WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 154: The Imperial Newspaper

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Kyle had seen all kinds of mysterious and bizarre things since his reincarnation, but this was the first time he had seen a vehicle like that.

'Come to think of it, this is my first time seeing a dragon too.'

He had met the Dragon King's Fragment, but Fragment had worn a human form, not that of a dragon. Of course, that was not a living dragon either. It was a dragon made of metal. It was so enormous that it could not possibly land in the middle of Sword Grove.

“Does he normally arrive in something like that?”

“No. It is my first time seeing one too.”

The dwarves' repair work took place once every few decades.

“Before, it was a wyvern. It was not a living wyvern either, just like that.”

Helenas did not look particularly surprised, but the Apostles all stood with their mouths open as they stared up at the dragon hovering beyond Sword Grove. Helenas glanced at Kyle, who was standing there with his mouth open as well.

“Do you want to go see it?”

“What? ...Yes.”

Honestly, he wanted to see it up close. A dragon made of metal, just thinking about it made his blood race.

When Kyle and Helenas left Sword Grove, the dragon hovering overhead slowly descended. Thoom.

The forest shook and wind swept through the trees from the landing alone. It looked even more magnificent from nearby. The dragon bent its knees, folded its wings, and lowered its head to the ground. Then its chest opened with a clank.

“I never thought the Church Master herself would come out to greet me.”

A staircase extended from the open chest, and a short-legged dwarf with a thick reddish-brown beard strode down.

“You are different from the dwarf who usually comes.”

“Lagon is dead.”

The dwarf answered with an indifferent expression.

“The last time he came was forty years ago. His lifespan ran out four years back. I received the handover, so I know what I need to do.”

As he spoke, the dwarf pulled a business card from his breast pocket and held it out.

[Duroka Workshop, Agur Duroka.]

“I am Lagon's apprentice. I inherited everything from him long ago, and my skill surpasses his. Though that still makes me pathetic.”

His voice was full of confidence, yet self-mocking at the same time. With a blunt expression, Agur pulled a crumpled cigarette pack and a rolled-up blueprint from his pocket.

“Even with this level of skill, I can make what you people require. You only want crude furniture reproduced, do you not?”

“This time is different.”

Helenas shook her head.

“We are going to make entirely new things. A house and furniture. Various other things too.”

“Make them new?”

Agur froze with his hand halfway to taking out a cigarette.

“From scratch? I have to think of it myself?”

“Is there a problem?”

“There are plenty of problems. If I have to think for myself and make something new, it takes a long time.”

It was an inborn nature shared by all dwarves. From the moment they were born, dwarves possessed the desire to make something. No matter how much they created, that desire could never be satisfied, and whatever they made left dissatisfaction in their hearts.

Even if someone else regarded it as an incomparable masterpiece, the dwarf who created it could always sense a flaw somewhere. That flaw was vague, so they could not know where to begin fixing it. That was why every dwarf continued making things while thirsting for more, and died still thirsty at the end of their lifespan.

“If you want me to make something, state your requirements precisely. Do not ask me to think it all up and make it from scratch.”

Dwarves created all things but could never be satisfied. Just as the Angel had said. Every race in this world was born with a Law inscribed upon it. Unless someone of that race Ascended and rewrote the Law, it remained the Law of that entire race. The thirst and self-mockery Agur spoke of were, in the end, the Law carried by dwarves as a species.

'The Laws of all creation are inscribed into this world.'

Elves lived for eternity but could not choose how they lived, while dwarves created all things but could never be satisfied. Humans had originally been inscribed with a Law that made them freer than any other race, yet also the weakest. Ruin had changed that Law.

'Humanity is no longer the weakest. Because Ruin Ascended and gave strength to humans as a race.'

About four hundred years ago, after Ruin Ascended, Spirit Roots appeared in the world for the first time. A hundred years later, every human born possessed one.

For Ruin, cutting his own throat with Baal might have brought rest. Yet he cast aside even that rest and challenged Ascension. He ground himself down for his duty until the very end. Kyle could understand the loneliness Ruin must have felt, but he could not understand that devoted sense of responsibility.

