180 反省はするが、後悔はしない。そんな経験はないか?
「馬鹿者、そこまで体をボロボロにしてどうする」
「ハハハハ、面目ないです」
大鬼、キザンとの戦闘は結果的に勝利を掴めた。
だが、その代償は大きいと言わざるを得ない。
「右腕、左足の筋肉の断裂、骨に至っては罅や折れてない箇所を探すほうが難しい。打撲や切り傷は数えるのも無駄だ。内臓にまでダメージが届いている。よくもこんな体であの鬼から勝ちを拾えたものだ」
呆れたという表情を隠そうともせず、監督官は治療を担当した医師から渡されたカルテを見てギプスや包帯で雁字搦めにされたベッドの上に寝転がる俺を見る。
重傷者の見本のような格好だ。
魔力体ではない状況での戦闘は想像以上に俺の肉体に被害を与えた。
「医師の判断では後遺症はなく治療は可能とのことだが、次の試合までには間に合わない。言い訳はあるか、次郎」
「あると言えたらいいんでしたが、あいにくと持ち合わせがなく」
負けるとわかっていても勝ちたいと我武者羅に挑んだ手前言い訳など出てくるわけもない。
勝利を掴んだ代価の名誉の負傷。
そんな傷はいくら魔法といえど、軽傷ならともかく重傷を瞬く間に治せるわけではない。
ゲームみたいにHPを魔法やら薬やらで回復させて、では次の戦闘をと挑めるわけでもない。
直接的に殴りつけた右手は複雑骨折、相手の勢いを支えた左足も筋肉が断裂し、すねの骨など縦に割れていた。
他にもドラムみたいにメッタ打ちにされた俺の体は打撲跡がそこら中にでき、その衝撃で受けたダメージは内臓や骨に影響を出している。
一番ダメージの少ないのは頭部や顔付近だったりする。
その中で最もダメージ被害が大きいのが自分で行なった最後の行動なのだから笑えない。
もし仮に最後の無理がなければ、少なくとも右手と左足の怪我は発生しなかっただろう。
結論、一気に回復するにはそれこそ神の奇跡にでも頼らないと無理だと言う。
「まさかヴァルスさんの力でも治せないとは思いもしませんでしたが」
「当たり前だ、お前の技術で時間を操作できるのは貴様の体のみ、自己治癒能力を早めても変な治り方をしては意味がない。細かい時間操作ができれば話は変わってくるが、できないだろう?」
「未だ大雑把な操作しかできない未熟な自分が恨めしいです」
段階的に治療を施さないといけないほど、俺の体はボロボロで全治には約三日ほどかかる。一般的に再起不能な傷がたった三日で完治するのは異常ではあるが、それはそれで
頼みの綱の時空の精霊であるヴァルスさんに時間を進めて治療を頼んでみたが。
『ん~、やってもいいけど、骨とか変なつながり方をしちゃうわよ? あと、治す速度は早くできても痛みは緩和できないからものすごく痛いわよ?』
本当にやるのと心配そうに確認するヴァルスさんに言われれば躊躇し、内容を確認すると。
併用するにもここまで重傷になるとただ魔法薬をぶっかければ治るというわけではなく、どの部位にどの薬をどの量をと医学的知識が必要で、素人の俺には手出しができない。
おまけに一気に治る分の痛みが時間加速中に襲ってくる。
治すためにダメージを受けるなんて本末転倒、よって時間加速による治療は断念せざるをえなかった。
そんな傷を負った俺は当然ながら次の試合に挑めるわけでもなく、次の試合を棄権することになる。
そんな出来事をこの悪魔がすんなりとはいそうですかと容認するわけもなく、事情を説明するついでに治療を終えた俺に向かって説教に来たわけだ。
勝者である俺がズタボロで、敗者であるキザンは既に完治しピンピンしているという話と、魔王軍の中からは俺を敗退させキザンを進出させろという声が出ていると監督官は語る。
「勝利したことに関しては褒めてやるが、もう少し余裕を持てるようにしておけ。おかげでいらぬ処理を私がする羽目になっている」
「ええと、いらぬ処理とは?」
「貴様の実力を見たのにもかかわらず、伝統を重んじる懐古主義者の老害たちが喚き泣いて訴えてきている。貴様の勝利は無効だとな」
「ええと? 自爆覚悟の俺の勝ち方は勝利ではないと?」
「そういうことだ。当のキザンが敗北を認め進出を拒んでいるということに救われたな、お前の勝利を取り消そうとした輩の声は私と鬼王のやつで止めた。次の対戦相手は次郎の不戦敗で進めることになるが、まぁ、このままいけば次の対戦相手もすぐに負けることになる」
苦笑でごまかしながら、監督官の愚痴に近い説教を聞きながら俺の努力を守ってくれたことに感謝する。
あそこまでやって、ルール上は問題ないがやっぱり伝統的に負けだと言われるのはさすがにきつい。
「負けるというのは」
「順当に勝つやつが負けている中で、順当に勝っている奴がいるということだ。優勝候補と言われていたキザンと獣人のガイラルオはダークホースによって消えた。残った優勝候補が不戦勝で進んだやつと当たる。いや、貴様が戦えるのなら、貴様と当たっていた相手だ」
三人いた優勝候補で残っているのがすでに一人とは、今大会は随分と荒れているようだな。
獣人の方はカーターのやつが倒して、荒らしている原因の一人である俺が鬼の方を倒した。
そんな中で一人だけ順当に勝ち進んでいるというのは、気になるところ。
そして、監督官がこうやって悪い笑みを浮かべているときは大抵やばい時だ。
