The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations

Just Once More, For the Sake of the World (3)

Julien slowly reached out his hand and spoke.

"Astion… What are you talking about? First, we need to get Deneb…"

Astion shook his head and said,

"It’d be better if we all died here. That seal won’t just take Deneb’s life."

"What?"

"I don’t know exactly… but clearly, it demands something more. That’s why he can’t give a straight answer to my question."

"…"

Julien turned my head and looked at Arterion.

Something more than just her life? That it’d be better to die?

He believed Astion. Arterion hadn’t said anything clear about the previous Saintess.

What in the world was that dragon planning?

Arterion's expression had grown eerily calm. In a cold voice, he began to speak slowly.

"How tiresome you are."

Astion growled back.

"Stop dodging and answer. What happened to the previous Saintess?"

"…"

"What? You’ve got no pathetic excuses left to offer?"

"…"

"We already know something’s off with you. So just tell us the truth. What else is there besides death?"

"…"

"If you don’t speak now, I’ll kill Deneb. Since you people are trying to kill her anyway, it won’t make a difference if it’s by my hand."

Astion truly seemed resolute. He tightened his grip on the dagger in his hand.

Astion was a mage. He possessed all sorts of bizarre knowledge and spells.

Some of them could leave a person in a state so dreadful, they’d wish they were dead.

That’s how he had sensed—just from Arterion’s suspicious attitude—that there must be a price beyond death.

"Deneb, I’m sorry. I don’t want to lose you either. But this is still better than letting you be sacrificed for that seal. I’ll kill you, and then we’ll die fighting those bastards."

"A-Astion…"

Tears welled in Astion’s eyes as he bit his lip.

Seeing him like that, Deneb couldn’t say anything more. She, too, had doubts about Arterion’s words.

Arterion also realized there was no room for further evasion. Or rather, he didn’t have a convincing lie to give in the first place.

As long as dragons existed, a Saintess who refused to be sacrificed wouldn’t have been allowed to live freely by her own will.

In the end, Arterion spoke in a detached voice.

"She took her own life."

Astion, as if he had expected that, stepped back further along with Deneb and asked,

"…Why?"

"As you said—because dying was the better option."

"……"

"She was a Saintess who refused to save the world. Living happily was impossible, and hiding wasn't an option either. The only path left to her was to take her own life."

"What kind of price must be paid for the seal?"

"The soul."

"What?"

"The Saintess's body dies here. And her soul remains."

Astion's eyes widened. Julien and Deneb reacted similarly.

Arterion's chilling voice continued.

"The Saintess’s soul will remain bound here until the end of this world, through countless ages. For a time nearing eternity, she will stay here, sealing away the Demon God's energy."

"……"

"It’s something only the Saintess can do. She becomes the medium that eternally seals the Demonic Abyss."

"Do you… do you even hear yourself?"

"It makes perfect sense. She harnesses the power of the Sacred Stones to suppress the Demon God’s energy. You could say she becomes a living goddess descended to the mortal realm. This is the final battle between the goddess and the Demon God."

"Shut up… you insane bastard…"

Deneb’s soul, unable to ascend to the heavens where the goddesses dwelled, being trapped here forever—

That was a punishment, a curse worse than death.

Deneb trembled with a pale face.

If it were only her life that was required, she would’ve offered it without hesitation for the sake of the world. She was that kind of person.

But to be bound to the seal until the end of time?

She had never dared to imagine such a fate.

How could she endure such an endless span of time, trapped alone in this place?

Even as a Saintess, even with a heart so devoted to saving the world—

She was terrified. Dread seeped in.

She didn’t have the strength to withstand such an eternity.

Arterion’s body slowly lifted into the air. At the same time, the dragons—having taken human forms—surrounded the Julien Mercenary Corps.

Though they were few in number, they were dragons. If they acted together, everyone here would be slaughtered.

From above, Arterion looked down at Astion and Deneb and spoke.

"The previous Saintess was said to be a cold woman. She had the will to save the world but was close to no one, never gave her heart to anyone. That’s why she formed no deep attachments."

"……"

"Because of that, the Saintess was able to let go of the world without hesitation. Even a Saintess must have been afraid. I understand that very well."

"……"

"But this time is different. Saintess Deneb, you have many good friends. You even have someone you love, don’t you?"

"……"

"That’s why I’m glad. Because you have a weakness."

"……"

"We cannot force the seal upon you. The choice is yours. But if you refuse…"

At that moment, a cold murderous aura surged from Arterion’s eyes.

"I take back my words about killing your friends and acquaintances. Instead, I shall leave them in a state where they can neither live nor die—bound in eternal agony."

Those words hit Deneb like a thunderbolt.

If she refused, others would be condemned to suffer for eternity?

Deneb spoke with a trembling voice.

"T-The Goddess would never allow such a thing. How could you do that to innocent people?"

"How amusing. We were born for the war against the Demonic Abyss. Fulfilling the mission given to us—how could that be called a sin?"

The dragons’ way of thinking was something no human could understand. But that didn’t mean it could be accepted.

Tears welled up in Astion’s eyes as he clenched his teeth.

"Y-You’re too cruel. Is that something you do to people who’ve fought for this world?"

"There is no other way."

"T-There’s no way the Goddess would allow something like this! No way She would come up with such an absurd solution!"

"A sound point. This method was devised by the dragons of the time, pooling all their wisdom. And yet, it ended in failure—the Saintess took her own life."

"Then find another way! If everyone works together, we can find one!"

