The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 289

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 289. Demon God Dale (6)
[Now—you are the Demon God.]
School Central Plaza.
The Archbishop of Destruction’s voice echoed one final time across the plaza where hundreds of candidates had gathered.
“What, what is this?”
“That’s… him, right? That… fourth-year bottom-ranked…?”
“His strength is on par with Yuren’s, but he deliberately causes trouble to maintain his bottom rank—that delinquent?”
“I, I’ve seen him before!”
The candidates whispered among themselves, their gazes converging in one direction.
At the center of their attention stood a single candidate with dark gray hair.
A candidate bearing the rather dishonorable title of “bottom-ranked hero” within the Academy.
“…Damn it.”
I bit my lip as I turned to face the concentrated stares.
The broadcast displayed images of me and Amon.
It wasn’t difficult to guess who had orchestrated this.
-I’ll help you reach a point where you want to end this world.-
“Ha.”
So this was his method.
Recalling the Eternal Cult Leader’s voice, I twisted my expression into a savage grimace.
“Eek…!”
“E-everyone, step back!”
“Hey, don’t be ridiculous. Do you really think that’s real? He’s not even a Master—how could a candidate become a Demon God?”
“B-but what if…?”
“Right! And didn’t you hear the rumors about… Dale? They say he receives disciplinary action like it’s nothing…?”
“W-what if he really did collude with the Demons?!”
The shocking content from the broadcast combined with my usual reputation for hitting rock bottom, creating a synergistic effect that amplified the chaos among the candidates.
I watched the candidates retreat with anxious expressions, clutching my head in frustration.
‘I never thought my school record snowball would roll this far.’
If the person in the video had been Yuren instead of me, the candidates’ reaction would have been entirely different.
Yuren had maintained the top rank from his first year at the Hero Academy through his fourth year—he was a prodigy.
Considering how dramatically a person’s reputation could swing based on their “comprehensive evaluation ranking” among the candidates, the wariness they displayed now could only be attributed to my grades.
‘And it’s not even that my strength is lacking.’
Let me objectively assess my reputation within the Academy right now.
Based on my performance in classes and testimony from those around me, most agreed that my actual strength was comparable to Yuren’s, the year’s top-ranked student.
Yet I deliberately maintained my bottom rank by repeatedly causing near-trollish incidents and accepting every disciplinary action thrown at me.
Rumors had also spread that I went outside and stayed away from campus like it was nothing, even during disciplinary periods.
Of course, I went outside and stayed away so frequently because of my duties as a Special Candidate, but there was no way ordinary candidates would know I held such an unprecedented special position in Academy history.
In other words, when all these rumors were synthesized, the candidate known as “Dale Han” would be—
‘Damn suspicious.’
Suspicious enough that even the Empress had taken interest—so what would the other candidates think?
On top of that.
“Now that I think about it, why was it… Lanez? There was a Candidate from the recent graduating class who was called the ‘Witch,’ wasn’t there?”
The rumor that reached the peak of the already worsening commotion was precisely about Lanez.
“Ah, that woman who’s supposedly the daughter of the Archbishop of Bitter Cold?”
“Y-yes! From what I heard, that witch and Dale Han were incredibly close…”
“Hey, it’s not just being close—apparently even after graduation, she goes in and out of Dale Han’s room every single day?”
“Wow, seriously?”
“A friend of mine actually saw it with their own eyes before.”
“Then… could it be…?”
“Could he really be… a Demon God…?”
The suspicion spreading among the Candidates was gradually hardening into certainty.
“D-Dale… that’s…”
“…Dale, I think it would be better if we left this place?”
“The atmosphere isn’t good.”
Watching the situation deteriorate further, my party members’ faces grew rigid.
There was no way to stop the video mid-playback, and even if we could, it was already too late to undo the damage.
If I stayed here as my party suggested, the commotion would only grow worse.
“…Let’s go.”
I nodded and returned to the Party House with my party members.
* * *
“B-brother…! What on earth is happening?!”
The moment we returned to the Party House, Berald asked with a deathly pale expression.
“…It seems the Eternal Cult Leader made a move.”
“The Eternal Cult Leader? How could he possibly manipulate the victory celebration video…?”
“I don’t know.”
Right now, figuring out how the Eternal Cult Leader could manipulate the victory celebration video wasn’t the priority.
The real issue was how to contain the damage from an incident that had already spilled over—no, exploded like a fountain.
‘How am I even supposed to clean this up?’
I was thinking it would be easier if the Eternal Order had just launched a large-scale invasion of the Academy.
“I-I’m sorry… D-Dale.”
Lanez, her face drained of all color, opened her mouth with a trembling voice.
“It’s because of me… D-Dale… Dale…!”
“It’s not because of you.”
“That’s a lie! Didn’t you hear the Candidates whispering?!”
The nail in the coffin of the worsening situation was precisely the rumor that Dale was close to the ‘Witch.’
“It’s because of me… If only I wasn’t here…!”
Lanez curled up, tearing at her hair in self-loathing.
While spending time with party members who acknowledged and accepted her, she had almost forgotten.
