WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Natty
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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈
Chapter 13: Revelation - 2
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The place they reached after walking for some time while Vera half-listened to Trevo was a sealed chamber deep within the Grand Temple.
Like every facility in the Holy Kingdom, it was an entirely white space. Candlesticks stood at regular intervals along the walls, their candles casting light. At the center of the chamber was a shallow spring large enough to hold one person.
The whole room carried an air of reverence.
‘In this place...’
One could hear the voices of the gods.
As Vera considered that, a small ripple stirred within.
Vera did not yet know how communication worked here. But if it went both ways, and if everyone else could be dismissed, there was something Vera wanted to ask the gods.
‘Why me?’
Why had they chosen Vera? Why had they bestowed the Holy Mark? Had they sent Vera back in time of their own will? If so, why?
Vera had vaguely guessed that the Lord had sent him back to save her, but even that was uncertain.
Vera looked toward the spring.
There was no pattern or decoration upon it. It looked as though someone had simply dug into the floor and filled the hole with water.
As Vera continued staring at it in thought, Trevo spoke.
“It seems we are the first ones here.”
“I believe so.”
“Hm... I wonder when they will arrive.”
Trevo folded his arms. Just as Vera was about to say that they would probably be here soon.
Creak.
The chamber door opened.
“I have arrived.”
“So have I.”
They were twins.
Vera and Trevo turned toward the booming voices that filled the chamber.
The twins met their gazes, then muttered with gloomy expressions.
“Someone got here first...”
“We are not first...”
“...You are here.”
Vera greeted the twins, then let out a quiet breath and looked away.
His thoughts had fled. It was because of the way those two spoke, which made Vera's insides boil.
They had grown somewhat closer over the past week while repairing the cabin together, but Vera could not get used to that manner of speaking.
“Congratulations on your revelation, Vera.”
“I congratulate you as well.”
“...Thank you.”
Vera did not wish to speak at length and fell silent.
An awkward silence settled over the room. After a while, Trevo, who had been smiling quietly, asked the twins a question.
“You must have had a difficult journey. Has your training been going well?”
“I guarded the gate. I worked hard. But it is hot.”
“I guarded the gate too. But I am sweating.”
“Haha, it is quite hot these days. Could you not stay in the shade?”
“We cannot. We must guard the gate.”
“I decided to work hard too.”
Vera felt like covering his ears as the conversation continued. Did oddballs somehow understand one another? Their conversation showed no sign of ending.
Vera frowned, wishing someone, anyone, would arrive quickly.
Then the chamber door opened again.
Creak. At the sound, Vera turned to see a middle-aged man in white robes.
Vera had never seen him before, but immediately knew who he was.
Naturally. Of those scheduled to come today, there was only one person whose face Vera did not know.
‘The Apostle of Guidance.’
It was probably him.
At first glance, he looked utterly slovenly. His faded blond hair hung long and loose, his beard was untrimmed and messy, and he walked with a long, drawn-out yaaaawn, his staggering gait resembling that of a drunkard.
Vera studied him, then nodded in immediate understanding.
‘As expected, he is not normal.’
Vera had somewhat expected this from Norn's reaction, but his appearance was no better. Rather than a divine messenger overseeing revelations, he looked like a regular at the gambling house Vera had run in a past life.
“Oh, why is everyone so hardworking? You are making this late old man feel bad.”
“Ah, you have arrived.”
“Oh, teacher. Have you been well?”
“I am as always. Ah, Vera, this is the person who will oversee today's revelation...”
“I am Rohan.”
The Apostle of Guidance cut Trevo off, approached Vera, and continued with a broad grin.
“So this gloomy little one is the Apostle of the Covenant? Goodness, how old are you?”
“...I am fourteen. My name is Vera.”
“Oh, you're at an age full of vigor. Want this old man to introduce you to a nice place? You normally wouldn't be allowed in at your age, but if I put in a good word, I can get you through the door. What do you say? Want to go?”
Rohan thrust a fist toward Vera, his thumb poking out and wiggling between his index and middle fingers.
Vera immediately understood what it meant and answered with a frown.
“...No, thank you.”
“Huh? Aw, that's no fun.”
The smug grin on his face was deeply irritating. Vera felt a fist clench without realizing it and gritted his teeth.
Rohan gave a half-lidded smile at that, then turned to the twins.
“Then, how about our twins? Want to go?”
“I am ashamed. Such things are bad.”
“I like it. I get hard easily.”
“Oh, really? Our younger brother Marek gets hard easily, does he? And Krek, listen here! I am the Apostle of Guidance, the Apostle of Guidance! I am only trying to guide all those lovely ladies to heaven. What could possibly be bad about that?”
As the conversation continued, Vera looked at them with open disgust.
Rohan laughed heartily. Marek's cheeks reddened, while Krek wore a dejected expression. Trevo watched them with a quiet smile.
No matter how Vera thought about it, they were all bad influences.
Once again, Vera began to think that the Saintess must never be allowed near them.
Was that not obvious? She had been such a kind woman, yet acted so strangely. Who else could be the cause but these people?
Vera shook his head.
The responsibility resting on Vera was immense.
* * *
Vargo arrived at the sealed chamber while Rohan was in the middle of a lengthy speech.
“So this old man was saying... Ah, you have arrived?”
“Yes. When do you intend to grow up, you fool?”
“Heh heh heh...”
As Vargo clicked his tongue and glared at Rohan, Rohan immediately began bowing and scraping.
The twins stiffened. Trevo began hiding behind them.
