The Last Place Hero's Return

Chapter 245: Interlude – Winter Break

A few days had passed since I learned that the Tree of Creation had taken root within me. The Hero Academy, having finished the grade adjustment period, was now facing a major event: the winter break. Though, it did not have much to do with me. Unlike other cadets, I didn’t have a family home to return to, nor was I in a position to leisurely go on vacation.

I decided to focus on training as much as possible during this break. Up until recently, I had reached a level where ordinary training no longer improved my strength in any meaningful way. But after I had absorbed another Primordial Ember in the Empire and learned the true nature of the Tree of Creation rooted within me, the situation had changed completely.

To think that just knowing could make such a difference.

Back in my previous life, Senior Sophia had once told me that there were powers in this world whose very existence changed depending on whether they were observed. At the time, I had no idea what she meant, and honestly, I still didn’t fully get it. Nevertheless, after I had become aware of the Tree of Creation’s existence, one thing had changed. A deep green aura wavered above my palm. It was neither the symbol of the Primordial Flame nor the Ashen Flames. This was a pure aura imbued with the power of the Tree of Creation itself.

The power itself had likely been inside me all along. Since I had resurrected tens of thousands of times through the Blessing of Resurrection, the power of the Tree of Creation had definitely dwelled within me long before the Primordial Flame ever did. I simply hadn’t been able to use it consciously until now.

While I still didn’t know how to properly utilize it, I could figure that out gradually. For now, being able to consciously control the Tree of Creation’s power, just like the Primordial Flame, was an unexpected and tremendous achievement in itself for me.

Achievements aside, I was facing a big problem. These two powers were fighting inside my body. And this wasn’t just a case of me getting caught in the crossfire. The thought of the creator of all things and the flames that once burned that very creator to death being tangled together and battling inside me made my head spin.

I was deep in thought when I heard Laneige’s voice. “D-Dale, is there s-something you’re uncomfortable with?”

Perhaps she had heard my sigh, Laneige came trotting over from the kitchen in her maid outfit. Ever since she had become my exclusive attendant after graduation, she had been coming to my room every morning to prepare my meals.

“No, I’m fine,” I replied.

“R-really? Hehe. That’s a relief. Um, breakfast is ready. Do you want to eat now or wash up first?”

“I’ll eat now.”

Laneige nodded enthusiastically, smiling brightly. “Okay!”

I stared at her. “But...”

“Hm? What is it?”

“That maid outfit, do you really have to wear it every time?”

“D-does it not suit me?” she asked.

“No, it suits you. That’s the problem.”

Laneige was already cute enough, but pairing that with a maid outfit created a terrifying level of synergy. Waking up every morning to the sight of Laneige in a maid outfit and sometimes with her even sitting on top of me was frankly more than a little dangerous.

“Hehe. Then I’ll keep wearing it! I’m your exclusive maid, after all, Dale!”

“Ah, yeah. Sure.”

There was no way I could explain the real reason to Laneige while she was smiling so innocently.

* * *

After having a simple breakfast, Laneige and I headed to the party house as usual.

Yurina was already there, lightly sweating as if she had just finished some morning exercise. Spotting me, she said, “Oh, Dale, you’re here?”

“You’re early today,” I replied.

“Yeah. Couldn’t really sleep.”

“If you’re up for it, want to do some light sparring?”

“Huh? Really? I’m totally in!”

She was indeed true to her nickname as a training maniac. Her eyes lit up the moment sparring was mentioned. As we sparred, the rest of the party members gradually gathered at the party house.

Looking around at the people gathered in the lounge, I said, “Come to think of it, winter break starts tomorrow. Do you all have any plans?”

I hadn’t made any concrete plans yet. However, I was thinking that if everyone was free, we could go on a ruin exploration together to gain some real combat experience, as we had during the last summer break.

Though, compared to back then, our party’s level had skyrocketed as a whole. On top of that, I myself had become disproportionately powerful compared to the others. I didn’t even know where we’d go anymore.

Honestly, at my current level, solo training was far more efficient than party-based ruin exploration. There was no longer any real need to gain field experience, nor were there any meaningful spoils to be gained from ruins. Even things like magic armor or grimoires, which had been a major contributor to my strength in my previous life, were no longer necessary at my current level.

Iris turned to me. “Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you about my winter break plans, Dale.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m planning to return to the Holy Empire with Camilla for some personal training.”

“The Holy Empire?”

“Yes. It’s the best place to train the Seven Eyes.”

That made sense. Befitting its name, the Holy Empire was filled with sacred relics and places imbued with divine blessings, which made communion with the Seven Gods far easier.

“And also...” Smiling softly, Iris gently touched the divine relic of Grace hanging from her necklace. “I’d like to spend some time alone with Mother.”

“Yeah, I understand. Oh, right, how is Mother-in-law doing these days?”

Iris smiled brightly, as if to tell me not to worry. “At first, she told me to break up with you immediately, Dale. But after I worked hard to persuade her, she came to understand.”

“You persuaded her?”

It hadn’t seemed like Grace was in a state where persuasion would work.

“Ah, yes. I told her that if she kept insisting we break up, I’d cut ties with her altogether, mother or not. She burst into tears and said she understood.”

I was speechless. That was not persuasion; it was outright blackmail. Regardless of what it was, it resolved the issue in the end. Nevertheless, I did wonder if a day would ever come when Grace would call me her son-in-law again.

I let out a sigh and shook my head before turning to Camilla. “Camilla, you’re going to support Iris, right?”

“That’s part of it, but... Sir Johan Basilio has personally agreed to look over my swordsmanship this time,” she replied.

“The Sword of the Holy Empire?”

“Yes.”

Perhaps she was nervous at the thought of learning directly from someone she had long admired. Camilla absentmindedly touched the hilt of the sword at her waist, her expression a complicated mix of anticipation and anxiety.

“Well, if it’s you, Camilla, you’ll be fine. No need to be that tense,” I said, offering some words of reassurance.

“Hmph. What would the likes of you know about me?” she replied.

“At least enough to know you’re a hero whose blade is upright and true, worthy of becoming the next Sword of the Holy Empire.”

She flinched. Her shoulders twitched as she shot me a fierce glare. “I-I see now. I understand your tactics.”

“What tactics?”

“This is how you wag your tail at the Saintess and all the other women! Kugh! I won’t be fooled! Grr, just kill me!”

What on earth is she even talking about now?

“Why would I kill you?” I asked.

“I’d rather die than be sullied by a greedy beast!”

What did she even think I was?

I replied, “I kind of want to kill you right now... Well, anyway. So, both of you are going to the Holy Empire for winter break, right?”

Iris clenched her fist and energetically declared, “Yes. It hurts to be separated from you, Dale, but when I come back, I’ll have grown so much that you’ll be shocked!”

I chuckled and nodded, turning to the others. “Then what about the rest of you?”

Berald raised his hand. “I plan to visit my family home.”

“Because of your father?”

“Heh heh. I should check whether my old man’s dementia has flared up again.”

“Well, it’s a good chance to see your father either way.”

No matter how important training was, it couldn’t outweigh family.

Senior Sophia suddenly said, “I’m going with him.”

I was surprised. “Huh? You too, Senior Sophia?”

“Yeah. I’ve never met Berald’s father even once.”

I raised an eyebrow and grinned at her. “Hoh? Is that really your only reason?”

“What are you trying to imply?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just curious why— Guhk!”

Before I could finish, Senior Sophia brought the tip of her staff crashing down onto the top of my foot. Then, she looked me dead in the eye. “Still curious?”

“No. Not curious at all.”

If I teased her any further, the party house we had painstakingly set up could be blown to pieces. Pure destructive power alone, Senior Sophia’s magic now surpassed even Elisha’s.

Elisha chimed in as well. “I don’t think I’ll be able to spare time this winter break either.”

“Hm? Did the headmaster assign you a special mission?”

She shook her head lightly. “No. Do you remember the elixir I received from Empress Camellia?”

I recalled the Blessing of God. “Ah, yes.”

“I plan to devote myself to solitary training until I fully absorb that elixir and make its power entirely my own. Once I have accomplished that, I should be able to reach the rank of Master,” Elisha explained.

She would be undergoing a kind of closed-door cultivation, then.

Elisha winked with a meaningful smile and continued, “Hehe. When I reach that rank, I’d like to receive another reward from you, Dale. Or perhaps, in this case, it should be called a punishment?”

Given that Elisha was already nearly on par with a Master, it was entirely possible.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and hurriedly changed the subject. “Then that means the only ones staying at the academy are Laneige, Yurina, and me?”

Yurina shook her head. “Hmm, I’m planning to return to my family home this time too.”

“Huh? You’re going back home?”

Hadn’t she practically cut ties with the Helios family?

“Oh, I’m not going back because of my mother. There’s a sword that’s been passed down through my family for generations. I’m going to retrieve it.”

“Ah.”

She meant Dawnbringer. True enough, at Yurina’s current level, she had long surpassed the point of being overwhelmed by that sword’s power. There was no reason for her to keep using such a cheap blade.

“But with that old hag’s personality, do you think she’ll hand it over easily?” I asked.

“If my mother won’t give it to me, I’ll just take it by force. Even if I have to beat her up,” Yurina said with a bright smile, spouting something deeply unfilial.

The Yurina who once lived shackled by her mother’s words, ready to die at the slightest command, was long gone.

Suddenly, I realized something. “Ah, wait a second.”

If Iris, Camilla, Berald, Senior Sophia, Elisha, and Yurina were all leaving, then that meant I would be left alone with Laneige.

A creepy smile took over Laneige’s face, her eyes bloodshot. She murmured, “Uheehk, uhehehe. J-just me and Dale, alone for winter break, eheheh... I-I should ask Professor Bastion to m-make a really good stamina potion.”

Why was it that I felt a sudden premonition that this winter break was not going to pass peacefully at all?