WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

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◈ Sword Master of the Fallen Kingdom

Chapter 34

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Hyenas at the Foothills (2)

The rain that had fallen all through dawn finally stopped after daybreak. Kyle, after a short but restful sleep, got up first and woke Lena.

"Lena."

"Mmm..."

"Get up. It's morning."

"No... just a little longer..."

Curled up in one corner of the cave under a brown fur pelt, Lena mumbled in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. She blinked a couple of times, saw Kyle's face, then shot upright. Her turquoise eyes were full of panic.

"K-K-Kyle-ssi?"

"Quite the sleep talk."

"Ah... I..."

Lena's face flushed red. Kyle let out a short snort and handed her a cup.

"Drink. It's Mist tea."

"...Thank you."

She shook her head hard, avoided his gaze, and sipped the tea. Yesterday's campfire was still flickering in front of her. It did not look newly lit. It looked like it had been kept alive all night.

"Wait... did you not sleep?"

The warm tea relaxed her for only a moment before worry crept into her voice.

"No. I slept."

"Then how is the fire still..."

"I've never been a deep sleeper. Days when I get long, proper sleep are rare."

The day before they left Free City Traben on Branch Chief Max's commission, he had slept long at the inn, and even that had been unusual. Most of the time, Kyle slept in short stretches. With one wave of his hand, he snuffed out the campfire that had just burned through the last piece of firewood.

"More importantly, let's talk about what comes next."

"Ah, yes."

Kyle took another sip of tea, set the cup down, and spoke. Lena's expression turned serious.

"As planned, after we clear the dungeon, we head to the mage city where the Lenore Magic Tower is. We can discuss the exact loot split and your pendant payment when we get there."

"Yes, understood."

"How long did it take you to leave the Magic Tower and come all the way here?"

"Um... around two weeks?"

"Two weeks... then if we rush, we can get there in under a week."

As far as Kyle knew, the city with the Lenore Magic Tower lay northeast of this dungeon. Lena had no experience with this kind of travel, so if it took her two weeks alone, half that should be enough for them to reach their destination.

"As you know, with Magicite Syndrome, the stage matters. Mid-stage can be treated without much trouble, and even up to the middle of late stage, there may still be a way."

"I-I see."

"But if the cardiovascular system is fully turned to magic stone and death is near, even I can do nothing. It would be the same even for a cardinal from Crescent."

There had to be at least some part that was not petrified yet. Only then would a top-grade potion infused with holy power have any effect.

"Ah..."

Lena's face darkened in an instant. Her parents were gone. Her grandfather was her only family left, and the fear that he might die weighed heavily on her.

"Are his symptoms very severe?"

After watching her for a moment, Kyle asked again. He had asked yesterday too, but he needed more detail.

"...Yes."

"Is he conscious?"

"He was, when I left. He couldn't use magic at all, but he could still manage to eat oat porridge."

"So he was still conscious a month and a half ago... not the worst case, but still hanging by a thread."

Kyle drained the rest of his tea in one gulp. He glanced outside the cave, where the sky had fully cleared, then stood up.

"Let's go."

"Right now?"

"Yes. We need to cut more time. If he's past the middle of late stage, each day is critical. We get there within six days."

After checking the dead embers one more time, Kyle inspected his gear.

Light leather armor, black cloak, sword at his waist, and now the white ring on his left middle finger, clinging to him like part of his body.

With this much, nothing should go wrong no matter what happened.

"We go down this mountain as fast as possible. If we're too late, everything becomes pointless."

***

After leaving the dungeon cave, Kyle and Lena began descending through the forest at a quick pace. Until yesterday, heavy rain had lashed the woods nonstop. Now the sky was clear, and the forest was full of the fresh scent of grass.

"It feels like yesterday's rain was a lie. It was pouring just a few hours ago..."

"We got lucky. If it had kept raining, things would've been troublesome."

Kyle answered honestly. In the worst case, they would have had to force their way down through a forest under a downpour. Not a major problem, but exhausting all the same. Even now, much of his fatigue from the constant fighting still lingered.

"Kyle-ssi."

"What is it?"

"That dungeon... no, the Alenos ruins. We got out, but what happens to the people still inside, and to the ruins? If the lich that maintained the ruins is gone..."

"They'll be buried as they are. The people and the ruins."

Kyle answered as if it were nothing. Lena's eyes widened.

"Then won't they be buried alive?"

"The audience chamber isn't the only place that could have teleportation. We only searched part of the ruins, so there could be other spots. Or they might get lucky and find a relic that can do the same thing."

If they were unlucky, they would starve to death. Either way, that was a risk you accepted the moment you stepped into a dungeon. Nothing was more foolish than the arrogance of believing you would never die.

"Are you still worried about Erik's group?"

"N-no!"

"Then what?"

"It's... actually, maybe a little..."

