Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 107
“That concludes today’s meeting. Everyone, go and deliver the necessary messages to the necessary parties. We’ve declared our intentions—there’s no turning back now.”
As the meeting ended, Vias-san immediately approached me.
“So you’re Same, huh? If you cleared that dungeon, you must be pretty damn capable. How about we spar sometime? Been curious about you since we met in the bath.”
Eep! Please spare me. Personally, I think he’s the most dangerous one here…
“Well, well, well! Talking about ‘sparring,’ ‘meeting in the bath,’ and ‘having been curious for a while’… Please refrain from saying such sweet, temptation-laced words that could disrupt my vow of chastity, Vias-sama. Do you wish to develop that kind of relationship with Seim-sama? You mustn’t! Technically, I’m in a position to condemn such unproductive relations, and yet… what a dilemma.”
“Hah? The hell are you talking about?”
“…Vias-san, I decline your invitation.”
My god, there’s an even crazier person here. Cyan-san, you’ve gone a bit rotten…
“Aah… how pitiful for you, Vias-sama. Well then, now that I’ve seen something amusing, I shall take my leave.”
“…I don’t get it, but sure, maybe some other time.”
And so, everyone began to file out of the meeting room.
Eventually, as Shuris-san was about to leave—
“…Would it be alright if I visited your home sometime?”
Since I’ll soon become Silent, I wouldn’t be able to nod in response to that question.
So—
“Rather than sometime, how about today? I’ll be leaving town soon to summon Silent.”
“R-Really? That’s great then. Right, you’ll be leaving again soon… Okay, let’s go back together.”
I invited her right away. I don’t know, I felt like I had been neglecting Shuris-san a bit.
At least… as Same.
“Hm… Kokuri, what do you think we should do?”
“Hmm, if it’s Shuris-san, I think it’s fine. She’s practically like someone directly under the Holy City anyway.”
As everyone was leaving the meeting room, Kokuri-san and the Queen were having that discussion.
Huh? What are they talking about?
“Normally, only Kokuri and I—those at the very heart of the nation—should know about this… but if it’s Shuris, then she may join. Cres, you should attend too. As the Captain of the Knights, someone also at the nation’s core, you should know this.”
“Yes, I will accompany you wherever needed.”
“Um, what are you talking about…?”
“You’ll understand soon. Same, I’ll be heading to your house later as well. Could you go back first and prepare?”
“E-Eh!?”
Is this about the use of the Dungeon Core…? Something so secret they can’t even discuss it in the castle?
“Come to think of it, I’ve never seen your house, Same-san. I’ve heard where it is, though.”
“It’s a really nice house. Quiet at night, and it has a large bath too.”
On the way back from the royal palace, I chatted with Shuris-san, who walked with a cheerful bounce in her step.
“What! A house with a bath?! Ah, if only I had brought my bath set! Argh… Can I come take a bath another time!?”
“Ah… well, sure. Melt will probably be at home even while I’m gone…”
“I see, I see! If Melt-kun’s there, even better! Let’s bond in the nude together!”
Oh no… Melt’s tail is going to get all floofed again…
When we arrived at the house, Melt had already returned. She seemed to be working on something at the edge of the yard.
“Melt, I’m home!”
“Oh, Same! Welcome back! …Oh, the awawa-san is with you too?”
“Hey hey, Melt-kun. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Good job on that recent long-distance mission with Letty.”
“I’m glad Letty-chan was with me. She taught me a lot.”
I didn’t miss the momentary look of caution in Melt’s eyes.
“So, what are you working on?”
I looked toward her and saw she was digging a small canal from the stream beside the yard, leading it to a pond-like area.
How convenient—Melt’s nature magic makes her a one-person construction crew.
“Aha! I see what you’re doing, Melt-kun! You’re building an outdoor bath here, right? Nice! Enjoying forest views while you bathe—what a tasteful endeavor!”
“Wrong! Bzzzzt! You missed, Awawa-san! This is just a pond! I’m going to transplant aquatic plants later so shrimp can live comfortably here. Then I’ll cover the drainage with mesh so they can’t escape. That way, the shrimp will gather and breed here!”
…Oh. Melt’s planning to mass produce fried shrimp like this…!
Well, no harm done. Let her enjoy it—she seems excited.
“Shrimp… I-I see. Not sure I understand, but I hope it goes well.”
“It will go well! The stream has a pretty strong current, so I think the shrimp will come take shelter here. If there’s a calm, hiding-spot-rich area like this, they’re bound to stay!”
Huh… Melt really is smart. She doesn’t act on whim—she plans and follows through logically.
Since Melt said she’d continue working on the pond, Shuris-san and I headed inside first.
The Queen’s coming later too… I should at least prep some snacks and drinks.
“Excuse me. Fufu, this really is a nice house. The kitchen is spacious… and next to it is the lounge, maybe a salon?”
“Yes, and there’s also a sunroom and a piano.”
“Oh? That reminds me, I met your musician friend. Quite an interesting fellow.”
“Ah, you must mean Hash. He should be back with the troupe for now… unless he’s wandered off solo again.”
“Haha, I see. I’m glad it was him and not you who wandered off. Honestly… I was worried.”
After a brief tour, Shuris-san stood upright, turned to face me, and composed herself—like she was about to have an important talk.
I instinctively braced myself.
“You had the Dungeon Core from the beginning, didn’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Maybe that’s why—you were always cautious of your surroundings. But even so, I approached you to satisfy my curiosity… and even set Alice on you. I did that to someone who, as a Dungeon Core bearer, was likely watching and evaluating this nation.”
“…That did happen. Kinda nostalgic now.”
“…Once again, I want to apologize. I’m truly sorry.”
She bowed her head deeply to me, but I quickly had her lift it back up.
“Please raise your head. That time—I had just arrived in the city too and was overly sensitive. It’s all in the past now.”
“But even so, if that incident caused any distrust toward this country… toward me, even a little… I can’t help but worry. You see… I have many subordinates and colleagues, but as for friends… you’re my first.”
“Th-that’s… a great honor.”
“That’s why—I don’t want you to hate me. After you bought a house, you started disappearing from the city more often. I worried that you only bought a house for Melt-kun and were planning to leave on a journey again. So I kept making up reasons to call you over. And now, it’s the dungeon core… If this country becomes prosperous, I worry you’ll leave again.”
…Somehow, Shuris-san suddenly seemed like a small girl—like a child desperately trying to hold onto a friend—and I felt a strong urge to protect her.
“All those trips were for discussions with my fellow guild members. I’ve decided to settle down in this country, and I got everyone in the brigade to agree. That’s why I went to the royal palace today—to report that conclusion.”
“I see… That’s a relief. I was truly worried.”
“You’re also the first friend I made in this city, Shuris-san. I’m not going to run off somewhere on my own. Well, of course, there will be expeditions now and then for adventurer work.”
“Is that so? Well… that’s right. An adventurer must never forget to adventure. Just don’t forget the souvenirs and stories, okay? Especially any involving baths, if possible.”
Unwavering as ever. But I agree—if I’m going on a trip, I’d definitely like to focus on hot springs and baths.
Just as Shuris’s hidden anxieties were put to rest, Melt came rushing in from outside in a panic.
“Same! Big news! The Queen! The Queen is coming here!”
“Ah! I forgot! Melt, can I ask you to hurry and bring some cups and ice for everyone?”
“Got it! I’ll add a little extra syrup today! I’ll make the cola stronger!”
“Thanks! I’ll go prepare the snacks Seira left behind.”
I quietly took out some tea snacks from my menu screen.
Wait… in that case, tea might be better… Wait—why did I end up taking out so many potato chips instead of proper tea snacks!?
Damn, my brain got dragged over to thinking about cola!
“I’ll bring out Lady Shuris’s portion too. Melt, can you line the cups up in the salon? That space would fit better, considering the number of guests.”
“G-got it! I wonder why the Queen is coming?”
“Actually, I knew she was coming… I forgot to mention it.”
“Same-san, is there anything I can help with?”
“Ah, could I ask you to go welcome her? She should be right in front of the house by now.”
“Leave it to me!”
We continued with the preparations. Chips are fine! Cola goes with chips, after all!
I prepared a few extra chairs. Everything was ready. And then—
“Welcome, Your Majesty.”
“Fufu, to think Shuris would come out to greet me. …You look just like a newlywed wife.”
“Haha! Your Majesty, what are you saying? If you say that, Melt-kun will scold me.”
I could hear them talking. But Melt is already like family… A little sister? A daughter? Something like that.
“Your Majesty, I apologize for the late welcome. Please, come inside.”
“Ah, sorry for the sudden visit.”
“I’ll come in too. …Looks like you’ve taken good care of the place.”
Kokuri-san also entered the house.
Come to think of it… this house belonged to the former head of the research institute… Which means, to Kokuri-san, it’s the house of her former lover…? And if she was the one managing it all this time… then I definitely can’t treat it carelessly.
Um, Melt is planning to build a shrimp farm here—is that okay?
“Pardon the intrusion. Hmm… it is a nice house. Calm, with a sense of nostalgia.”
“Cres, you came too? If Her Majesty and Kokuri-san are here… this must be an important matter, huh?”
“That’s right. Same, Her Majesty wishes to speak with you in the parlor, and for you to bring the dungeon core.”
“Huh? Understood.”
Hmm… If they came all the way from the royal palace, then… is the dungeon core somehow related to this house?
“I’ll be blunt, Same. The reason I entrusted this house to you was because you possess the dungeon core.”
“…In other words, it was not just to keep me close, but also because this location is convenient for keeping the core nearby?”
“That’s right. I apologize. But I want you to understand—our country is that desperate. On the surface, it may not seem that way, right? How does it look to you, as someone from outside?”
“Well, I haven’t seen signs of hardship in terms of food, clothing, or shelter. I arrived around autumn, and even the nearby mountains were bountiful.”
“Yes, that’s right. And all of that is thanks to fragments of the dungeon core stored deep underground. Using the power of the artificial dungeon, fragments generated regularly have been used to maintain the surrounding fertility.”
That makes sense. That’s why this city seems prosperous on the surface.
