WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 335: Possible in Theory, Impossible in Practice

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Perru's Juggernaut, the Golden Ark. The endless-tracked fortress sailed quietly across the sea of sand, making its way through the Lesser States.

No matter how fiercely the wind blew, the massive steel body did not sway. It trampled boulders with ease and climbed steep hills smoothly. The name Golden Ark suited it perfectly. Unlike the ocean, the earth had no waves to obstruct its path, so nothing stood in the way of the Golden Ark's advance.

We stayed in cabins below deck and enjoyed a more comfortable journey than ever before. Tyr sat in a chair, assessing the Golden Ark's ride.

"It's smooth and quiet. I cannot tell whether I am riding a vehicle or sitting in an elegant castle. It is the most pleasing wonder I have seen in some time."

Perru's expression barely changed, but she seemed pleased.

"...It's substitution movement."

"Substitution movement? Hyu, what is that?"

Having realized Perru was not very good at explaining things, Tyr naturally turned to me.

What, did she think I was some vending machine that dispensed answers? I didn't know what humans didn't know either.

Well, I had read Perru's thoughts, so I did know.

"It's an ideal method of movement, said to be the strongest in alchemical theory. Tyr, when you want to move quickly, the things in front of you are usually obstacles, right? Like the wind you collide with or rocks that catch under your feet."

"Or sunlight."

No, sunlight probably didn't count as that kind of obstacle. Anyway.

"If you broke those obstacles down with alchemy the moment you touched them, they wouldn't be able to obstruct you at all. You could move forward without any resistance."

"Hmm. I see."

"Right. Then, if you restored those broken-down obstacles after passing through them, wouldn't they have the effect of pushing you from behind? You'd also recover the mana used to break them down."

That was substitution movement, an alchemy-based technique conceived by a genius.

After thinking it over, Tyr understood the concept and clapped her hands.

"Then, as you say, one could move even across bare ground as though a fair wind were blowing at one's back!"

"In theory, you could stroll through the ground itself. In theory, anyway."

It was the same everywhere in the world. Saying something was theoretically possible practically meant it was impossible. If it were as easy as it sounded, it would not have become a legend.

"In reality, it takes time to break obstacles down with alchemy. If you fail to do it properly, the leftover mana becomes an obstacle too. And no matter how carefully you reconstruct them, you can't recover the mana you spent at one hundred percent efficiency. It's nearly impossible."

"Nearly means it isn't impossible, does it not?"

"I've heard rumors of jackals that travel underground using substitution movement. They call themselves moles instead of jackals. But they're so much slower than the theory suggests that they only use it to ambush sleeping targets. That's with a human body. How could anyone turn it into a machine? It can't be done."

When I stated that so firmly, Tyr tilted her head.

"But it has been done."

"Huh?"

Right. How had Perru done it?

Even with an innate arcane, it was only the power to break down matter. It wasn't a universal technique like alchemy, but a limited ability possessed only by Perru. Using that power on a Juggernaut this enormous...?

I had no way to explain it. Was Perru really human? Even I, the King of Humanity, couldn't begin to guess. What kind of monster was Perru?

"This, too, is the Lord of Gold's majesty."

"...Mm."

Perru gave a small, satisfied snort at my words.

I wasn't even praising you. Why were you looking so proud? Had Perru become one with the Lord of Gold? Did praise for the Lord of Gold count as praise for Perru?

"Jeez! This is cheating!"

There was someone else who took praise for the Lesser States as an insult to the military state, and therefore as an insult to herself. Hilde stomped her feet in frustration.

"They don't even know the structure of a Juggernaut. They don't know how it works! They're only using it because the Lord of Gold gave it to them! Unlike the military state's cataphract, a Juggernaut has no blood, sweat, or effort in it!"

"...This, too, is the Lord of Gold's majesty."

You really liked that line. You used it right away.

Hilde, now thoroughly annoyed, grumbled, "Aren't you impressive."

Bang.

Hilde mixed a little irritation into her qigong and stomped. It was a kick filled with destructive intent, but the Juggernaut did not so much as dent.

That, too, was the Lord of Gold's majesty. Obviously.

"Tch! This won't do. 'I' need to show the military state's majesty too!"

"Does the military state have anything worth showing? It isn't going to be a demonstration of standardized qigong, is it? Just in case, let me warn you, that isn't something to boast about. The more you do it, the more the nation's prestige drops."

"Hmph, do you think 'I' am some old general? Of course it isn't! Father, keep your mouth shut!"

Still fuming, Hilde suddenly pointed upward as if she had remembered something.

"Oh, right. Perru, Azzy was chasing your horse around on the deck."

"...Ah."

Perru's horse, Aurea, lived by grazing in the small field built on the deck. Until now, Aurea had enjoyed a peaceful and comfortable life on moving ground, but with Azzy here, the horse was constantly harassed.

Whenever she had the chance, Azzy would herd Aurea while barking from side to side, trying to train the horse. Frightened Aurea would whinny mournfully, and every time, Perru had to go up and pull Azzy away. For all her faults, Azzy listened to people quite well.

"...I'll be back."

