WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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Chapter 54: Declaration of Silence

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The next day.

Since I had woken up in the middle of the night and barely slept at all, I didn't wake up until Azzy got annoyed. To calm her down, I had to prepare a lavish breakfast first thing in the morning.

After emptying my bowl, I was leisurely heading downstairs when I suddenly heard something like a scream from below. I leaned over to see what was happening and found Finlay, yesterday's intruder, facing off against the regressor.

No, calling it a face-off was far too mild.

Finlay's right arm had already fallen beneath the regressor's sword.

"Tsk, tsk. They say old habits die hard."

Seriously. She couldn't abandon that old habit and had cut off another arm. I yawned widely as I walked toward them.

"Yawn. Trainee Shei, why did you cut off someone's arm again?"

Finlay clutched his shoulder stump and glared.

‘Again? Does that mean this boy usually goes around cutting off people's arms? Surely not!’

Reality often surpassed imagination. Though in my case, it had only been an attempt.

At my criticism, the producer of one-armed men frowned and offered an excuse.

"It wasn't my fault. Someone I'd never seen before suddenly came here, looked at me, and reached out."

"He probably wanted a handshake. Did you swear to turn anyone who offers you a handshake into someone who needs a prosthetic? Why do you keep cutting off arms? Do you collect them as a hobby?"

"I wouldn't cut off a hand just because someone offered a handshake. Who do you take me for, a lunatic?"

"Ah, how did you know?"

The regressor's gaze stung. If beams could shoot from her eyes, my arm would have been cut off. I hid my arms behind my back and hurriedly added,

"No, honestly. Trainee Shei tried to cut off my arm too. Normal people wave hello when they meet someone. They don't swing a sword and cut off an arm."

"I didn't do it for no reason. What did that vampire say? He reached for my chest while asking why a mere human had true blood."

"Ah."

Now I understood what had happened.

Finlay must have sensed the aura of the noble Progenitor's blood and wandered around the first floor of the prison. Then he encountered the regressor and got angry, asking why a mere human had it.

Naturally, the prickly regressor wouldn't quietly watch Finlay reach out. She swung her sword and cut off his arm, and the terrified uninvited guest clutched his shoulder stump and ended up like that.

It was a perfectly plausible story. Having understood the situation, I nodded.

"Even so, he's Trainee Tyrkanzyaka's guest."

"That thought occurred to me, so I stopped before cutting off his head. Simply cutting off his head wouldn't kill him anyway."

What a terrible person. The reason she didn't kill him was that it wouldn't kill him? What was that?

As a kind and exemplary citizen, I picked up the fallen arm and brought it over to the uninvited guest. When the severed surfaces came close, blood stretched between them as if drawn by magnets, then fused them together. Having recovered his arm, Finlay stroked it and staggered back.

‘What, what is this? He's having a normal conversation with such a monster...!’

He was incredibly wary after having his arm cut off once. It wasn't even a big deal.

No, being wary was the human thing to do. There had been too many strange people around lately, so I had gotten confused for a moment. Every time I visited the cafeteria, I saw the immortal's limbs every day, and after handling the heart of the vampire who came by every day, my common sense was becoming warped.

Get a grip. At this rate, I would become completely abnormal.

I gathered myself and spoke rationally.

"Still, please be careful from now on. You're lucky your opponent is a vampire. If he were an ordinary human, you couldn't just reattach it."

"I wouldn't do this if my opponent were an ordinary human."

"Excuse me? I didn't hear that properly. Are you saying you tried to cut off my arm because I'm not human?"

"I said ordinary. How can you call someone who flicks away an invisible sword with a finger ordinary?"

Hearing that, Finlay stared at me with a horrified expression.

‘He flicked away that sword strike with a finger? Someone who looks so ordinary? This can't be. So it wasn't a lie when he said he was the lord of Tantalus!’

It wasn't my intention, but misunderstandings were piling up in real time. Fear was gradually filling Finlay's eyes as he looked at me.

...For some reason, it was a little fun.

A man who strutted around as one of the nobility of the night was treating a street magician like that. When would I ever receive this kind of treatment?

It was about as fun as stacking a stone tower out of differently shaped rocks while walking down the road. Not bad.

Now then, was there anything else I could pile on?

That was when Azzy, who had eaten her fill and was lazily walking over, spotted the stranger in front of her. The smile vanished from her face, and she began to growl.

Finlay was startled by the sudden hostility approaching from behind.

‘What is this? This ominous feeling?’

Finlay turned around. What he faced was Azzy, the King of Dogs, baring her teeth, a rare sight indeed.

