WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 77: Alderan 1

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Like other great cities, Alderan was home to both a mage tower and prestigious families. Unlike the major cities of the East, where multiple sects coexisted and competed, most great cities in the West followed this structure.

The Mabeld Family, which owned the airship port, stood at the head of Alderan's many prestigious families. Even those who owned airships had to go through the Mabeld Family to use the port, so the countless merchant groups visiting Alderan for trade had no choice but to stay in the family's good graces.

“They probably won't even charge us.”

Estor spoke indifferently from the driver's seat. During the month-long journey from Panteleon to Alderan, he had driven the carriage alone for half the trip.

Yuri had tried several times to take turns with him, feeling bad that Estor was always driving, but Estor had refused every time. He said sitting still and resting only made him restless.

It wasn't exactly repayment, but Yuri sparred with Estor from time to time. It wasn't a hassle. Yuri had won their serious match, but Estor was strong. Even when they restricted their inner power during sparring, both of them had plenty to gain.

“The Mabeld Family can't compare to the Ascard Family, but they've accumulated enormous wealth as well. Though that's true of every family in the Pride.”

Among the Cartel's countless families, only the most distinguished were called the Pride. They weren't kings, yet they ruled cities, manipulated the law, collected taxes, and governed the citizens.

“Having money doesn't mean they won't charge you.”

“That's true. If the Mabeld Family doesn't charge us for boarding, it'll be because I'm here.”

It was a shameless thing to say, but Estor wasn't the type to care.

“Hmm, maybe not. They might not charge us because of you. Treating you well and building a connection with you would be worthwhile too.”

Estor turned back and grinned at Yuri.

The title of Cloud Dragon, bestowed on Yuri by the Sword Emperor and the Fist King, had already become known throughout the world. The Orsia Family had publicly announced the result of the match.

In a witnessed match, the Sword Dragon had lost while Thunder Cloud had won. And so, Thunder Cloud became a dragon... That was the sort of headline they used.

“Alderan has the Habert Mage Tower too, doesn't it?”

Haryeong, who had been sitting on the carriage roof because the weather was nice, spoke up. She turned the blade of a dagger she had sharpened beneath the light, then lowered her gaze to the back of Yuri's head.

“I hear the Iron Fortress's beloved disciple is exceptionally talented, but there aren't many rumors because they rarely appear in public. Do you know anything about that disciple, Estor?”

“Silver Wood?”

His answer came immediately.

“I've only heard about them through the Selvis Mage Tower Master. I believe they're a year younger than Yuri and me, but they're already in the latter half of the fourth tier.”

“That's incredible talent.”

Even compared to Elena, another mage, reaching the latter half of the fourth tier at twenty-one meant possessing talent comparable to hers. They were more than worthy of being called a genius.

“...”

Estor gave Yuri a strange look. It was definitely incredible talent, but was Yuri really the one who should be saying that?

“You shameless...”

“What?”

“Forget it. Like you said, they're incredibly talented. The Lostar Family offered the Iron Fortress an enormous reward to hire him for the Vernoc conflict, but the Iron Fortress rejected the Lostar Family because he had to teach his disciple. That's how much the Iron Fortress cherishes them.”

Estor gave a short laugh and continued.

“Well, the disciple probably wasn't the only reason the Iron Fortress refused.”

“Even the Iron Fortress would find it burdensome to get involved in the Vernoc conflict.”

“Probably. If the Iron Fortress accepts employment from the Lostar Family, he will become an outright enemy of the Zenith.”

The Zenith was revered by many mage tower masters, a figure who could be called the master of mage tower masters. The Iron Fortress of the Habert Mage Tower was by no means lacking in seniority, but wasn't a mage who could stand on the same level as the Zenith.

‘He was practically a punching bag in the game.’

Depending on the build, the Iron Fortress could be an insurmountable boss, but Yuri's character had an extremely favorable matchup against him.

“I hear Vernoc is so dangerous now that even mage tower masters can't guarantee their own survival. Eterium may be valuable, but I honestly don't understand how the conflict escalated this far.”

Rather than answer, Yuri silently stared at Estor. Haryeong did the same. With their stares boring into the back and side of his head, Estor tilted his head in confusion.

“Why are you both looking at me like that?”

“Wasn't your sword made with Eterium too?”

“The blade isn't made entirely of it, but it's mixed in.”

“How much did it cost?”

“I don't know the price. It belonged to my family...”

“Let's not talk about this.”