Lena trailed off. Her voice dropped to almost nothing. Kyle thought she was soft.

He did not say it out loud. Kyle was quick at reading people. Maybe that was why he found her oddly refreshing. A little enviable too. It was something he no longer had, after being worn down by life.

A kind of purity he could never have again.

"You don't have to force yourself to act positive."

Kyle spoke to the downcast Lena.

"If you leave it alone, time will deal with it."

"...Will it?"

"Yeah. Humans are creatures of forgetting. Forgetting is both a curse and a blessing."

Happy memories, painful memories, even things you felt you could never forget.

As time passed, they were worn down by the storms of life and slowly blurred. Maybe that was why Kyle clung to the past. Everything that made him who he was lived there. If he forgot it, he felt he would lose himself.

"Okay. I'll still try to think positively more than negatively. I can't keep holding you back forever, Kyle-ssi."

Lena, who had been staring at the ground, snapped her head up. The gesture was exaggerated, almost forced, but she looked much better than before.

"Good. Let's keep moving. Once we're out of the mountain, we can pick up speed."

"Yes!"

Lena answered energetically. Kyle increased their pace again.

Soon they were almost running as they descended, slipping past dense trees and crossing rough mountain streams.

"Kyle-ssi?"

That was when Kyle, who had been leading, stopped dead. Lena, breathing hard behind him, looked at him in confusion.

"What's wrong?"

"This is getting annoying."

"Huh?"

Lena tilted her head. Kyle did not explain why he had stopped. He simply closed his eyes and awakened every sense in his body. As if answering his will, mana flowed from the ring and spread in every direction in an instant.

"I hoped I was wrong..."

Kyle clicked his tongue softly. Not far away, he felt the presence of well-trained soldiers.

Not just one or two. They were moving in groups of three, patrolling a fixed area as if searching for something.

That was not the only strange part. No mercenaries looking for money were in sight. He could not sense any either. Just a week ago, the mountain had been crowded with mercenaries trying to enter the dungeon. Yet after clearing the ruins and coming out, all of them had vanished as if by agreement. Something had clearly happened.

"We'll take a slight detour."

"All of a sudden?"

Lena asked, worry in her voice.

"I'll explain later. Follow me."

Kyle spoke shortly and changed direction from the path they had been descending. He moved toward areas with as little human presence as possible. But whatever method they were using, the patrol groups roaming nearby at regular intervals began tailing Kyle and Lena as if coordinated. There were dozens. Kyle stopped again.

"They're openly herding us. Looks like they have a highly skilled mage."

He muttered through clenched teeth and turned around. The forest path behind them looked empty, just like before. But Kyle knew.

Dozens of people around them were signaling each other and slowly tightening the encirclement.

"No choice then..."

"K-Kyle-ssi?"

Lena froze when his eyes met hers. Kyle gave her a brief glance and said,

"Stay right behind me. Keep that pendant ready for immediate use."

"Are there really other people here?"

"Yeah. A lot of them. We could break through and get out as we are, but..."

Did he need to? If he ran, they would force a chase.

Better to end it here. Noble grudges never ended cleanly.

"We got invited, so we should answer."

"..."

"Let's go."

His voice was dry and flat. Lena stiffened.

She nodded tensely and stayed close behind him, gripping the pendant she had pulled from inside her clothes.

Kyle walked down the forest path at a leisurely pace. Unlike before, he did not run. He moved through the woods as if out for a stroll. The dozens surrounding them kept their distance so the pair could not slip away, but they did not rush in carelessly.

Kyle sneered inwardly.

What a joke. Looks like they don't have the nerve to face me head-on.

The corner of his mouth twisted slightly.

Had they noticed his mana? Possible. Right now, Kyle could wield mana freely through the ring.

Anyone sharp would realize he was a mercenary of considerable skill. Kyle stopped paying attention to those encircling him and kept walking in silence.

By the time the sun was nearly at its peak and they were close to the bottom of the mountain,

"Kyle-ssi, over there..."

Lena, trailing behind him uneasily, raised her hand and pointed ahead. At the entrance path into the mountain, near the boundary between forest and open field, a group stood blocking the way. There were four of them, waiting as if they had expected Kyle and Lena to come down.

"Knights, and a mage too."

Kyle studied them with cold eyes. Three knights in clearly high-quality armor, and between them, a middle-aged man who looked like a mage.

Even at a glance, they looked skilled. More than that, their cloaks and robe bore the crest of House Filein. Exactly what he had expected. Kyle let out a short dry laugh, stepped forward calmly, and stopped a short distance from them.

"Quite the welcoming party. I don't remember inviting anyone."

"Please understand. We have our own circumstances."

The middle-aged mage, the only mage among the four, stepped forward.

Like Kyle, he carefully scanned both of them.

One mercenary who looked highly capable, and one mage from the Lenore Magic Tower.