That was why he wanted to meet him. Ascension was not death. Perhaps Ruin was still swinging a sword beyond Ascension. Perhaps, perhaps if Kyle met Ruin again and crossed swords with him. If they could fight again, the one fight Ruin had found free and joyful in his life.

“...”

That was a matter for the distant future. Kyle glanced at Helenas. She appeared unsure how to answer Agur's request.

“May I explain?”

Kyle stepped in. Agur turned his gaze toward him. After staring at Kyle for a moment, Agur let out a hearty laugh.

“I was wondering who you were. You are the person I saw in the newspaper this morning. You look far better in person.”

“Ah.”

Come to think of it, they had said the Imperial Newspaper issued today would feature the photographs taken yesterday.

“Do you have that newspaper?”

“I do.”

Agur climbed back up the stairs and returned with a roughly folded newspaper.

[Imperial Crown Prince Alero Valhart, Sword Church Master Helenas, and Kyle Alastor, Heir of Light.]

[The past, present, and future converge.]

[The truth behind Sword Church Master Helenas and Black Sword Kyle Alastor's journey together... The Empire agrees to “noninterference.”]

[Yesterday, Helenas, the elf who serves as the Sword Church Master and the continent's strongest swordsman, held talks with the Empire's Grand General Desmond Galein and His Highness Crown Prince Alero Valhart. The Sword Church Master has not spent such a long period outside Sword Grove in centuries, making the very fact that these talks took place an extraordinary event.]

[This landmark meeting began with an effort to understand the situation surrounding the journey undertaken by the Sword Church Master and Sir Kyle Alastor of the Alastor Family, one of the continent's great pillars. Known by the epithet “Black Sword,” this boy is both the youngest recipient in history of the Martial Star Medal and the man who defeated the Fist Demon, who had trespassed into continental territory, albeit unintentionally.]

Everything up to that point was fine, but Kyle's fingertips began trembling when he read the article that followed.

[Why was Sir Kyle Alastor traveling alongside the Sword Church Master? There was a surprising and entertaining truth behind it. According to confirmation by this paper's reporters, Sir Kyle Alastor and Sword Church Master Helenas had promised to marry. In other words, their journey until now had been a “date” between a man and a woman.]

“Fuck.”

Kyle's face twisted as he read the article. They had said they would not write about it. Gritting his teeth, Kyle thought of Desmond's face. It had not been intentional, but by making that “conversation” happen, Kyle had saved Desmond's life. Desmond accepted that fact and had said he would grant a request from the one who had saved his life.

'Is it because I said I had no intention of holding the debt over him?'

Could the Grand General, who regarded his own life as lightly as grass, regard even the favor of being saved as lightly as grass? No, that did not seem likely. Their conversation had been brief, but Kyle had gotten a sense of what kind of person Desmond was. At the very least, Desmond would not have wanted something like that written in the article.

Then the answer was obvious. Alero, who had been present, must have reported it to the Emperor, and the Emperor must have ordered an article like this to be written for the Empire's propaganda.

'Of course the Emperor would try to use this. Fine, it can't be helped.'

The article had already been published, and Kyle thought about what came next. Desmond was the one who had repeatedly mentioned the favor of being saved, and he was also the one who had brought up a debt.

[Since the one who saved my life is asking so earnestly, I have no choice but to agree. Shall we consider the debt settled, then?]

Perhaps Kyle could ask Desmond for a favor over this matter.

[There was such a surprising and entertaining truth behind the journey of Sword Church Master Helenas and Kyle Alastor, which had stirred the continent. His Highness the Crown Prince blessed the two lovers and shared a “heartwarming” conversation with them.]

[Grand General Desmond, who presided over the talks, briefly assessed that the security of the “Empire” remained firm.]

[Related Article] Who is the “Black Sword”? Page 2.

[Related Article] The beauty of the Sword Church Master, the breathtaking beauty of an elf. Page 5.

With trembling hands, Kyle turned the page. The second page contained a full article overflowing with flowery language beside the solo photograph taken of him yesterday. In summary, it said that this young boy was closer than any pureblood to becoming the next Family Head of Alastor, that he was brimming with loyalty to the Empire, and that he shared a special relationship with the Crown Prince.

