WeTried Translations

Translator: Coughing Baby

Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 91: Akarion Lastea

──────

One of the Ten Peaks of the continent. The mage renowned as the strongest among all known practitioners of magic, Akarion Lastea.

But more than that reputation, it was the word "vampire" that left Kyle momentarily thrown.

A vampire.

A monster that drank human blood. Among knights, some wielded swords; others chose spears, bows, or axes. Just as the martial paths knights pursued branched by weapon, mages too diverged depending on the school of magic they followed.

Among those schools were the so-called "dark mages."

Unlike ordinary magic, dark magic could fill gaps in insufficient talent through other means. Corpses and blood. Souls. Every such thing had been abundant in the early and middle stretch of the Dark Age, when wars raged across every corner of the continent, so it was only natural that dark magic flourished in that era.

Vampires were magical creatures that dark mages had made in those times. From what Kyle had heard in his previous life, such magical constructs were called homunculi, and vampires fell within that category.

Magical beings created by weaving various dark spells into humans. A homunculus was a creature born a slave, built for its dark mage master's convenience, and among them, a vampire was one that could not survive without drinking human blood.

And yet here one stood before him, introducing themself as Akarion Lastea, the strongest mage alive and one of the Ten Peaks.

What unsettled Kyle now was the gulf between this reality and the common sense of five hundred years ago.

'After the Dark Age ended, the dark mages who had run rampant in that era vanished to escape extermination.'

Even in that age, a convincing justification and a righteous cause had been necessary.

Playing with corpses was a contemptible act in any era short of absolute extremity. And because every faction rising to power in that period had its sights set on hegemony, each was all the more eager to secure at least a passable, publicly defensible minimum of cause and justification.

Even those who dealt with dark mages did so in secret. They never shook hands openly.

When Ruin Alastor brought the Dark Age to a close, any hands clasped with dark mages were quietly slipped back into pockets. Naturally the dark mages themselves vanished, and the homunculi they had created, vampires among them, ceased to appear anywhere on the continent.

The surprise must have shown plainly on his face. Akarion smiled and tapped Kyle on the shoulder.

"That I am a vampire is not something publicly known. Normally I had no intention of telling you either, but this place is unusual, and I could not simply stand by watching, so I intervened."

"I apologize for the late introduction. I am Kyle Alastor."

Kyle lowered his head first. The reason the Lastea Tower Master had come to Gladiheim was not hard to work out. Lucia, who bore the Demon King's brand. And Lavian, who had awakened after nineteen years. It had been only yesterday that word went out to consult the Mage Association on both matters.

"I heard that a message was being sent, but I never expected you would arrive this quickly."

"Ha ha, the reason was worth hurrying for. Coming here without cause would be uncomfortable in many respects, but your Family Head gave me reason enough to make haste."

Akarion smiled pleasantly. Each time those lips curved upward, sharp fangs showed.

Kyle could not help staring at them for a moment.

In his previous life he had fought dark mages and the slave races they commanded.

'When did I first encounter them?' It was during his time as commander of the Crow Mercenary Band, when they had just shed their newborn stage and were carving out a place in the mercenary world. Back then, they took almost any job that came in.

'But these are different from the vampires I saw then. Has five hundred years changed even what vampires are?'

Vampires were monsters wearing human skin. Humans, demihumans, and monsters were distinguished by intelligence. Occasionally a monster might develop enough intellect to speak, but that was a trait of the individual, not grounds for classifying the entire species as a demihuman.

Vampires included, homunculi were monsters, not demihumans. And yet the Akarion before him now appeared no different from a human, aside from those sharp fangs and long ears.

"I seem to fascinate you."

His gaze must have been obvious again. Akarion asked with a smile, and Kyle nodded honestly.

"It is my first time seeing a vampire."

"If you live an ordinary life, they are a species you could go a lifetime without meeting. Especially within the Empire's territory. But in the west, particularly under the Crows' wing, there are a few homunculi such as vampires."

Akarion fixed those violet eyes on Kyle, letting them glow faintly.

"You are, hm, let me call you Sir Kyle. Just as Sir Kyle finds me curious, I find you curious as well. I have lived quite a long time, and you are the first human I have ever seen with an ability like this. You are Arian Alastor's son, yes?"

"Yes."

"She too is a spirit arts practitioner of outstanding innate talent, but she did not possess attunement of this degree."

"That is thanks to my mother giving birth so well."

Kyle answered and glanced sideways at Baal. Baal, gripped in his hand, had gone quiet, only rolling that single eye around, reading the situation.

"How long have you been here?"

"Since Sir Kyle apologized to Baal."

