WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ The Wandering Knight and the Moving Castle ◈
Chapter 4: The One Who Understands Three Worlds (4)
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When someone looked after a place for long enough, they learned its many secrets. Most were trivial things, like where the rat holes were.
But every now and then, they found something as valuable as a silver coin. The secret passage was one such discovery.
As Eugene returned with cleaning supplies, he said, “It’s been a while since I cleaned down there.”
“Did the priests give you permission?”
“Of course. Someone has to do it, but nobody wants the job. They should be grateful I volunteered.”
“They must think you’re going to great lengths to get your mother’s belongings back.”
“Yes. Even as they granted permission, their faces said, ‘Do you really think we’ll hand them over just because you do this? Fool.’”
“Tch. Who’s the real fool here?”
Gopri sighed.
“So, you’ll have to leave this village after all.”
“Once I steal the belongings from the Sealing Vault, they’ll notice sooner or later.”
“I wanted you to go out into the world and make something of yourself, but I never wanted you to leave like this.”
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, we have unwelcome guests in the basement.”
“The Dhampir women.”
The basement had a prison attached to it, where priests who broke the law were confined and punished. The captured women would be locked up there now, lamenting their fates.
“Dhampirs are craftier than vampires. Their pride is unchanged, but their blood is diluted, so they’re full of bitterness. If they discover the secret passage, they might try to blackmail you. That would be troublesome.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
His disciple slung the cleaning supplies over his shoulder and grinned easily.
“You’re a hard one to understand. I’ve taught you all these years at my side, yet you still seem to have so many secrets.”
“Oh, come now. I don’t think of you as someone who taught me. I think of you as someone who raised me.”
“...Enough. Get going.”
Looking embarrassed, Gopri gave Eugene a shove.
* * *
After parting from his master and entering the basement, Eugene’s nose was assailed by a stench he had not smelled in a long time.
“Who the hell are you?”
A beautiful but venomous voice rang out.
A prison stood in one corner of the basement. Beyond its iron bars, red eyes glinted. It was the girl in her late teens he had seen in the cart.
She glared at Eugene with open hostility. Her eyes were hollow with exhaustion, but they still burned fiercely.
Two pointed fangs showed between her parted lips. Whether pure-blooded vampire or mixed-blood Dhampir, they all bore those distinctive fangs.
“I’m not a priest. I hate the Church of the Absolute too.”
Eugene began with the introduction he had prepared. He had learned that interviews should start with the main point.
“You’re wearing priestly robes, yet you say you’re not a priest?”
“This is a trainee’s robe.”
Eugene lightly tugged at its coarse, dull-colored front.
“Anyone staying at the monastery can wear one. Those who have received formal approval as priests wear something different.”
Ptui!
The girl spat, and her saliva landed in front of Eugene’s shoes.
“It smells just as disgusting.”
Whatever had happened, she had clearly gotten on the church’s bad side.
Eugene ground the spit beneath his shoe and looked around. The basement had evidently been neglected since he stopped tending to it. It was in terrible condition.
He set down the cleaning supplies, placed a chair before the bars, and sat down.
Unlike the defiant girl, the other two, who appeared to be a mother and daughter, trembled in fear.
Their shoes had been confiscated, likely to prevent an escape, and their bare feet were black with grime. At least they did not appear to be injured.
Grrrrumble.
A hungry stomach growled from beyond the bars.
“Looks like you haven’t eaten.”
“That wasn’t my stomach.”
The girl spoke with a faint flush on her face.
“Mom, I’m hungry.”
Eugene turned his gaze to the other two.
‘So they really are mother and daughter.’
They probably were not being starved outright. Naturally, the priests would not give them fresh blood. At best, they would receive moldy bread or a piece of potato.
“Excuse me, sir.”
The mother looked at Eugene with a pleading expression. Anyone with a heart would know at once what she wanted.
“I brought some food. Would you like it?”
“!!!”
Eugene took out the jerky Homi had packed for him and rye bread he had bought at the market. Color returned to the mother’s face.
Gulp!
The mother and daughter swallowed hard, but did not immediately approach. They glanced at the girl leaning against the wall, and she gave a small nod.
“Thank you, my lady!”
The mother came forward and accepted the food with trembling hands. Then, before even going to her own daughter, she approached the girl first.
“Don’t mind me. You two eat.”
“B-but...”
The girl, who had been looking kindly at the woman, instantly turned fierce eyes on Eugene.
“As an honorable noblewoman of Barsia, I do not wish to put anything those bastards offer in my mouth.”
“I understand.”
The mother lowered her head and returned to her daughter.
“This wasn’t given by the church. I’m not a priest, and I’ll be leaving soon. Those are my personal belongings.”
