WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

Editor: Ryuu

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Saviour Embarks on a Nameless Journey

Chapter 18: The Weight of a Presence

“Neither in the present nor in the past have you ever been my attendant.”

Wil denied it with a pleasant smile.

“In the future then!”

Elm beamed brightly, full of energy.

“…That's... awfully forward-thinking.”

I couldn’t help but glance at Marius.

“I have also stepped down from my position as High Priest. I no longer require a knight escort.”

Our eyes met, and Marius smiled gently as he too shot it down, clean and sharp. No wait, why are you saying that to me...?

I turned my gaze toward the temple knights as I suppressed a sigh.

On one side stood a temple knight with cool, refreshing looks and pale blue hair. On the other was a trainee knight, a lively girl with shining blond hair and crimson eyes.

Wil was without question, a handsome man. Royal guards and temple escorts are chosen not just for their skill with the sword, but for their appearance as well. After all, during ceremonies, they stand alongside the king or High Priest as the center of attention, drawing the eyes of the public.

Of course, there are also plenty of burly, muscular knights, and depending on the event or who we’re negotiating with, those types are selected instead.

As for Elm… well, she’s well-proportioned too, but before you can even register her as beautiful, her bouncy, energetic movements and her ever-changing expressions leap out at you.

“I’ve sworn to serve only one person in my lifetime.”

“But temple knights serve the gods, or the temple, or the position of High Priest itself.”

The two smiled at each other as they locked eyes again, tension crackling between them. I could almost see dark clouds gathering behind them.

Marius’s horse twitched its ears restlessly. Was it… scared? Even though it’s part magical beast? Wil’s horse on the other hand, acted like nothing was happening. Had it gotten used to this?

“You all seem to have quite the entertaining dynamic,”

Elaine said with a sultry smile.

They say witches sow discord, tie people’s fates together, and stir emotions, all simply for the fun of watching human feelings ripple and sway. Elaine was no exception to that troublesome witch’s nature.

It was rare to see Marius being the one under observation. Just as I decided to leave him to it and shifted my gaze, I locked eyes with Elm, who seemed to have come to the same conclusion.

“By the way, what’s the name of the secret love child?”

She trotted her horse closer and asked casually.

“I told you I’m not a secret child, I’m Suirun!”

Still with this?!

“Oho! Naming yourself after your dad, huh? So you’re a love child who isn’t even trying to hide it?”

“That’s not it at all!”

What a stubborn girl!

“So? Does Suirun Junior use a sword too?”

“Who are you calling Junior! That is me, just younger!”

She really wants me to be someone’s hidden kid, but surely she’ll get it now, right?

“Oh, suuure~. The Sword Saint Suirun was super strong and totally fearless! You might’ve inherited the short temper, but that weak aura? Not even close! I can totally tell!”

She jabbed her finger straight at me, all proud of herself.

“Wha…!”

Of all things, me being weak?

“Not to defend Elm, but admitting your own weakness without putting on a false front is the first step to self-improvement.”

Tired of glaring at Marius, even Sir Wil started throwing words assuming I’m weak.

“Yeah, yeah. If you want to catch up to your Dad, you’ve got to start not with how you look, but with the right mindset! Heart’s what counts, heart!”

Elm tapped her chest plate where it pressed against her chest, making a slightly goofy thump.

I was so stunned I couldn’t say a word and instinctively glanced around.

Marius and Elaine were both staring blankly. It’s rare to see them like that, and I wondered if I was making the same foolish face in the back of my mind.

“…Ah. Could that be the presence of Lord Shinju?”

Marius murmured quietly.

“I see, it’s Pya, huh? That Pya fellow!”

Sure enough, I could sense a slender presence behind me.

Wil and Elm who came later haven’t seen it most likely. From Elaine and Marius’s perspective, or rather from my own, it’s hard to tell if it’s still there since it’s behind me.

If it were visible, at least part of it would probably be sticking out from the cloak near the ears.

“Wait. So that means this nervous Pya’s presence is stronger than mine!?”

Whether it’s because there are so many people around, or the sudden appearance of new faces, I can definitely tell that Pya is trembling and scared.

I get that, but that much?

“That’s how it is… no, Lord Shinju is known for being brave and fierce, you know?”

“Pya—”

And of course, Pya answers right then.

“You! What are you gonna do if Pya really gets serious? Don’t go flattering it. If it recklessly shows itself in front of a monster, that’d be dangerous.”

Wait, but if that happened, wouldn’t Pya just peel off from my back? So would that be okay?

“Lord Shinju? Pya?”

Wil’s brow furrowed slightly, faint vertical lines forming between.

“Ah! The nervous, probing presence just got thinner!”

Elm said with a bit of surprise.

“As expected of Lord Marius! He saves the soul of a lost young man in no time!”

Elm looked at Marius with admiration.

No, that’s not it! And what’s with ‘saves in no time’!?

Footnotes:

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried

Our series