WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 314: Farewell, Military State

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Historia decided to remain in the military state. The official reason was that the successive battles had left Historia badly injured, and that time was needed to hone the newfound insight.

Of course, the biggest reason was to protect the military state and its “secret.”

If the secret buried beneath communications headquarters was left unprotected, the military state could collapse with absurd ease.

“Urgh. Well, it’s not like I care what happens to the military state. Still, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to leave one ally behind.”

The regressor grumbled with a hint of regret and handed Historia a bundle of World Tree leaves.

“Here. World Tree leaves. They’re precious, so don’t smoke them carelessly like mana herbs.”

Historia accepted the leaves and muttered,

“…You’re not very honest, cutie.”

“I didn’t give them to you to use all by yourself! I gave them to you for Nabi!”

“The King of Cats? Mana herbs?”

The regressor crossed her arms.

“Yeah. Maximilien is gone now, and so is the cat Beastman lieutenant general. Nabi isn’t exactly easy to push around either, so nobody will dare touch her. Still, I’m worried about just leaving her alone. Animals like cats, with their ambiguous wildness and their uneasy closeness to humans, are easy to exploit... If possible...”

She was rambling again. She could have said it simply. I kindly summarized things for the regressor, who was incapable of being honest.

“She wants to entrust Nabi to you. She can trust you, and Nabi has her uses, so she’d like you to take good care of her. The mana herbs are a way to control Nabi, and you can smoke them too, so that works out nicely, or so she says.”

A perfect summary. Historia nodded.

“…Cute.”

“I don’t know about cute, but she definitely isn’t honest.”

“Stop spouting nonsense whenever you feel like it! I’ve never been dishonest!”

Getting worked up like that was ridiculous. Why not take off that mask before talking? How long did she intend to keep pretending to be a man?

Well, I roughly understood why. If she said she knew the future, people would immediately suspect she was the Holy Maiden. It also let her hide her origins. It was reasonable.

Still, honestly, she wasn’t honest. All it took was a little prodding from me for it to show.

Now then, let me point out her contradiction.

“This works out nicely. There’s something I’ve really wanted to ask, but I held it in because there’d be no taking it back once I said it. Since you’re so honest, please tell me. What should I do?”

“What are you talking about?”

“As you know, I’m a frail human whose only talent is talking. In the military state, I somehow overcame the difficulties because of my connection with Historia and because I’d lived here since childhood, but that won’t be possible in other countries. Especially somewhere like the Lesser States, where strength rules.”

“Why are you beating around the bush?”

Because that was exactly what you did a moment ago, you idiot. I intended to give her a taste of her own medicine, but I didn’t expect her to fail the mirror test too.

So I kindly explained again.

“I’m an empty tin can now. There’s nothing left to squeeze out of me. Wouldn’t it be better for a frail person like me to stay here?”

“Huh?”

“In other words, I’m asking whether it’d be better for you if I weren’t around, Mr. Shei.”

I pretended to lack confidence and pressed her to acknowledge my worth.

I could refuse to come unless she got on her knees and begged, but the regressor, a born contrarian, might actually leave alone if I did that. It wouldn’t help either the current me or the me of the next round, so I passed on that.

This was the best option now. You might not notice someone’s presence, but you notice their absence. Once the regressor imagined my absence, she would surely feel the void.

‘Coldly speaking, that’s true. In terms of pure combat strength... he has something up his sleeve, but if I don’t pay attention, it feels like he might just drop dead. He’s not reassuring.’

Huh? That wasn’t the part I wanted her to acknowledge.

‘But he’s different in every other respect. Negotiation, persuasion, exploiting openings in the other side, unpredictable variables... He’s quite capable in those areas. They happen to be what I lack most, so it’s hard to give him up.’

She finally understood, the regressor. She realized how valuable I was. Now she just had to admit it honestly.

“Ahem. Well, it’s not like I’m not a little worried. You can come with us, though. There are enough people who can fight anyway.”

“So I’m just a burden to all of you? How could I brag about that anywhere? The hero party saving the world... and its porter. No, not even that. I’m baggage.”

“No, no! Well, even baggage has its own worth!”

“But even baggage with its own worth still belongs to the category of baggage. In that case, I should drop out here.”

As I deliberately drew out the end of my sentence, the regressor hurriedly waved her hands.

“N-no! What does strength matter? There’s still affection!”

“Is affection important when saving the world?”

“N-not just me! Azzy and Tyrkanzyaka are close to you too! Motivation is important!”

“That just increases the risk that I’ll be taken hostage. There’s another reason for me to drop out.”

“I’ll protect you so that doesn’t happen! It might be a little troublesome, but that much is fine!”

“We’re back where we started. I’m saying it’d be better not to come along than become a nuisance.”

“Ah!”

Did she not know the meaning of self-contradiction? Why did every word she said keep refuting her own argument?

Watching the regressor flounder, Historia muttered as though she found her adorable.

“He is cute. He isn’t honest, but he is honest. I understand why you like him, Hui.”

