The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 152: The Cadet Disappearance Case (6)

From the first time I heard about the "Case of the Missing Cadets" from Berald, I felt a strange sense of discomfort.

The unease that took root in my heart only grew the more I investigated the case.

Then, when I encountered a masked man in a densely forested mountain...

I could finally recognize the source of my discomfort.

“W-Wait a second? Professor Jade? What are you saying, brother?”

Berald looked at me in shock.

Ignoring his question, I looked at the masked man.

"......"

I could see the man's eyes quiver slightly through the mask.

I sighed deeply and spoke.

“Keeping quiet won’t help you now.”

“…How did you know?”

An all-too-familiar voice came from behind the mask.

I glanced at Laios lying on the ground and continued.

“There aren’t many people within the Hero Academy who can knock out someone like Laios Ryuu using pure magic alone.”

This year’s fourth-years were packed with talented cadets, considered one of the strongest classes yet.

Among them was Laios Ryu, ranked fourth overall.

The grandson of the “Thunder God” and a renowned genius magician.

Only someone with at least professor-level skills could have overpowered him.

‘In fact, even for a professor, this wouldn’t have been an easy task.’

It wasn’t just about winning in a fight.

Whoever did it had to subdue Laios so quickly that he didn’t even realize he was under attack — a feat only possible for those ranked at the very top among heroes.

“So you figured it out just based on that?”

“No, that alone wouldn’t have been enough. After all, our professors are extremely capable.”

It’s true that it would be a difficult task for a professor, but not an impossible one.

With a well-timed surprise attack, it wouldn’t be impossible for another magic professor to subdue Laios instantly.

But...

“Most of the professors are currently busy with late-night meetings preparing for the second semester.”

All except Professor Jade, who had practically stepped down after the incident two years ago.

“Heh. Meetings… I didn’t even know those were happening.”

Professor Jade gave a hollow laugh.

“But even so, that alone wouldn’t have been enough to be certain it was me.”

It wasn’t as if Professor Jade was the only professor who didn’t attend those meetings.

And there was always a chance it could have been an outsider.

“Well… let’s say it was partly intuition.”

That wasn’t entirely false.

There were various clues — like how the cadets involved all felt tickling sensations on the area marked with their Stigma, or the way Professor Jade seemed to hide something when I visited his lab.

Even I hadn’t been completely convinced that Professor Jade was behind the case before coming here.

But...

“Earlier, when you were deflecting Sophia’s spell, you also cast a barrier to protect Laios from getting caught in it.”

“……”

“That’s when I was sure. The culprit was you, Professor Jade.”

Despite the gruesome nickname he’d earned as the “Student Killer,” I, who’d spent time close to him, knew better than anyone how much he cared about the cadets.

“…You’re too clever, Cadet Dale.”

With a bitter smile, Professor Jade removed his mask.

The man with a weathered face and thick beard was none other than Jade Bastian, descendant of the great sage Julius Bastian and the continent’s foremost expert on Stigma.

“So, it really was you.”

Did she already suspect him as well?

Sophia gripped her staff tightly, her gaze fierce.

“…Cadet Sophia?”

“Don’t say my name with that filthy mouth.”

Sophia glared at Professor Jade with eyes as cold as ice.

“The reason you knocked out the cadets… was it for your ‘Artificial Stigma’ research?”

“……”

“Even after killing my brother, you still couldn’t give up on that cursed research?”

At her accusation, Professor Jade lowered his head, saying nothing.

Then...

Vrrrooom!

“Get back!”

Blue energy erupted from Professor Jade like an explosion, and Berald jumped in front of Sophia, crossing his arms in an X to shield her.

Boom!

With a loud crash, Berald’s body was pushed back.

“Ugh!”

“You…!”

Sophia scowled fiercely and pointed her staff at Professor Jade.

Crimson energy flared at the tip of her staff, forming dozens of red orbs in the air.

The orbs, brimming with powerful magic, rained down upon Professor Jade.

“Heh… Quite fitting for that one’s sister.”

Professor Jade gazed at the descending red orbs with a bitter smile.

His hand formed a series of hand signs, as if painting in the air.

Crackle!

A geometric blue sigil unfolded in the air, warping the path of the red orbs.

Boom!

Trees were uprooted, and a deafening sound shook the forest.

“But this old man’s skills aren’t rusty just yet.”

“Tch...!”

Sophia bit her lip and stepped back.

The geometric blue light filled the spot where she’d just been standing.

As the battle intensified, I rested my hand on my sword’s hilt and narrowed my eyes.

If I joined the fight, subduing Professor Jade wouldn’t be too difficult.

