Kays Translations

Chapter 61: The Secret of Selfers’ Eyes

Selfers, who had washed off the dirt in the bath installed by Isamu and changed clothes, headed to the waiting room where everyone was.

Diluc was already there, and the members of the report meeting were now complete.

"Sorry for being late. Well, let's get started right away."

And so, the report meetings for the extermination team and the capital defense team began.

"Hmm, so you had a total of three battles...It's really fortunate that you informed us in advance. If it had been delayed by one more day, Terney Town would have been in trouble..."

The first report was from the extermination team.

Starting with the encounter, it covered the rescue of the border town Terney and the extension of aid to the neighboring border town Badalona. It was revealed that the root cause was indeed Duke Kalenberg's territory.

The discussion then shifted to the Felis Series.

"The most appreciated thing this time was, without a doubt, the Felis Series. Not only did the sharpness improve, but the significant advantage was its 'durability.' In situations like this, where we engage in consecutive battles without much delay, the sharpness tends to decline or break in the latter part of the battles. But this time, that was almost zero."

"Yes, the Type 2 was also very effective. With the previous spears, we could hardly inflict any damage on ogres, let alone orcs, but with the Type 2, we could chip away at them from a distance. Thanks to that, we could handle multiple ogres simultaneously without any casualties."

It seemed that Selfers and Diluc both fully realized the effectiveness of the Felis Series.

"We can fight with confidence when we have trust in our weapons. Originally, I felt the effects through training, but winning the first battle made everyone's confidence in their weapons change into certainty. Isamu-dono, thank you very much."

"Yeah. The soldiers also felt secure in fighting with the Type 2. Thank you very much."

"Oh no, please raise your heads! I just did what I could!"

Bowled over by the gratitude of the two, Isamu replied, waving his hands.

"Nyaaa."

As if saying it was natural, Orihime, who had been curled up on Isamu’s lap, opened one eye and let out a small snort.

"And, it's also good to have a certain number of enhanced types. We had a head-on confrontation with ogres, but thanks to the enhanced types, we were able to bring it to a short-term decision. Even though the Type 1 could inflict enough damage, giving time to creatures like them would not be good..."

"Absurd... You confronted ogres head-on?"

Nicolette sighed heavily at her husband's reckless actions.

"Ha ha ha, well, it was an emergency situation."

"By the way, you used your 'eyes' at that time. Are you okay?"

"Huh!? You used your 'eyes'!? You haven't used them in years because it puts a huge burden on you."

At Diluc's words, Nicolette pressed Selfers for an explanation.

"The ogres attacked us two at once. I needed to defeat at least one of them as quickly as possible. Don't worry, I didn’t use it for more than a second, and there's no problem with my condition."

Assuring his worried wife, Selfers smiled.

"Umm, excuse me. What exactly are these 'eyes'?"

The only one not keeping up with the conversation, Isamu, timidly asked a question.

"Oh, right... I hadn't told Isamu-dono about it yet. I'm sorry. It's not that I kept it a secret, but I just didn't have the chance to mention it..."

"Haa."

"I also have a somewhat rare ability skill, although it's not a unique one. It's called 'Prescience Deja Vu.' It allows me to sense, as if I've experienced it, a very short future, specifically about 0.1 to 0.3 seconds ahead."

"Eh!? Does that mean you can foresee the future!?"

"Well, if you think about it simply, yes. But it's not such a convenient and all-powerful thing. You know people with keen intuition; it's like taking that one step further."

As Selfers mentioned, 'Prescience Deja Vu' is an extremely rare ability skill that allows him to sense a very short future, specifically about 0.1 to 0.3 seconds ahead. It's not so much about seeing it, but feeling that future as if he had experienced it.

At 0.1 seconds, it might seem almost useless, and for ordinary people, it would be true.

However, what happens when a person with a certain level of skill practices using it?

Even with 0.1 seconds, the difference would be insurmountable.

