WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer

[Translator – Aren]

◈Chapter 275 Tell Me (5)

Till stood atop the wall, intently staring into the forest. On the surface, it was to keep watch for any approaching Demons, but in truth, he was actually looking out for something completely different.

“Do you think he’ll really come back?”

A stranger who had wandered into their village by chance. The man they thought had just been lucky enough to avoid getting attacked by Demons and beasts. Or perhaps a runaway young master from a noble family, completely ignorant of the world.

『I have no other choice.』

Although he laughed awkwardly like that, he never wavered… A wizard who was clearly hiding something, yet he didn’t give off the tiniest hint of menace.

“I hope he comes back.”

They had only met today, but Till couldn’t help worrying. It had taken only a few short exchanges for him to understand what kind of person he was. He wasn’t someone who deserved to die.

“I don’t know… Will this really work out?”

“But he’s a wizard, right? Wizards are on a completely different level, right?”

“Hmm……”

Till didn’t really know much about wizards. He was a complete country bumpkin who had never seen one in person or even witnessed magic with his own eyes.

But he did know wizards from fairy tales. Those wizards could raise flames, split the earth, and call forth waves. So wouldn’t that guy be able to do the same?

Although the wizards in those tales always wore pointed hats and had long white beards, that young man had a clean-shaven face and didn’t even carry a staff. But still…

“I’ve never actually seen one before, so who knows? Still… I want to believe in him.”

“We should have at least given him a charm pouch.”

“Ah. Right. Why didn’t I think of that?!”

And so, the villagers, never having seen a real wizard, gathered atop the wall and prayed earnestly.

What they prayed for was a miracle.

A miracle that more soldiers had survived the Demons’ attack. A miracle that those soldiers might meet the young man. A miracle that he and they would make it back to this place alive.

These kinds of miracles.

“Ah, I see something!”

And as the sun began to set, someone shouted.

“He really brought someone back!”

“Quick, get the ropes down!”

It was the moment their prayers were answered.

* * *

Deathbringer, his mind in utter turmoil, chose to stay awake rather than sleep. They would be leaving at dawn, so he was aware of the fact that he couldn’t afford to stay up long, but he simply didn’t want to sleep right now. If he buried his face in a pillow now, he knew only weird thoughts would keep bubbling up.

“Uuugh……”

“Why are you pacing around like a dog that needs to poop?”

“──!”

But he must have sunk too deep into his thoughts, seeing that he hadn't even noticed Meister’s footsteps.

A silent scream spread through him, making his ears and tail bristle. His heart pounded wildly.

“Wh-what the hell are you doing out here……?”

“For this.”

Clang. Something in Meister’s hand gave off a clear sound. It was a jug about the size of a person’s head, with a handle attached to it.

“…I’ll ask just in case, but is that alcohol?”

Of course, the jug itself couldn’t have made that sound. Which meant there was liquid inside. Judging by the fact that he had brought it out like this made it quite certain that it wasn’t just water.

“If you already know, why ask?”

“You lunatic, where the hell do you even get that?”

“The village chief gave it to me as thanks for the beast we killed.”

“You didn’t even kill it yourself.”

“So what? Then you should’ve asked him for some too.”

The iron wall had done all the work, yet this crazy bastard was getting paid for it.

Deathbringer’s face twisted and twisted further when Meister simply plopped down right next to him.

“Get lost. This is my spot, you hear?”

“Strictly speaking, the village chief lives here, so this is his land. Not yours.”

“Urgh. You look like the kind of guy whose mouth would float even with the rest of your body sinking.”

“I mean, isn’t it better to have the mouth float than to have everything sink, leading to drowning, right?”

“Did you think this was a compliment?”

“Wasn’t I supposed to take it as one?”

As soon as the words left their mouths, Deathbringer and Meister both raised their middle fingers at each other. Neither of them moved away, since both were thinking, ‘If anyone leaves, it’s going to be that bastard, not me.’

Ultimately, it was their pride that made them stay.

Sip.

“……”

Seriously, that guy was a complete nutjob. Deathbringer let out a long sigh as he watched Meister drink straight from the jug instead of drinking from a glass.

