The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 294

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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 294. Heaven’s Door (1)
“Han Dae-su….”
After parting ways with Kalid Han.
Alone in my room, I was organizing the information he had shared with me.
“…Now that I think about it, we share the same surname.”
While sorting through my thoughts, I realized that this first foreigner and I shared the same family name, but I didn’t dwell on it much.
‘There must be countless people with the Han surname in the Republic.’
Besides, I was an orphan without parents to begin with.
It was difficult to find a connection between myself and the Eternal Cult Leader based solely on sharing a surname.
However, there was one thing that nagged at me.
‘One of the orphanage’s sponsors gave me my name, or so I was told.’
That’s right.
From what I remembered hearing as a child, one of the orphanage’s sponsors had given me the name “Dale Han.”
“….”
Lost in thought for a moment, I turned on my Hero Watch and contacted Albert.
[Ah, D-Dale. What’s going on? Did something happen with the videos we released earlier?]
A familiar voice came through the Hero Watch.
“No, it’s not that. I just wanted to know the contact information for an orphanage.”
[An orphanage contact?]
“Yeah. It’s an orphanage run by the Republic… the name was… wait a moment.”
I rummaged through the dusty drawers of my memory, recalling the orphanage’s name.
“…Sprout.”
[Huh?]
“It was called Sprout Orphanage. Can you find their contact information for me?”
[Ah, yeah. Of course. I can find contact information like that pretty quickly.]
I heard rustling sounds as he asked me to wait a moment.
[Um… Dale.]
“Yeah.”
[It looks like it’s not operating anymore?]
“…It’s not operating?”
[Yeah. According to the records, they stopped operating four years ago.]
“….”
Four years ago was when I had just enrolled at Hero Academy.
‘It didn’t seem like a place with operational problems.’
The orphanage where I spent my time was a state-run facility with surprisingly decent conditions.
Most orphanages struggled financially to the point where providing meals on time was difficult, but Sprout Orphanage never had such issues.
‘In my previous life, I was too busy adjusting to school to even notice it had closed.’
Of course, after graduation, I immediately started working as a mercenary, so I never even bothered to check if the orphanage was still operating.
“…Can you look into that orphanage for me? Like previous operational records or something?”
[Yeah, hold on.]
Once again, the rustling sound echoed through the air.
[Well, I’ve gathered all the information I can discern from the current situation….]
After waiting several minutes like that.
Albert’s voice came through the Hero Watch.
[This place… it’s a state-run institution, right?]
“Yeah. Why?”
[Well, it’s just that for a state-run institution, the facilities and financial condition are exceptionally good.]
“Well… it wasn’t a bad place, at least.”
[Hmm… it seems like one of the sponsors here must have donated quite a substantial sum of money.]
One of the sponsors donated a considerable amount of money, then.
“Do you happen to know who that sponsor is?”
[That’s….]
Albert trailed off for a moment.
[Since it’s an orphanage that’s been shut down for quite some time, it might take a while to investigate and uncover the sponsor information….]
“That’s fine. It’s not urgent right now. Can you look into it?”
[Sure. Then I’ll send some of our guild members to investigate. Once the investigation is complete, I’ll contact Dale right away, yeah?]
“Yeah.”
[Hehe. It shouldn’t take long.]
Had I ever found Albert this dependable before?
I let out a soft chuckle and nodded my head.
“Thanks.”
[Thanks? Come on, this much is natural between friends, right?]
“Still, between this and what happened before, it feels like I’ve received too much from you.”
Whether it was the video incident or recently, I’d been receiving Albert’s help increasingly often.
[W-well, Dale… instead of… well, it’s a bit awkward to say it like that, but could you do me one favor?]
“What is it?”
[Um… I went to a cosplay cafe in Valhalla City not too long ago….]
“…A cosplay cafe?”
What on earth is that?
[Ah, well… it’s a place where pretty girls in nice outfits serve you….]
“Ah, I see.”
Right.
Now that I think about it, I remember hearing about such a place from Juliet before.
[I found a girl there that I really liked, you see?]
“Oho.”
So spring has finally arrived for Albert too?
[Y-you’re really popular with girls, Dale, aren’t you? S-so I was wondering if I could get some advice….]
“Well, I don’t really have much advice to give….”
[Please!]
Albert’s voice came out desperate and pleading.
“Hmm… Do you happen to have a photo of that girl?”
[Ah, no. Photography isn’t allowed there… so I don’t have any photos. But, she’s incredibly beautiful! Blonde hair and… such a delicate figure… You know, kind of like a noble lady’s style? Hehe.]
This bastard.
He’s fallen hard, that’s for sure.
“I need to know more about that girl before I can give you any real advice.”
[Um… well then. Dale, if you’re free today, want to go to the cosplay cafe with me?]
“…You want me to go there with you?”
[Y-yes! She’s probably working right now!]
