WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 157: At Winter's End (6)

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Kyle, Hermann, and Walter. Reunited after so long, the three slipped into Marta's house to avoid the villagers' eyes. Before they knew it, the red glow in the sky had deepened. The sun would be setting soon.

"What about dinner?"

"It's all right, ma'am."

"Come out when you're done. It won't taste good if it gets too cold."

"Whatever it is, it'll be better than Hermann's cooking."

Walter snickered and headed straight for the guest room where Kyle had been staying. The other two followed a moment later. Colin's eyes gleamed with curiosity, but before he could follow them, Marta took him by the hand and led him into the kitchen.

"So, what's this important news?"

Once the door had closed, Kyle addressed Hermann and Walter, who had entered ahead of him. Hermann's earlier words kept weighing on his mind, making it difficult to simply relax and enjoy their reunion.

"First, like I said earlier, I think we'll need to move soon. Tomorrow at the earliest. The day after tomorrow at the latest."

"Is it urgent?"

Walter answered in Hermann's place.

"We made contact with the Grand Duke. It's about time we gathered. There's a lot to do, and we've reached the point where we can't put it off any longer."

"Are we going to meet the Grand Duke?"

"Yeah. We'll go to Rier and get things in order. We've prepared a lot to overturn the council. You've heard there are plenty of enemies within the Federation, right?"

Walter dropped heavily to the floor in the middle of the sunset-filled room. Kyle silently nodded.

There were many Imperial spies within the Federation, along with those friendly to the Empire.

Count Perian, Grand Duke Rivelius's close aide, had said as much when they were in the commercial city of Renvel. Unlike the Empire, where power was concentrated around the Emperor, the Grandecia Federation's power was divided among five kingdoms. Its failure to respond immediately to the Empire's sudden invasion was proof enough.

"We also heard about you."

The guest room bore traces of daily life after Kyle had spent more than a week there. It had a small desk and chair, but not enough room for three large men to sit around them. Walter looked up at Kyle and continued.

"I heard you were traveling with the Empire's First Princess."

Kyle couldn't deny it. There was no reason to hide it now.

"...Yes."

"But then news of you stopped coming. The Grand Duke looked very anxious. Cassius Mortein disappeared to the rear, but neither of you, who were supposed to arrive in Rier, showed up."

"He knows now."

"Right. He seems to have been quite shocked. Honestly, so was I. Until recently, I knew nothing about what had happened to you, Kyle. The Ash Knights scattered across the land don't stay in constant contact with the Grand Duke. Finding you in that situation was a stroke of incredible luck. Otherwise, we might've reunited only after you were dead."

Kyle's lips moved, but he couldn't bring himself to answer the pointed words.

"How have you been all this time?"

Walter suddenly asked with a serious expression. Hermann tried to stop him with a look. Kyle had suffered serious wounds, both physical and mental, so Hermann had deliberately avoided asking in detail about everything that had happened.

"I'm all right."

Contrary to Hermann's expectations, Kyle raised a hand.

"I'm... all right now. There's no reason to hide it anymore."

"......"

"We should share information, if only for what comes next."

Kyle sat facing Walter in the middle of the room. After hesitating, Hermann joined them on the floor.

Beneath the pouring sunset, Kyle began recounting everything that had happened to him. From the moment he had been separated from Hermann after the capital, Baldheim, fell, to his journey south. From wasting three years drifting through life to meeting Elysia at Ligrid Gate. Then came their half-year journey, setting foot in the Federation, and finally his defeat at the hands of Cassius Mortein.

"We thought we'd had it rough."

"......"

"But you've lived quite a turbulent life these past four years too. It's a miracle we're sitting here facing each other."

Walter smiled bitterly. His words carried guilt and pity he couldn't hide. Hermann was the same. For some reason, the members of the Knights of Ash often looked at Kyle that way.

"The current Emperor is the First Emperor..."

"......"

"More importantly, has the curse been lifted?"

Hermann, who had listened the entire time, asked. Kyle paused before answering.

"I think so, for now."

"For now?"

"I still can't handle mana properly. Even apart from the curse, the mana itself is difficult to control..."

Showing them once would be better than explaining it a hundred times. Kyle closed his eyes and sharpened his senses. He could clearly feel the mana scattered through the air.

