The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

28. Interlude – Sealing Festival

“Ugh… Are you leaving already?”

“Let’s play a little more!”

The children whined, holding onto her pants, asking her to play more.

Iris smiled kindly and soothed the children.

“It’s okay. I’ll come to play again next time.”

“…Really?”

“When? Exactly when will you come?”

“I want to play more with you and brother!”

The children, seemingly very reluctant, did not easily back down.

Seeing the children, Father Antonio stepped forward.

“Everyone, stop it. You’re troubling the saint.”

“B-but…!”

Despite Father Antonio’s dissuasion, the children did not easily back down.

Just as the old priest’s gaze was about to turn slightly stern.

“Please don’t be so harsh, Father.”

“…If you keep indulging them, the children will only get spoiled.”

“Even so.”

Iris gently smiled as she patted the children’s heads.

“Oh, by the way, isn’t the ‘Sealing Festival’ coming up soon?”

The Sealing Festival.

A celebration commemorating the day the five great heroes sealed the demon. It was one of the few days when the usually busy cadets, occupied with intense training and lectures, could relax and enjoy themselves.

The anticipation for this ‘Sealing Festival’ was not limited to the cadets alone.

Even the Hero School, which usually strictly prohibited outsiders, allowed the entry of cadets’ families and acquaintances on this day. Around this time, both the school and Valhalla City would become lively and bustling.

“I was thinking of inviting the children that day, what do you think?”

“…The children, you say?”

“Of course, you too, Father.”

“That is…”

Father Antonio looked surprised, as if he hadn’t considered such a proposal.

“Yay!”

“Really? We can go too?”

“School! I want to see the school!”

The children jumped up and down, cheering at the invitation to the Sealing Festival.

“…Won’t it be troublesome for you, Saintess?”

Father Antonio asked in a low voice, so the children couldn’t hear.

If the children caused any trouble at the festival, it would undoubtedly tarnish Iris’s reputation.

No, even if they didn’t cause trouble, there were plenty of people who wouldn’t look kindly on the sight of orphanage children wandering around the school.

Even though this place was a ‘neutral zone’ where no rank or status mattered, as per the agreement of the three kingdoms.

How easily could the prejudices ingrained in people’s minds be changed?

In this continent, where monsters and demons roamed, orphans without parents were weaker than stray animals, and humans instinctively despised the weak.

“It’s okay.”

But, even so.

Not all humans turned their backs on the weak.

“If anyone has a problem with inviting the children, I’ll use the authority of the ‘Saintess’ to make sure they don’t.”

“Iris…”

Father Antonio looked at Iris with teary eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you? I’m more sorry for not inviting you until now.”

“Haha, it’s nothing.”

Father Antonio shook his head with a warm smile.

“So, can we really tour the school?”

“Yay!”

“I love you, sister!”

The children, already excited about participating in the sealing ceremony, ran around the yard, kicking up dust.

“You rascals! What are you doing causing such a commotion? Get inside now!”

“Ugh.”

“Anyone who doesn’t go inside right now will be left behind for the festival!”

“S-sorry!”

“Let’s go inside quickly!”

At Father Antonio’s scolding, the children rushed into the orphanage.

“The sealing ceremony is in… two weeks, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Haha. Then I’ll see you then, Saintess. Please take care.”

Father Antonio made the sign of the cross and bowed politely.

“Oh, and… was it Dale?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Please take good care of the Saintess.”

Father Antonio patted my shoulder with a meaningful smile.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Haha. You must do well. She may seem gentle on the outside, but inside, she’s quite fierce…”

“Ah, Father Antonio!”

Iris stomped her feet with an urgent expression.

The old priest’s clear laughter echoed through the orphanage yard.

“By the way, the timing is quite good.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by good timing?”

“Ah, recently the security in the Ant Hill has somewhat improved. It’s the perfect time to take the children out.”

“Did something happen?”

“Hmm… I’m not exactly sure what the situation is.”

Father Antonio shook his head slightly.

“But, recently, all the ‘black-robed’ monsters that were wandering around the Ant Hill have disappeared for some reason.”

“Black-robed monsters?”

“Yes. It seems they were part of some criminal organization… There were rumors that they were quite dangerous.”

Black-robed monsters.

The moment I heard those words, the image of the demons from the Demon Cult flashed through my mind.

“When did they disappear?”

“Hmm? Well… It hasn’t been long. They said they suddenly vanished a few days ago.”

A few days ago, that was when I destroyed the Demon Cult’s hideout.

‘The timing matches perfectly.’

The ‘black-robed monsters’ Father Antonio mentioned were undoubtedly the subordinates of the Archbishop of Illusions, Ashtaroth.

“It’s really good news. If there were a large criminal organization with over a hundred members in this already dangerous street, the children’s safety would be at risk.”

“…What?”

Wait a minute.

Over a hundred?

“Are you saying there are more than a hundred black-robed monsters?”

“Well… I heard rumors that it’s a large organization with at least a hundred members, but I don’t know the exact number.”

“……”

The number of demons I dealt with at the hideout that day was definitely around thirty.

The fact that only thirty out of over a hundred of Ashtaroth’s subordinates were left at the hideout meant one thing.

‘There wasn’t just one hideout.’

Besides the hideout I destroyed, there were other hideouts within the Ant Hill.

‘But they all disappeared without a trace after that day?’

