Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 87: Princess Liana Strolls Through “Nosa Town”
“She is Layla. The girl I took in and protected.”
The deputy commander, Nona, spoke to the boy and girl.
Nona gave a discreet glance to Liana, signaling her to follow the plan.
When they entered the town, Liana was to use the alias “Layla.”
“I am Nona, a soldier assigned to patrol the highways. By order of my superior, I’ve been entrusted with the task of escorting Miss Layla to her parents. We stopped by ‘Nosa Town’ along the way, and…”
“It’s surprisingly busy, so I was curious, and that’s why we stopped…”
Nona’s words were picked up by Liana.
At this moment, Liana had her hair dyed chestnut brown, and she wore a hood.
Her clothes were those of an ordinary traveler.
No one would recognize her as Princess Liana.
Still, talking to unfamiliar boys and girls made her nervous.
Liana had never conversed with peers as equals before.
But still, Liana continued to speak, looking into the boy and girl’s eyes.
“So, I heard there is an imperial princess in this town… I wondered if the bustling atmosphere here might be due to that. Since we came this far, I wanted to ask the townspeople about it…”
Liana spoke all her prepared lines in one breath.
Then, as she looked at the faces of the boy and girl,
“How coincidental.”
The boy nodded, seemingly impressed.
“I’ve been waiting here because I also wanted to see Princess Sophia.”
“Is that so?”
“This kid and I came from a nearby town. We heard that Nosa Town has been busy lately, so we thought we might find some business opportunities and have been looking around.”
The tall boy looked toward the red-haired girl.
The girl, looking a little flustered, said,
“Y-Yes, that’s about it.”
“Then, we heard that Princess Sophia would be returning to the town soon. That’s why we were waiting by the gate.”
“Will Princess Sophia pass through here?”
“Yes. The townspeople were talking about it.”
The boy’s words were true.
If Liana listened closely, she could hear the townspeople’s chatter.
“—Princess Sophia is going to visit the soldiers to show appreciation.”
“—She should be back soon, and I’d really like to see her.”
“—She’s expected to return in about an hour.”
The people were talking like this.
It seemed that the large crowd at the town gate was due to this.
“It seems there’s still some time before the princess returns.”
Deputy commander Nona said to the boy and girl.
“If you don’t mind, would you share some stories with me during this time? I rarely come this far, and I’d love to hear about the people living near the border.”
“Sure. From a soldier… um, Nona-san.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll share my story, so can we also hear from you and Miss Layla?”
“Mine?”
“Mine?”
Nona and Liana looked at each other with puzzled expressions, and the boy paused before speaking.
“Actually, I work as a craftsman, making furniture and metal goods.”
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“A craftsman?”
“Yes. So, if possible, I’d like to know what’s happening in the south… in the imperial capital. Knowing what’s needed and what’s popular would help with my work.”
“I see. If that’s the case…”
Nona glanced at Liana.
Without hesitation, Liana nodded.
Liana wanted to know how Princess Sophia was viewed by the people of the town.
She didn’t mind talking about the capital in exchange.
“Understood. Let’s talk.”
“Then, let’s go somewhere we can sit and talk. There, we’ll also be able to hear the gossip of the townspeople. It should be a good spot for you, Layla-san, and Nona-san to learn more about this town. The place is… um…”
“Ag… no, I know the place.”
The red-haired girl picked up the boy’s words.
“I’ve heard there’s a place nearby where we can have some tea.”
“Thank you. That’s helpful.”
“I made sure to plan properly with my best friend’s advice.”
The girl mumbled shyly.
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They seemed like good friends.
(If my sister and I were townspeople… would we have been able to stay together like this?)
Thinking that, Liana began to follow the boy and girl.
“Here, I think we can hear the town’s rumors. It might also be useful for Nona-san and Layla-san.”
“There’s an empty seat in the corner.”
Liana was guided to a shop that combined a tavern and a teahouse.
Perhaps because it was daytime, everyone seemed to be drinking tea at the moment.
The boy and girl sat side by side, drinking tea while listening to the voices of the town.
“…That boy really seems like a craftsman.”
Nona whispered into Liana’s ear.
“…He’s been observing the tools that the townspeople carry. It’s occupational habit. It’s clear that he wants to gather information for work.”
“…The common folk are quite strong, aren’t they?”
Liana murmured before taking a sip of her tea.
The tea was light but sweet. Yet, it was delicious. It was different from what she usually drank. It had the taste of a bustling town.
The common people lived like this, in ways she hadn’t known.
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And among them, her sister Sophia was adored.
