Kays Translations

Chapter 41: The Villainous Aristocrat Returns Home

Summer vacation.

It's undoubtedly one of the most eagerly anticipated events for all students.

During this break, most students return to their hometowns.

As for me, it had been nearly four months since I set foot on the land of my homeland, the Dorana Territory.

Normally, just the journey to Dorana Territory would consume half of my summer vacation. But I had the fastest means of travel at my disposal: the magic tank.

Therefore, the round trip takes less than two weeks.

I must say, I genuinely think I've created something amazing.

"Welcome back, onii-sama!!"

"I'm home, Wendy!!"

As soon as I opened the front door, Wendy rushed in for a hug.

Ah, truly, I believe my sister is an angel.

In just a moment, she managed to dispel the tiredness from my long journey.

But, uh... 

"Wendy, Wendy!! Wait, you're, uh, strong!! Your hug is strong, isn't it!?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, big brother."

"Huff, huff, you've gotten even stronger..."

As expected of a heroine who delivers critical hits one after another in the late stages of a game.

I thought my entire skeleton was going to shatter from just that tight hug.

"Welcome back, Kunou."

"I'm back, Mother. And Father?"

"He's in the fields. I think he'll be back soon."

Just at that moment, the front door opened.

"Hey, there was this huge vehicle-like thing outside— Oh, it's Kuno after all!! Welcome back!!"

"I'm back, Father."

Afterward, we moved to the living room and shared everything that had happened over the past few months.

We talked about Mother's junior, Vermeil, who was a teacher, the events during the outdoor class, and being granted the title of Baron, among other things.

Looking back, it was indeed a very intense period.

"By the way, those people sleeping in the cargo bed of the vehicle outside, they're the slaves we'll use for developing the territory, right?"

"Yes."

"Just a word of caution, be careful with handling dark slaves. Some of them might consider their lives expendable and attempt to kill their masters."

"I'm aware of that. That's why I try to communicate with them as much as possible."

But still, that one-armed elven woman doesn't seem to show any signs of opening up to us.

I think I've built a friendly relationship with the other beastfolk and dwarves, but I'm not sure what to do...

"Anyway, we're heading to the Draussen Territory tomorrow."

"Yes!! Onii-sama, I want to go too!!"

"Eh, Wendy? There might be monsters, you know, and we don't know what might happen?"

"That's exactly what I hope for!!"

Wendy said it with sparkling eyes.

Ah, that's right. I remember she's still training under Mrs. Martha.

She was quite a brute in the game, but it seems like she might become even more impressive...

I'd like Wendy to remain the angel she is, but it's her decision.

I have no right to stop her.

I obtained permission for Wendy to accompany us from Mother, who, seemingly aware of Wendy's abilities, nodded in concern.

"Anyway, Felsy won't be able to come back this summer, will she?"

"Her injuries have healed with healing magic, but she was pierced through her body. It seems she needs careful hospitalization."

"I see... I'm worried. Should we go visit her in the capital?"

Mother worried about Felsy.

In the original scenario, Mother was the one responsible for mistreating Felsy.

But now, she genuinely worries about her as her own daughter.

I'm a little happy too.

Later on 

I took the slaves to a hot spring town and ordered them to relax and heal from the journey.

They'll start working in earnest tomorrow, so they need to rest properly.

"A real forest, Boss."

"Yeah."

After a brief break in the Dorana Territory, our group, now joined by Wendy, visited the Draussen Territory.

To ensure continuous travel day and night, driving the magic tank was done on a rotating basis between me, Kohaku's brother, Hagane, from the Ashen Lion Tribe, and the beastfolk girl Kohaku.

It seems that when Hagane says "Boss," he's referring to me.

He's sincerely grateful that Kohaku's illness has been cured, and he wants to address me as Boss out of gratitude.

Initially, I, not being one to assert authority over others, felt a bit resistant to being called Boss, but well, I decided not to mind it.

It doesn't do any harm, after all.

"Hmm, should we just head straight until we reach the sea?"

"Roger that! Hehe, pedal to the metal!!"

"Master, brother, please wait a moment."

Kohaku was the one who stopped Hagane, who was trying to enthusiastically step on the accelerator while poking his head out from the cargo bed.

The magic tank was modified with an added cargo bed to enable transportation of a large number of people, giving it a silhouette somewhat reminiscent of a large truck.

The cargo bed was equipped with a makeshift kitchen and beds for the entire group.

