The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

79 – EP5. Wind Memories

Angel thought to himself.

Of all people, it had to be Ricardo. He had the worst luck.

Angel had thought that the possibility of Ricardo being the culprit was almost nonexistent. Anyone with a shred of intelligence would not engage in such actions. He was a perfect heir, not to mention his outstanding abilities. Simply by staying quiet, the throne would eventually become his. Why would he involve himself in such matters?

But if his thinking changed and he became the culprit, everything would become a dangerous element. Being an enemy of the royal family, a man, and having exceptional abilities – it all added up to a grim scenario.

According to Ivercas, Ricardo had called upon the fairies and incited them, saying that the fairies should lead the foolish humans who follow them.

As soon as Angel heard this, he felt a cold sweat on his back.

Any intelligent being, when faced with a frustrating and bleak situation, would be tempted by an appealing choice. Even in words alone, the fairies’ situation couldn’t be considered good, and in such circumstances, shifting the blame onto others was an incredibly enticing option.

He grasped his forehead. Why did it have to be Ricardo? Why was he doing such a thing?

Angel thought for a while and then shook his head. Rather than that, he needed to figure out who incited the fairies and how to prevent it.

What should he do? Should he assassinate Ricardo? No, even if he did that, Ricardo would become even more influential in death. He would become a hero sacrificed to foolish humans who submitted to him, transcending individuality and becoming something more than that.

In that case, should he inform Magnus? That was not the answer either. Even if he told Magnus Tyrentus, he wouldn’t believe it without clear evidence. Saying that his precious heir was targeting him wouldn’t have any corroborating evidence or a reasonable motive.

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no answer. When he considered the opponent as a lieutenant, he had thought of him as an easy target. However, as soon as he found out that the opponent was Ricardo, it felt like he couldn’t breathe.

Even though he hadn’t seen Ricardo for a long time, Angel’s eyes were vividly engraved with an image of Ricardo the fairy.

He had quick judgment, the power to lead people, and was like a dream leader. But, conversely, from the perspective of those facing him, he was the worst enemy.

With no other choice, Angel went to find Ivercas. Ivercas, who usually had a sharp look, was staring blankly into the void.

“Can you help me?”

When Angel spoke, Ivercas briefly turned to look at him.

“What do you need help with?”

“Of course, I’m trying to stop Ricardo.”

“What does that mean?”

Ivercas asked. He continued speaking as if he had fully reclined in his chair.

“You probably haven’t seen the scene that kid is describing. I thought the fairies were a peaceful bunch who used to keep quiet. Do you know the current state of the kingdom? In such a situation, people are more attracted to those who speak so convincingly. There will soon be more people supporting Ricardo than those supporting Magnus. But what can you do in such a situation?”

Angel furrowed his brow.

“So, are you just going to watch while the contract holder may die and there’s an uprising?”

Ivercas hardened his face and said, “It’s noisy. We need to be able to do something. How can we stop it?”

“We plan to inform Magnus of his son’s rebellion.”

Ivercas looked at Angel and smirked, then extended his hand.

“No, no. He won’t believe it, and even if he does, he’s not the type to withstand the shock that his son is plotting against him. I know that better than anyone.”

Angel bit his lip. So, was there no way?

“Originally, why do you care about this? You’re just a human, so if you just save yourself, that should be enough. Do you really have a reason to meddle in the affairs of this kingdom?”

From Noble mtl dot com

Angel looked at Ivercas, who spoke that way.

“…I have clearly said before. When it is necessary to fight, I am not afraid of death.”

Ivercas looked at him with a gaze that did not yield to that.

“No, not necessarily. You don’t have to be the one to step up.”

“If we think that way, what about fighting the Titans? If we want an easy way, it would have been much more convenient to go to another kingdom. What I’m truly afraid of is pretending not to know that something precious is lost because it happens outside of my reach. It won’t solve anything if we pretend that it’s everyone else’s business.”

Ivercas stared at him.

“This kingdom… I mean, Tyrentus is close to my hometown. If Tyrentus starts a war with the Empire, my hometown might get involved. Even if it doesn’t, there may be problems in the fight against the demons, and many people could die. Do I have the right to sacrifice so many people for my safety alone?”

“That’s too harsh…”

“No, it’s not. As long as I contribute to death, it’s my responsibility. And I’m not strong enough to bear the deaths of countless others. That’s why I want to fight. That’s why I want to stop this crazy act.”

Ivercas looked at him. Then, he scratched his head as if he were crazy and said,

“Damn it, that Ricardo guy was like my nephew. He’s targeting my contract holder. I… when I think about stopping him, memories of that guy keep coming back. Even though I know what he’s planning, I can’t stop it. I can’t kill him. And Magnus probably can’t either, right? He’s even closer to him. They share the same blood, you know?”

“Still, we have to stop him.”

“So, how exactly? There’s no way. Trying to stop Ricardo at this point is futile.”

Angel thought. How could he stop him?

“Even without Ricardo, there’s a problem. The inferiority and powerlessness that the fairies feel right now won’t be solved just because Ricardo is gone. If anything, it might become a spark and ignite even more.”

Angel came up with a solution.

“Ricardo will make himself give up on rebellion.”

“What?”

“Ricardo said he will make himself give up on rebellion.”

“Are you joking? If that were possible, the Demon King would have been dead by now.”

When Ibercas shot back, Angel spoke.

“The Empire will make the fairies give up on their pride directly.”

“The Empire? Don’t talk nonsense. From the Empire’s perspective, Tyrantus is nothing but a small country. Why would the Empire help Tyrantus?”

Angel smiled.

“Well, it was because of your direct request that you were able to come here. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. I could have strayed from my original destination, but I was able to come here because of my request.”

“See? The Empire doesn’t treat Tyrantus as insignificant?”

“That may be true for Tyrantus, but not for me.”

“Claiming to receive help from the Empire is a futile and empty claim… Wait, what?”

“How could I have come here?”

“Well, even if you establish a major in something, from the Empire’s perspective, you’re just a pawn in the grand scheme. Just because the Empire granted your request, doesn’t mean you’ve become something.”

Angel looked at Ibercas, who was speaking to himself, and said.

“Yes, as a warrior, I am just a pawn in the grand scheme. I know that very well. However, that is as a warrior. If I were just a pawn from the beginning, I wouldn’t have been able to come here.”

Ibercas looked at him in disbelief.

“…You as a warrior? What does that mean… Are you saying that there is something about you that is not a warrior? I heard you’re from a small village, so what is there about you?”

“I am holding the reins of the greatest sun.”

“What?”

As soon as Ibercas heard those words, his expression began to change. It was evidence that he understood the meaning implied in those words in an instant.

“What are you talking about?”

Angel replied calmly.

“I said I am holding the reins of the Empire’s greatest sun. I don’t know when the reins will be severed… But that’s my responsibility. The important thing is that I am holding the reins.”

Ibercas stared at him intently. What weakness can the Imperial family find in a warrior?

“…What are you suggesting?”

Angel extended his hand.