Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 57: Grade VI Explorer ②
The next day. I arrived at the Explorer’s Guild right on time.
When I asked at the reception, the receptionist guided me.
“This way, please.”
“Y-Yes.”
I was led to… a double-doored room at the corner of the third floor.
The plaque above read: Guildmaster’s Office
“Here…?”
“Yes. Everyone is waiting for you.”
“R-Right…”
Bowing lightly, I opened the door.
“Oh my, you’ve arrived.”
“Excuse me…”
The elf man—Guildmaster Aranth—greeted me immediately.
So this is the Guildmaster’s office… Yep. It definitely looks like one.
It had a decent amount of space, appropriate furnishings, and the expected atmosphere.
There was a guest sofa and table, bookshelves and filing cabinets along the walls, and a grand desk with thick red curtains behind it.
Mounted on the walls were a practical saber and an ornate staff.
Next to the desk was a pure white tea table.
At that white table, a girl dressed entirely in white was having tea from a white teacup.
Huh? Something feels… off?
Let’s see: a white tea table? A white teacup? A girl all in white?
And there’s the witch, too. That girl in white gently set down her white teacup.
“Laala Lily, your herbal tea is as deranged as ever.”
“Ha ha ha—ha ha ha, Shiro. Say that name again and I’ll turn you into herbal tea.”
“That was a slip of the tongue.”
“?”
What’s going on here? Who is this girl?
And what’s up with that glaringly white tea table in the middle of the office?
The witch turned to me.
“Well well, young Woff. It’s been a while.”
“Y-Yes, long time no see.”
The witch smiled brightly. That Laala—no, let’s not ask about that name.
“So you’re Woff, huh?”
The girl in white looked at me.
She wore a white hat. Her long, flowing hair reached her waist. A white rose hair ornament adorned her head.
Her eyes were a stark white, her skin as pale as snow. Her expression was unreadable. Her features were all white—even her lips.
Her dress, too, fluttered entirely in white from top to bottom.
With the white tea table as a backdrop, the whole scene was almost blinding.
“Y-Yes. I’m Woff.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Shiro. Shiro White Weiss Blanche Album Sephid. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“…Eh?”
“Did you not catch that? Shiro White Weiss Blanche Album Sephid. Just call me Shiro.”
“O-Okay. Nice to meet you, Shiro-san.”
That name is so long…!? Not quite Picasso levels, but still!
Who is this person?
Seeing my confused expression, Aranth stepped in.
“Oh my. She’s a Grade I Explorer. They call her the ‘Immortal White Rose Princess.'”
“By the way, Shiro is also an expert on Death Dungeons, you know.”
“Death Dungeons…?”
There are actually experts on those?
“Now then, I bet you’re wondering why I’m here.”
Shiro spoke in an elegant tone.
More than wondering, I was plain bewildered. Especially by that white tea table.
“Well, yes, I suppose. But before that—where are Juicy-san and Agaro-san?”
Neither of them were present.
“Oh my. Agaro and Juicy were given their results and rewards yesterday.”
“Eh? Really?”
Why is it just the witch and me today, then?
“There’s a reason we split it this way. Shiro, if you please.”
“Very well. Woff-kun.”
“Yes?”
Shiro stood and faced me. She was slightly taller than I was.
She gazed directly at me. Not silver eyes, but rather strange white irises.
“I-Is something wrong?”
“So this is the witch’s apprentice.”
“?”
Shiro pulled a scroll from the white rose pouch on her hip and unfurled it.
“———『Woff, age 13. In recognition of your many accomplishments, we hereby record this decree: from the moment this letter is read, you shall be granted special promotion to the rank of Grade VI Explorer. Signed: Grand Explorer Guild, Grand Guildmaster Alhazard = Abramelin』——— Here. Your Grade VI Explorer tag.”
Shiro handed me a tag.
“…Huh?”
I accepted it in a daze.
Wait… an Explorer? Me?
“Ah, right. Aranth, I’m borrowing your desk.”
“Oh my. What are you doing?”
“You’ll see.”
Shiro placed a crystal ball on the guildmaster’s desk.
At once, the crystal ball glowed, projecting an image into the room.
After several streaks of noise, a blurry figure appeared and gradually came into focus.
