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 - 39

Chapter 39: I’m Your Big Brother, You Know!

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On the outskirts of the royal capital, in a forest where the morning mist still lingered, a man in a black robe slowly removed his hood. Long silver hair. Pointed ears. Clear, emerald-green eyes.

An elf.

At his fingertips, there still lingered faint traces of the barrier’s magic he had touched the night before. But what he had been searching for was not the barrier. Something deeper. Something far more nostalgic.

“…There’s no way I could be mistaken.”

A low, trembling voice. A pale pink magic. Sweet, gentle, and yet carrying a depth without a bottom. Many years ago, he had held that child once, when she was still an infant. Small, warm, her crying echoing through the hut. At that time, it had been etched into him… The feel of that magic.

There was no way he could forget it.

“So… you were alive…”

His granddaughter, and the keepsake left behind by his daughter. That day, the forest had been stained with blood. His daughter and her partner had been killed. They had left the Empire by carriage, retiring from adventuring to live quietly, only to be killed by humans. When he rushed to the scene after hearing the news, the burned carriage still held the two of them.

But…

The baby alone was gone. No body, no belongings. Only a trace of magic left behind. So he searched.

Eight years.

He traveled across many countries, even searched the demon territories. He set foot in human cities as well. Being surrounded by people like the ones who killed his daughter nearly drove him mad. And yet, there was one thing he believed. That someone sharing his blood was still alive.

And then, yesterday. In the bustling crowd of the royal capital… At the edge of his vision, pale pink hair that resembled his daughter. At first, he thought it was a mistake. But it wasn’t.

The profile of the girl who turned around. She wore a silver flower in her hair and smiled. The same gentle eyes as his daughter. Her magic was suppressed. But its quality was different. Elves possessed a uniquely precise magic perception.

His kind did not “see” magic. They felt it. Once touched, magic was etched into the soul.

“…She’s well protected.”

That night, he investigated their residence. A powerful barrier laid throughout. Skilled guards. If he acted carelessly, rescuing the child would be impossible. That was not what he wanted. His goal was not to steal. It was to bring her home, no matter what.

“I will have her returned, you humans.”

A resolve mixed with anger and hatred. The forest’s blood returns to the forest. An elf child belongs in the elven village. That was what was right. From the beginning, humans were not to be trusted. At least, that was what he believed.

But…

Last night, through the mansion, he had felt it. A black-haired girl standing beside the boy. Immature, yet possessing unwavering will in her magic. Protection, love… What was that presence? More than anything, a peculiar “color” he had never seen before.

…That one would be troublesome.

“For a human, she’s quite a nuisance.”

He let out a small breath and began walking deeper into the forest. There was no need to rush. He had waited eight years. He could wait a little longer. But the next time they met… Would it be dialogue, or a rescue? Within the morning mist, the elf’s figure melted away. 

The atmosphere of the mansion changed just before noon.

“…They’re here.”

Yuka said quietly.

No way…? They came again?

Right in front of the main gate, just barely outside the barrier, they were really there.

“…They’re oddly bold…”

Tarinuka checked through the window.

“No concealment. It could be a provocation.”

Seriously, who shows up like that? They don’t look like they’re trying to run. If anything, it’s like they’re here to challenge us.

Then—

“I’ll go confirm with Mom and the others.”

Yuka narrowed her eyes slightly at my words.

“You don’t mean… you’re going to talk to them?”

“Yeah.”

If it’s right at the barrier, it should be fine.

I went to the reception room. Mom already understood the situation.

“They’re standing right out front?”

“Yeah. Guess they’ve given up on hiding.”

Fazil crossed his arms.

“Who knows. I can’t tell what this opponent is thinking.”

“What will you do, Luka?”

Mom looked straight at me. Not a testing gaze. She was giving me the choice. I thought for a moment, then spoke.

“I want to try talking to them.”

Silence. Fazil spoke first.

“It’s dangerous.”

“I know.”

“They may have tried to infiltrate last night.”

“I just feel like… there’s some reason behind this.”

As I said that, Mom’s eyes wavered slightly.

“They may have been capable of breaking the barrier. They might have stopped just to observe.”

Fazil let out a small breath.

“That’s right, Luka. There’s a good chance this is a trap.”

But still… would they really go that far? Maybe they were just bad at hiding so they came head-on? Then again, that would make them a berserker.

Mom set down her tea.

“So?”

“I’m thinking of talking to them through the barrier.”

Let me introduce my ultimate party.

“I’ll take Yuka and Tarinuka with me.”

The atmosphere grew heavier.

“I see.”

“I don’t think I can kill someone or do something cruel without a reason.”

Is that naive in this world?

“Since we don’t know their objective, let’s at least hear them out first.”

Fazil gave a small smile.

“You’ve gotten bold.”

“I’ve been learning from my big brother.”

Mom slowly stood up.

“Alright.”

An immediate decision. It seemed she believed in deciding things for oneself.

“If Luka-chan gets hurt, Mommy’s going to get angry for you!”

She really is a good mother.

“But.”

Her gaze sharpened.

“If I judge it dangerous, I will go out with your father.”

Yeah, that would end everything for sure. Fazil nodded.

“I’ll stay nearby. Yuka is authorized to engage in combat as she deems necessary.”

This feels like overkill. I just want to talk.

But… being protected like this made me feel cared for. It made me happy.

“Thank you.”

Mom spoke one last time.

“Luka.”

“What?”

“When the time comes, you are free to choose.”

Those words pushed me forward.

At the gate, the barrier was glowing faintly. Beyond it, a man in a black robe was standing still. The wind blew. The hood swayed slightly. Fia grabbed my sleeve.

Why was Fia here? Well, because she insisted on coming.

“…That person… From yesterday.”

“Yeah. But it’s okay.”

As I said that, Yuka stepped forward. Tarinuka kept a hand on his sword.

“…”

“Thanks, both of you.”

I stood in front of the barrier and raised my voice.

“…I want to talk.”

The man in the black robe slowly turned to face us. After a brief silence…

“…So you are the human who took that child.”

A low voice, but not filled with anger. I didn’t step back.

“And you are?”

The wind stopped. The hood was slowly removed. Long white hair. Pointed ears. Yuka instantly shifted into a combat stance.

“…!”

Fia gasped softly. The man did not touch the barrier. He only looked. His gaze was directed at Fia.

“I’ve come to take that child back.”

The air tightened.

Take her back… like she was originally his?

I took a breath.

“Sorry, but this girl doesn’t belong to any—”

“I am that child’s grandfather.”

“…Huh?”

I wasn’t the only one stunned. Yuka and Tarinuka’s eyes widened as well.

“…W-wait a second.”

Grandfather? Like, grandpa? You know, a second-degree relative… also called grandfather…

“…Fia’s… grandfather?”

Fia stood there, blankly.

“That child is my daughter’s only daughter, and her last keepsake. I will have her returned, no matter what.”

Ah, this is bad. If that’s true, I can’t win on connection alone. N-no, wait. I’m Fia’s big brother too, you know. (I’m not.) I can’t afford to panic over this.

The elf in front of me extended his hand.

…But what am I supposed to do here?

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