Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 71: An Unexpected Intruder
It happened a few days after Mona returned from her reconnaissance mission in Admos.
“Hm?”
I detected numerous presences in the forest.
“What’s this? So many people. Is another nation attacking again?”
If so, the Weimar guards at the forest’s entrance must have been sacrificed again.
How unfortunate.
Expanding the range of my detection magic to the forest’s entrance to confirm, I noticed something strange.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
Ivern, who happened to be in the hidden village, noticed my puzzled expression and asked.
“Well, I detected multiple presences in the forest again, so I assumed the guards at the entrance were taken out and used detection magic to check.”
“Seriously? They were wiped out?”
Now that I think about it, Ivern often talks to the guards at the entrance.
Sometimes he even brings back information from them.
Hearing that his acquaintances might have been killed, Ivern looked a bit sad.
But—
“No, the guards are still there.”
“What? Then, did they just let them through?”
That’s a reasonable assumption.
“Wait here for a moment…”
While I also thought it was odd, I decided to investigate the intruders more closely. What I discovered shocked me.
“…They’re demons.”
“So, there’s no way the human guards just let them through.”
Humans and demons are now mortal enemies.
There’s no way such a meeting would end peacefully.
Yet, the guards were unharmed, and the intruders had entered the forest.
“These must be a demon intelligence unit.”
When I said that, Mona flinched slightly and began using detection magic herself.
Almost immediately, her brows furrowed.
“What’s wrong? Did you recognize someone?”
When I asked, Mona nodded with a grim expression.
“There’s some familiar magic here. Former colleagues of mine.”
“So it’s confirmed—they’re an intelligence unit.”
Now we knew who the intruders were.
An intelligence unit is skilled in covert operations, so bypassing the guards and entering the forest must have been an easy task.
After all, that’s how Mona infiltrated the forest herself.
The real question was what to do about these intruders.
“For now, they’re stopped by the forest’s barrier, but what’s the next move?”
There were multiple demons.
Unlike Mona, who entered for personal reasons, they were clearly acting on orders from their nation.
What could this be about? Revenge after all this time?
No, their magic power doesn’t seem suited for combat.
So, what’s their goal?
“For now, I’ll go check it out.”
Ad
As I said that, Mona stepped forward.
“Shall I go?”
“No. If they find out you’re here, it’ll cause trouble later. If they know you’re here, they might also suspect Meyleen’s presence.”
“Understood. I’ll wait here, then.”
Mona stepped back, and I adjusted my outfit before heading toward the forest.
I made sure to check myself carefully this time, having learned my lesson from when Mona noticed Meyleen’s presence because of the embroidered handkerchief I carried.
Restraining my magic presence as much as possible, I approached the intruders. They were attempting to analyze my barrier.
“How’s it going? Can you break it?”
“…If given time.”
“How much time?”
One demon questioned the one analyzing the barrier, who paused before answering.
“…Two to three days.”
“We don’t have that long! Doesn’t this barrier notify its creator upon activation? He must already know. We need to hurry—”
“You mean like me?”
I finished the demon’s sentence as I stepped forward, causing all of them to freeze, then retreat slightly, readying themselves.
Ad
“Hey, what’s with the reaction? You just said it yourselves—the barrier sends a notification. Of course, I’d come check. Why are you so shocked?”
Though I had come as expected, their reactions were extreme.
Pointing this out, the demons’ faces twisted with frustration as one muttered.
“…Too fast. And we didn’t sense your approach at all… What did you do?”
“What did I do? Like I’d tell you. Are you stupid?”
As I said that, their expressions shifted from confusion to anger.
Ah, damn it.
It seems I’ve developed a bad habit of provoking people.
While reflecting on this, one demon stepped forward.
Is this the leader? Seems like they want to talk.
“…Answer me. Are you harboring a demon woman here?”
“Nope, not harboring anyone.”
Harboring? No.
Living here? Yes.
“…Tch. Then there’s a human man coming and going. Who is he?”
Ad
“And why should I tell you? Are you truly that stupid?”
Ah, I did it again.
The leader’s face turned red with anger.
“You… Stop mocking us!”
“I’m not mocking you. I honestly feel bad for you demons. After all, I was tricked by humans into defeating your king.”
That’s why I’ve been trying to avoid getting involved with demons too much.
“But…
“So what? Are you saying that if we ask to avenge our king, you’ll let yourself be killed?’
‘Of course not. I’ll kill all of you with everything I have.”
“!”
If they’re going to come at me, that’s a different story.
If the demons attack me as an enemy, I’ll respond in kind—with full force.
Leaving no trace of them behind.
When I infused some killing intent into my magic to intimidate them, the demons, who had been glaring at me moments ago, began to visibly pale.
“What’s this? Did you come here with such half-hearted resolve?”
Although I assumed their purpose was investigation rather than revenge, I intentionally approached them as though I believed they were here for vengeance.
In other words, I moved as if I intended to kill them.
The leader hastily raised both hands toward me.
“W-Wait! We have no such intentions! There’s no way we could stand a chance against someone who defeated the previous king!”
“Then why are you here? You’ve ignored this place for years. Don’t tell me you’ve only now discovered it exists?”
Even bounty hunters know about this place now.
There’s no way a national intelligence agency wouldn’t know the location of their enemy’s refuge.
After pondering my question for a moment, the leader exchanged glances with his companions, then nodded and began to speak.
“Recently, we witnessed one of our former colleagues entering this forest.”
“Oh?”
“We want to know why they entered this place.”
Hmm, so that’s their story.
”Sorry to disappoint, but no such person has been here.”
I lied effortlessly, but the leader’s face twisted with anger.
“…Are you really going to deny it?”
“Deny what? It’s not true.”
It is, of course, a lie.
“I see. Then fine. Sorry for disturbing you.”
The demons turned to leave.
“Oh? What are you saying?”
“Huh?”
“You’re demons who see me as your enemy, and you came to investigate my home. Isn’t it normal to assume you’re up to something?”
“B-But we were just trying to figure out our former colleague’s intentions…”
“And you thought investigating my home was the way to do that? Did you not consider what that implies?”
“…”
“What would you do if I were actually harboring that demon woman? Demand I hand her over?”
“T-That’s…”
For some reason, the leader faltered.
…There’s something else going on here.
“There’s no truth to your claim, but even if you made such a demand, I’d never comply.”
“W-Why not…?”
“Why? If I were harboring her, it would be because I had my own reasons. I have no obligation to listen to your demands.”
“W-What did you just say?!”
“Let me make this clear since you seem to be misunderstanding. Don’t think you can order me around. Don’t even think you can negotiate. I act solely on my own will.”
“…Understood. We won’t investigate any further.”
“Hey now, this isn’t just about investigating or not.”
As I said that, I began gathering magic power.
“Do you really think you can act in a way that could be seen as hostile toward me and still leave here alive?”
Ad
The moment I said that—
“!?”
The demons bolted, fleeing from right in front of me at full speed.
Well, if it came to a fight, they wouldn’t stand a chance anyway, so running was the sensible choice. But still, they were surprisingly quick about it.
Not that I ever intended to kill them in the first place.
Unlike Meyleen, I don’t bear any grudges against the demons, even if they resent me.
I just wanted to scare them a bit.
“So this is what they mean by ‘fleeing like a startled hare.'”
My detection magic still picked up the demons, who were running at full speed to get away.
Even though I wasn’t pursuing them at all, they didn’t seem to notice.
Well, with this, they probably won’t come back here again…
Still, I should stay on guard.
With that thought, I decided to strengthen the barrier just in case. After tweaking the barrier a bit on the spot, I headed back home.