The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 185

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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 185. School Trip (4)
The Annex Dining Hall, where I arrived after enjoying a pleasant hot spring bath.
Though the Holy Kingdom was infamous for its bland cuisine, this upscale inn in a famous tourist destination had prepared dishes that looked so appetizing I could barely contain my hunger.
A body warmed through by the hot spring waters and a table laden with an elaborate feast.
It should have been a blissful combination that would make anyone smile just thinking about it.
“Waaaah…! I, I didn’t do anything wrong…!”
“Don’t sit next to me.”
“Ah, how… how is this world so unreasonable….”
The atmosphere in the dining hall was as frigid as a winter blizzard.
“P-please don’t be like that! F-friends are supposed to sit next to each other!”
“Who’s your friend? You traitor!”
Sophia coldly drove Lanez away, while
“Could it be… that God… is a flawed being?”
Camilla had begun questioning her very faith.
“…What on earth happened?”
I turned to Iris and asked.
Iris shook her head, equally confused about the situation.
“Well… Camilla and Sophia have been saying strange things about wealth gaps and revolutions since earlier….”
“When I ask why, they won’t even answer.”
Yurina shrugged and shook her head.
….
Though I didn’t fully understand what was happening, I decided to stay out of it—any intervention would likely only make things worse.
I turned my gaze away from Sophia and Camilla, who were huddled in a corner (they’d grown surprisingly close since returning from the hot spring), and looked down at the table laden with appetizing food.
“Wow… is this really the Holy Kingdom?”
The dishes were so impressive that admiration escaped my lips unbidden.
Though the Holy Kingdom had a reputation for poor cuisine, the inn had clearly put considerable effort into preparation—just looking at the food made my mouth water.
“Hehe. What do you think? Holy Kingdom food can be delicious when prepared well!”
“Though it does seem like there are almost no traditional Holy Kingdom dishes here….”
Well, as long as it tastes good, that’s what matters.
“Still… it feels strange to be playing around so comfortably here.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Termal Region is where Grace of Life’s Light sleeps. I’ve been here a few times for Seven Star Church events, but back then I couldn’t have imagined relaxing like this.”
“I see.”
That’s true.
If I’d visited the Termal Region for a religious event, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy a hot spring bath and feast like this.
“Grace of Life’s Light is revered as the Holy Mother in the Holy Kingdom, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Iris nodded in agreement.
“Hmm. That’s quite different from the Republic.”
“How is it different in the Republic?”
“Well… the recognition is admittedly rather low. Each nation has its own version of how the Five Great Heroes’ deeds are told.”
Each country emphasized their own heroes’ exploits more prominently, valued their character more highly—the same events were retold with a bias that suited local tastes.
‘Especially since Grace of Life’s Light was a support-type hero.’
Stories of how Reynald the Sun Swordsman cut through thousands of Demons, or how Iron Fist Ryu Jinseong crushed the Archbishop’s skull, naturally drew more attention than her contributions.
Outside the Holy Kingdom, Grace of Life’s Light’s true nature wasn’t even properly conveyed to the people.
‘Grace of Life’s Light, huh.’
Curiosity stirred within me.
“What kind of person was she?”
“Grace, you mean?”
“Yeah.”
“She was said to be infinitely compassionate, tender-hearted, and considerate. There’s even a tale of how she willingly used a sacred relic bestowed by God to save a single injured child.”
“I’ve never heard that story before.”
I nodded with genuine interest.
“Hmm. That’s something taught in Hero Academy’s first-year history class…”
“I was asleep through it.”
“…”
Why would I have been sitting in the back otherwise?
“Oh, that’s right… did Grace also have the same ‘Seven Eyes’ as Iris?”
“Yes, of course. It’s a divine blessing passed down through generations to the Saint.”
Iris nodded while gently touching the corners of her eyes.
“Then Iris is a distant descendant of Grace…”
“No, the Seven Eyes aren’t inherited like stigmata. They manifest like a form of divine grace… appearing without warning one day.”
Iris’s expression turned somewhat bitter.
Her life, once that of an ordinary child, must have changed dramatically the moment the Seven Eyes awakened.
For better or worse.
“There was a time I resented God because of these eyes… but not anymore.”
Iris gazed at me with a gentle smile in her eyes.
“Because I have these eyes, I can be here with you like this now.”
“…Iris.”
A peculiar atmosphere was forming between us.
“Ahem. Did you perhaps forget we’re here too?”
“How shameless, just the two of you…”
I felt the sharp gazes of Elisha and Yurina.
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Hehe. Well, eating alone is rather dull. Shall we order some drinks?”
“Is that acceptable?”
“The main schedule doesn’t start until tomorrow anyway. Let’s have a light drink.”
Elisha called over a server to order drinks.
“Then, let’s toast to an enjoyable school trip.”
“Haha! Now that I think about it, this is my first time trying Holy Kingdom liquor!”
Berald’s eyes sparkled as he drained the glass in his hand.
And then.
“Cough—”
His expression twisted.
