WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 53 - Knight (5)

I was being treated in a way that was a bit hard to respond to by Aletus’ household.

Of course, they definitely treated me as Elisia’s tutor. But sometimes, during lessons, they would bring some cookies, saying things like, “There’s some for the tutor as well.”

Not that I really minded. I liked eating them. I mean, I was only ten years old. There was no way anyone would treat me like some 90-year-old archmage, right? I’d also refuse to be treated like that myself.

But it seemed that kind of friendly service was over now.

"Lord Jern, please wait in the reception room. I will now inform the Lord and Lady of your visit.”

"Ah, yes.”

Their hospitality went beyond respectful, breaching into excessive.

However, refusing hospitality that one rightfully deserved was just plain rude. So I acted as naturally as I could, without showing how uncomfortable it made me feel.

As I followed behind the line of servants to the reception room—before I could even start to wait there—I felt something using Tide Sense.

I sighed and stepped to the side just before the door opened.

"Jern—!! Huh?”

Bang! Not long after, the door was flung open, and Elisia came charging forward like a starved lion trying to hug me.

Of course, all she managed to grab was empty air. Before she could kiss the floor, I caught her by the collar and gently steadied her.

"What are you doing? That’s dangerous, you know?”

"Uugh… I was just happy to see you…”

After carefully pulling Elisia up, the exact thing I was trying to prevent happened.

She hugged me tightly, squeezing me as if she were applying a wrestling hold. She then patted my face, examining it carefully with a puzzled expression on her face.

"That witch of a teacher locked you up for three months! She didn’t try to eat you or anything, right??”

"...Witch? You mean my master?”

"Yeah! She always stayed in that room with you, never coming out, and she looks a~ll gloomy too!”

Kids really had an incredible talent for uncovering hidden truths.

Then Elisia realized that Aletus had been watching this whole scene, so she coughed slightly and took a seat across from me.

"I’m sorry, we showed you something unsightly.”

"Hmm? No, it’s fine. I’m simply glad to see you’re healthy.”

Thankfully, Aletus didn’t seem upset.

He actually seemed quite happy. The curious part, though, was that even after three months had passed, his head was still wrapped in bandages. Elisia seemed completely healed, yet he wasn’t.

Apparently having noticed my glances, Aletus explained.

"Ah, no need to worry about this. These bandages… well, let’s just say it was for the sake of protecting you.”

"?"

"I’ll explain properly later. First, I would like to express my thanks… Once again, thank you for saving my daughter.”

Aletus deeply bowed. A noble bowing to a commoner child was something unimaginable, but I said nothing.

As I had said before, refusing hospitality and gratitude wouldn’t show humility—it would be straight up rude, since it implied that her life wasn’t worth thanking for. So I waited for Aletus to raise his head before clarifying the facts.

"I merely followed my master and happened to be there. If you wish to offer thanks, you should give it to…”

"Hehe…”

Aletus laughed slightly before I could even finish my sentence.

"Ah, forgive me for interrupting. Your master said the exact same thing.”

"Pardon?"

"After my wounds healed, I went to see her some time ago to offer my thanks. But she said it was something her disciple did, so if I wished to repay anyone, it should be you instead… You two truly are master and disciple.”

"..."

So that happened, huh? Trying to ignore Elisia, who was clinging to me and rubbing against my shoulder, I asked carefully,

"Did my master say anything else?”

"Hmm? No, nothing like that. She seemed rather busy with something, so our conversation was really brief.”

"...I see. My apologies.”

"It’s thanks to that very temperament that we are still alive, so there’s no need to apologize.”

"She called for me, though?”

"She did? What did she say?”

"Umm… She told me to use my ability! But when I did, she just nodded and told me to leave, so I asked if I could meet you, Jern. She told me that you still needed to rest and told me to leave again. I then said that I would stay really quiet and hoped she would allow me to at least see you. That’s when she glared at me and kicked me out…”

"Aha, so that’s how it went.”

After that first bit, she just went off on a tangent. While I did my best to listen, Aletus cleared his throat and stopped her endless babbling.

"Ahem, my daughter. Could you give us a moment? I believe I need to have a rather serious conversation with our guest now.”

"But it’s been three months since I last saw him! No!”

"I’ll come visit you every day from now on instead.”

"Okay!”

She was still young, so I could handle her easily, but I wonder how long that will last.

As Elisia hurried up the stairs, Aletus, rubbing his temples as if he was getting a headache, removed his bandages.

"It seems we have gone slightly off-topic, for which I apologize, but I mean it when I say that I can’t thank you enough. However…things have become quite urgent, so I must tell you about this first.”

"Yes, please go ahead.”

