The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

34 – EP3. The Decline of Glory

Ainzel sighed deeply. Yeah, that’s just my luck.

Retreating from an undead force with a Death Knight? It was an impossible task.

However, it had to be done. If he didn’t assist now, it meant losing the lives of several soldiers stationed at the fortress.

Angel pondered whether hitting just one person who came from the Royal Palace was enough or if he needed to strike a few more.

The situation was that dire.

Undead opponents differed from facing humans or demons. Primarily, their resistance against piercing attacks was lower.

In other words, when confronting the undead, it was imperative to eliminate them using close combat, magic, or miracles since engaging in close combat while being pursued was akin to suicide. Consequently, they had no choice but to push back with sheer firepower.

If an undead’s master failed to control them properly, toppling the master might potentially improve the situation. However, the one controlling the undead was Grandidis, the monster who had shattered the fortress with a single dark magic spell. Directly assaulting the master was like walking towards a lion to avoid a wolf.

This was not a battle they could choose but one they had to fight.

The battlefield called out to him.

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely win.”

“…But isn’t this situation different from the last time?”

Angel said. The previous instance had been from a defensive standpoint. However, now, he was in a position where he had to rescue the retreating soldiers, essentially facing a nearly lost battle.

“Still… I’m here, so…”

Beatrice murmured, tilting her head.

“Are you planning to fight alone?”

Angel looked at her sternly.

“No, that’s not it, but…”

“Holding onto hope is good, but facing reality might be better.”

Even if a saint reached the level of a master, hearing there were Death Knights around didn’t ease the nerves.

“Ah… darn it. Why am I going?”

Of course, facing reality didn’t mean collapsing with such a defeated attitude.

Lena, with a blank expression, spoke while staring straight ahead.

“…Against the undead! What on earth are archers supposed to do!”

She started venting her frustration belatedly.

Angel approached Lena and patted her on the back. Last time it was Sein who became disheartened, but this time it was Lena.

“Usually, archers are crucial for a retreat, right?! But when the opponents are undead, what’s the use!”

One of the frightening reasons the undead were formidable in pursuit was that archers’ attacks didn’t affect them. Even a skilled archer, who could take down opponents with a single shot, would merely inconvenience the undead.

Lena was proud of her skills, but facing an opponent her abilities couldn’t touch rendered her helpless.

“Damn it… useless bastards… If that’s the case, why bother sending me here… I’ll be of no help… why the hell am I in this mess?”

…The profanities started to surface, but Angel tried hard to ignore them.

Angel looked up at the sky. It was a sunny sky, yet it somehow felt ominously foreboding.

“I knew it would come to this,” Pereia said.

“Put on your hoods and run quickly!” Seine urged.

“Haa…” Beatrice clutched her forehead.

As they approached the center of where the enemy forces were gathering, a vast horde of the undead began to surround them.

“Zombies, skeletons… There are so many,” Pereia muttered absentmindedly. Just what is that Grandis fellow doing to command so many undead?

Pereia silently pondered whether this might be on par with a Lich King.

“Right now, that’s not what matters! Lady Saint, please clear a path!”

“Of course!” Beatrice whispered a brief prayer, and a radiant brilliance engulfed them.

Bearing a resemblance to the sun’s light, the undead dissolved into nothingness.

“That way!” Angel shouted urgently. Ironically, he made the decision to lead his troops towards the heart of the enemy. They had to save their allies.

With the Saint present and no Death Knights to contend with, they could likely endure some sacrifices and still prevail, but there would be casualties among their own troops, and their speed would be compromised. In this situation, they couldn’t afford to be saviors.

Angel resolved to guide his allies to safety as quickly as possible.

Finally, Angel spotted the Imperial forces retreating as they broke free from the enemy’s encirclement.

“Ah! Are you the rescue party?” A man who appeared to be a commander greeted Angel.

“I am Hero Angel Leonhardt. I’ve come to help you escape from the pursuers,” Angel replied.

“Oh! The famous…”

“The Empire has not abandoned us!”

Several soldiers cheered. Angel quickly continued, “We will break through the enemy encirclement immediately. Let’s go!”

“Yes!” The soldiers began to follow him. Angel felt the weight on his shoulders.