"Impossible. There is no other way. After countless studies and endless trials over ages, this was the only method we could find."

Astion realized that further conversation was meaningless.

The dragons had no intention of letting Deneb go. The Holy Empire, the elves, and the dwarves had all betrayed them.

He braced himself and brought the dagger to Deneb’s throat.

If it was for her sake, he had to end it here—kill Deneb before they could sacrifice her.

But his trembling hand wouldn’t move.

‘Ghislain… what should I do?’

What would Ghislain have done at this moment?

How would he have resolved a situation like this?

Astion didn’t know the answer to everything. But this much was clear.

Ghislain would never have handed Deneb over to them.

He wouldn’t have killed her, either.

Sniffling, Astion wiped his tears with his sleeve. Soon, his voice, now resolute and firm, rang out across the space.

"Julien."

"…"

"Let’s protect Deneb. Let’s fight those traitorous bastards to the very end."

"Yeah."

KWA-A-A-A-ANG!

Julien answered calmly, drawing forth his power. In an instant, it felt as though all the energy in the world converged upon him.

He locked eyes with Arterion, settling into his stance. His sword radiated a killing aura fierce enough to split the enemy in two with a single strike.

With a hardened expression, Lionel raised his shield.

He was deeply disillusioned by the fact that his homeland—the Holy Empire he had once loved—was acting in such a way.

Lionel looked toward Porisco and said,

"The Goddess will never forgive this."

"…"

"And the Holy Empire will have to pay the price for this decision."

Assuming a battle stance, Lionel glared sharply at the ‘enemies’.

He was genuinely grateful he had left the pursuit unit and stayed behind.

Protecting the Saintess—that was the duty he, as the First Guardian, had to risk his life to fulfill.

Tyran also looked around and grinned, baring his teeth.

"Even mercenaries aren’t this disloyal. We saved your lives, and now you try to take ours?"

He had wavered at first, admittedly.

But after hearing the full truth, it was clear—this wasn’t something any human being should ever accept.

Once the captain of the Ironclad Lion Corps, he had reached the realm of the Transcendent alongside the Julien Mercenary Corps.

He knew he wouldn’t survive fighting the dragons.

So he steeled himself to give his life here.

"Well, it’s a bit of a shame, but I’ve had a pretty fun life. Even got to save the world, and I’m just a mercenary. That’s good enough for me."

Tyran let out a truly satisfied smile.

He had once lived as a dog of the nobility, yet rose to become a hero who saved the world. How could that not be fulfilling?

Osval, who was always watching for a chance to flee, now wore a resigned expression.

"Ah… I was supposed to start a revolution…"

By pure luck, he had reached the level of a Transcendent.

Once the war ended, he had planned to snatch up some easygoing kingdom in a quiet corner of the continent and spark a revolution.

But no matter how he looked at it, this was going to be his grave.

He didn’t want to die but siding with those monsters? No matter how he twisted it, their actions were too much.

"Sis Deneb being trapped here forever alone… I just can’t. That kind of fate is too scary, too lonely."

Of all people, Deneb had always looked after him with sincere care.

She was a key figure who had helped save the world.

Letting someone like her be condemned to eternal suffering didn’t sit right with Osval either.

In that case, it’d be easier on the heart to just die here in a fight.

"Yeah, damn it. If this isn’t revolution, then what is?"

Gripping his massive warhammer, Osval stepped forward.

Now that it had come to this, he figured he’d fight with all his might for the first time in his life—even if it meant dying.

The mercenaries, too, had resolved themselves to perish here.

If they fought half-heartedly and got captured by the dragons, their suffering would only be worse.

Arterion sneered darkly as he watched the scene unfold.

"Seems you’ve lost all fear after going through war. To think you’d dare stand against dragons."

No matter how powerful the Hero’s companions were, there were eight dragons present here. If they joined forces, no one here would make it out alive.

Extending his hand forward, Arterion gave the command.

"Secure the Saintess. Kill anyone who resists to the end. There are still plenty of her friends left outside. As for the Hero—try to keep him alive. Just render him incapable of fighting."

As soon as his words ended, the dragons charged toward Deneb.

Astion pulled Deneb into his arms and retreated while shouting,

"Julien! Hold them off!"

Raising his sword high, Julien responded,

"Astion, take Deneb and run. And tell the others what’s happened."

Kyle, Marika, and Ereneth were still out there, chasing the Apostles.

If just those three could regroup with them, they might stand a chance against the dragons.

Andrew and Rio would surely side with them as well.

Others who had received the Julien Mercenary Corps’ help might also lend their strength.

Of course, there would be far more who would want to sacrifice the Saintess.

The Holy Empire and many kingdoms would inevitably pursue them.

If it came to that, another war would break out.

Countless people would die, and the world would fall into chaos once again.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

This wretched world—what became of it no longer concerned him.

He had never asked for titles like Hero or Saintess.

Even the goal of saving the world now felt meaningless.

‘Ghislain… what would you have told me right now?’

— Even if it meant you’d end up killing countless people.

‘So many people are going to die.’

— If you believe the path you walk is right…

‘I just can’t sacrifice Deneb.’

— Then I believe you’ll choose the right path.

‘This is my choice.’

Staring down the approaching dragons, Julien slowly opened his mouth.

"…I will not save the world."

KWA-A-A-A-AANG!

His sword erupted with radiant light—

a burst formed from unyielding resolve and a will that would not be extinguished.

"I will…"

Julien’s voice rang out, calm and unwavering.

"…save the one I love."

FLASH!

In that moment, his sword cleaved the world in two.

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