WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Irevi

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 75: Please Stop Him

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Cecilia had once made Aren a proposal similar to the one she had made to Halibal.

Of course, she had no particular desire to become friends.

She simply thought knowing Aren better would make it easier to respond if anything ever happened.

'Going to dungeons is good and all, but now that you're my Follower, how about we get to know each other better?'

'Huh? Aren't we already close?'

Aren's behavior reminded Cecilia of Senia.

Senia wore a mask when dealing with others, but Aren's affectionate expressions genuinely came from the heart.

Yet every one of her actions ultimately converged on a single goal.

'Clear an Evil God Dungeon.'

It felt as though she was dedicating her entire life to that purpose alone.

Cecilia had felt something similar when she first met Halibal.

The decisive difference between Halibal and Aren, though, was that he was trying to change.

He still moved toward his goal, but he looked at the people around him far more often now.

Cecilia had fallen for the version of him who looked only at his goal, but she didn't dislike the change at all.

Because she knew she was reflected in his eyes too.

But what about Aren?

"...What do you mean?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering how I look in your eyes."

In Aren's eyes, Cecilia wasn't a person.

A finely honed sword. Or perhaps magic.

The next Sword Princess, someone with experience clearing the Doll Dungeon.

She had all sorts of labels attached to her, but none of them were Cecilia Ren.

"I see you as a friend."

"No. You only see your goal."

"...Cecilia."

"Sorry, but I'm someone completely driven by the need for recognition. I don't plan to risk my life in a dungeon with someone like that."

"Wait, Cecilia! If I did something you didn't like, I'll apologize. But I need your help. Your help as someone who's cleared an Evil God Dungeon."

"Ah. So that's what it was."

Aren looked more desperate than anyone.

"It's for the peace of the world. Isn't that why you cleared the Doll Dungeon too?"

"Then why do I have to do it with you?"

"Because... it's something only I can do."

Cecilia scoffed.

"What are you even talking about? Then was what Halibal and I cleared just an ant hill?"

At those words, Aren grabbed Cecilia by the shoulder.

Her grip tightened.

"...From now on, I'll be the one clearing them."

"Let go."

"You're from the Ren House... so you know, don't you? The prophecy passed down to my master."

Cecilia knew of it too.

She simply hadn't cared much about things like fate or prophecies.

"Then you know I'm the Child of Prophecy. So cooperate with me. If you and I work together, we'll definitely bring the sun to this world."

"Why?"

"Because that's my entire life."

Their gazes tangled in the air.

Over the past month, Cecilia had never once seen darkness in Aren's expression.

Yet now, her face held nothing but pitch-black darkness.

"I know the prophecy well."

"Then...!"

"But you're not the Child of Prophecy."

Every expression vanished from Aren's face.

Cecilia brushed off the shoulder Aren had grabbed.

"Am I right or not?"

Then she poked Aren near the chest with her finger.

"Am I right or not? Answer me."

Her fingertip met a springy resistance.

"Actually, in a way, that's a relief. I was a little worried. I heard another woman was sharing a room with my man... Of course I was going to worry, wasn't I?"

"..."

"But I worried for nothing, didn't I? You can't even see me or Halibal."

That was practically an answer.

The Child of Prophecy was a 'boy' who had mastered the Ultimate Divine Sword.

It couldn't refer to Aren, who was a woman.

The fact that Cecilia knew that meant every justification Aren had put forward had crumbled from the start.

How? Since when?

After confirming that Aren didn't ask those questions, Cecilia turned around.

'Wait, what did I just say?'

The moment she turned away, regret washed over her.

'...Didn't I just call him my man?!'

In front of this woman?

It had slipped out in the heat of the moment, but she felt like she could die of embarrassment.

Aren hadn't even considered her a romantic rival, yet Cecilia had jumped to conclusions and worried all by herself. It was unbearably embarrassing.

Thinking that, she suddenly wanted to see Halibal.

'What could Halibal be doing right now?'

At that moment, a chilling bloodlust came from behind her.

Before her mind could react, her instincts as a swordswoman twisted her body.

What she saw was Aren, crouched low with a sword in hand.

And her empty eyes.

⁎⁎⁎

The imperial capital, Luft.

Libra Grand Theater.

The curtain fell, and applause burst from the audience along with the music.

When the lights came on, sniffling could be heard to my left.

"It was such a... beautiful and sad story..."

It was Mine.

Apparently, the first play she had ever watched had left an impression on her. She was practically sobbing her eyes out.

To my right was Alicia, dressed as Ally.

"What a terribly clichéd development. They should've secured the northern territory before saving the heroine."

The nearby audience members glared at her with stiff expressions.

Honestly, I had a similar impression.

Still, I should probably keep quiet.

Even after everyone else had left, Alicia remained in her seat.

"We should get going. Everyone else has already left."

"Kuhuhu. Since we're here, let's go up on the stage once."

"...Why?"

"Just because!"

I see!

Without asking for my approval, Alicia leaped down toward the stage.

It suddenly made me think of Kaizel, her escort.

He must have it rough.

I already knew there was no point trying to stop her now, so I let her be.

