WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient First-Person's Viewpoint

Chapter 310

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Who Is the Hostage?

Until now, the regressor had stayed in negotiation mode. Even when annoyed, she tried to keep talking instead of using force.

But now it was different.

She looked feral enough to draw her sword at any moment. Not the sharp killing intent aimed at an enemy, but the violent tantrum of a child determined to get what they wanted. The only difference was that her power was Demon God-class.

"I told you, I don't really like hostages. No matter who they are."

"Oh my?"

Hilde smiled awkwardly, but the regressor's expression darkened even more.

Until now, she'd only used her power in controlled ways to achieve her goal. But if she decided to go on a full rampage, then however long it took, one nation would fall. And if that nation was the military state, the one she'd repeatedly destroyed in previous rounds, it would be even easier.

With one hand on Skywarbler's hilt, the regressor growled.

"You think I stormed in here just to get pushed around with hostages? Give them back. Now."

A terrifying pressure poured off her. It was aimed straight at Hilde. And since Hilde was on my lap, I took it head-on too.

Looking troubled, Hilde asked me,

"Hmm, this is a problem~. I don't think we can make a scene here over the hostage's safety. Father, can you do something?"

No, asking me right now won't help. My hands are shaking too.

"Hughes."

Damn, here it came. I answered a little meekly.

"Ah, yes."

"I consider you a companion. If you got taken hostage or anything like that, I'd be in a very foul mood."

You were just thinking about selling me off as a hostage a minute ago!

...Of course, that wasn't her true intention.

Once the regressor accepted someone as an ally, she was fairly devoted. Just earlier, when Nebida tried to take me, she charged in even knowing she couldn't win. She might have died if things went wrong, but she had no regrets about that choice.

It was the same now.

"You wouldn't have suggested taking your friend and the princess hostage yourself. But if those were the only terms that made negotiation possible... even if the princess wasn't being attacked, if you accepted that..."

What I felt from her was slight disappointment. Tiny, but that tiny difference could split my fate in a huge way.

Not just this round, but the next one too.

'I'll admit it. Hughes is a stroke of luck. Across all my rounds, things have never gone this smoothly. It's definitely thanks to Hughes. But... I still don't know. Can I really trust him?'

Between competence and incompetence, I was clearly on the competent side. But to the regressor, that wasn't very important.

"Hughes. Answer me. Where are they?"

"Uh... well. They should be here soon..."

Right after I finished, the door burst open, and Tyr walked in with a parasol on one shoulder and a golem on the other. She looked around, spotted me, and called out.

"Hyu!"

She gave me a bright smile and strode over in a straight line. Her steps were forceful, but her stride was short, so it still took a while to reach me.

Right now, after Historia, she was the comrade most favorable to me and the most reassuring one to have on our side. Tyrkanzyaka, Progenitor of Vampires.

What a shame. If the hidden power behind the military state had been anyone but the Holy Maiden, she could have been a major asset for me. But taking Tyr along would only bring destruction and slaughter, so we couldn't move together.

I greeted her warmly.

"It feels like it's been a while. Sorry I left without saying anything. I had something to take care of..."

Tyr slightly lowered the shoulder carrying the golem.

"This doll told me what happened. It said you went alone to negotiate. I understand your intent, but how could you leave without so much as a word? Would I not worry? But... why are you like that?"

She'd approached warmly, but when she noticed the standoff between us and the regressor, she tilted her head. She had realized the regressor's expression wasn't normal.

Still, the means to solve this was with Tyr. More precisely, on Tyr's shoulder.

I called to the golem.

"AB."

She seemed very busy, because it took a moment before the golem responded.

[This is Military State Communications Officer AB. Esteemed one. Has persuasion gone well?]

"Not yet. AB, Mr. Shei is worried about the safety of his beloved princess."

[Beloved princess...? Are you referring to Yerien Grandiomor?]

"Yes. He seems worried about her safety. Could you call her?"

The golem tilted her head, kept the connection open, and spoke to someone else.

[Yerien Grandiomor. Someone is looking for you. Affirmative. Mr. Shei says he is worried about your safety... Wait, stop. Shouting into my ear will not transmit to the golem. Synchronization does not work that way. Sto, stay still! Even if you press your lips together and speak, it will not transmit! That is not how this is structured, and even if it were, I reject it with full force!]

I couldn't read minds, but I could roughly guess what was happening. Was this really a conversation between the king of the military state and the princess of a fallen kingdom? So dignified and refined. The military state's future looked bright. So bright that if the soldiers saw this, they might cry.

After a conversation with no dignity and even less danger, the golem reached a dramatic conclusion.

[Affirmative. Due to the nature of synchronization, if she stays in as much contact with me as possible, her voice should carry. Embracing my back... might work as well....]

AB's voice dropped, sounding reluctant, and little by little the princess's voice began to leak through between lines. It was muffled, as if she were speaking into someone's back, but still clear enough to recognize.

[Lord Shei? I heard you were looking for me? Umm... I'm sorry for making you worry, but just the fact that you looked for me makes me happy too... ehehe....]

Her innocent voice dissolved all tension just by being heard. More than safe, she sounded comfortable. She was probably very different from the princess in the regressor's memory.

'Wait. What? I thought she was a hostage?'

