豪奢な椅子に腰掛けお茶を飲むクロードと、それを間にはさんで言い合う従者達。
(......ほんとにここ、あのゲームの世界なのね......)
驚きを通り越して感嘆するようになってきた。
とはいえ、自分の生死がかかっているのにのんびり感動していられない。
「とにかく、僕にそんなつもりはないし相手にもそんな気はない。見ろ、剣を持っている。誰かに命令されたか、何かの罠か。いずれにせよ自害でもされたら厄介だ」
「それは誤解ですわ。わたくしは自分の意思で参りました」
声を上げると、スチルが動いた。現実が動き出したかのようだ。
三者三様の視線が、ソファに横たわっていたアイリーンに突き刺さる。キースは労りを、ベルゼビュートは分かりやすい警戒と敵意を。
そしてクロードは完璧に感情を押し殺した眼差しを向けた。
「剣を持ってきたのは、自分の身を守るためです。敵意ではありません」
「こんなおもちゃで魔物に勝てると? 娘」
ベルゼビュートが鼻で笑った。ソファに行儀良く座り直したアイリーンは、にこりと微笑んで応じる。その視界の片隅で、持ってきた剣がソファの隅に抜き身のまま立てかけられていることも確認した。
「わたくし、抵抗もせずに死ぬのはごめんですの」
「抵抗か。抵抗はいい。とても楽しい」
魔物らしい感想に背筋が粟立つ。だがおくびにも出さず、背筋を伸ばし続けた。するとキースの方がたしなめにかかる。
「やめてくださいよ、人間のお嬢さんをばりばり食べるなんてさすがの私もごめんです。それでですね、ドートリシュ公爵令嬢」
「アイリーンとお呼びください、キース様」
「へえ、私めのことをご存知ですか」
「クロード様のことは、できる限り調べましたわ」
思い出したが正解だが、そこまで言うつもりはない。
クロードも興味がないのか、眦一つ動かさなかった。
(魔物としての姿が竜で森羅万象を司るのだけれど、人間の器では膨大な魔力を制御しきれなくて、感情が異常現象を引き起こす。設定を知ってはいたけれど、さすがに驚いたわ)
怒りは噴火を。悲しみはやまない雨を。魔王の心の乱れは自然の法則を乱すのだ。
そして彼の感情は魔物にも影響する。今、魔物達が人間を襲わないのは、彼に人間を襲う意思がないからだ。彼が人間への憎しみや怒りに駆られて魔王として覚醒すれば、魔物の大軍が一斉に人間達を襲いかかるだろう。
魔王として覚醒した時、彼は竜の姿に変わり、ひとではなくなる。
そしてラスボスとなり、アイリーンをついでで殺す。
つまり、アイリーンは死にたくなければクロードのラスボス化を防ぐしかない。
そこまでの結論は容易に導き出せたが、そこで問題が発生した。
(どうしてだか魔王覚醒イベントの中身を覚えてないっていう......! 他にも歯抜けみたいに記憶が抜けてるところがあるし! 魔王覚醒はエンディング直前だったとしか分からないってどういうことなの、命かかってるのに!)
おかげで肝心要のクロードが魔王として覚醒するイベントを回避するには、何を回避すればいいのかが分からない。今日にでも思い出してくれればいいが、命をかけてそんな不確定要素にすがりついている場合ではない――だとすれば、次策を講じるしかなかった。
「それでですね、アイリーン様。あなたはどうしてここへ? セドリック皇子から婚約破棄をされたそうですが、その復讐に魔物の力を貸して欲しい、とかでしたら無駄ですよ。クロード様の方針は基本『毎日を無難にすごす』でしてね」
「まあ、気が合いそう。わたくしも無難、大好きです」
「いや、無難を好む人は普通、魔王に会いにきて、しかも求婚しませんよ?」
「クロード様がわたくしを愛してくだされば、わたくしも無難な人生が歩めますから」
呆気にとられた眼差しが複数返ってきたが、かまってなどいられない。
クロードが唯一魔王にならず人間に踏み止まる理由――それは、リリアへの愛だ。
だがリリアは、クロードを攻略できない。クロードは必ず一度エンディングを見たあとでルートが解放されるいわゆる『二周目じゃないと攻略できないキャラ』だ。ゲームと違い、一周目しかない現実では攻略不可能なキャラであり、必ずラスボスになってしまう。
だったらアイリーンがリリアの代わりにクロードを引き止める存在――すなわち、彼に愛される人物になるしかない。
それが現状で選べるアイリーンの無難で最善の策だ。
にっこりとアイリーンはクロードに微笑みかけた。
「というわけで、わたくしと結婚致しましょう。幸せにしますわ」
「――この人間の女、頭がおかしいのでは?」
「私もちょっぴりそう思いましたね、今......」
「ベルゼビュート、つまみ出せ」
クロードの短い命令に、ベルゼビュートがなんの迷いもなく動く。
それを見た瞬間、アイリーンはソファの端に立てかけてあった剣を手に取り、自分の首に突き付けた。
Claude sat on a luxurious chair, drinking tea while conversing with his followers
(...... This place is really, the world of that game......)
