WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Chen

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◈ Damned Transmigration ◈

Chapter 90: Struggle 5

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The cube of the Pseudo-Sacred Domain had vanished, but the exhibition hall, transformed into a chaotic maze, had not returned to normal.

Still, searching it posed no great difficulty.

The Soul-Eating Tree had been split in two, and Agwi himself had fled in a state little different from death.

As a result, the vines vanished and the dreams came to an end. There was no real need for a rescue operation, since the hostages would awaken on their own after some time. Even so, Alderan's city guard, the Mabeld Family's private soldiers, and various other personnel entered the maze to rescue them.

Naturally, Yuri remained where he was. Supported by Estor and Haryeong, he stood among the giants of the world.

Alnair Mabeld, head of the Mabeld Family.

Cruel Mayhem, Elleia Yudel, the Death Realm of the Martial Apex Venerable.

Guzel Havert, the Iron Fortress and master of the Habert Mage Tower.

Heavenly Thunder Orca Dersia, master of the Dersia Mage Tower.

Luana Eyd, acting archbishop of the Sect of Earth.

"What about the casualties?"

"A few people were caught up in Agwi's rampage within the Pseudo-Sacred Domain."

Moving with a blade storm wrapped around his massive body, Agwi’s very existence was a weapon. The walls he approached were shredded by the blade storm and collapsed, killing several unlucky hostages caught in the destruction.

"It would not have been strange if thousands had died. The fact that only a dozen or so perished can be called a blessing from heaven."

Alnair muttered with his hands behind his back. Now that the situation was over, even that fastidious man had stepped out of his carriage.

"The Mabeld Family will have to compensate for the exhibits lost in this incident."

"We saved people who nearly died, and now we have to compensate them too?"

At Guzel's grumbling, Alnair clicked his tongue and wagged a finger.

"If we do not compensate them for their exhibits and emotional distress, who do you think people will blame for this attack? That is not all. Rumors will spread that Alderan is an unsafe place where cultists nearly carried out a massacre. I have no intention of leaving that sort of filthy rumor in my city."

Most problems in the world could be solved with money. If thousands had suffered, he only needed to give them enough money that they could not complain. If a dozen had died, he only needed to give their surviving families enough money that they could not feel grief. Alnair Mabeld was that kind of man, and the Mabeld Family he led had the wealth to make it possible.

"Figuring out what to do now is far more difficult and vexing than dealing with those bastards who got taken hostage and slept through the whole thing without knowing a thing."

Alnair's gaze turned toward Yuri and Haryeong.

"Cloud Dragon and Dark Blossom, whose reputations are rising quickly. What reward should I give you two?"

He had already heard the details. If Cloud Dragon and Dark Blossom had not risked their lives to hold Agwi back, thousands of hostages would have died, and in the worst case, the Rift would have been completed.

If the Rift had been completed, Alnair did not want to imagine it. Nearly fifty years had passed since Rifts first appeared in the world, yet humanity had never succeeded in closing one through its own power.

"My city nearly became another Ranalsa."

Ranalsa was never left out of any discussion of regions destroyed by Rifts. Decades ago, the once-prosperous city had been destroyed by a Rift, and its refugees had moved to Panteleon, where they formed an outer district.

"In other words, you did not merely save thousands of hostages. You saved my city. How am I supposed to repay that? To be honest, even I do not know. This is the first time I have had to worry about something like this."

He believed money could solve most things, but this was not one of those things.

"Orca was the one who drove Agwi into a corner."

Yuri answered modestly. In truth, he had no idea what he should ask of Alnair Mabeld either. Alderan existed in the game, but there had never been a separate event involving the Mabeld Family. In the game, Alderan was simply where players boarded airships to cross to the Eastern Continent.

If it had been the Ascard Family or the Orsia Family, he would have known what to ask for...

'I already drank the elixir, though.'

All Yuri knew about the Mabeld Family was that it stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ascard Family as one of Pride's wealthiest families. The Ascard Family specialized in alchemy, so there would have been things worth asking for besides an elixir, but the Mabeld Family was neither a martial clan nor a famed magical house.

"You do not need to say that."

Orca, still settled within Lacey's body, answered.

"If you and Haryeong had not been there, I would not have been able to come here. Put another way, you two are also Lacey's benefactors. I should be the one offering you an even greater reward."

"You do not have to..."

"You need not refuse."

With talk of rewards underway, Guzel could not stay quiet. He cleared his throat softly before speaking up.

"Mm... If you had not been there, my disciple's soul would have ended up in Agwi's stomach. I should pay the price for my disciple's life as well. If there is something you want, speak freely."

"Our Sect of Earth is also deeply grateful to the heroes who bravely stood against the Evil God."

Luana bowed as she spoke. Yuri could only feel even more troubled.

