WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 109: Where the Storm Calls (9)

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The absurdity of what he had heard left not only Elysia but even Kyle speechless. Cesar's story was that far removed from reality.

Dragon magic that was thousands of years old.

It was not something easy to accept. Dragons had already gone extinct a thousand years ago. It was hard to believe that magic left behind by such creatures still remained. Not inland, either, but in the middle of an archipelago like this. And in the forest of the island that housed the Skaldir Family's base, no less.

"Dragon... magic?"

After a brief silence, Elysia, who had been listening quietly, asked the question. The words she had just heard were that shocking.

"Yes."

Cesar answered with such indifference that it almost seemed inappropriate. Unlike Kyle and Elysia, who were caught between shock and confusion, Cesar and the man behind him showed no surprise at all. They looked as though they were discussing something they had known for a long time.

"Do I sound like I am spouting nonsense?"

"No..."

"I understand. If I were in your position and someone suddenly told me something like this, I would doubt it first. Most mages react that way."

Cesar gave a faint smile as he looked at Elysia. He picked up the bottle of blood-red pomegranate wine and refilled his empty glass.

"But it is not a lie. I also did not make this offer to strangers like you without reason."

As though parched, Cesar took his time sipping wine in silence. The young man soon fell into thought again as he stared blankly at the table. He looked like someone burdened with worries, struggling to decide how to deal with a problem that had been giving him a headache.

"Where should I begin..."

After pondering for a moment, he began to explain the island's history. It was a story from before the Skaldir Family even existed.

The magic had existed for centuries before the Skaldir Family settled on the island. No one knew when it had appeared or who had created it in the first place. Like a part of the island itself, the rift had always been there. Rain or snow, typhoon or storm. It remained unchanged.

That did not change even after the Skaldir Family became the ruler of the Pargon Strait. After discovering the rift by chance, the Skaldir Family began studying the magic that lay in the front yard of their own base.

They learned several things in the process. The rift in the northern part of the island was made from extremely advanced Spatial Magic. It was not human magic. The only beings capable of using such magic were dragons, who had gone completely extinct a thousand years ago. They also concluded that, since it was magic that had existed for thousands of years or longer, it was best not to interfere with it by force.

"That is how countless years passed. From my distant ancestors down to me."

Cesar swirled the wine in his hand as he spoke. Kyle asked in a tone that made his disbelief clear.

"And now you want us to deal with it?"

"A problem serious enough to warrant it has arisen."

"What problem?"

"The vegetation has changed."

The environment around the rift differed from an ordinary forest. Mana was incredibly dense there, and it was full of things that should not normally exist. Recently, phenomena that defied all reason had begun occurring as well.

"The area around the rift had always been mysterious, but over the past year, it has gone too far. We even observed time reversing, so there is no need to explain how serious this is."

"Time reversing?"

Kyle let out a hollow laugh. Elysia was no different.

Spatial Magic was difficult, but it was still within humanity's reach. Time Magic was different. It was the kind of magic that existed only in fantasy, something that did not truly exist.

"You are saying something ridiculous."

Kyle scoffed. Even so, Cesar remained calm.

"It is hard to believe, but it is true. Plants and animals that died come back to life, and frost forms in the middle of summer. Those things have become commonplace."

"That only makes me doubt you more. There is dragon magic thousands of years old here, yet no one outside the island has ever heard of it?"

When Kyle had visited Serentia in Nibelmund at the entrance to the duchy, Nadia, the Branch Director, had said nothing about the island's secret. She had not seemed to be hiding anything, which meant she truly had not known. That only made him more suspicious. The island might be closed off, but it was not completely cut off from the outside world.

Above all, Kyle had traveled from an undeveloped coast without a harbor to the city and had not felt any notable sense of wrongness. If there were a powerful spatial rift, he would have noticed it. That was why he could not cast aside his doubts.

"Of course they would not know. The area around the rift is covered in mana far denser than anything ordinary. Mana refined within a dragon's body has a fundamentally different nature from human mana. There is also illusion magic surrounding the distorted space that makes people lose their sense of direction."

Cesar answered Kyle's question as though it were nothing.

"Unless they have a specially made Mana Compass, they would not even be able to find the rift."

"Then why did you ask whether we had seen the spatial rift? You said we would not be able to find it anyway."

"Very occasionally, people with abnormally strong mana sensitivity feel something strange. So I thought there was a chance. If someone was skilled enough for Merchant Head Enrico to personally vouch for them, and could even use Spatial Magic, then it was not impossible."

After a brief pause, Cesar asked again.

"The Black Crow Merchant Company's trade ship was nearly destroyed. Did you cross the strait with magic?"

"...Something like that."

"Where exactly in the north did you make landfall?"

"On a sandy beach without rocky cliffs, scattered with seashells."

"Then you landed in the island's northwest. The rift is in the northeast, so even someone with exceptional mana sensitivity would not have noticed it from that distance."

Cesar looked away from his wine glass and glanced between Kyle and Elysia. Kyle flicked his eyes toward the sword leaning beside him. Countless thoughts ran through his mind.

