The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

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Chapter 30 - Professor in Both Hands (2)

Whoosh!

I reached out towards the roaring flames.

An excruciating pain spread from my arm to my entire body as my flesh started to burn.

Gritting my teeth, I swallowed the groan that threatened to escape, enduring the agony.

I needed to endure with my hand thrust into the blazing flame about five minutes.

Though five minutes was a short time for mana training, it became a different story when I had to keep my hand in the scorching flame for the entire duration.

Even a matchstick's flame can make a person scream in pain and pull their hand back instantly, so one can imagine the horror of enduring continuous burning for five minutes.

“Grr... Ah... Ugh.”

A suppressed groan escapes from between my lips.

Though the flame was an imaginary construct and not real, the vivid pain that felt like my flesh was burning was indistinguishable from reality.

‘Just a little longer.’

I only have four daily chances to increase my mana through the primordial flame.

To accumulate more mana, I must bring as much ‘flame’ from this flame as possible.

“Grr…”

After what felt like an eternity, the five minutes finally passed.

I slowly withdrew my hand from the flame.

A small flame the size of a finger flickered in the palm of my hand.

‘It’s grown.’

At first, the flame I could bring from the primordial flame was no bigger than a candle flame, but after repeated training, it had now grown to the size of a finger.

‘Well... this is still far from enough to control the primordial flame.’

I smiled bitterly as I looked at the enormous flame burning fiercely as if it could consume the world.

Although I had been absorbing the power of the primordial flame by risking my life four times a day, the flame nestled in my heart remained unresponsive.

‘It's like trying to fill the ocean with a ladle.’

No matter how many small flames I absorbed, it didn’t seem to make a difference in the face of the gigantic flame that could swallow the world.

‘Well, someday I’ll be able to control it.’

It wasn't a problem that could be solved immediately, so there was no point in worrying about it now.

“Phew.”

Clearing my thoughts, I slowly opened my eyes.

The intense pain that felt like my body was burning gradually faded, and my consciousness, which had sunk into the imaginary world, began to rise.

What came into view was my dorm room, which contained only a shabby bed, a table, and a shelf.

I got up from the bed and stretched lightly.

“Let’s see. How much mana have I accumulated this time?”

As I activated the mana within my stigma, I felt a surge of energy coursing through my veins, a noticeable increase compared to when I first returned to this world.

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‘Good.’

If the average mana of a cadet is 10, mine would be about 3.

Although still less than half of the average cadet's mana, it significantly improved.

“Considering I originally had less than 10 percent of this, it’s a huge leap forward.”

Though it might seem lacking in absolute terms, my mana had nearly tripled in just a few weeks compared to when I first returned.

At this pace, I could catch up to the average mana level of the cadets within two or three months.

‘Maybe even sooner.’

Just as I had managed to increase the size of the flame I could absorb from the primordial flame from a candle to the size of a finger,

If I could continue to increase the size of the flame I absorb,

‘I could gain a level of mana I never dreamed of in my past life.’

The thought of the future sent a thrilling shiver down my spine.

“No, I can’t be celebrating just yet.”

The future is the future.

My mana is still less than half of the average cadet’s.

‘This amount is far from enough to face Astaroth.’

Though the Demon God’s seal is still intact and the archbishop's power is likely incomplete,

‘An archbishop is still an archbishop.’

The archbishops are beings at the pinnacle of tens of thousands of demons, so I couldn't afford to be complacent.

“Oh, right. Come to think of it, I haven’t delivered this yet.”

I clicked my tongue as I glanced at the bag containing the Seven Star Grass infused with mana in the corner of the room.

After gathering the Seven Star Grass in the cave where the ley lines flowed, I had been so caught up in various events that I had forgotten to deliver it to Professor Jade.

‘I’d better go find Professor Jade first.’

I grabbed the bag containing the Seven Star Grass and headed out.

* * *

“Here’s the Seven Star Grass you requested.”

Dust floated in the musty research room.

Professor Jade gave a low exclamation as he looked at the table piled high with Seven Star Grass infused with mana.

“Even if there is a lot of Seven Star Grass around the academy, it wouldn’t have been easy to find this much... You’ve gathered quite a lot.”

Professor Jade's eyes sparkled like stars as he looked at me.

If I were to put that sparkle into words, it would be something like, ‘As expected, you're the only one fit to be my assistant!’

‘Not happening, old man.’

Though I had never been an assistant to a professor, the hollow eyes of the assistants I occasionally encountered around the academy were enough to make me never want to do it.

