WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 37: Logos

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They had said it would take fifteen days to reach Logos, but by the time they arrived, three weeks had passed.

Unlike the journey from Oldor to Rutlan, there had been no need to hurry to Logos. If there was no village or city nearby, they camped outdoors, but whenever they came across one, they made sure to stay for a full day before moving on.

Yuri could not complain about that.

He was curious about Logos, but sleeping in a bed was still better than camping in a sleeping bag. Eating at a clean restaurant was better than living on dried rations and hunted animals. Using a bathroom was better than relieving himself while keeping watch on the surroundings.

The fact that it was summer made for a convenient excuse, and so the journey ended up being comfortable and leisurely.

“To think we ended up arriving after all.”

Haryeong let out a long sigh from the driver’s seat.

Yuri was holding the reins in her place. Until now, wherever they went, Yuri had to accompany Elena. And whenever Elena went somewhere, Haryeong, her guard, naturally came along as well.

But after returning to Rutlan, Yuri would have to leave on his own. That meant there would be no one to drive the carriage for him.

There probably would not be many occasions to use a carriage while travelling alone, but one never knew what might happen. He had asked Haryeong to teach him how to drive and maintain one during the journey.

He had also learned how to ride a horse.

It was not a particularly impressive experience, but Yuri had ridden a horse once when he was still Lee Su-hyeok. School trips to Jeju Island were customary in South Korea, and few South Koreans had never been there.

Lee Su-hyeok, however, had never gone on a school trip while he was a student.

He had neither money nor friends. He had not felt particularly regretful about it while attending school, but after becoming an adult, the fact that he had never gone on a school trip began to bother him.

His part-time wages had accumulated by then, so he went alone. He rode on an airplane for the first time in his life, ate black pork in Jeju, and even tried horseback riding on a horse that was not a pony.

As he learned how to ride properly, he realized just how docile and experienced the horses at riding schools were, as well as how uncomfortable horses were as a means of transportation.

‘What did people in the old days do if they got hemorrhoids...?’

His butt hurt far too much. He had learned to ride, but he did not particularly want to do it again. He would rather run. Maybe that was why people learned light body techniques.

“Since we’re already behind schedule, why not delay a little longer? Come to think of it, I believe I left something important in the village we stopped at two days ago.”

Haryeong was openly reluctant to go to Logos, and Yuri could understand why. Once they arrived, she would have much more to do. Even a pathetic monster was still a threat.

“No.”

Elena, seated inside, answered immediately after opening the window connected to the driver’s seat.

“We’re already here. Why delay any longer?”

“Young Lady, I truly left something behind.”

“What is it?”

“A gift from my mother.”

“Haryeong, you said you had no family.”

“A keepsake can be a gift too.”

Haryeong’s expression was so serious that Elena flinched. Being an orphan herself, she knew how sensitive a subject family could be.

“If... if you really left something behind, then let’s go back.”

“Your earnest answer weakens my resolve, Young Lady. In truth, I left nothing behind. I am not careless enough for that.”

“Were you an orphan, Haryeong?”

“I said I had no family. I did not say I was an orphan.”

‘Aren’t those the same thing?’

Yuri looked at Haryeong with an awkward expression.

“Surely, Yuri, you do not feel a sense of kinship because I am an orphan?”

“I did not say anything.”

“You are saying it with your face.”

“If you are not an orphan, then why do you not have a family?”

“Everyone has at least one circumstance they cannot tell others about. Yuri, do you not have such a circumstance as well?”

There was no barb in her words. It was the same frivolous banter as always, so Yuri did not take it seriously. Fortunately, his expression did not change either.

“You two are really close.”

Elena leaned an arm against the window frame and gave them a sidelong look.

“Close? Young Lady Elena, please do not make such a dreadful joke.”

“Is it really that bad?”

“Yuri, I have not forgotten what happened at the Le Seyun auction house. I thought we were close, I thought we were friends, but Yuri was the one who drew such a firm line first.”

He did not think he had drawn such a firm line, but he did not respond.

The carriage continued onward as they talked, and they arrived at Logos.

In the game, Logos had simply been an isolated hunting ground. Reality was different. It could not compare to a great city like Rutlan, but Logos still had quite a few buildings.

The Rift at Logos had existed for decades. At first, it had been difficult enough merely to stop the monsters that proliferated abnormally, but the adventurers gathered here had soon adapted to the phenomenon of the Rift itself.

It took many people to stop so many monsters, and when many people gathered, they needed many things. That was how a large village came to exist in Logos.

After leaving the horses and carriage at the stable by the entrance, Yuri looked beyond the village.

A mountain.

