WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 61 - Tempering (7)

Brimdal shoved me aside with a grumpy expression on his face, resting his greatsword on his shoulder as he stepped into the alley.

"Don’t let arrogance rot your brain. Did you actually think of fighting a Knight of Heavenly Retribution? You wouldn’t even last 30 seconds before your limbs were scattered across the pavement.”

"...Since when were you watching?”

"From the start. That damned Abyssal magic of yours must be pretty lousy at sensing things.”

That was an incredibly unfair remark.

Out of all my Abyssal magic, Tide Sense was the one that held the most advantages for its strong detection ability.

Brimdal, who had called that ability weak, didn’t even bother to turn around as he walked ahead into the alley.

"To think this is how I spent my twilight years… Seriously took the wrong disciple, tsk…”

"Wait, I don’t recall asking you to help though.”

"Just stand there and watch.”

I still couldn’t sense him with Tide Sense.

"You should at least learn how your master fights.”

So he really had been watching since the beginning.

As Brimdal vanished, I watched on in disbelief before something struck me.

"...Master?”

The Brimdal I knew had never once called me his disciple.

Nor did he ask me to call him master.

Perhaps he had started acknowledging me somewhere along the line without me noticing.

"No, hold on—”

How was Brimdal, a normal Knight, supposed to fight against a Knight of Heavenly Retribution?

Still, the situation wasn’t all too bad. I could try supporting him from afar. If Brimdal kept acting as a shield, I felt like we could somehow manage.

[...]

I expected Azure to immediately engage.

But as soon as he came across Brimdal in the alley, he immediately threw himself against the wall.

"?"

I had no clue what this was all about. Until I saw the next motion.

In the fraction of a second before his head hit the wall—

Azure’s body accelerated thousands of times.

He twisted 180 degrees, foot touching the wall, legs coiling, then shot forward like an arrow, trying to cut through Brimdal’s throat with his sword.

His movements reminded me more of an invertebrate that could move thousands of kilometers per hour rather than of a human. One couldn’t even call this acrobatics anymore. These movements were simply beyond what a human should ever be capable of.

Not something a human could learn if they wanted.

-Clang!

[What do you think you’re doing?]

That included Brimdal, who could easily block that strike as well.

Even so, his movements were much slower than Azure’s. Of course, he was still incredibly fast, but Azure was simply faster.

Just how could someone with a mortal body…become able to choose to move like that?

I had completely misjudged the situation. No matter if I used Abyssal Fusion or not, I should never try to fight something like that head-on.

Azure clicked his tongue and muttered,

[I am tracking a Fallen. Please step aside.]

[What are you saying now after being the first to strike?]

[Had I not struck first, I might already be dead. I am not foolish enough to assume yielding the first move to you, Sir Brimdal, would leave me unharmed.]

[Layering gold on my blade now, are we? I’m in a pretty good mood right now, so let me give you a quick lesson.]

[...That would be an honor, but this could be seen as interference with official duti—]

[Hmph!]

It seemed like Brimdal had no real intention of hiding anything.

He wasn’t doing anything flashy. He simply used his height to swing a sword even larger than he was.

While his reach and strength were good advantages, it didn’t seem to me like it would work against someone who could turn his body 180 degrees mid-air and accelerate like lightning.

[Tsk...]

...And yet, it worked perfectly.

Azure grimaced as he was forced to defend against the massive blade.

[The way you act makes it seem like you’re protecting the Fallen.]

[What nonsense. Where’s that Fallen you speak of, huh? I was merely on a walk and decided to teach a cheeky Knight who dared strike first.]

[...You’ll regret this!]

For someone throwing out such sharp threats, Azure’s chances of victory seemed to have grown pretty slim.

It didn’t really make much sense to me since it wasn’t like he slowed down. Wanting to find out the reason, I sharpened my Tide Sense even more—

Only then did I find out the truth.

"...Ah."

It was a simple misunderstanding.

Brimdal was actually a lot faster than Azure.

Azure moved so fast that even my fully unleashed Tide Sense could not fully track him sometimes.

But Brimdal’s movements were always like that from the beginning.

He just seemed slow. He was always the one to arrive first, swing first, and move first.

Azure was fast but always second. How could he possibly be Brimdal’s match?

This wasn’t a battle; it was a desperate struggle to survive.

