WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 534: Cleanup Is More of a Hassle Than the Job Itself

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The regressor's recovery was astonishing. After a day, the body that had been unable to move from the bed could sit upright. Another day passed, and she had recovered enough to stand and walk.

When I saw the regressor limp outside, I clicked my tongue.

"That's monstrous recovery."

"You're one to talk. It's not that impressive. People who've mastered Water Qi Art can manage internal injuries more easily. I also took some of the elixirs I'd been saving."

"Could it be because Azzy's saliva has healing properties? So Mr. Shei really did use that spoon."

"S-shut up! Don't make me remember it! And you might've used it too!"

The regressor staggered as dizziness overcame her. She reached out for something to lean on, but there was nothing nearby.

Should I catch her? Or not? Honestly, showing a little kindness was no big deal. But if I caught her and she started having strange thoughts again, I'd just get annoyed. Still, perhaps it would be better for building goodwill.

Sigh. A little kindness never hurt anyone. I should just help her. I reluctantly reached out.

That was when Azzy suddenly appeared and supported the regressor with her back and head. The regressor used Azzy as a crutch to steady herself.

"Thanks, Azzy..."

Then she met my eyes as I stood there with my hand out. After a slightly awkward pause, the regressor spoke sheepishly.

"Uh... Hughes, you too... thanks?"

So much for my rare act of generosity. I glared at Azzy for butting in without reading the room.

"Geez. I was going to help, but Azzy ruined it for me."

"Woof? Because of me? You've got some nerve!"

I had only made myself look foolish trying to help. While I took my frustration out on innocent Azzy, the regressor snickered.

'He was trying to help? He talks like everything always goes according to plan, but Hughes has a cute side too.'

Hoo. Endure it. This was all to build goodwill. Remember working as a host. Throw away your ego and pride, and do what the other person wants.

The problem with the regressor was that she was so fickle, I had no idea what she wanted. Still, she was simple enough that I didn't need to think too deeply about it.

'Come to think of it, Hughes still thinks I'm a man... Right? He's just being nice, isn't he? If it isn't the kind of goodwill close to friendship, I might have to question his tastes.'

I know. I know! I know you're the regressor, that you're disguised as a man, and even that you don't consciously think about it, which is why I don't get confused either!

Ah, I wished someone could read my thoughts and tell the regressor. Then it wouldn't be this frustrating.

"Stop loafing around and get to work. While you were lying down, a mountain of troublesome work piled up."

"Work? We dealt with Fenrir, so isn't everything done? What else do you want me to do?"

"I said something like that too, but people want confidence in their own judgment. If that confidence comes with strength and authority, that alone becomes a source of strength."

"There's nothing in particular I can do for them... Fine. I'll wash up and head over."

"Wash up? Mr. Shei washes too?"

"What are you talking about? Of course I do. If I have no choice, I deal with it through energy arts, but otherwise I wash."

Even someone who only knew Heaven Qi Art could push dust and impurities off their body. Someone who had mastered Water Qi Art could practically shed their skin.

Still, there was the matter of feeling. If you wanted to clean a body soaked in blood, dust, and sweat, energy arts alone weren't enough.

Hm. Wait a moment. Wasn't it about time to expose one of the regressor's lies?

Eventually, I had to make the regressor mention "regression" herself. But a regressor with layers upon layers of secrets wouldn't reveal everything at once. I had to peel away the outermost layer before I could get to the core.

Honestly, the fact that you're a woman is a secret that hardly matters anymore, isn't it? At most, revealing it would slightly increase the chance that you're the Holy Maiden. I should expose it early.

I spoke casually, as though the thought had just crossed my mind.

"Want me to wash you?"

"Pfft! Cough, cough!"

The regressor coughed violently as though something had gone down the wrong pipe. After a while, she finally caught her breath and shouted in shock.

"W-what are you talking about?! Why would you wash me?!"

"I'm worried Mr. Shei might slip because you're having trouble moving around. I'm trying to help."

"Are you out of your mind?! That's not something you can brush off with an excuse like that!"

"Why not? We're both men."

"Uh...?"

'Right. I'm still disguised as a man.'

See? Even now, she wasn't thinking about it at all. If you were going to disguise yourself as a man, you should be more thorough and careful. Or just come clean already.

"We may not be best friends, but we're close enough to rely on each other when things get difficult, aren't we? Your bandages need changing, and you need medicine applied too."

"No, I... there's no need..."

"No matter how capable Mr. Shei is, it'd be hard to apply medicine and wrap bandages around wounds on your back by yourself. I'll help you... Hup."

"W-why are you trying to take off your clothes?!"

"Why? If I don't, my clothes will get wet while washing."

"Keep them on!"

"Huh? Ah. All right. You might feel uncomfortable, so I'll keep my clothes on when I go in. Only Mr. Shei needs to undress."

"Who said I'd undress?! No! I never intended to ask you in the first place!"

Refusing contact was one thing, but the regressor's reaction was clearly beyond normal. If the regressor had really been a man, it would have been an overreaction enough to make the atmosphere turn cold. Wasn't it about time she gave up this cross-dressing act? I subtly left her an opening.