Slowly, he drew that mana into his body. The mana racing through his veins was refined according to his will. Thankfully, purple thorns didn't burst from his forearm. The curse no longer affected him.

Whoosh.

Kyle opened his eyes. A small white flame, one he had practiced creating hundreds of times, flickered above his palm.

"Ha..."

"That's impossible."

Hermann let out a breath of disbelief. Walter was no different. The two knew better than anyone how horrifying Izra's Thorn was. They also knew that the white flame floating above Kyle's palm was something wholly unlike ordinary magic.

"Honestly, I never believed in legends or myths about Prisia."

"......"

"The Commander who went on ahead might think this is terribly unfair."

Walter tried to joke, but Kyle couldn't laugh. Rowen's senseless death and Cassius Mortein's survival were both because of Izra's Thorn.

"So you don't have a sword you can use right now?"

Walter asked. Kyle nodded.

"Yes. Shamefully, at the end..."

Kyle couldn't finish. Thinking of the beloved sword that had been with him for what felt like a lifetime made him lower his head.

The sword bestowed upon members of the Knights of Ash when they were knighted.

A sword forged from star iron was another life, practically half one's body, to an Ash Knight. Kyle was no exception. He had carried it at his side ever since his knighting and had never let it leave his person for even a moment. It was a bastard sword Torvan, the greatest blacksmith in the north, had forged with all his heart in response to Kyle's wish for a sword that would never break.

"It can't replace it, but... take this."

As Kyle sank into thought, Walter rummaged through the Inventory Pouch inside his clothes and pulled out a new sword. Kyle accepted it without thinking, then his eyes widened. The sword's shape looked strangely familiar.

No, it was familiar.

"This is..."

"Prince Yurian's sword," Hermann said.

"It was left behind with his final words. Walter barely managed to recover it and kept it safe. More precisely, he kept it to give it to you."

"Why are you giving this to me...?"

"Because that was the prince's final wish."

Kyle opened and closed his mouth like a fool. The sword in his hands felt strangely heavy.

"What did Yurian... say?"

Kyle barely managed to ask. Walter answered with a solemn expression.

"I don't resent you. Live happily."

"......"

"That was all. There was nothing else. Even the last sight we had of his back... was like that."

Kyle gripped the worn hilt with trembling hands. It was the sword Yurian had received upon his knighting. As he gazed at the sword that had been like another half of his unforgettable friend, feelings beyond words surged through him.

Live happily?

Kyle slowly drew the sword. With a brief metallic rasp, the star iron gleamed brightly, dyed red by the sunset.

"Listen carefully, Kyle."

Kyle had been staring blankly at the sword for some time when Hermann spoke. He had been watching Kyle with troubled eyes.

"I keep saying this, but we don't have much time left. We need to leave tomorrow at the earliest, or the day after tomorrow at the latest, and reach Rier."

"After meeting the Grand Duke... are we overturning the council?"

"Something like that. More precisely, we're removing the current council members and putting new people in their places. The factions were originally divided between those friendly to the Empire and those hostile to it, but we no longer have the luxury of waiting. It's time to clear out the rot, especially with a full-scale war against the Empire ahead of us. The operation was agreed upon with the Grand Duke long ago, so you don't need to worry."

"When it's all over, what will be left for us? Fighting the Empire as part of the Federation under the leaders of a changed council?"

"The north's independence."

Hermann said it firmly. Kyle involuntarily drew in a breath and turned to Walter.

"Walter...?"

"The Deputy Commander isn't saying this out of nowhere. It's been planned for a long time."

Walter gave a bitter smile.

"The north is our home, after all. Once the Federation's leadership is replaced and Grand Duke Rivelius takes real power, he promised to provide us with various forms of support. The timing is right too. Hailen may have fallen, but that doesn't mean everyone in the north disappeared."

"If we rebuild Hailen..."

"We can pressure the Empire from both sides. The south, which has been watching for an opening, may join us too. That's why I said we don't have time. A banquet held regularly in Renavik is scheduled for next month, and we're planning to do it there. We need to settle this before the council's grand assembly begins."

Hermann stared at Kyle. Avoiding his gaze, Kyle lowered his eyes. Walter, who had been watching, added a word.

"We don't mean to push you too hard, Kyle."

"......"

