The Last Place Hero's Return

Through the chatter of idle gossip across the continent, through the hero communities, through word of mouth among the cadets, the videos spread at terrifying speed. It was like a spark falling into a dry forest and erupting into a wildfire that could devour an entire mountain range.

All videos were barely ten seconds long, yet each contained content shocking enough to turn the entire continent upside down. However, the key point was that the videos featured all sorts of famous individuals—from the Masters to figures such as the Cursed-Eye Spider, the Saintess, and the heir of the Knight of the Sun—branding them as the “Demon God.” Moreover, these videos were produced so rapidly that no one could even tell which one was the original.

Before long, these shocking clips became something of a trend among heroes. From crude imitations to high-quality productions indistinguishable from the real thing, dozens, no, hundreds of versions began circulating.

—Now, you are the Demon God.

The words Amon had left behind as he died spread far and wide, reaching even ordinary people without soul stigmata. It became a catchphrase that even ten-year-old kids in the streets mimicked.

Elisha looked at the videos and muttered, “This is what happened in just five days after the video started spreading.”

She let out a short, incredulous chuckle as she played a clip filmed on the streets of Valhalla City. It was of children laughing as they shouted at each other.

—You’re the Demon God!

—No, you are!

“Honestly, I didn’t expect it to work this well.”

“It’s all thanks to Albert,” I replied.

Given the nature of the video, it would have spread quickly even without the Hoover family’s influence. But turning it into a full-blown meme was largely their doing. After all, once something became a meme, its popularity wouldn’t just double, but multiply exponentially. And at that point, distinguishing truth from falsehood would become impossible.

Iris let out a breath of relief, placing a hand over her chest. “Still, I’m relieved. When that video about you first came out, Dale, it felt completely hopeless.”

Yurina nodded, then turned to me. “By the way, how did you convince the Masters? Especially Marianne and Johan. They wouldn’t have been easy to persuade.”

“Yeah, I’m curious too. Those two wouldn’t have just stayed quiet after hearing you became the Demon God,” Iris asked.

“Well...” I trailed off and quietly looked away. How could I possibly admit, in front of them, that when words failed, I resorted to physical persuasion? I just replied, “Well, things happened.”

“Hmm. The way you’re dodging the question makes it obvious you did something.”

“Hehe. I’ll just ask Sister Camellia later,” Iris said.

She indeed had that option. I looked at her. “Ahem. More importantly, when did you two become close enough to call each other sisters?”

“When we went to the hot springs together. She said she wanted me to treat her more casually,” Iris replied.

“I thought she’d be terrifying based on the rumors, but she’s actually really nice once you talk to her,” Yurina added.

Laneige also said positive things. “Y-yeah. And she doesn’t even try to monopolize Dale.”

The girls looked far more relaxed compared to when they had first met her, clearly having grown closer. That was a relief to me. Given Camellia’s personality, I had been a bit worried about how she would get along with the others, but that concern now seemed unnecessary.

“Still, I’m really glad. I thought something terrible would happen to you because of me.” Laneige, eyes shimmering with tears, tugged nervously at my clothes.

Even though I had told her it was fine, she was still like this. Well, that timid, crumpled demeanor was part of her charm.

She continued, “I-if If everyone started hating you... I would’ve frozen them all and k-killed them.”

Uh, yeah. Sure. C-charm, right?

I quickly interjected. “Anyway, everything’s been resolved without any problems, so don’t worry about it.”

“O-okay, Dale.”

“Come on, no more tears.” I wiped the tears from her eyes.

She flushed, smiling shyly. Like a puppy, she burrowed into my arms, rubbing her cheek against me. “Hehe, I like you, Dale.”

If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging wildly right now. I chuckled softly and patted her head.

Elisha sat down beside me, casting a glance at Laneige in my arms, her expression oddly envious. “Ahem. By the way, has the Prophet of Eternity made any moves since then?”

“Not yet,” I answered.

Since the victory ceremony, the Prophet of Eternity hadn’t made any noticeable moves. Thanks to that, the Hero Academy had resumed normal classes.

“Though I don’t know how long this will last,” I said. Neither my party members nor I were naive enough to believe this peace would continue. “Well, there’s no way he’ll stay quiet forever.”

“Dale...”

“But we’re just one step away now,” I added.

Yes, just one more step, and I could finally grasp the life I had always wanted. In that endless snowfield, beneath the raging blizzard, the life I had longed for all this time.

I turned to them. “So, let’s hang in there just a little longer.”

Elisha frowned. “Hmm.”

“Hm? What is it?” I asked.

“No. It just sounded like the kind of line that raises a really bad omen.”

That did sound like a death flag. But what meaning would something like a death flag even have for me?

“Well, I don’t think that applies to me,” I replied.

