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 - 49

Chapter 49: Situation Assessment

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A small shadow had been leaping across the rooftops of the royal capital. It was Fia. She ran lightly over the snow-covered roofs. Even in places where an ordinary person would slip and fall, she moved as if she were running on solid ground. Behind her, a larger shadow followed. With long white hair streaming behind him as he ran, it was Orbis.

“…Fia”

A low voice came from behind.

“Slow down a little.”

Without turning back, Fia replied.

“Master is in danger.”

It was brief. Orbis narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I know.”

Then he continued.

“But Luka-sama is alive.”

Fia’s feet stopped for just a moment.

“…Really?”

“Yes. Luka-sama’s magic power… it’s faint, but I can still sense it.”

He spoke in a low voice.

“So let’s stay calm as we go. We’re in danger too.”

Fia fell silent for a moment. Then she gave a small nod.

“…Okay.”

She started running again. Ahead of her gaze was the royal castle. A white-walled fortress at the center of the capital. From there, multiple powerful magical forces could be felt clashing.

“…There’s a lot of fighting.”

Fia muttered softly. Orbis responded.

“Yes. Most likely, the main force is at the castle.”

He said it while looking up at the royal castle.

“The scattered enemies are gathering there.”

Fia’s eyes narrowed.

“…Master.”

Then she increased her speed again.

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In front of the outer walls of the royal castle, it had become a complete battlefield. Explosions. The clash of swords. And screams.

“Push them back!!”

“Defend the gate!”

The kingdom’s soldiers fought desperately. But their enemies, as Leonis had said, were the Ash Apostles. And there were a lot of them.

A group in black robes surged toward the castle gate. At that moment—

“That’s far enough.”

A calm voice rang out. The next instant, Leonis’s blade ran between the soldiers and the apostles.

Zan. Slash. Cut.

Three apostles’ heads fell at the same time.

Here we go again. It was so grotesque I could barely stand to watch.

I’ve got to get used to it… even though I really don’t want to.

The soldiers turned in shock. There stood three boys.

Leonis. Luka. And Allen. Leonis lightly flicked his short blade, shaking off the blood.

“Looks like we made it in time.”

One of the soldiers shouted.

“A-academy students!?”

Allen hurriedly replied.

“We’re reinforcements!”

Leonis was already moving toward the next enemy. A black-robed figure lunged at him. But—

Whoosh.

He closed the distance in an instant. A slash tore through the man’s chest. Then another apostle came from the side. His throat was cut open. It was as if he were simply walking through a battlefield.

A few dozen seconds later, every apostle in front of the gate had fallen. The soldiers were left speechless. Leonis turned back.

“Could you guide us inside?”

he said lightly.

“I need to meet the king. If you tell them my name, they should let us through.”

The soldiers looked at each other. Then one of them nodded in a hurry.

“O-okay!”

The gate opened. Beyond the heavy doors, the castle courtyard spread out before them. Several figures were already standing there. A silver-haired knight, and also Big Brother Noin in armor. Seeing him made me think of my family, and I started to feel restless.

Seriously, they’re okay, right? Orbis and Tarinuka are there, and even Yuka is like 7000 times stronger than me.

And beside them stood Arianna, the second princess of this country. As expected, her daughter Lilia wasn’t there, but even so, wasn’t she a bit too close to the front lines? Arianna noticed us.

“…Brother-in-law!?”

She widened her eyes in surprise. I instinctively waved.

“Princess Arianna, are you safe!?”

“Y-yes…!”

She answered, though her expression was slightly exasperated.

“I’m glad you’re safe, but…”

She glanced at Leonis.

“You’ve been in quite a dangerous place.”

Isn’t that true for you too?

I thought it, but didn’t say it. At that moment—

“Luka.”

A low voice. Big Brother Noin walked toward us. There was blood on various parts of his armor. But he didn’t seem injured.

“Are you alright?”

It was brief.

“Yeah… somehow.”

When I answered, he gave a small nod. Then he turned his gaze to Leonis.

“…And you are?”

Leonis lightly raised a hand.

“My name is Leonis Arseid.”

He said it casually.

“I’m one of the exchange students from the Holy Theocracy.”

Noin’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“…Leonis. A hero candidate, huh.”

“You know your stuff.”

Leonis smiled. At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from deeper within the courtyard. The soldiers immediately straightened.

A man appeared.

Who’s that guy? He looks important.

Wearing a heavy cloak, he looked at us.

“…Are you safe?”

He said in a low voice. Arianna stepped forward.

“Father, the academy students have come as reinforcements.”

Father…So that’s the king himself. Good thing I didn’t say that out loud. My head might’ve gone flying.

The king’s gaze turned to us and stopped on Leonis.

“Hah, as expected of a hero.”

Leonis smiled slightly.

“I appreciate the praise.”

The tension eased just a little. But the king’s expression soon turned serious again.

“Who is the enemy? You would know.”

Leonis’s face became serious as well.

“Ash Necros, the Ashen Reaper.”

The moment that name was spoken, Noin’s expression changed slightly.

“…I’ve heard of them.”

Leonis nodded.

“To put it simply, they’re a group that desires the destruction of the world.”

Arianna frowned.

“That’s…”

“This attack is for a ritual, and to destroy the kingdom.”

Leonis looked up at the sky.

“…And they’re using an Original Grimoire. A full-scale one.”

The king spoke in a low voice.

“…Wasn’t the ritual stopped?”

“Yes, but it seems it’s still ongoing.”

Leonis nodded.

“At the very least, the plan to burn the capital has been halted.”

He paused briefly, then continued.

“But…”

He placed a hand on the short blade at his waist.

“Their objective and their means still remain.”

Everyone looked at Leonis. He turned his gaze toward the depths of the castle.

“This scale of operation, and they’re using an Original Grimoire.”

His voice was calm.

“There will definitely be one or two high-ranking members, or perhaps even Ash Necros, the Ashen Reaper himself.”

A slight tension filled the courtyard.

“…Most likely,” Leonis said, “that person is somewhere within the capital.”

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