WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 295
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295.
I quietly looked up at the sky, feeling the bright sunlight on my skin. Clouds stretched wide around the sun.
As I stared blankly at them, I could not help widening my eyes. The things I had thought were merely clouds were slowly moving.
I focused and examined the clouds more closely. Then I began to clearly see the being hidden within them.
It was a gigantic snake. The instant I recognized it, I understood why I had mistaken it for a cloud.
It was because of the scales covering its body. A steady pattern seemed to have been painted onto the white scales, as though clouds had been poured across them, making it look like a natural phenomenon.
Yes, a natural phenomenon. My eyes gleamed as I examined the snake, no, the being that had surpassed a snake. It was not something that could simply be called a snake. It possessed a higher rank than that.
The being had long whiskers on its head and held a huge bead in its short forelimbs. Somehow, it even gave off a faint air similar to a dragon's.
Anyone seeing it for the first time would probably call it a dragon. But I knew that was not true. I had already seen a real dragon.
I quietly searched through my memories. Soon, the scene I had once extracted from the Star Eye began playing in my mind again.
Professor's appearance as they drove away the stars had been indescribably beautiful. Since I had recognized that dragon's rank, magical power, and perfection, I could immediately see this creature's shortcomings as well.
Still, its power was impressive enough that calling it a lesser dragon would not be inaccurate. I looked over the snake-like creature once more, then released the bead in my hand.
The vast sky slowly began to disappear. The illusion was fading. As I calmed myself, the real scenery soon entered my view.
I was inside a water droplet floating through the shared space. Before me stood a man with his arms crossed, his face brimming with pride.
He was Louis, the magical beast tamer who had blocked my path before. I handed him the bead I had held until just now. It looked remarkably similar to the bead the snake had held in the illusion.
Louis took it and lightly tapped the white snake wrapped around his neck. The snake opened its mouth wide and slowly swallowed the bead.
“What do you think after seeing the divination magic? What you just saw was this fellow's future, which I created by optimizing the magic. It is what he will look like after ascending five times and shedding his skin.”
As Louis stroked the snake, he tossed it a large mana stone from his robes. It was probably filled with his magical power. The snake swallowed it in one bite, then yawned as though satisfied.
“It certainly is impressive. I think I finally understand why hex snakes are so expensive.”
I watched the snake closely as I voiced my admiration. Curse magic could be considered a type of magic. It was a fairly well-known school.
However, few people could handle it. The laws it contained were very different from those of other magic.
Ordinary magic focused on controlling phenomena, while curse magic focused on violently unraveling them.
That was why curse magicians usually offered sacrifices when casting magic. You could say they paid respect to their target. It could also be called a form of worship.
It was a more primitive form of magic. And that hex snake was a magical beast born with such curse magic within it.
It had a nature that made it offer worship to itself in the hope of becoming a being of higher rank. What I had just seen through the bead was the hex snake's adult form.
It probably resembled clouds because of the trait it possessed. Albino creatures like that usually carried their own peculiar qualities in their bodies.
Louis leaned back against his chair with an arrogant smile. He continued speaking as he stroked the snake.
“It is not often that I sell shares like this. I am telling you, this is a truly good opportunity.”
Louis seemed certain I would buy the shares immediately. I could understand that attitude.
I quietly smacked my lips as I recalled the form I had seen in the illusion. If it grew into its adult form, its value would surely be astronomical.
It was called a lesser dragon, but it still bore the name dragon. That was only natural. Even in points alone, it would surely be worth several billion.
But I was not going to be deceived by that appearance. I had already figured out what he was hiding. I met his eyes and shrugged.
“Hmm, it is certainly an excellent offer, but I have some concerns. Hex snakes must be rather difficult to manage.”
Louis's eyes shifted slightly at my words. Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.
Earlier, when Louis had stopped me, he had told me something. He said he would give me shares in exchange for a tree. He had said they were worth several million points.
That was an enormous amount of points. At the same time, it was a very small amount. If the hex snake was truly worth several billion points, the profit from owning even a portion of it would be tremendous.
Other people were not fools. Would they simply leave such valuable shares alone? The reason Louis had named such a low price was because of the hex snake's nature.
