WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 126: Even If You Make Plans for the Future

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I was walking along, deep in thought, when the golem tucked under my arm began grumbling about damage to its chassis, obstructed vision, and whatever else.

Then a large coffin appeared in the distance, and the golem fell silent. Tyr, riding atop the coffin, spotted me and hurried over. The coffin, controlled by Tyr's authority, moved nimbly before coming to a smooth stop in front of me.

Tyr jumped down from the coffin and spoke.

"Hyu! Have you finished preparing? We don't know when we'll leave, so hurry and gather what you need."

"I came empty-handed, and I'll leave empty-handed. What else is there to pack? I only took a little food."

That was a lie.

Yesterday, while cooking, I had slipped some of the regressor's spices into my bag. They were supposedly worth more than the same weight in gold. I should make a tidy sum if I sold them.

I had also packed food, drinking water, and even a clothing packet. With a bag at my side, I was virtually invincible.

"What do you want to do first once you're outside?"

Cash out! Turn physical assets into gold, humanity's greatest alchemy!

I couldn't say that, so I gave her a roundabout answer.

"I don't know. I thought I'd return to where I used to live, but this golem keeps calling me a criminal, so that plan's out. I guess I'll have to wander the world without a destination."

The golem, which had been lying there like it was dead, flinched. Tyr did not seem to care.

‘You have nowhere to go? Good. If you are not tied down anywhere, it will be easier for you to stay with me.’

No, she was pleased. Tyr tilted her head slightly so her joy would not show on her face.

"I see...."

Even so, she stole glances at my expression.

‘Neither of us has anywhere to go, so there would be no problem traveling together. But....’

"Ahem. I, too, intend to wander the world for a while."

"Oh dear, that sounds rough."

‘...What should I say to ask him to come with me? This is difficult.’

Even while talking to me, Tyr kept drifting into other thoughts.

"What would be difficult about it? I need neither food nor drink."

"You don't know much about the world. What if you get scammed or someone takes your money?"

‘There will be no problem if you teach me. You may be capable of scamming others, but you are not the sort to be scammed.’

A subtle hope drifted my way. Wanting me to catch on, Tyr kept circling the subject.

"I wonder if anyone would truly have the nerve to try something with me."

"Who scams people that blatantly? What if an innkeeper casually asks you for ten thousand Alke when you rent a room? Do you even know what Alke are?"

‘You can teach me even something that trivial. Your stories make me happy, and I want to hear you explain things.’

"At most, I would be fooled once or twice. When one first travels, one learns by being deceived. Then one meets a good companion, exchanges stories, and learns about different parts of the world. That is what traveling is."

"Do you know who the most dangerous scammers are? Good companions. Merchants who overcharge only take your money, but people who call themselves companions try to take your whole life."

‘It would be fine even if you were a scammer. Whatever you asked of me, I would be willing to give it all.’

"Life is spent with other people. How could someone take your life?"

"Bad companions tempt people and try to sell them somewhere else. Good companions tempt people into chasing their dreams. Those they tempt become wanderers and drift all over the place. Both are shortcuts to ruin."

‘Then you must be the finest companion in the world. You made my dream come true.’

"You act so optimistically, yet your view of the world is strangely pessimistic."

"Isn't everyone like that? Birds flying in the sky look down at the ground, while trees rooted to the earth only stare longingly at the sky. The world is a strange place, so at least I should be optimistic."

‘Compared to you, who are skilled at everything, all I have is a little strength. The only thing I can do may be protect you.’

"...Hyu."

"Yes?"

‘I want to hear your cheerful voice chattering away. You know so much about the world, so explain the things that have newly come into being. Then I will count the stars in the night sky and tell you old stories that are forgotten now. We can talk endlessly, and when the campfire burns down and gives off faint smoke, we can nod off....’

"I hate sunlight, so I'll hide in the shade before dawn. Once the morning sun rises, you can look around with sleepy eyes, lift my parasol, and find me curled up in the shade. Sometimes you can chat with others, sometimes you can tease me. And if days no different from before... could continue."

Halfway through, Tyr's thoughts had started spilling out as words. She murmured wistfully as though she had not noticed, or perhaps as though she wanted it that way.

"Now that I think about it, that would not be so different from life here. From the moment you first came to wake me until now, just before we leave.... Every moment was enjoyable."

‘Perhaps I do not yet wish to leave this place....’

It seemed Tyr had grown rather fond of life here.

The occasional castaway caused trouble, but aside from that, it would be difficult to find a place as peaceful and comfortable as the Abyss. To people who struggled through each day just to survive until the next, this Abyss might even look like paradise.

