The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

EP7. At the End of Darkness

“What did you say?”

It was no wonder that Ainzel looked dumbfounded.

If they were priests who tried to kill him, they were probably referring to the priests who killed him after he first became a warrior.

Because of this, he was once gripped by fear and distrust, and was wary of anyone who came near him.

By the way, the person who bought it was Beatrice?

It was an unbelievable story.

“…That’s ridiculous. And how on earth does the Pope know that?”

“Look here. The priest who tried to kill you in the Holy Land is dead. Who do you think buried him?”

“Did the Pope ask you that?”

“That’s right! I asked the warrior to kill the priest! The priest died in the middle of the church, but I somehow managed to turn it into a ‘normal’ death through the priest I planted there! Even the saintess didn’t know that you killed the priest!”

As the Pope shouted, Ainzel looked at him with suspicion and said.

“Can you prove that you did not try to kill me? No matter how I look at it, it seems more realistic that the Pope tried to kill me than Beatrice.”

“No, I am not. I have no reason to kill you. If I had killed you then, the Saintess’s right to speak would have been unnecessarily strengthened in a situation I was not prepared for. I do not want that kind of situation.”

“Hmm… .”

Surely the Pope had no reason to kill himself. He might as well have been taunting the saint.

“So, why have you been hiding it from me all this time and are telling me now?”

“…The warrior had faith in the saintess all this time, and the saintess would not have thought of touching you since the moment you proved your ability, so I thought there was no need to cause trouble.

Listen carefully, the saint is completely different from ordinary humans. Rather, she is closer to a monster. Without any personal feelings, she can give up everything just because it is God’s will… Can you call that a human?

Of course, I told you that in order to reduce her influence on the church. But it wouldn’t be a big loss if the saint disappeared.”

As the Pope spoke, Ainzel narrowed his brows.

“Well, I have feelings for Beatrice. I don’t really intend to let her die.”

“It’s not like I’ll necessarily die. No, with the power of the saint, I’ll probably have a higher chance of surviving. I’ll just stay on the front lines for a while, and if it doesn’t work out, I won’t retreat.”

“Well, I don’t think Beatrice will back down. Rather-”

If you’re dead, then you’re dead.

Ainzel swallowed his words with difficulty.

The Pope also let out a sigh, as if he knew what Ainzel was trying to say.

“…that.”

Ainzel looked at the Pope until the end.

“And isn’t the whole of Calethion really not a place you would send people to simply to reduce your influence?”

The Pope bit his lip.

“…So, you are saying that you will continue to accompany the saint who tried to kill you?”

“Yes. I’m not sure if she tried to kill me, and even if she did… Anyway, I think she should live.”

“…Can you really say that you are sincere?”

“My judgment remains unchanged, whether privately or publicly.”

The Pope’s face hardened.

“The saint has already accepted the situation. Even if you say so, nothing will change.”

“well.”

Ainzel got up from his seat and left the Vatican. The Pope stared at his back.

“Your Majesty, even if you think about Akuri, the entire Calesion is too dangerous.”

“Even so, my will does not change.”

“There’s a world of difference between fighting on the front lines and going all over Calethion.”

“What’s the difference in dimension? After all, it’s all the same front line, it’s all the same battlefield, it’s all the same place to die. The entire Calesion is a dangerous battlefield, but in other words, the battle continues, even if it’s dangerous. My job is to give hope to the people there.”

“No, what happens if I die?”

“What’s wrong with just me dying?”

“It only shows the strength of the enemy’s legion commanders. Their morale will drop. It would be absolutely unacceptable for the saint to be killed by the enemy’s legion commanders.”

Ainzel said with a serious expression.

“Besides, you know Grandis’s power, don’t you? Aren’t you afraid of facing off against Malekidus, who is said to be on par with him? You know his overwhelming power.”

“…”

Beatrice thought about the power of Grandis.

With the sky covered with corpses, the Black Witch appeared, tearing the sky apart.

An overwhelming force that tears the world apart, goes against the natural order, crushes and shatters everything.

A vast gap, so great that even the saint’s own power felt like a firefly in front of the sun.

That’s exactly what Grandis was.

But the saint answered.

“I’m not afraid.”

“…I’m not scared, I’m not.”

Ainzel clearly remembered. No matter how hard the saint struggled, in the end she died without even touching Grandis.

You can never win against Grandis.

I will definitely die.

Could it be that he is unable to recall his past, which is already dead, and is doing such things that could be called a guest act?

Ainzel frowned at the sight of Beatrice.

“…Okay, I understand. If you absolutely must go there, then there’s nothing I can do.”

Beatrice grabbed Ainzel’s wrist and said.

“…even if we have to part ways, please….”

“I will follow you too.”

“yes?”

Beatrice didn’t understand what Ainzel was saying and questioned him.

“Your Majesty… why… .”

Ainzel gritted his teeth.

Damn, he already had no way of surviving with just Grandis, and he had no idea what he would do if he fought someone of similar caliber to Grandis.

But Ainzel asked her to go with him.

If you keep dying, dying, and dying again, you may find the best way with this infinite life. If Beatrice doesn’t go all the way to Calethion, then that would be the best outcome.

“It’s inefficient.”

“It’s the same for the saint to go there.”

“Even if you go all over Calethion, you won’t be able to do anything with your level as a warrior.”

“There are people who are much weaker than me who are giving their lives there.”

“That’s true, but… you shouldn’t die so meaninglessly.”

“how about you?”

Beatrice felt tired at Ainzel’s words.

“…Even if you say it like that, it’s just nitpicking.”

“You’re nitpicking? It’s better than a suicide mission.”

“So I have to fight at the very front…!”

“Aren’t you bored?”

“yes?”

“Aren’t you tired of living like that, giving, giving, giving to others without caring about yourself? Aren’t you tired of calculating your own life on the scale?”

“Rational judgment-”

“No, that is definitely not a rational judgment. It looks like someone who is desperate to make a sacrifice. Not satisfied with hanging their own life on the scale, they are making excuses for this and that, and only weighing their own life down. Even if that means they are trapped in contradiction. That is neither rational nor anything, but a suicidal person who wants to commit suicide in a noble way.”

“I am….”

“Yes, that is your faith. Sacrificing yourself, putting yourself in danger, struggling to overcome contradictions, and constantly repeating self-destructive acts in the name of serving God.”

“…Please stop. It’s just getting too heated right now. … Let’s talk about it later.”

“…I see.”

Ainzel said as he left his seat first.

“Well, would you, Your Majesty, kill anyone for your faith? Even me?”

Beatrice bit her lip slightly and said.

“…anyone, as long as it does not go against my beliefs.”

At those words, Ainzel nodded and said.

“That answers the question.”

When Ainzel opened his eyes, he saw a black masked man climbing on top of him.

“…What is this.”

There was no time to judge. Ainzel felt it instinctively.

‘…Somehow, it was so quiet.’

I couldn’t even shake my body to defend myself. I couldn’t use magic or divine power.

The black masked man raised the dagger he was holding high into the sky and stabbed Ainzel into his chest.

Blood flew into the air.

Ainzel felt his consciousness fading.

With a sword stuck in his chest

He is dead.