Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 45: Details of the Challenge
“This time, Kane and his team and Lloyd and his team will be given a single quest. The winner will be the one who defeats the target monster and brings back its materials first.”
Remi-san said this and placed a request notice on the table.
The notice contained information about the extermination of a wyvern that had settled in a cave deep in the forest.
“Isn’t this the monster that Kane and his team attracted with their ‘decoy’?”
“Yes. Given the timing, that’s quite likely.”
Seeing Remi-san’s wry smile, I sighed.
Well, if we’re going to hunt a monster, it might be better to take down one that Kane’s team attracted.
As I was thinking this, Alicia tilted her head.
“Kane is one of those ‘corrupt’ people, right? What do you mean by ‘decoy’?”
…When Alicia says ‘corrupt,’ she must be referring to Kane and his team.
Come to think of it, Alicia did refer to Lloyd in that way in the anime.
“Yes, those unpleasant people called the monster to the forest.”
Realizing who the ‘corrupt’ people were, Lilina muttered angrily.
“They called the monster, huh?”
Alicia seemed confused by Lilina’s explanation and glanced at me.
It’s understandable.
It’s not normal to understand such actions just from hearing about them for the first time.
I took over from Lilina and began explaining to Alicia and Loa what Kane had been doing.
“Is that really what happened?”
“It’s unbelievable how foolish those people are. Can’t they be captured?”
Alicia and Loa expressed their disbelief one after the other after hearing about Kane.
Given what Kane has been doing, he should have been caught by now.
Seeing Remi-san’s expression of frustration, I glanced at her.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to obtain definitive evidence. We’ve only heard things secondhand. If there was just one more piece of evidence, we might be able to catch him.”
Perhaps if we dug deeper, some discrepancies might come to light, but Kane might just lose his temper if we pressed too hard.
I sighed, understanding Remi-san’s struggle, and looked away.
Then Loa put a hand on her chin and started thinking seriously.
“This time’s challenge is to defeat a monster, right? Did those corrupt people agree to it? They seemed like people who couldn’t survive without hurting others.”
“Yes, that’s fine. I told them that after a certain period, duels against people would also be possible, but they insisted on a quick challenge, so I proposed this.”
For a moment, Loa’s comment seemed quite sharp, but I was a bit impressed by how accurate it was.
Kane does seem to be in that kind of state.
Thinking this, I looked at Alicia and Loa.
“The challenge will take place a week from now. Although we’re outnumbered with just Lilina and me, we’ll have to make do.”
Honestly, I’d like at least one more member, but finding a new one at this point would be impossible.
A normal party might have enough time to find a new member, but no one would want to join a party led by Lloyd, the most disliked person in town, and take on a quest to confront Kane.
“Well, if that’s the case, could you take me along?”
“Alicia?”
I blurted out in surprise at the unexpected request.
Then Alicia leaned forward and continued.
“After all you’ve done for me, I can’t just do nothing. Please let me participate in the challenge.”
“But you’re still injured from the duel, right? Shouldn’t you rest?”
“I’ll recover from my injuries in a few days. So please, take me with you.”
Alicia said this with a serious look, placing her hand on her chest.
Honestly, I’m reluctant to bring Alicia, who has been treated so poorly by Kane, into the challenge.
…But Alicia’s character in the anime was known for sticking to her decisions.
Recalling this, I gave a small smile.
“If you insist, I suppose we can have you join us. However, if you team up with me, who’s disliked, even temporarily, it might make things difficult for you later on.”
When I said this with a villainous expression like Lloyd’s from the anime, Alicia and Loa looked stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Huh? Huh? Did I say something strange?”
Seeing their unexpected reaction, I made a silly sound.
After laughing for a while, Alicia and Loa wiped their tears of laughter.
“To think Lloyd-sama could be a villain… Hehe, what an amusing joke.”
“Indeed. I didn’t know you could make jokes, Lloyd.”
It seemed they thought I was joking.
“No, I’m not joking; it’s really like that.”
When I hurriedly corrected myself, Alicia gave me a sweet smile.
“A pure, untainted soul couldn’t possibly be a villain. Hehe.”
“Eh? Soul?”
Come to think of it, elves can see the corruption in souls, right?
Remembering that anime detail, I let out a small “Ah.”
Oh, that’s why Alicia referred to Kane’s group as ‘corrupt.’
“No, but I’m really disliked. Isn’t that right, Remi-san?”
“Eh, who asks like that?”
When I turned to Remi-san for confirmation, she furrowed her brows.
Indeed, the way I asked might be unfair.
It might have been a question that was impossible to answer without revealing something negative.
“I’ll be honest with you.”
“Uh, yes. Please.”
As I pondered what to do, Remi-san took a step forward.
She cleared her throat softly before looking at Alicia and the others.
“Indeed, Lloyd-san is disliked throughout the city. Many people hold grudges, and I don’t think anyone would want to associate with him.”
…Well, that’s the expected evaluation.
Hearing this reaffirmed how much Lloyd was disliked, and I grimaced.
“Hmph. I don’t think that’s true.”
Lilina glared at Remi-san with an unimpressed look and muttered.
Then, Remi-san, after hearing Lilina’s comment, turned to me with a frown.
“That’s why everyone seems confused.”
“Confused?”
When I tilted my head, Remi continued.
“Yes, the recent Lloyd-san isn’t like the old Lloyd-san. Helping Lilina-san and rescuing Alicia-san and all.”
“Oh… I see.”
I scratched my cheek after hearing Remi-san’s words.
Previously, when Remi thought Lilina was deceived by me, she spoke badly of me, but Lilina defended me at the Adventurers’ Guild.
I think Lilina referred to me as a kind person or a hero.
And this time, I rescued Alicia, who had been hurt by Kane.
To outsiders, it must look like an unbelievable scene.
It would be strange if they weren’t confused.
Of course, I felt strong gazes from the townspeople and adventurers both when Lilina and Alicia were involved.
As I thought about this, Remi’s expression softened.
“So, if we act together now, the public reaction might be a bit better than before.”
Then, Remi gave me a smile that was too gentle for a villain to receive.
I was unable to react well to Remi-san’s smile.
It was an unexpectedly positive evaluation that left me momentarily stunned.
…Maybe, just maybe, the evaluation of Lloyd is slowly changing.
Receiving Remi’s words, I felt that slight change.