The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Chapter 825

Episode 825: Just One More Time for the World. (3)

Yulien slowly reached out his hand and said,
“Astyon… What are you talking about? First, Deneb…”
Astion shook his head and said,
“It would be better if we all died here. That seal doesn’t just take Deneb’s life.”
“What?”
“I don’t know exactly… There must be another price. That’s probably why you can’t answer my question properly.”
“…”
Yulien turned his head and looked at Arterion.
Is there another price besides taking life? That death would be better?
He believed Astyon. After all, Arterion hadn’t been speaking properly about the previous saint.
What on earth was that dragon planning?
Arterion’s expression had sunk into indifference. He slowly opened his mouth in a cool voice.
“You really are a tired fellow,”
Astyon replied with a growl.
“Don’t beat around the bush. Tell me. What happened to the previous saint?”
“…”
“Why? You don’t have anything to say, do you?”
“…”
“I can already sense something strange about you. So be honest with me. What else could there be besides death?”
“…”
“If you don’t tell me right now, I’ll kill Deneb. Since you’re already trying to kill her, it wouldn’t make a difference if I killed her anyway.”
Astion clenched his fists around his dagger, as if he were truly determined.
Astion was a wizard. As such, he knew many extraordinary spells and knowledge.
Among them, he knew how to make his opponents feel better about death.
So, just from Arterion’s suspicious attitude, he knew that there was a price to pay other than death.
“Deneb, I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you either. But this is better than sacrificing yourself for the seal. After I kill you, we’ll all fight them to the death.”
“Ah, Astion…”
Astion bit his lip, tears streaming down his face. Deneve
couldn’t continue speaking at the sight of him. She, too, was puzzled by Arterion’s words.
Arterion knew he couldn’t explain himself any further. No, he had nothing to say.
Indeed, as long as dragons existed, the saintess of the previous generation, who refused to sacrifice herself, couldn’t have lived as she pleased.
Finally, Arterion spoke in a nonchalant voice.
“She committed suicide.”
As if Astion had expected this, he stepped back a little further with Deneve and asked,
“…Why?”
“Because, as you said, it was better to die.”
“…”
“She is a saintess who refused to save the world. Living happily is impossible, and hiding is no option. Her only option was to take her own life.”
“What price must be paid for the seal?”
“Soul.”
“What?”
“The saintess’s body dies here. And her soul remains here.”
Astion’s eyes widened. Yulien and Deneb reacted similarly.
Arterion’s chilling voice continued.
“The saint’s soul will be bound here for eons, until the end of this world. She will remain here for what is almost an eternity, sealing the demon’s energy.”
“…”
“Only a saint can do this. She will remain as a medium to seal the demonic realm forever.”
“Th-Do you think that makes sense?”
“It certainly does. She uses the power of the holy stone to suppress the demon’s energy. She could truly be called a goddess descending to this world. This could be called the final battle between the goddess and the demon.” “Shut up
… You crazy bastard…”
Deneb’s soul, unable to go to heaven with the goddesses, would remain here forever.
It was a punishment and a curse worse than death.
Deneb’s face turned pale, trembling.
If she had only wanted her life, she would have given it to save the world. That was the kind of person she was.
But to be bound in a seal until the end of this world?
I never dared imagine such a time. How could I be trapped here alone for so long?
Even if I were a saint, even if my desire to save the world was intense. It was
terrifying and frightening. I didn’t have the confidence to endure that near-eternal time.
Arterion’s body slowly rose into the air. At the same time, dragons, now in human form, surrounded the Yulien mercenary group. Their
numbers may be small, but they are all dragons. If they combine their powers, everyone here will inevitably die.
Arterion looked down at Astion and Deneb and spoke.
“They say the previous saint was a cold-hearted person. While she had a desire to save the world, she wasn’t close to anyone, and she never showed affection for anyone. That’s why she never developed deep relationships with anyone.”
“…….”
“In fact, that’s why the saint was able to abandon the world without hesitation. Even as a saint, she must have been afraid. I completely understand.”
“…….”
“But it’s different now. Saint Deneb. You have so many good friends. You even have someone you love.”
“…….”
“That’s why I think it’s fortunate. You have a weakness.”
“…….”
“We cannot force the seal. The choice is yours. However, if you refuse…”
In that moment, a cold murderous intent began to emanate from Arterion’s eyes.
“I will retract my statement that I will kill all of your friends and acquaintances. I will render you all in a state of neither life nor death, leaving you in eternal torment.”
Those words shocked Deneb greatly.
If she refuses, others will suffer for eternity.
Deneb spoke in a trembling voice.
“Wow, the goddess wouldn’t tolerate such a thing. How could you make innocent people suffer like this?”
“That’s ridiculous. We were born to fight against the demonic realm. How could fulfilling our mission be considered a sin?”
The dragons’ way of thinking was something humans couldn’t understand. But it wasn’t something they could accept either.
Astion gritted his teeth, tears welling up in his eyes.
“You, you’re so cruel. Is that… is that what you would do to someone who fought for the world?”
“There’s no other way.”
“T-there’s no way the goddess would permit this. There’s no way they could have devised such an absurd method.”
