WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 82: Snowflake

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Chapter illustration

[Sprinter]

-Role responsible for targeting the opposing team's flag.

-Can move through every zone.

[Assistant]

-Role responsible for supporting team members.

-Can move between Zones 1 and 2.

[Keeper]

-Role responsible for defending the team's flag.

-Can only remain in Zone 1.

===

《Enter.》

We entered the field in a flash of pure white light.

What came into view was a vast grassland carpeted in lush greenery.

"This is..."

Zone 1.

The zone where our team's flag was located.

We stood amid the softly rustling grass.

As I looked around, a fresh breeze brushed my cheek.

'So Zone 1's theme is grassland.'

The field had been recreated with startling realism.

It didn't feel like a set had been assembled. It felt as though they'd carved out a piece of the real environment and brought it here.

'Where's the flag?'

At the center of the field, some kind of altar stood tall amid the weeds.

Blue fabric fluttered at the top of its old steps.

That was the flag we had to defend.

'Simple enough.'

Defend ours and steal theirs.

Ranne and Caitlin stood on either side of me.

Without further explanation, I gave them their instructions.

"We're moving out now."

The match had already begun.

The timer started the moment we entered the field.

"Miss Ranne!"

"Yes!"

"Please take care of our flag!"

"Leave it to me! I'll defend it no matter what!"

A dependable answer.

She was our Keeper, the person responsible for guarding the flag here in Zone 1.

Leaving Ranne behind, Caitlin and I sprinted across the field.

"Let's go, Miss Gay Dentures."

"I told you to stop calling me that...!"

Fwoooosh!

The scenery rushed past as if someone had hit fast-forward.

We ran toward the end of the grassland.

Caitlin was swift, needless to say, but I could hold my own against Class A when it came to speed.

The field was easy to run across as well, so we reached Zone 2 in no time.

"Miss Caitlin, this is Zone 2."

"I can see that."

Zone 2's theme was a jungle.

Humid heat hit us in the face.

Leaves grew thick everywhere, while the trees stretched high enough to cover the sky.

Unlike Zone 1, its dense growth made running difficult.

"Damn it, there are too many obstacles...!"

Crack!

Caitlin threw a light punch.

A moment later, blade-like currents shot out and felled several thick trees.

"Follow me. I'll clear a path."

"Sounds good. Let's push through to the middle of Zone 2."

Crack, creak!

We crossed the roughly cleared path.

Of course, we couldn't destroy every obstacle we encountered.

Neither Caitlin nor I had much endurance for our speed.

Caitlin tired easily, and if I pushed myself too hard, this fragile body of mine wouldn't hold up.

"We need to conserve as much stamina as possible! Especially you, Miss Caitlin. You'll have to infiltrate Zone 3 alone!"

"I know...!"

Her yellow hair streamed behind her in the headwind.

Before long, we reached the midpoint we'd been aiming for.

As sparks crackled around us, I assessed the situation.

'As expected, Zone 2 puts us at a disadvantage.'

It was about time to prepare for a clash with the opposing team.

They overwhelmingly outmatched us in firepower, so we'd have to win with speed.

"We split up here. Miss Caitlin, circle around quietly and cross Zone 2."

"What? We're splitting up here? What are you going to do?"

"I'll stay behind and act as bait."

"Bait?"

Rin Glacia.

The other team members were from Class A too, but she was the only one I truly needed to watch out for.

Rin could have taken the Sprinter role, yet she'd deliberately chosen to be an Assistant like me.

'So she really is after me...'

She'd even said she wanted to face me herself.

-Face me during this midterm practical.

-I'll take back the top spot you stole from me during training, in front of the entire student body this time.

I recalled those words.

This was also a decision made to make the most of Caitlin's role.

If I kept Rin occupied in Zone 2, Caitlin would have a much easier time snatching the flag.

"Go, Pikachu! Quick Attack!"

"Are you seriously insane?"

"Hurry up and go!"

"Fuck, fine...!"

Fwoosh!

Unable to resist my urging, she immediately kicked off the ground.

The crackling light quickly vanished from sight.

I hadn't forgotten to tell her to take a slightly indirect route so she wouldn't run into the opposing team.

'So far, so good.'

For Zone 3, I had no choice but to leave everything to Caitlin.

Only a Sprinter could approach the flag.

Still, it was fine.

Caitlin was unquestionably the fastest first-year student.

And the Caitlin I knew would surely live up to my expectations.

"Whew..."

At the center of the forest, I remained alone and caught my breath.

The overgrown jungle was quiet.

In the muggy air, I waited for winter to arrive.

"..."

Cold.

A faint wintry gust seeped between the large leaves.

Before long, frost gradually spread across the once lush green scenery.

Pure white crystals formed everywhere.

Flowers that had no business blooming in a jungle began to blossom.