He looked away from Kyle's black cloak and sword, then frowned when he saw Lena's robe. The Lenore Magic Tower was the top magic tower in the Kingdom of Brendel. Naturally, most of its mages were nobles or from wealthy houses. Hurting one carelessly could make things complicated.

"Let me ask one thing. It's not a difficult question."

But only for a moment. He returned to his calm expression and continued.

"Did you just come down from this mountain?"

"Why?"

"Ah, sorry for the late introduction. As you can see, we're vassals serving Marquis Filein. We were dispatched to investigate this dungeon. For the past few days, we've checked everyone targeting it, but..."

He paused. At the words Marquis Filein, Lena, standing right behind Kyle, tightened her grip on the pendant and scanned the surroundings.

"People coming down from above in one piece, like you two, this is the first time we've seen it. Not one before you. Which means you came out from inside the dungeon cave and descended the mountain. If someone came out alive from an uncleared dungeon, doesn't that imply only one thing?"

Seeing Lena's frightened reaction, the middle-aged mage looked pleased.

He did not bother to hide his intentions. Kyle's lips curled at the transparent ploy.

"So?"

Kyle asked with open mockery. The mage showed no sign of offense.

"I'd like to make a deal."

"A deal?"

"That's right. This dungeon was discovered over three months ago. Not a single survivor until now. But you two came out alive first. If you were the first to clear and escape a dungeon of that difficulty, you must be carrying plenty of spoils. Our marquis has recently been collecting relics and artifacts, so..."

"When you said you checked everyone targeting the dungeon, did you kill them all?"

Kyle cut him off. The mage blinked blankly for a moment, then his expression twisted.

"Kill? Watch your words. We simply let them close their eyes in peace. People often say life is suffering, don't they?"

"You surround people in the open and still talk pretty. Is this Marquis Filein's will too?"

Kyle sneered. The distance between them was about twenty meters. He kept touching the hilt at his waist while sensing the surroundings. The dozens of soldiers who had stayed farther back earlier were now spread out on all sides, hidden between trees and bushes.

"Heh heh. Please stop saying things that could be misunderstood. It's not an encirclement. We merely arranged this place for a brief conversation."

"That's some fine sophistry."

Kyle answered shortly. The middle-aged mage grinned. Just seeing that smile made his skin crawl.

"Anyway."

After clearing his throat, he added,

"Marquis Filein requires the relics and artifacts you're carrying. So I offer a fair deal. Every relic, every Magic Tool, every artifact you obtained. We'll buy all of it. We'll pay full market price. What do you say?"

"Why should I trust any of you?"

"Heh heh. We're vassals of Marquis Filein. His lordship's honor is at stake. Do you think we'd stain our house's prestige just to save a few coins?"

"The dead don't talk. Faster to loot us and bury us."

"Heh heh heh."

The middle-aged mage kept laughing. So did the three knights beside him. There was not a trace of fear on their faces. They stood with total confidence, like men out for a casual walk. Even if the Lenore mage with Kyle might also be a noble, they looked ready to bury her all the same.

"So... will you trade with us, or not?"

"Is that a threat?"

Kyle jerked his chin toward the nearby brush where soldiers were hiding. The mage pulled his smile even wider.

"If that's how it sounded to you, then so be it. Honestly, does it matter? The result is already decided. You have no choices left."

His tone dripped with certainty. The smile on his lips did not fade.

"...You're right. There were no choices from the beginning."

"Then..."

"I didn't need to think this long. I wasted my time."

Kyle looked up. The sky above the rain-cleared forest was a clean, bright blue.

So different from the dark, damp, suffocating ceiling of the ruins. Cold, fresh air stabbed deep into his lungs. Kyle honed all five senses.

The ring on his left hand answered and spread mana in every direction. Everything around him became crystal clear, as if he could seize it in his hands.

Dense trees. Swaying bushes. Sunlight pouring down. Three knights and one mage blocking the path. Dozens of soldiers holding their breath all around. Kyle and Lena standing in the center.

"What...?"

The middle-aged mage narrowed his eyes at Kyle, who had suddenly looked up at the sky. Then Kyle lowered his head and raised his left hand.

A white ring sat on his left middle finger. The air above his palm slowly warped. Swaying branches and dancing shadows, and in the center of it all, wind kept condensing over Kyle's hand.

No way.

The middle-aged mage stepped forward in panic. A colorless sphere rose like shimmering heat haze.

"Dodge!"

He threw both arms up and shouted. At the same time, Kyle spoke in a low voice.

"Blade Storm."

Kwaaaaaah!

In an instant, the forest convulsed violently. Compressed air shot out in streaks.

Invisible blades ripped through the atmosphere and fired in every direction. Trees and bushes were sliced down all at once. Bright red blood burst out in multiple sprays. Severed arms and legs flew through the air with horrific screams.

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