The Second Strongest Has Returned

Chapter 24

Growth

In the deep darkness, the thick shadows supporting the Reinhardt family came to handle the enemies harming their household.

“…Master of Darkness… it seems like…”

The current location was Jehad’s residence, the mansion of the Dainons family.

“…Damn…”

Chris Reinhardt, the Master of Darkness, looked around the interior of the mansion and pulled out a cigar. He placed the cigar in his mouth and sighed.

Although he didn’t light the cigar, no one questioned his eccentric behavior.

“…Is everyone already dead?”

The massacre that had already ended in the mansion was too horrific.

No one could speak.

“…This is the Master of Darkness… I will report.”

Chris barely managed to take out the communication magic tool and began to speak.

The report delivered was as follows:

Jehad Dainons was found beheaded,

his father Zen Dainons,

mother Hyerin Dainons,

fiancée Rain Leford, and younger brother Eli Dainons,

all five members of the Dainons family were found dead.

From the mouth holding the cigar came a sigh without smoke.

***

The atmosphere within the Reinhardt family’s mansion was lively and bustling. Despite the unfortunate events, the servants of the mansion hurriedly raised a cheerful spirit to shift the mood.

It was understandable because:

[Oh, it’s like a festival atmosphere~]

It was the birthday of Silica Reinhardt, the spouse of the head of the family.

[But, you know, are more people coming for the birthday?]

Nobles didn’t simply hold social gatherings for entertainment and luxury. It was practically a meeting to understand each other’s relationships, situations, and power.

[You seem quite knowledgeable. Weren’t you a mercenary?]

Like a school dog that recites poetry after three years, Leo boasted his knowledge learned as a squire and got up from his seat.

[Where are you going?]

Resting was good, but continuing to play around made him feel uneasy. He naturally preferred working over resting.

[…But even if you look for work…]

“Miss!!”

A track meet unfolding in the hallway, with a white-haired girl leading the race.

“Ariasphil, miss!”

The lady of the warrior family turned into an indescribable rascal whenever there was a social gathering.

“Please stop! Miss Ariasphil!”

Maids holding various dresses chased after Miss Ariasphil with difficulty. But no ordinary person could catch a 1-star knight running at full speed.

“Looks like there’s something to do.”

Leo started chasing his lady as if participating in the race.

After running down the hallway and turning several corners, Arias finally stopped running.

“…Huff… If it’s here…”

Beyond the long hallway, behind the outer garden, in the stable, hiding in the haystack, Ariasphil thought and spoke.

“So you were here.”

It was Leo’s voice.

“…Oh?!”

At the familiar voice, Arias turned to look behind. Her exclusive knight greeted her with a refreshing smile.

“…How…?”

“Just, I had a hunch.”

As mentioned earlier, Leonardo had not wasted his life as a servant. Finding the places his lady often fled to was not a difficult task for him.

[…Considering this, he seems quite perceptive… It must be a lower body issue…]

Exchanging warm insults like that, Leonardo approached Ariasphil.

“What made you run away, my lady?”

“I didn’t run away. I just avoided it because I didn’t want to do it.”

[That’s what people call running away. Hehe.]

What kind of Sage spoke so pettily? In such situations, it’s a virtue to be more supportive.

“May I ask why you ran away?”

“…They keep telling me to wear a dress. I don’t want to wear it…”

He could understand.

While other noble girls played with dolls, Ariasphil had wielded a sword. And not at a child’s play level; she was a strong warrior capable of taking down robust knights.

It might be bearable for her to wear a slightly soft chainmail, but enduring a fluttery dress would have been quite difficult for her.

“…Do you dislike wearing it that much?”

“Yeah. I hate it.”

Her firmness was almost mistaken for a cutting sound. Still, in such moments, one should adopt a strategy of embracing.

“Then not wearing it is also an option.”

“…What?”

First, by sympathizing in this way, he eased Ariasphil’s guard.

“There’s no helping it. Forcing you to wear something you dislike doesn’t look good either.”

“…But… if I don’t wear it, I can’t attend the party. The other servants will keep trying to make me wear it.”

[If you know that, then wear it…]

After scolding the root of all evil, Leonardo refocused on the conversation.

“Then let’s run away together. Like this.”

“…Run away, together…?”

As she was about to deny the word “run away,” Ariasphil’s interest was piqued by the word “together.”

“Running away together?”

“I also find such elegant gatherings burdensome. Isn’t it better to avoid them together than alone?”

It wasn’t exactly a lie. If he were at the party, it would be a relief if he didn’t get into trouble with other nobles.

Instead, this light escape could be a good change of pace for Ariasphil’s emotions. In his past life, forcing her to do things she didn’t want led her to avoid wearing a dress or even frilly clothes until she was over fifteen.

“…Together… run away…”

At this moment, Leonardo had no idea.

‘…Running away together…? This is… just like something couples do…!’