Haryeong shook her head.

“Hmm. I don't know why you're both acting like this.”

Estor looked as though he genuinely didn't understand. He smacked his lips, then turned to Yuri.

“Anyway, once we arrive in Alderan, I'll be busy making the rounds.”

Before he was the Sword Dragon, Estor was the heir of the Orsia Family and the Sword Emperor's grandson.

The Orsia Family might be the leading martial family of the Pride, but when visiting another city, it was only proper to pay respects to that city's leaders.

“First, I need to visit the Mabeld Family and ask for boarding on an airship heading East. Then I need to visit the Habert Mage Tower. After that, I'll go to the Sect of Earth's temple and make a donation.”

The Grand Temples that served as each sect's headquarters were all gathered in Union, the religious federation city, but ordinary temples had spread to every major city.

The sect established in Alderan was the Sect of Earth, which had worked with the Habert Mage Tower for a long time.

“Is it fine if I don't come with you?”

“Since I already know them, going alone will be quicker. If you come with me, it'll become more troublesome and take longer.”

That was obvious. If the recently famous Cloud Dragon accompanied him, it wouldn't end with simple greetings. The conversations would drag on.

“There's a magic fair in Alderan at this time of year. You use magic too, don't you? Go look around the fair with Haryeong. I'll give you some spending money.”

“...”

“What's with that expression?”

“No, I'm just grateful.”

Yuri considered how he should react to being told to go have fun with some spending money, then honestly thanked him.

“Will you give me some spending money too? Thank you. I am not an assassin who refuses money simply because it comes from someone younger than me.”

As Alderan's city walls drew closer, the carriage gradually slowed.

* * *

With its airship port, Alderan could be called a transportation hub between the West and East.

There were two other Western cities with airship ports, but for various reasons, the magic fair was held only in Alderan.

The fair was also why it was difficult to obtain airship tickets at this time of year. Estor had said they wouldn't have paid for tickets even without him, but that was modest of him. Without Estor, the name Cloud Dragon alone wouldn't have been enough to secure tickets.

The fair was where mages displayed their magic. That was its pure purpose, but a closer look revealed many complicated circumstances.

Magic cost a great deal of money. Some mages took requests from the Adventurers' Guild or other unsavory jobs to earn money themselves, but there were also plenty of eccentric mages who refused to do any work other than magic.

Even completing guild requests only covered living expenses. The payment was nowhere near enough to buy spellbooks or research materials.

That was why mages were always desperate for patrons, especially free mages unaffiliated with a mage tower.

This fair was a hunting ground for finding patrons willing to provide ongoing support. It was a place for mages to promote themselves, showing that they were skilled enough to develop this kind of magic and that, with sufficient support, they could create even greater magic.

There was also a competitive aspect to it, a way to determine who was superior. Mages from mage towers openly looked down on not only other mage towers, but free mages as well. This fair was a peaceful battlefield where they didn't kill each other with magic.

“I'd like to return today, but that probably won't be possible, so don't wait up for me.”

They were in an expensive lodging in central Alderan. Estor didn't need to rent a place like this. If he visited, the heads of the Mabeld Family or other powerful Cartel families would personally welcome him and offer him a large room in their mansions.

Estor had deliberately chosen not to do that. It didn't matter to him, but he had considered that Yuri and Haryeong would feel uncomfortable visiting another family's mansion.

“I already paid the fee, so make yourselves comfortable. They'll handle your meals too. If you need anything else, tell them.”

Estor casually tossed Yuri a small money pouch. It was tiny and almost weightless, but that was only on the outside. The pouch had been reinforced with advanced spatial distortion magic and various other spells, and its interior was packed with cash and jewelry.

“If you need money, take some from there. Still, don't spend too much. Don't buy useless things.”

“Uh... yeah.”

Yuri nodded awkwardly, holding the nearly weightless money pouch in both hands as though supporting something heavy.

“How much is in it?”

After Estor left, Haryeong crept closer and whispered.

Yuri was curious too. He swallowed hard and opened the pouch.

“Gasp...”

“Eek...”

The nickname Haryeong had teased him with in Rutlan was the man with 3.5 billion.

The pouch he had just opened contained even more money than that... Even Namgung Jin had needed several days to prepare one billion sel in cash. The Orsia Family and the Namgung Family truly seemed to exist on another level of wealth.

“W-what do you think about running away with this?”

Even Haryeong's expressionless face wavered at the overwhelming amount of money. Yuri didn't answer, only stared at her as though she were ridiculous.