“You’re right. This was simply a method devised by the dragons of the time, pooling their wisdom. Ultimately, the saintess took her own life, which ultimately led to failure.”
“Then let’s find another way. Why don’t we all put our heads together and find it!”
“Impossible. There’s no other way. This is the only method we’ve finally discovered after years of research and study.”
Astion realized that further discussion was pointless.
The dragons were determined to sacrifice Deneb, no matter what. The empire, the elves, and the dwarves had all betrayed them.
He steeled himself and tried to slit Deneb’s throat with his dagger.
For Deneb’s sake, he had to kill her here. But his trembling hands wouldn’t move at all.
‘Gisselle… … What should I do?’
What would Giselle have done in this situation? How would she have resolved this situation?
He didn’t know about anything else, but this much was certain.
Giselle would never have handed Deneb over to them. She wouldn’t have killed her.
Astion, sobbing, wiped his tears with his sleeve. Then, his voice, hardened as if he had made a resolution, rang out.
“Yulien.”
“…”
“Let us protect Deneb. Let us fight to the end against those who betrayed us.”
“Yes.”
Kwaaaaah!
Yulien answered calmly, his energy rising. For a moment, it felt as if all the energy in the world was rushing into him.
Yulien glared at Arterion and took a stance. His sword radiated a force that threatened to slice his opponent in half at any moment.
Lionel raised his shield with a stern expression.
He was deeply disappointed that his beloved empire, his homeland, was behaving this way.
Lionel looked at Borisko and said,
“The goddess will never forgive this.”
“…”
“And the empire will pay the price for this decision.”
Lionel took up a battle stance, glaring sharply at his ‘enemies.’
He was truly grateful that he had escaped the pursuit and remained here.
Protecting the saint was his duty, as the First Servant, and he had to risk his life.
Tyran looked around and grinned.
“Even mercenaries aren’t this unfaithful. I saved your life, and now you’re trying to take your benefactor’s life?”
He was a little shaken at first. But after hearing the truth, he realized this was beyond human comprehension.
He had been the leader of the Ironclad Lions, but he had risen to the level of a superhuman while working with the Yulien Mercenaries.
He couldn’t survive fighting dragons anyway. He was ready to give up his life here.
“Well, it’s a bit disappointing, but it’s been a fun life. For a mercenary, I’ve even saved the world. That’s enough.”
Tyran smiled with genuine satisfaction. From being a nobleman’s dog to becoming a hero who saved the world, how could he not be satisfied?
Osval, always on the lookout for escape, wore a look of despair.
“Ah… I need to revolutionize…”
He had luckily achieved the status of a superhuman. After the war, he planned to seize a small kingdom in a remote corner of the continent and start a revolution.
But no matter how he looked at it, this place seemed like his grave. He didn’t want to die, but joining them was too much, no matter what the other side did.
“It’s a bit much for Sister Deneb to be trapped here alone forever. It’s so scary and lonely.”
Others might not know, but Deneb had always cared for him wholeheartedly. She was the one who saved the world.
Osval didn’t feel comfortable subjecting someone like her to eternal suffering.
In that case, he felt it would be easier to just fight and die here.
“Right, damn it. This is revolution. What else is revolution?”
Osval stepped forward, holding a giant hammer.
Since it had come to this, he was determined to risk his life and fight for the first time in his life.
The mercenaries were also prepared to give their lives here. If you fight clumsily and get captured by a dragon, you’ll suffer even more.
Arterion sneered at the sight.
“You’ve lost your fear after all that war. How dare you even think of attacking a dragon?”
No matter how strong the warriors were, there were eight dragons here. If they combined their power, it would be difficult for anyone here to survive.
Arterion extended his hand and said,
“Secure the saintess. Kill anyone who resists to the end. There are still many of her friends outside. Keep the warrior alive if possible. Just make sure they’re incapacitated.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the dragons charged at Deneb.
Astion carried Deneb and retreated, shouting,
“Yulien! Stop them!”
Yulien raised his sword.
“Astyon, take Deneb and run. And inform the people.”
Kyle, Marika, and Erenes were still pursuing the apostles. If only those friends could join, the dragon fight would be worthwhile.
Andrew and Rio would surely join their side. Perhaps others, who owed favor to the Yulien mercenaries, could also help.
Of course, there would be more who would sacrifice the saintess. The empire and countless kingdoms would surely come after them.
If that happened, war would begin again. Countless people would die, and the world would fall into new chaos.
But it didn’t matter anymore.
I didn’t care what would become of this world.
I never wanted titles like warrior or saint. Even the goal of saving the world was meaningless now.
‘Giselle… … What would you have said to me just now?’ –
Even if it meant killing countless people.
‘So many people will die.’
– If you believe your path is right.
‘But I cannot sacrifice Deneb.’
– I believe you are on the right path.
‘This is my choice.’
Yulien slowly opened his mouth, staring at the approaching dragon.
“…I will not save the world.”
Kwaaaaah!
His sword emitted a brilliant light. It was a radiance born of unwavering resolve and undying will.
“I…”
Julian’s calm voice continued.
“I will save the one I love.”
In a flash!
In an instant, his sword split the world.