WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 142: Conversation

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An elf's sense of time differed greatly from that of a human.

It was commonly said that elves lived for a thousand years. Assuming a human lived a healthy hundred years, one human year was equal to ten elf years, and ten human years were equal to a hundred elf years.

That was an utterly human perspective. To elves, ten years and a hundred years felt the same, a calm indifference unlike the difference humans felt between one year and ten.

That was even more true for elves poisoned by that terrible curse called fate. The moment they became bound by fate, elves became subordinate to it.

Whether ten years, a hundred years, or several centuries passed, once an elf was seized by fate, they could pay attention to nothing else. Humans they had known disappearing or changing one day became part of ordinary life, and until the end of their lifespan, they devoted themselves to fate alone.

In that sense, Helenas had no choice but to clearly feel the change in herself.

She found herself reluctant to let each day end.

She had not been like this before. The rising and setting of the sun had stirred no particular feeling in her, much less regret. When the First Apostle said, "Let us retire for the day," that marked the end of her day. When she meditated or fell asleep, and the First Apostle knocked on the hut door with a quiet knock-knock, that marked its beginning.

Thinking back, it had always been that way. Even before the current First Apostle, one of the Apostles had announced the beginning of Helenas's day and decided when it ended. Without someone like that, Helenas would never have bothered distinguishing one day from another.

The sun set, then rose again.

The beginning and end of a day that everyone took for granted. Each passing day. Time itself had been something mild and unremarkable to Helenas, something that inspired no emotion at all.

Now, though, it was different. She regretted each day as it passed. When she saw the red sunset sinking lower, she regretted that the end of the day was already drawing near. When night passed and dawn brightened with the rising sun, she regretted that a new day had begun.

It had already been nearly three months since the journey began in Avens, the city of Crow Company's Central Branch. Time that had once meant nothing to Helenas now felt astonishingly short when she looked back on it.

It had passed like an arrow. Stranger still, each day made the same passing time feel shorter than before.

'Because we're getting closer to the Sword Grove.'

She had secretly ordered Lamika to slow the carriage and take longer routes. Though she had delayed their arrival at the Sword Grove that way, they were still drawing closer to it.

'It's because of you.'

Helenas stood quietly and looked ahead. Beneath the softly piled snow, Kyle, now sixteen years old, sat in meditation.

Throughout the journey, Kyle had crossed swords with Lamika and Helenas every day.

While Helenas regretted the steady passing of each day, Kyle had grown without pause. He greedily devoured Lamika's swordsmanship and resisted Helenas's effortless blade.

Within the same brief span of a day, short for both elves and humans, he advanced far ahead as though he alone were living in another kind of time.

Even now, that was what had happened. In the middle of sparring with Helenas, Kyle had suddenly let out an exclamation, then promptly sat down on the ground and entered meditation.

'You'll change again this time.'

Helenas folded her arms and tilted her head slightly.

"Sword Church Master."

Lamika, who had gone out into the surrounding area, returned. She approached respectfully, then frowned faintly when she saw Kyle meditating. Lamika knew well that whenever Kyle meditated like that, his sword became more troublesome than it had been in their previous match.

His talent was enviable enough to stir jealousy in any swordsman, but Lamika lowered her voice to a whisper so as not to disturb Kyle's meditation.

"The Sixth Apostle and the Seventh Apostle are requesting an audience."

The Sword Church had branches and followers throughout the continent.

The Sword Church Master remained only in the Sword Grove, the Sword Church's holy land. To ordinary followers, the Sword Church Master was someone they could glimpse from afar only once during the ascension ceremony. Yet now, the Sword Church Master was crossing the continent.

At some point, every place the Sword Church Master passed through during this journey had become a pilgrimage site for the followers of the Sword Church.

The problem was that the Sword Church's followers were not the only ones interested in the Sword Church Master's journey. There were many swordsmen and martial artists in the world who wished to fight the Sword Church Master even once, along with those who wanted to establish ties with the Sword Church.

The followers kept their distance and followed from afar, not daring to approach due to their reverence for their master. Those who were not followers had no reason to do the same. The only reason they could not approach was because the Sixth Apostle and Seventh Apostle, who had begun following at the rear, stopped anyone unworthy.

"I'll allow it."

"Yes, I will convey your answer."

Not long after, Lamika returned with the Sixth Apostle and Seventh Apostle.

The Sixth Apostle, Ronia.

The Seventh Apostle, Evan.

The two immediately went down on one knee before Helenas. They waited for Helenas to speak, but Helenas only spared them the briefest glance before turning her head back toward Kyle.

