New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (2/2 chapters)
Special appreciation to my Ko-fi donator:
D Vang
Special appreciation to my Patreon supporters:
Cathe, Joao
Choog
Isaac, Micaiah, Shawn
PS1: If you like my work, I really appreciate if you can support it through Patreon, Ko-fi, or Paypal. Any amount of donation is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
PS2: Click links here to read today’s chapter releases; Nameless Hero 77.2 and Incompetent Bratty Prince 251.
Reminiscing Duo
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
(POV switch – Lindsay)
In the peaceful rural town of Soltaire.
Looking at the slope of the town from the hill was refreshing. I had traveled a lot as an adventurer, but in the end, it turned out that I would live in this town, I was glad to have settled in a place that felt like home.
Above all, this town was tranquil. The climate was just right. In summer, the blowing winds kept it from getting too hot, and in winter, the good sunlight prevented it from becoming too cold. It was the perfect location. It was an ideal town for a slow life.
On a small hill in this town was the house of me and Alfie, my husband. This land had previously been used as a base for an adventurer party. The base, which had once collapsed, was rebuilt with the support of the nobles of Barwitch and Stride-san, and the current residence was completed.
Well, even though it was rebuilt, it remained mostly as the original base at Alfie’s request. So, it had many rooms and was spacious. It was a new house, but it felt familiar. I also liked it.
In the yard, there was a terrace that jutted out. On the rocking chair there, I was leisurely gazing at the townscape visible from the hill while cradling my child in my arms. Perhaps feeling comfortable, the child had now fallen soundly asleep. She was a girl who resembled both me and my husband.
At just about five years old, she was growing up healthy and lively. Every time I heard her innocent laughter, I deeply felt that it was natural for parents to want to do anything for their children. For someone like me, who had no family for a long time, it felt like I finally had a family, and I was happy.
—
I was what you would call an orphan. By the time I became aware of my surroundings, I was already attending a magic school, and I knew nothing about my father or mother. I didn’t know if I had siblings. The one who raised me, who had no relatives, was Gawain Alberti-sensei, the principal of the magic school.
It seemed that Alberti-sensei had held a prestigious position as a professor at the Western Magic University until a while ago, but he resigned around the same time he became my guardian and then became the principal of the only magic school in this region, Barwitch Magic School.
I was called “Lindsay” by Alberti-sensei and the children around me. Being an orphan, I did not have a last name like those who belonged to nobility or a legitimate lineage. When I started attending the magic school, Gawain Alberti-sensei’s son, Dwayne Alberti, was taking care of me, but since he was a year younger than me, and my mana and magical manipulation skills were better than his, our positions quickly reversed.
My mana was said to be out of the ordinary compared to the other children. I was also good at memorizing spell chants, and shortening the casting time was a piece of cake for me. To me, those techniques felt like things I already knew. When I asked Alberti-sensei about it, he evasively said, “Perhaps your past life had some merits?” After hearing that, I even suspected that the principal knew something about my origins and family.
That said, perhaps due to my exceptional talent as a magician, I was the one who protected Dwayne, who had an otaku-like disposition and was often bullied.
Later on, I ended up forming an adventurer party with those children, and eventually, I even married one of the bullies, so fate was indeed a strange thing.
It was also strange that when I consulted the principal about becoming an adventurer at my graduation from the magic school, he did not specifically oppose it. When he cheerfully said, “You should direct that curiosity outward. Go enjoy yourself,” I felt a bit lonely. And so, I went on various adventures.
I crossed over to the neighboring continent, raised my rank as an adventurer in the labyrinth city, and even made a record of being the first to reach an unexplored dungeon. But now, all of that was just a good memory.
Now, I wanted to watch over the growth of my child as a mother. I wanted her to grow up healthy and peacefully without placing any strange expectations on her.
—I want to avoid putting any strange expectations on her.
Regarding raising children, my husband and I have already experienced one failure. If you place too many expectations on a child, it can lead to unexpected “accidents” that exceed their limits.
It’s about Jack. He was a mysterious boy. The reason I picked him up when I saw him in Barwitch may have been because I couldn’t overlook another orphan like myself. He had been a hard worker until the very end. It was Jack who led us to resolve the kidnapping incident that occurred in the water city of Dali Amor.