It was less that I liked her and more that I wanted to torment her. There was quite a difference.

The regressor could have just honestly admitted she needed my abilities, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it and kept fumbling around. I quietly waited for her answer.

Come on. There was no flaw in my logic. Acknowledge my abilities and sincerely ask me to come along. I had to follow her anyway, but it was better to be invited than dragged along.

‘He’s weak. But useful. Taking him is the right choice. Then... Huh?’

Having finally thought of a solution, the regressor clapped her hands and declared confidently,

“I’ll make you strong!”

“…What?”

What was that supposed to mean? That was where she should have acknowledged my value and asked me to come with her. Why was she saying something so strange?

“I know what kind of training a weak person has to go through to become strong. I did it myself. You can do it too! Your growth has ended, but you aren’t that old. If you ranked first in school, you must be smart too!”

You’re younger than me, you know? Don’t confuse your age because you regressed.

“Then I can train you whenever I have time! If you feel you lack strength, all you need to do is gain strength!”

“What do you mean, train me? That’d be even more troublesome.”

“It’s fine! It’s an investment!”

‘And if I learn what training works best this time, I might become stronger faster in the next round! This could even be a greater opportunity than Tyrkanzyaka! He’ll remove two seeds of disaster and become the link that moves the Gunslinger!’

This was bad. The conclusion was heading somewhere strange.

If I said I couldn’t come because I lacked strength, it was normal for her to comfort me by listing my merits. That was the response any human being with ordinary social skills should give.

But she wanted to give me strength because I lacked it? Was she a demon?

“Hahaha. What are you talking about? It’s not as though I’ll suddenly awaken just because I train here...”

“…No. That sounds good. Hui has potential.”

“Ria, what are you talking about now?”

Historia looked several times more excited than when I’d teased the regressor.

“I think it’s a good idea. No, it’s necessary. It’s what Hui needed most.”

No, wait! I won't become strong that way. Did she think there was no reason the story had spread that the King of Humanity lost all power and vanished?

Because it was true! I wasn’t struggling because I didn’t know how to become stronger! Everything I did stopped at ordinary talent! It wasn’t even a world where strength alone kept you alive!

‘Let’s see. What should the training plan be? We should start with repetitive exercises to build basic stamina, right? Then we can observe his physical reactions and gradually increase the load...’

This wouldn’t do. Historia supported the regressor’s idea too. If I stayed any longer, they might complete a training plan designed to kill me. I hurriedly looked around for somewhere to escape to.

I found it.

A large, enclosed-looking automatic carriage was rolling down the road ahead. It was the automatic carriage Hilde and Tyrkanzyaka had gone to collect after receiving the signal from the communications officer.

The midday sunlight poured down, but even those direct rays, which shone upon all things without shadow, shattered pitifully when they struck that steel box. Covered in thick armor, the automatic carriage would protect those inside from all kinds of threats while also providing perfect protection from sunlight. It didn’t seem designed with vampires in mind, but it was a function we desperately needed right now.

Someone poked their head out through the hatch on top of the automatic carriage.

It was Hilde.

Waving both arms widely, Hilde shouted,

“Father! We’ve received the command armored vehicle, Cataphract! Everything’s ready! We can leave as soon as you get on!”

Nice timing. You really are the only one I can count on.

“Everyone! She says preparations are complete. Let’s leave quickly before we’re delayed any longer.”

“…One hundred repetitions. Running alongside it at intervals. Forced consumption of elixirs...”

“Let’s go!”

I cut off those terrible words before she could say more and ran toward the Cataphract with exaggerated urgency. Only then did the regressor start walking too.

The rear of the Cataphract opened with a clatter. The open entrance formed a sloping ramp, allowing goods to be loaded and unloaded through it. As I climbed aboard, I shouted,

“Bye, Ria! I’m leaving!”

‘...He’s leaving again.’

As I truly prepared to go, Historia felt a strange sense of unease, as though something still lingered.

Historia’s attachment to me came from bad memories of the past. I disappeared, and then the incident at Hamelin happened. The terrible memory of recovering dead friends’ bodies had become a shackle that weighed on Historia while also becoming the catalyst for a new goal.

It was something Historia had wished for, but that didn’t change the fact that it had been born from pain.

For a moment, Historia stretched out an arm to stop me, but the action went no further than thought.

‘Still, it’s different from then. Hui is properly saying goodbye to me. And... he’ll probably come back.’

The hesitation ended. Historia forced herself to raise the hand she had been holding out. Perhaps because it wasn’t a movement intended from the start, it looked awkward. Historia timidly waved and said goodbye to me.

“Come back stronger.”

“I can’t become any stronger!”

She kept filling my head with nonsense. If I really became stronger, could she handle me? The first thing I’d do after gaining strength would be to torture Historia under the excuse of giving a massage. I’d teach her that massages could become painful depending on who gave them.

...Though no matter how much I trained, I probably couldn’t make Historia’s body hurt.

How empty.

This was why I didn’t train.

And so, leaving behind one secret and one friend, I departed from the military state.

Footnotes:

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