The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned - Chapter 51

The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned 51

51. Interlude – The Moon Hidden by the Sun

Three years have passed.

Since entering the Hero Academy… no, even before I entered, my sword’s growth had stopped.

It felt like I was blocked by a massive wall.

I swung my sword day and night to overcome the wall, but in the end, I was just treading water.

My sword had stopped without any further progress or change.

The sixth form of the Solar Sword, White Light.

That was the highest level of ‘form’ I could currently display.

Those who know the Helios family well might say this:

If I had mastered the sixth form of the Solar Sword at the mere age of twenty, it would be considered remarkable.

Except for Reynald Helios, the founder of the Solar Sword, no one had achieved as much at my age.

But.

‘This is not enough.’

I had a reason to become stronger.

To reach higher.

To reach further.

Until I became the ‘sun’ shining high in the sky.

‘I… must not stop.’

Grit.

I bit my lip until it bled and swung my sword.

Every day, every day.

Without missing a single day, I poured everything into my sword.

But the result was the same.

The wall looming before me was immensely high and terribly solid.

‘I must become stronger. I must become stronger. I must become stronger.’

If I don’t become stronger, I…

I….

-If only… if only you weren’t here! Youuu!!!

The scene that appears in my dreams every night.

The sound of a flowerpot breaking.

Water soaking the floor, and sharp shards of the pot.

Mother’s hands choking my neck.

The pain of not being able to breathe.

Consciousness fading.

Bloodshot eyes looking down at me, eyes, eyes.

‘I… must become stronger.’

Otherwise.

I have no value in being alive.

– Yuren, have you heard?

One day.

I heard a rumor from a classmate sitting next to me (for some reason, they used formal language with me).

A rumor about a candidate named Dale Han.

– No, seriously. The guys in Class C keep comparing you to that Dale guy. Are they crazy?

At first, it was just simple curiosity.

They said he defeated Professor Lucas in a fight.

They said he knocked out Camilla Bedice with one blow.

They said he cut down dozens of monsters in the blink of an eye.

There were many rumors, but one caught my attention the most.

– That Dale guy, they say he cut through a training wooden sword with another wooden sword without using any magic.

Cutting through a training wooden sword… No, cutting through a wooden sword, which is practically a wooden club, with another wooden sword is impossible unless one is highly skilled in swordsmanship.

So I went to see him in person.

And I saw it.

That duel, which was too one-sided to be called a match between an assistant instructor and a candidate.

When I saw Vincent, the assistant instructor, collapsed clutching his blood-soaked arm, and the gray-haired candidate standing tall in front of him.

For some reason, I felt a thrilling excitement.

It felt like meeting a long-lost unrequited love again.

I don’t know why I felt that way.

But as if possessed by something, I went to see him the next day.

– After watching the duel, I felt the urge to spar with you, Dale.

To be honest, saying I wanted to compete with him was half a lie.

More than the desire to compete, the feeling of wanting to meet and talk with him was stronger.

‘But.’

After being overwhelmingly defeated in the first duel.

My thoughts completely changed.

‘Maybe this person can show me how to overcome the wall.’

To be honest, I thought the possibility was almost zero.

But, my longing for the ‘wall’ was greater than that.

Thus began the teaching, with a desperate heart, clutching at straws.

-Not you, but think about where the sword wants to go.

When I heard those words.

It felt like a lightning bolt struck my mind.

‘Thinking about where the sword wants to go, not me.’

In other words.

It meant not to wield the sword according to my will, but to imbue my will into the sword itself and let it swing.

‘Imbuing the sword with my heart.’

With those shocking words, which I had never thought of, I felt a small crack in the huge wall that had been blocking my way.

Of course, Dale’s one word did not completely break down the wall that had been blocking me for the past three years.

But just finding a small clue to break down the wall made me feel an overwhelming joy.

“Thank you… really, thank you, Dale.”

I impulsively hugged Dale tightly.

“Uh, yeah?”

Seeing Dale’s bewildered expression, I thought to myself, ‘Oops.’

“Oh… s-sorry.”

After hastily stepping away from him, an awkward atmosphere descended.

‘What have I done!’

Even if I regretted it later, it was already spilled water that couldn’t be gathered back.

I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Uh… thank you so much for today. I will definitely repay this favor no matter what.”

“Favor? It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“No.”

How could I shamelessly keep my mouth shut to the benefactor who gave me such meaningful teachings without expecting anything in return?

“Wait a moment.”

