WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Damned Transmigration

Chapter 65

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Mm, orange juice

Haryeong tipped back the vial she’d plucked from the floor and drained its contents. She didn’t so much as grimace.

'Probably a brew from the Withered Crone,' Yuri figured.

'Another deserter from the Rudella Mage Tower, the one obsessed with corpses.'

She smacked her lips thoughtfully, like a connoisseur sampling a rare vintage. Then she crouched, rolled the collapsed Sword Dragon onto his back, and listened to his breathing.

“Less a Sword Dragon, more a Sword Dolt,” she muttered, confirming he was out cold.

After swallowing the last drop of the potion, she rose and began inspecting the other vials on the display shelf.

Yuri’s voice was tight.

“He’s not going to die, is he?”

'If he dies, it’s not our fault,' he thought.

'A tragic accident born of his own stupidity. But the Orsia Family wouldn't see it that way. They’d see a convenient frame job.'

“A normal person would die. This idiot won’t,” Haryeong said.

The foul taste of the dregs made her turn and spit cleanly on the flagstones. She selected a few more potions from the shelf and carried them to a workbench in the corner.

“He’s in peak physical condition, with a remarkable constitution and deep internal energy. Thanks to this simpleton’s foolishness, we’ve learned something valuable.”

“Which is?”

“That killing the Sword Dragon with poison won’t be easy.”

'Not easy, then,' Yuri thought.

'But not impossible. He’d heard the tales of the Dang Family’s deadliest concoctions.'

He watched as Haryeong worked, carefully adding drops from her chosen vials into a clean flask, along with a pinch of powdered medicine from her own bag.

Yuri found himself holding his breath.

It was odd. The Dang Family’s poison arts were legendary, both in the game and out here in the real mess, yet he’d rarely seen Haryeong do more than coat a blade or brew a simple truth serum.

'Then again,' he mused, 'how much finesse does poison really need?'

He had a dozen questions about her, but he kept them locked away. The moment he started prying, he knew she’d use it as leverage to ask him questions he had no intention of answering.

“What are you staring at?” Haryeong asked, swirling the flask without looking up.

“Discovering my intellectual side is unexpectedly charming?”

“Just watching. It’s unusual.”

“Are you curious about me?”

The question, sharp and direct, cut through her usual nonsense.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not. But I won’t ask first.”

“Why?”

“Because I suspect you’d demand my secrets in exchange for yours.”

A twitch at the corner of her mouth was the only sign of the smile she was

suppressing.

“You still have that many secrets?”

“Yes.”

[The letter from before… You said you’d tell me about it.]

The reply came back instantly, [It said the Sect of Chaos is searching for a particular transmigrator.]

[The one The Pointing Flame mentioned? Their Saint? Is that you?]

[No.]

[That sounds like a lie. A transmigrator’s name is a truly strange thing, isn’t it, Cat Panties?]

[It’s not a name. It’s a… handle.]

[What does one do to earn the handle Cat Panties? Did you display feline-themed undergarments back on Earth?]

[Don’t be ridiculous.]

Haryeong’s lips finally curled into a faint smile.

[Yuri. I will never tell another soul that you are a transmigrator. I don’t care if you are Cat Panties, UsaUsami, Rabbit Princess, or UrMumSpammer.]

[….]

[My loyalty to you and Lady Elena is a factor, of course. But the primary reason is purely selfish.]

[What selfishness?]

[The fact that I share a fatal secret with you.]

He didn’t understand.

[I find it… enjoyable. My life, for the most part, has been miserable, inconvenient and dreadfully boring. But thanks to you, it’s become rather thrilling.]

[Is that so?]

[Yes. I would never have this feeling if I didn’t know. I want to enjoy these days for a long time. I want to savour being the only one who knows your deadliest secret.]

He finally understood what she meant by selfishness. It was a reason he could never have predicted, and all he could do was blink.

“Hmph.”

Haryeong studied his blank expression for a moment, then straightened her lips and turned away.

“It’s ready.”

