WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Oblivious

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◈ Prince of Rage ◈

Chapter 53

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Valerie’s group walked through the night and only left Eldeira’s borders when morning came.

There was no particular reason to hurry this much. There might have been one somewhere deep inside, but they did not think about it too closely.

They were now in the Nearcaster region, which bordered Eldeira to the south. More precisely, they were in Westlanding County, part of the Duchy of Nearcaster.

A vast field spread before them. Low hills and flat plains continued one after another, like gentle waves.

Unlike in the city, the sky seemed especially wide. There were no high mountains, so wherever they looked, the horizon met the sky.

Most of the field was covered in short grass reaching their ankles. The trees stood apart in clusters, as though like-minded friends had gathered together.

It did not look like it would rain, but clouds like thick cotton quilts covered the sky. There seemed to be more white and gray than blue.

And then there was the sunrise. Facing the unceasing wind, Valerie, Knut, and Yorick watched the sun rise in the distant east.

They saw clearly and distinctly how light swept away the darkness and illuminated the world.

They prepared a camp nearby. Camping in the morning was somewhat ridiculous, but they intended to rest properly for a day before setting out again the following day.

A long stone wall ran endlessly across the field. No one knew who had built it, when, or for what purpose. They set up their tent beside it.

After unpacking and lighting a fire, Yorick set a pot over it. The three ate and immediately went to sleep.

The wind, the newly risen sun, and the crackling campfire sounded like the most peaceful lullaby in the world.

Valerie leaned back comfortably and began the training Sigrún had taught him. There was nothing especially remarkable about it.

He focused on his breathing, observed the energy called the power of runes moving through his entire body, consciously gathered that power in his heart, then imagined releasing it again.

He did all of that in a single breath. Like drawing breath in all the way and letting it out completely, he repeatedly gathered all his power in his heart, then released it all.

Whenever he released the power, vitality surged through his body. When he forcibly gathered it back into his heart, he felt stifled and tired. In a way, it was like practicing holding his breath.

But as he repeated the process, he experienced an unfamiliar sensation. Even with his eyes closed, it felt as though he could vividly see everything around him.

He could feel every blade of grass brushing in the wind. He could sense Yorick’s physical condition as he snored in his sleep, and even Knut’s emotional state from the sound of his heartbeat.

As he experienced those strange sensations, that peculiar breathing continued naturally without him needing to think about it.

Eventually, he could no longer tell whether he was asleep or maintaining an utterly clear state of mind. Even his sense of time blurred, and his sense of reality began to fade.

Am I going to lose myself like this?

The moment that unease struck him, he woke as though he had been floating high in the sky and someone had grabbed his ankle and yanked him down.

“Ah, you startled me. I was just about to wake you.”

Yorick spoke in surprise. Valerie had awakened on his own just before Yorick shook him awake.

The tent flapped in the wind. The sun was fully up, and it was already late morning.

Had he slept for three or four hours? No, had he meditated? Valerie felt strange, but his body and mind were remarkably refreshed.

“Wasn’t that too early? I think I could sleep a little longer.”

Knut, who was stirring the pot with a ladle, answered.

“What are you talking about? You slept all day. It’s another day. You wouldn’t wake up, so I wondered whether something had gone wrong.”

“I slept all day?”

Valerie looked around. He had certainly gone to sleep in the morning, but another morning had come and it was now late morning again.

When he stood and looked over the stone wall, the wind made the field grass ripple like soft hair.

“You must have been very tired. It’s understandable. But unless you intend to live here for the rest of your lives, wouldn’t it be better to eat and set out again?”

Yorick was right, so there was nothing to argue against. They ate a stew made with various ingredients thrown together.

After the meal, they roughly washed the pot and took down the tent. They smothered the campfire with dirt and ground it out beneath their feet before loading their belongings and leaving again. It was around noon.

“Why don’t we buy a wagon when we reach the next village? We could hire some people too. Since we have a long journey ahead, I think it would be better.”