Alicia stepped onto the stage without hesitation.

"To be honest, I suggested coming to the theater because I wanted to stand on a stage at least once."

"Wouldn't it have been better to rent out the entire theater, then?"

"With tax money?"

That would be a little much.

Right. What could anyone do if the princess wanted to stand on a stage?

"Come up here too, junior. From here, Mine's crying face is very easy to see."

I couldn't resist that.

I followed Alicia onto the stage.

The countless seats came into view all at once.

It felt like everyone's eyes were focused on me alone.

I'd felt that a few times before, but I still couldn't get used to it.

Then Alicia asked,

"What role do you think is most important in a play, junior?"

It was an unexpected question, but I thought hard about the answer she wanted.

"The director...?"

"I can tell you're trying to tell your senior what she wants to hear."

Alicia looked up at the dark ceiling where the lights hung instead of the seats.

"I think it's the assistant director."

"I thought you'd prefer being an actor."

"That is what I like. But didn't I ask about the most important role?"

She pointed at the lights on the ceiling.

"There was probably an assistant director up there turning the lights on and off. Someone over there played the music, and someone else moved the stage equipment."

"..."

"But the actors and audience cannot see them. Of course, if someone were bustling about over your head during a performance, you wouldn't be able to focus either."

Alicia turned sharply toward me.

"You're an actor. The lead actor who stands at the center of the stage, drawing everyone's attention as you swing your sword."

"...You're giving me too much credit."

"And I'm the assistant director."

She spread both arms toward the empty seats.

"Creating the perfect stage from unseen places so that the Empire can win. That is the role of Red Scales."

"Isn't that a little too conspicuous for an assistant director? More so than most lead actors."

"Don't be coy. I'm not an actor. An actor is only someone who performs on a stage made by someone else."

Her expression had turned serious before I realized it.

"But it's true that I want to stand on a stage."

"..."

"If I could cast off all the cumbersome titles, like Red Scales and imperial princess, and was given a stage I could stand on as myself... I'd be ready to leap onto it at any time."

Even after she finished speaking, her gaze didn't leave the lights on the ceiling.

"I heard construction of the Base Camp in the Ronwood Mountains will be finished soon."

My eyes, on the other hand, were fixed on her.

When all the other characters acted out of character, Alicia might be the only one who never did.

Even in the original game, she had known her role from the start.

As a princess and Red Scales, she removed anything that could become a problem and made sure to take anything that would be beneficial.

But no one could live like that all the time.

The gaps that occasionally showed through were simply what created her current airhead persona.

She had never once forgotten that beneath her countless roles was Alicia herself.

She was simply searching for her true stage among those many roles.

Alicia had returned to her usual self before I noticed and spoke with a playful expression.

"What are you staring at so intently, junior? No matter how beautiful this senior is, you'll bore a hole through me."

I gave a casual smile and turned toward the seats.

"We should get going. Mine will be waiting."

"Oh? Has she stopped crying already?"

Just as we were about to leave the theater, my Abyss Core rang.

Lapis Lazuli.

It was Senia.

'Senia? Why all of a sudden?'

We had exchanged contact information long ago, but she had hardly ever contacted me.

"Is there anything Mine wants to eat? Halibal will pay for everything today."

"Sniff... W-weren't you paying, Senior?"

"I didn't bring my wallet."

Leaving their noisy conversation behind, I listened closely to the Core and heard Senia's urgent voice.

[...Cecil is hurt.]

⁎⁎⁎

When I entered the hospital room, I saw Cecilia in a patient gown and Senia keeping watch at her side.

A bandage was wrapped around Cecilia's shoulder.

"You're here?"

When Cecilia saw me, she happily waved with her other hand.

But I wasn't happy at all.

"Usually, you're the one lying down and we're the ones visiting you... It's strange seeing our positions reversed."

"I know, right?"

It was strange to me too.

That was why I had no choice but to rush here immediately.

"Are you okay?"

"It's nothing. They said I just need to rest for about a month."

"It's not nothing. You were lucky, or you might not have been able to use that arm."

When Senia scolded her and I looked worried, Cecilia smiled instead.

"Hehe, seeing you make that face makes me think getting hurt wasn't entirely a bad thing."

"What happened?"

Cecilia stopped Senia from speaking.

"It's about Aren Bright. Did you know Aren is trying to clear an Evil God Dungeon?"

I knew.

Probably more than anyone else in this world.

I had even told Aren how to clear the dungeons.

That was why I had paired the two of them as Followers in the first place, and I had continued hearing that they were working hard.

In fact, I had heard people at the academy were even betting on which party would clear a dungeon first, Mine and me, or Cecilia and Aren.

My gaze naturally fell on Cecilia's arm.

'She won't be able to clear one in that condition.'

When I nodded, Cecilia looked at me seriously.

"Please stop Aren. It looks like Aren will try to clear a dungeon alone."

"Tell me what happened before that."

"That's not important. First, Aren..."

"No, it is important, Cecilia."

It didn't seem like she was going to tell me properly.

I looked at Senia.

Since Senia loved her younger sister, she would tell me.

"...Aren Bright stabbed Cecil."

Footnotes:

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