Well, it was sort of like a makeshift camper.

The cargo bed and the driver's seat of the magic tank were connected by a small window, and Kohaku poked her head out from that small window.

"What's wrong, Kohaku?"

"Is there something?"

"It's not really trouble, but, well, Miss Wendy seems to have gotten motion sick."

"Ah, I forgot that the cargo bed was added later, so it doesn't have suspension."

On the way to the Dorana Territory, the slaves also got sick, but they were already used to it.

On the other hand, Wendy had only ridden the magically enhanced two-wheeled vehicle, so this was quite natural for her to feel sick.

"It can't be helped. Let's take a break before entering the forest."

"Boss. The sun is already setting, isn't it better if we spend the night here?"

"...Hmm. Yeah, let's do that."

At times like this, I'm glad I modified the magic tank.

Thanks to the makeshift kitchen, we can enjoy warm meals, and the makeshift beds provide much more comfortable sleep than sleeping in the wild.

Most importantly, the modified magic tank is equipped with optical camouflage, similar to a transparent tent, so we won't be attacked by monsters.

If we make a loud noise, we might get noticed, but that would mean the monsters are already within our detection range.

In other words, there are no gaps in our defenses.

"If I had to point out one complaint, it would be the lack of a shower."

"Ah, y-yes, th-th-that's right."

In response to my muttering, Ayano agreed in the language of this world.

"...You've become quite fluent in both languages, Ayano."

"Y-yes. Hehe, for some reason, this body has an excellent memory. I feel like my mind has become sharper compared to my past life."

Ayano, with the face of a final boss, grinned broadly.

After all, it would be troublesome for her if she couldn't understand the language of this world.

I've been secretly teaching her reading and writing.

Well, even though she can speak the language fluently, Ayano, who is naturally not good at communicating with others, seems to stutter a bit.

Thanks to the cursed chains that have now been processed into a necklace, she only gets a bit sick instead of vomiting.

"But speaking of which, it was unfortunate that Maria couldn't come, right?"

"Yeah, you're right. Well, her family situation is quite difficult, so it's understandable."

Not long ago, Ayano and Maria met through my introduction.

Given that they were both female reincarnators, what stood out was Maria's incredibly rapid-fire talking.

Perhaps unable to withstand her overwhelming speed, despite wearing the cursed chains, Ayano ended up vomiting like a cannon.

However, Ayano's difficulty in talking doesn't mean she dislikes Maria. They've actually become good friends, perhaps due to Maria's natural big-sister personality.

"Um, by the way, what have you been making all this time?"

"A prosthetic hand."

Actually, before leaving the capital, I got some rare materials from my uncle Reldo, and among them was something interesting.

It was thread.

Spider-like monster silk, which had the property of stretching and contracting when magic flowed through it.

"If you pass the thread through the mannequin arm I prepared like this... Done!"

"U-ugh, it's all squiggly and weird. It feels disgusting."

"Don't say 'ugh.' You'll probably get used to it and find it useful. Anyway, Katia, come here for a moment!!"

"...What can I do for you?"

Katia was the female elf who lost her arm resisting the slave hunters.

I handed her the prosthetic hand I had made.

"...What's this...?"

"It's a replacement for your arm. It might take time to get used to it, and it's still a prototype, so it might break easily. But please take it."

"..."

"Katia? Hey, what's wrong?"

Katia took the prosthetic hand but remained motionless.

"...Thank you."

"Uh, y-yeah. Are you okay?"

Katia gripped the prosthetic hand tightly and attached it to her arm herself.

Then, she moved the prosthetic hand lightly.

Her expression revealed no emotion.

I had expected her to be a bit more joyful, but it was clear that her feelings were complex.

According to the stories I heard from the slave traders, the slave hunters who attacked her and her homeland were humans.

It must be difficult for her to accept a replacement arm from the same humans who had cut off her arm during the slave hunt.

"If it comes to this, I might as well modify the prosthetic hand extensively. Rocket punches, or maybe storing knives and forks in the fingertips—"

"I-I really think you should refrain from that. Y-your likability might drop significantly."

"Likability? What are you talking about?"

There's no way there's likability towards the person who bought you.

...Except for exceptions like Kohaku and Hagane.

I never thought Kohaku's illness would be cured either.

"Yawn, I guess it's time to sleep."

"Y-yes, you're right."

And so, we prepared for the next day and fell into a deep sleep.

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