Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Second Invitation
The eighth winter since Ren’s birth eventually ended.
Unlike in previous years, the village had suffered no shortage of food or firewood. Every household had passed the season in relative comfort.
Spring arrived, and Ren celebrated his eighth birthday. From early morning, everyone in the manor offered him congratulations.
At roughly the same time, far away in Clausel, Baron Clausel stared at a newly arrived letter in astonishment.
“To think that such a great noble would contact us…”
The knight who had delivered it appeared equally incredulous.
“There is no mistake?” the baron asked.
“None, my lord. Thief Wolfen materials are ingredients in a valuable medicine. Since none have appeared on the market recently, the sender may want that medicine.”
“What should we do?”
“We cannot ignore the request. Send a reply at once—no, wait. This may be an opportunity.”
An idea occurred to Baron Clausel. He turned toward his desk and picked up his pen.
“Father.”
Licia’s voice stopped his hand.
He invited her into the office, and she bowed.
“I came to offer my greetings before departure.”
“You understand that this journey is—”
“Part of my duties. I will patrol the territory and serve House Clausel as I always have.”
“Good. Your time with Ren Ashton is a reward for fulfilling your responsibilities as a member of this family. Remember that—and do not forget the gratitude we owe him.”
“I will not. I swear it in honor of my late mother.”
“…If you continue to work diligently, I am certain your feelings will reach her.”
Licia curtsied with dignity and left the office.
Outside the manor, Weiss waited near the gate.
“Have you finished speaking with your father?”
“Yes. Now I must do my best once more.”
“You grew considerably over the winter. I am certain you will display your progress when you face the boy.”
“You did not say I would win.”
Licia laughed, leaving Weiss without a convincing response.
He had trained her relentlessly during the winter. She had also completed her studies and fulfilled the duties expected of the baron’s daughter. Her growth was not limited to swordsmanship.
Even so, Weiss could not promise victory.
Ren lived in an environment where carelessness could cost him his life, even if his usual opponents were only G-rank Little Boars. The daily tension of real hunting produced a different kind of experience from Licia’s refined education and training.
“Forgive me, my lady.”
“I was teasing. Don’t worry. It would be dull if we already knew the result.”
Licia passed him and approached the female knight holding her horse. She mounted smoothly.
“Let us go. The village is a long distance away.”
Then her vision wavered.
For a brief instant, her senses dulled. Strength seemed to drain from her entire body, and she could not tell whether the air felt warm or cold.
The sensation quickly faded.
“My lady, is something wrong?” the female knight asked.
Licia waited several seconds before answering.
“Nothing. I may only be nervous.”
“Do not worry. We have watched your efforts every day. You will do well.”
“Thank you.”
Her vision still trembled slightly, but it settled before Weiss gave the order to depart.
Licia dismissed the episode as imagination and turned her thoughts toward Ren’s village.
* * * *
The day after Licia left Clausel, Roy finally returned to hunting.
(Medicine in this world is truly remarkable.)
Walking beside him, Ren saw that his father’s old energy had returned. Roy had suffered serious internal injuries, yet medicinal herbs and other remedies had restored him within a year without anything resembling modern surgery.
They walked side by side along the field road at sunset, returning from the forest.
“What is it?” Roy asked.
“I was only thinking about how completely you’ve recovered.”
“Of course I have. After all the Londo Grass and medicine used on me, I’d be embarrassed if it took any longer.”
Then Roy’s expression became thoughtful.
“Still, something is wrong with the forest. There are far more Little Boars than before.”
“I’ve thought the same since winter. The Clausel knights noticed it too.”
“Little Boars enter their breeding season from spring through summer. They grow restless and appear more often, but this is beyond anything normal.”
“We earn more because we can hunt so many, but I can’t call it good news.”
Roy nodded.
“We’ll continue reducing their numbers while watching the forest carefully.”
The setting sun painted the sky red. Each day it remained above the horizon a little longer, proof that winter had ended and summer was approaching.
Then Ren heard men arguing in the distance.
Roy heard them as well. They dropped the Little Boars they were carrying and ran toward the Ashton manor.
They arrived within minutes.
Clausel knights stood outside the house—and facing them were men Ren had seen before.
They served Viscount Given.
“What is happening?” Roy demanded.
“Forgive us, Lord Roy,” a Clausel knight said. “These men have been waiting for you. They brought a letter—”
One of Given’s knights stepped forward and interrupted.
It was the same man who had once met Ren in the forest and asked him to lead the way to the manor.
Roy accepted the letter as a courtesy.
“I’ll read it inside. But why have you come to this village?”
