レイラ・ヴァーミリオン
「いやー、グランディール王国を出発して一週間前位にこの森に辿り着いたんだけど、迷って迷って! きつね君に会えて本当に良かったね!」
あれからこの元気な彼女、レイラ・ヴァーミリオンを連れてミニエラまで戻ってきた。
聞けば彼女は、ずっとあの森で迷子になっていたらしい。元々はパーティを組んでいた男の仲間が居たらしいのだが、はぐれた上に探しても見つからない、方向音痴な彼女は更に迷走し、一週間という長い時間を森の中で過ごし、今日ようやく僕達に会えたらしい。
冒険者のカードを見せてもらった所、確かに、
『レイラ・ヴァーミリオン 冒険者ランク:C』
と書いてあった。Cランクの冒険者だなんて凄まじい実力者、魔獣だけでは無く『知能を持った敵』である魔族と戦う第一線の冒険者だ。実際に会ってみるとその凄味が分かる、あっけらかんとした態度とフレンドリーな言動や行動とは別で、なんというか隙が無い。多分本気になれば一瞬で僕の首を刎ねることが出来るだろう。
「じゃあ私はこの国のギルドへ向かわないと! じゃあね!」
「ちょっと待って、そっちは国外だよ何処へ行く気だ」
「およ? アハハッ、ごめんごめん......ついでだからギルドまで連れてってくれない?」
ギルドへ行くと言いながら国外へ全力疾走しようとしたレイラちゃんを止めると、彼女は照れ臭そうに両手を合わせ、上目遣いとウインクをしながら僕に頼みこんできた。
全く、確かにレイラちゃんは可愛い。元の世界ならアイドルだって容易になれる程の可憐さを持っている。だからと言ってね、初めて会った怪しい人に付き合う程僕は酔狂な人間じゃないんだ。迷いたければ勝手に迷ってまた森にでも引き返してしまえ!
「お願い☆」
「仕方ないなぁ、こっちだよ」
僕の腕に抱き着くんじゃない。柔らかい胸が当たって気持ちいいじゃないか! 全く、今回だけだよ僕がこんな見知らぬ他人に親切にするのは。だからもっとひっ付け―――おっと違うよ、僕はそんな事は思ってない。おいおい、そんな眼で見るなよリーシェちゃん。
「きつね......お前って奴は......」
「違うよ? 困っている人には優しくするのが僕の人間性だし?」
「そうだな、胸を当ててくれる女の子には特にな」
「おっぱいって夢が詰まってるよね、大小問わず」
「開き直ったぞコイツ!?」
リーシェちゃんがブツブツ言うからもう開き直ってやる。おっぱいの嫌いな男なんていないんだよ、僕だって立派な男の子なんだぞ! 元の世界じゃこんな体験一回もしたことないんだからいいじゃないか!
