The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 210

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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 210. Special Candidate (1)
Several days had passed since I successfully completed the covert investigation ordered by Headmaster Raonel.
My ordinary Academy routine began to show several unexpected changes.
“Hehe. Dale~.”
The most significant change among them was, without question.
“You worked hard training today. Tilt your head down. Let me wipe away your sweat.”
“I can do that myself….”
“Nope! Don’t say such things~ Come on, hurry!”
Well.
To be honest, since Yuren was in that form right now, I wasn’t particularly eager to accept….
“Ugh.”
“Ahh… Dale’s sweat scent… it’s wonderful.”
Please, I beg you, don’t blush in that appearance.
“You worked hard all day today. Oh, by the way, would you like to have dinner together in a bit? And, um… if you have time… would you come to my room…?”
Yuren, wearing Yurina’s form, offered a shy smile while lowering her gaze slightly.
Though her stammering words and the endearing way she twisted her body in embarrassment were utterly charming.
I clenched my fists and glared fiercely at the pendant hanging around Yuren’s neck.
‘It was said to be a magical artifact created five hundred years ago by the Great Sage Julius himself and gifted to the Helios Family.’
I couldn’t fathom why someone of the Great Sage’s caliber would craft a gender-changing disguise artifact.
But the magic contained within that pendant—’Polymorph’—was so exquisite and intricate that you could feel the Great Sage’s touch in every detail.
That’s right.
What I’m trying to say is.
‘Even knowing the contents are Yurina, I can’t seem to adapt.’
Humans are creatures most dependent on visual information, and that remained largely true even for Heroes with superhuman bodies.
“Dale? What’s wrong?”
“Ah… well.”
As I deliberately averted my gaze from Yuren’s sparkling eyes.
“Hmm. You two have been absolutely glowing lately, haven’t you?”
“Hmph. Even during training earlier, you were both completely distracted.”
Iris, her eyes narrowed to slits, glared at us, while Camilla, arms crossed, clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Hehe. Want me to tell you why~?”
“…No, never mind. I can roughly guess why Yurina’s been acting so loose lately.”
Iris clicked her tongue and shook her head.
Though she claimed to have anticipated it, she clearly wasn’t pleased, pouting her lips as she pinched my side forcefully.
“Ow.”
The sharp pain radiating from my side made me wince.
Iris brought her mouth close to my ear and whispered softly.
“You haven’t forgotten, have you, Dale? I was first.”
“Ahem.”
Perhaps she felt left out watching Yurina’s happiness these past few days.
There was a quiet anger in Iris’s voice.
“Still, it would be better if I got angry like Iris instead.”
I turned to look at Lanez, who was squatting a little away from us with her knees hugged to her chest, nervously biting her nails.
I’m envious of Yurina. I want to do more than just kiss with Dale, and I can do it better than her. I can give Dale everything he wants, so why won’t he come to my room? Is it because I lack charm as a woman? That must be it, right? Men like tall, skinny women, and since I’m short and not skinny, Dale doesn’t look at me that way. What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? I guess the only way is to freeze Dale’s arms and legs and force him to…
A faint murmur like a curse echoing in the distance.
“At this rate… isn’t the blessing of the harsh cold going to run wild one more time?”
I stared at Lanez, who was emanating a gloomy aura, and swallowed hard.
When I first got together with Iris, the atmosphere was kind of like, “It’s okay, we’ll all be happy together,” but now it’s shifted a bit to something like, “Wait? Weren’t we supposed to all be happy together?”
“Professor Elisha… I miss you.”
This is exactly the time when Professor Elisha needs to step up and play the role of a big sister.
Professor Elisha had been unable to show her face recently due to the investigation into the past incident.
“If I open my mouth for no reason, I feel like the situation will only get worse.”
While lost in thought about what to do with this.
“Why are you crouching in the corner grumbling like that?”
Sophia, who had been quietly observing the situation, let out a sigh and approached Lanez.
“S-Sophia?”
“Tsk. Anyway, why are you so into a guy like that…?”
“Ugh.”
“Sigh. Well, I guess so. It’s not my place to say anything.”
Even in the tense atmosphere that seemed ready to explode at any moment, Sophia shot Berald a sharp glare as he grinned and chuckled, saying, “When are you thinking of going out for dinner? I’ll go with you!”
“Anyway, don’t be so down about it. Didn’t we all promise to get along before?”
“That, that’s… but still.”
Lanez curls her body round like a bean bug, fidgeting with her fingertips.
I understand in my head that Dale and Yurina getting together doesn’t mean my position disappears.
How can people’s hearts move exactly as intended just because we understand them with our minds?
Every time I saw Yurina clinging so closely to Dale, I couldn’t help but feel jealousy welling up from deep within my heart.
“By the way, hyung, when exactly does the suspension end?”
“Well… there should be about another month left, right?”
“Huh? Then the final evaluation isn’t finished yet either?”
