The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 202: Traitors (3)

"Th-this can't be happening..."

Yurina, with a vacant stare as if she had lost her soul, turned to Iris and Lanez.

"So… am I the only one who hasn’t kissed Dale yet…?"

Her gaze, once dull and lifeless, slowly turned toward me.

Emotions of anger began to rise in her previously hollow eyes.

"Dale, you…!"

"Ack!"

Yurina seized me roughly by the collar.

Even though her delicate hands seemed unsuited to the image of a swordsman, the sheer strength behind them was overwhelming—enough to crush steel with ease.

"H-how could you! How could you do this to me!"

Yurina's indignant outburst drew the attention of the surrounding cadets.

"L-look over there."

"Isn't that Yuren Helios? And who's that guy with the gray hair?"

"Oh, you know, the bottom-ranked cadet in the third year who’s rumored to purposely score low grades."

"Ah, right. His name was Dale, wasn’t it?"

The murmuring among the cadets grew louder.

"I heard that guy’s been disciplined more than three times already."

"What? Seriously? What kind of trouble has he caused?"

"Apparently, he beats up seniors without hesitation if they annoy him."

"You didn’t hear? There’s a rumor he set fire to the dormitory because his neighbor was too noisy."

"Wow, that’s just insane."

"Anyway, don’t make eye contact with him. I heard he’s almost as strong as Yuren Helios."

What the hell?

Why are there rumors making me sound like some kind of lunatic?

All I’ve done is get suspended five times, set the dorm on fire, and beat up a senior bad enough to land them in the infirmary….

“Hmm.”

Thinking about it carefully, I couldn’t exactly blame them for those rumors.

The real problem wasn’t the rumors but Yurina, who looked like she was about to explode.

"I-I trusted you, Dale...! H-how could you...!"

Yurina bit her lip and trembled with anger.

The revelation that even Lanez, not just Iris, had kissed me seemed to have been a major shock.

Her cries drew even more attention from the cadets, who began speculating with sparkling eyes.

"What’s going on? A lovers’ quarrel?"

"Is this about Yuren and Dale fighting over the Saintess?"

"Or… wait, could it be…?"

"No way, not between two guys."

"Oh my, you’re so outdated. This is the era of diversity! Two guys can totally—if they’re careful."

"Wha—uh, never mind, don’t answer that."

"If they were dating, do you think Yuren would be the top or Dale?"

[PR/N: BRO?? 💀]

"Please, just stop talking."

The misunderstandings were spiraling out of control.

"Yuren, let’s calm down for a second…."

"Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down right now?!"

While I was debating how to soothe the agitated Yurina, my Hero Watch vibrated at the perfect moment.

I glanced down at the screen to see a call from Professor Elisha.

"Sorry, I’m getting a call from Professor Elisha."

"Hmph…."

Reluctantly, Yurina released her grip on my collar, her expression promising payback later.

I let out a sigh of relief and channeled my mana into the Hero Watch on my wrist.

Through the holographic screen, Professor Elisha’s voice came through.

[Cadet Dale. Can you come to my office immediately?]

"What’s this about?"

[I’ll explain when you get here.]

Professor Elisha, calling me out of the blue.

She had done this occasionally to spend time with me, claiming it was due to her lack of availability as a professor, but...

"This doesn’t seem like one of those times."

Her voice through the Hero Watch sounded unusually grave.

"Professor Elisha has something urgent to discuss, so I’ll need to head to her office."

"Understood. See you later."

"C-can I come too?"

"That might be difficult."

"O-okay. I understand."

Leaving behind Iris, Lanez, and Yurina, I turned to head to the professor’s office.

[Oh, wait.]

Professor Elisha’s voice continued.

[Bring Cadet Yuren along with you.]

"What?"

She wanted Yuren to come too?

I glanced at Yurina with a puzzled expression, but she seemed equally clueless.

"I don’t know what this is about, but… understood. We were just having lunch together anyway."

[Good. I’ll explain more when you get here.]

* * *

And so, I arrived at Professor Elisha’s office with Yurina in tow.

After a light knock, I opened the door to find Professor Elisha with a grim expression, reviewing some documents.

"You’re here?"

"Yes. But why did you summon both me and Yurina?"

"A rather troublesome issue has arisen."

Clicking her tongue, Professor Elisha placed the documents on the table.

"Recently, demons have been sighted in Valhalla City."

"…Hmm."

Demons in Valhalla City, huh.

Considering it’s the city right next to the academy, it was certainly a problem, but…

"That's nothing new, is it?"

Right.

Inside the Hero School might be an exception, but outside of it, Valhalla City was such a large metropolis that many demons had secretly infiltrated without anyone noticing.

‘Even before, the subordinates of the Archbishop of Illusions had hidden themselves in the slums of Valhalla City.’

The idea that Valhalla City was safe from demons was only something ordinary citizens who didn’t know the full story believed.

"Yes, it’s a well-known fact among those who are informed that a considerable number of demons are already hiding in Valhalla City."

Professor Elisha nodded and then added,

"However, the demons sighted this time are a bit different."

"Different, how?"

"They are wearing suspicious animal masks and appear to be acting in a highly organized manner."

"......"

Suspicious animal masks.

Naturally, what Lanez had told me flashed through my mind.

‘She said he was attacked by a hero wearing a wolf mask.’

Of course, the one who attacked Lanez wasn’t a "demon" but a "hero."

‘If demons and heroes are working together…’

It wouldn’t be surprising if both demons and heroes were operating together in that masked, mysterious organization.

"So, you’re asking me to go to Valhalla City and capture those demons?"

"That’s correct."

Professor Elisha nodded and continued,

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"This request also comes directly from Principal Lionel, who specifically designated you, Cadet Dale, for the task."

"...The principal?"

Principal Lionel personally appointed me?

‘He wants a mere cadet to uncover a demon organization infiltrating Valhalla City?’

That’s insane.

How could such a thing even be considered?

"How he knows, I’m not sure… but Principal Lionel seems to be aware to some extent of how powerful Cadet Dale is."

Principal Lionel knows about my power?

"To what extent does he know exactly?"

"After speaking with him, it’s clear he doesn’t know much. He didn’t seem aware that you have the Blessing of Revival or the Primordial Flame."

However.

Professor Elisha’s voice dropped lower as she continued,

"He does know that Cadet Dale possesses exceptional skills, far beyond what even top-ranking heroes can contend with."

"And you don’t know how he found out?"

"Did you ever make an effort to intentionally hide your strength, Cadet Dale?"

"Well… not really."

While I tried to keep techniques like the Blessing of Revival and Primordial Flame as my secret trump cards, I never particularly tried to hide my basic abilities.

‘If that had been my intention, I wouldn’t have taken down a member of the Seven-Star Knights or come in first place during the final evaluations.’

Although my first-place finish in the evaluations was nullified due to disciplinary action.

Anyway.

There were enough clues for President Lionel to deduce my strength.

"But still, is it reasonable to assign such a task to a cadet?"

"There’s more to it."

Professor Elisha let out a short sigh before continuing,

"As much as I hate to admit it, key personnel information from the Hero School has already been widely leaked to the demons. Not just the professors but also information about top-ranking cadets is in their hands."

In other words.

"The moment we step outside the school, we’re immediately marked as targets?"

"Exactly. Somehow, even with disguises, they can detect us almost instinctively."

"......"

I recalled what happened to Lanez.

As soon as she left Valhalla City, she was ambushed as if they had been waiting for her.

‘They started tracking her the moment she stepped outside the school.’

The fact that they located her faster than the school despite her unauthorized departure proved that Valhalla City was riddled with their information network.

"This situation is… more severe than I thought."

"That’s why you were chosen."

Professor Elisha nodded as she continued,

"The demons likely don’t know much about Cadet Dale."

"But didn’t Jackal recognize me?"

"He recognized you, but he didn’t fully understand your capabilities."

"That’s…"

"And based on observations, the demons currently infiltrating Valhalla City only reacted strongly to professors and top-ranking cadets from the school."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

So essentially…

"You’re saying I’m not significant enough to draw the demons’ attention?"

"Exactly."

"......"

Well.

I might be relatively well-known within the school, but to outsiders, I was just some idiot who ranked 472nd out of 472 cadets.

"…Then why did you bring Yuren along?"

I glanced at Yuren, who had been silently standing to the side, unable to join the conversation.

"Isn’t it more efficient to investigate in pairs than alone? Both of you are strong enough to handle most demons easily."

"But you said top-ranking cadets can’t go."

Yuren was the top of the class, never losing the first-place position since enrolling.

"That’s true. ‘Yuren Helios’ is well-known. However…"

Professor Elisha turned to Yurina with a faint smile.

"‘Yurina Helios’ is an unknown entity to the demons, isn’t she?"

"…Ah."

I see.

That’s what she meant.

"Cadets Dale and Yurina will head to Valhalla City to investigate the suspicious activities of the demons. Think of it as an undercover mission."

"An undercover mission…"

"Well, you two could also enjoy a date while you’re at it, couldn’t you?"

"A d-d-date?"

Yurina’s eyes sparkled like stars.

Professor Elisha nodded,

"Acting like an ordinary couple might actually lower the demons’ guard more effectively than a formal search."

"As an ordinary couple… does that mean we can kiss on the street if we want to?"

"…Do couples usually do that in public?"

"No! I saw people openly kissing in Central Plaza just today!"

"Is that so?"

Honestly.

Young people these days…

Professor Elisha clicked her tongue and shook her head.

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