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 - 40

Chapter 40: The Shape of a Happy Daily Life

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The elf in front of me had indeed held out his hand. Not a hand to take her away from us, but the hand of someone who had come to bring her home.

…I did not know if this person was truly Fia’s real family.

“Fia.”

I called her softly. The hand clutching my sleeve tightened. The elf’s emerald eyes wavered slightly.

“…So that is the name you call her.”

“Yes. I gave it to her.”

A brief silence followed. Then, the elf slowly began to speak.

“Eight years ago, my daughter was killed by humans.”

The air turned cold.

“She was on her way out of the Empire to retire. The carriage was burned, and the two of them were found in a horrific state.”

Fia’s shoulders trembled. Yuka stepped forward, but I stopped her with my hand. The elf continued.

“But the baby alone was missing. No body, no trace, only a residue of magic left behind.”

His emerald eyes stared straight at Fia.

“So I searched. Across nations, regardless of race, for eight years.”

There was anger in his voice. But more than that… there was exhaustion, and relief.

“Yesterday, I found her. My daughter’s child is still alive.”

Fia hid behind my back. But she was listening carefully. I opened my mouth.

“…Fia is under my protection, no… she’s my family.”

“Family? You people?”

His voice was filled with unmistakable anger.

“I met her while she was running from slave traders. I bought her.”

The elf’s eyes narrowed. He was weighing my words, judging their truth. I did not look away.

“She’s important to me. She’s my family.”

A long silence followed. Then the elf slowly exhaled.

“…You have my gratitude, human.”

It seemed my sincerity had reached him.

“…And I am glad you lived.”

Those words were directed at Fia. For the first time, his voice softened across the barrier.

“That hair, that magic… there is no doubt, it is my blood.”

Fia took a small step forward.

“…Really?”

Her voice trembled.

“Yes. You look just like my daughter.”

For a brief moment, a smile appeared on the elf’s face. But it quickly vanished.

“However, humans cannot be trusted.”

The tension returned.

“It was humans who killed my daughter. Humans who ravage the forest. Consumed by greed, they take and destroy.”

His words were not directed at me specifically, but… I could not deny it either.

“Allow me to take custody of that child.”

He must have thought about many things regarding me. At first, he probably had no intention of saying something like that.

“I will raise her in the forest. As an elf. As she was meant to be.”

That was probably the logical choice. To live with blood relatives, safely, among her own kind. Objectively speaking, that might be the correct answer. I looked at Fia.

“Fia.”

But the one who decides is not me.

“What do you want to do?”

The elf’s eyes shook. He had not expected that question. Fia lowered her gaze for a moment. Then she looked up.

“…I want to stay here.”

A small voice, but clear.

“With Master, and Yuka… and everyone.”

Her grip on my sleeve tightened even more.

“I don’t want to be separated…”

For a moment, I felt like I saw a glimpse of a pain that belonged only to Fia, something neither I nor the elf knew. The elf’s expression froze.

“…”

Fia’s answer was not what he had hoped for. He had his own pain as well. He must have remembered that day. The smell of burning flesh, the sudden loss. The elf closed his eyes.

Then, as if releasing it over a long time, he exhaled.

“…I see.”

He did not deny it. He simply accepted it. After a while, he slowly bowed his head.

“…Allow me to thank you again.”

…He was probably a good person.

“For protecting my granddaughter.”

Yuka’s eyes widened for a moment.

Tarinuka also let go of his sword.

“But I will not trust you.”

He said it clearly.

“I do not trust humans. I will judge you as individuals.”

I thought for a moment, then spoke.

“Then…”

The elf raised his head.

“Please keep watch over us.”

“…What?”

“If you’re worried about leaving her with us, then stay nearby.”

My mother’s face crossed my mind. She might get angry, but still, I did not want to tear this family apart. And she would probably find it amusing.

“I want you to come to the mansion.”

Silence. Yuka whispered.

“Luka-sama, that is…”

“You can act as a guard, or even a gardener.”

The elf looked stunned.

“If you’re worried about your granddaughter, then you can watch over her from nearby.”

It was simple. There was no need to fight over her.

In short, I’m Fia’s brother, and you’re her grandfather. Which means… You’re my grandfather too. Well, I suppose that logic is a bit extreme.