“….”
Hmm.
I had my doubts about leisurely visiting a cosplay cafe during such a critical time.
‘Then again, staying cooped up in the Dormitory won’t accomplish anything either.’
Without knowing where the Eternal Cult Leader was or what he was plotting, it was difficult to make the first move.
‘Training doesn’t mean much anymore either.’
Now that I’d absorbed even the Demon God’s flames, training was merely a form of warm-up exercise to maintain my senses—it no longer contributed to advancing my cultivation.
“Fine, let’s go.”
[R-really?!]
“Yeah.”
Since I had nothing else to do anyway, it seemed only right to repay Albert for all the help he’d given me.
[Then let’s meet in front of the School Gate in 30 minutes!]
“Got it.”
I hung up and rose from the bed.
“Let me see then….”
First, I should shower.
* * *
“Oh, Albert?”
Albert, heading toward the meeting place, turned at the sound of his name.
Golden hair that seemed melted from precious metal, and a handsome face so striking that even men couldn’t help but admire it.
It was Yuren Helios, a celebrity known throughout the Academy.
“Y-Yuren? What brings you here?”
“Just heading back to my room.”
“Ah, right. You’re in the A Building Dormitory too.”
I hadn’t had much contact with Yuren since last year’s final evaluation, but recently we’d ended up in the same class and exchanged greetings in passing.
“By the way… I heard Albert helped Dale recently?”
“Huh? You mean the Orphanage matter?”
“Orphanage? No, I was talking about that video incident.”
“Ah, that.”
Albert nodded with an awkward smile.
“But the Orphanage? Did Dale ask you to do something else?”
“Y-yeah. He asked me to investigate an Orphanage in the Republic.”
“Hmm. Really?”
“So I sent one of our guild members to that orphanage.”
“Albert certainly helps Dale with a lot of things.”
“Aw, come on—we’re friends. Oh, and today Dale agreed to help me out!”
“…Dale agreed to help you with something?”
“Yep!”
Albert nodded brightly, his smile radiant.
“Help you with what?”
“Ah… well, that’s….”
“Ah, if it’s awkward to say, you don’t have to.”
“Hehe. Sorry.”
We weren’t close enough yet for me to confess that I’d recently developed feelings for someone.
“So you’re going to meet Dale now?”
“Yep! We’re going to this… cosplay cafe in Valhalla City together.”
“…A cosplay cafe?”
In that instant.
Yuren’s eyes flashed with a chilling gleam.
“A cosplay cafe—isn’t that the kind of place where female staff wear those kinds of outfits while serving?”
“Cough. W-well, when you put it that way, it sounds like some shady establishment! It’s not like that!”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s just… a place where you can escape the monotony of everyday life and experience a little~bit of fantasy, you know?”
“I see.”
His eyes grew even colder.
“L-look! You’re a man too, so you understand!”
“…Yeah. I understand perfectly well.”
“R-right?”
Ahem.
Albert cleared his throat awkwardly and quickened his pace.
“Anyway, it’s about time for my appointment, so I’ll head out first!”
“Sure. Have fun.”
Yuren watched Albert’s retreating figure and clenched his fist tightly.
“I see. So Dale still has energy left after spending time with all of us?”
He muttered in an ominous tone, then activated his Hero Watch.
“Yeah. Iris? There’s something I need to talk to you about….”
* * *
“Is this the cafe Albert mentioned?”
The entrance of the cafe we’d arrived at with Albert was lined with photographs of female staff in all manner of costumes—the sight alone made one want to back away.
“U-uh. Yeah. This is ‘Heaven’s Door.'”
“Heaven’s Door, huh….”
Huh?
Now that I think about it, I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.
‘…When was it?’
My memory was hazy—perhaps I’d caught it in passing conversation.
‘Well, I’ll find out once we’re inside.’
I followed Albert through the cafe entrance.
“Welcome, gentlemen~ Is it just the two of you?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Hehe. No need to be nervous. Make yourselves comfortable, comfortable! Heaven’s Door always welcomes our valued guests~”
“Hehe. Yes….”
“Please, come sit over here. Oh, is there anyone in particular you’d like to request?”
“Ah, um… we’d like… Juliet, please….”
“Of course~”
The waitress withdrew with practiced grace and professionalism.
“Ahem. So, what do you think? They’re all quite beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Well… I suppose they are.”
I glanced around at the waitresses bustling about, my eyes narrowing slightly.
‘Something feels… off.’
How could I describe it?
An instinctive sense of rejection was creeping up from within me.
‘Why do I feel this way?’
In the moment I was frowning at this inexplicable aversion—
“Tada~! Welcome, gentlemen! Your personal angel, Juliet….”
My gaze locked with that of the waitress who had supposedly stolen Albert’s heart.
And then.
“….”
“….”
Time froze.
‘No.’
What was Juliet Kang doing here?

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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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