Yorick’s suggestion was reasonable, so Valerie nodded.

The three continued along the single road crossing the vast field. Every time they looked around, the endless openness made them feel refreshed.

As they traveled, they spotted a flock of sheep in the field. It meant people lived nearby. The shepherd was nowhere in sight. They were probably resting somewhere in the field.

By late afternoon, they came upon a village surrounded by a palisade. Once inside, it did not seem like a village that lived only by farming. It felt more like a small town.

Then there was the smell. Rotting odors mixed with the stench of excrement, making them immediately stop longing for the smell of human habitation.

At the market, a merchant sold freshly butchered meat. Flies buzzed around it, and some of it looked half-rotten.

The townspeople did not appear to be starving, but they did not seem lively or spirited either. When the two outsiders on horseback entered, the looks they received were far from friendly.

After asking around, they headed to a tavern that also served as an inn. They put the horses in the stable, fed them carrots, and filled their trough with water.

The tavern was packed with people. What was strange was that there did not seem to be many locals. There were many armed outsiders instead.

They all wore swords or had long weapons propped against the walls. Dice, cards, and coins lay scattered across round and square tables.

They glanced at Valerie’s group but showed little interest. Valerie’s handsome face alone drew attention for a brief moment.

Valerie went straight to the bartender and spoke.

“We are travelers from the north. We would like to hire a wagon and some people. Woodcutters or people for odd jobs.”

“...For northerners, you seem excessively refined. It looks like you arrived on horseback as well. Are you nobles?”

“No.”

Valerie did not bother mentioning his or Knut’s status. It could unnecessarily complicate matters.

The bartender nodded as though they understood and spoke.

“You should speak with the village chief. But don’t expect too much.”

“Where is the village chief?”

Instead of answering, the bartender pointed with their chin. When Valerie turned that way, a middle-aged person sitting somewhat crookedly raised a hand and wiggled their fingers in greeting. It meant they had already been watching Valerie’s group.

In any case, their impression and manner were nothing like a village chief’s. They looked more like a thug.

Valerie approached them, weaving around the many people inside the tavern.

Then someone tried to grope his backside.

“You fucking bitch, you’re damn pretty.”

But they did not get to touch him. Valerie caught their wrist.

“Whoa!”

People around them snickered and cheered. The person who had tried to grope him grinned nastily.

“How much? I’ll give you a whole bounty’s worth. How much for one night?”

Valerie was not angry. This was not the first or second time someone had acted this way after seeing his face. It was simply irritating.

Without speaking, Valerie drew on the power of runes. In that instant, strength filled his hand.

Crack.

The person who had been grinning and behaving like an animal turned pale, then screamed.

“Argh!”

Only then did Valerie release their wrist. Their broken wrist dangled limply, and the people who had been snickering suddenly lost their smiles.

“What happened?”

“Randy’s wrist is broken.”

“I know that. Why is their wrist broken?”

“Hey, you think you’re tough?”

People talked around him, but Valerie ignored them all and approached the village chief.

Then someone behind him shouted and tried to strike Valerie’s head with a wooden cup.

“You bastard! Are you ignoring us!?”

Valerie spun around and struck them with the back of his clenched fist. Thwack! Broken teeth scattered through the air, and they collapsed onto several people nearby.

The people who caught them were startled by their appearance. Their jaw had been completely ruined. They stared wide-eyed at Valerie, then at the fallen person, then back at Valerie.

The others nearby were the same.

Valerie turned back to the village chief and spoke.

“I would like to get a cargo wagon. And people for odd jobs.”

“...”

The village chief looked at Valerie, then at the unconscious person behind him, then back at Valerie. Their earlier playful smile had completely vanished.

For a while, they examined Valerie closely. He was tall and well-built, but he did not look strong enough to break someone’s wrist with his grip alone or shatter a jaw with one punch. It left them feeling a degree of cognitive dissonance.

