17
キャラン・ゴウデス。「五高、第2学年、魔法に才能あり、赤色の巻き髪、幻獣は子熊」。『春』は6位だったと記憶している。
彼女は学園でも有名だ。気の強さは揺るぎない努力の裏返しと評判で、「取り巻き」と揶揄されることもあるファンクラブ・『親衛隊』が存在する。
曲がった事が大嫌いという理由からシナリオではエミリアに手を貸してくれるキャラクターだった。間違ってもエミリアを誘拐するような人ではないはずなのに。軟禁されているエミリアを助けに来たとか、まさかそんなことは無いといいが。
私は比較的落ち着いていた。万が一を考え既に手は打ってある。
「チェタン、報告を求めます。エミリアはそちらに来ましたか?」
胸元から取り出したのは小さなクリスタルのネックレス。淡い水色に透き通ったそれは、持ち主の魔力を糧に、登録した人物との遠距離通信を可能にする。この国ではよく普及している物だ。
『はい、レベッカ様。15分ほど前エミリア様が赤い髪の女性に連れられ突然現れました。魔力でできた縄で縛られていらっしゃいますが特にお怪我はございません。お二人はお話しされているだけで今のところ差し迫った危険は無いかと思います。結界を張られていて声は聞こえません。突入を試みますか?』
「いいえ。何人か連れて20分以内に向かいます。到着する前に何か起きたら突入して欲しいですが、捨て身は許しません」
『承知しました』
エミリアたちがいるのはここから馬で15分ほどのところにある、今の時期は使われていない神殿。もともとレベッカが攫って連れて行くはずだった場所だ。だからここから近い。別の人間に攫われてもそこが舞台になると睨んでいたので人を置いていた。予想が当たってよかった。
しかし、あくまでも万一攫われた場合を考えて、だった。何日かかるか分からなかったこともあり、信のおける従者であるさっきの彼ともう二人くらいしかいない。
エミリアが忽然と消え、そして現れたのはほぼ間違いなく転送魔法。『春』で多用されたから慣れてしまったが、ほとんどの人間には試すことすら許されない超高難度魔法を使う相手に、3人は心許ない。
警備の騎士のうち、特に魔法を得意とする者を6人かき集め馬に飛び乗る。結局攻略対象よろしく助けに行くことになってしまった。
馬を走らせながら心の中で「冷静に」と唱える。
大丈夫。エミリアは何事もなく帰って来られる。だってあの子、ちゃんと自分の卵を持っていった。
オフシーズンの神殿は薄暗くて不気味だ。エミリアとキャランがいる礼拝堂には報告通り結界が張ってあった。
声を遮断するだけじゃない。一定年齢以下の女性しか入れないようになっているのだと、自分以外が全員結界に阻まれたとき思った。これもシナリオ通りだ。大人数でガヤガヤ突入、というわけにはいかないらしい。
騎士たちには時間がかかっても結界を無効化する努力をしてもらうことにして、私は一人礼拝堂に足を踏み入れた。途端に大きな声が聞こえてくる。
話はどこまで進んだだろう?堂々と入ったりせず体勢を低くして様子をうかがう。
礼拝堂には長椅子が同心円状にずらりと並べられていて、中心は丸く空いていた。そこにエミリアとキャランが向かい合っている。
大声を出すエミリアを見て怪我はしていないと胸を撫で下ろした。しかし縄で縛られたままだ。魔力でできてさえいなければ、縄どころか鎖でも引きちぎれたでしょうに。
エミリアの姿を確認できても、安心はできなかった。
私が入ったときちょうど、豊かな赤い髪をした女性が、両手で抱えた卵を振り下ろすように床に叩きつけようとしていた。
「やめて、やめて、だめぇっ!」
そんなに大きい声を出さなくても平気だよエミリア。だってほら。
卵が床につく直前、突き出た太い尻尾が先に殻を割ったのだ。床に叩きつけられた衝撃で一気に全容を現したその幻獣。生まれたばかりとは思えない神々しさは思わずひれ伏したくなるほどだ。ぶわりと広がるもう8本の尻尾。こがね色の体を艶めかせ、巨大な体躯と真っ赤な瞳でキャランを見下ろしていた。
「九尾......?」
エミリアが呟く。
そう、人はその獣をそう呼ぶ。エミリアの聖の魔力と神殿の聖気で覚醒し生まれた、気高き狐の女王である。
誰よりも驚いたのはエミリアだ。およそ卵に収まっていたとは思えない質量の幻獣を前に、一言呟くなりポカンとして動かなくなってしまった。
シナリオではここでレベッカが腰を抜かして、九尾がエミリアの縄を噛み砕き外してくれて、エミリアは気を持ち直して「私はあなたには負けないし、こんなことも二度としないで」と告げて出て行こうとする。 そうしたらレベッカが公爵家の金庫から持ち出した『封じの札』で九尾を一時的に抑えて食い下がったものだからエミリアは再びピンチに陥って、攻略対象の一人が結界を破り助けに来る...という流れである。
私は今この隙にサッとエミリアを回収してしまおう。まさかキャランが『封じの札』を持っていても嫌だから。礼拝堂から出てしまえば安全なんだし、攻略対象とは違ってかっこよく登場しなくてもいいのだから、エミリアを連れて早くここから出てしまおう。
素早くエミリアに近づいた。乱入した私の存在にキャランが気づいた時は既に、エミリアを立ち上がらせ一緒に扉に向かって走り出していた。九尾は主人について来る。
よし、完璧だ。逃げ切れる!
