The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 160: Witch of the Night (1)

Night had fallen, cloaking the land like a dark curtain.

Atop a towering rock that looked like a spear thrust from the heavens, a young man with white hair sat, his expression calm and poised.

Thud, thud, thud.

With each tremor shaking the ground, something massive was approaching him.

Or rather, to be precise, it was an elderly man riding atop the massive creature.

"Did the plan go awry again?"

The old man asked, his cracked voice cutting through the night as he eyed the white-haired young man.

The young man managed a faint, bitter smile and nodded slowly.

"It seems that way."

"Heh, it's rare to see the Archbishop of Corruption fail repeatedly."

"Things in this world don't always go as planned."

The young man, known as the "Archbishop of Corruption" — Mephisto — shrugged his shoulders and looked down at Valhalla City in the distance.

The lights sprawled out like an upside-down galaxy against the darkened sky, illuminating the heavens with the lights of human civilization.

"Was it Serpente? I seem to recall that was a servant you cherished."

At the mention of Serpente, Mephisto’s shoulders twitched ever so slightly.

But only for a moment.

Mephisto smiled as he replied,

"It’s fine. Just another pawn to use and discard as needed."

"Heh. You ought to learn to value your servants more."

The old man, Jackal, sighed as he gently patted the massive creature he was riding.

A pained groan escaped the beast each time Jackal’s hand brushed its back.

Watching the scene, Mephisto forced back a bitter smile as he adjusted his monocle.

"You're the last person I’d expect to hear that from."

"Heh heh heh."

Jackal let out a phlegmy laugh.

"By the way, what’s that kid been up to lately? He’s been unusually quiet."

"I have no idea where or what Seto is doing these days."

"Hmm. And Lactasia also vanished suddenly… Tsk, tsk. How are we supposed to break the Demon God’s seal if we’re all so scattered?"

"…"

At the mention of the Demon God's seal, Mephisto's lips curved into a faint smile.

"Isn't this the usual, though? No need to worry about it now."

"Heh. Fair enough. Oh, speaking of which, how’s the ‘witch’ you mentioned coming along?"

"No setbacks on that front."

Mephisto’s lips curled into a smirk as he shrugged.

"It’s not that I doubt you, but… can a mere candidate girl really wield the power to destroy half a continent in an instant?"

Truthfully, even for him, such destruction across half the continent was unthinkable.

Perhaps the “Archbishop of Destruction,” currently ranked highest among the archbishops, might attempt such a feat.

"Well, you’ll see for yourself in time."

Mephisto's smile deepened.

"Soon, the ‘Witch of the Night’ will awaken."

* * *

"Whew. Finally, some alone time."

I sat in my newly renovated dorm room, relieved to be alone.

I’d been worn out recently from the tension between Iris and Yurina, so having time to myself had become a rare luxury.

‘If you ask whether I'm happy… well, yes, I am.’

It’s hard to complain when I have two beautiful partners like Iris and Yurina.

When I first confessed to them, I was wracked with guilt and couldn’t sleep, but recently I’ve started to feel a bit more at ease.

‘Professor Elisha, though…’

As my mind calmed, thoughts of Professor Elisha surfaced naturally.

‘That’s something to worry about later.’

Right now, handling Iris and Yurina was enough of a handful on its own.

"Now then, let’s see…"

With this rare bit of free time, I decided to organize my current situation.

‘My life is worlds better than before.’

When I returned to the past half a year ago, I resolved to change the future and lead my allies.

But honestly, I never anticipated things would go this well.

Not only Iris, Yurina, Berald, and senior Sophia, but also people like Professor Elisha, Camilla, and Juliet, who I never even exchanged a word with in my previous life.

Everything was going far smoother than I could have imagined.

But…

"It’s too early to relax."

The Demon God is powerful.

Or rather, “powerful” doesn’t quite capture the enormity of what he is.

He’s a force of nature, existing solely to bring ruin upon the world, rather than a sentient being with intelligence.

Fighting him with our current strength would be hopelessly inadequate.

‘The best outcome, of course, would be to prevent his seal from breaking in the first place.’

While we couldn’t predict what the future held, it was wise to prepare for anything.

"Let’s see… as for people I should connect with at school…"

The top priority, without a doubt, was Aaron Baek, the “Meteor Spear.”

He was a standout talent, ranking first among the fourth-year candidates — and in the future, he was renowned as Yurina’s rival, destined to become a powerful hero.

‘If I can bring Aaron Baek to our side, he’ll be an invaluable ally in the future.’

I had heard Yurina say it herself in my past life.

Aaron was the one person she felt she’d never surpass, no matter how hard she tried.

‘To think Yuren….no Yurina, of all people, would acknowledge his talent.’

