The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 292

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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 292. Interlude – The Saint’s Fall
Through the mouths of continental connoisseurs, across the communities of heroes, whispered among candidates.
Like a spark fallen into a dry forest becoming a wildfire that consumed entire mountain ranges, the video spread with breathtaking speed.
Within a mere ten-second clip lay content shocking enough to overturn the entire Continent—
But the problem was that there wasn’t just one video.
Starting with the Master, the Spider of Malice, the Saint, the Descendant of the Sun Swordsman, and countless other famous figures.
Malicious videos accusing all manner of celebrities of being the “Demon God” were produced so rapidly that no one could identify the original, spreading across the entire Continent.
As this happened, the shocking content became a sort of trend among heroes, spawning dozens, hundreds of videos—from crudely imitated ones to those crafted with such high quality they were indistinguishable from the genuine article.
-Now, you are- the Demon God.
Those words Amon left behind as he died had now spread so widely among ordinary people without stigmata that even ten-year-old children in the streets had taken to parroting them as a catchphrase.
“In summary, this all occurred within five days of the video’s spread.”
Elisha played a video filmed on the streets of Valhalla City showing little children giggling at each other, shouting “You’re the Demon God!”, “No, you’re the Demon God!”, and let out a short laugh.
“…Honestly, I didn’t expect it to be this effective.”
“That’s thanks to the Albert Family.”
Given the nature of the video’s content, it would have spread quickly even without the Albert Family’s assistance.
But transforming it into a sort of “meme” was largely the Albert Family’s doing.
‘Once something becomes a meme, it doesn’t just multiply—it grows exponentially.’
And the memes created this way would make it impossible to distinguish what was truth and what was fiction among them.
“Still, I’m relieved. When Dale’s video first came out… it was incredibly overwhelming.”
Iris exhaled a relieved breath, her hand pressed to her chest.
Yurina nodded and turned her gaze toward me.
“By the way, how did you convince the Masters? Pope Marian and Johan must have been difficult to persuade.”
“Ah, I’m curious about that too. If it were those two, they wouldn’t have stayed quiet after hearing Dale had become the Demon God….”
“That was….”
I trailed off, my gaze slipping away.
How could I openly admit it before my party members?
That when words didn’t work, I resorted to physical persuasion (?).
“Well, you know how it is.”
“Hmm. The way you’re dodging this suggests you definitely did something.”
“Yeah. I should ask Camelia about it later.”
….
Damn it.
Right, Camelia existed.
“Ahem. Anyway, when did you and Camelia start calling each other sister and sister?”
“When we went to the hot spring together before. She said she’d like it if I’d treat her more comfortably.”
“From what I heard, she seemed like a really scary person… but talking to her, she’s actually quite nice.”
“Y-yes. She d-doesn’t try to m-monopolize Dale or anything….”
My lovers, having grown closer to Camelia, wore expressions far more relaxed than when they first met her.
‘Thank goodness.’
Given my Empress’s personality, I’d been somewhat worried whether she’d get along well with my other lovers, but seeing this, it seemed my concerns were unfounded.
“W-well, at least that’s a relief… I thought Dale might get into serious trouble because of me.”
Lanez’s eyes glistened as she tugged at my collar repeatedly.
‘Even when I tell her it’s fine, she keeps doing this.’
Well, I suppose this crumpled, worried expression of hers was charming in its own way.
“B-but if… if everyone had cursed Dale and… I would have frozen them all solid and k-killed them….”
“….”
Ah, um.
Right.
S-so it is charming, then?
“Anyway, everything resolved without any problems, so don’t worry.”
“O-okay. I understand, Dale.”
“Come on, no more tears.”
As I wiped away the tears pooling at her eyes, Lanez blushed and broke into a bashful smile.
“Ehehe. I love you, Dale….”
Lanez nuzzled into my embrace like a puppy, rubbing her cheek against mine.
If she had a tail, I imagined it would be wagging back and forth with unbridled joy right now.
I chuckled softly and stroked the head of the girl nestled in my arms.
“Ahem. By the way… has the Eternal Cult Leader made any other moves since then?”
Elisha settled into the seat beside me, glancing back at Lanez in my embrace with a slightly envious expression.
“No, not yet.”
Since the victory celebration, the Eternal Cult Leader had shown no further activity.
Thanks to that, one might say.
The Hero Academy had resumed normal classes as well.
“…I wonder how long this will last.”
My party and I were all prepared for the fact that this peace wouldn’t continue indefinitely.
“Well, there’s no way he’d stay quiet like this.”
“…Candidate Dale.”
“But we’ve taken one step forward now.”
Right.
Just one more step, and I could grasp the life I’d always desired.
In the endless Snowy Wasteland, amid the relentless blizzard.
The life I’d yearned for all this time.
“So let’s push forward just a little longer.”
