WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈

Chapter 28: Adaptation - 2

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Vera exchanged a few brief words with Rene, then glanced at the clock on one wall of the infirmary.

It was seven in the evening.

'Dinner time.'

He needed to feed Rene.

Over the last two days, he had pumped her full of divine power to stave off her hunger, but no matter how much divine power restored vitality, it was naturally less effective than an actual meal.

Having finished his thoughts, Vera rose and spoke to Rene.

“It’s about time for dinner. I’ll go get some food.”

“Ah, all right.”

Rene answered, and when Vera let go of the hand he had been holding until then, a short sigh slipped from her lips.

Vera tilted his head at her reaction.

“What is it?”

“Huh? Ah, nothing!”

Her answer came quickly. Vera wondered if she might be afraid of being left alone in an unfamiliar place, so he reassured her again.

“It won’t take long. Just wait a little, only a little.”

“Yes! Of course! Go ahead!”

She answered in a flustered rush, emphasizing her words. Vera nodded, then deliberately made his footsteps loud as he moved away from Rene.

He needed to return quickly.

With that thought, Vera threw open the infirmary door, only to stop and narrow his eyes at the three figures standing outside.

Two lumps and one uncle.

The twins and Rohan.

The three stiffened in surprise when Vera came out, their eyes darting about.

Vera shut the door firmly and spoke with a fierce expression.

“What do you want?”

His voice was a low growl. His tone made it abundantly clear that he was not happy to see them.

Naturally. Even in the Holy Kingdom, where eccentrics ran rampant, these three were among the five greatest oddballs.

Had he not vowed countless times over the past few weeks with Rene that he would never let these people hang around her?

As Vera's wariness filled the air, their expressions stiffened further. Rohan, standing between the twins, awkwardly smiled and spoke.

“Ah, well... We heard the Saintess had arrived, so we thought we’d take a look...”

“Is the Saintess something to stare at?”

“Oh, come on. That’s not what I meant! Our little one is saying something scary again!”

Vera's expression turned murderous as Rohan slowly edged closer to him.

“Don’t touch me. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“Ooh.”

Rohan flinched. His eyes moved back and forth between Vera and the door behind him before he narrowed them slightly and asked in a suggestive tone.

“So, what’s the Saintess like? Seeing how much our little one is fussing over her has made this old man curious again.... What, does your heart go all fluttery around her?”

Rubbing his palms together as he asked, he looked rather like a sycophant.

Vera felt heat rush to his head at Rohan's behavior and opened his mouth to snap at him. Surprisingly, the twins noticed and stopped Rohan.

“Rohan, apologize to Vera. Vera is not blinded by women.”

“That’s right. Vera does not get all stiff. He gets all worked up.”

“...Shut up.”

The twins had tried, in their own way, to read the room. Unfortunately, their words had the opposite effect on Vera.

Every time he heard their senseless remarks, his blood pressure rose.

The twins looked dejected at Vera's curse and muttered.

“Vera is bad. We helped him, but he curses us.”

“I take it back. Vera gets stiff and worked up.”

“Hmm? This old man is curious. Are you really not going to tell me?”

They spoke one after another.

Vera ignored them at first, but when he imagined what might happen if Rene met these people behind the door, he felt faint.

Absolutely not. He might not be able to stop them from meeting her altogether, but he could not let these people spout nonsense in front of Rene.

Vera opened his eyes wide and addressed the three in an even more threatening tone.

“Get lost. The Saintess needs rest, so do not even come near here until she is back on her feet. You have been warned.”

“Ehh....”

“Get lost.”

Rohan and the twins flinched again. Pouting at Vera's twisted expression, the three trudged toward the infirmary exit.

Watching them go, Vera made a resolution.

'...Soon.'

He needed to educate them.

Those three, and Trevo, who had not arrived yet. Even if he had to beat some sense into them, he needed to correct their behavior.

Vera let out a deep sigh once the three were entirely out of sight, then headed for the dining hall.

The responsibility on his shoulders was far too great.

* * *

A few days later, in a small meeting room not far from the infirmary.

Vera had come to find Norn after hearing that the attendants who would serve Rene had been chosen.

When he entered the meeting room, Norn gave a slight bow. Vera looked past Norn at the four girls standing behind Norn and spoke.

“Are these the people?”

“Yes. They were chosen carefully, so they will all do their part.”

Vera nodded at Norn's words and examined the girls lined up behind Norn.

They appeared to be around Rene's age. Every one of them looked tense, their bodies standing stiffly upright.

He could have told them to relax, but Vera did not bother.

The caution that came from remaining tense would serve as a restraint, preventing them from behaving disrespectfully toward Rene.

Vera looked at the girls, Rene's attendants, with calm eyes and spoke.

“Who is in charge?”

“Yes, that would be me.”

The person standing farthest to the right among the attendants took a step forward.

“Probationary Paladin Hella, sir.”

She had straw-colored hair tied tightly back and a face that carried a somewhat languid air. Vera felt a strange sense of familiarity, then looked at Norn and realized why.

