The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 162

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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 162. Witch of Night (3)
Several days passed with no progress on either Raneez Malam or Aaron Baek.
“Alright, everyone take your seats.”
*Click.*
The classroom door opened and Lucas Kane entered.
His face was almost welcoming—a stark contrast to recent days when the professors had been consumed by endless meetings, leaving us with nothing but self-directed training.
“So, how was it without me around? Did you enjoy the break?”
Lucas Kane glanced around at the candidates with a smirk.
No one answered. They simply averted their eyes with awkward smiles.
Lucas Kane chuckled and continued.
“Today’s class—or rather, this week’s class—will be a ‘mentoring’ session where you youngsters will train alongside fourth-year candidates to develop your practical combat abilities.”
“A mentoring session?”
“Training with the fourth-year seniors?”
The candidates tilted their heads in confusion at this unfamiliar curriculum.
Of course, I too was hearing about this class for the first time.
‘The curriculum really has changed from what I knew.’
I’d suspected as much when the professors suddenly began their endless meetings.
This new class hadn’t existed in my previous life either.
“Well, the class itself is simple. Each of you will join a fourth-year candidate party, venture outside the Academy, and hunt demons to bring back.”
“Outside the Academy?”
“You mean to say…”
The moment the candidates heard “outside the Academy,” their bodies went rigid.
“That’s right. This isn’t a training curriculum prepared by the Academy—it’s real ‘practical combat.'”
“…!”
Lucas Kane’s bombshell statement sent a ripple of unease through the candidates.
Even when the lecture was called “practical combat training,” every class up to now had been conducted with at least minimal safety measures in place by the Academy.
During the midterm evaluation, demons of appropriate difficulty were herded into a designated zone.
During the final evaluation, we faced golems created by the Republic instead of actual demons.
But this time.
“There are no safety measures. If you’re unlucky during the hunt, you could encounter rank-eight demons, or even find yourselves fighting Demon Humans instead of demons.”
“….”
A glint of tension flickered across the candidates’ faces.
Practical combat.
We all knew it was something we’d have to face once we became heroes, but now that it loomed before us, our bodies couldn’t help but tremble.
Lucas Kane let out a soft chuckle as he observed the candidates’ rigid expressions.
“Well, we’re not asking you to venture outside and conduct real combat on your own just yet. The primary goal of this class is for you to learn by directly observing how the fourth-year seniors hunt demons.”
At Lucas Kane’s reassuring words, the candidates’ expressions relaxed slightly.
Though only a year separated them, the thought of accompanying fourth-year seniors on the verge of graduation eased much of their anxiety.
Especially when the current fourth-year class was renowned as exceptionally talented, with candidates brimming with potential.
Observing them hunt demons firsthand would undoubtedly prove invaluable.
“The Party composition will be four fourth-year students and one third-year student. Since the numbers don’t align perfectly, schedules will be coordinated and adjusted for each class division.”
“So… is which Party we join determined randomly?”
“No. Fundamentally, it’s divided according to overall ranking performance.”
Lucas Kane manipulated the magical device on the podium, projecting a holographic image as he continued his explanation.
“Candidates with lower overall rankings will be placed into fourth-year Candidate Parties with higher performance records, while conversely, higher-ranking candidates will be placed into Parties with lower performance records.”
“Wait, hold on! Doesn’t that mean higher grades put us at a disadvantage?”
One Candidate cried out with an aggrieved expression.
Lucas Kane nodded and continued speaking.
“To some extent, yes, it is disadvantageous. But if we grouped the top performers together and the lowest performers together, the danger would actually increase.”
“Ugh….”
The Candidates swallowed hard, having no counterargument.
“Perhaps the higher-ranking Candidates won’t go to observe and learn, but instead may find themselves carrying the log themselves… but well, that’s a form of experience too. Accept it with humility.”
At Lucas Kane’s continued words, Candidates with relatively lower overall rankings broke into bright smiles, while those with higher rankings let out deep sighs.
“Now then, I’ll divide you into Parties. Come up one by one.”
Thus began the mentoring class Party assignment.
The fourth-year Party I ended up in was….
“Ah, that’s right.”
Lucas Kane looked at me, then pressed his forehead as if his head ached, letting out a deep sigh.
“This guy was dead last….”
And so.
My mentoring class was conducted with the highest-performing Party among the fourth-year students.
* * *
“Hahaha! So you’re that eccentric third-year everyone’s been talking about? I heard you deliberately keep your grades low.”
“….”
Facing the silver-haired handsome man laughing so openly, I swallowed a groan internally.
‘How did this rumor even spread?’
Given what I’d been doing all this time, it was difficult to make excuses, but I couldn’t help feeling wronged.
“I’ve been really curious about this for a while. Is there some special reason you insist on being last?”
“Ah… well.”
I swallowed the words that had risen to my throat—that it wasn’t intentional.
An awkward smile crossed my lips.
“It just happened to turn out this way.”
“Hmm. There’s quite a story there, huh? Haha. Well, if it’s a secret you can’t tell, I won’t pry.”
“….”
This is driving me crazy, seriously.
“Anyway. I’m honored to meet the legendary last-ranked hero. I’m Aaron Baek.”
“I’m Dale Han.”
