Kays Translations

Chapter 16

The next day, the manager hears the story about the cat-person who visited from everyone in the guild. He glances at me, realizing the cause.

Especially since the women are all going on about how cute the cat-person was, he looks frustrated, although he doesn't show it on his face.

I considered pretending not to notice, but when I mention that I ordered some goods and he'll probably come again, he seems relieved.

"Please make sure to do it when I'm around next time."

I respond to his teasing with a "Sure" and a smile.

While it might be common for cat-person adventurers to stop by the guild, cat-person merchants don't typically visit unless there's a specific request.

Seeing a cat-person almost the same height as me, and having a conversation with one, was quite surprising, given that it was the first time for both.

However, in a way, it felt like interacting with a mascot character, which is quite common in Japan, so maybe that's why it didn't feel awkward.

And then, I had a sudden thought.

――- Of course, there must be creatures other than cats, right?

I wonder if there are dogs or bears.

Recalling a bear character I saw in an anime, I can't help but burst into laughter.

In the afternoon, the guild master comes down the stairs and calls out.

"Taran, I'm going out for a bit—-"

At that moment when I was about to speak, a woman wearing a light, pale shoulder wrap emerged from the back.

I hadn't noticed her as I was looking at documents, but the supervisor stood up and called out.

"Deputy Guild Master!"

When I turned around and saw her, I was surprised and let out a sound.

"Whoa!"

With translucent skin and a breathtakingly beautiful face that couldn't be adequately described as just "beautiful," and long ears.

Upon seeing those ears, I understood—

It's an Elf!!!

I involuntarily doubted my eyes.

Well, thinking about it, it makes sense—there were cat people, so it's not strange for there to be elves too. It's a world where magic exists, after all.

But it's one thing to be surprised when a customer walks into the store, and it's another thing entirely for an elf to suddenly appear in the workplace.

My body trembled at the unexpected entrance.

Everyone was surprised... but the reason was different from mine—

I would learn later that the Deputy Guild Master rarely comes to the storefront, with an occurrence rate of once a year, if at all.

It seems she passes through here when going to the Guild Master's office, but that happens after the staff has left for home.

And the customers who came to the store are also surprised by her appearance.

Since many of our adventurers are rookies, they not only wouldn't know that there's an elf in Tiara but also wouldn't have seen one.

She's what you might call an SSR character.

So, anyone who sees her is undoubtedly going to be astonished... and everyone will boast about it, I imagine.

Well, no wonder the chief mentioned confidently that he would introduce her at some point.

"Do you have any business here?"

Without answering the chief’s question, she slowly surveys the interior of the store.

Our eyes meet—drawn into those jade-colored eyes, but she skillfully ignores it.

Then she hands the documents to the chief. He seems surprised, wondering why she brought them herself when usually a staff member does.

The Guild Master also observes silently that she came here during the day.

The chief suddenly realizes.

"Deputy Guild Master! This is the person I hired recently... Mitarai Mizuki, a Japanese."

"Mizuki-san, Deputy Guild Master Tinameril."

"!?"

I'm suddenly introduced, feeling flustered.

I try to stand up in a hurry, causing the desk to shake.

I never expected to be so nervous in front of an elf... my heart is pounding.

"Ah, u-um... Nice to meet you. I'm Mizuki Mitarai, and, uh, I'll be working here from now on. P-please take care of me."

My voice rises nervously—bowing abruptly out of embarrassment.

Feeling my face flush with embarrassment, I close my eyes.

Slowly lifting my head, I see that she looks very surprised.

Glancing at the chief, I notice that he's in a similar state.

"Ah."

I quickly realize—I spoke Elvish.

Everyone seems surprised, but their gaze is directed at the Deputy Guild Master. It seems like they're waiting for her reaction.

The Guild Master is also frozen, holding onto the staircase railing.

I wonder if this is quite a problematic situation...

After briefly looking at me, she uttered a single word, "yoroshiku" ("nice to meet you"), and then walked away.

This prompted the Guild Master to also leave.

Immediately, everyone bombards me with questions.

Certainly, saying "I studied" worked when it came to Catfolk language, but it doesn't quite apply to Elvish.

Prefacing with the statement "I can't go into details," I start to give away the story.

"I understand what everyone is saying. However, I don't understand the language."

Everyone tilted their heads at answers like in a Zen question and answer session.

"Um... I don't know Marl, you know."

They wore an expression that seemed to say, "What on earth are you talking about?" as he continued to talk animatedly.

"I'm speaking in Japanese, and I hear everyone's words in Japanese too."

I said, though it seemed to be a bit challenging for them to grasp.

Apparently, it seems like the shape of the mouth makes it look as if they are speaking Marl.

As he explained it himself, he realized that it's quite challenging to explain the concept of 'understanding but not understanding.'

Then, the chief called out from behind.

"Do you understand 'My name is Taran'?"

"Is 'My name is Mitsuki Mitarai' okay?"

Then, everyone began to murmur.

It seems like he spoke the language of the neighboring country, the Dylant Empire - the language known as "Dylantese."

Somehow, it seemed they were able to be understood to some extent.

The ability to automatically translate and adapt one's speech to the language of the interlocutor was at play.

It seems that in a world with magic, people find it more acceptable, or perhaps even convincing.

I felt relieved that I wasn't treated with disgust.

Now then, I conveyed that I would say "hello" in Catfolk language as an experiment.

And then, I spoke out —

Then, everyone imitated and meowed, looking at each other and bursting into laughter.

Returning to work, I couldn't stop grinning as I reminisced about the encounter with the elf.

A company where the boss is an elf... I was really happy from the bottom of my heart to be able to work here.

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