WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 409: No Point Being the Military State's King If I Don't Want To

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Even after reading the thought beforehand, a random remark was still a random remark. I didn't even need to act. My voice was full of disbelief.

"King? Who? Me? Why?"

"The military state!"

Hilde said brightly.

"The military state is a nation of the masses without a king. It was founded on the dream of governing people through laws and rules alone, so no one could exploit another!"

"They did achieve that dream. There isn't anyone in that damned country exploiting and ruling over others. Because everyone gets exploited."

"Ahaha. Is that why you know it so well? Because you've lived there yourself? That's right. It's unfortunate, isn't it?"

Unfortunate, my ass. Hilde had helped make it that way. Avoiding my gaze, Hilde spoke as innocently as ever.

"Still, even if no one rules, there needs to be someone to give orders, you know? We've been starting to feel that need lately, and then Father appeared at just the right time!"

"Are you planning to use me as a component too? I'm not interested. What kind of king hides in a rat hole and receives communications? Find yourselves a King of Rats instead."

When I answered curtly, Tyr smiled.

"Hilde. It seems the 'King of the military state' you mentioned hasn't even appeared at the negotiating table yet."

‘Trying to negotiate while treating Hyu as though he already belongs to you. You have a serpent hidden inside you. Now that Hyu has sought the Duchy's protection, he is as good as mine....’

No, I'm not. I belong to myself, not anyone else.

Still, being King of the military state sounded better than becoming a vampire's favorite doll. I gave them a slight opening.

"There's nothing in it for me if I become King of the military state. I can't indulge in luxuries, eat good food, or meet anyone. Being a Duchy citizen who can eat all the meat I want sounds far better than being a communications officer in the military state."

Hilde's eyes widened.

"Was that what you were worried about?"

"How could I not worry after everything I've seen and heard in the military state?"

"There's no way Father would receive such shabby treatment. Father is the very mystery that I and the military state have been desperately seeking, one worthy of the military state!"

Hilde's eyes glittered at me in lively, dazzling colors. Whenever Hilde acted before, those eyes had been one color at a time. Now, they seemed to contain every color at once.

"The military state has become deeply hostile to the Sanctum. You could call it Father's ally! The communications officers and the rest of the system are organized, and their intelligence network is outstanding. If you use the military state's organization, you could find the Demon God you're looking for far more easily! Are you going to refuse all of that?"

"No matter how useful it is, the quality of life is different. If I stay here as Tyr's honored guest, I'll live as well as a Level-5 citizen."

"Come on. Would I dare give the King of Humanity nothing more than Level-5 treatment? If Father comes to the military state..."

Hilde smiled sweetly, crossed the carriage, and sat to my right. Tyr's mood was souring, but Hilde pretended not to notice and pressed close against me.

"I'll give you everything in the military state."

"Everything? Be a little more specific."

Hilde leaned over to look at Tyr on the other side. Tyr's expression hardened when their eyes met, but Hilde smiled as if pleased, then whispered in my ear again.

"Everything, literally. Its resources, power, knowledge, and systems. And... every person there. All of it."

"It's tempting, but do you have the power to give it to me? They might refuse to become mine."

"Something you don't mean at all~."

Still grinning, Hilde moved even closer and playfully nibbled my earlobe. I cried out at the unexpected move, and Hilde breathed into my ear as the whisper continued.

"...AB and Historia already belong to Father in their hearts, don't they~? The two of them have already become deeply involved with the military state, inseparable from it. Father would only be gathering the seeds you've already scattered throughout the military state~. And on top of that, I'll throw myself in too."

What did Hilde mean, they belong to me? It sounded like I had someone's heart in my keeping. I belonged to myself, and other people were the same.

Still, the proposal itself was quite interesting. Being Tyr's honored guest was nice, but humans held a passive position in a vampire nation.

"Did you get permission?"

I meant Yuel. Even if she had turned against the Sanctum, the Holy Maiden would never hand her country over to me.

Despite the sentence lacking a subject, Hilde caught on quickly and smiled seductively.

"I don't need permission. I'll make it happen."

‘Yuel, I'm sorry in advance~. But you know your strength isn't enough anymore, right? You'll understand my choice, won't you, our poor Holy Maiden?’

Even Yuel, the farsighted Holy Maiden, couldn't peer into the fog-shrouded Duchy. There could hardly be a better place to plot a rebellion. Not that Hilde had followed us here after calculating all that.

Either way, I liked the offer. I unfolded my crossed arms to show that I was receptive.

"Maybe it would be nice. But I'd be scared doing it alone when I'm this weak. If Tyr lends me just one Elder, I think I can take complete control of the military state."

