The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
Chapter 303

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Chapter 303: Epilogue – Graduation (1)

Inside the Hero Academy stood the Party House.

A three-story building larger than the mansion of most high-ranking nobles.

While it was originally built for multiple candidate parties to use simultaneously, now the entire facility was occupied by a single party.

One might think it unfair for just one party to monopolize such a grand space.

But not a single professor or candidate within the school voiced any complaint.

Of course they didn’t—because the party currently using the Party House was made up of the heroes who had contributed the most during the "Eternal Order Incident" a year and a half ago, saving the academy from destruction.

Third floor of the Party House.

Iris gently placed her hand on the door.

Click.

What used to be Berald and Sophia’s magical laboratory no longer smelled of musty reagents.

Instead, a calming herbal scent that aided rest and recovery wafted softly through the air.

“Dale, did you sleep well?”

A greeting laced with a sliver of hope.

But—

“……”

There was no reply from Dale, still lying on the bed, fast asleep.

“Ah…”

A dry sigh slipped through her lips.

She should be used to this by now.

So why did her heart still ache this much?

With a bitter smile, Iris quietly approached Dale’s bedside.

“…Dale.”

She slowly reached out and brushed back his ash-gray hair.

Memories surfaced naturally.

A year and a half ago.

Right after the battle with the leader of the Eternal Order ended—words exchanged with Dale.

-The power of the Primordial Flame has grown too strong. To restore balance… I’ll need time.

He had clutched his chest in pain as he spoke.

-I’ll be asleep for a few weeks… maybe a few months at most.

As he said this, the gray flames around his body began to take on a red hue.

-Don’t make that face. I promise—I’ll come back.

Even as he was engulfed in fierce flames, Dale smiled brightly at her tear-streaked face.

And then—

Time passed.

Endlessly, without pause.

“…Liar.”

Drip.

A single transparent tear rolled down Iris’s cheek.

“You said you’d come back.”

At first, it was okay.

Because Dale had promised he would return.

Because she truly believed he would.

She helped rebuild the academy—half destroyed—with her party members.

Once that was done, she diligently attended classes.

Autumn passed, then winter came.

She graduated without issue.

But even by the time the graduation ceremony ended, he had not opened his eyes.

“You said… it would only be a few months at most.”

Once a year had passed since Dale fell asleep, an ominous fear took root in her mind.

What if he never woke up?

That tiny seed of dread grew in everyone’s hearts.

Yurina was the one who reacted the worst.

She insisted on forcibly waking Dale, throwing a tantrum until Professor Elisha had to restrain her and expel her from the school grounds.

Since then, she’d shut herself away in her family’s estate, refusing to come out.

No one knew how she was doing now—it had been months since anyone last heard from her.

It wasn’t just Yurina.

Lanez, Elisha, Camellia… and Iris herself.

As the time Dale had mentioned stretched on and on, their resolve crumbled one by one.

“You know something, Dale?”

With sorrowful eyes, Iris gently caressed Dale’s cheek.

“Do you know how big the hole you left in our lives is?”

Just from Dale being gone—

Her once joyful life had turned into a nightmare.

“Haha… Still, I’m glad we had Sister Lanez.”

It was unexpected, truly.

Out of all his lovers, Lanez had shown the most composure.

-D-Dale will come back. I know he will.

She had spoken confidently as she placed a hand on Dale’s chest.

-He’s still warm… I can feel his warmth.

Though her face was marked with sadness and fear, Lanez never lost control.

“Strange, isn’t it? The old Sister Lanez would’ve never handled it like this.”

Iris chuckled faintly, continuing to speak softly.

As if she were chatting with Dale.

“Juliet opened a franchise of Heaven’s Door after graduation. He’s managing the store now… I’d love to go with you someday.”

“Albert became the branch head of the Hoover Guild in Valhalla City. He looked so dignified when I visited him recently.”

“It’s been a while since I saw Camilla, too. Oh, right—she was officially recognized as the successor to the Holy Kingdom’s Sword and now travels with Lord Johann. They’ve been together since childhood… feels kind of strange, doesn’t it?”

“Did you know Berald graduated top of the class? He used to only be able to use mana bullets, but Sophia really put him through hell and now he can use all kinds of magic.”

Her quiet voice filled the room.

Her monologue, once peaceful, began to tremble with emotion.

“So please… wake up already.”

Drip, drip.

Tears streamed down her cheeks and fell onto Dale’s hand.

“I want to talk to you, Dale.”

There was no answer.

“I want to eat delicious food together, go on trips… kiss you a lot.”

Still no answer.

“You remember what you promised, right? That we’d get married after graduation.”

