my lips.
“…A creature whose head won’t explode even if it shatters, and here I am trembling like a coward.”
I’m well aware of how pathetic this looks.
But what can I do?
Having witnessed firsthand the catastrophe the Witch of Night unleashed, I have no choice but to fear her.
‘In a sense, she’s far more terrifying than the Demon God himself.’
Just as we regard earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons with awe rather than fear, the Demon God is so far beyond our comprehension that awe supersedes terror.
But the Witch of Night…
“….”
I clenched my trembling fists.
My legs quivered so badly that merely recalling her made them buckle.
Yet I couldn’t hide forever with my head buried in the sand.
‘I have to meet her.’
Yes.
I’ll meet Raneez Malam before she becomes the Witch of Night.
After thoroughly investigating her.
‘I’ll kill her.’
Before the seeds of catastrophe dormant within her blossom into ruin.
I will eliminate her.
* * *
“Let me see….”
Upon arriving at the 4th Year Building where the fourth-year Candidates studied, I glanced around, my head turning in all directions.
‘Where is the Classroom where Raneez Malam is?’
Normally, the Hero Academy had Candidates move between Classrooms depending on their courses, but once you advanced to the fourth year, your Classroom became fixed.
The reason for fixing Classrooms was to deepen the bonds between Party members.
Unlike lower-year Candidates who formed new Parties with each class, fourth-year students developed somewhat “fixed Parties,” so Classrooms were assigned by Party to allow them to attend lectures together.
‘Though if you end up in the wrong fixed Party, you suffer through all of fourth year because of it.’
I swallowed a bitter smile as memories from my previous life surfaced.
While searching for Raneez’s Classroom in this manner,
“What are you doing here?”
“Ah, Sophia.”
I noticed Sophia loitering in the Corridor and approached her.
“Hmph. A third-year wandering around the 4th Year Building like you own the place?”
“Well, there’s no Academy rule that third-years can’t enter, is there?”
“That’s… true, but. Anyway, what’s your business here?”
“Do you happen to know a fourth-year Candidate named Raneez Malam?”
“….”
The moment I mentioned her name, Sophia’s shoulders flinched.
“…I know of her. Why?”
“I received an errand from Professor Elisha, so I was looking for where Raneez’s Classroom is.”
Once again, I smoothly continued by pulling out my universal excuse—Professor Elisha.
“Is she perhaps in the same Classroom as you, Sophia?”
“…No. She’s in Class A. I’m in Class B.”
“Then where is the Class A Classroom?”
“Over there.”
I confirmed the Classroom Sophia pointed to and bowed respectfully.
“By the way, how are things with Berald these days?”
“Ahem. Yes, what’s that to you?”
Sophia turned her head away with a coy expression.
Judging by her flushed cheeks, things seemed to be going rather well.
“It looks like things are progressing nicely.”
“Ugh….”
“Then I’ll be on my way.”
“Go on, scram!”
I chuckled and headed toward the Class A Classroom that Sophia had indicated.
Upon opening the door and entering, I found the Classroom completely empty.
I stood at the front of the Classroom and waited for the Class A Candidates to arrive, but more than an hour passed without any sign of them.
‘Is there no class today?’
After overcoming my fear to meet Raneez Malam, this anticlimactic situation was utterly deflating.
“Ugh.”
I decided I’d have to come back later and stepped outside the 4th Year Building.
The moment I emerged from the building.
“Hm?”
Behind the Building.
A murmuring sound drifted from a damp, secluded corner where few people ventured.
Tilting my head curiously, I walked toward the back of the building.
What I found there was.
“Ugh….”
A woman with violet hair, crouched down and trembling violently.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Stop wandering around so brazenly, you witch?”
“Stop pestering Aaron, you bitch.”
“Why did a Demon Human’s spawn even crawl into the Hero Academy?”
“You’re shameless, truly shameless. Won’t you just drop out?”
“Get out of this school, please. Just seeing your face makes me want to puke.”
A circle of Candidate Program members surrounding her.
“….”
A scene overflowing with malice.
Though her face wasn’t visible as she huddled in on herself.
It wasn’t difficult to recognize that the violet-haired woman was the Witch of Night, Raneez Malam.

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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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