“Heh. When you put it that way, you’re right.” Elisha chuckled and nodded. She leaned closer, whispering in a husky voice, her eyes burning with unmistakable heat, “Then for now, I suppose we can enjoy the calm before the storm.”

“Hm, s-should we?”

“W-well, in swordsmanship, relaxing your body is just as important as swinging your blade.”

It wasn’t just her. Iris and Yurina were also swallowing nervously, their gazes heated.

Why do all of them suddenly look so dangerous? Sensing something ominous, I tried to quickly get up. But Laneige, who had been curled up in my arms, grabbed onto me tightly and stopped me in my tracks.

“Dale, where are you going?” she asked. “D-Dale, you know something? I-I haven’t... been with you for almost a month.”

She wasn’t wrong. After the war, I had been unconscious for two whole weeks, and right after that, the incident with the recording broke out. I hadn’t had any chance at all to spend time with my lovers.

She continued, “H-how unfair! You’ve only been with E-Empress Camellia... I mean S-sister Camellia.”

“N-no, that’s not...” I didn’t know what to say.

“And now I’ve even r-run out of photos to, to use as ‘side dishes’!”

Side dishes? What on earth are you talking about, Laneige?

“Sister Laneige is right.” Iris crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “It’s true that the time you’ve been spending with us has dropped a lot lately, isn’t it, Dale?”

“That can’t be helped,” I replied.

“So, now that we’re ‘caught fish,’ we don’t matter anymore, is that it?” she asked.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!” I quickly tried to explain, but the sharp stares coming from all directions were painful. “Alright. I get it.”

At this point, it seemed like I would have to set aside time for my lovers today.

“But...” I hesitated, glancing between Iris, Yurina, Laneige, and Elisha.

Spending time with them was fine. There wasn’t anything else I could do until the Prophet of Eternity made a move anyway. The problem was who to spend time with. Even if I excluded Camellia, who wasn’t here right now, there were still four of them.

Yurina took the initiative. “Dale, you’re staying with me today, right?”

“Hm. Yurina, didn’t you train together with Dale not too long ago?” Elisha said.

“T-that was training!”

“Still, it counts as time spent together.”

“I-I was the one who brought it up today, so I-I’ll be the one to stay with Dale.” Laneige tugged tightly at my collar, glaring at the others as if she had no intention of backing down today.

The atmosphere turned tense, as though I were surrounded by starved beasts after nearly a month of deprivation. At this moment, the Saintess’s wisdom shone brilliantly. She suggested, “Why do we even need to fight among ourselves? Can’t we just all do it together?”

“What?”

“A-a-all... together?”

“Ho. I hadn’t considered that approach,” Elisha said.

The believers marveled at the Saintess’s insight.

“Hey, Iris? Even so, wouldn’t that be a bit too much for me to handle...” I tried to speak up.

She quickly shut me down. “Dale, keep your mouth shut.”

Why are you all like this to me?

Iris smiled sweetly as she delivered an irrefutable truth. “Hehe. Well, it’s only natural, since this is something you brought upon yourself, Dale.”

“U-um, are we really... all going to, uh, do it together? I-It’s a little embarrassing,” Yurina said shyly.

“Yurina, you’ve done it before, haven’t you?” Iris said.

“E-even so....” Yurina trailed off, hesitating.

“Then do you want to sit this one out?” Iris asked.

“N-no, I don’t want that!”

Iris turned to Laneige and Elisha, who had yet to experience a group setting. “Hehe. What about the rest of you?”

Laneige nodded eagerly with sparkling eyes. “I-I... as long as I can be with D-Dale, I-I don’t mind.”

“Hm!” Elisha hesitated for a moment, her dignity as a professor giving her pause. But, even for her, suppressing her heated desires wasn’t easy. “Haa. I guess it can’t be helped.”

“Alright, then...”

“F-first, should we wash up?”

Like a cow being led to slaughter, I was dragged along by my lovers toward the bathhouse.

“Wait, are we really all doing this together?” I asked sincerely.

At this rate, I’m seriously going to die.

“It’s okay, Dale,” Iris replied with a gentle smile. “Even if you die, you’ll just come back to life.”

Suddenly, a memory from the past flashed through my mind—the image of the Saintess gently stroking my cheek as she whispered, “Don’t ever say your life is cheap again. To me, your life is more precious than any other.”

Yeah, you definitely said that! You said it was more precious than any other life! So then why?

Iris looked at me. “Oh right, that reminds me! I have a stamina potion I got from Professor Bastion. He warned me it’s extremely potent, though it might leave some aftereffects... but, well, you’ll be fine, right?”

How? How did things end up like this?

At the sight of the fallen Saintess, hot tears streamed down my cheeks.

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