WeTried Translations
Translator: Coughing Baby
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Inept Mage’s Infinite Regression
Chapter 63
Laken draped her own cloak around herself and said, “Ah, I know you. Um… what was your name again?”
“Ethan Dora Charasen.”
“Right. The young master of the Charasen family!”
“…Well, not exactly.”
“Could you look at me when we talk? You’re making me feel left out.”
Ethan glanced over and felt relieved upon seeing Laken’s body covered. “Is there a reason you weren’t wearing any clothes?” he asked. “Because of transformation magic?”
“I wasn’t not wearing them, okay?” Laken grabbed the edge of the cloak.
“No, no, there’s no need to show me.”
“You Northerners are so stiff and fussy.”
“So in the South, it’s okay to walk around without your robes?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Ethan wondered what she wanted him to do.
“You’re right that it was because of transformation magic. Every time I transform, I can’t exactly change clothes all over again. This garment helps with the transformation, and when I do transform, it changes shape as well so it still fits. The cloth used to make it is extremely expensive, so it’s a bit much to make it cover a large area.”
“Oh, so you only wear that when you’re about to engage in combat, like armor.”
“No? I wear just this all the time.”
“…I see.” Ethan felt like he should change the subject. “I didn’t know you were alone in the carriage.”
“Once the operation started, other people would just get in the way. So that some other battle mage wouldn’t pester me, Master Butcher took care of it.”
“Who?”
“You’re from Yurmus too, right? Aren’t you a Magic Academy student? He said you were his disciple.”
“Professor Rivielton?”
“Yeah. Rivielton. Master Butcher.”
“That’s a pretty intense nickname.”
“Is it? I think it suits him. All the battle mages call him that. Back when he was far off at the Wall, he wasn’t a professor yet, so they used to drop the ‘Master’ part.”
Ethan again tried to connect the gentle-looking Rivielton with that nickname, but he still felt it didn’t match.
“Are you close with the other battle mages too?” Ethan asked.
“I saw them here and there while traveling around. You might already know, but there are constant wars in the West because of Terra. Sometimes we fight together as allies, sometimes we meet as enemies. Now that there are rumors the Emperor’s gone mad, though, mercenaries and battle mages are flocking here. If a big war breaks out, there’ll be a lot of money moving around.”
Ethan couldn’t help but react to the mention of Terra. “There must be many people from Terra in the West, then?”
“I don’t know about ‘many,’ but compared to other areas, yeah, probably. Twenty years ago, the ones that escaped from the Empire settled mostly in the West to avoid the Imperial Inquisition.”
“I heard they all just lived quietly?”
“They needed time. Maybe you’ve met them, but Terrans are tall and smart. They’ve also got considerable knowledge of dark magic.”
“They have strange beliefs, too. Stuff like ‘Wash your hands with soap before you eat.’ ”
“What, you’ve met them as well?” Laken chuckled, likely recalling the people from Terra she had met. “The problem with Terrans is just that they’re from another world and don’t speak our language, but enough time has passed. By now, they’re each making it big. Becoming wealthy or taking positions as scribes by the side of a lord. I even heard of a Terran who became a noble.”
“There’s less discrimination against Terrans in the South, then?”
“Can’t say there’s none at all, but it’s nothing like Damarth… Actually, never mind. Could it compare to the Empire? They say the Empire rounds up Terrans and buries them alive.”
“That’s a bit extreme.”
“Well, that’s what I’ve heard. Anyway, people who get taken away, no one ever hears from them again,” Laken said. “Hm, come to think of it, what kind of magic do you use? It’s the first time I’ve seen someone from Charasen. Aren’t there too few of you? You can’t be afraid of a family war. You’ve got to have a lot of children so one of them will be born with talent. I’m worried about your family head’s stamina.”
Ethan cleared his throat. “What you just said would normally be insulting enough to challenge you to a duel.”
“Oh, really? Sorry, sorry. But I don’t back down from duels, you know.”
“I’ll chalk it up to a cultural difference with the South. We can forget about the duel.”
Honestly, he was more afraid of Laken’s combat prowess than he was concerned about cultural differences.
Getting back to the main topic, Ethan said, “I have no talent for magic. I can hardly use it.”
“Huh? Then why are you here?”
He couldn’t exactly talk about dark magic, so Ethan had no choice but to answer, “…I’m not sure.”
Laken didn’t get angry and instead just chuckled dryly. She likely assumed there was something to him if Rivielton recommended him.
“So you’re from a great family but have no talent for magic? That’s interesting. Though, I think I’ve heard the name Arca? I’m not sure exactly, but I heard she’s a genius mage.”
“She’s my older sister.”
“Really? I heard rumors she’s already close to the Transcendental Realm.”
“You mean a high-level mage?”
Generally speaking, a ‘mage’ was someone at or below the level of a Magic Academy student or apprentice mage. Most cast simple magic or small conjurations, and some performed such tricks on the streets to draw a crowd and make money—people called them “conjurers.” Above that level were graduate students of the Magic Academy or low-ranking mages. Above that, once someone accumulated enough skill to use mid-level magic, were mid-rank mages. Lastly, someone recognized as an elder in a school and who could use high-level magic was considered a high-rank mage.
But within high-rank mages, there was another classification. As far as Ethan knew, there were five stages in total: the Phenomenal Realm, the Interpretive Realm, the Inner Realm, the Transcendental Realm, and finally, the Origin Realm. Ethan wasn’t entirely sure, though. Not everyone followed that classification, and Ethan himself was far removed from the level of a high-rank mage.
“I’m not really sure,” Ethan said honestly.
“Ah, well. If you don’t have a knack for magic, it can’t be helped.”
“What level are you at, Laken?” Immediately, Ethan wondered if he was being rude.
Laken didn’t seem to mind, though. “Me?” she answered. “I’m still in the Phenomenal Realm.”
“So you are a high-rank mage.”
“Not necessarily. Theoretically, mid-rank mages and below are also all in the Phenomenal Realm.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yep. The Phenomenal Realm refers to magic that causes phenomena in the here and now, in this world, Damarth Yumaha. That’s oversimplifying it, but still.”
“I see.”
“Of course, I’m still treated as a high-rank mage.”
“…I see.”
Finding Ethan’s question interesting, Laken started murmuring to herself, “Hm, I wonder about everyone else. Master Butcher’s probably at least in the Inner Realm. The Siege Mage would be in the Interpretive Realm, I guess. He probably thinks there’s no need to go any higher. The Captain of the Guards… I’m not sure. I don’t know much about alchemy. But if it’s alchemy, then maybe they focus on the Phenomenal Realm…?”
As Laken drifted off into her own thoughts, Ethan asked, “By the way, what kind of family is Lagina?”
“Oh, my family? Want to come visit sometime?”
“I’ve heard it’s on terribly mountainous terrain and has a lot of snowfall.”
“Compared to where I live, the snow here is nothing. If you go outside in winter and get caught in a snowstorm, you’re doomed. Even the elders of our family sometimes freeze to death and get found later.”
“And yet you’re telling me to come visit?”
“Come in the summer. Though, there’s still snow in the summer.”
Ethan was about to respond, but the carriage rattled to a stop.
“Ambush! It’s an ambush!”
“Everyone get out! We’re in range of arrows!”
Ethan and Laken met eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, they exited through opposite doors to avoid blocking each other. Ethan ended up on the side facing the incoming attackers.
He drew his sword and managed to deflect the arrows flying toward him, but he was startled by the number of enemies closing in. During the battle with the Undying King, he’d been on the attacking side, but being attacked felt completely different. Also, he was facing human soldiers this time, not skeletal soldiers—many of them, all charging in with sword and shield.
‘What should I do? At this rate, three or four of them will come at me at once. Even if these soldiers aren’t using body magic, it’s tough to dodge that many strikes. Should I use the carriage as cover? That would break our formation, wouldn’t it? I can’t just save myself and endanger everyone else.’
It was a soldier’s anxiety when facing the battlefield.
But Ethan’s worry didn’t last long.
“Ethan! Get down!”
Riding in on horseback, Rivielton swung his greatsword overhead, and the heads of the onrushing soldiers came tumbling down with a thud. This happened not only where Ethan was but all along the formation of the four carriages.
Stunned, the enemy soldiers not only stopped in their tracks but backed away.
“Ethan! Get down!”
Ethan turned around and saw Laken standing atop the carriage. She took a deep breath, and Ethan, feeling something was about to happen, rolled toward the carriage.
Kwooooom!
With a scraping roar, a cone of flames blasted from Laken’s mouth like the breath of a fire dragon.
Caught in the flames, the soldiers couldn’t even scream before they were consumed, flailing as living fireballs. Laken blew out a final puff of black smoke and wiped her mouth.
Then, as other battle mages finished their spells, explosive flames rained down on the hidden archers.
Rivielton raised his sword high and shouted, “Continue the operation! I’ll handle the rear! There’s a cliff just ahead!”
Indeed, there was. Lifting his gaze, Ethan saw a rocky mountain slope angled nearly 80 degrees. Climbing that rock would bring them to Cora. On horseback, it would take only a few dozen seconds to reach.
“Professor!” Ethan called out.
“Go up to the front carriage, Ethan. The others will need your help.”
“Understood!”
As Rivielton said, most battle mages weren’t that adept at close combat. Casting magic required at least a bit of breathing room. Using only minor or low-level spells to momentarily fend off a single enemy was useless, especially when outnumbered. Someone had to physically hold the line.
Ethan maneuvered behind a soldier charging toward the carriage. Imitating Rivielton, he only managed to strike the back of the man’s neck, but it was enough to divert the surrounding soldiers’ attention. Just a brief opening—that was all Ethan needed to unleash Tusk Breaker.
Ethan surged forward, catching up with the carriage as it began to pull away. He barely avoided stumbling and ran alongside it. Looking up, he saw Boen on top of the carriage.
“Boen!”
“Allow me to assist.”
While Ethan guarded Boen, they took down the soldiers rushing the carriage. They fought off a few waves before finally reaching the cliff.
But at the base of the cliff, soldiers waited in formation, seemingly having expected they would come this way.
“There are too many of them!”
“Don’t worry!”
Laken appeared atop the first carriage and tossed her cloak aside. Then she leaped toward the enemy ranks.
“Behold… my true form!”
Laken seemed to explode. Her body turned fiery red and swelled up. But not even a second passed before everyone realized what they were seeing: red scales, razor-sharp claws, a long snout, four horns jutting from her head, and bright yellow eyes with vertical pupils—a fire dragon.
“…for all to see!”
The fire dragon roared.
Kroooooarrr!
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