She shot the unconscious Sword Dragon a look of pity, prised his mouth open, and slowly poured the antidote down his throat. With a deft flick of her fingers, she pressed several of his meridians.

“Cough!”

The Sword Dragon spluttered back to consciousness. He sat up, clutching his chest and hacking violently, before his head snapped up.

“Are you alright?”

His mind was still clouded. He blinked, then slowly raised a trembling hand to his own cheek. The situation seemed to dawn on him all at once.

A deep flush crept up his neck.

“I… I have been incredibly foolish.”

“As long as you know,” Haryeong said coolly.

“Why would you drink something you knew nothing about?”

“In my judgement, it was a potion. It seemed suspicious, but I thought I would be fine.”

“Fine? Even if it was a potion, why drink it?”

The Sword Dragon hesitated.

“…The colour… was intriguing. I was curious what it would taste like.”

Yuri’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. The potion had been orange.

“What, did you think it would taste of oranges?”

“It wasn’t pleasant. I hoped it would be sweet, but it was merely bitter.”

“It would be nearly impossible to fell you with a common toxin, Lord Sword Dragon, but that was overconfidence,” Haryeong said, clicking her tongue.

“If you truly wish to achieve the Venom Ward, you must build your immunity through careful training.”

“I was complacent,” he admitted, bowing his head with a long sigh.

“If you and Thunder Cloud had not been here, I would have paid for my foolishness with my life. You are both my saviours.”

“I didn’t do much,” Yuri said.

“Repay Haryeong.”

“I wouldn’t be here if not for Yuri,” she countered.

“Repay him.”

Hearing them bat the credit back and forth, the Sword Dragon gave a short, weary laugh.

“Then I will simply repay you both. If there is anything you desire, speak. You routed the heretics, killed their Bishop, and saved my life. I must reward you, even if it means opening the Orsia Family treasury.”

The Art of Corpse Dissolution and its spell formula was already an incredible haul. Now this.

“An elixir will suffice for me,” Haryeong said, having made her polite refusal once.

“Is there anything you desire, Yuri?”

“Hmm.”

'An offer from the Orsia treasury.'

The game-devils had practically built the family as an end-game loot piñata. He ran through a mental list of other epic items, but nothing screamed out as a must-have.

'A martial arts manual, maybe?'

The Orsia Family was a martial clan. Famed for the sword, yes, but they would surely have collected manuals for other arts. Even a secondary text from their library would be unique-grade at a minimum.

“An elixir will be fine for me too.”

He’d made up his mind. Sword Shadow had pointed out his apparent lack of internal energy, a misconception Yuri carefully cultivated with the Veil of Deception.

He always kept more than half his power hidden, partly to be underestimated, partly as proof that he’d only been training for two years. In reality, thanks to his mana affinity and the Heavenly Art of Annihilating Evil, he could hold his own with anyone in the same Circle

'Still, best to take elixirs when they're offered.'

He was long past the point where raw internal energy decided a fight, however it was best to bulk up the stat whenever possible to avoid any awkward questions later.

“Elixirs. Very well,” the Sword Dragon nodded.

“By the way, Thunder Cloud, what is that you are holding?”

When Yuri handed over the crystal orb and the directive, explaining what they were, the Sword Dragon’s expression grew grim.

Two days later, they left the Foul Village behind, crossed the sprawling Outer District, and arrived before the gates of Panteleon. A swarm of outsiders milled before the entrance: citizens from the outer sectors, tourists, and merchants lacking the proper trade permits.

The city wasn’t a metropolis on the scale of Rutlan, but a city’s standing wasn’t measured in size alone.

As home to the Orsia Family, the Selvis Mage Tower, and several other great houses, it was one of the most prosperous cities on the continent.

Outsiders had to submit to an inspection and pay an entry fee, while their connection to the Sword Dragon was their pass.

“Young Master Estor!”

Ignoring the bustling crowd, they strode towards the gate.

Figures leapt down from the battlements, landing silently before them. The emblem of a sharp-bladed star was stitched onto their matching uniforms.

Knights of the Orsia Family.

