WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle
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◈ The Wandering Knight and the Moving Castle ◈
Chapter 87: Time of Purification (1)
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When the castle that had appeared so suddenly vanished just as abruptly, the people left behind reacted in different ways.
“See? When the dwarves start running, you run after them. We nearly got swept up in that storm at close range.”
The mercenaries working to open the gates went pale as they remembered the massive equipment rolling about like toys before the castle gate. If they had been caught beneath it, they would have been killed or crippled.
“I thought a moving castle would have legs, but apparently not.”
“How could a lump of stone that big walk around?”
“No matter how I look at it, it seemed more like an enormous ship than a castle. A ship that rides lightning... Even if I told people in Bonyard City, no one would believe me.”
Travelers and adventurers excitedly chattered about what they had seen. They had come to watch the tournament and ended up witnessing something far rarer.
The northern nobles also breathed a sigh of relief.
“The reserve troops and reinforcements gathering at the capital have headed south.”
This was an age without organized supply lines or standing armies. The moment soldiers were gathered and merchants and laborers were called in to supply them, rumors spread in every direction.
“Hmph! How are they supposed to chase a castle that flashes into view, then flashes away?”
“It’s like a dog that lost the chicken it was chasing and can only stare at the roof.”
“Even the southern nobles of the Imperial Faction seem deeply dissatisfied with the army’s confusion.”
As the weather warmed, the south stood on the verge of war resuming. They needed aid immediately, yet the Emperor’s selfish ambitions had kept the reinforcements away, and the nobles’ resentment was immense.
In the end, even the Emperor had no choice but to relent and focus on the southern front.
“There were complications, but I’m glad the banquet was successful in the end. They say God always grants trials and blessings together.”
At the Duke’s words, all the Duke’s vassal nobles nodded.
The tournament had ended in a muddle, but nobles had gathered from every direction, crossing regions and national borders.
Lords had also recruited new knights from among those who came, filling the places lost in last year’s great war. The festival had accomplished its purpose splendidly.
There was only one issue.
“We never found Sir Eugene.”
The lords, who had been excitedly adding their own congratulations, fell silent at the Duke’s words.
A famous young knight and noble newly aligned with the north had been dragged inside while investigating the castle.
He had distinguished himself in the pirate purge, captured the Emperor’s mages and knights, and uncovered their acts of terror.
“There is still no news of his return from Northfork.”
“What a pity. He was a knight who could have become an example for the new north to follow.”
“Then what will happen to his fief?”
The nobles offered only brief, formal condolences before turning their attention to the fief he had left behind. Northfork was one of the foremost settlements in the north.
When a fief lost its owner and was left in limbo, countless nobles, merchant companies, and religious orders would inevitably salivate over it and try to seize a share.
“He has not been missing long enough for us to discuss a new owner. What we should do is pray for his safe return, not concern ourselves with politics.”
“You are right.”
Several nobles awkwardly agreed at the Duke’s cold words. Still, they could not help the greed rising in their hearts.
The ones who sincerely worried for Eugene’s safety were the Black Hand Mercenary Company.
“Sir Eugene must be fighting hard inside the castle. He is not someone who would go down easily. The forest mage is with him as well.”
Rex spoke before Chieftain Alesa.
“I do not doubt that. What matters is where the castle is now. Even if we want to rescue them, we first need to know its location.”
When the chieftain and deputy chieftain looked to Marbas, he shook his head.
“I can tell it is somewhere between the west and south of the continent, but I do not know its precise location. Still, it certainly exists somewhere in the present world.”
Marbas was one of the greatest summoners of the age, more sensitive than anyone to the energy of the Otherworld.
He could sense an immense mystery tearing through the space of the present world, ascending and making its Advent.
“Has there been any trouble in Sir Eugene’s fief? Jackals will try to tear it apart while they have the chance.”
Rex nodded to Alesa as she spoke coldly.
“I plan to take my subordinates and station them there. When he returns, we cannot let him find his village being pushed around by scum.”
“That is right. I will activate our information network as much as possible. It is an enormous castle. If it appears somewhere, word will reach us quickly.”
That would be far easier than searching for a missing person. All they had to ask was, “Have you heard of a huge castle suddenly appearing?”
Even without actively looking, rumors would reach them if it appeared within civilized territory.
* * *
After escaping the castle, Eugene’s party struggled as they crossed the wasteland.
They had lost their way several times in the dry, unmarked land, battered by sandstorms.
‘Damn it.’
He had tried to transmit the castle as close to the village as possible, but it had not gone as planned.
The technique controlled an immense mystery, making precise operation impossible, and Eugene was only a novice captain to begin with.
“Don’t take it so hard. Everyone is clumsy at first, aren’t they?”
Varda warmly comforted him, though she looked little better than a beggar herself. The ears she treasured as a point of pride were caked with dirt and dust, which pained Eugene to see.
Tap, tap.
Homi removed her shoes and shook them upside down. Even her tail had turned a dull brown.
“!!!”
