The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 200

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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 200. The Traitors (1)
Inside an ornate chamber.
Famous paintings hung upon the walls—the kind whose names everyone on the Continent would recognize—while a chandelier suspended from the ceiling cast its radiant glow across the space.
The room, reminiscent of a luxury hotel, possessed one peculiar characteristic.
It lacked a door—that most essential feature of any proper room.
No matter where one looked, neither door nor window existed within these walls.
Three empty chairs surrounded a circular table positioned at the chamber’s center.
Hum.
Light emanated from one of the chairs.
With it came a hologram materializing in the empty air.
The face rendered in translucent holographic form belonged to someone every person on the Continent would recognize.
[Hmm. Has everyone not arrived yet?]
Currently ranked second among all heroes.
Marian, the Pope who governs the Holy Kingdom.
She surveyed the empty chamber with a serene smile playing at her lips.
Hum.
Light burst forth from another chair.
The hollow visage of an elderly man materialized in the void.
Currently ranked third among all heroes.
Raonel Ryu—the “Brain God.”
Marian offered him a light bow of acknowledgment.
[It has been quite some time, Rector Raonel.]
[My apologies for the delay.]
[Hehe. I myself only just arrived.]
Marian’s expression softened into a benevolent smile.
[Thank you for extending such courtesies to our Candidate Program students during this field trip.]
[Oh my, such investments in the future heroes who will shoulder the Continent’s burden are only natural.]
Marian answered with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
Raonel regarded her with an awkward expression.
[Speaking of which, I heard one of our candidates caused quite an incident….]
[Ah, regarding that—there is no need for concern. Our investigation confirmed that the Holy Mother’s Tomb suffered no damage whatsoever.]
[I apologize nonetheless.]
[Hehe. It is quite alright.]
The two exchanged pleasant conversation.
[Still….]
Raonel’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced toward the remaining empty chair.
[They are late again today.]
[Hehe. It happens every time, does it not?]
[Mmm.]
Raonel exhaled a quiet sigh.
Then.
A low hum resonated through the air.
Light began to pour forth from the remaining empty chair.
[Speak of the tiger, and it shall appear.]
[Hmm. A tiger, you say….]
A languid voice echoed through the chamber.
Though her tone was drowsy enough to drain the vigor from any moment, it carried such gravitas and commanding presence that one felt compelled to kneel before her merely by hearing it.
[You dare compare me to such a mere creature?]
Lustrous platinum blonde hair.
A woman draped in a gossamer nightgown so delicate it seemed to reveal the very skin beneath, reclined across an elongated chair in a half-sprawl.
Her posture—lounging in sleepwear during broad daylight—resembled that of an idle wastrel, yet the fierce charisma and distinctive aura that emanated from her effortlessly dispelled such trivial impressions.
Current Hero Ranking 1st: the “Empress,” Camelia Padshah.
The Empire’s sovereign and the pinnacle of all heroes.
[Mere creature? Are you unaware that tigers are revered as spiritual beings in the Republic?]
[I am aware. However….]
Camelia turned to regard Raonel with eyes so drowsy she seemed on the verge of slumber.
[Before me, all living creatures in this world are but insignificant motes.]
[…You remain unchanged, I see.]
Raonel shook his head with an expression of exasperation.
Camelia shifted her gaze to Marian and continued.
[So then, what were the results of this examination?]
[Quite remarkable.]
[Ho.]
As Marian manipulated the magical device, an image materialized above the table’s center.
The image displayed a golden-haired handsome man wielding his sword with savage ferocity against members of the Seven Star Knights.
[A child of the Helios Family, then.]
Camelia nodded as though recognizing the face.
She released a yawn as she observed Yuren’s swordplay.
[How is this not remarkable? A candidate who has not yet graduated handles members of the Seven Star Knights as though they were mere children.]
[I have long heard that Yuren Helios possesses exceptional talent. However….]
Camelia watched Yuren’s swordwork intently through narrowed eyes.
[He has indeed made considerable progress in my absence.]
[Ho… that is rare praise from you.]
[Hehe. I am not stingy with praise simply because I am the Empress.]
[Yet your expression suggests otherwise.]
[Progress notwithstanding, he remains but a fledgling, does he not?]
Camelia shrugged and swept her gaze across the image.
[Still… among this year’s candidates, I do perceive several gems of genuine worth.]
The image displayed Iris, Camilla, Berald, Sophia, and Lanez in succession.
Then.
[Hm?]
Camelia Padshah’s eyes, which had been drooping as though sleep might claim her at any moment, suddenly gleamed with interest.
[Pause it for a moment.]
[Why, my lady?]
In the frozen frame appeared a Candidate with hair the color of deep ash.
The Candidate wielded a blade wreathed in slate-grey flames, effortlessly subduing a charging Seven Star Knight with a single, graceful stroke.
[Ah, that Candidate….]
[Do you know him?]
[He’s the Candidate who caused quite a stir during the recent school trip.]
[A stir?]
[Nothing too serious….]
Marian proceeded to explain to Camelia Padshah the incident involving the unauthorized intrusion into the Tomb.
