Chapter 128: Interlude – The Last-Place Hero

When Professor Kane had contacted her, Yurina was surprised.

He had said, “Hello, Yuren? This is Professor Kane.”

And when he had asked if she could let Dale stay in her room until the break, Yurina couldn’t help herself. A cheer had burst out of her mouth before she realized it.

When she thought about that, for a moment, a ridiculous idea had crossed her mind: “Maybe my entire life as Yuren had been leading up to this very day.”

She looked around at the living room, strewn with clothes and trash, and muttered, “I-I’d better start cleaning.”

Yurina hurriedly got to work, finishing the chores she had been putting off with one excuse or another, preparing scented candles, and filling the room with a faint fragrance. She also planned to cook for Dale and browsed food recipes that claimed to be easy for beginners, even buying the ingredients for them.

However, when she actually tried to cook, only one thought came to her mind: Easy for beginners, my foot!

It was her first attempt at cooking, and she ruined it spectacularly. But Dale only smiled, saying he would teach her how to cook instead of complaining.

Dale.

Just remembering the warmth of his hand when he patted her head made her lips curve into a silly grin.

“Anyway.”

That night, after dinner with Dale, as she sat in her room performing mana cultivation, she felt it clearly. The mana within her soul stigmata had increased.

Huh? Why all of a sudden? she wondered.

Normally, the more mana one possessed, the less effective mana breathing was. Someone like Yurina, a veritable mana monster, would find it almost impossible to gain anything from mana breathing. The only way such a sudden surge could occur was if she consumed an extraordinary elixir, and not just a rare one, but the kind so precious that even a fortune couldn’t buy it.

She wondered if it could be the Blessing of Moonlight. The moment she had declared she would grow stronger to protect Dale, the Blessing of Moonlight had suddenly shone. The condition for activating the Blessing of Moonlight was thinking of someone precious. It meant that her mana had grown because she thought of Dale so deeply.

The instant she realized it, her face turned burning hot. “Ugh!”

Even though no one was watching, she hugged her knees and buried her face, as if to hide her blazing cheeks.

Since when… have I been thinking only about Dale?

She knew the answer better than anyone. It was that day, when the moon was nearly swallowed by the sun.

“Yuren… no, Yurina, was it? I’ve come to get you.”

When Dale had appeared before her, like the prince from the fairy tale her brother used to tell her, he became her new sun. From that moment on, there was no room in her heart for anyone else.

With her face still buried in her knees, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. “But Dale…”

Ever since he became her sun, she found herself increasingly aware of his every glance. And there was one thing she came to understand. The one Dale looked at wasn’t her; it was Iris. She knew it instinctively. Just as her heart was filled with Dale, his heart was filled with Iris.

She bit her lip and clenched her fists. “That’s not fair.”

I could care for him more. I could be of more help to him. I could be the one he leans on.

She knew that all these thoughts boiling inside her were nothing more than petty jealousy. Yet, she couldn’t stop herself.

Slowly, she lifted her head. “I don’t want to just sit by and give up.”

Even if she knew his heart leaned toward Iris, she couldn’t stay still, sucking her thumb, waiting for the two of them to end up together.

“Courage.”

That was what Dale told her. That she was braver than anyone and that no fear could make her waver. No despair could make her bend.

Of course, she knew Dale had been exaggerating. She still didn’t understand why he had called her courageous when she trembled just at the sight of her mother’s face.

But because Dale believed in her, she told herself, “Still. I should try to be brave.”

She exhaled deeply and stood up. Slipping out of bed, she carefully opened her door. The door to Dale’s room, once her dressing room, wasn’t even twenty meters away, and it was now firmly shut.

“Um, Dale,” she said.

“What is it?”

“C-could I… sleep with you tonight? Just for today?”

His eyes widened in surprise at her sudden request. “What?”

Before he could refuse, she hurried to explain, “So, earlier, when I was with you, the Blessing of Moonlight manifested. Thanks to that, my mana increased.”

“Right.”

She delivered her carefully rehearsed excuse. “So, I thought, uh, maybe if I stay close to you, it’ll activate more often.”

“That’s not guaranteed,” he replied.

“I know. But I still think it’s worth trying.”

Dale fell silent, considering it seriously. After a few moments, he said, “If that’s the case, then fine.”

“R-really?”

“Yeah.”

With that, Dale lay down on the mat. She cautiously slipped in beside him and reached for his hand.Warmth flowed into her through their joined hands. She wanted to beg him to stroke her hair, to indulge her like a child, but now wasn’t the time.

She could feel his tension traveling through his hand. Is Dale… nervous too?

The realization made her unexpectedly happy, and a silly laugh escaped her lips. “Hehe! Good night, Dale.”

He gave a quiet reply. “Mm.”

He quickly turned his face away. She couldn’t see him now, but judging by the sweat on his palm, she was certain his cheeks were burning red. Knowing he felt the same way eased her tension.