“Don't misunderstand me, Yuri. I'm not a foolish assassin blinded by money.”

“You kept talking about money from the first time we met.”

“That's a misunderstanding. It wasn't because I needed money.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“Professionalism.”

“Professionalism...?”

“Yes. At the time, I was a professional assassin hired under contract. No matter how kind-hearted I may be for an assassin, as a professional, I shouldn't act carelessly without a contract or payment.”

“Then why are you suggesting we run away with this now?”

“No matter how detached an assassin I may be, with no greed for money, seeing this much wealth could make me lose my head for a moment. Of course, I'm only saying it. I wasn't serious at all. It was just a light joke.”

Was it really a joke? Yuri eyed Haryeong suspiciously and tucked the pouch inside his clothes.

“Wouldn't it be better if I carried it?”

“No.”

“You shouldn't treat someone like a thieving cat, Panties.”

Estor had already left, and only Yuri and Haryeong were in the room. Even so, he had to correct that dangerous form of address.

“I'm not Panties.”

“Of course...”

“I said I'm not. So, what do you want to do?”

“I think it would be proper for us to enjoy ourselves to the fullest for Estor's sake, since he's going around making all these visits for us. I'm not particularly interested in magic, but I am interested in spending someone else's money as much as I want.”

In the end, she was saying they should go out. Yuri was fairly interested in the magic fair as well. He didn't feel the need for new magic, but he wanted to see the spells being demonstrated to attract sponsors.

Mages weren't the only ones who displayed magic at fairs to seek sponsors. In a way, alchemists were even more desperate than mages. Alchemy cost far more than magic.

“Wouldn't it be a good idea to buy a new robe?”

Haryeong asked with a slight curve to her lips. Yuri didn't answer, only glared at her for a moment.

“I hope they have some decent daggers.”

“Oh my. You haven't mentioned it at all since Panteleon, so I thought you had forgotten.”

“I haven't.”

Haryeong's lips curved a little more at his answer.

* * *

The fairgrounds were crowded with people.

“This tiny thing is a bomb?”

Haryeong had claimed she wasn't very interested in magic, but apparently items made through alchemy were a different matter. Her eyes shone as she examined a bead the size of a fingernail.

“Yes. It's called an Exploding Pellet.”

The man at a booth called the Dabley Alchemy Workshop quickly added an explanation.

“Even non-mages can use this Exploding Pellet. Even the small amount of inner power available at the second tier is enough to activate it.”

“How powerful is it?”

“It's powerful enough to kill one person in an explosion.”

It was an extremely violent explanation, but Haryeong listened with a serious expression.

“You don't need to use things like this.”

A dagger Haryeong threw after infusing it with force aura wouldn't be any less powerful than an Exploding Pellet. Yet Haryeong clicked her tongue softly and shook her head.

“That may be true, but the more tools you have, the more convenient they are.”

“Of course. If you're dissatisfied with its power, we can make custom orders as well. We handle effects other than explosions too.”

“Can you make flash bombs or signal flares?”

“Yes, of course. We already have those available right now...”

It seemed they also had bombs that burst with cold and froze the surrounding area. Yuri was somewhat interested in that sort of bomb as well.

There weren't only dangerous tools like these. The nearby booths were filled with all kinds of strange items, from potions for treating wounds to potions for reducing wrinkles and other beauty treatments.

Many of the products were suspicious, with their performance not fully verified, but the atmosphere suggested it was safe to buy from major workshops with plenty of customers.

The alchemy hall was lively, with people loudly introducing workshop products and eagerly calling for customers. Everywhere he looked, there was something to see. It felt like a day wouldn't be nearly enough if they stopped at every booth to listen.

“Will this take a while?”

“Yes.”

Haryeong nodded as she seriously examined the concealed weapons made through alchemy.

“Are you planning to look for my dagger now?”

“No.”

“Then don't worry about me, Yuri. You should look around too.”

She was saying she wouldn't be moving anytime soon.

“Then let's meet in front of this booth in an hour.”

“Yes. Yuri, are you sad about being apart from me?”

“See you later.”

He didn't bother responding to her teasing and walked away.

‘Maybe I should look around the magic side too...’

He left the alchemy hall and headed toward the magic hall.

“Yuri?”

A voice carried from far away, crossing the crowd to reach him. Yuri stopped abruptly and looked in the direction it had come from.

Among mages dressed in robes of every color was a woman in a pure white coat.