[Hmm.]
Camelia Padshah rose from her reclined chair, her gaze fixed intently upon the frozen image.
[Is this truly so remarkable?]
Raonel tilted his head in confusion.
[It is true that Dale subdued a Seven Star Knight, but is that not equally true of Yuren?]
In fact, it was Yuren whose display of prowess proved the more impressive.
While Dale had merely subdued a single knight, Yuren had fought without yielding against nearly ten Seven Star Knights simultaneously.
[Is something not strange to you?]
[What do you mean, strange?]
[The wall. It shattered.]
Camelia Padshah slowly raised her hand, pointing to the spot where the Seven Star Knight had been sent flying after being struck by Dale’s blade.
The wall where the knight had collided bore visible cracks and damage.
[What problem does that present?]
Raonel’s eyes narrowed in bewilderment.
For an ordinary person, creating such impact would be difficult, but in battles between heroes, such damage was commonplace.
Indeed, mere cracks in a wall were negligible—scarcely worth noting at this level of combat.
[Ah.]
Marian’s eyes widened as understanding dawned upon her.
[H-how…?]
Her voice trembled faintly.
[…Why are you reacting this way as well, Marian?]
[Hmm. Have you still not grasped it?]
Tsk.
Camelia Padshah clicked her tongue.
[A powerful protective Barrier envelops that Ruins.]
The Ruins where the examination took place served as a sort of Corridor connecting directly to Grace’s Tomb.
Because the collapse of the Ruins would damage Grace’s Tomb beneath it, a formidable protective Barrier had been woven across the entire structure.
And yet.
In the footage, the Seven Star Knight’s body that was sent flying had clearly left a mark on the Ruins wall.
[In other words.]
Camelia Padshah continued, her voice dropping low.
[She pierced through the protective barrier that spans the entire Ruins.]
[…Does that even make sense?]
Given the Holy Kingdom’s characteristic abundance of support-class practitioners, the level of their protective barriers was unquestionably the highest among the Three Nations.
Moreover, that barrier was….
[A mere Candidate broke through the protective barrier that Marian deployed?]
Currently ranked 2nd.
It was a protective barrier that Pope Marian had erected using vast quantities of sacred relics.
[This… will require further investigation.]
Marian nodded stiffly, her expression rigid.
Camelia Padshah’s eyes gleamed with intrigue as she watched Dale’s image on the screen.
[Hmm. Did you say that Candidate’s name was Dale Han?]
[Yes.]
[How intriguing.]
Camelia Padshah crossed her arms, her pale, jade-like legs crossed with sensual deliberation.
She turned to face Raonel, her voice carrying that characteristic languid tone.
[Raonel. Send me information on that Candidate.]
[…Leaking a Candidate’s personal information to outsiders is strictly prohibited.]
[Don’t concern yourself. My word is law.]
[….]
Faced with Camelia Padshah’s brazenly audacious demand for the Candidate’s personal details, Raonel exhaled a deep sigh.
[Besides, even if you didn’t provide it, that information would soon fall into my hands regardless. Why make unnecessary trouble for yourself?]
As she said.
So long as Camelia Padshah desired Dale’s information, she would obtain it by any means necessary.
Such was the way of Camelia Padshah, the current 1st-ranked Hero—the Empress.
[Sigh.]
Raonel sighed deeply and transmitted the file containing Dale’s information to her.
[Hehe. Wise choice.]
Camelia Padshah smiled languidly, her fingers tracing the golden bracelet adorning her wrist.
A hologram materialized, displaying the document containing Dale’s information.
[Let’s see… hmm?]
As she scrolled through the document, her eyes narrowed.
[…Last rank? Last rank?]
Camelia Padshah turned to Raonel, her eyes narrowed in disbelief.
Raonel’s lips curved upward slightly as he nodded.
[The information is accurate.]
[If you’re thinking of mocking me, you’d best prepare yourself accordingly.]
[Mock you? I know your temperament well enough—why would I do something so foolish?]
[…Then the information written here is accurate?]
[Indeed it is.]
Raonel nodded and continued speaking.
[By the way, Dale is currently under suspension, and he’s caused another incident, so he’s been referred to the disciplinary committee.]
[….]
Camelia let out a hollow laugh, as if finding the situation absurd.
[He possesses enough power to shatter Marian’s Barrier, yet he conceals it…]
A peculiar gleam flickered across Camelia’s eyes.
[This… could be quite useful if handled correctly.]
[Useful, you say?]
[Aren’t you already troubled enough by the ‘traitors’ who’ve been infiltrating Valhalla City recently?]
[….]
Raonel’s expression hardened visibly.
Camelia continued in an unhurried tone.
[I believe this boy would be the perfect candidate….]
A being of extraordinary martial prowess, yet one whose abilities remain virtually unknown to the public.
There were precious few who could serve as a ‘hunting dog’ quite so effectively.
A savage beast to tear out the throats of the traitors and leave them dead.
[What do you think?]
Camelia gazed at Raonel with a deep smile playing at her lips.

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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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