WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈

Chapter 42: Three Years and a Revelation - 2

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Two days later.

Vera rose early, donned his priestly robes, took his sword, and headed for the Grand Temple.

Today...

Rene would receive a Revelation.

Vera already knew what it would say.

An incognito journey.

It would be that incognito journey she had once told him about, the one that had even brought her to the Gutter.

It would likely take several years.

Rene had clearly said it was when she had traveled incognito, bestowing divine authority throughout the continent. Naturally, it could not have ended in a day or two.

It was not merely a guess. There was evidence to support it.

Back when Vargo was still alive, Vera clearly remembered Rene appearing several times at public events in various nations.

Their paths had never crossed, so he had not seen her in person, but he had heard more than enough news to know.

Those appearances had likely been part of her journey.

Her visit to the Gutter would have been during the time she was invited to a banquet celebrating the Empire's Founding Day.

Six months from now.

That was how long remained until the Empire's Founding Day.

Clench.

Vera tightened his grip on his sword.

A concern had surfaced in his mind.

Should he take her?

Should he take Rene to the Gutter? If she said she wanted to see it, what should he say?

Rene from his previous life had said it herself.

That her younger self, who had resented the gods and suffered because of them, had only been able to change after visiting the Gutter.

That only after seeing it had she found the will to live for others.

Logically, if he truly wanted her to bloom as the Saintess, he should take her there.

If she could only become complete as the Saintess after going there, then that was what he should do.

Yet the question arose once more.

Was it truly the right thing to do?

Not for Rene the Saintess, but for Rene the girl.

The young Rene who had remained by his side for the past three years was far too innocent and fragile.

Vera did not want to send her to the Gutter out of the selfish desire to make her into the Saintess.

Of course, the light within her might allow her to bloom as the Saintess someday without ever going there. Perhaps he could cling to that possibility.

Yet even knowing that, he could not let go of the sliver of anxiety within him. The fear that she might fail to bloom as the Saintess continued to trouble him.

A long breath escaped him.

It was a concern that had persisted for three years.

This time as well, Vera...

Not yet.

Using the excuse that there was still time before that day arrived, he chose to postpone his decision.

* * *

Rene thought the design of ceremonial vestments was unbearably inconvenient.

Surely there could not be another outfit in the world that required this much effort to put on and adorn.

Over priestly robes that covered her entire body, she had to wrap several broad pieces of cloth around herself. Then, she had to fasten belts and ornaments to secure them, drape a shawl over them, and attach every ornament meant to decorate it before she could finally say she was dressed.

Was that the end? Absolutely not.

Once that was done, her hair, which she had grown out over the past three years until it now reached her waist, had to be combed. Several locks at the sides had to be pulled back and braided, then decorated as well.

Then came the makeup.

Though she had endured this process for nearly three years, Rene still felt her mind growing hazy as she dressed. Then, at the sound of a saving voice, her expression brightened at once.

“It’s all done, ma’am.”

It was Rene's favorite thing to hear.

“Thank you. You all worked so hard.”

“It’s our job.”

“Still, thank you. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes.”

Tap. Tap.

Rene's cane touched the floor.

When she opened the door and stepped outside, Vera was waiting before it as always.

“I hope you have been well.”

“Yes. What about you, Vera?”

“As always.”

Rene took Vera's hand as they exchanged a few brief words. As they walked down the corridor, she asked,

“Will the Revelation take a long time?”

“From what I experienced, it did not take very long. Lord Rohan conducted it, and as far as I remember, all I had to do was stand still.”

“That’s a relief. I’ve been nervous for nothing...”

She did not say it idly.

For the two days since she had said she would receive a Revelation, she had slept more poorly than usual. What Revelation would descend upon her? What would the gods command of her? Such thoughts had kept her awake.

It was only natural.

This would be her first time communicating with the gods. Even if it was only one-way, she could not help feeling nervous when she considered it.

As the tension in her grew stronger, Rene let out a breath before asking Vera,

“They won’t give me an impossible Revelation, will they?”

“That will not happen. As far as I know, the gods never give trials that cannot be overcome.”

“That’s a relief, then...”

Pfft.

A small breath escaped her lips.

As Rene felt her heart begin to pound, another thought came to her.

Vera...

She had heard that he received a Revelation called Pass. According to Trevo, it was something that had never happened once since the Holy Kingdom was founded. She remembered it clearly because Trevo had made such a fuss over it.

Whenever she thought of this, another thought naturally followed.

Vera really was someone special.

Though he was relatively young compared to the other Apostles, he possessed exceptional martial skill. He had received an unusual Revelation from the gods, and he was already following his own path.

In Rene's world, there was no one more special than Vera.

The moment thoughts of Vera came to mind, Rene felt her face flush again. She sharply drew in a breath and shook her head to clear away those thoughts.

“What is the matter?”

“Ah, I’m nervous.”

“You need not be nervous. Whatever Revelation descends upon you, Saintess, I am sure you will overcome it.”

“You can’t say things like that.”

Did he know that her heart could not survive words like that, which he said without even realizing it?

