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 - 35

Chapter 35: The Hero vs The Genius

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

It was not long after I provoked the Hero Candidates with Rine. Right away, Rine walked up to Elphiria in the center of the training grounds.

Thank you, Elphiria-san. Truly, thank you.

“Excuse me, would you be willing to spar with me?”

“…Eh, no.”

There was a possibility she would refuse!? Wasn’t it supposed to be an instant match the moment their eyes met?

“Then, would it be alright if I fought you instead?”

Somehow a man stepped in between the girls. Rine stared straight at Leonis.

“You are very strong.”

There it was, the battle maniac’s special scouter. The surrounding crowd gradually grew noisy. The strongest in the Magic Swordsmanship Department versus a Hero Candidate. Of course it would get exciting. Leonis slightly narrowed his eyes and relaxed his mouth.

“Do I look that way?”

“Yes. So please spar with me.”

Target changed immediately. As long as she could fight someone strong, anyone was fine. Elphiria stepped back.

“…”

“Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried. Do whatever you want.”

Looking a little disappointed, as if he had expected that response, Leonis stepped forward.

“I suppose I will borrow the strength of the Kingdom’s Magic Swordsmanship Department.”

Was that harassment? (overreaction)

He slowly drew his sword. The motion was refined and completely free of wasted movement. The instructor stepped between them and made them take some distance.

“Both of you, this is a mock battle. Don’t go all out.”

“I will do my best.”

Rine nodded slightly.

What do you mean “do my best”? Please make sure you actually hit the brakes.

“Begin!”

The air burst. Leonis’s figure blurred. Wind magic. Even I could tell that much. In an instant he closed the distance and swung down his blade. A red glow covered the edge. It was wrapped in fire.

What was that? Was that what they called an enchantment? Even so, he was fast. Were there only inhuman people here?

A sharp metallic sound rang out. Rine had stopped Leonis’s sword. How could she swing a sword so steadily with such thin arms? Her blade did not tremble at all. Honestly this spectacle actually made my heart race. Water wrapped around the blade, redirecting the impact.

“Oh?”

Leonis’s eyes changed slightly. He jumped backward and launched three fireballs at the same time. At the same moment water ran along the ground, probably meant to restrain. On top of that, he accelerated himself with the wind surrounding him.

…You have got to be kidding me….

Fire, water, wind. Three attributes, and they were deployed simultaneously. Everyone, including me, held their breath.

…And even with that, Rine did not stop. Just what was she? She dispersed the fireballs with water, stepped over the water blades and restraints at her feet, and stepped in to match the wind-accelerated movement. Their swords clashed again. The sound was heavier than before. Both of them had clearly increased their output. Leonis’s eyebrow twitched slightly.

(This power…)

He should have been pushing her back, yet it felt like she was the one controlling the distance. There was no hesitation in Rine’s sword. Not even the slightest doubt. She cut not through logic, but through instinct.

They separated again. Even though he kept raising the pace little by little, he could not shake her off. Leonis laughed.

“This is interesting.”

The air trembled. The flames released by his magic power burned even thicker. The wind roared violently. Water coiled around the blade. His magical output had clearly increased again. He stepped forward. It was unbelievably fast. But at that moment…

The ground burst open. Water. It was probably Rine’s magic. A surge of water erupted from the ground like a snake and wrapped around Leonis’s legs, binding both of them.

“…!”

A moment of stiffness. Of course, Rine did not miss that opening. She stepped in and pointed her blade at his throat.

…I had seen this before. It was that suppression-style victory using water restraints.

Silence ensued.

“…My victory.”

Her clear voice echoed. After a few seconds of silence, Leonis laughed.

“I concede.”

The water dissolved. He stood up and looked straight at Rine.

(Neither of us were serious, but a loss is still a loss…)

“…You are beautiful.”

Huh?

“I almost feel sad thinking I won’t be able to see you once this exchange program ends.”

That was scary. Was that the berserker style of courtship? The battle had just ended. And that tone sounded way too practiced. This guy was definitely a flirt.

No good, Rine. Come back home.

Rine tilted her head with a blank expression.

“I am busy getting praised by Luka-sama.”

There were no such plans. Actually you should go over there instead. Leonis froze for a moment, then shrugged.

“Haha, I see.”

A short distance away, Elphiria murmured quietly.

“…Neither of them were serious.”

She did not say who she meant. Leonis did not answer either.

“Luka-sama!”

She really came. Rine ran toward me. Her eyes were sparkling.

“How was it!? Was I cool!?”

“…Yeah. You were cool.”

That was my honest opinion. But someone who just defeated a Hero Candidate should not run straight over here. Now everyone was looking this way. Rine’s face brightened at my praise.

“Hehe…!”

She smiled with satisfaction.

She is cute, so it is fine I guess. (IQ of a cactus)

Leonis watched the scene closely.

“…Is she his master?”

“No. Luka is the owner of that monster.”

Cedric’s voice denied it. But Leonis only smiled faintly.

“…I see. Interesting. I would like to talk with him.”

It is not interesting. I will slap you. And Cedric-kun, what part of this small animal made you call her a monster? Look carefully. This is my Rine.

“Still, that was amazing.”

“Really!? Hehe~♪”

The seventh-ranked Hero Candidate, a descendant of heroes who could control three attributes. His ability was impressive, of course.

But the one who defeated him head-on… Was a commoner girl from a nameless family.

…Rine, you are terrifying.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー