The Last Place Hero's Return-Chapter 91: A Common Occurrence (3)

A sigh escaped my lips, laced with ashen smoke. The energy flow that had unleashed an explosive surge of mana was now burning hot. I twisted my lips into a smirk as I stared at the monster’s severed tail.

Was this how it felt for someone who had been on a strict diet their whole life to finally indulge in an all-you-can-eat buffet? A shiver ran down my spine, then a euphoric thrill spread through my body, electric and heady.

I thought, So this is what it feels like...

For so long, I had been conditioned to conserve mana, wield my sword with restraint. But now, with no such inhibition, the destructive force of my strike far surpassed anything I had imagined.

However, it burned through mana like crazy. If I hadn’t recently reforged my body into a “furnace,” which expanded my mana capacity exponentially, I would have been incapable of handling this. Nevertheless, the power gain was worth the trouble. The output was very impressive even though I hadn’t activated Ignition. If I had, my power would have increased more than two times. In Ignition mode, mana recovered faster as well, so it would also have been less burdensome on me.

A low chuckle slipped from between my lips. Only after swinging my sword without worrying about mana depletion did I start to understand what Yurina had meant. In many ways, this style of swordsmanship truly suited me.

I had spent thousands of years honing the sword, yet I had never realized this. No, maybe it was because I had spent thousands of years with the sword that I couldn’t realize it. This was a new style of swordsmanship, one that fit the person I had become now. Calling this swordsmanship the Sun Sword Style no longer felt appropriate. The form, the flow, everything had changed. If I kept the same name, I would inevitably fall back into old habits.

I looked down at the sword in my hand. Within the flickering gray aura, a spark of flame burned steadily. It was a color no other hero, past or present, had ever possessed. From this unique aura alone, the name for this new swordsmanship came to me naturally.

The crocodile demonic monster, stunned in place while staring at its severed tail, finally erupted in a furious roar and stomped forward. Its hulking frame, several tons of muscle and steel-hard scales, launched at terrifying speed. It was a force of destruction that could turn any ordinary person to pulp with just a graze.

However, I just raised my sword toward it. “Tch.”

Mana infused within my soul stigmata coursed through my body. With a heavy step forward, I pulled forth my strength in a burst. Unlike the Sun Sword Style, which focused on precise, controlled strikes, this was an all-or-nothing blow that burned every last drop of mana.

I executed a technique crafted not for anyone else, but solely for me, Dale Han. Its name was the Ashen Flame Style First Form: Ash Severance, and it cleaved through the monster’s massive body with ruthless precision.

Following a resounding crash, the five-meter-long creature split from crown to belly, falling to the ground in two halves. A pungent, burning stench filled the air as gray smoke hissed from the torn flesh.

As I exhaled and began reabsorbing my mana, I wobbled slightly. I had probably burned too much mana at once.

Using my sword like a cane, I steadied myself and examined the monster’s bisected corpse. There was no mana stone. Then again, I had gotten lucky during the midterm evaluation. Demonic monsters that had eight eyes or more rarely had mana stones inside them anyway. Trying to hide my disappointment, I turned away, only to hear a shocked voice behind me.

“What in the world... Dale, what on earth did you just do?” Professor Baldwin’s tone was filled with disbelief. She looked at me, eyes trembling, as if what she had seen defied all logic.

She had been the only one to witness my fight with the crocodile monster during the midterm evaluation. In that fight, I had barely scraped by after a desperate struggle. Not much time had passed since then, yet I had cut the thing down now with just two strikes. Her shock was only natural.

I shrugged and cracked a joke. “Well, isn’t rapid growth part of the cadet experience?”

***

When Elisha heard Dale’s remark, her face contorted in frustration. She asked, “Is that supposed to be an excuse?”

Sure, it was common knowledge that heroes experienced explosive growth during their cadet years, but even that had its limits. To cut down an eight-eyed demonic monster, something that even seasoned professors avoided, like it was some stray mutt? That wasn’t just a growth spurt. That was a snake turning into a dragon overnight.

With a deep sigh, she shook her head. “Haa! I always suspected you had some hidden potential, Dale...”

She thought, When I had spoken to Professor Kane, he told me that Dale might one day surpass even the Great Five Heroes... Maybe the “someday” he mentioned isn’t as far off as we thought.

***

As Professor Baldwin seemed to get lost in a moment of thought, I asked, “Anyway, how are the survivors?”

“Thankfully, they seem to be okay,” she replied.

It helped that we had protected them in advance, but more than that, the battle had ended so quickly that there had been no aftermath to harm them.

“They’re still weak, though. Let’s move them to the village quickly,” she added.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Professor Baldwin and I escorted the survivors back to the village. As soon as we arrived there, a middle-aged woman came rushing out from the entrance.

When she saw her daughter lying limp in Professor Baldwin’s arms, tears streamed down her face. “L-Lumi! Lumi!”

She ran to Professor Baldwin. “Thank you! Thank you so much, brave heroes!”

“Save your thanks for later. Some of them are in critical condition. Lay them down quickly and get them some porridge,” replied Professor Baldwin.

“Y-yes! Right away!”

