Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 30: The Battle of Sea and Sky [1]
Before going to the guest room, Ren stopped by the large bath.
It was the same bath he had used the other day.
As he soaked in the water, the fatigue that had accumulated in his body seemed to melt away without him noticing.
When he checked his watch on the way to the guest room, it was past midnight.
As he passed Ulysses’s office again, Fiona appeared carrying a bundle of papers.
She appeared to have been working.
“Ah! How was the bath, Ren-kun?”
“It was very refreshing. Here, let me help you with those.”
The bundle looked heavy, and Fiona happily nodded when Ren offered to help.
Each carrying half, Ren and Fiona walked down the corridor to Fiona’s office.
Whenever Fiona stayed in Eupheim, she worked in this office rather than in her room.
She also used it for studying.
“Thank you. Um… could you leave them here?”
“Sure.”
Ren placed the bundle of papers on the desk.
Fiona intended to move only the important documents elsewhere, so she took several sheets from the top of the pile.
One of the sheets caught her fingertip and left a small cut.
“Ow…”
A bead of deep-red blood welled from the wound.
“I feel as though I keep showing you the most embarrassing sides of myself…”
“Not at all. Here, let me see.”
Ren took a handkerchief from his pocket.
He gently but firmly took Fiona’s hand and wrapped the handkerchief around her fingertip.
The cut produced little blood, but Fiona’s cheeks turned almost as red.
Fiona repeatedly promised that she would replace the handkerchief with a new one.
“—Huh?”
At that moment, Ren sensed that his mana held more vitality than before.
He did not yet realize that the power of the Black Shrine Maiden had changed him.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
The next morning…
“I truly cannot determine the cause.”
Ulysses, Ren, and Fiona were having breakfast together.
“Is something wrong, Ulysses-sama?”
“Ah, sorry.”
Ulysses apologized for muttering to himself and continued, a report in one hand.
“The waterways have been behaving strangely since your previous visit.”
“Since the noble district was sealed off?”
“Yes. The water level in the canals rises and falls without warning, and the same thing is happening to the river connected to Eupheim. We corrected it once, but the problem keeps returning.”
“Father, did the investigation outside the city fail to reveal anything?”
Ulysses nodded, wearing an unusually perplexed smile.
“It is affecting the vessels that pass through the city as well. We have managed to regulate the flow with magic tools, but that is only a temporary measure.”
“Could it be connected to Glacier Crossing?”
Ren asked.
Ulysses shook his head.
“Nothing similar has ever happened before. The few disturbances on record ended within several days, so they do not match the present situation.”
“So you still do not know the cause.”
“No. I am completely at a loss, though I would very much like to identify it…”
Ren could think of no useful suggestion and could only remain silent.
“At this point, all we can do is pray.”
Fiona gave a small laugh.
There was a shrine to the God of Water on a remote island offshore, she explained, and she was considering going there to pray.
Later that morning, after breakfast…
“Master, Lady Drake and Werlich-sama have arrived.”
Fiona joined the others in the guest room to receive them.
“You truly are every bit as beautiful as the rumors say, Fiona Ignat.”
After exchanging brief greetings, everyone took a seat on the sofas.
Ulysses arrived a little later and explained the situation.
“Ren, the weather in Eupheim is fine, but the conditions at our destination have worsened again. Going there only to turn back would waste the day, so you should remain here and relax.”
“I see. So that is how things turned out.”
Ulysses smiled.
“Please make yourselves comfortable. I will be leaving the mansion shortly to investigate the waterways.”
“Hmm…”
Estelle raised an eyebrow at that.
“Marquis Ignat, has the problem with the waterways returned?”
“Yes, intermittently.”
“It is unusual for a man of your ability to spend so long on a problem. I mean no sarcasm; I am genuinely curious.”
“I understand. Unfortunately, I am just as perplexed.”
Ulysses and Edgar were about to inspect the rivers, water sources, and waterways around Old Town.
“Fiona, remain with our guests.”
Ulysses instructed her.
Fiona nodded, having been asked to entertain Ren and the others.
Ulysses left the mansion looking exceedingly busy.
“What shall we do?”
“There is somewhere I would like to visit.”
“Then let us go. Where is it?”
“The Winter Market.”
Ren, Fiona, and Werlich immediately understood.
The Winter Market opened every day during winter at Eupheim’s port. Its stalls sold seafood skewers and other famous delicacies, and visitors could even drink outdoors from early morning.
“…Please exercise some restraint.”
Fiona cautioned Estelle.
“I-I know! Fiona Ignat is with us, after all! I will limit myself to six… n-no, five! I will show restraint and stop at five!”
Ren and Fiona exchanged a glance but wisely said nothing.
“Could you guide us there?” Ren asked.
“Of course. Leave it to me.”
Fiona happily accepted the unexpected opportunity.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
This was a story from Vayne and Sera’s childhood, when the Riohard family visited Vayne’s village.
Sera had slipped away from her father and the guards and entered the forest alone.
“…That is why you are being far too reckless, my lady.”
Young Vayne crouched before Sera beneath a tree. It was another event from Legend of the Seven Heroes that Ren knew.
“What…? Are you making fun of me too? I know I am still weak. I cannot even defeat a single monster.”
“What happened? Why did you suddenly run off into the forest…?”
“…The village chief said monsters have been stealing more of their food lately. If I defeat them, Father will surely acknowledge me!”
When she was young, Sera was even more desperate than she was now to prove her strength. As a descendant of the great Gazil Riohard, she felt that she could not afford to fall behind.
“I have to work harder, or that girl will leave me behind forever…”
“That girl? Who are you talking about…?”
“…A girl who once came to the Imperial Capital. She was incredibly strong. No matter how hard I tried, I could never beat her—not even once.”
Vayne knew Sera was strong, so the thought of a girl even stronger surprised him. This was not the time to dwell on it, however, and he held out his hand.
“Let us go back, my lady.”
“What if I say no?”
“Weren’t you the one hiding from the Little Boars earlier?”
“I-I was not! Well… perhaps I was, but I cannot fight properly like this.”
Trying not to provoke her further, Vayne gently waved his outstretched hand.
At last, Sera took it and let out a breath.
Not long afterward, Vayne encountered his first boss monster.
It was a fierce battle.
The two nevertheless fought desperately, supporting one another.
By the end, they had been driven to the brink of defeat.
“Hah… hah… Is this the end…?”
Breathing hard, the young boy stood before Sera with a rusty iron sword in hand.
His consciousness was fading, yet he forced himself to raise the blade.
Then, at that very moment…
The unremarkable rusty sword was wreathed in brilliant light.
Kneeling before the trembling Sera, Vayne revealed a fragment of a hero’s power and ultimately prevailed.
“What was that light? It did not look like Sacred Magic…!”
Viscount Riohard arrived soon afterward and witnessed that unbelievable sacred power.
Although the radiance quickly vanished, it awakened a certain hope in him, and he decided to invite Vayne to the Imperial Capital.
Vayne knew nothing of that decision. After seeing him risk his life to protect her, Sera’s feelings for him only deepened.
Vayne could still remember that day vividly.
For some reason, he dreamed of it again that night.
Vayne rubbed the sleep from his eyes, rose, dressed, and left his room. Kaito emerged from the room beside his, followed shortly by Charlotte from the room on the other side.
“Vayne, did you sleep well?”
“Yes, thanks. Everyone stayed up making noise, though, so I am still tired.”
Charlotte grinned.
“Then would you like a lap pillow?”
“Please spare me.”
Vayne stretched as he declined Charlotte’s teasing offer.
The three headed for the hall where they had spoken the previous night. Before long, Sera and Nemu joined them for breakfast.
After a while, Sera asked Kaito a question.
“Kaito, is it true this magic ship has a training ground?”
“Yeah! It is about the same size as the academy’s!”
“Then shall we all train there later?”
Although it was winter break, no one objected. They wanted to loosen their bodies with some light exercise before reaching House Leonaal’s territory around noon.
Charlotte then made a proposal.
“This afternoon, we will work on our academy assignments.”
“Wait, Charlotte! We reach our territory around noon, and then we still have to ride through the city to the mansion!”
“That is why I am suggesting we study in the carriage. With all the parties ahead, we will not have much free time. We should work whenever we can.”
“Urgh… I understand, but please spare me the lecture until the very last moment.”
“All right, all right. I understand.”
After a light meal, they went to the training ground in the lower part of the magic ship.
The facility was much like the academy’s. They paired off, sparred, and honed their skills.
They continued until shortly before noon.
Kaito dropped onto the stone floor of the training ground. Several seconds later, the magic ship trembled faintly.
“I am taking a break. You can keep going… Oh, we are nearly there.”
Vayne, who had remained standing, looked out through a nearby window.
“The landing facility is getting closer. Is that why we are descending?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
House Leonaal’s largest magic-ship landing facility was unusual because it stood on a cape.
Fishing boats, warships, and other vessels entered a vast hollow in the cape that opened onto the sea. Despite being called a hollow, it was large enough to contain Ren’s entire village.
The enormous cavern served as a port, and several buildings connected it to the surface. One of them was the multistory magic-ship landing facility.
As the magic ship gradually descended, the training session neared its end.
“Charlotte-senpai.”
“Yeah? What’s up?”
“Could we finish with a one-on-one match?”
“Of course. This big sister will go easy on you.”
It was called a one-on-one match, but their weapons could hardly have been more different.
Vayne had just finished sparring with Sera. He took a breath while Charlotte considered how they should begin.
“What distance shall we start at?”
“In that case…”
Distance overwhelmingly favored Charlotte. As a master archer, she could begin attacking from afar, and even Kaito would struggle to close the gap. In practical terms, starting at range meant defeat.
Even so, Vayne said,
“Please begin at a distance.”
He knew how severe the disadvantage was, yet he insisted.
Charlotte’s eyebrows twitched at his resolve.
Still smiling with her usual captivating expression, she asked for confirmation.
“Are you sure?”
“I am sure. I think I can grasp something this way. I said it before, but it feels very important…”
Sera, who had spent more time with Vayne than anyone else, had also dreamed of their past that night.
That was why she felt certain.
“Vayne.”
She called the name of the boy she loved and said,
“Do your best. I am cheering for you.”
“Yeah! Watch me!”
The overwhelmingly unfavorable match began.
As expected, Charlotte held a decisive advantage.
She drew arrows from the quiver on her back and loosed them with peerless speed. Even when Vayne blocked one, the next followed immediately.
Nor did her supply of arrows seem to have any limit.
Even when her physical arrows began to run low,
“Vayne-kun! You are looking rather gallant today!”
The moment she praised him for advancing several steps, arrows formed from magic flew at him.
“Guh…!”
He struggled, but managed to block the swift projectiles with his sword.
Physical arrows were actually easier to handle.
These were powerful wind-magic arrows. Even when he deflected them, their violent gusts battered his entire body and made it harder to advance.
“Vayne, do your best!”
Encouraged by Sera, Vayne pressed forward with renewed determination.
He swung his sword horizontally and cut through the oncoming wind arrows.
Everyone watched, wondering whether Vayne might truly awaken that power. Then, moments later…
The magic ship suddenly began to sway unnaturally.
Vayne stopped, and Charlotte dismissed her magic.
Everyone who had been sitting rose and exchanged glances.
“Something may have happened.”
Kaito spoke, and everyone nodded before hurrying from the training ground.