“Are you Yuri?”

It was Lacey Yuzha. Yuri's eyes widened, and for a moment, he couldn't answer. A mage of the Dersia Mage Tower. Elena's senior. Someone who might possibly be a transmigrator...

Of all the details from Lacey's profile that flashed through his mind, the one that made Yuri flinch most wasn't the possibility that she was a transmigrator. It was that she was Elena's senior.

‘No way.’

Had Elena come too? The pounding of his heart swallowed the surrounding noise. He composed his expression.

At least Lacey, whom he could see now, was alone. She wore a pure white coat, an oddly styled necklace, a bizarre hat, and huge glasses. In each hand, she carried several large shopping bags.

Surely she hadn't come here dressed in that ridiculous outfit. Her necklace, hat, and glasses all looked brand-new and shiny. The hat even had what looked like a price tag attached to it.

In other words, Lacey seemed to have been enjoying the fair to the fullest.

“W-wait.”

Before Yuri could say anything, Lacey stiffened in surprise, hurried over, and grabbed his wrist.

“Come with me first.”

“What?”

“Please.”

He wondered if she was worried that he had seen her ridiculous outfit, but her expression was far too desperate for that.

Lacey led him to a private room for resting and testing the performance of purchased magic and items.

There weren't many private rooms. Unless someone was a mage who owned a major workshop or a wealthy patron, they couldn't rent one even if they wanted to.

That didn't matter to Lacey. She had come to the Alderan fair because she was personally interested in it, but here, she represented the master of the Dersia Mage Tower. Orca was also quite interested in the magic catalogs of promising young mages and alchemists' items.

“What is this about?”

Once inside the room, Yuri frowned slightly and glared at Lacey. He couldn't understand why she had suddenly grabbed his wrist and dragged him into a private room.

‘Is this woman going to interrogate me?’

He considered that possibility, but Lacey didn't look as though she planned to interrogate him. She still looked desperate enough to be sweating, and before entering the room, she had kept glancing around as though wary of something.

“Wait, just wait a moment.”

Lacey spoke haltingly. Click. The only door locked. As if that wasn't enough, she checked the magic inscribed on the door and room, drew the curtains over the window, and cast another spell to keep sound from leaking outside.

“No, what is this about?”

By then, Yuri's expression could only turn more hostile. Regardless of Lacey's expression, the way she was acting so cautiously was extremely suspicious.

“As for me...”

After checking everything to her satisfaction, Lacey let out a deep sigh and sat down.

“I want to maintain a good relationship with Elena.”

It was an out-of-the-blue statement, more than enough to confuse Yuri. Why was Elena's name suddenly coming up here? As Yuri frowned without answering, Lacey sighed again.

“I can't say that I've been... um... devoted to her until now, but I don't want us to end up in an ill-fated relationship.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Think about it.”

Since her words made no sense, Yuri asked again. Lacey pointed at him.

“What do you think would happen between Elena and me if people found out I met you here?”

That answer didn't make any sense either. Why was Elena suddenly involved? Yuri wanted to ask her directly, but saying Elena's name aloud wasn't easy. His mouth stung as though he were about to spit out thorns or blades.

“What exactly do you mean?”

Yuri asked, his face pale. Lacey let out another deep sigh.

“You're a transmigrator, aren't you? The suspicions have died down a little now, but I was heavily suspected of being one too. If people find out that I met you separately, even by coincidence, wouldn't Elena misunderstand?”

That wasn't the only reason. A few months ago, in the mage tower's first-floor lounge, Elena had seen an article about Yuri and Haryeong being together and suffered an outburst. If Lacey had intervened even a little later, the lightning Elena fired might have killed Arist.

But Yuri and Haryeong hadn't been strangers to each other. Their contract hadn't been terminated partway through, and Lacey had heard that the contract with the Salhomun had ended cleanly.

Some people might become angry, disappointed, and feel betrayed after learning that someone was a transmigrator. Others could accept transmigrators without issue.

In Elena's case, it was understandable that she couldn't accept the current Yuri because Elena and the real Yuri shared a special bond as childhood friends. But Haryeong hadn't known the real Yuri. The only Yuri she knew was the transmigrator Yuri.

‘Jealousy? Betrayal?’

There were other emotions too.

“Aren't you the one misunderstanding something, Lacey?”

Yuri frowned and glared at Lacey.

“A transmigrator? What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

The denial left his mouth without a moment's hesitation.

Footnotes:

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