The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
A garden covered in pure white flowers.
A man with black hair, wearing a white mask, hummed a tune as he strolled through the chrysanthemum garden, which looked like a snowy field.
“...So, what exactly do you plan to do?”
Mephisto asked, glaring at the masked man who was leisurely wandering through the garden.
“Hmm? What should I do?”
“You’re the one who said the seed had sprouted, aren’t you?”
“Haha, that’s right.”
A faint smile appeared on the lips visible beneath the nose of his half-white mask.
Looking down at the chrysanthemums in full bloom, he continued speaking.
“Do you know what’s most important when growing flowers?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never grown any.”
“Patience.”
The masked man gently caressed a vibrantly blooming chrysanthemum as he spoke.
“Waiting for the seed to grow, for the buds to form, and for the flower to bloom in full.”
“...So, what you’re saying is that you’re just going to sit back and do nothing?”
“Haha. That’s one way to put it.”
However—
“Well, to make sure the flowers grow strong and healthy, it’s best to give them some fertilizer.”
With a sly smile, he turned his body.
And at that moment—
“Master, I’ve brought what you requested.”
Clatter.
A gaunt man wearing a bear mask entered the garden, effortlessly carrying a large coffin on his back.
The thin man placed the coffin down on the ground.
“...That is?”
“You should recognize the face.”
The masked man slowly approached the coffin and opened the lid.
Inside lay the corpse of a woman with deep violet hair.
Mephisto’s eyes widened in shock upon seeing her face.
“The Witch of Frost...?”
“Yes. She was a ‘High Priest’ like you once, wasn’t she?”
“How do you have the corpse of the Witch of Frost?”
The Witch of Frost—Seria Malam.
A demon who betrayed her own kind over a decade ago and allied with a hero.
She had even given birth to a daughter and lived a happy life.
Until one day, she suddenly lost control.
She slaughtered her husband, as well as countless others, indiscriminately.
Her rampage wiped out an entire small city of the Holy Kingdom, killing thousands of citizens.
It was only after the Holy Kingdom’s Seven Star Knights, their commander—the ‘Sword of the Holy Kingdom’ Johann Basilio—and even the ‘Pope’ Marianne joined forces that they finally managed to kill her.
‘I was sure the Holy Kingdom recovered her body afterward.’
So why was her corpse here now?
“Well, you don’t need to worry about how I got it.”
“Don’t tell me... Were you the one who made her go berserk?”
“Haha. Who knows?”
The masked man chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.
Though he didn’t confirm it outright, his casual attitude made it clear—he was behind the Witch of Frost’s rampage.
“...Why?”
“Hm?”
“Why did you make the Witch of Frost lose control?”
“Hmm. I don’t recall saying I did.”
“Just answer the question.”
“Oh dear, so scary. Can’t even joke around.”
The masked man chuckled before continuing.
“I needed to awaken the ‘Blessing of Frost.’”
“The Blessing of Frost... Are you talking about Lanez Malam?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Humans tend to awaken under extreme psychological shock. Ah, but unfortunately, back then, Lanez Malam didn’t awaken the Blessing of Frost. Tsk. Watching your mother rip your father apart right in front of you, and still not awakening? Isn’t that a bit disappointing?”
“......”
Mephisto’s expression twisted.
“All for that reason... You killed thousands of people?”
“Haha. I never thought I’d hear that from a demon. Weren’t you all killing people for even less?”
“You...!”
Mephisto ground his teeth, glaring at the masked man.
“But you’re in no position to criticize me, are you?”
In that instant—
The masked man’s smile disappeared.
“You’re the same as me.”
He twisted his lips into a grin as he stepped closer to Mephisto.
“You, too, have crushed countless lives for your own goals, haven’t you?”
“......”
“We’re the same. You and I.”
The masked man smirked before turning his attention back to the coffin.
Mephisto opened his mouth as if to say something, but then sighed and shook his head.
“...So, what do you plan to do with the Witch of Frost’s corpse?”
“It seems Dale Han and Lanez Malam have gotten quite close, haven’t they? I even heard rumors that she willingly became his personal maid.”
“How do you know that...?”
“My eyes and ears are everywhere on this continent.”
“......”
Mephisto furrowed his brows, staring at the masked man.
Indeed, when it came to intelligence gathering, the Order of Eternity’s capabilities were second to none—even Mephisto, who prided himself on his information network, had to admit it.
Especially when it came to matters involving the ‘Hero Academy.’
“So what does their relationship have to do with this?”
“I already told you.”
The masked man flashed a bright smile and took a step forward.
“Humans awaken under extreme psychological shock.”
Slowly, the masked man stepped toward the chrysanthemum garden and plucked a single flower.