『…―――I am Abramelin… the Grand Guildmaster of the Grand Guild of Explorers. Alhazard Abramelin.』
What appeared was a black leopard with a magnificent white beard.
“…!?”
Not an elderly beastkin with leopard ears—
But an old man with the actual head of a black leopard, adorned with a white beard.
A human? Maybe?
The witch made a displeased face.
“Oh my, aren’t you supposed to be busy, Elder Alhazard?”
『Witch. Good work on the liberation of the Tomb of Death.』
“Hey hey, Kon just did what she was told, y’know. Did you seriously use a rare legacy like a projection crystal orb just to say that?”
『You haven’t changed. This matter was something I should’ve handled much earlier myself.』
“Mhm. Would’ve been nice if you took care of it hundreds of years ago.”
『…You’re right… My apologies…』
He bowed his head in apology. The witch clicked her tongue.
Then he lifted his gaze and looked at me.
『Boy. You are the witch’s apprentice?』
“Yes. Um, there’s something I absolutely have to ask you.”
『And what would that be?』
I never thought I’d get the chance to ask this.
“Why did you turn your own son into a dungeon defense mechanism?”
“My, how bold.”
“Oh my oh my.”
『…………』
Alhazard Abramelin looked at me.
He wasn’t glaring, nor did his eyes gleam with wisdom or suspicion.
He was simply looking at me with grayish-brown eyes.
And yet, the pressure was so immense, I couldn’t move.
I knew this feeling—similar to when I faced the King of Death, Hagan.
But still, I had to ask.
“I need to know the reason.”
『Why is that?』
“…Because, with his beautiful blue eyes, he told me ‘I thank you’ in the end.”
『…He thanked you… I see… He had his mother’s blue eyes… So, it was you. That’s how it is… Then I shall answer. My son was strong. He had already gained fame as a Grade I Explorer and was the commander of the kingdom’s Seventh Knight Order. Yes, he was strong. Stronger than anyone in that large-scale subjugation effort. That is why he died. He remained strong even in death—so I made him a defense mechanism. That is the sole reason.』
Alhazard Abramelin spoke matter-of-factly.
I could tell—it was the truth.
“I understand. Thank you.”
『Was my son strong?』
“Yes. Stronger than anyone. I lost to him.”
『…I see.』
Alhazard Abramelin nodded with emotion in his voice.
And for some reason, I felt like that gave him some peace.
Since I had the chance, I asked one more thing.
“…Um, may I ask one more thing?”
『What is it?』
“I live in the warehouse with the tower. I found something there.”
『A warehouse with a tower… No way. Could it be the Second Tower?』
“My. What are you talking about?”
“Now now, who knows what that could mean~”
“Yes. It is the Second Tower. There was an inscription: ‘Someday, to dream an endless dream…'”
『Indeed! I see… I see. At last, it has been found. Someone has finally found it and dares to challenge Haiyaan’s Dream. Are you going to attempt it?』
“Yes. That’s my intention.”
『Then, let this be a formal request from me. Explore Haiyaan’s Dream. And with the acceptance of this request, you are hereby promoted to Grade V Explorer.』
“Eh…”
“My. That was unexpected.”
“Oh my oh my, promoted just like that, huh? As expected of young Woff!”
“Are you sure, Alhazard?”
Shiro-san asked.
Alhazard Abramelin smiled.
『Very well. “Someday, to dream an endless dream”—it’s been a long time since I’ve heard that. Witch’s apprentice—Woff, was it?』
“Yes.”
『I have high hopes for you. I’ll give you your reward when the time comes. Someday. Until then, I’ll be looking forward to it.』
“Yes. I’ll find it, I promise.”
With a flick, the projection vanished.
Whew… He was really something.
If I’d met him in person, I probably wouldn’t even be able to speak—that’s how overwhelming and dignified he seemed.
Still, I was just promoted to a Grade V Explorer in an instant… Is that really okay?
Hm? I feel a presence behind me. I turned around—and immediately regretted it.
“Well well, young Woff…”
“Care to explain…”
“What exactly is going on here?”
The witch. Aranth-san. And Shiro-san—all three of them asked with smiling faces.
…But not a single one of them was actually smiling.
After that, I was absolutely bombarded with questions.