The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

EP7. At the End of Darkness

“No way,”

“You can’t say there isn’t anything. You know why the Vatican told Beatrice to go all over Calethion in the first place.”

“that.”

Beatrice also knew the truth. She was sent all over Calethion to keep her in check, or to kill her. That was why she was tired of everything and chose death herself.

But what she hadn’t considered was that even those who followed her would be killed.

“If there is no one left to protect you, I wonder if you have ever thought of trying to fake your death and take control of the sect by killing those who followed you.”

“Thinking like that…”

I’ve never done it. No, I couldn’t have done it.

Doesn’t it make sense that a religious group that follows God’s will would do such a thing to gain power?

“You have more than just yourself on your shoulders, you have a lot of responsibility. People who follow you are hanging on your shoulders.”

“Then what should I do? Don’t go all over Calethion?”

“No, I told you. The Paladins and I will accompany you.”

Ainzel was sweating inside as he tried hard not to say, ‘I’d rather you not go.’

If she were to die in the entire Calethion, and time continued to flow on without change, he would not be able to maintain his sanity. He would not be able to continue on his mission.

However, he had to go all over Calethion with Beatrice somehow. If nothing changed, Calethion would definitely end in defeat, and if the Telbren Fortress fell and the initiative was handed over to the Demon King’s army, the Ashen Soldiers would run wild again.

Ainzel never wanted humanity to face the threat of extinction as the gray soldiers ran rampant, let alone kill the Demon King.

That’s why now, he absolutely had to change the future.

It was said that if you use the power of the residual thoughts left behind by the previous warriors, you can bind Malecidus for several months.

If we can keep Malekidus tied up for a few months, we might be able to defend the fortress of Telbren.

That’s why Ainzel held back and told Beatrice to go with him to the entire Calethion.

“…Is that the right decision?”

Ainzel knew that when Beatrice was doubtful and questioning herself, it was time for her to shed the shell of her faith and speak her true feelings.

Beatrice always played the strong role, never willing to compromise her convictions, or trying to appear that way.

So when the strong storm came, she broke down, just as she had been tempted to be out of her mind.

He couldn’t bear to see her crumble like that. To prevent her from collapsing, Ainzel hoped Beatrice would learn to speak her mind.

That’s why Ainzel didn’t feel bad about Beatrice hesitating like this.

“…But if you don’t go, won’t you regret it?”

But Ainzel knew what kind of person Beatrice was. Even though her exterior was full of fear and agony, disguised as faith and belief, she was fundamentally good.

She was afraid now. Of death, and of those who followed her.

But she was someone who would eventually head to the battlefield, even if she hesitated in fear. Or, she was someone who would regret not having gone to the battlefield.

The difference is her attitude. She now faces the responsibility that is upon her shoulders. She realizes that she must not die.

As long as he didn’t die, then it didn’t matter to Ainzel.

Beatrice looked at Ainzel with a hesitant face.

The sky was as gray as ever, and darkness and screams were everywhere.

He looked at the scenery before his eyes.

Numerous demons. And Malecidus and Grandis.

But Ainzel only had his eyes on Malekidus.

If it’s Grandis, I’m sure it won’t come out now.

Grandis had fought the Lich King in his own territory, simply because he had shown interest in him. If that were the case, Ainzel figured, then there was a good chance he would be interested in what he would do if he came forward and drew his attention.

It doesn’t matter how many times I die, as long as I can change the future I see.

Malecidus began to charge.

In this world, there were only a handful of beings who were on the same level as or higher than Malecidus, and none of them were humans. Malecidus was such a being. A being that humans could not approach. A monster that brought destruction with every step.

But the Paladins formed a phalanx, holding up their shields and blocking Malecidus’s charge. They, as priests, knew best the extent of the black magic Malecidus was unleashing, but they remained steadfast in the face of fear and death.

A protective shield made of multiple layers of divine power surrounded him, and Malecidus’ body collided with the shield.

Boom! An explosion was heard. Malekidus wrapped his body in black magic, created a shield, and collided it with the shield. The shield created with black magic slowly ate away at the shield.

Ainzel gripped the holy sword tightly.

The thought that the previous warrior left behind in the holy sword. By offering up the existence of that thought, Malekidus can be neutralized. It was such an unrealistic story.

But it had to be done. If Malecidus could not be neutralized, it would be a repeat of the past.

“Please drain Malekidus’ black magic as much as possible!”

In order to neutralize Malecidus, it was necessary to exhaust his black magic. Malecidus used his powers excessively, and the knights defended him with layer upon layer of defensive barriers.

He didn’t even think of a counterattack. He only used all his might and divine power to defend against Malecidus’ attacks.

Malecidus tilted his head.

“What are you doing? There’s no way you can win like that. Even if you act like that, I just need to recover my black magic. But if you’ve used up all your divine power, will you be able to survive until I recover all my black magic? I want to say that it’s foolish to believe in the saintess.”

Ainzel ignored the almost mocking words. Just one chance. And after that chance, he had to lure Grandis, who was showing interest. Everything was difficult.

Pull yourself together and seize this one opportunity, this one moment.

‘It’s almost time. Maybe after I use my power, my voice will disappear. So, I have to do it no matter what.’

A voice of thought echoed in my head.

‘I know, too.’

The knights gritted their teeth and withstood Malecidus’ attacks.

And finally, Malecidus’ black magic ran out.

The knights were also exhausted and could no longer use their divine powers, but it didn’t matter.

The holy sword began to glow red.

“What, what is this…!”

Malekidus suddenly shouted in surprise at the red light that began to emanate from the holy sword, sensing something unusual. Nowhere else could he have known that the holy sword had such powers.

Ainzel gritted his teeth. While Beatrice was healing the people in the rear, if he could do something about Malekidus and Grandis, the entire situation in Calethion would change.

A red light enveloped Malecidus’ body.

Malekidus covered his body with both arms to block it. He was confident that even if he was harmed by an unknown light coming from the holy sword, he could block it with his own body.

However, Ainzel did not intend to ‘cause damage’ from the beginning.

An ability that was embedded in the thoughts of the previous warriors. Time stop.

No, to be precise, it would have been an ‘imperfect’ time stop.

Malecidus felt something strange when the red light disappeared.

‘The black magic does not recover.’

Not only was the black magic not recovered, but black magic was not even gathered.

It was as if time inside the body had ‘stopped’.

“Hey you… what have you done!”

“Time has stopped. The time of the ‘force’ flowing through your veins.”

Malekidus felt his eyes spinning. If he could not use his black magic at all, there was nothing more he could do in this whole area.

“Yes, yes you…!”

Ainzel raised the holy sword and shouted.

“Advance!”

The knights and soldiers joined forces and began to rush at Malekidus. His body, devoid of vitality, bled from even a human spear, and the whip did not cause much damage thanks to the defense of the knights.

Malekidus, the twin-winged leader of the Demon King’s legions, has descended to the human realm.

Malecidus began to retreat in a hurry.

“…Hoo.”

But that doesn’t mean everything was resolved.

“That’s amazing. What was that just now?”

A black woman came down gently from the sky to the ground in the middle of the soldiers.

“You’re not going to tell me, are you?”

Grandis started to move.