"Your wounds haven't fully healed, right? If it's too difficult, you can rest here a little longer before leaving..."

"No. I'll go."

His hesitation lasted only a moment. Unlike before, Kyle raised his head with resolute eyes and met their gazes. Hermann and Walter both looked surprised for an instant. Kyle spoke as though making a declaration.

"Tomorrow, first thing."

* * *

At dawn, Kyle woke on his own. He ran a hand through his messy hair and climbed out of bed.

Outside was filled with a dim navy light. There was still some time before sunrise. Kyle stood by the window for a while, then began preparing to leave. They had decided to depart early in the morning, so there was no harm in being ready beforehand.

The clothes Hermann and Walter had brought him, a black cloak that covered his entire body, and Yurian's sword, which he had received yesterday.

Kyle fastened his friend's sword, both unfamiliar and familiar, at his waist. His black eyes darkened. His wounds had healed enough that he could remove the bandages, but he couldn't untangle the thoughts in his head so easily.

Soon, he would meet the Grand Duke.

He would reunite with comrades who were like family, whom he had thought dead.

After replacing the Federation's leadership, they would head north with the Grand Duke's support.

And if they rebuilt Hailen. If the Empire's destruction awaited at the end of it. If I could kill the Emperor, as Prisia had seen in the future.

I...

"......"

Kyle touched the hilt at his waist again and again before quietly leaving the room. Elysia's face flashed before his eyes for a moment, but he forced down his emotions, telling himself it wasn't time yet.

Hermann and Walter were already outside. They were preparing the three horses they would ride. When they saw Kyle suddenly emerge from the house, their eyes widened.

"You're up early."

"The sooner we leave, the better. Have you been waiting for me?"

"Not really. I just woke up early. We went to bed early yesterday, you know. The older I get, the earlier I wake up. The Deputy Commander's probably worse than me."

Walter chuckled as he looked back at Hermann. Hermann, now well into middle age, looked at Walter with clear displeasure. He clicked his tongue softly and asked Kyle.

"Are you feeling all right?"

"Yes."

"Then that's enough. Let's get going. It looks like dawn will break soon."

Hermann took out his pocket watch, checked the time, and mounted his horse. Kyle was about to follow Hermann and Walter onto his own horse when a question came to mind.

"Are we leaving just like this?"

"What?"

"We've been in their care this whole time. At least a farewell..."

Kyle looked toward the tightly shut door of the house. There was no sign of anyone inside. It was the same not just at Marta's house, but throughout the entire village. Life in the countryside began early, but it was still dawn, before even the sun had risen.

"We said goodbye yesterday."

Hermann answered without hesitation.

"If we drag it out here, it'll only leave regrets behind."

"......"

"It's better to leave first. It'll be easier for them to let go that way. This isn't the last time. We'll see each other again someday, as long as we're alive."

Kyle agreed inwardly, so he said nothing more. Still, one thought crossed his mind.

Once we succeed in replacing the council, we'll head north.

If I come back here, it'll probably be after the Empire has fallen.

"Let's go."

Hermann turned his horse first. Kyle and Walter mounted their horses and followed behind him.

The three were riding through the center of the village and were about to leave it behind when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from behind them. All three turned almost at once. A young boy was running desperately toward them.

"Colin?"

"Kyle! Mister Hermann!"

Kyle climbed down from his horse. Colin reached him, bent over, and drew ragged breaths.

"What are you doing here...?"

"Are you really leaving? This soon?"

Colin finally raised his head, his face twisted in distress.

"...Yeah. I'm leaving now."

"Why?"

"Because there's something I have to do."

"But you could stay a little longer. Your injuries aren't even fully healed yet, and you promised you'd teach me swordsmanship..."

Colin couldn't finish. Kyle gently stroked his head.

"I'm sorry."

"......"

"But the day when you need to wield a sword will never come. Then there won't be any reason for you to learn from me."

"What does that mean?"

"The war will end before you become an adult."

Kyle didn't add anything else. He climbed back onto his horse and pulled the reins.

A red light was slowly rising from the far end of the eastern sky. Beneath it, three horses and three knights rode side by side across the thawing ground. Though he could feel Colin's gaze on his back, Kyle never stopped or turned around.

He simply continued onward, toward Rier, where Grand Duke Rivelius awaited.

Footnotes:

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