She had thought she would be too nervous to sleep. However, as she lay there, hand in hand with Dale, drowsiness soon washed over her. She let her eyelids fall without resisting the tide of sleep.

***

“Hmmm!”

How much time had passed? I slowly opened my eyes, lifting my head to glance around. Outside the window, it was still dark, and dawn had yet to come. The first thing I did after waking was check the mana sealed inside my soul stigmata, but it felt no different from last night.

The Blessing of Moonlight… didn’t activate? Well, there’s no way I could gain mana that easily.

Still, just knowing that if I stayed with Dale, the Blessing of Moonlight could gradually increase my mana was enough to keep me content.

Wondering if Dale was still asleep, I turned my head. He was resting quietly, eyes closed. The soft moonlight streaming through the window brushed against his face. His ash-gray hair contrasted with his fair, almost childlike skin. He did not have the chiseled beauty of a sculpture, but a face brimming with a vivid, natural charm.

I couldn’t help but smile faintly as I gazed at him. “Cute!”

No matter how long I stared, I didn’t feel bored in the slightest. The lashes brushing against his hair, his gently closed eyes, the soft-looking earlobes, the sharp bridge of his nose, and those faintly tinted lips. I swallowed dryly at those lips, as an idea came to mind.

However, stealing a kiss from someone sleeping was something I absolutely couldn’t do. Squeezing my eyes shut, I shook my head hard.

N-no! That’s definitely crossing the line! But still…

I bit down on my lip, torn between temptation and restraint. After a long moment of struggle, I slowly leaned closer. I pressed a light kiss against Dale’s cheek, then quickly pulled away as if fleeing the scene.

I peeked nervously at him. H-he didn’t wake up, right?

When he showed no sign of stirring, I breathed a sigh of relief and tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake him.

***

After the door closed behind Yurina, I slowly opened my eyes. I sat up halfway on the mattress, letting out a heavy sigh as my hand brushed over the cheek she had just kissed.

“I’m going insane!”

Running a hand through my messy gray hair, I sighed again and again.

***

The rest of the brief cohabitation with Yurina ended peacefully. It was now time for class.

Professor Kane stepped into the lecture hall, his eyes sweeping across the cadets’ faces. “Looks like everyone’s already buzzing with excitement for the break.”

He clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Well, you’re not children. I don’t have much to warn you about. If you’re heading home, travel safely. And if you’re off to some resort, try not to cause any trouble.”

The professor strolled around the room before laying a hand on one cadet’s shoulder. “Albert.”

Albert recoiled as though he had seen a ghost. “H-hiiik! W-what is it, Professor?”

With a sly grin, Professor Kane ruffled his hair. “Enjoy your vacation, boy.”

Albert exhaled in relief and nodded. “Yes, Professor.”

“Good. I’ll be counting on you in the next semester as well.”

“Counting on me for what?” Albert asked.

“Now then, let’s see who’s next.”

Panicked, Albert said, “No, seriously! What do you mean by that?”

Ignoring him, Professor Kane returned to the lectern. “Alright, one last thing. We’ll now reveal the results of the first semester’s overall evaluation. Activate your Hero Watches.”

At his words, the cadets poured mana into their watches. A holographic screen appeared before each of them, with a flashing message.

[Updating Results].

Finally, the rankings were out. I powered mine on and checked my standing, which had yet to be updated.

[Cadet Information]

Name: Dale Han

Origin: Republic

Year: Third Year

Department: Warrior Division

Overall Rank: 472 / 472

It was still the all-too-familiar number, but today would be the last time I would have to see it. While I had bombed the midterms and couldn’t expect too high a rank, I was finally going to escape from this miserable, dead-last spot.

My eyes shone with anticipation as I watched the screen. I had even earned the Diamond Emblem, and my party contribution rate was probably the highest. So, I thought I could make it to at least the top fifty.

[Results updated.]

[Please refresh the Cadet Information window.]

Here it comes! The new score that would mark the start of my fresh life! I said to myself.

[Cadet Information]

Name: Dale Han

Origin: Republic

Year: Third Year

Department: Warrior Division

Overall Rank: 472 / 472

I was shocked. “Huh?”

What the hell? Why didn’t it change?

Professor Kane explained, “Oh, by the way, Dale received three suspensions during the semester. As a result, all of his exam scores were marked as zero.”

I was speechless.

He continued, “I must say, it’s quite a feat, getting suspended three times in a single semester. Remarkable, really. Well done, Dale.”

A week ago, when Professor Kane had handed me my third suspension notice, he had worn a cryptic smile and said, “Hmm. Who’s to say it means nothing?”

Now, wearing that same grin, Professor Kane looked straight at me. “Hahaha! Such a pity, you were actually ranked first in the finals!”

I stared back at the number etched into the cadet information window. It was still the same old 472.

“No. Damn it!”

Just when will I ever escape this cursed ranking?

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