Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 191: “Events in Imperial Territory (13)”
—Meanwhile, in the Dorgalia Empire—
“Right here, it says ‘Please be sure to read this,’ Your Highness.”
A man in a robe said this beside Prince Ricardo.
This was a training ground within the Empire—a place where members of the imperial family and their subordinates honed themselves through hunting and subjugation of magical beasts.
Inside a lodge in one corner of the training grounds, Prince Ricardo was speaking with a certain mage.
The mage’s name was Marc. He was a subordinate of Azim, the deposed Minister of Magic.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to redeem myself.”
Mage Marc bowed deeply.
“I would be honored if my knowledge can be of service to Your Highness.”
“Hmm. So, this passage says ‘Please be sure to read this,’ correct?”
“There’s no mistake. The linguistics of the Heroes’ world is my field, after all.”
“I see. Understood.”
Prince Ricardo reached for the magical item placed on the table.
It was a metallic plate-like item.
Numbers and text were displayed on its smooth surface.
It was unlike anything Ricardo had ever seen before.
“From what’s happened so far, I’d guess that touching these words ‘Please be sure to read this’ will display the next passage.”
“I believe so as well.”
Mage Marc gave a polite bow.
“However, proceeding too hastily could be dangerous. I think we should examine this item a bit further.”
“How irritating…”
Ricardo had discovered the item a little over ten days ago.
A subordinate soldier had reported: ‘A magic circle appeared in mid-air, and this item dropped from it.’
That was what spurred Ricardo to begin his investigation—but—
“If we waste more time, we’ll draw suspicion from the other princes and princesses. We must proceed. You understand this, do you not, Marc?”
Ricardo glared at the magician.
“Nothing has gone wrong so far. I touched it randomly and got to this ‘Please be sure to read this’ screen. I doubt there’s any danger in proceeding.”
“We mustn’t be careless. This is a magic item from another world.”
“I know. That’s exactly why I brought you in.”
When he first saw it, numbers were displayed on the item’s surface.
Ricardo had touched both the numbers and the surface of the magic item, but nothing happened.
He even tried channeling magic through it and hitting it with a weak wind spell, but the result was the same.
Having no choice, Ricardo decided to seek help from someone knowledgeable in magic.
That person was Marc, a mage who had once served under the Minister of Magic.
The Minister of Magic, said to be the mastermind behind the magical beast summoning incident, had fallen from power.
Most of those close to him had been demoted as well.
For Ricardo, Marc was the perfect person to turn to.
“When the numbers reached zero, that’s when the item reacted differently.”
Ricardo looked at Marc and nodded.
“The numbers were from the Heroes’ world. That’s why I called on someone familiar with that world’s language—you.”
“I’m honored, Your Highness.”
“Continue lending me your strength, Marc.”
“Of course. But just to confirm…”
Marc glanced over, as if probing for answers.
“After the count hit zero, a message appeared, correct?”
“Yes. A different message than this one.”
“The message said, ‘You’ve been chosen as a valuable heir to ancient magic. If you wish to inherit this magic, please touch the word “Agree.” We’ll provide detailed information.’ That’s what it said, correct?”
“You were the one who translated that for me. Which is why I, Ricardo, touched the word ‘Agree.’”
“Even speaking the word ‘Agree’ aloud did nothing, after all.”
“I couldn’t pass up valuable magic. In that case, there was no choice but to touch ‘Agree.’”
With that, Ricardo puffed out his chest proudly.
“After touching ‘Agree,’ the message changed. You saw it too, didn’t you?”
“Yes. It suddenly asked for your ‘race, age, and whether you have magic power.’ There were blank fields next to the words, and touching them displayed a list in the Heroes’ world’s language.”
“I selected ‘Human,’ ‘In my 20s,’ and ‘Has magic power.’”
“…I did advise against it, though.”
“What kind of imperial prince fears a mere magical item?”
“But that wasn’t the end of it.”
“Next, the question ‘Are you someone who fights magical beasts?’ appeared.”
“Your Highness selected ‘Yes’ without hesitation.”
“Then the message read, ‘To you, who’s an enemy of magical beasts, we’ll teach a powerful magic spell. Using this spell will double your strength. If you use it with your family and friends, you’ll receive even more power.’”
