Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 434: Quirky Friends
A tremendous commotion spread through the hall.
It was only natural. The guests had been invited to witness Tauro’s unveiling as Count Graunewald’s adopted eldest son. Instead, the count had revealed a surviving child of the previous generation and announced that he would adopt that boy as well—and recognize him as the elder son.
“This is an extraordinary surprise…”
“The previous count’s posthumous child… I heard the rumors many times, but it appears he truly existed.”
“If both boys have been adopted, which one will become the heir?”
“Would it not be Tauro-dono, since he was adopted first?”
“Wait. Haku carries the Graunewald bloodline. Can a common-born adopted child really be placed ahead of him?”
As the guests exchanged increasingly heated opinions, one of the invited nobles began to applaud.
The sound drew every eye in the hall.
The man clapping was Marquis Van Dyne.
“This is wonderful news! My dear friend Count Graunewald has gained two sons at once. Surely that’s something we should celebrate.”
Aeris, standing beside her father, joined the applause.
Others soon followed their lead. Within moments, the entire hall rang with congratulations.
“Indeed, this is a joyous occasion!”
“Marquis Van Dyne is right!”
“Congratulations, Count Graunewald!”
Thanks to the marquis’s intervention, the atmosphere shifted from uncertainty to celebration.
“Um… Sensei, I still don’t understand what’s happening,” Haku whispered.
Tauro had brought him onto the dais, where the gathered dignitaries were applauding him as the previous count’s surviving son. Being introduced as the current lord’s younger half-brother was shocking enough. Being adopted as that same lord’s eldest son left him completely overwhelmed.
Gaze and the members of his faction were equally confused. They had intended to create disorder by presenting Haku as a rival claimant, but Count Graunewald had incorporated that claim into his own family before they could act.
While the conspirators hesitated, the people they had stationed throughout the castle as temporary staff were subdued by dragonfolk operatives and soldiers personally trusted by Count Graunewald.
The disloyal territorial soldiers waiting to seize key positions behind the hall were likewise defeated by the dragonfolk, Ragune, Ankh, and Zion.
Gaze finally recovered from his shock and turned to Cross.
“Cross! Secure Haku at once! Then take Count Graunewald hostage!”
Cross didn’t move.
Instead, he drew the dagger concealed inside his formal clothes and threw it onto the floor as a declaration of surrender.
“What are you doing, Cross?!” Gaze shouted.
Two soldiers disguised as servants seized the village chief from either side.
“Wh-What’s the meaning of this? Release me!”
He couldn’t overcome their strength and was quickly removed from the hall. Cross followed without resistance.
Tauro and Haku were taken to a waiting room, where Tauro briefly explained the situation.
“I’m the lord’s younger brother… and now his adopted son?” Haku asked.
“Yes. That also makes us brothers.”
“What?!”
“You’ll be recognized as the eldest son of House Graunewald and will eventually inherit the territory.”
“Wait, Sensei! Weren’t you supposed to be the eldest son?”
Haku was intelligent enough to recognize the contradiction immediately.
“Haku, the territory presently contains two factions. One supports our father, Count Graunewald. The other wants you—the boy they regard as the rightful blood heir—to replace him. What would happen if I remained the publicly designated heir?”
Haku considered the question.
“The territory might split in two…”
“Exactly. Father concluded that the best compromise was to adopt you, recognize you as his eldest son, and have you succeed him as the next head of House Graunewald.”
Tauro had been the one who persuaded Count Graunewald, but the final decision belonged to the count, so he presented it that way.
At first, Count and Countess Graunewald had strongly resisted giving up Tauro as their heir.
Tauro had explained that, if permitted, he still wished to pursue the life of an adventurer.
“Tauro is probably happiest while adventuring…” the count had admitted.
“I agree. Our son was never meant to sit quietly behind a desk,” Countess Aida had replied.
The couple had sighed together before reluctantly accepting his choice.
Haku looked anxiously toward the door.
“What will happen to my father—to Cross?”
The man who had raised him mattered far more to Haku than any question of blood.
“Cross chose not to resist and cooperated with us. If matters proceed as expected, he’ll probably be employed by House Graunewald rather than punished.”
“Then he won’t be treated as a criminal?”
“I’ve already recommended him to Father. I don’t believe anything terrible will happen to him.”
Haku visibly relaxed.
Tauro held out his hand.
“We were born in the same year, but from now on you’ll officially be my elder brother. Please take care of me.”
“You’re going to be my brother, Sensei? I never imagined I’d have one.”
Haku smiled shyly and shook his hand.
At the rear of the hall, Ankh watched the exchange with an exasperated expression.
“I can’t believe Leader surrendered the position of heir so easily.”
“It was the best solution,” Ragune replied. “Tauro made his own decision, so there was nothing for us to oppose.”
“Exactly! Tauro-sama’s judgment is always correct!” Zion declared.
Ankh groaned.
“So much for the comfortable retirement position I thought I had secured…”
“Is that not wonderful?” Ragune asked brightly. “It means our adventures can continue.”
“I want to keep adventuring with everyone too!” Zion added.
Ankh stared at the two of them, then burst into laughter.
“Good grief. We really are a strange collection of people.”
Ragune and Zion joined him, and before long all three were laughing together.