The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 261

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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 261. Intermission – The Empress’s Reward (1)
After my brief encounter with Kalid Han ended.
I returned to the Academy immediately.
‘She said she was staying at the Staff Dormitory.’
Given that the Hero Academy was frequented by many high-ranking members of the Three Nations, it naturally maintained guest quarters for distinguished visitors from abroad.
As for Camelia, she was the most distinguished of all such guests—a figure before whom none dared stand as equal.
They had surely provided her with the most luxurious room available within the Staff Dormitory.
“Sigh.”
A heavy breath escaped between my lips.
The weight of having to report this failure to none other than the Empress pressed down upon my heart.
‘Come to think of it, is this the first time I’ve bungled a task since my regression?’
In my previous life, I’d failed at nearly everything I touched, but after my regression, I’d believed every endeavor would flow smoothly.
“Ugh.”
Well, what could I do about it now?
The milk was already spilled.
‘Still, I did gather some information, so perhaps I won’t be punished even if I don’t receive a reward.’
With that thought, I knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Camelia’s voice echoed from within the room.
As I slowly opened the door, what greeted me was—
“Has the task been resolved successfully?”
Camelia, reclining languidly upon a long sofa similar to those used in the Imperial Palace.
Draped in a thin dress that could have served as sleepwear, her white stockings catching the light, she gazed at me with that characteristic drowsy smile.
‘Hmm? Something about this atmosphere feels…’
The attire was similar to what she wore in the Imperial Palace, so that could be overlooked.
But the dim lighting, the scented candles placed throughout the room, the premium bottles of liquor and two crystal glasses arranged on the shelf—
This was as if…
“Hehe. There’s no need to ask, really. I’m sure you handled it splendidly.”
Right.
She appeared to have already prepared a celebratory toast, assuming ‘success’ from the start.
‘In other words.’
Camelia had prepared this reward without ever entertaining the thought that I might fail the task she’d entrusted to me.
“Um…”
No.
This made it all the more difficult to admit I’d failed.
‘Damn it.’
Camelia was the one who’d jumped to conclusions, so why did the embarrassment fall on me?
“Hmm? Why aren’t you answering?”
“Well, that is…”
I avert my gaze slightly and speak in a small voice, as if crawling forward.
“I failed.”
“What?”
“…I failed. Completely.”
“….”
An awkward silence fills the room.
Camelia stares at me with wide eyes, as if unable to believe what she’s hearing.
“You failed? You mean Kalid Han wasn’t the traitor?”
“That’s correct.”
“Hmm. That hardly qualifies as a failure, does it?”
If I had been certain Kalid Han was the traitor, there would have been no reason to send him a dagger to verify his blessing before attacking him.
It’s unfortunate that we gained no results.
But I couldn’t be blamed for a mere miscalculation.
“And….”
“And?”
“My identity has been exposed. He also learned that you ordered this attack.”
“….”
Camelia’s expression stiffens slightly.
Not only has Dale’s identity been revealed, but so has the fact that she suspected her own master and sent an assassination attempt.
“Yes… that does qualify as a failure.”
“I apologize.”
“No. A subordinate’s mistake is a master’s mistake. This is not your fault.”
When Camelia became my master is beside the point.
“Still, I did obtain some useful information.”
“Oh? Tell me.”
I relay to Camelia what I learned from Kalid Han.
“…My.”
Camelia lets out a low exclamation of disbelief.
“Kalid Han is the son of the Eternal Cult Leader?”
“According to him.”
“Hmm. What do you make of it?”
“…He didn’t appear to be lying.”
More precisely, there was no reason for him to lie.
Revealing a blood relation to the Eternal Cult Leader would gain him nothing.
“Then I shall trust your judgment.”
“…You can trust so easily?”
“Hehe. Would you prefer I doubt you?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
I never expected her to show such unwavering trust even after such a spectacular failure.
Camelia seemed like the type to ruthlessly eliminate subordinates who made mistakes, not forgive them graciously.
“…That’s rather unexpected.”
“What do you mean?”
“From what I’ve heard, Your Majesty is known to be extremely strict about rewards and punishments.”
That’s why even the Empire’s high nobility supposedly lower their heads and barely breathe in Camelia’s presence.
“Hmm. I suppose that depends on the situation and the person.”
Camelia continued with a languid smile.
“I show no mercy to those who make mistakes because they’re blinded by their own ambitions… but you’re not one of those people, are you?”
“….”
The infinite trust I felt in Camelia’s gaze made my head spin for no reason.
“Besides, this hardly qualifies as a mistake, does it?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked you to find out if there was a traitor among the Masters. According to Kalid Han, it’s been confirmed that there is no traitor among the Masters—so wouldn’t you say that’s a success rather than a failure?”
“Well….”
That’s true.
Simply discovering that there was no traitor among the Masters was achievement enough.
