The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 191

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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 191. Interlude – First Night (1)
The day after the treasure hunt.
After breakfast, the Candidates gathered once more at the assembly point.
“Well, fortunately the commotion from yesterday was resolved without incident.”
The moment I heard the word “commotion,” all eyes fixed upon me.
I felt the sharp gazes pouring down from every direction and hung my head low.
‘I’m going crazy, seriously.’
From my perspective, no more than an hour or two had passed.
Yet when I emerged, more than five times that duration had elapsed.
‘It must be because I was in the Mental Realm.’
Just as people say “time flew by” when in a state of intense focus, the flow of time in the Mental Realm often operates entirely differently from what one’s body perceives.
But even so, I’d never experienced such a massive discrepancy—more than five times the difference.
‘Yesterday wasn’t a normal situation, though.’
The Primordial Flame, having absorbed the spark, had begun raging like an unleashed beast, and I—still ignorant of its true nature—had wielded that mysterious “power to extinguish fire” to suppress it.
And then I’d tested out the newly acquired Flame Transformation.
“Sigh.”
In hindsight, it was fortunate that only about twelve hours had passed.
Of course, there was little fortune in what I’d lost.
‘I got an earful last night too.’
From Yurina and Iris, Camilla and Lanez, and even my other companions.
I’d sweated through explaining what had happened inside.
Well, after three grueling hours of explanation, I finally managed to escape.
“Now then, we shall hold a treasure award ceremony for the Candidates who found tokens in yesterday’s treasure hunt.”
Since Pope Marian and the Seven Star Knights had pressing schedules and returned to the Capital, the professors oversaw the ceremony.
“First, the Candidates who secured first place—Yuren, Iris, Camilla, and Albert—please come forward.”
At Lucas Kane’s words, the four ascended the platform.
“To the first-place Candidates, we shall award ‘Divine Grace’ along with special bonus points as promised.”
Lucas Kane presented an ornately decorated box to Yuren.
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted throughout the hall.
“Next, to the second-place Candidates—Sophia, Lanez, Berald, and Juliet Kang—we award….”
After the brief ceremony concluded.
The Candidates who received bonus points were granted free time to relax and enjoy the hot springs for the rest of the day.
“All right! The remaining Candidates will proceed to the Light of Life Exhibition Hall, so board the magical carriages!”
“Ugh….”
“We want to go to the hot springs too….”
“Sigh.”
The Candidates grimaced at the mention of the exhibition hall.
A few history enthusiasts showed interest in the Light of Life Exhibition Hall, where Grace’s life was documented.
But most gazed enviously at Yuren’s Party and Sophia’s Party, who had been granted free time.
Though that sentiment wouldn’t last long.
“Stop your chattering and move!”
At Lucas Kane’s sharp rebuke, the Candidates trudged toward the magical carriage with slumped shoulders.
Of course, I—who had failed to find even a single treasure, let alone the first-place prize—also turned my steps toward where the magical carriage awaited.
‘An exhibition hall tour.’
It was the textbook course one might call the standard for a school trip, though few Candidates would genuinely enjoy touring an exhibition hall.
Especially.
“Dale, you’ll move alongside me during the tour.”
Not when the supervising professor was stationed right beside me as a watchdog.
A sigh.
I exhaled deeply and followed Lucas Kane’s footsteps.
* * *
After the magical carriage carrying the Candidates departed.
The Hot Spring Inn, which had been bustling with hundreds of Candidates, grew as quiet as a stage after the festival had ended.
“Hmm. I should have just gone to the exhibition hall with Dale.”
Iris watched the receding carriage and tapped the ground with the tip of her foot.
Yurina chuckled softly at the sight of her.
“Either way, you’d have to move around with Professor Lucas Kane, wouldn’t you?”
“Ugh… I-I don’t really like that.”
“Well… this is all Dale’s doing anyway. Let’s just relax together today.”
“Yes.”
Elisha approached Iris, who nodded in agreement.
“Then shall we go into the hot spring together?”
“Hm? Professor Elisha? Weren’t you going to the exhibition hall?”
“Well, normally I should accompany them as a chaperone, but….”
Elisha shrugged and continued.
“I’ve decided to entrust the Candidate supervision to a reliable junior colleague instead.”
“…Is that really allowed?”
“Hehe.”
Instead of answering, Elisha placed a cigarette between her lips.
Iris silently offered a prayer for Lucas Kane, who had taken on both Dale surveillance duty and Candidate supervision.
“Anyway, if you have nothing else to do, shall we go enjoy the hot spring?”
“Hmm. It’s rather early, but… well, there’s nothing else to do anyway.”
“Come along too, Yurina.”
“Yes, of course.”
“And….”
Elisha’s gaze turned toward Lanez.
Lanez, who had been clinging to Sophia’s side like glue, trembled at Elisha’s look.
“Will you join us too, Lanez?”
“Eh? I, I, I….”
Lanez tugged at Sophia’s sleeve in confusion.
“Sophia… come, let’s go together.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why…!”
“Hmph. If I don’t want to, I don’t want to. What reason do I need?”
Sophia refused outright.
Lanez pouted and stamped her feet.
The moment the hot spring was mentioned, Elisha chuckled softly as she watched Camilla and Sophia naturally slip away from the group.
