The Hero Who Returned From Death Quits

3 – EP1. Breaking Dawn

She opened her eyes.

How long has it been? A few days, or a few weeks?

I’m not sure.

When I tried to move my body, there was a clanging sound and a hindrance in my movements.

My eyes had adjusted to the darkness without me realizing.

My arms were bound by chains.

No, not just one arm, but all of my limbs were bound by chains.

I realized that I had been sleeping in a position with my knees bent and arms curled around.

… Suddenly, it became uncomfortable.

Since I couldn’t move my limbs, I instead checked other parts of my body.

“Ah, ah.”

The sound of my throat scratching sounded as if I hadn’t taken in moisture for a long time. But, it didn’t really matter. At least I could make sound and hear it.

After finishing my exploration of my senses, I began to think about the situation I was in.

Let’s see, I must have participated in the war, swung my sword at Grandidis, and the holy sword broke. Then, my body changed abnormally and I lost consciousness.

… Am I captured as a prisoner by Grandidis?

Well, it would be better to die once and go back. It’s faster than wasting time. Besides, there were many mistakes this time.

While thinking that, I suddenly remembered that the holy sword was shattered.

I could no longer die and return to the past.

And as soon as I realized that, a sense of desolation sprouted from deep within my heart.

Am I no longer a hero now?

Do I no longer have to die for justice, for peace, and continue endless deaths and futile battles?

My face trembled. It was a different feeling from being tortured by the nerves in my face.

The corners of my mouth rose. I could feel that I was smiling brightly now.

Of course, being captured by Grandidis was not a good situation, but it didn’t seem to matter anymore.

Even if I died like this, I could die happily knowing that I wouldn’t have to go through that meaningless repetition.

“I am no longer a hero.”

So, I blurted it out.

“Yeah, you’re no longer a hero.”

A familiar voice echoed. It was Feria’s voice. The voice of my comrade and the blue archmage.

“And now, you’re no longer a hero either.”

But her voice was different from the voice I usually heard. An intensely cold voice. I raised my head questioningly.

I’ve heard it a few times, but it wasn’t a common voice.

I wasn’t captured as a prisoner by Grandis, at least it didn’t seem that way. So, am I trapped because of my colleagues? I hadn’t really done anything to get caught like this.

I asked with a sense of bewilderment, “What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? Didn’t you expect this? Shameless.”

“No, I don’t understand what you mean.”

She let out a bitter laugh and said to me, “The nerve of someone colluding with demons.”

Colluding with demons? What on earth does that mean? I was struggling to keep up with this sudden turn of events.

“So, you and Grandis colluded, deliberately let her go, and teamed up together, didn’t you?”

“No, letting Grandis go-“

“Shut up. Your guilt is proven when the Holy Sword shattered.”

I was silenced, unable to even begin defending myself.

Thinking about it, I had nothing to say about that issue.

“Furthermore, you’ve been persecuting people from behind, right? Treason… and murder, there’s been a lot of it. I can’t believe I’m dealing with someone like you.”

While I had some doubts about the murder, the rest was beyond my comprehension.

Treason? What does that even mean? The way she spoke with such conviction, there must be something to it…

Ah.

As my thoughts reached that point, I realized.

I’ve been discarded.

I had become the star of this recent defeat, no longer a hero with any value.

I knew this well, having been abandoned by those in power many times before.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Are you laughing now?”

Feria gazed at me with her deep sapphire-like eyes.

“No, I’m just amused by my own situation.”

“Is that so? That’s interesting.”

Feria continued, “Come to think of it, are you really a hero?”

Now, even my life spent as a hero was being denied.

It might have pained me in the past. However, currently, it was surprisingly of no concern. No, it felt remarkably weightless, as though flying.

So, without responding, I decided to listen to what was being said.

“Come to think of it, it was strange. Not a citizen of the empire, lacking in talent, and even devoid of the unique ability that anyone would call a hero—yet, a hero? When I pondered it, it made no sense.”

