The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

Chapter 128: Interlude – Hero at the End

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 128: Interlude – Hero at the End

– Ah, Cadet Yuren? This is Professor Lucas.

When I received the call from Professor Lucas, asking if Dale could stay at my place for the remaining time until the break, I couldn't help but cheer inwardly.

'Living with Dale...!'

For a moment, I was so happy that I wondered if my life as "Yuren" had been leading up to this day.

It was a ridiculous thought, but it made me feel that way.

“I should start cleaning first.”

Looking around the living room, which was cluttered with clothes and trash scattered everywhere, Yurina quickly sprang into action.

After cleaning up, a task she had put off with various excuses, she even bought some scented candles to add a faint fragrance to the room.

She had also already purchased ingredients while searching for easy recipes, thinking about cooking for Dale when he arrived.

‘Easy for beginners? Yeah, right!’

Of course, as it was her first attempt at cooking, she completely messed it up.

But even then, Dale smiled, saying he’d teach her how to cook without uttering a single unkind word.

‘Dale...’

Just thinking about the warmth of his touch after such a long time made a silly smile creep onto her lips.

"But still..."

After they finished dinner together and Yurina was practicing her mana alone in her room before bed, she suddenly noticed something strange.

'Huh?'

She could feel the energy within her Stigma had increased significantly.

‘Why did this happen all of a sudden?’

Maba breathing becomes less efficient the more mana one has.

In other words, someone like Yurina, who was essentially a mana powerhouse, gained very little mana through mana breathing.

For her mana to increase so suddenly was an impossibility unless she had consumed some sort of elixir.

And not just any elixir—something rare and priceless.

‘Could it be because of the Moonlight Blessing earlier?’

She recalled when the Moonlight Blessing had suddenly radiated light when she declared she would grow stronger to protect Dale.

‘The condition for activating the Moonlight Blessing is... thinking of someone important.’

So... her mana had increased because she had thought deeply about Dale.

“Ugh...”

Realizing this, her face flushed as if it were on fire.

Though no one was watching, she hugged her knees and buried her face between them to hide her burning cheeks.

‘Since when... have I been thinking about Dale this much?’

Of course, she knew the answer to that question better than anyone.

– Yuren... No, Yurina, is it?

That day.

The day the moon swallowed the sun.

– I’ve come to get you.

When Dale appeared like the prince in the fairy tale her brother had once told her.

When he became her new "sun."

There was no room in her heart for anyone but Dale.

“But Dale...”

She puffed her cheeks, still hiding her face between her knees.

Since he had become her sun, she had become much more conscious of his gaze.

And the one thing she had come to realize was clear.

'Dale’s gaze... isn’t on me but on Iris.'

It was something she could instinctively feel.

Just as Dale filled her heart, she knew Iris filled his.

“...That’s unfair.”

She bit her lip and clenched her fist.

‘I could care for Dale more.’

‘I could be more helpful to Dale.’

‘I could be more of a support to Dale.’

She knew that all these thoughts were nothing but petty jealousy.

But still...

“I don’t want to give up without doing anything.”

She slowly lifted her head from her knees.

Even though she knew Dale’s heart was directed toward Iris, she couldn’t just sit back and wait for them to be together without doing anything.

“...Courage.”

Dale had told her that she was the most courageous person.

That she wouldn’t yield to any fear or despair.

'Even though I think Dale overestimated me there.'

She didn’t understand why Dale had called her courageous when she used to tremble at just the sight of her mother.

“But still... I should try to be brave.”

Because Dale had said so.

“Phew.”

Taking a deep breath, she stood up from the bed.

She cautiously opened the door.

It was less than 20 meters away.

The door to Dale’s room (which used to be her dressing room) was firmly closed.

Click.

"Um... Dale?"

“What is it?”

“C-Could I... sleep with you tonight? Just for tonight?”

“...What?”

Dale blinked, surprised by the sudden suggestion.

Before he could refuse, Yurina hurriedly explained.

“So... when I was with you earlier, the Moonlight Blessing was activated, and thanks to that, my mana increased.”

“Uh, okay.”

“And I think if we sleep together, the Moonlight Blessing might activate again.”

“That’s not guaranteed, but... I think it's worth a try.”

After delivering the excuse she had prepared, Dale, wearing a serious expression, thought about it for a moment.

“Well, if it’s for that reason, fine.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah.”

With that, Dale laid down on the mattress.

Yurina carefully lay down beside him and held his hand.

‘Ah.’

The warmth that flowed from his hand.

She wanted to whine and ask him to stroke her hair, but now wasn’t the time for that.

‘Is Dale... nervous too?’

She could feel tension through his hand.

"Hehe."

For some reason, knowing this made her smile.

“Goodnight, Dale.”

“...Yeah.”

Dale responded softly and turned his head the other way.

Even though she couldn’t see his face, the sweat on his palm made her think that Dale’s cheeks were probably just as flushed as hers.

“...”

Thinking that he was feeling the same way she was, the initial nervousness began to ease.

‘I thought I’d be too nervous to sleep.’

