5
「び、びっくりした、大丈夫でしたか?」
「え、ええ」
「なあランス、『美人が降ってくることがあります』って最初の説明にあったか?」
助け起こしてもらいつつ、さりげなく二人を観察した。
一人は亜麻色の髪の、線の細い青年。にこにこ好青年、といった感じだ。もう一人は鳶色というのか、くすんだ赤茶色の髪の、これまた線の細い青年だ。こちらはどちらかというとヘラヘラしている。
二人とも美形で困った。美形は攻略対象の可能性があるのだ。
とりあえず過度に警戒されたくはない。私は短剣をさりげなくスカートの中に忍ばせてから、美しい淑女のお辞儀をした。
「助けていただいて感謝します。ベスと申します」
「あ、ご丁寧にどうも。ラリーです」
「俺はハルでいいぞ。よろしく美人さん」
鳶色のほうがハル。亜麻色のほうはラリーと言うが、さっきハルが『ランス』と呼んだのを聞いてしまっている。
やはり本名は言わないのが得策なんだろう、有名なら名前だけで得意な魔法や従えている幻獣がわかることもあるだろうし。
ちなみに学園長の挨拶にもあったこの『幻獣』とは、新入生が夏の行事で得られるパートナーだ。一人一体自分で卵から孵すと聞いている。第2・第3学年は自分の幻獣を連れ『春』に参加できるのだ。
相手は見たところ幻獣を連れていないが、新入生と決めつけるのは良くない。ヒントの人間である私と偶然を装って接触した可能性もあるのだから。
するとランスが私の体を指差した。
「ところで君、何だか光ってませんか?」
「あっそれ俺も思ってた!」
違った。私に会ったのは偶然らしい。
どうするか。謎の魔法がヒントであるのは察しがつくだろうし、男性二人を相手取りたくはない。ランスもハルも、道具は何を...ん?ランス?ランス!?
突然思い出した。それは攻略本の一節。
亜麻色の髪のランスって、『ランスロット』じゃないか!
彼はそう、「ランスロット・チャリティ。攻略対象、第1学年、うすい茶色の髪に同色の瞳、弓と魔法に才能あり、父は宰相、備考:爽やかだが主人公に会う前は放蕩の気あり」だ。15歳で放蕩とはと私に衝撃を与えた彼だ。
驚いたがこれはしめた。攻略対象はみんな性格がいい。私が悪役令嬢であるとはいえ、ヒントのためであっても何もしていない女の子を攻撃したりはしないだろう。
加えて腕が立つなら一緒にゴールを目指すこともできるじゃないか。ハルについては情報がないが友人のようだし、何かあってもランスロットと2対1なら対応できると思う。
私は口を開き、
「実はこれがヒントのようで...」
確認したら、男子寮一階の東の外装の飾りを三回叩けということでした。
そう言いかけて口をつぐんだ。
「確認の仕方はよくわからないのですが」
そして笑顔を繕い、できる限り自然に繋げた。
何をやっているんだ私は。
この男が本物のランスロット・チャリティである証拠がどこにある!
「というわけで、申し訳ないですが移動しながらお話ししませんか?」
先生方のコピーによる偽物だったとしても、はたまた本物だったとしても、ここで別れるのは悪手だろう。後ろから狙われたりつけられたりしてはたまらない。
コピーの魔法にも限度はあるはず。個人情報は知らない可能性が高いし、話していればボロが出るよう誘導できるかもしれない。
「そうか...そうだね、行きましょうか」
「ああ、構わねえよ」
偽物でないと確信でき次第協力体制に入ろう。
そう考えを固める寸前、私はふと疑問を口に出した。
「あの、ちなみにラリー様...なぜさっきから目を合わせて話されないんですか?」
ランスロットに向かって聞くと、彼は相変わらずにこやかなまま答えた。
「合わせてるじゃないですか、ちゃんと」
「いや私じゃなくて...」
その隣の彼なんですけど。
そう言おうとすると、ハルが楽しそうに笑った。
「よくぞ聞いてくれた!実は一ヶ月前こいつの彼女の一人を奪って以来、話してくれねえ目も合わせてくれねえ!わざとじゃなかったんだけどな!今日もせっかくすぐ近くに転送されて会えたってのに完全無視!」
「そ、そうですか...」
そんな理由が...。しかも彼女『の一人』と。ランスロットは攻略本の情報と違わず、順調に放蕩息子としての道を歩んできたらしい。
弱々しく答えると、ランスロットがさらににこやかな顔になって口を開いた。
「ベス嬢、一人で誰とお話ししてるんですか?」
だんだん怖くなってきました、この笑顔。
私は気まずくなって目をそらした。
***
小雨だが雨が降り始めた。
転送されてからそろそろ30分くらいだろうか、雨が強くなりそうならランスロットとお話しするより雨宿りする場所を探さないと。などと考えていたとき。
ハルが目を細め、どこかを見ながら呟いた。
「おいベス嬢、誰か来るぞ」
「えっ、隠れましょう」
咄嗟にランスロットの手を引き、大きな木の裏に身を潜める。薬草の森だけあって近くに有毒のシダ植物があったので靴で押しのけた。
「ベス嬢、どうかしたんですか?」
「しっ。お静かにラリー様」
ハルは近くに隠れ、依然としてどこか一点を見つめている。それに合わせて目をやった。ランスロットも上着から折りたたみ式の弓を取り出しつつそちらを見た。
雨を手で避けるようにしながら現れたその人物に、私は目を見開いた。
ランスロットが、いた。
Ch 5
"Wow, you scared me. Are you okay?"