So he had been inside for a while. Kyle thought that and fixed Akarion with a look. It was a disrespectful look to send a guest invited by Alastor and one of the Ten Peaks, but in this case, Akarion had committed the first offense by eavesdropping.

"I cannot rebuke that look. What I did was eavesdrop, and that is a fact."

Akarion shrugged.

"Do not worry too much about the fact that I heard what I should not have. I will keep silent about everything Sir Kyle and that sword discussed. If that is not sufficient, I will swear to it."

"No need for a sworn oath. It is ancient history from five hundred years ago, and the Founding Ancestor did not use Baal in the way it was intended as a gift."

Kyle said it without much feeling and tried pulling Baal once more. Still it refused to budge.

"That said, you did eavesdrop, so let me ask one favor in return."

"You want me to undo Baal's seal?"

"Yes."

"That is an awkward request. This seal is unusual. It is centuries old, but magic like this only grows more solid with age. There may be skilled mages in Gladiheim, but I can say with confidence that no one below the level of a tower master could break this seal on the spot."

Akarion's violet eyes were wrapped in a faint glow. He looked Baal over and continued.

"And it is not only a seal that hides and suppresses killing intent. The will of the Demon King who drove Baal into this ground still dwells here. As I thought, only I can undo this one."

"Then I must ask you all the more."

"Just to be sure, Sir Kyle, are you in your right mind?"

"Perfectly."

"I do not know you well, so I cannot be certain that perfectly sane is the same as your usual state."

Akarion studied Kyle quietly.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You have quite a reputation, Lastea Tower Master. One of the Ten Peaks. The strongest mage on the continent. The person who turned the Mage Association's five towers into six."

Magic had originally belonged to the other races, dragons, elves, the Demon Tribe. It had been so even five hundred years ago. Mages had existed in that era too, but they were not numerous, and magic was no easy thing to learn.

The Demon Tribe had lived across the sea in Erebos, and elves were difficult to even encounter, let alone approach with a request to study under them, given what a frustrating people they were.

That was why dark magic had developed and come to dominate in that age.

But once a friendship treaty between the Demon Tribe and the Empire was signed and full-scale exchange began, much of magic became known across the continent. Even so, magic remained a high discipline that could not be entered simply by wishing to, and mages were creatures stuffed full of entitlement.

The towers were structures that embodied that sense of privilege exactly. The fact that the family names of the five most accomplished mages of the era, each affiliated with the Mage Association, were used to name the towers said enough about how ostentatious and appearance-obsessed mages were.

That was what made Akarion Lastea so remarkable. The person who had shattered the long tradition of the Association's five towers and erected a new sixth one was a vampire, a byproduct of the very dark magic that mages held in contempt.

"You know as much as is publicly known. I know as much about you as is publicly known as well. The Thunder Emperor's favored grandson. The owner of Fenris, recognized by the Sword Church Master."

It had already been a full month since Helenas had turned up at Gladiheim without warning, met with Kyle, and departed. Alongside news of Julius's defeat, what had astonished the world was that Kyle had become the owner of Fenris.

"There are things not yet known to the world that I know as well. The one who drove back Erebos's princess, the Fist Demon. And..."

Akarion's eyes narrowed. Those violet pupils flashed with a sharp light.

"Your body is special. And strange."

"My Spirit Root is a little unusual."

"I am not speaking only of your Spirit Root. I know your family has taken guarding the outer sea as its hereditary duty, but you are only fifteen years old. And yet you carry this much outer nature in you."

The outer sea. It seemed to be the term for the mudflat and the sea he had experienced in the Cultivation Floors. It was nothing worth calling a secret, so Kyle answered plainly.

"I picked up a few things to eat there, and I suppose my constitution changed a bit."

"You picked things up to eat? What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I ate them with my mouth."

"Ha ha ha!"

Akarion blinked at the reply and burst out laughing.

"That did not sound like a joke. Certainly, it is mixed in there. Can a human actually ingest the flesh and blood of an outer being?"

"Is the proof not standing right here?"

Kyle tugged at Baal lightly. Still not the slightest movement.

"Honoring your request is not a difficult thing, but I am a guest who was invited here. For a guest to tamper with Baal's seal is a delicate matter. If Sir Kyle obtains permission from the Thunder Emperor, I will break the seal myself."

"Ugh."

With that said, there was nothing more he could ask. Kyle pulling Baal out was the sort of thing he could do first and beg forgiveness for later, but Akarion did not have that option.

"And this is a rather laborious task on my end as well, so I will want compensation for the effort. Is that acceptable?"

"Go ahead and speak with my grandfather first."

Kyle slowly released the hilt he had been gripping.

[Y, you little brat, little brat! Are you giving up too fast?!]

"Not giving up. Negotiating."