“…But won’t this incident strain the relationship between Kalid Han and Your Majesty?”
From Kalid’s perspective, knowing that the Empress had openly suspected him wouldn’t leave him with warm feelings.
“Bah. What does it matter if my relationship with that drunkard grows distant? If anything, it’s refreshing.”
“Then that’s fortunate.”
“Yes. There’s no problem, so don’t worry… oh.”
Camelia let out a short exclamation, then averted her gaze and turned her head as she spoke.
“A-actually, now that I think about it, there might be a problem after all.”
“Pardon?”
What?
Just moments ago she said it was refreshing.
“No matter how poorly behaved someone is, a Master is still a Master. It wouldn’t be strange if you became practically enemies with him, so how could I be unconcerned?”
“Well, given Kalid Han’s personality, I don’t think it would go as far as becoming enemies….”
“Therefore!”
Clench.
Camelia’s eyes sparkled like stars as she clenched her fist.
“You shall take responsibility and fill the void left by Kalid Han.”
“…What are you saying?”
Fill the void left by Kalid Han?
“Hehe. If my relationship with one Master grows distant, then I simply need to grow closer to another Master, don’t I?”
“But I’m not a Master.”
“Tut. In terms of ability alone, haven’t you already far surpassed the level of most Masters?”
“However….”
“And your forces are hardly inferior to other Masters when I consider your party members.”
Camelia’s lips curved into a knowing smile as she continued.
“The Saint of Holy Kingdom, the next Sword of Holy Nation, the heir to the Sword of the Sun and grandson of Thunder God Raonel Ryu, the genius mage who just claimed top grades in the academy over Aaron Baek of the Meteor Spear, and even the Archbishop’s daughter from the Frozen Wasteland—ah, and now that I think of it, the Spider with Baleful Eyes is your lover, so wouldn’t she count as part of your party as well?”
“That’s….”
Well, that’s true.
“Isn’t that more than enough to be called a ‘Master’?”
“….”
Camelia had a point.
Even if the numbers weren’t large, each member of my party was strong enough to easily fill a leadership position in any other faction.
“Hehe. So… take responsibility and become even more intimate with me from now on.”
Camelia gazed at me with a smile playing at her lips.
‘I wondered what she was scheming.’
She was actually resorting to such petty(?) blackmail.
‘Well… it’s true that I caused a rift in the relationships between the Masters because of me.’
I exhaled deeply and nodded.
“Understood. I’ll interact with you more frequently from now on, Your Majesty.”
“Huh, hehe. Ehehehe.”
“…Your Majesty?”
“Ahem, ahem. Well, if that is your wish, I suppose I have no choice. I shall accept your proposal.”
Camelia rose gracefully from the sofa where she’d been reclining, her smile deepening.
“Then I suppose I must bestow a ‘reward’ upon you now.”
“Pardon?”
A reward?
How could I receive a reward when I’d thoroughly botched the assigned mission?
“Even if it wasn’t a clean success, you did uncover whether there was a traitor among the most important Masters or not, did you not?”
“That’s… true.”
“Hehe. Then it is only proper for a sovereign to bestow an appropriate reward.”
“….”
Well, since Camelia was offering, there was no reason to refuse.
‘I wonder what the reward will be.’
Last time I’d definitely received the ‘Seven-Colored Stone’ and the ‘Blessing of the Emperor.’
‘A summoning stone that lets me summon the Empress whenever and wherever, and an elixir that supposedly only the imperial family can consume within the Empire.’
Since I’d received such incredible treasures before, my heart couldn’t help but race with anticipation about what she’d give this time.
‘Even if it’s hard to get something as grand as last time… surely I can have some expectations from the Empress?’
After all, the Empress had her dignity to maintain.
There was no way she’d prepare some trivial reward.
“Hehe. That’s quite the eager expression.”
“Ah… well, that is…”
“Do not worry. I have prepared the finest reward for you.”
“…Even greater than the Seven-Colored Stone or the Blessing of the Emperor?”
“Tsk. It is incomparable to such trivial things.”
Wow.
What on earth did she prepare to be hinting at it like this?
“I shall bestow upon you the reward I promised. Come closer to me.”
I nodded and approached the sofa where Camelia sat.
“Kneel.”
“Pardon?”
Kneel? All of a sudden?
“Would you stand stiffly to receive a reward from the Empress?”
“Ah… yes.”
Something felt off about this, but I complied nonetheless.
Following Camelia’s command, I dropped to one knee and bowed my head.
“Mmm. How delightful.”
The Empress Camelia smiled wickedly as she slowly peeled away the white stockings she wore.
Her pristine bare legs, previously hidden beneath the white hosiery, gleamed in the candlelight.
“Now then.”
Swish.
Camelia extended her long legs toward me.
Her snow-white bare feet swayed gently near my lips.
“Lick.”
“…Pardon?”
What did she just ask me to do?

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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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