My Students Regret It After I Retired - Chapter 95



94 – The Final Battle to Kill the Emperor

Leo just stared at Hemina silently, and Hemina smiled once at Leo, then turned around and said,

“I know you won’t accept my heart. I just did it on my own, so you don’t have to worry about it. Isn’t this level of relationship, this level of bond, okay?”

If not for the top-tier elixir that Hemina gave, Bendict would have died. Leo knew this better than anyone, so he couldn’t treat Hemina coldly any longer. Leo just answered quietly.

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“Okay.”

*

The moment Hemina kissed Leo, Heresia, who was far away, witnessed the scene. She packed up all the potions and healing artifacts she had brought, and went back to where she was originally.

After spreading her things on the floor, Heresia stared blankly at the ceiling, muttering.

“Ugh, this is depressing…”

She didn’t want to hear it, but Herisia had heard too much of Hemina’s story. Every chance she got, Hemina talked about Leos, making it palpable just how much she liked him.

But Herisia also had feelings for Leos, so Hemina’s audacious actions bothered her.

‘Why am I so sulky… Thinking about it, Leos and Hemina aren’t even a thing yet, right? That kiss today seemed like Hemina just went for it… And we’re still at war, for crying out loud.’

Herisia slapped her cheeks a few times before getting up again, thinking.

‘It’s enough just to be near Leos. Just like now, yeah… Just like now…’

Having been together for so long, Herisia liked Leos as a person, even setting aside any romantic feelings.

A man who would throw his life away for his comrades without hesitation. Yet, he never made a fuss about it. A man who couldn’t stand by when he saw injustice. A man who always, casually, saved others.

Unbeknownst to him, Leos was affecting countless people’s lives.

*

“Enas… How has Leos been lately?”

Syrna asked, meeting Enas’s face after a long time, and Enas replied.

“He’s fighting with a small, elite group these days, even though he’s part of the Crimson Corps. I don’t have much chance to see him… I don’t really hear much either. All I know is he came back from a large-scale battle recently. A comrade was seriously injured, but it seems he treated them well.”

“And Leos?”

“Leos seemed fine.”

Enas slumped to the ground as she spoke.

“Syrna, I joined the Crimson Corps hoping to clear things up, but it feels like I’m just drifting further from Leos. The more I reach out, the more he seems to be running somewhere I can’t reach.”

“It can’t be helped. We didn’t believe him. I never imagined Bellin would do something like that… But that shouldn’t be an excuse.”

“I regret it. Even if I was threatened… I should have just contacted Leos. I should have told him I believed him…”

“Yeah, me too. That’s why I can’t leave this place.”

“Going back to how things were…it’s impossible, right…”

“Leos has new comrades by his side.”

Hearing Sirna’s words, Enas closed her eyes and tears trickled down.

“Just like we used to be by his side, now there are others beside him. Herisia, Hemina… Lord Benedict… they all seemed to be people Leos trusts. And it seemed they trust Leos as well.”

“Leos is the kind of person who gives his comrades endless trust and help…”

“I regret it. But… we can’t go back, can we…”

“Probably… I don’t want to admit it either but…”

Sirna and Enas remained silent for a long time after that. They just quietly stared at the ground.

*

“Disbanding the Scarlet Legion. I know the battle changed your perspective, but isn’t it too radical?”

Lakart questioned Leos, who shook his head.

“The Scarlet Legion was originally formed to resist the Emperor. But after this battle, I realized. Those who are ambiguously strong are more of a hindrance. It’s impossible to fight while covering those who are inferior to us in terms of mobility and all physical abilities. Especially if we’re fighting the Celestial Lord.”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

“Lakart, you know it too, but the Emperor’s remaining forces are just scraps now anyway. Dozens of the Celestials died, and their forces are greatly reduced. We’ve essentially entered the final stage of the war. We’ve annihilated the most difficult obstacle, the Imperial Sword Guard, so what we have to do next is clear. Now we kill the Emperor. And we kill the Celestial Lord.”

“Killing the Emperor I get, but can we kill the Celestial Lord?”

Lakart expressed his doubt, and Leos replied without much hesitation.

“We’ll kill her no matter what. If we fail anyway, she’ll come to kill us.”

“Well, we don’t really have a choice in the matter. Leos, as I said before, even if I die, I will follow your will. When are we setting out?”

“Since the Imperial Sword Guard fell, the Emperor must feel threatened and be building his defenses. Maybe he’ll even flee. The sooner the better. But it would be good to get some information.”

Then, Bendict, completely recovered thanks to the highest-grade elixir, approached and spoke.

“Boss, that Celestial Society member from the Imperial Swordsmen who helped us before… to be precise, my old disciple, is nearby.”

“His name?”

“Bartier. Back when I was with the Celestial Society, he trusted and followed me a lot. Still does. Bartier was the squad leader of the 1st Squad of the Imperial Swordsmen, and because I leaked information beforehand that there would be a clash with us this time, he avoided participating in the battle during their annihilation and instead retreated. When I contacted him just now, he responded immediately. Actually, the reason I was able to save Leos-nim from being surrounded by the Imperial Swordsmen in that previous battle was also thanks to his help.”

“So, he’s the guy you talked about before. Understood. You must have spoken to him because you trusted him, and since he’s trustworthy, there wouldn’t be any issues even with you leaking the information beforehand. Let’s go.”

“…Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me for something like this?”

“I mean thanks in many ways. For saving me, and for still trusting me.”

“If you’re thankful, then don’t try to die again.”

“I can’t promise that. If Leos-nim is ever in mortal danger, I’ll gladly throw my life away.”

“…”

Leos walked forward without a word. And Bendict also stood by Leos’s side and walked alongside him. No words were spoken, but anyone could see it.

Bendict’s past mistake of leaking information to the Celestial Society Lord had been completely cleared up by this incident.

Even a wrong past is bound to change depending on the current actions.

Someone you thought would remain an enemy forever, someone you hated and resented, in the end, through various overlapping incidents, can become a close friend, and sometimes become even closer than before.

That’s what happened with Bendict and Leos.

Bendict was a member of the Celestial Society, and was practically a paparazzo, intentionally approaching and observing all of Leos’s private life and reporting it to the Celestial Society Lord. But now he has left the Celestial Society and become closer to Leos than anyone else.

Even something that was wrong can be fixed again if you make the effort to correct it.

*

Not far away, Bartier was waiting.

“Master, you’ve arrived.”

“Indeed. What’s the situation?”

As Bendict questioned, Bartier surveyed those nearby, specifically sizing up Lacart, Faron, Leos, and Keltazar.

He was particularly wary of Keltazar. Keltazar was glaring at everyone with a look that suggested he wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone.

The reason was simple. Keltazar also knew this mission was to kill the Emperor.

Leos gestured to Bartier as if to ask him to wait, then stepped in front of Keltazar.

“Keltazar, has your heart changed any since you’ve been with us? Or do you still want to live as Vermon Emperor’s dog?”

“Do not dare utter the name of the great one so carelessly.”

Leos stared at Keltazar. And for some reason, he spoke honestly.

“Keltazar, I lied to you. It’s true your power awakened because of my ability, but I cannot reclaim your power. Which means, you no longer need to follow me.”

“Lord Leos…? We are facing a critical battle right now. Please try to be mindful of that.”

Faron tried to stop Leos, flustered, but Leos didn’t stop.

“I am mindful. That’s why I’m saying this.”

Leos set the five swords floating around him, and continued.

“Killing you here would be nothing. No, I’d rather tear you apart, Keltazar. You manipulated Belin to put me in prison, and you unhesitatingly ordered those garbage things in the Dark Shadow unit.”

There was not a flicker of wavering in Leos’s gaze, as he whispered while looking into the eyes of the one staring right back at him.

“But what would be the point of killing you here? I’ve learned something while being with you. You’re a madman for the Emperor. You’re a crazy b*stard who would gladly offer his arms, his legs, or even his life for the Emperor.”

“Not just my life, but my soul as well. For the sake of the great one.”

“Yes. I realize that it isn’t just words, but you mean it. So, from now on, you will go to the Imperial Palace and protect the Emperor. You will struggle to save the Emperor by resisting us.”

“What are you doing…?”

Keltazar, wary, asked, but Leos had already discarded the ogham into some unseen place before answering.

“Even if it was through coercion, it’s a final favor for aiding us. Thanks to your undead abilities, hundreds of our soldiers who should have died lived. So, at least you get to decide your own end. Mind you, your abilities are severely lacking to stop us. One way to survive is to run, to flee cowardly and save your hide. You’re free to choose – either die a dog’s death fighting for the Emperor, or run and save your life, fleeing me.”

Keltazar turned and walked toward the Imperial Palace as he spoke.

“To protect the great Emperor, I will fight to the very end. His well-being is more precious than my life.”

Keltazar finished speaking, then paused in place. And after a long silence, he asked.

“If you win…if, by some chance, you kill me and even the Emperor, will you uphold the promise you made before?”

The only proper promise Leos had ever given Keltazar was that if he killed the Emperor and Keltazar, he would scatter them both in the same sea.

“The promise holds. I’ll scatter you both in the same sea.”

Keltazar walked towards the palace in silence after that.

He had seen it. Leos’s overwhelming power. And the numerous troops in safe zones, even Leos’s bizarre abilities. But despite all that, he moves towards the palace.

Keltazar murmured.

“For the great Emperor, for the eternally shining Peren Empire.”

Leos, about an hour later, raised his sword then moved.

“The final battle. Let’s go, to kill the Emperor.”