Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 58: Ambushed
“Um… Boss Merlin, what exactly is condensed milk?” Stacie asked, her brow furrowed in genuine curiosity.
Condensed milk wasn’t anything complicated—it was simply concentrated milk or sweetened milk, a dairy product made by heating milk until most of its water content evaporates, leaving behind a thick, sugary liquid. Its richness and sweetness made it a perfect complement to pastries or buns.
Merlin glanced at the iron table, noticing a small spill of the thick, pale yellow milk. Without hesitation, he grabbed a leaf, scooped up some of the milk, and spread it over one of the tiny, milk-scented buns before shoving it gently into Stacie’s mouth.
“Mmmph—” Stacie mumbled around the treat, unable to stop herself from being fed again by Boss Merlin.
The condensed milk was creamy, rich, and sweet, perfectly amplifying the delicate milky aroma of the tiny bun. Stacie couldn’t resist; she leaned forward instinctively and licked the stray streaks of milk clinging to the corner of her lips.
“This… wow—so sweet! So fragrant!” she exclaimed, sticking out her tongue in surprise. She hadn’t expected this thing called “condensed milk” to taste so irresistibly good.
Merlin had already thought everything through. Eleven milk buns for a single gold coin, each with a tiny dab of condensed milk—just enough to cover three buns. Any more, and customers would have to pay extra.
As for pricing the milk itself… he pulled out a small glass vial, about the size of an oral potion. One silver coin per bottle seemed fair. Gold coins, on the other hand, were reserved for wealthy noble students; Merlin’s real goal was to siphon money from ordinary students!
Of course, he planned to release a larger, more expensive bottle for a gold coin, specifically targeting those well-off spenders who had money to burn.
With these plans in mind, it was time to visit the tavern where his parents worked. He hadn’t seen them in quite a while, and a pang of nostalgia tugged at him. Besides, he was curious to see how they had managed the place in his absence.
Merlin instructed Stacie to place an order at the alchemy workshop for a batch of small glass bottles. Crafting such containers wasn’t difficult—any second-year alchemist could handle it—but Merlin made a mental note: he would eventually need his own alchemy workshop.
After tidying up all his affairs, Merlin climbed into a horse-drawn carriage, heading for the mid-tier district of the Arcane City.
As the carriage rolled along, Merlin gazed out the window, lost in thought. He contemplated the tavern’s potential operations. Perhaps he should brew some strong spirits—this world had no equivalents to traditional liquor. Dwarves, who loved their drinks, would likely favor a higher-proof beverage. Combining potent spirits with simple grilled foods could be a winning strategy to draw dwarves to the tavern…
But just as he was deep in thought, a flash of metallic light reflected off the dense forest outside the window, followed by the whoosh of an arrow slicing through the air.
“Whoosh—”
Merlin jerked back in alarm. The arrow tore through the carriage’s side, passing directly in front of him and embedding itself in the left panel of the carriage.
“Waaah!” The driver yelped, whipping his head around to see the gaping hole in the carriage wall.
Then, a barrage of arrows—dozens of them—rained from the forest. The driver froze, terror-stricken. Merlin sprang to his side, clutching the necklace around his neck and channeling magic into it.
Instantly, the blue pendant shimmered with magical energy. The sound of rushing water erupted from it, and a torrent of water shot forth, forming columns that glinted silver in the sunlight.
Droplets splashed in all directions, creating a fine mist that floated like delicate veils. Within seconds, the columns of water twisted and merged into a semicircular shield, enveloping Merlin completely.
The arrows struck the water barrier and were swept aside by the turbulent, circulating currents.
“A third-tier Water Shield spell… the attackers may be third-tier water mages! Stay alert!”
A cold, sinister voice echoed from the forest. Six figures burst from the trees, exuding desperation and violence. Each brandished a gleaming blade, charging at Merlin with murderous intent.
One of them surged with magical power, his muscles swelling as he swung a massive sword toward the watery shield.
It was Merlin’s first real ambush, and panic rose in his chest. He barely had time to react, though fortunately, the water shield was resilient.
The forceful currents repelled the incoming blade, but the other attackers pressed forward relentlessly. The last assailant even began chanting a spell.
“This is bad… I need to act!” Merlin thought, assessing the ferocious foes. His storage ring glimmered as he retrieved a potion, but at that exact moment, the water shield’s duration ended.
“Bang—”
The shield shattered, exposing Merlin to the attackers’ glares. He hurled the potion, and a violent explosion followed.
A pungent odor filled the air as the fiery potion detonated. Flames erupted like serpents, crawling along the ground, licking everything in their path. The intense heat charred the air, creating a roaring inferno.
“Waaahhhhh!”
The lead attackers were engulfed in fire, screaming as the heat seared them. Without magic to shield themselves, their bodies twisted uncontrollably as they burned into “fire men,” carbonizing under the flames.
“Damn it… fire potion!”
Even the chanting mage at the rear was affected; his spell was interrupted. He turned toward the flames, seeking Merlin’s position.
“Whoosh—”
The potion bottle flew through the fire, landing in front of the mage. He recoiled, eyes wide at the violent magical aura emanating from it, then tried to flee.
Inside, the potion’s electricity surged, causing the bottle to glow intensely, humming with current.
The mage’s eyes widened. “No! A fourth-tier Thunderstrike potion???”
A fourth-tier Thunderstrike potion—his life was probably worth less than that vial. He was only a third-tier mage!
“Boom—”
The bottle exploded, unleashing blinding white lightning streaked with blue arcs. The entire area was illuminated, the brilliance almost impossible to look at directly.
Thunder rolled deafeningly, echoing through the forest. Birds scattered from the trees in alarm.
Lightning struck violently, the bolts shredding the ground. The attacking mage had no time to defend himself—he was instantly consumed by the overwhelming storm.
The air carried the sharp scent of ozone, crackling with raw electrical energy.