Logos was the name of that mountain. The Rift of Chaos lay there. Yuri narrowed his eyes and stared at it.

‘It isn’t mana.’

A dark crimson fog wrapped around the mountain, making it feel ominous and sinister. Seeing it in person, he understood why it was called a Rift.

The dark crimson fog stretched out and drifted like a fissure that had split the world apart, and the mountain stood across that fissure.

Even at this moment, numerous monsters were being born on that mountain, while people who had come for various reasons were killing them.

This village was where visitors to Logos stayed. It sold most of what one needed to operate in Logos, and it was filled with lodgings, restaurants, taverns, and other forms of entertainment.

“Couldn’t we have gotten our equipment here?”

“Equipment sold in Logos, or equipment sold in the great city of Rutlan. Which do you think would be better?”

Elena’s words were perfectly reasonable.

Haryeong, who had visited Logos before, took the lead. For some reason, the touts grabbing at passersby did not approach Haryeong. Yuri and Elena, who were travelling with her, did not have to brush away any outstretched hands either.

“Let us hire a guide first.”

“Haryeong, weren’t you going to guide us?”

“Young Lady, I told you that I came to Logos when I was young.”

The Rift of Chaos was a place where the Evil God’s divine power was strongly concentrated. Mountains were easy places to get lost in if one entered without knowing anything. Mountains in this age did not have well-maintained hiking trails like those in the modern world, and dangerous monsters and beasts were everywhere.

Furthermore, even flat ground became a maze in terrain affected by the Rift. They needed to hire a guide familiar with Logos.

“It is true that I am a versatile assassin, skilled in both letters and martial arts and capable of driving a carriage, but honestly, I am not very confident about guiding people through Logos.”

It was true that Haryeong had come to Logos as a child for training. But much time had passed since then, and the training she underwent at the time was not particularly helpful for being a guide.

“If one is unfamiliar with a region like this, naturally one should hire a guide. Of course, we would not die in the mountains even without one, but we would certainly suffer.”

Elena looked reluctant. She disliked the idea of an unfamiliar person joining their comfortable, familiar group. Elena was not particularly sociable to begin with.

The barrier of being childhood friends had allowed Yuri past her defenses quickly, but when they first reunited in Oldor, Elena had been cold, prickly, and downright rude. She was generous to those she considered her own, but thoroughly guarded around others.

‘Her MBTI might be...’

He tried to recall the personality types that had been popular in Lee Su-hyeok’s world, but nothing came to mind clearly. Lee Su-hyeok had possessed a sharp, rational mind, so he had not believed in personality tests like that. He had considered people who went on about MBTI to be pathetic fools swept along by trends.

“Where do we hire a guide?”

“Usually, from the Adventurer’s Guild. It is possible to hire one from the streets or back alleys, but we are not looking for some secret place, nor do we have anything to hide, do we?”

What they needed was an ordinary guide who knew Logos well and would keep them from getting lost. Such guides could be easily hired through the Adventurer’s Guild.

They had to visit the guild anyway to accept requests, and since the Rift was managed by the guild, they could not enter without permission.

“Officially, that is.”

Haryeong spoke with an indifferent expression.

“Anyone who wants to enter secretly simply does so. There are plenty of people who want to enter the Rift without revealing themselves to others. It becomes troublesome if the guild guards catch them after they enter, though.”

“Did Haryeong come here secretly as well?”

“I did not come secretly, but I came here for assassin training at the time. So I entered under another identity.”

“What happens if I report you?”

“Please. I do not wish to kill Yuri.”

She wore the same expression as always, but it did not sound entirely like a joke.

Before heading to the Adventurer’s Guild, they chose one of the many lodgings with decent facilities. While Elena paid the fee in advance, Haryeong spoke quietly.

“Were you hoping to share a room?”

“I really want to report you.”

“Even so, you must not sneak into our room at night. I will be sharing a room with Young Lady Elena. If you truly wish to do so, please give me advance notice.”

“You know Elena and I lived in the same house for half a year, right?”

“Good heavens. Have you already sneaked into her room before?”

He had not. Though he had lived in the mansion for half a year, Yuri had never entered Elena’s room even once, not even while she was away.

“Well, our room is next door, so tell us anytime. If something dangerous or strange happens, make sure to scream.”

“Why?”

“It is not a cheap inn, so the security should be decent, but places like this tend to have petty thieves who target adventurers’ bags.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Elena, who had finished paying, answered.

“I’m going to set up separate spells before we leave. I got permission for that too. I also told them to clean the rooms only while we’re there, so no one will enter while we’re away.”

“Are you feeling hot? Your face is red.”

“I-it’s summer.”

Elena’s reply came out stammering. Haryeong did not laugh openly, but she found it amusing.

