The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
The ambush by the demons during the outdoor class.
This incident turned the entire academy upside down in an instant.
Thanks to the quick responses of Yuren and Maurice, as well as Camilla and Iris, there were fortunately no casualties among the cadets.
But the fact that dozens of demons had appeared in the outskirts of the Demon Realm—a place where even demonic beasts rarely showed up—was enough to chill the excitement that had filled the Hero Academy at the start of the new semester.
All outdoor classes were suspended indefinitely, and an emergency response committee was formed.
The entire academy entered a heightened state of alert, like a hedgehog raising its spines.
Amidst the chaos overtaking the academy—
My role, as the only person with the unique title of “Special Cadet,” was—
“Phew.”
Brushing off the vines clinging to my body, I let out a sigh heavy with fatigue.
It had been a week since the incident.
My assigned duty as a special cadet was to investigate deep within the Demon Realm and observe the demons' movements.
‘Even after three days and nights of searching, I haven’t found so much as a demonic beast, let alone a demon.’
Rubbing my tired eyes, I sat down on a nearby tree stump.
“Haa...”
A crushing sense of exhaustion.
My body felt as heavy as a wet rag.
“...Cadet Dale, are you alright?”
Professor Elisha, who was also assigned to this mission, approached with a concerned expression.
“I’m fine.”
Outside the academy, Elisha and I had a tacit understanding to speak informally, ignoring the boundaries of professor and cadet.
But this wasn’t a casual outing—it was an official mission—so we kept things formal, just like we did within the academy grounds.
Of course...
Just because our tone was formal didn’t mean our emotions were just as stiff.
“You look quite exhausted.”
Professor Elisha gently touched the dark circles under my eyes and bit her lip.
“The Blessing of Revival doesn’t heal fatigue.”
That blessing could only restore physical wounds.
It couldn’t relieve bodily exhaustion or mental fatigue.
“After spending three sleepless days out here, being tired is inevitable, isn’t it?”
“Hm... I don’t think that’s the only issue here.”
Professor Elisha's keen eyes sharpened as she scanned me.
“Ever since your body was remade, you’ve been able to go about three days without sleep. And you did take a few short naps, an hour or two at a time, didn’t you?”
She wasn’t wrong.
Normally, I wouldn’t be feeling this tired just from a forced march like this.
Honestly, if I had to choose between three days of scouring the Demon Realm or spending time with Lanez, I wouldn’t even hesitate to pick the former as the less exhausting option.
“That’s...”
There was only one reason I was feeling this worn out.
“Is it because of your fight with the Archbishop of Destruction?”
“......”
Ha.
“Seriously, nothing gets past you, Professor Elisha.”
“Hmph. You think I bear the Blessing of Insight for nothing?”
Urgh.
“Well, you’re right. I got caught in that ‘black flame’ he used, and I guess the damage lingered.”
“...Even after using the Blessing of Revival?”
“Yes.”
Granted, it’s not like the damage was anything extreme—just a lingering fatigue beyond normal.
But the fact that even the Blessing of Revival couldn’t fully heal it was something to think about.
“It’s similar to when I used the Primordial Flame.”
Now that I’ve gained better control over it, the flame doesn’t drain me unless I push myself to the extreme.
But back then, just igniting it left me unconscious for days, completely wrecked.
“Professor Elisha, you once said the power Amon uses is similar to the Primordial Flame I wield, right?”
“I did.”
“Well, this time, Amon called me ‘heir of destruction.’”
“...Is he suggesting you're the successor of the Archbishop of Destruction or something?”
“Come on, that can’t be it.”
I didn’t even have the stigma of a demon.
“But it does feel like there’s some kind of connection between us. Me and Amon.”
“...Cadet Dale, you really know how to drop anxiety-inducing bombs like it’s nothing.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Hmph. You think an apology is enough?”
Fwhip!
With a snap of her fingers, Professor Elisha bound me in spider silk.
“Eh?”
Wait a second.
Was she seriously planning to punish me here and now?
“Even if you’re upset, this is a bit...”
“I don’t know what you’re imagining—actually, I do—but that’s not what this is.”
“Then why are you tying me up all of a sudden?”
“Because I’ve decided to drag you back to the academy by force.”
“....”
Back?
In this situation?
“We still need to keep monitoring the demons—”
“Haa. You always try to take everything on by yourself.”
Elisha sighed deeply, shaking her head.
“There are other professors out here too, each leading their own teams to investigate. If anything happens, they’ll contact us.”
“But still—”
“No arguments. You’re going back to the academy and getting rest.”
