The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

47. Interlude – The Spider of Malice

The sensation of that soft tongue probing deep.

The sharp scent of tobacco tickled my nostrils.

“KYaaaH!!!”

From afar, Iris’s scream echoed.

“What is that crazy girl doing… Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!”

“Saint! Please, calm down!”

Camilla’s urgent shout, desperately trying to restrain Iris.

“What, what’s happening?”

“Professor Elisha is kissing Dale…?”

“Kissing that tall, dark-haired beauty in a black suit! D-Dale, that b*stard!”

“But if Professor Elisha is senior to Professor Lucas, then there’s almost a double age gap between us…”

“Onee-shota! I actually like it!”

“Shut up, Albert.”

The commotion filled the training grounds.

Yet, there was no time to listen to such chaos.

I was just as bewildered by the situation.

‘W-What’s going on all of a sudden?’

I never imagined that the first person I would kiss after my return would be Professor Elisha, not Iris.

And a kiss so deep that our tongues intertwined.

“Pfuh!”

Barely escaping from Professor Elisha’s embrace, I gasped for breath and glared at her.

“…What are you doing?”

“Didn’t I say? I have something to confirm.”

As Elisha spoke, she licked her lips, the tongue that had just explored my mouth.

Gulp.

The moment she swallowed,

Sssssss.

Her magic pulsed, and her violet eyes split grotesquely, resembling those of a reptile.

A vertical slit appeared in her violet eyes, revealing golden pupils.

As her alias suggested, the eerie “Cursed Eyes” were directed at me.

“Hmm.”

Elisha, who had been observing me closely, nodded.

“At least, you’re not a demon.”

“Did you kiss me to confirm whether I was a demon or not?”

“To be precise, I needed your saliva. My ‘blessing’ becomes more potent by consuming the bodily fluids of others.”

“…Blessing?”

As I tried to recall what Elisha Baldwin’s blessing was.

“Senior Elisha possesses the ‘Insight Blessing,’ which allows her to see through others’ innermost thoughts. She was invited as a special professor because of that blessing.”

“Ah.”

Indeed.

The reason for the recent monster incident was that no one noticed the demon disguised as a professor infiltrating the school.

If Elisha Baldwin, with her Insight Blessing, were to reside at the school, such a disaster could be avoided.

‘Insight Blessing… Ah, now I remember.’

I vaguely recalled hearing about her blessing when traitors blessed by the Demon God began to appear on the hero’s side in my previous life.

‘I had completely forgotten.’

In my previous life, I had no direct contact with her, and during the time when traitors were rampant, I was busy working as a mercenary day and night, so it was understandable that I didn’t remember.

‘I don’t remember everything from my past life either.’

People forget what they had for lunch three days ago, so it was impossible to remember memories spanning hundreds or thousands of years (most of which were spent wandering the continent alone) perfectly.

‘Anyway, a blessing that allows one to see through others’ innermost thoughts.’

Did she say it becomes more potent by consuming bodily fluids?

I recalled the sensation of the soft tongue left in my mouth and asked.

“Are you planning to kiss everyone at the school?”

Elisha chuckled and shook her head.

“Of course not. Generally, I can distinguish whether someone is a demon or not without consuming bodily fluids.”

“Then why did you…?”

“Because you’re exceptionally strange.”

Elisha glared at me with sharp eyes.

I swallowed hard and nodded.

‘Indeed.’

If the situation were reversed, I would have reacted similarly to her.

“So, what are the results? Have your doubts been resolved?”

“No, they’ve only deepened.”

Elisha shook her head with a bitter smile.

“Ah, but there is one thing I found out.”

“And what is that?”

“Hmm.”

Professor Elisha leaned in close to me, bringing her lips near my ear.

She whispered softly so that no one else could hear.

“You, it says on the candidate list that you don’t have any blessings… Shouldn’t that be changed?”

“……”

Damn it.

Did she find out about the Blessing of Resurrection?

‘At least it seems she hasn’t discovered the Primordial Flame.’

If the Blessing of Insight had revealed the Primordial Flame, things would have been much more complicated.

“Well, whether you reveal it or not is up to you. It’s not against the rules to keep it hidden, after all.”

Professor Elisha shrugged.

“…What are you two whispering about so secretly?”

At that moment.

A low, intense voice accompanied by a piercing gaze reached us.

“You must be… Candidate Iris.”

“If you’re done with your business, please step away from Mr. Dale.”

“Oh.”

Professor Elisha’s eyes sparkled with interest at Iris’s sharp gaze.

“I never expected the Saint of the Holy Kingdom to be acquainted with a low-ranking candidate.”

“Does rank matter when candidates get to know each other?”

“No, it doesn’t.”

“Then it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Hmm.”

Professor Elisha chuckled, as if she had just stumbled upon a delightful toy.

“But isn’t it a bit troublesome for the saintess of the Holy Kingdom to be so close with a male candidate?”

“The teachings of the Seven Gods do not instruct us to avoid interactions with the opposite s*x.”

“Haha, what a bold saintess you are.”

With a laugh that shook her shoulders, Professor Elisha stepped closer to me, as if struck by a brilliant idea.

Now, we were completely close, Elisha and I.

I tried to erase the soft sensation I felt through my suit and opened my mouth.

“…What now?”

“It seems that once is not enough to be certain.”

Professor Elisha stroked my chin and continued in a voice that was all seriousness.

“It appears we need to conduct a further investigation into Candidate Dale.”

“……”

“Wait a moment! Didn’t you just say the investigation was complete?!”

Iris jumped up, her face a mask of shock, and grabbed Professor Elisha’s shoulders.

“I said I had found something; I don’t recall saying the investigation was finished.”

