WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 310: Who Is the Hostage?

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Until now, the regressor had been negotiating. No matter how displeased she was, she had not tried to use force and had kept the conversation going.

But now, things were different.

She looked fierce enough to draw her sword at any moment. It was not the sharp killing intent one directed at an enemy, but the violent stubbornness of a child throwing a tantrum until she got what she wanted.

The only difference was that she possessed Demon God-class power.

"I told you, didn't I? I don't like hostages, no matter who they are."

"Oh dear?"

Hilde gave an awkward smile, but the regressor's expression only darkened.

Until now, she had used her strength only as much as necessary to achieve her goals. But if the regressor truly decided to go on a rampage, she would destroy an entire country, no matter how long it took.

That would be even easier if the target were the military state, which she had repeatedly destroyed in the past few iterations.

The regressor placed a hand on Skywarbler's hilt and growled.

"Do you think I came all this way just to be pushed around while hostages are taken? Give them back. Now."

A terrifying pressure rose from the regressor, aimed squarely at Hilde.

Of course, Hilde was sitting on my lap, so I was taking that pressure head-on as well.

Hilde looked troubled as she asked me, "Mm. This is a problem. I don't think we should threaten him with the hostages' safety here. Father, can't you do something?"

No, what could I do just because she asked me? My hands were shaking too.

"Hughes."

Damn it. Here it came.

I answered somewhat meekly. "Ah, yes."

"I consider you a companion. If you were taken hostage or anything like that, it would put me in a very foul mood."

You were just considering handing me over as a hostage!

...Of course, she probably had not meant it.

The regressor was quite devoted to those she accepted as companions. It had been the same earlier, when Nevida tried to take me away. Even knowing she could never win, the regressor had charged in anyway.

She might have died if things went wrong, but she had no regrets about that decision.

It was the same now.

"You wouldn't have personally suggested that your friend and the princess be taken hostage. But if negotiations could only happen under those terms... Even if the princess wouldn't be attacked, if you accepted it..."

What I felt from the regressor was slight disappointment.

It was very minor, but that small difference would make an enormous difference to my fate.

Not just in this life, but the next one as well.

‘I admit it. Hughes is a stroke of good fortune. Things have never gone this smoothly across all my lives. It must be thanks to Hughes. But... I still don't know. Can I really trust him?’

Competence and incompetence. I was certainly on the competent side.

Still, that was not particularly important to the regressor.

"Hughes. Answer me. Where are they?"

"Um... They should be arriving soon..."

The instant I finished speaking, the door flew open.

Tyr appeared with a parasol on one shoulder and a golem on the other. She looked around, then spotted me.

"Hyu!"

Tyr smiled happily at me and strode straight over. Her steps were powerful, but her stride was short, so it took her quite a while to reach me.

After Historia, she was the companion most fond of me and the most dependable ally to have on my side.

Tyrkanzyaka, the Progenitor of vampires.

What a shame. If the Holy Maiden had not been the secret power behind the military state, Tyr would have been an enormous asset to me. I could not take her with me because bringing her along would result in nothing but destruction and slaughter.

I greeted Tyr warmly.

"It feels like it's been a while. Sorry for leaving without saying anything. I had something to do..."

Tyr made a small gesture toward the shoulder carrying the golem.

"I heard the story from this doll. It said you went alone to negotiate. I understand your intentions, but how could you leave without even a word? Did you not think I would worry? But... why are you sitting like this?"

Tyr, who had approached me happily, tilted her head after seeing the regressor confronting us. She had realized something was wrong with the regressor's expression.

Still, Tyr had the means to solve this.

More precisely, the thing on Tyr's shoulder did.

I called to the golem.

"AB."

She seemed quite busy, since it took a moment for the golem to respond.

[This is Captain AB of the military state. Sir, did the persuasion go well?]

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

[Beloved princess...? Do you mean Yerien Grandiomor?]

"Yes. He seems to be wondering whether the princess is safe. Could you put her through?"

The golem tilted its head, then spoke to someone while maintaining the connection.

[Yerien Grandiomor. Someone is looking for you. Affirmative. Shei is worried about your safety... Wait. Shouting into this office's ear will not transmit through the golem. Synchronization does not work that way. Stop. Stay still! Even if you speak with your lips pressed against this office's, it will not transmit either! That is not how it is structured, and even if it did work, this office would refuse with all its strength!]

I could not read thoughts, but I could roughly guess what was happening.

Was this really a conversation between the ruler of the military state and the princess of a fallen nation? How dignified and refined. The military state's future was dazzling.

Dazzling enough that any soldier who saw it might cry.

After that conversation, which had neither dignity nor any apparent danger, the golem reached a dramatic conclusion.

[Affirmative. Due to the nature of synchronization, your voice should carry if you remain in as much contact with this office as possible. Perhaps... embracing this office from behind would work...]

AB's reluctant voice grew quieter, and the princess's voice gradually began filtering through between her words. It was indistinct, as though she were speaking into someone's back, but clear enough to recognize as the princess.

[Lord Shei? I heard you were looking for me? Um... I'm sorry for making you worry, but I'm also happy that you came looking for me.... Hehehe....]

Her innocent voice alone made all the tension disappear. It sounded not just safe, but comfortable.

She was probably quite different from the princess in the regressor's memories.

