WeTried Translations x Flame Comics
Translator/Editor: Hydrogen B
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Chapter 119: 16. The Person Who Travels Abroad to a Conflict Zone During Vacation (10)
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* * *
“Huff.... Hup....”
Rundis Elovandi opened her eyes with a ragged gasp. The chains that had bound her lay scattered across the floor, their power gone.
The hallucination and sleep spells that had flooded her mind had been shattered. They had been powerful enough that even a dwarf with strong magic resistance should not have been able to overcome them.
There were only two possibilities. Either the necromancers had won, or they had died on the battlefield. If it was the former, they had cut off the mana because they no longer needed a prisoner. If it was the latter....
Could that really be possible?
The great heroes of Andgrund might have been able to defeat the vile underlings of the Seven Dragon Generals. Of course they could have.
But with half our people having fallen for the necromancers’ temptations, could Father truly overcome this crisis?
No. I have to believe.
Even through her fear, Rundis forced herself to pull herself together. Her father was not someone who could be defeated. He would surely crush the necromancers and rescue her.
She tried to believe that as she swallowed back the sob threatening to burst out.
-Step, step, step.
Footsteps echoed from far down the prison where Rundis was held. Her pointed dwarf ears twitched. Beneath her beard, her lips had gone white with fear.
Soon, someone emerged from the shadows of the corridor.
Towering height, fiercely burning eyes, an axe anyone could tell had been made by dwarves....
An ash-gray beard distinctive to dwarves, muscles so solid he could only be a dwarf....
And the stench of blood, the sour reek unique to a necromancer’s corrupted mana, the stale air of death carrying poison and curses.
A necromancer’s underling. And....
“Have you come to kill me?!”
Rundis clenched her teeth and stood.
I am the child of Durantlain Elovandi, Secretary of Andgrund. I will not show fear, no matter what happens!
Even if I die, I will die without disgracing Father’s honor. With that vow, she hid her trembling hands and shouted.
“How dare you betray our people!”
“...?”
“What did you offer in exchange for that height? How many comrades did you offer up to the necromancers? No, do you even have a soul left?!”
“......??”
The tall dwarf stared down at Rundis. He stood before the bars for a moment, silently considering her words.
“...What?”
“You betrayed your comrades and stained the honor of your ancestors just to become as tall as a human?! Even if I die here today, I will curse you forever alongside my ancestors. Andgrund will never forgive you!!”
“Lucia.”
“Heheheh... yes?”
“Translate.”
A short woman stepped out from behind the tall dwarf, grinning as she patted his chest.
“Translate what? Your ancestors are cursing you, Senior Brother!”
“My ancestors are not in this land.”
-Clank.
The man gripped the bars and seemed to assess something for a moment. Then he nodded, stepped back, and raised his axe.
“Are you Durantlain Elovandi’s son?”
“That’s right! Coward! I am Durantlain Elovandi’s d... son! Rundis Elovandi! Go on, kill me! Unlike you, I will not deny my roots just to cling to life!”
“Ahahahahahah!!!”
The woman collapsed, cackling. The man pressed at his brow and muttered something before answering.
“Stand back. It’s dangerous.”
“What?”
“I’m breaking the bars. I said stand back because it’s dangerous.”
As Rundis hesitantly backed away, the man raised his axe and settled into position. She hurriedly stopped him.
“W-wait! Did you say you came to rescue me...?”
“Why don’t we discuss it outside? It seems you found the cell rather cozy.”
“N-no, that’s not it. This was made by our finest craftsmen, and the necromancers placed all sorts of spells on it....”
-Slice.
Before Rundis could finish, the man’s axe cut cleanly through the bars.
It was such a clean cut that not even a spark flew as the iron split apart. Still flustered, Rundis continued.
“...but I suppose it isn’t anymore....”
“Ahhhehehe....”
The woman behind the man, who had been slapping the floor, made a strangled sound.
The man walked over and stopped in front of Rundis.
“Are you hurt?”
“No...”
“Why did you lie?”
“...What?”
“You’re not Elovandi’s son.”
The man slid his axe into his belt and reached toward Rundis’s face. As she tried to pull back, his hand moved through her beard like a comb, seized it, and yanked.
With a rip, the beard came off in his hand. A smooth, pale jawline was revealed beneath it. There was not even beard stubble, let alone a trace of shaving.
I thought something was strange. She was a woman. She must have flattened her chest beneath her clothes.
