Kays Translations

Chapter 4: Invitation, Invitation, Invitation

“I know you have a lot to talk about, but first, come up. Let’s sit down and talk.”

Akane-san said, freely taking off her slippers and entering the mansion. Next to her, Irena, an exorcist who came from England, put off her shoes and went up.

I couldn’t tell which of them was Japanese.

But then again, I’m the guy who has Hina put his shoes away properly at home. I can’t say anything about Akane.

“How are you doing, Soichiro? I heard your house was destroyed.”

“The rubble is being removed now. Rebuilding is just beginning, but it will be June or July before it’s all finished.”

“Hmm, If you are going to rebuild, it will take at least that long… Do you have enough money?”

“Yes. Don’t worry about it.”

“What a relief.”

After Akane-san said that, she led us to a large Japanese-style room.

I thought the house we lived in before was quite a big house, but the Kamirazuki house was a size or two different. There was an expensive looking ink painting hanging on the wall, and a wooden statue of of seven gods of good fortune or something like that. Some wooden statues looked expensive, too.

The room gave me an overall impression that it was expensive.

As I was moving my eyes around, Akane-san, who was sitting on the top seat, grinned at me.

“It’s been a while, Itsuki.”

“Oh yes, it’s been a while!”

“Don’t get so stiff. Children aren’t supposed to be reserved.”

That being said…. Akane-san is creepy because she’s a person who I don’t know a lot about, and she has an aura of being a little unapproachable, so being called stiff is not something I can swallow with a ‘yes, I see’.

Her hair is pink, too.

“Now, I’ve called you here to talk with Irena…. First of all, Soichiro, let’s finish with you. You must have a reason for coming here today.”

“As you probably know, Akane-dono, I would like you to admonish the exorcists for their irresponsible remarks toward Itsuki.”

“Hmmm. Irresponsible, you say?

“They want Itsuki to be taught the art of exorcism without attending elementary school, and they want him to have multiple wives.”

“I see. By the way.”

Akane-san took out a tablet.

The faces of various women were lined up there.

Eh? Modern priestesses use tablets?

It’s a blend of Japanese and Western.

“I have already received about eighty offers to arrange a marriage with Itsuki.”

“Please refuse them all.”

“Really? The oldest is twenty-one and the youngest is fourteen. You’ll have your pick of the lot.”

Eighty?

That’s a little too many!

And although the ages are disclosed, it seems that some of them are close in age, unlike what I heard from my father yesterday…. Well, there’s an 8 year age difference.

“Itsuki is only six years old.”

“You decide who you’re going to marry when you’re a child, and that’s why you have to get a betrothed.”

Akane-san laughs.

But even so, the fact that the younger one is 14 years old is kind of dark.

How would a junior high school girl feel if she was asked to marry a six-year-old boy she had never met before? I mean, it’s not right to let her marry someone that age. Legally.

Hmm? No, I’m 6 years old, isn’t that a problem?

“The culture of wooing and arranged marriages is dying out even amongst exorcists. I want Itsuki to be free to decide whom he wants to marry.”

“I never thought you would be an idiot parent, Soichiro.. I was joking. Don’t look so scared.”

With that, Akane swiped the screen off and laughed.

“I understand. You are in charge of Itsuki’s upbringing. I’ll give a nudge to those who are making a fuss over here.”

“I would appreciate it if you would do that.”

My father quietly bowed his head.

Just as his head came up, a man in black brought him tea and sweets.

“Itsuki, would you prefer juice?”

“No, I’m fine with tea!”

“That’s good to know.”

Akane-san smiled and continued.

“Now that we’ve talked about that, I’d like to talk about something else. Did the charms I entrusted to you work?”

“Yes! Thanks to that charm, I was able to fight.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Raikou-Douji crashed into the middle of the party with lightning and was about to eat me after he messed everything up. That’s when the breaking monster tag came to my rescue. If the breaking monster tag hadn’t done its job there, I might have been eaten.

When I think about it, the situation could have been worse than I thought.

As I was still horrified after all this time, Akane-san pulled out a piece of the breaking monster tag from her large bosom.

“I’ll give you a new one. You can keep this one.”

“Yes…!”

Come to think of it, what kind of magic is the breaking monster tag?

I took the charm in my hand and held it up to the light, letting it shine through the light. I had never thought about the mechanism of this charm, even though I had always had it with me until now. But when I thought about it for a moment, I realized that it was a strange mechanism.

All kinds of magic are activated by changing or transforming the guiding thread silvate. However, not even a single thread of silvate is wrapped around the breaking monster tag. So, I don’t know how the monster was exorcised.

After all, does magic have a destination that I don’t know about?

Why is it that neither my father nor Renji-san told me about it?

Is there a reason? Or maybe they don’t know either.

“Let me cut to the chase. I called you here today for a reason. I have received a proposal for you to stay in Japan for a period of time. I will leave the details to Irena.”

“Itsuki-san, Soichirou-san. My name is Irena.”

When Akane-san pulled out of the conversation, Irena, dressed in a black conquering outfit, introduced herself with her hand on her chest. By the way, I was told the name of the outfit earlier. By the way, the design is also cool, looking like a monk or a sister.

“Itsuki is a very young boy, and I was hoping that he would enroll in our school.”

“At England? Why Englamd?”

“In England, there is a school for wizards only, which does not exist in Japan. I would like to invite you there.”

“A School for Wizards Only…..?”

Like that one in the movie.

“It is the best way to polish a rare talent in the rough by engaging in friendly competition with others who have similar talents. I would like to propose a better option for Itsuki-san’s future.”

After a pause, Irena continued.

“Of course, we will pay for your tuition. And a special scholarship.”

“Special scholarship?”

“It is a kind of living and entertainment expense that is paid separately from the tuition. Of course, you don’t have to pay it back.”

Even if I was told I wouldn’t have to pay back, this is a bit….

One of the reasons that led me to live a stampede life in my previous life was to pay off my scholarship, and I couldn’t afford any luxuries.

But it’s more wishful thinking than I thought.

Except for the serious problem that I can’t speak English.

“But, Irena-san, I can’t speak English.”

“You can use magic, can’t you, Itsuki-san? If so, I think you can use “translation magic” to help you.”

Oh, there is such a magic?

If she puts it that way, I guess that takes care of the problem.

I was surprised, but Irena continued with a smile on her face.

“How do you like it, Itsuki-san? Eh, of course other countries are asking to come to our school as well.”

It’s the first time I’m hearing of it.

“England has a great deal of magical wisdom, having combined indigenous magic with modern magic during the British Empire. How about it? If you have a vision for the future, I would like you to come to us.”

Hmmm.

The proposal is tempting, but to be honest, I’m reluctant…

I looked at my father for help, and he too looked at me quietly.

“What do you think papa?”

“Studying abroad?  Yes, that’s right. If I were to tell you what I really think, I don’t want you to go. But it’s your life, Itsuki. If you want to study magic in a foreign country, Papa will do his best to support you.”

My father spun his words nonchalantly, as if he had already decided on the answer from the beginning.

Why are you so determined?

It’s the first time you’ve heard of it with me.

“The only thing is, this case can’t be described in a single word as a study abroad program.”

“What do you mean?”

“In other words, Irena’s purpose is to buy Itsuki’s youth and bring him into her country while he’s still young.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Exorcists are always in short supply.”

After that, my father continued, “And besides,”

“In Japan, there is also a magic that combines Shinto and modern magic. The magic passed down in our Kisaragi family is also one of them. Therefore, Itsuki. You can choose the one you want to do, the one you want to go to. It is your life. I will give you advice, but the final decision is yours.”

With that, my father shot me through both eyes and I decided to make up my mind.

I see. That’s right.

It’s my second life. I can decide what I want to do with it.

“Irena-san, I’m sorry. I won’t accept your offer.”

“May I ask why?”

“I don’t want to live away from my family yet.”

In my previous life, I was very comfortable living alone.

Because I could do what I wanted, when I wanted, without anyone getting in my way.

But I like my current life very much.

I have a father, a mother, and a sister.

I love living with the four of us.

I can’t imagine living alone.

Besides, living in a foreign country means that I won’t be able to see Aya or Renji-san, right? I don’t want to do that.

“That’s why I’ll stay in Japan.”

“I see. If you think about it, it’s only natural.”

Irena widened her eyes a little and was surprised at my verbalized reason, but she shrugged her shoulders as if to say, ‘I can’t help it’.

“Even though he exorcised the a sixth rank monster, Itsuki is still only six years old. It’s only natural that he would want to stay with his parents. I’m sorry, Itsuki-san. I was in too much of a hurry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

When I said that, Irena smiled.

“Eh? Is the conversation over already? It happened so fast.”

Akane-san, realizing that the conversation was over, sipped her tea and joined the conversation.

She took out an orange amulet from her chest and handed it to me while sipping her tea cakes, as if she hadn’t heard what I was saying.

“Itsuki, you should keep this with you.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s an amulet for academic success. You’re going to elementary school next month, aren’t you? You need to study hard, not just focus on magic.”

Akane-san laughed as if she were a relative of mine.

I wondered if this charm was the same as the breaking monster tag, and if they contained some kind of magical power. Does it make you smarter just by holding it?

“Akane-san, what kind of effect does this amulet have?”

“Effects?”

“The breaking monster tag protects one from monsters, right? I was wondering if this amulet has a similar effect.”

“Hmm? I don’t think so. I got it yesterday at a shrine of a friend of mine.”

Aren’t you a shrine maiden? I don’t know if there was a problem with saying that.

But it might be the first time I’ve ever received a good luck charm for academic success.

I bowed my head.

“Thank you very much. I will take good care of it.”

“Mm! Make lots of friends.”

I groaned inside when she said that.

I will do my best.

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