WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

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◈ Damned Transmigration

Chapter 23

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The Master’s gaze

There were only three ways to meet Heavenly Thunder Orca in the game, and Yuri remembered them all with a grim familiarity.

You could hire a Salhomun assassin as a guard and wait for her to emerge from the tower. You could kill a member of the Ascard Family to draw her out. Or you could do it the direct way: invade the tower itself.

No legitimate route had ever existed. The tower’s magic was bought with blood; you killed its mages, and eventually, you killed Orca herself.

His old character, UrMumSpammer, had been forced to kill her again and again to unlock the God of Chaos.

He’d usually opted for the direct approach.

The Ascards were a lucrative farm, as they dropped currency, elixirs, and resources, but killing too many of them triggered tedious manhunts by tower mages.

It was simply more efficient to clear the tower first.

But the Orca of the game had been a Level 81 boss waiting alone on the fifth floor of a simple dungeon. The reality was much, much taller.

Yuri swallowed, craning his neck at the structure that rose more than ten storeys into the sky.

Another sound echoed beside him. He turned to see Elena, lips pressed tight, more nervous than he’d ever seen her.

“What are you so tense about?”

“W-What do you mean?”

She flinched at his voice, startled, and Yuri nudged her with his elbow.

“Anyone can tell you’re nervous.”

‘Shouldn’t I be the one sweating?’ he muttered inwardly, glaring at the entrance.

He still had no idea why Orca wanted to see him.

Yesterday, the eccentric mage had simply appeared in Elena’s lab and said, ‘Bring your childhood friend here tomorrow morning.’

Elena had been terrified.

She asked why, but got no answer. No matter how favoured she was as a prospective disciple, refusing Orca wasn’t an option.

And so, here they were.

“I doubt she plans to kill you,” Haryeong said. Calm, composed, not the least bit fazed.

“Think of it as an interview.”

“What sort of interview? I’ve no intention of becoming a Dersia mage.”

“That’s quite the assumption.”

She gave him a flat look.

“Though I agree, it’s unlikely she’s calling you in to recruit you. Abandon any such hopes.”

“…Then what?”

“Who knows?”

She shrugged and stepped back.

“I’ll inform Sir Bakerd you won’t be training today. Lady Elena, shall I fetch you again at the usual time?”

“Y-Yes.”

Haryeong clicked her tongue, her gaze flicking between a trembling Elena and a stoic Yuri. A flicker of something crossed her face.

Yuri had seen the change in Elena himself.

Before he’d arrived, she had been cold, fiercely focused on her research. Now, she had softened.

She was still diligent, but something had shifted. In a place like this, diligence wasn’t enough. The tower demanded obsession, a madness for magic.

Perhaps that was what Orca wanted to see.

Before Yuri, Elena hadn’t been mad, but she had the potential.

What about now?

“L-Let’s go in.”

Her voice trembled.

To be honest, Yuri wanted to turn around.

He’d never wanted to get involved with Orca, eccentric as she was. But she had named him specifically. Refusal wasn’t an option, so, he sighed and followed Elena through the entrance.

In the game, enemies would attack the moment you set foot inside. Reality wasn’t that literal, but the stares he drew from the mages in the lounge were sharp enough to cut.

“Oh my.”

A woman reclined on one of the chairs, snorting.

Her robes were a lavish, deep purple embroidered with gold, jewellery glittering across her hands.

“Well, well. The man from the rumours.”

Her eyes slid to Elena with mocking ease.

Elena’s face tightened. She bit her lip before giving the woman a curt nod.

“Senior Arist. I’m surprised to see you here.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? This is still the Dersia Mage Tower.”

“You just seem awfully relaxed. I heard you failed to meet this quarter’s research quota.”

Arist’s smirk faltered. She fussed with her spotless robes, then forced a smile.

“Thanks for your concern. But you must have heard wrong. I’ve no problems.”

“I’m sure. If things go poorly, you can always lean on your family’s mages again.”

“What?!”

“Though perhaps you should restrain yourself this time. Last quarter, you just patched together Benharman magic, didn’t you?”

Arist’s face flamed.

The Benharman Family was counted among the great houses of magic.

“You…!”

She shot to her feet, trembling with fury, but the other mages in the lounge barely looked up. This was obviously not their first spat.

“You penniless, lineage-lacking commoner—”

“That’s enough.”

A calm voice cut her short.

A woman in a pure white gown walked over, her tone quiet but absolute.

“There are things you can say, and things you shouldn’t.”

The whole room stilled. Arist froze, then lowered her head quickly.

“Senior Lacey.”

Elena let out a breath, her expression cooling, and bowed her head as well.

‘So that’s her.’

Yuri knew the name.

Lacey Yuzha. A prodigy who’d reached the 4th Circle at twenty and now, at twenty-seven, stood at the 5th.

‘And some say she might be a transmigrator.’

His first impression of Lacey was far better than the brazenly rude Arist.

“We have a rare guest from outside. And this is how you welcome him?” Lacey said, twirling a strand of her messy purple hair as she stared at Arist.

Still bowing her head, Arist didn’t answer. She slumped back into her seat, sulking.

“Honestly.”

With a wry smile, Lacey stopped in front of Elena.

“My apologies. The Tower Master herself announced your visit, but… well, it’s not every day a non-mage walks these halls.”

She glanced around the lounge.

“Alright, that’s enough gawking. Haven’t you all seen enough? Or do you plan to camp here until lunch?”

So that was why the lounge had been packed.

The mages hadn’t gathered by chance, they had all come to see Yuri for themselves.

Once the others reluctantly dispersed, Lacey turned back.

“Elena, you should head to your lab.”

“What? But, Senior—”

“It’s the Tower Master’s order. I’ll guide our guest personally. You focus on your work. The quarterly report deadline is coming up, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Not that I doubt you’ll meet it.”

Lacey’s tone was gentle, her faint smile leaving Elena unable to argue.

For Elena, Lacey had once been like an older sister, someone who had helped her adapt when she was just a ten-year-old newcomer to the tower.

“…Yes.”

In the end, Elena nodded and stepped aside.

“See you later,” she whispered, eyes full of worry.

Yuri forced a calm smile and waved.

“This way, please,” Lacey said, guiding him towards the lift.

“How should I address you?” she asked once they stepped inside.

“Just Yuri is fine.”

“Alright then, Yuri.”

‘Is she really a transmigrator?’ Yuri wondered, staring at the back of her head.

Her hair was messy, uncombed. Nothing about her looked like the tower’s golden prodigy. But according to Elena, she’d already surpassed Orca’s Circle at the same age.

‘If the rumours are true, Orca must know. And she still kept her as a disciple candidate. That means… either she confirmed it, or she doesn’t care.’

It made sense. Not all transmigrators ruined the world. Some just… lived. And magic suited the kind of individuality a transmigrator carried.

‘THOR123 would have tried conquering the tower, no matter what.’

The father of lightning mages. A player who had stubbornly stuck to the lightning attribute and had killed Orca more than anyone else in Seronis.

‘Could Lacey be him?’

In the game, you could grind stats and bulldoze through the tower. In reality, that wasn’t possible.

Maybe THOR123, after transmigrating, had taken the safer route of joining the tower.

‘I can’t just ask her.’

The lift hummed as it rose. Yuri’s eyes stayed on the back of her head.

“I’m sorry about earlier,” Lacey said suddenly.

She turned with a faint smile.

“You may not realise it, but you’re quite famous, Yuri.”

“…Famous?”

“There are rumours.”

“Not good ones, I assume.”

“I can’t deny that.”

He exhaled softly.

“My own frustrations aside, I feel worse for Elena. All because of me.”

“The fact that you’re childhood friends is well known. But Elena is someone who naturally draws attention.”

“That’s all we are: childhood friends. Nothing romantic.”

He kept his tone flat. He wasn’t deaf; he’d heard the whispers whenever he left the estate.

Marigold’s man. Kept man.

“Actually, I was interested in you too,” Lacey said lightly.

“Did you know I used to share a room with Elena? Back then, she talked about you a lot. I was even the one who sent her first letter.”

“Ah… I see.”

“A childhood friend. That’s a rare thing to have. I never had anyone like that.”

She chuckled.

Yuri glanced at the floor indicator, then asked, “Why did the Tower Master summon me?”

“Who knows? I wasn’t told. Only this—”

Her blue eyes curved in a smile as she studied his face.

“—to meet you and see what kind of person you are. That’s why I’m guiding you. I’ve always been told I’m good at reading people.”

“…I’m nothing special.”

“I doubt that. I heard you only started martial arts training a month ago, yet…”

She smirked.

“You don’t look it.”

“I heard you’re the greatest talent in the tower’s history. Do you know martial arts too?”

“Being a mage doesn’t mean relying only on magic. I’m no master, but I can handle myself when I need to.”

Spoken humbly, but coming from a 5th-Circle mage, the words carried weight.

Yuri’s eyes flicked over her again. The loose gown hid her shape, but now he noticed she was lean, with muscle beneath.

‘Definitely a transmigrator.’

To reach 5th Circle at twenty-seven and train in martial arts? It was too much.

‘Is she testing me?’

“That’s impressive,” he said casually, masking his thoughts.

‘Does Orca suspect me?’

‘Damn it’, he thought, forcing his expression to remain neutral.

