Turning
Chapter 87
第八十七章

"I came this far following the Commander's order to find our missing team member. And I am on the verge of fulfilling that order. It's my duty as the assistant to the Commander of the Cavalry. But what about you?"
我奉命追寻失踪的队员，已经接近成功。作为骑兵指挥官的助手，这是我的职责。但你呢？

"..."  ……

"You couldn't protect your subordinate, you put your own life in danger, and you can't even judge the situation correctly, blinded by personal rage, charging at me without thinking again. Is that your role? You claim to be a noble, yet you can't think beyond that? Is it more important to knock me down than considering what is more crucial at this point, or what to do next? What's the use of your head?"
你保护不了你的下属，却把自己的性命置于危险之中，甚至连情况都判断错误，被个人怒火蒙蔽，再次毫无思考地冲向我。这就是你的角色吗？你自称高尚，却无法超越自我？此刻，将我击倒比考虑更重要的事情，或者下一步该怎么做更重要吗？你的脑袋有什么用？

"What... what......?"  什……什……？

Kiolle's eyes and lips were trembling.
基奥莱的眼睛和嘴唇在颤抖。

"Whether a noble or a commoner, death is the end for both. Stab either, and the same red blood comes out. How significant do you think lineage is here?"
无论贵族还是平民，死亡都是终点。刺杀任何一方，流出的都是同样的鲜红血液。你认为血统在这里有多重要？

"You..."  你...

Finally, as if Kiolle understood something, he swallowed his words and closed his mouth.
最后，仿佛基奥莱明白了什么，他吞回了自己的话，闭上了嘴。

"So, you had no intention of saving me. So... that's why you left me till the end… to take revenge on me..."
所以，你根本没想过要救我。所以……这就是你把我留到最后的原因……要报复我……

'What would I gain by taking revenge on you.'
我报复你有什么好处。

However, his frightened look wasn't bad. Yuder didn't bother to correct his misunderstanding and opened his cold mouth, keeping his eyes straight.
然而，他惊恐的表情倒也不坏。尤德没有费心纠正他的误解，张开了冰冷的嘴，目光直视前方。

"Convince me why I should save you. If you fail to do so, you'll die here, Kiolle."
说服我为什么应该救你。如果你做不到，你就会死在这里，Kiolle。

"Me? Convince? You?"  我？说服？你？

Kiolle, with wide-open eyes, asked back with a dumbfounded face.
基奥尔，睁大眼睛，一脸茫然地反问道。

"Yes."  是的。

"So, you won't kill me? Really?"
所以，你不会杀我？真的吗？

"If you can convince me properly."
如果你能让我信服。

"Ha...... Haha."  哈……哈哈。

Perhaps it was a joke. His eyes, implying such a meaning, stared at Yuder. But as time passed and he saw Yuder patiently waiting, his expression slowly distorted.
也许是个玩笑。他的眼神，暗示着这样的意思，盯着尤德。但是随着时间的推移，他看到尤德耐心地等待，他的表情慢慢扭曲了。

'He must have never had to contemplate whether to live or die until now.'
他直到现在才不得不思考生或死。

He must not be so stupid as to prefer dying rather than trying to persuade Yuder in this situation. At least, Yuder wanted to believe that.
他绝不能这么愚蠢，宁愿死也不想在这种情况下劝说尤德。至少，尤德希望如此。

Yuder keenly observed Kiolle's changing expressions, which were interestingly diverse. Doubt and confusion, a sliver of hope, and the stubborn pride named self-esteem struggling within, anger and pain, and... all of these gradually crumbling, leaving behind only one emotion.
尤德敏锐地观察着基奥尔的表情变化，这些表情变化有趣且多样。怀疑和困惑，一丝希望，以及内心挣扎的顽固自尊，愤怒和痛苦，以及……所有这些逐渐瓦解，最终只留下一种情感。

"...If you let me out of here, then, yes. My father... will reward you."
“如果你让我离开这里，那么，是的。我父亲……会奖励你的。”