He tried to ignore it, but the head-sized jug kept moving in the corner of his vision. It was impossible for him to completely ignore it. Eventually, he decided to move.

“What? Why’d you come back?”

“Because some idiot is chugging stuff straight from a jug right in front of me.”

Whip. One of the two wooden cups he had snatched from the kitchen just now flew toward Meister. He hadn’t tossed it lightly enough that even a normal person could catch it. As such, Meister caught it with ease.

Deathbringer sat back down where he had been.

“I never said I’d give you any.”

“And I never said I wanted any.”

As if he’d ever actually ask anything of him. Deathbringer snorted at the cup in his hand.

“I brought this to steal from you.”

“So you’re just some filthy thief?”

“Took you long enough to realize that.”

Ignoring Meister’s mocking protests, Deathbringer dipped his cup into the jug. A rich fragrance slowly wafted up. It made him think that this might be moonshine.

“Phew.”

No sweetness, only a sharp bitterness with a sour edge. It was aged quite well. Deathbringer smacked his lips. It had been a long time since he’d had some liquor this strong—or at least, strong by his standards.

“It doesn’t even compare to the ceremonial wine they serve at the Temple……”

“That stuff’s basically just juice.”

“True.”

If even kids could drink it, could you really call it alcohol? It was just juice.

Deathbringer stole another cupful of the moonshine and poured it into his mouth. He deliberately ignored the karmic debt of the hangover that would surely come in the morning. He just really felt like drinking right now.

“May I have a cup as well?”

“What? Why are there so many freeloaders—"

“Pffffffft—”

At that sudden voice, Deathbringer spewed out the liquor he had just put in his mouth. Even Meister blinked a couple of times, seeming quite surprised.

“Cough, cough.”

“Are you okay?”

Ugh, the booze had gone up his nose. Deathbringer coughed, enduring the stinging pain. A hand reached out to pat his back. He didn’t particularly appreciate that.

“W-why are you here, ironwall?”

“Is there some reason I shouldn’t be?”

“Well, not exactly, it’s just……”

Why the hell had the Inquisitor come outside? Or rather, did she really just ask for a drink?

Deathbringer blinked, confused, wondering if his perception was already failing him.

“Here.”

In the meantime, Meister was already pouring alcohol into the cup the Inquisitor had extended.

“…You actually drink?”

“……? Of course?”

Deathbringer, looking at the incredulous ironwall, realized something. This girl was from the Church. They’d serve wine with every meal there.

“If I’d known this was gonna happen, I would’ve grabbed two jugs.”

“It’s okay. I won’t drink much.”

But Church wine was always so weak you could down whole bottles without getting drunk. Was it really alright to give her properly aged moonshine……?

Deathbringer hesitated for a moment before giving up. It was too late now. The ironwall was already sipping the moonshine.

“…It’s stronger than I expected.”

“It’s not even that strong.”

In the end, the three of them sat side by side under the open sky, sipping in silence. The only comfort they could enjoy was the moonshine and the silence surrounding them.

“…Meister, isn't there some magic that can calm confusion?"

And by the time the jug was nearly empty, the Inquisitor finally spoke. Deathbringer’s hand froze before he could sip on his drink again, while Meister set his empty cup down.

“I might be smart, but I still find it quite hard to make sense of something so vague.”

“I’m talking about… mental confusion.”

“Like from a mental attack?”

“Yes, yes.”

“You think that’s possible?”

“…I see.”

“I mean, what do mental attacks do? They usually amplify mental confusion, clouding the mind. Usually your mind gets clouded because your surroundings are shit, or your own situation is shit, stuff like that. And you’re telling me one little spell can just fix that? If that were possible, you wouldn’t be a wizard, but a god.”

Of course, some problems could be solved with a single fireball. But that was a useless kind of advice. By that logic, there wouldn’t be any problems in the world that a blade couldn’t solve.

“Then……”

“There is another method.”

“……?”

“Messing with your head.”

“…Messing with what?”

He paused. Deathbringer, stunned, spoke up before he even realized it. Meister tapped a finger against his own temple.

“Your head. More precisely, the brain under all the skin and bones.”

