The Last-Seat Hero Has Returned

29. The Professor with Both Hands (1)

“What do you think a hero is?”

The practical combat training class held every Monday.

Professor Lucas threw an unexpected question at the cadets as soon as he entered the classroom.

“…Pardon?”

“A hero?”

The cadets wore bewildered expressions at the sudden question.

“Isn’t a hero someone who can handle the stigmata, blessed by the Seven Gods?”

“If handling the stigmata is the criterion, then even demons can handle it.”

“That’s….”

“What I want to ask is why we started calling humans with stigmata ‘heroes’ in the first place.”

Professor Lucas scrawled the word ‘hero’ in large letters on the blackboard and waited for an answer.

An awkward silence settled over the classroom.

The ticking of the clock echoed like thunder in the room.

“Is the question so difficult that you can’t answer it?”

“…….”

Despite Professor Lucas’s urging, none of the cadets stepped forward to answer.

The cadets attending the ‘practical combat training’ class were now considered upperclassmen, classified as third-year cadets.

If you catch the professor’s eye… especially the eye of the ‘bloodthirsty hound,’ nothing good will come of it. This was a time when one could learn that through experience.

“No choice, then.”

Professor Lucas scanned the candidates once and then pointed to one of them.

“Candidate Albert.”

“No, why is it always me? Huh? Why is it always me!”

As soon as his name was called, Albert sprang up from his seat as if having a fit.

This time, he shook his head with a determined attitude, as if he wouldn’t let it slide.

“I don’t know!”

“Don’t know?”

“Yes, I don’t know! Even if I did, I would never answer!”

“Ho. Is that so.”

Professor Lucas nodded as if intrigued and pulled out a large juice bottle from his pocket.

It was the special ‘health juice’ that Professor Lucas had showcased once during a mental training lecture.

“Do you know, Candidate Albert? This health juice has the effect of clearing the mind…”

“The reason a person with a stigma is called a ‘hero’ is related to the ‘Great Five Heroes’ who sealed the demon 500 years ago. To honor the heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect humanity, those with a stigma like them came to be called ‘heroes.'”

“Yes, yes. As expected, it’s you.”

Professor Lucas smiled broadly and patted Albert on the shoulder.

Albert glanced at the juice bottle on the podium with eyes filled with fear.

“But, what I want to hear is not such trivial historical background.”

“…Yes?”

Returning to the podium, Professor Lucas looked at the candidates with deeply sunken eyes and began to speak.

“In two years, when you graduate from here and receive your official certification, people will call you heroes.”

But.

“Just because people call you heroes doesn’t mean you are true ‘heroes.'”

It’s just that since 500 years ago, those with a stigma have been called heroes, so you will be called heroes too.

In the true sense, you cannot be said to have become ‘heroes.’

“Let me ask you again. What do you think a ‘hero’ really is?”

“……”

“Is there no one to answer this time either?”

While Professor Lucas was looking around at the candidates.

Creak.

A cadet stood up from his seat.

With his back straight, he answered in a spirited voice.

“A hero is someone who protects the weak who have not received the stigmata and defends humanity from the hands of demons and beasts.”

“Someone who protects the weak and defends humanity, huh.”

A bitter sneer formed on Professor Lucas’s lips.

“Do you really think so?”

“Yes?”

“Can you willingly lay down your life to protect humanity and defend the world against the remnants of the hateful demon god?”

“Of course!”

The cadet nodded with a confident expression.

“Hah.”

Professor Lucas shook his head with a bitter smile.

And then.

Boom!

Professor Lucas’s body disappeared in an instant and shot forward to the cadet.

A fist, swung with destructive force as if it could shatter iron, targeted the cadet.

“aaah!”

The cadet screamed and fell backward with a crash.

Professor Lucas clicked his tongue as he looked down at the cadet.

“A guy who gets scared by this much is going to lay down his life for humanity, huh.”

“Ugh… I was just too surprised…”

“No need to make excuses. All the others are the same as you anyway.”

Professor Lucas sighed deeply and walked back up to the podium.

“Anyone can easily talk about protecting humanity and defending the world.”

But.

The number of heroes who can actually lay down their lives for it is extremely small.

“I don’t expect you to protect humanity or defend the world. In fact, I don’t expect that from the idiots wandering around outside who are called heroes either.”

Among the many who are called heroes.

There are barely a handful who can truly be called ‘heroes.’

“However.”

Nevertheless.

“If you want to be called ‘heroes,’ there’s one thing you must remember.”

Professor Lucas continued with a seriousness never seen before.

“Even if you can’t protect everyone, at least protect those by your side.”

It doesn’t matter if they are family, lovers, or friends.

The important thing is not who you protect.

“Raise your sword for yourself, not for others.”

It’s not about sacrificing your life for a stranger.

It’s not about sacrificing for a world you don’t understand.

Not for ‘others,’ but for ‘you.’

Even if you can’t protect the whole world, shouldn’t you at least protect those precious to you?

“That’s what a hero is.”

As Professor Lucas’s speech ended, a quiet silence fell over the lecture hall.

“Ahem.”

Though it happens every year, this awkward silence never becomes familiar.

Professor Lucas cleared his throat unnecessarily and spoke.

“Well, that’s enough rambling. Today is an outdoor class! Next week, we have a break due to the sealing ceremony, so I’ll make you work hard enough to foam at the mouth today!”

Leaving behind the gasps from all around, Professor Lucas strode out of the lecture hall.

* * *

After the ‘practical combat training’ class, which was even harder than usual.

