WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Dionysus
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 214: Judith's Choice (1)
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When Airen Farreira first stepped into the fencing hall, all he could think about was meeting the Hall Master.
Sorry to say it, but Judith had been a lower priority.
That changed after he heard his fellow trainees talk without stopping.
Judith was Kun’s disciple?
The man had kept training to defeat Ian, never having children and living practically apart from his wife. The thought of someone like that teaching anyone came as a tremendous shock.
And if Judith had become his disciple, that meant she had agreed to it too, didn’t it?
‘Did she really need to leave Krono Fencing Hall? Well, she hasn’t actually left, but still... Did she really need to train under Kun?’
He didn’t understand.
That only made him want to ask more questions.
What exactly had happened? Had something special taken place while he was gone?
But he couldn’t ask.
His excited fellow trainees were far more interested in Judith and Brett’s romance.
“Come on! Tell us already!”
“Ah, this is frustrating! Can’t you just tell us? We were seriously shocked!”
“Exactly. Those two were always fighting like crazy, then suddenly... Ha! There must’ve been signs before this. Airen, you have to know something, right?”
“Uh...”
He did know something.
Airen remembered what had happened in Durkali.
Brett’s brave confession and bold actions, and Judith acting as though she disliked them while still leaving him an opening.
Since the two of them had returned to the fencing hall alone afterward, there was a good chance something else had happened between them.
Having gathered his thoughts, Airen slowly told them what he had seen and heard.
He wondered whether it was right to talk freely about someone else’s business, but it seemed everyone at the fencing hall already knew about their relationship, so he quickly dismissed the concern.
‘No, it feels like I’m the only one who doesn’t know. What happened afterward?’
His fellow trainees’ eyes shone with eager curiosity.
And for some reason, so did his younger sibling’s.
Airen found his own interest in the two steadily growing.
It didn’t feel as though Brett had simply expressed his feelings half in jest and half sincerely while Judith merely scowled at him as usual.
There was something more!
Airen nodded and asked his fellow trainees, “I’ve told you everything I know, so now it’s your turn.”
“Us?”
“What happened after the two of them arrived? Between them, and with Kun too. I’m curious, so tell me. Hurry.”
“Oh...”
“Ooh...”
His fellow trainees reacted as though surprised.
A question mark practically appeared over Airen’s head as he asked again.
“What? Why are you reacting like that?”
“No.”
“We just...”
The trainees looked at one another, as if confirming they were all thinking the same thing.
As Airen began to feel strangely uneasy at their reaction, one of them spoke.
“I thought you weren’t interested in this kind of thing.”
“Huh?”
“You know. We’re not exactly in a position to talk when all we do is swing swords day in and day out, but you especially seem like you only care about swords...”
“So it’s a little surprising to see you interested in someone else’s love life.”
“Come to think of it, you are older than us. I guess it’s about time you started taking an interest.”
“...”
Airen looked around.
His fellow trainees were one thing, but even his younger sibling and Lulu were nodding with expressions much like theirs.
At a loss for words, he fell silent for a moment. Then, deciding that trying to defend himself would only make things worse, he urged them on.
“...So what happened?”
“Hmm. Well, where should we start...?”
* * *
Before Airen Farreira’s group arrived at the fencing hall.
Judith stood alone in an empty clearing at night, wearing a serious expression as she agonized over her decision.
She wasn’t thinking of refusing Kun’s offer.
Of course, it had come suddenly.
Judith had only heard rumors about him. She had never even met him before. There was also some unease over whether she truly needed to train under him when Ian, the continent’s greatest teacher, was right there.
No, to be honest, there was a lot of unease.
But...
‘Those eyes.’
Judith remembered the look in Kun’s eyes.
She remembered his voice, the atmosphere that had burned hot enough to scald, and the goosebumps that had risen all over her body as it all stirred her.
It was just like that day.
The day her future changed.
The moment a swordsman she had never seen before took her in when she had been living like garbage in a slum. The moment she felt the same shock wash over her.
That was when Judith made her decision.
She would remain a swordswoman of Krono.
At the same time, she would become Kun’s disciple.
Then what was troubling Judith’s heart now?
Naturally, it was the connections she had made at Krono Fencing Hall.
Unlike in the past, when she had been unable to form a good relationship with anyone, she now had far too many good people around her.
Senior Facis, whom she respected so deeply that thanking him every day still wouldn’t be enough, the one who had brought her to Krono.
Hall Master Ian, who made her think that if she had a grandfather, this was what it might feel like.
Vice Hall Master Keira Fin, who was stricter than anyone yet kinder than anyone.
The other seniors who had taught her so much, and her tenacious fellow trainees, who kept coming at her without giving up no matter how often she beat them down.
Airen Farreira, that guileless idiot who pissed her off like hell but whom she couldn’t bring herself to hate.
Illia Lindsay, whose first impression had been terrible, but who had somehow become close enough for Judith to open her heart to.
And...
“Brett Lloyd.”
Muttering one man’s name, Judith kicked a stone on the ground with a gloomy expression.
That was right. The others didn’t matter as much.
No, it wasn’t that they didn’t matter at all... She could endure it.
Even if she couldn’t see them for two years, perhaps much longer than that, she didn’t think it would be unbearably difficult. She was a bad person who only cared about herself.
But Brett Lloyd was different.
“Ha.”