“…Why would you mess with that? And even if you did, what could you possibly do?”

“You could erase emotions. Maybe even memories.”

But the reply he got left Deathbringer completely speechless. The Inquisitor, too, said nothing, seemingly feeling the same as him.

“Of course, the success rate is really low. If I recall correctly, 90% either died or turned into vegetables.”

“…What the hell, then why are you even suggesting it if there’s only a 10% chance of success?”

“That was 20 years ago, so who knows how much it is now. Though… since the Church never sanctioned those experiments, it probably hasn’t changed that much.”

“Seriously……”

If the Church forbade it, then the Crown wouldn't allow it either. That would make such procedures illegal, right? And yet he recommended it so casually to someone from the Church?

Having come this far with his thoughts, Deathbringer then realized something.

…Just how did he know so much about this illegal procedure and its success rate?

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not really recommending it. I’m just saying… If you can’t ever reach the right answer, then one way is to remove the ability to feel that suffering in the first place.”

“…And how is that any different from saying to seek comfort in death?”

He must have drunk too much. Deathbringer’s throat burned as he forced those words out. “Exactly,” Meister answered flatly, which made the dryness in his throat even worse. He felt like shit.

“…I understand.”

On the other hand, the Inquisitor didn’t give any particular reaction. Normally, she would have scrunched up her face in disgust, so this lack of reaction seemed utterly ominous.

“It’s late. Let’s get some sleep.”

Surely she hadn’t decided to go through with that? Deathbringer nearly grabbed the Inquisitor’s sleeve on instinct. The only reason he stopped himself was the fear that the answer might actually be ‘yes.’

“Okay.”

That thought was truly terrifying.

* * *

“Does the food suit your taste?”

I nearly got myself killed a couple of times during the rescue of those soldiers, but in the end, it turned out to have been a good decision.

Not only had the villager’s wariness toward me as an outsider completely vanished, but I was also given a place to sleep and a proper dinner.

“Yes, it’s really delicious.”

And not just anywhere. I was offered to stay in the village chief’s own house. The same house where the injured soldiers, including the one who had given me the clue ‘Atya,’ were being treated.

I had already thought hard about how I could approach him. Thanks to the chief’s invitation, I didn’t even need to come up with some excuse.

I smiled, happy at the outcome of my decision. In the end, doing the right thing was never wrong.

“Eat plenty.”

“Yes.”

“And have some meat too.”

“Ahaha… Okay.”

Of course…  the meat dish they had prepared for me as a reward for my hard work was a bit burdensome. Meat was rare here, and they offered it to me out of pure good will, so how could I possibly refuse?

“Want a drink as well?”

“Ah, alcohol……”

My eyes quickly moved about, and I forced out an awkward smile.

“Wizards aren’t supposed to drink……”

That was a lie, of course. But since I was the only wizard they had probably ever met, what did it matter? It just naturally slipped out of my mouth, and the village chief, looking at me with pity, accepted it without doubting it.

“Wizards live such a pitiful life… they have to abstain from alcohol forever……”

“Haha… Well, I’m still a student, so it’s partly because of that. It’s not a lifelong ban.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Keeping a clear mind is important for handling Arcane Power properly……”

Not that it was completely wrong, right? I mean, how well could anyone harness Arcane Power while drunk?

“I see. Then at least have some more meat.”

“Yes, yes.”

I only took what the village chief himself placed on my plate and filled the rest with vegetables. Maybe because I made sure to chew the meat whenever he looked toward me, he didn’t seem to notice that I was trying to completely avoid it.

“There seems to be more meat left than I thought……?”

He did look a bit puzzled at the end… But I quickly changed the subject, saying, “It might be good to save some for when the wounded wake up.”

I was wondering whether it would be alright to give them our leftovers, but food, especially meat, was scarce here, so no one objected.

The ones who would need to eat it most were all unconscious after all… so they couldn’t object anyway.

“Father! One of the soldiers just woke up!”

But when they finally did awaken, the leftover meat never even made it to the chopping board.

“They said that we need to report the situation to Munmund right away… What do we do?”

A far greater problem awaited us.

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