When a hex snake reached its limit according to the curse engraved upon its body, it attempted an ascension in order to embody a phenomenon. During the process, it shed its skin and gained a higher rank than before.
And attempting such a dangerous ascension naturally meant there was an equally great danger involved. Its chance of failing that ascension was obviously quite high.
Moreover, what it was imitating was a dragon, so that chance would be even higher. Perfectly containing a perfect creature was close to impossible.
Having seen a dragon in person, I could easily predict that it would fail if it simply attempted an ascension. Louis looked uncomfortable at my reaction.
“That is why I am saying it. I will offer a little more than what I posted, so hand over one tree. I am telling you, that will raise its chances of success enormously.”
Louis spoke while tapping the table. I gave him an awkward smile. I understood his intentions well enough.
I was using the many treasures in the tower as test subjects for growing trees. Quite a few treasures were growing trees inside puppet bodies.
If treasures could contain trees, magical beasts might be able to do the same. In that respect, planting a tree in the hex snake would surely increase its chance of ascending.
Of course, there was a chance the hex snake would fail to adapt to the tree. But I considered that possibility rather low.
A magical beast capable of becoming a lesser dragon would naturally possess a body strong enough to endure a tree.
In a way, magical beasts were the most suitable subjects for planting my trees. Louis knew that, which was why he was making this demand without even confirming whether the rumors were true.
But it was impossible to accept Louis's request now. I showed regret on my face and slowly shook my head.
“I have told you several times already, but all the trees I have made so far have been handed over to someone else.”
“You only need to give me one of them. I will handle paying the other party, so you have nothing to worry about.”
As if frustrated, Louis thumped his chest with magical power. I made an embarrassed expression and shook my head.
If I brought Louis into the deal contrary to our agreement, Kronia might be displeased. Business was built on trust, so promises had to be kept.
Besides, I had already recognized that Louis was not particularly useful to me. I casually looked around.
The reason I had not previously chosen him as someone to receive a tree was not merely because he had tried to bind me to his territory. If anything, I wanted a relationship where I was bound at least somewhat.
Even so, I had rejected him because I judged that he would not stay in Stalactite City for very long.
If he had intended to remain in the city, he would have promised me benefits here rather than in some territory outside the university. He had a powerful faction of his own, enough to serve as a branch manager.
The fact that he had brought up a territory instead was probably because he intended to leave the city. The influence he possessed here would disappear the moment he left.
And I could easily infer why he wanted to leave.
Magical beast tamers like Louis stayed in different cities to raise magical beasts suited to those environments. So it would not have been strange for him to leave this city at any time.
This visit only reinforced that thought. I had successfully learned what the magical beast he primarily raised, the hex snake, desired.
The hex snake wished to resemble clouds. For such a creature to remain in this underground city was an obstacle to its ascension.
So Louis might leave for another city whenever the opportunity arose. He might even return to Jungle City, the home base of Beast Corporation.
That was why Louis held almost no value for me. I had participated in this exchange meeting to find a collaborator who could help me in this city for a long time.
In that respect, Kronia was a suitable choice. She was a mage from a branch family. That was why I had chosen her.
Still, even if he was of little use in this city, the fact that Louis belonged to a great family had not changed. If I built a connection with him, he would likely repay it with goodwill.
“I cannot give you a tree because of my promise, but I think I can still help you raise the hex snake.”
I leaned forward slightly and smiled. Louis showed mild interest. After confirming that, I took a small bead from my spatial pouch.
The hex snake saw it, unwound itself from Louis's neck, and let out a soft cry. It slowly approached me with an entranced look in its eyes.
I threw the bead to the hex snake. It quickly swallowed it, then shuddered all over. Louis rubbed his chin and looked at me at the snake's sudden reaction.
“What exactly did you give this thing?”
“Magical beasts steeped in happiness.”
“Happiness... Ah, magical beasts containing a treasure's desire. That does make sense.”
Louis nodded after hearing my explanation. I looked at him with renewed interest. Even with such a simple explanation, he understood immediately. As expected of someone from a great family, he was quick-witted.
