Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 92: A Bold Confession
With a single commanding shout from the current flame witch, the servants in the garden rushed off in a noisy group to join the manhunt.
One after another, more servants who hadn’t yet grasped what was going on came pouring out from the mansion. They gathered in front of the current flame witch for a briefing.
“Hey, what are you spacing out for? We’re going too!”
“Huh? Oh. Me too? Don’t you have some kind of spell to find people?”
“No. There’s a tracking spell if a target’s been marked, but I didn’t place any mark on the flame witch. Come on, hurry up.”
Prodded by Hiyori, I cast a self-enhancement spell and dashed out of the Kazugi estate with her. We scanned the main road from end to end, but the palm-sized fire fairy was nowhere to be seen.
“No trace of her. How are we supposed to find someone that tiny? She’s burning, so she might stand out at night, but during the day she’s invisible.”
“…For the flame witch, this is a world eighty years in the future. The city has changed. Everything must be unfamiliar to her. She’ll likely head toward anything she does recognize.”
“So we’re looking for old buildings?”
Hiyori nodded, and we began running all over Shinagawa.
Since I had been living a secluded life out in Okutama, I barely remembered what Shinagawa used to be like. Still, I could tell the scenery had changed drastically.
Japan in the Reiwa era didn’t have this many brick buildings.
There weren’t any gas lamps, either.
And there was no way flocks of swallows and sparrows would be crowding together on tension rods by the post office window, chirping as they jostled for space.
The pet shop had separate entrances labeled “Animals” and “Monsters”—a fantasy-like feature—yet the signs were written in Japanese, making everything feel oddly mismatched. I couldn’t tell if we were still in Japan or another world altogether.
Hiyori crouched near a burn mark just ankle-height on the signboard of a yakiniku restaurant, examining whether the scorch was caused by an accident or by the flame witch. I said:
“This is inefficient. Wouldn’t it be better to split up?”
“You heard her parting words, right? Something about hating men. If you’re alone, who knows what she might do.”
“…Seriously?”
What, like she might kick me in the crotch out of spite? That would hurt. No thanks.
As time passed, more people began searching like we were. Some were peeking under the belly of a tiger-like monsters that had flopped down dejectedly by the roadside with a “No Parking” sticker slapped to its forehead. Others were showing composite sketches to the workers who were removing grates from the gutters for canal maintenance.
It seemed the Kazugi clan had the authority and organization to mobilize a large-scale search party. With just the two of us added to their effort, there wasn’t much we could do.
We discussed it and decided to head toward the area where an old metalworking factory used to be—a place where the flame witch had once focused on industrial development. It would likely be familiar to her.
With her childhood home turned enemy territory, there weren’t many safe places left for the flame witch to flee to. That location was our best guess.
Following Hiyori’s lead, we arrived at what used to be the metalworking district. Now, a massive industrial plant dominated the landscape, with thick, tall smokestacks belching smoke into the sky. The deep rumble of heavy machinery could be felt even out on the road.
A stately sign hung above the main gate: “Shinagawa Material First Factory.”
Bingo.
Trying not to make eye contact with the security guard at the gate who was eyeing us suspiciously, I whispered to Hiyori:
“Hey, this factory’s mine.”
“Huh?”
“Shinagawa Material. I got the deed when the flame witch was sealed away. Let’s use my ownership rights to get them to help us search.”
“Oh right, that. But you were officially declared dead, remember? Not sure if the rights still stand. I think the Spider Witch was managing your assets along with your money.”
“S-Spider-san…!”
I was touched.
Of course. Fuyou was a child, the fire lizards were basically toddlers, and Hiyori was off traveling. Only she could’ve handled that kind of management. I’m so grateful. I’ll thank her profusely when I see her.
Still, eighty years after your death is long enough for copyrights to expire. When Hiyori asked the gate guard for the current owner’s name, it turned out to be someone entirely different. So she showed that special silver card and got us into the reception room in the factory’s office wing.
That card is seriously OP. It’s like a free pass anywhere.
Hiyori sank into a plush sofa, while I pretended to be fascinated by a wooden carving of a mountain bear in the corner and kept to myself. Just a passerby admiring art here. I left the talking to Hiyori.
After a few minutes, a frail old man entered the reception room, walking slowly with a cane. His white hair had long since receded, and his whole body was covered in wrinkles and age spots. He moved carefully, taking short, slow steps.
Even so, he held his back straight and didn’t say a word to the suspicious guy in the corner pretending to obsess over bear carvings—clearly a man of grace and composure.
This old guy… he’s got it together.
He carefully eased himself onto the sofa, then spoke with a firm voice:
“It has been a long time, Blue Witch. I am Tetsui Yuuma, the fourth-generation owner of Shinagawa Material.”