No answer.

“That we’d have a beautiful wedding with everyone congratulating us, find a house to live in together, and even… have kids.”

Still no answer.

“Ha, haha…”

A dry laugh escaped her lips.

Iris gently pressed her hand to her chest, which ached deeply.

Even through her robes, her overwhelming curves were evident.

She recalled a certain memory, and a faint smile tugged at her lips.

“Hehe. Come to think of it, you really liked my breasts, didn’t you? If you wake up right now, I’ll give you a lifetime, unlimited pass to touch them whenever you want!”

And still—

No answ—

“Really?”

“…Huh?”

“No take-backs later, okay?”

A familiar voice tickled her ears.

Eyes widening, Iris jerked her head up.

And there he was—

“Ah—”

Dale, wearing a soft smile.

“Dale…”

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“Told you, didn’t I?”

He grinned as he gently wiped away the tears from her eyes.

"I said I’d definitely come back."

“……”

Iris’s lips trembled slightly.

"You…"

"Hmm?"

"You made me wait too long, you bastard!!!"

Thwack!

Iris's fist slammed into Dale’s face.

“Guh!”

“Do you… do you even know how worried I was?! Huh?! You… you…! hic...”

The tears she had wiped away returned, wetting her cheeks again.

"Huwaaaaaaah…!"

Iris clung to Dale’s chest and sobbed loudly, like a child.

“…I’m sorry.”

Dale gently stroked her head as she cried into his chest.

"Sniffle… But, um, you’re okay now, right? You’re not going to go back to sleep for months again, are you?”

“No. That won’t happen anymore.”

Ever since entering his inner world, he had desperately fought to control the rampaging Primordial Flame.

As a result, he not only managed to balance the Primordial Flame and the Tree of Creation, but he had gone one step further.

“I’ve fully fused the power of the Tree of Creation with the Primordial Flame.”

“You fused… the two powers?”

“Yeah.”

He spoke as he conjured ashen flames in his hand.

Fwoosh.

A gray fire blazed on his palm.

Since he was still embracing Iris, the flame brushed against her skin.

“…It’s not hot at all.”

“I can completely control it now.”

Fusing the two powers had brought many changes.

The most important ones were twofold:

First, no matter how much of the Primordial Flame he used, there was no longer any fear of losing control.

And second—

“I can now turn off the Blessing of Revival whenever I want.”

“…!”

Iris’s eyes widened.

“Th-then, does that mean you’re no longer immortal…?”

“Well, I’ve still got it on right now. But someday… far, far in the future, when the time comes, I’ll be able to turn it off.”

When the day came to finally mark the end of his long journey through life—

He would be able to do so on his own terms.

“…Dale!”

Hug!

With a look of relief and emotion, Iris threw her arms around him.

She had been worried deep down.

That when enough time passed, and she, Yurina, and their other companions all passed on, Dale would be left behind—alone and eternal.

But if he could choose when to end the Blessing of Revival, she wouldn’t have to fear leaving him behind in an endless life.

“That’s such a relief, truly.”

“…Yeah.”

Dale gave a faint smile and nodded.

“Ugh…”

“Don’t push yourself—just lie down and rest a bit longer.”

“No, I’m good. My body feels stiff, so I wanna move around.”

He got out of bed and walked over to the window.

Sunlight he hadn’t seen in so long.

When he opened the window, a cool breeze brushed against his cheek.

“By the way… things sound a bit noisy around the school plaza. What’s going on?”

“Oh, it’s because graduation is tomorrow.”

“Graduation?”

He let out a small laugh.

Graduation… tomorrow?

“Wait, does that mean I’ve been asleep for nearly six months?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Still, I’m glad I woke up before graduation. Oh, now that I think of it, I didn’t attend a single class—are they still going to let me graduate?”

After all, he had saved the school—no, the entire human race.

Surely they wouldn’t flunk him just because of attendance.

“Um… Dale?”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“You weren’t asleep for six months… You were out for about a year and a half.”

“…What?”

Dale’s eyes widened in shock.

“I-I was asleep for a year and a half?!”

“Haah… You didn’t even know how much time had passed, did you.”

“…I figured maybe a few months at most.”

He had spent so long in the inner world that his sense of time had completely unraveled.

‘So I made them wait a year and a half?’

Thinking of how much worry and uncertainty they must have endured during that time filled him with guilt.

“…I’m sorry for making you wait so long.”

“As long as you know.”

Iris leaned in and gently kissed him.

“Oh? Wait, then… you and Yurina…”

“Yes. We graduated a year ago.”

“…Huh.”

Wait a second.

“Then what about me…?”

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