“Your speech was impressive today.”

“…Why are you here again?”

“I went to the cafeteria for dinner, but it was too crowded, so I came here to eat.”

I shrugged as I placed the sandwich and coffee I bought from the store on the table.

Originally, I had promised to have lunch with Iris every Monday, but today’s class was so hard that she was almost half-fainted, so we postponed it to tomorrow.

“I bought one for you too, Professor. Would you like to eat together?”

“You really… Sigh. Never mind.”

Professor Lucas let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

“What kind of sandwich did you get?”

“Ham and egg sandwich, please.”

“You know your roots, kid.”

The professor grinned as he sat down across from me and picked up the sandwich on the table.

It was an ordinary-sized sandwich, but because of Professor Lucas’s large frame, it looked like a child’s toy.

“Your skills have improved remarkably lately.”

“Didn’t you say that the last time we sparred?”

“No, you’ve improved even more since then.”

The professor said as he devoured the sandwich in one bite.

“Before, your techniques were good, but your basic stamina and mana capacity were pathetic… But today, I see you’ve made significant progress in such a short time. Especially your mana capacity.”

“Thanks to you, Professor.”

“Thanks to me, my foot.”

Professor Lucas snorted and shook his head.

“I’ve been trying to make a man out of you for the past two years, and you were still the same.”

“……”

As he said,

Professor Lucas was the one who taught me the hardest when everyone else had given up on me during my first and second years, calling me a hopeless case.

‘Did he say he couldn’t tolerate having a candidate he was responsible for being such an idiot?’

His words were harsh, but Professor Lucas must have wanted to somehow guide me, who was lagging behind.

If even the professor in charge gave up on me,

He must have known well that there would be no one left in this school to protect me.

‘Raise your sword not for others, but for yourself, huh.’

I let out a small laugh and opened my mouth.

In that sense, Professor Lucas is more than qualified to be called a ‘hero.’

“No, it really is thanks to you, Professor.”

“You…”

Professor Lucas, who was about to say something, sighed and shook his head.

“So, why are you here?”

“Didn’t I tell you earlier? The cafeteria was too crowded, so I came…”

“Stop talking nonsense.”

Professor Lucas clicked his tongue and glared at me with fierce eyes.

“What do you want to say, barging into my office after all the classes are over?”

“Well… I didn’t come for any special reason.”

Just as he didn’t give up on me and tried to guide me in my past life.

In this life, I should at least try to guide him a little.

“Isn’t the Sealing Festival happening next week?”

“So?”

“I heard from a friend in the Magic Department that Professor Bianca won’t be able to attend the Sealing Festival because she has other duties that day.”

“What?”

Professor Lucas widened his eyes as if hearing it for the first time.

‘Well, of course, he wouldn’t know.’

The reason Professor Bianca couldn’t attend the Sealing Festival was because a candidate from the Magic Department caused a major accident during research.

Concerned that the candidate might face disadvantages if it became publicly known, Professor Bianca decided to handle the aftermath alone without informing anyone.

“Is that so? Well… it doesn’t really concern me.”

Professor Lucas slumped his shoulders with a disappointed expression.

‘What do you mean it doesn’t concern you, old man.’

He was probably excited about asking Professor Bianca out on a date during the Sealing Festival next week.

“In that sense, why don’t you step up for Professor Bianca, who won’t be able to enjoy the Sealing Festival alone?”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Even if you say step up, I have no knowledge of magic…”

“Who asked you to help with Professor Bianca’s work? I’m suggesting you keep her company since she wouldn’t want to be stuck in her lab alone on the festival day.”

“That is…”

Professor Lucas trailed off, avoiding eye contact.

“But, she’s busy with work, so if I go, it might be…”

“Why are you so shy when you look like you could eat someone alive?”

“What did you say, you brat?”

“Here, take this. Professor Bianca won’t turn you away if you bring this.”

I handed Professor Lucas a paper bag I had prepared in advance.

“This is…?”

“It’s the wine that Professor Bianca enjoys.”

It was something I bought when I briefly stopped by Valhalla City with Iris this weekend.

“Since it’s a bit inappropriate to drink during work, why don’t you sneak in around evening?”

“You, you….”

“Oh, and I heard you like salad made with imperial salmon as a side dish… You can prepare that much, right, Professor?”

“You rascal!”

Professor Lucas jumped up from his seat and grabbed my hand tightly with a burning gaze.

Seeing his eyes welling up with tears, he seemed more moved than I had expected.

‘Well, I guess this repays some of the debt.’

Thinking that, I stood up from my seat.

“Then, I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

With Professor Lucas seeing me off, I headed to the dormitory.

* * *

The professor’s office, left alone after Dale’s departure.

Lucas hugged the wine bottle in the paper bag as if it were a treasure, with a satisfied smile.

“That rascal.”

Professor Lucas thought of Dale and smirked.

He had been the most troublesome candidate for the past two years, but recently, he had become so admirable that the past hardships were barely remembered.

“I don’t know where he learned it, but his swordsmanship is excellent… and his martial arts are top-notch.”

Although his magical power was significantly lacking compared to others, it had recently increased considerably.

“He’s a bit arrogant, but… seeing him take care of things like this, he’s got a deep heart.”

Professor Lucas smirked as he looked over Dale’s candidate list.

“Let’s see… orphanage background, receiving national support from the Republic, no other sponsors… hmm.”

The hunting dog’s eyes, which had been scanning the list, sharpened.

“Should I recommend this rascal as my assistant?”