Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 99: The Tower
“Lucius-san, please put that shelf over here.”
Lauren, a girl with long black hair and purple eyes, was busy folding clothes.
“Got it.”
Lucius lifted the large shelf and placed it where Lauren pointed.
The floor creaked under the weight of the shelf.
He released his hands from the shelf and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his rolled-up sleeves.
“Phew. We’ve made quite a bit of progress.”
In the same room, two young men were unpacking.
They were Lucius’s childhood friends, twins named Kiel and Paul.
Both had freckled faces, but Kiel was on the thin side while Paul was a bit chubby.
“Kiel, where should I put these clothes?”
“Ah! Paul, you can’t put a vase there like that!”
A pottery vase placed on top of stacked books swayed precariously.
Right after Paul, the vase fell along with the books.
“Ah…”
Kiel raised his left hand.
A black puddle formed where the falling pottery touched the floor.
The vase was not shattered but was absorbed into something black.
Immediately after, the vase fell back onto Kiel’s left hand with a thud.
It was Kiel’s spell, Peryton.
Those who possessed a source of magic power called a magic core would form contracts with monsters to create spells.
Through this, people established a symbiotic relationship where they provided magic power to the spells, and the spells provided magic techniques.
“S-Sorry, Kiel…”
“I’ll take care of the rest. Paul, go help Lady Emily on the first floor.”
“O-Okay.”
As Paul, feeling downcast, reached for the doorknob, a child’s voice echoed from downstairs.
“The bread’s ready!”
Paul’s voice suddenly brightened.
“All right! It’s mealtime!”
Looking out the window, the sun was directly overhead, illuminating the street outside.
“Okay, let’s have lunch.”
With Lucius’s call, the four of them descended the stairs.
Underneath the stairs was immediately the dining area, filled with a pleasant aroma.
The freshly baked bread on the table was likely the source.
Seated at the dining table were a woman in her thirties and a four-year-old girl.
They were Mother Emily and Sister Elis.
Elis had the same red eyes and red hair as her father, Robel.
“Nii-chan, are you done?”
“Pretty much. Elis, did you help Mom properly?”
“Yeah! I helped Mama make bread. Am I good?”
A smile spread across Elis face.
“Very good, very good.”
Lucius ruffled his sister’s head.
He could feel his sister’s magic power much stronger than before.
It seemed she was growing up.
“Elis, it seems like you’re increasing your magic power properly.”
“Yeah!”
If everything went smoothly, Lucius hoped she could reach Rank 2 in the future, maybe even Rank 1.
“I’m hungry.”
“Paul eats too much.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
As Lucius and the others from the second floor came down, they each took their seats as they pleased.
Since the dining table wasn’t very large, it seemed like their shoulders might touch if they sat too close.
Everyone didn’t immediately touch the food.
Instead, all eyes were on Lucius.
Lucius straightened his back, confirming that everyone was ready.
“Let’s eat.”
With his call, everyone reached for the bread placed in the center plate.
“Lucius, you’re becoming more noble-like.”
While chewing on the bread, Paul, his childhood friend, said.
“Becoming a proper baron is my goal.”
“I’m sure you’ll be able to do it, Lucius. Mom and Dad… they said so.”
Ad
Paul’s voice trailed off, as if he were remembering their distant parents, becoming softer at the end.
“Sorry for dragging you into this.”
Seeing his depressed younger brother, Kiel nudged Paul with his elbow.
Currently, Lucius and the others were in Bradford, the capital city in the west.
They were far from their hometown, Silverheart Village in the north and the city of Burgia, and it was the most prosperous city in the country.
He had brought his mother Emily, young sister, twin childhood friends, and Lauren to the capital, not by their own will.
As a special-grade magician, Lucius was expected to protect the country by the king.
But not everyone had high expectations of Lucius.
At least, it seems that the Duke of Weshite-Windsor, one of the four major nobles governing the royal capital of Bradford and also of the current king’s lineage, does not trust Lucius.
Yet, they were allowing those people to stay.
Of course, with collars attached.
They were family and subjects.
It was a method used throughout the world, including Japan in his previous life.
“Oh, I’m grateful. I’ve always wanted to come to the capital.”
Lauren smiled beside Lucius.
“Lauren’s right. Me too.”
Ad
Kiel agreed.
And so did his brother, Paul.
“M-Me too!”
“Lucius. As long as you’re healthy, that’s enough for me.”
While nibbling on a small piece of bread, his mother Emily smiled gently.
“Thank you, everyone.”
When Lucius reached for his bread, a knock echoed throughout the house.
It was the door knocker at the entrance.
Lauren, who quickly stood up, headed to the front door.
However, it was a small building, and the entrance was directly connected to the dining area.
“Coming, I’ll open it now.”
Right after Lauren opened the door, a tense voice rang out.
“Lucius-sama, I have come to escort you!”
There stood a well-dressed young man at the door.
He appeared to be around 25 years old.
He wore a shirt embroidered with designs favored by the upper-class nobles, along with a tie, and was a handsome man.
“Oh, good morning, Alfred.”
“Good morning, Lucius-sama.”
The man called Alfred bowed respectfully.
As he straightened up, his handsome face frowned.
“Are you really staying in this lodging? You, who should be the lord of our Auridelve territory.”