"I understand what you are saying, more or less. But there is one thing I cannot accept."

After sorting through the information, Kyle spoke.

"What have you been doing all this time? If this has continued for over a year, you should have taken action long ago. Did you sit back and watch, only to offer a deal to strangers you have never met?"

"Because we have already tried everything we could."

"You tried everything?"

"The Corsa Archipelago may be closed off, but it does not lack contact with the outside world. We have already paid enormous sums in Gold Coins to invite renowned mages from the mainland several times."

Cesar's expression twisted. Recalling the past seemed to bring unpleasant feelings to the surface.

"But no answer came from it. Seeing dead plants and animals come back to life is something that should be impossible in the first place."

"It is impressive that word never got out. If it is dragon magic, mages from all over the continent would go mad and rush here."

"We made them take a Secret Oath and placed Binding Restrictions on them, so that is not a problem. At the very least, no one would risk playing with their own life. We gave them enough money to live comfortably for the rest of their lives as payment for their silence."

In any case.

Cesar cleared his throat and changed the subject.

"The island's situation is more serious than you think. The changing ecosystem near the rift is not a major problem. It has continued for thousands of years without any serious incident. This might only be a temporary phenomenon as well. But."

"But?"

"As the island's master, I have no choice but to prepare for the worst. Especially when the changes are bizarre and unlike anything we have ever observed. I do not know whether the distortion of time and space near the rift is good or bad. Still, I cannot dismiss the possibility that it may be dangerous."

Cesar added with a serious expression.

"Whether it means closing the rift or stabilizing it as it was before, I am grasping at straws. Enough to ask strangers like you for help."

Silence stretched on for a long time. Cesar continued staring directly at Kyle without changing his expression, while Kyle weighed the gains and losses of the matter.

"A mage capable of crossing the strait safely, and one whom Merchant Head Enrico personally vouched for... There might be a chance. You do not even need to close the rift. Stabilizing it would be enough."

Cesar spoke first, breaking the silence.

"If you do that, I will grant everything I said earlier. Passage to the Federation, putting the matter with the Black Crow Merchant Company to rest, and any other request I can grant within my authority."

His eyes held equal parts expectation and resignation. It was understandable. He had invited countless renowned mages over the past year, yet none had made any progress. This deal was likely another offer made in the hope of a slim chance.

What should he do?

Kyle tapped the table with his fingers. The terms themselves were generous. The promise of passage to the Federation and putting the matter with the Black Crow Merchant Company to rest were especially appealing. On top of that, Cesar would grant any request within reason. It would not be a bad outcome for Kyle if they could resolve this without bloodshed.

The archipelago was too large to simply draw his sword against them.

If needed, he would shed blood, but there was no reason to force it. Kyle raised his gaze and looked at the man standing behind Cesar. Aside from when Kyle had spoken casually to Cesar, the man had shown little reaction. That had been true even when Cesar revealed the island's secret, the dragon magic.

Had they arranged all of this beforehand? Or was this Cesar's own decision?

Either way, it probably did not matter. Cesar was the head of the Skaldir Family and the island's master. If everything he had said was true, the man might also understand how serious the situation was. Compared to that, the fact that they had nearly killed each other with swords in the strait was trivial.

"What if I refuse?"

After roughly organizing his thoughts, Kyle asked. Cesar leaned back against the sofa and tilted his head slightly toward Kyle.

"Then there is nothing to be done. It would be unfortunate, but we would have to invite another mage."

"You give up sooner than I expected."

"We do not want to fight you at the risk of our lives either. As you first suggested, we will take payment and lend you a ship. It will depart in a week, after the storm has completely died down. We will overlook your work escorting the Black Crow Merchant Company. But we will need at least a thousand Gold."

"A thousand Gold?"

Kyle frowned. It was not an amount he could not pay, but the Black Crow Merchant Company's trade ship had paid five hundred Gold as a toll three years ago. For the price of lending a ship to just two people, it was excessive.

"What, do you not have that much?"

Seeing Kyle's expression, Cesar curled his lips in a mocking smile.

"If that is the case, write a Secret Oath. We will have to place Binding Restrictions on you as well. What was said here today will go with you to the grave."

"And if I pay a thousand Gold?"

"I will give you a small ship. It is sturdy enough that, once the storm dies down, you should somehow be able to reach the Federation. Of course, it will not come with a navigator. The two of you will have to find the route yourselves."

"What will happen to the remaining Black Crow Merchant Company sailors?"

"That is not your concern. It is something that Merchant Head Enrico and I will resolve between ourselves later. Are you worried about them?"

Cesar looked at him as if asking what he intended to do. Kyle did not answer immediately and stared quietly at the table.

Honestly, there was no reason to refuse.

The terms aside, he did not like paying a thousand Gold for a small ship without a navigator. The Black Crow Merchant Company sailors also concerned him. Either way, they would be stranded on the island for a week because of the storm. The best outcome would be to resolve the rift during that time, then head to the Federation with the Black Crow Merchant Company sailors.