After receiving the tip from Hilde, Perru quickly opened the door and went up to the deck. Hilde gave Perru a suspicious smile, then quietly followed behind.

A little later.

"Perru" came trudging back. Looking troubled, "Perru" glanced around and asked,

"...Liar. Where are you?"

Caught off guard, Tyr answered with a puzzled expression.

"Liar? I do not know who you mean."

"...Aurea. Grazing."

"If you mean Hilde, she followed behind you a moment ago. Did you not see her?"

"...No."

"She must be planning some prank. When it comes to mischief, she gives Hughes a run for his money."

"Why are you looking at me? I had nothing to do with Hilde's personality taking shape. There are limits to responsibility without pleasure."

She wasn't really my daughter. As I offered that excuse that wasn't quite an excuse, the door leading to the deck opened again. Everyone looked over, and Perru walked in with a sullen expression.

"...Liar. Where are..."

Perru and "Perru" came face-to-face.

Perru's face went pale. "Perru" was similarly startled, then began trembling as though frightened. They stared at one another warily, like cats with their fur raised.

"...What is this?"

"...Who?"

Two identical people. It was an unprecedented situation, but Tyr had already experienced Hilde's transformation ability and quickly understood what had happened.

"So it was a prank after all. Is it that again? Transformation?"

"...Transformation?"

"...You transformed into me?"

Perru seemed to understand at last, and she relaxed a little and began examining the other Perru from every angle. The face, clothes, even height and build matched perfectly. Everything that could be copied by sight had been reproduced exactly.

It was a technique that did not quite reach the realm of true duplication, but had come remarkably close. It wouldn't have been strange for Perru to be impressed, but she instead showed greater disgust.

'...That cannot be. You cannot make a homunculus of a Lord. I know. I know, but...'

A homunculus?

Ha. What was Perru talking about? A homunculus was an even more impossible concept than substitution movement. Even Hilde, despite reaching such heights, could never manifest Li, because her transformations could not read the mind of the person she copied.

There was no way to copy a human perfectly. Why was Perru seriously worrying about something that only appeared in old tales...

Wait, could that be the Lord of Gold's majesty too?

Ahem. This wasn't the time for that. Hilde's prank was hurting Perru far too much. If it had been me, I would've read Perru's mind and walked the line carefully, but Hilde couldn't do that.

"Sigh, Hilde. Stop it and reveal yourself. You shouldn't play that kind of prank on someone you aren't close with yet."

"Perru" widened her eyes and asked,

"...You know who I am?"

"Stop pretending. You're Hilde, the one who just spoke."

"...How?"

Was she planning to keep playing dumb until she was convinced? I had noticed through mind reading, but if she wanted a reasonable explanation, I could give her one.

"I'll tell you why. First, Hilde left after Perru. Then Hilde disguised herself, and the two of you didn't meet each other. By simple logic, that means Hilde was somewhere between the real Perru and this room."

"...But I could have hidden somewhere in between."

"Second, your goal was to surprise Perru, right? Normally, it would be more shocking to enter a room and find another you already inside than to see another you come in from outside."

"That's only circumstantial evidence."

"It doesn't matter if I can't prove it. A plausible explanation is enough. Besides, you aren't even dragging out your speech anymore."

"Perru's" face gradually became more expressive. Her original blank expression turned into a dissatisfied pout, then she kicked at the floor and grumbled. Before long, her appearance had changed back into Hilde's.

"Honestly! This is why I told Father to keep his mouth shut!"

"I heard you. I just didn't listen."

"You're awful! Taking away one of 'my' few pleasures!"

That was a lie. Transforming was one of Hilde's few pleasures, but her purpose was the opposite.

Hilde didn't transform so she would go unnoticed. She transformed because she wanted someone to notice. Even while disguised, she wanted someone to recognize her right away.

Why complain when I was giving her exactly what she wanted? She should just admit she liked it...

No, maybe she liked it even now.

"Will you admit it already? Seeing through a disguise like Hilde's is easy for me. To a magician who deals with the mind, a transformation that only copies appearances is as obvious as looking at the palm of my hand."

When I puffed out my chest, Tyr gave a small round of applause.

"As expected, Hyu. I have known Perru for too short a time to guess anything, but you saw through it at once."

"Oh? Tyrkanzyaka? You make it sound as though you could've figured it out if you had known Perru longer?"

Unable to let that pass, Hilde pressed the issue. Tyr calmly took the challenge and replied,

"Of course. After knowing someone so long, how could I not recognize them?"

"You didn't know when 'I' transformed into Father last time, but you're acting confident now?"

"I was suspicious then as well. I simply didn't jump to conclusions because I didn't know your ability. Now that I know your power, it is plain as day."

"Hee. Is that so? But what will you do? 'I' have come to know the other person better too."

Sparks flew between the two women. Hilde lifted her chin and declared,

"Let's have a contest! Go on, try to figure out 'my' transformations!"

"If you wish to perform, do so as much as you like. The journey will not be dull."

As the two glared at each other, Perru watched their quarrel with a dumbfounded expression.

'...What are they doing in someone else's home?'

Footnotes:

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