At last, the first words Kiolle managed to say were just as Yuder expected.
最后，基奥尔能说出的第一个词语，正如尤德预料的那样。

"Rejected."  拒绝。

"Why?"  为什么？

As soon as Yuder shook his head, Kiolle shouted in anger with a flushed face.
尤德摇摇头，基奥尔面色通红，怒吼起来。

"Why? Because it's unnecessary. Next."
为什么？因为没必要。下一条。

"Unnecessary? This is the Diarca Family! We're talking about the reward of Diarca! Commoners like you die for money! What else do you need? Treasure? Would jewelry do? Or maybe a sword? Do you want a fine horse?"
多此一举？这是迪亚卡家族！我们谈论的是迪亚卡的奖励！像你这样的平民为了钱而死！你还想要什么？宝物？珠宝行吗？或者一把剑？你想得到一匹好马吗？

"I don't care whether it's money, jewelry, or treasure. I don't need any material things. Convince me with something else."
我不管钱、珠宝还是宝物。我不需要任何物质的东西。用别的东西说服我。

"Damn it! Then... a position. I'll give you a position. Would a regular knight position in the Imperial Knight do?"
该死！然后……一个位置。我会给你一个位置。帝国骑士的普通骑士位置怎么样？

"Rejected."  拒绝。

Why would he care about the Imperial Knight, which would become an insignificant group a few years later? Yuder frowned and shook his head without a second thought. Over Kiolle's face, anger and worry mixed and rippled.
他为什么会在乎几年后就会变成无关紧要的小团体帝国骑士？尤德皱了皱眉，毫不犹豫地摇了摇头。在基奥尔脸上，愤怒和担忧交织，起伏不定。

"Ah, very well. I'll speak to my father and request him to promote you to the position of Cavalry Commander. It won't be immediate, but it should be satisfactory to you."
啊，很好。我会和父亲谈谈，请求他提升你为骑兵统领。虽然不会立刻，但应该会让你满意。

Cavalry Commander? Yuder nearly laughed out loud. Besides it being the most absurd proposal Kiolle had made so far, it was preposterous that a mere one of the countless children of the Diarca ducal house, not even an heir, would so lightly suggest such a position.
骑兵指挥官？尤德差一点笑出声来。除了这是基奥尔提出过的最荒谬的建议外，一个迪亚卡公爵家族无数子嗣中微不足道的人，甚至不是继承人，如此轻率地建议如此职位，简直荒谬至极。

'It shows how much regard the Diarca House has for the Cavalry.'
它展示了迪亚卡家族对骑兵的重视程度。

Feeling fortunate that Kishiar was not present, Yuder responded coldly.
幸亏基希尔不在，尤德冷冰冰地回答。

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not interested in anything related to status or power?"
我得告诉你多少遍，我对地位或权力之类的任何事情都不感兴趣？

"Damn you, then what else could you possibly want!"
该死，那你还能想要什么？

"Do you always need to give something to persuade someone, is that it? Besides, you don't have the power to give anything you've mentioned yourself. That's not persuasion."
你总是需要给点什么东西来劝说别人，就是这样吗？此外，你并没有你提到的那些东西的权力。那不是劝说。

For a moment, Kiolle's expression was as if he had heard something he had never contemplated in his life.
片刻，基奥莱的表情就像听到了他从未想过的事情。

"What I demanded was for you to provide a reason for your survival here. Not pointless wealth or status. Can't you even offer that simple thing? Do you truly believe that you're superior to the dead when you can't?"
我要求的是你在这里生存的理由。不是毫无意义的财富或地位。你连这么简单的事情都做不到吗？当你做不到的时候，你真的相信自己比死人高贵吗？

At least Kiolle's dead subordinate knew when to kneel before his enemies in order to survive. Of course, it wasn't a good method. It led to his death, after all. But at least he was better than the current Kiolle.
至少基奥尔的下属知道什么时候在敌人面前跪下才能活下来。当然，这不是一个好方法。毕竟，这导致了他的死亡。但至少他比现在的基奥尔强。