She spoke firmly, yanking the web binding me with authority.
“Wait, hold on... ow! You don’t have to drag me like—!”
“Fine, let’s do it the other way.”
She released the silk from my body... and tied it around her own neck instead.
Then she handed me the other end.
Just like this, it felt like I had become some kind of evil slave trader forcibly leading a captured slave.
“Wait a minute. This looks totally wrong.”
“It doesn't look wrong.”
“I’m the one being dragged here, so what’s the point of handing me the leash?”
“The result is that I feel good.”
“......”
Ah, okay then.
“So, due to certain circumstances, I had to drag Cadet Dale here. I’d like Cadet Iris to take care of him until he recovers.”
“Ah, yes. I understand there were circumstances, but...”
Iris glanced at the leash in my hand and the spider thread wrapped around Professor Elisha’s neck.
“Actually, let me correct myself. What the heck is going on here?”
Didn’t you say you dragged me here?
Why is the leash tied the other way around?
“There’s a deep story behind it.”
“What kind of story?”
“It’s Dale’s secretly hidden sexual preferences... let’s leave it at that.”
Iris’s eyes widened in shock.
“I-I never would have thought Dale had such... preferences!”
“I only found out recently myself.”
“Um, excuse me.”
Why are you saying such blatant lies with such a straight face?
“Sigh. Anyway, you’re telling me to make sure Dale doesn’t overwork himself again, right?”
“Can I count on you?”
“Of course. If he tries to sneak out, I’ll give him a good scolding.”
“Oh? How, specifically?”
“Hmm... I haven’t thought that far ahead—”
“Personally, I recommend blindfolding him, cuffing his wrists, and giving him a few smacks on the butt with a riding crop. Oh, and don’t forget to verbally humiliate him in between.”
“...That’s oddly specific.”
“It’s tailored to Dale’s preferences.”
Excuse me?
I’ve never had those preferences, thank you very much?
“Hmm... But wouldn’t that be more of a reward than a punishment?”
“Oh, good point.”
What do you mean good point?
“...Are you two just going to keep making jokes like this?”
“Hmm. It’s already that time.”
Professor Elisha checked the time on her Hero Watch and turned around.
“Well then, I leave Cadet Dale in your care.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
Professor Elisha opened the door and left.
“......”
“......”
It felt like a storm had just passed, leaving my mind in a daze.
“How are you feeling, Mr. Dale?”
“I’m fin—”
“If you say you’re fine one more time, I’m seriously going to tie you up.”
Ugh.
“To be honest, I’m really tired.”
Right after fighting Amon’s avatar, I’d rushed to rescue the other cadets, and even after returning to the academy, I hadn’t had a chance to rest before heading out to the demonic realm with Professor Elisha.
Even without the effects of Amon’s “Black Flame,” I had every reason to be exhausted—and the Blessing of Revival wasn’t working properly either.
“No pain aside from the fatigue?”
“Hmm... A little?”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘a little’?”
“Like having boiling water continuously poured all over my body? It’s nothing much.”
“...That’s nothing much to you?”
“By my standards.”
Compared to the sensation of my whole body being engulfed in flames, this was manageable.
“Why would you go into the demon realm in that condition?! Ugh, I swear I’m going to lose it!”
Iris, furious, smacked me repeatedly on the chest.
“Lie down on the bed right now! I’ll go get some painkillers!”
“Eh, it’s not so bad that you need to—”
“Lie down, you bastard!”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Lying down now, Saintess.
“Ugh... Where did I put that holy water I made earlier...?”
Iris busily moved around the room before returning with a bottle filled with white liquid.
“Drink this.”
“What is it...?”
“It’s holy water I made over winter break under Lady Grace’s guidance. It has strong pain-relieving effects, so it should ease the pain.”
Holy water made personally by the saintess, huh.
“That name has... a questionable vibe to it...”
“That’s it. I am tying you up.”
“No, seriously, your expression looked so serious that I was just making a joke to lighten the mood.”
“Shut up!”
Iris went into the room and came back holding a pair of handcuffs (why does she even have those?) and a riding crop (seriously, why?).
“Where did you even get those...?”
“Professor Elisha gave them to me a while back. Never thought I’d actually use them, though.”
Click.
She fastened the handcuffs around my wrists, riding crop in hand.
“Mr. Dale, you seriously need a good lesson—”
Just then.
BAM!
“Brrrrotheeeeer! I heard you were injured during a mission and rushed back—are you okay?!”
Barreling through the door came Berald.
Behind him were Yurina, Lanez, Camilla, and Sophia—all the other party members.
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
Ah.

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