The man gave Rundis a quick look and nodded.
“You were a daughter.”
“Ah... ahh!!”
“A fake beard. It’s quite well made.”
“Th-this humiliation... this shame...!! Father will... this insult, I will definitely...!”
“Do as you like. Let’s move first.”
“Tell me your name!! I-I-I will make you pay for this humiliation!!”
The man stopped walking and turned to look at Rundis. The terrifying pressure made her instinctively step back, but she soon stood tall again with a resolute expression.
“Ivan Petrovich Yermof. Have you heard of me?”
“What a strange name!! What sort of rootless family has two surnames... two... huh?”
Ivan...? Ivan Petrovich...? That name was far too familiar. It had such an unsettling sound, and....
Had she heard it somewhere...?
More specifically, in a children’s song...?
It had a rhythm like, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmmm....
“Black... Widow?”
“That’s what they call me.”
“Really...?”
Rundis quickly folded her hands politely and glanced at the man before her. The woman who had come with him was leaning against the wall, panting as she tried to hold back her laughter. Seeing that, it did not seem like a lie....
Yes, if it was the Black Widow... he could have defeated the necromancers and rescued her....
But why would the Black Widow be here?
Why had he appeared in the dwarven civil war? More importantly, hadn’t they said he was dead? Had she heard wrong? Had they not said he was dead, but that he would kill her? What was going on...?
Rundis’s eyes began to spin. Lost in confusion, she finally reached the proper conclusion.
“Were your parents dwarves, sir?”
“Hrk...! Cough! I-I think I’m going to die, Senior Brother. I-I can’t breathe. I need a healing potion...!”
“Quiet.”
If he had dwarven ancestors and had only realized it later in life....
Then it made sense that the Black Widow would join the dwarven civil war, stand on the righteous side, and raise his axe for justice.
The man most feared by dwarves had actually been a dwarf himself. After learning the secret of his lineage, he had returned to Andgrund to atone for his sins through service.
It was the very picture of a romantic redemption story. The return of the prodigal son and an entire heroic epic, all in one.
He had crushed evil dragons and necromancers, punished traitors, and rescued a kidnapped princess. All of that was true.
Wow, that tall dwarf was starting to seem pretty decent.
With her eyes spinning, Rundis understood the whole truth and was filled with admiration.
-Rumbleee!!
“Eek?!”
At that moment, the corridor shook with a thunderous roar, and stone dust scattered through the air. Rundis clutched her head and sank to the floor.
Ivan pulled out his pocket watch, checked the time, and frowned.
“The Northern Army has begun the engagement. There’s no time. Move.”
“W-wait! Sir! I-I’m sorry, but could you return my beard? Well, um, you already have such an excellent beard.... Ah, if you need the beard strap or rings hanging from it, you can take those, but... I can give you better ones later, so please return the beard first....”
Ivan finally lost patience and struck Lucia on the back of the head with a thump. Lucia burst into laughter while gasping for breath, then bit her tongue and writhed in pain.
Ignoring Lucia’s muffled groans, Ivan stared at the beard in his hand.
“Why?”
“Ah... ah. I understand why you want it. Beards, well, the more the better. Right? But.... I need to be a son. You know? I have to be a son... If it gets out that I was shaved, then your life will be in serious danger, sir. I’m saying this for your sake, too....”
“Quiet. Take it.”
Ivan tossed the beard to Rundis and turned away. She hurriedly caught it and carefully fastened it beneath her chin.
The strap had loosened, which made her uneasy, but this would do. Rundis finally let out a long breath of relief.
“Ahem, yes. Thank you, sir. Where are we going now?”
“Northern Army Headquarters.”
“...What? There was an army like that?”
“Yes. You are now ‘our’ prisoner.”
Ivan gave a short nod, then put handcuffs on Rundis’s wrists. Making a confused noise, she was dragged away by Ivan’s hand.
* * *
[...Achieved a broad system of logistical support agreements and technical cooperation in civil engineering, construction, metallurgy, and other fields. The Northern Second Corps will remain stationed near Andgrund and lead ongoing ‘defense industry cooperation.’
Due to unrest during the process of ending the ‘civil war,’ the Northern Second Corps has currently suffered losses of 323 dead and 21 armored vehicles destroyed....
...Attached is the follow-up report from Lieutenant General Balakliya Svatoski Balika, commander of the Second Corps.