‘Wait. What is this? I thought she was a hostage?’

Thoroughly flustered, the regressor glanced at me once before speaking to the golem again.

"...Are you safe?"

[Yes! Are you all right, Lord Shei? I cannot see you.]

"I'm fine. You're with the communications officer? What happened?"

[Ah, me? I originally stayed behind following Siate's lead, but I changed my mind. I want to stay here a little longer and watch over AB and Yuel.]

"AB... You mean the communications officer?"

[Yes! This place is narrow and stuffy, but there are many people here, and countless 'windows' too. I can observe the military state with a broader, more objective perspective than anyone else. If I stay here, I might find a clue to making the military state better. If I'm with AB... Ah, sorry, AB....]

She made a slight movement, as though asking for permission. The princess's voice gradually faded, and AB's voice flowed from the golem again.

[That will be all. This office has only one physical body, and when Yerien Grandiomor remains in close contact, it severely interferes with the operation of other golems. There are many matters that must take priority at present, so her message will end here.]

The golem spoke clearly again in AB's bright voice. I waved at it.

"You've been working hard, AB."

[Compared to the duties entrusted to this office, it is nothing. Sir, are you leaving the military state?]

"Yes. Once we finish talking here, I think we'll head straight for the Lesser States."

[Is that so....]

The golem's limbs drooped. It appeared she had disconnected for a moment.

A little later, the golem suddenly raised its head and spoke again.

[This office has completed the administrative procedures. You will receive a general's courtesies at every administrative facility in the military state.]

"Yay. Thank you, AB!"

[Negative. It is nothing. This office can only do this much... At least this much.]

"Only this much? A general's courtesies are the best treatment you can receive in the military state. When else would I ever receive treatment like that in my life?"

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

The golem lowered its head and shook slightly. It was a human laugh she rarely showed, even in human form.

Still, the pleasant laughter did not last long.

[...Communications Officer IK. Receiving. Affirmative. This office will handle it. Withdraw from that location immediately. End.]

She appeared to be communicating with multiple places while keeping this connection open. How busy was she?

As soon as the report ended, the golem spoke quickly.

[This is all the time permitted to this office, sir. This office will take its leave.]

"You work hard. Take care, AB."

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

"Um, should I be thankful for that? Isn't it a little scary? I don't even believe in gods because I worry one might be watching over me. A being secretly watching every little thing I do is kind of creepy, isn't it?"

[Negative. This office asserts that it differs from gods in the most important respect. This office watches openly. Openly enough to declare that fact to you.]

Well, there was a difference. Gods did not ask my permission before watching over me.

I was not sure whether that was such an important difference.

Anyway, after confidently making a stalking declaration, the golem bowed.

[...This office looks forward to the day we meet again. Farewell.]

Click.

The golem's connection cut off. After enjoying that conversation, Hilde and I looked back at the regressor.

The regressor was having some trouble processing the situation.

‘Wait. What? I thought she was a hostage. Why is she with the communications officer? More importantly, weren't communications officers those dolls that barely seemed human? Why is that communications officer being so friendly with him?’

I said I would get revenge, did I not?

This was the time.

Imitating the regressor, I said, "I don't like hostages, no matter who they are. Wow. What a quote for the history books, Shei. You looked pretty cool just now."

"Urgh!"

Hilde, who had been waiting for her chance, added, "When you glared at 'me' and said, 'Give them back. Now,' I thought my heart would drop out. Father, can you hear my heartbeat? What should I do about this pounding... I can't calm down at all."

"It's fortunate the princess isn't here. Hilde is already like this, so if the princess heard you in person, she might have fainted on the spot. To win over a princess you can't possibly attack, as expected of you, Shei."

"S-Shut up!"

"What a devilish talent for making women's hearts race. It probably isn't the talent you wanted, though."

"No, Hilde. To be honest, my heart was racing a little too."

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

"I told both of you to stop!"

Ha ha. It would be a shame to end things here. Tyr had arrived too, so I should have her say something.

By the way, why was Tyr standing still with her mouth covered? Had something surprising happened?

‘Fa...ther...? Hyu already has a child this grown...?’

...That was surprising.

Even I was startled because it came so suddenly. I needed to clear up this misunderstanding as quickly as possible.

The regressor seized the opening after my attacks died down.

"More importantly, what is with that communications officer? That's the communications officer who was in the Abyss! Why is she talking as though she's close to you?"

What could I say? I was not one to judge others easily, but had she been talking about destroying the military state without even knowing the communications officers?

I raised a finger and waggled it where the regressor could see.

"Shei. If there were only one liar in the world, that liar would be no different from a god. No matter how absurd the things they said, they would all become true."

"Is that 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. I don't know how long that will last, though!"

Hilde picked up where I left off.

"Anyway, be grateful to Father for making strong connections at headquarters. The hostages are only an excuse for appearances. In truth, everyone simply went where they needed to go."

"Ugh...."

"By the way, the hostage the military state will send is 'me'! I have the authority to make independent decisions, know every bit of the military state's classified information, and am the only talented person capable of conducting working-level negotiations if necessary!"

"All right. I get it. Is that everything about the hostage business?"

"No! There is surprisingly one more. A real 'hostage'!"

Hilde smiled brightly and pointed at Historia.

"Historia has to stay here!"

Footnotes:

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