Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 438: Many Gifts
The disturbance in the garden that night had grown rather chaotic, in no small part because of Aeris’s spectacular magic.
Count Graunewald came out at once to settle matters, and the commotion soon died down.
The following morning, the count informed the guests once again that Tauro, one of the central figures of the unveiling, had defeated the surviving vice leader of the Assassins’ Guild—the man responsible for the uproar in the Royal Capital. The guests staying at the castle were astonished all over again and offered their congratulations to House Graunewald.
Some remained for several days to tour the territorial capital. Others returned home immediately, while still others stayed to form new connections and broaden their social circles. Each spent the following days pursuing their own objectives.
Tauro and Haku attended to the invited guests together and began building relationships that might prove useful in the future. Since Tauro had surrendered the position of heir to Haku, he was no longer strictly required to do so, but he could hardly leave everything to his younger brother. He also cared about the reputation of House Graunewald.
Amid those busy days, Tauro turned fourteen.
Birthdays were seldom celebrated in this world, so he attached little importance to the occasion. Even so, gifts arrived at the castle to commemorate both his birthday and his formal unveiling.
“Tauro, several gifts have arrived in addition to those sent for the unveiling,” Count Graunewald told him after summoning him to the office.
“Gifts?”
Receiving personal gifts was uncommon enough that Tauro immediately wondered who had sent them.
“One is from Prince Fleue. Another is from His Excellency the Prime Minister. There are also gifts from Count Dareder and the Garfish Trading Company.”
Tauro nodded in understanding. Every sender was someone he knew.
Each gift came with a letter, so he had everything carried to his room and began examining them there.
“I’ll start with the one from Garfish.”
The letter opened with an apology for Mardai Garfish’s inability to attend the unveiling. It continued with a cheerful report that products bearing the Giro Sugar name were still selling well, followed by words of thanks and congratulations. At the end was a brief description of the gift.
“A cloak?”
That was all it said, so Tauro opened the package.
When unfolded, the cloak was enormous.
“It’s almost as though the gift is telling me to keep adventuring. Ha ha! Still, isn’t this much too large?”
Tauro tried it on—and the cloak immediately shrank until it fit him perfectly.
“A size-changing magic cloak? I’ve never seen craftsmanship like this!”
Startled, he removed it and examined it with [True Eye].
Transforming Skalen Gecko Leather Cloak
Made by the first-rate craftsman Rangas.
The cloak expands or contracts to fit its wearer.
Grants fire resistance and poison resistance.
“Rangas made this? How did the Garfish Trading Company obtain his work when he’s supposed to be in the Dragonfolk Village?”
The appraisal result only deepened the mystery, and Tauro had no immediate way to learn the answer.
He set the cloak aside and opened the letter from Count Dareder, whose domain included Dansas, the village Tauro had once called home.
The count congratulated him on his unveiling as heir and again thanked Tauro for saving his life.
Sorry, but I’m not the heir anymore.
Tauro silently apologized to the letter before opening the large package that accompanied it.
Inside were numerous sets of new clothes in several sizes, apparently chosen with his future growth in mind. The enclosed list explained that the garments followed the latest fashions in the Royal Capital and had been designed by promising young tailors, so he could wear them in noble society without concern.
“I’ll keep a few and give the rest to Haku.”
Tauro intended to continue adventuring, whereas Haku would have far more occasions to wear formal clothing.
“Next is the Prime Minister’s gift.”
The Prime Minister’s letter began with a formal message of congratulations, expressed the hope that Tauro would continue serving the kingdom, and ended with a request to play Reversi together again someday.
“You really do love Reversi, don’t you? Ha ha!”
Tauro couldn’t help laughing as he remembered the Prime Minister’s merciless expression whenever he faced a child across the board.
The accompanying gift was an expensive-looking pen decorated with an intricate family crest.
“This must be the Prime Minister’s family crest. It’s even set with jewels, so it can’t have been cheap. I doubt I’ll have many opportunities to use it, but I’ll keep it safe.”
He returned the pen to its case and stored it in [Magic Storage].
“And finally, Prince Fleue.”
Rather than offering conventional congratulations, Fleue wrote that he still found it difficult to believe his friend Tauro had entered the same world of nobility that he inhabited.
That’s exactly the sort of thing my friend would say. He understands me too well.
Tauro chuckled at Fleue’s perceptive words.
The prince added that he had recently acquired something interesting and wanted Tauro to have it.
Inside the package was a shortsword.
Its simple design closely resembled Tauro’s own weapon, Shortsword Tauro.
“Could this be…?”
He examined it with [True Eye].
Modified Shortsword Tauro
Made by master craftsman Angus.
A mithril magic sword.
The blade extends when infused with magical power and possesses extraordinary sharpness.
Grants Agility +3, Swordsmanship +3, Light Attribute, and Increased Durability.
“It’s definitely Angus’s work! The enhancements are weaker than those on my original sword, but the blade can extend?”
Tauro drew the weapon. At first glance, it appeared to have an ordinary metal blade, but that was clearly a deliberate disguise.
“Angus must have forged it in two layers, like a katana, so the mithril wouldn’t be obvious. His skill has improved again.”
Impressed by the workmanship, Tauro infused the shortsword with magical power.
A faint light spread along the blade, then extended outward until it formed the shape of a full-length sword.
“It still weighs no more than a shortsword, but can the part made of light really cut?”
He tilted his head and lightly swept the extended blade across the tip of a candle in his room.
Nothing appeared to happen.
Tauro stopped supplying magical power, causing the light blade to vanish, and returned the shortsword to its sheath. When he touched the candle with his free hand, however, a fine line appeared across its tip and the severed piece slid to the floor.
“It did cut! Just how sharp is this thing?”
Once again, Angus had produced an extraordinary weapon.
“Still, Angus, please stop naming every excellent shortsword you make ‘Tauro.’ It’s embarrassing…”
Tauro was delighted with Prince Fleue’s gift, though that single detail continued to bother him.