The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 45: Special Instructor (2)

The cadets moved to the outdoor training grounds for sparring.

Among them, one cadet with an unusually pale face trembled as he muttered to himself.

“Why... Why me? Why am I always the one picked?”

Albert's voice was filled with sorrow as he whimpered.

Approaching him with the sharp sound of her heels clicking was Professor Elisha.

"Are you Cadet Albert Hoover?"

"Ah... Yes, yes! That's me!"

Elisha turned on her Hero Watch and checked the holographic list of cadets.

"Ranked 237th out of 472 in the third-year cadet comprehensive evaluation. Affiliated with the Warrior Division, main weapon: sword. Divine Stigma: Earth God’s Stigma, with no blessings held. Is that correct?"

"Y-Yes!"

Albert gulped nervously as he replied.

"Hmm."

Elisha pulled a cigarette from her pocket and placed it in her mouth.

Click, poof!

The silver-haired youth standing beside her, Assistant Instructor Vincent, took out a lighter and lit her cigarette.

"Average."

Albert's profile showed that he was precisely at the average level of a cadet.

"Uh... Professor, wouldn’t it be better to pick someone with higher grades than someone as ordinary as me...?”

"No. You’re perfect."

Exhaling smoke, Elisha turned off her Hero Watch.

"I want to know the exact level of the average third-year cadet right now."

"Ah... Yes."

Albert couldn’t bring himself to argue that there were other cadets who fit the bill besides him.

"Step into the center of the training ground."

"...Yes."

Albert walked towards the center of the training ground, looking as if he was being led to the slaughterhouse.

"The sparring will be conducted using both magic and real swords, in a combat style."

"Re-Real combat?"

"Yes. Fight with the intent to kill your opponent."

“But what if an accident happens...”

“That won’t happen, so don’t worry.”

Elisha shook her head firmly.

She then turned her gaze to Assistant Instructor Vincent, who was standing beside her.

“Vincent.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Vincent began walking toward the center of the training ground.

As he moved away, Elisha quietly spoke in a low voice.

“Go easy on him.”

“…Understood.”

Vincent nodded slightly.

"Go easy...?"

Had Albert overheard what Professor Elisha had said?

Standing in the center of the training ground with his sword in hand, Albert’s expression began to show a hint of anger.

She told him to fight with the intent to kill, but then told the assistant instructor to go easy on him?

It was as good as saying he wasn’t worth taking seriously.

“Huff. Sure... I may be an ordinary cadet with nothing special going for me, but…”

Albert drew his sword and took his stance.

“But I’m still a hero cadet!”

His Divine Stigma glowed as mana enveloped his entire body.

Before the whistle signaling the start of the match could sound, Albert dashed towards Assistant Instructor Vincent.

His sharp sword strike targeted Vincent, who hadn’t even drawn his own sword yet.

“A surprise attack, huh.”

One of the best choices for a weaker fighter when facing a stronger opponent.

Normally, this would be considered rude in a sparring match, but in ‘real combat,’ it was a move that could even earn praise.

“But…”

A cold smirk formed on Elisha’s lips.

“It’s sloppy.”

Clang!

A flash of silver light.

Albert’s sword, which had been aiming for Vincent, was deflected with a clear metallic sound.

“Ugh...!”

Albert barely managed to hold onto his sword as the impact reverberated through his palm.

He stabilized his footing and channelled his mana.

The mana that had been spread throughout his body now concentrated on his sword.

“Haaaaah!”

With a fierce shout, he leaped once again.

Elisha’s eyes turned icy as she observed the match.

“He’s putting too much strength into it. His mana distribution is a mess.”

Clang! Clang, clang!

Vincent deflected Albert’s magic-infused sword and lightly tapped Albert’s knee with a swift kick.

“Huh, huh?”

Having poured all his mana into his sword, Albert lost his balance and fell flat on his face.

“Ugh…”

Grabbing his nose, which had started to bleed, Albert groaned in pain.

Thunk.

Vincent’s silver blade touched the back of Albert’s neck.

“I-I’ve lost.”

“……”

Having subdued Albert in just two exchanges, Assistant Instructor Vincent sheathed his sword indifferently and turned away.

“Hmph.”

Elisha, who had been watching the sparring match from the sidelines, furrowed her brows in dissatisfaction.

Her gaze shifted to the cadets who had been watching the match.

“Next.”

“Ugh…”

The cadet Elisha pointed at hesitantly glanced around at the others before stepping forward. The sparring match began again.

Clang! Clang!

“Ack!”

This time, it didn’t even take 30 seconds before the cadet dropped his sword and fell to the ground.

“Next.”

After about five similar bouts, Elisha raised her hand lightly, signaling the end of the matches.

“Sigh.”

She let out a deep sigh, rubbing her forehead as if she had a headache.

“Pathetic.”

Her fierce gaze turned to Professor Lucas as she continued speaking.