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As I pondered what I could do to repay his kindness, I hurriedly rummaged through the storage box in my private training ground.

Inside the storage box was a magic enhancement potion that had been given as a gift to the top student candidate of the year.

It was a rather useless item for me, as I could no longer increase my magic power with mediocre potions, but it would be quite helpful for Dale, who had little magic power.

“This is… could it be a potion?”

“Yes. It doesn’t have a great effect, but it will still help increase your magic power.”

Dale looked down at the potion in his hand with a wry smile.

“You’re giving this to me? Magic enhancement potions are extremely rare.”

“Compared to what you taught me, this is nothing.”

At my words, Dale let out a small laugh.

“Well, alright. With your level of magic power, this potion would be meaningless anyway.”

“……”

For some reason, his words made me feel guilty, as if I were trying to repay his kindness with something useless to me.

“Of course, I don’t think this repays your kindness completely. I’ll give you something else later…”

“Enough, man. Why are you being so petty between friends?”

“…Friends?”

“Ah.”

Dale’s expression stiffened.

“Ah… I mean. Ahem. If we’ve crossed swords once, we’re friends, right?”

“Y-yes. Right, friends.”

Friends…

Friends.

Why is that?

The moment I heard those words, I felt a twisted anger inside me.

‘Why am I feeling this way?’

Whenever I was with Dale, there were times when an inexplicable emotion would suddenly surge up.

“Anyway. How about we meet every Wednesday and Friday from now on, and I’ll teach you swordsmanship for two hours each time?”

“…You’ll keep teaching me?”

I widened my eyes at the unexpected proposal.

“What, so you’re just going to teach me once and that’s it? Do you think swordsmanship is that easy, man?”

“No, no. It’s just… I’m really grateful.”

Why is he being so kind to me, a complete stranger?

Before I could solve that mystery, Dale turned around.

“Well, it’s getting late, so I’ll be off.”

“Uh, okay.”

The words “don’t go” almost escaped my throat, but I managed to hold them back.

“Ah… um, hey.”

I cautiously called out to Dale, who was walking away.

“Yeah?”

“Can I… register your Hero Watch contact?”

“Oh, right. I forgot about that.”

He nodded and extended his wrist with the Hero Watch.

[Would you like to register ‘Dale Han’s’ contact? (YES / NO)]

A hologram window popped up on my Hero Watch.

I quickly moved my hand to press the part that said ‘YES’.

[Dale Han’s contact has been successfully registered.]

“Then I’ll be off. It’s Wednesday… so I’ll see you tomorrow. Let’s discuss the meeting time via message later.”

With those words, Dale left the training hall.

“……”

Alone in the training hall.

I stroked the Hero Watch with Dale’s contact saved on it and recalled his face.

Dark gray hair reminiscent of burnt ashes.

Slightly sharp eyes and mysterious green pupils.

A manly, angular jaw and a delicate nose bridge falling between his brows.

He wasn’t what you’d call a sculpted handsome man.

But there was a strange charm to his appearance.

‘…Dale.’

Why, I wonder.

As his face came to mind, my heart pounded as if it were broken.

Even though we had just parted, I suddenly wanted to see him again.

It didn’t have to be for learning swordsmanship.

I just wanted to meet and talk about useless things.

A little more, just a little more.

I wanted to be with him.

“Should I… send a message asking to have dinner together later?”

Swallowing hard, I reached for the contact that appeared on my Hero Watch, but after hesitating several times, I withdrew my hand.

“…I’m crazy.”

I knew better than anyone that I couldn’t afford to be swayed by such trivial emotions.

“Let’s wash up.”

I entered the shower room, taking off my sweat-soaked training clothes.

My reflection in the large mirror.

A handsome man with blonde hair and golden eyes was staring back at me.

“……”

Standing in front of the mirror, I slowly raised my hand and touched my left chest.

The mark of the ‘Moon God’ engraved on my left chest met my fingertips.

Crack.

A sound escaped between my lips.

“Haah.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I removed the pendant hanging around my neck.

And then.

Wooong!

A halo of light emanated from the pendant and enveloped my body.

After the light that filled the shower room subsided.

My reflection in the mirror was.

“……”

A beautiful woman with silver hair that seemed to be woven from moonlight.

I turned on the shower, running my hand over my now prominent chest.

Ssshhh.

Warm water flowed down my body.

“…Don’t forget.”

Clenching my fist, I repeated to myself.

The vow I had engraved hundreds, no, thousands of times.

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“I am, Yuren Helios.”

That day, eight years ago.

Yurina Helios died.