The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 275

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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 275. Interlude – A Wish (1)
The attack by Demons during outdoor classes.
This incident turned the entire Academy upside down in an instant.
Thanks to Yuren and Morris, Camilla and Iris’s swift response, fortunately there were no casualties among the Candidates.
But the fact that dozens of Demons had appeared in the shallow reaches of the Demon Realm—where even Demon Beasts rarely emerged—was more than enough to chill the excitement that had permeated the Hero Academy at the start of the new semester.
All outdoor classes were suspended for the time being, and the Emergency Response Committee was established, putting the entire Academy on high alert like a porcupine bristling with spines.
While the entire Academy descended into chaos.
My role, bearing the unique title of ‘Special Candidate’—
“Sigh.”
I brushed away the vines clinging to my body and exhaled a weary breath.
A week since the incident occurred.
My task as a Special Candidate was to venture deep into the Demon Realm and scout the movements of the Demons.
‘Even after searching for four days and nights, I haven’t spotted a single Demon or even a Demon Beast.’
I rubbed my darkened eyes and settled onto a nearby tree stump.
“Haah.”
The fatigue pressing down on my body.
My limbs felt as heavy as a wet rag.
“…Dale, are you alright?”
Elisha, who shared the task of scouting the Demon Realm with me, approached with a furrowed brow.
“I’m fine.”
Outside the Academy, Elisha and I had an unspoken rule to address each other comfortably, setting aside our professor-and-candidate relationship.
But since we’d ventured out of the Academy strictly for this mission, I maintained the somewhat formal tone I used within school.
Of course.
Just because my tone was stiff didn’t mean the emotions beneath it had hardened as well.
“You look quite exhausted.”
Elisha examined the dark circles shadowing my eyes and bit her lip firmly.
“Blessing of Resurrection doesn’t recover fatigue itself.”
What Blessing of Resurrection could heal was only physical wounds.
The fatigue lingering in the body or mental exhaustion couldn’t be recovered even by Blessing of Resurrection.
“After four days and nights without proper sleep, it’s inevitable to feel fatigued, isn’t it?”
“Hmm… I’m not so sure. It seems like there’s more to it than that.”
Elisha’s sharp eyes gleamed as she examined my body.
“After the body was recreated, there shouldn’t be major issues even without sleep for about three days. And didn’t you manage to get one or two hours of sleep here and there in between?”
As she said.
Normally, this level of forced march wouldn’t have left me feeling this exhausted.
In fact, if I had to choose between three days of scouting the Demon Realm versus spending time with Lanez, I would unhesitatingly pick the latter as more draining.
“That’s…”
Yet there was only one reason I felt this fatigue now.
“Is it from fighting the Archbishop of Destruction before?”
“….”
Sigh.
“I really can’t fool Professor Elisha’s eyes, can I?”
“Hmph. Do you think I possess the Blessing of Insight for nothing?”
A low groan escaped me.
“Well, you’re right. When I fought that creature, I got caught in the ‘Black Flames,’ and the damage from that lingered.”
“…Even with the Blessing of Rebirth?”
“Yes.”
Of course, the lingering damage amounted to little more than feeling somewhat fatigued compared to usual.
But the fact that even the Blessing of Rebirth couldn’t completely heal its effects was something worth considering.
‘It’s similar to when I used the Primordial Flame.’
Now that I could handle the Primordial Flame to a certain degree, as long as I didn’t draw upon its power excessively, the exhaustion didn’t linger in my body for long.
But in the past, merely igniting it once left me bedridden and groaning for days.
“Professor Elisha, now that I think about it, didn’t you say before that the power Amon uses is similar to my Primordial Flame?”
“That’s right.”
“Come to think of it, Amon called me the ‘Heir of Destruction’ when he saw me this time.”
“…Are you saying Dale has become the successor to the Archbishop of Destruction?”
“No, that can’t be it.”
I didn’t even bear the stigma of a Demon God.
“But there does seem to be some connection. Between me and Amon.”
“…Dale speaks of such unsettling matters without hesitation, and I’m already concerned enough as it is.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Hmph. Do you think a mere apology will settle this?”
Whip!
As Professor Elisha flicked her hand lightly, spider silk coiled around my body.
“Huh?”
Surely not.
Was she planning to punish me right here and now?
“Even so, in a place like this…”
“I don’t know what you’re imagining—or rather, I think I do, but that’s not it, so rest assured.”
“Then why did you suddenly bind my body?”
“Because I intend to drag Dale back to the Academy by force if necessary.”
“…”
Back? Now?
In this situation?
“I need to monitor the movements of the Demons…”
“Sigh. Dale always tries to shoulder everything alone.”
Professor Elisha exhaled deeply, shaking her head in disapproval.
“The other professors are each investigating the Demon Realm with their own parties. If anything happens, they’ll contact us.”
