The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 233

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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 233. The Spider and the Empress (10)
Morning broke over the Imperial Palace.
I stretched languidly across a bed so vast that six people could have rolled about with room to spare.
“Mmm.”
Perhaps the sleeping quarters had become too luxurious all at once.
Despite having slept sufficiently, I felt fatigue accumulating rather than dissipating.
‘I suppose I’m simply not accustomed to such opulent bedding.’
Across thousands of years of existence, including my previous life, I had spent most of it on dirt floors and cheap beds.
The plush, cloud-like softness of the sheets felt oddly uncomfortable instead.
“Let me see….”
The first thing I did upon waking was meditation.
Closing my eyes, I slowly drew forth my mana and observed the Mental Realm.
‘The amount of primordial flame I can control has increased dramatically.’
Just as when I had absorbed the flame seed before, the quantity of primordial flame I could manipulate through my will had grown to a noticeably greater degree.
It felt like igniting a spark within hardened, immobile oil.
The vast mana flowing through my body made it hard to believe that in my previous life, my meager reserves had earned me the shameful epithet of “Rabbit Han.”
“With this much mana….”
Even Dread Flame, which consumed mana as wastefully as pouring water into a bottomless pit, could now be deployed effectively in actual combat.
‘In fact, I used it this time as well.’
Precisely because of its outrageous mana consumption, Dread Flame’s power operated on an entirely different level from any other technique I had mastered.
‘Within that domain, it felt as though I had become a god myself.’
It resembled the Flame Deity state—a technique I could not yet control at will, accessible only when the primordial flame ran rampant.
Of course, if forced to choose which was stronger, I would unhesitatingly select the Flame Deity state.
‘But that is not a technique I can use by my own will.’
Simply being able to deploy Dread Flame, which had previously been too costly in mana to use in actual combat, was an extraordinary achievement.
‘Though that was not my original purpose.’
My initial objective—to trace the Eternal Order—had become shrouded in mystery once more as Mephistopheles and the Eternal Order vanished from sight.
‘The Archbishop of Destruction and the Eternal Order.’
I still needed more information about both of them.
Knock, knock.
“Hmm?”
As I continued my thoughts, a knock sounded at the door.
When I opened it, I found Elisha standing before me.
“Did you sleep well, Dale?”
“Yes. And you, Professor?”
“Ah… the bedding was actually so comfortable it became rather inconvenient.”
“Ha. I experienced the same thing, actually.”
“In any case, how is your body? You absorbed that enormous flame entirely….”
Elisha’s expression grew concerned.
“I’m fine.”
If anything, it’s so good it’s almost a problem.
“That’s fortunate.”
Professor Elisha smiled faintly and nodded.
“Then let’s head to the Reception Hall together.”
“The Reception Hall?”
“The Empress has summoned us.”
“Ah, yes. Understood.”
I nodded and made my way to the Reception Hall alongside Professor Elisha.
Upon entering, I saw Camelia reclining halfway across her throne, just as she had been the first time I’d seen her.
“You’ve come.”
The Empress Camelia, who had been wiping away tears yesterday, now carried herself with her usual leisurely demeanor, as if that moment had never happened.
“I must express my gratitude once more for yesterday’s events. Thanks to you both, we were able to root out the Apostles of Ruin who had infiltrated the Imperial Palace.”
Camelia straightened from her reclined position and bowed her head with formal courtesy.
“Huh.”
“….”
The Empress Camelia bowing to someone else—it was almost unbelievable.
Both Professor Elisha and I gasped simultaneously at the sight before our eyes.
‘I anticipated the future would change after my regression.’
But I never expected to witness the Empress herself bowing.
“Hmm. Well then….”
The Empress Camelia, who moments ago had worn such a respectful expression, suddenly reverted to her arrogant demeanor as if nothing had happened, and leisurely crossed her legs.
“What is your relationship to each other?”
“Pardon?”
What kind of question was that, out of nowhere?
“You seem far too intimate to be merely teacher and student.”
“….”
She’d noticed that already.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
Professor Elisha shook her head, clearly flustered by the unexpected question.
“Dale and I are not in that kind of relationship….”
“We are lovers.”
“D-Dale!”
“There’s nothing to hide about it, is there? It’s not forbidden by school regulations.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
Professor Elisha trailed off awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable with openly admitting to laying hands on her student before the Empress herself.
“Ho. Lovers, you say….”
The Empress Camelia’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if displeased.
“How long have you been lovers?”
“In terms of duration, it hasn’t been very long….”
“I see.”
Camelia sat upon the throne, regarding Professor Elisha with a measured gaze before breaking into a satisfied smile and nodding her head.