"Just what in the…”

I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

A Knight’s combat was far more inhuman than I had ever imagined.

There was no elegant swordplay, no honor, and no respect for one’s opponent. It was simply the purest form of battle. Their only goal was to swiftly cut the other’s neck first.

Perhaps it was just like that because the opponent was a Knight of Heavenly Retribution.

[If you can’t beat me, how are you supposed to go after those Fallen?]

[...If every Fallen were like you, Sir Brimdal, the Empire would already be ashes.]

Dozens of strikes were exchanged, and I couldn’t even see all of them.

But one thing was certain. Brimdal absolutely wouldn’t lose.

In fact, if his goal weren’t to stall for time, Azure would have long been buried in the ground.

"No problem here… Ah.”

After watching that battle far too long, I snapped out of it and shoved my key in the door.

The battle between those two bright stars was so intense that I completely forgot everything around me. I should escape while Brimdal bought me time. But first, I had to get Aliren back inside the palace.

"There’s no more time. Whatever you two have left to say, you should—”

"Ren—!”

But the workshop was already filled with billowing smoke.

* * *

"Ah..."

Clack.

Ren felt the water bottle in her hand begin to boil and quickly dropped it.

She had held it for too long. The droplets that splashed onto the floor bubbled and steamed, to which she sighed.

She couldn’t stay lying in a bed for long either. For the same reason, she had difficulty sleeping.

Ever since she fell into this hell, she hadn’t had a single day of comfortable rest.

"Haah…”

Ren sighed and grabbed a nearby cloth, wiping up the spilled water.

Carefully, so that she wouldn’t burn herself. Even if this place was supposed to be a workshop, it would be rather rude of her to leave a mess.

-Click.

At that moment, the sound of the door opening reached her ears.

Had Jern come back?

Had they already reached the palace? Did he find her mother? She turned around to ask all these things.

"...Ah."

In the glowing light, she saw a familiar face.

But not a welcome one.

The woman nervously clasped her hands in front of her chest and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Ren, is that you?”

A voice that was even more familiar to her than her face filled her ears, and suddenly she felt fear surging up within her. Her heart felt like it was about to sink deeper.

"..."

Ren said nothing, averting her gaze.

She had wanted to see her so badly, but now that she had, she was afraid.

She couldn’t get a single word out.

'Why did you abandon us?'

'If you abandoned us, why did you come back?'

'If you came back, why did you leave again?'

All these questions she had neatly laid out beforehand scattered into pieces inside her head. In her mind, she had asked them confidently, even angrily—but in reality, not even one word would leave her mouth.

She just bowed her head and covered her face.

If only she had found a way to get rid of these burn marks, at least before they met. With these thoughts swirling in her mind, she took a step back.

"Those wounds…”

"Ugh."

It was pointless.

She wasn’t wearing her robe anymore, so the burns covering her entire body were visible.

Even if she covered her face, the other parts of her body were still visible. She couldn’t hide them.

She was certain that she would be abandoned yet again now that she had seen the hideous, monstrous state her body was in.

"I-I’m fine.”

Words that she didn’t mean spilled out, her voice hoarse.

"There’s no way that you’re fine.”

She stepped back yet again, but for every step she took, the woman took ten, instantly closing the distance, and wrapped her arms around Ren.

"I’m sorry…”

"L-Let go!”

Ren gasped and pushed Aliren away.

If she touched someone, she would burn them. The same marks she bore would appear on their body.

But Aliren didn’t loosen her hold, regardless of whether her skin was burning hot or not.

"Mom is sorry…”

"..."

"I was just too weak, so I couldn’t choose you… and then…”

Ren noticed the paper in Aliren’s hand begin to burn.

They were adoption papers carrying her and her brother’s names.

"What…”

Ren gently pushed Aliren back, realizing that something within her was unraveling.

"Ren...?"

"You must have suffered a lot too, Mom.”

She wasn’t the only one living in hell.

The moment she realized that, all her pain vanished.

Literally—her world turned pure white.

"R-Ren?”

Aliren approached her with a confused face, only to be pushed back.

"Kyagh…!”

Real flames materialized around her body. But the dizzying pain that she was expecting—wasn’t there.

Instead, it felt warm… A gentle heat was spreading over her skin.

"I get it now.”

She understood.

By talking to her mother, she finally realized it.