He, then, went missing, but it seems he was found on the neighboring continent through the combined efforts and determination of the Stride Household. By now, he must be 15 years old, having grown up considerably more than we remembered. However, according to what I’ve heard, he seems to be still lively and causing trouble. The idea that Jack has his own adventures is something I picked up from Alfie. We will surely meet somewhere again. When he returns, I will welcome him warmly.
“Mm… Mama…” (Rinalee)
“What is it?” (Lindsay)
The adorable voice of my daughter, Rinalee, sleepily calling for me reaches my ears. Her name was given in honor of a certain flower. Though it is a small flower that does not stretch itself, it is a sturdy and healthy flower known as “Rinalea”. And above all, her red hair, inherited from her father, resembles the color of the Rinalea flower very well.
I gently stroked her bright red hair.
—
(POV switch – Jack/Lost)
The water city of Dali Amor. It was a port town I had visited so many times that it no longer needed describing. After a long sea voyage, we finally arrived at that city.
Has it been about five years? If I were to describe my impression, I would say it feels cramped. I never expected to feel my growth in such a way…
For example, right where I stepped off the ship, there is a breakwater. It is made of piled stones as a wavebreaker. It used to feel much broader and taller. Now, as I walk beside it, it only reaches about my waist, leaving me a bit unsatisfied. Then, walking down the central street of the port town, I see streetlights lining both sides. Even though the shape of these streetlights has not changed, they now seem shorter. It brings back memories of when I was chased by the guards here with Kea.
I seem to have changed quite a bit as well. I wonder if Alfred and Lindsay will recognize me after seeing me for the first time in a while.
—
I arrived at the circular plaza in the center of the town, San Amolina Plaza. In the center is a fountain pool, and during the carnival, special stages and stalls line up around this fountain. It’s nostalgic to remember how I was captivated by that singing voice here.
Medna-san… Even now, standing here, I feel like I can still hear that translucent singing voice.
—That black songstress, I killed her.
She asserted that conflict only gives rise to new conflict. She said that seeking battle itself is evil. But there are people who can only live that way. It’s an idealistic notion that everyone in the world should not fight. In reality, there are many adventurers who die unjustly when crossing the continent. If that’s the case, then surely people like me are still needed…
The landmark “San Amolina Great Cathedral” directly in front of me also appeared smaller. No, in fact, it had actually gotten smaller. The right aisle of the cathedral had been blown to bits, and it was clear that an explosion had occurred from within. This was yet another scar of battle. The cathedral was off-limits now, enclosed with a sign and rope to keep people out.
I approached as close as I could and quietly offered a prayer.
Medna-san, I will not resort to violence. I will fight only to protect people. It was a solemn vow of prayer.
“Jack, what are you doing?” (Irene)
When I turned around, I found Irene standing in her usual close stance, arms crossed.
“Irene, when did you…?” (Jack)
“I’ve been here for a while.” (Irene)
“Right next to me?” (Jack)
“Why? Is it bothersome?”
Irene closed the distance even further, leaning in closer to me. Our noses were almost touching.
I remember that the Stride Household was known for their proficiency in ambushes in the past. With their stealth skills, perhaps Irene is also quite adept at sneaking up from behind. It’s rather frightening how close she gets without me noticing.
I instinctively leaned back and distanced my face. Compared to Shia, Irene has grown quite a bit.
“Well, whatever. More importantly, Jack, I have something I want to show you!” (Irene)
“Something you want to show me?” (Jack)
Without waiting for my response, Irene pulled my left arm.
“What is it? Where are we going?!” (Jack)
“Just come on, come on!” (Irene)
The direction we were heading seemed to be the opposite side of the fountain from the cathedral.
—
I was brought to the front of a certain statue.
As far as I know, there has never been such a statue before. However, the residents here seem to treat it like it’s nothing unusual, so it seems it has been around for quite a while.
In front of the statue were Shia and Yustin. The two were intently comparing the statue’s carving with the inscription on its pedestal.
The intricately carved statue is of some boy. From the wrist of the raised right arm, something strange protrudes. It is extremely well-crafted. It must have been made by a highly skilled artisan. It looks like it must have cost a lot of money. The outfit is depicted as a tight leather light armor, giving off an impression more like an assassin than a warrior.
“C-could this be…?” (Jack)
“That’s right! Look over there!” (Irene)
What Irene pointed at was the inscription carved into the pedestal. It read “Jack the Hero (Nameless Hero).”