But we couldn't stay here forever. As all things do, this too would end. And if we did leave this place...

With a faint smile, I asked Tyr.

"Tyr. Could you protect me?"

Tyr lifted her head with a start, like someone waking from a dream.

"Of course."

"Even if any danger comes?"

"What would there be to fear?"

"What if something powerful enough to destroy the world comes after me?"

"Then I will stop it, even if it costs me my life."

"You might die."

"Death is not something to fear so greatly. Losing something as precious as one's life was far more... dreadful."

The words of someone who had died once carried a different weight. Was that why people looked for experienced workers?

In any case, I was truly grateful, so I chuckled.

"Thank you, Tyr. That's reassuring."

‘It seems you do not take my words seriously. You treated the Earth Mother's apostle as though you would believe anything she said, no matter how outlandish.’

Perhaps dissatisfied with my casual attitude, Tyr puffed out her cheeks and strode toward me.

"You seem to hold that Earth Mother's Taoist in very high regard."

Approaching me with terrifying momentum, Tyr timidly tugged at my sleeve despite her imposing steps.

"Remember this. I am far more famous than that Taoist, and so much older that comparison is difficult."

That was true. Even Jiseon could not compare to Tyr, who had created the very concept of vampires and held the Sanctum in check alone.

Still.

"I don't think being old is much to brag about."

"Truly, you never let a single word slide!"

"It means I feel that comfortable with you. I can't say things like that to Jiseon. I don't even call her by a nickname like I do you."

"......!"

A bright smile blossomed across Tyr's face.

It lasted only a moment.

Brimming with excitement, Tyr soon looked around as though she had left something behind.

"It seems my preparations are still lacking. Wait here a moment. I shall pack more belongings."

‘If I were leaving alone, I would need neither food nor a place to sleep. But Hyu, who is fully alive, will need plenty to eat. As for a place to sleep... hm, if necessary, he can sleep with me in my coffin....’

Tyr's face suddenly turned red. She shook her head so hard that her hair flew everywhere.

‘W-what indecent thought was that! Hyu can sleep in the coffin, and I can stay awake through the night!’

Wait. That would make it sound like I had kicked an elder out of her bed.

More importantly, why wasn't she considering an inn? Sleeping outside was difficult and dangerous.

Tyr left to stuff even more belongings into her coffin. Once she had gone far enough away, the golem hanging under my arm and pretending to be dead lifted its head.

『...Were you not arrested for gambling?』

Come to think of it, it had been awake, right? Was it because I couldn't read its thoughts? I kept forgetting it was there whenever I was with someone else.

Why was it asking about my charges, anyway? It had arrested me, so was it making fun of me?

"Wouldn't Captain AB know my charges better than I do? It's exactly as you know."

『Were you perhaps a host by profession?』

"Seriously? How many host bars do you think there are in the military state?"

I had only filled in as a host. I hadn't been very popular. It was a ruthless line of work where looks were everything.

"All right, all right. You've had enough of your outing, haven't you? Time to go back."

I had a rough idea that the military state planned to use the Abyss and its prisoners. I didn't know exactly how, but war was the most likely possibility. Their country was called a military state, after all.

If so, was there a little over a year left until the war? That must have been around the time the regressor expected.

Something was going to happen.

"Ugh. I should leave the country as soon as possible. Should I head up the coast? If I run all the way to the Federation...."

『...I believe I just heard a criminal planning to leave the country.』

Ah, right. The golem was still here. I really did keep forgetting whenever it stayed quiet.

"You're misunderstanding me. A misunderstanding...."

I was in the middle of trying to take back what I had said.

"Hey. Wait."

Someone called to me from the darkness.

It was the regressor.

Ever since Jiseon had arrived, the regressor had been lost in thought. It seemed she had finally made up her mind. Resolute determination showed through her long lashes.

"I have something to say. Just a moment."

Since Jiseon's arrival, she had never properly shown herself before anyone, only occasionally letting others glimpse that she existed. Now, she finally appeared before me.

Then she saw the golem tucked under my arm and me hugging it tightly, and frowned as though the sight had taken the wind out of her.

"By the way, is that golem some kind of comfort doll? Why do you keep carrying it around?"

I was about to answer, "Yeah," but the golem cut in first.

『A comfort doll? I object to your abusive language....』

The regressor had the least patience in the world for the military state. She glared at the golem with terrifying intensity.

"Enough. Golem, will you disconnect, or should I do it for you?"

『...I will disconnect.』

"Then go. Right now."

Slump.

The golem went limp with great force. Its stiff limbs swayed, and when I looked closer, the crystal orbs where its eyes should have been rolled about.

Footnotes:

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