36
魔力共有を騎士達として、数時間が経過した。既に調査隊の半数は魔力が枯渇して座り込んでいる。
ほとんどの騎士が座り込み、魔力の回復に専念している間、レオルドは黙々と穴を掘り進めていた。
(まだか? まだ出てこないのか?
確かにここだと思ったんだけど、違ったのか?
皆の魔力を貸してもらっておいて、何も出ませんでしたなんて許されない。
なんとしてでも掘り当てなきゃな!)
レオルドは内心焦っていた。魔力を共有してまで無理に作業を進めているのだから、水を掘り当てなければならないと。
だが、間違っている。レオルドを責める者はいないのだ。人間誰しも間違いはある。
今回の調査も必ず水源を見つけなければいけないと言う訳ではない。見つからなければ別の方法を見つけるだけ。
ただ、視野が狭くなったレオルドにはそれが分かっていない。だから、今のように無茶をしてしまう。
「ハア......ハア......ッ!」
額の汗を拭いながらレオルドは穴を掘り進める。その姿に騎士達は感心するものの、どうしてそこまで頑張るのかが分からない。
どれだけの時間が経過したのだろうかとレオルドは虚空を見詰める。調査隊の魔力も使い果たし、残ったのは僅かに回復した自身の魔力のみ。
もうこれ以上の作業は無理かもしれないとレオルドは諦めかけた時、今までとは違う感触に首を傾げる。
(ん? なんだ? 岩盤か?)
不思議に思ったレオルドは小石を穴に投げ入れる。耳を澄ましてみると、かすかに水の音が聞えた。
幻聴なのではないかとレオルドは自分を疑い、バルバロトを呼び寄せる。
「バルバロト! これから、穴に小石を落とすから音を確かめてくれ!」
バルバロトは四つん這いになり、穴へと耳を近づける。レオルドはそこまでする必要があるのかと思いながら、小石を穴へと落とした。
ポチャンと小石が水に落ちる音がバルバロトの耳にしっかりと届いた。すぐさま、立ち上がりレオルドの手を取り喜びの声を上げる。
「レオルド様! 水です。水の音が聞えました。レオルド様は間違ってなかったのです!」
「そうか......そうか。幻聴ではなかったんだな」
「はい! ゼアトへと戻り、報告しましょう!
きっと、皆喜びますよ!」
「そうだな。そうしよう」
掘り当てた本人以上に喜んでいるバルバロトを見て、レオルドは少しだけ微笑んだ。自分が間違っていなかった事と水不足を解決できる事にレオルドはホッと息を吐いた。
しかし、ゼアトへ戻ろうとしたが調査隊のほとんどが魔力切れで座り込んでいる為、戻ろうにも戻れない。
「申し訳ありません......」
「いや、謝るのは俺のほうだ。ペース配分を考えずに魔力を借りてしまったんだからな。水を掘り当てる事に集中しすぎていた俺の落ち度だ。すまん」
頭を下げるレオルドにざわつく騎士達だが、レオルドがどういう人間なのかを調査の最中に知っているので、謝罪を受け入れた。
調査隊の魔力が回復するまでの間はやる事がなくなったレオルド。
レオルドは夕暮れ時となっている赤い空をぼんやりと眺めていた。
(ゲームには無いイベント。これからも起きるだろうな~)
運命48では語られなかった舞台に立つレオルドは今後も色々と面倒な事が起きるのだろうなと憂いていた。
死亡フラグもある上に知らないことも多いのでレオルドは未来に心配しか抱けない。
「レオルド様。調査隊の魔力は最低限まで回復しました。これでゼアトへと戻れます」
「わかった。ならば、急いで戻るとしよう。もうすぐ夜が来るからな。夜になる前にはゼアトへと戻ろうか」
調査隊は必要最低限の魔力が回復したので、大急ぎでゼアトへと戻る事になる。夜は視界が悪い上に、夜行性の魔物の領域なので危険が多い。だから、調査隊は帰り道を急いで戻ったのだった。
ゼアトへと調査隊が戻った頃には月が空を支配していた。夜にはなってしまったが無事に戻れた事に調査隊は喜ぶ。
「レオルド様――」
背後から聞える声にビクリとレオルドの肩が震える。レオルドは恐る恐る声の主へと振り向く。すると、そこには満面の笑みを浮かべるギルバートが立っていた。
「ギ、ギル......出迎えか?」
「ええ。予定よりも大幅に遅れているので何かあったと思いまして、急いできた所存です」
「そ、そうか。心配をかけたな」
「はい。本当に心配しましたよ」
満面の笑みを浮かべていたギルバートはギラリとレオルドからバルバロトへと視線を動かす。
「バルバロト殿。貴殿がいながら何故これほどまでに時間が掛かったのですか?」
ギルバートは調査隊の隊長を務めているバルバロトに非があると思っており、責めるような口調で問い質した。
「待て。ギル! 俺の責任なんだ。俺が無茶を通したから、予定よりも遅くなってしまったんだ。だから、バルバロトを責めないでくれ」
「ふむ......説明をしていただきましょうか。バルバロト殿」
「説明をする前に部下を帰してもよろしいでしょうか?」
「勿論ですとも。もう夜ですからな。帰って家族を安心させるべきです」
「心遣い感謝します」
バルバロトは調査隊を解散させる。残ったのはレオルドとバルバロトのみ。
バルバロトは予定よりも大幅に調査の時間がずれてしまった事を説明する。
「では――」
――ぐぅううぎゅるるる
「......すまん」
「どうやら、レオルド様のお腹がこれ以上は待ちきれないと申しているので後日お聞きしましょう」
「ふふ、そうですな。では、また明日」
暗くて分からないが恥ずかしさに俯いているレオルドの顔は真っ赤に染まっていた。
ギルバートもレオルドの空腹音を聞いて、肩の力が抜けてしまい、バルバロトとの話は明日にする事に決めた。
Ch 36
Several hours passed as the knights shared their magic with Leolde  . Half of the team was already sitting down with their magic power depleted.
