I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back - 33

Chapter 33: Tourism Brochure

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

During the academy’s lunch break. I sat on a bench in the courtyard, spreading open the newspaper that had been handed out today. Was this what they called the refinement of a noble’s son? I was not trying to look cool. I simply wanted to know how the world was moving.

“Luka-sama, that’s unusual. The politics section?”

“Heh, well, yeah. I might be a future duke, you know?”

I said it casually while scanning the page. A large headline caught my attention.

《Edelgrat Empire Completes Military Reorganization》

《Imperial Capital Reconstruction, Economy Showing Signs of Recovery》

“…What was it again the other day? If I remember right, the Second Prince started some kind of rebellion.”

The words slipped out in a quiet mutter. It was pretty dangerous stuff. I wondered if there was really something someone wanted so badly that they would go that far. But it should not have been that long since rumors of a civil conflict began. And yet the page was already filled with words like stability.

Didn’t rebels usually win in these kinds of situations? Or maybe my knowledge was just shallow. The Empire. The Edelgrat Empire. A military nation that upheld meritocracy, and it was said that its magical research was the best on the continent. A country where achievements and ability mattered more than noble blood. It was a little different from the kingdom here. Basically, nobles tended to have higher natural specs than commoners. But I thought it was really progressive that they did not judge people only by origin.

“Is something bothering you?”

Yuka asked quietly.

“No, I just think their recovery is ridiculously fast.”

I tapped the newspaper.

“This was supposed to be a disturbance big enough to shake the nation, right? Normally it would drag on longer…”

Honestly, it would not have been strange if the Second Prince had actually won.

“…If there was an excellent leader, it would not have been impossible.”

For just a moment, Yuka’s gaze fell on the newspaper. She said nothing more, but it seemed like she had something on her mind.

“Hmm.”

I did not pry further. With things like this, the rule was to wait until the other person chose to talk about it. I turned the page.

《Dragon Kingdom Dragvel Conducts Border Military Exercises》

…Oh, there it was. The Dragon Kingdom Dragvel. A country famous for having the strongest military might. Secretly, it was one of my favorite countries. The reason? The name sounded cool. (idiot) According to what I read in books, the royal family supposedly carried the blood of dragons.

The dragon’s blood had been divided among five houses, and every member of those bloodlines was a candidate for king. I did not know if it was true, but their physical ability and total magical power were said to be abnormal. There were all sorts of things written, but most of them were things you could not understand unless you saw them yourself.

“Dragon blood, huh.”

“…If Luka-sama is curious, I can tell you more. It actually exists.”

“…Seriously?”

“Yes.”

Apparently a walking encyclopedia was right here. I wondered where she learned information like that. I wished she would stop casually dropping insane facts like that. I wanted to believe it, but this was a bit much. Maybe it was just some religious myth or something…

“…”

Dragvel was a country that valued magic and the power of bloodlines. When it came to individual combat strength, it was said to be the strongest on the continent. If the Empire represented military power, then the Dragon Kingdom represented individual combat strength. There had to be a reason people said that. This was another world after all, so maybe dragons existing would not be that surprising…

No, I would definitely still be surprised.

I flipped the newspaper again.

《Holy Theocracy Luminaria Announces Large-Scale Pilgrimage》

The Holy Theocracy Luminaria, huh. Here came the serious religious nation. The largest religious state on the continent. The only country that had successfully systematized holy magic. Apparently there were beings called Saints who appeared generation after generation and could wield holy magic. There also seemed to be many Saint candidates.

“Saints, huh.”

“They are said to be beings who perform miracles.”

…If I heard that in my previous life, my first reaction would have been that it sounded suspicious.

“Do they worship some kind of god?”

“I do not know that much, but there are churches in the kingdom as well.”

That was true. The Holy Theocracy had more spiritual influence than military strength. Since believers existed in every country, it was a troublesome position that no one could easily make into an enemy. My eyes moved to a smaller article.

《Elf Nation Sylvaria Rejects Diplomatic Envoys Once Again》

A closed nation surrounded by forests, Sylvaria. It rarely interacted with the outside world. A small country made up entirely of elves.

“This is like Japan. Maybe some black ships will crash into the forest.”

When I muttered that, Yuka said nothing.

