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 - 51

Chapter 51: The Higher-Up Makes an Entrance

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After leaving the royal castle, we ran along the stone-paved road. The royal capital at night was still noisy. Explosions echoed in the distance. There were still several places where flames were rising. But compared to earlier, the fighting had clearly decreased.

We were moving across the rooftops. Leonis was in the lead. Allen followed behind him. And then me. Running alongside me was Fia, moving lightly. It was my first time running on rooftops, but Fia looked completely at ease. If the gaps between buildings were small, we could jump them, but for the wider ones, I had Orbis carry us across with wind. Fia actually looked like she was enjoying it.

“Master.”

A small voice. Fia looked up at me.

“Is your injury okay?”

“Yeah.”

I lightly moved my arm. It was the wound Leonis had treated earlier. It still hurt, but it was fine for movement.

“I’m okay.”

When I said that, Fia looked a little relieved.

“That’s good.”

It was a short reply. After running for a while, I asked.

“Fia.”

“What?”

“What about everyone at the mansion?”

It was what I had been most worried about.

“My dad and mom… are they safe?”

Fia answered immediately.

“They’re fine.”

Her voice had no hesitation.

“The people who came to the house were mostly taken down by Yuka.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah.”

Fia thought for a moment, then added.

“Tarinuka tried hard too.”

Ah, I see. …Well, not really “I see,” but.

As expected, both of them… especially Yuka…They were incredibly strong.

“Yuka was angry.”

Fia muttered. I gave a wry smile.

“Well, yeah, of course she was.”

Our home had been attacked. I didn’t want Yuka to have to deal with things like that, but I was too powerless. I asked one more thing.

“Where is Yuka right now?”

Fia tilted her head slightly.

“Umm…”

“Wasn’t she coming with you?”

Fia shook her head.

“No.”

“She came, but… I got left behind.”

“…Huh?”

I couldn’t help but ask again.

“Do you know where she is?”

Fia kept looking forward as she answered.

“I don’t know.”

Her voice was calm.

“But…”

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“Yuka was looking for you, Master.”

I let out a small breath. I appreciated it, but… could both of them please not go off alone? Fia was still so small, and Yuka was still at an age where she could be selfish too.

“I see…”

I muttered that, when suddenly, Leonis, who had been running ahead, came to a complete stop.

“…”

We stopped as well. In front of us was the clock tower. 

Seriously, it’s just a giant clock (I sound like an idiot).

It stood as if piercing into the night sky. Leonis spoke.

“We’re here.”

His voice was slightly lower than before.

“It seems…”

He looked upward at the top of the clock tower. There, a dark figure stood. A robe fluttered in the wind.

“…Looks like we hit the mark.”

A strong night wind blew through. The tower was still some distance away, but combined with the magical pressure, it felt overwhelming. Leonis stared up at it for a moment.

“…”

Fia spoke softly.

“Up there.”

Her eyes were fixed on the top of the tower.

“Strong magic. It’s gathering.”

Allen frowned.

“So it really is at the top.”

I looked up at the tower as well. 

That’s where the boss of this whole situation….

Just as I thought that—

Tap.

The sound of footsteps was coming from behind us. We all turned around. There stood a man with a pitch-black robe. But he was clearly different from the small fry we had fought before. He was tall, with a thin body beneath the robe. His long black hair was tied back. And a gray crest was carved into his face.

The man slowly began clapping.

Clap… clap… clap…

“Well now.”

A casual voice.

“I didn’t expect you to actually make it here.”

He smiled, seemingly amused.

“As expected of the wielder of the Holy Relic.”

His gaze turned to me.

“Hero candidate Leonis Arseid.”

A chill ran down my spine. Yeah, he was definitely a dangerous one. Leonis stepped forward.

“Sorry, but I don’t recall knowing you.”

A light tone.

“Mind telling me your name?”

The man shrugged.

“My apologies.”

He gave a slow bow.

“The Ashen Reaper….”

He smiled faintly.

“Third Executive.”

Then he raised his head.

“Kyle Gray.”

His eyes shone with something like madness.

“And from here on…”

The man drew his sword.

Giin.

“This is as far as you go.”

Hey! That’s a certain dual-wielding solo swordsman’s line! I’m a fan!!!

Leonis let out a small sigh.

“…I see.”

He smiled faintly.

“So you’re here to stall for time.”

Kyle smiled as well.

“That would be the simple way to put it. However…”

Then—

“You may very well meet your end here.”

Kyle’s lips curled upward. Honestly, it went beyond creepy and straight into disgusting. But with our lives on the line, the tension in the air tightened instantly.

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Inside the clock tower, it was dark. Stone stairs spiraled upward endlessly. Footsteps barely echoed. Within the shadows, a single girl moved silently upward. It was Yuka.

Wearing a black robe taken from an Ash Apostles, she kept close to the wall. Along the way, there was a man in a black robe lying on the stairs. A thin wound on his neck. Hardly any blood had flowed. A body that would never move again.

Yuka did not stop. Voices could be heard from above. Faint, but clearly human.

“…”

Yuka looked up the stairs. Still higher. The inside of the tower was quiet. The enemies who had been here earlier were gone. More precisely, she had killed them all along the way.

“…Luka-sama.”

She muttered softly. The girl was simply searching for one boy. She was angry. Because her home, and she herself, had been put in danger?

No. Because Luka, her one and only master, had been in danger.

She clenched her fist slightly. Right now, there was only one thing in Yuka’s mind: she wanted to see Luka. That was all.

“…”

The magic she felt from the top was clearly different from the others. Heavy, and tainted. Yuka climbed the final steps.

Creak…

She quietly pushed open the old door. Night wind rushed in. In the top of the clock tower, there were large gears, and a bell. At the center stood a man.

A black robe. Long silver hair. The man did not turn around. Still looking down at the nightscape, he spoke calmly.

“You’re late.”

A gentle voice.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

He slowly turned around. A refined face. A noble-like elegant smile.

“The Ashen Reaper…”

The man gave a slight bow.

“First Executive.”

Then he introduced himself.

“Dia Gray.”

“…He’s not here.”

Yuka said nothing more. She simply drew her dagger. The metallic sound echoed in the quiet tower. Dia narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I see.”

He smiled with interest.

“I don’t know who you are, but…”

His gaze sharpened.

“At the very least, you’re no ordinary person.”

The wind blew strongly. Their robes fluttered. Yuka stepped forward. In her eyes, there was unmistakable killing intent.

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