Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 67: Operation: Infiltrate the Royal Capital
Early in the morning, a day and a half after joining Amanda, Lionel’s group secretly entered the royal capital.
Duke Ziemeld’s son, already holding a central government position, was using undead beasts in his scheme. An open approach would invite suspicion. With House Beresford’s help and Goliath’s cooperation, we disguised ourselves as a merchant caravan and entered the capital before proceeding to the Beresford residence.
“It’s been decades since I’ve been to the royal capital. But it’s strangely quiet, isn’t it?”
Dolph looked puzzled as he reflected on the city since our arrival.
“A public extermination is being held today at the northern arena. That’s why the streets are empty.”
Lionel and the others frowned at the unfamiliar phrase.
Then, Lady Amanda turned to me.
“Flora, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
With those words, we were led to the guest room of the Beresford residence.
“Flora…!?”
“Chelsea! I’m so glad you’re safe!”
Chelsea, whose safety had worried me most, stood before us. Her presence in Amanda’s mansion was strange, but joy overwhelmed every question and I embraced her.
“Flora, I’m glad you’re safe too. And the people behind you…?”
Chelsea gave me another tearful hug and then looked behind me.
Gilbert, Dolph, and Barbara exchanged glances, then for some reason everyone lined up: Sydney, the Kelvim soldiers and mercenaries, the clergy, Lionel and the Black Knights, and even Goliath.
I had left the city alone only recently, but the memory felt distant.
Returning without fear or hesitation, surrounded by so many precious and encouraging people, moved me deeply.
Since everyone was kind enough to line up, I was about to introduce them one by one when there was a commotion outside the drawing room.
Crown Prince Alexis hurried into the room with guards.
“Good, everyone is here. Forgive me; I’ll explain later. May I borrow clergy capable of treatment?”
Without time for greetings, Alexis addressed Lionel. Sydney nodded and left, and everyone followed.
In the courtyard, approximately a dozen mud-covered, unconscious clergy were being carried inside.
“They were imprisoned in the underground waterways. Bishop Powell and several others protected the group with a barrier, but all are terribly weak. Please treat them.”
They were placed in the great hall and treated. Fortunately, no one appeared seriously injured.
Royal Guards then brought in a bound man confined within a barrier. He wore the uniform of a Knight of Ziemeld.
“Your Highness, what shall we do with this one?”
The royal guard’s face was grim.
Sir Lionel and Father Sydney rushed over as if they had noticed something.
“I know him. He’s probably one of the high-ranking Ziemeld knights who disappeared.”
“This man… has become undead.”
“…Indeed… I was attacked on the way, and during the tussle, I saw a wound I’d inflicted… regenerating…”
The Royal Guards panicked, while the horror of a human transformed into an undead creature made Alexis and Amanda gasp.
“Unlike ordinary undead beasts, he bears no decayed flesh and looks almost entirely human.”
Crown Prince Alexis asked, and Father Sydney nodded.
“The transformation began inside. He remains incomplete, although I don’t know what full transformation will do to his appearance. Flora, may I entrust him to you?”
Sydney smiled deeply at me. I nodded, and Barbara murmured, “Now it’s your turn,” while patting my back.
“Yes…! Lady Amanda, can I use your kitchen?”
“Eh…? Yes, of course!”
Lady Amanda looked puzzled and stared blankly.
I hurried to the kitchen with the magic pot and first asked a priest to make holy water.
To encourage rapid absorption, I prepared a sweet bread porridge. After heating distilled liquor until the alcohol evaporated, I added maltose syrup, holy water, and milk, then soaked bread from the marquis’s kitchen until it dissolved.
As I placed the pot over the fire, a band’s faint fanfare drifted through the window.
“…Has the public extermination begun?”
“I hope Kevin is okay…”
Chelsea, who was helping me, looked worried.
“Kevin belongs to the Royal Order…”
Apparently every member of the Order was participating in the performance.
“Then we must go help. Bishop Powell just regained consciousness.”
Gilbert called out as he came running into the kitchen.
“He says the Undead Mud was indeed in the underground waterways. It suddenly moved around midnight, probably as part of the public extermination’s preparations.”
Chelsea looked even more confused and anxious after hearing that, and Gilbert gave her an anxious look.
“Chelsea, please don’t worry. The person important to someone precious to Flora is important to me too. I’ll help him, no matter what.”
Chelsea seemed to relax a little after hearing Gilbert’s flustered, yet strong words.
“Gilbert is our proud secret weapon, so we can rely on him!”
I mixed in a little joke, mimicking Mr. Dolph and Mrs. Barbara, and Gilbert smiled awkwardly. His ears were red, so he must be trying to hide his embarrassment.
Even as a joke, it was true. For some reason, Gilbert’s smile made me feel invincible.
Dolph and Sydney forced soup into the undead knight using a thoroughly cleaned and modified old funnel from Dolph’s luggage. The sight was remarkable, but the treatment worked.
“Then we take the pot and go.”
Dolph spoke gravely. Since the pot’s contents hadn’t diminished, more people still needed the soup.
Once prepared, we departed the Beresford residence.