「ぐぬぬ......きつねさんから離れてこの泥棒にゃんこ!」
「泥棒猫だよね?」
「きつね様......」
「え、何何?」
そうしていると何故か不機嫌になったフィニアちゃんがびしびしとレイラちゃんの手を叩き始め、ルルちゃんが反対側の手を握ってきた。何? 僕もついにあの伝説のモテ期来ちゃったのかな。でも一回死んで異世界に転生しないとモテ期来ないって相当だね、可哀想だなぁ僕。
とはいえ、内一人が人形サイズの妖精で、一人が小さな子供っていうのはちょっと酷いんじゃない? いや悪いって訳じゃないけどさ、もっとこう......年相応の、付きあっても犯罪にならない年齢の子をだね。
「あはっ、モテモテだねきつね君は!」
「原因は君だけどね」
「良いじゃない、そのおかげでおっぱいの感触を味わえたでしょ?」
「それは否定しない」
「きつね君は正直だねー」
むくれているフィニアちゃんやルルちゃんは放っておいて、リーシェちゃんの『不純異性交遊は許しません!』といった委員長的な視線が怖いからそろそろこの感触ともおさらばするとしようかな。
僕はレイラちゃんの腕からそっと抜け出し、フィニアちゃんを肩に乗せる。いつまでも人の手を叩いてるんじゃないよ、全く。しおりちゃんって意外と嫉妬深い性格だったのかな? 彼女から生まれたフィニアちゃんがこうだし。
でもルルちゃんがこんな反応をするとは思わなかった。やっぱり自分の家族を取られるのは嫌なのかもしれない。彼女の立ち場を考えて、そういう行動はなるべく控えようかな。
「ありゃ、残念」
「まぁさっきの様子を見れば眼を離せばすぐにあらぬ方向へと進む事は理解出来る。でも見ての通りフィニアちゃん達が不機嫌になるから手を繋ぐことで我慢してね」
「.........!」
僕がそう言って手を彼女に差し伸べると、彼女はきょとんとした表情で僕の手を見つめた。そして数秒僕の手をじっと見た後、少し顔を紅潮させて手を握ってきた。
なんだろう、さっきまで僕の腕に自分の胸を押しつけていた子なのに、僕手を繋ぐことに羞恥心を抱くのかな? んー良く分からない子だ。
の討伐依頼達成の手続きが必要だし、丁度良かったね。
扉を開けて、ギルド内へと入る。すると、僕達の方へと視線が集まり、次の瞬間、
―――ギルド内の雰囲気が騒然となった。
唖然としている者もいれば、絶句している者もいる、此方を見る目は全員が全員驚愕の感情を浮かべている。
そしてその視線が見ているのは僕じゃなくて、僕の隣......レイラちゃんに向かっていた。
「あの黒髪に腰の双剣......まさかCランク冒険者のレイラ・ヴァーミリオン!?」
「嘘だろ......なんでそんな奴がここに......?」
「まさか......『赤い夜』の出現を聞いて......」
レイラ・ヴァーミリオン、Cランクの冒険者でありかつ美少女である彼女は、やはり有名人らしい。第一線級の冒険者というのは誰もが超の付く一流、しかも、聞けばあの戦闘狂にとっての桃源郷、グランディール王国からやってきたというではないか、その名は各国に広がっているのだろう。
とはいえ、確かに不思議だ。この国はEランク以上の冒険者がおらず、もっといえばEランク並の魔獣しか出ない極々平穏な国だ。
もしかしたら本当に『赤い夜』を狩りに......? でもCランクの冒険者である彼女がたった一人で格上のAランク魔族を狩れるとは思わない。なら何が目的で......? そういえば彼女は僕の名前を知っていたけど......何処で聞いたんだろう。
「きつね君、足が止まってるぞ? 受付に行かないのかな?」
「あ、うん」
当の本人にそう言われ、我に返った僕は言われた通りミアちゃんの元へと向かう。流石のミアちゃんでも、レイラちゃんの登場には驚いているようで、眼を丸くして此方を見ている。
「ミアちゃん、依頼達成手続きお願い」
「えっ、あ、はい!」
「討伐証拠部位はこれだ」
話しかけたら慌てて依頼書を取り出したミアちゃん。リーシェちゃんが蜘蛛の牙をカウンターに置き、ミアちゃんの事務処理の完了を待つ。
ミアちゃんは慌てながらも慣れた手付きで達成処理を終わらせて、報酬金を手渡してきた。
「確かにアラクネの牙ですね......では報酬の銀貨25枚となります」
「ありがとう」
「それで......そちらの方は、レイラ・ヴァーミリオン様でしょうか?」
「そだよー、初めまして受付さん。レイラ・ヴァーミリオン、この国に面白い冒険者が居るって聞いて来たんだ」
「え? 面白い、冒険者......?」
誰だろ、面白い冒険者って。漫才してくれる冒険者なんていたっけ? 僕の知っている限りじゃいないなぁ、あ、もしかしてちょっと前にミアちゃんに言い寄ってた自分を弁えてないおじさんかな? でもあの人はEランクだからレイラちゃんより下だよね。
じゃあ誰だろ? フィニアちゃん?
「うん、冒険者になってからずっとHランクで居続ける冒険者、『赤い夜』と遭遇して生き延びた冒険者、Aランク級の騎士団長に喧嘩を売った冒険者、依頼達成率100%の冒険者、色々聞いてるよー?」
誰だそいつ。ははっ、そんな奴居るわけないよ。僕はHランクで『赤い夜』と遭遇して生き延びたけど、あのオジサマに喧嘩売った覚えはないし、依頼達成率だって100%だけどフィニアちゃんの手柄みたいなものだしね。
「おい誰だよ、Cランクの冒険者に眼を付けられる様な馬鹿なことしたの。あははっ、傑作だね」
『............』
おいなんだよ、そんな呆れた様な眼で見るなよ。確かにちょっと失礼だったかもしれないけどさ、君たちだって僕のことHランクだからっていつも馬鹿にしてるじゃないか。結構傷付くんだぞアレ、そういうの棚上げっていうんだぞ、そんな眼をするなら謝れ、君達の普段の行いで傷付いた僕に謝れ!
『............はぁ』
おいおい溜め息吐くなよ、溜め息吐くと幸せが逃げるんだって聞いたことがある。しおりちゃんが言ってたから間違いないよ、あの子無駄な知識だけは結構持ってたから。
それにしても出てこないな、此処にはいないのかなレイラちゃんに眼を付けられた冒険者は。それにしても僕以外にも居たんだねぇHランク冒険者、他の冒険者にはあまり興味なかったから仕方ないか。
「残念、居ないみたいだね、それじゃあねレイラちゃん。僕達は帰るよ」
「あはは、何言ってるのきつね君! 君のことだよ」
「あはは、君こそ何言ってるんだいレイラちゃん。頭の方まで迷走したの?」
「そんな口利いてるとぶっとばすよー? 私のこわーい鉄拳が飛ぶよー?」
「受付さん、この子にどうやってギルドの説明をしたの? 場合によっては私受付さんを尊敬するよ?」
「すいません......きつね様はいつもこうなんです」
なんだか知らない内にミアちゃんとレイラちゃんの仲が良くなっている気がする。美人と美少女は一緒にすると絵になるね。
「きつね、レイラさんが言っている冒険者とは多分お前のことだと思うぞ」
「え......嘘でしょ? だって僕あのオジサマに喧嘩なんて売ってないよ?」
すると、リーシェちゃんが耳元でひそひそとレイラちゃんの言っていることを教えてくれた。耳に息が当たってくすぐったいな。
「多分......私との一件のことを指しているんだと思う......あの時のお前と父様はどう見ても対立しているようにしか見えなかったからな......」
「えー......どうすればいいかな、正直面倒なんだけど」
「素直に自分だと認めて用件を聞いたらどうだ?」
用件って......どう考えても面倒な用件じゃないか。Cランク冒険者が第一線を離れてHランクの僕の所に来るんだよ? しかも取って付けた様な要因を挙げて来たし、絶対私と戦えフラグだよ。いいのかい? 負けるぞ僕、2秒で負けるぞ? それでもいいのかい?
「きつねさんっ、ここは誤魔化すのが一番だよっ......話題を他に逸らすの!」
「なるほど、ナイスだフィニアちゃん......あー、レイラちゃん!」
「ん、なーに? きつね君! ようやく理解出来た?」
フィニアちゃんの助言通り、此処は話を逸らさせて貰う! 古今東西、恋愛話に興味を持たない女の子はいないだろう! だからここは―――
「僕と付き合ってください!」
こうだ! 周囲の皆が入って来た時以上の驚愕の表情を浮かべているけど知ったことじゃないね、僕は面倒事から眼を逸らす為に全力を注ぐよ!
さぁどうだレイラちゃん、僕の告白を前に最初の用件話を続けられるかな?
「話が早いね! それじゃあ私と勝負しよう! ギルド裏の訓練場で待ってるよ!」
レイラちゃんはそう言って上機嫌にリーシェちゃん親子が勝負した訓練場へと駆けて行った。
「......」
そう来たかぁ......。
Leila Vermilion
"Well, ever since I departed from Grandile Kingdom, I arrived at this forest around one week ago but somehow I was lost! It sure a great luck to be able to meet you, Kitsune-kun!"
After that we returned to Miniera while bringing along this lively girl, Leila Vermilion.
From what she have said, it seems she had been lost inside that forest all thus time. Originally she came here together with her male comrade that made a party with her, but when she lost sight of him, no matter how much she searched for him she was unable to found him, and she who had a poor sense of direction was lost further, and passed one whole week long roaming around this forest till she finally met us today.
When she shown us her adventurer card, indeed
'Leila Vermilion - Adventurer Rank: C'
Was written there. A C rank adventurer is a considerably powerful person, they are forefront adventurer who aren't just fighting magical beasts but also 'the enemy that possess intelligent' demons head on. For personally meet her I can understand her awesomeness, her indifferent way of speaking and her friendly conduct and behavior, how should I put it, she has no opening. Perhaps, if she is really wants to do it, she should be able to cut my head in an instant, doesn't she?
"Then I'm going to go to the adventurer guild of this town! Later!"
"Wait a minute, that way is to the outskirt area, where are going to?"
"Oh? Ahaha, sorry, sorry... may I ask you to lead me till the guild as well?"
After I stopped Leila-chan who was running toward the outskirt area even though she said she wanted to go to the adventurer guild, she embarrassedly joined both of her hands, and asked me so with upturned eyes and a wink.
Good grief, Leila-chan is indeed cute. She possess a cuteness where she would surely popular as an idol at my former world. Nevertheless, I'm not such a whimsical person who would keep accompanying such suspicious person who I just met before. If you're really like to lost then just return to the forest and get lost again!
"Please "
"It can't be helped, isn't it? It's this way."
Don't just arbitrarily hug my arm. Isn't it feel good where your soft boobs touching me! Good grief, only this time, I will be kind to such unknown stranger. That's why come clos-- oops, not it, I have no such a thought. Oioi, please don't look at me with that kind of eyes, Rishe-chan.
"Kitsune... you...."
"That's not it. Helping a troubled person is my nature, you know."
"That's indeed right, especially a girl who would press her chest on you, right?"
"Boobs are the embodiment of dream, after all, no matter its size is."
"He has been corrupted!"
Even if Rishe-chan murmured so, I'll keep tread this path. There's no men who hate boobs, after all, and I'm also a proper man, you see! Since at my former I have no such experience even once so what's so bad about it?!
"Gununu... go away from Kitsune-san, you burglar cat!"
"She's indeed a burglar cat, isn't she?"
"Kitsune-sama...."
"Eh, what?"
After that, the somehow displeased Finia-chan is relentlessly clapping Leila-chan's hands, where Lulu-chan is grasping my other hand. What? Am I finally reached that legendary period? But, for me who died once and got reincarnated into this another world, not getting popular is the most natural route isn't it? I sure am pitiful, aren't I?
Nevertheless, since what I got are a doll sized fairy and a little girl, isn't that a bit cruel? No, it isn't like I hate them or anything, it's just... age-wise, I want a girl with age where I won't be charged even if I date her, you see.
"Ahaha, Kitsune-kun sure are popular!"
"The cause is you, though."
"It's not that bad, isn't it? Since because of that you can taste the sensation of boobs, right?"
"I can't deny that."
"Kitsune-kun sure are honest, aren't you~"
Ignoring the sullen Finia-chan and Lulu-chan, but since Rishe-chan's gazes which says a committee chairman-like words "Illicit relationship is not allowed"  is quite scary so perhaps it would be best to say good bye to this sensation soon, isn't it?
I quietly slip out from Leial-chans arm, and let Finia-chan sit at my shoulder. Don't just keep clapping someone, good grief. Could it be, was Shiori-chan unexpectedly such an easy to jealous person? Since Finia-chan who was born from her is like this, after all.
But I never thought Lulu-chan would reacted that way. Perhaps she didn't want to had her family got stolen by someone, right? or so I thought. Considering her place, perhaps she had restrained such conduct as much as possible thus far, right?
"Aah, what a shame."
"Well, looking at the situation just now, if I left it a little longer I thought it may lead to a bad direction immediately, after all. But, since as you can see Finia-chan and the others are in such bad moon so please bear with it by just holding hand."
"....!"
When I say so while extending my hand to her, she stares in wonder at my hand. And then, after she stares on it for several seconds, she grasp my hand while slightly blushing.
What's up with her? Even though just now she deliberately pressed her chest on me, could it be she is embarrassed to holding hands with me? Hmm, what a hard to understand girl.
And like that, I return to the guild while holding Leila-chan's hand. I also have to report the completion of the subjugation of the archne request, after all, so it's just like killing two bird with one stone, isn't it?
Opening the door, we enter the guild. And then, all of the gazes are gathered at us, in the next instance
--the atmosphere inside the guild suddenly become noisy.
Speaking of the dumbfounded person, there are also adventurers who become speechless, all those discerning eyes which gathered here are all filled with a surprised expression.
And then, the one who is being looked by those gaze isn't me, but the person beside me... Leila-chan.
"That black hair and that pair of sword at her waist... could it be, she is the C rank adventurer, Leila Vermilion?!"
"No way... why such a person comes here...?"
"Could it be... she heard about the appearance of the{Red Night} here...."
Leila Vermilion, a C rank adventurer, moreover a beauty, as expected it seems she is very popular. As a forefront adventurer she must be a very strong person, moreover, didn't she say that she came from that battle junkies eden, Grandile Kingdom? So perhaps it won't be strange that her name has spread through every country, isn't it?
Nevertheless, it's indeed strange. There's no adventurers above E rank at this country, if I may add, this is a very peaceful country which no magical beast above E rank.
But I can't thought that a sole C rank adventurers like her comes here to hunt an A class magical beast which has a higher rank than her. Then what's her objective...? Come to think of it, she knew my name, but... did we had met somewhere?
"Kitsune-kun, your legs stopped, you know? Aren't you going to the receptionist desk?"
"Ah, yes."
Being told so, the just returned me immediately move to Mia-chan's place. As expected even Mia-chan is also surprised by the appearance of Leila-chan, she's gazing at us with round eyes.
"Mia-chan, I come here to report the completion of the request."
"Eh, ah yes!"
"Here are the subjugation proofs."
When I talk to her, Mia-chan flusteredly takes out the application request. After Rishe-chan places the fang of the spider at the counter, we wait till Mia-chan finishes the procedure.
Even when she is flustered, Mia-chan swiftly finishes the completion request procedure which she had got used to do, and hands over the reward.
"I presume these are indeed the fang of the archne... then, here's the reward, twenty five silver coins."
"Thanks."
"And then... the esteemed person there are, are you perhaps Leila Vermilion-sama?"
"That's right~, nice to meet you, receptionist-san. Leila Vermilion, I came here because I heard that there was an interesting adventurer here, you see."
"Eh? Interesting, adventurer...?"
Just who is this interesting adventurer? Was there any adventurer who do a comedy show? As far as I know, I know none of them, could it be it was the man who wooed Mia-chan without looking at the mirror some days ago? But since that man was an E rank so he was lower than Leila-chan, right?
Then just who is it? Finia-chan?
