Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 6: Turning Point
　When I turned seven, martial arts training began. Until then I’d spent my free time running around the mansion’s spacious gardens, but from now on those hours would be training hours. And once I’d put in a certain amount of training, I’d be allowed to walk about the town.
　I had been into town before, taken along by my parents or grandparents. But that never let me go where I actually wanted to go. Now, at last, I’d be able to go wherever I liked. That mattered enormously.
“Right then, we’ll start with practice swings. Today you’ll swing until you drop.”
“Is Lionel a demon?”
“Father could go a bit easier on us, honestly.”
“Straight in at the deep end, isn’t it…”
　Under the instruction of Lionel, the Knight Commander, the practice swings began. Naturally, Gyre had already taken a knuckle to the skull beforehand. His father’s educational policy apparently allowed no mercy for his own flesh and blood. I’m glad I’m not the Knight Commander’s son.
　I kept on swinging the wooden sword, over and over, whoosh after whoosh. My class in the game had been mage, but I’d also dabbled in swords and spears so I could still fight when my magic ran dry, or against opponents magic didn’t work on. Because of that, I had a fair amount of skill.
“Oh my, Lord Julius, you’re quite the natural. You’d manage perfectly well in the knight order with instincts like those.”
“Thank you very much.”
　That said, I hadn’t the faintest intention of joining the knight order. Join the knights, get injured, and they’d make me drink that recovery potion. Absolutely not.
　After days on end filled with nothing but practice swings, permission to go out finally came through. With an escort, of course — but being able to go where I wanted was wonderful all the same.
“Right, today we’re going to the forest nearby.”
“Not the town — the forest?”
“What on earth is the point of that?”
　The two of them had been certain we were going into town, and my unexpected announcement left them blinking in bewilderment. There was a reason, of course.
“To look for medicinal herbs in the forest. We might even turn up antidote herb or mana herb.”
“And what will you do once you’ve found them?”
　Christopher tilted his head as he asked, his interest apparently piqued.
“Now that’s a very good question. I intend to take them home and plant them in the garden.”
“Plant them in the garden?”
“That’s right. Plant them in the garden and cultivate them.”
“Can you even do that?”
“Probably.”
　I fudged the answer. I have the ‘Cultivation’ skill, so I was quite certain I could grow them, but I stopped short of saying so outright. If anyone asked me where I’d picked up knowledge like that, I’d be in real trouble.
　Because these two have a direct line to their parents. Minions they may be, but I couldn’t let my guard down. If word got out from there and I ended up venerated as some child prodigy, it would be no laughing matter.
　I hopped into the carriage they’d prepared for me and we made for the nearby forest without detouring anywhere.
　It sat just outside the town, close enough that you could spot people from the domain about the place. That was how safe it was. Had it been otherwise, permission would never have been granted.
“Reckon there’ll be monsters?”
　Gyre said it with obvious excitement. Just in case, each of us was carrying a wooden sword for self-defence.
“M-Monsters? There are monsters here? That’s a bit frightening…”
　Christopher, by contrast, seemed anxious. This one was the cautious sort. Gyre was suited to attack and Christopher to defence, it seemed. I’d have to make proper use of each of them accordingly.
“There are, but nothing worse than slimes turns up. And even if we do run into a monster, the escort will deal with it straight away.”
“R-Right, of course!”
“That’s no fun.”
　Christopher relieved; Gyre disappointed. Complete opposites, the pair of them — and yet they got on well.
　While we were talking, we arrived at the nearby forest. From here it was on foot. You can’t spot medicinal herbs from inside a carriage.
　Stepping down from the carriage, I caught the scent of fresh green leaves. The air even felt clearer somehow. Probably just my imagination. The two of them, who had climbed down ahead of me, were glancing about left and right, brimming with curiosity.
“Right, let’s move out.”
“Yeah!”
“Y-Yes!”
　The two of them took up position in front of me. Mm-hmm — they seem to understand their roles perfectly well. Do watch your step, gentlemen. There may be valuable materials underfoot.
　We walked through the forest for the better part of an hour. Only once we’d gone a good way in did we finally find medicinal herbs.
“So you really can’t get them without going deep in after all.”
“So this is a medicinal herb. It’s the first time I’ve seen one.”
“Looks like ordinary grass to me.”
　Gyre didn’t seem interested. Not that I minded, but I did want him to at least reach the point of telling them apart.
“Fetch me the hemp sack. I’ll dig it up, so don’t lay a hand on it.”
“Whaaat?! I’ll do it!”
“No, this is still beyond you, Christopher. I’ll take the thought, though.”
　Christopher looked crestfallen, but if he did it he would fail without question. That’s how delicate transplanting medicinal herbs is. I have the ‘Transplant’ skill, so I’d succeed for certain — it wouldn’t go the same way for anyone else.
　And so I acquired several medicinal herb seedlings. And then—
“This is antidote herb! I’ve finally found some. I absolutely have to take this home.”
　I’d pushed quite deep into the forest, but medicinal herbs were all I’d managed to find. Just as I was giving up, thinking it mustn’t grow in this forest at all, those distinctive yellow leaves caught my eye.
　And at that moment, the bushes nearby rustled.
Success.