Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 10 – Aboard the Guardian Knight [2]
Even after night had fallen, Ren continued reading.
It was not the same book as before, but another one he had brought with him.
When he closed it, he turned his gaze toward the window.
This was the private compartment prepared for him. It was smaller than the room he normally used at the Clausel mansion, and smaller still than his room in the Ashton family’s village manor.
Nevertheless, it was comfortable and calming.
As befitted a state-of-the-art magic train, the room possessed a freshness unusual even in modern Leomel. Rather than an antique design emphasizing wood and stone, it used plain curtains, carpets, and furnishings whose apparent simplicity concealed an entirely new aesthetic.
The interior itself seemed to embody the changing age.
(I should go soon.)
Ren had been resting his cheek against one hand while looking out from the desk beside the window. He stood.
After passing through a door operated by a magic tool, he entered the connecting corridor. Guests stood before the broad windows filling the corridor, admiring the view outside.
A party had been held until about an hour earlier, and Ulysses had been occupied throughout it. Yet because he wanted everyone to enjoy the unprecedented overland journey in whatever manner they preferred, he had ended the formal gathering early and left the venue open as a lounge.
Ren passed the other guests and headed for Ulysses’s compartment. He had been invited there for a conversation that night.
Near a door in one of the rear carriages stood Edgar.
“Good evening, Lord Ren.”
“I was worried I might be early.”
“No, you have arrived precisely on time. Unfortunately, my master is still concluding his greetings and has not yet returned.”
Edgar had come ahead because he had a message for Ren.
When the elderly gentleman in formal evening clothes apologized, Ren quickly assured him that it did not matter. He had known from the beginning that Ulysses would be busy during the journey.
“He should return shortly. Would you care to wait inside?”
“Yes, please.”
Edgar opened the door and ushered him in.
The spacious room beyond was Ulysses’s private compartment. Its design resembled Ren’s room, though it was considerably larger.
“I apologize for the inconvenience. Please make yourself comfortable.”
At Edgar’s invitation, Ren sat on the sofa.
He drank the tea the old gentleman prepared and waited for approximately ten minutes.
When Ulysses hurried into the room, he straightened his collar and bowed lightly.
“Forgive me for keeping you waiting.”
“Please don’t worry about it.”
After exchanging greetings, Ulysses sat beside Ren.
He was dressed more elegantly than usual for the evening’s party. Though he still wore a suit, a pocket square and jeweled decorations at his lapel added a particularly refined air.
“I wanted to set aside some time tonight and ask how you have been.”
The powerful man’s voice was unexpectedly gentle.
“So? Has anything changed recently?”
Before answering, Ren gave voice to his surprise.
“This is unusual.”
“Did I say something strange?”
“A little. You came only to ask an ordinary question about how I’ve been. That doesn’t feel like you.”
Ulysses narrowed his eyes with a smile, showing no displeasure at the reply.
“Since the incident at Roses Caitas, we have not had an opportunity to speak at leisure. I wanted to make time for an ordinary conversation.”
When he had delivered the invitation, there had been little chance to relax.
“I was certainly worried while the Roses Caitas incident was unfolding. More than that, however, I was furious with the Elfen Church’s handling of the situation. You and Licia should not blame yourselves for any of it.”
Ulysses shrugged as though his conclusion were self-evident.
When Ren struggled to decide how to respond, he laughed again.
“I hope you enjoyed tonight’s party.”
The subject changed, and Ren readily nodded.
“Yes. Licia and Lessard appeared to enjoy it as well.”
“I’m glad. By the way… hm.”
“What is it?”
“I had heard the rumors, but you truly do call her Licia now.”
“Well… several things happened.”
“I imagine they did. I understand.”
Ulysses did not voice any expectations concerning his own daughter’s efforts. He was not insensitive enough to make such a remark, even though he too hoped that the distance between Fiona and Ren would eventually narrow.
He leaned back against the sofa.
“At this very moment, Fiona is apparently studying with the young lady of House Clausel. When I looked in on them earlier, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.”
“Fiona is studying with Licia? Why aboard the train?”
“To be exact, the young lady of House Riohard is with them as well.”
That explained it.
They had previously spoken about the examinations scheduled before the November holiday.
“Sera said her results on the last examinations were somewhat disappointing.”
“Really? I thought House Riohard was strict about academics.”
“They were disappointing by House Riohard’s standards. She was quite pleased with her swordsmanship results, apparently.”
“Ha ha! There is nothing to worry about there. Her ability with a sword is beyond dispute.”
“The Special Class examinations are difficult. Written subjects may simply be where she struggles.”
“I see. When the starting standard is so high, that can hardly be helped.”
Ulysses then spoke with evident pleasure.
“…Fiona has never had many friends. I am glad to see her circle widening like this.”
He did not mention the significant question of factional politics. Once put into words, it could become an obstacle none of them could ignore, and Ren did not want anything to spoil the girls’ enjoyment.
Ulysses was no fool. On the contrary, he was among the wisest men in Leomel. Ren trusted that he was quietly handling whatever needed to be handled behind the scenes.