"I offered in good faith, so why are you rejecting it so passionately? If we're both men, you don't need to hate it that much, do you?"

"That's because...!"

I had set the stage. She was emotional, so poking at her like this would get a better reaction than carefully building things up. It was about time she gave up that ridiculous act.

I waited to see what she would say, but the regressor shouted at me.

"I don't like you looking at me that way!"

"What the hell does that mean?!"

That way? I wouldn't look at you that way even if you were a woman! Would someone who read minds react just because of a glimpse of bare skin?! I was giving you a chance to undo your failed act, so why did the conversation keep going in a strange direction?!

"Stop making me out to be a weirdo and realize you're the weird one!"

"You are the weird one! You wouldn't suddenly offer to wash me when you never cared before! It looks weird!"

"I didn't care before because I assumed you would take care of it yourself! You're the one being weird for having a fit instead of just saying, 'I appreciate the thought, but I'll do it myself'!"

"Then why are you so obsessed with my body?!"

"I'm not obsessed!"

The reaction I actually wanted wouldn't come. Had mind-reading always been this powerless...? Feeling my limits, I sighed and waved my hand.

"Forget it. I understand what you mean, so go wash up already. You stink."

"I was going to!"

The regressor somehow kept her balance despite staggering and headed for the bathroom. Then she suddenly stopped, glanced back at me, and said,

"Don't peek."

"Aaargh! Peek at what?! I wouldn't look even if you told me to!"

Why was she picking fights with me while disguised as a man? What was she trying to do? I didn't understand!

Well, if I forced myself, I could understand. She didn't want people to suspect she was the Holy Maiden, and she was probably satisfied with our current relationship. She might also be embarrassed about revealing the truth herself.

But you aren't the type who thinks that much before acting! It was about time you just blurted it out! At this rate, I might reveal it by accident!

Sigh. At this rate, when would she reveal that she was a regressor? I still had a long way to go.

"Azzy, do you want to wash too?"

Azzy answered with a serious expression.

"Woof. We beasts shed our fur instead of washing with water like humans. Unless we're swimming, there's no need to soak ourselves all the way through our fur."

I had a lot to say, but I was tired, so I held it in. I'd drop her into a bathtub later.

It was difficult for all the turmoil to settle in only five days. Without Fenrir or the Mountain Lord, Ende still had the unsettled atmosphere of a beehive someone had stirred up and abandoned. The citizens of Ende mourned or raged over the deaths of those they knew, and carried weapons because they believed they had to protect themselves. Arguments broke out in the streets at the slightest provocation, and trouble arose almost every day.

Yet Ende's order had endured despite the consecutive battles. That was partly because the Obelisks and the Beast Faction remained intact, but more importantly...

"Because they have a common enemy."

Ende's mayor, Triber, still worked despite looking old and haggard. Given Triber's age, rest would have been appropriate, but the current situation didn't allow it. Mayor Triber valued the state of affairs more than personal health.

"Everyone knows that the duchy tried to reclaim this land when Ende was at its weakest. The beastkin who were ambushed while rescuing the buried have been consumed by rage and are crying out for revenge. Many are even calling for us to kill every wounded Black Tiger Corps soldier injured by the Mountain Lord and send back their heads."

"Are you going to do that?"

"If I followed my heart, I would."

But acting on that desire was impossible, that was what Triber meant. Mayor Triber answered the regressor's question honestly.

"That day, it wouldn't have been strange for Ende to perish. The King of Wolves, the Black Tiger Corps, and the Mountain Lord. Any one of them could have destroyed Ende. The only reason we survived such an absurd situation was because fortune smiled upon us."

Mayor Triber looked toward me, the regressor, and Azzy, then bowed deeply.

"You in particular were that fortune for us. On behalf of every ear and tail in Ende, allow me to offer you our thanks."

"Forget it. I didn't do it to hear thanks."

"I feel the same. Instead of thanking me, give us material compensation."

"Woof woof! For free?"

The regressor glanced at me as though asking whether I truly intended to accept it.

Why not? It was natural to want compensation. The regressor, who would move on to the next cycle anyway, might not care much about Ende's reward, but Azzy and I were different. Small rewards like this were what kept us going.

"I haven't heard anything specific, so I don't know whether you'll be satisfied, but..."

Mayor Triber nodded and brought out three wooden boxes. Oh, they had prepared rewards? As expected of a mayor, they knew how to handle people.

The mayor opened the box with a ribbon first. Inside was a bone tightly wrapped in cowhide.

"Here. It's a modest gift, but a dog chew handmade by our craft division."

"Woof woof woof woof!"

Azzy snatched the dog chew in an instant, hugged it to her chest, and gnawed on it as though it were precious. It was a trivial toy compared to what she had done, but the recipient's feelings mattered more than its inherent value. Azzy looked happier than anyone as she chewed the dog treat.

Surely the other two weren't dog chews too? That would have been rather amusing.

Sadly, my expectations were wrong. When Mayor Triber opened another wooden box, the faintly fishy scent of herbs drifted out, revealing a dark brown medicinal elixir.

Footnotes:

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