When Rene warned Vera, who had made her heart flutter once again...

“I am sorry.”

That was Vera's answer.

He doesn't even know what he's apologizing for, yet he says sorry, sorry, sorry every day.

For some reason, Rene felt petulant and pouted. Vera, watching her expression, looked troubled.

Is she going through adolescence?

It seemed so.

What had Rene been like at the age when adolescence usually came? She had been so quiet that it was hard to believe she was going through adolescence at all.

Perhaps it had come late.

Recently, she had been particularly obsessed with seeming mature, and she often brought up alcohol. It was clear enough.

Having reached that conclusion, Vera began thinking of something that might comfort her.

Of course, Vera's guess was far from the truth.

Rene's obsession with seeming mature came from her wish for him to see her as a woman rather than a child.

She brought up alcohol because she wanted to test Vera. She was worried he might go drinking in the entertainment district.

If Rene had known what Vera was thinking, she would have been furious. Fortunately, she had no ability to read another person's mind.

“I only meant that you need not worry so much. Even if a difficult Revelation descends upon you, am I not by your side? You may rely on me as much as you...”

“S-Stop!”

“My apologies.”

Rene stopped Vera as her cheeks grew hot at his continued words.

“No. I appreciate the thought.”

“That is a relief.”

Plop.

Rene's head drooped.

At this moment, she thought Vera's obliviousness was truly a blessing.

The heat had spread past her face and all the way to her neck and earlobes. She must look like a ripe apple right now.

Embarrassed that even such insignificant words could make her heart flutter and her face turn red, Rene needlessly tapped her cane faster.

* * *

A sealed chamber deep within the Grand Temple.

Creak.

As cold air flowed out from inside and brushed against her face, Rene shivered slightly.

“You have arrived.”

It was Vargo's voice. Rene smiled faintly and answered,

“I’m sorry. I’m so late, aren’t I?”

“Not at all. You arrived at exactly the right time. Rohan will finish preparing soon, so could you wait just a little longer?”

“Ah, yes.”

Rene nodded.

As Vera listened to their conversation, he looked toward Rohan, who was carrying out the preliminary preparations for the Revelation.

At the center of the chamber was a small spring. It did not look artificial, but rather as if a spring from nature had been lifted intact and placed there.

Above it, the formation Rohan was inscribing glowed indigo. Beside him, Trevo reinforced the formation.

A question came to mind, and Vera asked Vargo,

“Why is Trevo over there?”

“That bastard Rohan has not sobered up yet, so I sent him over to help.”

Vera's eyes narrowed at the answer.

How could he drink himself stupid even on such an important day?

Looking at the sickly Rohan, Vera thought he might need to give him one last lesson before leaving. He nodded to himself.

As the formation was being drawn, the twins approached Rene and spoke.

“Saintess is nervous. Must relax.”

“That’s right. Being nervous makes you dizzy.”

“Ah, thank you, Krek. Marek.”

Rene smiled at the twins' words, then took a deep breath to calm herself.

It will be fine.

It would be fine. It was only a Revelation. Only one sentence.

Even if that sentence proved too difficult for her, did she not have a hand to pull her back up, and Vera to remain by her side?

As Rene calmed herself and tightened her hold on Vera's hand, she felt his hand squeeze hers more firmly, and her heart thumped.

“The twins are right. You need not be nervous. As I have always said, I will remain by your side, Saintess, so you have nothing to worry about.”

Her face began to grow even redder at his words.

“Yes.”

The love that had not faded at all over the past three years gripped her heart even at moments like this.

The atmosphere grew awkward, warm, and ticklish all at once. A short distance away, the twins, who had overheard their conversation, began whispering.

“That is not Vera.”

“That’s right. He’s a simp.”

The twins nodded at the same time.

Vargo clicked his tongue and shook his head.

Then Rohan's voice rang out.

“It’s ready!”

His cheeks were sunken, and he sounded exhausted.

Rene flinched at the shout, then nodded and began walking while tightly holding Vera's hand.

About eight steps.

Guided by Vera, Rene walked forward and felt her body stiffen at the divine power directly before her. It was a reaction born of tension.

“Now then, Saintess, you only need to stand still. It will be over quickly.”

“Ah, yes.”

Rene answered.

The formation flared to life. Vera watched it begin to operate.

Hummm.

With a low resonance, indigo divine power blazed. The polyhedra that formed the formation moved, fitting together like puzzle pieces.

It was the second time Vera had witnessed a Revelation.

Knowing that the divine power absorbed into the spring would soon take the shape of letters, Vera focused his gaze upon it.

Indigo divine power seeped into the spring. As it intertwined, it began to take form.

At last, letters emerged.

Vera read them, then turned toward Rene and spoke.

The words that had appeared were...

“Go forth and do good...”

That single sentence.

“That is the Revelation.”

Rene, who had been tense the entire time, flinched at the words. Then she tilted her head and asked,

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

At that certain answer, the tension that had ruled Rene's body melted away in an instant.

It was a feeling that could only be called deflation.

A thought naturally surfaced in Rene's mind.

Are they being far too vague?

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