Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 143: Journey to the Royal Capital
Tauro and Aeris met Shin outside Dansas and boarded the carriage he had arranged.
“Take care, both of you! And good luck!”
Shin waved as the carriage began moving.
Tauro and Aeris waved back until Shin and the village gradually disappeared from view.
The journey would carry them beyond O’Circus and across a considerable distance. Tauro would have preferred to travel directly to the Royal Capital, but for safety they followed the established route through Dareder territory.
Two children traveling alone in a hired carriage would attract attention even if both were registered adventurers. Remaining on the major roads and stopping in settled areas reduced the risk of bandits or other attackers targeting them.
There was no need to rush recklessly.
Uwaakin’s movements remained troubling, but Tauro had already overwhelmed him with [Majesty] badly enough to make him flee in humiliation. Tauro doubted the man would immediately pursue them.
On the evening of the fifth day, the party prepared to spend the night in a small town near the main road.
Just as Tauro and the coachman descended from the carriage to request entry from the gatekeeper, unexpected pursuers appeared behind them.
Uwaakin had arrived with the same three soldiers.
“So I finally found you, Aeris!”
His triumphant shout carried across the gate.
“It’s disgraceful for a young woman to travel alone with a man while she’s promised to another—even if that man is only a child. Fortunately, I’m generous. I’ll overlook your escape and forgive this misconduct. Now come back with me to Van Dyne territory!”
Uwaakin ordered his soldiers to seize her.
“I won’t allow that.”
Tauro stepped between Aeris and the advancing men.
He murmured a short spell. One soldier abruptly turned and drove his fist into the face of the companion beside him.
The struck man flew backward, slammed against the wall beside the gate, and collapsed unconscious.
The sudden attack stunned Uwaakin and the remaining soldiers.
“He betrayed us! Restrain him!”
They seized their own companion and began wrestling him to the ground.
The gatekeeper had witnessed the entire disturbance. Unable to ignore violence at the entrance, he summoned additional town guards.
Uwaakin began shouting that he was a nobleman and an associate of the Marquis of Van Dyne. When the guards moved to detain him, he threatened them with the marquisate’s authority.
“Guards,” Tauro said, “that man is the second son of a fallen viscount’s house. He isn’t a member of House Van Dyne. He has repeatedly claimed the authority of the marquisate without proof. You should detain him and verify his identity before allowing him to leave.”
“Don’t listen to that brat’s nonsense!”
Red-faced, Uwaakin lunged toward Tauro.
Tauro slipped aside, swept his leg, and sent him crashing onto his back.
The guards immediately pinned him down.
“Release me! I’m the future Marquis of Van Dyne!”
Leaving Uwaakin’s protests behind, Tauro and Aeris returned to the carriage and proceeded to an inn inside the town.
“Is it truly safe for us to remain here tonight?” Aeris asked in the inn’s dining room.
“Once the guards detain someone making claims about a major noble house, they must contact their superiors and obtain confirmation. That process will take time. Uwaakin made the claim directly in front of the guards, so they can’t simply release him without investigating it. He’ll probably still be confined after we leave tomorrow.”
“I see… That’s a relief.”
Aeris finally relaxed enough to drink the water before her.
The remainder of the journey passed without another appearance from Uwaakin.
“What will we do after reaching the capital?” Aeris asked as their destination drew nearer.
Her fear of pursuit had eased, but anxiety about the coming political struggle was taking its place.
“I sent letters ahead, so several people should already know we’re coming. For the moment, follow my lead. We’ll have to meet quite a few people. From everything you’ve told me, House Van Dyne is powerful and widely respected, which means only a small number of people will be willing to involve themselves in its internal dispute.”
“House Van Dyne doesn’t belong to any major faction. That independence is one reason other nobles respected it. My father was well liked. I don’t understand what has happened since my mother began acting as she pleased.”
The great gates of the Royal Capital came into view.
After more than ten days on the road, Tauro and Aeris had finally arrived.