Certainly, I was a bit peculiar. Not being an imperial citizen, I was merely an outcast to those in power, and my talents were utterly meager.

But, I did have an ability. Although, the skill of speech hardly counted.

Well, it didn’t matter anyway. Such an ability, it was better off vanishing forever just as it was.

“So, let’s say I am odd and have evidence of persecuting people. But out of nowhere, I colluded with a demon?”

Feria’s expression further soured.

“Do you have any idea what you look like right now?”

Well, even if I didn’t, it wouldn’t be incredibly flattering, I suppose.

Feria held up a mirror.

From my arm to my neck, black markings were etched. My hair was stark white.

“You resemble those who consorted with the demon king and his followers. No, it’s even worse than that.”

Seems like I absorbed too much of the demon king’s power. I didn’t foresee this.

“Can you look at yourself right now and still claim you haven’t colluded?”

I could claim it, but I’m not sure if that would hold.

At that moment, footsteps approached the bars of my confinement, and several people came closer.

Saint Luderan, Lena Tirentus, Beatrice—my comrades.

Every single one of them had a disgusted look directed at me.

Wow, probably the aftermath of a defeat was quite deep. It seems the authorities must have put on a grand show blaming me for everything. What on earth did I say to provoke such reactions?

“…Disgusting.”

Saint’s first words upon seeing me.

“You got seriously blamed for this mess.”

I inadvertently expressed my inner thoughts. Well, it probably didn’t matter much.

“Are you colluding with the enemy, sending countless soldiers to their deaths?”

What can I do? The commanders never listened to my opinions; they did as they pleased. If I had the ability of reincarnation, I might have returned and led the battle to victory. But at least for now, I had no power to do anything.

Clank. Lena opened the iron bars of my confinement and stepped inside.

Then she slapped my cheek.

“Because of you, because of you, the royal elite soldiers perished. While you were dawdling with Grandis and his schemes, the pinnacle forces of the kingdom fell. What were you thinking? Were you amused? Did you enjoy listening to the screams of the royal forces dying because of your actions?”

With that said, she spat at me.

“I never believed in things like you. Go to hell, you human scum.”

…No, it didn’t really break my heart that those brats died, but I never intended for them to be wiped out. That’s what I thought.

And then Beatrice started speaking.

“…Thirty thousand.”

She said that and took a deep breath before speaking again.

“That’s the number of innocent lambs who have lost their lives because of your sins. …After hearing about your actions, I can’t help but doubt if you truly were the hero chosen by God. Well, I don’t really know, but seeing the Holy Sword shattered, at the very least, you no longer seem like a hero.”

Beatrice bit her lip.

“Go to hell.”

After saying that, Beatrice disappeared before my eyes, her shining silver hair fluttering in the air.

“So, what are your final words?” Sane asked.

Without any hesitation, I spoke.

“Just spare my life.”

While dying and finding peace wouldn’t be so bad, I had a stronger desire to escape from my mission and regain a simple, ordinary life.

Sane looked at me with a bewildered expression, and I met his gaze head-on.

“…If it were up to me, I would kill a backstabber like you on the spot, but the council has made a different decision. They’ve chosen exile.”

She bit her lip.

“As soon as day breaks, leave the empire.”

…

The wind blew.

The wind, tearing through the delicate clouds, sometimes became a gentle caress, stroking the grass and wildflowers.

The scent of freedom. I gulped down this refreshing air as if my lungs were about to burst.

After countless twists and turns, I finally arrived. My journey as a hero had come to an end, and the destination of this hero, Angel Leonhardt, marked the beginning of a new journey.

I fought, died, trained, betrayed, hated, forgave, and eventually resigned myself to my fate for a painfully long time.

The memory of reaching for the Holy Sword was long gone, like flower petals carried away by the spring breeze.

But now, it was time to pick up the fallen petals and use them as bookmarks in the book of life.

Grateful for the ability to enjoy a normal human life, I embarked on the path of exile.