Its petals gleamed pure white, like freshly fallen snow.
Holding the chrysanthemum, he approached the coffin where the Witch of Frost lay.
Tap.
He placed the flower on top of the corpse.
Then—
He placed his hand on Seria Malam’s forehead.
Vrrrrrmmm!
A deep green glow radiated from the divine mark on his hand.
And then—
“Haa.”
With a soft exhale—
The Witch of Frost opened her eyes.
Mephisto’s eyes went wide as he stared at the reanimated Witch of Frost.
“W-Wait. What is this...? H-How...?”
A dead person... brought back to life.
He shuddered in awe at the miracle unfolding before him.
“Where... am I?”
Rising from the coffin, Seria Malam’s eyes were vacant—devoid of any soul—as she scanned her surroundings.
“You’re inside my garden.”
“...And you are?”
“The one who brought you back.”
“Why... am I... here...? Ugh!”
Seria grimaced and clutched her head in pain.
“A-ah... No! La-Lanez... W-what have I done...?!”
Despair filled her once-empty eyes.
“You’re a bit disoriented since you just came back to life, huh?”
The white mask smirked and placed a hand on Seria’s shoulder.
“It’s fine. You’ll forget everything soon.”
“F-forget... everything?”
“That’s right.”
Tap, tap.
The white mask lightly patted Seria’s shoulder.
“...Ah.”
The despair in Seria’s eyes faded, once again replaced by emptiness.
“Oh, right. Now that I think about it.”
The white mask smiled brightly as he gazed into Seria’s vacant eyes.
“Don’t you want to see someone?”
“...Who?”
“Lanez. Your daughter.”
“La...nez....”
Seria nodded blankly.
“I... want to see her....”
“Alright, got it.”
The white mask stroked Seria’s cheek and nodded.
“I’ll make sure you meet her soon.”
As winter break began, the Hero Academy emptied as the candidates left like receding tides.
The dormitory hallways, usually bustling with candidates waking up early for morning classes, now felt eerily quiet, as if the building were abandoned.
“Mmgh.”
Even though I spent my school life unaffected by breaks, the mere mention of “vacation” seemed to carry some sort of mysterious magic.
Waking up later than usual, I stretched while still lying in bed.
“Ahh, I slept so well for once... Hm?”
A soft sensation pressed against my chest.
A comforting weight pinning me down.
‘No way.’
I swiftly lifted the blanket—
And there she was, Lanez, peacefully sleeping with her head nestled against my chest.
“...Lanez.”
“Mmm... You’re awake, Dale?”
Lanez blinked drowsily before flashing me a bright smile.
“...Haa.”
I let out a deep sigh and lightly patted her waist.
“I’m up, so you should get up too.”
“Hehe. But before that....”
Lanez leaned in, pressing her lips against mine.
“Mmm....”
The soft sensation of her tongue twirling inside my mouth.
After a long, lingering kiss, she finally pulled away, a mischievous smile on her face.
“I’ll make breakfast real quick, so just wait a bit~♬”
“.......”
Maybe it was the thought of spending the entire winter break together, just the two of us.
Humming happily, Lanez skipped toward the kitchen, clearly elated.
‘Well, at least she’s not moving in permanently.’
Honestly, I was worried about how far Lanez would go when I realized we were the only ones left at school.
But thankfully, she always returned to her room late at night—only to come back at the crack of dawn.
‘I don’t know if that’s good or bad, to be honest.’
Either way—
Despite my concerns, I was spending a relatively peaceful (?) winter break with Lanez.
“Breakfast is ready, Dale!”
“Thanks.”
After a light meal of freshly toasted bread and salad, I changed into my training gear.
“Are you heading straight to the party house again today?”
“Yeah. I’ve finally found a way to control the ‘Tree of Creation’s’ power.”
Lately, I had been spending almost all day training at the party training hall.
“H-hey... Can I come too?”
“You want to come?”
“I-I won’t go if I’d just be in the way!”
Just moments ago, Lanez had been radiating the aura of a newlywed bride.
But in the blink of an eye, she shriveled up nervously.
I chuckled, shaking my head.
“Who said you’d be in the way? If anything, you helping me train would be great.”
“R-really?”
“Yeah.”
“Hehe... I’m so glad....”
Relieved, Lanez let out a sigh and beamed brightly.
“You’re staying until dinner, right?”
“Yeah, that’s the plan.”
“Then wait just a sec! I’ll make us a lunchbox real quick!”
“We could just buy something from the cafeteria.”
Even during the break, the school cafeteria was still open.
“No way! A packed lunch is better for stamina—no, I mean, for... n-nutrition!”
“.......”
Lanez.
Just what are you planning to put in that lunchbox?

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