So much so that everyone waited for her return right in front of the gate.
Liana had no idea how such a thing had come to pass.
(…I really knew nothing at all, did I?)
Even though it was her first time seeing the people up close, she felt as though she hadn’t truly understood them before.
The boy and girl across the table—these commoners, they likely spoke of things like this.
The boy, while drinking tea, took out a piece of parchment from his pocket.
He also took out a pen and ink, and seemed to be jotting down notes regularly. He was probably writing down the town’s rumors. He was diligent in his research.
Though, Liana couldn’t quite figure out how he was keeping the long quill pen and ink bottle tucked away in his pocket.
The girl beside him, on the other hand, leisurely sipped her tea.
She looked calm, and it seemed that she was content simply with the boy being beside her.
They appeared like siblings, but they might also be a young couple.
As Liana was thinking about this—
“Truly, what an extraordinary person. This Sophia-sama!”
A townsman in the teahouse suddenly raised his voice.
Liana’s shoulder twitched at the mention of her sister’s name.
With a tense expression, she strained to listen to the gossip.
“Thanks to Sophia-sama, this town has gotten much better.”
“I never imagined such a princess existed. She’s been out today, comforting the soldiers, I’ve heard.”
“Moreover, she’s strong herself. Apparently, she shattered a magical beast with her magic.”
(…That’s right. My sister fought the magical beasts…)
Liana didn’t know such a thing about Sophia.
But since the people were talking about it, it must be true.
The conversation continued.
“When she defeated the new kind of magical beast, I heard that Sophia-sama summoned a guardian spirit!”
“I know, I know. She summoned a presence so powerful that it scared the magical beast away.”
(…My sister summoned a guardian spirit!?)
She didn’t know about that. It seemed impossible.
Such magic was something Liana herself didn’t know.
Yet, the townspeople kept saying so.
And their conversation didn’t stop there.
“I’ve heard this is just a rumor, but Sophia-sama can talk to animals.”
“That’s why owls and cats gather around her.”
“She’s truly a mystical person…”
(My sister can speak with animals!?)
“The trading post at the border, that was made possible thanks to her power.”
“I never thought we could get trading opportunities at the border.”
“The Demon King’s territory must be recognizing her power, too.”
(The Demon King’s territory… is acknowledging my sister’s power!? The ‘Magical Beast Gargarossa’ was defeated in no time. That terrifying Demon King!? No way!!)
“I bet Sophia-sama has been going to the trading post so often because of that.”
“She seems to get stronger every time she returns.”
“I even heard she found a hot spring at the trading post. I guess that’s why she’s been so energetic.”
(Sophia… has she awoken as a hero…?)
Liana froze, still holding the cup to her lips.
Crushing magical beasts into pieces with light magic.
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Summoning a guardian spirit.
Talking to animals.
Making the Demon King’s territory recognize one’s power.
Uncovering hot springs.
Liana does not know such things about Sophia.
Even though she is her twin sister, it felt like hearing about a completely different person.
Of course, this is what the townspeople say. It is not necessarily the truth.
Still… it must contain some degree of truth.
The people of this town are much closer to Sophia than Liana is.
(…Archduke-sama. I still… don’t know anything about my sister. How… ignorant I am…)
“Is something the matter, Layla-san?”
“Y-Yes!”
Called by her false name, Liana instinctively looked up.
When she did, a young craftsman was looking at her with concern.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“N-No. I’m fine. The tea is delicious too.”
Liana shook her head and took a sip of tea.
Nona, who was sitting next to her, looked worried.
“…I’m fine, Nona-sama.”
Liana reassured Nona, then looked towards the boy and girl.
“Have you ever seen Princess Sophia?”
“Yes. Luckily, I’ve seen her up close a few times.”
“I see…”
“Is Princess Sophia really the person the rumors say she is?”
Instead of Liana, who hesitated, Nona asked the question.
It seemed Nona was trying to help Liana without revealing that she was her sister.
“No… I think Princess Sophia is even more than what the rumors say.”
“More than the rumors?”
“She’s very brave, sometimes does the unexpected, has a strong curiosity, and is such a person.”
“You speak as if you’re close to her.”
“I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I apologize.”
“No, it’s just that I didn’t think Princess Sophia was that approachable.”
“It’s just a personal opinion from someone who lives in a nearby town. Please just ignore it.”
The boy said this with a smile.
“Thanks to Princess Sophia, the imperial soldiers started protecting the border areas. Because of that, it became easier for us to travel from the nearby town as well. We truly appreciate her.”