While most of the knights were sitting down and concentrating on recovering their magic power, Leolde was silently digging a hole.
(It's here ? It's haven't showen up yet ?
(I thought for sure it was here, but  i was wrong ?)
(I can't allow myself to be lent  with  the magic of everyone and come up with nothing.)
I have to dig it up at all costs!
Leolde was inwardly impatient. He thought that since he was forcing  knights to share  their magic power, he had to dig  in search of water score  .
But he was wrong. There was no one to blame  for it .All people make mistakes.
This survey does not mean that  they must find the water source. If they don't find it here ,  they will just find another  way to solve problem .
It's just that Leolde , who has become narrow-minded, doesn't understand that. That's why he's reckless like he is now.
"Haa...... haa......!"
Wiping the sweat from his forehead,  he continued to dig the hole. The knights were impressed by his effects , but couldn't figure out why he was working so hard.
It's unknown  how much time has passed, but Leolde stares into the void, wondering how much time has passed. The magic of the team had been used up, and all that was left was his own recovered magic.
When he was about to give up on the idea that he might not be able to  dig any longer, he tilted his head at a different feeling.
(Hmm? What is it? Is it bedrock?)
Wondering, he threw a pebble into the hole. When he listened carefully, he could hear the faint sound of water.
Thinking that it was an auditory hallucination, Leolde doubted himself and called Barbaroto.
"Barbaroto! I'm going to drop a pebble in the hole, so check the sound!
Barbaroto got down on  the knees and put his ear to the hole. Leolde dropped the pebble into the hole, wondering if it was necessary to go that far.
The sound of the pebble falling into the water reached Barbaroto's ears. He immediately stood up and took Leolde s hand, shouting with joy.
"Master Leolde! It's water. I heard the sound of water. You was not wrong!"
"Well, ......, I see. So it wasn't a hallucination."
"Yes! Let's go back to Ze'at and report it!
" Everyone will be happy to hear that!"
"Yes, Let's do it ."
Leoldo smiled a little when he saw that Barbaroto  was even more pleased than he was with his digging. He breathed out a sigh of relief that he had not been wrong and that the water shortage problem  could be solved.
However, they  were tried to return to  city , most of the   team was sitting there out of magic, so  they couldn't go back.
"I'm sorry, ......."'
"No, I'm the one who should apologize. I borrowed magic power without thinking about pacing myself. It was my fault for concentrating too much on digging up the water. I'm sorry."
The knights were bothered by Leolde's bowing, but since they knew what kind of person Leolde was during the investigation, they accepted his apology.
Leolde  has nothing to do until the magic of the investigation team is restored.
Leoldo gazed blankly at the red sky, which was now at dusk.
(This event doesn't exist in the game. It  happened  in the future~)
Leoldo,  take part in even  that was not  exist  in Destiny 48, was worried that many troublesome things would happen in the future.
In addition to the death flag, there are many things he doesn't know, so he can only worry about the future.
" Master Leolde. The magic power of the team has been restored to the minimum. Now  we can return to Ze'at."
"All right. Then let's hurry back. The night is coming soon. Let's get back to Ze'at before night falls.
The survey team recovered the minimum amount of magic power they needed, so they had to hurry back to Ze'at. In addition to poor visibility at night, it is a nocturnal demon's domain, so there are many dangers. So the survey team hurried back on their way.
By the time the survey team returned to Ze'at, when  the moon had taken over the sky. It was nighttime, but the survey team was happy to have made it back safely.
"Master Leolde..."
The voice behind him made Leorde's shoulders shake with fear. Leorde fearfully turned around to face the owner of the voice. And there stood Gilbert with a big smile on his face.
, Gil, are you came here to pick me up  ......?"
"Yes. you was late , so I figured something must have happened, so I rushed over here.
"Well, I see. You had worried for me .
"Yes, I did. , I was really worried about you.
Gilbert, who had a big smile on his face, glanced from Leolde to Barbaroto.
Barbaroto. Why has it taken so long for you to came back here ?"
Gilbert believes that Barbaroto is at fault, as he is the leader of the team, and asks in a reproachful tone.
"Wait. Gil!  It's my fault, I was reckless, and that's why we got behind schedule. So please don't blame Barbaroto."
"Hmmm ...... would you care to explain? Barbaroto.
"May I send my men home before I explain?"
"Of course you may. It's already night. You should go home and  check your family."
"Thank you for your  understanding .
Barbarotho dismissed the  team. Leolde and Barbaroto were the only ones left.
Barbaroto explains that the time for the investigation has  took more time than planned.
"Well then--""
--ugh
"...... Sorry."
"Apparently,  master Leolde -stomach is telling that he is hungry . So let's  save talks for tomorrow "
"Hmm, yes. See you tomorrow.
It's hard to tell in the dark, but Leolde's face, which was turned down in embarrassment, was bright red.
When Gilbert heard the sound of Leolde s stomach , his shoulders relaxed and he decided to talk to Barbaroth tomorrow.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