WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS
Translator: Abood
Editor: Ryuu
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Saviour Embarks on a Nameless Journey
Chapter 10: Naming Pya—
Alina and Io went back.
Even though they’ve completed much of what they need to learn well ahead of time, Alina and Io have little free time. Strolling along the fresh green road with my grandchild was a brief moment of peace.
There should be some days off, so let’s ask if adjustments can be made when we get close to a nice-looking town. In addition to studying, they are also busy with royal duties and visits to temples, even at such a young age. I hope it can serve as a bit of a breather for them.
“The only thing left is that, huh…”
I glance over my shoulder at the sacred beast clinging to my back. Given where it is, I can’t really see it directly.
“The level of enjoyment has decreased if I must say.”
Marius said while looking at me, or rather, at my back.
No matter how you look at it, I’m saying I’m in this ‘amusing’ state! You bastard…!
The sacred beast that was clinging to my back is now peeking its head out from under my neck. You could also say it just moved from above the cloak to below it. It was still firmly clinging, unchanging.
“I thought it had moved close to your shoulder, but it seems to have taken a liking to your back. Or else, is it trying to escape from your hands?”
“As if I’d know!”
I responded dismissively to Marius's words, which were laced with laughter.
It seems no one but me can touch it, but even I can't fully grab and pull it off since it always manages to slip away. From slim to sturdy, it seems like its body is flexible of some sorts. How mysterious.
“What are you going to name it after all?”
“Pya— works just fine y’know?”
“Of course not! That won’t work.”
Marius bluntly rejected.
“Pya—”
“Look, Pya— definitely works fine.”
“And we’ll be stuck with having to introduce it as the ‘Sacred Beast Pya—’? I’d rather not.”
Now that he said it…
“...Then what else works?”
Unfortunately, I’m not confident in my naming sense.
“Since it’s been clinging to your back forever, how about we name it ‘Suirun The Second’?
“You fool!”
That’s even worse!
“Pya—”
“Look, it seems to like it.”
“Of course not! It absolutely doesn’t!”
Two old men stroll leisurely down the road, exchanging words as they go.
When I walk alone, I tend to rush ahead without properly taking in the scenery. Having Marius accompany me on this journey was probably a good thing to happen.
“Is it a male or female? In the case of Sacred Beasts, they could even be neutral."
“Just give it a name that works either way!”
I picked up a branch lying on the cobblestones.
“Since it’s white, how about we name it ‘Shinju’?”
Marius also extended his hand to a branch right at his feet.
It was about time we started preparing for camping.
“Pearl, the sea's greatest treasure, huh. Too grand of a name for something that keeps crying ‘Pya—’.”
“A Sacred Beast is something grand after all.”
This Pya— is? No, I know. Just by the spirit’s presence, the climate stabilizes, and crops yield better harvests. The occurrence of harmful insects is under control, and the forest animals that serve as food increase in number.
Toiling to cultivate and protect the fields, only to have prolonged rains ruin the crops in the end. If a spirit is present, it’s easier and more reliable to stay on its good side.
“Humans are naturally lazy, including myself.
Ideally, I’d like to rely on my own efforts and grasp only what can be achieved within that scope. However, if two or three years of bad weather were to plague my lands, even I would start wishing for a spirit’s help.
“We’re weak living creatures after all.”
Marius said with a calm smile.
“—Shinju, huh.”
“Pya—”
A joyful voice came up from my back.
“Well, indeed, its fur color is like that of a pearl. Soft, yet with a strange, glossy sheen.
TL/N: The word ‘Shinju’ means pearl in japanese, hence them referring to a pearl.
The tips of its ears, paws, and tail are—if I recall correctly—that rare shade of blue pearl. But since it’s been clinging to my back this whole time, I only got a good look when it first latched on.
“Since the one being named is also happy, let's call it Mr. Shinju.”
“Pya—”
“There’s no need for the ‘Mr.’ is there?
“Generally speaking, it’s necessary.”
Whether a strong wind blew through a few days ago or not, there’s plenty of fallen branches on the roadside, enough to make a campfire without even venturing into the forest.
“Well then, was there a water source around this place?”
“If I remember correctly, there’s a shallow crossing just a bit further ahead.”
Marius wasn’t often in a position to leave the royal capital. And when he did, it was probably from inside a carriage.
So, while he had gathered and memorized information about towns and terrain, it seemed he lacked the practical, everyday knowledge that would have been useful on an actual journey.
This area didn’t have many ups and downs, and in some places, the small streams were shallow and spread out widely. The road crossed a shallow area, known as a ford, where even cows and sheep could cross, with water only up to their ankles.
However, being too close to the water’s edge, it still gets chilly at night.
We'll make tonight's campsite under the large tree that is neither too close to the water’s edge nor too far from the road.
“I wonder what we’ll have for dinner.”
“Start the fire already and wait.”
I restrung the short bow and proceeded deeper into the forest.
Although the bow and arrows are somewhat bulky, they are convenient for hunting. In the forest, if you know how to make them, you can replenish your arrows yourself. I once met someone bearing the crest of the bow and arrows, and it seemed quite convenient.
My crest is on my left palm. It’s the mark of my pact with the sword, allowing me to summon it from here by channeling magic. My body is the sheath, and normally, I nourish the sword with the magic that flows through me.
A crest is either acquired independently or inherited by one of the offspring. I obtained my sword through my own efforts, while Marius acquired his staff during the journey to defeat the Demon King. Shato’s hero's sword, on the other hand, was inherited.
Marius's crest was located just below his left collarbone, while Shato's was in the center of his chest. Usually, crests are found on the hands, arms, or around the chest—but the bow and arrow man drew his from his knee, so perhaps it’s just common around those close to me.
Few people bear a crest, but since those involved in something like the Demon King’s defeat tend to have considerable abilities, my encounter rate with them was quite high.
As I idly pondered irrelevant thoughts, I shot an arrow at my prey without really looking. Sensing the surroundings had become a part of my actions, just like breathing. And I had never missed an arrow when aiming at ordinary beasts or birds.
That is the size of a woodcock. If I don’t catch another one, Marius will start complaining.
As I walked toward the sound of a thud, I considered whether to go for a bird or a fish for my next catch. It would be much deeper in the forest to catch boar or deer. But wait, could they come this way to cross the shallow waters?
It seems I’m feeling a bit excited by the idea of camping out again after such a long time.
“Pya—”
“Stop with the ‘Pya—’s already, the prey will run away.”
The problem was how to detach this thing from my back.
Footnotes:
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