“I… I also think Princess Sophia is a good person! I respect her!”
The red-haired girl nodded vigorously.
For them, Liana’s sister seemed like someone approachable and respectable.
Liana felt like she didn’t need to ask more questions.
She realized that her sister possessed something she herself didn’t have.
“Well then, could you tell me about the imperial capital?”
The boy spoke, looking at Nona, the vice commander.
“You must go to the capital sometimes for the patrols, right?”
“Y-Yes. Once every few months, to report.”
“Is the capital… um, an easy place for soldiers to live in? Are there any inconveniences or things you think could be improved?”
“The capital is the great capital of the empire.”
Nona spoke to the boy.
“It is the center of people and culture. The security is good, and most things can be obtained. Above all, it’s the seat of the Emperor. The information coming in and the technologies available are probably the best on the continent.”
“Is that so?”
“‘Nosa Town’ is also becoming more populated, but it still can’t compare to the capital.”
“What about further south?”
The boy asked.
“Is the war in the south still ongoing?”
“It’s a series of skirmishes with the small country alliance. I can’t talk in detail, but…”
“Anything you can say is fine.”
“Why are you interested in such matters?”
“I’m a craftsman. When the country changes, the things that are needed change too. I want to make things that will help everyone, looking ahead at the changes to come.”
“That’s a noble spirit.”
“…I think so too.”
Before she knew it, Liana was nodding at the boy’s words.
The boy’s eyes were shining. He must take great pride in his work.
The girl next to him was looking at him with warm eyes.
Liana felt inexplicably envious of the two of them.
“The southern front will end with an imperial victory. Soon, with the empire’s overwhelming power.”
After a brief pause, Nona spoke.
“The soldiers are saying something like that. That’s about all I can tell you.”
“Thank you.”
The boy seemed satisfied with that.
He took notes on a piece of parchment, muttering to himself, “The things I need to make next are…”
What he was creating probably wouldn’t move the nation, but it was a noble spirit, nonetheless.
(Did my sister also change by interacting with the people like this…?)
While thinking about that, Liana watched the town.
The teahouse faces the main street. From here, she could easily see the flow of people.
Her sister had become an extraordinary presence, but the town remained ordinary. The only difference was that there seemed to be many owls and cats.
She had heard that the people of “Nosa Town” cared for them to keep away pests and rats.
There was a cat in front of the teahouse as well.
A small white kitten and a black kitten.
The white cat was staring at Liana, tilting its head in curiosity, seeming to hesitate whether to approach. The black kitten’s face was close to the white one, as if they were discussing something.
Come to think of it, my sister liked small creatures… With that thought, Liana reached out to the cat.
However, the white cat smoothly dodged her and headed toward the boy and girl.
Without hesitation, it jumped onto the boy’s lap and, in a small voice, said something.
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, the boy widened his eyes and looked at Liana.
“Is something the matter?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
“…..meow meow meow meow…”
The boy and the white cat shook their heads.
“Anyway, I think Princess Sophia will be back soon.”
“How do you know?”
Had he asked the cat?
As Liana thought this, the boy turned his gaze outward.
“The entrance to the town has gotten more noisy.”
“…Ah, I see.”
“Let’s go.” “I’m going.”
The boy and girl settled the bill and stood up.
The young craftsman and the red-haired girl walked side by side, with Liana and Nona following behind.
When they reached the main street, they could see a crowd gathering in front of the town gates.
(Princess Sophia is coming back soon. Then, I’ll see her… and after that…?)
Liana still didn’t know what she wanted to do after seeing her sister.
The high-ranking officials had forbidden “Princess Liana from going to see Princess Sophia.”
However, Archduke Kharon had said, “They never told me you can’t enter Nosa Town.”
Furthermore, before their departure, he had said:
“Princess Liana is forbidden from visiting Princess Sophia. But if Princess Sophia happens to find Princess Liana and wants to meet her, there shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
—He had said such a thing.
It was an unreasonable logic, but Liana understood it to be the Archduke’s goodwill.
“…Your Highness. It seems like she’s almost here.”
“…Yes. Nona.”
Liana nodded in response to Nona’s whisper in her ear.
She wanted to see her sister, no matter what.
With that thought, she walked toward the town gates.
So, she was slow to notice the commotion.
“Someone! Catch that person—!!”
She heard a scream.
Instinctively, she looked toward the voice—and saw a woman lying in a narrow alley.
Across the street, a man holding a dagger was running, cradling a young girl under his arm.
“Thief… He took my child—! Someone—!!”
Copper and silver coins were scattered at the woman’s feet.
Probably, the man had tried to steal money from her, but she resisted, and he ran off with the child.
“Don’t come! Don’t come near! If you do—!”
The man raised his dagger.
Nona looked at Liana as if asking for permission.
Liana nodded and gripped the dagger hidden under her robe, running toward the man.
(I can’t allow a ruffian in my sister’s town—!)
—But it was too far.
If only someone would stop the man’s movements… Just as Liana thought that—
“Officer! Not Isaac! Officer!!”
The voice rang out from the crowd, and the man, holding the child, froze.
The strength left his hand, and the dagger fell.
The man seemed to sense something terrifying and looked around frantically.
Right after—
“I won’t forgive bad people!!”
The red-haired girl had grabbed the man’s arm and restrained him.
(When did she—?!)
Liana and Nona had immediately run when they noticed the commotion.
The young craftsman and the red-haired girl must have been nearby.
So how did the girl already get next to the thief?
Did she slip through the crowd quickly? Like water?
“Let go—!”
The man tried to shake off the girl’s hand.
But the girl didn’t budge.
In fact, with her free hand, she grabbed his other hand and twisted it.
“Are you alright?”
The girl smiled gently at the freed child.
“It was scary, huh? But it’s okay now.”
“…Yeah.”
“We’ll hand this person over to the soldiers.”
With a smooth motion, the red-haired girl effortlessly threw the man to the ground.
Lightly.
As if swinging a paper doll.
A cold sweat ran down Liana’s back.
She hadn’t expected there would be such a powerful person in the borderlands.
“Officer! Hurry up, Officer!!”
The voice echoed from the crowd.
Each time, the man’s body would spasm as if struck by a whip.
His expression was filled with fear, as though he were seeing a huge creature.
And then──
“““Did you call?”””
Had they heard the commotion? Soldiers were coming from across the street.
They were imperial soldiers, all carrying spears.
“This man was trying to abduct a child. We’ve caught him.”
“Oh! My apologies. We should have noticed.”
“Anyway, we’ll hand him over now.”
A girl with red hair handed the man over to the soldiers.
The robber had stopped resisting.
He was trembling in fear, only shaking uncontrollably.
“Thank you. And you are──?”
“I’m in a hurry, so I must take my leave. Farewell!!”
The red-haired girl said this and ran into the crowd.
The soldiers left behind tied up the man.
Then, they raised their voices to the townspeople.
“We apologize for the delayed response! Our security force was newly established, and it seems the communication wasn’t going smoothly.”
One of the soldiers bowed his head to the people.
Then, they all said in unison,
“We are a unit directly under Captain Isaac.”
“We are the ‘Omowarisan Unit’ responsible for maintaining order in the town of ‘Nosa’.”
“Because the influx of people increased, with the permission of Princess Sophia and Captain Isaac, we formed this unit. If there’s any trouble, feel free to come to the headquarters.”
Saying this, the soldiers dragged the man away.
The people sent them off with applause.
(…A security-maintaining ‘Omowarisan Unit’… even something like that…)
With the creation of a trading post and the increase in people, bad elements also started to infiltrate.
That’s why a unit to protect the people was formed.
It seems my sister, Sophia, had thought this far ahead.
(Then, those two children earlier, their companions?)
When I thought about it, it explained why those two were so familiar with my sister.
It also explained why the red-haired girl was terrifyingly fast.
(Sister… has she been managing this town so brilliantly…?)
I felt as though the ground beneath my feet was swaying.
I had no understanding of my sister at all.
I was made to realize that again.
“Perhaps, Princess Sophia has found new talent in this borderland.”
“Talent?”
“Yes. If not, the town wouldn’t have changed so drastically in such a short period.”
“That may be true. But, that talent must also have been acquired by my sister’s influence, right?”
“…Your Highness.”
“Let’s head to the gate. I want to see my sister as she is now.”
Liana started walking towards the town gate.
She could feel her heart pounding loudly.
By the way, she hadn’t had the chance to thank those two children.
For listening to her, for teaching her many things, and for giving her the valuable opportunity to speak with the people… She had to thank them the next time they met.
Not as an imperial princess, but as Sophia’s sister. She would make sure not to tarnish her sister’s name.
“Sophia-sama is here!”
A voice came from the direction of the town gate.
Protected by soldiers, a carriage entered the town. It was a small carriage.
At the window, a girl in a dress was waving her hand.
“…Is that… Sister Sophia?”
Without thinking, Liana rubbed her eyes.
Her sister, inside the carriage, looked as if she was glowing.
Of course, it was probably an optical illusion.
Sophia was simply smiling gently.
Even so, she seemed like a completely different person from the sister Liana knew.
Her eyes shone with vitality. Her skin was smooth and glossy.
Her hand waving to the people was strong, and there was no sign of the frailty she had when in the imperial capital.
More than anything, her expression was strange.
It was as if she was expecting to meet someone important, and she was looking around with that face. Of course, she wasn’t looking for Liana.
Sophia didn’t know Liana was here.
Yet, their eyes met.
Sophia’s gaze stopped at Liana, who was wearing a hood.
Sophia, looking at her, tilted her head in confusion.
And then──
“…Let’s go. Nona-sama.”
“…Is that alright?”
“…I can’t do it! I don’t know how to face my sister… with what kind of expression should I meet her now…?”
Muttering this, Liana turned on her heels.
She mixed into the crowd and slipped into an alley.
After Sophia’s procession passed and the people thinned out, Liana ran out of the town, as if escaping.
“Is it really okay? Your Highness?”
At the edge of the town, Nona stops.
She turns around and asks, looking at Liana who is following behind.
“If Princess Sophia wishes to meet with Princess Liana, it wouldn’t be a violation of orders. His Grace the Archduke said so.”
“…This is fine. Nona-sama.”
Liana shakes her head.
“At my current state, I am not worthy of standing before Sister Sophia.”
“But, Your Highness…”
“My mission is to investigate the new species of magical beasts. First, I must fulfill that duty and achieve results. Only after that will I meet with Sister Sophia.”
“It would be reckless to…”
“It’s not reckless at all!”
Before she realizes it, Liana raises her voice.
“As a princess of the Empire, I haven’t achieved as much as Sister. With no accomplishments, how can I face her!? It’s about achievements. First, I must achieve something. To do that… I must lead the investigation and subjugation of the magical beasts.”
“Are you truly certain about this?”
“Fortunately, no one has discovered my true identity. Sister probably didn’t realize it was me during that moment. If Nona-sama and I remain silent, it will be as if Liana was never here.”
She wants to achieve something worthy of being a princess of the Empire. She wants to make accomplishments that rival her sister’s.
Once she does that, she’ll be able to stand proudly before Sophia.
Luckily, no one has noticed that Liana is here, so…
“Excuse me, may I ask… Are you the younger sister of Princess Sophia?”
When she turns around, the boy and the girl from earlier are standing there.
The boy is holding a white cat, the same one they saw at the teahouse.
The cat is pointing at Liana with its front paws, saying something.
The girl is standing protectively near the boy, watching them intently, in a stance ready to move as soon as Liana and Nona draw their swords.
The boy bows and then asks again, addressing Liana.
“Once again, may I ask… Are you Princess Liana Dorgalia, the twin sister of Princess Sophia Dolgaria?”
“…Who are you, exactly?”
Nona, the vice commander, reaches for her sword.
At the same time, the boy dismounts from the girl’s back. The girl watches Nona with caution.
“Stop, Nona-sama.”
“Layla-sama… No, Layla-san?”
“You understand, don’t you? That girl is not an ordinary person.”
The strength of that girl is unknown. They shouldn’t fight.
Liana’s warrior instincts tell her so.
“Why this misunderstanding?”
Liana gently asks with a calm voice.
“I know the name Liana Dolgaria. However, isn’t it a bit rude to mistake me for such a person, Your Highness?”
“I have a friend who is knowledgeable about light magic.”
Meow
“That person told me that they feel a strong presence of light magic.”
“…!?”
“They said it’s the same kind of magic as Princess Sophia’s. Since no one else has that kind of magic, I thought it could only be Princess Liana Dolgaria.”
“…You…”
“I’ve already informed Princess Sophia of the situation.”
The boy said this.
Behind him, from the direction of the town, a horse is approaching.
There are two people riding it.
One is a soldier. Behind them, a girl is sitting, her face hidden by a hood and cloak.
The girl is holding a black kitten. It’s the same one that was with the white cat at the teahouse earlier.
“It’s been a while, Liana.”
The girl lifts her hood while on horseback.
She has smooth, white skin. Her pink hair is a little shorter than Liana’s, like cherry blossoms.
It’s Liana’s sister, Sophia Dolgaria.
“…Sister Sophia.”
“Why are you leaving when you’ve come all this way?”
Sophia, with the boy’s help, dismounts from the horse.
Then, she reaches her hand out toward Liana…
“Welcome, Liana. There’s so much I want to talk to you about.”
With a gentle smile, Liana’s sister, Sophia, said this.