WeTried Translations
Translator: Joy
Editor: Joy
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 66: What is done is done
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The Orsia Family, with its history stretching back centuries, was more magnificent and splendid than any home Yuri had seen in this world or in Lee Su-hyeok’s life.
By Earth’s standards, it looked less like a house and more like a cultural venue such as an arts center.
As befitted a martial family, its training grounds looked several times larger than a school field. There were also many other buildings and facilities.
The gap between seeing scenery and buildings in a game and seeing them in reality was immense. Even now, the crude graphics Yuri had only seen on an old, small monitor possessed a completely different impact in real life.
And if that was true of scenery and buildings, how much greater would the difference be for people?
Level 90, second only to the Heavenly Demon, yet considered easier than archmages in the level-80 range.
Ridiculously overhyped, according to most community users.
The head of the Orsia Family, famous for farming endgame sword-build equipment, much like the Ascard Family was famous for elixir farming.
The One Emperor of the Martial Apex Venerables.
The Sword Emperor, Albator Orsia.
ㅡThe Sword Emperor Yuri saw in person had such an overwhelming presence that he could not imagine calling him ridiculously overhyped.
Seronis had no NPC illustrations.
A few skilled community members had repeatedly tried to create and apply mods, but the damned indie game would stop working entirely whenever a mod or other program was applied. In the end, players had no choice but to play the game as it was.
Looking back, it was because Seronis had never been a simple game.
In any case, imagining an NPC’s appearance in Seronis, where even a common illustration could not be added through mods, was difficult.
The pixel graphics were so blurred that it was hard to distinguish individual features. Female NPCs occasionally received fan art in the community, and even male NPCs received it if they were popular because of their difficulty or gimmicks, like Zenith Arsen or the Heavenly Demon.
The Sword Emperor had fan art too, being the second strongest and all...
“...”
Most of it was comedic fan art that combined manga scenes or memes to make him look pathetic and ridiculous.
At least Heavenly Thunder Orca’s fan art had a similar atmosphere to the real person, so the disconnect had not been too severe. The Sword Emperor, however, was so different from his fan art that the disconnect was jarring.
Yuri did not know his exact age.
The Sword Dragon was twenty-two, and Albator was his grandfather, so he had to be in his sixties or seventies at the very least. He might have been even older.
His rejuvenated face had few wrinkles. His deep blue eyes were the same color as the Sword Dragon’s, and his blond hair had faded in color.
Judging by his face alone, he looked more like the Sword Dragon’s much older brother than his grandfather. His presence, however, was nothing like that. Like Heavenly Thunder Orca, martial artists and mages who had undergone rejuvenation possessed a distinctive aura.
“I heard you went to the Fourth District.”
The Sword Emperor, seated in his chair, spoke.
From the moment Yuri entered the room, everything had felt strange. Even simply standing there, with his feet planted on the floor, felt uncomfortable.
His skin tingled and itched. His pounding heart did not feel as if it were beating on its own. It felt as if someone were gripping it in their hand, releasing it, then making it beat again.
It was because of the Sword Emperor.
The Sword Emperor, mocked as ridiculously overhyped in the game, radiated such pressure simply by sitting there and doing nothing. It was as if thousands, tens of thousands of invisible blades filled the room, leaving Yuri unable to move.
Haryeong felt a chill as well.
Back when she still lived in the Dang Family, the Sword Emperor had visited.
He had said he wanted to find his son and daughter-in-law, who had vanished after leaving behind a single letter.
That was the stated reason. Even young Haryeong could tell that the Sword Emperor suspected Salmun.
Salmun had been in turmoil at the time as well.
The sudden seclusion of Tang Ji-hoo, the Poison King and Supreme Family Head. It had been an unannounced seclusion, and the circumstances had not even been explained to the family. Even now, Haryeong did not know why the Poison King had suddenly entered seclusion.