“But…”
“I won’t hear any objections. Dale, return to the Academy at once and rest.”
Elisha shook her head with a resolute expression and roughly yanked the spider web.
“No, wait… Ugh! You don’t need to drag me along by force like this…!”
“Then let’s do it the other way around.”
Elisha unwound the spider web binding my body and wrapped it around her own neck instead.
She placed the end of the web connected to her neck into my hand.
This arrangement made me look exactly like an unscrupulous slave merchant forcibly transporting a captured slave.
“No, wait a moment. This composition looks strange, doesn’t it?”
“It’s not strange.”
“I’m the one being dragged away by force, but if you put the leash in my hand, what’s the point?”
“The result is that I feel better.”
….
Ah, I see.
* * *
“Given the circumstances, I brought Dale here by force. I’d appreciate it if Iris could look after Dale until he recovers.”
“Ah, yes. I understand there are circumstances involved.”
Iris glanced at the leash in my hand and the spider web wound around Elisha’s neck.
“No, wait. What exactly is this situation?”
Brought him by force?
Why is the leash tied backwards?
“There’s a deep story behind this.”
“What kind of story?”
“Let’s just say it’s a sexual preference that Dale has been secretly harboring.”
…!!!
Iris’s eyes widened in shock.
“Dale has such a p-preference…?!”
“I only recently found out myself.”
“No, excuse me.”
Why are you telling such a blatant lie with such a calm expression?
“Sigh. In any case, you’re saying I should watch Dale carefully so he doesn’t overexert himself again, right?”
“Can you do that?”
“Of course. If he tries to sneak away, I’ll punish him severely.”
“Hmm. How specifically?”
“Well… I haven’t really thought that far-”
“Personally, I’d recommend blindfolding him, putting handcuffs on his wrists, and using a riding crop to spank his buttocks repeatedly. Oh, and don’t forget to verbally degrade him in between.”
“…That’s oddly specific.”
“It’s the result of actively reflecting Dale’s preferences.”
Excuse me?
I’ve never had such preferences?
“Hmm… But wouldn’t that become a reward rather than a punishment?”
“Ah, now that you mention it, you’re right.”
That’s just how it is.
“…Are you planning to keep cracking jokes here?”
“Hmm. Time’s already gotten away from us.”
Elisha checked the time on her Hero Watch and turned to leave.
“Then, I’m counting on you to look after Dale.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Elisha opened the door and departed.
“….”
“….”
My head spun as though a tempest had swept through it.
“How are you feeling, Dale?”
“I’m fine….”
“If you say you’re fine one more time, I’m really going to tie you down.”
Ugh.
“To be honest, I’m pretty exhausted.”
Right after fighting Amon’s avatar, I’d rushed around to rescue the other Candidates, and upon returning to the Academy, I’d departed for the Demon Realm with Elisha without a moment’s rest.
Even setting aside the effects of Amon’s Black Flames, the situation alone was exhausting enough, and my blessing wasn’t functioning properly either, so fatigue was inevitable.
“Besides exhaustion? Is there nowhere else that hurts?”
“Well… a little?”
“What’s the specific level of ‘a little’?”
“Like constantly pouring boiling water all over my body? It’s nothing serious.”
“…That’s nothing serious?”
“By my standards.”
Compared to the agony of my entire body burning in flames, this was bearable.
“Why on earth did you go to the Demon Realm in that condition…! Ugh, I’m going to lose my mind!”
Iris slapped my chest repeatedly, her expression furious.
“Get into bed right now! I’ll bring painkillers immediately!”
“Come on, it’s not worth making such a fuss over….”
“Lie down, you idiot!”
“Yes.”
I’ll lie down, Saint.
“Ah… where did I put that holy water I made before….”
Iris bustled about the room and returned with a bottle containing a white liquid.
“Drink this.”
“What is this…?”
“It’s holy water I made with Grace’s advice during winter break. It has powerful pain-relieving properties, so it should ease your suffering.”
Holy water made by the Saint herself.
“The taste is really….”
“That’s it. I’m really going to tie you down.”
“No, wait—your expression looked so serious I was just joking for a moment.”
“Be quiet!”
Iris rushed into the room and emerged with handcuffs (why did she even have those?) and a riding crop (seriously, why did she have that?) in hand.
“Where in the world did you get those…?”
“I received them from Elisha a while back, but I never thought I’d actually use them.”
Click.
Iris fastened the handcuffs around my wrist and gripped the riding crop in her other hand.
“Dale really needs a proper lesson…”
That moment.
Crash!
“Brother! I heard you were injured during a mission and returned in haste! Are you… are you alright?!”
Berald burst through the door.
Behind him appeared the other party members—Yurina, Lanez, Camilla Bediche, and Sophia.
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
Ah.

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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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