The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
A few days had passed since I discovered that the Tree of Creation had taken root within me.
With the grade adjustment period over, the Hero Academy was preparing for the big event of winter break.
‘Not that it means much to me.’
Unlike the other candidates, I had no home to return to, nor was I in a position to take a relaxing vacation.
‘I should focus on training as much as possible this break.’
Until recently, I had reached a level where ordinary training no longer improved my abilities.
But after absorbing another ember of the Primordial Flame in the Empire and learning about the true nature of the Tree of Creation that had taken root inside me, things had changed.
‘Just knowing about it makes such a difference.’
In my past life, Senior Sophia had told me that some forces in the world change depending on whether they are observed.
I never really understood what she meant (honestly, I still don’t).
But after realizing the Tree of Creation’s existence, something had definitely changed.
Wooooong.
A deep green aura flickered in my palm.
Neither the Primordial Flame nor the Ashen Flame.
It was pure aura imbued with the power of the Tree of Creation.
‘The power must have been there all along.’
After all, I had been revived by the Blessing of Revival through thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of deaths.
It was likely that the power of the Tree of Creation had taken root within me long before the Primordial Flame.
I simply hadn’t been able to consciously use it until now.
‘I don’t know how to fully utilize this power yet...’
But that was something I could figure out over time.
For now, just being able to consciously control the power of the Tree of Creation, like I could with the Primordial Flame, was an unexpected yet significant breakthrough.
“Haa...”
But honestly, success or not, there was a bigger issue at hand.
Having two opposing forces inside me wasn’t exactly a peaceful situation.
‘This isn’t just a case of a shrimp caught between two whales fighting.’
When I thought about how the Creator and the very flame that had once burned that Creator to death were now clashing within me, my head felt like it was going to explode.
As I was lost in thought—
“D-Dale... Are you f-feeling okay?”
Hearing my sigh, a girl in a maid uniform came trotting over from the kitchen—Lanez.
Since becoming my exclusive attendant after graduation, she had been coming to my room every morning to prepare my meals.
“No, I’m fine.”
“R-Really? Hehe. That’s a relief. Uh... Breakfast is ready. Do you want to eat now, or wash up first?”
“I’ll eat now.”
“Okay!”
Lanez nodded with a bright smile.
“...By the way.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“That maid outfit... Do you really have to wear it every day?”
“Oh, d-does it not suit me...?”
“No, it does.”
Lanez was already cute, but with a maid uniform on, the effect was overwhelming.
‘That’s the problem.’
Every morning, the first thing I saw upon waking up was Lanez in her maid uniform.
(Sometimes, she was even sitting on top of me.)
It was becoming increasingly difficult to handle.
“Hehe. Then I’ll keep wearing it! I’m Dale’s personal maid, after all!”
“...Ah, yeah. Sure.”
There was no way I could explain the reason why to someone smiling that innocently.
After a quick breakfast with Lanez, we headed to the party house as usual.
“Ah, Dale, you’re here?”
Yurina, slightly sweaty from her morning workout, had already arrived.
“You’re early today.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t sleep for some reason.”
“If you’re up for it, do you want to spar lightly?”
“Oh? Really?! I’d love to!”
True to her nickname as a training fanatic, Yurina’s eyes sparkled at the mention of sparring.
As I sparred with Yurina, the rest of our party members began to gather at the house.
“By the way, tomorrow’s the start of winter break. Does everyone have plans?”
I asked as I looked around the party members gathered in the lounge.
I hadn’t planned anything specific yet, but if everyone was up for it, I was considering going on another expedition like we did during summer break, to gain some real combat experience.
‘Though, finding a suitable place will be tricky.’
Our party had grown far too strong compared to before.
And on top of that, I had become disproportionately powerful compared to the rest.
‘Honestly, at my level, personal training would be more beneficial than a group expedition.’
There was no longer a need to gain battle experience or to hunt for relics in ruins.
Artifacts like magic armor or forbidden tomes—things that had been major assets in my past life—were now unnecessary for me.
“Actually, regarding the winter break, there’s something I wanted to discuss with you, Dale.”
“Hm?”
“Camilla and I plan to return to the Holy Kingdom for personal training.”
“The Holy Kingdom...?”
“Yes. The best place to train the Seven Eyes technique is there.”
That made sense.
With all the sacred relics and divine blessings in the Holy Kingdom, it would be much easier to communicate with the Seven Gods there.
“And also...”
Iris smiled faintly as she touched the sacred relic hanging from her necklace.
“I want to spend some time alone with my mother.”
“...I see. By the way, how has your mother been doing lately?”
“At first, she demanded I break up with you immediately. But after some ‘persuasion,’ she came around.”