Azzy's cheeks twitched as though something bothered her. She stared intently at him and slowly approached.

Azzy's fur stood on end, and so did our hair. The beast's growl carried an overwhelming force that constricted the body. Finlay, who received it directly, was terrified.

"Grrrr."

‘A beastkin? Why is a beastkin grinding her teeth at me? More importantly, what is this? This more primal fear that makes my blood tremble...’

Finlay's body shook, and Azzy's growling grew sharper.

Just as Azzy's foot twitched, ready to leap at any moment, I shouted.

"Hey. Azzy! Leave that alone and come here!"

Upon hearing my voice, Azzy sharply turned her head toward me. Still throwing wary looks at Finlay, she sidestepped until she reached me. Azzy stuck close to my side and pointed at Finlay as though tattling on him.

"Woof. Woof woof. Blood smell. Him. That thing."

It seemed that any vampire below the Progenitor subtly gave off the scent of blood. From Azzy's perspective, he probably looked like a dead human walking around.

With a sense of smell several times stronger than a human's, Azzy was bound to be more sensitive to the scent of blood. She was completely on edge as she glared at him. If I hadn't intervened, she might have torn Finlay apart.

Tickling Azzy under the chin, I said,

"I know. I also know he's not human. He just came to visit."

"Woof woof. Woof. I'm not playing with him."

"He probably doesn't want to play with you either, so bear with it."

A perfect misunderstanding had arrived. Since I was already going to show Finlay the hierarchy here, should I emphasize it a little?

I glanced at Finlay and deliberately stressed certain words.

"A 'King of Dogs' should act with some dignity. What are you going to do if you react to every little nobody like that?"

‘King of Dogs!’

Finlay's mouth fell open as he realized Azzy's identity.

‘Is she truly the King of Dogs? The Beast King closest to humanity, who once stood on humanity's side and drove out the inhuman beings? And he treats the King of Dogs like a pet...! He truly isn't an ordinary person!’

He seemed to be mistaken about something, but dogs were basically pets. Even a violent hunting dog acted cute in front of its owner. The King of Dogs was still a dog, so she was a pet.

There were dogs that weren't pets? We had decided to call those wolves.

Anyway, perhaps because of my unconcerned attitude, Azzy soon lost interest in Finlay and clung to me.

"Woof. What are we doing today? Food? Ball? Another game?"

"No. I'm not playing today either. I have work to do."

"Woof!"

Hehe. I had piled up enough misunderstandings. Finlay was now completely cowed and wouldn't dare resist. A swordswoman who cut off an arm in a single exchange, the King of Dogs who was a vampire's natural enemy, and me, who freely handled both of them.

He wouldn't be able to ignore what I said from now on, would he? He would be frightened by every gesture I made and obey my words.

I was already too lazy to work, and now I had obtained a good vampire slave. I would work him until his blood ran dry.

That was when it happened.

"You were gathered here after all."

A dark presence entered through the door. Rolling darkness carried a pitch-black coffin, and the vampire riding it as though it were a palanquin slowly approached.

I held tightly onto Azzy, who was about to become displeased again, and greeted the vampire.

"Ah, good morning. You're up early today."

"Yes. This works out well. Since you are all gathered here, I need not seek you out one by one."

The vampire looked down at everyone from atop the coffin, then raised her chin and brought her hands together. At that, everyone fell silent for a moment and began looking at her.

From her smallest gesture to the way her gaze gave everyone an equal share of attention. Anyone who met it forgot themselves for a moment and looked at her. She seemed to know by birth how to draw everyone's attention. Was it innate charisma? Even without carefully calculating her actions, her presence quietly made itself known.

Like incense, whose fragrance you might not notice at first but would eventually smell.

Like music that made you pause and listen even in the middle of a conversation.

The vampire's presence was faint, yet before anyone noticed, it filled the room. By the time they realized it, everyone was focused on her lips and gestures.

"Woof woof? We're not playing?"

As I always said, Azzy wasn't a person. She was a dog.

In any case, the vampire who had captivated everyone's attention parted her lips and spoke.

"Words that must be widely delivered require many listeners. Finlay, listen. I will give you my answer concerning the matter you petitioned me about yesterday."

Her voice was no different from usual, nor was her tone. Yet the vampire's words now sounded like a king's royal decree.

Finlay fell to his knees with a deeply moved expression.

"Yes! This unworthy Finlay is infinitely honored to hear the Progenitor's command directly. Please speak!"

As the regressor and I held our breaths and watched, the vampire looked down at Finlay and declared,

"Yesterday, you petitioned me to permit war. This is my answer."

