WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈

Chapter 10: Holy Combat Arts

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After a little over ten minutes' walk from the Grand Temple's northern exit, one came upon a small forest, the only verdant place in all of Elia.

Vera stood in the heart of the forest, looking at the cabin before him.

It was an old cabin that had clearly stood vacant for a long time.

Cobwebs stretched across every corner, dust lay thick on the railings, and the shabby door hung half off its hinges. Together, they gave the place a distinctly eerie air.

This was where Vera would live from now on.

Looking at the secluded cabin and the dense trees surrounding it, Vera smiled in satisfaction.

He had been offered lodgings within the temple, complete with every convenience, but there was a reason he had refused and come here instead.

'I won't lose my mind here, at least.'

Like every other building in the Holy Kingdom, the temple lodgings had been covered in white from top to bottom.

Not only were the buildings white, but every furnishing inside was white as well.

Vera did not think he could remain sane in a place covered entirely in white.

"Are you truly all right with a place like this?"

Vera turned his head.

Standing there was the captain of the holy knights he had sparred with earlier.

It was Norn, a middle-aged man with straw-colored hair neatly brushed back.

"Yes. I like that it's quiet."

"I'm glad you're satisfied, but... it does need repairs, so I'll send someone over."

"Thank you."

"Then I'll take my leave. Please let me know if you need anything."

"All right."

After that brief exchange, Norn walked away.

Vera watched Norn leave, then approached the cabin and opened the door.

Creeeak.

Vera's brow furrowed slightly at the sight revealed inside.

'...Certainly.'

It did seem to need repairs.

With that thought, Vera noticed a table in the center of the cabin and walked over to sit down.

He brushed away the dust stirred by his movement for a moment. Then Vera's expression darkened as he recalled what had happened before coming here.

His meeting with Vargo, the questions that followed, and the words Vera had let slip while swept up in emotion.

'That snake of an old fool.'

Vargo had dragged out the words hidden inside Vera.

For some reason, Vargo had cackled for a long while. Then Vargo had merely said, "See that you work hard," before turning away and leaving.

Norn had been the one to guide Vera afterward.

Vera let out a short breath and calmed the irritation rising inside.

'...Still, the result was good.'

Vargo's attitude had clearly implied acceptance. Vargo must have permitted Vera's naturalization. That must have been why this residence had been given to him.

Looking only at the result, things had not gone badly. Vera had taken the first step toward his goal.

Vargo's way of speaking did make anger rise within him, but Vera was not so foolish as to ruin things over such feelings.

Crossing his legs, Vera continued thinking.

What he needed to do now was...

'Apostle's Trial.'

To have his position as an Apostle recognized and command the Saintess's escort procession, Vera had to undergo that rite.

Whenever the Holy Kingdom was mentioned, Apostle's Trial was always part of the conversation, so Vera knew of it well.

It was a rite of proof that the nine Apostles chosen by the Nine Gods had to undergo. The platinum rosary the Saintess had worn around her neck in Vera's previous life was the token bestowed upon Apostles who had completed Apostle's Trial.

'The problem is what kind of ordeal I will receive.'

The Apostle's Trial was a rite in which one proved oneself by overcoming the ordeal bestowed through a god's revelation.

Naturally, the nature of each ordeal differed.

And so did the time needed to complete it.

Fifty years ago, Vargo Saintlore, the current Holy Emperor, received a revelation commanding him to judge the evil of the continent. He traveled across the continent for roughly ten years, forging a legend.

The twins now guarding the gates of the Holy Kingdom remained at that post to realize the true meaning of protection.

As Vera continued thinking, the Saintess's face suddenly passed through his mind.

'The ordeal given to the Saintess was...'

It was likely the secret inspection Vera had heard about in passing in his previous life.

Vera's hand tightened into a fist.

'...I have to finish within four years.'

His own ordeal had to end before then.

After receiving her Holy Mark and entering the Holy Kingdom, the Saintess would receive her trial and go down into the gutters.

Vera did not want to send her there alone. When she went to that place, Vera had to remain at her side.

Had Vera not sworn to live this second life that way?

Vera let out a short breath and rose.

According to Norn, the revelation would be received in a week, as soon as the preparations were complete.

Vera thought about what he needed to do before then.

"You're like a fucking dog in heat."

Vargo's words.

They were words that denied Vera's entire life, yet words Vera could not refute.

Vera opened his palm and stared blankly at it.

It was a hand that had always taken. A hand that had held a sword meant to take from others.

But now, it had to change.

Vera's place was at her side. What Vera needed to do was not take, but protect.

With the sword held in this hand, and in accordance with the Covenant engraved upon his soul, Vera had to protect her.

Once again, Vargo's words passed through Vera's mind.

'He said Form and Intent.'

Vera's fist tightened again.

'...I'll show him.'

Vera would imbue his sword with them as much as he pleased. Vera would sneer and ask whether Vargo had held his ground over something so easy.

