Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 102
Noble District.
When the city of Lindblum is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels, the residential area at the highest point is called the Noble District.
Originally, nobles governed regional cities and their affiliated families lived nearby to support them. But over many years, these nobles gradually abandoned their territories and moved to the fertile city of Lindblum.
Of course, it wasn’t just the nobles— even their citizens followed.
Still, there were regional cities that maintained their appeal—those with farmland, natural resources, or other means of income.
Some thrived through industrial strength, others through fishing, or trade-based advantages.
However, those cases were rare. The majority of nobles lived in Lindblum’s upper district as nobles without duty or role.
Yet among them, only a select few noble houses—those given roles as court nobles—had estates in the highest parts of the Noble District. These nobles commanded and used the many idle nobles below them, devoting themselves tirelessly in service of the nation.
And among those court nobles, the most powerful faction belonged to the House of Marquis Allheus.
It was to this house that the Royal Knights of the nation were now beginning to gather—
“Units One and Two, monitor the slope behind the mansion leading to the forest. Unit Three, guard the mansion’s perimeter. The rest of you, watch the surrounding homes in the upper district. My unit will secure the front gate. Shizuma and I will be the first to enter the mansion.”
The time had come. As the sun dipped lower and shadows stretched across the Noble District—
Like the encroaching darkness of night, the knights of the Holy Principality fanned out under Cres’ command.
“Shizuma. I’ll go in first as the messenger. Based on how they respond, I may go further in immediately. You follow after me. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“Are you afraid?”
“Not with our dependable Captain by my side.”
“Ggh—! Don’t say such cute things.”
She cracked a joke—perhaps unnecessarily—to ease the tension. But clearly, he wasn’t a fan of such teasing.
As the last streaks of red faded from the sky, as if symbolizing the vanishing of the righteous light, Cres knocked on the mansion door—
Inside the Mansion.
Sensing the tension, Marquis Allheus had quietly gathered his private soldiers in the hall.
“What’s the situation?”
“None of our scouts have returned. They’ve likely been captured… which means the mansion is completely surrounded.”
“Can’t we spot them?”
“They’re completely hidden. Possibly even using the neighboring estates to conceal themselves.”
“In other words, the groundwork has already been flawlessly laid.”
“What are your orders, my lord? We private soldiers await your command.”
The Marquis pondered. Why has this move come so suddenly?
He recalled the luncheon held just days ago. The identities of the guests had been thoroughly checked. Even if someone from the royal faction had been present, it should’ve posed no issue.
He had no logical reason to believe the knights would be deployed against him.
And yet—deep down, he knew. He had committed the one great act of betrayal.
“A worm in the lion’s body… or perhaps it was a mistake to let them outside…”
“Buy time, all of you. Their target must be my guests. I’ll be the one to delay them first. In the meantime, guide our guests to the underground passage. A fight is inevitable… when it comes to that—I’m counting on you.”
Roused by their employer—the master they believed in—the private soldiers readied themselves.
One messenger was dispatched to the guests—the former classmates.
“Everyone, please evacuate to the underground immediately!”
The students, who had been relaxing in the depths of the mansion, were thrown into panic by the sudden order.
“The mansion is currently surrounded by the kingdom’s knights. The Marquis believes their target is all of you. He’s instructed us to get you out immediately.”
Tension rippled through the group.
“No way… the kingdom found out…?”
“That’s awfully sudden. Hishida-san, did anything unusual happen at school?”
“Are you suspecting me? Unfortunately for you, I haven’t gotten close to anyone. I doubt I was followed or that anyone was interested in me. There were rumors a student died in an accident… but that has nothing to do with this, right?”
“So, what do we do? Just running away… is that enough?”
“…Honestly, I don’t think the Marquis’ soldiers can hold them off for long. Should someone stay behind?”
Surprisingly, Isaka considered the possibility of someone remaining behind.
But implicitly, what he meant was: “I, being the strongest, should be the one prioritized.”
“I think I’ll run. It’d be bad if we got caught. What about you, Shu?”
“…I’ll stay. But not to stall for time. I think our current student status can still be used as leverage to infiltrate the kingdom.”
“Ehh… then maybe I’ll stay too?”
“…Yuko, I think you should really think seriously this time. Worst case, we could be killed.”
“No way, seriously!? Then I guess I’ll run… Isaka, Kazunuma, will you protect me?”
“There’ll be pursuers. We might not have the luxury.”
Yuko’s utter lack of urgency irritated Isaka.
Amid the chaos—
“…I’ll stay too. I’m best suited to buy time. I can withstand a good deal of attacks. If Hishida-san wants to stay, I won’t stop you. But if I can give you a chance—run.”
“Mm. We’ll stay flexible.”
Kazunuma’s resolve was met with agreement from Isaka.
“Understood. I’ll flee, but knowing you’re holding the rear makes me feel safer. Who else is running?”
“I’ll go too. I think I can fight—probably.”
That was Inami Kaho, known among the girls for her magical abilities, suited more for offense than defense.
“Ugh… everyone’s getting serious. I can’t even fight.”
“Yuko, it’s okay to run. But understand—we’re not in a situation where someone can save you.”
“…Then I’ll hide here. Kazunuma, you’ll make a chance for me, right?”
“Yeah, I’ll hold them back with everything I’ve got.”
“Then it’s settled. Inami and I will run—if we get the chance to help Muraki-kun, we will. But if we need to retreat… I’m prepared to. We’re not strong enough yet.”
That much was true.
He didn’t yet have the strength to invade the country and fulfill his ambitions.
That’s why he had to borrow power, hide in the shadows, and wait for the right opportunity.
Each person made their own choice—some fled, some fought, some hid and waited, and others tried to infiltrate the country.
And then, despite being deep inside the mansion, a declaration rang out, loud enough for everyone to hear—
“Is Marquis Allheus at home?! I am Cres Veil, Captain of the Holy Principality’s Order of Knights! Open the door at once!”
Cres-san shouted powerfully while knocking on the door with the knocker.
There was a brief silence… and then, slowly, as if someone had made up their mind, the door creaked open.
“What brings you here at this hour, Captain Cres?”
The man who appeared was someone I’d seen before as Hash.
A butler? Steward? He held some kind of position like that.
“I would like to speak with Marquis Allheus. This is a direct order from the Queen. I have the written decree here.”
Everything had already been decided—including what would happen next.
There was no option for him to refuse this meeting. Measures had been taken to ensure that.
Of course, if he still refused—then we would resort to force.
But unexpectedly—
“Please wait a moment. I’ll inform him right away.”
The steward stepped back without protest.
…I see. They’ve already made up their minds and taken some sort of countermeasure.
In that case—
“Captain Cres. I’m going to move now. Is that okay?”
“What are you planning to do? It’s still too early to storm the place.”
“No, I’m just going to call out to them.”
“…Understood.”
You’re planning to run, aren’t you? Trying to buy time, right?
You’ve been sneaking around, hiding, and being sheltered this whole time—no way you’re all just going to march out and fight, right?
I stepped into the mansion. And—fortunately, I had the perfect skill for this.
Activating “Crimson Howl”.
“Come the hell out already!!! Isaka Iori! Kazunuma Kouhei! Samie Yuko! Inami Kaho! Hishida Shu!!!! You brain-dead idiots just followed orders and ended up terrorists—how stupid can you be?! If you don’t come out, I’m coming in there to kill you all myself, you damn failures!!!”
Whoa, it’s all coming out so smoothly!
“You guys know Muraki, right!!? That guy’s not even human anymore!! You all might be halfway monsters yourselves by now!!! If that’s the case, I’ll kill every last one of you!! Stop hiding and show yourselves, you damn weaklings!!!!”
How about it? Feel like coming out? At the very least, you’re curious, right? You wouldn’t expect a former classmate to be here of all places, would you?
