The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 201: Traitors (2)

Disciplinary Committee’s Decision

One-month suspension extension.

Reduction of government subsidies.

Well, I didn’t really need the meager government subsidies from the Republic anymore, anyway.

‘Feels like I’m not even attending school anymore.’

After a two-week suspension followed by a one-month extension, it truly felt as if I had dropped out.

Sigh.

At midday, with the sun high in the sky, I let out a languid sigh while sprawled on my bed.

Up until recently, I at least had something to do, helping Lanez with her grace control training.

But now, during actual class hours, I had absolutely nothing to occupy myself with.

I was basically experiencing the quintessential life of an unemployed slacker.

‘Training only goes so far.’

As for the recently acquired Calamity Flame, using it even once would drain my mana like water leaking from a broken dam, making continuous practice difficult.

Practicing basic martial arts or swordsmanship was also out of the question, as I had already surpassed the level where such training would yield any significant improvement.

In short, the situation could be summed up as follows:

‘I’ve got nothing to do.’

Yep, absolutely nothing.

Painfully so.

“…Oh, come to think of it, is the holy relic finished yet?”

The holy relic left behind by Grace when her soul vanished.

I had secretly handed it over to Professor Jade, asking him to turn it into an artifact.

Since I had nothing else to do, I sent Professor Jade a message, but...

[Still needs more time.]

The reply was that it wasn’t ready yet.

[I’m making it as discreetly as possible, which makes gathering the necessary materials a bit tricky.]

“Ugh.”

It couldn’t be helped.

I was already disciplined for trespassing on Grace’s tomb, so if it became known that I was in possession of her holy relic, I could end up being labeled as an enemy of the Holy Kingdom.

[Understood. Take your time making it.]

[Leave it to me.]

[Thank you, as always.]

[No need for thanks. A holy relic with this much divine energy is a first for me—it’s fascinating to study.]

I wished he’d prioritize crafting the artifact over research, though.

As I smiled wryly and was about to close the message window...

Ding.

A clear chime rang out.

I thought it might be another message from Professor Jade, but there wasn’t.

“Iris?”

Instead, it was a message from Iris.

[Have you had lunch yet?]

[Not yet.]

[Wanna eat together? I’m at the central plaza right now.]

[On my way.]

This was a welcome invitation.

I quickly got up, changed clothes, and headed toward the central plaza.

“Ha ha ha!”

“So? What happened then?”

“Wanna go to Valhalla City this weekend?”

“Wow~ sounds great, senior!”

As I approached the central plaza, cheerful laughter and small groups of cadets chatting in pairs came into view.

“Ugh.”

Right.

This was what the central plaza was like during lunch hours.

Since I usually stuck to the cafeteria, I had forgotten.

‘The place with the most couples on campus.’

Instead of using the perfectly good cafeteria, this was where cadets came to display their affection in public.

Lunch hours in the central plaza were practically synonymous with PDA Central.

‘It used to feel like I lived in a different world.’

Was this how citizens of the Republic felt when they first arrived in this otherworld 500 years ago?

Looking at the plaza’s scenery—the cadets seemingly here to eat but actually marking their territory—I wondered if I truly belonged at this hero academy.

‘But.’

That was the me from a previous life, who stood at a distance, glaring at the couples with envy.

Now...

“Ah, over here, Dale!”

Iris waved at me with a radiant smile.

Sitting on a picnic mat spread on the grass beside the central plaza, her bright expression made me smile involuntarily.

“How was class?”

“Same as usual.”

Smiling softly, Iris pulled out a sandwich from the basket and handed it to me.

As I reached out to take it...

“Dale.”

“Yeah?”

“Say ahhh.”

Instead of giving it to my hand, she brought the sandwich directly to my mouth.

Taking a bite, I clenched my fist triumphantly.

‘Yes, this is the life.’

In my previous life, I’d watched the couples in the plaza and grumbled about how hero candidates with a duty to safeguard the continent’s future had no business dating, let alone monopolizing public spaces.

But honestly?

I was just insanely jealous.

At the time, I neither had the leisure nor the ability to enjoy my youth.

“Is it good?”

“Yeah.”

“Hehe. Glad you like it.”

Seeing Iris’s shy smile, all the regrets of my past life melted away.

“By the way...”

Looking down at the large picnic mat spread across the grass, I asked:

“Isn’t this mat a bit too big?”

“Oh, Yurina and Senior Lanez are joining us soon.”

“Ah, you invited them too.”

“…Technically, they found out and tagged along.”

“Tagged along?”

“Ugh, it’s complicated.”

Iris sighed and shook her head.

Well, I’m not sure of the exact circumstances, but...

It seems that Yurina and Lanez will arrive here soon enough.

“There you are.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Ah, Iris... That’s so unfair!”

No sooner had she spoken than Yurina and Lanez appeared.