Clearly flustered, the regressor glanced at me once, then spoke to the golem again.

"...Are you safe?"

[Yes! Is Lord Shei okay? I can't see him.]

"I'm fine. But you're with a communications officer. What happened?"

[Ah, me? I originally stayed because I followed Siati, but I changed my mind. I want to stay here a little longer and watch over AB and Yuel.]

"AB... the communications officer?"

[Yes! It's narrow and stuffy here, but there are many people and countless 'windows.' From here, I can observe the military state with the broadest and most objective perspective. If I stay here, I might find clues to make the military state better. If I'm with AB.... Ah, sorry, AB....]

There was a small movement, like she was asking for a moment. Her voice gradually faded, and AB's voice returned.

[That will be all. I have only one body, and when Yerien Grandiomor remains in close contact, it causes major interference with my control of other golems. There are many priorities at present, so I will end her message here.]

The golem spoke crisply again in AB's clear voice. I waved at it.

"You're working hard, AB."

[Compared to the duty I have received, this is light work. Esteemed one. Are you leaving the military state?]

"Yeah. As soon as this conversation is over, I think we'll leave for the Allied Kingdoms immediately."

[Is that so....]

The golem's limbs drooped. She seemed to disconnect briefly. A moment later, she snapped her head up and spoke again.

[I have completed the administrative processing. You will receive general-grade protocol at all administrative facilities in the military state.]

"Yahoo. Thanks, AB!"

[Negative. No. I... this is all I can do, so... at least this much.]

"All you can do? General-grade protocol is the highest treatment you can get in the military state. When in my life would I ever get treatment like that?"

[If it helped, then I also... hehe.]

The golem lowered her head and gave a small shake. It was a human laugh she rarely showed even when she had a human form. But the pleasant moment didn't last long.

[...IK. Receiving. Affirmative. I will handle it. Withdraw from there promptly. End.]

Looks like she was maintaining this connection while handling multiple channels elsewhere too. Just how busy was she? As soon as the report ended, the golem spoke quickly.

[This is all the time allotted to me, esteemed one. I will take my leave now.]

"You've really got a lot on your plate. Take care, AB."

[However, as long as you remain in the military state, I will watch over you forever.]

"Uh, should I thank you for that? Isn't that a little scary? I don't even believe in gods because I hate the idea of being watched from above. Something secretly tracking my every move is creepy, you know?"

[Negative. I assert that I differ from god in the most important respect. I watch openly. Openly enough to declare that fact to you.]

Well, there was a difference, sure. Gods didn't directly declare that they'd watch over me. Not sure that was such an important difference, but still.

Anyway, after that bold stalking declaration, the golem bowed her head.

[...I will wait for the day we meet again. Then.]

Thunk. The connection cut.

After that pleasant exchange, Hilde and I turned back to the regressor. She was having some trouble processing the situation.

'Wait. What? You said hostage. Why is she with the communications officer? More importantly, weren't communications officers those doll-like things that didn't even seem human? Why is that one so friendly with him?'

I said I'd get revenge, right? This was that moment. I mimicked the regressor and said,

"I don't really like hostages. No matter who they are. Wow, a quote for the ages. Mr. Shei, that was pretty cool just now."

"Urgh!"

Hilde, who had been waiting for her chance, added her own line.

"When you glared at me and said, 'Give them back now,' my heart almost dropped. Father, can you hear my heartbeat? This pounding... what should I do? I can't calm down at all."

"It's a good thing the princess isn't here. If even Hilde is like this, if she heard it in person she might've collapsed on the spot. To target a princess you can never attack like this, as expected of Mr. Shei."

"S-shut up!"

"A demonic talent for making women's hearts race. Probably not the talent you wanted, though."

"No, Hilde. To confess honestly, my heart pounded a little too."

"No! I can't give Father to some man!"

"I told both of you to stop!"

Haha. It would be a waste to end it here. Tyr had just arrived too, so I was about to make her add a line.

By the way, why was Tyr just standing there with her mouth covered? Did something surprise her?

'Fa...ther...? Hyu already had such a grown child...?'

...Yeah, that was surprising. Even I was blindsided by how random it was. I needed to clear up this misunderstanding as fast as possible.

The moment my attack slowed, the regressor cut back in.

"More importantly, what is with that communications officer! That's the same communications officer from the Abyss! Why is it talking to you like you're close!"

This is exactly the problem. I don't usually judge people, but you were talking about destroying the military state while not even understanding communications officers? I crooked a finger so the regressor could see.

"Mr. Shei. If there were only one liar in the world, that liar would be practically a god. No matter how absurd what they say is, it all becomes true."

"That's you?"

"No, not me. AB. I taught her how to lie. In other words, AB is the god of the military state's communications officers. Not sure how long that'll last, though!"

Hilde picked up where I left off.

"Anyway, be grateful to Father for establishing a strong line to Headquarters. The hostage thing was only an external pretext. Everyone actually just went where they needed to go."

"Gnh...."

"For the record, the hostage the military state will send is me! I'm the only one with authority to make independent decisions, full knowledge of military state classified information, and the ability to handle practical negotiations when needed!"

"Fine. Fine, I get it. That's everything about hostages, right?"

"No! There's unexpectedly one more. A real hostage!"

Hilde beamed and pointed at Historia.

"Historia has to stay here!"

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