Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 1 — A Busy Autumn Holiday
The Elfen Church had its justice.
The Main God wished for every person who aided the Demon King to be destroyed. In the church’s eyes, allowing the Demon King cult to act freely was therefore an affront to the Main God’s will.
The Demon King cult had its own great ambition.
Its members devoted everything to resurrecting the Demon King, who was said to have fallen in battle against the Seven Heroes, and fulfilling his cherished wish.
That wish was to kill the Main God—the very purpose for which the Demon King had once plunged the world into terror.
No one knew why he had sought the Main God’s death.
In the present age, only those enthralled by his overwhelming power remained, longing for his return.
In the Imperial Capital’s solemn temple district, the struggle between the Elfen Church and the Demon King cult had recently become a daily topic of conversation.
“Even if they worship the Demon King who lost to the Seven Heroes, they will only repeat his defeat.”
“Indeed. The fools. Why would they choose to challenge Leomel when the Hero Faction continues to gain strength?”
“They lost because they were fools. No evil can withstand holy power.”
“I hear they have begun avoiding Leomel. Between the imperial military and the holy land’s renewed efforts against the Demon King cult, attacking this country has become difficult for them.”
“Their end is already in sight. They may have a Cult Leader and officers, but they are nothing to fear.”
Many clergymen dismissed the Demon King cult in much the same way.
Whether their voices were refined or aged and hoarse, each speaker believed unwaveringly in the Main God’s glory. Some even regarded the present situation as an opportunity for the Elfen Church.
The clergymen were speaking outside after completing their morning prayers when the White Dragon Princess passed nearby.
“Ah, Sword King.”
Lutreche, the White Dragon Princess, was a strikingly beautiful Sword King who lent her strength to Leomel.
She had been walking alone without addressing anyone, but stopped when one of the clergymen called out to her.
“What is it?”
Her reply was not cold, but neither was it friendly.
For an instant, the clergymen were rendered breathless by the pressure of her beauty and firm voice.
“…From a Sword King’s perspective, what do you make of the recent situation?”
“The recent situation? Do you mean the skirmishes between the Elfen Church and the Demon King cult?”
“Of course.”
“In that case—”
Every Sword King possessed strength far beyond ordinary people and an aloof disposition to match.
The Demon King, however, was another matter. Hearing that the being who had once thrown the world into chaos was involved, the clergymen had assumed that even Lutreche would show some interest.
“That conflict has nothing to do with me.”
She answered without hesitation, leaving them stunned.
“I am more interested in what became of Roses Caitas.”
“That was proof of the Goddess of Time’s divinity. What about it concerns you, Sword King?”
“Whether divinity was truly all that remained there. I inspected the site myself and sensed traces of magic—ancient, evil, and extraordinarily powerful magic.”
“Then the enemy must have remained alive until immediately before it was purified.”
“Indeed. It seems an exceptionally powerful monster had been sealed there.”
The clergymen spoke with confidence and pride.
Lutreche neither praised them nor maintained her previous expression.
“…What a peculiar thing for you to say.”
The first smile the White Dragon Princess showed them was captivating.
She gave a quiet laugh, then seemed to lose interest again.
“Did this power of the Goddess of Time truly require several centuries to purify the power of the Demon King’s army? Several hundred years is hardly a brief period.”
Her words challenged not only the clergymen but their god.
Had anyone else spoken that way, they would have erupted in anger. The person standing before them, however, was the White Dragon Princess herself.
Instinctive fear prevented them from showing hostility.
“That is—”
“It is not for mortal beings such as us to debate the power of a god…”
“How curious. You call a power great even though you admit you cannot discuss it. It sounds as though you do not understand it at all.”
She could have slaughtered them as easily as insects crawling over the paving stones.
The devout clergymen could do nothing but watch Lutreche leave.
“…I hate gods.”
She spat the words into a quiet corner of the district.
The Temple of the God of War in the Imperial Capital was silent.
The sun rose later in early autumn than it had during summer, but the interior of the temple was not dark. Light from magic tools reflected across the polished stone from which the building had been constructed.
The letters floating above the stone tablet before Lutreche also glowed, dimly illuminating the surrounding hall.
Fifth Place — White Dragon Princess Lutreche
The Sword King Rankings.