Reading that sealed Ricardo’s resolve.
His strength would be doubled, and if used with family and friends, it could multiply even further.
Moreover, this was magic from the Heroes’ world. He couldn’t afford to pass up such an opportunity.
Thus, without hesitation, Ricardo pressed the ‘Next’ button that had appeared at the bottom of the item.
But the magical information didn’t appear.
Instead, what appeared were the words: “Please be sure to read this.”
“It seems this is where precautions about the magic are written.”
Mage Marc frowned.
“Even a Hero must exercise caution when using this magic… It must be that powerful. That kind of information must be what’s stored in this item.”
“That’s excellent. Wonderful, Marc!”
“…Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“I find this item terrifying.”
“What are you saying at this point!?”
Ricardo raised his voice.
“You and I, Marc, are bound by a strong relationship of trust. There’s no turning back now!”
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Besides, neither of us can turn back now.”
“I understand that.”
Marc responded in a tense voice.
“At this point, there’s no turning back. I understand that well.”
“Yes. This item has a ‘Next’ button, but there’s no button to go back.”
“There’s no way to review the previous messages anymore.”
“Exactly. This item was made so you can’t go back.”
There’s no turning back now.
The message that read, “You’ve been chosen as a valuable inheritor of magic.”
The message that asked about species, age, and whether one possessed magical power.
And the message that said, “We’ll now teach you magic”—none of them could be displayed anymore.
If this item were handed over to the Emperor or the Crown Prince, the only thing they would be able to see would be what was currently on display.
“…In that case, His Majesty and Brother Diaz won’t understand the value of this item.”
That meant Ricardo would have to explain the item himself.
However, to do so, he would also have to reveal that “Ricardo had tampered with an otherworldly item without permission.”
If that happened, Ricardo would surely be punished.
He had investigated a dangerous item on his own, and now it was too late to turn back—it was only natural he would be reprimanded.
To avoid that, he would need to achieve a feat great enough to nullify the punishment.
Truthfully, Ricardo should have submitted this item to his father, the Emperor.
The reason he hadn’t was the lingering sense of defeat he felt over the Mysterious Box.
When Ricardo handed the Mysterious Box to the Crown Prince, all he received was credit for discovering it.
He was never allowed to learn what was inside the box.
All he did was receive it from Sophia and deliver it to the Crown Prince.
If he handed over this item, the same thing would probably happen.
Ricardo would be credited with the achievement, without ever understanding the magic the item held.
That was a humiliation Ricardo couldn’t bear.
“There are two paths: either I, Ricardo, monopolize all the information, or I extract the information and then report everything to Father.”
If he kept the information to himself, Ricardo could monopolize powerful magic.
Alternatively, after extracting the information, he could report the item to his father, the Emperor.
At that point, he could use the excuse, “I conducted experiments myself to ensure His Majesty wouldn’t be exposed to any danger.”
Stopping halfway would be the worst choice… Thinking that, Ricardo made his decision.
“There’s no turning back now. I’ll touch the ‘Please be sure to read this’ message!”
Tap.
Ricardo’s finger tapped the text that read “Please be sure to read this.”
What appeared next was—
“Wh-What’s this!?”
“This message is…!”
“So long!!”
What appeared was an absurdly detailed and lengthy message.
Though it seemed to be scrollable with a finger swipe… it was still extremely long.
It felt almost like harassment.
“Is it a magic chant or a spell formula?”
“…No, it doesn’t seem so.”
“…No, it doesn’t seem so,” Marc said, shaking his head.
“It says things like ‘The chant and formula will be displayed at the end,’ ‘This magic is extremely powerful,’ ‘We can’t take responsibility,’ and ‘Please use it with extreme caution’… The same kinds of warnings are repeated several times…”
“I don’t understand. What’s this?”
“At the very end, there’s a button labeled ‘Agree.’ If you touch it, I believe the next information will be revealed.”
“How long would it take to translate this entire message?”
“Ten days… No, if you allow me a month—”
“No good. That would take too long…”
It had already been over ten days since Ricardo came to the training grounds.
Soon, the other princes or princesses might visit. If that happened, they might find out about this item.
To prevent that—
“…There’s no choice but to press ‘Agree’.”
“Your Highness!?”
“Right now, what’s most important is to move forward!”
