Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 53: Torquetum and Wof②
Thinking back, it all started when I helped them.
At that time… I even used [Generous] on a chimera subspecies.
I wonder—if I faced that chimera now, could I beat it on my own?
Anyway, Pakira-san had found out.
So it’s only natural that the other two knew as well.
Lupinus-san had previously mentioned she wanted to talk.
I had a rough idea of what that would be about, but I didn’t expect it to be now.
“Umm, well…”
“It’s best if we start from the beginning. First, how did we figure it out?”
“Yes.”
All of them had lost consciousness back then. So it wouldn’t make sense for them to notice anything at the time.
“It was Liv who noticed. She said you had the scent of an elixir.”
“Eh—elixir scent?”
Scent…? It doesn’t have one, right? Does it? Wait, really? A scent?
“Mm… you still smell like elixir… just a little.”
“Wha…”
Instinctively, I sniffed at my clothes and skin. I couldn’t tell.
Aren’t elixirs tasteless and odorless? Pakira-san gave a wry smile.
“We don’t know either, truthfully. It’s just Liv’s senses.”
“They call it ‘Liv-sense’ for a reason.”
“Mm… has a nice ring to it…”
“Ahh… I kind of get it now.”
So it’s that thing—Liv’s spacey intuition.
Like a sixth sense or something otherworldly. Something people in this world don’t have.
The “scent” of the elixir probably isn’t an actual smell.
It’s something only she can perceive.
“At first, we thought you were someone’s hired agent.”
“We assumed you had an employer giving you orders.”
“Well, I suppose that’s fair.”
That would make a lot more sense, after all.
“Mm… but that wasn’t it…”
“…Why did you think that?”
“Well, it’s a bit awkward to say, but…”
Pakira-san looked troubled.
“?”
“Wof-san, do you remember what you gave to Pakira?”
“Uhh… oh, the elixir…”
“…That’s when we thought something was strange.”
“If you had a boss who instructed you to do it, that would be one thing.”
“But then we started asking: why would someone do that?”
“In other words, what was the objective?”
“Mm… helping Torquetum… what’s the purpose…? No idea…”
Exactly. Even I wouldn’t know how to explain that.
“We wondered if we were the goal.”
“But honestly, well… are we really worth an elixir?”
“Mm… we’re not… so arrogant… to think so…”
“Indeed.”
R-right… that makes sense.
If you think in terms of what an elixir is worth… yeah, I can see how that would be hard to justify.
I don’t really want to comment on that.
Life is more precious than anything.
But in this world, life is fleeting and valued cheaply.
I understand that, but I still can’t accept it.
“And then… you confessed.”
“Well, yes.”
“Then let us offer our thanks once again.”
Lupinus-san bowed her head in gratitude again.
I felt embarrassed.
“Ah, no, I mean…”
“Mm… I’m thankful too.”
“I also thank you, on behalf of Torquetum.”
“Thank you.”
“…Thank you…”
“Thanks.”
The three of them expressed their gratitude, and I didn’t know how to respond.
I didn’t do it because I wanted thanks.
I just thought it would be wrong not to help someone I could save.
“……….”
“If I may be a bit blunt, there’s something I’d like to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Why did you help us?”
“Eh—why?”
I tilted my head. Lupinus-san looked at me with suspicion.
“Elixirs are far more valuable than we are. You know that, don’t you?”
“…If someone’s dying, and I can save them, not doing so just isn’t an option for me. If I can help and choose not to, that’s wrong.”
“No. That’s not wrong at all.”
“Indeed.”
“Mm…”
They denied it instantly. I gave a dry laugh.
“Well… that’s just the kind of person I am. Though I do choose who to help. I’m not going to save just anyone.”
Of course, I won’t help someone trying to kill me.
I do have some boundaries. And I need to make one more thing clear:
“I don’t need any reward. I didn’t help you for that.”
An awkward silence fell over the room.
“……”
“…Mm.”
“I understand.”
Lupinus-san nodded. But her expression looked stiff.
She didn’t agree—but she understood, I guess.
“Good grief… that’s so like Wof.”
“Mm… not a bad thing… that sort of… attitude…”
The other two finally spoke.
Well, I guess this is just like me.
“Now then, next.”
“Next?”
Uh, wait—wasn’t that supposed to be the end of it?
Aren’t they going to ask why I had the elixir or anything like that?
Not that I want them to, but… As I wondered, Lupinus-san suddenly stood up.
“Um?”
She stepped away from the sofa and sat directly on the floor—then suddenly did a dogeza (deep, formal bow with forehead touching the ground).
“Thank you so much for the enormous amount of money!!”
“Eeeehhh!?”
I jumped up without thinking. It was a perfect dogeza.
Hands placed in a triangle in front of her, forehead pressed firmly against the floor.
“Enormous amount of money”…?
“Thank you for giving us sixty million Auro!!”
Lupinus-san declared as she bowed deeply and confidently.
Uh, she seems more grateful for the money than for me saving her life.
I looked toward Pakira-san and the others for help. They were stunned too.
“W-what are you doing, Lupinus!?”
“I’m expressing my gratitude!”
“Mm… doing a dogeza… seriously… that’s intense…”
“This is a Soil Under Okkara. It is the highest form of respect.”
Lupinus-san said this with a completely serious expression.
Her intensity was on another level. Also—Soil Under Okkara? What even is that?
The highest form of respect… Sure, if you put it like that, I guess it makes sense, but something about it just feels off.
Pakira-san turned to me and apologized.
“Sorry about this. She’s not fond of her family estate. Since she no longer needs their support, she’s thrilled.”
“Mm… thrilled to the point of celebration.”
So… she’s not on good terms with her family?
“Haa… I understand. Lupinus-san, please lift your head and stand up.”
“Did my sincerity come through?”
“Y-yes. It came through very clearly.”
“I’m so glad.”
She rose smoothly and gracefully, ran her hand through her hair, and gave a faint smile.
No one would ever believe this elegant elf was groveling on the floor just moments ago.
“Well, even that wasn’t quite enough.”
“Oh really?”
“With that support from Tasan, we just barely made it. Oh, that reminds me. There’s something I want to show you.”
“Something to show me?”
“Lupinus, your business here is done, isn’t it?”
“Yes, all finished. I even did the Soil Under Okkara.”
Seriously, what is “Soil Under Okkara”!?
“In that case, come with me. This way.”
We left the living room, passed through the entrance hall, and turned a corner down a hallway until we reached a back door.
The door didn’t lead outside—it opened inward, further into the mansion.
“This mansion has a courtyard in the center, you see.”
“It has a courtyard too?”
I see. Along with the overhangs and such, this mansion really has an odd layout.
Pakira-san opened the back door.
A perfect square of green greeted us. I could see windows from the other side of the mansion.
And in the center of the courtyard… stood a tower.
A stone tower—not that large, but definitely built solidly.
Huh?
“Something about this looks familiar… Wait, this tower!”
Isn’t this the watchtower where Mineha-san is illegally living back at home!?