WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 72 - Selection (3)

"How did you even get in?”

"..."

Before we turned the carriage around, I asked the kneeling Linmel what I most wanted to know.

My key has never left my pocket.

Of course, Linmel wouldn’t be able to steal it either. Lately, I had even been able to detect Brimdal’s movements with my Tide Sense, so there was no way that she, an apprentice, managed to slip past me.

Judging by her tearful expression, she seemed to know that she was in the wrong here, so she finally explained.

"I-I followed you."

"What?”

"I saw you buying travel supplies. You even bought a carriage, and so…”

"..."

She hadn’t stolen the key to sneak in; she had already been in the carriage from the beginning.

I had let the shop’s workers bring all the luggage into my workshop, so no wonder I didn’t sense her. Smart kid.

I was impressed for a moment but then realized that this was not the time for that, so I narrowed my eyes.

"You should’ve told me. Do you have any idea how worried Sir Gwallan must be?”

"Ah, I left him a note! I wrote that I was going somewhere with you.”

"No."

I was just about to order that we turn around to drop her off even if it meant we’d waste some time.

That was when Linmel grabbed my robe.

"I’m sorry! But can’t I come along this time…?”

"We’re not going on a trip. We’ll be away from the capital for a whole month.”

I sighed and tried to pull myself free from her, but Ciel, who had been watching this scene with a smile, chimed in.

"Don’t be so harsh. She looks pitiful.”

"It could be dangerous, right? Bringing Linmel would be a bad idea.”

We were heading somewhere unfamiliar. Even if she was recognized as someone with an incredible talent as a Knight, I didn’t want her to get hurt because of me.

But Ciel just shrugged.

"We can always tell her, a single child, to run away when necessary. And I just replaced the wheel, so wouldn’t it be a waste to just turn back?”

"...I won’t get in the way! I’ll be really quiet!”

Linmel looked at me with desperate, pleading eyes.

I sighed and looked toward the last member of our party standing outside the carriage with his arms crossed.

"What do you think, Sir Brimdal?”

"Hmpf, well. There’s nothing wrong with having her around. That child can pull her own weight.”

That was an incredibly positive assessment coming from Brimdal.

Well, I guess it made sense. He had only agreed to teach me so that he could take Linmel as his disciple once he’s through with me after all.

...However, when I thought about it that way, his response felt a lot less enthusiastic than I expected.

Shouldn’t he be making a fuss about how he wants to teach her just a little or something?

"The decision is yours.”

With that, Brimdal disappeared into the carriage.

I stared at his back for a moment, feeling suspicious, then turned to Linmel.

"Please…Okay?”

"..."

In the end, I nodded my head, sighing.

"...Just promise me one thing. If I say it’s dangerous, you go straight into the workshop and don’t come out no matter what.”

"Yes! I promise!”

I didn’t even want to imagine how shattered Gwallan must be right now.

***

Despite our unexpected passenger, the journey itself went smoothly.

In less than five days, we reached a dense forest we couldn’t pass through with the dragon carriage.

The forest was so densely packed with trees that a slightly plump person might get stuck trying to squeeze through. Just looking at it made my head hurt.

"How far do we have to walk?”

"We’ve arrived. This is the elf habitat.”

"?"

I looked toward the forest again.

No borders, no roads, no people. Nothing.

Wait, what did Ciel just say?

"Habi…tat?”

"Ah, my apologies. That was a bit of a discriminatory choice of words.”

"No, could you actually explain more about that? What’s the name of this country?”

"There isn’t one.”

"...Pardon?"

It seemed like I had some serious misconceptions about elves.

I actually didn’t really know too much about them or this place. Only that this place was supposed to be Dercia’s homeland.

"While we call it a country or nation, it's really just a massive forest barely a week away from the capital. Even if we go further in, we’d still technically be within the Empire.”

"Then what is in there?

"Trees and elves.”

"What about currency? What is their system of governance?”

"They eat whatever is growing in the forest. They don’t really pursue any specific occupations. Their society is divided into priests, elders, and common citizens.”

So basically—

"...They’re more like a minority tribe?”

"Yes, exactly."

I wasn’t expecting some highly developed civilization, but I figured they’d at least meet the basic requirements of a country.

This wasn’t a nation, or even a town, but a village, albeit a really large one.

I’d always assumed that Dercia was some kind of noblewoman of her society because she was so intelligent and aloof, but no, she was just a tribeswoman.

Keeping those rude thoughts to myself, I gazed into the forest again.

"...!"

Suddenly, Linmel frowned, pulling me behind her.

"Jern, stay behind me from here on.”

"What is it?"

"Look at the tree.”

The tree she pointed to bore clear, artificial marks.

Indentations and cuts. I tilted my head, wondering what they were, but Brimdal frowned.

"There was a fight nearby.”

"?"

"Yes."

Linmel approached the tree cautiously, her guard high, and ran her fingers along the marks.

"The sap has started to harden, but it’s not fully set, so I’d say maybe two or three days ago.”

