WETRIED TRANSLATIONS

Wizard of the Abyss

[Translator – Aren]

Chapter 86 - Lineage (5)

Have you ever had this happen to you?

You run into an old friend, exchange some warm greetings, and promised to meet again sometime before parting ways—

Only to realize that you were walking in the same directions, leaving you both feeling rather awkward.

That was exactly what was happening right now.

"Carose, please take good care of Jern.”

"...Yes. As you command.”

"Jern, you too!”

"...Is that an order?”

Of all people, she had chosen Carose to escort me, the imperial envoy.

Sharmia glanced back and forth between the two of us, who were both trying extremely hard not to look at each other, then smiled as she scanned the entire envoy corps.

"Then please go deliver my message. I’ve already sent word ahead, so you should receive the highest hospitality.”

"Thank you for your consideration."

"This was our deal, after all. I’ll count on you again next time, okay?”

She whispered the last part into my ear, making sure the other envoys couldn’t hear—

But that was the problem. I could feel, through Tide Sense, that all the envoys, who had been all stiff and formal in the presence of the princes, widened their eyes.

Even the Knights in the back row began to mutter softly.

[Was there actually someone Her Highness was that close to aside from Dame Carose…?]

[That child…the name she just called. Could it really be—]

[No way. That’s just a rumor. You probably just misheard.]

What a bizarre conversation they were having. To think there were rumors about me.

Trying not to let my true feelings show on my face, I hopped up onto the horse.

"...Have you ever learned horseback riding?”

-Clop, clop

Carose, perfectly in sync with her horse, approached, clearing her throat.

It seemed like she wanted us to pretend like last night’s conversation never happened. I obliged.

"Yes, a little.”

"A little won’t be nearly enough for this one."

Certainly. The horse I was riding was from the imperial stables. Its sheer size could make any other horse look like a foal.

When I, an 11-year-old, climbed on top of it, my spurred feet barely made it past the saddle. But I answered casually.

"It’s fine. Hya.”

"’Hya’...? You’re not even using the spu—”

Before Carose could finish her lecture with narrowed eyes, the horse began to move. Very smoothly at that.

So smoothly that I could have carried a full cup of water without spilling a single drop.

Carose started at this sight, her mouth open.

"H-how did you…?”

"Hmm, I guess it likes me.”

I had confirmed it last time I rode a horse. Animals responded easily if you nudged the right muscles, identified using Tide Sense.

If I had a status window, my riding skill would definitely have shown as SSS-rank.

"Then shall we go?!”

"...Yes."

Carose followed, and the other Knights trailed not far behind.

[It really seems like him…]

[T-then…does that mean we’re all dead men walking?]

…Right.

That was definitely something I needed to ask about later.

-Clop, clop!

The imperial horses were different not just in size but also in breed.

Actually, calling them horses felt kind of wrong. They were closer to open-top sports cars.

To be precise, it felt like riding on the wind itself.

"Are you…alright?”

"Yes. I’m perfectly fine. Don’t worry about me.”

The wind barely affected my body.

Carose, who seemed to marvel at how my hair kept its shape, barely even fluttering, looked ahead again after a short nod.

"I had assumed it would take about a week to reach our destination, but at this rate—we might not even need half of that. I shall increase my pace as well.”

"Huh?”

She looked at me, her expression showing utter bafflement.

The Knights, and even Carose herself, were only just barely keeping up with me.

Remembering what happened yesterday, I couldn’t help but flash a slightly mischievous grin.

"Will you be able to keep up?”

"Even if it is impressive that you can maintain such speed on an imperial horse you’ve never ridden before, we have ridden these horses our entire lives.”

Carose shouted to the Knights following behind us.

"That’s enough holding back. Follow me!”

"Yes!"

In an instant the Knights, their horses kicking up dust, accelerated until they lined up beside me.

What the hell? I stared, perplexed.

"Umm, if you could do this, why didn’t you keep up from the start?”

"My apologies. We needed to determine whether you were simply overexerting yourself or whether you truly could maintain that pace.”

"...Ah, I see.”

Carose spoke, watching me with hawk-like eyes.

Her thoughts were so transparent that I couldn’t help but sigh. She was clearly looking for any information she could gain about me.

Well, whatever. Even if she found something, what would she do? Report that I was good at riding horses?

"Then I suppose it’s fine if I go a bit faster.”

-Neeeigh!

I leaned forward and scratched the horse’s hide. The startled animal burst forward at an even faster pace.

"...Hmm. Understood.”

Carose, glaring at me, also lowered her posture and sprinted after me like a madwoman.

For thirty minutes straight, the two of us kept up our little speed contest.

"E-erm… Dame Carose?”

"Yes, Sir Envoy?”

We kept going until the other Knights were completely out of our sight.

***

Honestly, I hadn’t expected her to keep up this well.

I was using what was more or less a cheat skill, my Tide Sense basically letting me perfectly read the horse’s condition and control it flawlessly—yet Carose sometimes even overtook me, throwing herself into a duel with no winner.

The biggest loser here was the Knights. They were practically dying trying to keep up, so we had no choice but to set up camp earlier than planned.

