WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 82 - Lineage (1)

The neck of an Archmage was no different from anyone else’s.

A little thinner and a bit paler. That was all I could say about it.

"How is it?”

"..."

I met Dercia’s eyes as she looked down at me with a slightly sour expression.

I had—done everything I possibly could.

And so I earned this result. A result that could be called a victory.

But in the end, I still had to beg the loser for mercy.

If Dercia were to throw a tantrum here, refusing to accept the outcome and insisting she wouldn’t give up her memories, then we could no longer remain master and disciple.

And Dercia was the type who didn’t care the slightest about honor.

"Is it still not enough?”

"...No.”

The question I asked, feeling like 1 second was as long as a thousand years, was met with Dercia slowly shaking her head.

"You’ve grown a lot.”

"Ah, yes. I’ve had a lot of help…”

"I mean something more fundamental."

Dercia looked at the top of my head.

"You’ve gotten taller.”

"...Sorry?"

What the hell was she saying all of a sudden?

While I stared at her in bewilderment, she continued matter-of-factly.

"Compared to when we first met, you’ve grown about two finger-widths. Seeing it up close makes the change quite obvious.”

"Well, I am still growing. Is that a problem?”

"Then you’ll grow for quite a while."

"Well…yeah?”

"In that case, you will have to devote every moment, moments that will never return, entirely to survival.”

"..."

I finally realized what Dercia was saying.

She continued, her voice just as heavy.

"I understand your desire to escape the Abyss. And I understand that you do not wish to merely become another creature built to survive it. But you must realize—how much time that will consume.”

"Yes. I suppose so.”

"You are not an elf. You were born with a short lifespan. You must spend every precious moment purely on surviving.”

Dercia paused, meeting my gaze.

"To remain human, you will have to give up your entire life. Is that truly worth it?”

"Yes."

I immediately replied, a light smile on my lips.

"A hundred years at most. And the last fifty would be spent creaking around like an old man. We’re not exactly a long-lived species.”

"..."

It was my poor attempt at a joke.

But apparently, it had landed perfectly for Dercia’s terrible sense of humor.

"...True enough."

A soft arc lifted the corners of her lips, different from her usual rotten, cynical smirk.

It was the kind of smile so mesmerizingly beautiful that it could make one forget how to breathe, but it only lasted for an instant.

Having returned to her usual expression, Dercia used her slender fingers to pry open my hands that were still wrapped around her neck.

"I can’t deny it. This is my loss.”

"Umm, really?”

"Not in the literal sense. You really did put in a commendable effort, but—it seems you’re not particularly practiced in combat against mages.”

"Huh?"

I tilted my head as Dercia tapped my hand twice.

My hand—was frozen in place, still stuck in the posture of gripping her neck.

"What is this?”

"The moment your skin touched mine, I sent a small electric current to lock your muscles.”

"...Wait, you can do that with only 2-star magic?”

"No. Not unless your opponent voluntarily reached out and put their hand directly on your skin like a fool.”

"Ah."

"Next time, even if you’re certain of your victory, use a blade or a spell to threaten your opponent. Direct physical contact is incredibly dangerous.”

"Yes."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

So I actually lost. After all this.

When I clenched the hand she had just released, Dercia added gently, as though to reassure me.

"Being able to manifest your Abyss Realm is already enough to win most magic duels. More importantly…this is something I suspected, but you truly did intend to defeat me.”

"There was a lot at stake here. And well, the Abyss Realm manifestation…actually has some limitations.”

"Limitations?”

"...Yes."

I’d explain it properly later.

For now, there was something that had higher priority.

"...So, did I really win?”

Brimdal approached, shaking his head as he looked at me.

"That monster, beaten by an 11-year-old. Every time I look at you, you get more unbelievable.”

"She held back.”

"Even so, it’s not something just anyone can do. I know since I’ve crossed blades with her.”

"Heh, remarkable brat.”

Azrael clicked his tongue as he approached.

"I couldn’t even stand against her when she was a mere 170. So then, what memories shall I erase for you?”

"Huh? Don’t erase anything.”

I shoved Azrael away from Dercia.

"Wait, what are you doing? A victor should use his rights.”

"People learn from their mistakes. Master is an elf, so she’ll learn even better. If you erase it, she might just end up doing something even worse later.”

"Not at all. I could just erase all the impure memories and turn her into a puppet that only listens to you. How about it?”

"Stop saying horrifying things. I need her as my master, not as some obedient 9-star wizard golem.”

Though, actually. That would be kind of convenient. Quite perfect, to be honest.

Still, the price for reducing Dercia to such a state just wasn’t worth it. I refuted Azrael’s nonsense one after the other.

"Those conditions were just meant to make the duel serious. I was never planning to hand my master’s memories to some creepy shaman like you. Not for a moment.”

"..."

At my firm declaration, Dercia slowly stiffened. Why was she acting like that?

Azrael, on the other hand, burst into delighted laughter, even though I had been so blunt.

"Hehe, truly driving the nail in! How do you feel, Dercia? Hmm?”