“No way…” (Jack)
This is me. The appearance is indeed the same as my equipment back then. But this is just too—
“Too handsome!! They overdid it when they made this!” (Jack)
“Of course, it’s going to be left here in this town forever!” (Irene)
“But this looks like a completely different person!” (Jack)
“Really? I think it looks quite similar.” (Irene)
“……” (Jack)
It had particularly overdone the depth of the eyes and the bridge of the nose. Though the face was handsome, from the head down, it had the appearance of a brave warrior, making that imbalance look ridiculous.
No, it’s not just ridiculous. It’s downright comical. It might be understandable since it wasn’t made in front of the actual person, but still, this statue is nothing less than what Undine-sama would call a “black history!”. Every time I come to this town, I can’t help but see the statue of myself with its handsome correction.
This is what you call an unwelcome favor. To think that the achievement of saving the children has turned out like this… I never intended to earn a favor, but now I feel like it’s come back to haunt me.
Shia and Yustin glanced back at me after realizing who I was and then looked back up at the statue. It seemed they were comparing it with me.
“Is this really Lost-san?” (Shia)
“If it were me, I’d be too embarrassed and would teleport myself into the sea to get rid of it.” (Yustin)
People who don’t know about this boy’s exploits must laugh at this ridiculous statue every time they come to this town as tourists. It’s a statue of someone whose deeds are unknown in the city I visited. Imagine how it feels when it’s been made of yourself. It’s nothing less than being put on display. It’s a spectacle full of laughable moments.
“I’m sure in the future, he’ll even create Volcanic Volga.” (Shia)
“He seems to be able to reach the finals Urban Fraternity too.” (Yustin)
“Ahhh…” (Shia)
—
In Dali Amor, there were also exchange offices, so all the Solido currency we had from the Riverda continent was converted into Gold currency. Since we would be here for a while, it wouldn’t have hurt to change everything. Because the exchange rate favored Gold currency, my wallet felt a bit lighter.
By the way, there had been no concept of a country on the Riverda Continent, but this place was the territory of a kingdom. My hometown, Soltaire, and the commercial district, Barwitch, were towns within the territory of the Elindrowa Kingdom. There was a royal capital further south of Dali Amor, and entry and exit within the royal capital were said to have been stricter.
I would have liked to visit there someday as a tourist. Also, Soltaire was located at the northern edge of the kingdom, and further north, there was a border with neighboring friendly nations like the Garmanid Duchy and the small nation Friedenhein. Once I broadened my horizons, I wanted to research more about the wider world through books.
Due to the ship’s late arrival, we decided to spend a night in Dali Amor. We found a suitable inn, and the food was tastier and the service better than what we had at Azarigrad. Even though it was a budget inn, it felt like we were staying at a high-end inn. The living standards in the labyrinth city must have been quite low.
Well, it was a slum city full of adventurers… We spent our adolescence in such a place; I wonder if we will be okay from now on? Despite how I may appear, I am from a noble background, so I might need to learn manners and etiquette properly.
As I pondered such things, I focused on my table manners while having dinner. Irene, sitting across from me, handled her knife and fork quite skillfully. As expected of a noble lady from Barwitch. I don’t know much about the world of nobility, but it must be something she developed in social settings.
I suddenly made eye contact with Irene, and she asked me about our future plans.
“By the way, what are you going to do starting tomorrow, Jack? Are you heading to Lindsay-san’s place right away?” (Irene)
“For now… I guess so. I have nowhere else to go, and Soltaire is the place I’m most accustomed to.” (Jack)
“But you could also come to my house!” (Irene)
Irene’s eyes sparkled as she tempted me.
She probably meant to say that I could freely use her mansion. It served as a hideout during the battle with the Fantasy Orchestra, but that mansion had a rigid atmosphere, making it hard to relax. Moreover, my priority is to first visit Alfred, Lindsay, and Dwayne, who have taken care of me. I plan to visit the Aldridge mansion eventually.
“Soltaire… is Lost-san’s hometown?” (Shia)
Shia, who had been silently listening to the exchange between me and Irene, finally chimed in. Her ears perked up as if she recognized the name of the town. She looked stunned, but it seemed she had some recollection of it.
“Hometown, I guess… I was thinking of going to greet the companions who live there.” (Jack)
“By companions, you mean Alfred, right?” (Salamander)
Salamander, who had been sprawled across the table, perked up her red body and added to the conversation.
She is quite rude. Aren’t red dragons supposed to be a more noble race?