The Poison King’s seclusion left Haryeong completely isolated within the Dang Family. When the Sword Emperor visited, she could not even stand before him. At the time, she had not even been permitted to learn the Dang Family’s martial arts and was treated like a ghost within the family.
They had never met, so there was no way the Sword Emperor would recognize her.
And yet... Haryeong clearly felt his gaze.
‘Should I not have come along?’
She erased the thought as soon as it surfaced.
She had committed no crime. There was no reason to avoid him.
“I heard the news.”
The gaze had lasted only a moment. The Sword Emperor no longer looked at Haryeong and instead studied the Sword Dragon.
“I heard there was a great disturbance involving cultists in Foul Village three days ago.”
“Yes.”
The Sword Dragon’s bearing was calm and dignified. He believed he had done the right thing.
“I apologize for acting without permission, but the result was good.”
“You do not look sorry.”
“I apologize.”
At the Sword Emperor’s mutter, the Sword Dragon bowed his head deeply. The Sword Emperor said nothing and stared at the crown of his grandson’s head.
“That is enough. Raise your head.”
With a short sigh, the Sword Emperor waved his hand. The Sword Dragon immediately raised his head and grinned.
“Are you forgiving me?”
“I would like to scold you for doing something so reckless without permission, but I cannot scold you in front of the guests. So, who are these guests?”
The Sword Emperor’s gaze shifted to Yuri.
ㅡA cold sensation swept upward from Yuri’s toes, as if a blade were tracing its way up his body. Every hair stood on end, and his legs trembled as though they would collapse beneath him. Yuri braced himself and held firm.
After studying him for a moment, the Sword Emperor gave a short laugh and withdrew his pressure.
“My apologies. The sight of such a talented young man made me test you without thinking.”
Only then could Yuri steady his breathing.
‘This is the Sword Emperor everyone called overhyped?’
If the Sword Emperor was this strong, how powerful was the Heavenly Demon?
Yuri gathered his scattered thoughts and spoke.
“My name is Yuri, and I am known by the alias Thunder Cloud.”
“I am Haryeong of Salhomun. My alias is Dark Blossom.”
After hearing them, the Sword Emperor fell silent and stared at Yuri and Haryeong.
“Thunder Cloud.”
The Sword Emperor addressed Yuri first.
“Are you a disciple of the Fist Wolf and the Moonlit Reveller?”
Mentioning both names meant he knew the first rumors about Yuri. Yuri shook his head without hesitation.
“The Fist Wolf taught me martial arts. I did not become his disciple because he did not wish it, but I consider him my master. As for the Moonlit Reveller, I have never received separate instruction.”
“Then do you have another affiliation?”
“No.”
“I would like you to become a knight of Orsia. What do you think?”
The offer was sudden, but the Sword Dragon did not look surprised. Instead, Estor looked at Yuri with a knowing grin, as though he had expected this.
The Orsia Family was held in higher regard than the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s Five Great Families, the Black Dragon Society’s Six Divisions, and other great sects. It was not a family one could form ties with merely by being skilled.
This was Yuri’s first direct meeting with the Sword Emperor, and the rumors about him were hardly extraordinary. The Sword Emperor’s offer to make him an Orsia knight was remarkably generous.
“My apologies. I do not wish to belong anywhere just yet.”
“That is unfortunate. If you change your mind, visit the Orsia Family again.”
The Sword Emperor did not press the matter, but he clearly left the door open.
“Dark Blossom of Salhomun. Is Heavenly Thunder well?”
“I do not meet with her often.”
“That would be so. What about the Faceless Killer?”
“It has been a long time since I met them.”
“And the Poison King?”
The questions continued.
“I find it difficult to understand the intention behind your question.”
Haryeong’s expression did not change as she answered. The Sword Emperor watched her for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“I spoke out of turn. Forget I said anything.”
“Yes.”
“Biren.”
At the call, the door opened. The butler who had been waiting outside bowed and entered.
“You called for me?”
“While I scold my troublesome grandson, show the guests to their rooms.”
“I thought you weren’t going to scold me?”