Elena had said she would sort out her feelings and tell Yuri after returning to Rutlan, but perhaps something would progress here in Logos first. Would it not be better to find a suitable excuse and leave the room for a while?

Private feelings should not interfere with a mission, but this cold and ruthless assassin felt a mischievous urge to do exactly that.

“It would be better to find a guide before accepting requests.”

Haryeong whispered as they entered the Adventurer’s Guild building.

“Since this is where the Rift is, there will be no shortage of requests. But if we hire a guide first, we can receive advice when choosing requests as well. If you are unfamiliar with this, shall I handle it?”

“Yes, please.”

There were several counters, fitting for such a large building. While Haryeong went to an empty counter to arrange for a guide, Yuri was pulled by Elena to stand at another counter.

“I would like to register as an adventurer.”

To make a living as an adventurer, registering with the guild was essential. Yuri was not particularly eager to register under the name Yuri, but he had no other choice for now.

‘Once I can use reverse body transformation, I can get another identification card and register under a different identity.’

Seeing Haryeong register with the Adventurer’s Guild under another identity had made it seem as if doing so was not difficult. Once he registered himself, he immediately understood why.

Even if magic had replaced technology in this world, it could never match the accessibility and convenience of modern technology.

For one thing, this world did not even have computers. They had identification cards, but there was no way to look them up with a few clicks.

All he had to do was present his identification card and state his place of origin, name, and age for the check to be complete. After that, once he filled out the paperwork he received, an adventurer registration card was issued on the spot.

For the section asking his tier, he wrote second-tier. There was a separate verification process from fourth-tier onward, but a second-tier rookie did not have to undergo one.

Mages wrote down their specialty magic, while martial artists wrote down their weapon. There was no need to lie about that, so Yuri honestly wrote, “Fists.”

“Are you a pugilist?”

When he submitted the paperwork, the clerk’s expression turned strange. Yuri did not even need to wonder why before the clerk grumbled.

“If you are a second-tier pugilist, you will have difficulty finding a party. You know that, right?”

So that was what it meant. Haryeong and Bakerd had told him before, but pugilists below fourth-tier had more disadvantages than advantages.

In game terms, they could neither deal damage nor tank. Third-tier pugilists were at least somewhat useful, but a second-tier pugilist honestly could not even serve as a meat shield. How could someone wearing no armor and carrying no shield serve as one?

Adventurers dealt with monsters often. Pugilists were specialized for fighting people rather than monsters in the first place, so low-tier pugilists had almost no use in battles against monsters.

“Then what requests do second-tier pugilists usually take?”

“If they specialize in external arts, they can be accepted into a party as porters. If they are desperate, they put on armor, take up a shield, and hold the front line. Other than that, bounty hunting or bandit subjugation... but the survival rate is not high.”

“Do not do anything dangerous alone.”

Elena, who had been listening, narrowed her eyes and whispered.

“Mages really are treated very differently. Even second-tier mages can join most parties.”

“You only trained at the Mage Tower when you were second-tier.”

“Who said I was talking about myself? I meant mages in general.”

The adventurer registration card resembled a military dog tag. It was a small metal plate inscribed with his name, first-grade, and second-tier pugilist.

Receiving it did feel significant. The identification card he had carried until now belonged to Yuri, the dead orphan. The one he had just received belonged to Yuri as he was now.

Still, it was a strange feeling to think that the orphan Yuri had dreamed of becoming an adventurer as a child.

“Your adventurer grade rises according to your achievements.”

“What grade are you?”

“Fourth-grade.”

“Didn’t you only accept one request?”

“When you first register at fourth-tier, your grade is assigned according to your tier.”

In the end, everything changed once one reached fourth-tier.

Yuri had operated the Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil every day during the journey, but he had not yet reached fourth-tier. He could feel something burning within the internal energy in his dantian, but he had yet to break through the wall of fourth-tier.

Still, he could tell that the fire was gradually growing stronger. It was exciting, but honestly, it was frightening too.

The Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil was a demonic martial art. If he was swallowed by the flames and burned together with them, he might suffer Qi Deviation.

‘What if the growing fire swallows me someday? What if I burn with it and turn to ash?’

He might have been able to discuss another martial art with someone, but not the Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil. Yuri could only remain wary and worry alone.

‘I wish I could meet Lorelia.’

She had said they might meet again if the opportunity arose someday, but Yuri could not seek Lorelia out himself.

‘I do not even know where the Sacred Domain, where the Sect of Order is said to be in seclusion, is.’

Lorelia was not someone he could meet merely because he wanted to. The only possibility was for Lorelia to come find him first, but the letter he had received while in Oldor was the last one, and he did not think she would send more.