“Fuck.”

Kyle cursed again and returned the newspaper.

“So, what was it you wanted to say? You are still staying at Sword Grove, and since you seemed ready to speak for the Sword Church Master... are you asking me to make you a newlywed home?”

“It is not a newlywed home, but yes, something like that.”

“Damn it. I thought I would only have to follow old man Lagon's blueprints. You want me to make something completely different... I suppose I will have to take even more medicine because of this.”

Agur grumbled as he put a cigarette in his mouth.

“Ah, do not complain about my cigarettes. They are for my mental stability.”

“Did you make that dragon yourself?”

“What dragon? It is only a lizard with wings. I made it because I wanted to, but I do not like it at all. It could not be helped, I had never seen a real one. I only copied something from paintings.”

No dragons remained on the continent now. After Ruin Ascended, the Dragon King Velatus had crossed east with every dragon in tow. The only records left today were depictions of dragons from the distant past.

“Why? Do you like that monstrosity? If so, buy it. A young master of Alastor should have plenty of money.”

“Can you not just give it to me?”

“How can you say something so shameless so casually? I do not like that thing myself, but you must still consider the time, effort, and material costs that went into making it. Or, yes, they say the Sword Tower where you live was made by the Dragon King himself. Do you have anything related to dragons? A scale, perhaps?”

“I do not know about scales, but...”

There was one pitiful ghost bound there who could not move. Otherwise, perhaps the Sword Tower's treasury held dragon scales. Kyle glanced at the metal dragon. Beyond making his heart race, a vehicle like that seemed useful in many ways. There were Warp Gates for long-distance travel, but they could not take a person directly to every destination.

'It is too large, but I can solve that by putting it in an Out-of-Place Artifact.'

Kyle could fly, but the members of the Sword Wolf Knights still could not. After considering it for a moment, he spoke.

“Rather than a dragon, are you interested in an Eastern dragon?”

“An Eastern dragon...? What is that?”

“It is a sacred beast from the East. Similar to a dragon.”

“Ah, now that you put it that way, I know. I saw one in an old ink painting once... but why bring up an Eastern dragon all of a sudden?”

“I am raising one.”

Strictly speaking, it was not an Eastern dragon. Yet when Aia from the Crows' Central Branch saw Jor, she had asked if Jor was an Eastern dragon, so Jor certainly looked exactly like one. Even if that was not true, what did it matter? Neither side had ever seen one. And when it came down to it, Jor was a Spirit, so she was not truly a snake either.

Kyle confidently brought Jor out. Agur's mouth fell open at the sight of the enormous snake, no, Eastern dragon, emerging from Kyle's chest.

[Um, Master?]

Jor spoke in an uncomfortable voice. She had heard the conversation, but she could not be as shameless as Kyle.

[I am not an Eastern dragon...]

'You are one from today onward.'

[Me?]

'When you think about it, you are not even a snake. What kind of snake has horns on its head? And Eastern dragons are cooler than snakes.'

Put that way, Jor had no choice but to be convinced. Agur approached Jor as she nodded. He even forgot to light the cigarette in his mouth as he repeatedly stroked his beard and examined her closely.

“I see. She does resemble the Eastern dragons I saw in paintings. A long, snake-like body, antlers on her head, and a head similar to a dragon's... But is this truly an Eastern dragon? The ones I saw in paintings had whiskers and limbs.”

“That is because those were grown Eastern dragons. This one is still young. More precisely, she is a Spirit that takes the form of an Eastern dragon, but she is an Eastern dragon for now.”

Kyle had not lied completely, at least. Agur's mouth opened a little wider at the word Spirit.

“A Spirit? There are Spirits like this?”

“She is special in many ways.”

“So, are you saying we should exchange this Eastern dragon for that monstrosity?”

“No, not an exchange. You keep calling it a monstrosity, so it does not seem to be a work you are proud of. While you are here, I will let you observe and touch my Eastern dragon, so lend me that monstrosity.”

