The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

EP7. At the End of Darkness

After gathering numerous magicians and elite soldiers, Ainzel began to plan a strategy.

The starting point for neutralizing Grandis. It came from none other than Feria.

Because magic that could work on Grandis was discovered among Caven Theodore’s relics.

The great magic called Theodore’s Chain could not only physically subdue an opponent by binding them, but could also render the opponent unable to use his or her power, such as magical power or black magic, if the total magical power that makes up the chain was lower than that of the opponent.

However, the problem still existed. That was that ‘Theodore’s Chain’ was a type of magic with a remarkably complex structure even among the great magics.

Would it be possible for someone who has achieved the mythical level of Grand Master to use it freely? That is why even Caven Theodore has never used magic on his enemies, even though he has created magic.

However, if one person cannot complete the magic, then several people can work together to create the magic formula.

If the hundreds of magicians that Matap had supported Ainzel could help him weave the magic formula, Theodore’s chain could also be used.

However, it was not possible to prepare and use great magic, which was not even high-level magic, in advance, and in the end, Theodore’s chain had to buy time and weave the spell in real time.

That’s why Ainzel desperately stalled for time. To buy time until Theodore’s chains would be activated through the Holy Sword.

This was the result.

Grandis was caught in Theodore’s chains, and was bound without even being able to use his black magic due to the complex structure and powerful magic beyond imagination.

‘What happened? Even though there were a lot of human wizards gathered, is there really this much magical power?’

Grandis thought with some bewilderment, but also with excitement at the unexpected turn of events.

Certainly, the magical power of so many wizards gathered together was a tremendous amount. However, Ainzel could not be reassured by that alone.

Is it really possible to subdue Grandis with this much magic power? Even though hundreds of magicians have gathered, can we be sure that their magic power can definitely overwhelm Grandis’s black magic power?

That is why Ainzel had to find a power that could completely subdue even Grandis’ power.

And the answer was very simple.

The catalyst was flashing in Ainzel’s hand.

The Catalyst surprisingly succeeded in amplifying the ‘Theodore’s Chain’ transmitted to the Holy Sword from a long distance several times.

The magical power of hundreds of wizards was amplified several times and suppressed Grandis.

Boom! Theodore’s chains no longer allowed Grandis to fly through the sky.

Even though he was chained and forced to his knees, Grandis smiled brightly.

At last, an incomprehensible monster, the world’s worst warlock, fell into their sights.

The wizards were all surrounding Grandis, ready to fire magic at her at any moment, and the elite soldiers were protecting them with shields in front of the wizards.

Grandis opened her mouth, letting out a gasp.

“…This is amazing. It doesn’t take any strength at all.”

And no one answered her voice.

Grandis laughed and continued. Things like that were no longer a hindrance to her.

“To be honest, I underestimated you. I thought, what can a mere human do to me? That’s why I took your tricks without any hesitation… You’re really, really, really amazing. Yes, warrior. I’ll admit it. You won.”

Grandis said that, still with a smile on her face.

“…You don’t show your face even once in this situation? What a shame.”

“…Shut up, witch. You will die now!”

A wizard shouted at Grandis in anger.

“Shoot!”

The wizard shouted loudly.

It was the moment when the wizards shot their magic to kill Grandis.

In an instant, the chains were released from Grandis’ body.

No, it actually broke apart. With a huge cracking sound.

The shockwave knocked not only the wizards but also the soldiers down. Grandis smiled in the middle of it all.

Everyone was so shocked that they couldn’t say anything.

And among the astonished humans was Ainzel.

‘It was a magic that was activated by gathering the magical power of hundreds of wizards and amplifying it several times. But… you broke it?’

Once again, Grandis began to emerge into the realm of the incomprehensible.

“It’s a shame that I couldn’t see the hero through to the end, but there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Grandis took a deep breath, smiled again, and said.

“Well then, unfortunately I don’t have time, so we’ll have to meet up later. Alright, I guess I’ll have to go now.”

Grandis snapped her fingers and disappeared.

Everyone looked at the empty space that had already disappeared, leaving only silence.

“Ugh!”

