My Students Regret It After I Retired

58 – Humiliating Defeat

Leos began to run like a madman.

At first, he’d just planned a light reconnaissance with Spirell. But a Celestial Society Knight Commander hiding within the Empire was offering information if spared – he couldn’t just ignore that.

With no information on the Celestial Society, Drazar had to be captured alive. He was someone who held a high position in the Empire, and he knew secrets of the Celestial Society; he held information from both sides.

“Leos! What’s going on! Why are you suddenly like this?”

“I found a Celestial Society guy. Just follow me. I’m supporting him with Spirell right now, but it’s reaching its limit. He won’t hold out much longer, we need to get there as fast as possible.”

“You’re supporting him with Spirell while you’re running…? You’re truly unbelievable.”

“No time for pointless talk. He’s badly injured. I’m at my limit too.”

Rakar, the head of the Imperial Eradication Squad, was running alongside him. Faron was also running nearby. Leos only brought these three, including himself, and left the others behind.

The first reason was that he didn’t think anyone else could keep up with his pace, and the second was that he was well aware he was heading into a death trap.

An explosion right next to the Emperor’s palace. Like it or not, it drew attention, and by the time we got there, the Emperor’s forces could be swarming.

‘No matter how you slice it, we’re at a disadvantage.’

The Emperor’s in his own stronghold. And what’s more, it was hit by a monster attack less than 24 hours ago, so they’ll be on high alert. Charging in with unprepared forces is nothing short of suicide. That’s why what we need now is focus.

Rescue Drezar, and get intel on the Celestial Assembly and the Empire. For that, we need action and speed. And most important of all, power.

Leos slammed his feet into the ground a few times and shot forward, his body rocketing ahead with insane speed. Rakart and Faron were doing their best to keep up, not letting him out of sight.

Before long, the palace came into view, and the site of the explosion started to appear in our line of sight.

“…Well, at least we dodged the worst.”

Looking around, there weren’t any other knights or imperial troops. On closer inspection, there was a noise-canceling barrier deployed, preventing sound from escaping to the outside. The range of the barrier was quite wide, meaning they must have used at least a mid-grade or high-grade artifact, but these Celestial Assembly b*stards carry those around like it’s nothing, so it wasn’t a big deal.

-Swish-

Leos slipped into the barrier, his body passing through. It didn’t stop entry or exit, just blocked sound, it seemed. He gestured to Rakart and Faron, and they followed.

“Hoo… what a mess.”

Rakart looked around. Not only was there evidence of an explosion, but blood splatters were everywhere. There, two men were standing.

One was Drezar, a member of the Celestial Assembly who had infiltrated the Imperial Knights. And the other was another member of the Assembly, Perraton.

The bandages wrapped around Perraton’s body were soaked with blood. But Leos, having watched everything through Spiriel, could tell. The blood on the man’s bandages was all Drezar’s.

“You… came…”

Drezar, gripping his sword, wheezed, as if he were about to breathe his last, looking at Leos. Leos looked at him and said,

“Just one question. How did you know Spiriel was mine?”

“In the Celestial Assembly… your information is already widespread. The artifact you use, your companions, even your location and abilities. They’re not leaving you alone because they don’t know your location… it’s just…”

“Shut up!”

As Drezar began to speak, Perraton quickly swung his sword, trying to shut him up. But Leos intercepted it head-on.

-CHHIIIIIIIIING!

With a fierce clang, the spike ricocheted, and Ferratone’s body began to be pushed back. Ferratone, without even realizing it, let out a wry laugh.

“Hah… What the hell is this? I thought Artan was exaggerating. He really is a monster.”

It wasn’t just Ferratone who was stunned. Even Dreizar, who had only been watching from behind, had his eyes widen with a fierce glint at the overwhelming power.

‘That person…maybe he can change things…’

The Celestial Assembly was a collection of monsters. They were a group comprised of those who stood at the apex of martial power and those who were at the peak of their abilities. Personality, disposition, intelligence—none of it mattered to the Celestial Assembly. What mattered was how strong they were, and how extraordinary their powers were.

Dreizar, with his senses surpassing human limits, and Ferratone, with his superhuman strength, techniques, and overwhelming swordsmanship, were able to enter the Celestial Assembly.

Dreizar, with his extraordinary senses, predicted his own defeat even before exchanging a single blow with Ferratone. Yet, it was Dreizar who spoke.

“Ferratone. You will lose. He’s not someone you can handle. Surrender now and swear to abandon the Celestial Assembly. Do that and maybe your life can be spared.”

“You crazy b*stard!”

Ferratone shot out a wave of sword energy again, trying to kill Dreizar, but the moment Leos unsheathed his blade, the sword energy dissipated into thin air. Ferratone, for a moment, fell silent and stared at Leos.

His senses, honed to a point where the wind felt like it was tearing his skin, made Ferratone feel the killing intent all over his body. He slowly opened his mouth.

“Leos, I’ve heard stories about you. Artan has been singing your praises all day long, how you’re the only talent who can lead the Empire, the reincarnation of the Sword God, and all that crap. Honestly, I thought Artan had lost his mind when I heard it. But I apologize. Artan was actually undervaluing you. Your talent is exactly what the Celestial Assembly needs.”

“…”

“Artan recommended you join, but you refused. But what you need to understand is that no matter how exceptional you are alone, you cannot withstand the entirety of the Celestial Assembly. Your companions Herisia, Bendict, and everything you write and comment on the Interrunner—the one who founded our Celestial Assembly is watching it all, every single moment. He is using artifacts and his own abilities to watch your every move.”

Ferratone pointed to the sky as he spoke.

“He is watching you right now. There’s no point in trying to escape. If you try to defy fate, you’ll only fall deeper into the swamp. Just submit. If you submit, you can avoid the worst possible fate. There is nowhere, nowhere you can hide from his gaze.”

Leos, without a word, lowered his sword and started walking forward. Then, he spoke.

“If that person is so omnipotent, if that person is watching everything, then why isn’t he stepping up himself, instead of sending out these pathetic goons?”

“…a lackey…?”

Feratone’s face began to twist into a vicious snarl.

“I am a member of the Celestial Assembly. How dare you belittle—”

“So, this great Celestial Assembly, why are they hiding behind the scenes and acting like dogs? If you’re so confident, why not come in a pack and kill me? What are you so afraid of that you’re hiding? If what you say is true, the one who founded the Celestial Assembly is watching this whole situation, right?”

Leos raised his Blood-Soaked Sword towards the sky.

“Come here now. Or I swear, with Artan’s blade, I will cut the head off this piece of trash.”

“…”

Dozens of seconds passed with no reply. Leos laughed like a madman for a while, then whispered to him,

“Seeing as there’s no reaction, it’s one of two things. Either you lied, or it seems the one you believe in and follow so blindly has abandoned you.”

“Don’t talk such nonsense! He would never abandon me. He spoke to me personally, about sharing the infinite glory we would create!”

“You’re the one talking nonsense. Don’t go on as if you’ve been chosen, as if you’re something great. To me, you and the rest of the Celestial Assembly are just a bunch of mentally ill b*stards obsessed with being special.”

“…You won’t die peacefully. I acknowledge your skill, but if I go all out, a nobody like you—!”

“Five.”

Leos drew the Blood-Soaked Sword from its scabbard and raised it, adding once more,

“I will kill you within five attacks.”

“The first is overhead.”

– *shlick!* –

Leos’s sword traced a beautiful arc from the sky to the ground, sliding down like a smooth line. Starting with a graceful curve, it struck with the intensity of a lightning bolt at the end.

“Kugh…!”

Feratone desperately blocked the attack, but because he had pushed his mana past its limits, he began to cough up blood instantly.

“Second, the lower.”

Leos’s sword vanished into the ground in a flash, then scraped horizontally, aiming for Ferratone’s calf. He jerked back, but the blade bit deep into his leg.

Blood began to spatter, and Ferratone, limping with the unhealing wound, cursed.

“Goddamn it…that Arthan, that goddamn b*stard, gave that blood-sucking sword to him of all people…”

“Does it feel like you’re losing because of the sword?”

Leos threw the blood-sucking sword haphazardly to the ground. As if such a thing was of no consequence.

And this time, after twirling the chain sword several times, he rotated his body and hurled it at Ferratone.

“Third, the midsection.”

– *FWA-A-A-ANG!*

Like a whip cracking down hard, the chain sword tore through the air at a speed approaching sonic, aiming for Ferratone.

Ferratone frantically blocked the blow with his sword in front of his chest, but the sword, already worn from the previous impact, shattered.

-*CLANG!*

As the sword, which seemed as if it could never be broken, shattered, Ferratone mumbled, losing his mind.

“D-don’t… don’t mess with me… I… I can’t be losing so overwhelmingly…”

Leos, looking at Ferratone trembling in fear, whispered in a cold voice.

“Now, two times left.”