If the operation failed, not only his life but the lives of countless others would be at stake. That was something he couldn’t bear.

Even if it meant bracing for death numerous times, he had to save these people.

“…I don’t want to.”

Inwardly, Angel continued his thoughts. Then, slowly but surely, the thought rising from the depths of his heart was “I don’t want to.”

Taking on such a heavy responsibility was not something he enjoyed. When he first took hold of this sword, he had the unfounded confidence that he could bear the heavy burden himself. But look at the state of things now. He couldn’t even take responsibility for his own life.

In the face of death, pain, and fear, were you acting like you had achieved something, you coward who trembled at the very thought of fear?

‘Enough.’

He shook his head to dispel the ringing in his mind. What he needed to do now was to plan their next move. That was it.

“First, let’s move towards the open field.”

“…The open field?”

The commander looked at him with a skeptical expression. It wasn’t unreasonable. They were practically surrounded, and heading to the open field, which would make them an easy target for the enemy, seemed unwise.

But Angel’s thoughts were different.

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“If we go to the open field, we’ll also make it easier for us to spot the enemies. And the undead are no match for humans in terms of absolute speed.”

The fear of the undead stemmed from not knowing when or where the enemy would strike. If you knew where the enemy was, there was no need to be afraid.

But…

“What if we get exposed and end up surrounded by the enemy?”

Indeed, in the open field, the risk of being surrounded was greater, as it was easier for the enemy to detect allies. However, Angel shook his head in response.

“We just need to escape before the encirclement is complete. Besides, don’t we have the Saint with us?”

The Saint was the most powerful card that could instantly render the enemy’s encirclement useless. That’s why Angel trusted her and decided to move forward.

“And, more importantly, we’re closer to our allied fortress.”

That was it. Going to the open field was the shortest distance for their allies. Despite the danger, it was comforting.

“Furthermore, Grandis might be able to strengthen the encirclement while we delay. It’s best to run to our allied fortress as quickly as possible.”

Upon hearing this, the commander nodded in agreement. It was risky, but it made sense.

“And the longer the retreat, the more our soldiers’ stamina will dwindle. In a retreat situation, the supply won’t be sufficient either. It’s all too predictable in such circumstances.”

“…Yes, listening to your words, it does seem to make sense.”

Allied soldiers were running out of stamina while the enemy had no such concerns.

There was no choice from the beginning.

Angel and his soldiers crossed the open field. The enemy wasn’t as visible as he had expected, and the few enemies they did spot, they simply passed by. Angel felt that his plan was successful.

‘Finally.’

For the first time, he achieved his goal without dying. Realizing this, he felt a lump in his throat.

Yes, soon…

In Angel’s mind, an unbelievable sight unfolded before his eyes.

Countless undead creatures were blocking the path directly in front of them.

“…What is this….”

As Peria muttered, Angel furrowed his brow.

“Flank! Flank around!”

In such a situation, decisions had to be made quickly. The grand operation had already crumbled. In that case, they needed to adjust their target quickly. Delaying the decision meant death.

And undead creatures appeared from the side as well.

Not just from the side. They appeared from behind too.

Angel had a hunch that he had fallen into a trap.

“Encirclement! We have to break through the encirclement!”

Angel shouted to Beatrice. Beatrice responded,

“…It seems difficult.”

“Yes!?”

As Angel exclaimed in confusion, Beatrice shakily pointed in a direction.

There stood a Death Knight.

It wasn’t just one. There were Death Knights on the side, behind, everywhere.

Although Death Knights were knights, they inherently had the ability to protect allies. It was nearly impossible to break through the Death Knights at a reasonable level.

“…I will use all my holy power to attack, you must escape to that place.”

Beatrice said. Angel nodded, and Beatrice murmured a prayer.

And suddenly, the sky opened up.

A massive mace descended from the sky. The mace of light passed judgment on the unholy creatures.

The enemy forces, even the Death Knights, vanished without a trace in the place where she summoned the divine mace.

Angel quickly led the soldiers and began to run towards that place.

And, just when they thought they had broken through, countless undead creatures appeared again in the direction they thought was cleared.

“…This is too much.”

Angel said. As Angel fell into despair and stopped, the undead creatures rushed towards him.

He died.