WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 80: Alderan 4
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Deciding to tell Estor he was a transmigrator once Estor returned to the lodging had been somewhat impulsive.
Still, Haryeong's criticisms had hurt because they were right, and Yuri himself had at least a little awareness of those flaws.
‘Even so, calling me pathetic is too much...’
Before his transmigration, the person known as Lee Su-hyeok, not Yuri, did have some pathetic qualities. What else could someone be called if they used the username UrMumSpammer and constantly insulted people's mothers on an overseas community where there was anonymity, no threat of lawsuits, and no risk of getting punched in the face?
Of course, Lee Su-hyeok knew very well that he was not someone who could proudly introduce himself anywhere.
Still, there was one thing he could say with confidence.
He had never cursed at someone without reason. He cursed at people who deserved it. He only hurled insults at people who strutted around and acted arrogant despite having nothing special about them.
Like THOR123.
THOR123 was serious about lightning mage builds, enough to be called the father of the community's lightning mages, and had carefully written guides. Still, the original build was riddled with flaws. It focused so heavily on burst damage that the downtime was far too long, and it did not offer enough accuracy compensation to make up for it.
How could he not curse at someone who brought out a build like that and strutted around, insisting it was unquestionably right? So he cursed at her.
At first, Thor responded in a self-righteous, gentlemanly tone. A few days later, though, she quietly reworked the build and posted a new guide, calling it ver.2 and acting as though the improvements had been her own idea.
Naturally, ver.2 had been completed through Lee Su-hyeok's profanity-laced advice. It was not just ver.2 either. Most subsequent upgraded versions had been the result of Lee Su-hyeok offering advice without asking for anything in return.
Yet Thor had never once mentioned UrMumSpammer in a guide or left a single thank-you comment on one of UrMumSpammer's posts.
In other words, she deserved every insult.
UrMumSpammer only cursed at people like that.
So, in a way, he had been a righteous mom-insulter. A Dark Knight who walked in darkness to cleanse the community...
“...”
He should not be put on the same level as Chuk-sin-doo and people like him, who set themselves on fire and ran wild with nothing but malice.
‘Come to think of it, Thor wasn't the father of lightning mages. She was the mother.’
Lacey was most likely Thor. USAUSAMI had been a woman too, so Thor being one was not particularly surprising.
“What are you thinking so hard about, pathetic Yuri-nim?”
Haryeong had called him all sorts of nicknames by now, but this one hurt the most and was the hardest to hear.
“I'm not pathetic.”
It was an unfair nickname too. He had suddenly arrived in an unfamiliar world and been forced to live as someone else. He had watched what he said and suppressed his personality, and things had gradually become tangled together.
“It seems Estor won't be returning today.”
They had already eaten after returning to their lodging. Haryeong had thoroughly explained the alchemy items she had bought in bulk, including hidden weapons called Exploding Pellets and Severing Pellets. Yuri had also looked through the catalogues for the fair's magic booths he had not been able to visit that day.
Before he knew it, night had fallen, and there was no sign of Estor returning. Estor himself had said it would likely be difficult for him to return that day, so they should not wait for him.
“What will you do tomorrow?”
“Well, I didn't get to properly look around the fair today. I'll go again tomorrow.”
“You may run into Lacey Yuzha.”
“It's not like I committed a crime. Why would I avoid her?”
Hadn't Lacey been the one at fault?
Thinking about it now, Lacey's approach that day had been incredibly clumsy. She must have been certain Yuri was a transmigrator, which was why she had acted that way, but she had failed to corner him as she intended.
“Heavenly Downpour!”
Instead, Lacey had practically lost her mind halfway through and started asking Yuri obvious leading questions. Did she have some psychological reason for behaving that way?
‘It must be because of UrMumSpammer.’
The cultists believed UrMumSpammer was an apostle of the Evil God. Actually, it was not only the cultists. Most transmigrators from the middle and late stages had reached first place in the rankings through UrMumSpammer's many guides and personal advice. Even transmigrators who were not cultists could easily have misunderstood the kind-hearted UrMumSpammer and become hostile toward him.
Even that Pointing Flame bastard who died in the Foul Village had said he resented UrMumSpammer before becoming a cultist.