Afterward, when it seemed they had spoken long enough, Ulysses said that the evening had been worthwhile.
Looking back, they had done little more than exchange ordinary conversation.
“Let us talk again sometime, without worrying about the hour.”
“I’d like that. Next time, let’s take all the time we need.”
“Agreed. I shall look forward to it.”
Ren stood, bowed, and left the room.
On his way back to his own compartment, he found Licia leaning against the corridor wall. She smiled when she saw him.
“So you went to see Ulysses?”
“And the three of you were studying, weren’t you?”
“Yes. I started by helping Sera while we talked, but then she asked me to teach her properly. We were studying in my room until a few minutes ago.”
Fiona, Sera, and Licia had indeed been together until shortly before Ren arrived.
Licia pushed away from the wall and approached him.
“Would you like to visit the observation carriage?”
Ren accepted the invitation and began walking beside her.
Licia had not yet visited the observation carriage where Ren had spent part of the day.
“The night view should be beautiful now. And there’s another advantage.”
Unlike during the day, the observation carriage was empty when they entered. Only the two of them occupied the space.
“It feels as though we reserved the whole carriage.”
“Everyone else is probably still at the party venue. That means we can take our time.”
“Did you investigate that before inviting me?”
“…Would that be a problem?”
Licia answered bluntly, trying to conceal her embarrassment as she approached the enormous window.
Glass covered the ceiling as well as the walls, making the carriage an ideal place to view the unobstructed night sky. Here, far from the lights of Elendil and the Imperial Capital, the stars appeared clearer than usual.
“It’s beautiful.”
Licia’s profile as she breathed the words was no less beautiful than the sky beyond the glass.
After they admired the view for a while, she spoke again.
“There’s something I want you to tell me.”
“When you say that while frowning, I can’t help becoming cautious.”
“Good. I wanted you to.”
Licia looked up at Ren, leaning slightly toward him.
She extended one finger and gently pressed it against the tip of his nose.
“What have you been discussing with Radius?”
“Radius and me? When do you mean?”
“This morning. And you’ve been behaving suspiciously lately too.”
Her relentless questioning left Ren with no convincing excuse. Rather than make himself look worse, he gave a strained smile and admitted defeat.
“You noticed.”
“Is this about Sacred Magic—about me?”
“Yes.”
“I thought so. You asked His Highness the Third Prince for help, didn’t you? Does it have something to do with the Sacred Magic you’ve been secretly researching?”
“You knew about that too?”
Licia sighed and nodded. At some point, she had lowered the finger that had been resting against his nose.
“Why were you investigating it without telling me?”
“Was I required to tell you?”
“Of course.”
She answered immediately, though with a small laugh.
“I didn’t want to make you worry unnecessarily.”
“You didn’t want me to become anxious about Sacred Magic again?”
“That’s right. Besides consulting Chronois, I wanted to investigate on my own. But I never meant to keep it from you forever. Once I understood the whole situation, I intended to tell you everything.”
His concern touched her, but it did not entirely satisfy her.
“I’m grateful that you worry about me. From now on, though, tell me from the beginning. So—what are you planning to do in Eupheim?”
“You worked that out too?”
“Hee hee. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have exchanged messages with the Third Prince before we departed. You used a knight as an intermediary, but I was watching.”
There had been no need for Ren to rush their silent exchange if the matter could wait. Licia’s reasoning was exactly right.
Realizing that, Ren stopped concealing anything.
“Radius introduced me to someone who used to teach him. While we’re in Eupheim, I plan to meet that person several times and listen to what they know.”
“H-He introduced you to someone like that?”
“I was surprised too. Which means you’ll need to stay behind, Licia.”
“Stay behind? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. Please remain at the inn.”
“How did our conversation lead to that? I want to go with you!”
“It’s a personal introduction intended specifically for me. I can’t suddenly bring another person along without permission.”
Ren answered her excitement with calm logic.
Whatever her feelings, his point was indisputably correct, leaving her no basis for argument.
“When you put it that way…”
She understood, but her lips still formed a slight pout.
“Why do you look dissatisfied when you agree with me?”
“Because you suddenly defeated me with an entirely reasonable argument.”
Even so, Licia sincerely apologized for letting her enthusiasm carry her away.
She cleared her throat, then looked at him again.
“If I ever think you’re hiding something from me, I’ll have to keep a very close watch on you.”
She laughed lightly, framing it as a joke.
Ren answered in the same spirit.
“Even while we’re asleep?”
“Yes. Even while we’re asleep.”
Naturally, they had no intention of sleeping in the same room.
Separate from that, however, Ren then made a devastating observation—one Licia could not deny.
“I think you would fall asleep before I did.”
“…………”
“Don’t you agree?”
Unfortunately, Licia did.
More than ten seconds of profound silence passed between them.
She looked up at Ren with a pout, plainly wanting to say something but unable to find a reply.
In the end, she gave up, clasped her hands behind her back, and lightly bumped her right shoulder against his arm in a token act of resistance.
“…Ren, you’re mean.”
She turned her face away in a lovely sulk.