As Homi shook out her shoes, her ears suddenly perked up. She threw herself forward and, after a short chase, returned with something in her grasp.
A lizard the size of an iguana desperately struggled in her hand. One flick to its forehead from Homi knocked it unconscious, leaving it limp.
“Today’s lunch.”
“We’re always relying on you.”
To make matters worse, they had lost their food and water during the escape. They were in the worst possible situation, forced to fend for themselves in the wasteland, but they managed to endure.
“I’ve always known it, but now I truly realize how impressive our party is.”
“Are you not just a kept man right now?”
“That’s harsh.”
“Heh heh heh.”
Homi’s sharp senses let them spot and hunt small animals, while Varda’s magic solved their drinking-water problem.
-As a traveler, I ask for your grace. Lend us the water you have gathered from the earth.
Standing before a tree they had encountered, Varda chanted a spell and cut a wound into one of its branches. Clear water trickled out from the cut.
The tree had gathered the water stored in its roots, trunk, and leaves in one place to offer as a gift.
-In return, I promise to bring you fertilizer rich in water and nutrients. I swear it in the name of Varda, mage of the Emerald Forest.
It seemed insignificant, but for a tree, it was an act of giving up part of its lifeline. Even Varda could only obtain water after making a vow.
“I will make sure the promise is never broken.”
“Please do. Not only for my sake. Those who help you in difficult times deserve a precious gift in return.”
Even after somehow solving their food and water problems, they could not relax.
The continent held countless unexplored regions untouched by the light of civilization. Fierce beasts and dangerous monsters roamed such places, and the wasteland was no exception.
“A scorpion?”
A giant scorpion nearly the size of a bull approached, craving blood and flesh.
Its many legs scuttled busily, and its black eyes glistened, making it utterly revolting.
“It is a monster that mostly appears in the Samur Desert. I never expected it to live here as well.”
“Now I understand why nobody comes this way. The environment is fucking awful, and those things keep popping up.”
Eugene and Homi drew their weapons and split to either side.
While the two warriors drew its attention, Varda took out some of her few remaining seeds and chanted the thorn vines spell.
No matter how sturdy its shell was, soft flesh lay in the gaps between its joints. Thorns burrowed into those gaps, and the giant scorpion thrashed.
“Shiiiaaak!”
It screamed in such pain that it flipped onto its back and rubbed itself against the ground. Removing the thorns seemed more urgent than dealing with the enemies right in front of it.
‘A bug screamed?’
Even in the middle of battle, Eugene was taken aback.
It was not a sound made with wings like a cicada or cricket. It was clearly a scream bursting from its hideous mouth.
Thrust!
Crunch!
He drove his sword into the giant scorpion’s head, left defenseless by pain, then twisted it.
The revolting legs that had been writhing spasmodically trembled and went still.
Slice!
Eugene did not stop there. He cut off its legs and stinger as well. Varda looked puzzled at his excessively thorough finishing blow.
“Was all that necessary?”
“It’s a bug. I can’t relax unless I make absolutely sure it’s destroyed.”
“Its head has already been pierced.”
“Bugs don’t die immediately even if their brains are destroyed. They have ganglia that can move independently throughout their bodies...”
Eugene stopped speaking.
Despite being an insect, it could make sounds with its mouth and reacted sensitively to pain, almost like a mammal.
“Wait.”
He swung his sword at the scorpion’s chest. The Aether-forged blade, still sharp despite countless battles, split its torso in a single stroke.
Rip.
Inside the split chest were two large lungs. Since the shell supported it, there were no ribs like those of mammals, making them easy to see.
“A bug has lungs?”
“Is that strange?”
“Insects generally have no lungs. They breathe through their entire bodies.”
“That is interesting.”
Eugene shook the blood from his sword.
‘I shouldn’t trust my knowledge too much either.’
His knowledge surpassed that of this age in many ways. He took some pride in that, but whenever he encountered such wonders, humility naturally rose within him.
They hurried onward, and at last the familiar sight of the river came into view. Eugene had returned to his one and only fief.
“Everyone has worked hard. Leave the rest to me.”
Only one river stood between them and home. Crossing it proved harder than expected.
Whooosh!
The large merchant ships did not spare Eugene so much as a glance, and even the fishermen’s ferries did not approach.
‘People who crossed from the wasteland, and armed ones at that. They have no idea what kind of trouble they might be getting into.’
Those willing to risk their lives crossing the wasteland were likely fugitives or criminals being pursued.
“No, I’m the lord here...”
Eugene had boldly stepped forward, only to end up looking embarrassed. No boat came near, even when he waved both arms and jumped about, making a spectacle of himself.
“Ugh.”
Varda crouched down, perhaps because her legs hurt. Seeing her pitiful state wounded Eugene’s masculine pride for some reason.
“M-My lords, would you like a ride?”
“Thank you!”
Eugene was genuinely delighted when a fisher came to take them aboard.
The elderly fisher had been agonizing over the cost of medicine for their sick spouse.
“The price will be... Huh?”