Someone who can run 100 meters in 10 seconds can move 1 meter in 0.1 seconds. In combat, being able to move 1 meter ahead of your opponent could turn the tide of the battle.

Selfers, after learning about his ability skill, diligently trained with it. However, 'Prescience Deja Vu' puts a significant strain on the eyes and brain, especially since he hadn't used it for years. The first time he used it by mistake, he ended up bedridden for two whole days.

Nevertheless, without giving up, he continued to train diligently, and as a result, he developed a killer pattern of dodging attacks as if slipping through them, using the brief moment to counter. Since taking over the family head and primarily taking on a commanding role, he refrained from using it to avoid becoming immobile due to the backlash.

"Heh, it's quite an incredible ability skill...Well, even if I had been blessed with it, I wouldn't have been able to master it, so I think the amazing one here is Selfers-san, not the ability skill."

Isamu praised sincerely.

"Hehe, thank you. Well, leaving aside the story of my ability skill...In cases like this with formidable enemies like ogres or situations where we want to settle the battle quickly, it was clear that enhanced types are effective. They don't need to be carried by everyone, but I'd like the captain class to have them."

"Understood. We were originally planning to make them. We'll change the color or something to distinguish them from the Type 1."

At those words, Diluc reacted with a twitch.

"Isamu-dono, if possible, could you make the color red?"

And with a serious expression, Diluc specified the color to Isamu.

"Red? Uh, sure, I don't mind..."

"Thank you!"

Once Isamu agreed, Diluc expressed his gratitude with the best smile of the day.

Even in another world, red might be a special color.

After the extermination team's report, it was time for the defense team's report.

Almost 200 monsters suddenly appeared from the forest, the overwhelming effectiveness of the old magic, the fierce heat of the experimental scorching iron created by Isamu, and then..."

"Wha... a Mage Ogre appeared?!"

"..."

Selfers, shocked, involuntarily asked again with a bewildered expression. Diluc was also left speechless. While they were surprised that there were 200 monsters, it seemed the impact of the Mage Ogre was even greater.

"Yes. I peeled off their horns since they make good materials. You should take a look later."

"How did you defeat them? They're tough opponents even for a small squad (*)."

"Well... Initially, we thought they were ordinary ogres, so about ten of us cast magic on them all at once. But unexpectedly, they used a magic barrier...Unable to inflict significant damage, we were at a loss, and that's when we managed to bring down one with Isamu-san's Earth Grand Spike."

"With the Earth Grand Spike!?"

Even Selfers seemed to recognize that the Earth Grand Spike was a magic he couldn't use.

"Yes. That magic is originally used to create numerous large stone spikes from the ground. With my magic power, it was barely 20 mel in diameter..." (1 mel = 1 cm)

"Multiple earth stakes with a diameter of 20 mels...I'm glad Isamu-dono was in the capital."

Relieved, Selfers smiled wryly at Isamu, who apologized somewhat.

"I think so too... However, one of them was clever. It avoided fatal injuries and charged toward the gate. Just when the gate crumpled in one hit and things were getting critical..."

Nicolette paused her words there, then picked up a furball with one ear moving, sitting on Isamu knee.

"And who saved us again was Orihime-chan! Hey, Orihime-chan!"

"Nyaa~n."

Picked up by Nicolette, Orihime, who was held under her arms, gave a small cry.

"Ah, it was amazing! I thought she was flying straight ahead, but in the blink of an eye, she mowed down the Mage Ogre's neck...Indeed, she's the incarnation of a goddess. So cute! So amazing!"

"Nyaa~n."

Nicolette buried her face in Orihime's stretched-out belly, making her declaration. Orihime, although allowing it, let out a slightly annoyed meow.

Watching this, Anne-Marie strongly protested.

"Wait a minute, Mom! Orihime-chan is not protesting, but she doesn't like it!"

Accepting the protest, Nicolette reluctantly put Orihime back on Isamu’s knee, and as if to thank her for her help, Orihime hopped onto Anne-Marie's lap, curling up there again.

Anne-Marie was delighted.

