WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 512: Hour of the Dog and the Wolf - 5

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A dogfight is when two opponents cling to each other and trade blows through sheer force. As the name suggests, dogs specialize in dogfights. Dog beastkin have an innate sense for battles that test reflexes and explosive movement at close range.

If her opponent had been anyone less formidable, Shei would have won. The Heaven-Reversing Boundary, which had honed the limits a living creature, whether human or beast, could reach, countered dog beastkin with superior reflexes. On top of that, it was an energy art that promised near-absolute defense against anyone she had fought even once. This might have been their first encounter in this iteration, but the regressor's body retained the memories of fighting Blanca several times.

'Damn...!'

But principles could twist even the absolute.

'Blanca's principle isn't anything special. If I had to rank it, it's among the lowest. But...!'

Principles activated through will alone. The mere possibility that someone could wield one changed the scope of the danger.

Blanca's principle was beastification. Claws could grow and vanish at will, while fur could lengthen and shorten. It was a principle that let its wielder freely use a beast's weapons.

It was a common technique, little different from the power of a druid contracted with a Beast King.

'In a dogfight, she's practically a real dog!'

Still, anyone who had fought Blanca knew. When closing in while deflecting attacks with fighting gloves and qi, they always had to leave enough room for the length of Blanca's claws and fur. There was no telling when claws would spring out and tear through flesh, or when fur would grow long enough to block their vision. That one extra card granted to the opponent was pressure in itself.

Of course, Blanca also felt pressured by Skywarbler, which had neither weight nor visible form. Still, it was hard to notice the pressure one imposed on others.

"That's a fine sword you're carrying."

"Tch!"

Sharp nails sprang from the arm that had entered her range. Bolstered by energy control and a principle, they flashed forward at incredible speed. Five slashes swept toward Shei as if Blanca's arm had stretched out.

Shei had kept her distance in advance, so she avoided them with the Heaven-Reversing Boundary and thrust back with Skywarbler. Just as the invisible blade was about to cut into Blanca's skin, fur grew and covered her skin.

Slice.

The fur covered in energy control was severed, but Blanca was unharmed.

Claws and fur. They served as attack and defense at once. Facing them filled Shei with the hopeless feeling that she could not win without some clever trick. The regressor was once again reminded of how unfair a principle was.

...Of course, Blanca felt much the same while facing Shei. The Heaven-Reversing Boundary, improved through repeated iterations, was just that overwhelming. As I've said repeatedly, memories of being hit linger, while memories of hitting someone evaporate in an instant.

"You seem to know my principle too. Were you interested in me?"

"Hmph. Just because I played along with you for a moment!"

"Then you must know why we became wolves too."

Naturally, Shei knew. She had heard it enough times before regressing to be sick of it. It was probably not a secret at this point either. Confident that saying it would cause no problem, Shei shouted.

"Because you killed people!"

"...Do you know why we killed them?"

"Does that matter? What's more important is that you're murderers."

At words she had not heard in a long time, Blanca gave a faint smile.

Imperial citizens who did not know the full story said things like that as they condemned the Baskervilles. They said hunting dogs had no place in this day and age, that even raising them was impure. They said the very existence of such a family was the problem.

Even though humans were the ones who had trained them to kill humans.

"Woof. We only follow our master's orders. Like loyal dogs, without questioning anything."

"Then you should've kept not questioning it! If you were going to question it, you shouldn't have bitten humans!"

"You're right. Why couldn't we... remain dogs until the very end?"

Blanca Baskerville smiled sadly and glanced around.

This had been a surprise attack carried out with elite forces. It had been effective, but only as long as Blanca could move freely. If they remained isolated within enemy lines while the outcome was uncertain, they would be wiped out. Gruel was on the other side.

As though chewing and swallowing her own body, Blanca spoke.

"Only three of you stay. The rest, retreat."

The Baskervilles nodded and withdrew in orderly formation. Shei felt inwardly relieved. The Baskerville Family was far stronger than Ende's forces, including the Obelisks. If they had fought tooth and nail, Ende's losses would have grown beyond control, so their willingness to flee was almost welcome.

'I could settle things with Blanca here, but don't forget! My real target is the King of Wolves! I need to save enough strength for Ground Drop!'

While one Baskerville held back Sapien, the other two ran toward the city. It was a loud rampage meant to provoke Shei, as if inviting someone to come kill them. It was obvious, but she had no choice but to stop energy-control masters before they indiscriminately beat Ende's citizens to death.

