WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 59 - Tempering (5)

Seeing Lumia’s face turn pale, I quickly assessed the situation.

No matter how I thought about it, this was really bad.

I had no idea what she meant with "nightmare," though. The real issue here was that this princess who found me inside the Imperial Palace was absolutely terrified of me.

If the reason for that was my magic, then—

As I was racking my brain, I bent forward and felt the weight of something bulky in my pocket.

Right, maybe this could help.

"Your Highness."

I slowly got up enough to kneel before her properly, trying to avoid startling her unnecessarily.

Before Lumia could say anything weird, I interjected,

"I humbly pray that Your Highness has been well and enjoyed a harmonious time with your esteemed family through the summer months.”

"...H-huh?”

I had no idea what was coming out of my mouth either. My goal was to confuse Lumia.

Realizing that it had worked, I took advantage of this moment while she still stood there, tilting her head in confusion, and continued to make sure that the two escort Knights behind her also heard everything I said.

"Ever since the exam last time, I have long awaited the day I would see you once more, Your Highness. I am relieved to see you in good health.”

"??"

"I have also prepared a humble birthday gift.”

I carefully took out the decorative dagger—

and placing it on my open palms so that it wouldn’t be perceived as an attack.

Only then did Lumia finally carefully open her mouth, a look of bewilderment on her face.

"...Jern. My birthday was five months ago.”

"My deepest apologies. I felt it would be too presumptuous for me to request entry to the palace solely to deliver a present, so I prepared it in hopes that fate would permit us to meet again.”

I lied without a single pause.

Then, I suddenly noticed something odd.

"But Your Highness—it seems you have remembered my name.”

"...How could I possibly forget?”

I had assumed she would only remember me as something like “That one insolent commoner” or, worse, “That Fallen.”

If it were the latter, I would have to flee the Empire right that instant.

Was it ‘black’ or ‘white’? ‘White’ would mean that she only remembered me as an insolent commoner.

As I was anxiously awaiting the judgement, Lumia cautiously approached me and gingerly accepted the dagger I offered her.

She examined it, lifted the blade, and then her eyes widened.

"Lyconian steel… This must have taken quite some effort to acquire.”

I had no idea what that meant, but Aletus was a real lifesaver.

The princess still flinched when our eyes met, but her gaze had softened a bit, showing that she probably liked the gift.

I had never seen anyone who disliked gifts. And if all it took was that to lift her spirits, I could easily determine that the verdict was white.

"I’m pleased to see that Your Highness likes my gift.”

I bowed deeply, as if to tell her to dismiss me now.

However, Lumia only looked down at me with a complicated expression, turning toward the guard captain, who was still bowing low close by.

"Why is Je—No, why is this mage here?”

"There was a slightly unfortunate incident, so we wished to ask him to act as a witness, and—"

"If it’s not anything urgent, may I borrow him for a moment?”

"?"

"Yes! Of course."

It took less than a millisecond for the guard captain to betray me.

Well, it wasn’t like he would have gained anything by siding with me.

I looked up at the princess wearing my brightest smile—

"I have something to ask you. Come.”

Hmm. So it was black after all.

* * *

The princess walked ahead without saying a word.

I didn’t attempt to start a conversation either. I could tell that she hadn't come to a final decision yet by her demeanor, so depending on how I explained myself, I might be able to get away.

As long as that chance existed, the last thing I wanted was to look desperate.

We reached the garden faced with a pond and countless blooming flowers, then she stopped, her expression serious.

"Close your ears.”

"Yes."

That command wasn’t directed at me.

Her two escort Knights immediately knelt and bowed their heads.

"They won’t be able to hear our conversation now.”

"I see. Then what instructions might you have for me, Your Highness?”

"You—”

Pausing for a moment, the princess tried to meet my eyes with great difficulty.

However, not long after, she flinched and quickly averted her eyes again.

"How old are you?”

"...Pardon?"

I had anticipated a ton of possible questions she might ask me, but this one was so out of left field that I couldn’t help but ask back.

But I quickly came to my senses and answered.

"11 years old, Your Highness. Probably.”

"Probably?”

"My apologies for this vague answer. I grew up in an orphanage, so I don’t know my exact birthday. But seeing that almost a year has passed, I believe I should be 11 now.”

"I-I see.”

Lumia nodded, then said something quite bizarre.

"If you’re that young and small, then you’re nothing.”

Does she have schizophrenia?

I had no clue what she was talking about. Was she trying to taunt me or something?

"Then—can you sprout tentacles from your back?”

"No.”

She definitely had schizophrenia.

The poor Emperor. As I wondered whether I should call a doctor, Lumia let out a deep sigh of relief, muttering to herself.

"You’re just a mere child. Nothing more…”

"Have I done something to offend you, Your Highness? If so, would you please tell me so I can correct my mistakes?”

When I asked carefully, trying not to provoke this mental patient, she glared at me fiercely, as if she was trying to ask me how I could dare to ask something like that.

"You…!”

As soon as our eyes met, she dodged as quickly as a snail retreating back into its house.

"You keep showing up in my dreams!”

"..."

I took a few seconds to try and process that sentence, then closed my eyes with a serious expression.

"I will try my best to understand what Your Highness means by that. My apologies.”

"?"

Lumia tilted her head, then scowled.

"No, I didn’t mean it like that! Not normal dreams, but in my nightmares! Ever since the day you defeated me, almost once every week!”

"Aha."

So that was what she meant.

Lumia continued, wearing a gloomy expression as if she was confessing to a priest.

"...It was my first defeat ever. Maybe that’s why. Every time I dream, that moment keeps repeating itself again and again. You appear… Because you’re the one who defeated me, nothing more. There’s absolutely no other reason. Nothing else."

It seemed like losing to me traumatized her pretty badly.

I guess it was understandable. She did lose quite horribly after all.

Still, at least it seemed like she hadn’t discovered that I was a Fallen. And the likelihood of me getting executed by the Emperor today also seemed low. Feeling significantly more at ease, I bowed my head.

"I apologize for having troubled you so much, Your Highness. If it would ease your mind, you may punish me until your anger subsides. Then I won’t be plaguing your dreams any longer.”

"That won’t be necessary. I don’t want to win against you like that…”

Lumia sat down by the pond, letting out a long, weary sigh.

"I know it’s not your fault. It’s because I’m weak. Because my heart is fragile.”

"..."

I hadn’t noticed before because she kept looking away, but I could see faint dark circles under Lumia’s eyes.

I guess some of that might really be my fault. However, since I still had a goal to accomplish, I cleared my throat and stood up.

"My apologies, but may I ask for one small favor?”

"A favor?"

"Yes. This is my first time inside the palace, and I find it truly beautiful. If you don’t mind, would it be fine for me to take a look around for a little bit?”

Lumia looked quite puzzled for a moment, then nodded.

"That’s not difficult. I’ll just assign a maid to you to guide you around.”

"No."

I shook my head and politely knelt, offering her my hand.

"I’d like to walk and talk with you, Your Highness.”

"...Huh?"

* * *

Thanks to her granting me permission, I had become aware of a certain fact.

Lumia was the perfect entry pass.

"So I had no choice but to set the tree on fire.”

"...Did you ever think that they might arrest you for arson?”

"I was seven at the time. I figured the worst they would do to me was give me a spanking.”

"H-huh.”

Just walking with her made the Knights step aside on their own and the maids hurry to open the doors for us.

All I needed to do was scan the area with my Tide Sense and find a limping maid. As easy as pie.

The only price I paid was simple small talk. I told the princess how I had lived and some stories from the orphanage. Of course, I left out everything involving my Fall.

As I walked down a hallway completely covered in red carpets with warm orange lighting streaming down on it, diligently searching for Ren’s mother, Lumia, who had been listening to me quite intently, gave me a weary look.

"From hearing all that, it seems like you haven’t really changed a bit since you were little.”

"I’d say that I changed quite a bit, though."

"Yes, I suppose so, but that’s not what I meant. Hmm…”

Lumia rolled her tongue as if she had trouble choosing her words.

"From everything you’ve told me, you sound like someone who doesn’t experience regret.”

"What do you mean by that…?”

"I mean, if you had the exact same knowledge, and you were sent back in time with everything you know now, you would still make the exact same choices.”

"Hmm, is that strange?”

"It is. Very. People make choices, then regret them. They imagine what might have happened if they had chosen differently and torture themselves over their mistakes. But you…”

The princess narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.

"Even if you went back, you'd still choose to do the exact same thing. That’s something not even the most prideful fools would be able to do. I wonder why.”

"I don’t fully grasp what you are trying to say, Your Highness. I do regret things, and I do suffer from the choices I have made. But I can’t deny that even if I went back, I would still make the same choices.”

"Why?”

"Because I already made those choices after suffering more than enough for them. Even if the time I would have to endure changes, the results wouldn’t.”

"...Ah."

At my answer, Lumia finally seemed to have finally realized something as she nodded, accompanied by a soft exclamation.

"I see… So you’re not in your right mind.”

"Ahem."

"Ah, don’t take it too seriously. I’ve heard about people who choose not to question their decisions, instead of trusting them, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone like that in person, so I’m a bit confused.”

"What is the difference?”

"Trust needs a reason, but refusing to doubt doesn’t. The latter is how lunatics think.”

Her words were quite sharp, but the atmosphere around us didn’t seem to be unpleasant.

The princess still couldn’t look me in the eyes for long, but she flinched far less often.

"...Well, thank you.”

"I should be the one to thank you. Thanks to Your Highness, I was able to properly admire the beauty of the palace.”

I had searched from top to bottom with my Tide Sense but couldn’t find the slightest trace of Ren’s mother.

However, I had found a way to find her. Lumia had been quite helpful in many ways.

"You wished to talk to me so that you could convince me that you are merely a harmless child and not someone to be feared. We are no fool.”

"Your way of talking is a bit mixed up."

"...This is also your fault.”

Lumia glared slightly but then sighed before snapping her fingers to summon a Knight.

"I kept you for far too long. You must have duties to fulfill. This Knight will escort you.”

"Hmm, yes. Though brief, it was quite enjoyable.”

Now I had to find some other excuse to get away.

As I was pondering—

"There will be no need for that.”

I heard a cold voice and something abruptly entering the range of my Tide Sense.

It was similar to how Linmel had erased her movements. Only this time, the distance itself simply vanished.

They were so fast that it seemed like someone that hadn’t been here simply appeared.

"..."

I slowly turned. There knelt a lean, middle-aged Knight, clad in black armor, not particularly large or small, radiating quite the imposing pressure, yet completely courteous toward the princess.

...Fast, no, he was imperceptible.

The Knight politely introduced himself.

"Knight of Heavenly Retribution Azure of the Waxed Wings Unit greets Princess Lumia.”

"Waxed Wings...?"

Lumia accepted his greeting naturally, looking down at Azure with puzzled eyes.

"I have never heard of such an organization.”

"It’s a newly established unit for specific operations. Primarily the containment of and preventive measures against the Fallen.”

Seeing how he dragged out the words ‘containment’ and ‘preventive’, paired with that name “Waxed Wings,” wings made of wax destined to melt...

It really was a name thick with hostility, showing absolutely no attempt to hide it.

After completing his knightly duty toward the princess, Azure’s gaze turned to me.

"I have come in search of this boy for related matters.”

"Jern? Are you implying that he has somehow gotten involved with the Fallen?”

"Yes. He claims to have engaged one in combat. And there are some additional suspicions to address as well.”

Did he hear about the stuff with Ren?

Then, of course, he wouldn’t feel all too kindly toward me. Meeting his gaze, I replied to his words.

"That remark could easily be taken as an insult. I apologize if I somehow offend you with these words, but I believe it’s quite reasonable for me to think that way.”

"Indeed."

Azure replied gently even to an 11-year-old like me.

However, his tone was simmering with boiling emotions.

"It certainly is a reasonable suspicion. Let me ask you something quite reasonable as well in return. Can a mere 1-star mage really survive a battle against a Fallen?”

"I was fortunate."

"That seems to be the case.”

Azure stepped closer, lowering his gaze to meet mine.

"And you will need to remain fortunate in the future as well."

The pressure he was emitting was no joke.

Trying to maintain my composure with all my might, I spoke.

"...If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.”

"Where did that Fallen flee to?”

"She vanished into an alley. I apologize for being unable to provide more details.”

"I see. Thank you for your cooperation.”

He stood up, as if satisfied with my half-hearted response.

Just as he turned to leave, his eyes fell on me again.

"But you truly are remarkable.”

"...Pardon?”

"I heard about you. An apprentice of the Dark Magic Tower at your age. It seems you are more gifted than any mage I know.”

"Ah, yes. I owe that to my master, Dercia.”

"Hmm..."

Azure turned again and stepped toward me, just to request something that was obviously filled with malicious intent.

"Could you show me your workshop?”

"My workshop, Sir?”

"I’m curious. I wonder what kind of place a genius like you works in.”

"It’s nothing special. Nothing worth showing.”

"And that is exactly what I want to see.”

Azure placed his hand on the handle of an empty room’s door and opened it.

"I’d really like to take a look.”

"..."

So he wasn’t going to let me escape.

Naturally, if I opened my workshop now, all I did would go to waste.

"Excuse me, but—”

Just as I prepared to force out another excuse to let me slip away, Lumia stepped forward, her expression showing faint irritation.

"That will be enough.”

"...Your Highness.”

Other Knights would slam their heads to the floor the moment the princess spoke to them.

But it seems that Knights of Heavenly Retribution were rather different. Even while facing this angry princess, Azure merely bowed his head calmly and spoke in defiance.

