The Last Place Hero's Return-Chapter 142: Let’s Go to the Beach (1)

With his eyes closed in thought, Gilbert said, “Heaven-Slaying Asura Gauntlet, huh.”

He then slowly shook his head. “That’s a name I’ve never heard before.”

Silence fell at his words. Both Berald and I glanced at the stained bandages lying on the table. Right now, they looked no different from filthy cloth pulled out from under a bed after years of neglect. But if what I saw earlier wasn’t a mistake, those tattered bandages were undoubtedly a fearsome artifact, powerful enough to make the gauntlet we had recovered from the ruins seem like a trinket.

“You once said these bandages carry magical power, didn’t you?” I asked Gilbert.

“Well, that’s because while they might look like this, they are unbelievably sturdy.” Gilbert picked up the grimy bandages. “Here, watch.”

He inhaled deeply, then pulled with all his strength. “Haaaaah!”

Not only did he yank with all his might, but he twisted, wrung, and spun the bandages violently as though he were trying to tear them apart. While Gilbert wasn’t a warrior who had trained in hand-to-hand combat like Berald, he still bore the bloodline of the Iron Fist. The sheer natural strength he possessed was enough to put most fighters to shame. Yet even with his full power, he was not able to do much.

“Phew. See? Not a scratch, no matter how hard I pull,” he said.

“So, that’s why you thought it had magical properties?” I replied.

“Exactly. How long do you think an ordinary bandage lasts?”

“Well, it’s a consumable. Not very long.”

“Right. But even though these bandages, left behind by the Iron Fist, have grown grimy over time, if you look closely, there isn’t a single tear or fray on them. That’s why I thought they must be infused with magic.”

Just as he said, the Iron Fist’s bandages had endured for five hundred years, yet remained intact.

Gilbert continued, “But I always assumed they were nothing more than magically reinforced cloth. I never once heard of them hiding some other ability.”

In other words, neither Gilbert nor the generation before him had the slightest idea what the bandages truly were.

“Berald. Can you make it happen again?” I asked.

“You mean that... Heaven-something gauntlet?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm. Alright.”

Berald wound the bandages back around his hands, shut his eyes, and focused his mana. The bandages darkened, glowing black as they hardened into the shape of gauntlets.

Gilbert stared wide-eyed at the sight of the transformed weapon. “Hoh! So, that’s the true form of the Legacy of the Iron Fist?”

“Seems that way,” Berald replied.

Most likely, the stains and grime were there to conceal the mana inscriptions etched into the cloth.

“The question is, why is Berald the only one who can draw out its real power?” I asked.

Gilbert narrowed his eyes at the gauntlets wrapped around Berald’s fists. “I might have an idea. Even as a child, Berald was hopeless with magic, but when it came to punching, he outclassed most heroes. And no one had ever taught him a thing.”

“You’re saying that’s because he inherited the Iron Fist’s blood more strongly than anyone else?” I asked.

“Exactly. Probably more so than any other member of the Ryu household in the past five hundred years.”

Suddenly, I recalled something. After my duel with Ramos Ryu, Headmaster Ryu had muttered something under his breath while watching Berald.

“No way! Not at this point. After coming so far.”

If those words had been about the Iron Fist’s power slumbering within Berald, then it made sense why Berald alone could wield the legacy that no one else in five centuries had been able to touch. Moreover, in my previous life, Berald hadn’t even begun learning hand-to-hand combat properly until after graduation, when he was already over twenty. Yet, he had created his own style, the Berald Combat Style. Such a feat would have been impossible without overwhelming natural talent.

Berald smirked, knocking his gauntleted fists together with a resounding clack. “Mm! So, to sum it all up. It means I just got my hands on an incredible treasure, right?”

“Well, yes.”

Berald roared with laughter, brimming with joy. “Wahahaha! So the saying’s true, good deeds really do bring good fortune!”

On his face, there wasn’t the faintest shadow of worry about bloodlines or legacies, just unfiltered delight. I couldn’t help but stifle a chuckle as I looked at him.

Must be nice living so carefree, you bastard.

The future was changing slowly, little by little, for the better.

***

Two weeks passed at Berald’s home. By then, even the daily training routine had begun to wear thin. As we got ready to depart, a luxurious magi-car rolled up to the mansion, and out stepped a striking blond nobleman.

Spotting me, Jules cheerfully waved with a bright smile. “Ah, Dale!”

Berald grumpily said, “What, are we invisible?”

“Ah, s-sorry!” Jules replied.

“Haha, I’m joking. Anyway, what brings you here, Brother Jules?”

Jules smirked and pulled something from his coat. “This time, one of the foundations working with my father’s company sent us a fine gift.”

“A gift?”

From his breast pocket, Jules produced several tickets. “Yep! Here, take a look! Luxury stay passes for the Celestial Resort!”

