Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 58: Grade V Explorer ⓪
I was about to explain everything in detail as I answered their questions.
But the witch told me to summarize, so I left out a lot of things.
The three of them seemed satisfied.
“Oh my. To think there’d be a clue to Haiyan’s legacy in a place like that.”
“Haiyan… I’m shocked. I didn’t think he actually existed.”
“Existed?”
Shiro nodded.
“In my homeland, Shiro’s homeland, he appears in fairy tales. Woff-kun, do you know of the ‘Three Eggs’?”
“No… I don’t.”
“Oh my, how nostalgic.”
“Even you know of it, Witch?”
“Hmm. Doesn’t ring any bells in my region.”
So Aranth-san didn’t know about it.
Shiro looked a bit surprised, then began to speak—or rather, to sing.
🎵 “Haiyan is an alchemist~~ A dream alchemist no one knows~~
Haiyan holds the Three Eggs~~♪♪
Mysterious, mysterious, mysterious eggs~~♪
One heals all creatures and repels evil—the holy egg~~♪
One grants longevity to all life—the egg of life~~♪
One revives all beings—the egg of soul~~♪
Haiyan is an alchemist~~ A dream alchemist no one knows~~
Haiyan holds the Three Eggs~~♪♪
Where are the Three Eggs now~~♪
When will the Three Eggs return~~♪” 🎵
She sang with a sweet, clear voice, and she was really good.
We couldn’t help but applaud.
Shiro gave a small cough, looking embarrassed.
“Oh my. You’re quite the singer.”
“Mm-hmm. That was a wonderful voice.”
“It was lovely.”
“I’m embarrassed.”
Shiro turned away with a pout.
Still, that nursery rhyme stuck with me.
The line “the holy egg that heals all creatures and repels evil” must be referring to the Elixir’s Sacred Egg.
I didn’t expect the Elixir’s Sacred Egg to pop up here.
But what were the other two? Eternal life and resurrection? No way, right?
And Haiyan was called an alchemist. So, a practitioner of alchemy.
Surprised by the unexpected connection, I remembered something.
The Holy Tree—the wooden box that held the Elixir’s Sacred Egg had carvings of it.
“Well, putting aside whether Haiyan was real or not, things have taken an interesting turn.”
The witch seemed amused.
Aranth made a complicated face.
“Oh dear. Now I have to prepare a Grade V tag on short notice.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s not something you need to apologize for. The tag will be ready soon, so wait just a bit.”
She winked at me. Heh heh.
Aranth-san gave instructions to a staff member.
I poured tea for Shiro and the witch.
“It’s delicious.”
“Thank you.”
“Mm-hmm. You’ve gotten even better.”
“Thank you.”
Lately, I’ve only been making tea with the Crescent Moon set.
I haven’t given up on potion-making, but… tea-making is fun.
And I feel like it might somehow help with potion-making too.
“Ah, what a nice aroma.”
“Would you like some?”
I poured tea for Aranth-san as well.
“Delicious… By the way, it’s fine for you to accept the request, but there’s a condition.”
“A condition?”
“You need to form a party. Doesn’t have to be formal. Let’s see… at least four people—so three others besides you.”
“Three people…”
“Woff boy. Woff boy. Unfortunately, I can’t participate this time.”
“You can’t?”
“I’d really like to, but I’ve got a pile of work backed up. Honestly, it’s bad.”
“I-I understand. That can’t be helped.”
So the witch is out. Then I made eye contact with Shiro.
“Unfortunately, Shiro can’t either. I have official letters and messages to deliver.”
“O-okay. That can’t be helped.”
She didn’t even say anything, but… yeah, guess Shiro’s out too.
I’ll try inviting Lightning Fang.
And I’ll report to Mineha-san and Pakira-san too.
“Oh dear. I almost forgot.”
Aranth-san pulled a sheet from his desk and showed it to me.
What’s this?
“Your reward slip. Hand it over at counter #5.”
I’d completely forgotten.
That’s no good. Forgetting your reward—disgraceful for an explorer.
“Y-yes. Understood.”
“It includes payment for the last dungeon’s incident resolution too.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“Well, with tea enjoyed, I suppose Shiro’s business is concluded.”
With that, Shiro packed up her crystal ball and folded up the white tea table and chair.
The chair clicked neatly into place beneath the table. I swear I’ve seen something like that in a past life.
Next, she strapped the white tea table to her back with a belt. Huh?
“Huh?”
“Well then, everyone. Farewell.”
“Eh—wait!”
“What is it?”
“Um, wouldn’t it be easier to store that in your pouch?”
“Shiro simply can’t stand the thought of pulling that tea table out of a pouch. It’s a visceral dislike.”
“O-oh… I see.”
She answered immediately, her tone containing a hint of disgust.
She really hates it. I don’t get it at all, but sure.
“Well then, let’s meet again if the chance arises, Woff-kun.”
“Y-yes.”
Carrying the white tea table, she gracefully departed.
The door closed with a click.
“I really wish she wouldn’t do that. She once banged into the wall and chipped it.”
After she left, Aranth muttered. Yeah… I can see how that would happen.
I said without thinking:
“There really are all kinds of people, huh.”
“Well, yes. Definitely a wide variety.”
“Grade I explorers are like a showcase of eccentric weirdos and oddballs.”
“But it’s not like everyone is like that, right?”
Aranth smiled faintly and gestured toward the witch with his eyes.
And I was like… ah. Yeah. That makes sense.
Then, after waiting a few dozen minutes, I received my Grade V Explorer tag.
The tag was made of a specially treated metal.
My name and rank were engraved on the front, and the manufacture date was on the back.
“Well then, let me explain a few things.”
“Um, uh… can I ask something first?”
“Oh my. What is it?”
“…Uh, I became an explorer, right?”
“That’s right. You became one as a special exception. Why do you ask?”
I said it clearly:
“I haven’t been told anything since then.”
“What did you say?”
Aranth-san gave the witch a sharp glare.
The witch averted her eyes. Aranth-san let out a sigh.
“I heard that becoming an explorer through a special exception usually involves an exam.”
“That’s true.”
“But I didn’t take any exam.”
“Oh my. You really haven’t been told anything.”
“Not a single thing.”
Aranth-san glared at the witch again.
The witch once more looked away. A deep sigh followed.
“Sigh… First, let me explain what a ‘special exception’ is. The conditions are strict. You don’t have to meet all of them, but there are various criteria. For example—money. To become an explorer through special exception, you need more than double the usual amount of money. And there are other difficult requirements too. Don’t you think it’s strange? Adults can become explorers easily, but for children, the hurdles are extremely high.”
“That’s true…”
I don’t know all the details, but I’ve heard that adults can register as explorers fairly easily.
And yet, just because someone isn’t an adult, the requirements are so harsh. It really does seem odd.
“It’s not without reason. It’s to secure talented individuals. That’s why explorers who enter through special exception start at Grade III.”
“They start from Grade III?”
“Yes. That’s why the conditions and exams are so strict.”
I see… So that’s why Mineha-san is Grade III. But wait…
“But I started from Grade VI.”
“Ahh, yes. That was because Kon asked for it.”
“The witch did?”
“First of all, I’m sorry for keeping it from you. I just wanted to surprise you, you know?”
I figured as much. That’s just like the witch.
“That’s fine, then. But why was I made Grade VI?”
“Yes, yes. That’s because I figured you wouldn’t be satisfied starting from Grade III, Woff-boy. And since I haven’t formally trained you as an explorer, I wasn’t comfortable with skipping you ahead either.”
“I see…”
If I were suddenly told I was a Grade III explorer, I probably wouldn’t be happy—I’d just be confused.
I don’t know anything about being an explorer, and I have no experience. I wouldn’t be able to accept a high rank just like that.
Not to mention the attention. Just being called the witch’s apprentice already draws eyes to me.
I don’t want any more reasons to stand out.
“But still, I didn’t take any kind of test.”
“Oh my, yes you did.”
“Huh?”
“You know, that investigation of the forest we just did?”
“That counted?”
“And, it also came with the condition that all credit for the witch’s achievements this time would be waived.”
“What!? Witch… Is that true?”
No credit. That means no reward either. That’s just absurd.
The witch smiled.
“It’s no big deal. If it helps my apprentice gain experience, I don’t mind.”
“…Aranth-san. Are you saying the witch really got nothing in return?”
“Oh my. Of course, it wasn’t literally nothing. Her share was used to cover the cost of your special exception. The rest, as she requested, was donated to the Royal Relic Research Institute.”
So… in other words, her reward was zero.
And on top of that…
“The cost of the special exception… was for me?”
“Yep, yep. So I hope you’ll forgive me for keeping it a secret.”
“Of course I forgive you. Thank you very much. But still…”
“Yep, yep. Do your best with the Haiyan exploration, okay?”
“Y-yes…”
Once again, I owe her even more.
Man… I haven’t repaid a single favor yet.
After that, I received a brief explanation about being an explorer.
Since I jumped from Grade VI to Grade V, I no longer have to complete the basic requests required at Grade VI.
The basic requests are mandatory once you become a Grade VI explorer.
You can choose one from Gathering, Subjugation, or Exploration.
I also quickly understood why Alhazard Abrahamlin made me Grade V.
In Hydrangea, due to ancient laws, Grade VI explorers aren’t allowed to explore below the 10th floor of the city dungeons.
So that’s why he made me Grade V.
What a weird restriction…
After parting ways with the witch—who had work to do—I went to the reception desk and received my reward… and was shocked.
Huh? What is this amount…? 1.6 million!?
No way, that’s seriously too much… Um, what should I do…?
“Um, if you’re an explorer, you can deposit it with the guild.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Once your tag is created and you’re registered, a guild account is automatically opened.”
“Then, please do that.”
“Would you like to deposit the full reward?”
“Yes. Oh, actually… I’ll keep 150,000 Oros with me.”
“Understood. I’ll deposit 1.45 million Oros for you.”
I kept just 150,000 in my pouch.
Phew… starting today, I’m a Grade V explorer.