The Returnee Wants Peace

Chapter 31

Enduring these stares was difficult. When will the Duke come?

And at that moment.

Someone approached silently, tapping on the back of Rosha’s hand.

“It seems the situation has unfolded a bit differently than expected.”

A low voice. A slight upturn of the lips.

This was the third, no, fourth meeting, but she definitely knew the owner of this voice.

“...That’s how it turned out.”

She replied with resignation, giving a brief glance at Duke Echerzen, who was wrapped entirely in black.

She originally planned to sneak out of the banquet hall with his help, but inadvertently drew attention and had to leave openly.

Haha, who knew things would get this twisted?

‘Whatever.’

After a deep blink, Rosha whispered to Cedric, who was staring wide-eyed.

“I’ll explain everything. Really. But first, I have somewhere to go.”

“...You’re not saying you’re going out with that man, are you?”

“Brother, I think I know how to resolve this.”

“...”

“I promise I’ll come back safe. I’ll return within 30 minutes.”

Rosha smiled lightly, as if telling him not to worry.

She had to succeed to protect them. Of course, she had the power to do so.

After watching the wavering eyes of the two for a while, Rosha quickly grabbed the Duke’s hand.

His slender fingers intertwined with hers as if he was waiting, and space trembled.

It was the Duke’s special ability.

* * *

She had a rough idea about the first trial from the previous world.

-In the middle of the city, a huge rift appears and demonic beasts emerge. If you fight them hard, a boss appears and shoots beams.

-Beams?

-Yeah. It destroys parts of the city. When it comes out, it’s over. The skin isn’t as tough as you’d think, so bombs work.

Even if it’s on hard mode, it didn’t seem that different from this basic frame.

Rosha, who jumped through space, opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the pitch-black sky and demonic beasts rampaging in the streets.

“Ugh, ah, please save me!”

After quickly burning the monsters chasing people, she quickly moved.

Her destination was the rift at the back alley of the mansion where she first inscribed a magic formula.

While checking the intact magic formula in front of the rift, the Duke who followed her spoke.

“You said you had something to do first, but it seems you really prepared something.”

“Yes, well... it’s good to save as many people as possible. I have the power to do so.”

She had power, which she didn’t have before.

The power to save the world she loved.

“Is that so? But... you seem so calm, as if this was an everyday occurrence. Am I mistaken?”

Caught off guard by the question, Rosha paused.

Hearing the Duke’s reply, Rosha was taken aback.

No, he said he would try to get closer, but was that really what he was trying to do?

* * *

Earlier, inside the banquet hall.

After the figures of Rosha and Duke Echerzen disappeared as if it was an illusion, the place fell silent.

It was hard to speak with so many incomprehensible things happening.

“This is absurd...!”

After eliminating all the nearby demonic beasts, Marquis Lycaon was about to touch Geoffrey beside him but stopped. Too many things weren’t going as planned.

“We should have won her over! What have you been doing all this time?”

“Ah, Father.”

Geoffrey, who was being scolded, felt it was unfair.

It wasn’t his fault that the engagement with Rosha Aper failed. He had tried to appeal to her during the banquet.

Then he had a sudden realization.

‘Duke Echerzen... he already knew.’

That Lady Apher had such power!

That would explain why he kept discreetly interfering with the engagement.

“Ha, hahaha.”

Realizing this, Geoffrey chuckled and confidently said to his father,

“Don’t worry, Father. I’ll try to woo her. I think she might come over if I do well.”

“...”

Marquis Lycaon stared at Geoffrey with a disappointed look. Those who happened to overhear also seemed disconcerted.

It was then.

“You said earlier, ‘a time when we all need to gather our strength’.”

Duke Feriel approached and said. The light that floated above his head had disappeared.

Knowing what this meant, Marquis Lycaon’s face tensed. The old man pointed to his staff and continued speaking:

“Is it something like this?”

A weak power gathered at the end of the staff. When he lightly tapped the ground with it, the once-solid staff sank deep.

It was clear; the old man had learned to harness magical power – a wonderful power granted to only a few humans.

In the meantime, this old man was able to control it!

“How did you...?”

“The ‘great being’, that the Marquis mentioned, told me. t’s a bit more complicated than I thought, though.”

Duke Feriel chuckled and looked around at the people and asked.

“Given this unexpected power in my late years, I feel the need to do something for others. I was about to follow that young lady and the young Duke to fight the monsters. Anyone wants to join?”

“I will.”

Cassis quickly raised his hand, took off his coat, and put it on the floor. Cedric tried to stop him, but it was in vain.

“Even our youngest is trying hard, and as someone trained in the sword, shouldn’t I do something?”

Saying this, he followed the Duke out of the banquet hall.

Others with orbs of light above them also followed.

As those who seemed capable of helping in this situation began to leave one by one, an anxious atmosphere filled the banquet hall.

Then, a magician who had been standing silently behind the Emperor stepped forward.