But the world’s gaze upon her still remained fixed on ‘Witch.’
“Ugh.”
Crack!
“Aaahhh!”
Lanez shrieked as she rubbed her forehead, now swollen and flushed red from the flick I’d given her.
“Dale…?”
“I told you it wasn’t your fault.”
Even without the rumors about Rajez, the commotion would have continued to spread.
The video released by the Eternal Cult Leader was simply that groundbreaking in its content.
“B-but….”
“Tsk. Do you want me to keep repeating myself?”
“….”
Lanez’s eyes glistened with tears as she carefully tugged at my collar.
“You really… won’t blame me?”
“There’s nothing to blame you for in the first place.”
“You… won’t abandon me?”
“If you try to run away like last time, I’ll drag you back even if I have to bind you up.”
“…Dale.”
Lanez finally broke down and wept.
“U-ugh… Dale, Dale, Dale, Dale, Dale, Dale, Dale!”
Lanez burrowed into my embrace as though she’d never let go, rubbing her tear-stained cheeks against me.
Her tears and snot stained my uniform shirt, but I didn’t mind at all.
“It’s alright. Everything will work out.”
I stroked the head of the girl nestled in my arms.
“Y-yes. If there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do anything!”
Lanez cried out, sniffling loudly.
The turbulent atmosphere in the room gradually settled, but.
‘Damn it.’
To be honest, the situation wasn’t looking good.
Unless the Archbishop of Illusion possessed some illusion magic… no, even if he did, the spread of rumors would outpace any attempt to manipulate the candidates’ memories.
‘By tomorrow, the entire Continent will probably know about this.’
Some would shake their heads, insisting it was nonsense.
But others would genuinely believe the video and reveal their hostility.
‘If we’re being honest, becoming a Demon God is the real truth.’
There was no easy way out of this situation.
“Sigh.”
As I exhaled a deep breath.
Click.
Elisha, who had stepped out briefly, returned to the room with a stern expression.
“Dale.”
“Yes.”
“…The Headmaster is calling for you. He’s asking you to come to the Headmaster’s Office right now. It seems… all the other Masters will be gathering as well.”
“….”
Damn it.
Has word already spread that far?
“Dale! I’m coming with you!”
“M-me too!”
“I-I want to come along as well!”
The moment Yurina, Iris, and Lanez heard I’d been summoned to the Headmaster’s Office, all three rushed toward me at once.
They likely intended to accompany me and vouch for my character.
“No.”
That would only make things worse.
“I’ll go to the Headmaster’s Office alone.”
“B-but….”
“It’s fine. I’ll manage to convince them.”
I followed Elisha down the corridor, leaving my worried companions behind.
* * *
I arrived at the Headmaster’s Office in Elisha’s wake.
“…I must wait outside.”
Perhaps considering the rapport between Elisha and myself, she had been instructed by Raonel to remain outside.
Standing before the door, she bit her lip firmly, her expression taut.
“…Dale.”
“Don’t make that face.”
I playfully pinched her rigid cheek.
“….”
For a moment, Elisha’s eyes followed my hand, and a faint smile graced her lips.
“I want you to remember one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Even if the entire world turns against you, I will stand by your side.”
“….”
To say something like that at a time like this.
‘I’ll have to scold her later.’
Feeling the weight pressing down on my shoulders lighten somewhat, I opened the door to the Headmaster’s Office.
Creak.
“…You’ve arrived.”
As I stepped inside, the musty scent of old archives assailed my nostrils.
Before me stood the assembled Masters.
That’s right.
Unlike last time, when we’d communicated through video, every Master had gathered here in person.
“Please, sit.”
Pope Marian’s voice was cold and measured, a stark departure from her usual gentle demeanor. Johan Basillio, the Sword of Holy Nation, radiated a killing intent sharp enough to draw his blade at any moment, while even Kalid Han—who’d kept a bottle of liquor at his side during wartime—now stared at me with a rigid expression, his drink untouched.
Johan Basillio of the Sword of Holy Nation was radiating a sharp killing intent as if he could draw his blade at any moment, and even Kalid Han, the “Falling Flower Swordsman” who kept a bottle of liquor by his side even during war, was staring at me with a hardened face without taking a single sip.
“….”
Only Camelia remained composed, her expression thoughtful and free of hostility.
The atmosphere was entirely different from the last Summit Meeting.
“You understand why I’ve called you here, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Raonel’s voice descended into a heavy, grave tone.
“So the contents of that footage… are they true?”
“….”
I turned my gaze toward Pope Marian.
The Pope’s eyes fixed upon me with unmistakable wariness.
‘The existence of Primordial Fire… cannot be concealed.’
If I were not under suspicion, perhaps it would be different.
But if Pope Marian began a thorough investigation, hiding the existence of Primordial Fire would become impossible.
‘Then.’
If it could not be hidden, there was only one path forward.
“Answer quickly. Is it true that you’ve inherited the power of the Demon God?”
My deliberation was brief, my resolve swift.
“It is true.”
I turned to regard the Masters seated in the conference room, my voice low and steady.
“I… am the Demon God.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————