Shei glared at the retreating Blanca and shouted.

"Running away?"

"Next time, we'll come with our king. Woof. Then we'll finish the fight we left unfinished."

"If you want to die then, go ahead!"

After causing several hundred casualties in a short time, the Baskerville Family retreated like ghosts, just as they had arrived. As Shei cut through the right arm of the Baskerville left behind to stall her, she waited for a signal that had yet to come.

"Not yet?"

Countless wishes collided with one another. I didn't like war, but I liked chaos. Everyone carried their own wish as they tangled together, advancing through a state where anything could happen. Among the wills of thousands intertwined, only the strongest remained and shone in the end.

Yet this time, rather depressingly, I had to shape that will according to my own intentions. I sighed as I plucked out only the wish to protect the city from the chaos.

Was this war? This was a fight where humanity itself might change, so was it right for me to change it? This wasn't the Beast King. I was just a king.

Teia, dressed in racing attire, muttered to herself beside me as I lamented.

"So this is war~. Mm, it's really scary."

Teia stepped in place as though trying to ease her tension, but perhaps because of the noise and screams around us, she gradually lost her rhythm.

After taking several deep breaths, Teia asked me.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes. Here."

I handed Teia a brown fur scarf. She examined the rough, crude-looking scarf made from raw fur, then asked as though she couldn't believe it.

"Huh? Is this a gift?"

"It's a scarf made from Azzy's fur that the sheep beastkin collected while cleaning."

"Ah. A fur scarf from the King of Dogs? What an honor!"

"If you wear that, the King of Wolves will chase you like crazy, Miss Teia."

Teia was about to happily wrap it around her neck, but froze in fright. It only lasted a moment. Letting out a heavy sigh, Teia promptly put the scarf on. At least the inside had been finished properly, so it wouldn't chafe her skin.

Teia fiddled with the scarf and asked.

"Giving me this means we're leaving soon, right? Where do I need to go?"

Instead of answering, I picked up a branch and drew on the ground. Ende, a wolf, then a simple picture of Gruel and the Baskervilles leaving their respective camps and charging toward each other.

"Because Duke Sapien defended the main camp, the Baskerville Family came to attack it. Because Gruel charged in, they sent their priest to respond. As both sides strike at each other's weaknesses, they are targeting the front line the Baskerville Family cleared away, while we are creating a new front around Gruel's side. Right now, both forces are flowing in a circle around one point."

"Yeah. I don't understand any of that."

Teia, who did not know the state of the battle, tilted her head. Still, the good thing about a drawing was that she could see it even if she didn't understand it. Looking over the battlefield map, Teia poked the center of the circle and spoke.

"Hehe. I feel like I should go straight to the middle~."

"That's right. The finish line will keep changing, though. I'll tell you exactly where it is later, but you need to plan the route that gets you close to that area, Miss Teia."

"No problem. I remember every bit of land around here."

Horse beastkin had especially good memories for terrain. She wouldn't get confused and charge into the middle of enemy territory.

I had explained the outline, so it was time to move.

"Let's get going. Azzy, the Oberli guards, and I will escort you to the area."

"I'll be fine on my own."

"We can't let the wolves drain your stamina, Miss Teia. The lives of Ende's citizens depend on your hooves, your stamina, and your concentration."

I had said something cliché to raise her spirits before she headed to the battlefield, but Teia took it seriously.

"I like this place."

"Ende?"

"Yeah. It might sound spoiled, but we only know how to run. We live to run and die to run. We endure the pain that feels like our hearts will burst, straining every vein to overtake other racehorses. Everyone else is made into scenery for the one person who comes in first."

Teia brushed a foot against the ground and murmured.

"I like running. But... I don't think I can like only running. There has to be a place like this, so horse beastkin who don't want to run have somewhere to be."

She had not readily stepped forward to risk her life only because she was confident she wouldn't be caught. She had joined because she wanted to protect Ende and had found something she could do to help.

I had not created a wish that did not exist. That was true. Who would wish for death or ruin? Everyone wanted to live well. I had only given strength to wishes that were already there.

"Then your running will save horse beastkin who don't want to run."

I had ended up encouraging her without meaning to. Teia beamed and made a V with her fingers.

"It's good to have at least one skill worth bragging about! I'm fast, you know!"

Laughing away the tension, Teia strode forward bravely. The Oberli guards and pig beastkin followed behind her.

The wolf hunt had begun.

Footnotes:

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