The Regressor and the Blind Saintess - Chapter 59

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Natty

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◈ The Regressor and the Blind Saintess ◈

Chapter 59: Aisha Dragnov

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A few days later, at the entrance to the Keloi Mountains.

In a village at the foot of the mountains, Vera watched Rene treat the beastfolk.

Bathed in pure white divine power as she healed the wounded, Rene looked every inch the Saintess.

It was a side of her that had become especially prominent since they left the Great Forest.

Had saving Aidrin strengthened her confidence in herself?

She still had that innocent air that sometimes made her seem a little scatterbrained, but whenever she treated the villagers like this, the compassion she showed made Vera keenly aware of how much she had grown.

It could not have been easy to remain seated in one place and see patients continuously, yet she smiled throughout. As Vera watched her in a daze, the final patient finally left.

“Vera?”

“Yes.”

At Rene's call, Vera shook off his dazed expression and approached her.

“You worked hard.”

“No. I like doing it.”

“You are remarkable.”

“Oh, it was hardly anything.”

An embarrassed look crossed Rene's face. Vera replied to Rene's words, spoken as though it were nothing.

“It was not hardly anything. Simply stepping forward with a smile to help others is enough for Your Saintesshood to deserve praise...”

“...Stop.”

“Yes.”

Rene let out a soft sigh at Vera's habit of seizing upon every little thing to praise her.

It had been well over a month since they had left the Holy Kingdom. Despite the rather dramatic events they had experienced, there had been scarcely any progress in their relationship. That was why she sighed.

Why was he so devoted? Rene shivered faintly at the sudden thought that if she declared she was going to ascend to the heavens right here, Vera might immediately bow down before her.

“Where are Sir Norn and Hella?”

“I sent them to ask around about Dovan. Since we are nearing the entrance to the mountains, I thought someone might know Dovan.”

“Ah...”

Come to think of it, they needed to find that person too.

Rene had belatedly remembered that they had decided to seek out a craftsman to work the Proden before entering the kingdom. She spoke with an uneasy expression.

“...I should have asked Freide more about Dovan. It'll be hard to find them with only Dovan's name.”

“Perhaps there was a reason Freide only gave us Dovan's name. Dovan must be that famous.”

“Still, Sir Norn and Hella are going through the trouble.”

“You are considerate...”

“Don't.”

“Yes.”

Another sigh escaped Rene, and concern settled over Vera's face.

Is she very tired?

It was a worry born from knowing nothing at all of Rene's feelings.

* * *

“They say Dovan has set up a forge on the peak past two more mountain passes.”

It was Norn who spoke.

Vera nodded as he loaded their belongings into the carriage, then spoke to Rene.

“We should arrive today.”

“That is a relief. Are we leaving right away?”

“Yes. I think we must if we are to arrive before sunset.”

“All right. Then please bear with it a little longer, everyone.”

Rene spoke with a small smile. It was something she always said because she felt sorry that they were always taking on her share of the burden.

“It is what we must do.”

The reply she received was the same blunt answer as always.

A little later, their preparations were complete, and the carriage set off with a Jolt!

Feeling Vera's presence beside her, Rene kept fidgeting with her fingers as she thought.

She needed to find something to talk about.

Things had been so dire in the Great Forest that she had been too preoccupied to make any progress in their relationship. Now that they had some room to breathe, should she not try to grow closer to him, even a little?

She thought for a long time.

What should she say? What should they talk about?

The Holy Kingdom and the people she had treated were out of the question.

If she brought up those subjects, it would lead to that headache-inducing praise of his again.

Stories about the past?

That would not work either. Vera did not like talking about his past, and it would only create an awkward atmosphere.

After pondering for quite some time...

Ah.

Rene came up with a rather good topic and brightened.

“Vera.”

“Yes.”

“You are having a sword made from Proden, right?”

She had remembered him breaking his sword in the fight against Gilly.

She had heard that he was using a spare sword, but Rene clearly remembered the displeasure in his voice when he said it.

“Yes. If Dovan accepts the commission, I would like to have one made.”

“You must be excited! Um, I heard knights dream of owning famous swords.”

Vera considered Rene's words for a moment before replying.

“I do not know if I would call it a dream, but a good weapon certainly feels different in the hand. There is a pleasure in using one.”

“Ah, have you used one before?”

“Yes, briefly.”

Vera's answer came as he recalled his previous life.

The one hobby he had spent money on while living obsessed with saving it was collecting weapons.

Vera knew better than anyone on the continent just how useful good weaponry could be.

He had considered acquiring weapons he had used in his previous life if their journey brought them to the Empire, but after obtaining the Proden, that concern had vanished.

A natural happiness rose within him, and he continued in a more relaxed tone than usual.

“I have high expectations for Proden. It is not a mineral one can obtain simply because one wants it.”

“Is it that precious?”

“Yes. It is a mineral formed when the mysteries dwelling in the ice wall at the far north condense once every few hundred years. Its supply is virtually nonexistent. Whenever it appears at auction, it tends to sell for nearly as much as an estate in the heart of the Imperial capital.”

“...Goodness.”

Rene looked astonished. A small raw ore, small enough to be loaded among the carriage's luggage, held such value.

“That is why there are very few craftspeople capable of working Proden. We could say it is fortunate that Freide knows one.”

“We really are lucky.”

