The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 185: Field Trip (4)

After a refreshing soak in the hot springs, we arrived at the annex restaurant.

Despite the Holy Kingdom’s notorious reputation for bland food, the dishes laid out on the table were so enticing that they made my mouth water.

A feast spread across the table, coupled with a body warmed through from the hot springs—just imagining it was enough to bring a smile.

And yet...

“Boohoo…! I didn’t do anything wrong…!”

“Don’t sit next to me.”

“Oh, how... how unjust this world is…”

The atmosphere in the restaurant was as chilly as a snowstorm in the dead of winter.

“C-come on! Isn’t it normal for friends to sit together?”

“Who said we’re friends? You traitor!”

Sophia coldly drove Lanez away, while...

“Could it be… that God… is flawed?”

Camilla was now questioning her faith.

“What in the world happened?”

I turned to Iris and asked.

She shook her head, looking just as puzzled.

“I’m not sure… Both Camilla and Senior Sophia have been mumbling about wealth inequality and revolutions since earlier….”

“And they won’t answer when I ask what’s wrong.”

Yurina shrugged and shook her head.

“……”

I didn’t fully understand the situation, but I had a feeling that stepping in would only make things worse.

Deciding to leave them be, I turned my attention to the bountiful spread of appetizing food on the table.

“Wow… Is this really the Holy Kingdom?”

Even on a second look, the dishes were impressive enough to elicit admiration.

Despite the country’s reputation for unremarkable cuisine, the dishes must have been crafted with care given the location—a high-end inn in a tourist hotspot.

“Hehe, how is it? See, Holy Kingdom food can be good if prepared well!”

“Well, most of these don’t look like traditional dishes from the kingdom, though….”

But hey, as long as it tasted good, who cared?

“Still… it feels a bit strange to be relaxing and having fun here.”

“What’s strange about it?”

“The Thermal region is where Grace rests. I’ve been here a few times for Seven Star Church events, but I never imagined I’d come here to relax and have fun like this.”

“Ah.”

That made sense.

If her previous visits were for religious purposes, she wouldn’t have had the chance to enjoy hot springs or a feast like this.

“Grace of the Light of Life… She’s regarded as a saint in the Holy Kingdom, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Iris nodded.

“Hmm. It’s a bit different from the Republic.”

“How so?”

“Well… she’s not as well-known there. Each country tells the stories of the Five Great Heroes a bit differently.”

Events were often tailored to suit national preferences, emphasizing the achievements of their own heroes or glorifying their virtues.

Especially Grace of the Light of Life.

Being more of a support figure, her tales didn’t captivate as much attention as sensational ones like the Sun Sword Reynald cutting down thousands of demons or Iron Fist Ryujin Seong smashing a bishop’s skull.

In fact, outside the Holy Kingdom, many didn’t even know who Grace of the Light of Life was.

Grace of the Light of Life.

Suddenly, I was curious.

“What kind of person was she?”

“Grace?”

“Yeah.”

“She was said to be endlessly merciful, compassionate, and kind. There’s even a story about her willingly using a sacred artifact given by God to save a single injured child.”

“I’ve never heard that one before.”

I nodded, intrigued.

“Hmm, this is covered in first-year history class at the hero academy….”

“I must’ve been asleep.”

“……”

Why else would I be ranked so low?

“Oh, by the way… did Grace also have the ‘Seven Eyes’ like you, Iris?”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Of course. This is a blessing that has been passed down to the ‘Saintess’ for generations.”

Iris nodded as she lightly touched her eyes.

“Then, are you a distant descendant of Grace…?”

“No, the Seven Eyes, unlike stigmas, aren’t hereditary. They manifest suddenly, without any prior signs, like a blessing.”

Iris wore a slightly bittersweet expression.

Her life, which had been ordinary up until then, must have changed drastically when she awakened the Seven Eyes—for better or worse.

“There was a time I resented God because of these eyes… but not anymore.”

Iris looked at me and smiled softly.

“Because if I didn’t have these eyes, I wouldn’t be here with you now, Dale.”

“…Iris.”

As a subtle mood began to form between us…

“Ahem. Have you forgotten we’re here too?”

“Hogging the moment, huh….”

The sharp gazes of Professor Elisha and Yurina pierced through us.

“Ahem. Sorry about that.”

“Hehe. Anyway, just eating feels a bit dull. Shall we order some drinks?”

“Is that okay?”

“The real activities start tomorrow. A light drink won’t hurt.”

Professor Elisha called for the waiter to order drinks.

“Well then, let’s toast to a wonderful field trip.”

“Heh! Now that I think about it, this will be my first taste of Holy Kingdom liquor!”

Berald’s eyes sparkled as he downed his drink in one gulp.

And then—

“Ugh!”

His face twisted.

