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 - 47

Chapter 47: The Hero-sama Who Drives Away the Flames

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

The symbol of the royal capital, the clock tower. From its highest point, the gray flames were clearly visible. Gray flames rising from all across the royal capital. They spread like a net, as if trying to envelop the entire city. The long-haired man looked down upon that scene. With trembling fingers, he stroked the cover of the thick book he held.

“…It has begun.”

He muttered quietly. The magic circle surrounding the royal capital, the offerings being sacrificed to it. And the guidance of the original text. It was the moment when everything connected.

“Look.”

The man spoke to the apostles behind him.

“This is our flame, the flame of our Ash Necros, the Ashen Reaper!”

Gray flames surged as if to cover even the sky above the capital. It was as though the sky itself was burning.

“At last…”

“Did it succeed…?”

“The royal capital… the world will burn…!”

Joy mixed into the apostles’ voices. The long-haired man narrowed his eyes.

“It will end…”

He looked down over the royal capital.

“This country.”

At that moment, within the dark, burning flames, a single point of light appeared. Somewhere in the royal capital, from the direction of the academy.

“…?”

The man narrowed his eyes. A white radiance ran through the gray flames and within the next moment—

Hiss…

The flames went out.

“…What?”

The gray flames rising from the academy were crushed, as if pressed down by light, and vanished. And then—

Hiss…

Hiss…

The light that originated from the academy spread throughout the entire capital. The same phenomenon began to occur in other places. The gray flames, proof of the original text and the master’s favor, were disappearing.

“Wha…”

One of the apostles let out a voice.

“The flames…”

The long-haired man’s face twisted.

Impossible.

The flames of the original text were not mere magic. Even if it was an imitation of the Original Grimoire of Flame, it was undoubtedly a flame of destruction. And yet—

“They’re being extinguished?”

At that moment, a powerful light shot into the sky from the direction of the academy. The instant he saw that light, the man’s expression changed. He understood, and clenched his teeth.

“…I see.”

His voice trembled.

“So that’s how it is… I see now!!”

The man shouted. He gripped the book he held, the original text, tightly.

“So it was you all!!”

His face twisted in anger.

“Hero candidates…!”

“You people from the Holy Theocracy!!”

From atop the clock tower, the man’s roar echoed.

◇◆◇

…It was hot. Up until just now, I had definitely felt that. The moment my vision was swallowed by gray flames—

Ah, I’m dead.

That was what I thought, but—

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t hot. Even through my closed eyelids, I could feel a strong brightness. Not the heat of flames. It felt warm, almost comforting.

I slowly opened my eyes. The gray flames that had covered the plaza… A single ray of light had overwritten them and then completely erased them.

“Wha-…”

The apostles around me were also in confusion.

“The flames…”

“What is going on…!?”

Still kneeling at the center of the magic circle, I looked toward the source of the light. In front of the nobles gathered in the plaza, a single man stood. A young man wearing a uniform with a long coat draped over it. In his hand he held a slightly ornate dagger, its blade pointed toward us.

A familiar face, smooth black hair.

Leonis.

The atmosphere around him was completely different. The man in the gray robe glared at him.

“…You.”

The young man answered calmly.

“You’ve done quite a bit of unnecessary meddling.”

He lightly spun the dagger. Light danced, and the air trembled.

“…Could it be, are you some kind of monster from the Holy Theocracy?”

The man muttered. The young man took a step into the plaza.

“Calling me a monster is a bit harsh. I’m Leonis Arseid.”

He readied the dagger. Its blade glowed faintly.

“For now, AAsh Necros, the Ashen Reaper, your ritual ends here.”

He said it quietly.

“No need to worry. It’ll be over soon.”

The moment those words fell… Leonis vanished.

“…Huh?”

Someone muttered that. The next instant—

Kiin—

The clear sound of metal rang through the plaza.

◇◆◇

Inside the academy building. The sounds of battle outside echoed through the walls. Explosions, impacts and occasional screams. Inside that classroom, more than a dozen students had gathered. A makeshift barricade of desks and chairs had been set up.

“…They’re still coming.”

It was Elphiria who muttered that quietly. She slightly furrowed her brow. Her gaze was fixed on the door. She was sensing the presence of magic.

“Three… no, four.”

At those words, the atmosphere in the classroom tightened. One of the students spoke in a trembling voice.

“Th-they’re still coming…?”

No one answered. Instead… In the center of the classroom, a girl stood holding a sword.

It was Rine.

The sleeve of her uniform was stained red. Blood. At her feet, several bodies were already lying. Black robes. The emblem of gray flames. The apostles who had invaded earlier.

“…It’s okay.”

Rine spoke quietly to the trembling students.

“I won’t let them pass.”

Her voice was soft, but there was no hesitation. Elphiria let out a small breath.

“Rine-san.”

“…Yeah.”

The two of them turned their gaze toward the door. At that moment—

Boom!!

The door was kicked open. Splinters of wood scattered.

“There they are!”

A black-robed man shouted.

“Students!”

In the instant where a normal person would barely react, Rine was already moving. She kicked off the floor. A light step forward and she stepped into the man’s guard.

“Wha—”

Before he could finish speaking—

Slash.

His head flew off. Blood splattered across the wall. The air in the classroom froze. Rine did not turn back. She stepped toward the next enemy.

The second one. An apostle raised a dagger. But his arm was cut off.

“Guh—”

He didn’t even get to scream.

Slash.

His chest was pierced. The third tried to cast magic. Gray magic swelled.

“Die!”

But before the spell could be released, Rine’s sword slit his throat. Blood sprayed. The man collapsed. The last one remaining stepped back.

“Wha-…”

He looked at the girl before him. A small student compared to the others and yet, three of his allies had died in an instant. Rine lightly shook her sword, flicking off the blood.

Drip. Drip.

The blood of his comrades fell from the tip of her blade. Looking at those red drops, she spoke.

“…What will you do?”

The man did not answer. No, he could not answer. The sword flashed. Silence remained in the classroom. Rine let out a slow breath. She lowered her sword.

“It’s finally over.”

Elphiria spoke softly.

“No.”

She held her palm toward the ground, sensing the magic outside.

“They’re still coming.”

Rine looked beyond the doorway. In the distance, a strong light ran across. The gray magic that had been felt until now wavered for just a moment.

“…?”

Elphiria looked up at the sky through the classroom window.

“Just now, something—”

But her words cut off midway. From the far end of the hallway, footsteps could be heard again. Rine tightened her grip on her sword.

“…It’s okay.”

She said it once more, as if telling herself.

“I have to hurry… Luka-sama,”

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー