Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 28: Protecting with One’s Life
“Isshin-san! I’ll find a way to force it open!”
Kenya, piloting his KOG, called out to Isshin.
In front of Kenya and his team, who were attempting a breakthrough, nearly thirty KOGs stood waiting.
This was Point E on the battlefield map.
Thirty KOGs—enough to shift the tides of war, a force powerful enough to bring down an entire city.
…
“Should I head out as well?”
“No, stay here. You’re exhausted from the previous battle.”
Sieg and Reina watched the battlefield from their monitors.
Reina insisted she was ready to sortie, but Sieg denied her request.
Even from the side, it was clear—she could barely stand.
That was how fierce the battle had been.
“Yeah, our forces should be more than enough. The only concern is that pilot—the one who took down Gillian and even came close to defeating you…”
Seated on his throne in the command center, Lord contemplated.
That one factor remained uncertain in his calculations.
But no matter how strong an individual might be, there was no way one person could triumph against nearly a hundred KOGs.
That was far beyond personal strength.
And yet.
(Why can’t I be sure of our victory? What am I overlooking? Why does a single ace pilot make me feel so uneasy?)
A strange sense of foreboding gripped Lord.
On the battlefield, he had always been certain of victory.
Even now, everything was unfolding exactly as he had predicted—the Resistance was where he expected, making their move as he had foreseen.
And now, they were targeting the exact location he anticipated, facing overwhelming odds that should have crushed their hopes.
And yet, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.
Why?
(This unease… what is about to happen…?)
…
“I’ll break through with everything I have. Leave me behind and run!”
Kenya made his declaration.
It was a call for a suicide charge.
He was prepared to die, charging alone into a force of nearly thirty KOGs.
“No! Kenya! You can’t!”
From the ground, Kaguya screamed.
Kenya’s words were practically an admission of suicide.
“Kaguya, I’m sorry. But this is the only way I can think of to keep you alive…”
“But… that’s… I don’t want that…”
Tears welled up in Kaguya’s eyes.
She understood.
If anyone could break through the encirclement, it was Kenya.
But that meant his death.
If he didn’t hold the line, the rest of them couldn’t escape.
And Kaguya couldn’t think of any other way.
She had no idea how to change their fate.
All she could do was cry.
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(Why am I so powerless…? If only I were as strong as Kenyaa… maybe everyone could have escaped…)
Regret washed over her.
She should have trained harder.
She should have pushed herself more, even if it meant putting her life on the line.
There were still KOGs here.
If only she were stronger—if she were as strong as Kenya—then maybe, just maybe, they could have made it out together.
“I understand, Kenya. I won’t let your resolve be in vain. I swear I will protect Kaguya.”
Isshin accepted Kenya’s proposal.
Every second counted. A decision had to be made.
A choice of life and death.
Who would be sacrificed, and who would survive?
“Father! No! I’ll fight too!”
But Isshin struck Kaguya across the face.
“Fool! Do not trample on a man’s resolve!”
Then, gently, he placed his hands on her shoulders and met her eyes.
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“I know this is painful. But you must live. You, the one he is willing to risk his life to protect—you must survive. That is your duty.”
Deep down, Kaguya understood.
She sobbed uncontrollably.
“I… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, Kenya. I’m sorry…”
Memories flashed in her mind—of the older brother who once saved her.
She had sworn to become stronger ever since then, training every day.
And yet.
Again, her weakness was costing the life of someone dear to her.
Again, someone was dying to protect her.
All she could do was weep.
A powerless sixteen-year-old girl, blaming herself.
Then, Kenya stepped out of his KOG.
Taking a brief moment for himself.
“Kaguya… I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing…? You’ve always protected me… I swore I’d get stronger… but in the end… I can’t do anything… ugh…”
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Kenya embraced her.
In his arms, she trembled, sobbing.
Holding her, he realized just how small and delicate she was.
She was strong-willed but truly kind.
She was just a girl.
A normal, fragile, and adorable girl who only tried to act tough.
“I wanted to protect you in a cooler way, but…”
“You’re already cool, Kenya…”
“Then… can I get a reward for risking my life…?”
Trying to lighten the mood, he joked.
But before he could finish, she silenced him.
Standing on her toes, she pressed her lips against his.
Kaguya kissed him.
When their lips parted, her tear-streaked face looked up at him.
“I love you, Kenya… I love you.”
“Kaguya…?”
“Was that a good enough reward?”
Blushing, embarrassed, Kaguya’s face turned bright red as she smiled through her tears.
She thought—this might be the last time. If she didn’t say it now, she would regret it forever.
Right now, she could be honest.
No, she had to be honest, or she would regret it for the rest of her life.
She wanted to tell him—this boy.
At first, she thought he was strange.
Why was he so strong, so kind, and why did he, for some reason, say he loved her so much?
Kaguya had fallen for Kenya.
She had fallen for this boy who was straightforward, reckless, and unwavering in his devotion to her.
They hadn’t even spent a full month together, yet Kenya had grown so large in her heart that she found herself thinking about him every day.
That’s what he had become to her.
“I see… Thank you, Kaguya. I love you too.”
Kenya embraced Kaguya once more.
This might be the last time. So he held her as tightly as he could.
Tears welled up in Kenya’s eyes as well.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t afraid of dying.
In fact, he was terrified—his legs were trembling. He still couldn’t fully believe that he was about to die.
A boy who had lived comfortably in modern Japan was now about to fight on a battlefield.
Would it hurt when he died?
What would it feel like in that moment?
He was nearly crushed by that fear.
But now, those feelings had completely disappeared.
Kaguya’s confession had erased that fear.
A fire burned deep in his chest—he had to protect her no matter what.
Gently, he let go of Kaguya and brought their final moment to an end.
“…Thank you. You gave me courage. Time’s running out… Goodbye, Kaguya.”
“Yeah… See you aga— No… Goodbye, Kenya. I love you.”
Kaguya steeled herself.
She knew that if she said anything more, she would only hold Kenya back.
She forced herself to hold back the tears and saw him off with a smile.
Kenya nodded at that smile and turned his back to her.
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Ishin approached him.
“Kenya… Take this. You know how to use it, and when to use it.”
Ishin handed him a single handgun.
Kenya understood what it meant and nodded slowly.
Then, he climbed into his KOG.
Behind him, Kaguya and the other members of the Resistance gathered in preparation for their escape.
Several KOGs stood by as escorts.
Kenya took one last glance to confirm that everything was ready.
Then, he activated his KOG.
“A fight to protect, huh…? Dying to protect the girl I love… The old me would’ve never imagined something like that.”
He had once thought this kind of thing only happened in video games.
But in this world, he had met people fighting desperately to survive.
He had lived alongside them.
And he had grown—not just in his skill with KOGs, but as a person.
Perhaps the greatest change was in his heart.
He had learned what it meant to live with his life on the line.
In this harsh world, he had seen fellow Japanese people fighting desperately to survive.
For Kenya, who had once lived aimlessly, each day had become meaningful.
He had found value in his life—because his existence mattered to someone.
It made him truly happy that he had become someone important to Kaguya.
Then, Kenya launched himself toward the enemy forces.
As if speaking to himself, he declared in a loud voice.
His eyes, locked onto the massive enemy battalion, held not a trace of fear.
“Well then… guess I’ll do it.”
With a fearless grin, his spirit burned brightly.
“I’ll protect them—like my life depends on it!”