“Ah, so you’re from the Republic too? Hahaha! Let’s get along well, fellow Republic citizen!”
Aaron extended his hand with a friendly, easygoing smile befitting his impression.
As I lightly shook hands with Aaron, a woman with chestnut hair suddenly thrust her head forward.
“Hey there, junior! I’m Bella Leonhardt!”
Bella Leonhardt waved her hand with a bright, bubbly voice that seemed to bounce with energy.
I gave her a light nod and let my eyes shine with interest.
‘Aaron Baek and Bella Leonhardt, then.’
The Meteor Spear and the Precious Sword.
Both were Candidates who would undoubtedly rise to the upper echelons of the Hero Watch rankings in the not-too-distant future.
‘This is perfect.’
I’d thought there was nothing good about maintaining a low profile, but I never expected such a golden opportunity to roll in like this.
‘If I can get close to just one of them… no, even befriending one of the two would be a success.’
After all, weren’t they destined to become lovers in the future?
If I won over just one of them, there was a high probability the other would naturally follow.
‘Alright, then let me start right away….’
Affinity mode: ON.
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Senior Aaron. The juniors speak of you as a hero who will surpass the ‘Meteor’.”
“Aha, how could I possibly surpass our ancestor?”
“Though the Baek Family’s standing has risen considerably within the Republic thanks to the Achievements established by Raonell… I still believe the traditional Baek Family remains the Republic’s greatest house.”
“Ahem! R-really?”
Aaron’s expression brightened at the mention of his family.
‘He couldn’t help but be interested.’
Traditionally, the Baek Family held greater prestige, but recently they’d been losing ground to the Ryu Family.
The Ryu Family had the exceptional hero Raonel Ryu, while the Baek Family had lost its pillar when Aaron’s father died.
It was only natural that Aaron, burdened with his family’s future at such a young age, would be tempted by words that elevated the Baek Family.
‘And now…’
Next.
“By the way, are you two dating, Senior Aaron and Senior Bella?”
“Huh? Oh, well, we’re not really….”
“What? Do we look like we’re dating?”
Bella Leonhardt’s eyes sparkled as she eagerly took the bait.
I tilted my head with an expression as if asking what was so obvious about that.
“Wasn’t it? I thought you two looked like such a perfect couple whenever I saw you together….”
“Aha! Really? So it looked that way~?”
Bella’s lips curved upward as she jabbed Aaron’s ribs with her elbow repeatedly.
“Our junior here seems to have a good eye. What do you think, Aaron?”
“…Ahem.”
Aaron’s face flushed red as he turned away, avoiding Bella’s gaze.
“It’s an honor to be in the same Party as such outstanding seniors. I’ll do my best to learn and observe your expertise through this lesson.”
“We’ll do our best to teach you too. Looking forward to working with you.”
“Our junior sure speaks beautifully~ I like them already!”
Good.
‘I’ve made a good first impression, at least.’
As I watched Aaron and Bella grinning from ear to ear, I chuckled to myself.
“You shouldn’t trust that bastard’s words.”
A gruff voice reached my ears.
I turned my head toward the source and saw Laios Ryu glaring at me menacingly.
‘This guy was in our party too?’
I thought this was becoming a headache.
“Laios! What kind of thing is that to say to our junior?!”
Bella narrowed her eyes and scolded Laios sharply.
The moment Bella’s rebuke reached his ears, Laios flinched and immediately cowered.
“Ah, no. I was just….”
“Don’t needlessly pick a fight with our junior.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Anyway, you’re always so twisted up… Junior! Don’t mind what Laios says!”
Well, seeing this unfold, it seemed I didn’t need to step in myself.
I gazed at the three of them—Aaron, Bella, and Laios—with a faint smile.
‘They certainly are a party worthy of the highest scores.’
The Meteor Spear, the Ghost Sword, and the Thunder Emperor all in one party.
With this lineup, they would be stronger than most active-ranked hero parties by current standards.
‘But who is the last member?’
Balance-wise, a support-type would fit perfectly.
But no name came to mind immediately.
“Hmm… they’re running late.”
“They’re always like that, aren’t they?”
Aaron frowned while checking his Hero Watch.
Just as I was about to contact someone.
“Huff, huff! I, I’m sorry I’m late…!”
A woman with violet hair appeared at the meeting place, breathing heavily.
Contrasting her fragile frame that looked like it would snap with a single touch, she carried a large backpack on her shoulders, her legs trembling under its weight.
“P, packing took so much longer than expected….”
“Making excuses again. Couldn’t you have packed beforehand?”
Bella narrowed her eyes and cast a cold gaze toward the violet-haired woman.
“I, I’m sorry….”
“Tsk, never mind. It’s better this way than showing up early and making others uncomfortable.”
“….”
The violet-haired woman flinched and lowered her head.
“Bella, that’s enough.”
“…Hmph.”
“Sigh.”
Aaron let out a short sigh and approached the violet-haired woman.
“The last member of our party—her name is Raneez Malam.”
“Ah… you are….”
“Hmm? Do you know Dale?”
“Oh, no.”
Raneez Malam approached me hesitantly, bowing her head with deference as though I were her superior.
“Ah… hello?”
“….”
Why was that?
An ominous premonition swept through my mind—that this Party would prove far from smooth sailing.

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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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