The fisher had begun to negotiate the fare, then saw Eugene’s build, Homi’s tail, and Varda’s ears. They went pale and immediately prostrated themself.
“My lord!”
They had never seen the new lord, but the beastkin Squire and elf mage were famous throughout the fief. The fisher clutched their chest in relief at having nearly demanded money from their own lord.
“Bring the boat in here!”
As the ferry approached the far bank, the guards who had rushed over directed it to a docking point.
Because it was a commercial village where trouble was frequent, the guards were highly trained. With their lord missing, an emergency had put them on especially high alert.
Ever since Eugene had begun waving both arms wildly because he could not find a boat, the guards had been watching the opposite bank.
“You came from the wasteland. State your identity!”
“If you carried criminals sneaking across the border, you will be severely punished!”
Once the boat docked, the guards moved to inspect it, then froze in shock and dropped to their knees.
“My lord!”
“F-Forgive us! We did not recognize you and behaved rudely...”
No one had imagined their lord would appear from the wasteland looking like such a beggar.
“No. Seeing how sharp your discipline is puts me at ease. You are all doing well.”
As Eugene stepped off the boat, he pointed to the fisher.
“This fisher brought us here comfortably, so compensate them according to regulations.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“We will escort you to the lord’s manor.”
Similar scenes followed. Everyone he encountered was startled before offering their respects.
“See? What did I tell you? I said he would definitely return safely!”
“The knight has returned!”
None of the mercenaries under his command had left, and they welcomed Eugene back to the fief.
Ting!
Eugene flicked the black horn of the Wendigo trophy hanging at the entrance to the lord’s manor corridor.
“Have you been guarding the house well while I was gone?”
The Wendigo’s wicked-looking face felt so welcome that he finally felt he had returned home.
* * *
“Sir!”
“Rex. It hasn’t been long, but it feels as though I haven’t seen you in ages.”
The deputy chieftain of the Black Hand Tribe greeted him with a broad smile as well.
“I believed you would be safe. I wanted to rescue you immediately, but we simply had no way to enter.”
“I saw it from the castle window. Tribe warriors patrolled at night carrying torches. It was so they wouldn’t miss me if I called for help, wasn’t it?”
“You saw all of that?”
“Other than the first brief period, I lived quite comfortably. Marbas, you worked hard as well.”
Though even siege weapons had no effect, Marbas had tried every day to open the castle gate with magic.
“If you saw us, you could have at least shouted that you were safe. Do you know how worried we were?”
“The windows could not be opened. I considered smashing one and shouting, but...”
Marbas was startled by Eugene’s words.
“Don’t say such a dreadful thing! How could you damage such a precious treasure?”
“I kept quiet because I thought you would react that way.”
Marbas swallowed hard. It was time for the most important question.
“So, the castle? What happened to the castle? If you escaped safely, then surely...”
Everyone present understood the meaning behind his trailing words. Rex also perked up his ears, listening intently.
“The Wandering Castle belongs to me now. I was the one who made it disappear from Rostok.”
Eugene answered with a shrug, and everyone responded with expressions mingling shock and delight.
* * *
It took about a minute to calm everyone down.
“The castle is over there.”
Eugene pointed across the river, toward the wasteland.
“I succeeded in being recognized as its owner, but there are still many monsters inside. It would be difficult to clear them all alone, so we got ourselves out first.”
“Let us go there at once!”
“Give us the order, knight!”
Eugene calmed the overexcited Marbas and Rex.
“Look at me. I’d like to wash first.”
“Ah!”
Everyone laughed awkwardly when they saw Eugene’s party, who looked little better than beggars.
“There is no need to worry. The gate is tightly shut, and it is not in a place anyone is likely to approach. We will leave right after a short rest and some preparations.”
Everyone cheered at the plan for a new expedition following their employer’s safe return.
“Rex, prepare every silver weapon we can mobilize. Most of the enemies remaining there are nonliving.”
“Yes, knight.”
“Captain, bring the largest and sturdiest shields you can. We need shield bearers whose sole duty will be carrying a shield. We will put them at the front and force a path through.”
“Leave it to me.”
Rex and the mercenary captain each gave a military salute.
“And Steward.”
“Yes?!”
The steward answered in alarm. They had come out to welcome their master and had never imagined they would be singled out for a military operation.
“Prepare two jars filled with clean, purified water and two sacks of the highest-quality compost. Have a landscaper and laborers ready to assist him as well. We need to prune dead branches and remove parasitic pests.”
“Yes? Ah, yes! Understood.”
The steward bowed deeply at Eugene’s incomprehensible orders. A lowly servant like them only needed to follow faithfully.
‘After all that trouble getting home, it looks like I won’t get any time to rest properly.’
Eugene sighed.
Purification work alone would keep him busy, but owning the Wandering Castle would itself cause a huge stir in noble society.
‘I sometimes thought about wanting a castle of my own, but now that I have one, it’s a headache in its own way.’
Eugene was entertaining thoughts that would give the Emperor in the capital a fit if the Emperor heard them.
Footnotes:
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