WeTried Translations
Translator: Joy
Editor: Joy
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 36: Questions
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Thud. Thud. Thud.
The approaching sound was too loud to be considered footsteps. It shook the very axis of the earth. Was that how a dragon from legend would walk? Vibrations that could have been mistaken for an earthquake rocked the detached palace.
“She is very angry.”
The man clad in a vivid crimson robe spoke. Though his face bore few wrinkles, his eyes were as deep as a bottomless abyss, making it hard to think of him as young.
He sat as comfortably as though the detached palace were his own room, a wine cup resting in the hand on his knee. Thud. Thud. Thud. As the footsteps drew nearer and the vibrations grew stronger, neither his body nor the wine in his cup stirred in the slightest.
“Still as fiery-tempered as ever?”
The man raised the cup to his lips as he spoke. The old man seated opposite him did not answer, only pressed his lips tightly together.
He was the Grand Bishop of the Sect of Order. With the Goddess in her long sleep, this old man led the Sect of Order.
“No need to ask, then.”
The man emptied his cup cleanly and shifted his gaze. Right beside him, someone in the same crimson robe was kneeling. Thud. Thud. Thud. Their body occasionally swayed from the vibrations, and the man clicked his tongue.
“My cup is empty.”
In response, a wine bottle was lifted. The bottle shook, and so did the wine pouring from it. Fortunately, not a drop spilled or overflowed from the cup. The man looked down at the cup, filled to the very brim, and nodded.
“Will you have a drink as well?”
THUD!
The detached palace shook violently. The man chuckled and turned his head.
A wide-open window. A woman in white clerical robes stood atop the windowsill.
“Did I have to come through the door?”
Lorelia glanced at the Grand Bishop as she spoke. He let out a short sigh and muttered,
“I do not believe that question requires an answer.”
“As expected of you, Grand Bishop. You are truly wise. This Lorelia has already entered through the window. And if you think about it, a window is also a door!”
Her voice was cheerful, but there was no smile on her face. Blood-red light streamed from her eyes as her gaze left the Grand Bishop and settled on the man.
“Old man.”
Her lips twisted beneath her cold expression.
“Have you come looking for a burial plot?”
“I heard you committed a crime and were locked up. It seems prison was rather comfortable.”
The Heavenly Demon chuckled and raised his wine cup to his lips.
“I did not come here to fight, so put away your killing intent. It interferes with the taste of the wine.”
“If you like wine that much, why not guzzle it in your own damned room instead of here?”
Lorelia spat the words and leapt down from the windowsill. After landing, she strode past the Heavenly Demon and plopped down beside the Grand Bishop.
“How did you know to find this place?”
“If I wish to go somewhere, I can go anywhere.”
At the smiling answer, blood-red light flashed in Lorelia’s eyes.
It had already been twenty years since the Sect of Order had been expelled from the Union and gone into seclusion within the Sacred Domain. They produced necessities such as food from the Sacred Domain’s land, but other supplies were scarce.
The Sect of Order’s finances had always been poor, plagued by one disaster after another. Problems involving transmigrators. The Goddess’s slumber. Because of their circumstances, no new believers joined them, and most of their old believers had turned away.
The only reason they could remain secluded in the Sacred Domain at all was because some believers had not abandoned their faith. They hid the fact that they were believers of Order while living outside the Sacred Domain and sent offerings. Even people who were not believers sent donations because they had not forgotten their ties to the sect.
Had one of them told the Demonic Cult where the Sacred Domain was? Who could it have been? Lorelia did not want to suspect a believer, but everything entering the Sacred Domain was thoroughly laundered and passed through the hands of devout believers.
“Which rat bastard sold out our brothers and sisters’ home?”
“Am I obligated to answer?”
“If you refuse to answer, then this Lorelia will have no choice but to carry out her violent duty for the Sect!”
“You intend to get the answer from me directly? That will be difficult with your martial arts.”
The Heavenly Demon set down his wine cup.
“You seem to have made progress since I last saw you, but you are still not capable of killing me. You know that as well, do you not?”
“What if we perish together?”
“Worth trying. Though it will be difficult.”
“Even if perishing together is impossible, if I tear off your arm before I die, it will not be a meaningless death, will it, old man?”
“My arm for your life? I do not believe the scales would balance. Still, if you truly wish to try, go ahead.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled as he looked at Lorelia. The blood-red light blazing like flame could not swallow the abyss in his eyes. But Lorelia did not care.
She was the fire that carried out heaven’s punishment, an asura who destroyed evil, and an apostle who set the principles of heaven right.
Crack.
Lorelia slowly curled her fingers. An immense killing intent that seemed capable of burning the entire world focused on the Heavenly Demon.
“Hmm.”
The Heavenly Demon slowly tilted his head. He stroked his chin with an intrigued smile.
“Your attainment in divine arts is excellent. But you have yet to cast aside your delusion.”
“Nonsense.”
“I did not come here to fight you. I merely thought I would see your face after so long.”
“This Lorelia has no intention of speaking with you.”
“Is that so? What a pity.”
As Lorelia’s killing intent continued to grow, the Grand Bishop, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, let out a long sigh.
“It was me.”
It was an abrupt declaration. Lorelia flinched and turned to look at the Grand Bishop. Without opening his eyes, he continued,
“I personally contacted the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“Grand Bishop? This Lorelia does not understand what you are saying!”
“I requested their aid.”
The Grand Bishop opened his eyes. From between the deep wrinkles, his eyes looked directly at Lorelia.
“Several sects led by the Sect of War are looking for us. That is not all. Heretics who worship the Evil God are also looking for us. Among them are transmigrators who were guided by your brothers and sisters, then murdered them with their own hands.”
“...”
“Many who lost relatives to transmigrators also resent us. There are still several people who support us, but when all that killing intent reaches this place, how many do you think will willingly draw their swords to protect us? The Sacred Domain’s barrier has hidden us until now, but we must prepare.”
Lorelia glared at the Grand Bishop without saying a word. Her killing intent remained, but the Grand Bishop did not yield. His words were painfully realistic. The Sect of Order’s situation was dire enough that it had no choice but to seek the Demonic Cult’s aid, and there were countless enemies targeting this place.
“Is it not a practical compromise?”
The Heavenly Demon chuckled and picked up the wine cup he had set down. This time, no wine was poured. His companion had frozen beneath that savage killing intent. That was only natural. He did not scold them. They deserved praise for not rolling back their eyes and fainting.
“I bear no particular ill will toward the Sect of Order. If you lower your heads and come to us, there is no reason I cannot take you in.”
Wine rose in droplets from the mouth of the bottle, then fell like rain into the empty cup.
“This Lorelia cannot accept it.”
Lorelia glared at the Grand Bishop as she spoke.
“You know the Demonic Cult as well, Grand Bishop! There are many demonic fiends who kill people for amusement! Lewd demons who covet the vital essence of children! Cannibals who chew human flesh and drink blood to improve their blood arts!”
He knew. The Demonic Cult was a group of madmen who sought to reach divine status through the Path of Magic. The Path of Magic was a road beyond human principles. Most of those called demonic fiends were inhuman madmen.
“The Demonic Cult’s very existence is an evil that disrupts the order of the world and brings chaos! What contradiction could be greater than us, who must protect order, being protected by the Demonic Cult?”
“Lorelia.”
The Grand Bishop let out a long sigh.
“Who do you believe is currently closest to God Slaying?”
“...”
“I know the answer. The person closest to God Slaying in this world is neither the Sword Emperor, nor you, nor the Battle Saint. It is neither Zenith, nor Hyunya, nor Heavenly Thunder, nor the King of the Luminous Wheel.”
The Grand Bishop’s gaze turned forward.
“It is the Heavenly Demon.”
“...”
“I have no intention of saying that your claim is wrong. Though I requested the Demonic Cult’s aid, I too believe the Path of Magic is an evil path. But the person closest to God Slaying in this world, the person who may be able to kill the Evil God, is the Heavenly Demon.”
Now it was Lorelia’s turn to close her eyes.
“The Goddess of Order wished for the Evil God to be killed. The Goddess devoted herself to the transmigrators and then fell into a long sleep. While the Goddess slept, we priests guided the transmigrators. Because of that, the Sect of Order fell into ruin.”
“...”
“I do not resent the Goddess. But I do not wish to leave the brothers and sisters who believed in the Goddess to die amid the world’s condemnation.”
“This Lorelia will prevent that from happening.”
“One hand cannot block ten.”
“If it becomes known that we are under the Demonic Cult’s protection, the world will mock the Sect of Order.”
“If the Evil God dies and the Goddess of Order awakens, I will stand on the Sect of War’s gallows.”
Lorelia flinched and opened her eyes at that answer. The Grand Bishop’s face was calm as he looked back at her.
“My neck may not be enough to silence every accusation directed at the Sect of Order, but it will serve as a small symbol of responsibility.”
“I intend to build a training ground.”
The Heavenly Demon, who had been drinking alone while listening to their conversation, spoke.
“The most convenient solution would be for all of you to relocate to the Demon Subjugation Palace, but you cannot leave the Sacred Domain, can you?”
“...”
“The mountains nearby seem quite suitable. If I have young people who seek to become the future of the Heavenly Demon Cult live in those mountains, perhaps a dragon may emerge from among them.”
If the Demonic Cult built a training ground in the nearby mountains, the Sect of Order’s enemies would not dare come near. And as long as information did not leak, no one would know that the Sect of Order was under the Demonic Cult’s protection.
In the end, the Sect of Order would accept the Demonic Cult’s protection to survive.
Lorelia was known as the Calamity Star, but her devotion to the sect and faith in the Goddess were unquestionable. There was nothing she could do about this.
Training ground...
“A dragon?”
Lorelia’s lips twisted.
“Gu poison, more like.”
The Heavenly Demon smiled quietly at the mutter. Lorelia glared at that smile and spoke.
“...What did you demand in exchange for your aid?”
“I want nothing from the Sect.”
