WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 191: Say You Want to Live - 7

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Only shadows remained in the street as the light faded.

In the rolling darkness, Ulfen lowered the hand covering their eyes. Their eyes had been stained by darkness spreading like ink.

"...I realized it too late, Magician. I won't be fooled again."

At first, they had been wary.

Then, they had acted as usual.

After that, they had made certain not to let their guard down.

Finally, they had tried not to be deceived by their opponent.

At every stage, their excessive caution had drawn them into the Magician's mind games. That was why the Magician had gotten the better of them.

"I should've poured all my strength into it from the start and killed you."

But they would not be deceived again. Tricks were not limitless. Once the Magician had exhausted all the cards he had prepared, he would be no different from a helpless, unarmed man.

The next time they met, no, if Ulfen simply extended their senses and found him now, the Magician would fall beneath the blades of shadow.

'He's hidden his presence and concealed himself, but all I have to do is find him.'

Just then, a thin voice reached Ulfen's ears. From far away came the presence of people, along with countless voices mingling together.

Sensing something strange, Ulfen focused on their hearing. Soon, they frowned.

It was as though Amitenggrad itself were speaking.

Countless voices mingled and seeped through the city like fog. They struck buildings, spread from afar, and echoed. Flat, precise voices rang out like a song.

『Military state communications officer Yuel warns all residents who can hear this voice. As of this moment, a Level 5 emergency, Pentagram, is in effect.』

『This is military state communications officer Dike. A Level 5 emergency is now in effect. All citizens, stop what you are doing and focus on this announcement.』

『This is military state communications officer Sien. No one will be held responsible for any disadvantage incurred by failing to follow orders.』

The chorus of emotionless voices came from the rooftops of buildings, inside unusually shaped streetlights, from clock towers and statues, and even from the middle of clotheslines strung across the streets.

The voices must have been flat even before being carried through golems, but as they reached the concrete buildings, they became even more mechanical and spread throughout the military state.

『All citizens who can hear this voice are warned. Anyone currently inside their residence must never come outside until the situation has ended.』

『Any citizens currently outside must immediately lie flat on the ground and place both hands above their heads. Do not show any intent to resist. There is a risk of accidental fire.』

『This is an emergency. Some rights as a citizen will be restricted until the situation is declared over. We cannot guarantee your life or safety if you defy instructions.』

The military state did not joke. That was why the voices delivering this message spoke only the truth.

The communications officers, the voice of the military state, were warning everyone within earshot.

『Tonight officially does not exist. Forget everything that happened.』

『Stop resisting and lie where you are. If you show any intent to resist, you will be dealt with as an enemy of the military state.』

『To the enemies of the military state. Cease your futile resistance and quietly submit to being shot dead.』

As though that were enough, the warning voices fell silent.

Then a clear, bright voice joined them.

『Captain AB, military state communications officer, reporting to Major General Historia. The target has been spotted five blocks ahead, at the location where abnormal light levels were just detected. This officer will guide you.』

"Confirmed."

Then came the sound of footsteps.

Step. Step.

The studs on military boots struck the concrete in a steady, forceful rhythm.

Long black hair braided down her back swayed behind her. A tall woman with a languid, tired expression walked alone through the street where everyone else held their breath, her long limbs moving freely.

In the silent night, only her time seemed to be flowing normally. It was as though the entire stage had been prepared for her.

Her combat boots rose to her calves, her uniform hung carelessly from her body, and no cap was visible, as though she had not even brought one. A couple of buttons were undone. Without the uniform, she would have looked like some street thug.

Yet the single star shining on her chest showed her strength.

As she walked forward, she raised a gun to her own temple without warning.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, she pulled the trigger.

Bang.

A single burst of noise tore through the darkness. A flash flared at her temple. The bullet struck it.

The Bullet-Repelling Energy Art could stop objects flying from afar, but it was far less effective against a bullet fired at point-blank range. Though she had just done something no different from suicide, the woman looked calm, almost sleepy.

"Ugh... I had to come running over without getting any sleep... I'm in no shape."

In a voice soaked with exhaustion, she brushed back her hair. Her clear forehead and striking features were revealed. Dark circles stained her eyes, and her lips were dry and cracked, but even beneath such heavy fatigue, she looked nothing like someone fragile.

When she lowered her gun, the bullet fell to the ground with a clink.

It was completely intact, as good as new.

The woman who had fired a gun at her own temple was also completely unharmed, aside from looking a little tired.

"My head hurts. I shouldn't have been pounding beer just because there wasn't any liquor. Tch. They told me to just stay on standby. I knew this would happen. But..."

Was it a sigh or a complaint? The woman muttered lazily and narrowed her eyes.

The youngest of the military state's Six Generals.

The Gunslinger's Constellation, who had risen to general officer rank without any prior career, solely through strength.

The incarnation of violence born beneath the star of the Overlord. Daughter of the military state. A supernova.

Major General Historia, the Gunslinger.

"I can understand the Beast King acting like a beast, but even the Progenitor has been keeping quiet."

She roughly ran a hand through her hair and stared directly at Ulfen with cold gray eyes.