Iris gave a reassuring smile.
“Persuasion?”
Her mother hadn’t seemed like the type to listen to reason.
“Ah, yes. I told her that if she kept insisting, I’d cut ties with her entirely. She burst into tears and agreed to drop it.”
“......”
That wasn’t persuasion.
That was blackmail.
"Well... whatever, as long as it’s resolved."
Will there ever come a day when Grace calls me 'our son-in-law' again?
I let out a sigh and shook my head.
"Camilla, you're going to assist Iris, right?"
"That too... but this time, Sir Johann Basilio has agreed to personally inspect my sword."
"The Sword of the Holy Kingdom?"
“...Yes.”
Was she nervous at the thought of learning directly from someone she had admired for so long?
Camilla absentmindedly stroked the hilt of the sword at her waist, her expression a mix of anticipation and concern.
"Well, since it's you, Camilla, there's no need to be so tense. You'll be fine."
"Hmph. What do you know about me to say that?"
"At the very least, I know you're a hero who wields a righteous blade worthy of the next Sword of the Holy Kingdom."
“...Ugh.”
She flinched.
Camilla's shoulders trembled slightly before she glared at me fiercely.
"S-So that’s how it is. I’ve figured out your ways."
“...What do you mean?"
"You've been flirting with the Saint and other women in this manner, haven’t you?! Grr! I won't be fooled!"
"......."
What is she even talking about now?
"Ugh, just kill me!"
"Why would I kill you?"
"I’d rather die than be defiled by a greedy beast like you!"
"I'm seriously tempted to kill you now."
What the hell does she think I am?
"Well... anyway. So, Iris and Camilla are heading to the Holy Kingdom for winter break?"
"Yes. It pains me to be away from you, Dale... but when I return, I’ll have grown so much that you’ll be shocked!"
Iris clenched her fist and shouted energetically.
I smirked and nodded.
"What about the others?"
"I’m thinking of going back home."
Berald raised his hand.
"Because of your father?"
"Hehe. I need to check if the old man’s senility has returned, don’t I?"
"Well, it's a good chance to see your father too."
No matter how important training was, nothing was more important than family.
"I'm going with him too."
"Huh? You too, Sophia?"
"Yeah. I’ve never had the chance to meet Berald’s father, after all."
"Hmm."
I grinned as I looked at Sophia.
"Is that really your only reason?"
"...What are you trying to say?"
"Oh, nothing~ Just curious... Gah!"
Thud!
Sophia stomped on my foot with the tip of her staff.
"Still curious?"
"...No, not curious at all."
If I teased her any further, I might end up losing the party house I had worked so hard to set up.
In terms of raw firepower alone, Sophia’s magic was now more destructive than even Professor Elisha’s.
"I won’t have much free time this winter break either."
"Huh? Did the Principal assign you a special mission?"
"No."
Professor Elisha slowly shook her head.
"You remember the elixir I received from Queen Camellia, don’t you?"
"Oh, yeah."
The Blessing of the Monarch, or something like that.
"I plan to dedicate myself to personal training until I fully absorb its power and make it my own."
So, a sort of seclusion training.
"Once I completely absorb the elixir’s power, I should be able to reach the rank of 'Master.'"
Even now, Professor Elisha was nearly on par with a Master, so it seemed entirely possible.
"Hehe. When I reach the rank of Master, I’d like to receive another reward from Candidate Dale. Or should I call it 'punishment' this time?"
"......."
With a cryptic smile, Professor Elisha winked at me.
I cleared my throat and hastily changed the subject.
"So that means the only ones staying at the academy are me, Lanez, and Yurina?"
"Actually... I was planning to go home this time."
"Huh? You're going back home?"
Hadn’t she pretty much cut ties with the Helios family?
"Oh, it’s not because of my mother. There’s a sword that has been passed down through our family for generations. I’m going to retrieve it."
"Ah."
She must be talking about Dawn.
Well, at her current level, Yurina was far beyond being controlled by the sword’s power, so there was no reason for her to keep using a cheap blade.
"But knowing that woman’s personality, will she just hand it over that easily?"
"If she won’t, I’ll just take it by force. Even if I have to beat her up."
Yurina flashed a bright smile as she casually uttered a shockingly rebellious remark.
The Yurina who once trembled at her mother’s words no longer existed.
"Oh, wait a second."
If Iris, Camilla, Berald, Sophia, Professor Elisha, and Yurina were all going to be away...
"Hehehe... Spending winter break alone with Dale... Eheh... I-I need to ask Professor Jade to make a good stamina potion..."
Lanez muttered, her bloodshot eyes gleaming as she grinned ominously.
"......."
Why did I have a bad feeling that this winter break was going to be anything but peaceful?

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