WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS

Translator: Abood

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Saviour Embarks on a Nameless Journey

Chapter 28: Demon of The Book

“Now then, I’ll break the seal.”

“Can’t I just cut it?”

“That would alert Elaine. Who do you think placed this seal in the first place?”

We had left town while it was still dark and now faced the monster-sealed book. We stood far enough away that any noise wouldn’t be heard, and even if someone from town looked this way, the hollow was screened from view by a stand of trees.

“Well, you weren’t the only one who got bored back then. For her, this seal is unusually rough.”

Saying that, Marius, perhaps out of caution, drew a staff from his chest. Muttering something under his breath, he tapped the bound book’s seal with the faintly glowing tip.

The light from the staff seemed to seep into the seal, and the cords that had been wound tightly around it slipped free, crumbling to fine ash and scattering on the wind.

“Now it’s my turn… SuiEn.”

I summoned my sword, watching the red-and-black book begin to tremble in fine shivers.

“Pyaa~”

“That’s an awfully feeble little chirp.”

Cut it out, it ruins the mood.

“Blackened gold ornamentation, and the will to open itself… seems like a fairly big one, doesn’t it?”

“Perhaps we should have stepped back a bit more. The town might be able to see us.”

I’d planned to deal with it quietly and pretend nothing had happened.

“Pya~”

“Oh? Lord Shinju, you’d lend us a hand?”

“…Eh?”

Marius suddenly started saying something strange.

“Pyaa~”

“I see, you’ll put up a barrier to keep us from being seen?”

He was speaking to Pyaa with an utterly serious face.

“Hold on, Marius. What are you talking about?”

Don’t tell me he can communicate with Pya? With Pya?

I turned my body toward the book as it began to rattle violently, keeping Marius in the corner of my eye. Books tinged with red like this could sometimes burn if damaged before being opened.

That alone wouldn’t be a problem, but there was always the risk of an explosion. Or worse, the flames scattering, setting off other books and releasing their monsters.

—Unlike back in the tower crammed full of books, this time there were no other volumes nearby, nor any sign of monsters in the vicinity.

“Pya~”

“No, if we’re going to trouble Lord Shinju, then I’ll do it myself.”

He raised his staff, letting a curtain fall that blended seamlessly into the dim light before dawn.

To me, it only looked like… well, something. But I’d heard that to Shato or Elaine, it would appear like a curtain of light. And if he were to get serious and set a stronger, sturdier barrier, it would form a dome shape.

That aside, that suspicious smile of his! Did he really just have a conversation with Pya, or was he merely toying with me?

The book opened, its written text flashing in my vision for a moment before spreading like a black stain that swallowed the page. The blackness poured out beyond the paper, taking the shape of a monster.

“Ninety-nine percent sure it’s just a foul-tempered priest messing with me in earnest.”

I readied my sword and stepped in.

“GAAAAAAAAH!”

The black shape, now larger than me, had taken the form of a giant bird.

I couldn’t touch the blackened part yet, but I also couldn’t let it head toward the town. Sorry, but I’ll be taking away your means of getting there.

I aimed for the wings, shifting from black to green, and struck in a single slash.

“――――!!”

A cry that couldn’t even be called a monster’s roar.

If that scream didn’t reach the town, it was likely because Marius’s barrier had swallowed and nullified it. Some wolf- and bird-type monsters had voices that could harm people.

“And the remaining one percent is that a truly admirable priest is simply relaying the guidance of a sacred beast to a rough-handed swordsman,” Marius replied smoothly, smiling.

“Don’t you go expanding the denominator!”

Shouting, I stepped in once more, cutting straight through from the crimson feathered crest in a clean line.

The monster’s form collapsed, scattering feathers. Even though its color had only just returned, the feathers blackened as if burned and then vanished. Book monsters never left remains.

“Pya—”

“Well done, Lord Shinju.”

“Why is it Pya at this moment?!”

Well, what can I say? A monster that’s only somewhat strong isn’t much of a match for us. After all, we’re the former hero’s party.

“Heh. Now then, shall we head back before Io and the others wake up?”

“Stop looking me dead in the eye while you mock me!”

What kind of grudge does he have against me, anyway?

“What are you talking about? Lord Shinju, I’ve already told the inn to prepare boiled eggs for you, so please, eat as many as you like.”

“Do you have any idea how people looked at me last night…?”

At dinner in the inn, that blasted Pya had eaten ten boiled eggs. And of course, to everyone else, it looked like I was the one eating them…

“Don’t eat nothing but eggs! You’ll end up with a completely unbalanced diet!”

“How can you say such things to a sacred beast? Would you tell a wolf to eat vegetables?”

“A wolf is a carnivore! This thing’s an omnivore!”

The sky began to pale as the morning sun broke over the horizon, and we walked side by side back toward the town. A meal after some exercise was always delicious, but where in the world had my peaceful breakfast gone?

Footnotes:

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