The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned

Chapter 168: Blessing of the Frost (1)

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 168: Blessing of the Frost (1)

After waking up and calming Lanez, who had been upset because I hadn't returned her calls while I was asleep...

I headed straight to Professor Jade’s laboratory.

“Hm?”

The lab, which I hadn’t visited since the last incident, was no longer the ruin-like place I remembered but was now neatly decorated, resembling the entrance of a café.

‘Professor Jade isn’t the type for this kind of thing…’

Tilting my head in curiosity, I opened the door and immediately understood the reason for the lab’s transformation.

“Sophia?”

“Huh? What brings you here?”

“That’s what I’d like to ask you.”

Why was Sophia in Professor Jade’s lab?

“I’ve been helping the professor with his research lately.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, she had mentioned before that she would assist him.

“Is it for the professor’s research…”

“It’s not the artificial Stigmas research, if that’s what you’re asking. That still needs more time.”

Sophia spoke quietly, continuing her explanation.

“Right now, we’re focusing on general magic research alongside the Stigma studies.”

“Have there been any results?”

“Well… somewhat.”

Sophia, with her short red hair, avoided my gaze and twisted a strand of hair in her fingers.

For someone like Sophia to downplay it with “somewhat,” the results must have been significant.

“The descendant of the Great Sage and the future Grand Magician…”

Just imagining the synergy between the two brought a smile to my lips.

As I exchanged a few words with Sophia...

Thunk.

“Huh? Brother, what brings you here?”

Berald, carrying an armful of boxes, stepped out from inside the lab.

Following him closely was Professor Jade, who appeared in a hurry with a distressed look.

“Be-Berald! Aren’t those my precious research materials?”

“Hahaha! Don’t worry, Professor! I’ll safely organize them with my levitation magic!”

With that, Berald began tossing the boxes up and catching them repeatedly.

It was like watching a juggling act, as the contents of the boxes floated in the air before falling neatly back inside.

“My-my research materials!!!”

Professor Jade’s pale face twisted in despair as he let out a wail, while Berald laughed heartily at his reaction.

“Oh, by the way, Berald is also helping with the research.”

“…He’s helping, right?”

From the sight of the professor wailing, it seemed more like harassment than assistance.

‘Well, at least they seem to be getting along.’

I had been worried about how Sophia and Berald were doing since that so-called date last time, but it seemed their relationship hadn’t grown distant.

‘If only Berald’s twisted taste in women could be fixed…’

Well, that was beyond my control.

I could only hope Sophia handled it well.

“Anyway, why are you here, Candidate Dale?”

“I have a favor to ask the professor.”

“A favor? What kind of favor?”

Professor Jade tilted his head in curiosity.

“Is there a way to prevent the awakening of a ‘blessing’?”

While a blessing, once awakened, could never be erased, I wondered if something could be done before it awakened.

“Hm.”

The professor crossed his arms, falling silent for a moment.

“That’s impossible.”

After some thought, he shook his head.

“The conditions for a blessing’s awakening are too variable. Some heroes awaken their blessings on the verge of death, while others awaken theirs during something as mundane as a stroll.”

“I understand that…”

“An unawakened blessing is like a seed buried underground. Unless the ‘soil’ of the Stigma is dug up and disturbed, there’s no way to prevent the blessing from sprouting.”

“……”

To prevent the awakening of the Blessing of the Frost, I would need to damage Lanez’s Stigma itself.

‘That’s no different from killing her.’

A hero’s Stigma isn’t just a vessel for storing mana.

It’s intricately connected to their physical and spiritual being.

Damaging it recklessly could result in severe consequences.

‘That’s why techniques like Stigma replacement are prohibited.’

While in my past life, Yuren, only experienced physical changes as side effects, others often became completely incapacitated.

I couldn’t cripple Lanez just to prevent the Blessing of the Frost from awakening.

“…But.”

The professor’s words continued.

“It’s possible to suppress it to some extent.”

“Suppress it?”

He nodded.

“Statistically, blessings are most often awakened during moments of intense emotional change or when one’s life is in danger. Cases of awakening during a casual walk are extremely rare.”

“…That’s true.”

I myself awakened my blessing when I was attacked by monsters.

Yurina, on the other hand, awakened hers when she finally broke free from the shadow of the sun that had weighed her down for so long.

“It works similarly to a sedative. At the very least, it would prevent the blessing from awakening during a random walk.”

“How soon can you prepare it?”

“I can make it quickly. The basic requirement is just stabilizing the mana within the Stigma.”

“Please do.”

“Hoho. How could I refuse a request from Candidate Dale?”

The professor headed back into the lab and promptly concocted a Stigma stabilizer.

“It should last for about two weeks.”

“Will she need to drink it again after that?”

