The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Just Once More, For the Sake of the World (2)

Astion and Lionel swiftly stepped in front of Deneb. At the same time, the Julien Mercenary Corps simultaneously raised their weapons and surrounded Deneb.

Julien slowly extended his sword and asked Arterion in a cold voice.

“You’re saying Deneb should sacrifice herself? What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. The sealing isn’t all that difficult. We just need to suppress the Demon God's energy using the power of the Sacred Stone. But it requires the sacrifice of the Saintess who can wield that stone.”

“There’s no other way?”

“There isn’t. Only the Saintess’s sacrifice can seal the Demonic Abyss.”

“Then I refuse.”

Julien responded firmly, as if there was nothing more to think about. No matter what happened, he had no intention of letting Deneb sacrifice herself.

Arterion responded with a subtle smile and asked again.

“If the Demonic Abyss isn’t sealed, the priests of the Salvation Church will flock here once more. Over time, they’ll regain their strength and eventually start another war.”

“……”

“It took ten years to end this war even with the Saintess. Countless people died, and even among us Dragons, only twelve remain now.”

“……”

A growing murderous aura began to seep into Arterion’s eyes.

“And you want to go through that harrowing war again? How long do you plan to keep fighting? Until humanity is wiped out?”

“……”

“No… the next war might truly be the end. There will be no Hero, no Saintess, and even fewer of us Dragons.”

“……”

“Just one Saintess’s sacrifice, and it all ends. Humanity will no longer have to fight the Demonic Abyss. The people of the world will be able to live peacefully, no longer fearing the Abyss’s intrusion.”

“……”

“And you still refuse? You would reject this glorious sacrifice? Is that something a so-called Hero who fights for the world would say?”

Rumble…

Arterion’s presence swelled ever larger. He was furious.

The world had always been in turmoil because of the Demonic Abyss. People lived selfishly, thinking only of today rather than tomorrow.

With the constant fear of the Abyss surging forth again, they had no choice but to change that way.

And so, the Demonic Abyss must disappear. But to make that happen, the Saintess’s sacrifice was essential.

Facing Arterion’s wrath, Julien calmly replied.

“I refuse.”

He offered neither excuse nor persuasion. He simply expressed his refusal with unwavering eyes.

“...Hah.”

Arterion let out a hollow laugh as he reined in his pressure.

He’d known Julien was a stubborn man, but to remain this unmoved?

So he asked again.

“Didn’t you all claim to have risked your lives for the world? I thought you’d accept a sacrifice for the world without hesitation.”

“That only applies when you’ve done everything possible and still have no other choice. I will never accept a sacrifice that’s being forced upon us.”

Arterion let out a mocking laugh as he turned his gaze toward Deneb.

“In the end, the opinions of others don’t matter. Only the will of the one involved is important. Saintess, are you prepared to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the world?”

“I…”

Deneb opened her mouth with a trembling voice.

She had always wanted to help the world. Even back when she had been nothing more than a powerless apprentice priestess, that wish had not changed.

After awakening as the Saintess and fighting through the war against the Demonic Abyss, she had been grateful for the miracle bestowed upon her.

So she had done her utmost. She had longed for the Abyss to vanish and for a peaceful world to come.

But it was not yet over. She was now told that true peace could only be achieved through her sacrifice.

Deneb closed her eyes.

‘O Goddess…’

No matter how noble the cause, accepting death was difficult for anyone. She was no exception, even as one called the Saintess.

And yet, if her life was truly needed to save the world…

If through it, true peace could finally come…

She was ready to give up her one life.

“…I will do it.”

Deneb opened her eyes and spoke with composure. Arterion stretched out his hand with a smile, as if he had expected this answer.

“Deneb!”

Julien shouted desperately. His eyes blazed with frantic anger.

From the moment Arterion had spoken, Julien had feared Deneb would make this choice. Yet he could never accept it.

If it had been his own life, he would gladly offer it. But Deneb’s life—never.

Deneb gave him a faint smile.

“Julien… this is what we wished for.”

“Not me.”

“Step aside.”

“I can’t.”

Deneb tried to push past Julien, but at that moment, Astion blocked her path.

“Wait. Hold on.”

Astion, halting Deneb’s steps, looked around.

Something was wrong.

They were talking about sacrificing the Saintess who had saved the world—yet no one raised an objection. No one voiced doubt.

In fact, not even the slightest disturbance appeared in anyone.

Even Ilaniel and Grondal remained silent.

