Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 95: Idle Talk – Two Knights and a Broken Sword (2/2)
Translator note: This is the chapter that comes after chapter 88, the author renumbered the series and gave the previous idle talk chapters numbers adding up to the current numbering.
The two stood before their master, leaving behind the prison.
And with those steps, they approached an audience with the king.
Utilizing their maximum authority as members of the Royal Guard.
“Your Majesty, please reconsider once more.”
The walls were adorned with sculptures of dragons and griffins, while the ceiling was painted in shades of navy and azure, embedded with special stones that emitted light.
Seated on the throne was a young king who had yet to reach adulthood.
In this era, it was customary for the kingdom to produce a new king from among the four major noble families in succession.
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Due to the early demise of his parents, the current queen ascended to the throne before reaching adulthood.
At the same time, he was nothing more than a puppet elevated to the throne.
“Stand down!”
Before the king could respond, the prime minister interjected.
“You dare request an audience and waste our time for the sake of discussing pardons for criminals! As the overseer of the Royal Knights, do you lack awareness!?”
“Your Excellency, I am speaking to His Majesty.”
“You impudent fool! I am speaking with consideration for His Majesty’s feelings. It is not appropriate to repeatedly bring up the sins of someone who merely served as a swordsmanship instructor from childhood!”
“In that case, please reconsider once more.”
The king, with little strength left, turned to the furious prime minister beside him.
“…Is it truly impossible?”
“It is only natural. With just one life, the relationship between nations can be maintained. What is there to hesitate about?”
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“Indeed, consideration for other nations is important. However, to give death for the sake of consideration to those who have served the kingdom is somewhat…”
Contrary to the despondent king, the prime minister’s expression twisted.
“A ruler does not retract what has been said once. If the previous ruler were alive, how he would lament.”
“…I see…”
The young king sighed sadly, lowering his gaze to the floor.
However, Captain Russell couldn’t back down.
“In that case! At least allow Instructor Ian’s familiar to return to Silverwood!”
“What are you saying? His familiar, along with him, will face retribution! I have not forgotten the humiliation of that time.”
Russell trembled with anger.
“Are you moving the country with personal feelings, Prime Minister!?”
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“You scoundrel! Say another word and I’ll give you the same death sentence as your peasant-born mentor! There are plenty more who can replace a knight like you!”
Russell and Greer clenched their lips tightly.
At this moment, any words they spoke would only invite insults.
With a deep bow, they departed from the space around the throne.
Silent, they walked through the castle.
When they reached a corner occupied by the Knights, Vice-Captain Greer spoke up unexpectedly.
“Russell. I’ll execute the sentence.”
“…I’m the captain.”
“That’s exactly why. Many members of the Order admire Ian-sensei. Beheading him might lead to criticism and suspicion among the members. It could affect the discipline of the Knights.”
“Discipline… huh.”
“Yes. Ian-sensei may disregard discipline, but without it, the organization cannot function. I… am… fine…”
“In that case—”
Russell pounded the wall.
“Greer, why… are you crying!?”
Although she tried to maintain a stoic expression, tears welled up in Vice-Captain Greer’s eyes.
“I… “
Her face contorted, tears streamed down Vice-Captain Gria’s cheeks.
“I’ll do it. It’s my duty.”
And on the day of the execution,
Outside the walls of the royal capital, Bulgia, there was a tense atmosphere.
Dragon knights, summoning lesser dragons, formed a circle around something.
In the center of the circle stood a knight in armor and an elderly man clad in prisoner’s garb made of hemp.
To witness the execution today, the people of the city crowded inside the moat and against the walls.
“From this moment, we will commence the execution of the criminal. This criminal, despite holding the position of advisor to the Royal Knights, used a magic sword, a symbol of friendship with the republic, for personal vendetta, ultimately destroying it. The crime committed by the criminal has caused immense damage to the nation and tarnished the trust of other countries.”
The voice echoed triumphantly from a pavilion erected on the wall, belonging to the prime minister.
Confusion murmurs arose from the crowd.
“He was the person who saved my child from monsters in the past!”
“Why would Ian-san… such a kind-hearted person…”
“It’s… inevitable, right!?… he destroyed something important! Damn it!”
Next to the prime minister, a young king sat on a chair prepared for him.
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The king remained with his eyes closed.
Instructor Ian sat cross-legged, gazing straight at the king.
Beside him stood Russell, holding a large sword tinged with red.
“That’s no good. He’s about to kill him on his own orders, yet he’s averting his gaze from his final moments.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I’ve told you many times. Never turn away from anything. Even with your eyes closed, reality won’t change, yet your bad habits persist. I’m worried about this country.”
“If that’s the case, then guide him again. Don’t let yourself die here like this.”
Ian shifted his gaze to Russell.
And then, he smirked.
“I’m leaving that to you. Go ahead. Do it cleanly.”
At the prime minister’s command,
“Begin!”
Captain Russell raised his large sword.
It was a swing of the magic sword.
However, after raising his sword, he didn’t immediately bring it down.
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He remained frozen.
Russell whispered softly.
“Ian-sensei… even now, you can escape. Dodge the sword, kick me down. Then ride on the lesser dragon and escape. It should be easy for you. The Knights may pretend to chase you, but no one will really try to catch you.”
“I can’t do that. You’ll bear the guilt.”
“…I’m fine with that.”
“I told you, I won’t live much longer. Besides, there’s a suspicious atmosphere brewing. Something might happen in the royal capital, Bulgia. And at that time, you, without the Dragon Knights, won’t be able to do anything.”
“But!”
The surroundings became restless.
Russell’s sword remained raised but not brought down.
Expectations piled up among the people, wondering if something would happen.
“What are you doing?! Quickly, behead him! Right now!!”
With the prime minister’s angry voice, his guards approached.
They couldn’t remain still any longer.
“If I’m killed by his guards, I won’t die peacefully. Do it quickly.”
Memories flooded back.
The first time he killed someone, trembling, Ian stayed by his side without uttering a word.
When he was given the magic sword, Ian drank with him until he passed out.
When he was appointed captain, Ian celebrated as if it were his own achievement.
Tears streamed down his cheeks as memories overflowed.
“Damn it! Stop… stop it!”
Taking someone’s life was not easy.
A botched execution would cause unbearable pain.
It had to be done in a single stroke.
With enough force to leave pain behind.
But his vision remained distorted.
“I told you. Don’t avert your gaze, face forward, no matter what.”
“Ian-sensei.”
Suddenly, the tears stopped.
Russell widened his eyes.
“You didn’t have talent with the sword, but you were still the best disciple.”
Release all your power in an instant.
We must not miss this moment.
A single strike, cleaving in two.
Lowering the sword, after a brief moment, the head fell.
Even after being severed, those eyes remained wide open.
“Until now… I’ve been… in your care.”
Russell deeply bowed his head.
“Thank you. Ian-sensei.”
It was Vice Captain Greer who shouted from afar.
Following her voice, cries of tears rose from the knights.
And then, the sub-dragons let out a simultaneous roar.
One, the Prime Minister raised his voice.
“Quiet! Shut those dragons up!”
Amidst the chaos, black particles rose from Master Ian’s left hand.
Captain Russell stared at them dumbfounded.
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“What… what is that?”
Appearing was a sub-dragon with black scales.
Its color was completely different.
The original Wyverns were supposed to be green.
But this was not just black.
It gleamed in a dull shade reminiscent of black silver.
Also, it was a size larger compared to the original species.
“Is that… Ian’s familiar?”
“Impossible! It was supposed to be a rough and belligerent one, but it should have been a normal Wyvern!”
“But undoubtedly from the Rider Magic Core.”
Unexpected events left the knights bewildered, not understanding what had happened, everyone taken aback.
Amidst the confusion, Vice Captain Greer’s voice leaked out.
“I can’t believe it… it was evolving…”
The black-silver sub-dragon faced the fallen master.
The fallen head on the ground.
The black-silver sub-dragon gazed at the wide-open eyes.
Exhaling heavily, it slowly consumed the body in one gulp.
“What are you doing! Eradicate that filthy sub-dragon too! It’s a royal command!”