‘But something feels wrong.’

The strange unease in my heart hadn’t completely gone away.

It was a sticky, unsettling feeling, like seeing two misaligned cogs grinding against each other.

‘I’ll wait a bit longer.’

I released my grip on my sword and watched the battle between Sophia and Professor Jade.

“Sister! Stand back!”

“Who are you calling sister?”

Grumbling, Sophia stepped back as Berald dashed forward.

Taking a quick breath, he spread his mana wide.

His opponent was a professor — and not just any professor but the descendant of one of the Five Great Heroes who had sealed the Demon God five hundred years ago.

But…

“If that’s the case, I’m also the descendant of the Iron Fist!”

Berald created a mana projectile in midair, then swung his fist with all his might.

“Mountain Crusher!”

Boom!

The mana projectile shot forward with a thunderous sound as his fist made contact.

“Punching magic…?”

Despite having spent his entire life immersed in the world of magic, Professor Jade was stunned by the technique he’d never seen before.

But only for a moment.

His hands moved swiftly, forming a blue geometric sigil in midair.

Boom!

With a resounding impact, Berald’s mana projectile was reflected back toward him.

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“What the—!”

As the deflected projectile shot back, Berald hastily crossed his arms to block.

Thud!

The impact threw him to the ground.

“Berald!”

“Ugh… I’m fine.”

Berald waved his hand to stop Sophia, who was about to run over.

With blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, Berald staggered to his feet.

“Stop it. If you keep going, you’ll end up seriously hurt,”

Said Professor Jade, watching Berald struggle to stand.

“It’s true you’re a highly skilled candidate, but facing me right now is beyond your capability.”

“Heh. I know that much,”

Berald smirked.

Jade’s strength indeed matched his reputation as the successor of the "Great Sage."

So powerful that it felt impossible to find a way to win.

“But, you see…”

A surge of explosive energy erupted from Berald’s body.

“I’ve been fighting opponents like you all summer long.”

Battles against seemingly unbeatable opponents were nothing new for him.

“…I intended to save this move for a sparring match with my brother.”

Berald crouched low, inhaling deeply.

A stance akin to a crouching predator.

The pressure he emitted weighed down on Professor Jade, as though facing a wild bear.

“Whew.”

Exhaling the breath he had drawn in, Berald pushed off the ground.

Boom!

His body shot forward like a gust of wind.

“It’s no use!”

Jade stretched out his arms, forming a sign with his hands.

An even larger wall of blue symbols appeared in the air, higher and stronger than before.

Staring at the towering magic barrier, Berald let out a low chuckle.

Vrrrmmm!

A new spell began to form in the air.

It wasn’t just a magic bullet but a long, extended “magic plate.”

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

He sprinted across the magic plates as if he were flying through the sky.

A technique he’d adapted from "Wind Step" that he learned from Dale.

Berald’s unique martial art.

Sky Step.

“Haaah!”

Berald leaped over the wall of blue magic.

He clenched his fist soaring high and propelled himself forward, diving down at high speed.

“Berald’s Martial Art!”

Mountain Strike.

KRRRRASH!

Berald’s fist crashed down like lightning, creating a massive explosion.

“Argh!”

Professor Jade, caught in the blast, was thrown backward.

“Tempest Wave!”

Not missing the chance, Sophia swiftly cast her magic.

A surge of red energy swept toward Jade like a tidal wave.

Boom!

The fierce explosion tore through the earth.

“Grrr… Cough, cough!”

When the dust settled, Professor Jade’s tattered form emerged.

He had managed to form a magic barrier to avoid major injuries, but his robe was torn, and his body was littered with small wounds.

“…Impressive.”

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Jade looked at Berald and Sophia.

Though he had focused only on defense, he hadn’t expected to be pushed back by mere candidates.

“…Speak.”

Sophia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the beaten Professor Jade.

“Tell us!”

“…What should I tell you?”

“What do you think!”

Sophia grabbed him roughly by the collar, her voice rising.

“Tell me why! Why did you, and my brother, have such an obsession with that ‘Artificial Stigma’?”

Her voice cracked with desperation.

“Why… why couldn’t my brother give up on that cursed research even as he lay dying?”

“……”

Professor Jade looked at Sophia, her anguished expression, and kept his mouth shut.

A brief silence.

Finally, a low, grave voice escaped his lips.

“…Because he wanted to save the world.”

“What?”

Sophia’s face contorted at the absurdity of his words.

With a bitter smile, Professor Jade continued.

“Yes… We just wanted… to save the world….”

Two years ago.

Professor Jade’s shoulders trembled with a quiet sob as he recalled his faded dream.

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