…I kept talking about my previous life without worrying about it. Was that really okay? (too late) The wind rustled the newspaper.

W-Well, whatever. I should check another section.

《Southern Sea Beastman Autonomous State Fern Island Expands Trade》

《Underground Kingdom Granval Discovers Mithril Vein》

So there was a country of beastmen too. I might have learned that for the first time. Beastmen basically existed in every country. In the kingdom, in the empire, everywhere. But since many of them became adventurers, you would not meet them in noble districts like the ones I could visit.

But Fern Island was an entire island inhabited only by beastmen. An island full of fluffy people? I had decided on my future place to move. (determined) And in this world, beastmen were said to excel at navigation and naval combat.

Next was the dwarven Underground Kingdom Granval. A massive city spreading beneath a mountain range. They monopolized ore and blacksmithing technology, making every nation indebted to them. If you wanted weapons or minerals, you had to bow your head to them first.

“The world really is huge. A slow life while sightseeing… maybe that’s not a bad idea.”

I muttered without thinking. If you stayed in the kingdom, the kingdom looked like the center of the world. But that was not actually the case.

The Empire, dangerous but the largest on the continent. The Dragon Kingdom, peak fantasy! The place I wanted to visit the most! The Holy Theocracy, I at least wanted to meet a Saint once if I could. (meeting addict) Isolationist Japanese-style elves. Beastmen who came from an island and adapted to the sea. Dwarves ruling the underground.

And these were all just countries on the same continent. Of course there were other nations and continents as well.

“Please just stay peaceful like this.”

I had no interest in getting caught up in a war while sightseeing.

Especially the Empire! You are not allowed to wage war, okay?!

Then suddenly Yuka spoke quietly.

“…Luka-sama, you… no, it is nothing.”

“…?”

Her voice sounded the same as always. No emotional fluctuation. But just barely, it felt like something was hidden in it. Well, if she did not want to say it, there was no need for me to ask.

“Alright.”

I stood up.

“I’m a student in the kingdom right now. No matter what happens in the world, what I have to do does not change.”

The trees in the courtyard swayed. The world continued to turn quietly today as well. Even though no big events had happened since I came to another world, maybe that was fine. It felt like I was getting to redo an ordinary life. Thinking about it now, I had no interest in becoming a hero or some great champion. Carrying responsibility, fighting, protecting people… that kind of thing did not suit me.

I-It’s not like I’m saying that because I didn’t get any cheat powers! (sore loser)

I could not even use basic magic. I would live my life my own way. Right now, Yuka and Fia came first. I wanted both of them to grow up healthy, meet many people, and choose their own paths. Once that was done, I probably would not be needed anymore. I would travel from country to country and enjoy this world.

Yeah, maybe around eighteen…. When I graduated from the academy, I would set Yuka free.

◇◆◇◇◆◇◇◆◇

A little while after Fia arrived, Yuka was feeling somewhat restless.

“Luka-sama, it is almost time for your bath.”

She called out to Luka-sama, who was quietly playing with Fia.

“Already that time? Fia, I’ll be back.”

“…Luka, you come back?”

“Of course. I’ll be back so fast even the anti-bath crowd would be shocked.”

Lukas-sama murmured “thank you” and left the room. Even though it was the same routine every day, Lukas-sama never forgot to express his gratitude. I truly thought that was amazing.

After Lukas-sama left the room, in the silent space that followed, I thought for a moment before speaking to Fia.

“Fia, I have told you many times. Call him with an honorific, not just Luka.”

“…No.”

The refusal came instantly.

…This situation was also Lukas-sama’s fault. He was too kind. If he saw this scene, he would probably say something like, “I don’t mind.”

…Am I truly being useful to Lukas-sama?

Even now, I had just scolded one of his possessions without permission. I must not become an obstacle to Lukas-sama. All I needed to do was believe in the path he walked and follow him. I was someone who had once been as good as dead. And he had revived me from that, risking his own life.

Luka-sama often said that Fia and I were family. But placing family and oneself on a scale and choosing family first was not something everyone could do.

…I knew that. We had lived together for years now. That was how I came to understand. There was nothing in this world more righteous than him. To me, he was both my master and my guiding principle. I had come to understand who this “power” should be used for.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー