Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 24: An Encounter
After escaping from the beast-like crowd of girls, I finally managed to retreat to a quiet corner and eat some sweets. That was when my two brothers came over.
“It seems things became rather chaotic.”
“Brother Alex! As you can see… At this rate, I won’t make any friends, much less any friends who are girls.”
“It’s difficult being popular.”
“This is no time to laugh, Brother Cain! Please do something.”
“Even if you ask me…”
The boys at the tea party had been openly hostile when they saw nearly every girl clustering around me. I couldn’t really blame them. If almost all the girls were flocking to one boy, jealousy was inevitable. And here I’d only wanted to make some noble friends.
“Hm? That girl appears to be alone.”
“Oh? I believe that’s Lady Fabienne Ambert, Baron Ambert’s daughter.”
“You’re very well informed, Brother Alex.”
“I make a point of learning about every girl around my age.”
“…Be careful you don’t get stabbed in the back at the academy.”
“It isn’t like that.”
His strained expression said otherwise. I didn’t care if he wanted to become a playboy, but he should at least protect himself. There would be no guards or servants watching over him at the academy.
“We may get along, since we’re both standing alone. I’ll go and speak with her.”
“She doesn’t talk much, so be patient.”
“Thank you for the valuable information.”
After thanking Brother Alex, I headed toward Baron Ambert’s daughter. She looked up when she noticed me approaching, though her long fringe made it difficult to see her face clearly.
“Hello. I’m Julius, the third son of the Margrave of Heine. Forgive me for asking, but are you Lady Fabienne Ambert?”
“H-how did you know…?”
Her startled voice trembled like a kitten’s. For some reason, it immediately stirred my protective instincts. Maybe it was because she looked a little like a timid small animal.
“Brother Alex told me. Would you care to talk with me, if you don’t mind?”
“Um… yes. I’m Fabienne Ambert.”
Now, what should we talk about? Brother Alex had warned me that I would need to take the lead. Plants seemed safe. Lately I’d been growing ordinary flowers in the garden as camouflage among the potion ingredients, and surely a girl would be interested in flowers.
The strategy worked. Lady Fabienne immediately responded.
“I see. I could grow only turnips during winter, so I can hardly wait for spring. Turnips are useful, but I would really like to grow flowers.”
“Turnips? You grow very practical things.”
“What did you grow during winter, Lord Julius?”
“Well…”
She was considerably more talkative than I’d expected. That was fine with me. It was much better than seeing her sit alone with a gloomy expression.
“White mint and vanilla sage.”
“I’ve never heard of either plant. What are they like?”
“I collected both in the monster forest. They can be used to add a pleasant fragrance to sweets.”
“So they’re aromatic plants. How interesting. I’ll have to try growing some myself.”
They could certainly flavour sweets, but I mainly used them as potion ingredients. They helped mask the strong smells of some magic potions, and white mint’s cooling sensation made it especially useful in ointments.
Good. I’d managed the minimum expected of me. If I could make one male friend as well, the tea party would be a complete success, though that seemed rather unlikely.
Just as I thought that, a boy approached us.
“Could you be Lord Julius Heine, son of the Margrave of Heine?”
A dazzlingly handsome boy addressed me. He clearly knew who I was, but I had no idea who he was.
“Yes. And you are?”
“Forgive my delayed introduction. I’m Edward Yumel. I hope we shall become well acquainted.”
“You’re from Viscount Yumel’s family. I’m Julius, and this is Lady Fabienne Ambert.”
“I-I’m Fabienne.”
Edward took Lady Fabienne’s hand and kissed it. He was quite the theatrical fellow. Maybe that was why he was standing alone too.
“Even so, I’m surprised. I didn’t expect anyone besides me to attract so much attention from the girls.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I’ve become rather famous because of the Starry Sky magic tool.”
“The Starry Sky magic tool! I wanted one too, but it was too expensive.”
“What?! The materials are inexpensive, and it’s easy to make!”
What kind of price was that workshop charging? If they were gouging customers, they would only destroy their own reputation.
“Is the rumour true that you developed it, Lord Julius?”
“You did?!”
“Well… yes.”
So this was how rumours spread. All I could do was stare off into the distance.
Secrets were bound to come out eventually. One day people would probably learn that I was making magic potions too. I really didn’t want to think about that yet.
“I’m interested in magic tools as well. Do you have any advice for developing them?”
“Start by dismantling a lamp magic tool.”
“Dismantling a lamp?”
“That’s right. First learn to make a lamp magic tool. That’s the first step. The Starry Sky magic tool was inspired by one.”
“I see. I’ll dismantle one as soon as I return home.”
Edward accepted the advice without complaint. He seemed a little narcissistic, but not like a bad person. I’d half expected him to approach because he had some grievance with me; apparently he was simply interested in magic tools.
“Could I make one too?”
“Probably, but… do you need a qualification to make magic tools?”
“No. A qualification is required only if you intend to sell them. Potions are different–you need a qualification even to make those–but magic tools aren’t considered as dangerous.”
So magic potions were treated as hazardous goods. Considering the things Grandmother made, I couldn’t exactly argue. If even high-ranking magic pharmacists could produce something that was practically poison, an ignorant beginner could do much worse.
“Then, if you’re interested, why not try making one? You can buy the iron plates, magic ink, and magic stones you need in town.”
And just like that, I had gained my second noble friend. I wanted to pat myself on the back for a job well done.
Plus two.
I mean think about it. Someone with a meth lab in their basement who grows weed in their back yard versus someone who tinkers with robots and cars in their garage.
One is a criminal, one is a hobbyist.