Even in a Dark Fantasy, You Still Have to Eat - Chapter 30

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Haruto

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Even in a Dark Fantasy, You Still Have to Eat ◈

Chapter 30: Requiem for a Traitor # 1

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“Sabranik is an idol known as one of the Three Calamities.”

“Dangerous and deadly.”

I remembered asking Hermit about idols and listening to her explanation.

“Then is it greater than the other idols?”

“Idols don't have ranks or a hierarchy.”

“Still, some idols are especially more dangerous than others.”

An especially dangerous idol.

As I looked at the eight enormous eyes, I realized it.

【I am ■■ ■■■, ■■.】

【Offer me all your entrails.】

‘This thing is that dangerous idol!’

How could I escape this idol’s grasp?

Then unpleasant keeheeheehee laughter echoed in my ears.

【Nihil-Raz.】

【Call my name.】

It was the wolf with the torn-open mouth.

The one that had given me Hound’s Nose.

Was it offering to step in because Sabranik was absent?

“Nihil-Raz!”

I couldn't see another choice, so I called its name.

Riiip.

Then a tooth-filled mouth formed in the dark void.

The wolf's body burst out from between those teeth.

The wolf growled.

【Get lost.】

【This one is my offering.】

The giant eyes and the wolf faced each other.

It was tense in every way.

【You.】

【I want you.】

The eyes raised hands that shone like stars, then wrapped all eight palms around the wolf.

Like a child catching an insect.

【I only need to tear apart these palms...】

【Oh, ooh...!?】

Crunch, crunch.

The wolf crumpled like an empty soda can.

“That fucking mutt is weak!”

Maybe I should keep calling Sabranik.

Just as I was thinking that...

Crunch, crunch, rip!

The enormous hands tore apart, and the wolf appeared again.

Ptooey.

Nihil-Raz spat something out.

【Keeheeheehee!】

【Spiders taste good.】

“Ooh! Nihil-Raz! I knew I could count on you!”

Whoooosh.

The eight eyes looked at their torn-off hands.

【…….】

Then they slowly closed.

The pressure crushing my chest vanished too.

The giant spider must have run away.

【You.】

【For someone who is my offering.】

【Don't get involved with strange things.】

So how was I supposed to send this wolf back?

As I considered it from every angle, the wolf grinned.

【The price for hearing my name.】

【Offer me your eye.】

【The left one will do.】

What?

A spider trying to take my entrails, and now a wolf trying to take my eye?

This was completely fucked.

“Fine! I understand!”

【Really?】

“Take it from my corpse after I die someday.”

【You squirrel-like bastard.】

【I could kill you right now and make you into a corpse!】

Its sharp teeth growled viciously.

It felt like I couldn't breathe.

But I had thought this through.

“If I die like that, you'll lose a lot too.”

【Why?】

“You want me to stay alive for a long time too. That way, you can keep trading with me and make a long-term profit.”

There had to be a reason it revealed its name and helped me.

It didn't want me dead.

Sabranik and Asibarr both wanted to trade with me for a long time.

This one would be the same.

【Fine.】

【None of you will make it past today anyway.】

【I can wait patiently for one day.】

It accepted my proposal more easily than I expected.

But something it said bothered me.

“None of us will make it past today? What does that mean?”

【I have no mouth to tell you even that.】

Ssssss.

Then the darkness around me faded, and the wolf vanished.

At the same time, a welcome voice rang out.

【...Bzzzt...】

【Blessed one.】

【Give me the Eight-Armed Great Mother Idol.】

What?

Looks like the signal was only reaching me now.

But I was exhausted.

Besides, this statue was something Jermain had sent me to retrieve.

If Sabranik had helped me this time, I might've considered giving it to Sabranik...

# # #

When I came to, I was lying in some bed.

Felix clicked his tongue.

“The one with the fewest injuries was the first to collapse.”

“Ugh, unfamiliar idols keep appearing and making things difficult.”

“New idols don't usually come calling so easily.”

“Really?”

“Usually, you need to use a special relic as a catalyst, or use an idol statue to summon one.”

Really?

Then why did dangerous bastards keep coming after me first?

It was annoying enough to drive me crazy!

Anyway.

Apparently, about an hour had passed since I collapsed.

“None of you will make it past today anyway.”

What Nihil-Raz had said kept bothering me.

It said “none of you.”

More than one person?

What could kill several people today?

Was some kind of plague spreading?

Tap.

Felix tapped my shoulder.

“If you're awake, let's go. The shaman says they have something to tell you about the spider jewel you brought.”

The spider jewel!

The Lieutenant General had said the shaman would buy it for ten million Ether!