"...Jern, my apology is rather late.”

Dercia deeply bowed her head.

"I’m sorry. If we had spoken more, this would not have happened. In prioritizing my own enlightenment, I failed to consider your opinion at all.”

"Ah, no. It’s fine.”

"It’s not fine. Had you not come here yourself, one week from now I would have gone to you, kidnapped you, placed you among dozens of fallen elves, and begun experimenting.”

"Okay, that definitely isn’t fine.”

It sure was a good thing I came. Thanks to Ciel.

Right—where was Ciel?

"Sir Brimdal, where is the head maid?”

"...Head maid?”

Brimdal showed a confused expression, then realized something and looked at me.

"You mean that Ciel, right? Ask her.”

"..."

I looked at Dercia with a very serious expression.

Dercia tried to avoid my eyes. It was the first time she had ever done that.

"Don’t worry. She’s not hurt.”

"...Please bring her out."

Dercia snapped her fingers, and then—

Ciel emerged from the ground moments later.

She was bound tightly in countless roots.

"..."

"..."

Ciel did not look pleased.

We stared at each other in silence. Dercia, seemingly having read my expression, looked away from me.

Seeing that, Ciel’s eyes widened in genuine shock.

"J-Jern.”

"Yes."

"There’s no way—I can’t believe it. But considering that Lady Cia is releasing me and seeing you standing here so confidently, if I were to infer—"

"Hmm, what’s there to infer? What you’re thinking is correct.”

"No. Even so, I have to ask.”

Ciel stared between me and the back of Dercia’s head, her expression showing pure disbelief.

"...Did you persuade Lady Cia in that state?"

"A bit forcefully, but yes.”

"Haha……”

Ciel leaned back against the roots and looked up at the sky, letting out a dazed groan.

"You’re saying you managed to refute the conclusion of a 9-star mage, and that Dercia no less, she spent months of research to get to? That’s something even a lesser demigod would struggle to accomplish.”

"She simply didn’t know how much I’ve grown.”

"Does a tiger concern itself with the growth of a cat? No. Not even a cat. Master Jern is more like a rat. A rat, I say.”

Ciel suddenly started to say things resembling insults. And the moment the roots loosened, she strode behind me and glared daggers at Dercia.

"And my Lady is a wicked tiger who only came to her senses after getting bitten by that rat.”

"...I’m sorry, Ciel.”

Dercia apologized to Ciel in a casual tone.

"My sanity returned, yet I made a decision I absolutely shouldn’t have. I did something unforgivable to you as well.”

"Don’t you owe me an apology as well? I nearly got burned to death because you pretended to be the World Tree.”

"Azrael, I don’t feel the slightest speck of pity, regret, or guilt toward you."

But she wasn’t done with Azrael.

"Jern did indeed stop me, but my thoughts haven’t changed from the time I had left this place. The only difference is that now I see a more useful way to apply them.”

"And what do you mean by that?”

"Eternal repose.”

"Hah."

Azreal snorted, openly dismissing her words.

"I’d never follow some idiotic plan to turn all elves into books.”

"They’re better off dead. But simply killing them would waste countless relics buried in their memories. Matters that have been long forgotten by history. We should record everything, then have all the elves commit collective suicide. That is the last salvation left for our species.”

"..."

Her extremely radical thoughts hadn’t changed the slightest.

"Hey, human kid. Your master still treats elves like that. What do you think of that?”

"Well, to be honest, I do agree that the elves would be better off dead.”

"?"

Azrael looked at me as if I had just stabbed him in the back.

"Wait, weren’t you fighting your master at the risk of your life because you felt sorry for us?”

"That’s not it. It’s just, are they actually living? Can you really call that living? They’re basically biological machines acting on preset instructions. Instead of drifting forever waiting for a savior who may never come, wouldn’t dying be the better choice here?”

"That is exactly what I’m saying.”

"...You two bastards are both completely deranged.”

Watching Azrael grumble, Dercia added coolly,

"The extinction of the elf race is also for the sake of humans. You do realize it would be better if there never was a true savior.”

"Why?"

"Because countless elves besides myself have challenged the worlds. Worlds with magic, or without it. Worlds with enemies and without them. We became heroes and demons alike across innumerable worlds. And in the end, they were reduced to mindless primitives with their memories stripped away. If a savior appeared and you freed all elves, this era would plunge into a catastrophic age of chaos.”

"Aha."

So basically, if one were to put it in earth terms, it was like awakening a frozen Guan Yu, Hitler, and Genghis Khan all in the same year.

Yeah. That would be horrifying. As I shuddered, Azrael waved his hand dismissively.

"Then you should just leave this hell. And return the elves to normal while you’re at it.”

"So you’re still planning to wait for a savior who will never come?”

"...Hmpf, to be honest, I was getting tired of it—until today, that is.”

Azrael gave me an unpleasantly sticky, lingering look.

"I can see some potential now. Though I never imagined I’d see it in a human.”

Dercia immediately pulled me behind her, shielding me from Azrael’s gaze.

"If you ever lay a hand on Jern, I will kill you."