Celestial Resort was one of the most famous resorts in the Republic, renowned for its stunning beaches and luxurious facilities.

“You’ve heard of it, right, Dale?” Jules asked.

“Yeah, I’ve heard people talk about it often enough,” I answered.

It was one of those places cadets would brag about after their vacations, just to show off that they had been there. Of course, in my previous life, I had only ever heard of it. I had never set foot there.

“Hehe. And if we go, we’ll even get access to a private beach!” Jules beamed as he handed me five tickets. “Don’t you think it’d be a waste to spend the whole vacation just training?”

“But... These tickets must be really expensive. Are you sure we can just accept them?” I asked.

“Of course!” Jules smiled sheepishly. “We’re f-friends, aren’t we?”

He still seemed a little awkward using the word friends.

I took the resort passes from his hand and looked around. “What do you all think?”

Berald and Iris raised their hands enthusiastically, eyes shining with excitement.

“I’m in, no matter what!”

“Me too! I really, really want to go!”

Even Yurina nodded without hesitation. “I’ll go if Dale’s going.”

The last holdout was Camilla.

“Hmph! At a time like this, you suggest lounging around at some luxury resort? Preposterous!” Camilla snatched one of the tickets from my hand, scoffing. “You’ve all grown far too complacent just because you’ve been making progress in training lately!”

She scrutinized the ticket with sharp eyes, carefully noting down its dates and validity. “Never forget! We are heroes, sworn to protect the weak and defend the world from the vile Demon God’s forces!”

Then, with almost sacred care, she folded the ticket and tucked it safely into her pocket. “This is precisely the kind of time when we must train harder, not waste our days with frivolous play!”

Her words and her actions didn’t exactly match.

“Uh-huh.”

Camilla was already struggling to suppress the excited smile tugging at her lips, though she still tried to look stern. “O-of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll impose my opinion on the entire party! If you’re all so insistent on going, then... Then I suppose I’ll accompany you!”

I could only shake my head at the sight. “If you really feel that strongly, then you don’t have to go.”

“What?”

“I agree with Dale. I don’t want to force Camilla to go against her convictions,” Iris added.

“M-Milady?”

Iris placed a gentle hand on Camilla’s shoulder and smiled sweetly. “Why don’t you stay behind and devote yourself to training, Camilla?”

There was complete silence. Then, Camilla’s shoulders trembled, her eyes welling with tears. “Uuugh! A-as you w-wish.”

Iris burst into laughter, patting Camilla’s shoulder. “Pfft! Hahahaha! I’m kidding! Of course you’re coming with us!”

When she realized she had been tricked, Camilla’s face turned crimson, and she yelled, “I-Iris!”

She even forgot to call her Saintess.

Iris laughed even harder, then turned to Jules. “If it’s a seaside resort, we’ll need swimsuits.”

“They might rent them out there, but it’s probably better to buy our own ahead of time.”

Iris pointed at the magi-car he had ridden in on and said, “Then, Sir Jules, would you mind giving us a lift into town?”

Jules grinned and nodded cheerfully. “Of course not!”

Just like that, the location for our short summer vacation was decided.

***

Celestial Resort was a luxury haven built with what could only be described as absurd amounts of money. Ranked among the top five resorts across all three nations, its price alone was steep enough to make even seasoned heroes hesitate.

But the resort had one unique feature. Using warp portals, each group of guests was granted access to their own private island. Around the resort lay more than 130 uninhabited islets, and guests could freely travel back and forth to the one assigned to them.

While the others were still getting ready in their individual rooms—which, surprisingly, each of us had one to ourselves—I finished early and decided to check out the island first.

“Let’s see... Ours is Gate 33?”

I should grab a parasol and mat... oh, and definitely some meat for grilling too, I thought.

Since it was a private beach, we could do whatever we wanted without worrying about anyone else.

“Still can’t believe it. Celestial Resort, huh,” I muttered.

In my previous life, this place had been so far out of my reach that I hadn’t even dared to dream of coming here. With a strange mix of excitement and disbelief, I headed toward Gate 33.

The warp portal shimmered, and an endless shoreline stretched before me, pure white sand glistening under the sun.

“Damn! This is insane. Seriously, this is— Huh?”

That was when I noticed a parasol planted in the sand. Underneath it was a white beach chair. And lying there, stretched out in leisure, was a woman.

What the...? Did I go through the wrong portal?

Why was someone else here, on what was supposed to be a private beach?

I frowned, glancing around in confusion, when a familiar scent of tobacco drifted to my nose. The woman stirred, slowly sitting up. Her jet-black bikini contrasted sharply with her porcelain-white skin. Her body was lean and flawless, her long legs elegantly stretched out. She pushed her sunglasses up just enough to reveal the scar running across her left eye.

Professor Baldwin gave me a wry, knowing smile. “Well, well. Enjoying your summer vacation, Dale?”