Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 33: Surrounded by Nobles
The day after meeting Garfish, a carriage carrying Tauro and his escort, Meena, passed through the commoners’ quarter, crossed the district of ordinary nobles, and entered the quarter of the highest nobility.
“The scenery has changed so much that it’s frightening…”
Tauro peered through the carriage window. Castle-like mansions stood on vast estates, each neighboring residence far in the distance, and he began to regret coming.
“Please don’t worry, Tauro. This is my first visit to a district like this as well, and I’m equally astonished.”
Paulo, riding with them and just as nervous, offered a spectacularly unhelpful reassurance.
Paulo, that doesn’t comfort me. It only makes me more anxious!
Tauro retorted silently.
He looked toward Meena and felt relieved to see her perfectly composed.
Noticing his gaze, she said, “I’m an escort, so I remain calm at all times. If I were in your position, though, I would already have wet myself—so don’t worry.”
She apparently meant that nervousness was natural, but her peculiar phrasing prompted Tauro to object.
“How’s wetting yourself supposed to reassure me?”
Tauro and Paulo burst out laughing at Meena’s joke—or what they assumed was a joke—and the tension inside the carriage vanished.
“Is this the nobleman’s residence we were given?”
The carriage had stopped before a mansion far larger and more expansive than even the other grand noble residences. It plainly exceeded the sort of noble’s home in the capital that Tauro had been led to expect.
When he stepped down, the building’s magnificent exterior left him speechless.
“Even I can tell. This family stands at the very top of the high nobility, doesn’t it?”
Tauro stated it as a certainty.
Garfish, who had arrived before them, came forward to meet the group.
“The location has changed from Count Elaino’s residence, which was originally planned. This is the mansion of Duke Barriera, the kingdom’s prime minister.”
“The prime minister!?”
“This is my first time here too, and I was so nervous that I forgot to tell you. My apologies.”
Apart from the king, the prime minister should have been the most powerful person in the country.
Only then did Tauro realize just how formidable a person had summoned him.
A man who appeared to be a butler waited at the entrance.
“Everyone else has assembled. Please follow me.”
At his invitation, Garfish and the others passed through the entrance and were led deeper into the mansion.
[Presence Detection] told Tauro that a large number of people had gathered in the spacious room ahead.
“Please wait before the door.”
They stopped as instructed.
Another man stationed at the door announced them in a ringing voice.
“Mardai Garfish, representative of the Garfish Trading Company; Tauro Satou, instructor of Reversi; and their attendants have arrived!”
The doors opened. A murmur swept the room, followed by applause welcoming them inside.
“Activation condition for the special skill [Garbled Text] confirmed: <Being subjected to high-level appraisal by ten or more people simultaneously as a popular person>. [Appraisal Obstruction] (Extreme) acquired.”
“What?”
The Voice of the World startled Tauro at that precise moment. Learning that he was being appraised surprised him even more, and the ability he had acquired astonished him most of all.
“For now, activate [Appraisal Obstruction]…”
Unwilling to be evaluated without warning, Tauro immediately used his new ability.
It appeared to work. Several people who had been welcoming Garfish and Tauro now wore puzzled expressions.
They included nobles, attendants, and people who appeared to be bodyguards.
In any event, [Appraisal Obstruction] was active; their attempts to assess him had failed.
“Welcome, Representative Garfish—and welcome, young man. I heard that our instructor was a child, but I didn’t expect him to be quite so young.”
An older gentleman who appeared to be the master of the mansion stepped forward with a smile. The crowd instantly parted to make room for him.
This is the prime minister of the kingdom!?
Overwhelmed by the dignity he radiated, Tauro was guided toward a table at the back of the room, surrounded by nobles.
Better him than me.