The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 31

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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 31. Professors in Both Hands (3)
The Exclusive Dining Hall, primarily used by professors and their teaching assistants.
What should have been a peaceful space where meals were enjoyed and pleasantries exchanged had instead become suffused with a tension as if a war were about to break out.
‘What is this? Why did things suddenly turn out like this?’
I stared at the two professors locked in a tense standoff, my expression clouded with confusion.
“Dale should become my teaching assistant.”
“Nonsense. Dale is a Candidate I’ve been overseeing since his first year. It’s only natural he comes under my supervision.”
The two professors engaged in a war of nerves over me, neither willing to yield an inch.
‘I never said I wanted to be a teaching assistant, you two.’
How had I, a struggling late-bloomer in the Candidate Program, become the object of such fervent courtship from two professors?
‘It’s not like I did anything particularly remarkable.’
Let me think through this carefully.
Yes, first there’s Jade Bastian.
‘All I did was secure research funding for him, solve a few problems that even specialized professors struggled with, personally procure materials needed for his research, and clean his Laboratory—which was practically a garbage dump.’
Wait.
Hold on.
Now that I think about it, that’s quite a lot of things.
‘Right, right! Jade Bastian could have his reasons!’
Two years ago, an incident had branded Jade Bastian as a “student murderer,” effectively expelling him from the Academy.
For the past two years, he’d been barred from teaching Candidates and conducting personal research—a loss so profound it was only natural he’d feel an indescribable sense of despair.
In such circumstances, it was perhaps inevitable that he’d take interest in the figure known as Dale Han, who appeared like a comet.
‘But Lucas Kane is different.’
Lucas Kane was the one who had borne every hardship imaginable, guiding me through these past two years of lagging behind.
He wouldn’t even want me as a teaching assistant, let alone a student under his direct supervision, yet here he was suddenly demanding I come under him.
‘The only recent thing I did with Lucas Kane was… ah.’
Suddenly.
The memory struck me—when I’d handed Lucas Kane a glass of wine and subtly revealed information about Bianca.
“Damn it.”
I never imagined that my attempt to repay even a fraction of my debt from my past life would come back like this.
“Dale, what do you think?”
“…You. You’re not seriously thinking of going under that insane professor, are you?”
Jade Bastian and Lucas Kane stood on opposite sides, with me in the middle.
The formation alone resembled that of an indecisive protagonist caught between two heroines in some cheap romantic comedy from the Republic.
‘Except my heroines are professors.’
I pressed my throbbing temple and bit my lip.
Jade Bastian and Lucas Kane.
Both professors were essential talents for the war against Demon Human that would come in the future.
‘Jade Bastian can research and create various magical items related to stigmas beyond just stigma amplifiers. Lucas Kane is a hero with both personal strength and exceptional leadership.’
A situation where I couldn’t choose either one.
I immediately moved to mediate between the two professors, whose atmosphere had grown so hostile they looked ready to come to blows.
“Why don’t we go inside and finish this conversation over a meal?”
“A meal? Ha, I have no intention of eating with that fool.”
“I agree entirely.”
“Then do you plan to keep standing here in front of the Cafeteria, blocking the way for everyone passing by?”
“That’s….”
“Hmm.”
The two professors swallowed their pride and glanced around cautiously.
Though their heads were burning with anger, they hadn’t quite lost all sense of propriety. After exchanging wary looks, the two professors quietly entered the Cafeteria.
“….”
“….”
After ordering the day’s special and taking our seats, an awkward silence settled over the table.
“Let me be clear about one thing. I don’t know exactly what happened between you two, but to me, you’re both professors I deeply respect.”
“Respect? Ha! What respect are you talking about? You’re the one who comes to my office and sprawls around whenever you’re bored.”
“That’s….”
“Never mind. I don’t care whether you respect me or not.”
But then.
Lucas Kane glared fiercely at Jade Bastian.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t get too involved with that man.”
“That’s my line. You’re not suited to associate with someone so barbaric and ignorant.”
“What did you just say?”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“You bastard…!”
The atmosphere grew tense enough to explode at any moment.
“Enough.”
I opened my mouth, my voice low and measured.
“What are you two doing, acting so shamefully at your age?”
It was far too disrespectful for a Candidate to speak to professors this way, but seeing their behavior, I couldn’t help myself.
“Ugh….”
“Ahem. My apologies.”
The two professors still possessed enough reason to recognize their own conduct as shameful. They offered no objection to my tone and simply clamped their mouths shut.
Just as an awkward silence descended over the table once more.
“Oh? I’ve never seen the two of you together before.”
A young man with deep brown hair and a gentle impression approached our table.
A man with youthful features who could easily be mistaken for a Candidate.