“Is this amount sufficient?”

“I won’t know for sure until I start making it, but it should be enough.”

“When will it be finished?”

Knowing that archbishop Astaroth had infiltrated the academy, I needed the completed stigma enhancer as soon as possible.

“The recipe is already complete, so it shouldn’t take long. I should have it ready before the sealing ceremony.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But what do you plan to use this stigma enhancer for?”

Professor Jade narrowed his wrinkled eyes as he continued,

“You’re not planning to use this during the cadet ranking exam, are you?”

“Huh?”

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Did he mistakenly think I was gathering the stigma enhancer to use during the ranking exam?

‘Well,’

Given that Professor Jade knew I had been at the bottom of the cadet rankings for three years straight, it was understandable that he would make such an assumption.

I chuckled and shook my head.

"Don't worry. That's not going to happen."

"But…"

"If I use the Stigma Amplifier during the evaluation match, you can report me to the school for cheating."

"Hmm."

Professor Jade stroked his bushy beard and nodded.

"Alright. If you're that adamant, I won't press further."

"Thank you for understanding."

I bowed my head slightly and glanced around Professor Jade's lab.

It still looked like a trash heap, so cluttered that a person might fall ill just by being in there.

‘The thought of making the Stigma Amplifier in this dump makes me uneasy.’

The potion influences Stigmas, so a delicate and clean manufacturing process is crucial.

This lab didn’t inspire any confidence at all.

"Let's get started with the manufacturing…"

"Wait a moment."

I stopped Professor Jade, who was about to begin immediately.

"First, let's clean up."

"Clean up?"

"How long are you planning to leave your lab in this trash heap condition?"

"Ahem. A trash heap, you say! I'll have you know it's organized in its own way through systematic arrangement and…"

"Enough."

I cut off Professor Jade's excuses and immediately began cleaning the lab.

‘Ugh, this place is worse than a pigsty.’

It looked filthy enough at first glance, but as soon as I started cleaning, dust and garbage poured out everywhere.

I grabbed a broom and cloth, quickly continuing the cleaning process.

My experience cleaning the school for eight hours a day every summer break to earn living expenses wasn’t wasted—before long, the lab, which was close to a garbage dump, was turning into a livable space.

"Uh… is there anything I can help with?"

"Don't get in the way. Please step outside."

What help could I expect from someone who let the lab enter this state?

I waved my hand dismissively and shooed Professor Jade out of the lab.

Three hours of a war-like cleaning battle later…

"Phew. Now it finally looks somewhat livable."

"Oh, oh!"

Looking around the much cleaner lab, Professor Jade couldn't stop gasping in amazement.

"Is this really my lab?"

"Who else's lab would it be?"

I chuckled as I continued.

"I gathered the reagents here, and the magical tools needed for potion-making are over there. As for the research materials, I sorted them by type for now, but you should double-check them later."

"...You, you!"

Suddenly, Professor Jade grabbed my hand and exclaimed with a passionate voice.

"You're truly my assistant!"

"No."

Since when did I become your assistant?

"Ahem! After you've worked so hard as my assistant, I can't just stand by as a professor. I'll treat you to lunch today, so come along!"

"No, wait…"

Professor Jade, clearly pleased with the spotless lab, grabbed my arm and dragged me along.

The exclusive dining hall reserved for professors and their assistants was where we ended up.

It was a high-end restaurant with a solid menu, though it wasn’t quite on the level of the buffet-style dining hall in the main building.

"Order anything you like!"

Professor Jade exclaimed boldly as we entered the restaurant.

"...Dale? What are you doing here?"

Just then, we ran into Professor Lucas, who was about to enter the dining hall.

"You are…"

"......"

An awkward silence fell between Professor Jade and Professor Lucas.

‘Come to think of it, Professor Lucas punched Professor Jade two years ago.’

As I recalled what had happened between the two, I stepped back, but Professor Jade blocked my path and spoke up.

"Do you have some business with my assistant?"

"Assistant? Since when did Dale become your assistant?"

"He's not officially my assistant yet, but he will join me after graduation."

Excuse me?

Professor Jade? I already told you I have no intention of becoming your assistant!

Why do you keep calling me your assistant without my permission?

"Hah. Dale, working under you? What nonsense are you talking about?"

Yes, yes.

Please tell him off, Professor Lucas!

"Dale is going to join me after graduation and help lead the Warrior Department!"

"No."

Why are you doing this too, seriously?

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