My Students Regret It After I Retired - Chapter 91



90 – Don’t Die, No One

Lacart looked at Leos and questioned,

“Why didn’t you bring the others? Why are we leaving just the few of us?”

Leos scanned their surroundings. All they had was Lacart, his subordinate Pharon, Keltazar, who showed a fanatical loyalty to the Emperor, and finally, Bendict.

To Lacart’s question, Leos simply answered without further reaction.

“I felt it during the previous battle. That more forces don’t always equal strength.”

Bendidt nodded, adding his agreement.

“Regarding the Bloodletting Sword’s power, which Master Leos described on departure—or more accurately, the Bloodfall’s power—it’s the kind that engulfs those nearby. Even the members of the Heavenly Assembly were swept away without even being able to respond, so its force is truly overwhelming. If even one of our Crimson Guard were to get caught in it, they certainly wouldn’t survive. They might not be an advantage to our forces, but actually a burden, hindering Master Leos’s use of his power.”

Rakart immediately agreed.

“I saw that spectacle too. The way so many people were dying, swept away as if by a tsunami. But that power can’t be used anytime, can it? Leos said that once it’s used, it needs a sufficient amount of blood to recharge.”

“Isn’t there an endless supply of blood available?”

“…?”

Rakart looked at Bendidt with a questioning expression, and he replied as if it were obvious.

“The Imperial Guardsmen who follow the Emperor. Some of them are members of the Heavenly Assembly, but there are many more who are not. And besides them, the Emperor’s auxiliary forces are even more numerous. Kill them, and recharge the Bloodfall, and then wipe them out all at once.”

“What if the Lord of the Heavenly Assembly intervenes before the blood is adequately charged?”

Leos answered right away.

“It would be the end of everything. In the current situation, we have no chance of winning if we encounter the Lord of the Heavenly Assembly. At least, not until the Bloodletting Sword is more developed. But even so, we can’t just stand still. For some reason, the Lord of the Heavenly Assembly isn’t directly taking action, so we must exploit this opening.”

Faron muttered.

“If the Lord of the Heavenly Assembly comes, we all die, and if she doesn’t, we slaughter all of her troops and convert them into power for Master Leos, establishing a base to bring her down. A total do-or-die operation, Master Leos.”

“Yes, do-or-die. Literally, either we all die or the enemy all dies; there is no other outcome. If there is anyone afraid, leave now.”

Faron immediately replied.

“Among those who have come this far, would there be anyone who would leave? I always follow Rakart’s opinion, so I will not leave.”

Rakart said,

“Since Faron follows me like this, I can’t run away first. I will stay until the end as well.”

Bendidt also bowed his head and spoke.

“In the past, I was part of the Heavenly Assembly, monitoring Master Leos. But, being by his side, feeling him, I learned so much. I learned for the first time that being with someone can be an honor. Also, after receiving so much grace, I was afraid that if it was revealed I was part of the Heavenly Assembly, Master Leos would abandon me, so I couldn’t reveal my identity. Even though I revealed my identity too late, Master Leos accepted me. Whether it was when I was monitoring him as part of the Heavenly Assembly, or now, when I betrayed them and fully became Master Leos’ ally, the way Master Leos treats me hasn’t changed.”

Bendix added, looking at Leos.

“The reason you could forgive me, and the reason your attitude towards me didn’t change even after learning the truth, is because you saw me as I am and accepted me for it. Master Leos, you look at the essence of a person and cherish your comrades. Master Leos, I think I’ve become your comrade. I’ve escaped the trash heap that is the Heavenly Assembly and become a true comrade of yours. My dream is still to open a restaurant. Right next to Master Leos, I’ll open a restaurant that has an even longer line and is more famous than the one you open.”

“And what are you gonna do that for?”

“I’m going to help you then. I’ll teach you how to make your business boom, teach you how to promote, teach you how to cook well. I’ve only received help until now, so I need to take care of you when you’re old.”

Leos chuckled. There was no way the burly Bendix could do such meticulous things.

“Even later, you’ll only receive help from me. With your terrible cooking skills, people will run away and crowd into my restaurant.”

“I’m fine with that too. Isn’t that a good thing?”

“Why are you happy when all your customers are running away?”