“If you try running, I’ll kill you all on sight next time, so be ready for that! Man, what a joke, Isaka!! You were supposed to be the strongest, right!? And now you’re hiding and sneaking around like a coward—how cool is that!?”
I’ll use all the information I know.
Even the information I shouldn’t know.
“Samie! Wasn’t your power to make yourself lucky or whatever!? You feeling lucky now, being a criminal!?”
This is provocation—cheap provocation.
“Kazunuma! What good is that strong body of yours now!? What are you doing, leaving Muraki behind!? He’s not even human anymore! Might be dead already!!”
I’m twisting the knife. Going for the emotional wounds.
“Inami! What the hell were you thinking!? You were the one who told me to stay hidden until the last minute, weren’t you!? Oh, wait—is this something I shouldn’t be saying!? Too bad! I’m definitely gonna kill you, so you better start shaking!!”
That should about cover it. I’ve said everything that might push their buttons.
“Sh-Shizuma… you…”
“Ah, sorry. I just thought they’d try to run, so I tried provoking them. I think this might delay their escape a little. You should probably move in quickly.”
“I-I see… Just don’t get used to using such rough language. It’ll be a problem if it becomes a habit.”
“Yes, sorry.”
…With this, the effect of Crimson Howl will increase the power of my next strike.
Sorry, but I never intended to talk things out from the beginning.
The moment a classmate shows up… I’ll settle this.
Then, from the back of the mansion, the man from earlier—presumably the steward—and the Marquis Allheus appeared.
“I heard quite the uncouth shouting. Is he some new knight’s errand boy?”
“No, he’s a guest. Apparently, a fellow countryman of the ‘guests’ you’re harboring, Marquis.”
“Pleasure to meet you. Thanks for taking care of my useless comrades.”
“Hmm? I don’t know what you’re—”
That was the moment it happened.
In an instant, just as the wind stirred, a spear was already pointed directly at the marquis’s face.
“This is not a polite request. The order has already been issued. You either comply peacefully—or die. With suspicions of treason and national subversion, even if it’s not true, the moment you’re suspected, you’ve no choice but to obey.”
“…Honestly. Very well, take me in.”
“I will. And—everyone, move in! Secure the basement! There should be an underground passage! Search every room thoroughly!”
With that command, the knights who had been standing by all flooded into the mansion.
But—
“Resist them!!!!”
With the furious shout of Marquis Allheus, now bound in shackles, a large number of soldiers suddenly swarmed into the entrance hall.
It was turning into a chaotic melee…! This confusion is dangerous—it’ll cost too much time!
“Cres-san, stop the advance—just for a moment. Only for three seconds.”
I’m going all out.
On top of my usual speed-focused skill combos, I’m using this new build—the trampling build.
I dash forward at full speed toward the rushing soldiers.
I feint a direct charge at the frontmost soldier, then sidestep at the last moment into a diagonal path, zigzagging forward into the hall, weaving between the soldiers pouring in.
…The damage is enough to weaken even a powerful monster in an instant.
If some of them die, if I end up killing them—I’ve already made peace with that.
“What the—”
“AAAHHH!!! My stomach! It’s torn open—!”
“What’s happening? What did he do—?”
Screams ring out—not just from behind me, but right next to me.
Literally—I’m mowing them down.
Right beside me, bodies go flying, limbs and necks twisted in grotesque directions.
As I step forward, both arms outstretched to widen my range, anyone I even graze is sliced open. They’re strewn across the floor.
In an instant. Just a moment of invisible movement—and all the soldiers who flooded the hall are incapacitated.
“Search the mansion! The enemies have been neutralized!”
“Wha—! Shizuma, you—! You’re this powerful…!”
At my signal, the knights finally storm into the mansion.
But—
“SHIZUMA!!!! What do you know!? Why are you siding with this country!?”
From deeper within the mansion, a lone man appears.
It was Kazunuma—my former classmate.