目の前に人間が現れて私の行く手を塞いだのは、扉に向かって手を伸ばす直前だった。
Ch 17
"Kyaran Goudes. She is in the second year of high school, has talent in magic, has red curly hair, and her Phantom Beast is a cub bear. She remembered being 6th in the [spring].
She is also famous at the Academy. Her strong-willed attitude is the result of her unshakable efforts, and she has a fan club that is sometimes derisively referred to as [cronies].
In the scenario, she is the character who helps Emilia because she hates crookedness. She is not the kind of person who would kidnap Emilia. I hope she didn't come to rescue Emilia from house arrest or something like that.
I was relatively calm. I already have a plan in case of emergencies.
"Cheatan, I request a report. Has Emilia come to your location?"
I took out a small crystal necklace from my chest. The light blue, transparent necklace feeds on the owner's magic and allows for long-distance communication with registered individuals. It is a common thing in this country.
[Yes, Rebecca-sama. About 15 minutes ago, Emilia-sama appeared suddenly with a red-haired woman. She is tied up with a rope made of magic, but she does not seem to have any injuries. They seem to be talking and there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger at the moment. The area is surrounded by a barrier and we can't hear their voices. Should we attempt to enter?]"
"No. I'll head over with a few people within 20 minutes. If something happens before we arrive, please enter, but don't do anything reckless."
[Understood]
Emilia and the others are in a temple that's about 15 minutes away by horse. It's not currently in use and was originally the place Rebecca was supposed to take them. It's close by. I left people there because I thought it would be a good place for her to be taken by someone else. It's fortunate that my suspicions were correct.
However, it was just in case she was kidnapped. As we didn't know how long it would take, there were only him and two other followers who were just as trustworthy as the guy I just mentioned.
Emilia suddenly disappeared and reappeared, and it was almost certainly a transfer magic. It was commonly used in [spring], so I got used to it, but I felt uneasy with the three of them with the opponent using such a high-difficulty magic that most humans were not allowed to even try.
Out of the knights of security, six people were gathered who were particularly good at magic and got on horses. Eventually, we ended up going to help with the target of the strategy.
While riding the horse, I chant "stay calm" in my mind.
It's alright. Emilia will come back without anything happening. Because that girl properly took her own eggs.
The temple during the off-season is dim and eerie. As reported, there was a barrier in the prayer hall where Emilia and Kyaran were.
It's not just about blocking voices. I realized that only women under a certain age are allowed in, when everyone else was blocked by the barrier except for me. This must be part of the scenario. It seems like it's not possible to just barge in with a large group of people.
I decided to have the knights make efforts to disable the barrier, even if it takes time, and I entered the temple alone. Suddenly, I hear a loud voice.
I wonder how far the conversation has progressed? I didn't confidently enter, but instead lowered my posture and observed the situation.
The shrine had long chairs arranged in a concentric circle, and the center was empty. Emilia and Kyaran were facing each other there.
I looked at Emilia, who was making a loud noise, and confirmed that she wasn't injured and patted my chest. However, she was still tied up with ropes. If it were not made by magic, I could have torn them apart with even a chain.
Even though I could confirm Emilia's appearance, I couldn't feel relieved.
Just when I entered, a woman with lush red hair was about to smash an egg held in both hands onto the floor.
"No, no, stop!"
You don't have to shout so loud, Emilia. Look.
Just before the egg hit the floor, a thick tail protruded and broke the shell open. The Phantom Beast was revealed in full as it was slammed onto the floor by the impact. Its god-like appearance was so overwhelming that it made one want to bow down in front of it. The eight other tails spreading out with a sense of presence. Its body glimmered in a copper color and it looked down at Kyaran with its massive physique and bright red eyes.
"Kyuubi...?"
Emilia muttered.
Yes, that is what people call the beast. Emilia's holy magic and the holy energy of the temple had awakened it and it was born as the noble queen of foxes.
The one who was most surprised was Emilia. Faced with a Phantom Beast of a mass that could not possibly have fit inside an egg, she was at a loss for words and froze up.
In the scenario, Rebecca is knocked down and the Kyuubi cuts Emilia's rope, allowing her to regain her composure and tell Rebecca "I won't lose to you and I will never do this again." and tries to leave. But Rebecca uses a [sealing charm] taken from the Duke's safe to temporarily subdue the Kyuubi and take advantage of Emilia, causing her to fall into trouble again and one of the targets of the strategy will come to break the barrier and help her... this is the flow of events.
I will quickly retrieve Emilia while I have the chance. I don't want Kyaran to have the sealing charm. It'll be safe once we're out of the temple, and unlike the target, I don't have to make a cool appearance, so let's get Emilia and get out of here as soon as possible.
I quickly approached Emilia. By the time Kyaran noticed my intrusion, I had already helped Emilia stand up and we were running towards the door together. The Kyuubi will follow us.
Great, perfect. We made it!
Just as we were about to reach the door, a human appeared and blocked our way.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