WeTried Translations

Translator: Nemui

Editor: Nemui

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◈ Scum of the Brave

Chapter 25

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Since the postwar rise of the Dark Lords, the land called Hokkaido had changed a little.

One Dark Lord moved the earth, while another controlled the weather, remaking local climate conditions so they suited them. They said there were even places where flowers bloomed like spring in the middle of winter.

But Hokkaido was vast.

Basically, in winter, most regions were shut away by snow, and if you left the cities, you ended up walking through blizzards. Even so, when approaching the Black Territories under Dark Lord control, mountain paths were much safer than roads.

They reduced the risk of being found by Dark Lords or their Followers.

And my immediate destination was beyond a mountain path too.

"Hey."

After walking a mountain path for an hour, or maybe two hours, the first to express unease was Sara Pendragon.

This was why sheltered girls were a problem. With a white breath, she spat out her words.

"This picture has been weird for a while, hasn't it?"

"Weird?"

I stopped there and looked back at the three of them. Because all three were carrying huge backpacks, fatigue was obvious. On top of that, they were fully equipped for moving through snow, wearing mountaineering overjackets.

Unfamiliar terrain consumed stamina on its own. It might be about time for a break.

"What's weird?"

I sat on a nearby rock and took out the canteen hanging at my waist. Inside was warmed tea. Just a small sip was enough.

While I was at it, I looked up at the sun. It hung low, and the sunlight was unreliable. It only cast silent white light onto the mountain slope.

But it was good that the weather was clear. It was possible the Dark Lord around here controlled the weather. Lord Cracking Sacred Map, who had an enormous base in Hokkaido and was said to rule the clouds, was far too famous.

When we stopped, I could really feel how silent the mountain was. Maybe the snow absorbed sound. I adjusted my breathing a little and enjoyed the feeling of hot tea passing through my throat.

"Don't look down on Hokkaido winter. This area is in a Dark Lord's sphere of influence, so the weather conditions are heavily affected. Even this is better than before the war."

"That's not what I mean!"

Sara shouted. She threw down her backpack and sat heavily on a nearby rock too.

"Why are we the only ones carrying luggage while Sensei is traveling so light? You said we would rotate."

"We are rotating. Among you."

"Sensei isn't in the rotation."

"Listen."

I tapped the hilt of the bastard sword hanging at my waist.

"If I, the strongest fighter in this party, exhaust myself with luggage, that would be bad. I have to stay alert. Honestly, I don't want this role. Just carrying luggage would be easier."

That was why I had wanted to bring "Salt" Joe. If it were me and Joe, our luggage would be compact, and I could rest while carrying it. When it came to outdoor encounter battles, though I hated to admit it, Joe was stronger than me. Or rather, he could fight with an advantage.

"So you people will carry the luggage without complaining."

"I mean, is this place really a Dark Lord's territory? In a place this wide, isn't the chance of running into Followers low?"

"Mm. Not really."

The one who answered Sara's question was Indo Yukine.

She set down the luggage, which looked almost larger than herself, somewhat roughly onto the snow and sat in a corner of a nearby rock. Indo, wearing a white snow-camouflage overjacket, became so faint in presence when she stopped moving that even her aura thinned. Only her rough breathing showed that she was a little tired after all.

"Among the Dark Lords in the Black Territories... some can perceive our position."

"That is what she says. Indo, I award you five well-done points."

"Nice."

Indo clenched her fist expressionlessly. I ended up laughing. Too serious.

"Although she is retired, the former local staff says so. There is no loss in being too cautious."

"Exactly right!"

Suddenly, Jogamine asserted her existence with a loud voice. Where did this girl get her stamina? She looked more energetic than Indo and stood firmly with her feet planted. There was even a possibility that she was too stupid to feel fatigue.

"This too is a gift from Master, called a trial! Thus our legs and backs are trained as well. Is that the idea? I understand!"

"No, I wasn't thinking about that."

More importantly, I did not think forcing yourself for only a day or two would have much effect. But Jogamine pressed on.

"Then you are training us unconsciously! As expected of a masterful teacher!"

"I'm not giving you well-done points."

"How unfortunate."

Jogamine became quiet for just an instant. But while I took another sip of tea, she started talking again.

"Still, I can overcome this fatigue if I think that tonight, an inn, hot springs, and Hokkaido gourmet food await us! I am all right!"

"Huh? An inn, hot springs? Is that for real?"

"Hokkaido gourmet food?"

Following Jogamine's lead, Sara and Indo opened their eyes wide. For a moment, they seemed to forget their fatigue.

That was when I knew I had to give them a cruel declaration.

"There isn't any."

I muttered like I was spitting it out.

"None of that exists."

There was silence.

"To begin with, the place we are headed is not an inn."

"No! We are this deep in the mountains, so I thought surely there must be a hidden hot spring inn! Master, you toyed with my feelings."

"How should I know?"

In the first place, I had no money for that. I might have said something careless to get "Salt" Joe to come, but I had no time to leisurely soak in hot springs after coming all the way out here.

"I mean, it's fine."

Clearly disappointed, Sara Pendragon stood. Her white breath left her mouth in a long sigh.

"I wasn't expecting that kind of thing from Sensei anyway."

"Rude. I revoke five well-done points."

"What even is that, from earlier?"

"Hmph."

Jogamine snorted.

"Too bad, Sara. Such things are meant to be kept in the heart, not spoken aloud. At that rate, keep worsening your impression."

I deliberately said nothing. Needless to say, Jogamine had no well-done points to take away in the first place.

"Anyway, let's hurry. I want to arrive before sunset."

"Where?"

The one who asked was Indo.

"There should not have been any Northern Beacon garrison bases around here."

"You know this area well?"

"Some. I know the map."

"That is extremely well. Five more well-done points."

"Nice."

Indo clenched her fist again. I brushed snow off my composite-polymer pants and slowly stood.

"Then you know there is a small church ahead."

"Yeah. The unmanned one."

"A friend of mine, no, I don't want to call him that. An acquaintance took it over and uses it as a garage for earning money around here."

In reality, he was one of the regulars at Ed Cyrus's bar. Like every exception-free example of the Brave trade, he was definitely a piece of scum, and people around him called him Priest. If we were lucky, we could get some of the food he had stored there. Even if we were unlucky, we could shelter from wind and snow.

However, there was a worst-case pattern too.

If that man was staying at the church, his garage, for some kind of job.

If things went poorly, Priest might be even worse than Ishino the Musician. Without a Brave License, he would be nothing but a murderer. While we were sleeping, he might strip us of everything and attack us for fun.

If that happened, it would be annoying. But all I could do was pray, as usual.

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