The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

78. Observation Class (4)

Valhalla City.

The city surrounding the Hero School was bustling with people from all over the three kingdoms who had gathered for the observation class.

Of course, the heroes participating in the actual observation class had already entered the school since the morning, but there were many people who had set foot here even though they were not directly participating in the observation class.

From attendants serving high-ranking heroes to people who came for the ‘social gathering’ that would take place after the observation class, enthusiasts who had gathered with sparkling eyes at the news that heroes from the three kingdoms would be in one place, and merchants targeting them.

There were more people wandering the streets of Valhalla City than inside the school where the observation class was being held.

“First, we need to change our clothes.”

“Yeah.”

Walking around in school uniforms on a weekday afternoon drew too much attention.

“Let’s go to that store.”

They randomly picked a clothing store on the street and went in.

For a place they had chosen randomly, the store was quite popular, filled with dozens, hundreds of types of clothes.

“There are a lot of clothes.”

“Let’s just pick something quickly and change.”

While they were looking around the men’s clothing section.

“Huh? Where did he go?”

Yuren, who I thought was following me, was nowhere to be seen.

Retracing my steps, I found Yuren standing blankly inside the store.

“……”

Yuren was staring vacantly at a mannequin in the women’s clothing section.

The mannequin was dressed in a flowy skirt and an off-shoulder blouse, which were recently popular among female cadets.

“What are you doing there?”

“Oh, sorry. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Yuren awkwardly smiled and moved towards the men’s clothing section.

After changing into some clothes we hastily picked out from the men’s section, Yuren and I stepped back onto the streets of Valhalla City.

“The weather is amazing today.”

Why is it?

Even though it’s a day no different from usual, it looks so clear after skipping school.

“So, what should we do now?”

“Well…”

“Is there anything you want to do?”

“This is the first time for me.”

Yuren smiled awkwardly, looking around nervously like a lost child separated from their parents.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Yuren.

‘The strongest swordsman in humanity, trembling just because he skipped a single class.’

The fresh, innocent look that was never seen in the previous life of Yuren made me smile.

“Then, shall we just walk around the nearby streets?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The place I took Yuren to was ‘Republic Town,’ where the most republicans lived in Valhalla City.

It was also the place I had visited with Iris to watch a movie before.

Republic Town was filled with various republican-style restaurants and cultural facilities.

“Wow, so this is Republic Town.”

Yuren looked around with sparkling eyes like someone who had just arrived in the capital from the countryside.

“Is this your first time here?”

“Yes. I don’t usually go out of school… Even if I do, I don’t come to Republic Town.”

“Well, considering your mother, I can understand why.”

“Ah… I, I don’t think of the Republic people as mongrels or anything like that!”

“I know, man.”

As I wandered aimlessly around the Republic Town with Yuren, spending quite some time, I started to feel a hunger pang in my stomach.

“I’m getting hungry, should we have lunch?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Hmm… something I want to eat.”

Yuren, who was lost in thought for a moment, answered with sparkling eyes.

“I want to try ramen!”

“…Ramen? Even though we came all the way out here?”

“Yeah!”

Yuren nodded vigorously.

“Well… okay. If you want to eat it.”

While looking around for a snack bar that sells ramen nearby.

“Hey… Dale.”

“Yeah?”

“Instead of buying it, can you cook it for me?”

“You want me to cook it?”

Why on earth would he ask me to cook ramen when we’re out?

“Let’s just buy it. It tastes better when you buy it.”

“……”

Yuren made a sullen face at the suggestion of just buying it.

“Iris cooked it for me herself…”

Seeing Yuren’s dejected face, an indescribable guilt washed over me.

“Sigh. Fine… I’ll cook it for you myself, okay?”

“Hehe… Thanks, Dale.”

Yuren smiled brightly as if he was the happiest person in the world.

I sighed inwardly as I looked at Yuren.

“Geez.”

This guy Yuren is really hard to understand.

Why are you so obsessed with the ramen I made when there are so many restaurants around here?

‘Let’s see, a place where I can cook ramen outside….’

I can’t just walk into any store and say I’ll pay to cook my own ramen.

‘Ah, come to think of it.’

I heard from Hero Watch that there’s a place near Republic Town by the river where you can cook and eat ramen yourself.

“Let’s go, Yuren.”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see if you follow me, man.”

As I took Yuren to the riverside, there was a place where you could cook ramen and eat it at an outdoor table, just like I saw on Hero Watch.

“Hold our spot first. I’ll go inside and cook the ramen.”

“Okay!”

I cooked the ramen inside the store and headed to the outdoor table where Yuren was waiting.

The noble young master’s first taste of ramen was simple.

“Oh, it’s really spicy.”

Yuren smiled awkwardly, as if it didn’t suit his taste.

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It was a stark contrast to Iris, who had devoured the ramen with her eyes blazing.

‘Well, this is the normal reaction.’

If ramen suited everyone’s taste, why would it mainly be consumed within the Republic?

The truth was, it was too spicy for people from other countries who generally ate less spicy food.

“Doesn’t suit your taste, does it?”

“Oh, no! It’s delicious!”

“What’s so delicious about it when you’re sweating like that?”

I chuckled and took out a slice of cheese I had brought just in case.