Grandis returned to his castle via teleportation and immediately vomited out dead blood.

I barely held on. I almost showed my weakened self in front of humans.

“Haha, this is fun. It’s really…”

Grandis continued to vomit blood, then smiled and said:

I was completely taken aback. I really didn’t know that I wouldn’t be able to break the chains even after giving it my all.

I was surprised by the human wizards who could perform that level of magic, but what surprised me the most was the warrior’s heart.

It was clear that the human wizards had come to this battlefield because of the warriors. That was how wizards were originally. They were a race that did not pursue a cause, but only sought endless exploration and infinite truth. That was why most wizards, except for those who were affiliated with the state, or were the warriors’ allies, or those who could not stand to watch the invasion of the demons, did not actively participate.

There may have been other reasons that made the wizards who had been immobile in the previous wars move, and even cooperate, but at least Grandis thought of himself as a warrior.

Even though his strength may be weak, he is completely confident in himself.

That’s why Grandis continued to laugh, feeling his stomach turn, and squirming with joy as he vomited blood.

It was the first time I felt this way. Not being able to use my own power, not being able to laugh at my opponent’s scheme head-on, and feeling this much pain.

He had lived his entire life without knowing defeat or pain, but this was a surprising first defeat for Grandis.

Because his own power was not enough, he had to pour out all the black magic he had stored in the artifacts he had been wearing on his body to survive, and even then, rather than fighting the enemies, he was only able to escape to his territory with the black magic engraved on his necklace. If this is not defeat, then what is?

Grandis smiled as he reminisced about his pleasant first defeat.

“Ugh.”

She continued to vomit blood. She was even spitting blood like this due to internal injuries sustained in the process of forcibly destroying the magic.

To Grandis, this pain and defeat was a stimulus that reminded him of his boring life. Even the Demon King, who was several times stronger than him, tried to persuade him, but he suffered defeat in this way…

“The stimulation is so strong that I can’t stand it.”

She took a deep breath and began to examine the scars her first defeat had left on her.

The dark magic power within the artifacts I had steadily collected while living had all been used up, and my physical condition was not normal. It was obvious that it would not take more than a day or two to heal this internal injury.

She had to heal these scars. She had to fill the artifacts with black magic and heal their internal wounds. That meant leaving Calethion and staying in her own territory for at least two years.

She barely managed to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth and struggled to get up from her trembling body.

“…This is going to turn the tide of the battle.”

With soft words.

Beatrice stared blankly at the sky.

Ainzel went and sat down next to her.

Ainzel looked at her for a moment, startled, as he inadvertently saw a glimpse of his ‘past’ in her, shining under the light of the blue sky.

‘Sir, the weather is nice. The sky is blue and the flowers are blooming beautifully.’

‘Then would you like to go out together?’

A nodding head with a bright smile.

‘yes!’

Ainzel barely came to his senses. Her past was already gone. That’s what he repeated.

“…Do you have any concerns?”

Ainzel was barely able to speak to Beatrice in the ‘present’.

“This was a battlefield where I originally came to die, but not only did I survive, I even achieved victory.”

Beatrice said that, looking up at the sky.

Throughout Calethion, they were victorious. The battlefield that was said to be a hundred against a hundred turned into humanity’s superiority as soon as Malecidus and Grandis disappeared from the battlefield, and they finally achieved the final victory.

“I just wanted to die because it was so burdensome… but now that I’m alive and breathing properly, I can finally feel it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ainzel asked.

Only then did Beatrice smile faintly.

“It’s just that, life is really good….”

Ainzel looked at her.

A dazzling smile like in the past. Silver hair shining like in the past. I looked at the scenery where there was no place that was not splendid.

“I’m trying to become a little stronger. I now realize that I’ve been so irresponsible. To those who believed in me, and to my own brilliant life.”

As Ainzel listened to those words quietly, Beatrice looked at Ainzel and said.

“It’s all thanks to you, warrior, that I realized that. So… I want to say thank you.”

The sight of her speaking to him with the same appearance and voice as before was so splendid. It was as if he could hear the words of her from the past, smiling at him.

“thank you.”

‘i love you.’

Ainzel smiled without saying anything.