WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Sword Master of the Fallen Kingdom

Chapter 74

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Seeking the Road Ahead (2)

More than three years had already passed since the Hailen Kingdom fell and Kyle crossed over to the southern part of the continent.

Naturally, he had made plenty of connections during that time. Not that he had tried to build any deep relationships. They were simply ties that had formed on their own as he wandered the southern part of the continent alone after the kingdom’s fall. Some nobles even showed Kyle open favor. Mercenaries were no different.

The one who remained clearest in his memory was a Gold-rank mercenary named Jade. He was the first person Kyle had formed a connection with after coming south. Back then, they had worked together for several months and handled a number of major commissions. The crest of House Valerian that had proven useful at the Lenore Magic Tower was something he had received during that time as well.

The Night Crow of Kirian and Jade the Flash.

The youngest Silver-rank Mercenary and one of the top Gold-rank mercenaries in southern Velia had dealt with House Valerian’s troubles with ease. After leaving the ducal house, they had parted ways and gone nearly three years without meeting again. Velia was simply that vast. Even the south alone held many countries, including Kirian, Brendel, and Tervan.

Honestly, Kyle had thought they would never meet again. So he had left him with only a brief, formal farewell.

Yet here they were, reunited at the entrance to the Duchy of Tervan.

“I never thought I’d run into you here. At first, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Thought I might be seeing things.”

The man lowered the hand he had waved in greeting. Kyle murmured quietly.

“...Jade.”

“You really haven’t changed at all. How do you look younger than before?”

Jade chuckled as he looked at Kyle’s face. The old acquaintance, a Gold-rank mercenary, had dark brown hair and open, pleasant features. Like Kyle, he wore light leather armor, with a sword hanging at his waist. Stronger than most elite knights of great houses, he was as cheerful as if he had just run into an old friend.

“When did you start following me?”

“A little while ago? I got tired of sitting around in the inn, so I came out for some air, and then I saw a familiar face. So I followed you. Still can’t believe it.”

Jade answered without hesitation. Elysia, standing slightly behind Kyle, watched the dark-haired man with wary eyes. Kyle gestured with his left hand, signaling that it was all right. Elysia gave a very small nod.

“Who’s that beside you? Did you throw me away and find yourself a new companion?”

Jade teased. The woman wore Kyle’s black cloak with the hood pulled low. Beyond the orange sunset, the hair barely visible beneath it shone a clear gold. Even from only the lower half of her shadowed face, it was obvious she was no commoner.

At minimum, she was the daughter of a high noble house comparable to a great family.

A Gold-rank mercenary mostly took commissions from nobles, so he knew these things well. There was dignity in the way she stood. Just as Jade’s eyes narrowed, Kyle spoke first.

“She is traveling with me.”

“Traveling with you?”

Jade tilted his head.

“Are you escorting some noble lady? A commission?”

“...”

“Fine, fine. Can’t say a word, huh? So it’s confidential?”

Jade raised both hands. Kyle let out a low sigh and continued.

“So, what is it?”

“Huh?”

When Kyle looked at him with flat eyes, Jade opened his mouth as if he had been wounded.

“What is it? Isn’t that a little harsh? Obviously I came over because I was glad to see you and wanted to talk. Catch up on what’s happened. Have a drink too, while we’re at it.”

“...You should know I can’t drink.”

“Then have a meal with me. Even better if you buy. You’re rich.”

“I am?”

“Can’t one friend buy another a meal?”

“Were we friends?”

Kyle tossed out the question. Jade’s eyes went wide. This time, he looked genuinely shocked.

“We weren’t?”

“We did a few commissions together, but we were never friends.”

“We spent months together and you’re saying we weren’t friends? Hey, back when you fell out with Viscount Bolloren and killed a bunch of his knights, I covered that up for you...”

Jade had begun pouring out his complaint in an aggrieved tone when a sudden gust of wind brushed past the side of his head. A beat later, a few short strands of hair, sliced clean, fluttered down to the ground.

“...Same as ever. Feels like your wind’s sharper than before, though. Did you get your hands on a good relic or something?”

