The Last Place Hero’s Return - Chapter 45

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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 45. Special Appointment Professor (2)
The Candidate Program students moved to the Outdoor Training Ground for their sparring match.
Among them, one student with a distinctly pallid, sickly complexion trembled and muttered under his breath.
“Why… why me? Why am I always the one being called?”
Albert whimpered, his voice laden with sorrow.
Elisha approached him with the sharp click-clack of her footsteps.
“You’re Albert Huber from the Candidate Program, correct?”
“Ah… yes, yes! That’s correct!”
Elisha activated her Hero Watch and examined the holographic roster of candidates that materialized above it.
“Third-year Candidate Program comprehensive evaluation ranking: 237th out of 472. Warrior Department member with a sword as your primary weapon. Your stigma is that of the Earth God, and you possess no divine blessings. Is that right?”
“Y-yes, that’s correct!”
Albert answered while swallowing nervously, clearly tense.
“Hmm.”
Elisha withdrew a cigarette from her pocket and placed it between her lips.
Click, whoosh!
Vincent, the silver-haired young man with a ponytail standing beside her, produced a lighter and ignited her cigarette.
“Ordinary.”
Based on the roster, Albert’s level was precisely average for the Candidate Program.
“P-professor, sir. Rather than someone ordinary like me, wouldn’t someone with better grades be…”
“No. This is perfect.”
Exhaling smoke, Elisha deactivated her Hero Watch.
“I want to understand exactly what level the third-year Candidate Program average is right now.”
“Ah… I see.”
He couldn’t bring himself to voice the objection that there were plenty of other candidates besides him.
“Come to the center of the training ground.”
“…Yes.”
Albert walked toward the center of the training ground with all the vitality of cattle being led to slaughter.
“The sparring match will be conducted in actual combat style using mana and real blades.”
“R-real combat, you say?”
“Yes. Fight with the resolve to kill your opponent.”
“But what if an accident happens…”
“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”
Elisha shook her head with unwavering certainty.
She shifted her gaze toward Vincent standing beside her.
“Vincent.”
“Yes, Professor.”
Vincent stepped toward the center of the training ground.
Elisha spoke quietly to the departing Vincent.
“Take it easy on him.”
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
Vincent gave a small nod.
“…Gently?”
Had Elisha’s words reached Albert’s ears as well?
Standing in the center of the Training Ground with his sword gripped tightly, Albert’s expression began to frost over with barely concealed irritation.
She told him to fight with the resolve to kill his opponent, yet instructed the instructor to go easy on him.
It was outright contempt, regardless of whether she’d said it directly or not.
“Sigh. Fine… I suppose it’s true that I’m just an ordinary Candidate without anything special about me.”
Albert drew his sword from his waist and took his stance.
“But I’m still a Hero Candidate!”
His stigma blazed with light as mana enveloped his entire body.
Before the whistle could even sound to signal the start of the match, Albert kicked off the ground and charged toward Vincent.
A sharp blade thrust pierced toward Vincent, who hadn’t even drawn his sword from his waist yet.
“Ho. An ambush.”
One of the best strategies a weaker fighter could employ when facing a stronger opponent with a significant gap in ability.
In a normal sparring match, it would have been disrespectful, but if one considered this “real combat,” it was actually a move worthy of commendation.
“However.”
A cold sneer played at the corners of Elisha’s lips.
“How clumsy.”
Clang!
A brilliant silver flash gleamed.
Albert’s sword, aimed at Vincent, was deflected with a clear metallic ring.
“Ugh…!”
Albert barely managed to maintain his grip on the sword as a dizzying recoil shot through his palm.
He steadied his wavering stance and summoned his mana.
The mana spreading throughout his body concentrated into his blade.
“Hyaaaaaah!”
With a fierce shout, he leaped forward once more.
Elisha’s eyes gleamed coldly as she watched the match.
“Too much force. Your mana distribution is a mess.”
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Vincent deflected Albert’s mana-infused blade, then lightly kicked at Albert’s knee.
“Wh-what?”
Having poured all his mana into his sword, Albert couldn’t maintain his balance and crashed forward onto his face.
“Ugh…”
Albert groaned, clutching his nose as blood began to flow.
Shing.
A silver blade came to rest against Albert’s neck as he lay prone.
“I… I concede.”
“….”
Having subdued Albert in merely two exchanges, Vincent sheathed his sword and turned away without expression.
“Hmm.”
Elisha, who had been observing the match from the sidelines, furrowed her brow with evident displeasure.
Her gaze shifted toward the Candidates gathered around to watch the bout.
“Next.”
“Y-yes….”
The Candidate singled out by Elisha hesitantly stepped forward, gauging the reactions of those around him.
And the match began anew.
Clang! Crash!
“Ahhh!”
Once again, less than thirty seconds into the match, the Candidate dropped his sword and collapsed face-first onto the Training Ground floor.
“Next.”
After roughly five similar bouts had unfolded in succession.
“Enough.”
Elisha raised her hand lightly, bringing the matches to a halt.
“Sigh.”
Elisha exhaled deeply, pressing her forehead as if her head ached.
“Pathetic.”
She turned her fierce gaze toward Lucas Kane and continued.
“If third-year Candidates are at this level, I can only conclude that the absence of casualties during the demon incident was purely a matter of luck.”
Elisha clicked her tongue in disapproval.
“Lucas Kane.”
