Kays Translations

Chapter 80: The Decision of the Sage, Kyoko

171st Day in Another World

"Hayato, it's been a week. Are you doing well?"

"Yes! Thanks to everyone, everything is going smoothly!"

"I wanted to thank you again today, so I came with the same members as last time."

"It's been a while, everyone. My family was looking forward to your visit, so please come inside."

Upon arriving at the fort where the heroes resided, everyone warmly welcomed them.

Since they had informed the scout, Lev, in advance, they didn't have to worry about missing each other. The pathway was also kept under a continuous barrier, so there was no need for them to be on guard.

Today, they planned to exchange information in the morning and have a light training session in the afternoon. As soon as they arrived, several groups formed naturally, and they began engaging in lively conversations.

Natsuki and Akiho were surrounded by the older girls, enjoying themselves while conducting an evaluation of the items they brought this time.

Natsuki was friendly and good at relying on others, while Akiho, though quiet, had a lovely charm. The pair playing the role of little sisters was highly praised by the older girls. They acted so naturally that the older girls didn't even notice.

On the other hand, Touya had been asked by the Sword Saint, Tachibana, and the Saint, Hazuki, to give them guidance on swordsmanship, so they headed towards a nearby plaza.

Since witnessing Touya's mock battle with Hayato, Tachibana and Hazuki had taken a liking to him. They clung to him, holding his arms tightly and dragging him away while flatteringly calling him "Master, Master." Hayato watched the scene without any trace of jealousy, bidding them farewell with a calm expression.

Sakura and I were sitting around a table in the garden, chatting with Hayato and Kyoko. The newly crafted table by the artisan child was exceptionally well-made. Looking around, I noticed that various facilities in the fort had been significantly modified.

"This place has developed quite a bit. It has become much more comfortable to live in, hasn't it?"

"Yes, thanks to everyone's cooperation."

"If there's anything missing, don't hesitate to let me know."

"..."

...I wonder. Hayato's words seemed to be stuck, and his expression was slightly clouded. I couldn't tell if he was just being reserved as usual or if there was something difficult for him to say.

While pondering about it...

"Keisuke-san, actually, we have decided... to move to the city."

"Oh, is that so? When do you plan to leave?"

"Huh? You're not trying to stop us?"

"Hmm? I'll ask you the same question. Why did you think I would?"

"Well... I thought maybe you wanted to delay our departure to the city since you've been so kind to us..."

"Well, I can't say that I had no such intention. However, if you have made up your minds, I won't stop you. You should do what you want."

"That's a relief... I felt a little guilty leaving at this timing. Now I can depart without any worries! Thank you, Keisuke-san. Oh, by the way, before we leave, I have one request or rather, something to discuss."

As Hayato spoke those words, he looked towards Kyoko.

I had no idea what he was referring to, but Kyoko, who seemed prompted by Hayato, spoke to me with a determined expression.

"Keisuke-san, I won't be going to the city. Instead, I have decided to part ways with Hayato and the others here. And... I hope to move to Nanashi Village."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm completely serious. Hayato and the others have discussed it multiple times and made the decision. They all agree with it."

I quickly looked at Hayato's face, but there was no trace of pessimism or jealousy. Rather, it felt like he respected Kyoko's decision.

(But wait, hold on. Aren't they in a good relationship? This could become troublesome later...)

As I entertained such thoughts...

"I can tell what you're thinking, but these two are not in a romantic relationship. There's no such behavior between them. I confirmed this last time, so it's certain."

As if she could read my mind, Sakura transmitted her thoughts to me.

"I'm sorry for keeping it a secret from you, but please understand Kyoko's feelings."

It was a sudden revelation, but I couldn't remain silent. I had to say something.

"If someone as talented as Kyoko joins the city, I would be more than happy to welcome her as a member."

"Really? Thank you so much!"

"However, I'm sorry for doubting this, but I need to ask one thing: Does Hayato genuinely agree with this decision?"