Treasures had been objects of worship to many people since ancient times. Even after mages increased under the Empire's rule and realized they were masses of desire, that had remained the same.
To weeds with no power, treasures were still gods. And our storehouse contained several treasures that had once been such gods.
The greatest force among them was the Ring of the Sky. Its contagious nature was remarkable. Had it not previously created a god named Hari based on happiness?
In that respect, the desire contained within the Ring of the Sky was connected to curse magic. I glanced at the hex snake.
The curse magic it held could be considered magic modeled after worship. Therefore, eating things connected to worship would surely allow it to grow faster.
In that sense, those magical beasts were satisfying snacks for it. They had been infected by the happiness granted by the Ring of the Sky.
“I am raising magical beasts by using the power of treasures. You could say I have made a kind of farm.”
“A farm?”
I nodded and displayed a simple illusion spell. It depicted the magical beast farm spread out below the mountain.
The farm managed by Angel, the inner demon puppet born from the Ring of the Sky, had grown quite large. It had become large enough to provide every treasure with free meals.
I had provided welfare benefits under the banner of advancing treasure rights. The response had been remarkable. In any case, the supply of magical beasts had become plentiful enough that I could bring some with me.
Since I was participating in an exchange meeting, I had brought everything that seemed useful for trading. This was when that preparation paid off. I smiled lightly when I saw Louis's eyes shine.
“They may be low-grade magical beasts, but if it keeps devouring them, its hex power will grow stronger as well. That should make shedding its skin easier too.”
Louis rubbed his chin after listening to me. He seemed quite interested. Soon, he calmly opened his mouth.
“I cannot really tell just from hearing about it. I suppose I will have to visit this farm you mentioned myself.”
“You are welcome to visit whenever you wish. There is no need to settle everything here.”
I held out my hand to Louis. Though he looked somewhat sullen, he clasped it. He had probably become more interested in these magical beasts than in the uncertain prospect of a tree.
“Still, is there really no way I can get just one tree?”
Louis spoke regretfully. It seemed he had not fully given up on the tree. I gave him an awkward smile and shrugged.
After settling the transaction, I slowly talked with Louis about magical beasts in order to build our acquaintance. Nothing was better for building connections than sharing an interest.
As befitted a magical beast tamer, Louis possessed extensive knowledge of magical beasts, so I was quite satisfied with our exchange. But our conversation stopped when something in my robes began to vibrate.
It was the mirror bug. It was a signal that someone had contacted me. I bowed my head to Louis before checking it.
Hwaryeong had left the message. It said that Kronia was looking for me. I put away the mirror bug and looked at Louis.
“I have received word from the person who bought the tree. I believe I should be going.”
After asking Louis for his understanding, I rose from my seat. Escorted by him, I moved between the water droplets.
At the end of the way, I entered Kronia's droplet. There, I found Kronia looking lost in thought.
I lightly surveyed the surroundings and quietly guessed what Kronia and Hwaryeong might have discussed.
They had yet to fully determine the effects of the patchwork trees I created. Perhaps they wanted to control the trees until they learned more.
They had to examine the product before judging its value. As if proving it, Kronia agreed to the proposal I had made.
“I will introduce you to Horae, the officer who helped with my advancement to the fourth floor before. She is sponsored by our family, so she will offer some assistance with your passing. However, I will add further conditions.”
“I will listen.”
“The condition we previously discussed was that you would be forbidden from handing trees over to others for the next year. In addition to that, I will limit the number of trees you can sell over the next five years.”
Kronia added that I had mentioned four trees today, so she would only allow that many each year. Then she stared at me.
I quietly rubbed my chin. I could easily guess why she had added such a condition.
She probably suspected that I could produce more trees. If I kept making them, the patchwork trees she acquired today would lose their value.
She probably intended to control the trees for a short time and determine their potential. I had no particular intention of refusing that condition either. I readily nodded.
“Then I will hand over the goods immediately.”
I searched through my robes and took out the four boxes I had shown before. They contained the patchwork trees. I held them out to Kronia.
This was the advance payment for the promise we had made. Kronia frowned slightly when she saw them.
“Even if you give me all four, I cannot promise that you will pass. I will only take two.”