“If the third-year cadets are at this level, it’s hard to believe that there were no casualties during the monster incident by anything other than pure luck.”

Elisha clicked her tongue.

“Professor Lucas.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Do you think the poor performance of your candidates is due to their problems, or do you believe it reflects on your own qualifications as a professor?”

“That would be….”

Professor Lucas replied in a calm voice.

“It’s my own qualifications.”

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“Is that so? Then the discussion will be brief.”

Professor Elisha let out a cold sneer as she spoke.

“Resign from your position as a professor.”

“……!”

At the shocking declaration, Professor Lucas’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“W-Wait a moment. If I resign, then who will take care of the candidates…?”

“Vincent, the teaching assistant, will take your place.”

“But he is an assistant, not a professor!”

“So what? Although Vincent may be somewhat lacking in terms of strength compared to you, I believe he is superior in terms of training the candidates.”

“…….”

Professor Lucas’s expression hardened.

“T-That’s not true!”

At that moment, one of the candidates stepped forward, trembling.

“…Albert?”

Seeing the candidate step forward, Professor Lucas looked surprised.

“E-Even though Professor Lucas is fierce, quirky, has a bad temper, makes weird things like special juice, and always troubles me when he’s bored…!”

“Hey, you little brat.”

“B-But he is still a good professor!”

Albert’s outcry made Professor Elisha chuckle.

“…Which part of what you just said makes him seem like a ‘good professor’?”

“T-That’s… I mean. Well… Even if I don’t know about other things, one thing is certain!”

Albert swallowed hard and exclaimed with great effort.

“Professor Lucas teaches us what being a true ‘hero’ means!”

“…….”

With Albert’s outcry, silence fell over the room.

“Hah.”

A derisive laugh escaped from Professor Elisha.

“A true hero… Are you still spouting such nonsense?”

Looking coldly at Professor Lucas.

“A hero is defined by how many monsters and demons they can kill. The talk about what makes a true hero is just useless idealism.”

“A powerless hero cannot protect anyone or anything.”

Therefore.

“A strong hero is the only true hero. Anyone who doesn’t meet that standard is just worthless trash.”

Professor Elisha glared sharply at the candidates.

“In that sense, you are all trash who don’t even deserve to be called hero candidates.”

“…….”

At Elisha’s harsh words, the candidates remained silent as if they had been struck dumb.

“…Are you saying that my students are trash?”

At that moment, Professor Lucas, who had been keeping his head down, gritted his teeth.

“Am I wrong?”

“…….”

Professor Lucas closed his eyes tightly and clenched his fists.

For a moment, his clenched fists were trembling.

“Oh.”

Did he suddenly come up with a good idea?

Professor Lucas turned towards me and grinned broadly.

‘What is it now?’

Why is he suddenly smiling at me?

“Hmm, since you’re using a ‘teaching assistant,’ I suppose I can call in my own assistant as well.”

I’m not your assistant, you know.

“Well then, how about this?”

It seemed like my unspoken protests weren’t heard.

Professor Lucas walked over and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Let’s have this candidate fight in a duel.”

“This candidate is…?”

Professor Elisha tilted his head and looked over the list of candidates.

“Name: Dale Han. Ranked 472 out of 472. Main weapon: Sword. Possesses the Stigma of the Forest God, but no blessing… Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“…Are you kidding me?”

Professor Elisha looked at Professor Lucas with a dumbfounded expression.

Even candidates with much higher ranks couldn’t withstand Vincent the assistant’s sword, and now you want to pit a rank-and-file candidate against him?

“Stop the nonsense. If you really want to continue with a duel, then send out the highest-ranked candidate in this class.”

“No. Though Dale here is rated lowest, his skill is definitely solid.”

“Hah.”

Elisha sneered dismissively.

No matter how low the ranking, how strong could a rank-and-file candidate possibly be?

“Though I was hoping not to speak harshly out of old friendship… It’s starting to get irritating.”

“So, will you have the duel, or will you back down?”

“A duel with a rank-and-file candidate…”

“Scared?”

“…….”

Elisha took out a cigarette from her pocket and put it in her mouth.

Chewing on the unlit cigarette like gum, Elisha glanced at Vincent the assistant.

“Vincent.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“The hunting hound seems to be a bit of a headache, so help him get his senses back.”

“Understood.”

Vincent the assistant nodded quietly and walked to the center of the training grounds.

“Hehe.”

Professor Lucas, watching Vincent walk out, wore a deep smile.

“Dale.”

“…Yes?”

“If you win, I’ll make you 10 glasses of my special juice.”

“I don’t need….”

“Of course, Albert will drink them.”

“Oh.”

That sounds a bit tempting.

“Well… I agree. I don’t like the idea of a professor change either.”

If Professor Lucas resigns, his office, which I often use as a hideout, will also disappear.

“Dale.”

“What now?”

Turning my head, I saw Professor Lucas with his arms crossed, grinning widely.

“Take it easy on him.”

“…….”

I chuckled and nodded.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

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