"Where’d you learn that?”

"Tracking? A Knight of Heavenly Retribution has to be able to chase down deserting Knights. But if you chase after them without knowing where they’re headed or what their purpose is, you might get ambushed and die.”

Linmel casually blurted out such terrifying words, then expertly drew her sword.

"Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, Jern!”

"Erm…Thanks."

Perhaps because she was in her element, Linmel had become incredibly serious.

Brimdal was with us, so it wasn’t likely that Linmel would need to step in though.

We secured the dragon carriage somewhere nearby and started to make our way through the forest.

At least it didn’t seem like this place was nothing but wilderness. There was some sort of path. Curious, I asked Ciel as we walked,

"How do you think the elves will react when they see us?”

"I doubt they will be all too happy.”

Ciel answered nonchalantly.

"With me here, they should assume that we’re allies of my Lady, Lady Dercia, but…”

"Because my dear Master definitely did something strange as soon as she got here, it won’t be easy.”

"Exactly."

So it all depended on whatever Dercia had done up to this point.

Assuming the worst, we continued to walk for a while longer until the forest suddenly opened into something that looked like a plaza.

"Oh."

There were no grand buildings.

But this place did seem quite mystical. Massive trees, tens of meters tall, twisted and connected together to form huge nest-like structures. I could also just barely make out some quick movements on the rooftops.

It was too far away for me to see clearly, but they were moving incredibly fast.

"..Woooow…”

"Hmpf, nothing impressive."

Linmel exclaimed in awe, while Brimdal frowned.

"...What is this?”

Ciel, on the other hand, looked at the trees, seeming puzzled.

"Is something wrong?”

"There are no guards. There should be lookouts on these watchtowers at any time, ready to fire arrows at us…”

Ciel scanned the large trees for elves—but found no one.

"...We really shouldn’t have been able to come here so easily.”

"Hmm, I don’t think I get it.”

"It's like some intruders just casually strolling through the capital’s main gate to infiltrate the Imperial Palace."

"Huh?"

"Whatever the Lady did, it probably wasn’t something as horrifyingly terrible as a massacre…”

Ciel looked up at the tree city again, her head still tilted.

"And the leaves are purple.”

"What does purple mean?"

"It’s a color elves use for celebrations, festivals, or other festive occasions. But even then, they wouldn’t leave the city completely unguarded and easily invaded like this.”

Hearing the situation laid out like that, something was definitely off. We had entered what seemed to be the heart of the elves’ territory far too easily.

"Should we go further in?”

"No. That would be dangerous, no matter how quiet it is. We should send a signal.”

Ciel walked over to a nearby tree, pulled out a dagger from her pocket, and made a small cut.

White sap flowed from it. Before a drop could even hit the forest floor, someone leapt down from the treetops, dozens of meters above.

It looked like an attempted suicide, but they landed effortlessly.

-Tap.

The only sound coming from this fall was that of a small pebble touching the ground. A strikingly handsome male elf stood before us, smiling broadly.

He wore clothing made from a single piece of fabric, with a small rod strapped to his back. He spoke in a friendly tone when he addressed us.

"Hmm, it must be fate to have visitors on such a joyous day.”

"Greetings, Cedrak. It’s been a while.”

Ciel offered the elf, who seemed to be called Cedrak, a handshake.

He gladly accepted and let out a hearty laugh.

"What brings you here, maid of Dercia and companions?”

"We have come to find my lady, Dercia. She said she would stop by here.”

"Hm? Dercia? Then you must have passed her. She has not yet arrived.”

"...Ah, is that so?”

"But we have plenty of empty rooms. If you’d like, you may stay until she arrives.”

"Thank you for your hospitality.”

"I will climb up and lower a rope! Wait just a moment!”

Having said that, Cedrak easily climbed back up the tree.

Once he was out of sight, Ciel, who had been conversing with him normally, suddenly broke out into a cold sweat.

"...Something is very wrong. You should brace yourselves.”

“Huh? The atmosphere around you seemed pretty friendly, though?”

"That’s exactly the problem. Cedrak is a radical purist, firmly believing humans should be shot on sight. For that reason he has considered my Lady as a lifelong enemy.”

"..."

"If she had caused trouble, we could just beat the truth out of them and go find her. But when everything looks peaceful like this…”

"Beat them?”

"Elves are incredibly weak. Except for their shamans. Even you could handle them easily, Jern.”

Not like I ever wanted to do that.

As thoughts like “Like mistress, like maid” passed through my mind, long vines descended from above.

One for each of us. I tugged on one a few times, just to be sure.

"They're not going to cut this mid-climb, right?”

"Well, I’d survive.”

"I can break my fall!”

"Of course, Sir Brimdal would be fine. And I’d manage as well…”

I couldn’t die from a fall anyway.

Having come to the conclusion that it’s safe. I shrugged and climbed the vine.

Fortunately they didn’t cut it. When we reached the top of the trees, a whole new world unfolded before us.