“Do you remember the proposal I made before?”
“…Are you referring to the suggestion that I come to the Imperial Palace after graduation?”
“Forget that proposal.”
Camelia leisurely extended her hand, pointing toward me.
“Become my consort. I shall place the world in your hands.”
“…Pardon?”
What in the world was she talking about?
“Hmm. Do you not comprehend my meaning?”
The Empress furrowed her brow in exasperation.
“Sever your other relationships and become my husband.”
“…Pardon?”
No.
What kind of insane turn was this?
‘Become the Empress’s consort?’
In other words, wasn’t she essentially proposing marriage?
“…Wait a moment.”
As I struggled to process this unexpected development, Professor Elisha stepped forward.
“What do you mean by severing relationships?”
“Precisely what I said. A man who becomes my consort cannot have other women in his life, can he?”
“…Ha.”
Professor Elisha let out a hollow laugh, her eyes flashing with fury.
“I had no idea Your Majesty lacked such basic propriety.”
“Lack propriety? That is precisely what you should be hearing, is it not?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Let us make a comparison.”
The Empress folded her arms and continued with unhurried composure.
“I possess tens of millions of imperial subjects, vast territories, immeasurable wealth, and absolute authority over all. And the power of the Seven Gods.”
What do you possess?
“….”
Professor Elisha’s lips tightened as she bit down.
Wealth, martial prowess, authority—
The comparison itself was laughable; she fell short of Camelia in every conceivable measure.
“R-relationships between people aren’t determined by ability….”
“Oh? Is that truly what you believe?”
Snicker.
The Empress let out a soft, mocking laugh.
“Now that I think about it, you barely participated in the recent battle. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say you ‘couldn’t’ participate, would it not?”
“….”
At the Empress’s words, Professor Elisha’s shoulders trembled visibly.
It was true that she had achieved remarkable growth recently, but she couldn’t intervene in this battle between Melina and me.
The gap in their levels was far too severe for her to join in.
“Rather, I’m the one who wishes to ask.”
Camelia’s lips curved upward leisurely.
“Do you think he suits Dale?”
“That is….”
Professor Elisha trailed off, her words faltering.
As Camelia said, Dale had long since ascended to a realm beyond her reach.
“….”
That he didn’t suit her.
Those words remained embedded like thorns, impossible to erase.
‘That’s right… I am.’
The faces of Iris, Yurina, and Lanez flashed through her mind for a moment, yet among them all, she could find no one more ‘unsuited’ to him than herself.
Iris was blessed by the divine as a Saint, Yurina possessed talent that none could match, and Lanez bore a blessing so powerful it could freeze half the Continent.
And compared to them, she….
“Well, you should understand by now.”
Camelia shrugged and shifted her gaze toward me.
Her smile was smug, as though the outcome was already decided.
“So then, which will you choose?”
The spider and the Empress.
Both women’s eyes turned toward me.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled softly and took a step toward Camelia.
If I had to choose one or the other.
There was no need to deliberate further.
“I will….”
My answer came.
The fortunes of the spider and the Empress crossed.
* * *
An empty Reception Hall.
Brilliant lighting illuminated priceless artworks of immeasurable value.
“…Hah.”
Camelia let out a soft laugh, sitting upright on the throne rather than in her usual reclined posture.
Snap.
With a light flick of her hand, a bottle of liquor resting in the corner of the Reception Hall rose into the air and flew toward her.
The same type of liquor Dale had brought yesterday.
After tasting it once before, its bitter flavor had been so strong that she’d never sought it again.
Glug.
Amber liquid filled the crystal glass.
“…There was no need to refuse so firmly.”
Camelia pouted without realizing it, recalling what had happened a few hours ago.
Yes, she admitted that she had been disrespectful to Elisha.
But what could she do about it?
“It was my first time, after all.”
The Empress.
The number one ranked hero.
The incarnation of the Seven Gods.
There were many titles to describe her, but there was one that she particularly disliked.
The Iron Woman.
It was a title she had earned by keeping men at a distance her entire life.
“Sigh.”
A deep sigh escaped from Camelia’s lips.
‘I thought there wasn’t a man on the Continent who would refuse the position of the Empress’s consort.’
Even if he had a lover, if it wasn’t a long-standing relationship, she believed he would end it and come to her.
Every man she had encountered so far desired her with such fervor that they would cast aside not just lovers, but even wives.
That’s why she had deliberately belittled his lover, emphasizing the difference between them.
“Rejected in love, is it….”
Camelia sighed once more and brought the wine-filled glass to her lips.
“…How bitter.”

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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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