But lying next to Dale and holding his hand, sleep slowly began to wash over her.

Without resisting it, she closed her eyes.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

* * *

“Mmm...”

How much time had passed?

Waking up, Yurina raised her head and looked around.

It was still dark outside, as the sun hadn’t risen yet.

‘So the Moonlight Blessing... didn’t activate?’

She immediately checked the Stigma within her, but there was no noticeable difference in her mana.

‘Well, it was unlikely that I’d gain more mana that easily.’

Still, knowing that being with Dale could trigger the Moonlight Blessing and increase her mana was enough for her to be content.

Still, I should be content just knowing that spending time with Dale allowed me to increase my mana through Moonlight's blessing.

'Is Dale... still asleep?'

I turned my head and saw Dale with his eyes closed.

The soft moonlight streaming through the window illuminated his face.

His dark gray hair and his pale skin, almost like a child's.

Not quite handsome like a statue, but there was something lively about his appearance.

"...Cute."

I smiled bashfully as I looked at Dale's sleeping face.

Even after staring at him for several minutes, I didn’t get tired of it.

His eyebrows, brushed by his gray hair.

His gently closed eyes.

His soft-looking earlobes.

His well-defined nose.

And then.

His lips, slightly pale in color.

"......."

Gulp.

I swallowed nervously as my throat tightened.

'No, no! That's definitely not right!'

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head urgently.

Stealing a kiss from Dale while he was asleep?

That was something I should never do.

'But...'

I bit my lip in indecision.

As I kept contemplating, I slowly moved my head forward.

Smooch.

I lightly kissed Dale's cheek and quickly stood up as if to flee.

‘He didn’t wake up in the middle, right?’

I glanced down at Dale, but there was no sign that he had woken up.

“Phew.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, I carefully left the room, making sure not to wake him.

Click.

After Yurina left and closed the door.

“.......”

Dale, who had been pretending to sleep, slowly opened his eyes.

“Sigh.”

Half sitting up on the bed, he let out a deep sigh and touched the cheek where Yurina's lips had brushed.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Running his hand through his gray hair, Dale sighed repeatedly.

* * *

And so, the short time living together with Yurina came to an end.

“You can already see that everyone's getting excited because of the break.”

Professor Lucas, who had just entered the classroom, looked at the cadets with a displeased expression and clicked his tongue.

“Well, you’re not kids anymore, so I don’t have any specific warnings. Those heading back home, have a safe trip. Those going to some vacation spot, don’t cause trouble.”

Professor Lucas wandered around the classroom lazily and then casually placed his hand on one cadet’s shoulder.

“Cadet Albert.”

“Hi-Hiiiik!”

Albert, wearing a terrified expression as if he had just seen a ghost.

“W-what, what is it, Professor?”

“Have a good break, kid.”

Professor Lucas grinned and ruffled Albert's hair.

Albert let out a sigh of relief and nodded.

“Yes, Professor.”

“Haha. Let’s keep working together in the second semester.”

“…For what?”

“Well, let’s see who’s next….”

“No! What are we going to be working together on?!”

Ignoring Albert's desperate protest, Professor Lucas returned to the podium.

“Now, as a final note, we’ll announce the rankings for the first semester’s comprehensive evaluation. Open your Hero Watches.”

Following Professor Lucas's instructions, the cadets poured their magic into their Hero Watches.

A holographic window popped up, displaying the message [Updating Grades].

‘Finally, the grades are being announced.’

I turned on my Hero Watch to check my current ranking.

[Cadet Information]

Name: Dale Han

Origin: The Republic

Year: 3rd Year

Department: Warrior

Overall Cadet Ranking: 472 / 472

A ranking I was all too familiar with.

But that would end today.

'Well... Since I completely bombed the midterms, I can't expect to rank too high.'

Still, at least I would finally be free from the misery of being dead last.

'I even got the Diamond Badge… and I should have the highest party contribution too. I might even make it into the top 50, right?'

Filled with anticipation, I stared at the cadet information screen.

[Grade update complete.]

[Please reload the cadet information screen.]

Alright! Let's see the score that will mark the beginning of my new life!

[Cadet Information]

Name: Dale Han

Origin: The Republic

Year: 3rd Year

Department: Warrior

Overall Cadet Ranking: 472 / 472

"...Huh?"

What the hell is this?

Why hasn’t my ranking changed?

“Oh, and by the way, Cadet Dale received three disciplinary actions resulting in suspension this semester, so all of his exam scores were invalidated.”

"......."

“Wow, getting suspended three times in a single semester is no easy feat… You’ve accomplished something remarkable, Cadet Dale.”

- Hmm. I wonder… will it really mean nothing?

A week ago.

I recalled the ominous smile on Professor Lucas’s face as he handed me my third suspension.

“Hahaha! You were ranked first in the final exam, but too bad!”

Grinning with that same smile, Professor Lucas looked at me.

With a hollow expression, I stared at the number ‘472’ written on my cadet information screen.

“No way.”

When will I ever escape this for real?

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]