It seemed that her cries had reached the rest of the villagers, who had been hiding inside their homes. They burst out all at once, shouting with joy.

“The heroes defeated the demonic monster!”

“We’re saved! We’re really saved!”

“Wooooah!”

“Thank you! Thank you, brave heroes!”

“The blessings of the Seven Gods be upon you!”

Tears streamed down their faces, tears of joy and relief. But among them were some whose tears carried a different weight. They came up to us with hesitant eyes.

“Umm, Hero, did you... by any chance... see my husband?”

“Have you seen my mother? Is she...?”

“N-no... Philip! Phiiiliiip!”

Out of the seven who had been abducted by the demonic monster, only four made it back alive. In other words, some of them would never return.

Professor Baldwin averted her gaze, unable to watch the grieving villagers any longer. A bitter expression hardened her face.

“Are you all right?” I asked out of worry.

“Hmph! Who do you think should be worrying about who here?”

“There’s no rule saying cadets can’t worry about professors, is there?”

She coldly replied, “Quiet.”

However, the shadow over her face seemed to lift just a little, and she said, “Let’s continue the investigation tomorrow. We both need rest tonight.”

“Agreed.”

After using the Ashen Flame Style, I had consumed a good deal of mana and needed rest myself. So, Professor Baldwin and I entered a nearby vacant house to get some much-needed downtime.

Suddenly, a cautious knock came at the door. Then a muffled voice came behind the door.

“Heroes? Are you inside?” It was Village Chief Oliver.

Professor Baldwin got up and opened it. “What is it?”

“It’s not much of a reward for defeating the demonic monster, but the villagers have decided to hold a small festival this evening,” Chief Oliver replied.

“A festival?”

“Yes. A celebration for those who returned and a memorial for those we lost. We would be honored if you, our heroes, would join us and bless the gathering with your presence.”

Professor Baldwin immediately replied in a firm manner, “Not interested.”

Chief Oliver looked flustered but didn’t give up. “The villagers are really hoping to see you there. We’d also love for you to try our village’s specialty, apple cider. Please, would you consider it?”

She fell silent, swallowing her hesitation. “Hmm.”

It was clear she was uncomfortable being treated like some grand figure, knowing it might weigh on the villagers’ humble resources. This woman’s heart was too soft for her own good.

I smothered a laugh and leaned in to whisper, “I’ll contact the Helios family and ask them to send aid to the village later, so you don’t have to feel guilty about attending.”

Her eyes sparkled with a mixture of disbelief and curiosity. “The Helios family?”

“I happen to be on pretty good terms with Lady Rosanna Helios.”

She blinked at me like I had grown another head. “You? Dale Han? Friends with Rosanna Helios?”

I just shrugged.

Professor Baldwin sighed. “The more I learn about you, Dale, the more questions I have.”

She then shook her head with a resigned smile. “Fine. We’ll go.”

Chief Oliver’s face lit up, and he bowed repeatedly. “Thank you, truly, heroes! I’ll come get you once preparations are complete!”

He left, gently closing the door behind him. We rested for a few more hours in the quiet house. Then, the lively sounds of people and laughter began to drift in from outside.

“The festival is ready, heroes!” Chief Oliver said.

At his call, Professor Baldwin and I stepped outside. Before us was a roaring bonfire. The savory smell of roasted meat and the sweet scent of fruit wine filled the entire village. Some villagers were already tipsy and stumbling with joy. Seeing us approach them, they immediately greeted us.

“Wooooah! The heroes are here!”

“Thank you for saving our village!”

“For the heroes! For the Seven Gods!”

When we sat down, a little girl approached us, carefully holding out cups of cider. “U-um, heroes, I brought you some drinks.”

“You’re...”

The freckled, orange-haired girl beamed up at us. “Ehehe! My name’s Lumi!”

“You’re already up and about?”

“Yep! It’s all thanks to you, heroes!”

Perhaps because she hadn’t been held captive for long, she looked surprisingly healthy.

Professor Baldwin smiled softly and accepted the cup of sweet-smelling cider from the girl. “That’s a relief!”

Chief Oliver stood in front of the bonfire, raising his drink high. “Now that our heroes are here, let’s start the festival!”

The villagers cheered and clinked their cups, downing the cider in celebration.

“To the heroes who saved our village!”

“To the Seven Gods!”

Professor Baldwin looked at me. “They’re going all out.”

“Well, they did come back from the brink of death. Can’t blame them.” I stifled a chuckle and raised my cup toward her. A clear, crisp sound resounded as our glasses touched.

“Apple cider, huh? Smells good, I’ll give it that,” she replied.

Professor Baldwin took a small sip, swishing it around in her mouth. Then, she spat it out in a spray, coughing violently.

Surprised, I asked, “Professor?”

She immediately said, “Dale! Don’t drink it!”

She then slapped the cup from my hand in a panic. The cup shattered on the ground, cider spilling everywhere.

Professor Baldwin stood abruptly, face twisted in rage as she stormed toward Chief Oliver. Her eyes gleamed with a cold fury, and she grabbed the village chief by the collar. “You. What the hell did you put in the cider?”