Yuri did not know exactly when Lacey had transmigrated. But she had reached the fourth tier at the same age Elena did, twenty years old, so she must have transmigrated before then.
That was why he thought Lacey was Thor. Thor had reached first place and transmigrated around that time too. If so, Lacey probably was not obsessed with UrMumSpammer because she suspected he was the Evil God's apostle.
Then why was Lacey, why was Thor, obsessed with UrMumSpammer? Why had she suddenly shouted “Downpour” and all that other bullshit to confirm Yuri was UrMumSpammer?
“...”
Could it be because she still resented all the insults she had received back in the community days? Yuri had insulted her because she did things worth insulting, yet she held a grudge. How utterly shameless.
Besides, by Lacey Yuzha's standards, that had already been more than ten years ago. Even after learning the Dersia lightning magic she loved so much in this world and living a happy life under Heavenly Thunder's favor, she had not forgotten the insults and mockery she had seen through a monitor back on Earth?
‘She's as crazy a bitch as Chuk-sin-doo, if not worse.’
Even if he ran into Lacey tomorrow, Yuri had not intended to avoid her since he had done nothing wrong. But after thinking about her again, he felt it might be better to stay away. They said people did not avoid shit because they feared it, but because it was filthy. Lacey was not frightening. She was crazy shit.
“Will you buy me a dagger tomorrow?”
“If I find a good one.”
“Yuri-nim and I became even closer today, so an ordinary dagger won't do.”
A dagger.
Yuri considered it again. Game items came to mind first. Just as Atria, the Sword Emperor's Beloved Sword, was the endgame item for sword builds, other weapons had items considered their endgame equipment too.
UrMumSpammer, who could not equip armor, let alone a weapon, had no connection to such things. Still, Yuri, or rather Lee Su-hyeok, had raised more characters in that game than just UrMumSpammer.
The shameless and rude Thor had disparaged builds made up of skills she had never even used, insisting her own method was right. Lee Su-hyeok was not like that. His preferred concept and final settled build had simply been a Panties Martial Artist, something that could be called the symbol of a veteran player. With time to spare, Lee Su-hyeok had tried most of Seronis's skills and items.
‘Silent Blade.’
Cat Panties had always used that dagger. It was the endgame item among the game's daggers. There were many other excellent daggers, such as the Human-Faced Spider's Claw and the Six-Headed Serpent's Tail Stinger, but they could not compare to Silent Blade.
The problem was that Silent Blade was a Dang Family heirloom.
Haryeong had not explained the details, but she said the Dang Family had abandoned her.
Giving someone like Haryeong Silent Blade, the Dang Family heirloom, would carry meaning in many ways... Yet wanting Silent Blade, the Dang Family heirloom, meant directly challenging the ruling family of the Salmun, one of the Black Dragon Society's Six Evils.
There was no answer if he considered a full-scale war against the Dang Family now. Realistically, it was impossible.
No matter how strong Yuri was, he was on an entirely different level from a Martial Apex Venerable. He had felt that down to his bones during his spar with the Fist King.
The current head of the Dang Family and leader of the Salmun, the Dark King Tang Yu-shin, was a Martial Apex Venerable.
‘Haryeong-nim's father is probably the Dark King...’
He had not heard the exact circumstances, but after listening to Haryeong, a whole morning soap opera had produced itself in his head.
Perhaps Haryeong was the Dark King's illegitimate daughter. At first, she had been brought into the Dang Family and raised there, but Haryeong's extraordinary talent, too exceptional for an illegitimate child, had begun to cause discord within the family.
Naturally, the Dark King must have had a legitimate wife and children with her. In the end, for the sake of those legitimate children, the Dark King drove Haryeong, his illegitimate daughter, out of both the family and the Salmun...
‘It really is a morning soap opera.’
If that were the case, though, there would be no reason for Haryeong to deny that it was revenge. She said it was not revenge, but from Yuri's perspective, that made it even harder to understand.
Whatever the circumstances or emotions behind it, Haryeong wanted to kill her father.
If someday Haryeong wanted Yuri's help with that murder that was not revenge...
“Don't be too disappointed if I can't buy you one tomorrow.”
Not long after he answered, footsteps sounded. Yuri sensed the presence and recognized Estor, who had said he might not be able to return that day.
“Thump thump.”