"What a surprise, facing a Mage Ogre without flinching... Truly, Orihime-sensei! Damn, I wanted to see that great feat with my own eyes..."

The knight captain muttered his unsophisticated impressions with a disappointed tone, which Selfers, looking at him with warm eyes, sighed again with relief.

"... In any case, I'm glad everyone is safe. And, really sorry this time, Nico. I exposed you to an incredibly dangerous situation...I'm truly relieved that you're safe... And thank you for standing at the forefront, protecting the city. I can't thank you enough."

"Self... Hehe, thanks for your concern. But you know, since you're thanking me so much, from now on, make sure to eat your vegetables properly. So that I don't have to worry about you anymore."

"Oh, um, sure. I'll try to handle it as best as I can..."

Nicolette laughed mischievously, and Selfers' cheeks twitched a little, expressing a sense of relief once again.

"Keho. Well, leaving that aside. This time, the reason the defense force was able to protect the capital was undoubtedly due to Orihime-dono's significant contribution. Still, the fact that Isamu-dono was able to deploy the ancient magic he deciphered in practical combat played a crucial role."

Intentionally clearing his throat, Selfers continued the conversation.

"Yes, that's undeniably true. Anne and the knight squad's Marcela, for example, had more than 1.5 times the power. Even girls like Karina, the head maid, who had been bottlenecked by their low magic power, now understood that they could use powerful magic in real combat with just one or two shots. Although countermeasures against magic barriers are necessary, the defensive power has significantly increased."

Following Selfers' lead, Nicolette continued.

"Now that Isamu-dono has made it public that he's a Wanderer, and considering that Nico has become quite proficient in ancient magic, it might be a good time to gradually expand the audience for ancient magic to all knights and soldiers."

"That's right. Since our guiding principles are almost solidified, let's try it after the holidays."

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements."

In response to the orders from the lord and lady, Diluc replied concisely.

"As for magic tools for defense, do they seem effective?"

"Yes. This time, they were hastily made, so they were effective against the surprise attack. Still, if we take some time, I'll consider various new ones."

Isamu responded to Selfers question.

"Thank you. From now on, let's strengthen our forces with the three main pillars: ancient magic, Felis Series, and the new magic tools."

"Agreed."

"Understood!"

"Roger!"

In response to Selfers’ summary, Nicolette, Isamu, and Diluc nodded in agreement.

"Now then, let's move on to the compensation talk. As I mentioned earlier, the cause of this turmoil was the Count Kalenberg’s territory. The count has already fully admitted his fault and is coming to apologize. However, we decided to go to him instead."

"Uh, is that like visiting while negotiating about the refrigerator?"

Isamu asked.

"Ah, it's half true."

"Half?"

"Yes, half. The count has promised a considerable amount of monetary compensation for this incident. However, we are planning to refuse that."

"What? You're going to refuse compensation!?"

Isamu was surprised by Selfers’ unexpected words. The other members also showed similar expressions of surprise.

"It's not just a simple rejection. We intend to receive something in return. It's more like a right than an object."

"A right?"

"Yes. Do you remember what's in the Count Kalenberg’s territory, Isamu-dono?"

"Uh, let me see... Ah! There was talk about ruins, right!? So, is it the right to enter those ruins?"

"Close but not really. It is the right to enter the ruins, but originally, anyone can enter those ruins at their own risk as long as they pay the fee. Look, Willem from the research institute has been there many times, right?"

"I see... Then what is it??"

Perplexed by Selfers’ mysterious words, Isamu tilted his head.

"Ah! Father, are you planning to get the right to enter a restricted area!?"

Anne-Marie, realizing something, couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Hehe, as expected of Anne. Yes, that's right. I'm thinking of receiving the qualification to enter that restricted area."

In response to Anne-Marie's words, Selfers grinned with a raised corner of his mouth.

*Note: In this world, one squad consists of 20 people, including the squad leader. One platoon consists of four squads plus a platoon leader, making four platoons equal to one squad.

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