Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 202: The Fourth Member
Ankh’s movements were excellent.
He and Ragune were well matched, and together they eliminated the first six goblins with ease.
Tauro noticed that Ankh was clearly holding back.
At first he wondered whether Ankh was concealing his true strength. Then he recognized the discipline behind the man’s movements.
On a battlefield, a fighter might be forced into one engagement after another without knowing when the fighting would end. Ankh used only as much strength as each opponent required, preserving his stamina for whatever came next.
His approach was the opposite of Ragune’s habit of attacking every enemy with maximum force.
As Tauro reached that conclusion, Ankh gave Ragune the same explanation.
“Ragune, when the enemy is weak, adjust the amount of strength you use. Always leave something for the next fight. Even a person with tremendous stamina will eventually become exhausted.”
Ankh’s efficiency came from many years of experience and wouldn’t be easy to imitate immediately.
Nevertheless, when they found another goblin group, Ragune began moderating her attacks according to his advice.
She wasn’t yet as economical as Ankh, but she seemed delighted to discover a new way of fighting. She also coordinated with him naturally.
Watching them changed Aeris’s opinion.
“Ankh may be exactly what the team needs,” she said before striking a fleeing goblin with a magical water arrow.
After the subjugation ended, Tauro looked to Aeris and Ragune. Both indicated their approval.
“Then Ankh passes the test,” Tauro said.
He turned toward the former mercenary.
“If you’re still willing, please join Black-Gold Wings.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. You and Ragune work well together at the front, and your experience should help the entire team. We’d be grateful to have you.”
“I agree,” Aeris said, slightly embarrassed by how suspicious she had been at first.
“I’d welcome Ankh as well,” Ragune added. “You’re easy to fight beside, and I’d appreciate more of your advice.”
“That’s a warmer welcome than I expected,” Ankh said. “Very well. My name is Ankh. Fighting is the one thing I truly understand, and I look forward to working with all of you.”
“I’m Aeris, the team’s rear guard. I apologize for not introducing myself properly before.”
“I’m Ragune, a dragonfolk warrior. I joined because I owed Tauro and Aeris a debt of gratitude. They’re now my good friends.”
“What?”
Tauro and Aeris stared at her.
It was the first time Ragune had openly acknowledged them as friends. Neither could hide their happiness.
“And I’m Tauro, the leader,” Tauro said after recovering. “Please call me by my name. I’ll do the same for you. Ragune should stop using formal titles with team members as well.”
“You’re right. Adding titles between companions would be strange.”
Ragune nodded, then smiled shyly.
“Then let me ask something,” Ankh said. “Is Aeris naturally impossible to appraise?”
Even his low-grade [Personal Appraisal] had been unable to reveal her name. Aeris looked toward Tauro, unsure how much she should explain.
“This is a good opportunity,” Tauro said. “I prepared pendants for both of our new members.”
He took two pendants from [Magic Storage].
At first Aeris thought they were the pendants Shin and Rumeya had returned. A closer look showed that Tauro had made new ones: one stone was cut like a diamond, while the other resembled a three-leaf clover.
“Wear these around your neck. They should prevent other people from reading your status.”
“An item like that exists?” Ankh asked in astonishment.
Ragune accepted hers and put it on immediately. Ankh followed.
His [Personal Appraisal] could no longer reveal Ragune’s name. Even the special eye ability that had penetrated her visual-obstruction magic failed completely.
“Amazing. Everything is blocked. She now appears exactly like Aeris does to my appraisal.”
“Aeris wears a similar pendant,” Tauro explained. “I can’t tell you every detail about their construction, but they’re symbols of Black-Gold Wings. Please take good care of them.”
“Of course,” Ankh and Ragune answered together.
With Ankh’s acceptance, Black-Gold Wings had gained its fourth member.