But I still don’t know much about the rest of the country.
“And we rely on imports from the neighboring continent, so there’s no visible lack of goods. But in return, our exports are limited to new magic tech devices Kokuri developed, their prototypes, and some core fragments refined in the artificial dungeon. If you’re as perceptive as I believe, then you understand how dire things are.”
“…Yes. The primary sector is too underdeveloped. Even with fertile land, the scale of agriculture is just enough to feed the citizens.”
“Exactly. Right now, 60% of the population is concentrated in Lindblum. The other regions are struggling in poverty. Just the distribution to those areas and consumption within Lindblum pushes our limits.”
Somehow… it doesn’t feel like someone else’s problem… I guess that’s the Japanese in me.
“However, with a natural dungeon core, this problem can be resolved. Same… in truth, this house is filled with remnants of ancient technology. The previous owner, the head of the research institute, modified this place into a personal lab and spent years analyzing how to use it. That’s where he first discovered how to return core fragments into the earth.”
“But for the past six months, no one has been able to conquer the artificial dungeon, and things have become even worse. We were considering abandoning the house… when news of your natural dungeon core reached us.”
“There are still many ancient mechanisms we can’t decipher due to the unknown language, but we have managed to compile some instructions. Same, we want you to use that dungeon core to return its power to the land using this system.”
So that’s how it is. This house has been managed by the research institute as a facility for using the core.
“So from now on, I’ll have to manage the core fragments too?”
“…About that—actually, I’ve been entrusted with something from Shizuma-san.”
When she said that, Kokuri-san took out the artificially made, irregularly shaped core that I had entrusted to him before.
“Currently, the artificial dungeon has disappeared. Most likely, there’s some kind of abnormality in the fragment of the dungeon core that governs the artificial dungeon deep within the Underside. However… the ancient mechanism used to stabilize it has been completely destroyed. Same-san, with the power of this core, we might be able to revive the artificial dungeon. Could you try using this one as well?”
The artificial dungeon has vanished…? That certainly sounds serious… No matter how prosperous this country becomes in the future, losing something that had become a key part of its industry is bound to cause major problems.
“I’ve heard about that core from Shizuma. I’ve been given full authority to decide on its use, so let’s try it as well.”
“Thank you. Then… please take the core over there. Do you remember the window where you could use the key to observe the surroundings? I want you to hold the core up to that.”
“I see… Understood.”
Now that I think about it, that window was the only one with a function called “Radar”—something very close to scientific technology.
There were other useful features, but that window alone always felt… out of place.
I headed over to the window and held up the natural dungeon core first.
[Administrator Information Unknown – Temporary authority holder Diederich recognized]
[Please select a domain to manage]
- Base Enhancement
- Stronghold Enhancement
- Move Stronghold
- Teleport Stronghold
- Stronghold Management
- Function Restricted
- Function Restricted
- Function Restricted
“Wha… What is this!?”
Seeing the text displayed on the window, I felt a strong sense of unease… and déjà vu.
This… it looks like Japanese to me. These are not letters from this world.
“Hmm… The text has changed from before… It’s more complex now.”
“So you can’t operate it? Kokuri, can you analyze it?”
“No… unfortunately…”
…Could it be that the system is reading the user’s consciousness?
Is it displaying the text in the language most familiar to me…?
“Don’t worry. I’ve been taught a bit about this script by Shizuma. This is… the writing system of another world.”
“! So I was right!? Same-san, please teach me next time too!”
“Then… you can operate it, right? Please… Same, save this country.”
So I selected what I thought was the correct option from the list: “Base Enhancement.”
[To perform base enhancement, temporary authority must be relinquished]
[Return authority of temporary operator Diederich and proceed with base enhancement?]
[Crops within displayed territory will grow faster and monsters will become more active]
[Average temperature will rise by two degrees year-round due to climate changes]
[Some previously existing production zones will be restored]
[Please confirm the displayed map information and return authority to proceed]
…Could it be that this world is being used for simulations by some higher entity?
I don’t think this world is just a game. But now it’s certain—there is someone managing and manipulating it as if it were.
Also, the dungeon master likely doesn’t have true authority over it.
This dungeon core is also the heart of the dungeon master.
And if it’s being acknowledged as a temporary authority holder…
“…This really is a frightening world.”
I feel like I’ve taken a step closer to the truth of this world.
Still, I focused on analyzing the information on the map.
“Your Majesty, this map states: ‘The old Lens Valley Mine will be restored,’ ‘Average temperature will rise by two degrees annually,’ ‘Crop growth will accelerate, but monsters will become more active.’ If we aim to enrich the country, these outcomes are likely. Will that be acceptable?”
“What…! The mine will be restored—truly!? A rise in temperature is also welcome… As for the monsters, I’ll have immediate countermeasures taken. Same, I beg you. Proceed.”
“Understood.”
Without hesitation, I selected the option to proceed.
Then, the glowing dungeon core—Diederich’s Heart Core—dissolved into particles of light and disappeared.
“…It’s done. Everything completed safely. With this, the entire Holy Kingdom and the southern half of this continent will become prosperous.”
I reported to the Queen that the core had been successfully restored.