"..."  ……

"The reason why everyone here has spared you is not because you're great, but because they simply wanted to know about your lineage. Apart from that, there's currently no reason for you to live. Why should I go to the trouble of saving you, who is destined to die anyway? Would you want to save someone who insults and annoys you?"
这里每个人放过你，不是因为你伟大，而是因为他们想知道你的血统。除此之外，你目前没有任何活下去的理由。我为什么要费心救你，一个注定要死的人？你会救一个侮辱和烦扰你的人吗？

Yuder watched Kiolle, his face pale as if he had taken a blow to the head, struggling for breath with his mouth wide open. No one had ever spoken to him like this before. It was assumed he should be treated with special deference simply because he was a son of the Diarca family.
尤德看着基奥尔，脸色苍白，仿佛挨了一拳，张着嘴喘着粗气。以前没有人这样跟他说话过。人们都认为，他应该因为是迪亚卡家族的儿子而受到特别的尊敬。

'But I'll make him admit that it's not taken for granted.'
但我会让他承认，这不是理所当然的。

After all, Kiolle had to be saved and sent away from here. Then, at least this much should be corrected to make his life worth saving. It was worth the effort for the sake of future matters.
毕竟，基奥勒必须被救出来，送走。然后，至少应该纠正这么多，才能使他的生命值得拯救。为了将来，这值得付出努力。

"Ha, but, the other prisoners. They were just saved... why only me...."
哈，可是，其他的囚犯。他们刚被救出来……为什么只有我……

Whether he was convinced within Yuder's cold gaze that his status or ability held no meaning in the current situation, Kiolle's voice faded. He was experiencing the feeling of being fundamentally denied for the first time in his life.
尤德冰冷的目光中，基奥尔意识到自己的地位和能力在这场境况下毫无意义，他的声音渐渐消失。他第一次体验到被彻底否定的人生感受。

There had been countless people who had criticized and looked down on him, but they had never been able to ignore his noble status and the name Diarca.
曾经有无数人批评和轻视他，但他们从未能够忽视他的高贵身份和迪亚卡的名字。

His status and power were the strongest armor that had supported Kiolle de Diarca. But now, with that armor gone, Kiolle was swallowed up by an indescribable fear and emptiness.
他的地位和权力是支撑基奥莱·德·迪亚卡最强大的盔甲。但现在，盔甲消失了，基奥莱被一种无法形容的恐惧和空虚吞噬了。

"They were innocent imperial citizens who were imprisoned simply because they awakened some power. Of course they should be saved."
他们都是无辜的帝国公民，仅仅因为唤醒了某种力量而被囚禁。当然应该救他们。

"So, are you saying that I'm worse than those commoners?"
所以，你是说我比那些平民还差吗？

"Worse."  更糟。

Yuder replied firmly.  尤德坚定地回答。

"Even after being defeated twice, you still refuse to acknowledge your weakness and continue to pointlessly brandish your sword. How could you be the same as those who understand gratitude? Even a beast knows to lower its tail before a stronger foe. Unlike you."
即使被打败两次，你仍然拒绝承认自己的弱点，继续毫无意义地挥舞着你的剑。你怎么能和那些懂得感恩的人一样？即使野兽在比它更强大的敌人面前也知道低下尾巴。不像你。

"You, dare, to compare me, to a beast..."
你，竟敢，将我，比作野兽……

Stammering with shock, Kiolle's face had turned as white as a sheet. From the look on his face, it seemed he was on the verge of fainting.
惊恐地结巴着，基奥尔的脸变得像白纸一样苍白。从他的表情来看，他似乎快要晕倒了。

"Fine, fine. It doesn't matter if you don't want to save me. They can't kill me anyway. If I just wait, my father will surely come to rescue me!"
好吧，好吧。你不想救我，也没关系。他们反正也杀不了我。如果我等着，我爸爸肯定会来救我的！

"Really, will he?"  他真的会吗？

At the soft question, Kiolle's face contorted.
听到这个问题，基奥尔的脸色扭曲了。

"No one knows you're missing right now. The knights who came with you for the training aren't even looking for you, so how would your father know? There's plenty of time for these guys here to kill you and bury your body."
现在没人知道你失踪了。和你一起训练来的骑士们甚至都没找你，你父亲怎么会知道？这里这些人有的是时间杀了你，埋了你的尸体。

"What..."  什么...