Making Merchant Head Enrico owe him a debt would be an added benefit. So would asking Cesar for a favor.

No, those were all excuses.

Kyle admitted it readily. He simply wanted to see the dragon magic. The other smaller reasons were only things he had piled together to justify it.

A trace of dragons that had remained for thousands of years without disappearing.

For a mage, it was a research subject that could make their eyes light up. All the more so for Kyle, who had spent so much time thinking about Prisia. He turned to the side. At that moment, Elysia turned her head and looked up at him. Her golden eyes held an interest and curiosity she could not hide.

She was the same as him.

Mages really were all alike.

"Fine. I accept."

After a short consideration, Kyle accepted Cesar's offer. Cesar wore a sly smile, as though he had expected it.

"But I will go there and judge for myself. If it seems possible, I will do it. If not, I am leaving."

Kyle spoke, and Cesar readily nodded.

"Of course. I am not shameless enough to expect more than that."

"You had better mean it. Keep the terms of the deal. If your attitude changes after I close the rift, this will not be fun for you."

"I will keep that in mind."

Cesar glanced behind him and curled a finger. The dual-sword man who had been standing stiffly behind the sofa walked toward Kyle.

"It is late, so rest well tonight. I had someone prepare a room for you."

* * *

Kyle and Elysia left the room following the man Cesar had assigned as their guide. When their conversation ended, the man waiting near the door saw the three of them and twitched an eyebrow.

It did not last long. He gave a small bow to the dual-sword man, then left as his subordinates had done earlier. The man then guided Kyle and Elysia to the room where they would stay for the night.

When they arrived, the man turned around and said, "Here."

"......."

"We leave tomorrow morning. I will send someone for you when it is time, so do not be too late."

Unlike when they had first met, his tone was quite polite.

Kyle silently nodded to show that he understood. With his business finished, the man left without hesitation.

"There is only one room. And only one bed..."

After the man disappeared, Elysia opened the door and looked around as she spoke. The inside was as lavishly decorated as the room where they had met Cesar. It was filled with exotic furniture that seemed to have come from Azaril, and it had been neatly arranged, proving that someone had prepared it for them.

Kyle guessed it was a guest room used when important visitors came to the castle.

Had the mages who came before stayed here too? As Kyle looked around, he spread his mana widely. Fortunately, there were no surveillance magic tools. Nor was there any sign of anyone nearby.

"It cannot be helped. We cannot fully trust them yet. It is better than sleeping separately."

"Mm... Right. That is true. It cannot be helped. The bathroom too..."

Kyle gave a faint smile as he watched Elysia mutter to herself for some reason. Thinking back, a fair amount of time had passed since he met Elysia.

They had crossed the line between life and death several times, yet they had made it this far.

The discomfort had become familiar by now. They had stayed together even in the bed of that hot, humid, cramped cabin on the trade ship. Compared to that, this room was practically heaven. At least it had a large bed and a bathroom where they could wash themselves.

The only difference was that they were not confused from seasickness.

After roughly putting away his clothes and washing up, Kyle organized the belongings in his Inventory Pouch. Like Elysia's, the contents were mostly unharmed.

Not long after, dinner arrived with a knock at the door.

The two sat at the table in the room and ate the food brought by the maids.

There were not many dishes, but they tasted excellent. Every ingredient used was rare and valuable.

"Hey, Kyle."

When their quiet dinner was nearly over, Elysia wiped her mouth with a napkin and spoke.

"I know it is late to ask, but do you believe that man's words?"

"No."

Dragon magic thousands of years old and distorted time and space. It sounded absurd no matter how one looked at it. Even the Tower Master and elders of a famous Magic Tower would likely tell him to stop talking nonsense.

"But we will know once we see it. We will find out everything tomorrow anyway."

Kyle was not impatient. It was not too late to see it and make a decision then.

If it did not work out, they could simply walk away.

"Elysia, what about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes. Do you still doubt that man's words?"

"To be honest... I do. It is hard to believe. Does it not go against all common sense? Setting aside dragon magic that has lasted for thousands of years, he said time reverses. That is..."

Impossible. Kyle could tell what Elysia wanted to say without hearing the rest. Time Magic was an entirely different matter from Spatial Magic.

"Well, who knows."

Kyle did not believe it either. Yet he could not erase the strange feeling that kept rising in his chest. Kyle hated the word fate, but at times, he felt that there was an ordained order to the world.

Especially when he thought of the pure white dragon he had seen in his dreams, and the dreamlike vision he had seen when he fell into the strait.

"If things go wrong, we have this too."

Kyle took a pendant from inside his clothes. Elysia's eyes widened at the large white gem revealed beneath the light.

"Dragon Heart?"

"Yes. I do not know why, but I feel like this will make it possible."

Kyle stared quietly at the gem in his hand. Within the white gem, mana with a nature completely unlike human mana still raged like a storm. Kyle watched its light without looking away. Unlike before, that mana now felt familiar, as though it were part of his own body.

As if it had always been that way.

Footnotes:

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