The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Chapter 200: Traitors (1)

Inside a Luxurious Room

The room was adorned with famous paintings anyone could recognize at a glance, and the chandelier hanging from the ceiling cast a radiant glow.

It resembled a high-end hotel suite, but one peculiar aspect set it apart:

There was no door.

No matter where you looked on the walls, there wasn’t a single door or even a window.

In the center of the room was a round table with three empty chairs.

Vwooong.

Light began emanating from one of the chairs.

Along with it, a hologram formed in mid-air.

The owner of the translucent holographic face was someone everyone on the continent would instantly recognize.

The current No. 2 in the Hero Rankings.

The hero who governed the Holy Kingdom, Pope Marianne.

Wearing a leisurely smile, she glanced around the empty room.

[Hmm. It seems not everyone is here yet?]

Vwooong.

From another chair, light poured out.

A new face appeared, an elderly man with a serene expression.

The current No. 3 in the Hero Rankings.

The "Thunder God," Lionel Ryu.

Marianne bowed her head slightly toward Lionel.

[It’s been a while, Principal Lionel.]

[Apologies for being late.]

[Oh, I just arrived as well.]

Marianne’s lips curved into a benevolent smile.

[Thank you for accommodating the candidates from our academy during the recent field trip.]

[Oh, it’s only natural to invest in the future heroes who will one day lead the continent.]

Marianne shrugged her shoulders casually in response, and Lionel gave her an awkward smile.

[By the way, I heard one of our candidates caused a bit of a stir….]

[Ah, if you’re referring to that, there’s no need to worry. The investigation confirmed there was no damage to the Holy Mother’s tomb.]

[I see. My apologies.]

[Hehe, it’s fine.]

The two exchanged light-hearted conversation.

[That aside….]

Lionel frowned slightly and glanced at the third empty chair.

[They’re late again.]

[Oh my, isn’t that always the case?]

[Sigh.]

Lionel let out a small sigh.

At that moment—

Vwooong.

Light began to radiate from the last remaining chair.

[Speak of the tiger.]

[Hmm, the tiger, you say….]

A languid voice echoed through the room.

Though the voice sounded almost too lazy, it carried an overwhelming charisma and authority that made one instinctively want to kneel.

[Are you comparing me to a mere beast?]

The woman who appeared had dazzling platinum blonde hair.

She was clad in a sheer nightgown-like dress that revealed her silhouette, reclining on her chair as if it were a lounge chair.

Though her laid-back demeanor resembled that of a lazy freeloader, the sheer charisma and unique aura she exuded obliterated any such impression.

The current No. 1 in the Hero Rankings,

“The Empress,” Camellia Padsha.

The imperial ruler and the undisputed pinnacle of heroes.

[A mere beast? Are you unaware that tigers are revered as divine creatures in the Republic?]

[I’m aware. However….]

Camellia turned her languid gaze to Lionel, her eyes heavy with sleep.

[Before me, all living things are mere beasts.]

[…You haven’t changed a bit.]

Lionel shook his head with an exasperated expression.

Camellia turned her attention to Marianne and continued.

[So, what were the results of this test?]

[They were astonishing.]

[Oh?]

When Marianne activated a magical device, a video appeared in the center of the table.

The footage showed a blond young man ferociously wielding his sword against members of the Seven-Star Knights.

[A child of the Helios family.]

Camellia nodded, recognizing the face.

She yawned while watching the young man’s swordplay.

[My, aren’t you surprised? This is a mere cadet who hasn’t even graduated yet, handling members of the Seven-Star Knights like children.]

[I’ve long heard that Yuren Helios possesses exceptional talent. However….]

Her half-closed eyes focused intently on Yuren’s swordplay.

[He has made significant progress since I last saw him.]

[Oh, that’s rare praise from you.]

[Heh. It’s not that I’m stingy with compliments.]

[Really? Then why does your face look so unimpressed?]

[Even if he’s improved, he’s still just a fledgling, isn’t he?]

Camellia shrugged her shoulders as she continued to watch the footage.

[Still… there are some rough gems among this batch of candidates.]

The video shifted to show Iris, Camilla, Berald, Sophia, and Lanez.

At that moment—

[…Hm?]

Camellia’s eyes, which had been drowsy moments ago, sharpened with interest.

[Pause it for a moment.]

[Why?]

The paused image showed a candidate with dark gray hair.

The candidate wielded a blade wreathed in ashen flames, effortlessly subduing a member of the Seven-Star Knights.

[Oh, that candidate….]

[Do you know them?]

[They caused a bit of a stir during the recent field trip.]

[A stir?]

[It wasn’t anything major….]