Astion’s expression twisted.

“You all… knew?”

Ilaniel nodded with a dark expression. Grondal also shut his eyes, his face grim.

Borisco and the Cardinals had already turned their gazes away.

In that instant, a surge of betrayal welled up in Astion’s chest.

Every person here owed a tremendous debt to the Julien Mercenary Corps, and to Deneb herself.

Without the Julien Mercenary Corps, none of them would have endured this long. None of them would have survived.

And yet, in this decisive moment… they averted their eyes.

Astion’s eyes blazed with fury.

“How! How can you do this!”

His cry rang out to all around him.

“Without even talking to us once, you decided on your own to throw away Deneb’s life? She’s your savior! Your comrade! Your friend! How could you bastards do this!”

KWAHHHHHH!

A tremendous surge of mana exploded from Astion’s body.

Like a massive storm, it swept out violently, threatening everyone present.

With a sorrowful expression, Ilaniel spoke.

“I’m sorry… but we no longer have the strength to endure another war.”

She knew full well that what they were doing was wrong. The guilt only deepened because the one they were forcing to sacrifice herself was someone who had saved their entire race.

But countless elves had died in this war. Spirits had vanished.

For the elves, who dreamed of harmony with the world and lived in peace, this war had been nothing but agony and devastation.

And so, even knowing it was not right, she had accepted Arterion’s proposal. She simply didn’t want another war.

Grondal felt the same.

As a people born with the blood of warriors, the dwarves had suffered even greater losses than the elves.

With a heavy voice, he said,

“I’ll cast aside a warrior’s honor and bear every disgrace. I too… cannot endure another war.”

Just one Saintess needed to be sacrificed.

Then, the world would find peace.

No more dwarves would have to die.

Grondal had no choice but to choose as a king, not as a warrior.

Borisco, now Pope, let out a long sigh as he spoke.

“To say we feel no guilt toward you would be a lie. Without you, we could not have won this war. But the next war… we will certainly lose.”

Deneb was the first Saintess to appear after long, long years.

There was no guarantee another would rise in the next war.

They had felt the terror of the Adversary firsthand in this conflict. As long as the Demon God’s lingering thought existed, beings like the Adversary could appear again at any time.

But the Saintess was not the same. She had not appeared for ages.

So much so that even with the previous Saintess’s existence, Deneb had still been called the first of her kind.

Even if another Saintess did appear someday, how many more wars like this could they endure?

In a dry voice, Borisco continued.

“The Goddess will understand. To save the world—that is Her will. That is why She sent the Saintess into this world. If the Saintess bears it all and sacrifices herself, the world will be saved.”

“……”

Astion let out a hollow laugh as he slowly looked around.

There was no one who seemed likely to change their mind.

Only the Julien Mercenary Corps remained, holding their breath as they stood protectively around Deneb.

Crrrk.

Gritting his teeth, Astion glared at Arterion.

“So that’s how it is. I get it now—you all betrayed us. Because you're afraid of fighting again. But do you really think you can just carry out the sealing however you like?”

He didn’t know the exact process of the sealing ritual. But he was sure it wouldn’t be easy. There had to be ways to interfere.

But Arterion merely chuckled and replied.

“I already told you. The sealing isn’t that difficult.”

At Arterion’s gesture, Ilaniel, Grondal, and Borisco stepped onto the altar.

Around the altar were small raised platforms. Each of them stood before one and took out their race’s Sacred Stone.

After the war ended, Deneb had returned the Sacred Stones to their rightful owners. Arterion had claimed it was necessary in order to seal the Demonic Abyss.

All Deneb had now was the accessory that had once been fused with the Sacred Stone.

Arterion placed the Sacred Stone atop the platform and began to chant something in an unknown language.

It wasn’t a language of this world. It sounded like a magical incantation or perhaps a language from another realm.

And moments later—

FWAAAAAH!

Light erupted from the Sacred Stone, shooting up into the sky.

Ilaniel placed her stone on her platform and chanted as Arterion had.

Grondal and Borisco did the same.

When their incantations ended, beams of light burst forth from each of their stones.

Watching the radiant pillars, Arterion spoke.

“This spell draws out the power of the Sacred Stones for the sealing. In ancient times, the leaders of each race also knew it, but now, only I, the Dragon Lord, carry that knowledge. I have shared this ritual with them.”

He turned to Astion and continued.

“When each race’s new leader undergoes the ritual to receive the acknowledgment of the Source, it’s actually for this moment. You probably thought it was just a ceremonial coronation.”