If I could nurture his abilities further, just as I did with Yurina and Berald…

Aaron Baek would undoubtedly become a key pillar of our strength alongside them.

"...Before that."

Connecting with Aaron was important, but there was something I had to take care of first.

"…"

A problem I had been putting off again and again.

One misstep could freeze half the continent.

The monster who had haunted my nightmares in my previous life.

The “Witch of the Night,” Lanez Malam.

Just the thought of her name sent a shiver down my spine.

Images of a snow-covered wasteland flashed through my mind.

"Ugh."

A suffocating sensation gripped my chest.

I trembled, clutching my heart.

The reason I hadn’t gone to see the Witch of the Night, even though I knew she was at the same school, was simple:

“I’m scared.”

Yeah.

I’m scared of facing the Night Witch.

I'm afraid of the terrible disaster she caused, of an irreparable nightmare being recreated.

Unbearably.

Insufferably.

Terrifying.

“Heh.”

A dry laugh escaped my lips.

“A guy who doesn’t die even if his head explodes, trembling in fear like this.”

I know well enough how pathetic this looks.

But what can I do?

Having witnessed the disaster the Night Witch caused firsthand, I can’t help but fear her.

‘In some ways, she’s even more terrifying than the demons.’

We hold awe, not fear, for calamities like earthquakes, tsunamis, and typhoons; demons, being so beyond us, evoke reverence over fear.

But the Night Witch…

“…”

I clenched my trembling fist.

Honestly, just thinking about her makes my legs shake, but…

I can’t keep burying my head in the ground, avoiding her forever.

‘I have to face her.’

Yeah.

I’ll meet Lanez Malam before she becomes the “Night Witch.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

After thoroughly investigating her…

‘I’ll kill her.’

Before the seed of disaster lying dormant inside Lanez awakens.

* * *

“Now, let’s see…”

Arriving at the building used by fourth-year candidates, I looked around.

‘Where’s Lanez Malam’s classroom?’

In the Hero Academy, students typically switch classrooms depending on their courses, but starting in fourth year, they have fixed classrooms.

The reason for this is to deepen the bonds among party members.

Unlike the lower-grade candidates who reorganize parties for each class, fourth-year candidates form somewhat “fixed parties,” so the classrooms are set so they can attend classes together.

‘If you end up in the wrong fixed party, you’ll suffer through all of fourth year.’

I suppressed a bitter smile at the memory from my past life.

As I wandered around, looking for Lanez’ classroom…

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh, Senior Sophia.”

Sophia spotted me lurking in the hallway and approached.

“Hmph. A third-year strolling around the fourth-year building like it’s your own place?”

“Well, there’s no rule against third-years coming in, is there?”

“That’s… true, I guess. So, what brings you here?”

“Do you happen to know a candidate named Lanez Malam among the fourth-years?”

“…”

Sophia flinched at the mention of her name.

“…I do know her, but why?”

“I’m running an errand for Professor Elisha. I’m trying to find Lanez’ classroom.”

As usual, I pulled out the go-to excuse: Professor Elisha.

“Are you in the same class as her?”

“…No, she’s in Class A. I’m in Class B.”

“Then, where’s Class A?”

Sophia pointed to a classroom, and I nodded.

“By the way, how’s it going with Berald these days?”

“Ahem. W-why do you care?”

Sophia turned her head sharply, her cheeks reddening, indicating things weren’t going too badly.

“Looks like things are going well.”

“Urgh…”

“Then I’ll get going.”

“J-just go already!”

I chuckled and headed toward the Class A classroom Sophia had indicated.

When I opened the door, I found an empty classroom.

I waited at the front of the room for the Class A candidates to come in, but over an hour passed without a sign of anyone.

‘No class today?’

For all the trouble I went through to face my fear and find Lanez Malam, the situation felt anticlimactic.

“Ugh.”

Thinking I’d have to come back later, I left the fourth-year building.

As I stepped outside…

“Hm?”

From behind the building.

In a damp, rarely frequented corner, I heard voices.

Tilting my head, I walked behind the building.

What I saw there was…

“Ugh…”

A woman with violet hair, curled up and trembling.

“How many times do we have to tell you? Don’t walk around shamelessly like this, you witch.”

“Stop hitting on Aaron, you b—!”

“What is a demon’s offspring even doing in the Hero Academy?”

“She’s tough, I’ll give her that. Not dropping out, even after all this?”

“Get out of the academy already. Just seeing your face makes me sick.”

Surrounding her were a group of candidates.

“…”

A scene full of malice.

She was curled up, hiding her face, but…

It wasn’t hard to recognize the violet-haired woman as Lanez Malam—the “Night Witch.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]