They somehow managed to create a solid flooring up here, with geometric houses woven from wood and beautiful plants everywhere around here.

"Wow…! It’s like a fairytale!”

Linmel’s impression had been spot on. Above all, the purple leaves sparkling in the sunlight were especially breathtaking.

Every elf wore similar clothing, all looking cheerful as they carried bowls of water balanced on their heads, heading somewhere.

"Come, I'll show you to a nice place to stay.”

"Thank you. But, um… Is there some sort of festival happening?”

Ciel tried asking indirectly, to which Cedrak burst into laughter.

"A festival? Wahaha! Indeed, it’s a festival! What else could it be?!”

"What’s going on?”

"The long wait is finally over; the appointed time written in history has finally arrived! What use do we have for hatred and loathing now?!”

Was Dercia’s penchant for speaking in riddles a trait of elves?

Even Ciel tilted her head slightly, seemingly not really following.

“I’m sorry, but could you explain in simpler words?”

"The World Tree has finally moved!"

"?"

"Just as the prophecy foretold. It has given us scripture, and if we follow its command, we shall all be granted eternal salvation!”

Cedrak pointed toward the massive stone monument in the center of the village.

"How glorious this is! Ah, shall I translate it for you?”

"Yes, if you would.”

"Accept the divine blessing around you, that which humans call magic! Those who reject it are servants of evil!”

"..."

"Dercia was right all along. Magic was never something wicked! It is the grace of the gods, beneficial to all of those who learned it! We have been deceived into rejecting what we should have embraced! What reason is there to fight anymore…?”

Ciel and I exchanged a look.

"Do you think it’s–?”

"Yes."

This definitely was Dercia’s doing.

***

"It appears my Lady has impersonated the World Tree and intends to turn every elf into a wizard.”

We were currently in the lodging Cedrak led us to.

As soon as we finished unpacking, Ciel blurted out this absurd statement, her expression showing bewilderment.

I tried denying her words, even while knowing how flimsy my arguments would be.

"Isn’t that an exaggeration? We’re not even certain yet.”

"We are certain.”

Ciel handed me a notebook filled with notes detailing the translation of the monument she created after asking a few elves to help.

It had taken her less than five minutes, since the elves were strangely cooperative. Even towards humans they had met for the first time today.

"It states that if one consumes the sap of the World Tree for one month, one would gain magical aptitude.”

"...Is it really that easy to become a mage?”

"No. This is just nonsense. And there is only one person I know who could come up with something this absurd.”

"Is there really no chance that the World Tree actually issued this revelation?”

"It’s just a large one. Moreover, the fact that my Lady returned to her homeland specifically because of you confirms it. She intends to turn all these elves into wizards.”

"..."

It definitely was Dercia, so arguing against it was incredibly difficult.

She was absolutely capable of something like this.

"And elves who learn magic will absolutely fall someday with their endless lifespan. Unless they possess talent on my Lady’s level, all of them will inevitably fall. How do you feel about sacrificing innocent elves like that?”

"Of course I hate it. If she’s doing it for me, then I hate it even more.”

Being made a Fallen was like being cast into hell.

The idea of throwing all these elves into hell—that was something I could never accept. Even if they were hostile towards humans, they had never done anything to harm me. I couldn’t agree to them being treated this way.

And Dercia wouldn’t do something like that.

Sure, if one had to categorize her alignments, she would probably be closer to chaotic evil, but she would never decide to turn all elves into Fallen just for my sake.

"I agree we need to find her and ask why she’s doing this. But how?”

"First, we should find my Lady. We can’t persuade or stop her until we find her."

So it all boiled down to finding Dercia in the end.

But how were we supposed to find Dercia when she didn’t want to be found?

"We don’t even have a clue where she is…”

I sighed, glancing back and forth between Linmel, who was jumping on the bed in excitement, and Brimdal, whose thoughts seemed unfathomable.

For now, our only option was to walk around the village and gather testimony regarding Dercia.

Just as I came to that conclusion, Linmel, eyes sparkling at the procession moving around outside, grabbed my hand and dragged me with her.

"Jern! Look, they’re doing fireworks in the town square! Torches!”

"I don’t have time for—”

Right when I was about to scold her, my head snapped up.

"Wait, torches?”

"Yeah! Look at them!”

The elves were heading somewhere with lit torches.

Given that this entire village was made of wood and leaves, one stray spark of those things would create an inferno of epic proportions.

"Is the use of fire allowed up here?”

"Absolutely not. Fire is only used in very special situations, but I can’t quite remember what those were…”

"Hmm, hold on.”

I spread my Tide Sense and listened to the shouts of the elves passing below.

[How dare he misinterpret the World Tree’s will and mock us!]

[What’s so dangerous about learning magic? What if the World Tree is angry because of you?!]

[Burn him! Burn the shaman!]

My expression hardened, to which Ciel asked curiously,

"What is it?”

"That’s…not a festival. It’s an execution."

"?”

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