Now his gaze shifted to Deneb.

“But this alone isn’t enough. The leaders have merely consented to use the power of the Sacred Stones. They can’t actually wield it themselves.”

He extended his hand toward her once more.

“That’s why you must now begin the sealing, using the power of the Sacred Stones. Just as I taught you—to the very end of your life.”

Julien stepped forward, grinding his teeth.

He wanted nothing more than to smash that shameless dragon’s face right then and there.

But once again, Astion stopped him.

Something didn’t feel right again.

“Why did you explain all of that in advance?”

At Astion’s question, Arterion tilted his head slightly.

“Don’t you think it’s only honest to tell her that the Saintess must sacrifice herself?”

“You could have deceived us and forced Deneb into place without saying anything.”

“Because the Saintess can stop it on her own.”

“……”

“No matter what, it can’t be done through deception. No one can force her—she must carry it through to the end herself.”

“I see… is that it?”

Astion nodded slowly, sinking into thought. Seeing this, Arterion calmly continued.

“I know this is painful for you. I know it’s confusing, hearing it so suddenly. But this is the only way to seal the Demonic Abyss. For the sake of the world, the Saintess must sacrifice herself.”

“……”

“Saintess, I’m sorry, but you have no choice. If you refuse, we Dragons will kill not only your companions but also everyone tied to you.”

A chilling gleam flashed in Arterion’s eyes.

To him, this was the best path. And so, he did not hesitate to threaten or coerce.

The process didn’t matter—as long as the Saintess chooses to sacrifice herself of her own will, it would be enough.

Deneb had already steeled herself. She was ready to persuade Julien and the others, no matter what, and head for the altar.

As Arterion said, there was no real choice left to her. If she refused, Arterion truly would kill them all.

Perhaps the elves and dwarves would hesitate, but the Holy Empire would surely side with the Dragons.

Of course, Julien would never allow it. He once again blocked Deneb’s path.

“No.”

“Step aside. I don’t want another war. And I don’t want my friends to die.”

“And I won’t stand by and watch you sacrifice yourself.”

“Julien, please…”

Deneb’s voice trembled. The truth was, she was barely holding on.

She had believed that once the war ended, happiness would come. That she would live in peace with those she cherished.

But it had been nothing but a fleeting dream. Now, for the single dream of saving the world, she had to abandon everything else.

‘Ghislain… perhaps this really is an unchangeable fate.’

No matter how strong the Julien Mercenary Corps had become, they could not fight the Dragons. In the end, the only way to save everyone was through her own sacrifice.

Deneb held back her tears.

Parting from Julien was more painful than death itself. She didn’t want to see any of her other friends die either.

But if she showed her tears here, Julien would truly explode.

She had to remain resolute. Cold and unyielding. That was the only way to protect Julien and her friends.

The moment Deneb lowered her head and tried to push Julien aside—

SPLAT!

Astion seized her in his arms and pulled her away, putting distance between her and Julien.

Julien, blade already raised, stopped short when he saw who it was. His expression turned puzzled.

Because Astion had drawn a dagger and pressed it against Deneb’s throat.

“Astion… why?”

Everyone froze, eyes wide in shock.

No one could understand why Astion would suddenly do such a thing.

Arterion frowned and spoke.

“What are you doing? Has the Adversary’s energy corrupted you?”

It was the very suspicion Astion had harbored all along.

But Astion had not been consumed by the Adversary’s power.

He glared at Arterion and demanded,

“No matter how I think about it, something doesn’t add up.”

“What do you mean?”

“You claim that all it takes is Deneb’s sacrifice. Fine, maybe so. But what happened to the previous Saintess?”

“……”

“Answer me. You said she refused to sacrifice herself, didn’t you? Then what happened afterward? She had no weakness—so did you Dragons just leave her alone? No. Everyone in the world must have tried to drag her to the altar and kill her. Did she ignore it all and live happily ever after?”

“……”

“Or did she take her own life because she couldn’t endure it anymore? But if that was the case, wouldn’t it have been better to simply save the world and die in the process? At least as someone called a Saintess, she would have had that much spirit of sacrifice. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

Astion pressed the dagger harder against Deneb’s neck. Blood welled out, running down her skin.

“So answer me. What became of the previous Saintess—before I kill Deneb here and now.”

Arterion said nothing.

And because of that silence, Astion was certain.

That Deneb dying here by his own hand…

Would be better than being forced into sacrifice for the sealing.

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