The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

77. Observation Class (3)

“Stop! Both of you, stop it, please!”

In the tense atmosphere, as if a blade was pressed against their necks, Yuren’s urgent cry echoed.

“What on earth are you doing in the school?!”

“…Ugh.”

Rosanna frowned at Yuren’s scolding.

She also seemed to realize she had crossed a line, as she sighed deeply and nodded.

“Alright, so could you let go of my arm?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Ma’am…!”

Rosanna’s face contorted with anger, a thick vein bulging on her forehead.

She was about to say something to me but clicked her tongue and turned her head.

“Hah, right. Can’t expect noble manners from a republic mongrel.”

“I didn’t know noble manners included slapping a child in front of everyone just because you didn’t like them. Or should I not say that?”

“You little…!”

Rosanna’s eyes narrowed at the blatant sarcasm.

Biting her lips nervously, Rosanna’s golden eyes suddenly sparkled as if she had a good idea.

“Did you say your name was Dale?”

“Yes.”

“Where are your parents now?”

“…….”

Was this the best idea I could come up with?

I swallowed a bitter laugh and looked at Rosanna with a dumbfounded expression.

‘Is she really Yuren’s mother?’

People say that just because you share blood doesn’t mean you have the same personality, but this is too much.

‘Well, if you think about it, Yuren is the odd one.’

The family that inherited the blood of Reynald Helios, the leader of the five great heroes who sealed the demon 500 years ago and was praised as the strongest swordsman in human history.

The Helios family, which had such immense power that even the emperor of the empire could not act recklessly, gradually fell into decline for no particular reason.

‘People who are so drunk on past glory that they can’t even see the cliff right in front of them.’

There was a famous metaphor used by a bard to describe the Helios family.

‘A family blinded by the sun.’

Having only known Yuren among the Helios family, I thought it was just a baseless rumor mixed with envy and jealousy towards the noble family.

But after meeting Rosanna, I could understand why they were called that mocking metaphor.

“Why aren’t you answering? Where are your parents right now?”

Rosanna questioned fiercely.

Before I could answer, Yuren cautiously opened his mouth.

“Mother Dale is….”

“Yuren, be quiet. I’m not asking you right now, am I?”

Rosanna cut off Yuren’s words and glared at me.

I swallowed a smirk and answered her question.

“I’d like to know where my parents are right now too.”

“…What?”

Rosanna frowned as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.

I revealed to the bewildered Rosanna that I was from a republic orphanage.

“Ha.”

Rosanna’s eyes grew even more hostile.

“So, you’re saying that a lowly person without parents dared to insult the Helios family?”

“Watch your words, lady. When did I ever insult the Helios family?”

All I did was call her “lady.”

“A poorly educated brat, but you sure know how to talk back clearly.”

“You, who have learned so much, can’t even speak properly.”

“What, what did you say? You insolent…!”

“See, I told you, you can’t speak properly.”

“Ugh!”

Rosanna’s face twisted, turning red and blue.

She stepped forward fiercely, emitting a savage aura.

Just as the atmosphere, which had calmed down thanks to Yuren’s mediation, was becoming hostile again.

“Dale? What are you doing here?”

A large figure, big enough to cast a shadow.

A man with a ferocious look, more fitting to be called a beast than a person, approached.

“Professor Lucas?”

“Oh, Candidate Yuren is here too. And you are…?”

Professor Lucas’s gaze turned to Rosanna.

Perhaps it was because of the title ‘Professor’ that came out of Yuren’s mouth.

Rosanna’s hysterically twisted expression returned to its original state in the blink of an eye.

“Rosanna Helios.”

Rosanna slightly lifted the hem of her dress and bowed gracefully.

“Ah, you must be Candidate Yuren’s mother.”

“Yes. Professor Lucas, you are… the third-year warrior department’s professor, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Professor Lucas nodded and continued.

“By the way, what were you doing here? The observation class gathering place is over at the plaza, not here.”

“Actually, I have something to tell you, so it’s good that you came.”

Rosanna approached Professor Lucas with a sly smile on her lips.

“Professor Lucas, do you know this candidate named Dale?”

“Yes. He’s a candidate I’m in charge of, so of course I know him.”

“Really? That’s good.”

Rosanna elegantly crossed her arms and looked back at me.

“This lowly thing without parents dared to insult our family…”

“Hmm? Without parents?”

Professor Lucas tilted his head as if hearing it for the first time.

It was Rosanna who was taken aback by Professor Lucas’s reaction.

“What? But you clearly said yourself that you were from the Republic Orphanage…”

“Ah, yes. It’s true that I’m from the Republic Orphanage, but I had a foster father who took me in later.”

Professor Lucas smiled broadly and put his arm around my shoulder.

“Now, I’m this guy’s father.”

“…What?”

Rosanna was flustered, her mouth agape.

Professor Lucas tightened his grip on my shoulder and turned to look at me.