“Ah… sorry, have we met before?”
Hiyori scratched her cheek awkwardly, but Tetsui simply smiled, wrinkling his already wrinkled face further.
“It’s understandable. I was just one of the many who paid respects at the Eye Witch’s funeral.”
“Ah, that. I don’t remember much, but I don’t think I behaved very courteously back then.”
“It’s all in the past. What brings you here today?”
He smoothly redirected the conversation, prompting Hiyori.
She gave a small nod and began:
“This must remain confidential. About two hours ago, we unsealed the flame witch at the Kazugi estate. She panicked and escaped. We believe she may have fled into one of the nearby factories. This is outside my jurisdiction, but if possible, we’d like your help to search the premises or assign personnel to assist.”
“The flame witch, you say…”
“Ah, do you not know what she looks like? Got anything to draw with? I’ll sketch a portrait.”
“No need. I’m familiar with the first owner’s face. I’ve even met her in person.”
Tetsui turned his gaze to the wall behind Hiyori. I followed his line of sight and saw a series of portraits of previous owners.
The first was the flame witch, with the stature of a middle schooler.
The second only had the number “0933” written.
The third held the Flamekeeper’s staff, probably someone from the Kazugi clan.
And the fourth was Tetsui himself.
The fact that he had met the Fire Relighting Witch means he’s in his 90s, or maybe even over 100 years old. That’s why he’s so frail. Or on the other hand, he might be surprisingly lively for his age.
Many of the young people who lived in that era have passed away, and even those who are still alive are now elderly grandfathers. Of course, everything has changed over the years.
“I personally owe a lot to the flame witch. She’s the one who hired me. I’ll have the employees search for her immediately… If they find her, you won’t harm her, will you?”
“…I see… well, I won’t kill her. I’ll just make sure she does what needs to be done.”
“I trust you. Someone!”
Tetsui called out to someone outside the reception room, gave them a message, and sent them off.
The conversation was quickly settled. There was no reason to linger, so we were about to leave, but Tetsui called out to me.
“Excuse me, you there.”
“V-Veh…!? Y-Yes…”
It seems I failed at pretending to be an unrelated passerby.
When I made eye contact with the soft, luxurious carpet beneath my feet and replied in a quiet voice, Tetsui, in an even softer voice than the carpet, asked me.
“I heard from the guard. They asked if the owner is still 0933? Are you 0933? Did you return to this world through some kind of magic?”
“Uh… no… I mean… I’m not… I’m… I’m Dairi, by the way…”
“Then, are you acquainted with them?”
I lifted my gaze slightly and looked at Hiyori’s expression. She shook her head faintly.
Maybe it’s better to stay silent. Yeah, that’s right.
But I’m curious about how 0933 is remembered after I’m gone.
Has it become an abandoned relic of the past, forgotten over time?
Or is 0933 a historical figure in textbooks?
Maybe it’s a name that people in the staff industry have heard, but is mostly irrelevant to the general public?
I gathered my courage and nodded to ask Tetsui’s opinion.
“We’re kind of acquaintances. From your perspective, Tetsui-san… How would you describe 0933?”
“They’re my benefactor.”
Tetsui answered succinctly.
“Benefactor? I don’t know about that? What’s that about?”
As I was perplexed by this unexpected debt, Tetsui continued sincerely.
“If you have a chance to speak to them directly, please tell them. If you visit their grave, please convey my message. Tetsui Yuuma was deeply grateful. Over and over again, they generously provided large sums of support, even to a lowly worker like me. Thanks to them, I had a wonderful life. Please pass along my message.”
“Ah, yes.”
I could recall the memory clearly.
I completely remembered it.
Since I had no use for the money, I’d been dumping most of the profits from the staff sales into this factory—about 80 or 90 percent of it.
When I handed out bonuses, everyone was happy! I never planned to show my face, but I hoped they were working energetically behind the scenes! To think that even after 80 years, this grandpa still remembers those bills.
Wow, Grandpa, your memory is pretty sharp, huh? I probably received a service coupon from the administration back in the auction days, but I don’t remember what it was at all.
“Oh, and also…”
Tetsui, nodding with a knowing expression at Hiyori, continued.
“If you’re looking for the flame witch, there might be something that the fire elemental we picked up last month knows. He seemed like he could be from the same family as the Fire Relighting Witch. He said he was an orphaned wild monster, but since he spoke, I thought he might be a fire elemental orphan. His name was Sekitan.”
Inside the large factory, heavy machinery was rumbling loudly as it worked at full capacity. Employees dressed in work uniforms were bustling around, tilting large crucibles filled with molten metal and pouring them into molds, or inspecting ores delivered by suppliers. It was a hive of activity.
Sekitan was leisurely half-bathing in a thick channel where molten gold-colored metal flowed. Occasionally, he would wave his hand, causing a powerful magic flame to roar in the furnace. Other monsters who worked with fire, like flaming birds and pigs, were scattered around the factory.
At first, I thought that if I looked at his face, I’d immediately recognize him as being from the same bloodline as Hiyori or the Flame Witch. But after actually meeting him, I realized it wasn’t easy to tell.
Sekitan didn’t resemble either of him parents at all.
“Ah, Sekitan takes after my father. He looks like my father.”
“I see. So that’s what it is.”
Well, of course. It’s natural that a child doesn’t always look like one parent. That’s only to be expected.
Sekitan, who was in charge of adjusting the fire in the large furnace, was drowsily swaying like he was about to fall asleep. But when he noticed us, he blinked his eyes and quickly woke up.
“Oh, Dairi! Good morning, Dairi. I slept too much. What a sleepyhead.”
“Sorry, sorry. Sekitan, have you been doing well?”
“Oh, Dairi’s talking. How nostalgic. Hey, Dairi, are you going to polish my scales again? …Oh, no scales.”
Sekitan tried to stand up from the channel of molten metal, but then remembered he had taken on a humanoid form and dejectedly sat back down.
Hmm, even in humanoid form, he’s cute.
But with that face… it’s a bit… well, something.
Of course, Sekitan is still a cute member of the Dairi family no matter his appearance. However, unlike Mokutan, who resembles Hiyori, his face has changed to something unfamiliar. I’ll make him a heat-resistant mask next time and send it to him. If he wears it, I can shower him with affection without hesitation.
“Are you working here? Are you getting enough food?”
“Yeah. I get a lot of coke, sent straight from America, every day. I’m going to live here forever. Everyone’s nice, and I’m super motivated!”
Saying this, Sekitan puffed out his chest.
It seemed like he had taken that last part a bit too literally, and I felt a little uneasy.
“Super motivated? That’s not… like the Flame Witch’s weird urges, right? You’re not going to start setting things on fire, are you?”
Hiyori, likely thinking the same thing, whispered to me.
“It’s okay, Dairi. Basically, transcendent beings don’t have grandkids.”
“Really?”
“It’s called genetic hybridization. I’m not an expert, but you know how a mule is born from a horse and a donkey? Mules are sterile. According to mutation theory, it’s the same principle.”
“Hmm…?”
Children born between different species are genetically “bugged,” so reproduction is impossible due to those “bugs,” I guess.
“Then the elementals Tetsui mentioned is probably a child of a transcendent being?”
“Ah, kind of? Elementals are individuals who can control magic, have gremlins by nature, and trace their lineage to humans… I think that’s the definition.”
“Dairi, what’s your business? Going for a walk? Getting some sun?”
The laid-back Sekitan, even after 80 years of hibernation, was still as carefree as ever. He didn’t seem at all concerned about my dramatic revival, and treated me as if we had just met yesterday.
He looked healthy, and there was no sign of stress. If he was managing well on his own, then that was probably a sign he was happy.
Hmm, I hope Sekitan lives well here.
“One of the reasons I’m here is to see you. The other is… I’m actually looking for the Flame Witch. Do you know her? She’s about this size, like a mini version of you.”
When I mentioned my request as a long shot, Sekitan casually nodded.
“I know her.”
Then Sekitan reached into the molten metal river, pulling out a small fire elemental.
The squirming Flame Witch, caught by Sekitan by the scruff of her neck, panicked when she saw Hiyori’s furious expression and tried to escape.
Ah, there she is, the pervert! Of course, if she’s been hiding in such a place, it’s no wonder she wasn’t found.
“Hey, I told you to keep it a secret!”
“You did. But Dairi’s looking for you, so here you go.”
“No, no, no, I don’t want to!”
The tiny fire elemental was lightly tossed, and Hiyori quickly wrapped her in a chain of ice, securing her. Since she was already weakened and her temperature was low, the ice chain didn’t melt or break. The Flame Witch immediately gave up and sat quietly with a defeated expression.
Though she didn’t know it, I couldn’t allow a scene like this to unfold in front of children. I signaled to Hiyori to step outside, but before we left, Hiyori turned back.
“Ah, Sekitan?”
“What is it?”
“Did you hear anything from her?”
“Hmm, she suddenly said sorry, and I didn’t really understand, but I answered her. Then she asked if I wanted anything, and I said we could take a bath together. After that, she told me to keep the little one here a secret, and we played hide and seek.”