The girl simply folded her arms.
The mother and daughter, on the other hand, ate with greater ease. The sight warmed Eugene’s heart.
“Eat slowly. You’ll upset your stomach if you rush.”
“...You really aren’t one of the Church of the Absolute’s dogs.”
The girl’s expression softened slightly.
“I’ve never seen any of them smile like you.”
“I’ve told you that several times.”
“Hmph!”
Eugene quietly watched the mother and daughter eat.
“What? Did you think we only drank blood?”
“No. Even if blood has nutrients, there’s no way you could live on that alone.”
The mother placed strips of jerky, torn into bite-sized pieces, into her young daughter’s mouth.
“It’s just been a while since I’ve seen a mother and child share a meal. It’s really nice to see.”
The girl looked at Eugene with an odd expression.
“Our lives are long. If there is no joy in such a long life, life itself is no different from a prison. Our palates are finer than yours, and we deserve to indulge them.”
It was just as Gopri had said. They were a prideful race who called themselves the nobles of the night.
“Then why don’t you eat some too?”
“I do not need your pity.”
“As you wish. I’m happy enough to see that mother and daughter eat their fill.”
The girl let out a quiet sigh.
“What is your purpose? You do not seem to have come to clean, nor to mock us. Did you truly come only to show kindness?”
“A child is innocent.”
Biting her lip, the girl held out her empty hand. She was someone who hated owing a debt almost as much as she hated death.
“As you can see, we have nothing to repay you with.”
“That’s true. Empty hands and bare feet.”
“...”
The girl drew in the legs she had stretched out. As a young noblewoman, she must have been embarrassed to show the dirty soles of her feet like that.
Eugene rose and headed toward the spot where the secret passage lay.
Beneath a cleverly concealed section, a narrow passage could be seen. It appeared to be in good condition, just as it had during the inspections he carried out whenever he could.
Eugene felt eyes on his back. When he turned, the little girl, who had been staring curiously, quickly lowered her head.
‘This is within view of the prison.’
That was an irritating problem for Eugene, who intended to slip secretly into the Sealing Vault.
The women did not seem likely to scream and interfere, but he did not want to leave even a 0.1 percent risk. Fortunately, a suitable method came to mind.
After spending some time pretending to clean, Eugene gathered his things and left the basement.
“I’ll see you again at the next mealtime.”
“Thank you!”
“...”
Unlike the mother and daughter, who bowed deeply, the girl did not spare him a glance.
The monastery was noisy when he emerged from the basement. Raised voices suggested a fight had broken out.
Eugene ran toward the commotion and found priests gathered there. At the center, Gopri faced the Senior Priest.
“Have you gone mad? How dare you do this in a sacred monastery!”
The Senior Priest pointed at Gopri while the other priests stared in shock.
Gopri had drawn his sword.
* * *
While Eugene spoke with the Dhampir women in the basement, Gopri met with the Senior Priest.
He thought that perhaps, if he asked, his disciple might be able to reclaim his mother’s belongings. There was no harm in lending a little more help.
“No.”
The Senior Priest was firm.
“I cannot allow a Witch’s evil objects to be released into the world.”
“As far as I know, Eugene’s mother was little more than an herbalist. She only possessed a little occult power. Has anyone ever seen her commit evil deeds?”
No one had. Quite apart from the good medicine she provided, the monastery lacked clear evidence of any wrongdoing.
“If you sprinkle even a little filth into a cup full of water, it becomes undrinkable. Eugene’s mother was a Witch.”
“Even though her medicine cured many children, women in childbirth, and elderly people?”
No one in the village had contributed more to the people’s health and quality of life than Eugene’s mother.
“Faith in God, not such petty tricks, is the true cure for all diseases.”
“More than a few people only worsened after praying at the monastery day after day, then rose to their feet after taking a single dose of her medicine.”
“Priest Gopri, how can you say such blasphemous things? You are not defending her simply because she is your disciple’s mother, are you?”
“I only wish to view the world pragmatically, without prejudice.”
As their voices rose, priests gradually began gathering throughout the monastery.
Sensitive about his standing, the Senior Priest glanced around. As someone aiming to become the next abbot, he could not afford to lose even a small argument.
“It seems to me that you have not abandoned the heart you had when you lived as a knight, Brother. It appears there is something more important to you than devotion to God.”
That made Gopri flare up as well.
“Are you insulting the devotion I have given this monastery all these years?”
“One who cannot call a Witch a Witch cannot be called a servant of God.”
More priests gathered. It became a coliseum for the two priests’ argument.
That stirred the Senior Priest’s ambition. He would do anything for his position.