Momentum was important in negotiations. Before Agur could answer, Kyle quickly pressed on.

“As you know, the East has been cut off for three hundred years, making it a land no one can cross into. You cannot encounter dragons on the continent now, let alone Eastern dragons, the sacred beasts native to that region. Yet there is an ‘Eastern dragon’ right here. That means, Agur-nim, you will be the only dwarf on the continent who can observe an Eastern dragon and create works resembling one.”

“Hm...!”

“And there may be something like dragon scales in the Sword Tower. If I borrow that dragon and return home, I might be able to persuade the Family Head to give me some scales. If that happens, I will send them to you.”

Nothing he said was certain, but Agur's eyes wavered at Kyle's energetic pitch. Every dwarf lived with the desire to create something, and though they created, they could never be satisfied. Agur was the same. He had created countless things for a long time and received praise from other races, yet Agur himself had never been satisfied with any of his works.

Creation brought only pain and stress, so he even smoked addictive cigarettes to steady his mind. Yet that was only a temporary measure. To calm this curse-like urge to create, he needed to make something he had never made before.

“All right.”

After thinking for a while, Agur nodded. He reached out with a trembling hand and stroked Jor's scales. At that moment, Kyle immediately gave Jor a look.

Crackle!

Jor's purple scales rose sharply, and electricity coursed over them. Agur flinched and pulled back his hand.

“This is unbelievable. Scales that carry lightning energy... A-and even I, without Spirit Affinity, can touch them...?”

“Because she is an Eastern dragon.”

By this point, even Kyle no longer knew whether Jor was a Spirit, a snake, or an Eastern dragon. Perhaps she belonged to none of those things. Their first meeting and bond had been formed through her as a Spirit, but Jor was no longer an ordinary Spirit.

'That demon said something about a Forgotten Dragon.'

It was something the demon that emerged from the Black Cube had said.

Kyle did not know precisely what it meant, but it was clear the demon had said it to the “being” that had spoken through Jor.

'Perhaps it was the Dragon King.'

The truth was unclear, but longing shone in Agur's eyes as he studied Jor.

* * *

Dwarves created things without knowing satisfaction, but that did not mean they lacked a craftsman's spirit. If they were going to make something, they had to make it properly, so it would leave as little dissatisfaction as possible. That was even more important if they were not using an existing blueprint and had to put their own sense into it.

“A new house. Not at the level of the existing hut, but a proper one. What style do you want?”

“A style?”

“An architectural style.”

The hut had no walls or roof left. Agur spread a large sheet of paper across the desk and tapped his pencil.

“If you do not know the style, tell me what appearance or structure you want. Furniture is fine too.”

“I would like it to get plenty of sunlight.”

Kyle answered.

“The furniture does not need to tilt strangely like before. For now, I would like the bed to be large.”

“Large? How large?”

“Large enough for ten people to lie down? So no one has to sleep packed tightly together.”

“A newlywed couple's bed should be smaller.”

“We are not newlyweds.”

“You keep denying it even though an article has already been published. Fine, you said the ceremony has not been held yet. What else do you need?”

“There should be things worth having.”

Kyle answered as he glanced at Helenas.

“The dining table should be large too.”

Helenas spoke.

“Large enough for a family to gather and eat together.”

Helenas did not normally eat much human food. That had been true when she stayed in Sword Grove, but during the journey back with Kyle, she had eaten meals with him every time. Changes in her daily life had steadily become part of Helenas.

“The windows... should be large. So I can tell when the sun rises and sets.”

“Goodness.”

Agur stopped his pencil and looked surprised.

“I have seen elves several times in the west... but this is the first time I have met an elf with such clear requests. Fine, what else do you need?”

“A kitchen.”

“Surely you are not planning to cook too?”

“I may feel like it someday.”

For now, she did not feel like cooking, but perhaps that would change later.

“I have a rough idea of what you want. So, an ordinary house? Not a house for someone living alone, but a house for a family.”

“That is right.”

“What a strange request, no matter how much I hear it.”

Agur gave a dry laugh and began moving his pencil across the paper.

Footnotes:

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