It was not at all the case, but,

‘…A date…!?’

Leonardo had no clue that this was roughly what Ariasphil was thinking. Not at all.

“…Are you alright? Your face is turning red…”

“What?! I’m fine! More importantly…”

She carefully tucked her long hair behind her ear to hide her blush.

“…If we run away… what will we do…?”

“I just got my paycheck, so how about we stroll around the city?”

Leonardo calmly explained the plan to escape together.

Like having a meal together.

Drinking tea seemed like a good idea too.

Visiting a shop that painted portraits didn’t seem bad either.

Since they needed a suitable excuse, how about pretending to look for something he lost during his time as an assassin?

To her, it must have sounded like a clear plan for a date.

To Leonardo, it wasn’t at all.

Even though the Sage looked at him with contempt as if he were a societal reject, it wasn’t at all.

“…That… sounds good!”

“I’m glad you like it. Shall we do that then?”

“Yeah…!! Let’s definitely do that!”

She had been secretly worried when she ran away, refusing to wear the dress, but with Leo firmly on her side now, there was nothing to worry about.

‘This might actually be better…!’

“Honestly, wearing a tuxedo is a bit tough for me too. Maybe not as much as wearing a dress, but still…”

It had been said many times, but Aria was a genius.

Her reflexes and judgment surpassed those of ordinary people.

“Tuxedo…?”

Therefore, she did not miss even the brief word Leo had casually mentioned. Her hearing was not to be underestimated.

“Ah… yes. Mr. Alfred bought me a tuxedo.”

Alfred had prepared a tuxedo for Leonardo in his previous life as well.

Of course, he had been older then, but perhaps due to appeasing Aria earlier, he received it sooner this time.

“…Then… are you going to wear it…?”

“…Yes? If I attend the party, I suppose I’ll have to wear it?”

It was a story based on the premise that Ariasphil would participate in the party. And Leonardo didn’t know.

‘…Tuxedo… Leo’s tuxedo…!’

That a genius was now gathering all her thoughts and agonizing over them.

‘Come to think of it, Leo has always worn comfortable clothes…’

She hadn’t gone a month without buying clothes, but Leo had never worn or seen something as perfectly formal as a tuxedo.

‘…Surely… it would be amazing…?’

It was a continuous conflict and agony.

[What’s up with her?]

Unfortunately, it was a torment that two emotional dimwits could never comprehend.

It was a pity.

‘…But… a date is definitely better than a tuxedo. It’s on a completely different level from just buying a gift…’

“Besides, Miss Aria, you’re not very good at social dancing either.”

Just when her brain cells were about to overload, Leo spoke to her again.

“…What? Oh, yes!”

Although she was flustered, Aria managed to break away from her contemplation and answer.

“I’m not a big fan of social dancing either. I’m glad we won’t be doing it together.”

“Yes! Not doing it together… wait, together?”

Once again, the word ‘together’ caught her ear.

“Doing it together…? Social dancing…?”

“Ah, yes. Mr. Alfred asked me to persuade you to dance with me as much as possible. If that’s the case, we might as well do it together… but since you don’t particularly like dancing…”

Rejecting that was too much of a reward.

Leo had no intention of forcing her.

The torment of why he didn’t have such intentions burned the hearts of those who watched.

***

“Wow…! Miss…!”

The attendants couldn’t say anything more. It wasn’t because she was plain or didn’t suit it.

The transformation was so drastic that it left them speechless. The dress emphasized the slender, fair beauty that her armor had barely covered.

“…Is… that so? Is it not strange?”

What she worried about now was not the discomfort of the dress. It was about the emotions that a certain boy would feel when he met her as his partner.

“Yes! Everyone will surely like it!!”

“…Le…o… would like it too…”

She could hardly say or ask beyond that. The blood that had rushed to her neck and face explained the reason indirectly.

“Hurry, let’s go! Lady Silica will surely be delighted!!”

That would be nice, but it would be even better to see Leo’s face turning as red as hers.

The door opened, and the splendid social hall filled Aria’s view. The dazzling lights from the chandeliers and the noble peers dressed just as brightly failed to satisfy the girl named Ariasphil.

‘…Leo…! Where is Leonardo…!’

Holding onto the hem of her dress, she began to wander around the social hall.

More than her father, the head of the household, more than her mother, the main figure of the birthday celebration, she wanted to show him this appearance first.

At that moment, Leo’s figure appeared among the crowd. The sight of him in a tuxedo gradually came into view.

“…Leo!! Leona…!”

She couldn’t call his name to the end.

“…rdo…”

Her voice trailed off.

It couldn’t be helped.

Leonardo’s face was flushed. He had an embarrassed, troubled expression.

Not because of her, but because of another girl.

Surrounded by more than three or four girls, he was giggling.

Ariasphil’s eyes were already dead.

She deeply regretted not having a sword at her waist.