Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 400: After a Successful Wedding Reception
Black-Gold Wings remained in Wasan far longer than originally planned, guarding Alimar’s family until Sita and the mayor’s son finally held their wedding.
Mage Baron Wasan’s noble rank may have been modest, but administering a prosperous town had made his household wealthy. Despite the ceremony being reorganized on short notice, the reception held in the garden of the mayor’s mansion was magnificent.
Alimar’s eyes remained red throughout the celebration. Each time he looked at his daughter in her wedding clothes, he sniffled and wiped at his face.
When the bride formally thanked her parents, the chief finally lost control.
“I’m so happy for you! Your father is truly happy!”
He burst into loud sobs.
Sita’s mother desperately tried to calm her husband. Several young men from Zenyu who had accompanied the procession also began crying when they saw him.
Apparently, more than one had secretly loved Sita.
For several awkward minutes, the supposedly inconsolable father of the bride ended up comforting the heartbroken village youths.
Aside from that strange scene, the wedding reception proceeded without incident. Sita and her groom remained visibly happy from beginning to end.
“It really ended without anything going wrong,” Tauro said, sounding almost surprised.
“Why wouldn’t it?” Ankh asked with a laugh. “Few criminals would attack a wedding celebration, and neither family is normally important enough to attract enemies.”
“Tauro is thinking about the [Puppeteer] who targeted him,” Ragune said. “Controlling living people requires complicated preparations, so I doubt the same method can be used repeatedly.”
“What preparations?” Zion asked.
Ragune considered how best to explain.
“A [Puppeteer] can control an ordinary doll quickly, but a simple puppet is weak and cumbersome to carry. A living person can become a far more effective puppet, especially after the ability strengthens the body.”
“However, taking away a person’s freedom requires a contract. The target must accept the agreement under certain conditions, which normally makes controlling an unwilling person extremely difficult.”
“The villagers who attacked Tauro remembered nothing about signing a contract,” Ankh pointed out.
“The Assassins’ Guild remnants traveled as a pair,” Ragune replied. “One was probably a [Puppeteer]. The other may have possessed an ability that made the villagers agree without understanding what they were doing.”
Her explanation remained a theory, not a confirmed fact.
“Could the second man have used hypnosis?” Tauro asked, drawing on memories from his previous life.
“A [Hypnotist]…” Ragune said slowly. “Yes, that would explain it. A hypnotized victim could be tricked into signing the [Puppeteer]’s contract without consciously remembering the decision.”
“Why not simply hypnotize the villagers and order them to attack Tauro-sama?” Zion asked.
“Because ordinary hypnotized attackers would retain the presence of living people and wouldn’t receive the [Puppeteer]’s enhancements,” Ragune explained. “Once treated as puppets, they become stronger and can approach without being detected as living beings. That makes them much more useful for assassination.”
She shook her head in grudging admiration.
“The Assassins’ Guild truly gathered an unpleasant variety of specialists.”
“Then the pair might attempt the same method again,” Ankh said, finally understanding why a crowded reception could have been an attractive opportunity.
He began scanning the guests more seriously.
“Relax,” Tauro said. “I specifically watched for figures visible to the eye but absent from [Presence Detection]. I also memorized the presences of both men. If they come near us again, I won’t let them escape.”
“As expected of Tauro-sama!” Zion said brightly.
“If they still intend to attack,” Ankh said, “they may wait until before we leave Wasan or blend into a village along the return route.”
“That’s possible,” Tauro agreed. “They might also control monsters, although hypnotizing a monster well enough to make it sign a contract seems unlikely.”
“The [Puppeteer]’s control range should be fairly short,” Ragune warned. “They can’t remain beyond [Presence Detection] and still direct an attack. Next time, they may come prepared to fight more desperately.”
“Then I’ll remain vigilant and make certain Tauro-sama is never placed in danger!” Zion declared, clenching her fists.
“Be careful,” Tauro teased. “You seem like the person most likely to be hypnotized.”
Zion froze in shock.
“Tauro-sama! Do I truly look that simple-minded? Damn it, I’ll live…!”
The final phrase had become one of her unconscious habits after surviving the Dragon’s Den.
“Hahaha! Zion, that’s a very strange thing to say whenever you’re upset,” Ragune teased.
Your own ‘Damn it… Just kill me…’ is far stranger.
Tauro wisely kept that observation to himself.