"I have no intention of laying a hand on him. Didn’t I say I merely saw potential?”

"And we’re not leaving just yet.”

"What? You still have more to do here?”

Azrael’s expression showed horror, but Dercia completely ignored him as she looked down and muttered.

"Jern, it seems there’s much I need to hear from you.”

"And I’ve got plenty of things I want to ask you as well, Master.”

There were things only a 9-star mage could answer.

And there were favors only mages who already knew that I was a Fallen and didn’t care about it could grant.

Dercia nodded, then glanced at Azrael.

"But those things can be done later. For now. There’s something we must extract from that shaman.”

"And what would that be?”

"Your past memories.”

"...Ah."

Right. I took out the drawing I had kept in my pocket. The one of me and the woman who was probably my mother.

"I actually learned a little about it already from my talk with the princess.”

"Princess? You mean Lumia?”

"No, her older sister.”

"...How in the world?”

Dercia pulled a bizarre face. It wasn’t something I could explain briefly, so I just shrugged.

"It’s a long story. What matters is she offered to tell me more, but I refused. The compensation she offered would’ve left me too tangled up with her.”

"You did extremely well.”

Dercia nodded, her expression unusually relieved.

"The First Princess is dangerous. She hides secrets no one can fathom.”

"Ah, I know about that too.”

"That—your thoughts are probably incorrect. Her secret cannot be uncovered so easily. The Imperial Family hides it more fiercely than anything else. Even I only have some speculations—”

"She has the gift of prophecy, right? But I don’t think it's an ordinary prophetic ability.”

"..."

Dercia remained completely silent for nearly thirty seconds.

Only after regaining her composure did she ask,

"...What exactly have you been doing?”

"Erm, I kind of fought a Scarlet Abyss officer, and then…”

"......You fought who?”

"Let’s save this for later. So, my past, right?”

I felt like the conversation was about to head somewhere completely different, so I reeled us back in.

"...I have a mountain of questions now, but fine. Let’s stick to that. So, aside from this drawing, you know nothing specific?”

"Yes."

"To survive the Abyssal Sea, knowing how it was constructed is paramount. We must also learn what Scarlet Abyss did with you in the past.”

"Right.”

I nodded.

"But how?”

"We’ll use this shaman.”

It wasn't ‘ask for a favor,’ but ‘use.’

Azrael, of course, immediately objected.

"Why exactly should I use a secret art exclusive to elves on a human?”

"Because if you don’t, the elves trapped in that burrow are going to start suffocating soon.”

"Human child, do you truly wish to serve that thing as your master?”

"Of course."

Azrael had no allies here. Even Brimdal seemed to dislike this shaman.

In the end, Azrael slumped behind me, his face sullen.

"If I sense even a hint of you doing something strange, I’ll kill every elf here on the spot. Look at everything before the age of five.”

"Alright, alright. You think I’d mess around with the lives of every elf on the line?”

I watched Azrael’s hand rubbing my head and suddenly wondered,

"So once the ritual starts, will my memories just come back or something?”

"No. I’m going to extract everything from before age five and look at it myself. Then I’ll tell you.”

"Does the extraction take long?”

"I manage memories that span thousands, if not millions, of years. Just 10 years? That’s…”

Suddenly, Azrael froze mid-sentence.

"Hmm…what is this?”

"What’s wrong?”

"Your memory…is unusually long for your age. It feels more like a young man’s than a boy’s.”

"...Ah."

Was he able to see my previous life’s memories as well?

Before I finished that thought, Azrael tilted his head.

"No, that’s not it. It’s exactly 11 years’ worth, but why does it feel so long? Strange brat.”

"...Please just do your job.”

"Tsk, no respect for the elderly.”

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like he could see my Earth memories.

Azrael finished extracting everything and sat back down.

"Alright. Feel like there’s any memory missing?”

"Jern Aspandil, 11 years old, mage, Fallen, Abyssal Sea, Scarlet Abyss. I remember all that.”

"Hmm, so you really lost part of your memory.”

"What about my past?”

"Just wait…”

Azrael closed his eyes and began to replay the memories.

Apparently, he could revisit them like watching a movie.

... It really was an absurd ability. I could understand why all the elves trusted him to handle their entire species’ memories.

For the first time, Azrael displayed a seriousness one would expect from a shaman. He didn’t move for several minutes.

It was long enough for me to wonder if he had died or something.

Then he snapped his eyes open and glared at me.

"...Human child.”

The seriousness in his face made me steel myself.

My past.

The past that might have thrown me into the Abyssal Sea.

Just what kind of torture did this body endure? Was I perhaps kidnapped by Scarlet Abyss? Or did I fall into the Abyss on my own? But he told me that a Great Realm can’t be created naturally. So, perhaps Scarlet Abyss—or someone else—made me this way.

As I considered the worst possibilities, Azrael finally spoke.

"...Your past self.”

"Yes."

"Was extremely comfortable and happy.”

"?"

"I have seen many nobles in my time, but never have I seen a 3-year-old with 10 maids.”

Hmm…

So I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.

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