It was Morpheus, the professor I’d seen during the “Mental Discipline” class last time.
“Ah? That Candidate from the class back then is here too.”
Morpheus gazed at me with bright, curious eyes.
I rose from my seat and bowed lightly.
“I was having a brief consultation with the two professors, so we’re dining together.”
“Ah, I see. By the way, would it be any trouble if I joined you?”
Morpheus naturally settled between Jade and Lucas before I could even respond.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about this anyway.”
“With me, Professor?”
“Yes. I’m curious how you managed to destroy my welcoming magic in a single strike.”
Morpheus wore a composed smile, yet his sharp gaze pierced through me as if dissecting my very being.
I shrugged and opened my mouth.
“Well, surely it’s because you held back your power when casting the magic, Professor?”
“Hmm. Even so, it’s not magic that can be escaped so easily. Especially not for someone like Candidate Dale, who possesses such a meager amount of mana.”
Morpheus narrowed his eyes suspiciously as he studied me.
As I felt my insides twisting at the thought that the identity of the Primordial Flame might leak out, salvation came.
“Didn’t you hear that Dale is currently in a meeting with us?”
“Whatever the situation, interrogating Dale as if he’s committed some crime doesn’t sit well with me.”
Lucas and Jade fixed their gazes on Morpheus simultaneously.
Morpheus offered an awkward smile and turned his attention away from me.
“Haha. Both of you, please calm down. I had no intention of reproaching Candidate Dale.”
Morpheus continued with a casual shrug.
“But I’m curious what this meeting is about.”
“That’s not something you need to know.”
“Come on, don’t be like that. Tell me. I helped you with the mental training classes before, didn’t I?”
“Hmm.”
Lucas swallowed and fell into brief contemplation.
Though Morpheus was a fellow professor, he was far less experienced than Lucas, so Lucas could have retorted that Morpheus shouldn’t boast about merely helping with a few classes.
“Tsk.”
Deciding that wasn’t the right approach, Lucas clicked his tongue lightly and spoke.
“Jade and I were discussing which of us would become your teaching assistant.”
“Oh? This turned out to be more interesting than I thought.”
Morpheus glanced at me, wedged between the two professors, and smirked.
“Which side interests you more, Candidate Dale?”
“Neither particularly interests me.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, we just brought up the teaching assistant position, and there are still two years until graduation, so there’s no rush to decide.”
No.
Even with all the time in the world, I have no intention of becoming anyone’s assistant, you fool.
“Hahaha! A candidate coveted by two professors known for their pickiness… now I’m intrigued too. Of course, I was interested from the beginning anyway.”
Morpheus smiled brightly and turned his attention back to me.
‘Please, just stop already.’
As if Lucas and Jade weren’t enough, now Morpheus too.
Why were teaching assistant offers pouring in from every direction when I’d never experienced this in my previous life?
“Morpheus.”
“Didn’t you hear what we just said?”
“Haha. Just joking, joking. How could I possibly covet a candidate that you two professors have already claimed?”
If anything, it was a blessing in disguise.
Faced with the territorial stubbornness of the two professors who had already staked their claim on me, Morpheus quickly raised the white flag.
‘Indeed.’
Lucas Kane and Jade Bastian were professors with ten years of experience this year by teaching credentials alone.
Even among professors, Morpheus—not yet three years in—didn’t have the seniority to compete with them.
“Besides, with all the Seal Festival preparations lately, I don’t have time to focus on anything else.”
“Ah, that’s right. You’re the one in charge of running this year’s Seal Festival.”
“Yes. From issuing merchant stall permits to scheduling events… ugh, it’s killing me.”
Morpheus shook his head and let out a string of complaints.
“This is exactly the opportunity for a young professor like you to demonstrate your abilities. You volunteered to take on the Seal Festival preparations yourself, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t realize it would be this hectic.”
Morpheus sighed and smiled wryly.
“Still, since I’m putting in the effort to prepare, I hope it becomes a festival that all of you professors and the candidates can truly enjoy.”
“Hmph. We do this every year—what’s there to enjoy about it?”
“Haha. That may be true, but this time I’ve prepared several surprise events, so it should be far more entertaining than usual.”
Morpheus tapped his chest with a confident expression.
“It will be an unforgettable festival—the best one yet. Please look forward to it.”
At the ambitious young professor’s declaration, faint smiles appeared on the faces of Lucas Kane and Jade Bastian.
“Heh heh… youth is a wonderful thing.”
“Well, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
“Then, so as not to disturb your meeting any further, I’ll take my leave.”
Morpheus bowed respectfully and rose from his seat.
“Now then, Dale, let’s continue where we left off… huh?”
“What? Where did this guy go?”
In the space where Morpheus had been.
Only the two professors remained at the table.

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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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