The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

38 – EP3. Fading Glory

Where he had been is now bathed in ash.

Where he is going is bathed in crimson.

Where he will go will be shrouded in darkness.

Countless corpses are left behind as the dead walk the path, polishing and grooming it.

Death is always by his side, resurrection even closer.

Even if it takes a form he didn’t desire.

Animals tremble in fear at one breath, the bushes yield to his gaze.

In this place that separates life and death,

that cannot be seen with eyes,

heard with ears,

or touched with hands,

stands the king of the dead.

-A song sung by the Northerners about the Lich King.

…

“…I’m opposed to this mission, no matter how much I think about it.”

Feria said.

“The Lich King is a being beyond comparison with those strange soldiers. He’s even rumored to have hunted dragons. Even though those strange beings may be strong, they couldn’t compare…”

“…Then is there any way to salvage the current situation?”

“There might not be a way, but there must be a better way than that.”

“If we can’t think of one right now, there’s no solution. Look at our soldiers. They look like they’re about to collapse because they can’t even rest properly.”

“No, even so…”

Angel saw that the ashen soldiers were even more threatening than the Lich King. Compared to those beings who took advantage of their exhausted comrades to capture the fortress, what could the Lich King, no matter how strong he was, do? Moreover, couldn’t they just escape if he was too much to handle?

Angel said.

“If we don’t take this gamble, there’s no solution. Please understand.”

“…Why do you overestimate those strange soldiers so much?”

The reason was that in a corner of his mind, the vision of his allies taking advantage of the exhaustion of the enemy and capturing the castle was still playing. Angel couldn’t forget that nightmare.

“I can’t put it into words, but…”

On the other hand, Feria couldn’t understand. The warrior didn’t realize that the existence of the Lich King might not be as easy as it seemed. If he knew even a little bit about the Lich King, he wouldn’t dare to infiltrate his territory!

“Um, I agree with the warrior’s opinion.”

Beatrice cautiously raised her hand and spoke. Beatrice believed that she could defeat most undead creatures on her own. She didn’t know if she could win against undead monsters in a one-on-one fight unless the Lich King himself came forward.

“Even the maiden…!”

Feria bit her lips. And soon, the others also raised their hands, indicating their support for the warrior’s opinion. It was because they felt more affected by the situation they were directly facing than the fear of the unfamiliar Lich King.

“Ha, really… Fine, there’s no helping it.”

Feria ultimately had no choice but to give in.

They began to venture into the territory of the Lich King. And during that time, the attacks of the ashen soldiers continued every night.

“Is this the territory of the Lich King…?”

Ainz said. It was immediately apparent. Because as soon as they entered, the air became heavy all at once, causing a palpable sensation.

As befitting the King of the Undead, his territory was littered with corpses.

However, in places where corpses were strewn, it was natural for scavengers like crows to be devouring them. Not to mention crows, not a single small bird could be seen.

An eerily clean sky. Ainz licked his lips.

The feeling of oppression was no joke once they actually entered. He began to tense up.

It felt like at any moment, a skeletal horseman would appear and trample him. That’s how dangerous, malevolent, and death-filled the air here was.

With every breath, he felt something cold settling inside his chest.

And then, a being flying in the sky appeared for the first time.

“What is that…?”

It appeared to be like a huge sphere with wings attached, the size of a person’s head. He had never heard of a beast in such a form that could fly.

And Ainz finally realized that the flying creature was a gigantic eyeball. An eyeball with decaying flesh exposed, that is.

Somehow, he was seized with a foreboding feeling.

“Shoot that!”

Ainz said. But before Lena could nock an arrow, that eyeball disappeared in an instant.

“…”

Eventually, he felt a shiver running down his spine.

He thought to himself.

Perhaps, I made a truly foolish choice?

He said.

“Oh, this won’t do. I need to retreat for now, and assess the situation-“

And at that moment, the scattered corpses began to rise, grotesquely twisting their joints.