Logically, it makes sense that they quickly withdrew before getting caught, as their plan to perform a large-scale ritual at the Hero School was exposed.

‘But they wouldn’t give up so easily.’

The Archbishop of Illusions, Ashtaroth, had invested several years into this plan.

‘He even took the risk of infiltrating the school himself.’

No matter how high-ranking a demon archbishop might be, infiltrating the Hero School would be a life-threatening endeavor.

But to give up on such a meticulously crafted plan just because it went slightly awry?

“…Ha.”

A bitter laugh escaped through my lips.

‘That can’t be right.’

Though I had never met Ashtaroth in my previous life, I knew more about demons than anyone else.

Demons who turned their backs on humanity and engraved the blessings of the devil into their hearts.

There was no way they would give up so easily on something they once desired.

‘They’ll make another move.’

I don’t know what they’ll try, but…

Surely, Ashtaroth will use another method to obtain the ‘Seven Eyes.’

“Mr. Dale? What are you doing standing there blankly?”

“Oh, uh, sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

“Ah. Are you also sad about parting with the children, Mr. Dale?”

“Well… something like that?”

“Hehe. Is that so~.”

Iris licked her lips like a predator spotting its prey.

“Would you like to join me… ahem, I mean, us during the sealing ceremony? Oh, of course, you can play with the children too!”

“……”

It seemed like an obvious proposal, but…

“Sure.”

“Yay!”

She clenched her fists and jumped up.

“You won’t change your mind later, right?”

“Got it.”

I nodded with a faint smile.

“Saintess, if we don’t leave soon, we’ll miss the curfew.”

When I turned my head at Camilla’s urging, the sky had already turned a shade of orange with the sunset.

“Ugh. Hurry up, Mr. Dale!”

Iris urgently grabbed my arm and pulled me along.

With Iris holding my arm, I made my way to the school.

* * *

A warehouse shrouded in darkness.

Inside the old warehouse, where the musty smell of mold wafted, figures in black robes knelt.

As if looking down on them, a mysterious, glowing purple sphere floated in the air.

[Is everyone here?]

A low, sunken voice emanated from the purple sphere.

“Y-Yes! As ordered, we have completely withdrawn from the ant nest!”

One of the kneeling figures bowed towards the purple sphere and replied.

“Um… Th-this incident was the fault of Priest Calix, and has nothing to do with us…”

[Silence.]

The purple sphere flickered ominously.

[Only answer what is asked.]

“S-Sorry!”

The figure bowed its head in fear.

[Have all the ‘nails’ been retrieved?]

“Yes, we have retrieved all the nails that were driven into the ley lines!”

[I see… Is that so.]

With a click of the tongue.

[This has become troublesome.]

Ominous smoke flowed from the purple sphere, filling the warehouse.

“Eek!”

“Ah, Lord Ashtaroth!”

“Please, just one more chance!”

The figures touched by the light trembled as if having a seizure.

“This plan is something that Lord Ashtaroth has been preparing for years, isn’t it? Just because it has gone slightly awry, there’s no need to abandon it…”

[Abandon?]

The purple sphere spun around once.

[Who said anything about abandoning the plan?]

“W-What? B-But…”

[There is no intention of giving up the ‘Seven Eyes.’]

A chilling laugh emanated from the violet sphere.

[However, the plan will be changed to a somewhat rougher method.]

Originally, the plan was to steal the ‘Seven Eyes’ as discreetly as possible.

But with the plan disrupted, there was no other choice.

Even if it meant taking risks, he had to step in personally.

“Um… the rough method you mentioned earlier…?”

One of the demons, bowing his head, looked up with a puzzled expression.

[What method do you think it is?]

Hehehe.

With the ominous laughter, the violet smoke that enveloped the demons swirled violently.

“Ah, Lord Ashtaroth!”

“Please, have mercy…!”

“Didn’t you say there was another plan?!”

The demons shouted with desperate expressions.

But despite their desperate struggles, the violently swirling violet smoke did not stop.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

“Gah! Guh! Ugh!”

The violet smoke penetrated the demons’ bodies through their ears, noses, and mouths.

The eyes of the demons writhing in pain began to slowly turn violet.

[Hmm.]

A low hum emanated from the violet sphere overlooking the scene.

[With the plan disrupted, there’s no need to wait until next year….]

Rather, they had to act as quickly as possible before another variable arose.

‘Who knows what he might do.’

The unidentified hero who destroyed the hideout this time.

Although it was impossible to know who he was, two facts could be ascertained by investigating the scene of the gruesome massacre.

One was that the hero who destroyed the hideout was alone.

The second was that more than thirty demons were slaughtered unilaterally by that one person.

‘He is definitely not at the candidate level.’

That said, there wasn’t a single professor who had left the school that day.

‘Who could it be?’

At first, I intended to chase after the guy and make him pay for ruining my plan.

‘Getting the Seven Eyes comes first.’

It wouldn’t be too late to make him pay afterward.

[Hmm. When would be a good time?]

The violet orb gleamed ominously.

[Ah, yes.]

A sinister laugh echoed through the warehouse.

[Come to think of it, the ‘Sealing Festival’ is coming up soon.]

A festival to commemorate the day the demon was sealed.

If I could get my hands on the ‘Seven Eyes’ blessed by the Seven Gods on that day, nothing would be more meaningful.