"Whatever it may be, I will gladly obey!"

"I will remain silent."

Finlay neither expressed disappointment nor let out a sigh. He simply bowed his head and accepted it.

He must have come here expecting a glorious holy war. The best future he envisioned was ascending to the surface with the Progenitor, while the worst was becoming lost in the Abyss. Finlay had descended into the Abyss prepared for the worst in pursuit of the best.

Yet even after that hope had shattered, Finlay did not sound disappointed at all.

Rather,

"I obey! Thank you for giving me an answer!"

He was moved simply because he had received an answer.

Vampires lower in the hierarchy did not need persuasion or consideration. Just as no river flowed upward from below, a servant had nothing to offer the Blood Lord. Only when asked for an opinion could they petition.

"To honor the effort you made in coming here, I will explain a little further."

The vampire glanced at the regressor and me as she added a brief explanation. I realized that she was not saying this for Finlay's sake, but for ours.

"I have never forbidden that child, Valdamir, from waging war. From the beginning, I have never forced my will upon my children. War is entirely theirs, made through their own decision. I am one who has already faded from history. Unless they need me, I will not step forward and become a symbol myself."

"I obey."

"Therefore, even if all preparations have been made, I will not be the first to step forward and advocate a bloody war. That is my will."

"I obey."

"Then return to the surface. This is not a place for you to be."

An absolute command.

Yet Finlay, who had continued to bow and agree, showed a different attitude this time.

"Forgive me, Progenitor. I cannot obey that command."

"Why?"

A vampire refusing the Progenitor's command was impossible. Therefore, if a servant said it could not be done, it was not a matter of will.

It was a matter of ability.

So instead of rebuking Finlay, the vampire asked for the reason. Finlay slammed his forehead into the ground and shouted.

"Forgive me! But it is beyond my will. I have no means of leaving the Abyss! Therefore, this foolish one cannot obey the command given by the Progenitor. Please kill me!"

"No means of leaving...? Did you not prepare one?"

"I never had one to begin with!"

‘It is common knowledge that ascending is more difficult than descending, but to come without even preparing to return to the surface? I am becoming a little curious. What happened outside for him to come looking for me in the Abyss, with no prospect of escape?’

The vampire contemplated this for a long time, but that alone did not resolve her question. Her curiosity rose. Yet she had already made her decision, and fearing further questions might shake her resolve, she did not press him.

"Stay still. This is military state territory, and someone was sent down to manage it. That person can send you out. Let us see."

Instead, her gaze turned to me. The vampire pointed directly at me and spoke in a tone close to a command.

"Instructor. Finlay must not have committed a crime deserving of coming here. His arrival here was a mistake, an accident. I wish for you to return him to the surface."

Huh? Me?

Wait. What? She wanted me to safely send that intruder back?

Me?

"Excuse me? Me?"

"Who else here could I be speaking to but you?"

The vampire looked at me as though it were obvious. As I met her gaze, cold sweat ran down my back.

Instructor or not.

I was a captive too, you know?

"If the military state is the master of this place, then surely it knows a means of leaving it. I ask that you do this for Finlay."

If I knew a way out, I would have tried it before anyone else. Would I still be trapped here?

"I am the Progenitor Tyrkanzyaka. I am the last remnant of the calamities named for Kanjaka, the monster that will devour the world. Renowned knights spilled their blood before me, and countless heroes fell while seeking this neck. Though I have fallen and entrusted my body to the Abyss, the deeds I have performed have not become meaningless."

"Fallen? Progenitor, that is impossible! Every vampire on the surface offers you their reverence. Please do not say such things...!"

Why was she demanding that from me? I was being pushed further and further into a corner.

More importantly, did he really come without any preparation to escape?

Then there had been no reason to keep that uninvited guest alive.

"...You have no answer. Is it difficult? If it truly cannot be done, I will ask as a personal favor. Please return him to the surface."

I could not answer because I lacked the ability to grant her request. As I sensed the danger and my thoughts spun in circles, the vampire mistook my silence for refusal and lowered her voice.

"If you refuse, I intend to return Finlay to the surface myself. The Abyss may be infinite, but the time I possess is eternal as well. Darkness is my domain, so if I continue upward, I will eventually reach the surface. Yet if I return Finlay then, I do not believe I will bother coming back here."

Finlay suddenly raised his head, and the regressor's face stiffened in shock. Her words could only mean one thing.

She would go to the surface and not return.

In other words, if I did not grant her request, she would break out of prison.

This was bad.

Footnotes:

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