第十五話 一難去って
〈夢の主〉であるポタルゲを討伐したことで〈
景色が一転し、俺達四人は〈幻獣の塔〉の入り口であった、森奥の崖壁前へと立っていた。
「......私達以外には誰もおらず、か。犯人が間抜けにも〈
〉内にいれば、俺達と並んでこの辺りに現れているはずだった。
ただ、そんな間抜けな証拠を残してくれるような相手ではなかったらしい。
「......本当に私の親族なのでしょうか。確かに皆さん、次期当主となるために命懸けで研鑽しておられます。私を疎んでいる方だっています。でも、このような真似に出るなんて」
スノウが信じられない、といった調子で口にする。
「お嬢様......人の本心など、わからぬものです。わかりやすい悪党など恐れるに足りません。しかし、本物の下衆こそ、それと悟られぬように厚い仮面を被るもの」
「しかし、これまでハウルロッド侯爵家の家督争い絡みでここまでの凶行など、行われたことがありませんでした」
「他の当主候補の仕業ではなく、彼らを擁立する者の中によからぬ輩が紛れ込んでいるのかもしれませんね」
イザベラとスノウが、此度の〈夢の主〉を用いた暗殺未遂について話し合っている。
「徹底してますよね......。山賊を嗾けて消耗や負傷を誘って、〈夢の主〉を誘導するなんて。貴族間の争いって、どこもこうなんでしょうか?」
ルーチェがちらりと俺を見る。
「どうだろうな......」
実力不足と見做されて追い出された俺が言うのもなんだが......エドヴァン伯爵家では、このような争いは俺が知っている限りはなかった。
元々エドヴァン伯爵家は、過去の当主の実力頼りで今の地位を築いてきた。
貴族の中では政治に関しては疎い方であるし、他の伯爵家と比べれば影響力もさして大きくはない。
対してハウルロッド侯爵家は、王国内において五本の指に入る大貴族である。
その分、しがらみや内輪の争いの苛烈さも比ではないだろう。
加えて、俺には別の疑問もあった。
〉を熟知した手口に、一切姿を現さない周到さ......。
〈嘆きの墓所〉での事件と同じだ。
元々ハウルロッド侯爵家が怪しいという話ではあったし、今回も侯爵家の内輪揉めに用いられたようなので、筋は通っているといえる。
しかし、周到な犯人の割に、目的に一貫性がないように感じるのだ。
何となく誘導されているような、気色の悪さがあった。
俺は崖上を見回すが、気に掛かったものは見つからない。
「どうしましたかぁ、エルマさん? 何か気になるものでもありましたか?」
ルーチェが手で双眼鏡を作り、俺の視線を追う。
「普通......侯爵家の令嬢狙ってこんな大事件を引き起こしたら、その顛末くらいは確認したがると思ったんだ。安全に隠れて様子を見るなら、あの崖の上だろうと思ってな」
生死なんて、放っておいても後でわかることだ。
しかし、それでもここまでのことをしでかせば、直接確認したくなるのが人間というものだろう。
ましてやここは、崖の上なんていう、安全なポジションまで用意されている。
なのに、全く人の気配がない。
僅かでも余計なリスクは取りたくない、ということか。
徹底している。
「不気味な相手だ」
確かに存在していることは明らかなのに、その正体の輪郭だけがぽっかりと穴が開いているようだ。
「えっと、あの......イザベラ」
スノウがイザベラへと手招きする。
イザベラが彼女へと耳を寄せる。
イザベラがすくっと背を伸ばし、俺達の方を見る。
「エルマ、お前達が心配することではない。此度の犯人は、私達侯爵家が決着を付けねばならない問題だ。お前達はお嬢様の命の恩人......改めて、礼を言わせてもらう。一冒険者に助けられたなど、次期当主として恥だが......それが今の己の現状と受け止め、精進に励みたい......と、お嬢様は仰られている」
「あ、ああ......うん、どうも......」
そうした言葉は、直接言ってもらいたいものだが......。
スノウは侯爵家に相応しい、誇りと信念を持つ実力者なのだが......天は二物を与えずというか、何故対人能力だけこうも低いのか。
スノウはイザベラの背で呼吸を整えていたが、覚悟を決めたようにきゅっと口を結ぶと、ばっと俺達の前に飛び出した。
「あっ、あの! 命を助けていただいたこともそうですが......私、ポタルゲを圧倒した御二方の姿に、感銘を受けました! とても格好よかったです! 私も貴方方のように強くなって、ハウルロッド侯爵家の名に恥じぬ当主になりたいと、そう思いました! ですから......その、本当にありがとうございました!」
スノウは顔を赤くしながらも、一気にそう口にした。
言い終えてからは、そっと逃げるようにイザベラの背へと回り込んだ。
俺は彼女の様子に呆気に取られていたが、すぐに自分の口が綻んでいることに気が付いた。
「ありがとう......ハウルロッド侯爵家の次期当主にそう言ってもらえて光栄だ」
イザベラの背後で表情を硬くしていたスノウだが、俺の言葉を聞いて相好を崩した。
「お嬢様がここまで心を開かれるとは珍しい......」
イザベラは嬉しそうにそう口にしていたが、ハッと表情を一変させ、スノウを守るように彼女の前に出た。
「い、言っておくが、平民の身でお嬢様に手を出そうと思うなよ!」
ブンブンと腕を振り、指先を俺へと向ける。
「何を言っているのイザベラ!?」
スノウが愕然とした表情でイザベラを見る。
Volume 3 - Ch 15
With the Dream Lord Podarge subjugated, the Dungeon was enveloped in a white mist and started to break down and disappear.