"Please quell your anger. We were merely having a casual conversation. If the issue is that we held it in Your Highness’ presence, I shall step aside—”

"It didn’t sound like a casual conversation to me though. Even if you hold the power of life and death over nobles as a Knight of Heavenly Retribution, I hope you are not intending to flaunt that paltry authority before a member of the imperial family.”

"..."

"If it is an ‘interrogation’ you need, I shall send someone after I am done. Withdraw for now.”

"Yes."

The authority Knights of Heavenly Retribution held was quite overwhelming.

But even so, the imperial family was still the imperial family, and a Knight was just that. A Knight.

Azure bowed without showing any frustration and turned to leave.

However, before he did, his eyes met mine again.

"..."

"..."

And that was when I realized it. Azure had no intention of letting me walk away today.

After he departed, I bowed deeply to Princess Lumia.

"Thank you for standing up for me.”

"...I did not stand up for you. I merely pointed out the discourtesy he was displaying before me.”

Lumia’s cheeks flushed faintly as she awkwardly tried to explain. I bowed once more and began to step back.

"Whatever the reason, I am grateful. While the conversation we shared was brief, it was truly enjoyable. I look forward to our next meeting."

"Erm, wai—”

Before the princess could stop me, I slipped off in the opposite direction of where Azure had gone, and once I was completely out of sight, I ran.

The reason was simple.

'...How ruthless.'

Azure hadn’t actually left. My Tide Sense caught him standing in a blind spot just around the corner, waiting for me.

If I kept chatting and returned, he’d instantly catch me.

From here on out, speed was everything.

I ran down a side alley, paused briefly to steady my breath, and then dry-swallowed two pearl pills at once.

Then I tossed the rest of the pills I had in my mouth. Hemostatics, painkillers, whatever else there was.

I wasn’t planning on using my Abyssal Fusion, but I did need to sink a bit deeper, so I had to use everything I could.

"Haah..."

Feeling the medicine’s effect spread through my body, I lifted one foot and lightly tapped it.

Baaam.

The sound spreading outward intensified, and my Tide Sense became even more sensitive by dozens of times.

"...Kgh."

I immediately clenched my teeth.

My Abyssal Sea was quite fair.

If I held on without using my powers, they would get a lot stronger when I did use them—and along with them, the burdens.

Of course, I never completely refrained from using them. I had completely scanned the palace using my Tide Sense not too long ago, right?

After having used Abyssal Fusion in battle, scanning the palace like that could still be counted as me ‘holding back’’.

But using it seriously was a completely different story.

[...Didn’t I say so since the beginning! So—]

[Really?]

[...ordered to escort.]

[She’s over there]

Every voice in the palace immediately pierced my brain, forcing me to understand everything.

Tongue movements, the shape of their lips—and countless other things.

It wasn’t like I actively tried to find out these things; I just knew.

This probably was the newly strengthened form of Tide Sense.

"Tsk."

It took me a moment to filter out all the unnecessary stuff and focus only on what I wanted.

Scanning the palace at a far wider range, I came across a place that resembled a break room where some maids were chatting.

The problem was that most of them were sitting still.

To check if they were limping, I had to see them walk—

"...Let’s try this.”

Muttering to myself, I grabbed the air.

-Clang!

[Kyaagh! What was that?]

[Someone knocked something over!]

"Hah."

Even though it was me who did it, I felt quite dumbfounded.

I had located, detected, and affected something—several hundred meters away.

All I did was knock over a mop bucket, but even so, that was quite the absurd achievement.

If this ability grew a bit stronger, I could probably crush the skulls of an enemy hundreds of meters away.

Of course, the backlash would be quite significant as well. Feeling something black flicker in the edge of my vision, I scanned the maids one by one.

Normal, normal, normal.

And then.

[Aliren, your leg is bad, so you should rest for now.]

[...Yes. Thanks.]

A maid with a limp and a name containing Ren.

Like that, I found that negligent parent.

Just before sprinting toward the maid’s location, I checked Azure’s position using Tide Sense.

"...?"

He was gone.

Where could he have gone in that short amount of time?

When I spread my Tide Sense to sweep across the palace, I witnessed something incredibly absurd.

"That crazy bastard…”

I couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.

Azure was sweeping through every corridor in the Imperial palace after the princess and I left. If I had followed her out, I’d already have been caught. His speed was seriously unreal.

Even with my enhanced senses, I sometimes almost lost track of him.

If this palace wasn’t designed like a maze to counter infiltrators, I might have already been done for.

This was like a chessboard with a blindfolded queen and a pawn that could see everything.

Either I reach the other side first, or I get captured.

"...Tsk."

I gritted my teeth and started to sprint.

It seemed like I had no more time to waste.

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