“Since Camilla and Sophia seem uninterested, we’ll go on our own.”
“W-wait, I’m actually fine with—”
“Come along.”
“Eek!”
Lanez was dragged away by Elisha’s hand.
“This works out perfectly.”
Elisha glanced back at Iris, Yurina, and Lanez before continuing softly.
“I’ve been wanting to have a leisurely chat with you all anyway.”
“…’All of us’?”
“Hmm? Isn’t there only one thing you four have in common?”
Elisha’s lips curved into a sly smile.
“Why don’t we all just talk about Dale while soaking in that warm hot spring?”
“….”
“….”
In that instant, Iris, Yurina, and Lanez exchanged glances and their expressions hardened.
Elisha crushed out her finished cigarette and walked leisurely toward the hot spring.
* * *
“Ahh. Coming in early in the morning feels refreshingly different.”
The Annex Hot Spring.
A quiet silence settled over the hot spring with only the four of them present, no other guests.
“By the way, according to what Dale said last night, the hot springs of the Termal Region will disappear in just a few years… what a shame.”
Elisha clicked her tongue, recalling what she’d heard from Dale the previous night.
“Still, we can’t very well preserve the seeds of the Demon God’s calamity just for the sake of the hot springs, can we?”
“That’s true enough.”
Elisha nodded and turned to look at Iris.
“By the way, Iris, how did you come to develop feelings for Dale?”
“Pfft! W-what? S-suddenly asking that…?”
“Hehe. When women gather together, isn’t this the sort of thing we’re supposed to ask and enjoy? Especially…”
Elisha smiled meaningfully, her gaze sweeping across Iris, Yurina, and Lanez.
“When you’re all harboring feelings for the same man.”
“….”
The three women swallowed hard at Elisha’s blunt directness, as if she had no intention of dancing around the subject.
“…Professor Elisha, how did you come to develop feelings for Dale?”
“Hmm? You want me to speak first?”
Elisha poured a glass of liquor that she’d brought in a cold ice bucket before entering the hot spring, and took a sip.
“Phew. Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’m telling you all about myself.”
Elisha opened her mouth hesitantly.
“My hometown was destroyed by the Beast Legion led by the Archbishop of Beasts. My parents, my friends… everyone in the village except me died.”
“…What?”
“That’s….”
“It was a long time ago. There’s no need to make that face.”
Elisha continued speaking with a faint smile and a calm voice.
How I came to take an interest in Dale.
The story of how I chased after the Archbishop of Beasts to a rural village with him.
Even the time I descended into the Abyss chasing the Archbishop of Beasts during the Beast Legion’s invasion.
“So such things happened to you.”
I’d already heard some of these stories, but I only knew the circumstances of the events themselves—I’d never heard what emotional turmoil Elisha had experienced through it all.
“To be honest… I was feeling jealous of Iris.”
“Jealous?”
“It was obvious who Dale cares about most, without needing to say it out loud.”
“….”
Iris flinched at Elisha’s words, her shoulders trembling slightly.
Yurina and Lanez, who had been listening quietly, nodded with bittersweet smiles, as if they’d already known this truth.
“That’s… that is….”
“It’s not something Iris needs to worry about. Rather, it’s foolish of me for knowing that and still not being able to let go.”
“….”
Iris opened her mouth carefully toward Elisha, who wore a self-deprecating smile.
“That’s not true.”
“Hmm?”
“If the situation were reversed… I wouldn’t have given up either.”
“….”
Elisha’s eyes widened in surprise at this unexpected answer.
“And… it might sound strange, but I don’t think this kind of relationship is so bad.”
“That really is strange.”
“Hehe. Isn’t it?”
Iris laughed lightly and hugged her knees.
“Still… I mean it sincerely. I can’t speak for others, but before I met Dale, I had no one I could call a friend except Camilla.”
“That goes for me too.”
“Me, me too! Before I met Dale… I didn’t know being with others could be this enjoyable!”
Yurina and Lanez nodded at Iris’s words.
The four women gazed at each other’s faces for a moment, then burst into laughter simultaneously.
“My, my… Dale really is a man burdened with much guilt.”
“Hehe. Indeed.”
“Hmm. Well then….”
Elisha turned to look at Iris with a subtle smile playing at her lips.
“So, Iris, how far have you and Dale progressed?”
“Huh? P-progressed?”
“Have you two already done it?”
“…!”
Iris’s mouth fell open at Elisha’s bombshell question, her legs kicking nervously in the water.
“W-what on earth are you talking about?!”
“Hmm? Isn’t physical intimacy between lovers a natural thing?”
“W-well, that’s true, but….”
“Or perhaps the Saint has no interest in such shameless matters?”
“That’s… not it, but….”
Iris submerged half her face in the hot spring water, her cheeks burning crimson.
Bubbles rose steadily from beneath her nose.
“Hmm. Then how about this?”
Elisha’s lips curved into a mischievous grin as she continued.
“Tonight, why don’t you and Dale share a room?”
“…Pardon?”
“Hehe. If you take the lead, Iris, then the rest of us can follow without worry, don’t you think?”
“….”
At this unexpected proposal, Iris’s eyes trembled with shock.

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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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