Their hair was exactly the same color.

“...Are you related?”

“She is my daughter.”

Norn lifted his head and continued with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“You need not worry. I did not select her out of personal feelings. She is my daughter, but I am confident that she is highly capable.”

“Look forward to serving you, ma’am.”

Hella bowed deeply after Norn's words.

Vera looked between Hella, who had bowed, and Norn, who wore an embarrassed expression. He gave a small nod.

“Very well. Sir Norn would have seen to things properly. You have worked hard.”

“You flatter me.”

It was an unusually easy approval from Vera.

Still, from Vera's point of view, there was sufficient reason for it.

Norn was one of the rare normal people in the Holy Kingdom, which was full of eccentrics. Norn was perceptive and capable as well. The fact that Hella was Norn's daughter alone gave Vera a favorable impression of her.

Of course, if he disliked how she handled matters in the future, he could dismiss her. But there was no reason not to approve her for now.

“Has their training been completed?”

“Yes. They can begin immediately.”

“Good. Today is the day the Saintess is discharged, so we should introduce them to her while we are at it.”

Norn and the attendants lowered their heads at Vera's words.

Vera watched them, then turned and added as he left the room.

“Then let us go.”

As Vera walked, he reviewed Rene's schedule.

'First, I will show her the quarters....'

Then he needed to take Rene to Vargo.

She needed to greet Vargo, then hear about her schedule from now on.

Everything from daily life to training in how to use divine power and the schedule for Revelations.

Vera let out a quiet breath at the thought and continued walking.

There was far too much to consider.

* * *

Rene sat on the bed when she heard the door open and raised her head.

“Saintess. Have you been well?”

It was Vera's voice. Rene smiled faintly and nodded.

“Yes. Today is the day I leave, right?”

“That is correct. Ah, some people have come with me. They are priests who will attend to you from today onward.”

Vera stepped aside as he spoke and gestured for the attendants to greet Rene.

At his gesture, the attendants moved forward with a click of their footsteps. Starting with Hella on the right, they introduced themselves one by one.

“Senior attendant Hella, ma’am. Look forward to serving you.”

Hella bowed at a precise angle. Rene gave an awkward reply.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you.”

The other attendants introduced themselves afterward.

Rene answered each of them, smiling awkwardly as she thought that she still could not seem to get used to being treated with such care.

'...No, I need to get used to it.'

If this was the life she would live from now on, she needed to try to adapt to it.

Rene clenched her fist and made that resolution before asking Vera a question.

“Should we leave right away?”

“Yes. We will first go to your quarters so you can change, then we will meet His Holiness. His Holiness will inform you of your schedule from now on.”

His Holiness.

The Holy Emperor of the Holy Kingdom.

Realizing that she was about to meet someone truly important, Rene felt tension fill her and asked Vera a question.

“Um... What kind of person is His Holiness? What if I make a mistake...?”

“You need not worry. He will not mind. He is a good... person.”

Vera's words broke off. A thought had come to mind.

To Vera, Vargo was less a good person and more an eccentric old man.

That was why he had hesitated, feeling as though he were lying even as he spoke. But Rene, unaware of his inner thoughts, wondered if the Holy Emperor might be difficult to please and grew even more nervous.

“T-that’s a relief!”

Rene clenched her fist again. An awkward smile hung on her lips.

'R-right, I can do this, can't I?'

What if she offended him and got scolded?

Such a pointless worry rose in Rene's mind.

* * *

Guided by Vera, Rene entered her quarters and continued thinking while the attendants prepared her.

'There is so much to do.'

Getting ready took quite a while.

That was true of washing and brushing her hair.

The attendants were so meticulous that it took long enough for her to become bored.

And putting on the ceremonial vestments was incredibly complicated. Rene had never imagined clothing could be so difficult to wear.

Layer upon layer, garment over garment. They were clothes that could only be called the height of inconvenience.

Rene was beginning to feel exhausted when Hella spoke.

“All done, ma’am.”

Relief filled Rene at the thought that this bothersome task was finally over. She brightly thanked her.

“Ah, thank you. You worked very hard.”

“No, ma’am. My duty.”

“Even so. Um, Miss Hella?”

“Yes, Hella, ma’am.”

“Hehe, your accent is very distinctive, so you are easy to remember.”

She was not teasing her. Rather, it was a statement born from affection.

Because Rene could not see, she preferred people with distinctive traits that were not visual.

“My mother's from the North, ma’am. Guess my southern accent got mixed with northern, and this is what came of it.”

“Ah...”

“Heading out now, ma’am? Apostle's waiting outside.”

“Ah, yes.”

Rene nodded, grasped her cane, and rose. For some reason, the knowledge that Vera was waiting outside caught her attention, and she quietly asked Hella.

“Um... Do I look strange right now?”

The question slipped out without thought. It was simply bothering her suddenly. She wondered whether she might look ridiculous in the ceremonial vestments.

Hella looked at Rene and answered in a tone filled with as much sincerity as possible.

“Beautiful, ma’am.”

At least, that was what Hella thought.

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