“Yes, Senior.”
“Do you believe the pitiful level of your Candidates stems from their inadequacy, or from your own deficiency as a professor?”
“That would be….”
Lucas Kane answered in a composed voice.
“My own deficiency.”
“Is that so? Then this will be straightforward.”
Elisha opened her mouth with a cold sneer.
“Take responsibility and resign from your professorship.”
“…!”
Lucas Kane’s eyes widened in shock at the stunning declaration.
“W-wait, please. If I resign, who will oversee the Candidates…?”
“Vincent will assume your position.”
“He is an instructor, not a professor!”
“So? Though Vincent may fall somewhat short of you in raw combat ability, I believe he possesses superior skill in disciplining the Candidates.”
“….”
Lucas Kane’s expression hardened visibly.
“That is not the issue!”
At that moment.
A Candidate stepped forward with trembling feet.
“…Albert?”
Lucas Kane’s expression shifted to one of surprise as he watched the Candidate step forward.
“E-even though Professor Lucas Kane is violent, eccentric, has a terrible personality, only creates strange concoctions like his special juice, and constantly torments me whenever he’s bored…!”
“Hey, you bastard.”
“H-he’s still a wonderful professor!”
At Albert’s outcry, Elisha let out a dry chuckle.
“…Which part of what you just said could possibly evoke the image of a ‘wonderful professor’?”
“T-that is… well, you see… um… I-I may not know anything else, but I’m certain of this one thing!”
Albert cried out, his voice strained as he swallowed hard.
“Professor Lucas Kane is someone who teaches us what it truly means for a hero to be called a ‘true hero’!”
“….”
Silence descended with Albert’s declaration.
“Ha.”
A hollow laugh escaped Elisha’s lips.
“A true hero, you say… Are you still spouting such nonsense?”
Elisha turned to face Lucas Kane, her gaze cold and mocking.
“A hero is simply one who can kill more demons and Demon Humans. Talk of what constitutes a ‘true hero’ is nothing but useless idealism with no practical value whatsoever.”
“A powerless hero cannot protect anyone or anything.”
Therefore.
“A strong hero is the only true hero. Anything else is merely garbage unworthy of being called a hero.”
Elisha’s sharp gaze swept across the Candidates.
“In that sense, you are all garbage unworthy of being called hero Candidates.”
“….”
The Candidates fell silent like statues at Elisha’s cutting words.
“…Did you just call my students garbage?”
Then.
Lucas Kane, who had been quietly lowering his head, began grinding his teeth audibly.
“Yes. Did I say something false?”
“….”
Lucas Kane closed his eyes firmly and clenched his fists.
The clenched fists trembled slightly, but only for a moment.
“Ah.”
Had some brilliant idea just struck him?
Lucas Kane turned his gaze toward me, and a sly smile spread across his face.
‘What is this.’
Why was he suddenly looking at me and smiling like that?
“Hehehehe. Well… since the senior brought out her ‘assistant instructor,’ I suppose I can bring out mine as well.”
I’m not your assistant instructor, you fool.
“How about this, then?”
My silent protest went unheard.
Lucas Kane walked over with heavy footsteps and placed a hand on my shoulder with a firm pat.
“Why don’t you spar with this Candidate?”
“This Candidate is…?”
Elisha tilted her head and reviewed the Candidate roster.
“Name: Dale Han. Overall ranking: 472nd out of 472. Primary weapon: sword. Bears the stigma of the Forest God with no divine blessing… Is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“…Are you joking with me right now?”
Elisha stared at Lucas Kane with an expression of disbelief.
Candidates with far higher overall rankings couldn’t even properly block a single strike from Vincent and collapsed like dominoes—and now he wanted her to spar with the lowest-ranked Candidate?
“Stop spouting nonsense. If you insist on another match, send out the highest-ranked Candidate in this class.”
“No. This Dale has circumstances that resulted in a lower ranking, but his actual ability is undeniable.”
“Ha.”
Elisha scoffed dismissively.
No matter how unfairly ranked, how strong could the lowest-ranked Candidate possibly be?
“I didn’t want to say anything harsh out of respect for our old connection… but this is starting to irritate me.”
“So, will you spar? Or will you forfeit?”
“Spar with some lowest-ranked Candidate? What kind of match would that even be…”
“Scared?”
“….”
Elisha pulled out tobacco from her pocket and placed it between her lips.
Without lighting it, she chewed the tobacco like gum, then turned to face Vincent.
“Vincent.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“The hunting dog’s head seems to be aching. Help him regain his senses.”
“Understood.”
Vincent gave a quiet nod and walked toward the center of the Training Ground with heavy steps.
“Hehehehe.”
Lucas Kane watched Vincent approach the Training Ground, a deep smile spreading across his face.
“Dale.”
“…What is it?”
“If you win, I’ll make you ten glasses of my special juice.”
“I don’t need—”
“Of course, Albert will be the one drinking it.”
“Oh.”
Now that’s actually tempting.
“Well… I understand. I’ve grown attached to you as my professor, so I don’t want things to change now.”
If Lucas Kane were to resign from his position, wouldn’t his Professor’s Office—which I’d been using as my Hideout—disappear as well?
“Dale.”
“What now?”
I turned to see Lucas Kane standing with his arms crossed, chuckling to himself.
“Take it easy.”
“….”
I let out a soft chuckle and nodded.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”

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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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