...Attached is the full text of the ‘Treaty to Prohibit the Spread of Averagism,’ signed by Durantlain Elovandi, ‘General Secretary’ of Andgrund.
...Attached is a proposal for an agreement concerning ‘plans to establish the Saint Yansk University College of Engineering and dispatch its faculty.’
...Attached is the request for entrusted education of Durantlain Elovandi’s daughter, ‘Rundis Elovandi.’
Reported by: Enrika Seregeyevica.
Reviewed by: Ivan Petrovich Yermof.]
“Enrika!!”
Elizaveta grabbed the report and glared straight ahead. Enrika had already fled by the time the veins began bulging on her forehead.
Her eyes searched for another target and found Dmitry. Clutching her forehead and groaning, she spoke with difficulty.
“What did they say happened to Vanka?”
“He must remain completely at rest for at least two weeks, Your Majesty.”
“I would like to amend the constitution. Is that possible?”
“I shall summon the Minister of Justice. Please give your orders.”
“From now on, all official business in Krasilov shall, as a rule, be carried out only after being reported. What do you think?”
“I shall obey.”
“He went alone, ended a civil war, killed every necromancer claiming to be descendants of Aviditas, rescued the kidnapped child of a secretary, then pressured the dwarves with the Northern Army to secure ‘military cooperation’? Does... does that make any sense? Does it?”
Dmitry silently nodded at Elizaveta’s words. Well, if it was his senior, it was believable.
Elizaveta clutched at her chest when she saw that expression. That bastard was getting his pay cut. The charge was disrespect.
“Rundis Elovandi...? Where is that girl now?”
“She has been confirmed to be in a Cathedral ward. I shall summon her.”
“Do so.”
* * *
“So then, sir threw three heads right onto the table, bam! Wow, all the adults’ faces just froze!”
“Three heads...?”
“Yes! You should have seen them. The necromancers’ heads. They were pale, shiny bald heads, with black tattoos all over them. Ugh, it was so creepy, right?”
Rundis stretched out her arms wide and chattered away.
“Then, in this voice that echoed everywhere, he said, ‘Everything you requested has been accomplished.’ Wow... I’m telling you, that was the first time I’d ever seen Father make an expression like that. He froze as if he had seen a demon crawl out of hell.”
“That’s not too far off....”
“Then those strange humans handed them documents and told them to stamp them. I honestly thought they were loan sharks. Moneylenders! Like they had come to collect a debt. Really!”
“Hmmm... mm. Sounds like you had an exciting vacation...?”
Isabelle looked at Rundis with a warm smile.
She had been thrown into a Cathedral ward the moment vacation began, then woke up at the end of it and learned that Ivan had gone traveling during vacation?
Hmm. Is that so?
Still smiling gently, Isabelle asked the strange little dwarf.
“But... it sounds like what that man did was not particularly good for your father. Why are you here?”
“Ah! Father doesn’t get carried away by something like this! Did you know? Sir is actually... a half-dwarf!”
“...What?”
“There’s no one in Andgrund who doesn’t know now! Of course, a person who can terrify dwarves has to be a dwarf! We would never be afraid of any race other than ourselves!”
“...No, that is not the point. What? What did you say?”
Without paying any attention to Isabelle’s confusion, Rundis kept chattering.
“So Father came up with a brilliant idea! ‘Authority comes from fear.’ Wow... isn’t that cool? Then he told me, ‘Make the person all dwarves fear most our ally.’”
What was that even supposed to mean...?
Isabelle stared blankly at the exuberant Rundis.
Rundis puffed out her chest and declared.
“If the Black Widow joins House Elovandi, Father’s authority will last forever! I won’t need to live as a son anymore! My son will become a secretary!”
“Wow.”
“And this is a secret....”
Rundis lowered her voice and looked around. Then she leaned close to Isabelle and whispered.
“Humans are kind of... lacking, you know? To a half-dwarf like sir, they must seem a bit... right? Dwarves should live with dwarves.”
“You will not do.”
Isabelle stared for a moment at the enormous lump of fat, roughly the size of the Saintess, then smiled and nodded.
No. That bastard needed to shave.
Now he’d even brought home a woman with his beard?
Seriously. This time, really.
What? A half-dwarf? Hahaha....
I really want to kill him....
EP 16. The Person Who Travels Abroad to a Conflict Zone During Vacation.
Footnotes:
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