I've Inherited the Summoning Skill, So I'm Going to Try to Master It! - Episode 97: In Other Words, What Does It All Mean?

Episode 97: In Other Words, What Does It All Mean?

While feeling a cold sweat inwardly, I spoke about something that had been bothering me since entering the town of Liberia. 

“It doesn’t seem like there was much damage for a place that was attacked by Goblins…” 

“The townspeople probably cleaned up quickly. Also, it sounds like the number of Goblins that attacked was smaller than we were told.” 

“Could it be that the attack on Liberia was just a diversion?” 

Brother Leonard nodded silently. That would mean the main target was the Goblin army that attacked us. In other words, we were the target from the very beginning. 

When I mentioned this, Brother Leonard added his opinion. 

“Maybe it didn’t matter whether it succeeded or failed. At the very least, it would be a heavy blow to the Duke of Flute’s family.” 

“So, there’s still a possibility that someone who doesn’t think well of the Duke of Flute’s family planned this? Wait, or maybe they wanted to use the chaos within the Duke’s family to disrupt the Kingdom of Eladoria?” 

Oh boy. This is getting pretty complicated. No wonder they didn’t tell me about it right after my Skill Inheritance Ceremony. Knowing about it wouldn’t have helped anyway. 

Let’s not dig any deeper. Brother Leonard seems to think the same. 

“Can Goblins even pull off a diversion?” 

“Normally, no. But if Demons were involved, it might be possible. Monsters are minions of Demons—sort of like how we are to the gods.” 

“I see.” 

In that case, it’s almost certain that Demons were involved, right? Although there’s a chance that a Demon just happened to be there. 

If that’s the case, then it’s not just Demons who can control monsters. Does that mean a human could be behind it? I should consider that possibility too. It’s dangerous to jump to conclusions. 

When I mentioned that, Brother Leonard murmured, “Indeed,” with a meaningful look. He stared at me intently. It was more seriously than ever before. 

“I always thought you were a smart little brother, but aren’t you a bit too clever?” 

“Not at all. This much is just basic knowledge for royalty.” 

“At the very least, I wouldn’t have been able to think that far ahead at your age. And neither would our older brother.” 

He looked at me suspiciously. I couldn’t exactly say, “I have memories of a past life,” so I stayed silent. Brother Leonard let out a breath and looked away. He was shaking his head. 

“Don’t tell me… was everything up to now all part of your plan?” 

“Huh? What are you talking about!?” 

“Well, let’s leave it at that for now.” 

Brother Leonard seemed to have convinced himself of something. Seriously, what on earth is he talking about? I feel like there’s been some major misunderstanding. A pretty serious one, at that. 

Just then, a servant came to inform us that dinner was ready. The timing was perfect since the atmosphere was getting a bit awkward. Balt and Ray were also looking at me in surprise—like they couldn’t believe it. 

No, it’s not like that, okay? If I ever mess up, it’s just me being clueless! Ugh, now that I’ve said it, I feel kind of sad. I’m always trying my best, you know. 

When we reached the dining room, the Duke of Flute and Flare-chan were already there. 

Flare-chan noticed our arrival and flashed a bright smile. Wow, that’s a beautiful smile—like a blooming rose. 

“Rufus-sama, we’ve been waiting for you.” 

“Sorry if we’re a little late.” 

I sat down at the seat prepared for me with a smile. Of course, it was next to Flare-chan. We always sit next to each other at meals. I’m finally getting used to this spot. 

Dinner started in a warm and friendly atmosphere. But Duke Flute soon stopped eating. He turned to face me and Brother Leonard. 

“I deeply apologize for putting both Your Highnesses in danger.” 

The Duke bowed his head deeply. Seeing that, Flare-chan hurriedly stopped eating and bowed as well. 

Ugh, that makes me feel guilty…….. But I can’t say anything right now. Brother Leonard needs to properly rebuke them, and we need to settle things that way. 

What I need to do is ask for leniency to ensure the punishment isn’t too harsh. A moment of silence passed before Brother Leonard told them to raise their heads.

“The responsibility for failing to notice the anomaly is heavy. You endangered the people. However, fortunately, the damage was minimized. There is room for leniency.” 

Flare-chan trembled slightly. She felt the weight of those words. This is the moment for the prince on a white horse (me) to gallantly come to the rescue. And by doing so, I can strengthen the bond between the royal family and the Duke of Flute’s household. 

“Brother Leonard, I have a feeling that there was a supernatural entity behind this Goblin attack. It’s just a feeling, but… If that’s the case, the only one who could stand on equal footing with such a being would be our main deity, wouldn’t it?” 

“Hmm, now that you mention it, there are indeed some unnatural aspects to this.” 

Brother Leonard showed a thoughtful expression. Duke Flute looked at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. It was as if he was saying, “Rufus, are you really going to save us!?” Of course, I am.