"...?"

Unable to understand the silence, Ronia raised her head slightly. Then she received the murderous glare of Lamika's eyes, startled so badly that she quickly lowered it again. Evan, the youngest of the Sword Church's seven Apostles, did not dare raise his gaze at all. If the Sword Church Master remained silent, there had to be a reason.

Helenas's silence continued until Kyle's meditation ended. Only when the falling snow began piling thickly over the kneeling Apostles' silver pauldrons did Kyle finally open his shining eyes.

'Huh?'

A chill ran down Ronia's spine, and her eyes went wide. The Sword Church Master had not yet granted permission. If she raised her head now, that overzealous senior Apostle would surely tear into her.

Ronia knew that perfectly well, but she could not help raising her head. She desperately wanted to know who had caused that chill she had just felt, that sensation as though a blade had touched her throat.

Before long, Ronia found its source.

The boy who had been sitting in the snow, meditating. The one who had made the Sword Church Master leave the Sword Grove. Light poured from the golden eyes of that boy, Kyle Alastor.

'Did I just flinch at the eyes of some pathetic little brat?'

Ronia could only part her lips in disbelief. Her one piece of luck was that Lamika was staring fixedly at Kyle too. Thanks to that, she was spared a scolding for raising her head.

"Haa..."

Lamika let out a long sigh and shook her head.

"You've gained another sword insight. How very impressive, young master."

She sincerely wanted to congratulate him, but the words that left Lamika's lips were not entirely kind. She had watched him gain the sword insight every swordsman desired, a realization, once every few days. It could not be helped.

"It is thanks to the Sword Church Master and Lamika-nim."

Kyle answered calmly and stood. The snow had stopped when he entered meditation after his sudden realization, but it was falling again now. Kyle brushed the snow from his body and looked at Ronia and Evan.

"Who are they?"

"They are the Sword Church's Sixth and Seventh Apostles."

Helenas finally spoke. Only then did she look toward the Apostles.

"You may stand."

With permission granted, Ronia and Evan rose. Kyle let out a quiet exclamation when he saw Evan standing there.

"We met before, didn't we? It's been a while."

Kyle grinned and waved at Evan. Watching that gesture, Evan could not help feeling confused.

"Yes... Five years ago. We met briefly in the Levar Territory of the Kingdom of Valian."

It had been when Kyle was eleven. Before entering the Cultivation Floors, he had gone with Julius to bring Aslan back.

"Wow, that was already five years ago? Time really flies."

Evan swallowed hard as he watched Kyle answer with an easy smile. Evan had found Kyle extraordinary even then. For someone who had awakened his Spirit Root less than a year earlier, the aura he gave off and his movements had been remarkably swordsman-like.

'Even then... I thought he was certainly a genius. But could someone really grow that much in only five years?'

Lamika could not help snickering at Evan as he swallowed dryly.

It would not have been an exaggeration to say that Kyle from three months ago and Kyle now were entirely different people. He had already been at an unbelievable level for his age three months ago, but now Kyle had become a monster comparable to the Ten Peaks, without any exaggeration at all.

When faced with such an absurd monster, people naturally felt rejection rather than awe. Especially when that monster was only sixteen years old.

'He's a monster that ate me and grew bigger.'

Was that something she should take pride in? Lamika shook her head, feeling strangely bitter.

"Why have you come?"

Helenas asked with a slight tilt of her head. Ronia and Evan's faces immediately went pale. Only then did they realize that, in their shock over Kyle, they had failed to convey the purpose of their visit to the Sword Church Master. Both immediately dropped to their knees and bowed their heads to the ground.

"S-Sword Church Master, please forgive us..."

"I did not tell you to kneel and beg. I asked why you came."

Helenas whispered in an indifferent voice. She had no intention of scolding them, but Ronia sweated heavily as she answered in a trembling voice.

"The... the Empire is taking notice of the Sword Church Master's journey..."

From the Empire's perspective, Helenas and the Sword Church were troublesome lawless people.

For hundreds of years, Helenas and the Sword Church had occupied a forest on the Empire's western outskirts, calling it the Sword Grove. They strictly controlled the area around it while paying not a single coin in taxes to the Empire.

Until now, the Empire had left them alone. None of the previous Emperors had been able to control the Sword Church or Helenas, nor had they tried particularly hard to do so.

The Sword Grove was within imperial territory, after all, and Helenas had shown no unusual movements.

Yet over the last three months, Helenas had leisurely crossed imperial territory. Followers arriving from all over the continent had formed a long procession behind her in the name of pilgrimage, while insignificant people who wanted to test themselves against the Sword Church Master had been crossing the Empire's borders without permission.