Bendix smiled brightly and added,

“It’s a good thing if it’s beneficial to Master Leos in any way.”

Leos was silent, not saying anything. Bendix looked at Leos and placed his hand over his heart as he spoke.

“I, Bendix, will put my life on the line for Master Leos. If possible, I want us both to survive and open a restaurant, but if that’s not possible, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure only Master Leos can enjoy his old age. I’ll throw away my body and life to deal with the Emperor and the Heavenly Assembly, and obliterate all of Master Leos’ enemies. So that you can live without any worries.”

“Bendix.”

“Yes, Master Leos.”

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“My goal is to become happy. It’s hard to achieve, but I want to be happy someday.”

“You will be.”

“To become happy, I can’t lose the people precious to me. They must be by my side.”

“I will give my life to protect Master Leos’ precious people.”

“No, Bendix, you are also a precious person to me.”

“…”

“If you die, I will be unhappy. So, don’t die, Bendict.”

“…”

Bendict bowed his head deeply, silently shedding tears that fell in heavy drops. His hands trembled as he barely managed to open his mouth.

“When I was part of the Heavenly Society… I spied on Master Leos and betrayed him… I deeply apologize once again.”

“Stop. I’ve erased what happened then.”

“I will give my life… no… I will stake everything I have to lead Master Leos to victory.”

Rakart, who was listening to the conversation, turned to Leos and asked,

“I am truly envious. Leos, are Paron and I also precious people to you?”

“Not yet.”

“Haha… I figured as much.”

Rakart wasn’t a man of much sentiment. So, he didn’t really expect much from Leos’s answer, nor did he desire anything. But an inexplicable emptiness seeped into his heart. Perhaps this feeling, which he was experiencing for the first time, was disappointment.

In that moment when Rakart was wearing a bitter expression, Leos spoke.

“Not yet as precious as Bendict. Not even as much as Hericia, nor Hemina. Compared to them, it would be difficult to say you’re precious. Because I didn’t make ordinary memories with you. But you two are people I can trust. People I can rely on to hold onto life as we cross the line between life and death.”

Leos added, looking at Rakart and Paron.

“After everything is over, if we all survive, and we spend ordinary time like that, then you will surely become precious people as well.”

Only then did Rakart smile brightly and walk forward.

“Looks like I’ll have to survive. Trying to kill the Imperial Guard and the Heavenly Society while also surviving. It sure is difficult to become a precious person.”

Keltazar, who had been listening to that story, mocked Leos, shouting.

“After killing so many people, after taking the lives of those with faith, you’re here spouting trash about being precious, a happy old age. Leos, you will die miserably. Not only did you insult and try to kill the Emperor, the sun of the Empire, but you’ve also rebelled against him, so in death, you will fall into hell and live a miserable life. Whether you live or die, you will be unfortunate. Forever.”

Leos looked at Keltazar and asked. Normally he wouldn’t have cared, but today Keltazar, who was frantically struggling, seemed to have a fearful look in his eyes. His eyes were usually filled with madness. But he was afraid now.

What is the root of fear? Is it one’s own death? No. Keltazar doesn’t fear his own death. If the Emperor were to order him to commit seppuku, he would do it immediately, that’s the kind of person Keltazar is.

“Are you afraid the Emperor will die? Now that you’ve seen my power, you must be predicting the Emperor’s defeat. Do you see the Emperor’s downfall with the Heavenly Assembly?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I am cooperating because I need your power to kill the Heavenly Assembly, who are swaying His Majesty, because of borrowed power, but in the end, I will kill you.”

“The power to summon the undead you possess, as you know, is something I awakened in you. If I take it back, how will you, a human with no power, stop me?”

“Even if it’s impossible, I will protect His Majesty. That is my duty. That is my mission for the great one. I am a cog in the Empire, a component, material that makes him turn. I was born with the calling to protect him, the sun of the Empire.”

“Keltazar. You ordered the Shadow Guard to imprison me. I will never forgive you. All my misfortune started there. But I will promise you one thing.”

Leos looked down at Keltazar and added.

“If I end up killing you and the Emperor, I’ll scatter you in the same sea.”

“That will never happen.”

Leos, leaving the enraged Keltazar behind, walked forward.

Towards where the Imperial Knights and the Emperor’s forces were.