The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 256

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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 256. Summit Meeting (3)
A chill silence settled over the conference room.
Soft exclamations and deep sighs echoed from various corners.
“…Please conduct yourself with proper decorum, Lord Kalid Han.”
Johan, who moments ago had been lost in boasting about his disciples like a fool, now fixed Kalid Han with a gaze so cold it was hard to believe he was the same person.
“Hahahaha! My apologies! The liquor in Valhalla City is just sooo delicious!”
Kalid Han sat at the table, spouting nonsense as if he couldn’t be bothered to care.
I observed the gray-haired old man with narrowed eyes.
‘So this is Kalid Han.’
The commander of the Continent’s largest mercenary company.
‘Though calling it the largest on the Continent just means sheer numbers—most of them are mediocre in actual ability.’
It was no accident that in my past life, I graduated from the Academy at the bottom of my class and first took up work as a mercenary.
Mercenary work was one of the professions most shunned by Heroes who graduated from the Academy.
‘The work is filthy and dangerous, yet the pay is meager and honor is hard to come by.’
In Republic terms, the mercenary companies were where the mediocre masses—those lacking credentials to secure positions as high-ranking officials or at major corporations—ultimately turned their steps.
Kalid Han was the figure revered as the idol of such mercenaries.
Like the saying about dragons rising from gutters, he had climbed from the very bottom to earn the title of Master.
Of course, compared to other Masters, he was derided with the epithet “Last-Rank Master” due to his inferior power and influence.
‘Still, a Master is a Master.’
Among tens of thousands of Heroes, the Five Great Heroes stood at the apex.
As one who bore the title of Master, his abilities were undoubtedly genuine.
‘Though he did meet a rather anticlimactic end despite all that.’
In my past life, Kalid Han perished in the war between the Empire and the Republic that erupted following the assassination of Empress Camelia.
Of course, since I was among the lowest of the low when that war broke out, I never witnessed it directly—only heard rumors.
‘So if I save Camelia this time and prevent the war from happening… does that mean I’ve also saved the future Kalid Han?’
Raonel too was supposed to die at the hands of the Archbishop of Madness, but the future changed when I killed the Archbishop of Madness.
I had saved more than half of the five Masters.
‘It doesn’t quite feel real.’
I swallowed a bitter smile inwardly and observed the five Masters seated around the table.
“Well then, shall we begin the meeting?”
The moment Raonel spoke, the chaotic atmosphere instantly settled.
“As you all know, we’ve gathered here today to form a Three Nations Alliance in preparation for the increasingly active movements of the Demon Humans.”
The Seal Festival incident that occurred last year.
The invasion of the Beast Legion.
The assassination attempt on Empress Camelia, and so forth.
The Demon Humans, who until now had remained gathered in the Southern Region without any notable activity, had suddenly begun to move.
“There is one more matter.”
Camelia, who had been listening quietly, raised her index finger.
“The Eternal Order.”
A mysterious organization that had joined hands with the Fallen Archbishop.
Their purpose remained unclear, but one thing was certain—they posed a threat to the same Heroes we sought to protect.
“Yes… they’re another problem we must contend with.”
Raonel narrowed his eyes as he continued.
“The Apostles of Destruction and the Eternal Order. To stop them, we must unite our strength.”
“I agree with that assessment.”
Marian nodded, her characteristic gentle smile playing across her lips.
“In times of chaos such as these, light shines all the brighter. We must pool our resources to prevent the Demon God’s resurrection.”
“The Demon God’s resurrection….”
Camelia’s eyes narrowed.
“Then the Demons’ ultimate destination would be this very place—the Hero Academy.”
More precisely, beneath the Hero Academy.
The Demons would converge upon the Abyss, where the Demon God lay sealed.
“…That would seem to be the case.”
Raonel, too, appeared to know this truth, his expression growing grave as he closed his eyes slowly.
Perhaps this future had been inevitable from the moment the Academy was built five hundred years ago, atop the very land where the Demon God was sealed.
Yet as one responsible for the safety of the Candidates, his mind could not help but grow troubled.
“In light of this, I wish to propose something.”
“A proposal?”
“What if we were to construct a warp gate connecting the Three Nations and the Hero Academy?”
“A warp gate? There’s already one in Valhalla City….”
Raonel’s expression hardened visibly.
“Surely you’re not suggesting we install a warp gate inside the Academy itself?”
“That is precisely what I suggest.”
Camelia gave a subtle nod and continued.
“The warp gates currently installed in Valhalla City connect to each nation’s capital, but they are not positioned where reinforcements can be rapidly deployed in emergencies.”
No matter how close Valhalla City lay to the Hero Academy, there was a world of difference between being outside and being within.
Especially in emergencies where every second counted.
…
Installing a warp gate within the Academy that connected directly to the outside world.
It was certainly a sound idea—Candidates could evacuate swiftly through it during crises, and reinforcements from each nation could be summoned with ease.
“…But you understand the reverse scenario is equally possible, yes?”
Yes.
Easy passage worked both ways—not just for our forces.
If the Demon armies were to pour through the warp gate into the Academy’s interior, the catastrophe that would unfold would be beyond comprehension.
“Of course, I am aware.”
…
Raonel fell silent, his jaw clenched as he deliberated.
“If you’re concerned about that reverse scenario, what of this alternative?”
Johan, who had been listening intently, finally spoke.
“Instead of simply installing the warp gate, only you, Raonel, would possess the authority to activate it.”
“…So you’re saying the warp gate can only be used with my permission?”
“Yes. That way, we can prevent Demon Humans from outside from storming into the Academy through the warp gate.”
“Hmm.”
After pondering further for a while, Raonel nodded.
“Very well. We’ll proceed with installing the warp gate immediately after announcing the formation of the Three Nations Alliance.”
“If construction costs are insufficient, speak to the Empress. Gold is piling up in the Imperial Palace treasury to the point of decay.”
“We won’t spare any necessary support either.”
“Haha! Excellent! Everyone is quite enthusiastic!”
Kalid Han gulped down the bottle he was holding and curled his lips upward with a satisfied sound.
“We mercenaries have neither the gold nor resources to contribute, though.”
“…You there.”
“What do you expect from mercenaries who are too busy earning their daily bread?”
Kalid Han chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
“All we have is this pitiful body… so if you need manual labor, I’ll send some of our people.”
“…You’re suggesting we put Heroes to work on construction sites?”
Regardless of their mercenary status, they were superhuman beings who had received stigmata from the Seven Gods.
They were not personnel to be deployed for simple labor.
“Hehehehe. It seems you esteemed folk don’t understand our circumstances. There are quite a few Heroes who scrape by doing manual labor when there are no commissions.”