Haryeong whispered softly. Her heart truly was pounding, and her eyes sparkled. Yuri's face, on the other hand, stiffened slightly.
He had prepared himself, but that did not stop his heart from tightening when the moment actually arrived. Still, it was not something he could put off. It was better to tell Estor before they became closer than to be discovered against his will later and have their relationship fall apart.
Yuri did not want to feel what he had felt two years ago again.
So he reached for the door first. The door slid open under the force of his inner power, and Estor, who had been about to knock, grinned.
“What, were you two waiting for me?”
“We were. But you said you might not be able to return today?”
“The Mabeld Family Head said I could stay the night, but I have a room to return to. Staying there would feel awkward too.”
Estor openly grumbled as he strode into the room.
“They started saying annoying things about how I should meet the Mabeld young lady. She is a good young lady, but I've decided to travel east with you and Haryeong-nim. I can't start meeting women here.”
“Um...”
“What? Why do you look like that? Hmm, I think I understand. Haryeong-nim must have teased you mercilessly before I came back.”
“I think we need to have a serious talk, so get a chair and sit down first.”
“A serious talk?”
“I have something to apologize to you for.”
Yuri spoke with a stiff expression. Estor's eyes widened as he looked back and forth between Yuri and Haryeong.
“Hmm.”
Estor's expression hardened slightly too. He hesitated for a moment, let out a short sigh, and scratched the back of his head.
“Yuri.”
Estor pulled over a nearby chair and dropped into it.
“It's fine if you lost that money pouch. It is my money, and even if it's lost, the Orsia Family's finances won't suffer at all.”
“What?”
“We've lost the money for the journey ahead, but we can borrow money from the Mabeld Family, so it's not a problem. If that bothers you, well, we can use your money and Haryeong-nim's.”
“Hey, wait.”
“Hmm, now that I think about it, there's no need to ask the Mabeld Family for money either. I can borrow a considerable amount under my name at a bank. So, you don't need to feel too depressed.”
It seemed he had misunderstood because of the heavy mood and Yuri saying he had something to apologize for. Haryeong's lips twitched at Estor's absurd response, while Yuri cleared his throat and placed the money pouch from his robes onto the table.
“I didn't lose it.”
“Then why? Did you spend too much money? That isn't something you need to apologize for either.”
“I'm a transmigrator.”
He started with that. The words themselves came out more smoothly than he had imagined, but his heart was not at ease. As Haryeong said, it was better to tell him directly than to be discovered later.
Still, Yuri feared Estor's response after learning he was a transmigrator.
“...?”
It must have been something Estor had never expected. His eyes opened wide, and he stared at Yuri with his mouth slightly open. There was no emotion in that gaze besides surprise yet.
“I transmigrated two years ago, when this body's original owner turned twenty.”
After that, Yuri told him about the life he had lived as Yuri. He did not need to mention meeting Elena or their ruined relationship, but he did talk about a transmigrator's talent.
He thought he had to. Estor had first shown goodwill toward Yuri because of the martial strength he had built with that talent.
“Why are you suddenly telling me this?”
Estor, who had silently listened to his story, asked with a frown.
“You had no reason to tell me. I never suspected you. If you had kept your mouth shut, I would never have imagined you were a transmigrator.”
“I could be discovered someday.”
Yuri forced an indifferent expression. Anxiety squeezed his chest tight, but he did not think he should show it on his face.
“If we had parted ways in Panteleon, I would not have tried to tell you the truth. But you are going with us. On an airship, all the way from here to the distant Eastern Continent.”
“Hmm, true.”
The emotion Yuri had feared was still absent from Estor's eyes. That made it harder to read what Estor was thinking.
“That is why I told you. If I were exposed after we crossed to that distant continent...”
“I understand.”
Before Yuri could gauge his response any further, Estor casually turned his head. He looked at Haryeong, who stood a short distance away with sparkling eyes as though watching a fire from across the river.
“Haryeong-nim knew from the beginning?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
An unexpected answer came back. Estor grinned and nodded.
“I don't know the hardships transmigrators face, but I know it can't be easy to reveal something like that yourself. Yet you told me first. I'm grateful.”
“What...?”
“If you told me a difficult truth, does that mean we have trust between us now? Hmm, then I'm in trouble. I don't have any secrets...”