Marianne explained to Camellia the incident involving unauthorized access to the tomb.

[Hmm.]

Camellia sat up straight in her chair, her gaze fixed on the paused footage.

[Is this really something to be so surprised about?]

Lionel tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand.

[It's true that Candidate Dale subdued a member of the Seven Stars Knights, but wasn’t Candidate Yuren the same?]

If anything, the one who displayed more impressive skills was Yuren, not Dale.

While Dale had only taken down a single knight, Yuren had held his ground against nearly ten members of the Seven Stars Knights simultaneously.

[Doesn’t it seem odd?]

[What’s supposed to be odd about it?]

[The wall breaking.]

Camellia slowly raised her hand, pointing to the spot where a Seven Stars Knight had been thrown by Dale's strike.

The wall where the knight had crashed was cracked and partially shattered.

[What’s the issue with that?]

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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Lionel furrowed his brows, still not understanding.

For ordinary people, creating enough force to crack a wall would be difficult, but such things were commonplace in battles between heroes.

In fact, for a fight of this caliber, a wall sustaining only minor cracks was relatively insignificant.

[Ah.]

Marianne widened her eyes as if realizing something.

[H-how…?]

Her voice trembled faintly.

[Marianne, even you? What’s the matter?]

[Hmm. You still haven’t figured it out?]

Tsk.

Camellia clicked her tongue.

[That ruin is protected by a powerful barrier.]

The ruins where the test took place served as a passageway to Grace’s tomb.

If the ruins were to collapse, Grace’s tomb underneath would be damaged.

That was why a powerful protective barrier enveloped the entire ruin.

However, in the footage, the Seven Stars Knight’s body clearly cracked the ruin’s wall.

[In other words.]

Camellia continued in a low, solemn voice.

[It means the protective barrier covering the entire ruin was breached.]n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

[...That doesn’t sound possible.]

Given the Sanctum’s focus on support-type abilities, their protective barriers were of the highest caliber among the three nations.

Above all, this barrier was…

[Are we saying an ordinary candidate broke the barrier Marianne created?]

The current Rank 2 hero.

A barrier created by Pope Marianne herself, using a tremendous amount of holy relics.

[This… it seems further investigation is needed.]

Marianne nodded firmly, her expression hardening.

Meanwhile, Camellia’s eyes gleamed with interest as she gazed at Dale in the footage.

[Hmm. This candidate’s name is Dale Han… was it?]

[Yes, that’s correct.]

[He’s intriguing.]

Crossing her alabaster legs sensually, Camellia folded her arms and spoke in her characteristic relaxed tone, addressing Lionel.

[Lionel, send me this candidate’s information.]

[...Releasing a candidate’s personal information to external parties is strictly prohibited.]

[Don’t worry about that. My words are law, after all.]

[...]

Lionel sighed deeply at Camellia’s brazen demand for the candidate’s private information.

[Whether you give it to me or not, the information will end up in my hands soon enough. Why make things needlessly complicated?]

True to her word, if Camellia desired information on Dale, she would obtain it by any means necessary.

That was the way of Camellia, the current Rank 1 hero, the “Empress.”

[Haah.]

With another deep sigh, Lionel transmitted Dale’s file to her.

[Hmm, wise choice.]

Camellia smirked leisurely as she caressed the golden bracelet on her wrist.

Soon, a holographic display projected Dale’s profile.

[Now, let’s see… Hm?]

Her eyes narrowed as she skimmed through the document.

[...Bottom rank? Bottom rank, seriously?]

Camellia turned to Lionel with a skeptical expression.

Lionel responded with a faint smile and a nod.

[The information is accurate.]

[If you’re trying to mock me, prepare yourself for the consequences.]

[Mock you? Knowing your temperament, why would I do something so foolish?]

[...Then, this information is correct?]

[That’s right.]

Lionel nodded as he elaborated.

[For reference, Candidate Dale is currently under suspension and awaiting disciplinary committee review for another incident.]

[...]

Camellia let out a chuckle of disbelief.

[Someone with enough power to break Marianne’s barrier is hiding that strength, is that it…]

Her eyes gleamed with intrigue.

[This… might prove useful.]

[Useful?]

[You’re aware of the “traitors” infiltrating Valhalla City, aren’t you?]

[...]

Lionel’s expression stiffened.

Camellia continued in her unhurried tone.

[I think this boy is the perfect fit.]

A formidable force whose abilities were scarcely known to the public.

There were few candidates as suitable for a “hunting dog.”

One to track down and tear apart those traitors.

[What do you think?]

Camellia asked, her lips curling into a deep smile as she looked at Principal Lionel.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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