She had been wondering if their mom had really abandoned them. And if she did, why did she do that? She wanted to know so badly that it changed her into this.

But at the same time, that was what had kept her alive.

"...Thank you, Mom.”

Now that she had realized that all of this had been a misunderstanding, thoughts of “Ah, so that’s how it was” spread inside of her. Finally something somewhere inside of her finally got released.

"What’s going on here?!”

-Bang

The door flew open before Jern rushed in and helped Aliren up.

Then his gaze fell on Ren, who was sitting there, burning.

His expression twisted. He seemed like someone who’d remain expressionless for his whole life to her, so Ren smiled softly.

"Wha-what is she doing??”

"I-I don’t know. We just met and barely even talked–”

"What do you mean…? Ren, can you hear me?”

"...Yeah."

She answered a moment later.

"How fast is it progressing…? Wait here. I’m getting the medicine.”

Jern, seeming incredibly flustered, opened a chest, carefully avoiding the fire.

"Don’t. It’d be a waste.”

"There’s nothing more precious than your life.”

"There is.”

"..."

Ren shook her head calmly, her expression detached, to which Jern froze in place.

"Sorry, could you calm Mom down a bit? My body’s like this, so…”

"...Alright."

Jern stared at Ren for a moment, then sighed and stepped away.

Aliren, still unable to understand what was going on, clung to him instead, since she couldn’t approach her.

"E-excuse me. What is happening right now? She’s okay, right? She is, right?!!”

"She’s fine, so please talk to her.”

"...Huh? H-how is…”

"Regretting it once is enough.”

Jern sat on the nearby bed, not saying anything anymore.

"..."

Ren looked at Aliren.

She could only see fear in her eyes. The fear of losing something.

"...Is it because of me?”

"Huh?"

"Did you end up like this because you met me…?”

Maybe Ren’s face had looked the same just a moment ago.

Thinking that way, she understood the feeling of Aliren, who hugged her earlier.

Ren shook her head.

"No, Mom. I’m not hurting at all. I’m really glad I got to see you again. I truly mean that.”

"Th-that can’t be…”

"It’s true. I’m thiiis happy.”

"I–”

"I don’t want you to suffer anymore either, Mom.”

She reached out her hand. It was burning, but Aliren didn’t avoid it.

Something suppressed the flames and heat. Ren knew it was Jern’s doing, so she gave him a small nod to thank him.

As she stroked Aliren’s cheek, the tension in Aliren slowly eased. Ren hugged her and whispered,

"I’m glad you’re my mom.”

Aliren’s voice shook with fear as she looked at Ren.

"A-actually… Y-you have another mom…”

"No, I only have one mom.”

The more she caressed her, the softer Aliren’s expression became.

"I’ll go tell my brother too. Get some rest.”

"...Ren."

"Yeah, I’m right here. Mom.”

At some point, Aliren had fallen asleep.

"Goodbye…Mom.”

Even after that, Ren stared down at her with longing for quite some time.

Jern finally spoke once Aliren’s breathing had stabilized.

"What did you do?”

"I put her to sleep. She’ll be really sad when she wakes up. But it’s better than watching me die, right?”

"...You could do things like that?

"Well, I just found out as well.”

Ren clasped her hands together.

She finally understood, now that things had turned out like this.

What this hell was, and what she could do here.

If she had noticed a little earlier, would anything have changed?

There was no way for her to know.

"Jern, we can’t let ourselves be satisfied.”

"...?"

Ren stroked Aliren’s hair as she spoke.

"The moment you’re satisfied, when you have nothing left that you want—you just can’t endure anymore. I guess that's how this happened.”

"No need to worry about that.”

Jern crossed his arms.

"My goal is survival. I can’t achieve that until I die a natural death.”

"Really? That’s a relief.”

The flames grew larger.

Objects around them began to smolder. If this continued, Aliren would be caught up in it too.

Jern sighed and stood up.

"...It might not be too late—”

"No."

Ren shook her head.

"Help me. Just a little. It’s still scary.”

"..."

Jern raised his hand with a stern expression.

As her vision turned white, Ren felt every flame on her body extinguish for the first time since she fell into this hell.

"...Ah."

"I’ll take full responsibility so nothing happens to Aliren.”

"Yes, thank you…”

And then—Ren saw Jern’s world.

