The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

Chapter 236

[Translator - Night]

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Chapter 236: Mayday (1)

After bidding farewell to Empress Camellia, I immediately returned to the Hero Academy with Elisha.

Had I unconsciously come to think of the Hero Academy as my "home"?

As the school gates came into view, a sense of relief washed over me, as if I were returning from a long journey.

A wave of exhaustion spread through my body.

"I'll go report the incident's progress to the Principal."

"Shall I go with you?"

"No, it's fine. You should get some rest, Dale."

With those words, Elisha began walking toward the school gates—only to suddenly stop in her tracks.

"...Once I step past this gate, I’m no longer Elisha. I have to return to being 'Professor.'"

"I know... I mean, I understand."

"Heh. Didn’t you just say 'once I step past the gate'?"

Elisha approached with a faint smile.

She gently caressed my cheek, then lightly grasped my chin and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

Compared to our usual kisses, this one was nothing more than a fleeting touch of our lips.

But that alone seemed to be enough for her.

With a satisfied expression, Elisha turned away.

"Let’s go, Cadet Dale."

"Yes, Professor."

And so, what could be considered either a short or a long journey to the Empire came to an end.

Beyond the gates, everyday life awaited.

* * *

After parting ways with Professor Elisha, I headed to the party house before returning to the dormitory.

It had been a week… no, nearly ten days since I last set foot inside.

Click.

As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted by the sight of Berald, shirtless, wiping his body with a towel.

"Arghhh!"

Bulging muscles that looked ready to spring to life, glistening bronze skin drenched in sweat, and those nipples that stood defiantly on his chest.

The horrifying visual assault struck my eyes directly, making me scream involuntarily.

"Ah! Brother! Where on earth have you been?!"

Upon seeing me, Berald stomped over with heavy steps.

"D-Don’t come near me! Stay back, you bastard!"

"Hey now! You disappeared without a word and reappear after ten days—why so cold?! Come, into the embrace of Berald!"

"Ugh!"

He’s heavy!

He’s sweaty!

He stinks!

"I was really worried since you didn’t send any messages!"

"Ugh… grk… s-save… me…"

"Wait! Why is your face turning purple?! Were you injured somewhere?!"

"...No, you’re the one injuring me right now."

Had the commotion downstairs been heard?

Senior Sophia descended the stairs, frowning.

"Berald. Didn’t I tell you not to walk around half-naked?"

"Ah, sorry. My clothes tore during training, so I had no choice."

Berald scratched his head with an awkward smile.

"Come to think of it, my clothes have been tearing a lot recently. Last time, you even made me a new one…."

"It’s fine. I’ll make another one."

"Ah, no. You’ve already made me more than five! I can’t trouble you any further—"

"It’s not difficult, so don’t worry. Besides, where else would you find training clothes that fit your body size?"

"Well, that’s true…."

Berald trailed off, tilting his head in confusion.

"By the way, senior… can I ask what you use to make my training clothes?"

"Why?"

"Well… I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but they seem to tear way too easily…."

Berald muttered awkwardly.

"They’re just made from cheap fabric so they can be thrown away when they rip."

"Hmm. But didn’t you also enchant them?"

"M-Magic? W-What magic? What are you talking about?"

The moment he mentioned magic, Sophia visibly flinched.

Berald blinked in surprise, tilting his head.

"Huh? I could feel traces of your magic in the fabric…."

"You’re imagining things! I definitely didn’t cast any corrosion magic to make the fabric rip more easily!"

"...I never said anything about corrosion magic, though."

"A-Anyway! Instead of nitpicking, just wear what I give you!"

"A-Alright."

Sophia let out a relieved sigh, clutching her chest—not that there was much to clutch.

"......"

So she did enchant them with corrosion magic.

‘No wonder they tore so quickly.’

Sophia usually stayed in her magical re

I still didn’t have enough information.

“But at least this means you stopped a war between the Empire and the Republic, right?”

“Yes. Though the future could change again… for now, that’s how it is.”

“That’s a relief. If a war had broken out…”

Sophia trailed off as she glanced at Berald.

Sophia was from the Empire, while Berald was from the Republic.

If their nations had gone to war, their relationship would have become complicated.

“But didn’t you stop the assassination plan pretty quickly? Why did you stay in the Empire for so long?”

“Oh, that…”

I continued explaining what had happened with Empress Camellia.

“Heh…”

Iris narrowed her eyes.

She suddenly stood up and sat down next to me—on my right.

“So… Empress Camellia asked you to become her consort?”

“A-Ah, yeah.”

“……”

Again?

The look in Iris and Yurina’s eyes said exactly that as they glared at me.

“N-No! I told you, I turned her down!”

“Hmph. Is that so?”

Yurina got up and sat on my left.

“But Dale.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“When you rejected the Empress’s proposal… you said Professor Elisha was there, right?”

“…Yeah? Why?”

“Well, if I were Professor Elisha, I wouldn’t have just sat there quietly.”

“……”

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly.

“Come to think of it, did you and Professor Elisha share the same room while you were under investigation?”

“Oh… uh… w-well, technically, yes.”

“Heh. I see. So that’s how it was.”

Iris flashed a beautiful yet dangerous smile.

“In that case…”

“…While we were losing sleep worrying about you, you and Professor Elisha were off enjoying a sweet, romantic time together?”

“……”

Mayday, mayday.

[Translator - Night]

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