“Well, yes.” (Jack)
“Then, I’ll follow Lost too.” (Salamander)
I knew exactly what her intention was. It was the genuine Volcanic Volga that Alfred possessed. But I doubted Salamander could retrieve it in her current state.
“If you do anything to Alfred or Lindsay, I won’t forgive you.” (Jack)
“Don’t say anything threatening. I plan to negotiate peacefully.” (Salamander)
She seems to be hiding something. She has Shia (her owner) with her, so she should be fine, though.
“Are you coming to Soltaire too, Shia?” (Jack)
“Yes.” (Shia)
Her answer came without hesitation, indicating that she genuinely meant that she would follow me.
I feel a bit happy about that. Although there hasn’t been much progress since then, it’s fine to take things slow.
“Huh? Why are you going to Soltaire too?” (Irene)
At that moment, Irene, showing a face full of anger, dissatisfaction, jealousy, and resentment, confronted Shia.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Soltaire.” (Shia)
“How do you know about Soltaire?” (Irene)
“I passed by it once.” (Shia)
“Why did you pass by?” (Irene)
“I was traveling with my parents.” (Shia)
“Hmm…” (Irene)
Hearing the word “parents”, Irene fell silent.
Since she knew Shia’s circumstances, it must have been awkward for her to hear that. It seemed she had no intention of complaining further.
“If that’s the case, then I’ll go to Soltaire too!” (Irene)
“Irene-sama, that’s not allowed.” (Liona)
Liona-san, the maid standing behind her, intervened with a warning.
I’m already used to Liona-san and Davi-san supporting Irene from behind during meals. At first, it was quite unsettling, but I guess it can’t be helped since it serves as protection for the young lady.
“Why not?” (Irene)
“When you returned here, you made a promise to the lord that you would focus on upper-class social engagements, and then you dashed out.” (Liona)
“Well, that’s true… but one day should be fine, right?” (Irene)
“No. Your return has already been communicated to your attendants.” (Liona)
“Not fair…” (Irene)
Irene seems to have a lot on her plate. Her situation is different from ours as bottom-tier adventurers who just drift along. In everyday life, you rarely see nobles wandering outside like that, and it’s almost a miracle that I’ve encountered someone from the noble class like this.
“By the way, what about Yustin?” (Jack)
I didn’t even need to ask but bringing it up was my way of showing concern.
I had heard before that Yustin intended to head to the royal capital with the remains of Anfan. Though the body was kept cool and remained in the coffin, Yustin must want to bury him as soon as possible.
“I’m going to the royal capital to see my family first.” (Yustin)
“I see…” (Jack)
Yustin seemed busy too. It seemed he had a sister in the royal capital, and he planned to reunite with her to bury Anfan near their estate in the suburbs. Crybaby Yustin had grown up quite a bit.
It’s said that men grow by crying. I’ve heard that it takes about a month by carriage from Dali Amor to the royal capital, so it might be a while before I see Yustin again.
“I plan to come back after things settle down. I’ll send a letter to the Stride house.” (Yustin)
“Why my house?” (Irene)
“…Because everyone else is a vagabond. I don’t know where else to send it.” (Yustin)
That’s true. Without a fixed home, there’s no way to communicate. When I was in Azarigrad, everyone would gather at the Simon Inn, after all. Well, I could probably gather everyone through Irene, and since we’re the same age, I’d like for us to gather like this again.
—
With all of that, we had crossed over to the Rauda Continent for our respective purposes, but it seems we will be parting ways in Dali Amor. It seems that Gnome-sama, who hadn’t shown up for dinner, had been in the lodging room drawing designs for new magic tools. Even after crossing the continent, her passion for magical tools still burns. That Gnome-sama declared, “If I’m going to do business, it has to be in Barwitch,” and so she decided to head to Barwitch with Irene and the others. Yustin seems to be heading to the royal capital alone, while Shia, Salamander, and I are going to Soltaire.
It feels lonely not to be able to see Yustin for a while, especially since we’ve been companions for so long. It seems Irene will also be busy, so I may not see her for a while either. Although she has no intention of that, she seems to plan to come to Soltaire frequently incognito. In any case, I also have my own objectives. It’s time to go home.
I wonder how Alfred, Lindsay, and Dwayne are doing?
Thank you for reading at bayabuscotranslation.com)
Please consider supporting Bayabusco Translation @
bayabuscotranslation 