Her eyes took in the names of the world’s five strongest swordsmen, including her own, and filled with a mixture of emotions whose reasons were hers alone.
The irritation she had felt toward the clergymen had already vanished.
Her footsteps rang through the temple as she turned to leave.
Then a voice reached her.
“So this is where you were.”
Lutreche looked toward the broad corridor and saw a boy standing with his back against one of its pillars.
“The Third Prince.”
She did not ask why he had come so early.
Radius had long since grown accustomed to being addressed so bluntly and took no offense.
“I would like a moment of your time. There is something I wish to discuss.”
“My apologies, but I have nothing in particular to discuss with you.”
“Not even if it concerns House Ashton?”
The movement was almost imperceptible.
Radius nevertheless saw Lutreche’s brow twitch.
“Events from this summer have often returned to my thoughts. And not only this summer—the previous one as well.”
“Spare me the preamble. State your business.”
“Very well.”
Still leaning against the pillar, Radius asked his question.
“Is there something about House Ashton that interests you?”
This time, Lutreche gave him nothing.
No matter how carefully he watched her, she showed not the slightest reaction.
“A family of knights serving House Clausel.”
“Anything else?”
“No. I know little about them.”
Radius could not simply accept that answer, yet he knew she would offer nothing more.
Nor could he order her to speak.
Sword King Lutreche served no master. She was closer to a mercenary who assisted Leomel out of personal goodwill, one of the few individuals in the world whose unreasonable strength placed her beyond even the authority of the imperial family.
Having apparently lost interest, Lutreche resumed walking and passed Radius without another glance.
“White Dragon Princess. Why did Ashton’s name persuade you to help during the Grand Clock Tower incident?”
She answered without stopping.
“I was merely interested in the ability of a swordsman I had heard about. I believe I have given that answer before.”
She left the temple without another word.
Radius remained against the pillar, arms crossed, and turned his gaze toward the tablet bearing the Sword King Rankings.
“I do not believe one of the five strongest people in the world would take an interest in a single boy for no greater reason.”
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Roses Caitas was an Elfen Church holy site a short magic-ship journey from the Imperial Capital. It had remained sealed for several hundred years.
That summer, the seal surrounding it vanished.
The event shocked followers of the Elfen Church throughout the world. It occurred during the Lion King Grand Festival, an Imperial Capital celebration held for students.
Because it happened immediately after the choir offered its song, the faithful believed their prayers had reached the goddess.
The truth was different.
Ren and Licia had been drawn into the Cage of Time surrounding Roses Caitas. When they defeated the general of the Demon King’s army imprisoned inside, the Cage of Time disappeared.
Why the two of them had been drawn into the seal remained unknown.
Only a limited number of people knew the truth, and worshippers unaware of it continued to arrive from every part of the Elfen Continent.
September had passed and October had begun, yet the stream of visitors showed no sign of ending.
The word “Divine Child,” spoken by the Sword Demon before its death, and the creature’s fixation on the name Ashton also remained unexplained.
With every mystery still unresolved, Ren was trying to enjoy an autumn holiday.
“Hah… hah…!”
He burst from the magic train shortly after it arrived in the Imperial Capital and sprinted toward another platform.
His pocket watch showed ten forty in the morning. Whether he could reach an eleven o’clock appointment in time was becoming a close thing.
“The train for—will be departing shortly—”
An announcement for the magic train Ren needed echoed across the platform.
He quickened his pace and raced through a station crowded with people enjoying their day off.
At last, he managed to board the connecting train.
He had made it.
Once his breathing settled, Ren wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.
The passengers around him filled the carriage with cheerful conversations about their holiday plans.
Through the windows, he could see the Imperial Capital on an autumn day off.
The season had changed the clothing of the people below. The vivid green that had once covered the roadside trees was gone, leaving behind scenery that was faintly melancholy but rich with autumn character.
Ren wore a coat as well.
It was thinner than winter clothing and fashionable enough to suit a young man living in the city.
“I should still make it…”
He checked the time again to be certain.
A wristwatch felt cumbersome beside his bracelet, so he carried a pocket watch in the breast pocket of his coat instead.
The magic train continued along the rails with a gentle sway.
Ren released another relieved breath.