Lanez had puffed her cheeks, sulking with a pouty expression, as though something had happened earlier.

“We can talk about that later. Let’s eat first.”

Sitting together on the picnic mat, they started eating the sandwiches Iris had brought.

Yurina, Iris, and Lanez, all gathered around.

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‘Looking at us like this, we might seem like two couples on a double date.’

Of course, the reality was far from a warm and romantic scene of a double date between couples—it was more like an intense battleground vying over the prize of a single prey.

“Hmph. I brought sandwiches that are pretty big, but with four people, the space feels a little tight. Come closer to my side, Dale.”

“No, come over here instead.”

“H-Hmm… I’m small, so wouldn’t it be fine if I just sat on Dale’s lap?”

The fierce battle of nerves continued.

As I struggled to suppress a wry smile at the absurd gap between my past and present lives…

“Oh my gosh!”

“Eek!”

“Are you insane?”

A sudden commotion broke out in the central plaza.

When I turned my head, a couple was standing there, kissing passionately in front of the crowd.

Even in the central plaza, known for couples gathering and indulging in embarrassing displays of affection, such bold skinship was rare to witness.

“Hmm. T-They’re quite bold.”

“D-Don’t they feel embarrassed doing that in front of others?”

“S-So jealous…”

Iris, Yurina, and Lanez all made comments as they watched the kissing couple.

“Fufu. Should we kiss too, Dale?”

“If we did something like that, Camilla would throw a fit later.”

“Oh, come on, it’s just a kiss.”

Iris shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly, a relaxed expression on her face.

Her demeanor caused Yurina to frown.

“Just a kiss? Do you even understand how big of a deal a kiss is?”

“Oh my, Yurina—or should I say, Yuren—don’t act like you don’t have any experience. You’ve kissed plenty, haven’t you?”

“N-No, I haven’t!”

Yurina shouted, her face turning red.

Iris widened her eyes in surprise and asked again.

“…You haven’t? Not even once?”

“So what? Got a problem with that?”

With her cheeks puffed up in a pout (please, don’t do that while looking like a guy), Yurina retorted.

“Not really… I just assumed you had, that’s all.”

Iris looked genuinely taken aback, as though she couldn’t imagine Yurina not having kissed anyone yet.

“I’m not like you, Iris! Listen up: it doesn’t matter who did it first or how often. What’s more important is how beautiful the experience was.”

Yurina tried to sound dignified as she continued.

“Just like how first impressions shape over 90% of how you perceive someone, a first kiss plays an incredibly important role in a relationship’s future!”

“……”

If only she knew.

Her actual first kiss had been when she was drunk, and she had run straight to the bathroom to throw up right after.

‘Good thing I never mentioned that.’

Breathing a sigh of relief, I watched Iris and Yurina bicker.

“Hmph. I don’t know. To me, it just sounds like an excuse from an inexperienced maiden who’s never kissed anyone.”

“Inexperienced…! Did you just call me inexperienced?”

“No~ not so much inexperienced, more like… pathetic? Something like that.”

“Ugh…!”

Yurina’s clenched fists trembled with anger.

Meanwhile, Iris, looking utterly amused, teased her with a glint in her eye.

‘Yep, no mercy for the people she gets close to.’

Back when they weren’t as familiar with each other, Iris would politely call her “Miss Yurina” and maintain a respectful distance.

But as with Camilla, once she grew comfortable, her true nature(?) emerged.

“I honestly thought you and Dale had kissed long ago, Yurina. Who’d have guessed you hadn’t even done that yet?”

“You… you…!”

“Hohoho, go on. Keep waiting for your perfect moment like you always do~.”

Iris was clearly enjoying herself, while Yurina bit her lip and trembled with rage.

“Hmph! Just wait and see. I’ll make our first kiss so romantic that Dale will never forget it for the rest of his life!”

Resolute, Yurina clenched her fist and turned to Lanez, who was quietly munching on her sandwich.

“Lanez, don’t just sit there—back me up here!”

“H-Huh? Me?”

“Yes! You haven’t kissed Dale either, right?”

“Uh… w-well…”

Blushing slightly, Lanez averted her eyes.

Noticing the peculiar atmosphere surrounding Lanez, Yurina’s eyes widened.

“S-Senior… don’t tell me…?”

“Ugh…”

Lanez lowered her head, letting out a small groan as though embarrassed.

“…Huh?”

Yurina’s face turned pale.

Iris had shared her first kiss with Dale long ago, even without bringing their past lives into it.

Professor Elisha had kissed Dale even earlier than Iris had.

‘And now Lanez too…’

In other words—

“Then… everyone… except me… has kissed him?”

Yurina’s voice trembled faintly.

[PR/N: Maybe the traitors are the friends we thought were friends but actually stole your crush.]

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