“…I see. Sekitan, you’re a good one.”
“Yeah. I’m great. Actually, my full name is Sekitan Eraizo. Don’t tell anyone.”
“Ah… that’s bad…”
He’s learned to remember things oddly! I kept saying, “Sekitan, you’re awesome!” so I must have made him think that was his full name.
Since he was so proud of it, I couldn’t bring myself to correct him, so I just kept quiet and waved goodbye.
On the way back, the Flame Witch, wrapped in the ice chains, was well-behaved. It would have been cruel to walk around with the local hero bound up like that, so out of mercy, Hiyori transformed a box made from Abyss Gold into a container and secretly returned to the Flame Witch’s house.
The current Flame Witch, upon hearing that her ancestor had safely returned, looked completely exhausted after these few hours. It seemed like the commotion hadn’t spread throughout the entire Shinagawa district, and she was genuinely relieved.
Apparently, she didn’t have the energy to defend the Flame Witch from the scandal, and she simply gave me permission to use the study. Then, she collapsed into a chair, looking utterly drained.
“Thank you for your concern, and sorry for causing such a ruckus with the fallout from the fight.”
Gratefully accepting her kindness, we borrowed the study, closed the curtains and door, and started the trial.
Defendant: Flame Witch. Do you have any defense to offer?
The Flame Witch, taken out of the box and placed delicately on a chair, withered and apologized to Hiyori.
“I’m sorry, Ao-chan. My head just got so hot, and I did something awful…”
“…”
“I’ll disappear now. I want to disappear. If you hate me, Ao-chan, I won’t be able to live anymore…”
“…”
“I’m praying… for your happiness… and for the craftsman’s too… Please, I hope you’ll be happy… Waaah…!”
She started crying.
Hiyori and I must have been bothering her, and she seemed really dissatisfied with the fact that we were together. It felt like she was forcing herself to say those words.
Well, I guess I can forgive her. Living with the fire lizards had been enjoyable. The experience of spending time with cute magic pets was something rare and precious.
But the real question is whether Hiyori will forgive her. That’s where the problem lies.
When it comes to hellish punishment, it’s all up to Hiyori.
I glanced at Hiyori, the judge, and she sighed deeply. She took a small bottle from her pocket and made the Flame Witch drink its contents.
Immediately, the Fire Relighting Witch, who had been shrinking and nearly fading away, began to regain her strength. Her outline, which had been hazy, became clear, and a warm wind began to blow fiercely through the study.
The Flame Witch looked up at Hiyori, surprised.
“Ah, Ao-chan!?”
“You didn’t tell Sekitan that you were his parent. Instead of selfishly telling him a truth that would burden him, you only showed care. You don’t always have reason, but most of the time you are rational and considerate.”
“Ao-chan…!”
“Live and atone. From now on, live for your children.”
The Flame Witch started shedding tears of gratitude.
Hmm…
It’s an emotional scene, but can I ask one thing?
The Flame Witch was probably near the end of her lifespan.
And it looks like she’s been revived using Fuyou’s nectar.
Does that mean… my lifespan has been extended too, since I drank the same nectar?
This must be what’s happening, right?
I see, this is bad news.
A drug that extends life could easily cause a huge mess, leading to bloodshed.
Hiyori, if you’re trying to hide this from me, can you at least be a little more discreet?
Even with my terrible ability to read the room, I can still figure it out when things like this happen right in front of me!
You’re underestimating me. You think I won’t notice if you do something right in front of me because I seem too oblivious? Well, you’re wrong!
…Probably!
“I want to live, if possible, for Ao-chan. I swear I’ll never do anything like that again. Please, give me a chance to atone.”
The Fire Relighting Witch bowed sincerely, but Hiyori’s response was cold.
“The stain you put on me, you cannot erase. All you would do is add more to it.”
“I see… I’m sorry…”
“That’s why, Dairi. I want you to overwrite it.”
“Huh? Me? Why me?”
The conversation, which had been between the two of them, suddenly turned towards me.
What? Overwrite? What are you talking about?
Hiyori sometimes says strange things, but this time, she was even weirder than usual.
I looked at her, suspicious, wondering what she was about to say. Hiyori quickly averted her gaze.
“I want you to overwrite the hateful memories she’s attached to. In other words…”
After clearing her throat, Hiyori, blushing slightly, said with embarrassment:
“Dairi. Will you help me set something on fire?”
“Ah, Ao-chan!?”
“Hi-Hiyori!?”
Both the Flame Witch and I were stunned by the incredibly bold, shameless words.
It was so… indecent!
What’s going on!? Only the Flame Witch should be allowed to say such lewd things!