His face was somewhat youthful as well, making them think he might be younger than he looked.

“What is your name?”

“Valerie.”

“Are you a foreigner? Your name does not sound northern.”

“I am coming from Eldeira.”

“...Let us speak outside first.”

They rose from their seat. After saying something and giving orders with hand gestures to the people at the same table, they left the tavern.

Valerie swept his gaze across the room. People flinched whenever his eyes met theirs.

“They only come to their senses after getting hit. I wonder if next time, you should start by beating someone first. Hmph.”

Yorick spat on the floor, then left the tavern with the others.

Yorick and Knut led the horses out of the stable again while Valerie followed the village chief. They crossed the market and entered a nearby house.

Dust had gathered throughout the interior, and documents were scattered across a desk that seemed to be used for work. The village chief roughly gathered the papers and tossed them aside.

“I am Oder, the village chief of Benholm. It is good to meet you. Please sit wherever you are comfortable.”

Valerie answered with a nod. Knut and Yorick entered shortly afterward.

“You are looking for a cargo wagon?”

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately, there is nothing like that here. It is not a matter of price. There truly are none. To get one, you would have to go to the farming village, but thugs have occupied that place.”

“Thugs have occupied a village?”

“Swordsmen, mercenaries, adventurers, whatever you want to call them. You know, the sort of people who go around wearing swords. Westlanding has always attracted many people like that. So it is not especially rare for them to occupy a village.”

To the west of Westlanding lay a forest called the Hord, so dense and vast that its end could not be known. Magical beasts lived there, as though it formed a boundary between the forest and human territory.

Because of that, there were many outpost villages like Belfort along the forest’s edge. Many armed outsiders came there seeking work.

When such people flowed in, sword fights and village occupations often occurred. Then fixers came to solve those problems.

The sort of people who wore swords, whether they were swordsmen, mercenaries, or adventurers.

“So if we deal with them, you will give us a cargo wagon?”

“I like how quickly you understand. That is right. You could call it a commission.”

“The tavern seemed full of people.”

“Not one of them is useful. You seemed more capable.”

Valerie looked at Knut, silently asking for his opinion. Knut neither nodded nor shook his head. He merely closed his eyes once and opened them again, meaning he would leave it to Valerie.

Valerie spoke to Village Chief Oder again.

“Very well. I understand for now.”

“Good. I like that you are receptive. They are not opponents to take lightly, but if you can smash a jaw with one punch, perhaps you can manage. Sleep here. The tavern has many bugs and rats. You might lose a toe while you sleep.”

The final remark was an exaggerated joke, but their brief visit had been enough to show that the tavern was an unpleasant place. The village chief’s house was not especially nice, but it was certainly better than the tavern.

Village Chief Oder stood and spoke as they headed outside.

“Make yourselves at home. Just don’t stay too long. If you have questions, find me at that tavern. And come find me again once you have completed the commission.”

They practically handed their house over to Valerie’s group and left. There was something refreshingly straightforward about them.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Knut spoke as soon as the village chief left. Valerie agreed and went to examine the papers where the village chief had been sitting. A quick look showed that they were various commission requests.

Extermination of wandering goblins, forced debt collection, pursuit of criminals, bounty payments, manufacture and delivery of oak barrels, oat import contracts, and more.

“Doesn’t it look like this fireplace has not been used in a long time?”

Yorick spoke as he tried to light the fireplace. Valerie quietly looked over the house and spoke.

“This was not originally their house.”

“I think so too. It had a different owner.”

“What sort of person are they? They do not seem like a village chief. They seem like a thug, but they also seem to be doing actual work.”

“How about we sleep tonight and ask around tomorrow? I bought fresh meat at the market earlier, so I will prepare a delicious dinner.”

Yorick was right.

However, while his words were right, dinner was not especially delicious. Still, they were traveling, so it was not as though they could be picky about taste. They filled their stomachs and went to sleep.

It was their first proper night since leaving Eldeira.

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