WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈

Chapter 51: The Eve

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Rene raised her divine power.

The elf had been waiting with their severed arm pressed against the stump. When they saw it begin to reattach, their eyes widened.

“This is…”

“It was fortunate you brought your arm with you. Even divine arts cannot make an arm regrow from nothing.”

At Rene's words, delivered with a slight smile, the elf shed tears and let out a broken, “Ah, ah.”

“Thank... Thank you…”

“This is repayment for all the hospitality you have shown us.”

Gratitude trembled in the elf's voice. Feeling the relief and emotion within it, Rene was glad that she had worked so hard to learn divine arts.

“Then I'll go see the next patient.”

When Rene rose, Vera, who had remained by her side until then, led her to the next person.

This time, it was a patient whose side had been torn open, their organs spilling out.

“The intestines are protruding. The left side has been torn open.”

Vera's role was to tell Rene the condition of the patients before her.

He did not like it. Naturally, he disliked having to describe such gruesome sights to Rene.

Still, he silently carried out that role because Rene was treating the elves with such dedication.

As Vera watched Rene tend to the patients with an unwavering smile, he felt as though she overlapped with the Rene he had once seen in the Gutter.

The Rene from that time, noble and compassionate, the light that had brightened his gloomy world, already existed within her. The thought filled him with contentment.

Vera watched Rene pour divine power over the elf's wound, restoring the flesh, then described the healing process once more.

“The bleeding is gradually stopping. The intestines are recovering, but I don't think regenerating any more flesh would be a good choice. It would be better to stitch the remaining parts and allow them to heal on their own.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“It is what must be done. One moment.”

Vera sat beside Rene and began stitching the elf's side.

Feeling Vera's rustling movements and hearing the elf's occasional groans, Rene spoke.

“Where did you learn medicine like this, Vera?”

“I taught myself when I was young. I lived in a somewhat dangerous neighborhood.”

“Ah…”

Rene wanted to ask where that dangerous neighborhood had been, but she remained quiet. She knew Vera rarely wanted to speak of his past.

Even if she asked, he would only answer something like, “It was not a pleasant place.” By now, she had half given up.

“I am finished.”

At those words, Rene nodded and rose, offering the elf a reminder.

“You must not overexert yourself for a while. Even once the flesh has fully healed, make sure to get plenty of rest.”

“Tha... nk you…”

Wheeze. Wheeze. The words came with difficulty, but there was peace in them.

Feeling an emotion that could only be called contentment well up within her, Rene moved on to see another patient.

Freide watched them from some distance away and tilted their head.

‘Happiness? Relief?’

Those were the feelings coming from the brothers Rene had treated.

Why? Just moments ago, they had been filled with resolve and acceptance. Why had their emotions changed so completely?

As Freide considered the emotional mechanisms they knew, they soon came to an understanding.

‘Ah, this is what one feels upon receiving unexpected good fortune.’

They had certainly been going to die, yet through the good fortune of the Saintess, they would live a little longer. Naturally, they would feel joy.

The Saintess's words had made perfect sense.

Freide learned anew that even with resolve, the desire to live did not fade away.

Still, there was something Freide did not understand.

‘Why does she go so far…?’

It was about Rene.

A small curiosity, one Freide had yet to notice, began to bloom within them.

* * *

Rene had been very busy over the past few days. As the Noier's offensives grew fiercer, injuries had become increasingly common.

Invasions continued simultaneously from every direction. With each passing day, the atmosphere grew harsher.

Yet even amid that grim atmosphere, a warm mood always surrounded Rene.

“It is done.”

“Thank you. I have become indebted to you again.”

“Not at all.”

Rene smiled at the elf's words, then added a reminder.

“Next time, you must come back safely. Um, Rimmel?”

“You remember me.”

“Hehe…”

Rene's expression brightened.

Since Rene had begun treating them, the elves had been able to fight with firmer resolve than before.

The first reason was that, as long as they stayed alive, there was someone behind them who would heal them somehow.

The second was that they did not want the person who helped them with such a smile to become caught up in danger.

After finishing her healing as she had on other days, Rene returned to the bonfire before Aidrin's roots and happily ate the soup Mari had made.

“It is really delicious.”

“Oh my, Saintess, you're so wonderful! That fool Vera should watch and learn from you!”

Vera, sitting beside Rene and chewing on jerky, narrowed his eyes at Mari.

If most people did not enjoy one's cooking, it was natural to think there was something wrong with the cooking. Yet Mari thought there was something wrong with those who failed to appreciate it.

Thinking that such a self-righteous disposition was not something Rene should learn, Vera answered Mari through gritted teeth.

“…My apologies.”

“Bah, forget it!”

As the meal continued, Freide approached, accepted a bowl of Mari's soup, took a spoonful, and spoke.

“How is the healing going? I feel sorry that our brothers might be placing too much burden on you.”

“No, I'm doing it because I want to.”

“Hmm, that is a relief. In that case, may I ask a favor of you as well?”

“A favor?”

“I would like to borrow your guard knight.”