“Since there are villagers here, it would be difficult to live in the noble district. Besides, I’m not comfortable with that atmosphere either.”
This was a corner of the citizen district in the capital city of Bradford. While it was a place where relatively affluent people lived, it was not the noble district.
Alfred’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Please get used to it. You are our master. Didn’t you say before? That you would make our Auridelve territory and the city of Burgia in the north the most prosperous city. What will happen if the lord who said that hesitates in the noble district of the capital?”
Lucius smiled wryly.
He was at a loss for words.
Because.
— I never said that. Not once.
Alfred served as the deputy lord of the Auridelve territory where Lucius was the lord.
Born as the second son of a northern count family, he was expelled from home by his older brother who feared Alfred’s superior abilities, even more so than his own.
Nevertheless, without rotting away, Alfred steadily performed his duties under Lord Strauss, eventually being dispatched as Lucius’s adjutant.
Alfred was an extremely talented individual.
However, perhaps because he was too talented, he had a habit of interpreting himself as being equal to or even superior to his own lord, Lucius.
For Deputy Lord Alfred, Lucius was embellished as a nobleman with aspirations equal to those of the four major nobles or even the king himself.
In short, he was extremely self-deluded.
“…Anyway, Alfred. While I’m staying in the capital, I’ve entrusted the reconstruction of Burgia to you.”
The Auridelve territory, which belonged to Lucius, was a place where monsters had been rampant until recently.
Even though it was the management of the territory, the focus for a while would be on the reconstruction of the city of Burgia.
“Leave it to me. Lucius-sama, you have shown us the vision that Bulgaria should aim for! It is my duty as your retainer to realize that! No, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is my purpose in life!”
Honestly, it was cringe worthy.
“Yes, well… Moderate enthusiasm is fine.”
“Ohhh, you’re so kind! Indeed, Lucius-sama, you said before, that retainers are treasures like jewels.”
— No, I didn’t say that.
Alfred’s self-delusion was difficult to handle precisely because it was positive.
If it were in a negative direction, there would be a way to correct it.
Ad
However, he always went above and beyond to fulfill Lucius’s wishes, or rather, interpreted them in the most positive light.
He was undoubtedly an invaluable talent.
Indeed, his influence would affect the development of the city of Burgia.
It would be troublesome if his enthusiasm were to be discouraged and it would affect future political affairs.
Therefore, it was difficult to deny him face-to-face.
Although Lucius had subtly conveyed it several times, Alfred interpreted everything in the most positive direction possible.
As a result, Lucius gave up.
He thought that if he accepted it, everything would go well.
Alfred’s mouth continued to chatter.
“But, you must not be mistaken. Gems are valuable only when they shine. I will make myself shine. I just remembered it clearly now! Lucius-sama, you said before, ‘Alfred, you can shine.'”
Lucius smiled with dead eyes.
— Yeah, I didn’t say that. Shine… what?
They were at the entrance facing a main street where many citizens of the capital passed by.
The gazes of the people watching Alfred, who was shouting with exaggerated gestures, were piercing.
They clearly looked at him with suspicion.
If he lingered here like this, unfounded rumors would spread.
“More importantly, the matter at hand.”
Suddenly, Alfred straightened his back and grinned.
“I will now guide you to the Tower. The arrangements have been made for you to obtain the third magic, the Artillery Magic, as planned.”
Following the award ceremony, Lucius was scheduled to visit the west and then obtain the Artillery Magic.
The place where the Artillery Magic, a creature of the west, resides is not in the forest or mountains but in the center of the city, the Tower.
Gathering himself, Lucius returned to his seat where he had been sitting earlier, took a bite of bread, and washed it down with soup.
“Alright, we need to finish the contract quickly.”
Lucius is 14 years old.
To become a distinguished baron and for the development of his territory, there are still many things he wants to do.
“Wait for me. I’ll come too.”
Lauren raised her hand too and quickly started wrapping bread in cloth.
Lucius inserted one of the three swords leaning against the back of the living room into his waist. It was the Sword of Radiance.
“Are you leaving the other two swords at home?”
As she prepared, Lauren asked.
“I tried to give them to Chiyou, but he said ‘I don’t need them.'”
Chiyou still had three slots left to imitate magic weapons.
Just as Lucius thought two of them were about to be filled…
It was an unexpected refusal to accept.
Of course, since Chiyou didn’t speak human language, Lucius just felt that way.
“What do you think happened?”
“Maybe it’s because the magic spear was too good, so he wants an even stronger magic weapon?”
“Oh, so even Chiyou has preferences?”
Lucius and Lauren headed towards the entrance while conversing.
“Be careful, both of you.”
“Brother! Sister Lauren! Have a safe trip!”
Lucius’ mother Emily and sister Elis stood up to see them off.
It was springtime.
Due to the pleasant weather, they didn’t need coats as they opened the front door.
“We’re off.”
“Yes, take care.”
As they stepped out onto the street, the mixture of various smells, including food and daily life, greeted their noses.
In front of them were bustling streets filled with people and houses.
It was even more crowded than the capital cities of the northern and eastern provinces, bustling with people from all over the country and a plethora of goods.
Among them stood an outstandingly conspicuous building.
It was the cylindrical Tower that pierced the sky.
Literally, its tip pierced through the clouds, completely out of sight.
“Now, shall we climb the Tower?”