“Ah, that is all right. I intend to pass this time without fail. So you may take all of them.”
I met Kronia's eyes and gave her a confident smile. She seemed pleased by my boldness and smiled in satisfaction.
“Ha, I like that attitude. Still, just in case, I will give you a magic tool. That way, there will be no complaints no matter what happens later.”
Kronia gestured through the air. A servant whose presence I had not even noticed quietly approached and opened an elegant box on the table.
The third-grade magic tools inside still contained powerful magical power. When I looked at Kronia, she gestured toward them with her chin. She was telling me to choose one.
Since she was offering so generously, there was no need to decline. I gave her a small bow.
“Then I will gratefully accept.”
I touched the magic tools one by one with magical power, then soon chose one I liked. The one I selected was a flag called Artificial Lich.
Of course, I liked the others as well. Still, I chose this because I was curious how the magic tool had been made.
To create a magic tool that contained a mage's soul and could use magic. It could be seen as the product of an attempt to artificially create a treasure.
Of course, it was a failure. But the method was extremely interesting. Perhaps I could use it to make a similar puppet as well.
When I took the flag the servant handed me, a chilly sensation began crawling up from my fingertips. A satisfied smile came to my face as magical power surged around, as though it coveted my body.
“Then I will be on my way.”
Kronia checked the trees inside the boxes and rose from her seat. She seemed to intend to leave immediately, having achieved her purpose for attending the exchange meeting.
I smacked my lips as I watched Kronia leave the droplet without hesitation. The transaction had gone through, so I had intended to get a few more magic tools out of her. I had not expected her to leave so quickly.
Still, I had achieved my own purpose in attending the exchange meeting, so I was satisfied. Hwaryeong might have been satisfied as well. I narrowed my eyes as I watched her smile and see Kronia off.
The transaction ended with everyone satisfied. As time passed, the exchange meeting slowly began to come to a close.
I scratched my chin as I watched several water droplets burst.
Each of those droplets had been a room where someone was staying. The fact that they were bursting meant many people had vacated their places.
And I intended to leave now as well. I had obtained everything I wanted.
Once I confirmed that the droplet where I had been staying had burst, I stretched lightly. Mira gently leaned her head against me.
“It was quite fun.”
I glanced at Mira. She had attached quite a few unfamiliar jewels to her body. They were all items acquired here.
I could not help looking uncomfortable at that. From a magical perspective, the jewels Mira chose did not have much value.
Yet each one cost more than five hundred thousand points. Apparently, they were made by famous artisans from the outside world. It was an impressive sales tactic.
Still, seeing Mira satisfied made spending those points feel very slightly, truly faintly, worthwhile. Since I had spent so many points on them, I had to think positively.
After lightly shaking my head, I approached Hwaryeong, who was watching me. She bowed to me and opened a small door in one corner of the shared space.
“Then let me show you out.”
Hwaryeong stepped through the door. Since I had followed her route when entering, she seemed to intend to guide us out as well.
I slowly walked down the long hallway at Hwaryeong's pace. In the space where only the three of us were present, only the sound of shoes against the corridor echoed.
After some time, a door appeared in the distance. It was surely the door leading to the trading company.
Hwaryeong stopped briefly when she saw it. When I met her eyes, she gave me a small smile.
It seemed she had something to say to me. I had already expected as much when she chose to guide me herself.
I stopped as well and waited for her to speak. Hwaryeong looked me over before slowly opening her mouth.
“Seeing you today, Mr. Evron, makes me feel a little regretful.”
“What do you mean?”
I blinked quietly. But rather than answering my question, Hwaryeong began speaking about something somewhat unrelated.
“To be honest, I never thought you would grow this outstandingly, Mr. Evron. When I first saw you, you were merely a wanderer.”
“...Well, as you said, Ms. Hwaryeong, I was terribly lacking then. The same remains true now. I have only come this far because I was a little lucky.”
I did not know what Hwaryeong was trying to say, but it seemed best to play along for now.
I lightly scratched my head and gave her a shameless smile. Yet even through that act, I did not lower my guard around her. Perhaps sensing my wariness, Hwaryeong leaned back slightly.