White petals lined up and bloomed across the field like bouquets.

"Well, well."

I smiled faintly.

"I hadn't heard it was supposed to snow."

Snow fell.

The thick forest withered, and a cold season swallowed the space.

Leaves froze and fell, stripping the trees bare.

Their roughly exposed trunks created a desolate atmosphere.

She'd only released a little sword energy, yet it was enough to dominate the entire area.

"This is why you can't trust the Mage Tower's weather forecasts."

"..."

"Don't you think?"

Whoooosh.

A fierce cutting wind blew.

Blue hair fluttered as though it were dyeing the very temperature around it.

The girl didn't so much as furrow her brow in that vicious chill.

"Lady Glacia."

"..."

Rin Glacia.

Winter itself stood before me with a sword in hand.

Amid the swirling snow, I watched the pale figure.

"Class E's top student."

"As expected, you came straight to see me."

"You were waiting."

"Of course."

Squeeze.

I adjusted the glove clinging to my palm.

Wriggler reacted, swelling into the shape of a pitch-black scythe.

"How about it? Shall we chat a little to warm up?"

"No."

"How cold of you."

"It'd be a waste of time."

Shing.

The girl gripped the sword at her waist.

A clear ring echoed as a pure white blade slid free of its scabbard.

The jungle's temperature had dropped so low that every breath made my lungs ache.

"I'm coming."

A casual declaration.

I raised my scythe at Rin.

"Come on, then."

Tap!

Someone leaped through the snowflakes.

The next moment, sparks flew across the white winter.

Clang!

A sword strike closed the distance in an instant.

I barely saved my neck from being cut off.

With sword and scythe locked together, the girl stared at me with indifferent eyes.

"You're fast."

A simple observation.

I pulled a pocket watch from my sleeve and held it.

"Thank you for the compliment."

"Mm."

Click.

When I pressed the button, the world slowed for a moment.

I calmly deflected Rin's follow-up attacks.

Every time her sword met my scythe, a heavy ache ran through my arms.

Clang! Screeech... Thud!

I gritted my teeth behind my mask.

She was said to be able to match even most faculty members.

The pounding in my chest reminded me once again of the weight class she fought in.

"Hah...!"

Tap, tap, tap!

As I caught my breath, I suddenly sensed someone passing nearby.

They didn't spare us a glance as they ran toward Zone 1.

A runner's receding figure came into view.

Was that the opposing team's Sprinter?

It seemed they'd been hiding nearby and waiting for an opportunity.

Either way, I focused only on the opponent before me.

"Aren't you worried about the flag?"

"It's fine. Our Keeper is someone I can trust."

"Your Keeper... was second in your year, right? Yes, she might be a difficult opponent for our team's Sprinter."

"Besides, our Sprinter probably set foot in Zone 3 a long time ago. If anyone takes the flag first, it'll be us."

"It doesn't matter. Your entire team will be stopped by me anyway."

Clang!

The cold cut into my flesh.

Her sword scattered in dazzling arcs, and my scythe spun.

The exchange was too fierce to spare even a breath.

Yet even then, the girl's expression never wavered.

Though her blade was sharp and cruel, the air she wore was calm and lyrical.

That was why she resembled winter.

"Whoa!"

"That was close this time."

The Snow Queen.

She was like a passage of winter cut out and given human form.

The more clean lines her blade drew, the heavier the snowfall became.

'I have to hold out.'

Had Carmilla reached the altar by now?

There was a Keeper over there as well, so she was probably fighting in front of the flag.

I blended the watch into time.

I melted my scythe into the snowstorm.

I blocked several more strikes, several more gusts.

I mixed in parries, slowed time, and avoided the girl's attacks.

Thud! Screech, clang, clang!

"Hm."

Had at least five minutes passed like that?

The tension between us had remained taut.

Then, breaking that atmosphere, Rin suddenly stopped her sword.

"...Annoying."

"Well, well."

"My attacks keep missing somehow, and you block angles that should be impossible to block as though it's only natural..."

"Thank you."

"I'd like to fight you properly for a little longer."

"You haven't even used half your strength yet, have you?"

"You knew."

Our exchange remained calm.

Rin only blinked her lifeless blue eyes.

"I'd like to keep fighting you like this, but..."

Beep, beep, beep.

The girl held up a crystal ball that was sounding an alert.

It was an item issued for this practical, allowing team members to communicate with one another.

"I don't think I can right now."

"Pardon?"

"I've been called."

Called?

Before I could even ask what she meant, Rin's figure began to blur.

Her face became hazy and translucent, as though mist had rolled in.

She sheathed her sword and casually waved a hand.

"See you later."

"What do you..."

Swoosh.

Before I could ask anything else, Rin turned into mist and vanished.

Footnotes:

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