"Yes, he is the adventurer who stays as a H rank adventurer ever since he became an adventurer, the adventurer who survived when he encountered {Red Night} , the adventurer who picked a fight with the A rank knight leader, the adventurer with 100% request completion rate, I'd heard many things about him, you see~."
Who the hell is he? Hahaha, there's no way such person exist, right? I'm indeed an H rank adventurer and survived when I encountered {Red Night} , but I have no memory picking a fight with that uncle, and I indeed have 100% request completion rate but that's all like Finia-chan's achievement, after all.
"Oioi, who is that idiot who did such idiotic acts which even piqued the interest of a C rank adventurer? Ahaha, what a masterpiece."
"".....""
Oi, what's up with you guys? Please don't look at me with that astonished eyes of yours. That was indeed a bit rude, but didn't all of you always mocking me for always staying as an H rank adventurer? That was hurting me a bit, you know? I always got such treatment, you know? If you look at me with that kind of eyes then apologize, apologize to me who had been hurt by such act every day!
""....haa.""
Oioi, don't sighing, I'd heard that when you sigh, your happiness would run away along with it, you know? Since the one who said it was Shiori-chan so there's no way it might be wrong, since if it's only about such trivial knowledge, she was quite knowledgeable, after all.
Nevertheless, unexpectedly it seems there's also other H rank adventurer other than me, huh, since I have no much interest about another adventurers so it can't be helped if I don't know about it.
"What a shame, it seems he isn't here, well then, see you later Leila-chan. We're returning now."
"Ahaha, what are you talking about, Kitsune-kun! It's about you, you know."
"Ahaha, back to you, what are you talking about, Leila-chan. Are you even lost in your head?"
"If you say that again I'll hit you, you know~? My scary~ fist may fly, you know~?"
"Receptionist-san, how the guild would explain about this man? Depending on your answer, I may respect you, you know? Receptionist-san."
"I'm sorry... Kitsune-sama is always like this."
Before I noticed it, it seems Mia-chan and Leila-chan are somehow on good terms. Seeing a beauty and a cutie together sure is a pleasant thing.
"Kitsune, the adventurer who had been mentioned by Leila, I think, perhaps it's you, you know?"
"Eh... you're kidding, right? Since I never picking a fight with uncle, after all."
When I say so, Rishe-chan come close to my ear and whispers about what Leila-chan just said. It's so ticklish when her breathing touch my ear.
"Perhaps... I think that's regarding the case with me... since the you at that time, no matter how you see it, it could only be seen as you confronting my father, after all...."
"Eh... then what should I do, to be frank I think it would be very troublesome, though."
"How about just obediently admit it, and then ask what her business is?"
Business... no matter how I think about it, it must be a troublesome business, isn't it? A distant apart forefront C rank adventurer comes to an H rank adventurer like me, you know? Moreover, she came with such dubious reason, without a doubt it's a flag when she would ask to fight against me, you know? Is that really okay? I'll lose you know? I'll lost in two seconds, you know? Even so, is that really okay?
"Kitsune-san, at a time like this, glossing it over is the best option... just change it to another subject!"
"I see, nice advice, Finia-chan... umm~, Leila-chan!"
"Yes, what~? Kitsune-kun! Are you finally understand it?"
Taking Finia-chan's advice, let's change the subject here! No matter the time and place, there's no girl who hate love story, right?! That's why, right now--
"Please go out with me!"
How's that! The surrounding peoples are showing a more surprised expression than at time we entered here, but I have no time to care about such a thing, to evade any troublesome thing, I'll pour all my might here!
Good, how's that, Leila-chan, will you still be able to utter your business even after received my confession?
"You sure understand it fast! Then, let's have a match! I'll wait you at the training ground, underground the guild."
After saying so, Leila-chan start dashing toward the training ground where Rishe-chan once had a match against her father there.
"...."
It finally come to this, huh....
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
こいし