My mood immediately improved.

“Mr. Yore, you're here.”

The shaman was waiting for me in the Lieutenant General’s tent.

They were quite respectful.

“May I request a barter trade between this jewel and an item I possess?”

“A barter trade?”

“There is a storage shed for useful rare artifacts among the things the Lieutenant General discarded underground. You could call it a true treasure vault. Please choose something to exchange for it there.”

“Lord Shaman, isn't that too great a reward?”

Sir Gottwald furrowed his brow.

The shaman raised the spider jewel high.

“I have never seen a jewel of such purity! Trading in Ether would be simpler, but I don't possess any Ether at the moment...”

“Yore, what do you think?”

Hammer asked me.

Everyone had waited for my opinion before making the trade.

“I think it's good. They said everyone can take one item from the treasure vault.”

“I agree too. I'm curious about what kind of items are in there.”

If even Hermit said that, it sounded like a decent offer.

“May we look at the items before deciding?”

“Yes. Please follow me.”

We were invited into the shaman’s room.

It was a tent filled with sacred ropes, talismans, and strange totems.

Hermit immediately reacted badly.

“Ugh. I feel dizzy.”

“Those sensitive to magical power may feel that way. I only come here once every three days to perform a purification ritual myself.”

Swoosh.

The shaman entered the tent.

Soon, all of us were left speechless by the swords, shields, armor, and other items inside.

“These are items the Lieutenant General captured personally. Most are deeply imbued with the Night’s magic, so I am purifying them.”

“Ooh! This is a Vampire Hammer!”

I turned at the loud voice and saw Hammer holding a bright-red hammer.

“It becomes harder the more blood it absorbs! The weight is good too!”

Hup, hup.

Hammer lifted it like a dumbbell and seemed to like it, though I didn't know why.

“Gasp! These gloves are made of Anti-Magic Silk!?”

Hermit was delighted too, putting on thin white gloves.

When I looked at her, wondering what they were, she smiled.

“I get burned by Angrat’s flames often, so I've always wanted gloves made from demon-suppressing material!”

“Oh? Mage, do you use the Angrat School’s flame magic?”

The shaman showed interest in Hermit.

“You must be of excellent bloodline if you made a deal with that troublesome idol. May I ask which family you belong to?”

“…”

Hermit fell silent.

What was wrong?

She usually loved chatting about all kinds of things.

Shing.

Then Felix drew his sword beside me.

Its blade was extremely red.

“This sword was made by the Erdari. Are you really giving this to us?”

“Yes. The Lieutenant General entrusted all matters concerning this treasure vault to me...”

Everyone was busy shopping.

I needed to grab something expensive too.

As I looked around for a long time to see what was available, the shaman shouted.

“The item that was here! Did any of you see it?”

The shaman pointed at a red cushion.

Everyone shook their heads, and so did I.

“Aaaaah! An item that was definitely here this morning has disappeared!”

Slowly, everyone's gaze turned to me.

What?

Why were they all looking at me?

At the same time, I suspected myself.

‘Did my hand move without me noticing?’

Honestly, I suspected myself too.

But I hadn't even gone near that cushion.

That much was certain.

“This is terrible! Yore! Please put it back! I won't hold you accountable!”

“Why are you saying that to me? I really don't know!”

“You really don't know?”

Hermit looked at me with narrowed eyes.

This was ridiculous.

“Hermit, you were beside me. You know I didn't have time to go over there.”

“Some Thieves can steal distant objects with Invisible Hand. You might have a blessing like that...”

For fuck’s sake.

How much trouble had Thieves caused for people to trust them this little?

Of course, if something went missing, I would suspect any Thief nearby first.

I couldn't even trust myself!

“But this time, it really wasn't me.”

“Ah... This is truly terrible. What should I do...?”

The shaman sighed and fidgeted anxiously.

Hammer asked them a question.

“What kind of item was it? Was it expensive?”

“It's not expensive. It's extremely dangerous. The safety of this fortress depends on it.”

The safety of the fortress.

I remembered what Nihil-Raz had said.

It had said we would all die before today ended.

“From now on, we must seal the fortress entrances. The Lieutenant General will return around tomorrow, so we will investigate and question everyone about this matter then.”

Jingle.

The shaman struck the floor with their bell-topped staff.

“Mr. Hammer and your companions must cooperate with me as well.”

Their voice was very solemn.

But I thought differently.

“Tomorrow may be too late!”

There was no time.

Swish.

I pulled out a shuriken and threw it with all my strength.

Clang!

Sir Gottwald’s sword knocked it aside.

“What are you doing, you thieving bastard!”