Giants whom he could not normally meet through Cloud Dragon's reputation alone were offering him rewards... He had not thrown himself at Agwi in hopes of receiving anything, but now that he had survived with all four limbs intact, he felt strangely moved.

'Ah...'

He wondered if his sense of fulfillment had gone to his head. No, he was simply lightheaded. He had received emergency treatment with potions, but he had lost too much blood, and his body was in poor condition from fractures and internal injuries. Most of all, he had poured every bit of his inner power into that final Sacred Flame Release, leaving even his dantian drained.

"First..."

Yuri forced his heavy eyelids open and continued.

"Can I have... that?"

At some point, both his hands had stopped moving properly. Rewards came after everything was over. Listening to them discuss rewards made it truly sink in that it was over, and all the tension drained from him at once.

"That...?"

Yuri pointed to Agwi's lower body and the belongings left behind, which priests under Luana's command were carefully examining. The Torn-Mouth Mask, the large robe, a gold necklace and bracelet, underwear...

"You want those...?"

Orca asked with a deeply complicated expression.

"I do not need the underwear."

"I do not need it either."

"W-We do."

Luana answered while forcing a smile.

"Since a Saint wore them personally, all of those things are likely high-grade items. We may be able to use them to uncover information on the cultists and track down Agwi."

"Once that work is done, please give them to me if there are no issues."

He was not certain, but he had an idea about that bracelet. It was an accessory players absolutely had to obtain when raising a Blade Storm Druid.

Which equipment slots to seal in a build using the Art of the Empty Fist varied by preference, but accessory slots were never sealed.

Because of that bracelet.

'Seeing that he wore only a robe, underwear, and accessories, he did choose the most stable build.'

It meant the penalty skill, Art of the Empty Fist, could be replaced with Geas.

'If it had been up to me, I would have banned underwear too, seeing as I already had the robe.'

In any case, if Yuri was right about that bracelet, it might be an item with excellent general use even outside the Blade Storm Druid build. No, it might be considered endgame gear for most builds.

"May I ask why you want it?"

"If it is an item used by a Saint of the Evil God, it must be a good item."

"That is true, but..."

Seeing Luana's discomfort, Alnair spoke.

"Give it to him if there is no problem."

"Pardon?"

"If it is confirmed that the items are unnecessary for tracking Agwi and the cult of the Evil God, there is no issue with giving them to Cloud Dragon, is there?"

Alnair looked indifferently at Agwi's lost belongings.

"There is plenty of blood and flesh left behind, so blood magic or curses should be enough to track him. Besides, the rights to prey belong to the hunter. After all, it was Cloud Dragon and Dark Blossom who drove Agwi off. They can be called the hunters. Still, Cloud Dragon, please understand why we cannot hand them over immediately."

Perhaps wealthy people were generous by nature. The Sword Emperor had been like that too, and not a single head of a Pride family Yuri had met so far had been petty.

"Those are items you may rightfully claim ownership of, so the Sect of Earth should offer you a separate reward as well. Is that not right?"

"Mm... Yes, the family head is correct."

Luana hesitated briefly before nodding. In terms of raw power, she might have been the weakest person here, but Alnair Mabeld held the greatest authority among them. The heads of Pride families were giants whom even the highest clergy of each sect did not speak down to.

"This discussion is going on too long."

Estor, who had been supporting Yuri, spoke.

"I understand that these matters must be discussed, but Yuri and Lady Haryeong's injuries are not minor."

"The Sword Emperor's grandson is right."

Elleia, who had listened in silence, agreed.

"Look. Cloud Dragon's eyelids are already halfway shut. Keep talking, and he will faint while standing."

"We cannot let the benefactor of my city sleep standing up."

Alnair nodded.

"I would like to invite you to the Mabeld Family estate. Would that be acceptable?"

"Yes... That is fine."

Yuri nodded drowsily.

* * *

"Gaaaaaah..."

Agwi let out a hoarse scream as he clawed at the ground with his left hand. He was in no state to claw at it with both hands.

The body that had been buried in the foundation had been severed around the solar plexus. He had lost his right eye. He had also lost his right arm. All that remained of Agwi now was his head, upper body, and left arm.

Those were wounds that should have killed him, but Agwi did not die. He had lost a great deal, but through the Soul-Eating Tree, he possessed immense Soul Power even among those of the same rank. That Soul Power resisted death.

'I-I do not want to die...'

Agwi himself rejected death. He had prayed because he wanted to survive, even in such a miserable state. The wounds were horrific, but thankfully, he was no longer bleeding. Agwi's will and power held back the blood that wanted to spill out of him.

His wounds did not heal. Agwi desperately tried to raise divine power, but it did not obey his will.

The pain from wounds that would not heal was driving him mad. Agwi's teeth clacked as he clawed at the floor. His transformation magic had already been undone, and he was now in human form.

'My mask...'

Creak.