Other kingdoms were watching as well.

What exactly was the Sword Church Master trying to accomplish by crossing imperial territory with a young boy from Alastor? Had Alastor formed an alliance with the Sword Church? Was this journey some kind of demonstration directed at the Empire?

"The First Apostle received the imperial envoy who came to the Sword Grove, but the Empire also has its dignity to consider... The Crown Prince, the Empire's Grand General, and the Lastea Tower Master are currently at Karent's city walls."

"How dare they...!"

Lamika ground her teeth, her eyes flashing.

"Is the Empire saying it will block the Sword Church Master's path?"

"Fifth Apostle-nim, please calm down."

Evan answered, sweating profusely.

"This is the meaning conveyed by the Crown Prince. They do not intend to block the path, only to ask the Sword Church Master to spare a little time..."

"And if the Sword Church Master does not spare them that time? Will they say the Sword Church must be punished for slighting the imperial family's dignity?"

"That will not happen, but... all the Apostles are on standby in preparation for the worst."

Helenas did not directly respond to their conversation. She only looked quietly at Kyle's face. Under that gaze, Kyle fell into thought.

'The Empire's Grand General is one of the Ten Peaks.'

One of the four members of the Ten Peaks in the Empire's possession. He had not attended the party at the imperial palace that celebrated the awarding of Kyle's medal, so Kyle had never met him in person, but he knew who the man was.

Desmond Galein. The Galein family he belonged to was not one of the Martial families known as the continent's Three Great Martial Families, such as Alastor, Vandemion, and Izelion. Still, Desmond, its current Family Head, had steadily built up military accomplishments and risen to become the Empire's Grand General, a man who had risen from nothing.

'And the Lastea Tower Master as well.'

Strictly speaking, the Lastea Tower Master was not part of the Empire, but the Mage Association he belonged to received the Empire's support.

'They would not try to antagonize Helenas over such a trivial excuse. Their goal must only be to save face.'

If they truly intended to do something to Helenas, two members of the Ten Peaks would be far from enough. According to Evan, even all the Apostles had come out.

Considering that they had sent an envoy to the Sword Grove beforehand and even spoken with the First Apostle, the Emperor's intention was likely to ask them to spare some consideration for the Empire's dignity.

And if they refused that intention...

"I'm on brotherly terms with the Crown Prince."

Kyle spoke.

"The Sword Church Master doesn't need to go personally. I'll go talk to him."

"What will you say?"

"If I tell them we won't cause a major disturbance and will quietly return, they'll understand and move aside."

They probably never truly intended to block the way in the first place.

"..."

Helenas's eyes narrowed at Kyle's answer. It might have been his imagination, but her lips seemed to stick out slightly.

"What if they tell you to return immediately?"

"Then we'll return."

"I don't want to."

"Why not?"

"Returning means arriving at the Sword Grove. Once we reach the Sword Grove, you'll return to Alastor."

"I'll stay another month."

Kyle answered readily, and Helenas's eyes widened.

"Why?"

"Because the Sword Church Master would miss it. And because I would too."

Kyle knew that the progress he had made over the past three months had been absurdly fast.

He would not have grown this quickly if he had only sparred with Helenas. Lamika had contributed greatly to his growth.

[In exchange, I'll spar with the Sword Church Apostles.]

Kyle whispered to Helenas as he glanced at Ronia and Evan. Helenas blinked her wide eyes rapidly, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Kyle's wrist.

"Let's go together."

"Pardon?"

The moment he answered, Kyle's body soared into the sky. Ronia blankly watched the two figures vanish into the distance, then slowly turned her stiff neck toward Lamika.

"F-Fifth Apostle-nim?"

"Speak."

"I may be mistaken, but... just now. It seemed the Sword Church Master left the decision to that b-boy..."

"Do not call him a boy!"

Lamika shouted and kicked Ronia in the shin. Ronia, struck without warning, let out a cry and collapsed onto the ground.

"Young Master Kyle may become the Sword Church Master's mate."

"Y-yes? L-mate? What does that even..."

"It is the Sword Church Master's decision. Since when has an Apostle of the Sword Church questioned the Sword Church Master's will?"

"No... Fifth Apostle-nim, please say something that makes sense..."

"Kyle Alastor is the Sword Church Master's mate?"

Evan shouted in shock as well, and Lamika's glaring eyes snapped toward him.

"Do not call him by name!"

Thud!

Like Ronia, Evan was kicked in the shin and collapsed to the ground with a scream.

"And he is not her mate. He may become her mate."

The two Apostles, seated on the ground, could not understand what Lamika was talking about.

* * *

"Haaaa..."

Alero Valhart, the Crown Prince of the Empire, let out a deep sigh and covered his face.

"That sigh was rather loud."

A gaunt man seated across from Alero with his arms folded spoke. At that dry voice, Alero startled, lowered his hands from his face, and forced out a smile.

"Haha. I let out a sigh without realizing it, Grand General Desmond."

"Haaaaaa..."

Desmond let out a long sigh. He had just criticized Alero for sighing, but Desmond's sigh was even longer. Desmond stared at the blinking Alero and asked.

"How do you feel?"

"Pardon?"

"Hasn't your morale already fallen sharply, even though no fight has begun? A person at the top should not groan, if only for those beneath them."

"I... understand what you mean. I will be more careful from now..."

"Haaah..."

Desmond sighed deeply again.

"My own situation is so pitiful that another sigh slipped out."

Resting his chin on his hand, Desmond muttered.

"A Crown Prince who only knows how to work the social circles and has no battlefield experience. A mage who will most likely run away the moment something happens..."

Akarion, who had been sipping tea, smiled brightly and shrugged. Desmond let out a short sigh, then tapped the table with his fingers.

"One knight order's First Company, granted only after begging for it. On the other hand, the opponent is a five-hundred-year-old monster of an elf, seven Apostles comparable to the Ten Peaks, and around three hundred fanatics following behind... Ha, honestly. His Majesty is too cruel. He should have simply sent me poison."

"G-Grand General. His Majesty's order is not to subjugate the Sword Church Master and the Sword Church. The purpose is only to speak with them and preserve the Empire's prestige..."

"Do you think that elf will care about the Empire's dignity?"

Desmond sneered.

"She will not draw her sword and ask why we are blocking her path, but she will surely ignore us and pass by without even acknowledging us. If the Sword Church Master does that, what will Your Highness do?"

"..."

"As long as Your Highness is here carrying out His Majesty's order, Your Highness is the face of the Empire. Whatever else may be true, the Sword Church Master is still an imperial subject. Will you simply let her pass?"

"Um..."

"You came out here for the Empire's prestige, so you must give me an order. Tell me to stop that insolent person. Then what should I do? I must obey, because I am the Empire's Grand General."

Desmond let out another deep sigh.

"I heard even Grand Duke Alastor endured only three seconds. How am I supposed to withstand the Sword Church Master's sword?"

"Th-that will not happen. Sir Kyle Alastor is with the Sword Church Master, so he will mediate this peacefully..."

"Hm."

Akarion, still sipping his tea, snickered.

"I do not know much about the Empire's circumstances, but surely His Majesty the Emperor does not intend to pressure Alastor by tying them to the Sword Church?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

Alero shot to his feet in alarm, but Akarion remained seated and shrugged.

"Is that not how it looks? If the Sword Church Master disregards the Empire's dignity, and if, truly if, even Grand General Desmond is defeated? The Empire's dignity would be thrown into the gutter. Would that not splash onto Alastor as well?"

"That depends on what relationship Alastor has with the Sword Church."

Desmond answered with an uninterested expression.

"If Sir Kyle Alastor, recipient of the Martial Star Medal and the Empire's new sword, declares that he merely happened to be traveling with the Sword Church Master and has no relationship at all with the Sword Church, then His Majesty will surely take the Family of Light's position into account."

"Haha... So His Majesty the Emperor truly is wary of the Sword Church and Alastor growing close."

"Of course he is. The Sword Church is a power within the Empire that the Empire cannot control."

Alero's face could only stiffen at the conversation passing between them. After thinking it over, he understood what Desmond and Akarion meant.

"The Sword Church... should simply be left alone. As it always has been..."

"Yes, it should be left alone, just as it always has been. But are we not here?"

Akarion smiled and rose from his seat.

"Hm, perhaps the fortunate part is... that the Sword Church Master has agreed to the conversation the Empire desires."

"Pardon?"

Alero made a blank sound, but Desmond rose with a deep sigh.

"I hope it is a conversation made with words."

Gripping the spear beside him, Desmond muttered.

"A conversation where no one has to turn red in the face, and each side saves enough face."

"Alero-hyung!"

Kyle's voice sounded from outside the door.

"Your younger brother is here!"

"Just in case, may I ask whether the younger brother shouting outside is the Empire's Second Prince?"

At Desmond's question, Alero, whose mouth had fallen open, hurriedly shook his head.

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