The Sword Dragon looked aggrieved, but the Sword Emperor’s response was firm.
“Should I not hear the details of what happened in Foul Village as well?”
In the end, only the Sword Dragon remained in the room. Estor began letting out deep sighs one after another, and the Sword Emperor sighed in the same manner.
“You brat.”
“Yes?”
“Why are you sighing so rudely before your grandfather?”
“What can I do when a sigh comes out?”
“Did you bring guests because you did not want a proper scolding?”
“I did not bring them for such a petty reason.”
“Then what was the reason?”
“You saw it and felt it too, did you not?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Thunder Cloud.”
Excitement entered the Sword Dragon’s voice.
“He is the same age as me and is also fifth tier. But...”
“Enough.”
Before his excited grandson could continue speaking as he pleased, the Sword Emperor stopped him.
“First, tell me in detail what happened in Foul Village.”
Panteleon’s outer districts had long been one of the Sword Emperor’s concerns. He had no choice but to issue differentiated citizenship to the First and Second Districts, but he had no intention of ever recognizing the neutral Third District, the lawless Fourth District, or the Fifth District, which continued to expand as villagers migrated there without authorization, as Panteleon citizens.
Fifty years ago, he had taken pity on refugees who had lost their homes through a Rift and allowed them to stay temporarily. Now, those shameless people treated Panteleon’s generosity as an entitlement and made increasingly unreasonable demands.
“I received information that cultists were holding a gathering, so I went to see for myself.”
The Sword Emperor sighed again at the answer.
“Why did you not ask me?”
“The information was uncertain, so I intended to confirm it with my own eyes first.”
“You did not merely confirm it.”
“...”
“It is obvious what happened. You saw it for yourself and could not endure it, could you?”
“Yes... well...”
“I do not know who you take after, being so hasty. What is done is done. So what happened?”
Estor recounted what had happened at the gathering without excuses or justifications.
His first meeting with Thunder Cloud and Dark Blossom.
The hunt for cultists.
The dispersal of the gathering.
The collapse of the ceiling.
The Bishop, a sixth-tier mage.
The Demonic Cult’s Young Leader and Sword Shadow of the Seven Evils.
The Withered Crone’s mansion.
The Sword Emperor listened without speaking, then let out a long sigh.
“It is fortunate that you returned alive.”
“...”
“What would you have done if you had been there alone? Did you think you could handle a sixth-tier mage, a cultist who could even wield divine power, by yourself?”
“I could have escaped.”
“That is not something you know. And Sword Shadow of the Seven Evils? If it had not been Sword Shadow but a mad demon like the Rakshasa Witch or the Three-Eyed Beast, you would not even have been able to escape. You would have died.”
Those two were Demonic Cult members known even among the Seven Evils for their bizarre and violent natures.
“I apologize.”
The Sword Dragon’s shoulders slumped, and his expression grew dejected.
“This is not something to apologize for. Whatever the process, you succeeded in killing the Bishop of the Sect of Chaos, who had made Foul Village their parish. You found a tool that can track the fleeing cultists, and you returned alive without any misfortune.”
The Sword Emperor rose from his chair, approached his grandson, and patted his shoulder.
“On top of that, you found the Sect’s directive. With this as justification, we can make the troublesome outer districts independent.”
There had been no actual riot, but there had been the threat of one. The Orsia Family was not the only one seeking justification to deal with the outer districts. The Selvis Mage Tower and several other great families also resided in this city.
“What was the Young Leader like?”
The Sword Emperor asked.
“The Demonic Cult’s Young Leader. The Heavenly Demon’s disciple. There were rumors of the child’s existence, but their true identity had never been properly known. Estor, what kind of person was the Young Leader you saw with your own eyes?”
“She said her name was Biyeon. She is a woman... I did not learn her age, but she did not seem younger than me. The visible skin on her wrists, arms, and neck was severely burned. Her voice was also rough and hoarse from the fire. Since she would not remove her mask or show her bare face, I believe the burns on her face are severe as well.”
