WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 483: Rule and Reign

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Power was fair, but it was relative. A disaster one person could not react to at all was an attack another could barely fend off.

Welshi, a dog beastkin, was an energy practitioner who had even mastered Water Qi Art. She was especially attentive to her master's safety. Sensing the regressor's killing intent, she desperately shielded Duke Erectus.

"Master...!"

Of course, the regressor's attack was practically a natural disaster. Even a strong fighter who had mastered Water Qi Art could barely protect their own body. Trying to shield someone else would only get both of them killed like dogs. Not in a discriminatory sense, just literally.

Still, Welshi could not stop the regressor's attack, but she stopped her killing intent.

"Tsk."

Heaven-Reversing Boundary, Formless Stance.

A technique for dispersing power once it had been unleashed.

The tip of Jizan's blade twisted. The storm surged into the sky. A blow carrying energy and authority shot into empty air.

The shockwave barely missed Welshi's back. The freed storm raged, sweeping Welshi and Duke Erectus up together and sending them tumbling across the ground.

In the middle of the storm-ravaged plaza, the regressor took a deep breath... and offered Azzy an excuse.

"I wasn't going to kill him. I was only going to teach him a lesson."

"Woof!"

Azzy barked loudly in protest.

She had kicked off the ground and shoved the two of them aside even faster than Welshi could shield Duke Erectus.

'Really... I was only going to give him internal injuries and keep him from getting back up for a month or so. And she stopped me.'

Liar! When she swung that thing, she looked like she didn't care whether he died! Though not caring if he died wasn't the same as wanting to kill him!

That regressor was scary. Once she decided, 'There's no reason to leave him alive,' she would kill him the instant it seemed advantageous. If Welshi had not stepped in, he really would have died.

Fortunately, Duke Erectus, who had barely escaped with his life, opened his eyes wide and shouted.

"G-Guards! Call the guards, no! Call the Obelisks!"

Tsk. Duke Erectus was still a recognized human of Oberli. He was a powerful figure with great influence over the city. Killing him would have been a problem, but failing to kill him was an even bigger problem.

What were you going to do now, regressor?

"Let's stop there."

Mayor Triber, who had returned with the regressor, stepped forward to mediate the matter. The moment Duke Erectus saw Triber, he rushed over.

"Mayor Triber! I was attacked just now! A recognized human of Oberli was attacked!"

"...I will call the Obelisks, Duke Erectus. But it is not wise to treat strangers so carelessly."

"The mayor is right."

Clank, clank. A group of humans entered behind the mayor. They varied in height and build, but every one of them wore brass-colored scale armor that ran seamlessly from head to toe.

The Obelisks, Oberli's elite fighters against beastkin and beasts. These guards wore scale armor to block sharp claws and fangs as they protected the city. Having sensed the power released moments ago, they had gathered here.

The human at the very front approached Duke Erectus. Duke Erectus called to Sapien with a delighted expression.

"Duke Sapien!"

"Welshi. You protected your master. Thank you. Your injuries... Thankfully, it seems you have none."

Sapien examined Welshi before Duke Erectus, then continued with a quiet sigh.

"Erectus. I will not tell you to watch your behavior. But at least exercise some basic caution. When you see an unfamiliar beast, lower your stance and observe it first if you want to stay alive."

"What caution do we need in Oberli? This is our land!"

"There is no such thing as our land. Anywhere beneath the sky and upon the earth is the wild. You would have learned that if you had spent even a little time with a search party."

Perhaps there were ranks even among recognized humans. Duke Erectus gave no response despite being openly lectured. Sapien turned to face the regressor, cape sweeping behind.

"The same goes for you, adventurer."

"I only meant to scare him."

"Erectus only meant to do the same. If you ignore rules and standards and do whatever you please, how are you any different from him?"

Sapien led an elite corps and was a powerful fighter who had mastered Water Qi Art. Sapien might not have been among the Six Generals, but was strong enough to approach their level and was one of the most powerful recognized humans ruling Oberli.

Sapien had also fought and lived alongside beastkin warriors, earning the respect of many, but the regressor still snorted at Sapien.

"Cut the bullshit with that false equivalence. That bastard started it, was more unreasonable, and is weaker despite all that. Don't whine at me to go easy on him just because he's a human you know. If this weren't Ende, it wouldn't have ended with a threat."

"This is Ende."