"There will be no change even if you die, Kiolle. The death of a non-heir during a training accident wouldn't be surprising. Even if the perpetrator is revealed, the noble families won't feud over it. It's just that simple."
就算你死了，基奥勒，训练事故中非继承人死亡也不足为奇。即使凶手被揭露，贵族家族也不会为此争斗。事情就是这样简单。

‘You are, simply that insignificant.’
你只不过是那么微不足道。

"Ah..."  啊...

At the cold declaration, Kiolle's ragged breathing stopped completely. Even if he was foolish, he was a member of a noble family, and he would've realized that Yuder's words were accurate. The words were true, so he couldn't argue against them.
听到那冰冷的宣告，基奥尔的粗喘完全停止了。即使他愚蠢，也是贵族出身，他应该意识到尤德尔的话语准确无误。那些话是真的，所以他无法反驳。

It seemed like he finally grasped the reality before his eyes, unable to express his anger. Yuder looked at Kiolle's face, sensing that he had finally made a dent in his stubborn obstinacy.
他似乎终于看清了眼前的事实，却无法表达他的愤怒。尤德看着基奥尔的脸色，感觉自己终于在他那固执的顽固上撞出了一个缺口。

"Well, if you want to die, I won't stop you. Is our conversation over?"
好吧，如果你想死，我不会阻止你。我们的谈话结束了？

"..."  ……

"Alright. It seems there's nothing more to say..."
好吧。看来没什么可说的了……

"...Wait, wait."  等等

Kiolle urgently called Yuder.
基奥尔紧急致电尤德。

"I, get it. You're, you're stronger than me. I admit... I'll admit it. I'll, I'll apologize too."
我明白了。你比我强。我承认……我会承认的。我会，我会道歉。

Yuder, who was about to turn away, stopped his movement. To hold onto him, Kiolle struggled with all his might, trying to lift his head.
尤德正要转身，停下了动作。基奥尔努力地抓住他，试图抬起他的头。

"If calling you a commoner made you angry, I take it back. If you let me out of here... I promise I'll never challenge you to a duel again. If you ask me to, I'll do anything I can!"
如果称呼你平民让你生气，我收回。如果你让我离开这里……我保证再也不会向你挑战决斗了。如果你让我做，我会尽我所能！

His bound hands gripped Yuder's robe tightly.
他紧紧抓住尤德的袍子。

"So please, save me. I don't want to die here..."
所以，请救救我。我不想死在这里……

Finally, the answer he wanted had come out.
最后，他想要的答案出来了。

Yet, Yuder didn't show his satisfaction on his face and instead slowly bent down to sit.
然而，尤德脸上没有露出满意的表情，而是慢慢地弯下腰坐下。

"You'll do anything?"  你会做任何事吗？

"Yes, anything."  是的，任何事。

"Even if I ask you to betray your family and the Imperial Knight?"
即使我让你背叛你的家人和帝国骑士？

"..."  ……

At that moment, Kiolle's eyes froze over.
那时，基奥莱的眼睛定住了。

'Well, well, he's scared. Truly a child.'
哎呀，他害怕了。真是个孩子。

Yuder looked down at him and shook his head.
尤德低头看着他，摇了摇头。

"Of course, I don't have that intention. You're not competent enough for such a task."
当然，我没有那个意思。你还不够格做这项任务。

"You, you bastard... You're making a fool of me...!"
你，你这个混蛋……你是在耍我……！