‘What could she be doing right now?’

What punishment had she received? She could not be dead, could she?

The moment that ominous thought crossed his mind, Lorelia’s bright red eyes and smiling face came to mind.

‘That cannot be true.’

The Two Saints of the Martial Apex Venerable.

The Calamity Star.

Her renown was one thing, but she was not someone who would die over something like this.

He had already felt how terrifyingly strong Lorelia was in the waiting room, but now that he had begun training in martial arts, he could understand it even more clearly.

“My name is Jake.”

After they had sat in the guild building for about an hour, a shabby-looking man approached them.

“I heard you were looking for a guide for third-grade requests. Is that right?”

Jake was an adventurer who had worked as a guide in Logos for ten years. He was in his early forties, a third-tier, fourth-grade adventurer. His talent was ordinary, and he had an unremarkable appearance.

Jake had learned martial arts and used a variety of weapons. A spear was his main weapon, but he also used a crossbow when needed. He was familiar with the geography of Logos and knew monsters well too.

Were the scars on his face a symbol of experience, or evidence of mediocre skill? Jake could do many things, but had no particular specialty. That was how third-tier guides were.

He had hit a wall, remained at his current tier, given up on advancing, and ceased to be a martial artist.

Jake had probably only used a spear at first, but had been forced to learn all sorts of things to make a living.

“Haryeong is third-tier and first-grade, while Elena is fourth-tier and fourth-grade... is that correct?”

Haryeong, who had once registered under another identity, had received a new registration card this time as well. Naturally, the third-tier written on it was a lie. The fact that Haryeong could use Voice Transmission meant she was at least fourth-tier.

“And Yuri is second-tier and first-grade... a pugilist.”

Jake’s gaze resembled that of the clerk at the counter.

“Will you not be hiring a separate vanguard?”

“There is no need.”

Elena’s attitude had become cold the moment Jake arrived, and both her expression and answers were frosty. Jake seemed accustomed to such treatment. Elena had reached fourth-tier at twenty and belonged to a Mage Tower.

Rather than take offense, Jake smiled and bowed.

“Yes, understood. Then Haryeong and I will take the vanguard, and Yuri will be the porter, correct?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

Their answers came out at the same time. Jake blinked, while Yuri and Elena looked at each other.

“Why would you be the porter?”

“I need to do something.”

“You do not need to do anything. Just stay by my side and watch. If a suitable monster appears, try fighting it once.”

“How much luggage is there? I can just carry it.”

“If we need a porter, we will hire one separately.”

Elena ignored Yuri’s protest and turned to Jake.

“We have no interest in monster carcasses, so please accept only subjugation requests, excluding gathering requests.”

“Hmm... yes, understood. In that case, may I gather some materials for myself? In exchange, I will take only half the payment after the guiding is complete.”

“We are not going to take only one request. If you gather materials on the side, taking half of the guide fee as well is too much additional compensation.”

“Then I will take only a third. How does that sound?”

“Fine. But if your guiding is unsatisfactory, be prepared for the contract to be terminated.”

“Yes, understood.”

Jake smiled and bowed again.

“The targets of second-grade subjugation requests are found near the entrance to Logos, so you can stay in the village. From third-grade onward, however, you will have to camp in the mountains. What would you like to do?”

“We will perform only second-grade requests for three days to get accustomed to the area. After that, please accept third-grade requests.”

“Yes, understood.”

Jake only left after finding requests that met their conditions and agreeing to meet them at the guild building the next morning.

“Isn’t it rude to ask someone you just met if they are a porter?”

“Isn’t it rude to act serious and cold toward someone you just met? He is almost old enough to be your father.”

“I’m paying him, so what does it matter? Besides, I’m higher-tier and stronger. Once we enter Logos, I’ll be doing the fighting anyway. I don’t think my attitude was rude. Not speaking down to him was polite enough.”

Elena proudly puffed out her chest and raised her chin. Yuri was inwardly glad Elena had been born in this world.

‘If this were Earth, wouldn’t people be arguing about abuse of power or something...?’

Elena was not entirely wrong. Putting aside the fact that she was the employer, she was much stronger, and the fighting would revolve around her once they entered Logos.

“A second-grade request monster that Yuri can handle...”

After thinking for a moment, Haryeong spoke.

“Beast-type monsters would be difficult, but Demihuman-types would be a better fit. There are goblins among the second-grade Demihuman-types. I am very much looking forward to tomorrow.”

“Why are you looking forward to it?”

“Because I will get to watch Yuri and a goblin engage in a grand, decisive battle.”

“...”

“I have no doubt that Yuri will emerge victorious against a goblin.”

Footnotes:

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