Agwi trembled as he ground his teeth. The mask was not all he had lost. He had left everything he possessed there. They had all been priceless epic items...! Losing the bracelet and necklace in particular filled him with despair.

'Where am I...?'

At this rate, he would truly go mad from the pain or lose consciousness. He was not confident he would ever wake again if that happened. So he forcibly held on to his fading mind.

A finger had seized him and carried him somewhere. He did not know where this was. It was not outdoors, but it was not a room either...

'A cave...?'

Agwi lifted his head and looked up. The ceiling was rough stone, yet there was none of a cave's distinctive smell. The floor was clean, without even a strand of animal fur. It was a cave, but one kept under thorough care.

"Ghhh..."

Please let me escape and live.

That was what Agwi had wished for, but he knew well that the God of Chaos he served was not a kind god. Gods were beings that could not be fully understood through human common sense. One should not expect a human heart from them.

The God of Chaos, especially, was not good, as the god's name and deeds proved. He had escaped, but his body was ruined. Still, he had survived for now, but...

'That is...'

Agwi looked deeper into the cave with his trembling remaining eye. His vision was poor because his wounds had not healed, but he could make out a massive door deep within the cave. Just as he thought, someone else was here.

An enemy? Please, no. He had some divine power and Soul Power remaining, but Agwi was in no state to fight. If whoever was here was an enemy, he would very likely die... So Agwi dragged himself along with one arm. It seemed better to flee from here first. He did not think he could get far, but this unknown place looked far too dangerous...

"Hm?"

It happened just as he decided to escape and turned toward the cave entrance.

He did not know how. The pain was driving him mad and his body was a wreck, but his senses had not been completely dulled. Yet he had failed to notice the presence that approached right behind him until he heard a voice.

"Well, well. I wondered who it was. I do not know whether my guess is correct."

It was a pleasant, gentle voice, but Agwi could not help breaking out in a cold sweat. The voice itself was unfamiliar, but the manner of speaking was not.

'Could it be...?'

Agwi instinctively tried to turn around. At that moment, the man behind him lightly pressed a foot against his neck.

"Ghh...!"

The powerful pressure against his neck made Agwi groan in pain. His neck was only being stepped on, yet strength drained from his entire body and it no longer obeyed him. In the end, he could not turn around and buried his face in the rough, hard stone floor.

"Do not turn around. Unfortunately, I am not wearing a mask at the moment."

The gentle voice continued.

"Mm, and do not resent being stepped on too much. I do not wish to stoop for someone who cannot stand."

"S-Sau?"

Agwi asked haltingly. Sau let out a quiet laugh.

"Oh, how did you know? My voice at the round table is completely altered."

"Sau...! What are you doing right now...?!"

"That is the question I should be asking. You said you would carry out a terrorist attack at the Alderan exhibition hall, so why are you in my workshop?"

Sau asked, but Agwi could not answer. The pressure against his neck grew stronger, leaving him unable to make a sound.

"Actually, there is no need to ask. I can roughly guess. You failed, did you not? You barely escaped, but not safely. It seems you prayed to our god and made an offering."

Sau chuckled as he stroked his beard.

"You know you should not abuse Geas too much. It must have been dangerous if you had no choice but to use Geas to escape. That is quite interesting. I am curious."

"Ghh..."

"So, what did you offer? As I recall, the restrictions you bore concerned clothing and weapons. Oh... Your divine power has greatly diminished. It appears you offered up most of the divine power you had accumulated until now."

Sau laughed again.

"Agwi, my friend. You said you were confident, yet look at you. You even gave up divine power through Geas. Who would think you were a Saint looking like this?"

"Sau..."

Agwi panted and barely forced out his voice. Sau's eyes gleamed as he eased the pressure from his foot.

"S-Save me."

The instant the pressure eased, Agwi begged.

"Save me. If you save me, I will repay you without fail. I gave up divine power, but my Soul Power remains, and my Divine Grace Authority is still intact. If I have time, I can recover...!"

"Hm, that is true."

"Please, Sau...! I have never once defied you!"

"That is correct. You have always treated me with respect. I have respected you quite a bit as well."

Sau slowly removed his foot from Agwi's neck.

"Still, I do not understand your request. Why would I try to kill you? If you prayed to our god and came to my workshop, then the god guided our meeting."

Sau smiled happily and moved a hand. Agwi's body, which could not stand on its own, floated into the air. Anxiety threatened to drive Agwi mad as he desperately wanted to turn around, but he could not. An invisible force held his head firmly in place.

"Let us go inside first. Ah, do not worry too much. Your injuries are severe, so we should treat them first, should we not?"

Rumble...

The door deeper within the cave began to open. Agwi's face went pale at the smell flowing through the gap. It was the stench of old, rotting corpses.

"Please understand that it is dirty. This is not a place that receives guests."

Sau spoke in a cheerful voice.

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