“That’s true, isn’t it?”
I sighed and shook my head.
For reference, the midterm evaluation had already been completed long ago.
“Since I’m at the bottom anyway, what’s the point of midterm and final evaluations?”
I even considered asking Raonel to help me get the disciplinary action removed.
Since the midterm evaluation had already been administered, even if the disciplinary action were withdrawn here, there was no way to retake the exam that had already passed.
And it’s obvious I’d just end up talking too much for no reason.
The Academy’s president personally steps in to overturn the disciplinary action against a Candidate Program member who received severe punishment for violating school regulations?
There was bound to be talk about my relationship with the president, among other things.
“In the worst case scenario, information about those masked guys could leak out.”
Anyway.
Requesting the withdrawal of disciplinary action as compensation carried too much risk in the current situation.
“Hmm… but with all of us gathered like this, the place does feel a bit cramped.”
Berald glanced around the Training Ground, his head turning in all directions.
Yuren’s Private Training Ground, which had recently taken on the feel of a makeshift Hideout.
Though it was called a “private” Training Ground, its interior was spacious enough to be overwhelming for a single person to use alone, yet with seven people gathered here, it felt decidedly cramped.
“Oh.”
A brilliant idea flashed through my mind in that moment.
“Then should I ask the Headmaster for a Party Training Ground this time?”
“A Party Training Ground, you say?”
“Yeah.”
A Party Training Ground.
Literally a Training Ground designed for three to five people, equipped with systems optimized for Party training.
Due to the enormous costs and complex conditions, not many Parties actually used them, but it was a place the Headmaster could easily provide with his authority.
“Ah, that sounds like a great idea to me. This place is good for one-on-one sparring, but it’s difficult for Party training.”
“Come to think of it, we haven’t had many opportunities for separate Party training besides when we explore the Ruins.”
Yurina and Iris nodded in agreement.
“Ooh! Then we’d really have our own Party Hideout within the Academy!”
Perhaps it was the word “Hideout” that captivated him.
Berald’s eyes sparkled as he exhaled an excited breath.
“Well… I needed a place to practice magic anyway, so it’s not a bad idea.”
“Alright. Then I’ll bring it up with the Headmaster later.”
With Sophia’s approval as well, there was no reason to hesitate any further.
The moment I thought I should contact Headmaster Raonel.
-Ding.
A clear chime sounded as the Hero Watch glimmered.
[Dale. Can you come to the Headmaster’s Office right now?]
It was a message from Professor Elisha.
“…The Headmaster’s Office?”
Not the Professor’s Office, but the Headmaster’s Office.
‘Did they find some clue about the identity of those masked bastards?’
I tilted my head in confusion and got to my feet.
“Sorry. It looks like I won’t be able to join you for dinner tonight.”
Leaving my Party members staring after me in bewilderment, I headed straight for the Headmaster’s Office.
* * *
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Currently ranked 3rd in the Hero Rankings.
Headmaster Raonel’s office, known as the “Thunder God” and idolized by countless Heroes, was starkly austere despite his brilliant reputation.
An old wooden table, worn sofa, and bookshelves lined with nameless old books.
Rather than the office of one of the Continent’s most powerful figures, it felt like stepping into some quiet, rustic antiquarian bookshop.
“Sorry for calling you on such short notice.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Under normal circumstances, I would have treated you to a meal as a courtesy, but important information regarding the masked individual you discovered this time has come to light, so I had to summon you like this.”
Raonel stroked his beard, his expression troubled.
“What kind of information?”
“I’ll explain that.”
Elisha stepped forward.
She manipulated a magical artifact, projecting a holographic photograph into the air.
It was a facial photograph taken after the Wolf Mask’s battle, with the mask removed.
“Is this the photograph of the Wolf Mask that Dale took?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Did this person seem like the leader of the Masked Group to you?”
“No, that wasn’t the case.”
There was a mysterious entity that the Wolf Mask appeared to be following.
“Then at least they seemed like an executive-level member?”
“Hmm… yes. I’m not certain of their exact position among the executives, but they certainly didn’t seem like a low-ranking member who knew nothing.”
“Hmm, I see….”
“Is there a problem?”
As I tilted my head and turned to look at Elisha, she advanced the screen.
The newly displayed photograph showed a young man with facial features similar to the Wolf Mask.
“This is….”
“His name is James Jin. We found his identity in the alumni records of our Academy.”
“Oh.”
The moment my prediction proved correct—that if the opponent was a Hero rather than a Demon, we could find information within the Hero Academy.
My eyes brightened as I examined the Wolf Mask’s face.
Without the scars that covered his face and appearing roughly ten years younger, it was unmistakably the Wolf Mask.
“The problem is….”
Elisha furrowed her brow as she continued.
“James Jin is a Candidate who graduated from the Hero Academy approximately three hundred years ago.”
“…What?”
What?
Three hundred years ago?

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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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