It was already the tenth day at the bar. Raiden counted the days and realized it might be time to leave. By now, Tony Iron Man suit should be ready, and today... was a good day.
The best way for Raiden and Yinsen to find Tony was to head to the most dangerous and chaotic towns nearby. Raiden vaguely remembered the plot, after completing the suit, Tony would return here to use the Iron Man armor to rescue kidnapped civilians.
So now, Raiden planned to take Yinsen there to wait for Tony. Otherwise, it would be difficult for them to leave the Middle East in a short time. But Yinsen safety... that was crucial. Raiden couldn't protect Yinsen indefinitely, so he finally had to make a decision.
"Michelle, we're leaving."
At the dinner table, Raiden suddenly announced. Yinsen looked up, puzzled, as he had no idea about this. But Yinsen didn't say much. He trusted that Raiden had his reasons for this decision. Perhaps he had figured out a way to leave.
"Is that so? That's good," Michelle said casually.
There wasn't much sentiment between her and Raiden. Their closeness over the past few days was purely physical - a mutual arrangement. Michelle had known all along that Raiden and Yinsen would eventually leave. That's why she had gotten involved with Raiden in the first place.
Otherwise, she wouldn't want a man bothering her all the time, even if he was charming.
The farewell was brief, as uneventful as seeing off a drinking guest.
"By the way, Raiden, take the guns with you. In this place, they'll come in handy," Michelle said, having the bartender bring out the two guns Raiden had traded for drinks ten days ago.
"No need," Raiden patted the jeep and opened the back door to show Michelle. "We've got plenty here."
Michelle glanced at the back seat, her eyes filled with desire. There were four or five rifles lying there, all high-end products from Stark Industries.
Noticing Michelle gaze, Raiden stepped forward and kissed her lips.
"Can we make one last deal? I'd like to trade these guns for some gasoline."
Michelle raised an eyebrow. "Of course, but aren't you planning to keep a couple of it?" Her finger gestured between Raiden and Yinsen.
Raiden turned to look at Yinsen... After a moment of thought, he turned back to Michelle and said,
"Then just leave us one."
At the final moment of their farewell, Raiden and Michelle embraced. Michelle whispered in Raiden's ear,
"I hope you never have to come back here."
"Let's hope so," Raiden nodded. Indeed, who would want to return to this place? A land filled with conflict, pain, and death.
Raiden and Yinsen set off, leaving behind this small town that had been their temporary "oasis." Danger awaited them.
In the car, Yinsen curiously watched as Raiden pulled out a small cloth-wrapped item from his pocket and tucked it into his chest.
"What's that?"
"Some trimmed beard."
"...What's the use of keeping it?"
"I heard beards, hair, and stuff like that sell for a good price in New York."
Upon hearing Raiden answer... Yinsen fell silent. He knew the answer wasn't this, but he didn't press further. Because those who escaped from that hell would want to destroy everything they brought out from there, and every remaining item had its own story.
"Raiden, did we leave too hastily? Have you thought about where we're going?" After a moment of silence, Yinsen asked Raiden.
"Yinsen, the world has changed," Raiden gave Yinsen an answer that didn't address the question.
"This world is about to overturn your understanding. It will make you feel unfamiliar, scared, and those things..." Raiden gestured towards the back seat, where the rifle was placed.
"Those things won't be able to protect you," Raiden said, looking at Yinsen.
Yinsen lowered his head and remained silent. The moment Raiden first displayed magic in front of him, Yinsen knew there was another side to this world that he was unaware of, and the side hidden in the darkness was even more dangerous.
But what could he do? Yinsen was just an ordinary person, perhaps with a bit more knowledge in his head than the average person. But he was clearly not someone like Tony Stark. His knowledge couldn't arm him, couldn't protect him in chaos.
Seeing Yinsen silence, Raiden took a deep breath and said, "Yinsen, do you want to gain power?"
Power?
Yinsen suddenly looked up at Raiden, but soon lowered his head again.
Raiden reached out his hand to Yinsen, and in his open palm, a ring appeared before Yinsen eyes. A silver-white ring, engraved with an exquisite wolf head, lifelike under the sunlight.
"Yinsen, I can give you power, the power to protect yourself," Raiden said, braking and stopping the car.
Power!
Yinsen had once desperately desired power, but also deeply despised it. Now... he just wanted to live a simple life until old age.
Yinsen looked into Raiden eyes, bright and dazzling, a familiar feeling...
"Like the power you possess?"
Raiden shook his head. "No, this power is even stronger... but also more cruel..."
Cruel? Yinsen heart had once yearned for him to be a bit more cruel, perhaps then, his family wouldn't have died before his eyes.
...
Hircine is the Daedric Prince of the Hunt, advocating bloody hunts between individuals and keen on creating or participating in hunts with unequal conditions. Hircine created various diseases that transform mortals into beasts and advocates eternal hunting.
His realm is a hunting ground, and to be a vast grassland under a crimson moon, where the souls of all deceased werewolves return to participate in the eternal hunt.
In eternity, Hircine created a race, powerful, tyrannical, bloodthirsty, the labels of that race, which could tear apart prey in the most direct way and strengthen themselves by devouring their prey. That race is the werewolves—bloodthirsty butchers, loyal and brave warriors!
The Ring of Hircine, as the most proud creation of the Daedric Prince Hircine, grants mortals the most formidable power and can grow continuously through devouring.
Moreover, the werewolves created by this divine artifact are Hircine most perfect works, flawless and unparalleled. Unafraid of silver, unbothered by light, they can walk in daylight and traverse the night.
They lack the habits of other werewolves, maintaining their sanity at all times, and can even draw strength from the moonlight.
And all this incomparable power now lay quietly in Raiden palm.
Yinsen reached out and took the ring from Raiden hand.
He hesitated, unsure of what decision to make, and simply clenched the ring tightly in his hand. After a long while, Yinsen loosened his grip and returned the ring to Raiden.
He yearned for peace.
Deep down, Yinsen was already weary of chaos. He just wanted to live a quiet life like an ordinary person.
"Yinsen," Raiden watched as Yinsen returned the ring to him, growing serious.
"The future was fraught with dangers at every turn. Yinsen, living in America by his side... by Tony side, every step was like walking on the edge of a knife."
"We can't always protect you... The future will be crueler than you can imagine!" Raiden grabbed Yinsen arm and said.
Protection?
Protection!
Some images flashed through Yinsen mind... No! He no longer needed anyone protection!
With trembling yet resolute hands, he took the ring from Raiden. This time, he wanted to protect everyone!
Note : Tbh i dont get it, if the mc can give daedric artifact like this why he is not using it or at least give it to yinsen back when they are trapped in the cave to escape early on. anyway im going to continue translating this until chapter 40 and see if there is some improvement or not.
PS : the original link is on the comment in the review section