"Y-Yeah."
"Hey Lance, was it in the first description that [a beautiful woman may fall]?"
As I was helped up, I subtly observed the two of them.
One was a young man with light blue hair and thin lines. He had a cheerful and likable appearance. The other was a young man with hair that could be described as dark red-brown and thin lines as well. This one had a bit of a smirk on his face.
Both of them were good-looking, which was a problem. Good-looking people were potential targets for conquest.
In any case, I didn't want to be too cautious. I discreetly hid my short sword in my skirt and made a beautiful curtsy.
"Thank you for your help. My name is Beth."
"Oh, thank you for being polite. My name is Larry."
"You can call me Hal. Nice to meet you, beautiful lady."
Hal was the one with the dark red-brown hair. Larry had light blue hair, but I had just heard Hal call him Lance earlier.
It seemed that not revealing one's real name was the best strategy. If someone was famous, their name alone could reveal what magic they possessed and what Phantom Beast they commanded.
By the way, as was mentioned in the Principal's greeting, this "Phantom Beast" is a partner that new students can obtain during the summer event. I heard that you hatch them from eggs one by one. Second and third-year students can participate in the [spring] event with their Phantom Beast.
The opponent doesn't seem to have a Phantom Beast with them, but it's not good to assume that they are a new student. There is also a possibility that they approached me, who is a hint, pretending to be by chance.
Then, Lance pointed to my body.
"By the way, you, aren't you kind of glowing?"
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing!"
It's different. It seems that my encounter with them was a coincidence.
What should I do? I can guess that the mysterious magic is a hint, but I don't want to take on two men. What are Lance's and Hal's tools... hmm? Lance? Lance?!
Suddenly, I remembered a section of the strategy book.
Isn't the Lance with ash-colored hair [Lancelot]?!
He is, "Lancelot*Charity. Target of strategy, first-year student, light brown hair and eyes of the same color, talented with a bow and magic, father is Prime Minister, note: refreshing but has a tendency to be reckless before meeting the protagonist." He is the 15-year-old who gave me a shock with his tendency to be reckless.
I was surprised but I had to deal with this. All of the targets for the strategy are good character. Even though I am a villainess, I wouldn't attack a girl who has done nothing, even if it's just for hints.
Plus, if you have the ability, you can aim for the goal together. I don't have information about Hal, but they seem like a friend and I think I can handle it if something happens with Lancelot by my side.
I opened my mouth,
"Actually, this seems like a hint..."
When I confirmed, it was that I had to knock three times on the east exterior decoration on the first floor of the boys' dormitory.
I said that and closed my mouth.
"I'm not sure how to confirm it though."
And I smiled and connected it as naturally as possible.
What am I doing?
Where is the proof that this man is the real Lancelot Charity?
"So, I'm sorry, but would you mind talking while we move?"
Even if it's a fake made by the teacher's copy magic, or even if it's the real one, it's bad to part here. I can't be aimed at or followed from behind.
There must be limits to copy magic. It's highly likely that they don't know my personal information, and by talking, I might be able to lead them to expose me.
"Is that so... I see, shall we go then?"
"Yeah, it doesn't matter."
We enter into a cooperative system as soon as we are certain that they are not fake.
Just as I was solidifying this thought, I suddenly voiced a question.
"By the way, Larry-sama... why haven't you been making eye contact and speaking since earlier?"
When I asked Lancelot, he answered in his usual cheerful manner.
"I am making eye contact, aren't I, and speaking properly."
"No, not with me... "
I mean with the person next to you.
Just as I was about to say that, Hal laughed happily.
"You noticed! Actually, since I took one of his girlfriends away a month ago, he hasn't talked to me or made eye contact on purpose! But it wasn't intentional! Even though we were conveniently transported here today and finally met, he's completely ignoring me!"
"I, I see..."
For that reason... and also because of one of his girlfriends. It seems Lancelot has been walking the path of a carefree son(prodigal son), as expected from the information in the strategy book.
When I weakly answered, Lancelot's face became even more cheerful and he opened his mouth.
"Miss Beth, who are you talking to by yourself?"
I gradually became scared, of this smile.
I became uneasy and looked away.
***
It was a light rain but it had started to rain.
It's been about 30 minutes since I was transferred, if the rain becomes stronger, I'll look for a place to take shelter instead of talking to Lancelot. I was thinking this when.
Hal narrowed his eyes, and muttered something while looking somewhere.
"Hey Miss Beth, someone's coming."
"Eh, let's hide."
I quickly pulled Lancelot's hand and hid behind a big tree. Because it was an herb forest, there were poisonous ferns nearby, so I pushed them away with my shoes.
"Miss Beth, what's wrong?"
"Shh. Be quiet Larry-sama."
Hal hid nearby and still looked somewhere. I followed his gaze. Lancelot also took out a folding bow from his coat and looked that way.
While trying to avoid the rain with his hand, the person who appeared, I opened my eyes wide.
Lancelot was there.
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