The Last Place Hero's Return Chapter 100: The Black Sheep of the Ryu Family (1)

In the lecture hall for fourth-year cadets, located in a remote part of the academy, I ran into soone I hadn’t expected to see, which surprised .

Apparently noticing as well, Berald widened his eyes and trudged over. “Huh? Brother Dale? What are you doing here, Brother?”

“That’s what I was about to ask you.”

Berald was still a second-year cadet. So what was he doing in a building designated for fourth-years?

“Well, about that...” Berald trailed off awkwardly, scratching his head.

Just then, a voice laced with irritation cut through the air. “Ugh, are you serious? You actually ca, you damn punk.”

I turned my head toward the voice and saw a young man with sharp eyes glaring straight at Berald like the edge of a drawn sword. The young man had striking hair, a mix of black and electric blue. Hair like that wasn’t sothing you saw every day. It was practically a trademark of the Ryu family. And within the fourth-year cadets, only one person hailed from that family.

It was Raios Ryu, the future Thunder Emperor. He was the grandson of Lionel Ryu, the Thunder God himself. Unlike Berald, who ca from a branch family, Raios was a direct descendant of the main Ryu family.

Berald replied, “Haha! Didn’t Grandfather say we should bond more as a family? That’s why I’m here, to spend so ti with you, my dear brother.”

Raios clicked his tongue, face twisted in contempt. “Family? Please. You’re just a branch house nobody. And didn’t I already tell you not to call brother? Call senior. What, is your head so empty you forgot already?”

Berald gave a sheepish grin as he scratched his head. “Hahaha, sorry about that, Senior.”

“Ugh. Seriously, how did a halfwit like you end up born into our family!” Raios sighed heavily and shot Berald a piercing glare. “So, you’re here to take a photo of us eating together and send it to Grandpa, right?”

“That’s right.”

Crossing his arms, Raios clicked his tongue again. “The old man really knows how to hand out annoying assignnts.”

“By the way...” His gaze shifted to , and he squinted at my tie, noting the color that indicated my year. “Who’s this guy? A third-year?”

“Oh, this is Brother Dale. He’s close with .”

Raios tilted his head. “Hmm! Dale... Dale? That na sounds familiar.”

Then he snapped his fingers and said, “Ahh, right. That weirdo. The guy among the third-year cadets who hides his real skills and intentionally tanks his evaluation scores.”

So that’s how the fourth-years saw ? I thought.

It sowhat made sense. From the perspective of these cadets, who were desperate to climb the rankings, that soone with my capabilities was content sitting at the bottom of the year must’ve seed insane.

While that was an unfair evaluation of , what could I do? Even in the latest midterms, I had scored a perfect zero. Regardless of the reason, others would see only as a lunatic with a twisted taste in failing despite clearly having the ability to score higher.

Raios sneered at us. “So, you two are close, huh? Makes sense. You’re just as strange as Berald.”

A sigh escaped my lips at his complete lack of manners. I recalled then that there had been rumors in my previous life about the Thunder Emperor being a total asshole. While I had only heard whispers of it, eting him in person made one thing clear: He was like the male version of Rosanna.

I clenched my fist slightly, pondering whether I should teach him so basic manners. But in the end, I decided to hold back, for now. Even if I wanted to knock so etiquette into him, I would have to drag him sowhere more secluded. Beating him in the middle of the fourth-year corridor would be a bit much.

Berald burst into hearty laughter and casually slung an arm over my shoulder. “Wahaha! Even you think so, Senior? That Brother Dale and I are a good match?”

Raios, who had been sneering, now looked like he had just swallowed sothing foul and clicked his tongue. “Insults don’t even land on a dumbass like you.”

Instead of being offended, Berald laughed like he had just been complinted.

You’re the dumbass here, you bastard, I internally replied to Raios.

As I felt Berald’s grip tighten slightly on my shoulder, I sighed inwardly. While Berald could be a bit dim sotis, he wasn’t oblivious. The subtle pressure of his hand was clearly a silent plea, asking to hold back.

At that mont, two voices ca from down the hallway.

“Hmm? What’s going on here, Raios?”

“Oh my, are they juniors? What are you guys doing here?”

A man and a woman approached our group. The man had silver hair and sharp, striking features, whereas the woman was a beauty with long, light brown hair flowing past her waist.

I recognized them instantly: Aaron Baek and Bella Leonhart. They were two prodigies among the current fourth-years, an already legendary class, who were destined to one day earn the titles teor Lance and Spectral Sword. These two were the cream of the crop, competing for the top ranks. More importantly, they would later go on to form a party with the future Thunder Emperor. However, one thing about them had caused a stir across the entire continent.

Wasn’t it... a love triangle? I thought.

Rumors in my past life had it that the Thunder Emperor had long harbored feelings for Bella, even during their cadet days. Gossipy nobles and commoners alike had spread that rumor far and wide.

Raios imdiately turned to them. “B-Bella? Why are you here?”

“What do you an? We were just getting ready to grab dinner. Want to co with us, Raios?”

“Now’s not really...”

Before Raios could properly respond to Bella’s invitation, Aaron glanced at Berald with a soft smile. “Bella. Since Raios’s cousin ca all the way here to visit him, maybe we should give the family so space.”

“Oh, right. Now that you ntion it, wasn’t there a Ryu family kid in the second year?”

“This guy’s not even my real cousin!” Raios replied.

