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 - 50

Chapter 50: Where Converging Thoughts Lead

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A brief silence fell over the courtyard. The king crossed his arms and slowly opened his mouth.

“In other words,” his voice was low. “The enemy’s leader is still within the royal capital.”

Leonis nodded.

“Yes.”

Then he glanced briefly outside the castle.

“With an attack of this scale, it’s hard to believe there isn’t someone directing it.”

Noin spoke.

“Then we will mobilize the knights.”

But Leonis shook his head.

“I don’t recommend it.”

All eyes turned to him.

“The enemy is using an <Original Grimoire>.”

His voice was calm.

“Ordinary soldiers are unlikely to stand a chance.”

Noin’s brow twitched.  The king remained silent. Leonis continued.

“If anything, a smaller group will be more effective.”

He glanced lightly at us.

“Me,” then Allen. “Him,” and finally, he looked at me.

“The three of us will go.”

Huh? Wait, wait, wait. Me, seriously!?

I almost blurted it out, but somehow held it in. I just came along because I thought sticking with Leonis would be safer! 

The king spoke.

“…Your reason?”

Leonis answered casually.

“One is combat power.”

He pointed to himself.

“One is support.”

He looked at Allen.

“And,” he looked at me.

“He is the key.”

I have no idea what you’re talking about. What key am I!?

Allen said quietly.

“…Luka-sama?”

“I just heard about this myself, you know!?”

Leonis smiled slightly.

“It’s fine, you’ll understand soon.”

That did not reassure me at all. The king thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Very well.”

Noin stepped forward.

“I will accompany you.”

But Leonis shook his head again.

“The commander of the knights should remain and protect the castle.”

“…”

“If this place falls, or if the royal family is used as sacrifices, it’s over.”

Noin fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

“…Understood.”

The king spoke.

“I leave it to you.”

Leonis gave a light bow to the king.

“Leave it to me.”

Then he turned around.

“Shall we go?”

Allen and I started walking as well. At that moment—

“Master!”

A familiar voice rang out from atop the courtyard wall. A small figure stood there. It was Fia and beside her was a white-haired elderly elf, Orbis. Fia leapt down from the roof. She landed in front of me.

“Master.”

She immediately looked up at me.

“Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah.”

She came in with some serious momentum. Orbis walked over more slowly.

“Luka-sama.”

He gave a slight bow.

“I’m glad you are safe.”

Leonis spoke with interest.

“Oh?”

He looked at Fia.

“Is that girl your servant?”

I nodded.

“Something like that.”

Leonis smiled a little.

“I see. The people around you are interesting.”

Fia stared at Leonis. She seemed slightly wary of him. Orbis spoke.

“Luka-sama, where to next?”

I looked at Leonis. Leonis turned his gaze outside the castle. Then he said.

“To search for the enemy’s leader.”

He lightly spun his short blade.

“They should be somewhere in the capital.”

Allen asked, “Do you have any idea where?”

Leonis smiled slightly.

“I do.”

Then he looked up at the sky in the distance. The tallest structure in the capital, the clock tower.

“First,” he said quietly, “there.”

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Cold air filled the mansion’s hallway. It was different from snow. It was a still, frozen chill, as if the air itself had solidified. Elysia walked slowly. At her feet lay the bodies of black-robed men. No, more precisely, they were not even corpses. Most of them had turned into ice statues.

A figure with an arm raised. One about to draw a sword. A face frozen mid-scream. All of them had been frozen in that very moment, locked in place.

They were the Ash Apostles who had attacked the mansion.

Seeing this, one of the knights muttered quietly.

“…Are you unharmed, Elysia-sama?”

Elysia replied calmly.

“Yes, there is no problem.”

Her voice was quiet.

“It seems I alone was sufficient to defend the mansion.”

The knights exchanged glances. No one asked anything further. At that moment, a heavy door opened from one of the rooms.

Creak…

What appeared was a gray-haired maid, Juli. No. More precisely, it was a maid dragging Juli. Juli was bound, covered in blood. Her face was twisted in fear. Elysia slowly approached and crouched down in front of her, meeting her eyes.

“…Did she talk?”

The maid gave a slight bow.

“Yes.”

A quiet voice.

“Most likely, she has revealed nearly everything.”

Juli spoke in a trembling voice.

“I-I was just following orders…!”

“I see.”

Elysia replied, uninterested.

“And?”

The maid spoke.

“One of those directing this attack.”

She paused briefly.

“The name is—”

Elysia listened quietly.

“…”

The maid answered.

“Dia Arcion.”

The moment that name was spoken, Elysia stopped. A brief silence ensued and then, Elysia let out a small laugh.

“…Ah.”

She spoke as if remembering.

“That person.”

Juli cried out.

“Y-yes! That’s right!!”

She was desperate.

“So I have nothing to do with this!!”

Elysia looked down at Juli. Her eyes were cold, colder than any glacier.

“I see.”

She said softly.

“Then let me ask one last thing.”

Elysia crouched down right in front of Juli’s face.

“That person…”

Her voice was quiet.

“Where are they now?”

Juli answered while trembling.

“T-the clock tower… at the top, giving orders…!”

The moment she heard that, Elysia stood up.

“Thank you.”

She looked out the window. The clock tower in the distance.

“…Hehe, I suppose I’m lucky too.”

She muttered softly.

“I wonder if Luka-kun is heading there as well.”

Then she turned around.

“Prepare a horse.”

The maid nodded.

“At once.”

Elysia began walking quietly. A faint anger dwelled in her eyes.

“…U-um, what about me…?”

Juli muttered weakly.

“…I trusted you.”

“T-then…!”

A faint hope appeared on Juli’s face, but in that instant…

Crack.

A small sound echoed.

“…Huh?”

At Juli’s feet… The tip of her shoe touching the floor began to freeze white. Frost spread slowly.

“W-what…?”

Juli tried to move her leg, but it would not move. Her shoe had frozen to the floor itself.

Crack… crack…

The ice spread. From her ankles, to her stomach, from the parts touching the ground, slowly, but surely.

“W-wait…!”

Juli’s voice trembled.

“I-I told you everything! So—”

Elysia did not turn around. She simply spoke calmly.

“Yes.”

A flat voice.

“You spoke very well.”

The ice had reached her knees. Juli twisted her body desperately. She kicked and struggled.

“Help me…!”

White frost crawled over her clothes. Her breath turned white.

“E-Elysia-sama…!”

Her voice was completely shaking now. Elysia paused and glanced at her slightly. Her eyes were cold.

“From someone as insincere as you,” she said softly, “hearing you speak about Luka-kun is extremely unpleasant.”

The ice reached her shoulders. Juli’s arms stiffened, her fingers no longer moved.

“No… no…!”

Her tears froze and clung to her cheeks. Finally, the ice reached her neck.

“Eli—”

Crack.

Her voice was cut off. Juli’s body became a frozen statue. Her face remained twisted in fear. Silence returned to the hallway.

Elysia looked at it once then quietly murmured.

“…One must deal with one’s own mistakes. As a noble.”

With that, she turned away and walked off without looking back. The clock tower could be seen in the capital’s sky.

“Please wait for me.”

A quiet voice.

“Dia Arcion.”

A smile as cold as ice appeared on her lips.

“I’m on my way.”

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