WeTried Translations
Translator: Joy
Editor: Joy
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 13: Home Sweet Home (2)
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The flash of lightning was so intense Yuri thought it might blind him.
Before he could even close his eyes in fright, Haryeong moved first.
Her outstretched hand covered Yuri’s eyes. Haryeong closed her own eyes and turned her back. Namgung Jin, who was near where the lightning struck, also shut his eyes, covered his face with both arms, and leapt straight up.
Crackle!
The delayed sound shook the air.
The lightning did not extend beyond the mansion grounds before it vanished. No current spread through the ground either.
Instead, violet sparks of electricity crackled through the air. Once Haryeong confirmed that the lightning had disappeared, she cautiously opened her eyes.
“My apologies. The situation was sudden.”
With that, Haryeong removed the hand covering Yuri’s eyes. Yuri opened his eyes as well and looked ahead.
“Ghh... ugh...”
Namgung Jin, who had jumped up before the lightning struck, was sprawled facedown on the ground, twitching like a fish that had been hauled out of the water.
Yuri swallowed and shifted his gaze.
Two people, no, one person stood where the lightning had struck.
A tall woman with black hair tied behind her back, wearing a pure white shirt, a black vest, black trousers, and dress shoes.
“So this is the bold fool who broke into my dear prospective disciple’s home.”
Heavenly Thunder Orca Dersia.
She looked down at Namgung Jin as though he were an insect.
“To think you really are the fourth son of the great Namgung Family. Has your longing for her driven you mad?”
‘Longing?’
Yuri flinched and looked at Namgung Jin. So that was why the lunatic had been pressing the doorbell so relentlessly, and why he had lost control the moment he saw Yuri’s wet hair.
“Ghh... rrgh...”
“Namgung Juwon’s childrearing must be even more dreadful than I thought. Your father is a man worthy of calling himself a tiger, yet you do not even look fit to become a dog.”
Golden light flashed in Orca’s eyes. The Lightning Qi that had prevented Namgung Jin from saying a word vanished at once.
“T-Tower Master...”
Elena, who had been tucked under Orca’s arm like baggage, spoke up.
“We’ve arrived, so please put me down.”
“How was the ride?”
The gaze that had been cold as ice when fixed on Namgung Jin softened as it turned to Elena. With a playful smile, Orca ran her fingers through Elena’s blonde hair.
“You should consider it an honour. You are the first among my prospective disciples to experience my Thunder God’s Mirage, even indirectly.”
“Th-thank you...”
“There is nothing to thank me for. I did not do it because you are special and adorable. The situation was urgent, so I had no choice. It would be unfair to let only you experience it, so next time, I should let Arist and Lacey experience Thunder God’s Mirage too.”
It was a mischievous whisper.
Normally, Elena would have wilted at those words, her shoulders drooping. But not today. She chewed at her bitten lip and glared at Namgung Jin.
“You are very angry. What do you want to do?”
Orca chuckled and set Elena down. Standing on her own feet, Elena pressed down her dishevelled hair and took a short breath.
“Do what?”
“With that thing that is not even fit to be a dog.”
Orca pointed at Namgung Jin. Though only a finger had been aimed at him, Namgung Jin’s face turned pale as he tried to push himself up.
“I already fried him once, but that will not be enough. Elena, do you want to fry him yourself?”
“I-It is a misunderstanding!”
Namgung Jin could not lose his temper in front of Heavenly Thunder Orca. Trembling, he fell to his knees.
“Lady Orca, please hear my circumstances. I...”
“Namgung mutt, why should I hear your circumstances?”
Orca frowned.
“This is not my mansion. It is the mansion of my dear prospective disciple, Elena Heinderga. Should you not speak to my prospective disciple instead?”
“Th-that...”
“I have never particularly been disappointed in your father, Namgung Juwon. Yet seeing you makes me disappointed in your father. Namgung mutt, you appealed to me because I am the strongest person here, did you not?”
Namgung Jin’s lips trembled, but he could not continue.
Orca stared at him as though she truly found him contemptible, then let out a short laugh and shook her head.
“At least it is fortunate for Namgung Juwon that you are not the eldest.”
Orca stepped back without another word, leaving Elena at the front.
Elena gave the kneeling Namgung Jin an icy stare.
“M-Miss Elena...”
“Young Master Namgung Jin. There is no need to explain to me why you trespassed into my home, what you did here, or what conversation took place.”
Elena spoke.
“I have already seen what happened here through magic. So there is no need for you to explain your circumstances to me.”
“Th-there was a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding? Please, do not make any more excuses to me.”