Just as Kalid said, the number of Heroes who sustained themselves through simple physical labor beyond Demon Human and Beast Legion subjugation requests was not insignificant.
‘I did plenty of that work myself in the past.’
It was unavoidable.
Subjugation requests didn’t come every day, and most large-scale, well-paying jobs went to Heroes affiliated with major Guilds or nations.
“If you insist on it that strongly… well, I understand.”
“Hahaha! Just make sure you pay the workers properly!”
“That’s not something to worry about.”
Raonel nodded and handed over the documents.
“Then next….”
The Summit Meeting continued in this manner.
‘This is going much smoother than expected.’
Perhaps it was because the activities of Demon Humans and the Eternal Order had intensified recently.
The formation of the Three Nations Alliance was proceeding far more smoothly than anticipated.
“Well then, let’s conclude the meeting by scheduling the announcement of the Three Nations Alliance formation for one week from now.”
“Hehehehe! Since the meeting ended successfully, how about everyone raises a toast?”
Kalid Han laid out bottles of liquor across the table from who knows where.
The Masters shook their heads with expressions of resignation.
Just as a drinking celebration for the Three Nations Alliance formation was about to begin.
“I shall take my leave first.”
Camelia rose from her seat.
“Huh? You’re leaving already?”
“It’s exhausting to venture outside the Imperial Palace after so long.”
“Heh. I thought this was a rare opportunity to share a drink with the Empress.”
“I appreciate the sentiment.”
Camelia stepped out of the conference room, leaving the drinking gathering behind.
I followed her out as well.
“…How did it go?”
Camelia turned to me and asked, having remained silent the entire time we left the building.
“Well, it seemed to proceed smoothly, didn’t it?”
“Yes. Everything went as planned.”
Camelia nodded as if she had anticipated this.
“But then… why did you summon me to the meeting in the first place?”
If she had expected the meeting to proceed without incident—or even if she hadn’t—there was no reason to have me, someone who wasn’t even a Master, observe the proceedings.
“….”
Camelia fell silent, her eyes gently closed as if organizing her thoughts.
Several minutes passed like that.
Her platinum eyes turned toward me.
“Since the last incident, I have conducted a separate investigation into the Eternal Order.”
“Ah, yes. Did you find anything of significance?”
“Significance….”
Camelia clicked her tongue softly.
“There are findings, though I cannot say they are particularly favorable ones.”
“What do you mean….”
“Face-to-face meetings like this Summit Meeting are rare, but video conferences are held regularly among the Masters.”
“…And?”
“I cannot yet be certain.”
Camelia continued, her eyes narrowing slightly.
“But it appears that information shared among the Masters is leaking to the Eternal Order.”
“….”
That meant.
“Either one of the Masters’ closest confidants… or.”
One of the five Masters themselves.
“Has connections to the Eternal Order.”
“….”
I stared at Camelia with a hardened expression.
“…Then.”
“Yes. The reason I summoned you to this Summit Meeting was….”
Camelia’s platinum eyes fixed on me.
“To ask you to find the ‘traitor’ hidden among us.”
“….”
One of the five Masters.
A traitor connected to the Eternal Order.
“Why would you… ask me to do such a thing?”
“Hehe. Isn’t it only natural?”
Camelia traced a faint smile across her lips as she leisurely extended her hand and caressed my cheek.
“You are the only hero across this vast Continent whom I truly trust in my heart.”

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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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