“Right, son?”

“…”

I stifled a laugh as I watched Professor Lucas wink at me.

‘He must have heard our conversation earlier.’

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The timing of his intervention was too perfect; he must have been eavesdropping on the conversation between Rosanna and me.

He must have stepped in because he thought the situation was getting heated.

‘What a meddlesome man.’

Not that I have any right to say, having intruded on a friend’s family matters myself.

“Yes, father.”

I nodded slyly, and Rosanna’s expression crumpled.

Whether or not my relationship with Professor Lucas was true, her position had become awkward.

She couldn’t openly criticize a cadet who was being called ‘son’ by the head professor of the department right in front of her.

“If my son has been rude, I apologize on his behalf.”

“Oh… yes.”

“He’s a bit ignorant, you see. Why else would he be at the bottom of his class?”

“…”

Professor Lucas laughed heartily, slapping my back with his hand as big as a pot lid.

As Professor Lucas belittled me, Rosanna, at a loss for words, glared at me with disapproval.

“Well then, it’s about time for the observation class to start, so let’s all head to the lecture hall.”

With his arm still around my shoulder, Professor Lucas dragged me towards the lecture hall.

As I was being dragged by Professor Lucas, I asked in a low voice so Rosanna wouldn’t hear.

“Am I going too?”

“Of course, you have to go too.”

“Observation classes are only for cadets whose parents attend.”

“Look, a parent is attending.”

Professor Lucas grinned and pointed at himself.

I looked at him with an incredulous expression.

“Are you going to keep up with that setting?”

“What setting? Haven’t you heard that a teacher is like a second parent?”

“……”

I appreciated Professor Lucas’s willingness to play the role of my ‘parent.’

‘If this gets out, it will harm Professor Lucas.’

I wasn’t the only cadet he was responsible for.

There would be other cadets who couldn’t attend the observation class because their parents didn’t come, and if it became known that I received special treatment, it would damage Professor Lucas’s reputation.

‘Rumors would spread that he favors certain cadets.’

If that happened, it would be troublesome for Professor Lucas later.

“Since when did you start caring about others?”

Professor Lucas, seemingly aware of what I was thinking, laughed and ruffled my hair.

“A child shouldn’t worry about their parents, you cheeky brat.”

“……”

I kept my mouth shut at Professor Lucas’s continued words.

Why was that?

I thought I had no feelings about the existence of ‘parents’ after experiencing past lives, but at this moment, my chest felt heavy as if covered by dark clouds.

If I let my guard down even a little, it felt like the rainwater from the dark clouds would flow down my eyes.

“Such meddling…”

All the more reason.

I couldn’t accept Professor Lucas’s kindness.

‘And.’

I turned my head to look at Yuren.

Standing quietly behind Rosanna, his expression was as pale as a condemned prisoner being led to the execution ground.

In this situation, it would be unbearable for him to attend the observation class with his mother, separated from me (Yuren and I are in different classes).

“Tsk. There’s no other way, huh.”

There was only one way to separate Yuren from his mother without accepting Professor Lucas’s favor.

“What do you mean there’s no other way?”

“Well, I’m sorry, Father.”

“Huh?”

I raised my fingers and jabbed Professor Lucas in the side.

“Ugh! What the hell are you…?!”

Professor Lucas’s arm, which had been tightly choking my neck, loosened.

I immediately turned around and ran towards Yuren.

“D-Dale?”

I grabbed Yuren’s arm, who was flustered.

“Let’s ditch.”

“D-Ditch? What do you mean…?”

“What else would I mean, you idiot.”

Of course, it’s class.

Boom!

I stomped my foot while pulling Yuren’s arm.

Berald Martial Arts.

Wind Step.

My body felt as light as if wings had sprouted on my back, and the surrounding scenery quickly blurred past.

“Hey, you b*stard! Where are you going?!”

“Y-Yuren! What are you doing right now?”

Shouts echoed from behind.

Ignoring those shouts, I kicked off towards the outside of the school.

“D-Dale, wait! Wait a minute!”

Yuren, who was being dragged along with his arm held, shouted urgently.

“Why? Don’t you want to ditch?”

“No, it’s just that….”

Yuren trailed off, turning his head.

The distant view of the school, which had already become quite far away, came into sight.

‘Skipping class without permission.’

For someone who had maintained the top position in his grade for three years and lived more diligently than anyone else, it was an unimaginable act of rebellion.

“…….”

The distorted face of his mother, which he had seen before leaving, flashed through his mind.

Thinking about his mother’s anger that would follow made his spine shiver.

“Then, do you want to go back?”

“…….”

Why was it?

He shook his head unconsciously at his question.

“…No.”

He didn’t want to go back.

He wanted to enjoy this thrilling moment of rebellion a little longer.

“Alright, then let’s skip together.”

Dale grinned and jumped over the school fence with Yuren.

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