Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 146: A Disturbance Outside Royal Guard Headquarters
Tauro and Aeris arrived outside Royal Guard Headquarters.
The compound was enclosed by walls so massive that the entrance resembled a castle gate. They couldn’t see inside, but the shouts of many soldiers training carried over the stonework.
At the gate, Tauro told the guards that they had an appointment with the Commander of the Royal Guard.
“You two? The Commander has no time to waste on children. If an official meeting had been arranged, a carriage would’ve been sent to collect the guests. No one expected to arrive in a public carriage is entering this compound. Go home.”
If that was true, Tauro thought, a carriage might have gone to the inn after they had already left.
“Then there’s been a misunderstanding. This is Lady Aeris of House Van Dyne, who’s scheduled to meet Count Connoen today. I’m her escort. Please inform the Commander that we’ve arrived, or you may be reprimanded for turning away his guests.”
Tauro remained polite, but the guards refused to reconsider.
“We’re faithfully performing our duty. We were told that today’s guests would arrive in a private carriage. We don’t have time to admit suspicious people who merely claim to have an appointment.”
Their thinking was too rigid for further argument to accomplish anything.
Tauro decided that someone inside would have to come to the gate.
He activated [Presence Detection] and sensed a large number of soldiers beyond the wall. Through [True Eye], he saw rows of silhouettes swinging swords in unison. One figure stood apart, observing the formation, and was probably a senior officer.
“It’s a considerable distance, but I should be able to reach it now.”
Tauro drew the Bow of Artemis and raised it toward the sky.
“What do you think you’re doing? We won’t tolerate armed misconduct outside Royal Guard Headquarters!”
The guards rushed toward him, but Tauro released an arrow before they could intervene. He immediately fired two more at different angles.
The three arrows climbed to different heights. Their trajectories then converged, and all three descended into the training ground at almost the same instant.
The guards stared after them in stunned silence.
“You little fool! You won’t escape punishment for firing into Royal Guard Headquarters!”
A spearpoint stopped directly in front of Tauro’s face.
Tauro raised both hands and offered no resistance. Several guards forced him to the ground, while others restrained Aeris and kept their spears trained on her.
A Royal Guard knight in ornate full plate came running from inside the compound.
“Who fired those arrows?”
“This boy did, sir! I witnessed it and apprehended him myself. Even a child must be severely punished for an attack on the headquarters.”
The gate guard sounded proud of himself.
“Release him. The Commander ordered me to bring him inside.”
“Release him?”
“Immediately. Is the young lady with him? She’s to accompany us as well.”
The knight had Tauro freed and brushed the dust from his clothes. He then courteously offered Aeris his hand and escorted both of them through the gate.
They were led across the training ground, where many Royal Guard knights had gathered.
Three arrows stood embedded in the earth, clustered so closely that they appeared to occupy a single point.
“Were you the one who fired these?”
A powerfully built man stood beside the arrows. He appeared to be in his thirties, with long brown hair, a beard, and a stern, imposing presence.
“Yes,” Tauro replied.
“Remarkable accuracy for someone your age… Hm? That young lady…”
“This is Lady Aeris, Count Connoen. She’s the person with whom you were scheduled to meet today.”
“Of course. Her eyes are exactly like Marquis Van Dyne’s.”
The man turned to Aeris and bowed.
“Please forgive this reception. I’m Count Connoen, Commander of the Royal Guard. I owed a great debt to your father when I was younger.”
Aeris stared at him in surprise.
“Someone escort our guests to my office. I’ll join them after I wash away the sweat from training.”
Count Connoen bowed once more and departed, while another Royal Guard knight led Tauro and Aeris into the headquarters building.