“Yes. If Dovan lives in the Keloi Mountains, Dovan must be beastfolk... I do not know of any beastfolk craftspeople, so I am curious as well.”

It was uncharacteristically long-winded of him.

Rene let out a quiet laugh at the brightness in his words.

Was she simply smitten?

Vera looked like an excited boy, and Rene unconsciously thought he was cute. Her face immediately flushed at the thought.

Ahem...

Vera liked talking about swords.

Rene firmly tucked that fact away in a corner of her mind and listened to Vera continue.

* * *

A small cottage beyond two mountain passes in the Keloi Mountains.

Clang! Clang!

At the lively sound echoing in every direction, Rene raised her head and spoke.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes. There are metal objects scattered in the yard, so I believe it is.”

From farming tools to hunting implements and even the occasional sword, all kinds of ironware lay scattered across the cottage's yard.

Vera carefully described the cottage before them to Rene, then called loudly toward the inside.

“Is anyone there?”

Clang!

Though he had called quite loudly, his voice was immediately swallowed by the sound of metal ringing from within.

Just as Vera was about to call again...

“Who is it?”

Someone poked their head out not from the cottage's door, but from the back of the yard.

At the voice, Vera turned his gaze and narrowed his eyes at the figure before him.

A little girl?

She was barely tall enough to reach his chest. Above the head of the blond, blue-eyed beastfolk girl, who had a sharp look about her, stood a pair of pointed cat ears.

A feline beastfolk.

As he considered this, the girl continued in a wary tone.

“I asked who you are. Can't you talk? Are you mute?”

Her tone was aggressive, and Vera frowned.

“Ah, is this Dovan's forge? We came because we would like to commission something.”

Sensing his expression, Rene hurriedly spoke.

The beastfolk girl carefully looked over Rene and Vera, then Norn and Hella standing behind them, before continuing in a brusque tone.

“Wait here. I'll get my master.”

She darted into the cottage with a Tap!

“She is feline beastfolk. Judging by the way she spoke...”

“She must be Dovan's apprentice.”

“...Yes.”

Vera looked toward the cottage entrance once more. The brusque face of the beastfolk girl who had just disappeared lingered in his thoughts.

Somewhere...

She looked familiar, for some reason.

* * *

Dovan emerged after some time had passed.

Creak...

At the sound of something being pulled along, Rene tilted her head. Vera carefully explained the source.

“...It is a wheelchair.”

Watching the elderly beastfolk emerge while rolling the wheels attached to the chair, Vera added,

“They are bear beastfolk. From what I can see... they appear unable to walk.”

Rene flinched, then nodded slightly.

The beastfolk spoke soon after.

“I heard someone was looking for me. Who are you?”

It was a deep, dignified voice. Rene smiled faintly at the voice and spoke.

“Are you Dovan?”

“That is correct.”

“Hello. We came because we would like to commission something... Would this be an inconvenience?”

“Ah, visitors. Come inside first. Forgive me for keeping you standing.”

With a Creak..., Dovan moved aside from the entrance. Rene took Vera's hand and slowly entered.

The first thing Rene felt upon entering the forge was an intense heat, as though the entire space were burning.

It must have been so hot because Dovan had been working until just before.

“Will you follow me? This is not a suitable place to talk. I will show you inside.”

“Ah, yes.”

The room was a little over ten steps from the entrance.

As Rene entered the room, the heat she had felt before suddenly faded away, and her expression relaxed. Dovan, who entered behind her, spoke.

“My apprentice seems to have been rude. Allow me to apologize in her stead. A troublesome customer has been bothering us lately, so she has been on edge.”

“No. Um, humans did come to a place where beastfolk live, so it is understandable.”

“Thank you for understanding. Please, take a seat.”

Rene smiled softly at Dovan's formal manner. Dovan did not seem to be the kind of blacksmith she had imagined.

Was that not how it usually was? When one thought of a blacksmith, one imagined someone stubborn and fiery.

Rene had assumed Dovan would be like that, but at Dovan's kind words, she silently apologized and took the seat Dovan indicated.

“So, what commission brings you here?”

“I would like to ask for a sword. This person will be using it.”

At Rene's words, Vera bowed his head toward Dovan and spoke.

“I heard that you can work Proden.”

“Hm?”

“We came on Freide's recommendation.”

“Ah, that pointy-ear.”

“Pfft...!”

A laugh escaped Rene at the words.

“Ah, sorry...”

“What is there to apologize for? There is no one here who would take offense to that.”

Rene lowered her head, her face reddening with embarrassment. Dovan answered casually, then turned toward Vera and continued.

“Yes, I can work it. If you pay the deposit, I will take the commission. It may take some time, however, so I ask for your understanding on that point.”

It was a straightforward answer.

Pleased by how swiftly things were progressing, Vera nodded.

“Of course.”

“Do you have a style in mind?”

“I would prefer a straight sword. The length...”

It would be best to make it in a familiar shape.

As Vera continued explaining to Dovan, the closed door to the room opened with a Click!

The one who entered was the feline beastfolk girl they had seen earlier.

The girl, whom Vera had thought seemed strangely familiar, entered hesitantly with a thoroughly dejected look, watching Dovan's reaction.

Dovan made a stern expression at her demeanor and spoke.

“Aisha, should you not apologize to the guests after being rude to them?”

Vera's body jolted at the words. He lifted his head sharply toward the girl.