"A perfect plan! What do you think, Tyrkanzyaka? Do you feel like sitting at the negotiating table now~?"

Strictly speaking, I wasn't King of the military state. What Hilde was offering was little different from a promissory note issued against borrowed money.

Still, promissory notes were traded all the time. What mattered was whether payment could be made, and more importantly, whether the person accepting the note believed in the payer's ability to pay.

"..."

Tyr fell silent, deep in thought.

"That's welcome news!"

Support came from a completely unexpected direction. Cabilah, who had been listening all along, clasped both hands together and spoke excitedly.

"It sounds like the Fog Duchy should gain an outside ally or two by now. It may sound like nothing but the empty boasts of an idler with a silver tongue, but even if only a quarter of it is true, strategically and politically..."

It was a little scary that Cabilah was glaring at me while saying that, but Cabilah soon gave a cute smile and said something that could have been criticism or praise.

"Big sister's concubine can't spend all his time eating and playing like an idler, or it won't reflect well on you. But if he carries the title of King of the military state, he'll be much more impressive to look at! Even a mangy puppy looks different when it's wearing a hat!"

"There's no need to look at him differently. Hyu is my guest."

Tyr, who had been listening quietly, gave a low warning.

"That alone should be enough for you to respect Hyu."

It was a short, powerful warning. Cabilah immediately went pale and dropped to the floor. Not caring that the dress was wrinkling and gathering dust, Cabilah bowed before Tyr and pleaded.

"I-I'm sorry, big sister. I was only talking about public opinion. I never meant to disrespect or look down on him!"

One word from Tyr, and I had gone from idler to him. That was practically a social revolution. Seeing this, being the Progenitor's honored guest might not be so bad after all.

Tyr didn't respond to Cabilah's apology, and Cabilah nearly burst into tears while clinging to Tyr's feet.

"I'm truly sorry. I'll repay this sin however I can. I'll do anything. If he goes to the military state, I'll help him secure the throne. Lord Hyu, please entrust anything to me. I'll serve you like a subordinate. No, like a slave!"

Now I was Lord Hyu. How moving. Just as I was about to make full use of that feeling and work Cabilah like a slave, Tyr spoke first.

"I understand what you mean. I've calmed down, so there's no need to grovel before Hyu."

"...! Yes! Thank you, big sister! I'll certainly repay the kindness of your forgiveness!"

Tch. I was about to put Cabilah to work, and Tyr cut that off at the source. Cabilah had been seeking Tyr's forgiveness from the start. Once Tyr had calmed down, Cabilah didn't spare me even the slightest attention.

Tyr felt a little relieved at the sight of Cabilah.

‘It is difficult to watch any more women lingering around Hyu. Cabilah is my Elder, but having lost control, I do not know what Cabilah might do.’

In any case, now that Tyr had fully calmed down, she carefully considered Hilde's proposal. Cabilah's words kept circling through Tyr's mind.

‘...Perhaps it would be better to lend Hyu strength. It is beneficial for both of us. Here, he is no more than a concubine, but if Hyu is the King of Humanity and King of the military state... we could even enter a political marriage as equals. A husband should naturally possess authority, should he not?’

Setting aside why that led all the way to a political marriage. This twelve-century-old girl was trapped by outdated prejudices. Why should a husband naturally have authority? Couldn't I eat, play, and live as a kept man? Protect the freedom to marry rich.

‘Still, I do not wish to send Hyu away from my side just yet. I do not know what may happen once he is out of my sight.... Let us accept, but set conditions.’

"What do you think~? Tyrkanzyaka. Do you need more time~? You shouldn't take too long. We're human, after all, and we don't have much time~."

"No. I'm done."

Having finished organizing her thoughts, Tyr raised her head and straightened her posture. She had only adjusted herself slightly, but it felt as though the Progenitor's dignity, which had wandered off somewhere, had returned.

"It isn't a bad proposal. But if I am to lend my strength, this side should naturally gain something as well. I will set conditions. First."

Tyr raised her index finger.

"Until the trial over Luscinia's death is finished, you will remain at the Castle of the Full Moon and assist me. The Duchy is in turmoil after an Elder's death, so I will not make my position clear until the disorder has been settled."

The death of an Elder was a grave matter for the Fog Duchy. It went beyond a simple murder. No one even knew how an immortal Elder had been killed. It was only reasonable to put internal affairs before someone else's business.

"And second."

Tyr took my hand and gave her second condition.

"With your power, restore my senses. That is my condition for helping you."

Footnotes:

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