Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 9: Black Smoke / First Battle
In the village of Berthe near the old castle, the garrison had begun evacuating the residents on the captain’s orders.
The village watchtower had set on fire. Some people watched the rising black smoke, as if mocking the confused garrison soldiers facing a sudden enemy attack.
Men in black leather armor were hiding in the forest on the outskirts of the village. They were the royal soldiers led by Zephen
The horses they were riding, tied to trees with ropes, were not the kingdom’s horses, but horses from beyond the border – horses used by cavalry in the neutral zone.
“We’re moving faster than I expected, Lord Zephen.”
“The plan changed. You all are prepared, aren’t you?”
“We’ve been waiting for this moment. We won’t forgive the people who drove us to the frontier. This is the just reward.”
There was no sign of Reiss among them. Zephen turned his eyes in the direction of the old castle and said as if it were nothing.
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“Bring out the princess. Secure Reis as soon as you find him.”
“What if they resist?”
Zephen didn’t answer the question, only curled up the corners of his mouth. Two soldiers’ eyes lit up with joy, and they mounted their horses and headed for the old castle.
“Now let us bear the wrath of these innocent people. Oh, it’s so daunting and disgusting.”
Other soldiers laughed at Zefen’s theatrical speech – but then.
- When the screams of the soldiers who went to the old castle were heard, their smiles twisted, and their eyes widened.
“…What’s that?”
“E-enemies in the forest… No, that can’t be…”
“Then were our plans leaked? That’s impossible. Right, everyone?”
Zephen glared at the soldiers one by one. His gesture was clownish, but everyone was intimidated and unable to move.
“After the village burned, the princess was tragically killed by foreigners. That’s how it has to be. Am I saying something strange?”
Trembling at Zephen’s words, two soldiers spurred their horses towards the direction where the screams were heard. Watching them go, Zephen gripped the hilt of his sword with all his might, gritting his teeth like they’d break.
“the day has finally come… I’m going to kill you, ‘Princess of White Radiance’.”
◆◇◆
What’s happening in the village? As I was trying to find out, I felt a presence rushing towards me, cutting through the forest.
I had gained several things from my training, one of which was heightened senses. Another was the ability to distinguish between the presences of friend and foe.
Someone charging at me with such a murderous intent could only be an enemy I need to defeat.
I readied my wooden sword and channeled magic into it. And the method I chose to stop the charging opponent was – to block their path.
“—Haaah!”
With a yell, I swung the wooden sword imbued with magical power with all my might. After a few seconds, straight lines ran across the surrounding trees – they all fell, creating an impromptu barricade.
“Whoa…!”
“Wh-what the…!!”
Two horses neighed, and the people riding them quickly jumped off in a panic.
“—Good day.”
“!!”
It didn’t matter what I said. I just wanted to tell them that I, whom they had imprisoned, was alive and well – even though they wore helmets that hid their faces and different armor than usual, I knew they were the guard soldiers.
“Are you a village child… You’re going too far with your mischief—”
Before he could finish speaking, I thrust the wooden sword – at the chin part of the helmet covering his face.
He seemed so open, as if I could attack anywhere. Although I shouldn’t be overconfident, I could read the opponent’s movements.
“Y-you… you bitch…!”
When the other person drew his sword and was about to attack, I beat him to it. I struck the sword with the tip of my wooden sword to knock it up, sending it flying up, and spun around to catch it.
“It would be a good idea to use an iron sword so that the sensei doesn’t get any scratches. Although it seems a bit under-maintained.”
“—Ughhh!!”
Seeing me as a child, he tried to overpower me with force – there’s nothing I can about that because I’m no match for them.
“Nyaah…!!”
Ducking under his charge and sweeping his legs, the soldier stumbled forward and crashed headfirst into a tree.
“Squeak.”
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“Riku, how was it? …I didn’t quite get it right though.”
What I learned was that I wasn’t nervous at all in my first battle in this world – and that everything I had learned was applicable.
I had wrapped a cloth around my face to hide my identity for the time being, and it seems I managed to avoid being found out. I thought I’d be found out immediately with my simple prisoner clothes and tattered sandals – but if that happened, I would just have to make them lose their memories.
(Riku was much stronger in our practice battles, I’d like to spar with him again.)
While I was thinking about this, I sensed a second wave approaching – it seems they heard the screams of these soldiers.
(Then, my next goal is… to make them not even realize they’ve been defeated.)
In order to avoid harm coming to the villagers, I’ll go find the leader after defeating the next group of soldiers – Zephen must be nearby. If I go there, I should be able to meet Reis too.