“That’s reckless, Your Highness! There’s no turning back once it’s done!!”
“That’s why I must proceed, isn’t it!?”
“I’m telling you—you won’t be able to return to the previous message!”
“…Yes, you’re right.”
“Shouldn’t you consult someone, after all…?”
“Of course, it would be best to consult family or someone knowledgeable…”
Family—to Ricardo, the Emperor was someone to be feared and revered, and his siblings were all rivals.
Someone knowledgeable—there were no alchemists in the Empire capable of analyzing a magical item from another world.
For a moment, an image of the “Useless Princess,” Sophia, flashed through Ricardo’s mind.
Her abilities were an unknown variable.
She might understand this item.
Or perhaps she had an acquaintance who would happily translate this “Please Read Carefully” message—
(No, never! There’s no way I would kneel before that person!)
“There’s no option left but to press ‘Agree.’ None at all, Marc.”
“…Your Highness.”
“I promise you’ll be rewarded! Obey me, my loyal retainer!”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness!”
“Then, I’ll press ‘Agree.’”
Click.
Ricardo pressed “Agree” beneath the “Please be sure to read this” warning.
However, what appeared next was another long, detailed message.
Marc skimmed through it and shook his head. This message also contained no information about the magic.
So Ricardo touched “Agree” again.
“Whether I skip it once or skip it twice, it’s the same…”
More messages continued to appear, but Ricardo never read them.
All he wanted was the information about the magic.
Until that appeared, with Marc’s assistance, Ricardo pressed forward without pause—
────────────────────
If Thor were here, he would have told Ricardo:
“This is the dreaded ‘Cursed Smartphone.’”
This item contained a trap.
A trap possibly designed with the psychology of people from this world in mind.
Anyone who knew the language of the Heroes’ world would find it impossible to ignore the word “magic” written in these messages.
Especially descendants of those connected to the Hero would instinctively seek power, just as Ricardo did.
They would recklessly mess with the item, and eventually… find themselves unable to back out.
If Thor had been present, he would have joyfully translated every single message that appeared.
And perhaps he would have realized:
It was as if the message was offering a justification to ease one’s guilt.
As if saying, “We’ve warned and explained everything—if you still proceed, it’s your own responsibility.”
And then he would have taken countermeasures to prepare for whatever might happen.
But Thor wasn’t there.
And the prideful Ricardo would never consult Sophia.
So Ricardo, skipping through message after message, continued to advance—
────────────────────
“I’ve reached it! The magic information!”
After several more steps, a new message appeared on the tablet-like magic item:
“—We’ll now explain the powerful magic.”
“…Oh.”
“We did it, Your Highness.”
“Yes, it’s thanks to you. Expect a reward, Mage Marc.”
Ricardo was staring at the image displayed on the magic item.
On a pitch-black background, white letters floated.
Displayed alongside them was a figure resembling a human. Moreover, it was moving.
────────────────────
『Imitate the movements in this video and repeat the words you hear aloud.』
“A… video? Imitate? Repeat?”
On the surface of the magic item, a tiny human was moving.
It was speaking.
Ricardo didn’t understand what it meant. Mage Marc also shook his head.
This was a chant unknown in this world.
Moreover, it didn’t seem to be in the language of the Heroes’ world.
As Ricardo watched, all movement stopped within a few minutes.
The word “Repeat” appeared on the now-dark surface.
When he touched it, the same thing played from the beginning again.
────────────────────
“So I merely have to imitate the movements and repeat the voice. It’s kind of them to let us watch it multiple times, but…”
“…Your Highness, this is a mysterious magic.”
“How long will it take to analyze it?”
“I don’t know. We’d have to consult the imperial city’s mages.”
“No, that would only spread the information. Besides—”
They didn’t know how long the information would remain displayed.
There was a possibility it could suddenly disappear.
“…After all we went through? I won’t allow that.”
This item can’t go back.
Once the next display appears, the magic information may never show again.
Then now, while they still could—
“…Your Highness.”
“…Once more. No, I’ll keep watching until I memorize it.”
Over and over again.
Ricardo and Marc kept watching the “video.”
They didn’t notice—
—That they had begun to repeat the words being spoken aloud.
—That as they continued repeating, their bodies started mimicking the movements in the “video.”