Berald covered his mouth with his hand and barely managed to swallow the drink.
As if she’d anticipated his reaction, Elisha smiled leisurely.
“Hehe. Holy Kingdom liquor is famous for being potent, after all.”
“…It doesn’t quite match the image, does it?”
“Candidate Yurina, do you not care for alcohol?”
Elisha asked, observing Yurina’s glass, which remained nearly full.
“It’s not that I dislike it… I’ve barely ever tried it because I was worried it might interfere with my training.”
“Then take this opportunity to try some. After all, there’s no need to handle a sword today, is there?”
“Very well. I understand.”
Following Elisha’s encouragement, Yurina grasped her glass.
She drained the brimming cup in one gulp.
“Wait. Holy Kingdom liquor shouldn’t be drunk like that….”
“Oh, it’s better than I expected?”
Having emptied her glass, Yurina’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.
“Before, I barely let it touch my lips, so I didn’t know… but alcohol is surprisingly fragrant and pleasant.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. Would you pour me another?”
“Hmm. Just don’t overindulge.”
“Haha. It’s fine.”
Yurina shrugged and extended her glass.
She spoke with a confident expression, as if there were nothing to worry about.
“You know well enough whose descendant I am, don’t you, Professor?”
* * *
The drinking continued for an hour.
“Hehehehe. Daaale~ where are you?”
Yurina’s eyes were half-lidded as she looked around searching for me.
“…Sigh.”
I let out a sigh watching Yurina, who was completely drunk.
‘Come to think of it, in my past life, Yuren was also weak to alcohol.’
When Berald and I would drink heavily day after day, he would quietly lean against a tree and sip tea.
“Hmm. It seems our great hero’s descendant has become completely intoxicated.”
Elisha chuckled as she looked at Yurina.
Elisha glanced back at me and opened her mouth.
“Candidate Dale, since you share a room with her, could you look after Candidate Yurina?”
“Why did you encourage her to drink in the first place….”
“It’s not my fault she kept drinking while insisting she was fine, is it?”
“Ugh.”
I swallowed hard and supported Yurina as we made our way toward the room.
“Daaale~ Carry me~.”
Yurina clung to me as we walked.
The pungent smell of alcohol wafted from her, and I couldn’t help but sigh again.
“Alright, hop on.”
Just as I was about to carry Yurina and continue walking.
“Hehe! A walk! Let’s go for a walk, Dale!”
Yurina kicked her legs playfully from my back.
“No walks. Let’s get inside and sleep.”
“A waaalk~!”
Unable to resist Yurina’s childish whining as she tugged at my shoulders, I eventually changed course toward the Annex Garden.
Moonlight cascaded down upon the elegantly manicured garden path.
“Dale… your back is warm.”
A soft whisper reached my ears from behind.
Through the thin fabric she’d changed into after the hot spring, I could feel her gentle warmth.
“….”
My mind was beginning to go blank from the sensation at my back.
Uuuuung.
“…Huh?”
A brilliant white light suddenly appeared before my eyes.
‘What is that?’
Too bright to be a firefly.
A pure white orb of light, the size of a fist, circled around me like a flying insect before suddenly vanishing somewhere.
“What was that?”
I tried to dash after the light.
“Ugh… Dale… I’m getting dizzy….”
But Yurina’s voice from behind forced me to stop.
“Let’s go inside.”
I set aside my curiosity about the mysterious white light and headed back to the room.
“Phew.”
After arriving at the room, I laid Yurina down on the bed.
I suppose I should count my blessings.
Since she’d already changed into fresh clothes after the hot spring, there was no need to change her again.
“Dale… my throat is dry.”
“I’ll get you some water.”
I brought her cold water, and she gulped it down eagerly with both hands, like a squirrel eating an acorn.
“Ah.”
“Feeling better?”
“Yeah… I’m… fine.”
She didn’t look fine at all.
“Get some rest. Lie down.”
“….”
I turned to head toward my bed.
“Here.”
Yurina grabbed my hand and pulled me onto the bed.
She climbed on top of me as I lay there.
Moonlight streaming through the window shattered across her silver hair, shimmering with an ethereal glow.
“Y-Yurina?”
“Dale… why won’t you touch me?”
“What?”
“We’re dating, aren’t we? So… shouldn’t we at least kiss?”
Now that I thought about it, I’d kissed Iris and Elisha before, but never Yurina.
“Or… do you… not want to with me?”
Yurina gazed down at me, her eyes flushed from the alcohol.
As I parted my lips to answer her question.
“Mmph.”
Soft lips pressed against mine.
The scent of alcohol stung my nose as her pliant tongue stirred inside my mouth.
“Hehe. Finally… we kissed.”
“…Yurina.”
The moment I reached out to the smiling Yurina.
“Ugh.”
“Huh?”
“My… stomach… feels… bleeegh!”
She clapped her hand over her mouth and bolted for the restroom.
I sighed as I rubbed her back while she retched over the toilet.
‘No way.’
She threw up right after we kissed—it felt like I’d done something wrong.

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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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