Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 31: Loss and Lamentation
Moving at full speed along the Eastern Highway following Malhas,
Along the way, we merged with carriages of the adventure company dispatched for defense and the Holy Knights, accelerating them with Rolo’s strengthening magic and Fimia’s vitalizing magic.
Although the speed decreased somewhat, the more hands we had, the better.
Especially in the case of defense battles.
“I see Malhas!”
Leading the way, Rolo pointed ahead.
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From this slightly elevated position, Malhas could be seen below.
“Damn, it’s already started!”
“They’ve been pushed back a bit from the boundary between the new city and unexplored territory. Flames are rising from parts of the new city.”
Saran, who confirmed the situation on-site with the magic “Telescope Eye of Farsight,” conveyed the current situation to us.
Those words meant that part of the barrier had been breached.
“Sorry, we’re going ahead!”
Jurg shouted to the Holy Knights and adventurers behind them.
Since they were already being pushed back, we had to hurry to at least delay the enemy.
“We understand! We’ll catch up soon! Saint-sama, Hero-dono, good luck!”
“We’ll hurry as much as possible! Hold on!”
With a light wave to the rear, I kicked the horse’s belly.
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The horse, exhaling softly, increased its speed and began to descend the slope.
Our comrades followed suit.
“Gregure!”
The pure white running lizard Raptor running beside them accelerated with momentum.
My horse, apparently not one to be outdone, increased its speed even further to keep up with it.
“Saran, estimate the evacuation situation!”
“From the number of people we passed, it’s around fifty to sixty percent. It seems all adventurers and clerics are still here.”
“Damn, will we make it in time…?”
“The church should be functioning as a shelter. Let’s believe in it, Jurg.”
The church set up in the center of the Pentagram Barrier was prepared for such situations.
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I think it should function perfectly, but we can’t rely on it too much.
At the very least, it had already infiltrated the new city.
There was no sign of the old woman or Rolo’s siblings among those they passed.
Nor did they see old man Tanto, Conti, or any guild staff.
In other words, familiar faces were still stuck in Malhas.
“Please stay safe!”
Praying to God wasn’t like me, but I looked up at the sky.
Even though it was through Fimia, they made me into a hero.
Isn’t it okay for you to care a little? God.
“Evacuees!”
At Fimia’s words, I looked ahead.
Several carriages carrying meager belongings and women and children were running towards us.
Among them were Rolo’s siblings—Bitz and Arco.
Relieved that God hadn’t abandoned them, but there was no sign of the old woman.
“Bitz! Arco!”
“Onii-chan!”
“Where’s Mom!?”
“She stayed behind to help the children… Onii-chan, Jurg, please help Mom!”
“I understand. You two, leave this place as soon as possible! Got it?”
Shouting, they passed by the carriages.
I was an adventurer and a man. There’s no point if I don’t prove it with results.
“Let’s go, Jurg. We have to restore everything!”
“Yeah. We’ll make those monsters regret… what happens when they mess with my territory!”
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After passing through the new arch labeled “Malhas,” they raced through the almost deserted old town.
Since Thomson wasn’t around, they couldn’t leave the horse in the stable, so they had to go until they couldn’t ride anymore.
It was a horse trained by him, so it should survive even if they left it to its own devices.
Upon entering the new city, they ran towards the direction where the sounds of fighting and swords clashing could be heard.
From what they could see, the damage to the defensive walls was minor.
They had breached the defenses, but they hadn’t been pushed back.
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“… The fires are the work of the ape-like creatures, Borgul. Saran, water!”
“Mist or rain?”
“Even if some of the burnt houses collapse, it doesn’t matter. Make it rain all at once! Then follow it up with frost!”
“Good plan. Understood. I’ll deal with the Borgul on the north side of the new city.”
With that, Saran disappeared into thin air.
Probably using the “Here and There Flick Portal” magic.
The experience of running around doing paperwork was paying off.
“I’ll go to the church.”
“Yeah, if possible, encourage evacuation. If it’s not possible, tell the monks to barricade themselves with ‘Sanctuary Enhancement’! Understood?”
“Yes! I’ll be back soon!”
“Gregure!”
Fimia ran off on Gregure.
After seeing her off, I turned to Rolo.
“You go to the inn and find the old woman—”
“No, I can’t. I’m an adventurer of ‘Mercia’ too. I’ll do what needs to be done. I’ll check the situation on the south side of the new city and provide support. Jurg, go where you need to!”
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Rolo said, pointing and casting strengthening magic.
His eyes were filled with strong determination, leaving me speechless.
“If it’s Mom, she’ll be fine. Because she’s our mom.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s do our job.”
We lightly bumped fists and then split up on the spot.
I should probably head to the adventurer’s guild, which should be the front line of defense.
At times like these, that place would function as a command post… and during such a “Stampede of Chaos,” it would also be used as a fortress.
But…
I involuntarily stopped in my tracks.
The adventurer’s guild had already been severely destroyed.
This wasn’t the work of the Borgul creatures scattered around.
“Damn, what’s going on!”
Rushing to the crumbling adventurer’s guild, I saw someone lying there.
Amidst the rubble, I could see a hint of reddish-brown hair, sending shivers down my spine.
“Kati!”
“Ah, it’s Jurg-san…”
“Pull yourself together!”
Her wounds are severe.
Her right arm is broken, the left side of her abdomen is deeply lacerated, and blood flows from the head.
“You’ve returned quickly, Guild Master.”
“Hey, don’t talk. I’ll take you to the church right away. Let’s get you healed.”
Kati’s left hand touches my hurried cheek.
“I did my best. Did everyone manage to escape?”
“Why didn’t you run? You were too reckless.”
“I… I’m the acting guild master…”
Kati weakly smiles.
I entrusted it to her. She said she could handle it so confidently.
And this is the result.
“One of the barriers has been breached, but we managed to scatter the herd.”
“Hey, that’s enough. Stop talking.”
“…Please listen, it’s important…”
Kati’s fading eyes fixate on me.
It’s the gaze of someone prepared for death.
Not the kind of look a receptionist should have.
“There’s something in the depths of the forest. A magic-using monster, perhaps. It destroyed the shrine of the barrier. It might know our weaknesses. It emits a powerful light. Next, it might be the church. But, Jurg-san, you can… handle it, right?”
Kati smiles with a blood-drained face.
Her life fades thinly, spreading with the blood on the ground, disappearing.
“I understand. We just need to crush that thing, right?”
“Yes, I’ll… wait here for your report. Good luck, Master.”
Kati, wrapping her left arm around my neck, kisses me quietly.
It tastes of blood, almost like a farewell.
“Wait, Kati. Don’t go…! It’s not over yet!”
I hold Kati’s limp body and roar.
I’ve seen many adventurers die before.
But despite that, this… I’m not sure I can bear it.
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Suppressing the creaking heart, I force out the words.
“Kati, I’m going.”
Gently laying Kati, who has become quiet, down, I stand up.
Call it “culling” or whatever, but I have to make this payment.
I’ll thoroughly collect it, completely crush it, and annihilate it all.
Every last bit of it.