「誰です?」
「貴様もスエラが用意した資料は読んでいるだろう? ランド・バサルンテ、魔王軍の中でも五本の指に入る戦闘狂だ」
悪い予感とはよく当たる。
会いたくないと願っていた竜人の名前が出てきた。
黒い鱗に傷をあちこちにつけた、戦うということに関してだけ言えば既に将軍クラスという噂の竜人。
「やつが将軍になれないのは戦うことだけに特化しすぎているからだ。要は頭が足りん。将とはまとめる存在だ。いくら実力主義の我々でも暴れるだけしか能のない奴を将軍に据えたりはせん。だが、逆を言えば頭が足りれば将軍になり得るのはあいつだということ。優勝候補に挙げられているというのは伊達ではない。キザンが最も将軍に近いというのは文武ともに兼ね備えていたからだ。実力という点で言えば、ランドの方が上だ」
監督官の評価は口では辛辣に言っているが、こと戦闘能力は認めているように見える。
そして、そんなことをわざわざ言うということは。
「......退院の手続きは終わっています?」
「ああ、終わっている。奴らの思惑通り、お前は身内だけではなく魔族という括りにも名を売った。なら、その名を地に落とさないようにせいぜい情報収集は欠かさないようにしろ」
監督の言う奴らというのは教官たちのことだろう。
もともと、魔王軍に入ったばかりの俺が将軍になるというのは無理があった。
地位、名声、実力、そのどれを選んでも足りていない。
だが、今回教官たちが用意してくれたこの場で将軍候補の一角を打倒したという名声を得られた。
殺し合いのできるほどの実力をつけろと研修時に教官たちから送られた言葉、這い上がってこいという今回のチャンス。
ようやく、今回の推薦の意味を理解した俺は自然と。
「容赦ないですね、死んだらどうするんですか」
「それまでだと、あいつらは笑うだろうさ」
「ああ、簡単に想像できる自分が嫌になりますね」
スパルタという言葉すら優しすぎる教官たちの鞭に笑うしかない。
教官たちができるからやらせたと言いそうな今回の大会の参加理由に笑いつつ、監督官が用意してくれた車椅子に座り、いつの間にか現れた悪魔がそのハンドルを握る。
「それじゃ、せっかくのチャンスを無駄にしないよう行かせてもらいますね」
いつもなら先に立ち去る監督官から見送られる形で医務室を後にする。
ゆっくりと進む。
進むが、その進みは直ぐに止まる。
「あんたは」
「待っていたぞ」
道着姿から、着物姿に変わった大鬼、キザンが壁に背を預けその場に立っていた。
車椅子を押す悪魔が何か言おうとしたが、俺はそれを手で制す。
「何か用かって聞くのは野暮か。見ての通り満身創痍に丸腰だ。できればリベンジなら治ったあとにしてほしいのだが?」
「今の貴様に戦いを挑むなど恥知らずのような真似はせん。用向きは一つ、貴様に聞きたいことがあった」
「聞きたいこと?」
殺気や悪意、闘気といった争いに関する雰囲気が感じられなかったから、ゆったりと身構えていたが目の前の鬼は人間である俺に聞きたいことがあると言ってきた。
「貴様は俺を将軍の器に足りないと言った。そして、俺は種としての本質が足りないとも」
「ああ、そんなこと言ったな」
戦いの高揚感に任せ、感じたことをそのまま言った記憶がある。
その真意をこの鬼は尋ねるためにわざわざ待っていたのだ。
鬼にしては勤勉、いや細かいことを気にする男だと思った。
他の鬼なら、俺の言葉など忘れて今頃負けた悔しさを肴に酒を飲んでいる頃だろうに。
だが目の前の男はそんなことはせず、律儀に答えを求めてきた。
「答えろ、俺に何が足りん」
よほど負けたことが悔しいのか、それとも将軍になれなかったことが悔しいのか。
「そうだな......」
そんな向かうべき方向に迷った鬼に送れる言葉などさして持ち合わせていない。
「ああ、俺の知ってる鬼たちは生きることを楽しんでいたよ。酒を飲むこと戦うこと、この二つに関して言えば一番楽しんでいるように見えた」
その反面、真面目な仕事は嫌々やっているように見えたがなと言葉をつなげる。
その言葉にキザンは眉をひそめ理解できないと顔で語る。
誇りや思想などもあるだろうが、常に適度に肩の力を抜き、全力を出すときは全力で、まるで子供の行動力をそのまま大人にしたような存在。
それが鬼だと俺は思っている。
「あんたは大分上の地位にいるようだが、もう少し肩の力を抜いたらどうだ? 教官たちみたいに自然体でいろとは言えないが、ずっと力を入れっぱなしだと疲れるぞ」
この鬼にその様子は見受けられない。
質実剛健そんな言葉を体現する鬼は立派だと思うが、俺からしたら無理やり型にはまり、窮屈な思いをしているように見える。
「......鬼は強さが全てだ」
「ああ、知ってるよ」
「なれば、己が体を鍛え続け、今の地位に付いた」
「あんたの努力はわからんが、結果は出ているな」
「されど、我は貴様に負けた」
自分を見つめ直すように、自身を確認するように鬼は言葉を紡ぐ。
「我の生き様は間違っていたのか?」
その言葉を俺は肯定も否定もできない。
生き方など千差万別。
正しい生き方も間違った生き方も存在しないと俺は思う。
自分が信じ、突き進んできた結果を阻んだ人間に聞くような内容でもない気がするが、黙るのもまた違う気がした俺は。
素直な言葉をそのまま伝えた。
「俺はお前に足りないものは何かと聞かれたから素直に俺が感じたことを言っただけだ。イコールそれが正しいなんて思っていない」
悪魔に頼みハンドルを手放してもらい一応は動く腕を使い車輪を回し前に出る。
そのまま近寄れば見上げるほどの巨体を軽く叩く。
「そもそも、間違いだらけで生きていくのが生き物だろうよ。全て正しい人生なんてありえない。鬼王って言われてる教官だって社長に負けてんだ。たかが人間に一回負けているだけで生き様が間違っているなんて決め付けるのはおかしいだろ」
今回はたまたま俺が勝てたが、次戦えば確実に勝てるなんて断言などできない。
「お前には次があるんだ。次に活かせばいいだろう。俺も次はこんなズタボロにならないで勝ちたいしな」
「次か、貴様は我との再戦を望むのだな」
「すぐには嫌だがな、成長して、あんたをボコボコにできるくらいになってから戦いたい」
「そうか、なら、我も精進しよう。次は貴様に勝つために」
そんな意味を含めた俺の言葉に満足したのか、俺の見間違えでなければキザンは口元にうっすらと笑みを浮かべその場から立ち去ろうとする。
「鬼ってのは、喧嘩をしたあとは宴会って流れが基本だって聞いたんだがな」
そんな背中に、俺はつい先日キオ教官から聞いた昔話をそのまま投げかけていた。
俺の言葉にキザンは立ち止まり、顔だけ向けてくる。
そんな顔に向けて。
「気が向いたら、飲もうや」
クイッと盃を煽るような仕草を見せてやると、今度ははっきりと笑みを見せ。
しっかりと返事をしキザンは今度こそ立ち去っていった。
僅かなやり取り、不器用な鬼との邂逅。
それにわずかな疲れと満足感を感じ、俺は悪魔に頼み皆が待つ部屋に戻るのであった。
今日の一言
なんとなくだが、あいつとは長い付き合いになるような気がした。
184 180 Fan Sheng hasuruga, Hou Hui hashinai. sonnaJing Yan hanaika?
"Fool, what are you doing with your body that badly?
"Hahahahaha, that's humiliating.
The battle with Oni and Kazan resulted in victory.
But I must say, it came at a great cost.
"The muscles in my right arm and left leg are torn and the bones are hard to find without cracks or breaks. Bruises and cuts are a waste of time. The damage has reached her internal organs. How could you pick up a win from that demon with this body?
Without trying to hide his expression of dismay, the supervisor looks at the chart given to him by the treating physician and sees me lying on the bed in a cast and bandages.
I look like a model of a seriously injured person.
Fighting with a non-magical body took a toll on my body more than I expected.
According to the doctor's report, there are no after-effects and the patient can be treated, but we won't be able to make it to the next match. Do you have an excuse, Jiro?
I wish I could say that I did, but unfortunately I don't have any.
Even though he knew he was going to lose, he wanted to win, and he challenged the warrior to win, and there was no excuse for him to do so.
The price of victory is an honorable wound.
You can't heal a serious wound, no matter how much magic it is.
It's not like a game where you can recover your HP with magic or medicine and then challenge for the next battle.