“…What are you saying?”

“Fia wants to stay here, so she will stay here. But this way, you can see her too.”

Fia spoke hesitantly.

“…Grandpa?”

That single word made his emerald eyes tremble greatly. The granddaughter he had searched for eight years had just called him that.

…Perfect score, Fia. I’ll spoil you later.

After a long, long silence.

“…I will accept your hospitality.”

He said it quietly, but firmly. I thought he would resist more, but it seemed he understood this was the best option. Yuka looked at me. Her expression clearly said, “Are you serious?” I smiled slightly.

“Successful negotiation… Don’t you think so?”

Fia let out a relieved breath. The light of the barrier flickered softly.

The forest’s blood returns to the forest… no, not necessarily. Elves too can live in the world of humans, just like any other race. I’m someone who doesn’t discriminate, you know? In anime, elves and dwarves are everywhere anyway.

Besides, Fia made her choice. And thanks to her, this man was able to choose too.

The elf looked at Fia once more.

“Your name?”

“Fia.”

“…I see. Fia.”

He nodded slowly. The sky over the royal capital was endlessly blue.

After that, convincing my family was a struggle. I almost started resenting Grandpa for a moment. I was overworked. Just when it seemed like everything was settled, it really wasn’t.

…Yeah, choices without regret are hard.

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A few weeks later, when the mansion had begun to accept the elf. He was now working as both a knight and a butler in our household. It quickly became clear that he was highly capable and efficient, and he earned everyone’s trust in no time. Sometimes he acted as my etiquette instructor, but he trained me so hard I started regretting it.

Can’t he teach Fia that instead?

Anyway, I got tired and came to the garden, and since training seemed to be starting, I came to watch with Fia.

“Your posture is collapsing.”

A dry voice. Yuka sat formally, expressionless. Standing before her was the elf. He had shed the robe from that day, now dressed in simple long garments. His white hair swayed in the wind.

“Do not let the magic flow out. Refine it. Compress it. Do not let it escape.”

Sweat formed on Yuka’s forehead. She looked calm, but inside she was being pushed to intense control.

Man, I’m just watching from the sidelines even during the training scenes. I really don’t feel like a reincarnated protagonist at all.

“…!”

“Too shallow. You rely too much on instinct. A bad habit common among humans, especially the talented ones.”

Tarinuka stood a short distance away. No, rather than watching, he looked frozen.

Orbis crossed his arms and muttered in admiration.

“I see… To refine it that much at her age…”

And Fia’s grandfather, apparently his name was Orbis. Fia stood beside me, her eyes sparkling.

“Yuka is amazing.”

“She really is.”

That was full-on Spartan training.

“Stand.”

Yuka stood up. The next moment, Orbis vanished. The wind shifted. His fingertip was at Yuka’s neck.

“Too slow. You are not seeing the flow of magic at all.”

“…!”

A drop of cold sweat ran down. But Yuka did not break.

“Once more, please.”

She said it calmly.

She’s so stoic. Yuka is refined, but she actively trains in combat too.

And Orbis was seriously training her as well. Tarinuka spoke to me quietly.

“…Orbis-dono is extremely skilled.”

“Yeah, I can tell just by looking.”

I respected the fact that he hadn’t resorted to force. After finally finding his late daughter’s only child, she was living among humans, his enemies. Rational did not even begin to cover it.

Yuka began refining her magic again. This time, it was quieter than before.

I’ve seen her magic often, but the color… How should I put it? It’s beautiful, but mixed.

Like light and flame blending together. Orbis’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Good.”

Just that one word. But he seemed a little satisfied. Fia smiled happily. Watching that scene, I muttered.

“Well, this is fine, isn’t it?”

Tarinuka looked at me.

“What do you mean?”

I shrugged.

“For me…”

Yuka being trained hard in the garden, the elf grandfather instructing her with a blank expression, and Fia watching happily. All of it together.

“This is what happiness looks like.”

I said it lightly. It wasn’t just Yuka and Fia. I had gotten involved with many people, but for now, it was about what was within reach.

I’ll make them all happy. For me, making the slave I bought happy… That’s basically an obligation.

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