2nd Rank Has Returned - Chapter 300



300 – What I sincerely hope for-3

[So you decided to go and get it yourself?]

When the wise man saw Aria waking up, he understood her intention.

Judging from the movements of the spirits, Aria did not harm herself in order to die in the first place.

Rather, it was more like she undertook a bold ritual to maximize her own power and believe in herself.

“…Yes, sorry. “Sage.”

Ariasviel was unable to properly meet the wise man’s eyes while making this choice. Regardless of his words and actions, the wise man was the person who brought Leo back and was the only adult who could become his teacher.

Choosing the latter meant forcing a sacrifice on the wise man instead of oneself.

I couldn’t give up without apologizing.

[That’s enough. It’s a dead life anyway. Be confident in your choice.]

The wise man did not care much even though he had decided on his own end. He even gave me some unusual encouragement, as if he felt much more relieved.

[And you comfort Ain well. Although she was created by me, it was you who raised her… And even tried to do harsh things to her.]

“…Ain…”

Among those who were in the battle with the Demon King, there was no one who held a grudge against Ajin.

Thanks to Angela and Lumine, her disability was spared, and Aria, who had fainted, was able to participate in the battle again thanks to the divine power she gave off.

But for her Ain, her current situation was caused by her own treatment and she could not help but feel a sense of guilt.

‘… At times like this, she always looks like her dad.’

Ain is so honest that he feels responsible for himself without even passing the buck. Just like Leo, Ain has strict standards for himself.

So, in the current situation, there was no way Ain could forgive herself.

“…”

Ain’s expression suddenly changed.

When the wise man’s spiritual body returned, the girl’s personality was practically reawakened.

“…I’m sorry…”

The words were barely squeezed out as if he were vomiting.

Tears were simultaneously squeezed out of the corners of the eyes that had been cracked due to the aftermath of the demon lord’s possession.

“Sorry…I’m sorry…!”

Ain resented even this sadness.

In the first place, when she developed human emotions, she became suitable as a vessel for the Demon Lord.

“…Sorry…”

“Ein Reinhardt, stop crying.”

The reason she stopped the girl from crying was because she was a warrior who loved the girl more than anyone else. Unlike usual, Aria did not speak in an enthusiastic manner, but as a knight, she gave a warning to her daughter.

“The reason Leo saved you wasn’t because he wanted to blame himself and apologize like that.”

That’s because Ariasviel felt the same way when she found out about Leo’s past.

Ariasviel still remembered the encouragement given by Lumine and Ain, who uniquely knew the truth at that time.

“It may be a harsh word, but if you truly want to atone, it means saving Leonardo.”

Ariasviel placed his hand on Ain’s head.

The divinity shone briefly, the cracked eyes healed with the light, and the tears stopped before we knew it.

“…I understand. “I will not engage in any indecent behavior that will put pressure on the Reinhardt family.”

Ein raised her head with spirit as she received Reinhardt’s name. Aria raised the corners of her mouth as if she was proud of herself for overcoming it faster than her mother.

It was the same for other Reinhardts. Her resentment toward her demi-human was greater than her wishing that she would not be weighed down by her guilt toward herself.

[I’m sorry for interrupting you in the middle of such a touching speech, but it would be better if you said those words to someone else as well.]

Despite the warm atmosphere that appeared for a moment, the wise man faced reality and gave cool-headed advice to the warrior.

[Because some people here will be against your choice.]

The wise man’s gaze turned to the royal family members and several magic tower owners.

Whether Arya’s choice was good or bad, the choice she made now was a gamble with the fate of humanity.

Even though saving Leo was an important task, defeating the Demon King was also important enough to be the central point for them.

[Let’s be honest, since you’re a human being, there’s nothing strange about wanting to choose a stable option, right?]

“…That…!”

I wanted to answer, not the emperor.

If we affirm this, we will be affirming the hero Ariasviel committing suicide.

Morally, I had a conscience that did not allow me to approve of Aria’s sacrifice, and from a political standpoint, I could not be hostile to Reinhardt’s current intentions.

“…”

But I couldn’t bear to continue talking until the end.

Even if he is an emperor, he is only a human being.

The fear I felt when I saw only the devil’s side was so great that it made me hesitate to make judgments as a human being.

‘…Everyone is afraid.’

Aria’s eyes also saw other people’s fears one after another.

Everyone wanted to save Leo, and did not want Aria to sacrifice herself. However, some of the heroes here were unable to make up their minds.

I was in a position where I could not gamble for the sake of justice and morality.

We couldn’t force the people who were fighting and dying on the battlefield to participate in an adventure to save one person.

‘…Is it possible?’

Ariasviel also made a confident claim, but soon the fear was becoming contagious.

It was only for a moment, but the Holy Sword even invaded the Demon King’s self-consciousness. I was already worried about the possibility that my ego as Leo might not be okay.