It seems like it was getting easier to get over my astonishment.
However, since my life and death was at a stake I couldn't completely be at ease.
[Anyway, my point is, I don't have such intention, and I don't feel like treating her as my enemy either. Look, she even brought a sword with her. Either she was moving under an order or someone sends her here as a trap. Either way, it'll be problematic if she hurts herself] 
[That's a misunderstanding. I came here out of my own will] 
When I raised my voice, the CGs moved. It seems as though the reality has started to move as well.
The three people's gazes were all focused on Irene who was lying on the sofa. Keith looked cautious while Beelzebuth understandably had raised his vigilance and animosity.
And Claude completely turned off all of his emotions while looking straight at her.
[I brought the sword for my own protection. I am not an enemy] 
[You think you can win against the monsters by using a toy? girl] 
Beelzebuth snorted. Irene, who had properly sat on the sofa with a perfect mannerism let out a smile upon his response. From the corner of her eyes, she secretly confirmed that the sword she brought with her was quietly standing at the end of the sofa she sat on.
[Well, I refuse to die without at least having some resistance] 
[Resistance? Resistance is good. It is really enjoyable] 
My back straightened up uncomfortably hearing his devil-like response. But I didn't want to let them know that I was agitated, so I kept sitting straight as if I was not affected by that response just now. Then, the person named Keith interfered.
[Please stop that. Even I don't want to imagine a human lady being eaten alive by the monsters. Well then, daughter of D'austriche Duke ] 
[Please call me Irene, Keith-sama] 
[Heh, do you know me?] 
[I made sure to know as much as possible about Claude-sama] 
It's more like I remembered about him, but I won't tell him that.
Claude probably was not as interested as he didn't move a muscle since she woke up.
(As a demon in the dragon form it'll be easy for him take control of the whole world, but his human va.s.sal can't control that huge amount of magic power; therefore, even the slightest ripple of emotion could cause an abnormal phenomenon. I knew the setting but I was still surprised)
His anger would cause volcanic eruptions. His sadness would cause endless rain. The changes in the Demon King's heart would wreck the laws of nature.
His emotions would affect the monsters and demons as well. Right now, the monsters did not attack the humans because he had no intention to do so. If he lets his hate and anger towards human beings be known to the world, his large army of monsters will surely attack human beings without an ounce of hesitation.
When he finally awakened as a demon, he would no longer be in his human form but a dragon instead.
And then he became the Last Boss and killed Irene.
In other words, if Irene wants to stay alive, she needs to prevent Claude from becoming the Last Boss.
It was easy to draw the conclusion up until to that point, but there was a slight problem.
(Why can't I remember the details of the Last Boss awakening event......!Like that gap when we were missing a tooth, there's a gap in my memories that I can't remember!I only know the details just before the ending of the Demon King awakening, what's the meaning of this; This is a matter of my life and death for G.o.d's sake!)
Thanks to that, I didn't know what good steps should I take to avoid the vital point in preventing Claude's awakening event as a Demon King. It would be nice if I could remember the points today, but it was not the time to cling onto indetermined factors like that when my life was at stake----then, I could only take the next step.
[Well then, Irene-sama. What makes you come here? It seems like your engagement had been annulled by Prince Cedric, so did you come here to ask for the demons to help you with your revenge? If it is so, then your effort was in vain. Since Claude-sama's basic policy is {to spend every day safely} ] 
[Wow, it seems like we have a matching interest. I like safety as well] 
[No, those who prefer safety usually don't come here to meet the Demon King nor propose marriage to such being as well, you know?] 
[If Claude-sama loves me, then I can continue to live my life safely] 
Multiple eyes looked back at me in amazement, but I can't back down now.
The only reason why Claude did not become a Demon King and remain as a human was----Lilia's love.
But Lilia could not capture Claude. He was the so-called character that "you'll definitely see the ending after completing the route" {a character that can only be captured on the second playthrough} . Compared to the game, in this reality, I don't have the access to complete the first playthrough; so, he was a character that was impossible to be captured, and someone who's definitely will end up becoming the Last Boss.
Then in the place of Lilia, Irene will become the being that would hold him back----In other words, I must become the one who he loves.
That was Irene's best and safest course of action.
Irene grinned and smiled at Claude.
[So, let's us both marry. I'll make you happy] 
[----This human woman, is something wrong with her head?] 
[I kinda agree with you, right now......] 
[Beelzebuth, see our guest off] 
In respond to Claude brief instruction, Beelzebuth moved without hesitation.
The moment she realized she was about to be kicked out of the place, Irene grabbed at the sword standing against the end of the sofa and pointed it towards her own neck.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