Vera had been blankly watching Freide casually eat Mari's soup. At those words, he raised his head to look at them.

“I refuse. I am the Saintess's guard.”

“Yes, which is why I did not wish to ask if I could help it. But we are somewhat short-handed.”

Rene looked uncertain for a moment at Vera's firm refusal, then spoke.

“Go with Freide. I'll be fine.”

“Saintess…”

“Norn and Hella are here, aren't they? Mari is too.”

At Rene's words, Vera looked troubled, then shifted his gaze to Freide, who was smiling brightly.

‘What are they thinking?’

He was suspicious of why they had specifically singled him out.

Vera did not trust Freide.

Leaving aside whatever connection they had in his previous life, Vera was not generous enough with others to trust someone whose thoughts he could not read.

He wanted to refuse again, but Rene had asked him to do it. It was a request from Rene, who was working so diligently.

“…Very well.”

“Thank you.”

“However.”

Of course, he was not simply agreeing without conditions.

Vera looked at Freide as they tilted their head and continued.

“I will move with you.”

If he left this place, Freide was the one most likely to pose a threat. If he was to leave, then at the very least, he had to keep Freide where he could see them.

Freide readily nodded at Vera's words.

“Hmm, good. Since you and I will be moving together, adding anyone else would be wasteful. From tomorrow onward, the two of us can move separately.”

The plan took shape quickly.

Rene flinched as she listened.

“J-just the two of you? Only the two of you?”

Her intuition, which had always been wrong, reacted to that improper phrase.

“That is right. I understand your guard knight possesses considerable martial strength. Would it not be wasteful to insert others between us?”

Rene looked flustered, then turned to Vera.

“W-wouldn't it be dangerous for just the two of you? Wouldn't it be better to move with the others…”

“It will be fine. This Vera is not so weak that you need to worry.”

It was precisely because they would be alone together that she could not stop worrying.

“B-but…”

“There is no need to worry, as your guard has said. I am also quite confident in my strength, so should things become dangerous, I will take him and flee.”

“That will not happen. Just do not hold me back.”

“Oh, it is good to see such confidence.”

As the conversation continued without her, Rene's panic deepened.

Her wicked imagination began to paint an indecent picture from the bickering words of the two before her.

The battle situation had become perilous. Vera and Freide stood back to back, fending off enemies.

They somehow defeated them, but more pursuers came. They raised their swords again to face them.

“I will fight alone, so go back and tell the Saintess I am sorry…”

“Don't speak nonsense. I won't do something as senseless as abandoning a companion.”

“You…”

Vera smiled. However, his breathing was ragged.

Freide noticed it, and thinking that this might be their final moment, spoke.

“Come to think of it, we have never called each other by name.”

“What pointless thing are you saying?”

“Vera.”

At Freide's words, Vera clicked his tongue, then answered with a faint smile.

“Freide.”

Rene's face went bright red, and her hands trembled violently.

“No!”

Shriek! It was a piercing cry.

Everyone's attention turned to Rene.

“What is wrong?”

Rene flinched. Not knowing how to speak, she hesitated before bowing her head deeply.

Her eyes squeezed shut.

“N-nothing…”

Even Rene knew that telling others about her fantasies would be embarrassing.

She felt miserable.

It felt as though her imagination was throwing her mind into chaos.

There was something she had failed to consider.

Vera was not weak enough to lose to a few Noier, and Freide could not feel any emotion at all, including camaraderie.

When one considered it, they were utterly impossible fantasies. But Rene had no time to think about that.

All she could think was that she should not have told him to go.

Rene was an eighteen-year-old girl who became foolish before love.

* * *

The next day, at the edge of the Great Forest.

Freide let out an “Oh” as they watched Vera cut down the Noier with a single stroke.

‘Certainly…’

He was strong.

Freide had expected it, but seeing Vera fight firsthand, his combat was exceptionally violent and intense.

As Freide always did when meeting a strong opponent, they coolly calculated a battle between Vera and themself.

“Hmm…”

The answer was their defeat.

Unless a miracle occurred, Freide would certainly lose.

Perhaps that was the weight carried by the name Apostle.

As Freide's gaze deepened at the thought...

“What are you doing?”

Vera, shaking the blood from his blade, reacted to their stare.

Watching Freide with suspicion in his eyes, Vera continued his thoughts.

‘They do not step forward.’

All Freide had done was guide him to where the Noier were and watch from behind.

It might simply have been Freide's judgment that there was no need to step in as well, but Vera was suspicious of Freide's intentions.

‘Assessing my strength?’

It was a possibility he could not dismiss, the possibility that Freide had some scheme in mind.

His eyes narrowed naturally.

Freide smiled faintly at Vera's gaze and replied.

“You are truly strong.”

“Is there a problem?”

“A problem? I am only thinking how fortunate it is. How reassuring it is to have someone like you on our side.”

A brazen answer.

Without replying, Vera sheathed his sword and began walking again.

The suspicion within him only grew deeper.

Freide's nonchalant attitude, as well as the still-unexplained reason Freide and the elves had survived in his previous life, were far too suspicious.

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