Aaron smiled brightly and patted Berald on the shoulder. “Berald Ryu, right? Raios might act like that, but he worries a lot about you. With all the hero training going on, you two probably haven’t seen each other in a while. Enjoy your family ti.”

He then turned to Bella. “Well then, let’s get going.”

“Yeah! What do you want for dinner, Aaron?” she replied.

After exchanging a brief goodbye with Raios, Aaron and Bella walked off together.

As Raios watched the two of them grow smaller in the distance, his expression twisted into a vicious scowl. His clenched fist trembled with barely restrained fury. “Goddamn it!”

Seeing this up close was actually entertaining. Now I understood why all the gossipmongers were constantly chirping about the Thunder Emperor’s one-sided love.

So that was Aaron Baek, huh.

Aaron Baek, the teor Spear, was a descendant of Baek Seung-Hyuk, one of the Great Five Heroes. Aaron was such a powerful warrior that in his past life, people even said he was Yuren’s rival. In the end, however, he had died fighting the Witch of the Night. Nevertheless, if he was destined to beco a force on par with Yuren, building a good relationship with him early on was worth the effort.

The more allies I had, the better it would be for . Unless I planned to take on the Demon God’s army all by myself, securing powerful comrades was vital to prepare for the impending catastrophe. Especially if that comrade was a future top-five-ranked hero with a bright path ahead.

Still, that was sothing for later. Right now, Berald’s situation was the priority.

Raios, standing in place and stewing in rage, suddenly turned his fierce glare on Berald. Then, he spun around and trudged off in so direction. “Follow .”

“Hm? Where are we going?” Berald asked.

“I don’t want people seeing with a dumbass like you. Just follow .”

Raios headed behind one of the buildings before us. Compared to the busy hallway we had just been in, this place was almost deserted.

Raios sat on the edge of a flowerbed that ca up to his waist, jerking his chin at Berald like he was giving an order. “I’ll wait here. Go to the academy store and buy so bread.”

Berald tilted his head and asked, confused, “Why bread, all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t you say earlier, Grandpa wanted a photo of us eating together?”

“Well, yes, but...”

“I don’t want to go to the cafeteria with you. Just grab sothing from the store nearby.”

Berald looked uncomfortable. “Hmm. But sending a photo of us eating store-bought bread to Grandfather... doesn’t feel right.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you talking back to right now?”

“I didn’t an to...”

“Ugh, just like your idiot father.”

Berald’s easygoing smile finally cracked, his expression hardening.

Raios continued, “What? Did that sting? bringing up the idiot who can’t even rember his own kid’s na?”

Berald dejectedly said, “Brother...”

Raios grabbed Berald by the collar and glared at him with pure malice. “I told you not to call that, you dumb bastard.”

Berald lowered his head and said in a quiet, calm voice, “Please. Stop.”

“Stop what? Did I say anything that wasn’t true? Didn’t your old man lose his mind a few years back?” Raios twirled a finger at his temple mockingly and laughed. “Guess having a retard like you for a son was so frustrating, it finally broke him. Anyway, what are you waiting for? Go buy the bread. Oh, my bad. I forgot to give you money.”

Raios pulled out his wallet and tossed so gold coins on the ground. “Co to think of it, your whole family’s been living off the stipend my family sends you, right? Haha! Living off soone else’s money while parading around with the surna Ryu, how pathetic!”

I had been quietly eavesdropping a short distance away. But that remark made take a step toward Raios and let out a long, heavy sigh.

Raios scowled and turned toward . “Hm? What the hell? You’ve been there this whole ti?”

I slowly walked closer.

Sorry, Berald. I really tried to hold it in. But I just can’t anymore, I thought.

Clenching my fists, I channeled a small ashen fla. However, just as I was about to slam a burning punch into Raios’s smug jaw, a dull, aty thud echoed through the air. A massive fist the size of a pot lid struck Raios, and he flew into the air like a ragdoll before crashing hard into the ground.

Blinking in shock, I turned to Berald. He was already running toward the crumpled figure of Raios, holding his hand like it hurt. “O-oh no! Are you okay, Senior?”

“Y-you bastard, what the hell did you just—”

Before he could finish, Berald explained, “There was a fly on your face! I was trying to swat it off and accidentally clocked you in the jaw!”

Raios stared at him in disbelief. “W-what?”

Then Berald’s legs suddenly gave out, and he staggered. “Oops! My foot!”

Berald brought his full two-ter fra crashing down, driving his knee directly into Raios’s stomach. The sheer weight of the blow made Raios spasm and foam at the mouth.

“GUUUUUHHH!!”

I rushed over, shouting, “Berald, you bastard! What the hell are you doing to our senior?”

“Gah! I’m sorry! I tripped by accident!” Berald replied.

“Look at his face, man! He’s foaming at the mouth!”

Berald looked at in a panic. “W-what should I do, Dale? Tell !”

I quickly scanned the area to make sure no one was around, then grinned. “We could try using an Awaken spell to bring him back to consciousness.”

Berald nodded. “Got it!”

He raised his arm high into the air. “AWAKKEEEEEEEEEN!!!”

With each loud slap and Berald’s exaggerated incantation, the “magic” seed to jolt Raios awake.

Raios kept shouting, “AAAGHH! STOP! WHAT THE FUCKK! AAAAAAGGGHH!!”

It seed like the spell worked like a charm.