His right hand, which he had struck directly, was fractured and his left leg, which had sustained the opponent's momentum, was also torn and his shin bone was cracked vertically.
I had bruises all over my body, which was slammed into me like a drum, and the damage I received from the impact affected my internal organs and bones.
The least damage was done to my head and face area.
The most damaging part of them was the last action he took by himself, which is not funny.
If you hadn't forced yourself to do that last action, at least your right hand and left leg would not have been injured.
To conclude, you need a miracle of a god to recover at once.
"I didn't think that even Vals-san's power couldn't heal you.
"Of course, only your body can manipulate time with your technology, so speeding up your self-healing ability won't do you any good if you heal in a weird way. It would be different if you could manipulate time in detail, but you can't, can you?
"I hate myself for being inexperienced enough to still be able to operate it roughly,
My body was so battered that I had to be treated in stages, and it would take about three days to fully heal. In general, it's unusual that a wound that cannot be recovered is completely healed in just three days, but that's just because it's an insane (fantasy) technique.
I asked my trusty time-space spirit, Valus-san, to advance the time and ask her to heal it, but...
You can try it, but you'll end up with strange connections to your bones. Also, it hurts like hell because you can speed up the healing process, but you can't ease the pain.
I was hesitant to confirm with Vals, who was anxious to see if I was really going to do it, and I checked the contents.
It's not just a matter of spraying potion to heal a serious injury, but also requires medical knowledge of which part of the body needs which medicine and in what dosage, which I, a layman, can't do anything about it.
On top of that, the pain from the healing process comes at you during the time acceleration.
I had to give up the time-accelerated healing method because I had to take damage in order to heal myself.
With such an injury, I would not be able to challenge the next match, and I would have to abstain from the next match.