The scenery changed and the four of us were standing in front of a cliff deep inside the forest where the entrance of the Phantasmal Beast Tower was located.
"....so, there isn't anybody else aside from us here. If the culprit was foolish enough to stay, then things would've been much simpler."
If the person who brought about the Wandering Lord was still inside the Dungeon, they should've appeared right here close to us.
However, it seems they are not the type to leave behind evidence like that.
"....was it really someone from my family, I wonder. It's true that everyone is devoted to trying to earn the position of the next family head, even risking their lives in the process. It's even true that some of them disdain me. But I still wouldnt've thought that any of them would do something like this."
Snow said in a disbelieving tone.
"Ojou-sama....one cannot know the true face of people. It's not the straightforwardly evil people that we need to fear. The truly vile people are the ones that wear the thickest masks to hide themselves."
"However, no assassination attempt like this ever happened during a succession contest within the Howlod Family thus far."
"So it's possible that this wasn't done by an heir candidate, but someone that backs one of them."
Izabella and Snow were talking about the assassination attempt via Dream Lord that just happened.
"They were very thorough.... Using bandits to wear them down, then leading the Dream Lord to them. Are disputes among the nobles always like this?"
Luce glanced quickly towards me.
"Who knows...."
It might not be that persuasive coming from me, who was exiled after being deemed worthless, but.... as far as I know, nothing like that happened with the Edvan Family either.
The Edvan Family only gained its current position thanks to the sheer prowess of former Lords.
Compared to other families, ours was always distant from politics and didn't have as much influence as other Count families.
In contrast, Marquee Howlod's family is one of the top five most influential families of the kingdom.
Because of that, internal discord should be much more prominent.
I also had a suspicion myself.
The know-how to make use of this Dungeon and the meticulousness of not letting themselves be seen at all....
It's the same modus operandi as with the Graveyard of Sorrows.
Even before this, it was clear that the Howlod Family was suspicious and getting mixed up in its internal disputes like this does nothing to alleviate this concern.
However, for a highly cautious culprit, their objectives seem very inconsistent.
I have a bad feeling that we are being led around by the nose somehow.
I carefully inspected the top of the cliff, but I did not see any sign of someone being there.
"What is it, Elma-san? Did you see something?"
Luce imitated some binoculars with her hands over her eyes and followed my gaze.
"I was thinking that.... if they go out of their way to create an incident like this targeting a daughter of a marquee, then normally they would at least try to confirm the outcome."
Whether they lived or died would be known sooner or later.
Even so, after doing something big like this, wanting to confirm it in person is what most would feel.
Especially since there is a cliff right here that's perfect for that.
And yet, there are absolutely no signs of people here.
Perhaps they didn't want to take any risks at all.
Very thorough of them.
"A very unsettling opponent."
There is no mistake that they exist, and yet only an empty contour of them could be detected.
"Uuhmm....Izabella."
Snow gestured to Izabella to lean closer.
Izabella lent an ear to her right away.
Izabella straightened her posture, then looked in our direction.
"Elma, you don't need to concern yourself about this. The culprit this time will be handled by our marquee family. You two saved the lives of ojou-sama.....let us thank you one more time. Although it's a mark of shame for the next head of the family to be saved by simple adventurers....she accepts that this is her current reality and intends to focus on bettering herself....or so she said."
"Ah, uhm....yes, thank you...."
I would prefer for her to directly say those words to us instead....
Snow is a powerful and determined person who is proud to be part of the marquee family, but.....as they say: 'God does not give two gifts', so she is pretty bad at interacting with others.
After calming herself behind Izabella, Snow pursed her lips and seemed to resolve herself, then she jumped in front of us.
"Y-y-you saved our lives, which I'm also very grateful for, but....the image of you two overwhelming the Podarge was simply awe-inspiring! You were very cool! I want to become strong like you and become a head of the Howlod Family worthy of the name! That's why....uhm, I'm truly thankful for everything!"
Even while blushing heavily, Snow said this in one go.
After finishing what she wanted to say, she immediately ran away to hide behind Izabella's back again.
I was taken aback by her actions, so before I knew it some words slipped out.
"Thank you....It's an honor to hear that from the next head of the Howlod Family."
Snow had a stiff expression behind Izabella, but hearing that a large smile bloomed on her face.
"It's rare to see ojou-sama open up like this....."
Izabella said this in a happy tone, but then suddenly her expression changed and she stood in front of Snow, as if to protect her from something.
"I-I'll say it now, as a commoner don't even think you could seduce ojou-sama!"
She said while swinging her arms as a warning, then she kept pointing at me with a finger.
"What are you saying, Izabella!?"
Snow looked at Izabella aghast.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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