“I will say it again. Eugene’s mother was a Witch. Her soul must be burning in hell. No matter how she begs and begs with her blackened hands, it is already too late. God’s mercy does not reach hell. And when that Eugene leaves this monastery, he will meet the same fate as his mother.”
Something snapped inside Gopri’s mind.
“How dare you say that?!”
He drew his sword and pointed it at the Senior Priest.
The startled priests murmured among themselves, and Gopri realized too late what he had done.
“See that, Brother Gopri. No, you are not even a brother anymore! You are not a priest. You are still a knight. You cannot see evil for what it is, and you are far too violent to be a servant of God.”
The Senior Priest spoke calmly, a smile of triumph hidden behind his composed expression.
“What the...?”
Arriving late, Eugene realized the situation had become thoroughly tangled.
* * *
Late afternoon. Master and disciple stood facing one another on a hill overlooking the village.
“So you’re being expelled for trying to strike the Senior Priest in a sacred monastery.”
“I drew my sword because I was angry. I never meant to strike him. Besides, I’m leaving on my own.”
Though he knew an expulsion order had been issued, Eugene did not say any more out of respect for his master.
When the sun rose tomorrow morning, Gopri could no longer remain in the village.
“Thank you.”
“What for?”
“You drew your sword because you couldn’t endure the insult to my mother.”
“It wasn’t only because of that.”
“Perhaps it’s for the best. You were planning to leave anyway, and since you’re going before me, I can at least see you off.”
“I always think this, but your ability to see the good in everything is remarkable. It’s something I could never imitate.”
“Unlike you, Master, who were born a knight, I am... a little complicated.”
Perhaps Gopri no longer had any attachment to being a priest. He did not react even when Eugene called him a knight.
Eugene looked at him with quiet expectation.
“You’ll be lonely. Would you consider traveling with me?”
“Enough, you fool. I intend to go on a pilgrimage and search for God’s voice in my own way. You should graduate from being a Squire too.”
Gopri threw the sword he held, still in its scabbard, to Eugene.
“What is this?”
It was not the sword Gopri usually carried.
“A gift. I meant to give it to you on the day you left, but things turned out this way.”
Eugene pulled it out slightly. Its flawless, sharp blade reflected the light. It looked newly made.
“It isn’t a masterwork, but it’s a fine sword.”
“This village’s blacksmith is skilled. Thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”
“And one more thing.”
“?”
Gopri drew his own sword.
“From the first time we met, I knew you possessed monstrous strength and talent. I thought I had trained you accordingly, but I was mistaken. Even that was bound by the shackles of my own common sense and experience.”
“After seeing me beat that giant boar to death, are you saying you’ll increase the intensity of my training?”
“A perceptive student is easier to teach. Yes, that’s right.”
“I didn’t know I could wield that much strength either.”
The lessons of the past had not been meaningless. Gopri had focused on teaching Eugene how not to die rather than how to kill.
There was plenty of time to learn how to kill. As long as one was alive, there would be countless chances to learn.
Gopri taught Eugene how to deal with enemies who used dirty tricks, attacks in the dark, dangerous regions such as swamps and sandy deserts, ambushes and encirclements, and secret techniques that could easily catch the uninformed off guard.
Gopri had passed down experiences that some had paid for with their lives, some with scars that lasted a lifetime, and some only after paying vast sums of gold.
“You could spend your whole life learning how to avoid death and still not know enough, but the ways to kill are learned quickly.”
Gopri pointed his sword at Eugene.
“I’ve already taught you the framework of my swordsmanship and techniques. How you use them is entirely up to you.”
Without a word, Eugene pointed his sword at his master. Master and disciple stood in the same stance.
Sensing that presence, Gopri smiled faintly. Their heights and faces differed, yet he felt as if he were looking at a son of his own.
Unmarried all his life, Gopri sometimes felt loneliness gnaw at him and found himself thinking about having descendants.
Yet the disciple before him seemed like his own reflection. The emptiness of being alone felt completely washed away.
“For now, you’ll use the forms and techniques I taught you, but before long, you’ll forget them all.”
“Why?”
“Because your prodigious strength and talent will break free of them, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon. When the blade grows larger than the sheath, it is only natural for the sheath to tear.”
Gopri drew his sword back to his side.
“Before I leave this village, I will tear apart the sheath in your heart. Then you will truly possess swordsmanship that is yours alone.”
Gopri closed his eyes.
To ordinary people, he was the Blind Knight.
To those who respected him, he was the Knight of Prophecy.
His master began to give off a sharp presence unlike any Eugene had ever seen.
Yet Eugene was not afraid. Instead, a strange pleasure spread from his heart through his entire body, as though his blood were boiling.
It felt as if the voice within him, which he had heard when he killed the monstrous boar, was speaking to him again.
Footnotes:
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