RFNM 12

Chapter 12

“That’s not something to brag about.”

“In our Empire, it’s something worth boasting about.”

“What a wonderful country. You even got yourself reincarnated into an imperial family like that and ended up in a succession struggle—how happy you must have been~~.”

“……”

There was no reply to my sarcastic remark.

Come to think of it, I heard people in the Blake Imperial Family die off at a rate of thirty a day. Had I gone too far?

A creeping fear made me glance at him.

After a brief silence, Leonhard let out a faint laugh when our eyes met.

“Well, somewhat?”

What was that supposed to mean?

While I was seriously trying to interpret that smile, he spoke again.

“Anyway, since I’ve untied you, shall we make a deal?”

“A deal?”

I repeated his sudden words, and he shrugged.

“I already told you. I need a Saint. But you said you want me to stop kidnapping the Saint, right?”

“That’s right. Aurora is not only the Saint protecting our Singkester, she’s also my friend.”

“Then instead of the Saint, help me.”

“What?”

It wasn’t even a request—he said it like an order.

How rude could this guy get?

“Why should I help you?”

“Because Singkester is going to face a crisis of destruction.”

“Hey, I already know the original story, and I’ve already dealt with the villain. Don’t talk nonsense about destruction.”

“There’s something you don’t know yet.”

Unlike my rising irritation, he remained perfectly calm. No—indifferent.

“You, who were reincarnated as an extra, know less about this country than I do. Why would someone from Blake be stirring up chaos in Singkester in the first place?”

I was angry, but I was in no position to resist. I had to swallow my rage.

I could always secretly blast him with a fireball magic after I got out safely.

Of course, he didn’t know what I was thinking. He leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

“I don’t do things without reason. Anything without profit is a waste of time. But your country will definitely face a crisis, and I have to stop it. Because—”

It happened then.

Kugugung—!!

With a loud rumble, bricks in the wall beyond the iron bars began shifting one by one.

Soon, a hole large enough for two people to pass through opened in the wall, and a man rushed in urgently.

Broad-chested, with a face carved like a sculpture—it was Eric, who had made it into my “List of Handsome Men No. 13.”

“Your Highness, the White Owls are searching for the princess. At this rate, they might discover this place.”

The problem was the massive spear in his hand.

White Owls—and weapons.

My face turned pale, and Leonhard looked at me.

“Don’t be too surprised. I have no intention of harming your subordinates.”

“Of course you shouldn’t! They’re all handsome men—no way I’m letting even a scratch on their faces!”

Leonhard narrowed one eye.

“…You’re not saying you picked the White Owls based on looks, are you?”

“Absolutely not. I picked them for their skills. They just all happened to be handsome. Probably original story influence.”

To be precise, it was for Aurora, the protagonist’s welfare.

In the original story, the White Owls were shadow knights of the royal family, but in the end, they worked for Aurora.

A sudden thought crossed my mind as I looked at the absurdly handsome man in front of me.

‘Then is this guy a side character from a side story? Is that why he’s this good-looking?’

While I was lost in thought, a laugh broke out.

“Hah… you’re really something.”

Even in this urgent situation, Leonhard was laughing leisurely. Then he suddenly held out his hand to me.

“Take my hand. I’ll take you back to the princess’s palace.”

“Why should I follow you when we’re not even done talking? And what makes you think I’d trust you?”

“Then don’t.”

Before I could even ask what he meant, my body was suddenly lifted.

“Eek!?”

“Why are you suddenly acting fragile and screaming?”

“Hey, I am fragile!”

I had thought being carried princess-style would be romantic—but reality was, as always, trash.

Far from a racing heartbeat, I actually felt anger building up.

“If you’re fragile, then train. You’re going to survive in this harsh fantasy world from now on.”

“What did you just say?”

“Hold on tight.”

Why should I hold on? Hold on to what?

A sudden wave of unease hit me, and I instinctively clung into his arms and shut my eyes tightly.

For a moment, I felt his body stiffen, but soon he opened the iron-bar door and began walking somewhere.

His steps gradually turned into a sprint. When I cracked my eyes open, I realized I was being carried through a dark corridor.

We were definitely not heading outside.

Come to think of it, wasn’t this guy a terrible sense-of-direction type?

“Wait a second! Do you even know where you’re going?”

“……!”

At my words, he screeched to a halt. The sudden stop nearly made me fall, but he pulled me tighter into his arms.

Still, there was no time to feel anything like nervous excitement. We were clearly at a staircase leading underground.

This guy was a hopeless direction idiot. A divinely gifted one at that.

“Put me down!”

As I struggled in his arms, Leonhard carefully set me on the ground.

But he still kept a firm grip on my wrist. I glared at him.

“Hey, I’m not going to run away.”

“It’s not that. You might get eaten.”

“Eaten? By who?”

“The creatures roaming around here.”

“…Pardon?”

“I guess it can’t be helped.”

After saying something ominous, he sighed and glanced at me.

“Charlotte. I’m going to use magic now, so don’t let go of me.”

Suddenly, sparks burst in the air as a massive magic circle formed.

He didn’t swing a staff or snap his fingers. It was silent magic.

The blazing magic circle flashed and opened a passage leading somewhere.

“That’s teleportation magic, right?”

I was familiar with teleportation circles since Sara, the lazy mage, used them often.

But I had never seen one this large or this fast.

‘Whoever reincarnated him is definitely playing favorites!’

We’re both reincarnators—so why does he get such overpowered magic while I get nothing?

In the world of Saint Hidden in the World, abilities were divided into three types:

Sword power—Aura.

Divine power borrowed from gods—Holy Power.

And demonic power drawn from the Demon Realm—Mana.

Mana wasn’t entirely evil.

When refined, it became the magic humans commonly used.

But if left unrefined, it became black magic—and could even turn someone into a monster.

That’s why mages first learned basic magical theory before anything else.

Naturally, since Saint Hidden in the World was set in the holy kingdom of Singkester, it focused mainly on Holy Power, while Aura and Mana were barely explained.

But if the setting were Blake, things would be different.

Those who inherited dragon blood—a type of monster—were born with Mana.

So Leonhard being able to use magic was perfectly natural.

But still—he gets Mana and sword skills, while I have nothing?

And I think he even had some cringey title as Blake’s so-called warrior prince or something.

‘At this point, is he trying to become emperor just because he’s overpowered?’

Just as anger started rising again, my wrist was grabbed.

“Yes, it is teleportation magic. But if you lose my hand, you might fall somewhere unknown, so you’d better hold on tight.”

“Somewhere unknown? What do you mean?”

Unease crept up again, and I instinctively moved closer to him.

But even then, there was still some distance. He stepped in closer and wrapped an arm around my side.

“I’m not very good at controlling magic yet.”

What happened next was that I was once again lifted like luggage—and we jumped into the passage together.

“Kyah! Someone help!”