He actually thought it had worked out well. If he had pulled Baal out while openly showing how badly he wanted it, that insufferably arrogant cursed blade might have strutted and gloated. Pulling back one step and playing a little push and pull with Baal made more sense here.

"Hey. They say the will of the Demon King is in what sealed you here. Is it safe to pull you out?"

[Th, that, it should be fine. Much time has passed since Ruin Alastor died, and this one no longer needs to remain in this place.]

"Hm. I will get permission from grandfather and come back, so wait for me."

[P-promise! Promise before you go! How many years did you leave me here, you little brat?! So promise me you'll come back!]

Baal pleaded in its usual imperious tone.

"I will come back. But I cannot promise I will definitely pull you out. That is not my decision alone."

[Promise you will do your best! Your best!]

"Fine, fine. I will do my best. If it still does not work out, there is nothing to be done."

He reassured Baal with those words but gave no absolute guarantee. The vague answer gnawed at Baal. Finally Baal squeezed its single eye shut.

[I... understand. This one will wait for you to return, little brat. You... you! You must come back to this one!]

With those words, Kyle let go of Baal. Baal's realm of consciousness scattered. The red mist dissolved, and Kyle and Akarion returned to reality.

"Hm."

Kyle blinked. In the end, everything that had just happened had not taken place in reality.

'Is that why it would not come out?'

He grabbed Baal on a hunch and tried again, but in reality too, Baal would not move an inch.

"Kyle, what are you doing?"

He turned around. A group of people were standing outside the Sword Garden. The one who had spoken was Karthan. His eyes were a little puffier than usual, probably from crying so hard the day before.

Beside him, Akarion was watching with an expression of amused disbelief. Blue hair and violet eyes. That appearance, making it impossible to tell whether they were a man or woman, was unchanged, but those ears were the same as any human's, and the fangs were no longer sharp.

"Good morning, Uncle Karthan."

Kyle bowed his head, then turned his gaze to Akarion.

"I was curious whether it could be pulled out in reality."

"Of course it cannot, not here either. There is a seal on it. If Sir Kyle had managed to pull Baal out just now, it would have naturally overlapped with reality."

Whether because Akarion shared the same kind of ability, the words came with complete confidence.

"Akarion Lastea."

A blond woman in an ornate robe who had been standing beside Akarion spoke up. Sharp blue eyes behind clear spectacles swept over Kyle.

"What happened in there?"

"Sir Kyle Alastor took hold of Baal."

"That much I can see, since he is still holding it. I am asking what happened inside."

"Nothing remarkable. Baal's Dokkaebi acknowledged Sir Kyle and begged to be pulled out and freed."

Akarion gave a low chuckle and rested a hand on the woman's shoulder.

"This is Erdela Lunion, the Association Master."

"I am Kyle Alastor."

He bowed again, and at that moment Akarion's voice rang in his head.

[Sir Kyle. I should have said this sooner, but can you keep the fact that I am a vampire secret?]

'Does even the Association Master not know?'

[No, she knows. The Thunder Emperor knows as well, and so does the Emperor. It is simply not something the entire world is aware of.]

'My lips are sealed.'

Akarion's laugh echoed in his head at that reply.

"Sir Karthan. Would it be acceptable to have Sir Kyle join today's discussion?"

Karthan was briefly caught off guard, then composed himself and nodded.

"That was my intention from the start. He is the one who knows best the circumstances of how Mother was awakened."

Karthan excused himself and stepped toward Kyle. Kyle half-expected to be scolded for grabbing Baal without permission, but Karthan's expression as he approached carried not a trace of sternness. He looked at Kyle with eyes full of warmth and took hold of his shoulders.

"Kyle. Does your head hurt at all?"

"Pardon?"

"You took hold of Baal. I know you are not susceptible to that sword's pull, but this was the first time you actually gripped it. I was worried you might get a headache or hear things that are not there."

"I feel nothing at all."

"Good. And your body? The physician said your condition was not good."

"I was discharged on the promise that I would not push myself. A few days of rest and I will be fine."

"I sent medicine to your estate. It will all help with recovery from injury, so make sure you take every last bit of it."

He had already taken medicine at the Sword Tower's infirmary and received prescriptions there. Being the infirmary used by purebloods, the medicines from that place were surely expensive and rare. And now Karthan had sent more on top of that.

"It is nowhere near enough to repay what you have done, but I thought what you needed most right now was medicine to heal your body, so I sent that first. If you need anything else, ask at any time."

Karthan squeezed Kyle's shoulders with a warm look. He had always shown Kyle goodwill, but this was well beyond what one showed a nephew.

Because Lavian had awakened. Because of that, Kyle had become the benefactor of every one of Lavian's children.

"I only did what needed to be done."

