The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

21 – EP2. One Night’s Love

It has been two and a half months since I left the empire, and I have finally arrived in my homeland, the Talen Kingdom.

Of course, it would still take about another week to reach my hometown, but that was a level of patience I could endure.

Now, I was starting to feel that I was getting closer to my hometown.

The scent of spring was gradually being replaced by the heat of summer, and a lazy donkey let out a yawn.

With a smile on my lips, I crossed over the hill covered in green grass.

Soon.

Very soon.

Perhaps I won’t recognize my parents.

Perhaps I won’t remember my past memories.

But even in the midst of such fear, I feel a sense of ecstasy in the fact that I am going to search for my hometown, my past, like a moth drawn to a flame.

My hometown is not much further now.

…

Ainzel was troubled.

Out of the blue, a proposal came suggesting they hold a private duel.

If it was a small noble family, it could be possible. The price for the name of a warrior is quite high. It is possible to make such a proposal with the intention of using the honor and value of a warrior.

However, if it was Luderan, who could be considered the top noble family of the Empire, the story would change.

No matter how high the prestige of a warrior is, once the return of the holy sword is finished, they are just a highly honored commoner.

In contrast, Luderan was undoubtedly the strongest and largest family in the Empire.

Traditionally, the imperial army has been under their influence, and it was not easy for even the Emperor to take away their military power. It would be better to cooperate with Luderan.

Such a family. Ainzel had no intention of trying to tempt Luderan by simply looking at his honor.

Then, why is Luderan targeting him?

No matter how much he wracked his brain, he couldn’t find an answer.

The image of himself reflected in his eyes was that of a cowardly person who is afraid of death and wants to give up on fear, despite struggling against it.

…Fine, let’s go back to the essence.

He couldn’t figure out why Luderan proposed a private duel to him. So, whether to accept or decline the duel with Luderan was the essence.

Accept or decline.

As he calculated various dynamics in his head regarding what would happen if he accepted the duel, another thought suddenly crept in.

…If I accept the duel, would some of my current hardships be alleviated?

He was currently being consumed by severe lethargy, fear, and pain.

He didn’t know if, by getting married and starting a family, some of that would gradually disappear.

Even if he didn’t know now, someday, when he builds a home and realizes love, there might be a reason to endure, wouldn’t there?

Actually, upon reflection, Sein was a beauty to the extent that he had never seen before when he was in his hometown, and his family was also good.

Isn’t it not such a bad condition to get married? Moreover, his personality was easygoing and not bad. What aspects are there to hesitate about in this?

In reality, isn’t this the perfect condition he had envisioned as he left his hometown? To succeed, obtain a beautiful wife, and establish a family?

With such thoughts, he entertained the hope that once he entered into marriage, a glimmer of light might appear in the seemingly endless darkness.

Yes, let’s accept it. It’s not such a bad condition, and if there are things to uphold, things might improve.

Thinking this way, he began to write a letter accepting the proposal.

“hehehe, alright. Will you accept the marriage proposal?”

“Yes. It feels like a very overwhelming opportunity for me, but since it has come to this, I am willing to marry.”

“Well, good choice. It’s probably best to arrange the wedding as soon as possible, right?”

“Well, I’ll follow whatever is convenient for the Duke.”

“Thanks for saying that. Let’s set it for two weeks from now, then. In truth, I started preparing as soon as you agreed. It should be fitting for the name of the Ludran, and I’m sure you’ll like it too.”

“Yes, yes.”

And so, the wedding date for Ainzell was set for two weeks later.

Returning to his residence in the Ludran mansion, he felt a strange mix of emotions as he looked up at the night sky, realizing that he was getting married.

…His mother and father must be looking at the same sky.

He soon came to the realization that his parents wouldn’t know that he was getting married.

Driven by the pursuit of success, he had come to the empire recklessly.

Despite his parents’ objections, he found the peaceful scenery of his hometown dull and sought the novelty and splendor he had not experienced before.

How long had it been since he came to the empire when a splendid sword appeared before him?

Intuitively sensing that the choice to grasp that sword would alter the course of his destiny, he took hold of it and became a knight.

…Was becoming a knight truly the right path?

As a knight, he faced countless deaths, immersed in pain and fear.

If someone else had become a knight instead of him, perhaps they would have done better.

If someone else had become a knight instead of him, maybe they wouldn’t have endured the suffering.

He shook his head. It was all a meaningless hypothetical. He left his hometown, became a knight, and now he was soon to be married.

He recalled his father’s words: When a man gets married, he instantly becomes the head of a household and must always be strong.

In two weeks, he would be the head of a household. He walked into the bedroom.

And, on the wedding day two weeks later.

The wedding was grand and attracted many visitors, as it was the union of the empire’s renowned knight and the first daughter of Ludran.

Ainzell wore a navy-blue suit adorned with golden threads that complemented his black hair and eyes, while Sein wore a white wedding dress.

Both were outstanding in appearance, and combined with being the focal point of the wedding, they undoubtedly caught everyone’s attention.

During the performance of the famous serenade by the orchestra, they walked on the red carpet and arrived in front of the high priestess of the goddess religion, who was officiating the wedding ceremony. The high priestess blessed them and spoke.

“Groom, do you promise to treat the bride with unwavering trust and faith forever?”

“Yes.”

“Bride, do you swear to treat the groom with an unchanging heart?”

“Yes.”

The high priestess, who had officiated many noble weddings before, did not mention love, and they accepted that as well.

And so, Angel knelt in front of Seyn and put the ring on, and the wedding ceremony was over.

After the wedding ceremony, it was time for the reception. The music filled the air, and people began to dance with their partners.

Angel didn’t ask anyone to dance. He felt reluctant to ask someone else to dance on his wedding day.

And then, Beatrice approached and reached out her hand.

“Would you like to dance?”

Beatrice was the only colleague who attended the wedding. Lena showed no interest in human parties, and Peria, except for the occasional teachings Angel received when she returned to the capital, had no contact with him.

He took Beatrice’s hand. Even if he hadn’t asked her to dance first, it would be strange to refuse a hand that was offered.

“It’s unexpected. I never thought you two would get married.”

Beatrice said casually while dancing, and Angel struggled to find the words as he was busy stepping.

“…Yes, that’s true. I may not know much about the world.”

“hehehe, even if it’s your honeymoon, you still have to continue learning without any special treatment, so keep that in mind.”

“Yes, of course.”

After dancing one song, Angel didn’t dance anymore, and the reception ended, and it became their first night together.

The maids washed and dressed up Angel before leading him into the bedroom. It was their bridal chamber.

After the maids left, Angel looked at Seyn, who was already lying in bed, and said.

“I got married, but I won’t touch you right away, so don’t be too tense.”

Saying that, Angel looked around the bedroom.

Then he heard a sound from behind, and Seyn tried to turn around.

In that moment, a dagger pierced through his abdomen.

“…Huh?”

Angel made an unrealistic sound and immediately the dagger was removed.

He suddenly collapsed, clutching his stomach.

Blood was flowing uncontrollably.

“W-what…”

Angel turned her head and looked back. Sane was holding a dagger stained with blood.

And she was crying.

He felt a sense of confusion in the situation, but his mind quickly became foggy from the blood flowing out of his abdomen.

That’s how he saw Sane, the last thing before losing consciousness completely, pointing the dagger at his own neck, ready to stab.

Time slowed down, and as his soul left his body, he was back in the past, heading towards the light.

It was right at the moment when Duke Ludran had proposed marriage to him.