Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 378: The Most Important Thing
With Zion now joining them as a companion, Tauro’s group discussed returning to Caxart.
Grrr…
A stomach growled loudly.
“S-Sorry. During the dungeon adjustment, I had nothing except portable rations…”
Zion’s face reddened with embarrassment.
“We should have noticed,” Tauro said with a laugh. “Let’s eat before returning to Caxart.”
He invited Drago to join them.
When Tauro asked what everyone wanted, Drago chose hamburger-steak curry, Ragune immediately requested pork-cutlet curry, and Ankh said anything was acceptable. Zion, however, asked what curry was.
They therefore headed to the curry restaurant Tauro had helped establish in the Dragonfolk Village.
A statue stood outside the restaurant.
It was, naturally, a full-body statue of Tauro.
The sculpted Tauro wore a broad smile, carried a plate of curry in one hand and a spoon in the other, and had a slime perched on one shoulder.
“Nobody told me about this…”
Tauro was reminded of a certain fried-chicken restaurant mascot from his previous life. More than anything, however, he was mortified to see himself displayed in front of the shop.
“Being Leader must be difficult in its own way,” Ankh said sympathetically.
“What’s wrong with it?” Ragune asked, studying the statue. “The only flaw is that the curry has no pork cutlet on top.”
“I think it’s magnificent that Tauro-sama has been made into a statue!”
Zion’s unreserved admiration offered no comfort.
“What’s the slime on your shoulder?” Zion asked.
“I haven’t introduced you yet. Pella, release your disguise.”
Pella separated from the belt it had been imitating and bounced onto Tauro’s shoulder.
“A slime that can disguise itself?!”
Zion stared in amazement.
“This is my partner, Pella, a rare Slime Emperor variant. It normally imitates my belt or armor and protects me.”
Pella bounced in greeting, leaped onto Zion’s shoulder, rubbed against Zion’s cheek, and then returned to Tauro and resumed its belt form.
“Amazing! I’ve never heard of a slime like Pella!”
The belt trembled happily at the praise.
“It seems Pella likes you. Come on, let us eat.”
Tauro tried to ignore the statue and led everyone inside.
Zion approached the unfamiliar curry cautiously, but the first bite immediately changed that expression.
“I’ve never eaten anything like this. It’s delicious!”
“Consider this your welcome party,” Tauro said. “Eat as much as you like.”
Zion happily requested another serving, then another. After finally noticing how much had been eaten, Zion lowered the spoon and blushed.
“I’m sorry. I ended up eating far more than anyone else…”
“Leader told you to eat,” Ankh said. “We’re companions now. There’s no reason to hold back.”
“Exactly,” Ragune agreed, her mouth stained with curry. “I’m already on my fourth pork-cutlet curry!”
That isn’t an example anyone should imitate, Tauro thought.
“Thank you. It’s been a very long time since anyone treated me this kindly.”
Tears gathered in Zion’s eyes.
Zion’s mother had died when Zion was only a little over ten. Left alone, Zion had been taken in by Gray Vultures and forced through forbidden slave magic to carry their equipment. For years, kindness had been almost entirely absent from Zion’s life.
Now, for the first time, Zion was surrounded by people who could truly be called companions.
“You have endured a great deal,” Tauro said. “I understand at least part of that. My life was also miserable before I recovered the memories of my previous life.”
“I can never repay you, Tauro-sama. From now on, I’ll use my body as a shield to protect you!”
“Pella already protects me,” Tauro replied with a gentle laugh. “What I want is for you to enjoy life as an adventurer, a member of Black-Gold Wings, and our friend.”
“Understood. I’ll devote my life to Black-Gold Wings!”
That’s still not what I meant!
Tauro restrained the protest and resolved to correct Zion’s extreme devotion gradually.
As the meal continued, Zion spoke more fully about the past. Zion’s mother had been widowed and chronically ill; Zion’s father had died shortly before Zion was born. After the mother’s death, Zion had been left completely alone.
That was why Tauro, Ragune, and Ankh—the first true friends Zion had ever known—had already become the most important people in Zion’s life.
The attachment was intense, but Tauro understood it.
He, too, knew what it meant to feel alone in the world and how precious trustworthy companions could become.
Tauro resolved to be the kind of companion worthy of Zion’s trust.