The devil didn't just tolerate such an event, but came to lecture me after I finished the treatment while explaining the situation.
The supervisor says that I'm the winner and I'm in ruins, while Kizan, the loser, is already healed and ready to go, and that there are voices in the demon king's army that want me to be eliminated and Kizan to move on.
"I compliment you on your victory, but you should allow yourself a little more leeway. Now I have to do some unnecessary processing.
"Well, what's the rubbish disposal?
We saw what you can do, and now these nostalgic old traditionalists are screaming and crying that your victory is invalid. Your victory is not valid.
"Uh? I'm ready to blow myself up, and you think that's not a victory?
That's it. The fact that Kizan is refusing to admit defeat and advance is a relief, as the Onion King and I have stopped the voices of those who tried to undo your victory. My next opponent will be Jiro's unbeaten opponent, well, if this continues, my next opponent will soon be defeated as well.
I thanked him for defending my efforts while listening to his b*tc*y sermons, with a wry smile on his face.
After all that, it's not a problem in terms of the rules, but it's still tough to be told that you are traditionally a loser.
Losing is...
The guy who wins in order is losing, and the guy who is winning in order is losing. The favourites, Kizan and the beastman Gaillaroo, have been eliminated by the dark horse. The remaining favourites will face the unbeaten favourites. No, I would have fought you if you could.
It looks like this tournament is going to be very rough, with only one candidate left out of the three candidates for the championship.
Carter beat the beastman, and I, one of the causes of the trolling, beat the demon.
I'm curious about the fact that only one of them is going to win in order.
And when the supervisor has this evil smile on his face, it's usually a bad time.
Who is this?
"You've read the material Suela prepared for you, haven't you? Lando Basarte, one of the top five battle crazies in the Demon King's army,
A bad premonition is often true.
The name of the dragon man I was hoping to avoid meeting has come out.
The dragonborn whose black scales are covered with scars and who is rumored to be a general when it comes to fighting.
The reason he can't become a general is because he specializes too much in fighting. The bottom line is that he doesn't have enough brains. A general is one who unifies. no matter how meritocratic we are...we would never install a man who is only capable of rioting. But, on the other hand, if he has brains enough he could be the general. He's not just being picked as the favorite to win. Kizan was the closest to the general because he was both literate and skilled. When it comes to strength, Lando is the better man.
The supervisor's assessment is harshly worded, but seems to acknowledge his fighting ability.
And the fact that he would bother to say such a thing.
Are you finished with ...... discharge procedures?
Oh, it's all over. They were right, you've made a name for yourself not only with your people, but with the demon tribe as well. Then do your best to keep your name from being tarnished.
The guys the overseer talked about were probably the instructors.
I just joined the demon king's army and it was impossible for me to become a general.
Rank, fame, and power...none of it was enough.
But this time the instructors had prepared a platform for me to gain fame for overthrowing a general candidate.
The instructors told me to be good enough to kill each other, and this is my chance to climb up.
When I finally understood the meaning of this recommendation, I naturally said.
"You're so merciless, what are you going to do when you die?
By then, they will be laughing at you.
"Oh, I hate myself for being able to imagine it so easily.
The instructors are too kind to even use the word "Sparta," but you can't help but laugh at their whips.
While laughing at the instructors' reason for participating in this tournament, you sit in the wheelchair provided by the supervisors, and the devil appears before you know it and takes control of the wheel.
Then I'll go so that I don't waste my chance.
You leave the infirmary, usually to be seen by the supervisor who leaves first.
I proceed slowly.
I move forward, but my progress is slowed to a halt.
You are.
I've been waiting for you.
The big demon, Kizan, who had changed from his street clothes to a kimono, was standing there with his back against the wall.
The demon pushing the wheelchair is about to say something, but I restrain him with my hand.
"What do you want? You're wounded and unarmed, as you can see. Would you like your revenge to come after you've healed?
"I will not shamelessly challenge you to battle now. I only want to ask you one thing.
What you want to hear?
I didn't feel the atmosphere of conflict, such as murder, malice, or fighting spirit, so I took a relaxed stance, but the demon in front of me said he had something to ask me as a human.
You said I wasn't good enough to be a general. You said I wasn't good enough for the general's job... and that I lacked the essence of the species.
"Oh, you said that,
I remember saying exactly what I felt, in the heat of battle.
The demon had waited all the way to ask me his true intentions.
I thought he was diligent for an ogre, or rather a man who cared about details.
Any other demon would have forgotten what I said and would be drinking with his frustration at losing.
But the man in front of me didn't do that, and demanded an answer.
"Answer me, what am I missing?
Are you so disappointed that you lost, or are you disappointed that you didn't become a general?
You're right. ......
I don't have much to say to a demon that has lost its way.
Yeah, the demons I knew seemed to enjoy living. Drinking and fighting, they seemed to enjoy it the most when it came to those two things.
On the other hand, the serious work seemed to be done with reluctance, and the words are connected.
Kizan furrows his brow at those words and says with a look on his face that he doesn't understand.
There may be pride and ideology, but he is always reasonably relaxed, and when he gives it his all, he gives it his all, just like a child's energy to an adult.
That's what I think of as an ogre.
You seem to be in a higher position, why don't you relax a little? I can't tell you to be a natural like the instructors, but you'll get tired if you keep tensing up.
I don't see that in this demon.
I think it's admirable for the demon to embody such a word, but to me it looks like he's being forced into a mold and feeling trapped.
The ...... demon is all about strength.
"Yeah, I know.
If I had, I would have kept working out and gotten to where I am now.
I don't know what you're trying to do, but it's paying off.
"Yet, I am defeated by you.
The demon spun the words as if to check himself, as if to look at himself.
"Was I living in the wrong way?
I can neither confirm nor deny that statement.
There is no right or wrong way to live.
I believe there is no right or wrong way to live.
I don't think this is the kind of thing to ask of someone who stood in the way of the outcome of what I believed in and pushed forward, but I also felt it was wrong to be silent.
I just said the honest words.
You asked me what I was missing and I just said what I felt. I don't think that's right.
You ask the demon to let go of the steering wheel and, using your moving arms, wheel forward.
If you get close enough, you'll be able to tap the huge body that you look up at.
To begin with, life is meant to be lived with mistakes. It's impossible for everything to be right. Even the so-called king instructor was beaten by the president. It's not right to think that one loss to a human is a wrong way of life.
I happened to win this time, but I can't say for sure that I'll win the next round.
You'll get another one. You've got a next one. Next time I want to win without getting shredded like this.
Next time, you want a rematch with me.
"I don't want to do it right away, but I want to grow up and fight when I'm old enough to beat the crap out of you.
Well, then, I'll do my best. I'll do my best to beat you next time.
If I'm not mistaken, Kizan smiled with a smile on his face and turned to leave.
"I've heard that the basic flow of demons is to have a party after a fight.
I was just telling an old story that Instructor Kio told me the other day.
At my words, Kizan stops and just turns his head.
With that face.
We'll have a drink when we're ready.
I showed her a gesture that seemed to stir up her drinking cup, and then she smiled clearly.
He replied firmly and this time Kizan walked away.
A few exchanges, a chance encounter with a clumsy demon.
Feeling slightly tired and satisfied with that, I asked the demon to return to the room where everyone was waiting.
Word of the Day
Somehow, I had a feeling we'd be friends for a long time.
Entering a Company From Another World!?
異世界からの企業進出！？転職からの成り上がり録『祝1億PV突破！！』　
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/entering-a-company-from-another-world/
Action Adventure Comedy Ecchi Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Angels Average-looking Protagonist Beautiful Female Lead Childcare Demon Lord Demons Dungeons Elves Fallen Angels Fantasy World Game Elements Human-Nonhuman Relationship Level System Male Protagonist Modern Day Monsters Older Love Interests Polygamy Pregnancy R-15 Summoned Hero Transported to Another World Vampires Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1881dn/
七士七海