Estor folded his arms and thought for a moment, then opened his mouth while watching Yuri and Haryeong's reactions.
“Would you like to hear about an embarrassing mistake from my childhood? Or perhaps my failed first love?”
“I'm curious about the first love.”
Before Yuri could continue, Haryeong immediately spoke.
“Estor-nim, I am curious about your secret, but I have no intention of telling you mine. It is not because I do not trust you. My secret is simply very private.”
“My first love is private too...”
“So how did your first love fail?”
Yuri had steeled himself and revealed the truth, yet the conversation had immediately moved on to Estor's first love. He blinked for a moment, then stammered out his words.
“Th-that's it?”
“Hmm? What do you mean, that's it?”
Estor tilted his head and asked.
“Is there anything else I need to say?”
“I'm a transmigrator.”
“I know. I just heard you say it.”
“W-well, don't you feel betrayed or angry or anything?”
“Have I ever asked whether you were a transmigrator?”
“No.”
“Then you did not lie to me. You simply did not tell me something I never asked.”
Estor looked at Yuri as though Yuri was the strange one.
“If I had known the person called Yuri before you transmigrated, then perhaps it would be different. But the only Yuri I know is the transmigrator Yuri. Why would I feel angry?”
“What a coincidence. I felt the same way.”
Haryeong nodded along.
“W-wouldn't it be reasonable to be angry? I beat you in our spar.”
“So what?”
“I beat you even though I've only properly learned martial arts for a little over two years. Several lucky opportunities played a role, but a transmigrator's talent...”
“You are saying something strange.”
Estor tilted his head and muttered.
“I was born with immense talent as well. I was born into the Orsia Family, one of the handful of most prestigious martial families on the Western Continent, and my grandfather is Albator Orsia, the Sword Emperor and greatest swordsman of this age.”
“...”
“Yuri. Did you transmigrate into this world because you wanted to?”
“No.”
“Could you choose the body you transmigrated into?”
“No.”
“When we compare everything between us, my circumstances are overwhelmingly better. My life has been filled with good fortune. There are only a handful of people in this world who were born into a family as good as mine, with talent and every bit of support they could need. Wouldn't it be like smearing shit on my own face if I got angry at you for benefiting from talent?”
Estor did not know the real Yuri. He was the same as Haryeong. That was why he could not help reacting differently from Elena.
Still, that would not be the usual reaction.
Most residents of this world formed a negative impression just from hearing someone was a transmigrator. If they had been close to the original person, they would feel hatred and even murderous intent. Even strangers would likely keep their distance after learning someone was a transmigrator.
“So, your failed first love?”
Haryeong persistently asked, but Estor changed the subject with a cough. Yuri could only stand there with his mouth hanging open like an idiot.
‘Is this bastard in his right mind?’
Yuri had steeled himself and revealed the truth, yet Estor acted as though he did not care in the slightest.
“Still, you aren't planning to openly tell everyone you're a transmigrator from now on, are you?”
“That would be difficult.”
Yuri had told Estor his secret because they needed to travel together for several months, and because he had a means to keep Estor's mouth shut in the worst-case scenario.
“Hmm. Then I should help keep your secret too. I'm good at keeping secrets, so there's nothing to worry about.”
Estor smirked and rose from his seat. Yuri could not know what thoughts or feelings Estor hid inside, but outwardly, he did not seem to have any hidden agenda.
Could Yuri trust him? Would it not be better to make a point of getting a firm promise from him?
“...”
He did not. Yuri quietly kept his mouth shut. What they needed now was trust in each other. Yuri had revealed the truth because he did not want to break that trust. Rather than forcibly sealing Estor's mouth with the shackle of the favor Yuri had won through their sparring bet, he wanted to trust him just once.
“I have to visit the Habert Mage Tower tomorrow, but what will you and Haryeong-nim do?”
“We plan to visit the fair again tomorrow.”
Yuri composed himself and answered. As soon as he did, Haryeong glided close and whispered.
“Estor-nim does not know this, but Yuri-nim spent today worrying about all sorts of pathetic things, so he was unable to properly look around the fair. Would you like to know what Yuri-nim's pathetic worries were?”
“Shut up.”
Yuri hurriedly cut Haryeong off.
Footnotes:
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