But Carose seemed quite pleased, letting out a satisfied hum.

"Hmm, at this rate, we won’t even need three days.”

"...No, it’s fine if we slow down a bit.”

"It was your order to pick up the pace, wasn’t it, Sir Envoy?”

"Aren’t we going to arrive before the messenger we sent ahead? You told me that would be bad.”

I shrugged and walked over to help the Knights set up camp.

"N-no! We’ll handle this.”

They flinched in panic, waving their hands. I ignored them and invoked my magic.

Two stars appeared in my eyes. At the same time, the stakes, cloth, and poles that made up our tents floated into the air and planted themselves into the ground.

-Thump, thud, bam!

In an instant, eight large tents were set. It didn’t even take 30 seconds. If the Knights had done it, it would have taken 30 minutes.

My currents did most of the work. The rest was just waving some wind around to make it look like magic. I waved my hand at the dumbstruck Knights.

"No need to thank me. We’re helping each other after all.”

"...So you truly have gained your second star at your age.”

"To think you’re at the same level as Princess Lumia, as expected… Ah.”

"As expected what?”

Leaving Carose, shaking her head, behind, I approached the Knight who had clapped a hand over his mouth.

It seemed like it was time to investigate that weird comment I had overheard earlier.

He had gone completely pale, shaking his head frantically.

"I-it’s nothing.”

"It doesn’t sound like nothing. Please tell me. I’m just curious.”"

"Really…”

"It’s fine. I may carry the title of imperial envoy, but nobody actually treats me like one. Even if you offend me, nothing will happen to you.”

Only then did the Knight reluctantly open his mouth.

"We only received Her Highness’ orders last night, so we don’t know much about you, Sir Envoy. But the name she mentioned was quite peculiar, so… is your name truly Jern?”

"? Yes…"

The Knights started to murmur.

Among them I heard the same nonsense as before… Stuff like ‘So it’s really him. Then we’re all doomed,’ so I frowned and asked,

"Do you all know me or something?”

"Well..."

"Jern, you are currently regarded as something like the Empire’s secret weapon by the Knights and some of the nobles.”

Carose let out a sigh, adding some explanation.

It took me a moment to grasp what the hell she was talking about.

"Wait, why would they…?”

"Your first appearance was when you suddenly showed up saving kidnapped noble children. A mysterious boy who claims to be an orphan, yet was protected and sheltered by a powerful noble. Who would believe that?”

"But I have verified records of growing up in an orphanage, you know?”

"If you had stayed just an orphan, people might have accepted it. But you suddenly became Lady Dercia’s disciple, became an apprentice at the Dark Magic Tower, claimed Sir Brimdal as your second master, and won multiple tournaments. You even visited the Imperial Palace multiple times, right?”

"..."

"Soon enough rumors spread that you were an assassin created to counter Scarlet Abyss that made itself known. The princess’ personal Heavenly Knight of Retribution, a secret war weapon the Empire has kept hidden. However, since your actions were so bizarre and you rarely show yourself, the widely accepted belief became that you actually don’t exist. Of course, the more you act, the harder it will be for that belief to survive.”

My mind was spinning.

To think such slander had been piling up for some reason without me knowing.

I barely pulled myself together and asked the last thing I was curious about.

"...Then why do you keep saying you're doomed or you're going to die?”

"Why do weapons move? Because something like a declaration of war, or something close to it, is about to occur. We just assumed that you were being mobilized because of that.”

"What in the—Can this even be cleared up?”

"Endure it. And from here on, you should avoid carelessly introducing yourself as Jern. Unless the situation is perfectly clear, it’ll just sound like a child puffing himself up or like a death sentence issued by a ruthless killing machine.”

"But I’m only a 2-star mage. Who in the world would think that a 2-star mage is a murder weapon?”

"Your age is important here. You’re not particularly special as an 11-year-old, and neither are your abilities as a 2-star mage. But being 11 and a 2-star mage changes everything. Even those who could defeat you—both mages and Knights—won’t want to provoke what they believe to be the future monster the Empire has painstakingly raised.”

"This is all so complicated.”

"Indeed it is.”

A battlefield meant to give this brutal killing machine some real combat experience.

It seemed the Knights believed that was where they were being deployed.

Even now, I could see the fear etched in their eyes. I opened my workshop using a carriage door with a sigh.

"Aren’t you eating? Worrying is one thing, but still.”

"I will. But not here… I’ll do it in the capital.”

"?"

"My master said training can’t be skipped.”

The “workshop” wasn’t actually a workshop but connected me to a certain mansion.

This was only possible with a certain 9-star mage’s help. She said she altered it so that during this journey, my workshop door would directly link to the mansion.

In other words, I could return to the capital at any time while traveling.

If anything happened, I could escape with ease. I could also wash up properly and sleep in a warm bed.

"..."

Carose stared at me, holding her porridge, the emotions in her eyes completely indescribable. Feeling just a little satisfied, I asked lightly,

"Should I bring you some bread?”

"...I’m fine."

***

My (supposed) hometown was a bit different from what one normally called a desert.

"There are trees.”

"Life grows even on sand.”

Sure… But trees?