"Yes, I genuinely support her. I've always felt sorry for burdening her, and I have mixed feelings of course. But I want to respect Kyoko's decision."

"I understand. I apologize for questioning you. Kyoko, I accept you as a member of the village."

"I'm relieved. While it's sad to part ways, I want both of us to walk our own paths from here on."

"By the way, Haruka and Tsubaki, did they know about this in advance?"

"Yes, we asked Sakura-san beforehand."

"Me too!"

It seemed that Sakura and Kyoko had whispered about their relationship and the decision to move during their previous conversation.

Asking any further would be impolite, so I decided to confirm whether she could become a villager.

I granted her permission to reside in the village and had Haruka appraise her loyalty. Surprisingly, her loyalty value was  at 90, an astonishing result. It was almost the same level as Sakura in the early days. Their deep knowledge of the fantasy world and Sakura's explanations must have contributed to this unexpectedly high value.

"Since loyalty is not an issue, you are now an official member of the village. Please contribute to the village and its people."

"Yes, I will do my best."

"Kyoko, good luck."

"Hayato, I'll be cheering for you too. Thank you for everything so far."

Thus, the sage Kyoko joined the village, and the conversation continued cheerfully.

◇◇◇

In the afternoon, as planned, they engaged in mock battles and held study sessions to improve their skills. During lunch, Hayato had informed everyone about Kyoko's decision to move to the city. The fort's residents both celebrated and lamented their departure.

By the way, their departure was scheduled for five days later. It worked out perfectly, as they could accompany Merinard on the day he was set to arrive in the city.

Oh, and I almost forgot—I had to appraise the abilities of everyone at the fort.

When they moved to the city, there would be good and bad experiences awaiting them. I wanted them to start their new lives fully aware of their abilities. So, Haruka appraised each of them one by one and informed them of the details.

Everyone had grown significantly, and I believed they would do fairly well in the city. Of course, as members of the Hero's party, they couldn't avoid getting involved in troublesome matters. Considering this, they must have made the decision to move while taking that into account. Now it was up to them to decide what to do.

Through their interactions up until now, I felt that a foundation of trust had been built. Unless something significant occurred, I hoped they wouldn't become enemies.

Hayato:

Level: 30

Occupation: Hero

Unique Skill:

Nullify All Abnormal States (Level - Nullifies all abnormal states)

Radiance of the Hero (Level - The effects of the unique skill spread to nearby allies)

Skills:

Swordsmanship (Level 3)

Body Enhancement (Level 3)

Light Magic (Level 2)

Healing Magic (Level 2)

Super Recovery (Level 3)

Intuition (Level 3)

Luck (Level 3)

Disassembly (Level 2)

Cooking (Level 2)

Spatial Storage (Level 3)

Limit Break (Level 1)

MP Consumption Reduction (Level 1)

Experience Gain Increase (Level 1)

Kyoko:

Level: 25

Villager: Loyalty 90

Occupation: Sage

Unique Skill:

All-Attribute Magic (Level 3) - Activates all attribute magic by thought

*Note: Power and range improve with level

Skills:

MP Consumption Reduction (Level 2) - Reduces MP consumption by 20% when using magic

Healing Magic (Level 1) - Consumes MP to heal wounds through physical contact

Tachibana:

Level: 25

Occupation: Sword Saint

Unique Skill:

Holy Sword Technique (Level 3) - Proficiency in swordsmanship, increases power

*Note: Effects improve with level

Able to shoot slash attacks

*Note: Number of slashes: 2

Skills:

Body Enhancement (Level 3)

Hazuki:

Level: 24

Occupation: Saint

Unique Skill:

Sacred Prayer (Level 3) - Heals all wounds and body part loss

Cures all abnormal states and illnesses

Deploys a magic circle that continuously restores stamina and magical power

*Note: Effects, range, and recovery speed improve with level

Skills:

MP Consumption Reduction (Level 2) - Reduces MP consumption by 20% when using magic

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter