WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈
Chapter 211: What That God Possesses (1)
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There was an incident that made Jaa Soo-Jeong widely known as a lunatic.
At that time, the kingdom was plagued by serious conflict between the humans and the non-humans. A magician known as the Black Witch led a terrorist organization, slaughtering the humans. On the opposite side, a group called [Stone's Gathering] butchered the non-humans.
Retaliation and revenge. Resentment and anger.
The cycle of slaughter and butchery meant that the hatred between races had no chance to cool.
“The distinction between humans and non-humans must become stricter!”
The conservative nobles of the kingdom did not stay idle.
“Esteemed colleagues of the Noble Assembly! The current chaos in our kingdom is due to the indiscriminate mixing of humans and non-humans, morality and immorality, civilization and uncivilization. According to current marriage laws, marriage between humans and non-humans is permitted. Not only that, even same-sex marriage and incest are legalized! All relics of barbarism from hundreds of years ago. How can we hope for peace in the world when things that shouldn't be mixed are mixed? With great regret, our faction proposes the 7th [Integrated Marriage Law].”
"......."
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong watched the Noble Assembly and smiled faintly.
“How interesting.”
That month, a family war broke out in the Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong territory.
When war between families was officially declared, a third party couldn't intervene rashly. The family that fought the Amethyst Barony was the Citrine Barony. Originally one family, they had split six generations ago.
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong* declared war by surprise.
*Hanja of her name means ‘Citrine’.
She was confident.
The kingdom was in the midst of destruction. The House of Amethyst was collapsing at a slightly faster pace. When [Lady Amethyst] beat her father to death and became [Baron Amethyst], all the vassals and subjects loyal to the previous head abandoned the house.
“I didn’t want this.”
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong strung her bow.
In their childhood, Hwang Soo-Jeong and Jaa Soo-Jeong were as close as sisters. They were even kidnapped together by terrorists. Now recalling those distant days, Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong made a sad face.
“I’m sorry, Soo-Jeong.”
“There’s no need to apologize. Sister.”
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong smiled brightly.
“I wanted it this way.”
The forces of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong suffered a crushing defeat.
The reports received by Hwang Soo-Jeong were all manipulated.
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong's house was falling apart, but Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong herself was a genius of the era. All the vassals had left, but new vassals were appointed instead. A great magician who had been holed up in a room for the past 60 years suddenly became Jaa Soo-Jeong’s close confidant, a fact Hwang Soo-Jeong didn't anticipate.
The price for being an incompetent noble was high.
“I don’t care if I die.”
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong's face was resolute.
“But please spare my vassals. Their only crime was following me.”
“That’s an interesting thing to say.”
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong beheaded the captured enemy vassals one by one.
“Because I plan to do the exact opposite.”
When the head of the third vassal rolled, Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong's knees also gave way. The resolute face had long crumbled. She belatedly realized that although she had braced for war, she had not prepared for defeat.
“I’m sorry. No, I apologize. Please forgive my vassals... I was the foundation beneath them, and they merely did as I commanded. They surrendered as soon as I was captured. Please... I beg you.”
“There is one way.”
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong whispered into the ear of her older, distant relative.
“I’ll formally request a noble trial. Follow what I say there.”
Nobles from the capital gathered at the trial.
The verdict on the family war was delivered. The fault was clear to anyone. Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong's house had declared war first and shot the first arrow. And they were defeated.
The conservative faction raised suspicions that the reports had been manipulated.
But there was no evidence.
The only witness was a vassal of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong, but regrettably, they couldn't attend the trial. They were one of the three vassals whose necks Jaa Soo-Jeong had just cut.
“The victory of Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong's house is recognized.”
The judge from the southeast spoke with a lisp.
“From now on, all property and people of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong's house are to be owned by Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong.”
“All decision-making power lies with me, including the life of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong.”
“That’s correct.”
“What do you say, sister?”
“...Yes.”
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong, tied with ropes, bowed her head.
“I’ll generously spare the remaining vassals. In exchange, swear to entrust your life, your fate, everything to me.”
“You already possess everything I had... I will comply with whatever you demand without hesitation.”
The nobles in the audience clicked their tongues.
The declaration of war by Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong was instigated by the conservative faction.
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong beamed at the nobles watching the trial with faces as if they had bitten into shit.
“Then marry me.”
"......."
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong raised her head.
“If so, I will forgive you.”
The conservative nobles opened their mouths.
“Your Honor? I will file for marriage. Please grant permission.”
“Wait a minute.”
The judge put a hand to their forehead.
The capital judge’s mind raced.
All laws are proclaimed by royal command or established by a vote in the Noble Assembly. Marriage law is part of the Assembly law. And all Assembly laws are recorded in the General Protocol of the Assembly, a hundreds-volume record more like bricks than books.
The judge remembered all the records accumulated over 2,000 years.
“...In the 5th marriage law, marriage between relatives was permitted, and there’s no need to go as far as the 6th law since there’s enough distance in blood relation. Same-sex marriage, which was illegal in the 3rd law, was permitted in the 5th law... Marriage registration between nobles requires the presence of other nobles.”
The judge looked around.
The nobles were still gaping in the audience.
“It’s fulfilled. The public certification... I can do it.”
The judge nodded.
“Is there anyone here who objects to this marriage?”
No one spoke up.
“The family war officially ended with Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong's house legitimately winning, with no doubts raised. All acquisitions have been reported by Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong's house, and in this process, the treatment of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong was entrusted to Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong. Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong, holding all ownership rights of Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong, married Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong.”
Only then did the nobles recover from the shock and start murmuring.
But it was too late.
“The marriage is approved.”
It was both a same-surname and same-sex marriage.
The political significance of this event was clear. It was a big ‘fuck you.’
The conservative faction realized they had been screwed over by an 18-year-old noble, who until recently was a lady and had just become a baron.
It didn’t take long for the world to know Jaa Soo-Jeong was a lunatic.
+
[A Mania for Madness]
Rank: A-
Effect: A curse bestowed by a dragon. Those who possess this skill ‘cannot go mad’ no matter what happens. Even if subjected to mental attacks and psychic magic, this person cannot be driven insane. This individual is always self-aware, knowing where they are, when it is, and who they are.
A curse invented by a dragon who fell in love with a human to protect the fragile human mind. According to legend, the dragon’s lover went mad because they couldn’t go mad.
*However, once acquired, this skill can never be released.
+
Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong and Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong merged households.
Baron Hwang Soo-Jeong lost her title and became Madame Hwang Soo-Jeong. Baron Jaa Soo-Jeong, by absorbing her wife’s title, ascended to Viscount Jaa Soo-Jeong. The house that split six generations ago became one again.
“That crazy bitch!”
The conservative faction wouldn’t just stand by and watch.
Dozens of highborn nobles ground their teeth.
“You really are a madwoman.”
Even the faction opposing the conservatives didn’t just watch idly.
Dozens of vulgar nobles acknowledged Jaa Soo-Jeong as a breath of fresh air.
“But do you have any other talents besides being mad?”
Duke Mu Wi-Sik*.
*Mu Wi-Sik means ‘A state of being unconscious and unaware of one's actions or state’. The hanja for her name means something along the lines of ‘leisure’ or ‘effortless sustenance’.
One of only six such nobles in the world, a great noble who patronized every artist in the kingdom and was also called the Duke of Amusement, took an interest in Jaa Soo-Jeong.
As implied by her role in nurturing artists, she too was not quite sane.
“I'm generally good at everything.”
“There have been 133,643 people who have said that to me so far.”
Duke Mu Wi-Sik was an Ascended. In this world, humans who overcame [Trials] and received the dragon’s blessing were granted eternal life. However, the dragon's blessing wasn’t omnipotent and couldn’t save someone from a madman’s swinging blade.
Duke Mu Wi-Sik was always cautious when walking the streets. Thanks to that, she hadn’t been stabbed to death in the last thousand years. That level of caution was necessary to play the role of a duke in the kingdom.
“Duke, Your Excellency.”
Jaa Soo-Jeong bowed her head.
“Isn’t life unbearably boring for you?”
“Oh. That sounds plausible. There have been 517,570 people who’ve said that to me.”
“You raise artists, Your Excellency. But even if an artist can overflow rivers and tear apart glory with their skill, they can’t save you.”
“Why?"
“Because for them, art is more precious than Your Excellency.”
Duke Mu Wi-Sik felt that this little one was worth more attention.
“What are you talking about?”
“Artists with less talent than Your Excellency will worship you. But no matter how much they revere you, their art is insignificant, so they can’t save you.”
Viscount Jaa Soo-Jeong felt her prey approaching the trap.
“Artists with more talent than Your Excellency won’t care much about you. So no matter how supreme their works are, their gaze won’t be on you, so they can’t save you either.”
“Hmm.”
“You are fated to be beyond anyone’s reach. If this is your fate, Your Excellency, you are destined only to unrequitedly love and love again. There is only one way for you to save yourself.”
“By raising you?”
“Yes. I will create a work of art for Your Excellency. My wedding was truly fascinating, like a welcome shower arriving at last in your life. Your Excellency, master of amusement, would you not like to keep by your side a child whose life itself becomes art?”
“20,351 people.”
“I have more talent than Your Excellency.”
Viscount Jaa Soo-Jeong turned away.
In Duke Mu Wi-Sik’s inner quarters lay a collection of instruments: [The Grave of Instruments], the Musical Tomb. Whenever a musician she particularly favored died, the duke took custody of their instrument and preserved it until someone she favored even more was born.
Jaa Soo-Jeong approached the piano and played.
It was a piano that had been in Musical Tomb for over 1700 years.
+
[Three Joys of the Royal Way]
Rank: A-
Effect: Innate talent for composition and performance. Those with this skill are loved by music. Distant notes connect in the listener’s ear, and the first and last measures of a score are grasped simultaneously through intuition.
You discover the rhythm unique to stream water, autumn leaves, and babbling children among the indiscriminate noises of nature.
You are a tyrant.
By your mere existence, people will now recall your melodies when they hear the sound of a stream. Just as the croak of a frog is defined as ‘ribbit ribbit’ and the sound of clock hands as ‘tick-tock,’ human anger, despair, joy, and everything in the universe will be dominated by your music.
Blessings to the one who will become a queen.
*However, daily, consistent practice and training are necessary.
+
The piano performance ended.
Duke Mu Wi-Sik nodded.
“750 people.”
“I am beautiful. I possess unparalleled talent. I will receive everyone's admiration and recognition through my music, my works, my life. Yet still, I will dedicate my glory to Your Excellency, and finally, Your Excellency will hold everything in the world in your grasp.”
“102 people."
Duke Mu Wi-Sik yawned.
“Even if all your words prove true.”
She propped her chin on her hand as she sat on the throne.
“It would mean that you were born under very astronomical odds, that under very, very astronomical odds you came to feel such affection for me, and that under very, very, very astronomical odds I became the fortunate protagonist of this story.”
The Leisurely Duke's gaze was indifferent.
Her eyes, rotten by time over a thousand years.
“Me becoming such a rare protagonist of luck would indeed make me love the world's coincidences and fate. Is that the final destination you’re leading me to?”
“Similar, but different.”
Viscount Jaa Soo-Jeong shook her head.
“I can love Your Excellency more than you love yourself.”
At those words, Duke Mu Wi-Sik finally looked into Jaa Soo-Jeong’s eyes.
“You don’t need to love anything, Your Excellency. Just my love alone will be enough, and eventually, someone else, another someone, another person will occupy Your Excellency’s heart. That day. Finally, Your Excellency will accomplish what you’ve been postponing for a thousand years.”
“What have I postponed for a thousand years?”
“Suicide.”
"......."
"I will help Your Excellency commit suicide.”
Somewhere, a droplet fell.
Duke Mu Wi-Sik was silent.
Dead instruments littered her grave.
“You dragged your father into the woods and killed him.”
“Yes."
“I want to kill you.”
“Yes."
“But I also want to keep you alive.”
“I know.”
Duke Mu Wi-Sik took a die from inside her clothes.
“Let us see how lucky you are.”
Whenever Duke Mu Wi-Sik faced a major decision, she rolled a die. Her authority rested on the fact that she obeyed whatever result the six-sided die produced without exception.
Years earlier, after suppressing a count’s rebellion, Duke Mu Wi-Sik used the die to decide whether to massacre the prisoners. It came up odd, and twenty thousand prisoners died.
People thought she was mad, and Duke Mu Wi-Sik thought so too.
“If an odd number comes up, I’ll kill you. If it’s even, I’ll keep you alive.”
“If a 6 comes up, please care for me. For any other number, kill me.”
“That’s for me to decide.”
Duke Mu Wi-Sik cast the die.
The die went rattling across the wooden floor of the Musical Tomb.
+
[The One Loved by the Dice]
Rank: SSS
Effect: Heavenly luck.
+
The Duke of Amusement looked down at the number shown by the die.
Jaa Soo-Jeong didn’t look.
She kept her gaze fixed on the kingdom’s powerhouse, the one who could protect her from the conservative faction's attacks, and shield her from any political onslaught.
“Have I now become the only person in Your Excellency’s life?”
Since that day.
Jaa Soo-Jeong was known as [Mu Wi-Sik's Pet].
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