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    Chapter 146: The New Semester (1)


    After summer break.


    The first ss of the second semester at the Hero Academy.


    The most critical lecture of the previous semester, ''Practical Combat Training,'' had now evolved into ''Practical Combat Training 2,'' increasing its importance and weight significantly.


    With over 90 percent of the lectures now focused on ''Practical Combat Training 2,'' excluding minor sparring sessions and basic physical training, the course was packed from Monday to Friday.


    Thus, the first ss of ''Practical Combat Training 2,'' upon which all the grades of the second semester relied, was about to begin.


    Not a single candidate was absent or cking off on the first day as the door to ss C''s lecture hall opened.


    Click.


    Entering through the door was arge man who resembled a fierce beast.


    It was Professor Lucas, head of the Warrior Department and the one responsible for Practical Combat Training in ss C.


    "Let''s see... surely no one’s missing, right?"


    Professor Lucas scanned the room with his signature fierce gaze.


    Of course, as expected, no candidate had the nerve to skip Professor Lucas'' ss on the first day.


    After scanning the seated candidates, Professor Lucas'' gaze settled on me.


    "Cadet Dale. Did you have a good break?"


    "Yes, I had a very fulfilling break."


    It wasn’t an empty reply.


    Reflecting on the aplishments of the break, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I had stumbled upon a few significant opportunities.


    Yurina had grown rmingly, to the point where calling her a ''genius'' wouldn’t seem out of ce.


    Berald had not only honed his skills but also seeded in inheriting the legacy of the Iron Fist, achieving explosive growth.


    Cami had steadied her wavering mind and decided on her path.


    Iris had also mastered arge-scale sacred spell using a sacrifice, significantly improving her ability to control the ''Seven Eyes.''


    Even Juliet, who had joined in the training after the summer break, had achieved substantial results.


    ‘And the same goes for me.’


    Before the summer break, I made a painful mistake by failing to control the ‘Ashen mes’ and identally burning down an entire dormitory.


    But now, I had raised my mastery of the ‘Ashen mes’ enough to use it in realbat.


    ‘It was a break that yielded results beyond expectations.’


    As I was smiling in satisfaction with the results of the break,


    "Yeah, yeah. Considering you went to the Heavenly Resort, I''m sure it was not just fulfilling but probably to the point of bursting."


    "Hmm? How do you know about that, Professor?"


    "Professor Elisha couldn’t stop bragging about it, so I ended up hearing it even though I had absolutely no interest."


    "Ah."


    So, Elisha had already tattled to Professor Lucas.


    "Hahaha! Some of us were stuck giving make-up sses and spent the whole summer holed up in the academy, while others were so busy enjoying their youth that they probably didn’t even notice the time flying by!"


    Professor Lucas'' bloodshot eyes (scary) stared daggers at me as he ground his teeth.


    "Seriously envious... Absolutely disgraceful! A hero candidate, of all people? Wasting your time gallivanting around on vacation!"


    "I wanted to go... After all, a hero should always prioritize self-cultivation!"


    "This cursed world should just end... Don’t forget your duty as a hero, Dale!"


    "......."


    It felt like some inner thoughts were leaking out.


    ‘I should probably invite Professor Lucas along next time.’


    Seeing him deliver that impassioned speech with bloodshot eyes made me feel a bit sorry for him.


    "Haah. Anyway, I trust everyone made the most of their summer break."


    Professor Lucas scanned the candidates with a fierce smirk on his face.


    "But that''s all until today. This semester will be packed with much tougher sses thanst semester, so you better prepare yourselves."


    "......."


    The candidates'' expressions hardened at Professor Lucas’ grim warning.


    "Heh. But don''t worry, I don’t n to push you too hard from the very first day."


    With a sly smile, Professor Lucas nced at the terrified candidates.


    "Now, let''s see... Since the new semester has begun, let’s have the representative candidate of ss Ce forward and share their aspirations for the uing semester."


    At the mention of the representative candidate of ss C, murmurs filled the room.


    There were a total of six sses, from A to F.


    In ss A, it would undoubtedly be Yuren Helios, but in ss C, there were many standout candidates with strong personalities.


    Cami Vedice, considered a candidate for the Sword of the Holy Kingdom.


    Iris, revered as the Saint of the Holy Kingdom.


    And Dale Han, whose reputation had skyrocketed sincest semester as the ‘Lowest-Ranked Hero.''


    Among these formidable candidates, the one chosen to be the representative was,


    "Well then."


    Professor Lucas motioned toward a freckled, awkward-looking candidate with a flick of his hand.


    "Albert, step forward."


    "Nooooo! Why is it me again?!"


    Albert, who had been sitting rxed with a look that said, ''No way they’ll call me,'' jumped up from his seat.


    This time, Albert wasn’t going to take it lying down.


    He mmed his desk and shouted.


    "Normally, the representative candidate is the one with the best grades from the previous semester, right?"


    "You earned the Diamond Badge in the final evaluation."