“Just come back in two weeks, and I’ll make more.”

Though inconvenient, having to administer it every two weeks was a small price to pay to reduce the risk of Lanez awakening her blessing.

“Thank you, Professor.”

I thanked him and left the lab.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

* * *

After leaving the lab, I summoned Lanez to a secluded area on the outskirts of the academy.

Lanez arrived in no time, panting heavily as she ran to the meeting spot.

“Y-you called?”

“…There was no need to run all the way here.”

“Hehe. But Dale called me.”

Lanez sat on the bench with a bashful smile.

“So… w-what’s the matter?”

She clutched her skirt nervously, her face tense.

“If it’s about… u-uh, yesterday, I’m sorry in advance! I promise I won’t bother you again!”

“It’s not about that.”

“Th-then what is it?”

“Here, take this.”

I handed Lanez the Stigma stabilizer I got from Professor Jade.

“What’s this?”

She tilted her head, staring at the glass bottle filled with blue liquid.

I recited the excuse I had prepared in advance.

“You’re not exactly in great physical condition, right?”

“U-um, yeah. Sorry about that.”

“No need to apologize. I just brought you a little tonic that’s good for the body.”

“A t-tonic?”

Her eyes widened at the word “tonic.”

“It’s nothing too fancy. Just think of it as a vitamin drink and take it.”

“Dale…”

Lanez clasped the glass bottle with both hands, her eyes welling with tears.

“Thank you… I’ve never gotten a gift like this from anyone before.”

Sniffling, she hugged the bottle as if it were a precious treasure.

Seeing how emotional she was brought a pang of guilt.

‘Well, it is good for her body, at least.’

The Stigma stabilizer not only helped prevent the awakening of blessings but also stabilized mana flow, making it easier to manage.

It wasn’t something essential, but it was certainly beneficial—like a vitamin supplement.

“I’ll treasure this for the rest of my life!”

“No.”

Please drink it.

“B-but… it feels too precious…”

“I’ll get you more later, so just drink it now.”

“Ugh…”

Lanez hesitated, glancing at the glass bottle.

Then, with reluctance, she gulped down the stabilizer.

“How is it?”

I watched her nervously. Lanez licked her lips with a blissful expression.

“It feels like… Dale’s essence is spreading through my body.”

“No.”

What the heck is she even saying?

“Hehe, just kidding. Um… I’m not sure, but it feels like my mind has calmed down. It’s nice.”

Thankfully, it seemed the stabilizer was working.

‘At least I’ve taken one precaution.’

Of course, I couldn’t guarantee this would fully prevent the awakening of the Frozen Blessing.

But it would at least reduce the likelihood.

“By the way, Dale… Have you had lunch?”

Lanez glanced at me shyly as she asked.

“No, not yet.”

“Then… um, would you like to have lunch with me? I-I’ll pay for everything!”

She leaned toward me with sparkling eyes.

I chuckled softly and shook my head.

When Lanez saw me shake my head, she flinched and began trembling.

“S-sorry. I overstepped again, didn’t I? I’m sorry! It was my mistake! I’ll never do it again, so please forgive me…”

“No, that’s not it.”

I sighed lightly and continued.

“I’ll pay.”

“…Huh?”

“I’ll pay for lunch.”

Lanez likely lived a meager life on school support funds.

I couldn’t bring myself to make her pay for the meal.

“…Oh.”

She let out a small gasp, her round eyes welling with tears again.

“Thank you…”

“It’s nothing. Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I-I’m fine with anything! If Dale’s paying, I’d even eat dog food!”

“No.”

Why would we eat dog food for lunch?

“Let’s decide once we get to the candidate cafeteria.”

“…The candidate cafeteria?”

Lanez trembled as though she’d discovered fire for the first time.

“What’s wrong?”

“N-nothing… I’ve just never been to the cafeteria before.”

“…What?”

She had never been to the candidate cafeteria?

“Then how do you normally eat?”

“I just buy bread from the store and eat it… in the restroom.”

“….”

This won’t do.

“Let’s go to the main cafeteria.”

“Th-the main cafeteria?! But it’s so expensive!”

“It’s fine. I’m paying.”

Thinking about how Lanez must have spent years crouched in restrooms to eat her meals, I decided to treat her to a proper meal at the pricier main cafeteria instead of my usual hangout.

“B-but…”

“I said it’s fine.”

I dragged Lanez along toward the main cafeteria.

Just as we were on our way—

“Oh my, Dale? What brings you to the main cafeteria?”

“Isn’t Dale always at the auxiliary cafeteria?”

Iris and Yuren approached us with bright smiles.

“Uh…?”

“...Dale? Who’s the girl with you?”

Correction.

The bright smiles had vanished.

[Translator - Night]

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