“So, what do you think of me, Lacey?”

“Your martial arts talent seems remarkable. But as for magic…”

She trailed off, shrugging.

“No need to sugarcoat it. One talent’s better than none.”

The lift chimed. They’d arrived. Lacey gave him one last smile.

“It was a short talk, but I enjoyed it. I’ll head back to my lab now, Yuri.”

“It was… enlightening,” Yuri replied.

He hadn't enjoyed it at all.

Suspicion knotted his thoughts. Lacey looked every bit a transmigrator, but her true identity was impossible to pin down.

‘THOR123? Maybe. But then again…’

He remembered THOR123 had never revealed his gender. The player had only ever posted lightning build guides, nothing personal.

‘Could be him. Could be someone else entirely.’

As Yuri stepped out, the lift doors slid shut. Lacey’s bright smile lingered as she disappeared from view.

“…Hm.”

Inside the descending lift, she tilted her head.

“I don’t think it’s him…” she muttered.

***

The top floor of the Dersia Mage Tower, Heavenly Thunder Orca’s chamber, looked nothing like it had in the game.

“It’s been a month. Is that long enough to count as ‘a while’?”

The chamber spanned the entire floor; calling it a mere “room” was an understatement. At its centre, Orca sat perched on a massive desk, golden eyes amused.

“I suppose it is, isn’t it?”

Yuri bowed low.

“It’s been a while, Lady Orca.”

“I see. So it has.” Orca chuckled and dipped her head in return.

“I summoned you rather suddenly. I trust you weren’t too put out?”

“Not at all. It’s an honour.”

“Good. Let’s see… a seat for you.”

With a flick of her finger, a sofa floated over to his side.

“Sit. I’ll have drinks brought over. Coffee? Water? Or perhaps alcohol?”

“Water, please.”

The sofa landed smoothly. A jug and cup drifted through the air, placing themselves on a table that had moved to rest in front of him.

“…Magic really is convenient.”

“In this respect, it outclasses martial arts.” Orca crossed her legs on the desk, entirely at ease.

“Though to be fair, high-level martial artists can manage something similar with what they call telekinesis. Still, any 2nd-Circle mage can do this.”

“Not quite with the same ease, I’d imagine.”

“That too.”

The jug tilted gracefully, pouring water into the cup.

“Do you know why I called you here?”

“I couldn’t say.”

“I’d meant to summon you after your training ended. But it seems the Fist Wolf has grown rather fond of you. Even after a full month, he hasn’t left your side.”

“I’m grateful to him.”

“As you should be. Still, I thought I ought to meet you at least once.”

“May I ask why?”

Orca simply said one word.

“Heinderga.”

The name landed in the quiet room with the weight of a dropped stone.

“…Her surname?”

He’d expected Elena to come up, but not like this.

“You don’t know it?” Orca’s smile curved.

“It was mine. My birth name was Orca Heinderga. When one becomes Tower Master, one inherits the tower’s name as a surname, hence Orca Dersia. But Elena… she carries my old one.”

“…I see.”

“Ten years ago, I received a letter from an orphanage director in Oldor. It led me to a jewel of a child. Strictly speaking, I didn’t ‘discover’ Elena; I went because of that letter. But when I met her, I knew she was worth taking in.”

Yuri kept quiet.

“She had no surname, so I gave her mine. Officially, she is of the Heinderga family. You could even call her my adopted daughter.”

Orca laughed softly.

“Of course, I’ve never had much in the way of maternal instincts. And Elena doesn’t see me as a mother. These days we’re closer to master and disciple, though she hasn’t formally earned that title yet.”

Her golden eyes gleamed with intent.

“Still, I expect her to. I believe she could become the next Tower Master.”

“If it’s by Circle alone, wouldn’t Lacey be closer?”

“For now, yes. But Elena is younger. And Lacey has no intention of inheriting the Dersia name. That girl only wants my magic. Wretched thing.” Orca’s lips quirked.

“What about you, Yuri? What do you think?”

“…About what?”

“Do you believe Elena Heinderga can one day become Elena Dersia?”

Yuri didn’t answer right away. Orca’s gaze was piercing, trying to strip away hesitation, but he met it evenly.

“…Yes.”

He nodded.

“I believe she can. More than that, she truly wants it.”

Then, lightly, he added, “If mother and daughter both become Tower Master, the Heindergas would sound like a proper magical house, wouldn't they?”

“Ha!”

Orca laughed, full-bodied and bright.

“Though that ‘family’ would only be me and Elena.”

“Families can grow.”

Orca’s playful smile vanished. Her gaze sharpened, losing all its earlier warmth.

“What do you think of Elena?”

The question landed with a sudden, chilling weight.

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