“And her martial arts?”
“I felt as though her black force aura dominated the space.”
“The Heavenly Demon’s Divine Art.”
The Sword Emperor sat back down with a bitter smile.
“It is a difficult and destructive demonic art that does not feel like a demonic art. If she can already exert dominance over space at fifth tier, she has already entered Intent. She truly is a genius worthy of becoming the Heavenly Demon’s disciple.”
“But I did not feel that she was superior to me. The Young Leader was especially hasty and complacent, so she was caught off guard by the Bishop’s attempt to take us down with them.”
“Are you one to say that? You are hot-blooded and not cautious either. That is why you drew your sword and ran wild at the gathering, and why you nearly died after drinking an unknown potion at the Bishop’s mansion.”
The Sword Dragon had no response to the Sword Emperor’s rebuke.
“You owe Thunder Cloud and Dark Blossom a great debt.”
“Yes. Without Thunder Cloud, the fight against the Bishop would have been difficult. Without Dark Blossom, I would have died after drinking the potion.”
“Both happened because you acted however you pleased.”
“Yes.”
“Must I open the Orsia treasury over a debt you incurred through your mistake?”
“Yes.”
The Sword Dragon did not back down. The Sword Emperor gave a dry laugh at his shamelessly confident attitude.
“Why should I?”
“Because I said I would.”
“You cannot lie?”
“They are people who greatly aided me, the one called Orsia’s future. One day, I will become the head of the Orsia Family. Since the treasury will eventually be mine, would it not be acceptable to open it early?”
“You are a nasty brat.”
The Sword Emperor gave another dry laugh and nodded.
“Did he ask for an elixir?”
“Yes. Despite the opportunities he has encountered, it seems he has not trained in martial arts for long and feels a lack of internal energy.”
“The Ascard fellow’s gift should do.”
The Sword Dragon flinched.
“Ascard’s gift... Do you mean the Elixir?”
“Yes.”
“Are you serious?”
“You said you would open your own treasury early. Is the Elixir too precious?”
“I wanted to give him an Elixir myself, but I never imagined the Family Head would offer one.”
“He helped resolve one of Panteleon’s problems and saved the life of my worthless, irritating grandson. An Elixir is the least we should give him.”
The Sword Emperor rose from his chair.
“I said this earlier, but I want Thunder Cloud. I want him badly enough to make him an Orsia knight. He refused, but he will not forget the Elixir he receives today. Building a connection by giving him the Elixir I received as a gift from the Ascard fellow is no loss.”
“What about Dark Blossom?”
“Yes. Dark Blossom... Hm. Simply forming a connection with that child would present an opportunity.”
“The Poison King...”
“Do not ask. Dark Blossom does not wish it to be known.”
The Sword Emperor recalled twenty years ago.
He had been unable to accept the letter left behind by his son and daughter-in-law. It contained no detailed explanation, only disownment and seclusion.
The circumstances left him no choice but to misunderstand.
The letter was fake. The mention of disownment and seclusion had been meant to stop him from looking for them. His son and daughter-in-law had been assassinated.
That was what he had mistakenly believed.
Salmun, ruled by the Dang Family, was where the people most skilled at killing others secretly in this world belonged.
He had not wanted to believe Salmun could have done such a thing. He had shared a deep connection with the Poison King, the Supreme Family Head.
But the Poison King had entered seclusion.
Carrying his suspicions, Albator visited Salmun and requested a search for his son and daughter-in-law.
The misunderstanding was cleared up during that process. Since he had come so far, he wanted to see the Poison King’s face after so long, but he could not meet the Poison King in seclusion.
Before returning to Panteleon...
ㅡHe saw that child from afar.
Once a year, he and the Poison King exchanged letters asking after each other’s well-being.
In those letters, the Poison King had written of a child with two tear moles.
“A strange fate.”
The Sword Emperor murmured quietly as he left the room.
Footnotes:
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