Clutching his mouth with his hand, Berald barely managed to swallow the alcohol.

As if anticipating this reaction, Professor Elisha smiled leisurely.

“Hehe. Holy Kingdom liquor is infamous for its strength.”

“…It doesn’t really match their image, does it?”

“Yurina, do you not like alcohol?”

Professor Elisha glanced at Yurina’s barely touched glass.

“It’s not that I dislike it… I just rarely drink because it might interfere with my training.”

“Well, why not use this chance to try some? There’s no sword practice today, is there?”

“Hm. Alright then.”

At Professor Elisha’s encouragement, Yurina picked up her glass.

She downed the full glass in one go.

“Wait. You’re not supposed to drink Holy Kingdom liquor like tha—”

“Oh, it’s better than I thought.”

Yurina’s eyes lit up as she spoke.

“Before, I only barely sipped, so I never realized… but this is surprisingly fragrant and nice.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. May I have another?”

“Hmm. Just don’t overdo it.”

“Haha. Don’t worry.”

Yurina shrugged her shoulders and held out her glass with a confident expression, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.

“You already know whose descendant I am, don’t you, Professor?”

And so the drinking continued for another hour.

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* * *

“Hehehe. Da-a-ale~ Where are you~?”

Yurina, her eyes half-open and glassy, started looking around for me.

“…Hah.”

I let out a sigh as I looked at the thoroughly drunk Yurina.

‘Now that I think about it, Yurina in her past life was weak to alcohol too.’

Even when Berald and I drank nonstop every other day, she would quietly lean against a tree and sip her tea.

“Haha. It seems our great hero’s descendant is completely plastered,”

Professor Elisha remarked with a chuckle, glancing at Yurina before turning to me.

“Since you share a room with her, Cadet Dale, could you look after Yurina?”

“Why did you offer her drinks in the first place…?”

“She insisted she could handle it. How is that my fault?”

“Urgh.”

I held back my words, resigned, and helped Yurina to her feet, heading toward our room.

“Daaale~ Carry meee~!”

Yurina clung to me as we walked, her breath heavy with the sharp smell of alcohol.

I sighed again.

“Fine, get on.”

Just as I was about to adjust her on my back and start walking again—

“Hehe! Let’s go for a walk, Dale!”

Yurina, now piggybacking me, started kicking her legs playfully.

“No, no walks. Let’s get you to bed.”

“Waaalk~!”

With her childlike whining and pulling on my shoulders, I had no choice but to divert toward the garden annex.

Moonlight poured over the elegantly landscaped garden path.

“Dale… you’re warm,”

She whispered faintly from behind me.

Through the thin clothes she’d changed into after our bath, I felt her soft warmth pressing against my back.

“……”

Just as my thoughts started spiraling from the sensation—

Bzzz.

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, a white orb of light appeared in front of me.

‘What is that?’

It was too bright to be a firefly.

The fist-sized, glowing sphere hovered around me like a curious insect, circling before it zipped off somewhere.

“What the…”

I was about to follow it when—

“Mm… Dale, I feel dizzy…”

Yurina’s weak voice behind me stopped me in my tracks.

“Let’s head back.”

Letting go of the strange orb, I turned toward our room.

“Haaah.”

Once we arrived, I laid Yurina on her bed.

At least one thing was fortunate—since she had already changed clothes after the bath, I didn’t need to worry about changing her again.

“Dale… I’m thirsty.”

“I’ll get you some water.”

I brought her some cold water, and she drank it in big gulps, like a squirrel with an acorn.

“Better?”

“Mmh… I’m… okay.”

She didn’t look okay at all.

“Just lie down and sleep.”

“……”

As I turned to head to my own bed—

“Hey.”

Yurina grabbed my hand and pulled me down onto her bed.

She climbed on top of me, the moonlight filtering through the window illuminating her silver hair, making it shimmer dreamily.

“Y-Yurina?”

“Dale… why don’t you ever touch me?”

“What?”

“We’re dating, aren’t we? Shouldn’t we at least… kiss?”

Now that I thought about it, I had kissed Iris and even Professor Elisha, but not Yurina yet.

“Or… do you not want to… with me?”

Her flushed face and alcohol-clouded eyes gazed down at me as she asked.

I opened my mouth to answer—

“Mmgh.”

But before I could speak, her soft lips pressed against mine.

The scent of alcohol filled my nose as her supple tongue moved inside my mouth.

“Hehe. Finally… we kissed.”

“Yurina…”

Just as I reached out to her—

“Ugh.”

“Huh?”

“I… feel nauseous…”

And then she gagged and bolted for the bathroom.

I followed her quickly, rubbing her back as she leaned over the toilet, retching.

“Hah.”

I let out a deep sigh.

‘Seriously.’

Throwing up right after kissing me makes it feel like I did something wrong.

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