    "Th-That was honestly thanks to my party carrying me!"


    "Oh? Excellent grades and humility to boot… truly worthy of being the representative candidate."


    "Ughhh!"


    Albert clutched his head and writhed in agony.


    Looking around frantically, Albert’s gazended on Iris and Cami.


    "I think Iris or Cami would be a much better fit for the representative than someone like me, don’t you?"


    "Oh? Are you trying to pass the responsibility to the Saint and the future Sword of the Holy Kingdom?"


    "N-No, that’s not what I meant…."


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    Wearing a desperate expression, Albert suddenly nced in my direction, as if a good idea had struck him.


    "Ah, yes! Dale! Dale got the best score during the final evaluation!"


    "Albert, no one in their right mind would make a fool who’s been suspended three times the representative."


    "Why! Why do you only use logic in times like this?!"


    In the end, Albert was dragged out in front of the ss by Professor Lucas.


    All eyes were now focused on him.


    "Uh… well, then."


    Suddenly thrust into the role of the representative, Albert began speaking with a pale, terrified face.


    "This semester will probably be even tougher thanst. Some of us... might get seriously injured, or worse, lose our lives."


    "Some of you may wonder why we have to take on such risks just because we were given a stigma. Why are we denied the right to live ordinary lives and forced to live as ''heroes''?"


    "Maybe some of you even think that the world doesn’t need heroes anymore. After all, it’s been 500 years since the Five Great Heroes sealed the Demon God."


    [PR/N: Yes Albert, unfortunately though, <em>this world needs a hero</em> to defeat the Demon God.]


    But.


    "Last year alone, 2,551 people within the empire died at the hands of demons and demonic beasts. That’s just the official count; the actual number is much higher."


    "People are still dying, even in ces we don’t see... no, in ces we choose not to see."


    "Professor Lucas said we don’t have to save humanity or protect the world, but I see it a bit differently."


    "I believe that with great poweres great responsibility."


    Albert spoke as he gently rubbed the Stigma engraved on the left side of his chest.


    "Since we were born with the blessing of the gods engraved on our hearts, we must not turn away from those who need us."


    "Someone once told me this: even if you feel insignificant, we all have a role to y."


    Albert nced at me with a faint smile.


    "No matter how scared, exhausted, or tormented we may be."


    Even if your legs tremble in fear.


    Even if you want to run away from the unbearable pain and hardship.


    "Let’s not forget."


    The fact that we are ''heroes.''


    "..."


    "..."


    After Albert''s speech ended, a silence fell over the ssroom.


    p, p, p.


    The silence was broken by the sound of apuse, starting one by one.


    The growing sound of apuse filled the room.


    "Wow! I didn''t know Albert could speak so well!"


    "Albert, trying to be all fancy, huh?"


    "Ahh! My hands and feet are curling up! Take responsibility, Albert!"


    The cadets cheered and whistled.


    "Hahaha."


    Professor Lucas, who had been standing near my seat watching Albert''s speech, crossed his arms and chuckled softly.


    He looked at Albert standing on the podium with a satisfied smile.


    "Indeed, my judgment wasn''t wrong."


    "No, you just wanted to tease him, didn’t you?"


    Now, saying things like "my judgment wasn’t wrong," what nonsense is that?


    "That was an excellent speech, Cadet Albert!"


    Ignoring myment, Professor Lucas walked down toward the podium.


    With a wide grin, Professor Lucas ced his arm around Albert''s shoulder.


    Albert, feeling the brute force pressing on his shoulder, let out a relieved sigh with an awkward smile.


    "Whew. Well, at least I managed to get through it somehow."


    When he first stood on the podium, his heart was pounding like it was going to burst, but he was d it ended well.


    "You did more than just get through it. It was a very impressive speech."


    "Haha, thank you, Professor."


    "Hahaha. Then I’ll ask you again next time."


    "Yeah, next time too... Wait? Next time?"


    Albert turned, wide-eyed, to look at Professor Lucas.


    Ignoring Albert''s stare, Professor Lucas looked around at the cadets and shouted.


    "Hahaha! Our ss C representative cadet is none other than Albert Hoover! No objections, right?"


    "No!"


    "Of course not!"


    The cadets cheered and pped.


    "Congrats, Albert!"


    "You’re truly a candidate worthy of being a representative!"


    "We had faith in you, Albert!"


    Amidst the cheers filling the room, Albert, with a pale face, stared at Professor Lucas.


    "W-wait! What are you talking about, Professor?! Wasn’t this supposed to be a one-time thing?"


    "I originally thought so, but after hearing such a splendid speech, I couldn’t resist! You’ll continue as the representative, Albert!"


    "Nooooooo!!!"


    Leaving the wailing Albert behind, Professor Lucas dashed out of the ssroom.


    "Well, then! I’m off to submit it as a formal agenda at the faculty meeting!"


    As the scorching summer sun began to fade in September, a new semester had just begun.


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