Several dragon knights mounted their sub-dragon with anguish on their faces.
And then, they poised their spears.
“No!! Don’t do anything! I’ll take responsibility!”
Captain Russell shouted.
“Are you really! Oh, forget it! Everyone, stand by!”
Vice Captain Greer also issued instructions contrary to the royal command.
The dragon knights showed expressions of relief and obediently complied.
In contrast, the furious Prime Minister screamed sharply.
“You scoundrels! You’re all sentenced to death! Don’t think anyone will return alive!”
As if to extinguish that, the black-silver sub-dragon roared.
Immediately, a torrent of tremendous magic power was unleashed.
It was a jet-black breath.
Black lines raced up towards the sky.
Rapidly swallowing the surrounding air.
And then, the compressed air was released to its limit.
A storm-like gale raged.
Undoubtedly, a superior sub-dragon.
All the dragon knights present understood that.
Dust rose up in an instant, stealing away the sight of knights and citizens of Bulgia.
“Where did it go!?”
The next moment, Russell, indeed all the people in the capital, witnessed something unbelievable.
A black sub-dragon had its head stuck into the tower where the king was.
“Your Majesty!”
Russell immediately summoned Volcano Wyvern.
But before the particles could form the sub-dragon, the situation became clear.
“Woah!”
It was the Prime Minister’s cry.
The black sub-dragon had the Prime Minister in its mouth.
The king fell from his chair, seemingly unharmed.
“Let go! Who do you think I am! In any other era, I would have been the king!”
A raging monster doesn’t obey commands.
Still, the Prime Minister continued to desperately command the black sub-dragon without calling for his familiar.
Having long immersed himself in a world where everything would be granted by merely speaking it aloud, he couldn’t comprehend that this world had now shattered.
The black sub-dragon casually tossed aside the Prime Minister.
As the chubby man fell under the pull of gravity, the black sub-dragon bit into his head. With each awkward chew, screams leaked out from his mouth, “Gyuaaahh!”
It devoured the Prime Minister, familiar and all.
After swallowing everything down, it flapped its wings.
Immediately spreading its black wings, it soared into the sky.
The black-silver sub-dragon directed its head straight towards Silverwood.
No one dared to utter the words “kill Ian’s familiar” anymore.
“‘After I’m gone, you’ll see something interesting,'” those were Master Ian’s words in the dungeon.
“Haha, typical of Ian-sensei.”
Captain Russell wiped away his tears as he watched.
Standing beside him was Vice Captain Greer.
“You kept quiet about its evolution, Ian-sensei.”
“He was too focused on swords, didn’t want to use the familiar in public much. Despite being a dragon knight, he was quite selfish.”
“Ian-sensei stayed true to himself. And in response, he evolved. But it’s ironic.”
“How so?”
“The wielder of the light magic sword ‘Radiant Blade’ evolved into a creature using dark magic spells.”
Captain Russell burst into laughter.
“If the light is strong, the shadow becomes darker. It truly means being two sides of the same coin.”
“If that’s the case, that black sub-dragon is in trouble. It continues to seek power purely.”
Russell scratched his head.
“Maybe. Hey, remember what Ian-sensei said?”
“That the sub-dragon might become a meaningful familiar for this country.”
“His intuition has always been spot-on. It’s eerie.”
The two watched the black sub-dragon heading towards the forest.
Its figure seemed distant, almost fading away.
“Then someday, it’ll return to Bulgia as someone’s familiar. We don’t know when.”
“If that happens, it’ll likely be someone with just as pure intentions as Ian-sensei. Frankly, I don’t want to meet them. They’ll definitely be uncompromising.”
“Agreed. But I think they’ll get along well with you, Russell.”
“What!? You too!?”
As Captain Russell retorted, someone among the knights pounded the butt of their spear into the ground.
And then, as if bidding farewell to the master and his familiar, they raised their voices.
“To the dragon, the blade! To the people, the wings!”
Immediately, the other knights joined in.
“To the dragon, the blade… To the people, the wings…”
The chorus continued until the black shadow disappeared into the depths of the forest.