Vera did not consider the possibility of failure.

Of all things, swordsmanship was still what Vera had the most confidence in.

* * *

At the center of the Grand Temple was Trevo, praying before the mural of the gods.

Only after finally finding Trevo did Vera let out a small sigh.

Trevo had been remarkably difficult to find. Even while standing right in front of someone, Trevo barely seemed to have a presence. That had been the problem.

Everyone Vera asked had only said that Trevo was somewhere in the Grand Temple. Vera had wandered about endlessly before finally finding Trevo here.

The reason Vera had sought Trevo out was to learn Holy Combat Arts.

Form and Intent, as Vargo had said.

Vera believed Holy Combat Arts were the surest way to incorporate them into swordsmanship. So Vera had gone to Norn to learn them, only for Norn to shake his head in refusal and recommend Trevo instead.

"An Apostle's Holy Combat Arts differ from ordinary Holy Combat Arts. Apostle Trevo will know more about that."

How absurd it had been to hear that.

"Didn't you know? Trevo is also an Apostle. Trevo was granted the Stigma of Wisdom."

How could Vera have known? Trevo had introduced himself as the Grand Temple's caretaker.

After hearing that, Vera once more recalled the thought he had had upon first arriving here.

'The gods really are idiots.'

Whatever standard the gods used to grant Holy Marks, every person called an Apostle was a freak.

Vera sighed at the thought, then deliberately made loud footsteps as he approached Trevo.

Trevo turned his head immediately afterward.

"Ah, Vera. Have you been well?"

"Good to see you."

Vera gave a slight bow in response, then quickly got to the point.

Tedious formalities did not suit Vera's temperament.

"I've been asking around because I wish to learn Holy Combat Arts, and I heard that you know much about them. Would you be willing to teach me?"

"Ah."

At Vera's lengthy words, Trevo let out a quiet sound. Then, with a gentle smile, Trevo nodded.

"You've certainly come to the right person. Holy Combat Arts that make use of a Holy Mark are a field ordinary holy knights do not know well."

After saying that, Trevo stood and gestured deeper into the temple.

"Why don't we go inside and speak?"

Vera nodded and followed Trevo.

* * *

After walking through the temple for some time, Vera arrived at a room deep within it and felt a question rise inside.

'A laboratory?'

That was the best way to describe the space Trevo had led him to.

Flasks, reagents, and other equipment had been set about the room, while scrolls covered the walls from end to end.

Seeing Vera inspect the room, Trevo smiled faintly and gave an explanation.

"It's a little messy, isn't it? I'm currently researching some holy spellcraft, so I've been rather preoccupied."

"Holy spellcraft...?"

"Yes. It's spellcraft needed to reinforce the Demon-Sealing Array."

Vera nodded at Trevo's words.

The Demon-Sealing Array.

It was the transcendent-rank barrier surrounding the Holy Kingdom of Elia.

A barrier that absorbed every magical assault from outside, making Elia an impregnable fortress.

"You maintain it?"

"Yes. It is a duty inherited through the generations by those granted the Stigma of Wisdom."

Trevo cleared the surface of a table in a corner, then led Vera over before continuing.

"So, you have questions about Holy Combat Arts?"

"Yes. Sir Norn said you would know the most about an Apostle's Holy Combat Arts."

"You flatter me."

Trevo chuckled at the words, then rested his elbow on the table and propped up his chin.

"Hmm... First, how much do you know about Holy Combat Arts?"

"I understand them to be body-strengthening techniques that use divinity."

Vera looked at Trevo as he answered.

In truth, Vera did not know the details of Holy Combat Arts.

In his previous life, Vera had searched extensively for information in hopes of making better use of his Holy Mark. Yet because of the Holy Kingdom's closed nature, it had not been easy to gain access to such knowledge.

Vera could have uncovered it by digging further, but had his existence become known to the Holy Kingdom in the process, it could have caused problems. So Vera had not pursued the matter too deeply.

Trevo's answer came while Vera was still caught in those thoughts.

"Yes, well... ordinary Holy Combat Arts are not greatly different from what you know. They are similar to the body-strengthening techniques knights use with mana."

Trevo's words affirmed Vera's explanation.

"However."

There was one qualification.

Trevo shifted position and held out a hand, curling it into a fist.

"The matter changes if a Holy Mark becomes involved."

Divinity welled up from Trevo.

It was blue, shining like the sea on a summer day.

The divinity intertwined and became several lines.

Those lines of divinity were engraved over Trevo's body like tattoos.

Vera's eyes widened at a use of divinity he had never seen before.

Naturally, it was astonishing. Until now, the only way Vera had used his Holy Mark was by amplifying the divinity within him until it poured out in torrents.

Trevo saw the surprise on Vera's face and continued in a cheerful tone.

"When you combine a Sacred Stigma with Holy Combat Arts, you can imbue divinity with authority."

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