“Ugh….”

“Well then, shall we continue the investigation slowly… at a leisurely pace?”

“Yikes!”

Iris tugged at the shoulders she was holding.

“Hmm. What is this? As a special professor, I have a duty to investigate suspicious candidates.”

“Suspicious? Who exactly is suspicious? And if you need bodily fluids, there’s no need to resort to saliva, is there?”

“Oh? Then what?”

“Um… sweat, perhaps?”

“Hmm. Understood. Following Candidate Iris’s suggestion, I shall lick the sweat from Candidate Dale’s nape….”

“Ah, no! Who gave you the right to lick Dale?!”

“Neither saliva nor sweat… what exactly am I supposed to do?”

Professor Elisha clicked her tongue, glancing back at Iris.

“Um… so, that is to say.”

Flustered, Iris clenched her fists and shouted.

“Let’s just beat up Dale until he cries!”

“Huh?”

“Or we could stab them with a knife and make them bleed!”

“What are you talking about, Iris?”

“Hmm. Looking at Cadet Dale’s expression, it seems he’s not very keen on that idea.”

“Then, how about….”

Iris’s gaze, which had been trailing off, landed on a sign at the entrance of the training ground.

The sign read, “Restrooms are to the right after exiting.”

Gulp.

Iris swallowed dryly and opened her mouth.

“Urine is also a type of bodily fluid… Ugh?!”

“Stop!”

You mustn’t say any more!!!

“Pfft, haha!”

Professor Elisha burst into laughter as she watched me cover Iris’s mouth.

It was the first time she had shown such a bright smile, always maintaining a heavy and serious demeanor.

“Sigh.”

Professor Lucas approached with a deep sigh.

“Let’s stop the jokes here, senior.”

“Haha, it’s been a while since I laughed like this.”

Professor Elisha nodded, wiping away the tears that had formed at the corners of her eyes.

Iris frowned and looked back at Professor Lucas.

“Jokes?”

“Even if you drink more bodily fluids here, the effect of the ‘Blessing of Insight’ won’t improve.”

In other words.

The very act of proposing further investigation was Professor Elisha’s joke.

“Grr…!”

Iris glared fiercely at Professor Elisha with a face flushed red.

Professor Elisha turned away with a nonchalant expression.

“The cadet test ends here. Everyone, return to the classroom and continue with the lesson. I will now head to another ‘Practical Combat Class’.”

“W-wait! You’re just leaving like this?”

“Hmm? Does Candidate Iris want me to investigate Candidate Dale further?”

“That is….”

Iris bit her lip and clenched her trembling fist.

“…Go, quickly.”

Iris turned around and grabbed my arm.

“Let’s go too, Mr. Dale.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Make sure to stay after the lecture, I have a lot to say.”

“…Yes.”

As I was being dragged back to the lecture hall by Iris.

“Ah, Candidate Dale?”

“Yes?”

I turned my head to see Professor Elisha, with her finger on her lips, smiling slightly.

“Not bad.”

“…What is?”

“Hehe. Who knows?”

With that, Professor Elisha turned around and walked away with a click-clack.

* * *

In the neatly organized professor’s office.

Professor Lucas sighed deeply as he looked at the woman in front of him.

“…Why did you do that?”

“What do you mean?”

Professor Elisha sipped her coffee without even turning her head.

“I remember you weren’t the type to enjoy pranks.”

“Time changes not only mountains but also people.”

“Sigh.”

Professor Lucas let out a deep sigh that seemed to sink into the ground.

Elisha, who had been silently sipping her coffee, spoke in a low voice.

“Was it Candidate Dale….”

“Yes.”

“I liked it.”

“…Which part?”

“Your appearance is my type. Oh, and the feel of your lips was nice too.”

“……”

“Just kidding.”

Professor Elisha chuckled as she placed her glass on the table.

Professor Lucas narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

“I don’t think you were joking about liking it.”

“Isn’t it natural for a female to be attracted to a strong male?”

“……”

“From the distribution of magic power to the precise control, the keen eye and movements uncharacteristic of a cadet.”

Professor Elisha’s eyes sparkled as she continued.

“Cadet Dale will become a strong hero in the future. Perhaps even more than the ‘Great Five Heroes’.”

“…Isn’t that too high of an evaluation?”

“Hehe. Who knows?”

Elisha shrugged and leaned back against the sofa.

She looked up at the ceiling, absentmindedly touching her lips.

When her lips met Dale’s, the sensation she felt through the blessing of insight came to mind.

‘There’s something else besides the blessing of revival.’

Something unimaginably vast… something fiercely burning.

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Even with the blessing of insight, she couldn’t accurately grasp what it was.

But one thing was certain.

‘The moment Cadet Dale makes that inner power his own.’

An unprecedented monster will be born.

‘Well, there’s no guarantee that monster will be on humanity’s side.’

Elisha stifled a chuckle as she recalled the lingering sensation of Dale’s lips.

Why was it?

She had kissed countless times to obtain bodily fluids, but she had never felt particularly good about it.

“What is it?”

Was it because her pleasant recollection was interrupted?

Elisha frowned and turned her head towards Lucas.

“I know that Dale has talent, but… no matter how much.”

“Stop beating around the bush and speak clearly.”

“I think it’s a bit unethical to have an eye on a male cadet who is more than twenty years younger… Ugh!”

Piiing!

With a sharp metallic sound, a transparent silver thread wrapped around Professor Lucas’s body.

Professor Lucas, wriggling like an insect caught in a spider’s web, unable to move.

Elisha stepped on Professor Lucas’s chest with her pointed shoe and opened her mouth.

“Any last words?”

“I’m sorry.”

Please spare me, senior.