“Luck is the most important thing for a mage. No matter how talented someone may be, they will eventually die without enough luck. That is why I have regrets.”
She stopped there and stared at me. Then she continued slowly.
“I regret coveting your luck, Mr. Evron, and trying to swallow it. If I had not done that, we might have grown closer.”
“What are you talking about? There is no relationship more solid than ours.”
I widened my eyes as if confused. Hwaryeong also smiled with her eyes and gave a quiet laugh. Yet I could feel sharp sword energy flickering deep within her gaze.
It probably meant she knew full well that I was lying. Naturally, Hwaryeong had noticed the hostility I held toward her and her family.
The reason I maintained my relationship with Hwaryeong despite that hostility was because she was useful to me.
Just as she had connected me to Kronia through the exchange meeting today, her status and abilities were extremely useful for the path I had to take. That was why I had continued using her.
And Hwaryeong was likely leaving me alone despite knowing my hostility because I was also extremely useful to her.
I recalled Kronia and Hwaryeong speaking together. Kronia had consulted Hwaryeong because Hwaryeong was the one who had brought me to the exchange meeting.
Since I had borrowed her influence, she would also receive a share of the profits I earned. One of the trees I gave Kronia would probably end up in Hwaryeong's hands.
I knew her well, and she knew me well. That was why Hwaryeong had previously made several moves to control me.
I narrowed my eyes as I recalled the People’s Council and Icewall City. If I had entered her grasp then, I would have become her tool.
But I had shaken all of that off. And it had all become resentment toward Hwaryeong, burning in my heart.
This probably would not disappear until I achieved complete revenge. A mage's debts and grudges were engraved upon the soul.
That was why I could not infer why Hwaryeong had suddenly brought up this subject. No matter how much she tried to mend our relationship, my grudge could not be resolved.
I quietly rubbed my wrist. I was already bound to her by a contract. As long as I had to keep handing over mirror bugs, my resentment toward her would never vanish.
“In that respect, I was a little jealous of Hongryeong, that child. To think you had become close enough to seek him out, Mr. Evron. That was truly unexpected.”
My eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of Hongryeong. But I did not bother denying my friendship with him.
Hongryeong had already revealed that he had joined hands with the People’s Council in Icewall City. So it would have been easy for Hwaryeong to notice that there was some connection between him and me.
As I remained silent for a moment, Hwaryeong continued slowly.
“I have spent this time wondering what that child might have promised you, Mr. Evron. And today, I could become a little more certain. He probably promised to cancel your contract.”
I could not help stiffening slightly at Hwaryeong's words. Today, I had merely been promised an officer who would oversee my advancement evaluation in exchange for handing over trees.
Yet she had inferred the deal between Hongryeong and me from that alone? How was that possible? Perhaps sensing my confusion, Hwaryeong laughed lightly.
“You do not need to be so wary. I have no clear evidence. I merely made a guess after watching your actions, Mr. Evron.”
Hwaryeong took one step toward me. I looked at Mira, but she was merely watching Hwaryeong with interested eyes.
It did not seem that Mira intended to stop her. Hwaryeong kept about an arm's length between us and looked up at me.
“If you wish to dissolve the contract, you do not need to go so far away. It would be easier for me to interfere with the contract than for that child. If the contract is dissolved, we could build our relationship anew as well.”
Was she saying she would remove the contract? The incomprehensible statement shook the suspicions that had accumulated inside me.
After watching me, Hwaryeong stepped back again and began walking toward the door. She took hold of the doorknob, looked back at me, and continued.
“Please think about it for a while. Think about whether you truly need to be hostile toward me. Now, shall we leave?”
Hwaryeong opened the door and left the hallway. Mira lightly smacked her lips as she watched her back.
“My, what a bold child. I like her even more.”
Desire filled Mira's eyes. It seemed Hwaryeong's behavior had stirred her hunger.
I lightly frowned as I recalled Hwaryeong's words. Why had she bothered to leave me with such words?
Perhaps she had judged that the profit she could gain through the trees was greater than that from the mirror bugs. As I continued considering it, the day of the advancement evaluation quickly approached.
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