The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

15. Interlude – Spring

The day after the sparring match with Professor Lucas.

After finishing my morning classes, I sat on a quiet bench along a rarely frequented path, recalling yesterday’s match.

‘He was strong.’

As expected.

Professor Lucas possessed a level of skill that was worlds apart from the mediocre candidates I had faced since my return.

‘But, it wasn’t an unbeatable level.’

To be honest.

There was even a part of me that thought, ‘Is this all he’s got?’

‘Though it’s a bit funny to think that after losing.’

It couldn’t be helped.

The reason I lost to Professor Lucas wasn’t due to a lack of skill or experience, but purely because the gap in our magical power was too vast.

‘Well, even in that state, I managed to put up a fight.’

This time, I even made Professor Lucas use his ‘blessing,’ which was a somewhat satisfying result.

At least.

I could tell that the time I spent training alone in the ruined world wasn’t in vain.

‘Though most of the techniques I couldn’t fully utilize in the current situation.’

It goes without saying.

The swordsmanship, martial arts, and magic used by heroes are all fundamentally based on the use of magical power.

Techniques used without imbuing them with magical power are merely imitations.

Like the model food displayed in front of a restaurant.

Even if they look similar on the outside, techniques without the proper magical power couldn’t exert their full strength, no matter how excellent they were.

‘And right now, there aren’t many techniques I can fully utilize with my current magical power.’

Perhaps the only one would be ‘Sky Reversal,’ which is specialized in using the opponent’s strength against them.

In fact, even that technique could be several times more powerful if I had enough magical power.

“In the end, it all comes down to magical power.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Did I, did I do something wrong?”

A terrified voice came from behind me.

‘Ah.’

Come to think of it, this guy was here too.

I turned my head towards the ‘friend’ who had been diligently massaging my shoulders while I was lost in thought on the bench.

“Seems like your strength has weakened compared to earlier?”

“Never once did I…”

“Oh, was I mistaken?”

“N-no! That’s not it!”

“Then what is it?”

“S-sorry! I was wrong!”

Juliet bowed her head with a terrified expression.

I lightly burst into laughter and patted Juliet’s shoulder.

“Haha. It’s just a joke, man. Why are you so scared over a little joke between friends?”

“Y-yeah.”

“By the way… It’s almost been a week. Have you managed to get the money?”

At the mention of money, Juliet’s shoulders flinched.

She opened her mouth in a trembling voice, as if she had gone through a lot of trouble to gather the 1 million gold.

“I-I think I can get it by tomorrow!”

“Think?”

“N-no! I can get it! Yeah!”

“Alright, alright. Thanks, man. It must have been tough to gather 1 million gold.”

“Well… it’s a friend’s request.”

“Right.”

To gather such a large sum of 1 million gold in less than a week for a friend.

It was so touching that my eyes naturally reddened.

‘What are friends for?’

Isn’t it friends who help each other in tough times?

Juliet’s eyes were also red, as if she felt the same way.

“Shall we have lunch soon?”

“Y-yeah. Should I get the usual bread?”

“Yeah. Since today is a memorable day, let’s have sausage bread.”

“I’ll go get it right away!”

Juliet turned around and dashed to the store.

Seeing her quick movements, I could feel the deep bond (?) between friends.

“Sigh.”

Sitting leisurely on the bench, waiting for Juliet to arrive.

-Ding!

With a clear alarm sound, a hologram window popped up.

[Do you have time to have lunch together?]

It was a message from Iris.

I replied without a moment’s hesitation.

[Sure. Where are you now?]

[At the main building restaurant.]

The main building restaurant, isn’t that a high-end restaurant usually frequented by prestigious noble families or the children of conglomerates?

‘I’ve never been there before.’

Because of the exorbitant prices, it was a place I had never been to in my previous life.

Even though I had to spend a million gold on research funds tomorrow (not my money, but still), I couldn’t help but hesitate for a moment.

[You prepared the meal during the last outdoor training, so I’ll treat you today.]

[I’ll be right there.]

Ah.

Pretty, kind, and even buys me food.

‘As expected, there’s no one like our saint!’

I dashed towards the main building restaurant where my lover from my previous life was waiting.

“…Oh, but.”

I felt like I had forgotten something.

‘It’s probably nothing.’

Erasing the thoughts that popped into my head, I quickened my pace.

* * *

“Ah, over here, Dale!”

“This way.”

When I arrived at the main building restaurant, I saw Iris and Camilla waiting for me, having already secured a table.

“So this is the main building restaurant.”

“Is this your first time here?”

“Yeah.”

I sat down at the table where the two were seated and looked around.

A restaurant with an interior so luxurious it felt like a hotel restaurant.

A fragrant smell wafted from the scented candles placed on each table.

“It’s been a while since I’ve come to a restaurant too.”

“Oh, come to think of it, you usually have meals prepared by a chef dispatched from the Holy Kingdom, right?”

“Yes.”

So, you turned down a meal made by a professional chef to have lunch with me at this restaurant.

“Hmph. It’s rare for the Saintess to suggest a meal like this, so consider it an honor.”

“Oh my, it’s an honor to be invited to the Saintess’s banquet.”

When I stood up and exaggeratedly bowed, Iris waved her hands in embarrassment.

“Please, don’t do that! Camilla, you too, stop saying such things!”

“Haha. Thanks to you, it’s nice to come to a place like this.”

“Mr. Dale, do you usually use the restaurant in the annex?”

“No, I usually just grab something from the convenience store.”

“Convenience store?”

Iris frowned at the mention of the convenience store.

“I heard convenience store food isn’t very healthy.”

“But it’s cheap and convenient.”

“Hmm.”

Iris, who had been crossing her arms with a displeased expression, spoke up.

“Then, would you like to have lunch with us from now on?”

“S-Saintess?”

Camilla looked flustered at Iris’s sudden bombshell statement.

“Well, that’s…”

“Why? It’s not a big deal to add one more person.”

“It’s not that kind of problem…”

“If it’s not that kind of problem, then what is it?”

Camilla looked troubled.

There was no problem with making one more serving of food, but the issue was the fact that ‘the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom was having lunch every day with an unknown male candidate.’

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll eat lunch separately.”

I shook my head slightly.

Having lunch with Iris every day was undoubtedly an attractive prospect.

‘Not yet.’

There was too much to do right now.

Literally, there wasn’t even time to eat.

“Hmm… Ah, how about this? We have practical combat training classes every Monday, so let’s have lunch together only on Mondays.”

“That much… should be fine, I guess?”

Although there was a lot to do, there was no reason to refuse having lunch together once a week.

“Is that okay with you?”

Iris, who had received permission, stared at Camilla.

“Ugh… Alright. I’ll inform the chef as well.”

Camilla nodded with a complicated expression, thinking she couldn’t stop this.

“So, it’s decided for every Monday?”

“Got it.”

“Yay! Awesome!”

“Huh?”

“Ahem. No, I didn’t say anything.”

“But just now…”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Oh… okay.”

Sure.

Let’s go with that.

“Shall we eat now?”

“Yes! Follow me!”

The main dining hall was buffet-style, so they had to take their plates and serve themselves.

Holding an empty plate each, they headed towards the center of the dining hall.

‘Wow, what is all this?’

The dishes lined up were mouth-watering just by looking at them.

“From here to there are the Holy Kingdom dishes, over there are the Empire dishes, and on the opposite side are the Republic dishes.”

“Everything looks so delicious, I don’t know where to start.”

“Shall I recommend some Holy Kingdom dishes?”

“No, well… Seongguk cuisine is a bit…”

“Wh-why Seongguk cuisine?”

Why, you ask.

Everyone on the continent knows that Seongguk cuisine is tasteless.

“There are delicious dishes in Seongguk cuisine too!”

“Better than ramen?”

“Th-that is…”

Iris trailed off, turning her head sharply.

Traditional dishes that can’t even beat factory-made instant food.

What kind of place is Seongguk, really?

“Anyway! You said you usually eat junk food from the convenience store, so at least today, have something healthy!”

“That’s too much.”

As Iris dragged me around, picking up dishes and putting them on my plate.

-Murmur murmur.

I saw a group of female cadets gathering at one corner of the buffet.

Thinking it might be a popular menu, I turned to look and saw.

“…Yuren?”

Surrounded by the female cadets was not a popular menu, but a young man with golden hair shining like the sun.

Golden hair and golden eyes.

Snow-white skin and a noble aura that flowed naturally.

An androgynous appearance that could easily be mistaken for a woman.

My master who taught me the Sun Sword in my past life.

My irreplaceable friend.

Yuren Helios was there.

“Ah, Yuren. Are you having Seongguk cuisine today?”

“Is there any food you like? Our family recently hired a famous chef from the Republic…”

“We have a high-quality wine that we recently acquired with difficulty. How about a glass with your meal?”

“……”

Yuren silently put food on his plate, not even glancing at the female cadets surrounding him.

“Hmm? Ah, the heir of the Helios family. Do you know him, Dale?”

“…….”

Do you know, Ra?

I swallowed a bitter smile and shook my head.

“I’ve only heard the name.”

Not yet.

It’s not yet time for us to meet.

The day I stand before you.

It has to be when I can be a bit more confident in myself.

‘Wow, but this guy is really popular.’

Unlike Juliet, who used to hang out with freshmen who had just entered, the female candidates surrounding Yuren looked like noble ladies with an air of elegance.

‘Well, of course.’

He’s handsome, comes from a prestigious family, and has never missed the top spot in the comprehensive evaluation rankings since entering.

It’s impossible for him not to be popular.

“Mr. Dale?”

“Huh? Oh, sorry.”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Ah… well, I was just thinking that he’s as handsome as the rumors say.”

“Aha.”

Iris turned her head slightly towards Yuren, then cleared her throat and spoke.

“He is handsome, but he’s not really my type.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I don’t really like people who look like they were sculpted by the gods.”

It’s quite ironic hearing that from Iris, who looks like she was sculpted by the gods herself.

“Then what kind of appearance do you like?”

“I prefer someone who looks more lively, like a weed growing on the roadside… someone with a natural appearance. If I had to give an example….”

Iris gently covered her cheek with her light pink hair and glanced at me.

“Someone like you, Mr. Dale.”

“…….”

So, you’re saying.

“I look like a weed?”

“No.”

“This might be a bit controversial, don’t you think?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!”

“To think I’d live to hear someone say I look like a weed.”

“You idiot! That’s not what I meant!”

Iris shrieked, her voice high-pitched with indignation.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at her reaction.

“Just go and eat already!”

I followed Iris, who was huffing and puffing her way to the table, and glanced back at Yuren.

‘Iris, Yuren.’

And though I hadn’t met them yet, there were also Berald and Senior Sophia somewhere in the school.

‘I’ve really come back.’

Why was it, I wondered.

Even though it had been over a week since my return, the realization struck me again.

It was an afternoon in March.

The long, long winter had ended.

Spring was coming.

* * *

“Huff, huff! Huff!”

The place where Dale had left.

A blond young man, drenched in sweat, came running with his hands full of bread.

“D-Dale! I got the sausage bread you asked for!”

Juliet looked around, calling out for Dale, but there was no response.

“…Did he go to the bathroom?”

Carefully, Juliet sat on the bench, her hands still full of bread.

She sat there, waiting for Dale to return.

“……”

After 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours had passed.

Juliet, whose stomach was growling, took a bite of the now cold sausage bread.

“Sniff… sniff.”

In the sausage bread soaked with tears, there was a taste of bitter life.