Unfamiliar with the Abyssal Sea, Ren stared into the darkness as if enchanted, looking around curiously.

"So this is where you live?”

"Yes. It’s a miserable place.”

"It really is. We’re really pitiful. If we reach our purpose, we die. If we fail to do so, we’ll die… Like we were made to just look up and suffer.”

Ren smiled softly, and, knowing full well that it would be incredibly rude, she asked,

"Wouldn’t it be better for you to end it quickly as well?”

"No."

Jern’s expression showed weariness.

As if he had heard that same question far too many times already.

* * *

I carried Ren’s corpse out of the workshop.

Brimdal was still fighting Azure. There was no more need for that anymore, so I approached while holding her.

It seemed that their battle was so fierce that neither of them noticed me at first. I hesitated over how I should address Brimdal, but since he had already acknowledged me, I should call him that.

"Master."

"?"

"I have captured the Fallen, as you ordered.”

I showed him Ren’s limp body, cradled in my arms.

Brimdal tilted his head as if he was wondering what the hell I meant. He was an amazing fighter, yet so clueless when it came to everything else.

Azure, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes the moment I started the conversation.

"Master…?”

"Yes. I am Sir Brimdal’s disciple. Right, Master?”

"Uh, hmm. That’s right.”

It seemed like Brimdal finally caught on, judging by how he immediately nodded. Azure looked between me and Ren with disbelief.

"Then why did you run from me?”

"Sir Azure, was it? I found you difficult to trust.”

"...What?”

"I knew from the moment I saw you, Sir Azure. I knew you were exceptionally strong. So how could you possibly have lost a Fallen who couldn’t even stand against me? The only logical conclusion I could come to was that you let her go, intending to protect her.”

"What nonsense are you—”

"So I acted first.”

I lifted Ren up.

"I tracked down the Fallen myself and subdued her. Meanwhile, I asked Sir Brimdal to protect me. The Fallen attacked me, so I killed her…”

I glared at Azure with a suspicious expression.

"There shouldn’t be any problem with that, right? Assuming you weren’t trying to protect a Fallen.”

"...Of course not.”

He nodded and sheathed his sword.

"It seems you’ve misunderstood something. I had no intention of shielding a Fallen. On the contrary, I suspected you might be connected to her, so I tracked you down.”

"Why would you think that?”

"I heard from a vendor that you were trying to take a Fallen away, claiming she was your sister. Finding the hidden Fallen would have been too time-consuming, so I was planning to interrogate you.”

A chill ran down my spine. He sure found me fast.

I retorted coldly, trying to not show my thoughts on my face.

"Did no one tell you there were civilians everywhere? I also smelled something burning, so I moved to prevent harm to the people. That shouldn’t be grounds for suspicion.”

"...I see. If you truly killed her yourself, then you can’t be allies. It seems I also misunderstood.”

Azure sighed and approached.

"May I take custody of her body now? Perhaps you still don’t understand who I am, but I would never side with a Fallen. In fact, quite the opposite.”

"I still have some questions about how you lost her. I would rather not hand over the body.”

"That was my mistake. I didn’t expect her to knock out every other Knight and flee… I failed to anticipate such a situation. But rest assured, I am not on their side.”

"Hmm…”

I kept my expression as distrustful as possible. Eventually, Azure sighed in resignation.

"I don’t know what you plan to do with her body…but I will have to confirm she is the Fallen we were looking for. After that, I will return the body to you. I will send a proper incident report to Sir Bimdal.”

"That won’t be necessary.”

"No. As a member of the Waxed Wings Unit, I cannot allow even the slightest suspicion of collusion. It must be clarified.”

Azure had been properly fooled.

He probably still believed I was somehow on the Fallen’s side, but between being Brimdal’s disciple and the fact that I had killed one myself, he couldn’t push that argument any further.

"Can I take her now? You will have her back by tonight."

"Yes, here you go.”

I briefly glanced down at Ren’s corpse, which was surprisingly intact for someone who had been covered in flames moments ago, before handing her over.

Despite all the pain she had to have endured, she was smiling. I wondered whether achieving your purpose, your goal, meant one could be happy at the end.

Would I be able to smile in my final moments as well?

When I was getting crushed to death by the Abyssal Sea?

...Since my goal was survival, that seemed highly unlikely.

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