"Why's some fucking nobody so desperate to act up? Is it because they aren't dead yet?"

Right after that, the Gunslinger pointed her gun at Ulfen.

Ulfen felt something strange. They could not understand why a woman who was supposedly a Major General of the military state was aiming a gun at them.

As long as the Bullet-Repelling Energy Art existed, guns were meaningless. Even powerful arrows could be blocked without issue by covering a single layer of armor in energy. There was no way short, light bullets could overcome the Bullet-Repelling Energy Art extending from their entire body.

Perhaps that was why Ulfen let their guard down for a moment upon seeing the gun.

A gunshot rang out, and almost at the same time, Ulfen's shoulder twisted sharply. Even Ulfen, whose whole body was covered in energy, could not withstand the impact and staggered back two steps.

Feeling the numb pain in their right shoulder, Ulfen said in genuine admiration,

"...You're strong. You have something to boast about."

They had not let their guard down. Unlike against the Magician, they had been using their Bullet-Repelling Energy Art at full power, yet the impact had been tremendous. They had nearly dropped the short sword in their hand.

But.

"Even so, it's just a gun."

At this power, it would be dangerous if they were shot at from a distance without being able to retaliate.

But what fool would keep that distance while knowing it was dangerous?

They immediately released Black Shadow Qi Art and slid along the edge of the road, charging at the soldier holding the gun before them.

The soldier fired repeatedly with a cold, calm gaze.

Bang.

Perhaps because they had concealed themself in darkness, the next bullet missed over Ulfen's head. It was not even that powerful, and it could not guarantee a hit. Could that really be called a weapon?

Bang.

This time, it ricocheted off the Bullet-Repelling Energy Art at an angle. The art exerted repelling force. Unless a bullet struck directly, most would be deflected.

Bang.

This time, it struck the ground in front of Ulfen. Broken chunks of concrete rained down on them like buckshot, but even that was not enough to stop their charge.

Then another shot...

Click, click.

An empty sound rang out. The Gunslinger frowned, brought the barrel to her eye, and looked through it. After checking inside, she muttered,

"Ah. I'm out of bullets."

What a stupid thing to say. Was the military state really trying to stop them with a general officer like that?

'I'll deal with her quickly and hide myself. Taking care of one or two generals is easy, but becoming enemies with a nation would be troublesome. I'll show them that attacking me would be a loss.'

As darkness rolled in like a wave and swept away the lights of the street, a calm voice came from a golem, as though being out of bullets was no problem at all.

『Do you require resupply?』

"No. It'll be over before that."

The Gunslinger muttered, then tore out the streetlight beside her.

The streetlight bent sharply. Its faint light died at once, and the pole plunged its head into the ground as though a giant had twisted it. The glass that had held the light shattered with a sound that tore through the darkness and scattered in every direction.

Having destroyed a streetlight with nothing but her grip, the Gunslinger clenched her fist as though she had no interest in its miserable end.

"Combat alchemy."

Crrrunch.

Low-quality alchemical steel crumpled like paper. The body of the streetlight, which had spent nearly twenty years holding up light and serving the military state, was crushed in the Gunslinger's grip. With the sound of metal grinding and collapsing, the soft alchemical steel was mashed like clay.

It might have been low quality and soft, but it was still iron. Had it ever been treated so miserably anywhere else?

Its opponent simply treated common sense as a joke.

Crunch.

The Gunslinger lightly kneaded the alchemical steel in her palm, then opened her hand again. An unevenly compressed metal sphere rested there.

Captain AB pointed it out.

『Question. The technique you used, Major General, cannot be called alchemy.』

"Tch, you're strict. What does it matter as long as it makes a bullet?"

Grumbling, the Gunslinger forcibly shoved the bullet she had made into the barrel.

It did not go in. Of course it did not. Kneading clay in one's palm would not produce a uniformly shaped sphere, so there was no reason it would match the required size...

Not yet, anyway.

The Gunslinger muttered,

"If it goes in a gun, it's a bullet."

With enough strength, standards were meaningless.

The Gunslinger applied force. The parts that did not fit screamed as they were ground away. The crushed portions glowed red-hot, were cut into a shape that fit the barrel exactly, then obediently rolled inside.

Cut away what does not fit. Force it in if it will not go. Push if it resists.

Having made a bullet in the most military state-like way possible, the Gunslinger spun her gun and aimed ahead again.

"There."

It had taken barely five seconds to shape the alchemical steel into a bullet.

During that time, Ulfen had closed the distance in an instant. Concealed in darkness, Ulfen slid into position behind the Gunslinger. Cold, refined killing intent as dark as soot aimed for her neck...

Or so they thought, when a studded military boot appeared in Ulfen's vision.

The last thing they had seen was an exposed nape, yet a military boot was growing larger and larger before their eyes, and they had no idea when it had appeared.

Ulfen hurriedly thrust their short sword. Since she had put out her leg, they intended to split that leg apart.

It did not reach.

The military boot shot out in an instant, shattered the short sword, wrenched their arm, and struck Ulfen's head, sending them flying in one blow.

Footnotes:

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