Aletus cleared his throat, then spoke, wearing a grave expression.

"A declaration is being prepared in regard to the treatment of Abyss Realm mages. The official term that we will be using is “the Fallen,” as they call themselves. The Empire’s response…is to be without compromise—a large-scale purge.”

So it really came to that.

I had expected it, yet I still felt my heart sinking as I pressed for more details.

"Has the declaration been made official?”

"Not yet. The moment I stop using my illness as an excuse and give my signature and approval, messengers will be dispatched across the Empire immediately. I secretly read it, and it contains quite detailed instructions on how to identify them. It seemed like they have meticulously combed through past records to compile all these facts.”

"..."

It was exactly like Scarlet Abyss had anticipated.

It was unsettling how everything went as they planned, but there was nothing we could do about that. Even if the Empire somehow realized that this was what Scarlet Abyss had been aiming for all along, they would have still come to the same conclusion.

Scarlet Abyss wanted the Fallen, Abyss Realm mages, to unite. All under the guise of that saving-the-world bullshit they kept spouting.

And given the current situation, that was exactly what would happen.

The Fallen, who had barely managed to survive in hiding, would have taken notice of the chaos Scarlet Abyss was spreading and wondered how they had overcome their burdens. In the end, they would be forced to choose between dying by the Empire’s hand or throwing themselves into Scarlet Abyss’ arms.

And I wasn’t sure I could escape that current either.

"I can use normal magic as well, at least."

I summoned a wind blade. Aletus nodded in astonishment as he saw a star flicker faintly in my eyes.

"That is quite fascinating. But doesn’t the magic of the Abyss Realm not use mana?”

"That…is correct.”

"Then in the end, it will stand out. Unless there are extensive studies that show that the Fallen can never use normal magic, the Empire will only rely on the old records. It’s entirely possible you’ll just be mistaken for a unique type of Fallen who can wield normal magic as well.”

You’re right.”

I began to rack my brain.

The only ones who knew that I was a Fallen were Aletus, Dercia, and Elisia—though I am not quite sure she really knows.

And also the elders of the Dark Magic Tower. But they didn’t seem particularly bothered by this. It was quite unlikely that they would go out of their way to report anything to the Empire.

Aside from that… I did use some of my magic during the exam, but—

There weren’t that many people around. The children definitely wouldn’t have noticed anything strange either.

There was only one person who worried me.

'Princess Lumia...'

Unlike the other kids, she was incredibly talented.

And I hit her with enough Abyssal magic that it could have killed her.

After taking such a strong blow, she had to have noticed that something had been off about all that.

...Probably not, right? Well, I could only hope so.

If the princess decided to expose me, that would be the end of everything.

"I’ve already used my magic in public settings a few times. During that exam, too.”

"I believe that might be overlooked due to your special status as Dercia’s disciple. But it’s the future that concerns me. If you’re ever seen using magic of the Abyss Realm, meaning without using mana, and that account gets compared to witness reports from back then, no one knows what kind of trouble that’ll cause. You should avoid using it as much as possible.”

"I fully agree.”

It seems like I’d have to go through quite some trouble because of those Scarlet Abyss bastards.

As I sighed, Aletus scratched his head and spoke up again.

"I know this might be a bit odd for me to say now, but try not to worry too much. Your master, Dercia, will surely find a way to resolve this matter one way or another.”

"Well… About that… There’s a slight problem.”

"?"

I explained to the bewildered Aletus as calmly as I could.

That my master has gone away somewhere far away, and that it’s unclear when she’d return. It could be years at worst.

Aletus, looking quite puzzled, asked back,

"Wait, she…left you, her disciple, behind?”

"Well, I’m not sure if ‘left’ is the right word here, but yes.”

"That’s…hmmm…”

After a moment of hesitation, Aletus seemed to have come to a decision and called a butler over.

"Clean the room on the topmost floor. It will be where our benefactor stays, so prepare it with utmost care.”

"Yes, my Lord.”

"Does that mean you want me to stay here?”

"Please don’t refuse. If word spreads that you’re lodging in this mansion, no one will dare to raise suspicions. Doing so would be the same as questioning my integrity.”

"That’ll put you in danger.”

I said firmly.

"I have to keep pushing myself to survive. There’s no guarantee that my identity as a Fallen won’t be exposed in that process. If that were to happen, the backlash would not just hit me but you as well, Lord Aletus.”

"I’m not so weak that I’d fear getting stained with some blood for my benefactor’s sake. And something that small won’t be able to cause my downfall.”

"..."

He showed such strong resolve. Indeed, considering Aletus' reputation, the lesser nobles wouldn’t dare accuse me unless they saw me openly using Abyssal magic.

So, I simply bowed my head.

"Thank you.”

"That’s what I should be saying. Do you need anything else?”

"Hmm. Perhaps…”

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to ask him.

"Could you introduce a trustworthy Knight to me?”

"A Knight?”

"Yes. Someone I can tell that I’m an Abyss Realm mage and ask for help.”

"Hmm…”

Aletus seemed to be deep in thought, as if he was trying to recall someone.

"I know that it’s a lot to ask, so if you can’t, then…"

"Ah, it’s not trouble at all.”

Aletus firmly cut me off.

"It might sound a bit boastful for me to say it myself, but I know quite a number of Knights who are capable of keeping a secret. I’m simply trying to decide which one would be best to introduce you to.”

As expected of a noble.

While that thought appeared in my mind, he seemed to remember something all of a sudden.

"Hmm…”

"Is something the matter?”

"We might be able to find one sooner than I thought.”

"Ah, you can take your time, really.”

"No, the sooner the better. I believe he’s probably already here… I’ll step out for a moment.”

"Understood.”

Aletus left the reception room wearing a confident expression.

This should take care of that Knight matter. Even though I didn’t really know what I was to expect, and even if the advice I had received from Scarlet Abyss was complete nonsense, I was sure that a Knight Aletus could vouch for wouldn’t spread word about me.

That meant that I had done everything I could for now. I was still worried about what method the Empire would use to hunt the Fallen, but that wasn’t something I could solve just by worrying about it.

All that was left was—

The grimoire.

I used the spare time I had now to pull out the grimoire Dercia had compiled for me. The one she seemed to have said I’d learn everything from.

I had rushed here before sunset and hadn’t had the time to take a proper look yet after receiving it from Ciel, but now that I looked at it, they really were beyond difficult, to the point that I couldn’t even begin to understand them.

I mean, obviously. I was only a 1-star mage after all.

To learn these, I would have to expand my understanding and advance to the next stage.

...Had something changed since then?

"Burn."

-Fwooosh!

A flame appeared above my palm.

I stared at it for a bit—then quickly put it out.

Not yet. If I kept looking at it any longer, I felt like something big would happen.

In other words, I couldn’t advance to the 2nd star yet.

I couldn’t progress, so I couldn’t learn any of these spells at all.

I tucked the grimoire back into my coat. Whatever Dercia was thinking, I couldn’t even start to understand it.

Just what was she trying to teach me with this stuff? I sighed and sipped my tea until Aletus returned.

He wasn’t alone but was accompanied by a white-haired old man with a rather unpleasant expression.

Aletus looked slightly uneasy as he gestured toward me.

"It’s this boy.”

"Hmm."

The old man waved a hand dismissively at Aletus.

From that alone I could tell that he was no ordinary Knight.

I glanced toward Aletus and asked,

"He is…the one?”

"Yes. He is the commander of our family’s Knight Order…and the man who once served as my swordsmanship teacher. He is still as formidable as he had been back then.”

"Yet you look like your spine could snap at any moment.”

Wow.

I was slightly taken aback by his blunt way of talking to the head of a noble house. It seemed the next words Aletus spoke were meant to reassure me.

"Karrin. As I said before, everything said here must absolutely be kept between us.”

"This old man doesn’t gossip. No need to worry.”

The old man named Karrin stepped closer and examined me.

He looked far too old and frail to be a Knight. Just as I was starting to think such prejudiced thoughts, he tapped my shoulder twice with the staff he was holding.

"Turn around.”

"...Sorry?"

"I need to see your back, boy. So turn around.”

"Karrin…”

Hearing Aletus sighing, I quickly turned around, feeling Karrin’s wrinkled hand press against my back.

"Hmmmmm………….”

He muttered to himself as he ran his fingers across my back.

An uncomfortable moment of silence passed between the people here.

"That’s enough."

When he withdrew his hand, he completely ignored me and instead turned to Aletus, wearing a look of utter disbelief.

"He won’t live long. Where did you find an apprentice like this?”

"...I didn’t find him or plan on making him an apprentice. Rather—”

"What do you mean, won’t live long?”

This was about me, so I stepped forward and asked him directly.

Karrin waved his hand lazily, clearly annoyed.

"Don’t you see? Your body’s completely rotted. Whoever trained you clearly wasn’t human. That Knight probably beat you like an animal.”

"? I don’t serve under any Knight, though.”

"What nonsense are you talking?”

Karrin looked at me as though I were some brat babbling nonsense.

"Your body’s clearly that of a seed, overly pickled in the process of training for Arcane Strengthening by some overzealous Knight. It’ll start decaying soon enough.”

I blinked.

Apparently, there was another burden inside of me that I hadn’t been aware of yet.

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