Thinking about it now, it was ridiculous.
He had everything she disliked.
More wealth than anyone.
A more distinguished family than anyone else’s.
Talent that placed him among the best of their generation, and the fact that he knew far too well how impressive he was.
‘His looks aren’t my type either. That bastard looks kind of slick.’
But.
But now, she liked him despite all that.
It didn’t matter who confessed or who expressed their feelings more. Judith wanted to see Brett.
She wanted to spend a little more time with him.
But she wouldn’t be able to.
Thinking of Kun, who would be her Master, no, who already was her Master, Judith sighed.
‘He told me not to even think about going out into the world for at least two years.’
She knew he hadn’t been speaking lightly.
He was a man who had given up his wife, his life, everything but the sword, all to surpass the immense mountain called Ian.
A man like that would never teach his disciple carelessly. Honestly, she didn’t even know why he had taken on a disciple.
If not for the sincere look in his eyes, she would’ve thought he was making fun of her.
Of course, he would never do that.
He was someone who always kept his word.
In the end, the few days before she left the fencing hall would be all the time she had left with Brett.
‘At least we get one date before I go.’
Judith let out a faint laugh.
Brett’s face looked calmer than usual.
Still, beneath it was a bitterness only Judith could recognize. Brett had asked her to go on a date tomorrow, saying he would refuse any rejection.
They had stayed together the entire way back to the fencing hall, but this was the first time he had formally asked her on a date. Her heart fluttered a little.
No, it fluttered quite a lot.
That only made her more depressed.
Because she thought this might be the last time.
She had only realized her feelings not long ago.
She had never properly expressed them, too embarrassed and self-conscious to do so.
...And the fact that she might not even be able to do that tomorrow kept pulling Judith down.
Thud!
“...I should just sleep.”
Judith kicked the innocent ground again and returned to her room.
It had been a very long time since she had skipped sword training and gone to bed early.
Of course, sleep didn’t come.
And so, the next day dawned.
* * *
“...You like this sort of thing?”
“Yeah. I really like it. The weather’s good, so walking around outside is way better. Watching plays indoors and feeling all cooped up isn’t my thing.”
“The weather’s good? It’s cold.”
Brett grumbled as usual, and Judith was as prickly as ever.
Yet things were different.
Unlike when they had first left Krono Fencing Hall, the two walked through Alkantrea’s streets without letting go of each other’s tightly clasped hands.
That wasn’t the only difference.
Their sword styles and even their smallest preferences were so different that they had often fought over them early in their journey.
But now, their quarrels never went beyond words. Their feelings never truly clashed.
When Judith wanted to see a street circus, Brett went along with her.
When Brett wanted to watch ice sculptures being carved, Judith followed him.
It was the same with everything else.
They constantly mocked each other’s opinions and tastes, yet they continued their date without a single objection or moment of hesitation.
Both knew it.
Today was far too short to waste fighting and getting annoyed with each other.
Of course, they would have behaved the same way even if the day were not so short.
Before they knew it, evening came, then late at night.
After finishing their meal, they sat across from each other at the table.
There was half-finished liquor in the middle, but neither Judith nor Brett paid it any attention.
“...”
“...”
They were the only quiet ones in the bustling restaurant.
Seeing Brett Lloyd’s familiar expression, Judith agonized.
What should she say?
What could she say to put both their hearts at ease, even a little?
Nothing came to mind, of course. Judith wasn’t someone who thought before acting in the first place.
That was Airen’s and Illia’s way, not hers.
‘That bastard is probably like them too.’
Judith glared at Brett’s mouth.
His lips kept twitching slightly. He clearly had something he wanted to say.
His mind seemed to be a mess as he searched for the right words. Judith felt both curious and afraid.
What was it?
What was he taking so long to say?
Waiting was difficult. Part of her felt like she never wanted to hear it.
No matter what he said.
No matter what she said in response.
Today would end soon. And so would their relationship.
That fact made Judith look back on herself. It made her look into her own heart, not Brett’s.
‘...Am I really okay with this?’
Judith racked her brain. She didn’t use it much, so it was painful and difficult, but she kept at it.
She wanted to become the strongest with a sword.
She wanted to become stronger than Airen, stronger than Ignet, stronger than anyone in the world. She had chosen to become Kun’s disciple as the best way to achieve that.
But that wasn’t all.
Perhaps it hadn’t been true in the past, but another wish had now begun to grow in Judith’s heart, enough to rival that dream.
What could it be? What was it, exactly?
It didn’t come to her easily.
No, she knew. But it was a little, no, very embarrassing to say aloud or even think about clearly.
“I...”
“...!”
That was why.
Before Judith could organize her thoughts, Brett Lloyd opened his mouth.
He shouldn’t have.
Until she sorted out her thoughts, made her feelings clear, and spoke them aloud, Brett Lloyd had to wait without saying anything. He had to.
The instant that thought flashed through her mind, Judith’s arm moved swiftly. She grabbed Brett by the collar.
His face and eyes were full of surprise.
His lips had stopped mid-sentence.
Judith acted. She moved before she thought.
Pulling him toward her, she pressed her lips to his. She glared at him as if telling him to shut up for a moment.
“Gasp!”
“Uh, uuuuh?”
“Woooooooo!”
At the same time, their fellow trainees, who had been hiding throughout the restaurant to watch them, reacted in disbelief.
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