255 – Thought-2
The mental turmoil was sorted out, and a plan was systematically established one by one.
Judgment based on calmly organized information naturally produced more meaningful results than when we were excited.
“…To summarize, what we need to check now is to find the connection between the Demon King, me, and my mother.”
I had to find out the meaning of the newly discovered keyword, Hellsing.
It was also necessary to check the location provided by the Demon King, what kind of traps there were, and for what reason it was located there.
If you are lucky, you may be able to receive information on the Demon King’s strategy and even escape from the bondage of becoming the Demon King’s vessel.
“…Then, are you going to go straight to your hometown?”
Rios was still not used to speaking informally with Leo, so he asked a question with a bit of respect.
“I would like to, but if I go right away, there is a high probability that it will be dangerous.”
The reason Leonardo can maintain a stable mind now is thanks to the sacred sanctuary of Angela and Lumine.
He probably didn’t have the talent to escape the devil’s trick with just his divinity.
“…There’s something else I’d like to check first.”
{…If it’s something else…}
“I want to check on the hero Ruben Reinhardt.”
The atmosphere that was solidified as the devil is once again frozen by the term hero.
It clearly advanced the story in a different direction, but no one could easily come up with an answer.
Even Sage and Angela, who exist as heroic spirits of old legends, could not be free from this problem.
[…Are you going to open the coffin containing Ruben?]
I still remember the wise man.
At the moment when the senators and vampires were trying to use Ruben’s body as material for necromancy, the image of the graveyard where Ruben was buried remained in my eyes.
If it had been any other time, we would have used the passing spirit body to look inside without being allowed to open the coffin.
The wise man could not bear to see the body, so he arrived at this spot without looking.
“I think progress will only be made if we open up.”
{…Is it because we have the same warrior qualifications?}
Angela was equally agitated.
Although the difference was that she was observing the wisdom of the wise man, Angela was also a saint.
As an adult, seeing the death of the warrior Ruben with my own eyes was not a very pleasant experience.
Seeing this short-lived colleague in his 40s because he was unable to completely treat it was a complex experience that could not be described as miserable.
“…What is it to be a hero in the first place?”
Leo asked a question, looking at Aria and herself.
This is a question that was difficult for Leo to even understand, let alone understand, even before he became qualified as a warrior.
“For what reason and by what principles are heroes determined?”
It has been decided.
Leo used the expression ‘decision’ passively.
Neither Aria nor she had any desire to become a hero.
Aria in the first round and Aria in the second only took on the role of a warrior and did not truly desire the power of a warrior.
‘…I wanted to, but…’
When she was consumed by her jealousy of Arya Spiel, she sometimes longed for the power of her warrior and the light of the holy sword.
Because the gap widened after he was selected as a warrior, jealousy could not help but burn even more.
‘…But I didn’t want it in this form.’
Now, let alone the power of a warrior, the very concept of a hero was disgusting.
If it were possible to talk directly with God, I felt like I wanted to make a fuss.
Is it humanely or rationally right to forcefully hand over the responsibility to solve everything just because he is the devil and the devil and has qualifications that he cannot even understand?
“The more contacts I have with the Demon King, the more contacts I have with the first hero, Ruben. “It’s too bizarre to dismiss it as a coincidence.”
Even when I lost my memory as Raynald,
When he first used black magic,
The sense that the Demon Lord is connected has become stronger, but at the same time, it is accompanied by a face-to-face encounter with Ruben.
So often that you wonder if he is already dead.
“…Has anyone seen the inside of the coffin?”
“That’s…”
Not even Reinhardt’s immediate descendants will know the inside of the coffin.
Of course, they checked the weight of the coffin to see if it had been stolen, but they did not open the coffin lid and inspect the body inside.
But
“…Saint Angela?”
Leonardo also knows.
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All I expected was one answer.
I was waiting for information about the first saint who assisted the first warrior until the end.
[…Angela.]
The wise man who was not with her for the last time could not add anything more than calling her name.
A wise man who sacrificed himself to overthrow the Demon King and a warrior who died from residual injuries and curses.
The last remaining first saint remained in the temple alone.
In history, it is recorded that she lived alone and piously in the temple until she died.
Actually, I did not confirm or deny it and just moved on by saying ‘I see.’