"If you want it to remain Ende, you'd better keep him under control. A wolf's fangs won't discriminate between targets."

"..."

Wow. She really didn't yield an inch. Was the regressor always this articulate?

It was hardly eloquence. It was more like stubborn sophistry, but none of it was exactly wrong if you picked it apart. Duke Erectus had picked a fight despite having guests, pressed on even when those around him tried to stop him, and had shown no ability beyond throwing around his authority. Welshi and Azzy had even saved his life.

This was a world where one strong individual could face hundreds of weaker people. If someone had that kind of strength, it was neither arrogance nor sophistry.

"You're confident."

"I'm confident. I came here to help, after all."

"That is why I will not press the matter further. We need you and the King of Dogs to protect Ende and Oberli."

Sapien turned sharply. He signaled for the Obelisks watching him to withdraw, then led Erectus out of the plaza.

Before leaving, Sapien gave the regressor a quiet warning.

"But if you attack Ende, you too will become an enemy of the city. Bear that in mind."

Clank, clank, clank. Oberli's guards left the plaza in perfect order. Even as she watched Sapien's retreating back, the regressor remained composed.

'Sapien. A recognized human of Oberli who will do anything to protect the city. Sapien probably thinks less of me now, but it doesn't matter. The Obelisks will have no choice but to fight the King of Wolves anyway.'

It seemed Sapien had remained in the regressor's memories. Put another way, Duke Erectus was only a supporting player.

'I've scared him badly enough, so he probably won't act up again. I hope he doesn't make me regret sparing him. We need to form an alliance with the Beast Faction, and it would get strange if a recognized human like him made trouble.'

Compared to the chilling atmosphere from before, this had gone fairly well, at least.

There had been some friction, but the regressor's actions satisfied the other beastkin. The dog beastkin did not show it openly, but they each added a word in support of her.

"Thank you for stopping him, Mr. Shei."

"Please don't take it too badly. He's always like that."

"Your hand may have been a little heavy... but it was necessary if he was to learn his lesson."

"Duke Erectus is a recognized human. What do you mean by that?"

Triber gently but firmly rebuked the beastkin, then looked steadily at the regressor.

"Ende's crisis can only be overcome if everyone, beastkin and human alike, joins forces. I ask that you refrain from acting rashly from now on."

The regressor might seem unreasonable, but she was surprisingly vulnerable to sound arguments and reasonable people. She shrugged as though she could not help it.

"Don't worry. I acted strongly to make sure nothing like this happens again."

"If you have such foresight, then I am relieved."

'The best outcome would be for everything to proceed smoothly... but if a clash had to come eventually, now was the best time. He must have chosen the second-best option as well.'

Triber believed that? The regressor was not acting while considering the future to that extent.

Though it began as a misunderstanding, Triber had come to overestimate the regressor somewhat. After a moment of thought, Triber spoke.

"Since matters have come to this, I would like to entrust you with a task, Mr. Shei."

"What is it?"

"Ende does not refer only to this city. Beyond the walls, on lands closer to the wild, there are those struggling to survive. We call those who live by facing the threats of the wild the Beast Faction."

Unlike the beastkin incorporated into civilization, they lived closer to the lives of savages. They were called the Beast Faction, but if this had not been a public setting, they would have been called barbarians, no, simply beasts.

"The Beast Faction is rough but powerful. Still, because they live somewhat apart from Ende, they are unlikely to be able to cooperate even when we fight the King of Wolves. We may be fortunate if we simply avoid fighting each other."

Thinking of them, Triber removed a small ivory piece hanging from the staff. Triber turned over the precious treasure, obtainable only from an elephant's graveyard, and handed it to the regressor.

"Here. I will give you a symbol of Ende. Please persuade them. Someone as strong and thoughtful as you, Mr. Shei, should be able to convince the Beast Faction."

'Perhaps the King of Wolves may become an opportunity to unite all beastkin. This is a crisis, but also an opportunity. Before Ende collapses on its own, this is our final chance to save Ende.'

It sounded like there might be another problem I had not seen yet. Hmm. Well, I could learn about that in time.

"All right."

'The Beast Faction. They're important to Ende. They're a gray force that could end up joining the King of Wolves if things go wrong. Things are going well.'

They were. Was that the regressor's experience showing?

Not a single problem had actually been resolved.

Footnotes:

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