“As the wise man said, I am against it.”

There was someone who openly expressed that opinion.

It was so inhumane that a knight spoke on his behalf, saying something that no one wanted to say in person.

The imperial guard knight with narrowed eyes.

“Sir Lewis Edmond.”

“Yes, warrior Ariasviel.”

Lewis Edmond explicitly stated his intention.

“Edmond! What rudeness is this! Hurry…!”

“Wouldn’t it be much better if someone clearly expressed their opinion when you’re in a situation where you’re struggling?”

Edmond smiled with narrowed eyes and shamelessly, to the point where it was embarrassing to criticize him.

“If there is no basis to trust and understand, it will be difficult to unite opinions and manpower to rescue even Lord Leonardo Red Tower.”

People who are still neutral about statements like that declaration could not bear to point out that statement.

If you look at the reality, someone had to voice this opinion.

[… By the way… The people called prophets…]

The wise man shook his head, recalling the old woman who had predicted the revelation of Arya.

He said that blood cannot be deceived, and even he knew the future and deliberately set himself up as a villain.

[Aria, look at the sheath there.]

At those words, all eyes turned to the sword sheath.

“…Light in the scabbard…”

The scabbard that Leo gave as a gift, a small light leaked from the scabbard.

The red flash of light touched Aria’s skin, showing a steady beat like a beating heart.

[In the first place, the function contained in the scabbard was put in by Leo in case he died.]

I remember.

Leonardo always assumed his own death. He even trained in advance to spar with himself in preparation for when he becomes the Demon King.

Even the video of memories contained in this scabbard was a compilation of information from the previous episode in preparation for his death.

[It also contains a will.]

Of course, there was no discomfort even if the will was included for such purposes.

[Try it. At least Leo would want you to use it.]

The wise man held out a black stone with his spiritual hand. The reason everyone was able to escape was because this black stone was able to extract the Philosopher’s Stone.

“…Leo’s will…”

The word will had an appropriate solemnity.

Even people who didn’t know about regression couldn’t help but feel guilty about the will.

People who knew the inside story of the regression felt doubtful about what the will would contain.

[…You can read it by transforming it into a sword and inserting it.]

The wise man, who was the only one who knew the full story of the will, placed the black stone in Aria’s hand with a solemn expression.

The intangible black stone like a black tentacle soon changed into the shape of the long sword that Leo usually used.

‘…Leo’s will…’

The black stone revealed the blade warmer than ever. I could feel the pulse of life, as if to prove that Leo was still alive.

[Is it okay if I share it with other people? This story isn’t all that optimistic. Leo also didn’t want many people to know.]

“No.”

Click…

After a firm answer, the dark sword was put into the sheath as if joined.

“I think other people need to know by now.”

There was no hesitation in Aria’s hand, even if it went against Leo’s final wishes.

“The respect I can express is that at least Leo knows what kind of person he is and makes decisions.”

This decision was not made either as a warrior or as a lover.

“This is the least respect I can give as Leo’s rival.”

As the number one person that the number two person wanted to reach.

Leo’s story had to be spread about what kind of life the second-in-command lived.

“Now that’s enough.”

Although he didn’t know the principle, Ariasviel was sure of that.

The black stone enveloped all the light coming out.

Unlike other times, it felt like putting a key into a suitable lock and turning it, rather than just inserting the sword body.

[…Ah…Ah…]

A short echoing voice, heightened with suspicious emotions, everyone’s eyes turned towards that voice.

[Can you hear me well?]

An old man appeared on the screen.

A man too old to be definitively identified as Leo.

To be called a wise man, he was a man with a physique stronger than that of Marken.

‘…That person…’

As soon as Aria Szpilman saw the old man, she could guess who he was.

[I think you will be quite surprised when you see it.]

Other people were gradually able to guess who the old man was.

From Noble mtl dot com

[It wouldn’t be surprising if you thought, “I activated Leonardo’s will, but why does an old man I’ve never seen before appear?”]

Not only those with knowledge of regression, but also the context that allows one to guess who he is from the current flowing air current has been identified.

The old man’s appearance revealed the face of a knight and wizard that everyone remembered.

[Actually, this is closer to my ‘real’ appearance.]

Leo’s appearance in the will flashed briefly, and he soon returned to the familiar appearance of a young man.

Many of the wizards there were able to tell that the phenomenon was not the manifestation of transformation magic, but rather the cancellation of magic that had already been activated.

Doubts were flooding in, but no one thought that this video would become a two-way communication.

For now, just waiting was enough.

[I am not a person of this era.]

Because Leo had already answered.

[He is Leonardo, but he cannot be called the Leonardo of this era.]

Soon.

[I am a returnee from a destroyed future.]

Leo revealed his secret to the world.

[It was also the world I destroyed.]

Even then, I couldn’t forgive myself.