{Yes, I saw it as you expected. How did Hero Ruben die, and even the sight of him entering the coffin?}
Angela obediently gave answers about her past for now. As if she had no regrets about this, she gave a clear answer.
{He has definitely passed away. Ruben Reinhardt.}
“…Then there will be no problem if I check, right?”
Leo was a little embarrassed by Angela’s natural and calm answer.
Still, as much as she was able to maintain her cool, Leonardo wanted to create an opportunity to properly check.
{You are the current head of Reinhardt’s family, so it’s up to you to decide.}
Angela obediently agreed to this.
I thought it was obedient, not willing.
‘…Why are you making us so sad…’
Because she agreed with sad eyes.
I didn’t allow everyone to see that gaze.
For some reason, she did not show any signs of sadness either to Aria or to herself.
It is as if reason is insisting on the duty to see, but emotion is revealing the will to block it.
* * *
Reinhardt Mansion could be reached immediately using the warp gate.
For a large number of people and quick and safe movement, it was best to use a warp gate.
“…Are you really going to open the coffin?”
The person who faced Reinhardt’s direct descendants was Reinhardt’s mistress.
“Yes, Sirika. “I’m sorry for coming so suddenly and acting like this.”
Silica, who was not an unmanned person, was left alone to manage the family’s entire budget and organize personnel.
Silica took care of the work that would normally have been done by the matriarchs, Leo and Aria, giving them time to focus on combat and training.
Informing her of her eccentricity of opening a pavilion for her family was bound to be a burden to Shiraka, the head of the family.
“…It’s okay, but how about taking a little rest? “Your complexion doesn’t look good…”
As Lumine and Angela are right next to him, the Demon King did not directly touch his mind, but the sense that the Demon King is targeting him anytime, anywhere causes mental fatigue.
Even Leo, who is like an iron man, is ultimately only one person.
“…I will check first and then rest.”
But the reason Leo was able to endure until now was not simply because his mental strength was strong.
Once the decision was made, the party immediately headed to Reinhardt’s mausoleum.
We headed to the place where everyone became aware of Leo’s return.
“…Everything has been fixed.”
Reinhardt’s mausoleum, which was in complete disarray due to the fierce battle, had been repaired to perfect shape.
Even Eileen was repaired to the point where time was turned back, to the point where it was suspected that it had been restored using magic.
“…It’s not the first time something like this has happened. “When two people duel, it’s often worse than this.”
The two people, Leo and Aria, averted their eyes as if they were stung by Silica’s harsh words.
Even if the two did not truly duel, it was common for the training hall to fall into ruins even while sparring.
‘…It would be better for Aria to get pregnant.’
Silica even thought that it would be better for her to become pregnant since she could handle childcare and postpartum care on her own.
It may not be possible now as the situation is a serious one, but if you don’t stop sparring even after catching the Demon King, you may truly collapse from neurosis.
{…It’s been a while. What comes in.}
Entering the mausoleum, Angela looked around and was filled with emotions.
I was not talking about a memory I saw during the vampire incident, but rather a sentiment that reminded me of a memory I saw 300 years ago.
‘…Why, why is there something…’
Not only Leonardo, but even Aria felt a sense of discomfort.
I’ve been here before, but for some reason I felt a familiar sense of discomfort in a different way.
I felt a sense of foreignness, not as a body but as a soul.
‘…The Holy Sword…?’
‘Baek Aria’ was not the only one who felt a sense of heterogeneity.
As I entered the mausoleum, the holy sword was illuminated with light and the black aria was resonating.
It wasn’t just a resonance of power.
‘…Are you angry?’
He was expressing his anger within the holy sword of Black Arya.
As we get closer to Ruben’s coffin, Black Aria’s anger is conveyed to White Aria as well. It seemed as if all of his resentment was being poured out on Reinhardt’s origins.
“…We’ve arrived.”
She passed several tombs around and reached the marble coffin in the center of the mausoleum.
The pattern of a white lion and sword drawn on a rare blue marble background, and the rustic yet sacred atmosphere could be felt even in the coffin.
‘…It is close to a ceremonial coffin, but there is no wear and tear.’
No matter how well the mausoleum creates an environment for preserving the interior, it was surprising that the soft marble maintained its angular shape and had no broken parts.
This is a marble coffin that has been stored for 300 years.
‘…I don’t feel like it’s rotten.’
A slight divinity can be felt in the coffin lid.
A bloodline so thick that it makes all Reinhardts look the same.
The beginning of that lineage is now in the coffin.
“…I will open it.”
[…Okay. I’m ready.]
{I will pray.}
The wise man and the saint stood in front of the warrior’s grave with a serious look, unlike other times.
The first warrior, their former comrade and their hope, is now buried here.
“…Hu…”
The sound of exhalation and the friction sound of the tube cover being pushed are heard. The tension resonates and heightens with friction.
Aria’s holy sword also makes a friction sound inside Leo’s scabbard.
“…This is…”
When the coffin was fully opened, everyone opened their mouths. Everyone was speechless as the scene was quite different from what they expected.
“…It’s not rotten.”
It was a surprising but also expected development, so no one objected.
Even though the body had been kept for over 300 years, not only the flesh but even the hair on the head maintained its original appearance.
[… Nothing has changed.]
Looking at the wrinkled body, the wise man laughed briefly.
[I am 20 years older and still the same.]
The wise man said that while looking at Ruben, who had aged completely despite being in his 40s.
“…It’s…Outside. “Portraits always show a young appearance…”
{Nothing surprising. All humans naturally age over time. Ruben was just worse.}
It wasn’t wrong.
No matter how good a human is at handling mana, even if it is a long-lived species that lives for 1,000 years, there is no trade in lifespan.
“…But you’re older than I thought.”
Ruben was showing the appearance of an old man to the extent that one thought he was an 80-year-old man, not a 40-year-old man.
The wrinkled skin and tired hair made him look older than a wise man.
“…He’s really dead…”
Obviously Ruben is a dead body.
You can see it with the naked eye.
Not only is it not corrupted, but neither magic nor sacred arts are applied, nor are there any physical tricks.
Ruben Reinhardt is definitely dead.
“…Something…”
Aria, the hero, also felt a sense of discomfort.
The two hands were reaching at the same time.
Although they did not intend or realize it, Leo and Aria’s hands slowly moved towards Ruben’s face.
And.
Passy…!
“…What…!”
The reason the two heroes were surprised was not because they felt electricity at their fingertips, much less because the holy sword was shaking so passionately.
“…Why…Why but?!”
“…Now Ruben…!”
Although it was not visible to other Reinhardts.
“…You opened your eyes…!”
It was clearly visible to the two warriors.
The appearance of Ruben opening his eyes.
[…Ruben…]
{…Hero Ruben.}
Ruben’s former comrades, the wise man and the saint, also saw Ruben’s appearance in the same way.
The old man’s body was still there, albeit translucent.
(Everyone is gathered.)
Ruben said that and slowly looked around. The sight of the first warrior, who looked at his descendants, colleagues, and successors one by one, stopped at the warrior of the apostle.
(I’m sorry to you, no… To all of you.)
After apologizing, Ruben placed his hand on Leo’s head, which was similar to his own.
(In the end, it was impossible for everyone to live strong.)
Passy…!!
(But thanks to you, I can have hope.)
Ruben’s translucent appearance gradually became fainter.
[Wait a minute Ruben…!!]
The wise man calls, but Ruben does not answer.
No, it was closer to saying I couldn’t do it.
-Ruben…! As expected, you are a le…!
A black lump, presumed to be the devil’s thoughts, is pulled out from Leo’s head.
(Nothing will change for you, even if you are reborn.)
Soon, the demon king’s lump disappears along with Ruben.
(I’m sorry. There’s only so much I can do right now. The devil is probably still targeting you.)
“…Sleep…! Wait a minute!! Why are you…!”
Leonardo shouts to Ruben, who is disappearing.
“What on earth is a hero!? Why does something like that exist!?”
He asked what the extreme of irrationality he thought was.
And the first warrior answered.
(A person who wants to be someone’s hope is a hero. It’s simple, but that’s why it’s a difficult position.)
That is how the hero disappears.
The devil’s remaining thoughts also disappear.
(I will support you. Please find your own hope.)
The holy sword did not tremble.
For some reason, I just lowered my head as if I understood Ruben.