“To deliver another invitation to House Ashton.”
Ren concealed a sigh. Roy also had to repair the smile that nearly turned bitter.
“The viscount continues to value your abilities,” the knight said. “He has also taken a great interest in your son.”
“Ren? We discussed this before.”
“Indeed. That is why I have brought a new proposal.”
Ren felt an immediate sense of dread.
Exceptional treatment was no gift when the recipient wanted none of it.
“Viscount Given offers to secure Ren Ashton’s admission to the special class of the prestigious Imperial Military Academy.”
Ren’s instincts had been correct.
(Give me a break.)
Roy’s mouth fell open. The Clausel knights looked equally stunned.
“Even ordinary admission is extraordinarily difficult,” Roy said. “How could Ren enter the special class?”
“The academy’s special class is certainly exceptional. It contains the heirs of the Seven Great Houses and leading military families, along with only a handful of talents trained in the imperial capital from childhood.”
The Imperial Military Academy was one of the central locations in Legend of the Seven Heroes. The game’s protagonists would all enter that special class.
Enrolling there would place Ren directly on the path he had spent years trying to avoid. Meeting Licia had already become unavoidable. He could not allow himself to enter the academy as well.
“Viscount Given once served as an assistant to the Minister of Justice at the imperial castle,” the knight continued. “Through those connections, he can provide a recommendation.”
Ren suspected the viscount intended to approach an influential noble in the Hero Faction.
“Even with a recommendation, our Ren cannot possibly qualify,” Roy said.
“The viscount sees great potential in him.”
“Potential?”
“A noble acquainted with His Lordship suggested that House Ashton may carry a trace of Hero Loren’s blood.”
Roy stared.
“Can that be true?”
“It would be foolish to dismiss the possibility. Ren was born at roughly the same time as the heirs of the Seven Great Houses and has already accomplished an extraordinary feat.”
“Our family has lived in this village for generations.”
“No one knows the full truth. House Ashton may descend from an old collateral branch. Even if that theory proves false, Ren Ashton remains a brave and talented boy.”
Ren understood the political value of the claim.
Whether Viscount Given genuinely believed it did not matter. If Ren achieved great things, the Hero Faction could celebrate him as proof that Loren’s blood had returned. If he failed or disgraced himself, it could accuse him of falsely claiming heroic descent.
He would become a convenient symbol.
Ren briefly considered revealing that Loren’s actual descendant lived in another village. No one would believe him. A child who had never left his home could not credibly announce the location of a secret bloodline. At best, they would ignore him; at worst, they would question his sanity.
“So what is your answer?” the knight asked. “Graduation from the academy would virtually guarantee an important position. House Ashton need only consider that fact.”
Roy remained silent.
The knight turned to Ren.
“Would you not like to develop your talents in the imperial capital?”
“No.”
“I expected some hesitation, but—what did you say?”
“I have no intention of leaving this village.”
“Why?”
“I am content to hunt in the forest and protect the people here.”
“Do you not want to become a noble? You could receive the rank of baronet upon graduation.”
“I am grateful, but that is more than I desire.”
The knight faltered, then appealed to Roy.
“What is your view, Lord Ashton?”
Roy answered as plainly as Ren had.
“I am honored that Viscount Given has approached us twice, but we must decline again. House Ashton has proudly served House Clausel for generations, and I have no desire to leave this village.”
“You do not want your son to become a noble?”
“I would be proud of him. If possible, I would also like him to study in the capital and learn what I cannot teach here. But Ren’s own wishes matter most.”
“He may only be acting modestly.”
“No. Ren is considerate, but he does not say things he does not mean.”
The Given knight’s face reddened, and his clenched hands trembled. Still, he did not resort to further threats.
“…Forgive me, Lord Ashton.”
He bowed, returned to his companions, and mounted his horse.
“Wait,” Roy called. “At least allow me to write a formal reply.”
“That will not be necessary. I will convey your answer directly to the viscount.”
The knights rode away before Roy could object.
Roy scratched his head.
“I wanted to put the refusal in writing so there could be no misunderstanding. It would be troublesome if they reported words I never said.”
“We’ve refused him twice,” Ren said. “I doubt the exact wording will change much.”
Roy shrugged.
“I suppose you’re right.”
Good
As much as it interests me how things would turn out if Ren decided to stay in the village, he should give it up and accept Licia’s proposal already.
He is trying to avoid the main scenario by staying away from whatever academy he goes to which leads to him betraying Licia and getting the death penalty by the king. Like the camping trip I think it foreshadowed his leaving his village will be abrupt and against his will.