I tapped one of the brittle, withered-looking trees. It looked dead, but apparently that was normal.

The desert itself was exactly what I imagined. A hellish landscape filled with nothing but sand, wind, and sweltering heat.

The kingdom lay on the border between that hell and the plains. Seeing this nation, slightly smaller than the capital, a question rose up within me.

"Why did they establish a country in a place like this?”

"It’s probably the opposite. The desert is what chased the country here.”

"What’s that supposed to mean?”

"Desertification. Have you ever heard of that term?”

"Ah, yes.”

I knew it. That issue also existed back on Earth.

Carose straightened her cloak and directed the Knights as they finished readying themselves, answering with a solemn voice.

"According to the records, this kingdom was originally built on the last patch of grassland before reaching the desert. But seeing that it’s now sitting right between the desert and the grassland, we can infer that the grassland has slowly become part of the desert.”

"Hmm, won’t that cause problems?”

"Of course it will. The fact that it hasn’t collapsed already is what’s more surprising.”

"I see."

It must be hell for the people living here, yet the sight itself was strangely breathtaking.

A city sitting between desert and grassland.

I gazed at it for a long while. Partly because it was just that beautiful, and partly because I was wondering whether looking at it would stir some memories somehow.

But no matter how long I stared, all I could think was that it truly was my first time seeing this place. If it had been in my memories, it wouldn’t seem so mystical to me.

"Ah."

As I kept staring at it, the gates opened.

The city was still distant enough that the people looked like ants. And yet, even from here, I could see them hurriedly rolling out something that looked like a carpet and lining up on both sides.

They were preparing to welcome us.

"We should be arriving soon. Maintain a posture worthy of your title as envoy.”

"I’m not really sure what posture that’s supposed to be, though."

"As arrogant and condescending as possible, while staying on your horse. Don’t even show a hint of joy at their welcome. A small click of the tongue now and then would round out the act.”

So that was what it meant to be an imperial envoy? What a wonderful job, indeed.

"Wait a minute, can I wear this?”

"That’s…”

Carose frowned at the mask I pulled out, then exhaled and nodded.

"As… you wish. But are you sure?”

"About what?”

"Didn't you come here to meet your parents? That’s what I heard, at least. Shouldn’t a first meeting involve showing one another’s faces…?”

"They might not be my parents. And besides, what kind of parents are they when I don’t remember them at all? They might try to do something strange the moment they recognize me.”

"..."

I put on the black mask.

I didn’t feel any different, but to anyone else’s eyes, I probably looked like an adult now.

"Let’s go."

I lightly mounted my horse, this time riding at a slow and dignified pace, completely unlike the breakneck speed we used to get here.

Carose and the Knights dismounted and walked, leading their horses. Apparently it was to make clear who among us was the envoy.

The moment we reached the rolled-out carpet, the welcomes came so fiercely I nearly forgot all the advice I had received moments ago.

"Welcome! Envoy of the Empire!”

"Welcome!”

Scantily dressed dancers scattered glittering powder, and hundreds of soldiers raised their single-edged swords in salute as our procession entered.

Rather than cheerful, the whole display looked rather desperate. They were fiercely trying to avoid offending the Empire at any cost.

"Honored messenger of the Empire, thank you for taking upon yourself the hardship of travelling all the way to our humble kingdom.”

"..."

When we reached the very end, a middle-aged man with black hair and far more modest clothing greeted me.

He wore a broad smile. Clearly the highest-ranking person present, so I dismounted to meet his eyes properly.

"I do not know what business brings the imperial envoy to our humble nation, but first you must rest from your long journey. Please request a meeting whenever it is convenient for you.”

"...I will gratefully accept.”

I was uncertain.

There was something about him that vaguely resembled me.

Without giving it much thought, I accepted the hand he offered, and then—

"...Hm?”

“—"

It was the hand of an ordinary man. Broad and warm.

The other party tried to let go casually, but I couldn’t. I held on to it with more strength than I intended for several long seconds.

"Y-your hand is smaller than expected?!”"

"...You’ve got to be kidding me.”

"Yes?"

The last part I muttered was so low that he didn’t catch it properly.

I barely managed to release his hand and gave a polite nod.

"Very well. Please lead the way.”

"Of course! Escort the envoy to the palace at once!”

"..."

Fortunately, it seemed I hadn’t tripped over my words.

The only person who noticed something was wrong was Carose. She quietly approached, supporting my shoulder as she whispered.

"What happened?”

"...It sent chills down my spine.”

I opened and closed my hand repeatedly, staring down at it.

"Did he attack you?”

"No."

Gritting my teeth, I tried to shake off that lingering sensation and forced myself to keep walking forward.

"His hand was familiar enough to make my skin crawl. The size, the warmth, the shape. The moment I grasped it, memories slowly appeared. Like brushing my fingers over the edge of a weapon that left a deep scar…”

"Hmm, in other words…”

"Yes.”

I stared at the back of the man walking ahead of us and quietly chewed on the words.

"He’s definitely my biological father.”

It seemed like Azrael really hadn’t lied.

And it was the worst-case scenario I had brainstormed with Dercia.

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