Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 272: Three New Members
Three new temporary members joined Aeris and the other members of Black-Gold Wings.
Officially, all three were newly registered G-rank adventurers.
In reality, they were elite dragonfolk warriors who had reached Dansas through a combination of Tauro’s [Spatial Transfer] and Ragune’s [Dimensional Corridor].
Malak was a tall, handsome man with red hair and golden eyes.
Zumei was short, with blond hair and golden eyes, and at first glance looked like a beautiful boy.
Reeva was a slender, beautiful woman with golden eyes and long blue hair tied in a ponytail.
Although the three wore nearly identical equipment, each possessed a strikingly distinctive presence.
“It’s a shame to leave Dansas.”
Malak sighed regretfully at having to depart from the village he had grown fond of in such a short time.
“You’re only disappointed because you won’t be able to eat the pork cutlets Ragune introduced you to, aren’t you, Malak?”
The blond Zumei teased his senior.
“You became rather fond of the fried dishes at the Dwarf Inn yourself, Zumei.”
The blue-haired Reeva pointed out that Zumei was hardly one to talk.
“The Royal Capital has plenty of delicious food. There’s also a curry shop there that Tauro entrusted to the Garfish Company.”
Aeris supplied the three new traveling companions with information about the capital’s cuisine.
“Oh! Tauro, the creator of pork cutlets, also has a restaurant in the Royal Capital? Now I’m looking forward to the journey.”
Malak became so enthusiastic that he nearly forgot their actual purpose. Zumei eagerly agreed, forcing Reeva to calm both men.
“Don’t forget our mission. We’re going to gather information on the Assassins’ Guild that’s targeting Tauro and eliminate its operatives.”
Reeva said it with alarming casualness. In fact, she had been the first to discover an Assassins’ Guild agent searching Dansas for Tauro. Her high-level [Personal Appraisal] and [Anti-Inhibition] had exposed him.
After capturing the man, she had ruthlessly extracted his information and disposed of him.
A villager later witnessed the scene immediately afterward at the edge of the forest. Since remaining in Dansas would hinder further activity, the three decided to leave. When Ragune mentioned that Black-Gold Wings was traveling to the Royal Capital, they registered with the Adventurers’ Guild and joined the team temporarily so they could accompany her.
For intelligence work, it was best to learn local conditions from people familiar with the area.
They had initially questioned Ragune, who had been operating around Dansas for some time. Unfortunately, she told them almost exclusively about pork cutlets and other fried food, delicious miso dishes, and matters related to the Adventurers’ Guild. Her information was extremely biased.
By then, the three had already eliminated every suspicious person they could find around Dansas, making the village safer for Tauro’s eventual return. Unless they struck at the organization behind them, however, the pursuit would become an endless game of cat and mouse.
They had heard that Count Dareder had destroyed the Assassins’ Guild base that had operated secretly in his territory. Since they still knew little about the organization’s activity in the Royal Capital, they concluded that relocating there to gather information was their best course.
“Aeris, your positioning as a rear guard is excellent. It’s natural for someone with my many years of experience, but performing so well at your age is impressive. I look forward to seeing how you develop.”
Reeva praised Aeris while recalling the battle against a group of orcs that had been used to assess the team’s abilities.
“Reeva rarely praises another rear guard’s positioning. You’re also a capable leader, Aeris, so you should have confidence in yourself.”
Malak added his own praise.
“I agree. We dragonfolk live a long time, so our confidence in combat movement comes from many accumulated years of experience. For someone your age, Aeris, you’re remarkably skilled.”
Zumei agreed with the others.
“Thank you, all three of you… May I ask how old you are?”
As the acting leader of Black-Gold Wings, Aeris felt conflicted about being praised from above by the new members.
“I’m only a little over eighty, but I’m the oldest of the three. I’m still relatively young.”
Malak answered with a laugh.
“I’m sixty-eight. I may be the youngest, but I’m the central member of this intelligence-gathering mission.”
Despite his youthful appearance, Zumei seemed to be the strongest of the three.
“I’m seventy-nine. All three of us were selected because intelligence gathering is one of our specialties.”
Reeva stated her age without hesitation.
“What? Aren’t you already eighty, Reeva?”
Malak asked with a perfectly straight face.
“I’m still seventy-nine! My birthday is five days away!”
Reeva struck Malak hard on the head.
Although she had answered readily, she was apparently somewhat sensitive about her age.
Aeris and Ankh were stunned by all three answers.
Aeris’s surprise was understandable, but even Ankh had assumed they were close to his own age. In truth, all three were his elders.
“No wonder you moved so efficiently against that orc group. Most people wouldn’t charge into a herd like that without hesitation. I suppose that’s the difference experience makes.”
Ankh’s battlefield experience had allowed him to charge alongside them, but even he was surprised that they had shown less hesitation than he had.
“I’m practically a child in this group… Then where does Ragune stand among the dragonfolk?”
Aeris asked, partly as a reminder to herself.
“I’m an exceptionally promising young woman with a bright future—”
Ragune began proudly, but all three senior warriors interrupted her.
“You’re still just a hatchling,” all three replied in unison.
Overwhelmed by the unanimous response, Ragune muttered dejectedly,
“Damn it… Kill me…”
Her voice barely escaped her lips.