The Heavenly Demon answered. He finished his wine and continued,
“Lorelia. I want nothing from you either. As for my wish... Hmm. I do not know.”
The Heavenly Demon stroked his chin with a smile.
“I heard that if a transmigrator kills the Evil God, the Goddess of Order grants a wish. May I make that wish as well?”
“...”
“I have considered it, but it does not appeal to me now. I can already accomplish anything I desire. Still, one never knows. In the distant future, I may desire something that even I cannot accomplish with my own abilities.”
He placed the empty wine cup on the floor.
“Perhaps that will never happen, but it would be good to leave the possibility open.”
That was the Heavenly Demon’s intent. He wanted nothing from the Sect of Order now, but he would help them regardless. Lorelia stared at the Heavenly Demon in silence, then turned her gaze to the companion kneeling at his side.
“Is that your disciple?”
The figure appeared to be a woman from the build, but a pure white mask concealed their face.
“There are rumors that you are a transmigrator. Is that why you came with your face covered? What a pointless thing to do. Even if you had come barefaced, the priest assigned to you would not have revealed who you were.”
“She may not be a transmigrator.”
The Heavenly Demon spoke in place of his silent disciple.
“The reason for the mask is the ugly burns on her face.”
“My name is Biyeon.”
The voice that came through the mask was terribly hoarse. Looking more closely, Lorelia could see burn scars across Biyeon’s skin. It seemed Biyeon’s voice had been damaged when the burns were sustained as well.
“I hear that transmigrators who enter the Demonic Cult capture other transmigrators, grind them down into elixirs, and consume them.”
Lorelia looked at the bowed Biyeon as she spoke.
“Did you feed such an elixir to your disciple as well?”
“I said she may not be a transmigrator.”
“This Lorelia has no interest in playing word games with you.”
“If you wish to hear an answer from me, tell me an interesting story in return. What crime did you commit to be locked in the Punishment Wing?”
It was a question she could not answer. Even if she could answer it, Lorelia had no desire to answer the Heavenly Demon’s question. She gave him a bright smile, and the Heavenly Demon let out a hearty laugh, as though he had expected it.
“Do you still have our cult’s Divine Relic?”
“Hmph. This Lorelia wondered why you had called me here. It seems you wish to reclaim what was taken. Do you intend to give it to your disciple as a gift?”
“No. I have no intention of reclaiming it. Nor do I intend to give it to my disciple.”
“What a relief! I smashed that thing long ago.”
“So you do not have it now.”
“Think whatever you wish.”
The Heavenly Demon looked at Lorelia’s still-smiling face with amusement. After a moment, he rose.
“There seems to be no need for further conversation. Shall we return?”
Biyeon, who had been kneeling respectfully, stood with him. The empty wine bottle and cup silently crumbled into powder and vanished.
“Why did you call for this Lorelia?”
“I wanted to see you.”
The Heavenly Demon stood with his hands behind his back and looked down at Lorelia.
“I wanted to see how much stronger you had become since I last saw you. As I said before, your attainment in divine arts is excellent. But you have not cast aside your delusion. Is that not so?”
“Nonsense.”
“Lorelia. Since we share an old bond, I shall personally offer you some advice.”
His abyss-like eyes curved.
“Faith is of no help in escaping mortal shackles and challenging for divine status.”
“...”
“You yourself know the answer best. What you cannot discard. What still binds you. What you hesitate over. What you doubt...”
The Heavenly Demon extended a finger into the air. Crackle. Crackle. His finger slowly drew downward, tearing open space. The widening tear soon became a black door.
“Awaken from your delusion, Lorelia. Discard it and burn it away. Heat and temper yourself. This is advice from your old senior brother to his young junior sister.”
“You do seem to have grown old.”
Lorelia’s eyes gleamed ominously.
“You are spouting such pathetic advice. Is it finally time for you to croak?”
“Who could kill me?”
The Heavenly Demon laughed softly and stepped through the door. Only after Biyeon was swallowed by it did space knit itself back together. Though the Heavenly Demon had left, Lorelia continued staring at the place where he had stood for a long time.
“This Lorelia is merely a priestess, so I have no choice but to follow the Grand Bishop’s decision.”
The silence ended. Lorelia rose and turned toward the Grand Bishop.
“So this Lorelia will say nothing more for now! But if you ever stand upon the Sect of War’s gallows, Grand Bishop, I will shed tears of sorrow for you.”
“You say such cruel things.”
“It was the Grand Bishop who made me cruel.”
Lorelia spoke and strode to the window, placing a foot on the sill.
“Will you return to the Punishment Wing?”
“It is true that this Lorelia committed a crime. I may not have the courage to stand upon the gallows like you, Grand Bishop, but I will repent while staring at a wall in the Punishment Wing.”
“He...”
The Grand Bishop’s voice stopped Lorelia.
“Do you believe he can kill the Evil God?”
“The Grand Bishop knows that I cannot divulge information about transmigrators, does he not?”
“I am asking what is in your heart.”
The meeting from six months earlier came back to Lorelia.
She smiled as she answered.
“I merely follow the divine will.”
Footnotes:
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