“It is not an excuse...”
“Enough!”
Elena’s voice rose. Golden currents crackled in response to her turbulent emotions.
“The person you tried to harm is a guest I personally invited into my home. My childhood friend, who arrived here today after a long journey. Yet you not only trespassed into my home, you attacked my childhood friend, who knows neither martial arts nor magic.”
“...”
“You do not expect me to be grateful because you held back, do you? Young Master Namgung Jin, I am deeply disappointed in you today. The Namgung Family, a prestigious clan and righteous sect, using violence against an ordinary person with no intention of fighting because of a ‘misunderstanding’...!”
“I... I will apologise.”
Namgung Jin rose unsteadily.
“I understand why you are disappointed, Miss Elena. I will not make any more excuses. So...”
“Is your apology not directed at the wrong person?”
Elena’s shoulders trembled. She abruptly turned to Yuri.
“I... apologise.”
There was no time to cling to his pride. Namgung Jin desperately wanted this situation to end as quickly as possible. He bowed his head toward Yuri.
“I-I made a grave mistake. So...”
“I understand.”
Yuri also wanted this to end.
He had thought that if he simply waited, Haryeong would come, then Elena would arrive and smooth things over. He had never expected Orca Dersia herself to show up.
“Isn’t a verbal apology insufficient?”
Orca, who had been watching from a short distance away, grinned.
“Whatever the reason, that Namgung mutt trespassed here. How lightly must the Namgung Family regard the Dersia Mage Tower to have done something like this?”
“L-Lightly? Absolutely not. This has nothing to do with my family. I acted alone...”
“Did you truly do this without trusting in your family’s influence? Can you swear that you never thought you would be safe even if you crossed the line because you had your precious Namgung Family behind you?”
Golden light flashed in Orca’s eyes.
Even Yuri could tell that it was an obvious trap. No matter how Namgung Jin answered, Orca would question him further.
“N-no...”
Namgung Jin knew it too. That was why he had no choice but to give Orca the answer she wanted.
“Then you relied on the Namgung Family’s power and looked down on a mage of the Dersia Mage Tower. Let us see. Under Rutlan’s city laws, breaking into another person’s home is punishable by a fine. If you steal something, your ankle is cut so you can never climb a wall again. If you injure someone, your wrist is cut so you can never throw a punch again.”
The mere fact that such laws were enforced showed how different Oldor and Rutlan were as cities. Of course, the law was not enforced without exception, but this was the central district, a place that could safely be called within the law’s protection.
“You did not steal anything, so there is no need to cut your ankle. But you did cause injury, so your wrist must be cut. You appear to be right-handed. Learning swordsmanship with your left hand from now on would be difficult, so I shall cut your left wrist instead of your right. The Tower Master of the Dersia Mage Tower is so merciful.”
Namgung Jin could not say anything. His mouth simply hung open.
Those words did not sound like a joke to him. Heavenly Thunder Orca was more than capable of doing exactly that.
“A fine and a wrist. It is unfortunate for you, but this will not end with a fine and your left wrist. First, as the Tower Master of the Dersia Mage Tower, I will formally settle this matter with the Namgung Family. Namgung Juwon, how lightly must you regard me and the Dersia Mage Tower for your son to trespass into my prospective disciple’s home? That is what I will ask him.”
“P-please...”
“Still, I may not have enough influence alone. Naturally, since you did this because you thought so little of me and the Dersia Mage Tower, your father may not even listen to an appeal from me. Perhaps he will tear my letter requesting a visit to the Mage Tower into pieces, or turn me away at the door if I visit him myself.”
“L-Lady Orca...”
Namgung Jin’s face went beyond pale and turned purple. Yet Orca did not stop.
“So I will have no choice but to ask my old friend for help. Alfreon Ascard has told me to ask him whenever I need help. I have only asked him for help twice before, but thanks to you, this will be the third time. And, just so you know, I have more than enough justification. Surely you know that the Ascard Family has long been a patron of the Dersia Mage Tower?”
“...”
“You do know who Alfreon Ascard is?”
“H-He is the head of the Ascard Family.”
“That is right. Alfreon is the head of the Ascard Family. Just as your Namgung Family values its honour, the Ascard Family values its honour as well. The Dersia Mage Tower is not one of their businesses, but we still live off their patronage day after day. To exaggerate a little, could we not call ourselves family sharing the same pot?”
“Please...!”
Namgung Jin could no longer remain standing. He drove his knees into the ground again.
