Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 290: The Dragonfolk in the Royal Capital
While the four original members of Black-Gold Wings enjoyed their long-awaited reunion at Marquis Van Dyne’s residence, the team’s three temporary dragonfolk members were moving separately through the Royal Capital: Malak, a tall, handsome man with red hair and golden eyes; Zumei, a short blond man with golden eyes who looked like a beautiful boy; and Reeva, a slender woman with golden eyes and long blue hair tied in a ponytail.
“The Royal Capital truly is enormous. We’ve been here for days, but with this many people, it’s difficult to appraise everyone.”
Malak, the red-haired eldest of the trio, was already weary of the crowds.
“That’s true. It was nothing like this in Dansas. There, if we found someone suspicious who concealed their presence and appraised their occupation, we could immediately tell whether they were connected to our target. Then we could seize them and make them talk.”
Zumei agreed with Malak, casually saying something rather frightening despite his youthful appearance.
“I found someone with an interesting skill earlier, so I placed a mark on him. He doesn’t appear to be connected to the Assassins’ Guild, though.”
Apparently bored, Reeva had been using her special ability on unrelated people.
“Don’t use that ability carelessly. If you fill it with unnecessary targets, it may fail you when you truly need it.”
Malak reminded her of the ability’s limitations.
“It’s fine. I’ve marked only two people since arriving in the Royal Capital. Their skills would make them troublesome if they later proved hostile, so I thought it prudent.”
Reeva’s meaningful tone drew the others’ attention.
“Hmm… It’s rare to hear you say that. Even among dragonfolk who specialize in pursuit, few targets can escape once we’ve met them.”
“Their skills were unusual even by dragonfolk standards. The first person possessed [Teleportation].”
Reeva sounded delighted by the discovery.
“That certainly is rare. Unlike Tauro’s [Spatial Transfer], which can presently be used only through dungeons, [Teleportation] lets its user move across a limited distance aboveground. Without a mark, such a person could escape the moment trouble began.”
“Exactly. With so many people here, perhaps the Royal Capital contains even more people with rare skills.”
Had they not been on a mission, the three villagers might have enjoyed sightseeing at leisure—although their idea of sightseeing differed considerably from most people’s.
“Hey, you two. It’s almost noon. Let’s eat at Tauro’s restaurant.”
The boyish-looking Zumei suggested lunch.
“Agreed. Tauro’s restaurant is excellent. Let’s go there again.”
Malak readily agreed.
“Good. Now, what should I order for dessert today…?”
Reeva was already considering her after-meal sweets.
Tauro’s curry shop in the Royal Capital had become so popular that customers regularly formed a long line outside.
Its curry and carefully prepared side dishes appealed to people of every age and social class.
The desserts were also exceptional, and the restaurant’s reputation had spread from commoners to wealthy merchants and nobles.
“There’s another line outside today.”
“Then let’s use the rear entrance.”
“It’s convenient that mentioning Marquis Van Dyne’s introduction gets us a private room.”♪
Humming happily, the blond Zumei led the way through the rear entrance.
“Welcome back. It’s an honor to receive you again.”
A waitress greeted the trio with a smile.
“Thank you. Business appears to be thriving again today.”
“Yes, thanks to everyone’s support. Please, come this way.”
A male server courteously guided Reeva toward the private room.
“Mr. Malak, Mr. Zumei, please follow me!”
A waitress who had evidently won a spirited contest for the privilege eagerly led the two handsome men after her.
“Thank you.”
Their polite response left the delighted waitress walking on air.
The three ordered as soon as they entered the room and began eating. Halfway through the meal, however, Reeva suddenly stopped with her spoon in hand.
“What is it?”
Malak immediately noticed the change.
“The two marked people have come into contact with each other—whether by coincidence or design, I can’t tell.”
“But neither appeared to be connected to the Assassins’ Guild, correct?”
Zumei sought confirmation from Reeva.
“Correct. But what are the odds that the only two people I marked for possessing rare skills would meet in this vast, crowded capital?”
“You have a point. It may have nothing to do with the Assassins’ Guild, but it’s worth investigating. People with abilities like theirs might also become useful to Tauro.”
Malak nodded, appreciating how unlikely the encounter was.
“What was the other person’s skill? I forgot to ask.”
Zumei asked between bites of curry.
“Didn’t I mention it? The other one has [Escape].”
“That’s unusual. It’s specialized entirely for fleeing, though it seems to have little use for anything else.”
“True. But once Reeva has marked someone, even [Escape] can’t shake her.”
“That’s precisely why I marked him. Without a mark, following someone with [Escape] would be extremely difficult—even for the two of you, let alone me.”
“Difficult, but not impossible. I’d simply need to stay close enough to maintain the trail.”
Malak replied with a hint of wounded pride.
“I couldn’t do it. I don’t possess eyes like yours, Malak, so I can’t track someone using a top-class concealment skill like [Escape].”
“Exactly. We’ll follow both of them after we finish eating—wait. One of them noticed the mark. It’s disappeared.”
Reeva’s eyes widened as one of the two marks vanished from her awareness.
“Impressive. Which one discovered it?”
“Probably the person with [Teleportation]. Since the mark on the [Escape] user remains, perhaps their meeting truly was accidental.”
“I see. If they were allies and one noticed the mark, they’d probably have found and removed the other as well. It may indeed be coincidence. For now, let’s investigate the one who remains marked after lunch.”
At Malak’s suggestion, the other two nodded and resumed eating.