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
Vera let out a short laugh at the sight of those people becoming meek the moment Vargo appeared, then bowed.
“You have arrived.”
“I see you have at least been eating well. Your face has filled out.”
The words sounded like a provocation. Vera's fist tightened slightly.
“...Yes. Thanks to you, I no longer go hungry.”
Something rose hotly within, but Vera held it back.
Vargo personally managed all the provisions and supplies sent to Vera.
He was an unpleasant old man, but Vera had to stay in his good graces.
This was the time to eat plenty and bulk up. It would be troublesome if the old man reduced Vera's rations out of spite.
As Vera thought that, Vargo looked at the bowed figure, chuckled, and nodded.
“Good. Keep eating well, and work hard enough to earn your keep.”
“...Yes.”
Vera lowered his head once more.
Then Vargo turned from Vera to Rohan.
“Is the ritual ready?”
“Uh...”
Rohan wore a blank expression.
“Well... I was so happy to see my younger siblings again that I forgot...?”
“Tch. Useless fool.”
“Heh heh heh...”
Rohan's groveling became even more desperate.
“I will get it ready right away!”
“Be quick. My back hurts, and I cannot stand for long.”
“Yes!”
He had been standing around without even preparing it?
An incredulous laugh escaped Vera as Vargo asked another question.
“I hear you have been working hard in that cabin. Is it going well?”
Vera understood that Vargo meant Sacred Arts training, looked directly at Vargo, and answered.
“Yes. I have captured both Form and Principle.”
A smile rose to Vera's lips.
Naturally, Vera expected to see surprise on Vargo's face.
“You must have done a splendid job.”
Instead, Vargo gave a scoffing laugh.
Anger rose in Vera again.
“...I truly did capture them. It is not the form of sword strokes, but I shaped a magic circle and inscribed Authority into the space itself. Through it, I gave it the intent to overcome my own weakness. I have also developed it to a level practical enough for use.”
“What does that have to do with a Protector's Sword? Who told you to practice divine arts? How did you interpret my words about not swinging your sword like that?”
Vera flinched.
The words made Vera's body tremble. Confusion appeared on Vera's face.
Thinking back...
That was right.
Form and Intent were words Vargo had used to criticize Vera's swordsmanship for being consumed by aggression.
He had never once spoken about divine arts.
‘...Not once.’
The realization left Vera looking lost.
Vera naturally turned toward Trevo.
Of course. Trevo had been the one to explain this.
Vera glared at Trevo, who was hiding behind the twins, demanding an explanation without words. Trevo scratched the back of his head and tilted it.
He looked bewildered. He also looked flustered.
That expression let Vera understand several things.
Trevo had talked like an expert about something he did not understand well. Vera had completely fallen for it and spent an entire week following words that had not been properly thought through.
...In the end, Vera had indeed discovered a new use for divine power. The time had been meaningful in its own way.
Still, it was impossible not to feel deceived.
Vera glared at Trevo, inwardly cursing as anger welled up.
‘This bastard!’
Perhaps Trevo was not a madman, but a swindler. As Vera looked at Trevo with rising fury.
“Tsk, tsk. Not one of you is any use.”
Vargo's mockery continued.
Clench.
Veins stood out over Vera's tightly clenched fist.
* * *
“I am ready!”
Rohan's words broke the heavy mood that had filled the chamber.
Vera raised his head and looked at the spring behind Rohan.
No offerings or other objects had been arranged there.
But one thing had changed.
‘A magic circle.’
Indigo divine power covered the spring, forming a spell formula.
It was a formation made with Sacred Arts.
It was likely necessary to communicate with the Divine Realm. As Vera stared intently at the circle, Rohan spoke.
“Shall we begin?”
“Yes. Begin.”
“Yes! Little one, come here.”
Vera nodded at the call and walked to the spring.
“What do I need to do?”
“Just stand still. Once I activate the spell formula, a revelation will appear over the spring. You only need to read it aloud.”
So that was how it worked.
Vera realized this would not be two-way communication, but one-way. A small disappointment arose.
It seemed Vera would not be able to ask the gods the questions he had hoped for.
Vera's expression darkened slightly. Then Rohan moved the spell formula, and the circle over the spring began to glow.
The circle's countless geometric patterns began to shift.
Geometric solids that seemed impossible to fit together moved into place and interlocked. Then, through the gap formed at the center where the solids overlapped.
‘...Characters.’
Characters began to appear.
Indigo characters.
At first, they were faint like ink spreading through water. Then they gradually took distinct shape and became legible.
Vera's future course depended on what characters appeared here and what trial was written.
With a tense expression, Vera watched as the text formed.
‘...?’
Vera frowned at the completed characters.
Then the words slipped out.
“...I have a question.”
“Hm? What is it? Speak quickly. This is tiring.”
“Does it sometimes appear like this?”
Vera pointed at the characters floating over the spring.
“What do you mean?”
Rohan, who had been moving the circle, straightened.
“...Huh?”
A baffled sound escaped Rohan as he checked the spring.
His mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Then he turned toward Vargo.
“Um, Your Holiness?”
“What is it?”
Rohan looked at Vera again.
After looking once more at the characters above the spring, Rohan turned his head back toward Vargo, scratched the back of his head, and spoke.
“It says pass?”
Vargo's expression stiffened.
As Vera watched the exchange, oddly enough, Vera took pleasure not in the baffling situation, but in the fact that confusion had appeared on the old man's face.
That was right.
The characters floating above the spring read [Pass].
That was the only word.
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