“Namgung mutt, I have not finished speaking. As I said, I will meet your father together with Alfreon Ascard and settle this matter. Then I will explain today’s events in detail. Not only that you trespassed into my prospective disciple’s home, but that you used violence against an ordinary person who knows neither martial arts nor magic. What do you think will happen then? I do not know.”
“Huff... hhk...”
Namgung Jin clutched his chest, struggling to breathe.
“I do not know the Namgung Family’s rules well enough to say. But I have already decided what I will demand there. Telling them to close their gates for about ten years should be appropriate. If I make that demand, Alfreon, who does not think kindly of the Namgung Family, will surely smile brightly.”
Thud!
Namgung Jin struck his forehead against the ground.
“Please... please, do not do that. You may cut both my wrists. No, I would rather take my own life.”
“If you die here, do you think Namgung Juwon will remain still?”
“I-I will write a will so that no blame falls upon the Dersia Mage Tower. Then I will take my life in my own room.”
Yuri, who had been listening in silence, could not help admiring Orca’s viciousness.
The price for that son of a bitch climbing over someone else’s wall and throwing one palm strike and two punches had snowballed. If Orca truly acted as she said, Namgung Jin’s left wrist would be cut, and the Namgung Family would have no choice but to close its gates for ten years.
“You may be a pathetic fool, but I would not feel comfortable driving a youngster with more days ahead of him than behind him to suicide.”
Orca smiled and shook her head.
“So, I will accept a fine and three Azure Heaven Pills as payment for every crime you have committed. What do you think?”
“Yes...?”
“Are you deaf? A fine and three Azure Heaven Pills. If you do not like that...”
“I-I will do it.”
Thud!
Namgung Jin struck his forehead against the ground again.
The Azure Heaven Pill was the Namgung Family’s secret elixir, an item with an atrociously low drop rate even in the game.
“Your wrist, perhaps even your life, a fine, and ten years of closed gates for the Namgung Family. All of it has been settled with a fine and three Azure Heaven Pills. Namgung mutt, today is a very lucky day for you.”
“Yes... yes, it truly is...”
“Ah, the amount of the fine may be whatever amount you judge appropriate.”
“Yes... As soon as it is ready, I will immediately send it to the Dersia Mage Tower...”
Namgung Jin hurriedly took back his words.
“N-No, I will have it sent here.”
“Very well. Go now. Ah, this should be obvious, but do not so much as show your face near Elena again.”
Orca turned her back on Namgung Jin without looking at him again.
Only then did Namgung Jin stagger to his feet. He did not even brush the dirt from his clothes and face as he backed away in hesitant steps and left the mansion.
“Elena, what do you think?”
Elena, who had been staring blankly with her mouth open, flinched at being called so suddenly.
“Y-Yes?”
“I said a verbal apology was insufficient, did I not? This way, you can receive much more. Is that not a good lesson?”
“...”
“Of course, I could extract this much only because I am the Tower Master of the Dersia Mage Tower. Elena, do not forget today’s lesson. Strive to become the next Tower Master.”
“Yes...”
Elena nodded, though she looked somewhat dissatisfied.
“But, Tower Master. Were you really planning to visit the Namgung Family?”
“Would my words have come out so smoothly if I had not?”
Orca giggled with a mischievous smile.
“My mouth is dry from talking so much. Since I have come all this way, I should have a cup of tea at your home before I leave.”
“You said the tea I make is terrible.”
“Sometimes, one must deliberately drink terrible tea to rinse one’s mouth. Only then can one appreciate anew how excellent the tea one usually drinks is.”
“If you miss my tea that much, I will visit your room tomorrow and make some for you. Today...”
Elena looked anxiously at Yuri.
“I have a guest at home... and there is still much to do...”
“Tsk. You would send away the Tower Master who brought you here without even inviting her inside? When you were young, you could not even meet my eyes and could only move your lips. You have certainly grown up.”
“W-When did I ever do that? Fine, fine, let us go in together. Just do not talk about the old days...!”
“Forget it. I will put off the hell in my mouth until tomorrow. Tonight, I will go out for a meal as my last supper.”
As Orca spoke, she patted Elena’s shoulder.
“But before I leave, I should at least hear an introduction.”
Her golden gaze turned toward Yuri.
“Sorry for the belated introduction. I’m Yuri.”
Yuri bowed his head.
“Yes. I heard your name first, actually. I was wondering where she had disappeared to for half a month without even making a proper report.”
Orca’s eyes curved.
“To think she would bring home a man.”
“I told you it is not like that!”
Elena let out a shriek at the mischievous mutter.
Footnotes:
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