Incantationless Wind Magic. Jade glanced at the fallen hair, then looked at the middle finger of Kyle’s left hand. A white ring, which had flashed faintly for an instant, rested there.

“And you still talk too much.”

“Ha ha.”

Jade laughed in an exaggerated way. He did not look especially flustered. He was simply calm. While they had worked together, Jade had come to know some of Kyle’s secrets even without Kyle saying anything. It was possible because he had both natural skill and sharp eyes.

“Haa...”

Kyle sighed again. Somehow, his head was starting to ache.

“Which inn are you staying at?”

“Inn? Ah, it’s near the city center.”

“The best one?”

“Probably? It looked the most impressive from the outside, at least. The price was filthy too. Twenty silver coins a night, I think. No wonder they call this place barren land. The prices are awful. Maybe it’s worse because there are so many people.”

Jade grumbled. Kyle stared for a moment at the sunset light falling across the alley, then spoke.

“We can talk about the rest there. This conversation looks like it will take a while.”

“Oh? Are you buying me a meal?”

Kyle did not answer and started walking first. Elysia exchanged a brief glance with him, then followed after him with quick steps.

“Hey! Wait for me!”

Jade belatedly came to his senses and hurried after the two of them.

It did not take long before the three of them were walking together along the main road.

***

The inn where Jade was staying stood in the center of Nibelmund. Unlike when they had been chased by wyvern knights, there was no reason to worry about pursuit for the time being, so Kyle opened the large entrance doors without hesitation.

The inside was packed with mercenaries and merchants of every sort. Travelers sat here and there as well. Voices came from every direction. Even at Ligrid Gate and the fortress, Kyle had thought there were more people than usual, but Nibelmund was worse. Just like the crowds outside, the inn was nearly full.

“Welcome. Are you looking for lodging?”

A male server, busy carrying food, approached just then. Jade, who had been leading the way, answered for them.

“Ah, not me. They need lodging. I already got a room earlier.”

“I see.”

“They’re companions I just met, and they need a place to sleep tonight. Do you have any empty rooms? It’d be nice if they were close to mine.”

“Empty rooms, sir? Which floor are you staying on?”

“Third.”

“That’s what he says. What’ll you do?”

Jade turned back toward Kyle and Elysia.

“That works. Two rooms, please.”

“Two? Sleeping separately?”

Jade asked in surprise. From what he could see, Kyle and Elysia seemed closer and more intimate than a simple employer and escort. So he had naturally assumed they would take one room. But two?

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like that.”

“Hmm...”

“Two rooms, please. For one day first.”

They would be in rooms right beside each other across the corridor anyway, so it would not be a big issue. Kyle ignored Elysia’s startled gaze and paid the lodging fee to the server. The price was high, but considering that was why there were still empty rooms, he did not feel it was a waste. He had more than enough money anyway.

“What would you like for your meal?”

“Something filling.”

“Understood.”

The server bowed politely, told them to sit wherever they liked, and left. Kyle looked around for a moment, then moved toward an empty seat in the large first-floor dining hall. There was a long table against the corner wall. Once Kyle and Elysia sat, Jade naturally took the seat across from them.

“Whew... Guess I’m finally getting a meal out of you after nearly three years.”

Jade looked pleased. Kyle sat in the corner and looked over the faces filling the first-floor dining hall. The guests were made up of skilled mercenaries and well-off merchants, as expected from the price, and every one of them wore either a frown or a grave expression. Here and there, conversations about the duchy’s current situation passed around, with mentions of barbarian tribes and the like.

“Are you still working as a mercenary?”

Kyle listened to those conversations in passing and spoke to Jade across from him. Jade, like Kyle, was scanning the surroundings.

“For now, yeah? People like us live by the sword. What else would we do? It’s not like I can read, and I’m not especially smart either. Ah, you’d be different, Kyle.”

“You could have stayed with House Valerian if you wanted.”

House Valerian. The greatest house of the Kingdom of Kirian and one of its founding contributors.

It was a noble house Kyle had once helped by handling commissions alongside Jade.

“Ah... It was nice back then, sure. I’ve never been treated like such an honored guest in my whole life.”

“Didn’t you get involved with one of the maids there?”

“Ha ha, well...”

Jade turned his eyes away. Judging by his reaction, it had not ended very well.

“You know me, don’t you? I’ve got a wandering streak.”

“True.”

“Enough about that. Since we’ve met like this, let’s talk about something else. Who’s the young lady beside you?”

Changing the subject, Jade looked at Elysia, who sat beside Kyle, with a subtle gleam in his eyes. Elysia had been sitting quietly and listening to their conversation. She glanced at Kyle. When Kyle gave a small nod to show it was all right, she finally opened her mouth.

“I am Ellie. I am traveling with Kyle, whom I hired as my escort, due to personal circumstances.”

Her clear voice rang unusually bright even through the noisy dining hall. Jade and Elysia’s eyes met. The golden eyes and graceful features visible beneath her deeply pulled hood left Jade speechless for a moment. He stared blankly at Elysia for a short while, then belatedly came back to himself.

“Ellie, Ellie, Ellie...”

“...”

“That’s a very noble name, young lady. I’ve seen a great many noble daughters in my time, but you’re by far the finest among them.”

It was sincere, without a shred of pretense. The name Ellie, her words and bearing toward him, even the appearance faintly visible beneath the hood. All of it. The name she had just given was probably either an alias or a childhood nickname. Either way, it was not her real name. Quick-witted Jade saw that at once. And he did not pry any further.

“Who are you?”

This time, Elysia asked. Jade shrugged.

“Me? I think it’d be faster to ask the escort knight beside you than to hear it from my own mouth.”

Elysia’s gaze naturally shifted to Kyle. Jade grinned and snickered. Seeing that expression, Kyle faintly furrowed his brow and answered as if it were nothing.

“...A mercenary I knew briefly in the past. He is a Gold-rank mercenary who mainly works in the southern part of the continent.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes. Nothing special.”

“A mercenary you knew briefly? That hurts. Do you know how much we helped each other during those months?”

Unable to keep quiet, Jade grumbled. Kyle ignored him and continued.

“If there is anything worth mentioning, it is that his sword is quite fast. That is why he earned the title Jade the Flash.”

That was true. Jade’s sword was unusually fast, even compared to other Gold-rank mercenaries or knights. In speed alone, he was on a similar level to Kyle. Most people had their throats cut before they even realized the sword had moved.

“It seems about time we get to the point. You wouldn’t have approached me simply to reminisce. What is your real purpose?”

The server approached with both hands full of food. Warm, freshly made dishes were set out along the long table. The dining hall was still loud with every sort of conversation. Jade wiped away his sly expression and spoke in a serious voice.

“Kyle.”

“Speak.”

“You probably know this already, but most of the trading convoys passing through the Duchy of Tervan are blocked right now. To be precise, they know the situation and still can’t pass.”

“So it was like that.”

Jade’s eyes moved toward one spot. Kyle and Elysia also turned their heads toward where Jade was looking. Merchants seemed to be gathered there in small groups, wearing grave faces and sighing deeply. Between the conversations they had been hearing and the sight of those merchants, the rough situation was easy enough to guess.

“So, the reason?”

Kyle tapped a finger beside the bowl of food in front of him.

Right after that, the surrounding noise died away in an instant, as if blocked by an invisible wall. It was as though they had entered a silent room.

“A civil war broke out.”

“Civil war?”

Kyle asked. Jade rubbed his chin, his expression serious.

“More exactly, the barbarian tribes of the Duchy of Tervan have joined hands with the regular army. Tervan’s highlands were always famous for having many barbarian tribes. And the duke can’t really do anything about it, so he’s keeping it quiet.”

After saying that, Jade looked down at the table for a while. Hot steam rose from the dishes that had just come out, but none of them picked up their utensils first. The three of them only sat in silence, lost in thought as they turned over the conversation they had just had.

How much time passed like that?

“Kyle.”

Jade, who had been stroking his chin with his elbow on the table, lifted his eyes as if he had made up his mind. His dark brown eyes, much like his hair, stared straight through Kyle.

“You’re not thinking of crossing this place, are you? With the young lady beside you?”

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