“Hmm….”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“No, it’s just… that sounded like a terribly ominous premonition.”
Ah, it definitely does sound like a death flag.
“I don’t think that applies to me, though.”
What meaning could death flags possibly hold before me?
“Hehe. When you put it that way, I suppose you’re right.”
Elisha chuckled softly and nodded her head.
“Then for now… we should simply savor this calm before the storm.”
Elisha leaned her body close to me, her voice dripping with moisture as she whispered.
In her eyes burned an unmistakable fervor that could not be concealed.
“Hmm… is that so?”
“Well, yes. In swordplay as well, relaxing the body’s tension is just as important as wielding the blade itself.”
It was not only Elisha.
Iris and Yurina too were swallowing hard, their eyes burning with intensity.
‘Their gazes all seem dangerous somehow.’
Sensing an ominous premonition, I tried to quickly rise from my seat.
*Squeeze.*
“Dale… where are you going?”
I was immediately stopped by Lanez, who had been nestled in my arms.
“D-Dale… do you know? I, I haven’t been able to… with you for almost a month now….”
“….”
Just as Lanez said.
I had been unconscious for two weeks after the recent war, and afterward, the image incident erupted immediately, leaving no opportunity to spend time with my lovers.
“H-How cruel… y-you only did it with Camelia… s-sister.”
“That’s not….”
“And now all the photos for side dishes have r-run out!”
“….”
Side dishes?
What on earth are you talking about, Lanez?
“Sister Lanez is right.”
Iris narrowed her eyes while crossing her arms.
“It’s true that you’ve been spending much less time with us lately, isn’t it?”
“That’s unavoidable….”
“We’re already caught fish, aren’t we?”
“N-No, that’s not what I meant!”
Sharp gazes pierced me from all directions.
“Ugh. Fine.”
It seemed I would need to set aside time for my lovers today.
“But….”
I looked around hesitantly at Iris, Yurina, Lanez, and Elisha.
Yes.
Spending time with my lovers was good.
After all, there was nothing I could do until the Eternal Cult Leader made a move.
The problem was—
‘With whom?’
Setting aside Camelia, who wasn’t present at this moment.
Which of my lovers am I supposed to spend time with today?
“Dale, you’ll be with me today, right?”
“Hmm. Didn’t Candidate Yurina just train with Candidate Dale not long ago?”
“That, that was training!”
“Still, you did spend time together.”
“Oh, oh, today… I brought it up first, so, so I’ll be with Dale….”
Lanez grabbed my collar with a fierce determination, her eyes blazing as if she wouldn’t yield today.
A menacing atmosphere was building among the starving beasts who hadn’t fed in nearly a month.
“Why do we need to fight among ourselves?”
The Saint’s wisdom gleamed brilliantly.
“We could just all do it together, couldn’t we?”
“What.”
“All, all, all, all together…?”
“Ho, so there was such a method.”
The faithful marveled at the Saint’s insight.
“Um, Iris…? Even so, that would be quite difficult for me….”
“Dale, you should keep your mouth shut.”
“….”
Why are you like that to me?
“Hehe. Well, that’s naturally something you brought upon yourself, isn’t it?”
Iris smiled gently, presenting an irrefutable argument.
“Ugh… r, really all together…? I, I’m embarrassed….”
“Yurina has done it before, hasn’t she?”
“Even so….”
Yurina trailed off hesitantly, seeming uncertain.
“Then Yurina wants to sit this one out?”
“Oh, no, I don’t want that!”
“Hehe. What about the rest of you?”
Iris turned to look at Lanez and Professor Elisha, who still lacked experience in group activities(?)
“I, I… if I can be with Dale… I, I don’t mind.”
“Hmm….”
Unlike Lanez, whose eyes sparkled as she nodded eagerly, Professor Elisha hesitated for a moment, considering her dignity as a professor.
“Sigh. I suppose there’s no helping it.”
Suppressing her rising desire was no easy task for her either.
“Well then….”
“First… shall we, wash up?”
I was dragged toward the bathhouse by my lovers like a cow being led to slaughter.
“But wait, are you really going to do this all together?”
I’m seriously going to die like this.
“It’s fine, Dale.”
Iris continued with a benevolent smile.
“If I die, I can simply be resurrected.”
“….”
Suddenly, a memory from the past flashed through my mind.
-Never speak of a life as cheap again.
The Saint’s gentle whisper as she caressed my cheek with tenderness.
-To me… your life is more precious than any other.
Yes.
She had said exactly that!
That my life was more precious than any other!
So why….
“Oh right, I have a vitality elixir that Professor Jade Bastian gave me. He warned that while it’s incredibly potent, it might leave aftereffects on the body… but you should be fine with it, right Dale?”
How did it come to this… how did things end up like this.
“Hic.”
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks at the sight of the fallen(?) Saint.

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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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