Their faces were drawn, their brows knitted in concern as they blocked the Sword Dragon’s path.

“Where have you been for over a week without a word?”

“Do you have any idea how furious the family head is? One more day and half the order would have been dispatched to find you!”

The weakest of them looked to be 4th Circle, though Yuri knew their true skill would far exceed their rank. Such was the calibre of an Orsia knight.

“I was in Sector 4,” the Sword Dragon replied, his expression calm.

“Sector 4? You went to the Foul Village?”

“Why would you go to such a wretched place!”

“I will report to the family head myself.”

Brushing past their anxious fussing, he turned to Yuri and Haryeong.

“These two are my friends and my saviours. Treat them as you would treat me.”

Curious, wary gazes fell upon them, which Yuri met without expression.

“Understood,” the oldest-looking knight said with a bow.

“Will you be returning to the estate at once?”

“Don’t ask when you intend to drag me there anyway, Sir Dreist.”

“Drag you? Of course not. However, the family head is… enraged. I advise you return immediately.”

At the word enraged, even the Sword Dragon’s composure seemed to crack.

“An embarrassing display,” he muttered with a heavy sigh, once they were inside the carriage.

“I didn’t expect them to be waiting at the gates.”

“That’s what happens when you’re the apple of the family’s eye,” Yuri replied, gazing out of the window.

The carriage had lifted from the cobblestones without a jolt, rising into the sky above the city.

“More like I’m being smothered,” the Sword Dragon said with a bitter smile.

“I understand his feelings, but I’m not a child.”

'Hard to be,' Yuri thought, 'when your grandfather has to treat you like the only heir he has left.'

The story of the Sword Lord was practically a continental tragedy. Twenty-five years ago, the Sword Emperor had passed leadership of the family to his son. The new Sword Lord was a prodigy, a 7th Circle master expected to one day surpass his legendary father.

Yet he never got the chance.

Twenty years ago, the Sword Lord and his wife vanished, leaving behind only a single letter severing all ties.

Why they would abandon not just the greatest martial family in the Cartel, but also their infant son, remained a mystery.

The Sword Emperor, who had retired to perfect his art, was forced to resume his role as family head, while the Sword Dragon, Estor, had been raised by him.

“The family head will take a great interest in you,” Estor said, his eyes on the passing scenery.

“He always said I was the most outstanding of my generation. I never doubted it. But now, I know that’s not true.”

“I wouldn’t say that. We don’t know who is better.”

“Which is why I want to find out today.”

A grin spread across his face as he turned to Yuri.

“Thunder Cloud. Will you grant me a sparring match?”

“Here? At the Orsia estate?”

“I want to ask the family head to act as an official observer.”

“You’re putting me in an awkward position,” Yuri grumbled.

“Asking me to thrash his grandson in front of him.”

Estor blinked, then burst out laughing.

“Hah! You said we don’t know, but it seems you’ve already reached a conclusion.”

“Not a conclusion, exactly.”

“Don’t worry. You won’t be the one in an awkward position. The family head dotes on me, it’s true, but above all, he is a man of the martial arts. If I lose, he will scold me and lavish you with praise,” Estor said, his tone full of conviction.

“And there’s another reason. Thunder Cloud, I believe you are a man worthy of the title Dragon. You must be.”

“Why?”

“Because I am the Sword Dragon,” he grinned.

“But a title like that isn’t something you can claim. The world has to acknowledge it. You may be unknown now, but once word gets out about the Foul Village, you’ll gain renown.”

Renown was a double-edged sword for a transmigrator.

“Like most masters, the family head is interested in promising young martial artists. He might be the one to bestow the title of Dragon upon you himself.”

“An honour, I’m sure. But you also want the Sword Emperor’s analysis of the fight, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

The admission told Yuri that Estor had already accepted the likely outcome. For a man who had never lost to a peer, he had no fear of defeat. He saw it only as a lesson.

“It’s better for him to witness it himself than for me to try and explain how I lost.”

The flying carriage began its slow descent. They had arrived at the Orsia estate.

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