Eventually, at the end of the video, for just a moment, small letters appeared at the top:
────────────────────
『Army Art—Chant and Activation Formula』
────────────────────
But Ricardo and Marc no longer understood.
They had already executed the magic brought from the Heroes’ world.
The name of the spell was “Army Art.”
It was—a forbidden formula for transcending humanity and becoming part of the system known as a Hero.
—A few hours later—
“Brother Ricardo? Are you there? It’s the Second Princess, Daphne.”
A carriage stopped in front of the training grounds.
The girl who stepped out had purple hair. She wore a plain dress.
At her waist was a slender sword—a rapier.
The Second Princess Daphne called out to her brother, who should have been staying at the lodgings.
Prince Ricardo had received the exclusive right to use the training grounds as a reward for obtaining the Mysterious Box.
It had already been more than ten days since he began training here.
It was time for him to vacate the premises.
(Has Brother Ricardo become carried away after obtaining the Mysterious Box?)
Daphne couldn’t help but feel bitter about Ricardo’s great achievement.
She also disliked that he had reserved the entire training grounds afterward.
(Even after such a major achievement, he still aims higher? Is Brother Ricardo truly seeking the position of Crown Prince?)
Her eldest brother, Diaz, was highly competent.
He performed his duties diligently and had the Emperor’s deep trust. The possibility of him being disinherited was low.
Even so, Ricardo likely couldn’t give up on becoming Crown Prince.
(Aiming higher may just be the instinct of a Hero’s successor.)
To aim for the strongest was also to aim for the highest position.
That ambition was encouraged in the Empire.
Which is why princes and princesses sought to achieve merit, regardless of the means.
“…No response. Is Brother not here?”
Daphne tilted her head.
She was here on official duty.
She couldn’t return without delivering the Crown Prince’s message, but—
“Brother Ricardo? Are you not here?”
“I’m here. Of course I’m here. What is it, Daphne?”
There had been no sense of presence.
At some point, the lodge door had opened, and Ricardo and a robed mage had appeared.
“—Brother Ricardo?”
“Yes. It’s me. What do you need?”
Ricardo smiled gently.
It was strange.
Was he ever someone who would show Daphne such an unguarded smile?
And who was the mage beside him?
His hood concealed his expression, but he stood oddly close to Ricardo.
Her brother had always seen subordinates as tools. He would never have allowed someone to get that close.
“Prince Ricardo Dorgalia, I bring you an order from Crown Prince Diaz.”
Suppressing her suspicions, Daphne conveyed the message.
“Archduke Kharon, the former Sword Saint, and Brother Diaz will be hunting in this area. Afterward, they’ll hold another sparring match. Prince Ricardo is to vacate the training grounds.”
“…………”
“Are you listening?”
“There’s no need… none at all to vacate. Daphne.”
“What are you talking about, Brother?”
“Because I, Ricardo, will also participate in the hunt and the match.”
“Excuse me?”
As expected… something was wrong.
The Ricardo Daphne knew revered the strong.
He had looked down on Sophia, who couldn’t fight, calling her the “useless princess,” but he deeply respected Archduke Kharon and the Crown Prince.
He would never say something disrespectful to those two.
“What’s happened to you, Brother Ricardo?”
“There’s no problem. Nothing at all.”
Ricardo nodded.
“If it’s a hunt, there’s no issue with me participating. If I achieve greater results than Brother Diaz and the Archduke, then surely I’ll be allowed to join the match too?”
“And you’re asking me that?”
“I see. Then let me put it in terms you can understand, Daphne.”
Ricardo beckoned her closer.
Daphne noticed something strange on his wrist.
It was a ring— no, more like a chain woven from magical power.
Looking closely, the mage beside him wore the same thing.
A magic item?
Or something made purely from magical energy—?
“Daphne, don’t you want to become stronger?”
“Of course… I do.”
“Then you should become part of the ‘Army’ as well.”
Ricardo said.
Then he turned to the soldiers guarding Daphne.
“You all should join too. If you ‘introduce your family and friends,’ you’ll grow even stronger. I, Ricardo, have discovered the magic that makes one a Hero. I shall share it with you as well.”
And thus, Ricardo welcomed Daphne and her guards into the dormitory.