“If you add this, it’ll be much better.”

“…Cheese? In ramen?”

Yuren frowned as if this combination made no sense.

“You’ll see if you try it, man.”

“Um… okay.”

When I placed the cheese on the ramen, it melted with the remaining heat.

“Huh?”

Yuren’s eyes widened as he carefully put a bite of cheese ramen into his mouth.

“It’s, it’s delicious!”

“Much better than before, right?”

“Yeah!”

With a smile that seemed to say he was pleased, Yuren slurped down the cheese ramen.

I followed Yuren’s lead and finished my bowl of ramen cleanly.

In no time, Yuren and I had devoured our bowls of ramen and were sitting at an outdoor table, gazing at the river flowing majestically.

The time was so peaceful that the events of the morning felt like a dream.

I opened my mouth to speak to Yuren, who was silently watching the river.

“Yuren.”

“Yeah?”

“Have you always had that kind of relationship with your mother?”

“…….”

Yuren clammed up as soon as his mother was mentioned.

With a bitter smile on his lips, he shook his head slightly.

“My mother wasn’t always like that. She was very kind when I was young.”

“…She didn’t seem like that kind of person at all.”

“Haha. It’s because she has to lead the family on her own. My mother must be having a hard time too.”

Yuren defended his mother with an awkward smile.

I frowned and shook my head.

“No matter how hard it is, she shouldn’t treat you like that. To put it bluntly, you’re practically the hope of the Helios family, aren’t you?”

“…Hope.”

“Anyway, if you don’t like it, just say so. There’s no need to be stuck with your mother for no reason, right?”

“…….”

Why was it?

Yuren’s expression turned cold.

He clenched his fists so tightly that they trembled.

“…No.”

A faint voice, as if squeezed out.

Yuren shook his head with a fragile smile, as if he might break.

“I don’t have the right to do that.”

“…What right?”

“Let’s go back, Dale. If we delay any longer, the dormitory will close.”

Yuren hastily changed the subject, so obvious it was almost visible.

I squinted at Yuren, who was gathering his ramen bowl and standing up.

Trembling hands and lips.

Pale cheeks and ragged breath.

A side of Yuren I had never seen.

A side of Yuren I had never noticed.

A terrified Yuren.

‘…Why?’

A question arose in my mind.

The Yuren I knew was a hero braver than anyone.

Even when everyone else fled in fear, he stood firm, drawing his sword without hesitation.

Even in front of that demon.

‘Then why?’

What could have terrified him so much?

“Let’s go.”

“Oh, okay.”

Without time to seek an answer to the question in my mind,

I followed Yuren back to the school.

“Oh, and Dale.”

Yuren, who was walking ahead, turned around with a smile.

“Thank you.”

“…Thank you for what?”

“For taking me out.”

Yuren said with a bright smile.

* * *

After parting ways with Dale,

I headed to my dorm room.

An eerie silence had settled over the school after all the classes had ended.

“Sigh.”

I recalled the memory of going out and playing with Dale today.

Walking the streets together, seeing things we hadn’t seen before, eating things we hadn’t tasted before.

‘It was fun.’

I was so happy, I couldn’t even imagine a day like this would come to me.

But.

“……”

Standing in front of the door, I bit my lip gently.

The happy time of escapism was over.

Now it’s time to return to the original routine.

Creak.

With trembling hands, I opened the dormitory door.

“You’re back now?”

Inside the room, my mother was sitting with her legs crossed, looking at me with cold, lifeless eyes.

“…Yes.”

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I didn’t ask why my mother was here even though all the observation classes were over.

I already knew she wouldn’t just leave.

“I’m sorry.”

I knelt down in front of my mother and bowed my head.

Without a word, my mother stood up and approached me.

I closed my eyes tightly, thinking she might slap me.

“Yuren, no… Yurina.”

A gentle hand stroked my cheek.

“…Mom?”

In a completely unexpected situation, I couldn’t even properly call her ‘mother.’

“You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you? To the point where you hung out with such a bad kid.”

“Ah, no. It’s not like that….”

“Don’t worry. Mom knows better than anyone how hard you’ve worked until now.”

“……”

Could it be that I’m dreaming?

My mind was in a jumble, unable to comprehend the situation.

“Well done, Yurina. You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”

Mother said this as she patted my back.

“…Ah.”

A shiver spread down my spine like a lightning bolt.

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

“Mom.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Sob… Hic. Mom…”

I don’t know why Mother’s attitude suddenly changed as if flipping a switch.

There’s only one thing I know.

At this moment, the wish I’ve longed for has come true.

“Yurina, I have a favor to ask. Can you do it for me?”

“Hic. Yes. Anything… anything you say.”

Will there ever be a day as joyful as today?

I nodded, rubbing the flowing tears with the back of my hand.

“Become Yuren for me.”

“…What?”

Become Yuren?

What does that mean for everything I’ve done so far?

“What I’m saying is not some clumsy imitation.”

“What do you mean…?”

Mother grabbed my shoulders firmly and continued in an excited voice.

“If you overlay Yuren’s stigmata on your own, you can become the true Yuren… a radiant sun.”

Mother’s eyes, as she said this, were distorted with deep madness.