“…What should we do?” Lena said.

And the ashen soldiers appeared from behind.

“We must quickly deal with them and escape from this place…!”

-That is impossible. Foolish lives who dared to step into the land of the dead.

He heard that conviction. No, he felt it. The voice of someone pierced directly into his mind.

And that was not the only thing he felt.

The soldiers also began to break out in cold sweat.

The corpses started to approach them, and it was the same for the ashen soldiers.

Countless corpses began to come near them.

And with the sound of clattering, another wave of despair arrived.

They were the Skeleton Knights.

“…Skeleton Knights.”

The vanguard of the King of the Undead unleashed a menacing gaze as they started to rampage before them.

“Son of a b*tch!”

The ashen soldiers, realizing the danger, started to fight the corpses even before the soldiers themselves.

“Hurry, a miracle!”

As Beatrice prayed, a giant mace fell from the sky. The mace plummeted, shattering numerous enemies, and the shockwave caused the surrounding corpses to fall.

Then, Beatrice reached out her hand towards the mace. As it was raised, it fell into her hand.

She grabbed the mace, which could easily be around 10 meters long, and started swinging it. Then, she stepped forward as part of the vanguard, vanquishing the enemies.

“Great!”

Peria also cast fireballs towards the enemies. The tightly packed corpses, even if only one burned, quickly spread the flames to the others.

And in that moment, a glimmer of hope appeared.

Eyes started to fill the sky. The clear sky quickly filled with a creepy light.

“W-What’s this!”

Seine exclaimed, taken aback. She had never seen such a spectacle before.

She drew her sword and was slashing at the corpses, but she couldn’t reach the ones in the sky.

Unfortunately or fortunately, those eyes were simply filling the sky, observing.

“Don’t be fooled! They aren’t worth anyth—”

When Angel spoke those words.

The eyes began to split. The sea of eyeballs covering the sky started to split apart.

Through those cracks, light leaked out, revealing the sight of a dragon made of bones, with its wings flapping and displaying its grandeur.

And it was so clear who was riding on that dragon.

“Mountain dwellers, urging your fate on your own.”

The King of the Undead emitted that gaze.

Robes decorated with crimson and gold fluttered, and the staff and golden-bound spellbook in their hand glimmered. Only they knew just how dangerous, sinister, and terrifying wisdom it concealed.

“This… this is…”

I can’t win.

He felt the same sensation instinctively when he first met Grandis.

What was in front of him was undoubtedly a monster of the same level as Grandis.

– For daring to disturb the rest of the dead, repay the sin by becoming a part of it.

Every time he chanted the incantation, the soldiers clasped their heads. His presence gave them a feeling as if an explosion had occurred inside their heads.

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Ainzel began to step back. Unconsciously, the hand holding the sword began to exert force.

– Of course, all of you are the same. You are all minions of the Demon King.

The soldiers in gray still had stern faces, but for some reason, they felt slightly oppressed by his presence.

-Hmm? What is this….

The Lich King started descending from the dragon he had seen. The king of the dead ruled over the land with light.

-Oh, very interesting.

The Lich King began to caress him with his skeletal hand, which only had bones left. He couldn’t even move as if frozen.

-Why is a hero on the land of the dead? Clearly, the hero was here not to face me, but the Demon King. Moreover, there’s even a saint. It’s quite intriguing.

“Ah, uh… uh…”

-Well, it’s very intriguing but…that doesn’t mean the sin of daring to disturb the rest of the dead disappears.

The true dragon descended from the sky. Simple landing. Just by that action, the soldiers fell to the ground and began to die.

-Well, it’s fine. I don’t particularly like the Demon King either…but I can’t forgive you guys who dared to trespass on my territory. Go and greet eternal rest.

Countless corpses approached. Another corpse. Corpse. Corpse.

Even the dead soldiers immediately turned into corpses and stood up again.

“Again…”

He failed.

He faced death again while realizing it.