Kyle answered with composure, and that answer moved Karthan even more deeply. Karthan patted Kyle's shoulder several times and said, "I will call for you in the first-floor meeting room sometime this afternoon. Until then, rest at your estate."

"Yes."

He had thought about going to see the Sword Wolf Knights, but this had to take priority for now.

* * *

"Goodness."

The first floor of the Rose Mansion was packed solid with boxes. Kyle stood staring blankly at them, and Arian, who had come to meet him and cried her eyes out hugging him, spoke in a thick voice.

"Those over there are from my brother Karthan."

Her son returning in a blood-soaked, tattered uniform was already reason enough for tears, and on top of that, that son had awakened the grandmother who had been sleeping for nineteen years.

Arian had always felt things deeply, and since yesterday there had been more than enough to keep her sniffling. She wiped away fresh tears with the back of her left hand and pointed to the gifts with her right.

"Those are from my sister Katarina. Those are from my brothers Barkas, Gerhard, and Dante. Those are from..."

Every relative had sent Kyle a gift.

"I checked, and they are all medicine. Every one of them is from your relatives' personal collections."

"If someone saw this they would think I came back too injured to move."

Kyle muttered in disbelief.

"It is too much, but sending them back would be rude, right?"

"Of course. Keep them for now. Think of the feelings of the people who sent them."

'I would never run short of medicine in my lifetime.'

Kyle raised a hand. The Out-of-Place Artifact bracelet opened a space and swallowed all the gifts inside.

"Are you not giving me a present, Mother?"

He asked as a joke, and Arian sniffled with her red nose and spread both arms wide.

"Come here. Let me hug you."

"You already hugged me plenty just now."

"I want to hug you again. My treasure, giving birth to you was the best thing I ever did in my life."

Arian's eyes filled with tears again. Kyle, realizing he had become the family's button for tears, went ahead and let himself be pulled into her arms.

"And Father?"

"He's prostrating himself on the tenth floor."

"Pardon?"

"Grandmother scolded him terribly, terribly yesterday. That was the first time I ever knew my mother could swear like that."

Aslan was a person who had earned that scolding.

"He says he'll stay prostrated in the tenth-floor corridor until she forgives him."

"There are guests on the tenth floor right now."

"He is going to be mortified. Do you feel sorry for Father?"

"Not sorry, no."

Arian gave a quiet laugh and patted Kyle's back.

"Grandmother said it. That you take after me a great deal."

"I know."

"Only in your face, apparently. She said you were far more admirable than I was at your age."

"That is entirely because you raised me so well, Mother."

"I appreciate you saying that, but it puts a lot of pressure on me too. Raising Kaya has made me realize, you just grew up well on your own. It was not that I raised you well."

"I grew up well because I was born to you."

He meant it sincerely. If he had been born to someone other than Arian, would he have turned out the same? That he could not know without experiencing it, but since his reincarnation, there had not been a single moment when Kyle had not felt Arian's love as a mother.

"What did Grandmother say about Kaya?"

"That she was prettier than I was at two years old. Oh, play with Kaya a while until the summons comes. She has been wailing and crying since yesterday wanting to see you."

Cold sweat ran down Kyle's spine at that. A month since coming out of the Cultivation Floors. During the time he had spent at the Rose Mansion, he had played with Kaya whenever he had a spare moment. To Kaya, Kyle was her bunny-eared big brother.

"Looks like I will have to go hopping around again."

Kyle let out a long sigh.

* * *

Whether she had heard that her big brother had been badly hurt, Kaya did not insist on the rabbit costume and headband. Instead, Kyle sat her between his legs and read aloud from the same picture book seven times over.

Before the eighth reading could begin, the summons to come down to the first-floor meeting room finally arrived. Kyle soothed a tearful Kaya and went down to the first floor.

The round table in the meeting room. Family Head Julius and steward Gerhard. The commanders of the Funeral Knights, White Night Knights, Aurora Knights, Crimson Snow Knights, and Black Iron Knights, along with Dante, Nelia the archivist of the Great Archive, and the newly arrived Erdela and Akarion were all seated.

"Sit."

Julius, whose swelling had completely gone down in the span of a day, pointed to an empty seat.

It was the seat directly beside Julius. Normally that would be where Karthan, as the eldest son, sat, and sure enough Karthan was seated one spot removed, as though it were the natural arrangement.

Kyle quietly glanced around at his relatives, but not a single one wore a displeased expression. They all had such puffy eyelids that their gazes were a little unfocused, admittedly.

"You need Baal."

Julius spoke the moment Kyle sat down.

"Yes. There is reason to attend to Lucia's brand as well, and I also have a personal interest in Baal..."

"Take it."

Permission came before Kyle even finished speaking.

──────

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried