119.Mess Around
都市国家連合であるヴィシーから独立を宣言したピュルサン。
その初代国家元首となったミノソンは、国家成立時点から常に追い詰められていた。独立はしたものの、崩壊すると考えていたヴィシーは未だ健在で、敵対していたはずのフォカロルとの交流すら始めている。
対して、ピュルサンは友好的関係を結ぶべきフォカロルとは距離が離れており、人も物も、多くが遅れて入ってくる。頼りにしていたフォカロルの領主一二三とは、友好的な交流どころか自らの領地をすら長く留守にしているという。
そんな中で、状況を打開する策を求めたミノソンは、情報は頻繁に入るように腐心していた。今日もフォカロル方面に派遣している者からの伝令が執務室を訪ねてきている。
「......ヴィシーとオーソングランデの国境に、フォカロルの領兵が展開している、だと?」
すっかり痩けた頬をさすり、ミノソンは情報を持ち帰った伝令に視線を向けた。その目の周囲にはどす黒く隈が刻まれている。
「正確には、駐留していると言うべきかと。ヴィシーに対して陣を敷いているというわけではありません。その目的は、凶暴化した魔物に即応し、領地を守るためだとしています」
鬼気迫る表情のミノソンの顔だが、見慣れてしまった伝令は淡々と状況を説明する。
「実際、凶暴な人型の魔物が同地域で確認されており、当該地域のギルドでも被害が出ており、今回の行動はギルドからの要請でもあるようです」
「ギルドが、か。普通なら、兵士の手に負えない魔物を、ギルドに依頼するものだが、まったく、逆転しているな」
はは、とぎこちなく笑い、ミノソンは調査員からの書類をデスクに置いた。
「考えてみれば、“普通”とか“通常”などと言う言葉が通じる相手なら、こんなにヴィシーを滅茶苦茶にされることも無かった、か......」
椅子に背を預けたミノソンは、濁った目を床に落とした。
ため息が、もれる。
「......五十人程の部隊を設定し、フォカロル領軍と合流させろ。地域の平和の為に協力するとでも言って、多少強引にでも帯同させるように」
「はぁ......」
その意図するところがわからず、伝令は半端な返答を返した。
「フォカロルの領主が、常識が通用しない、何をするかわからない相手なら、せめてヴィシーに対して近しく見えるように共同作戦を無理やりにでもやっておく。フォカロルがどういうつもりで動いたにしても、ヴィシーから見てピュルサンとフォカロルが友好的だと判断されれば、それでいい」
せめてそれくらいは利用させてもらわねば、と誰に対するでもなく、ミノソンは小さな言葉を呟いた。
その姿を見て、伝令の男は我らが国家元首は衰えた、と感じた。
まだピュルサンが都市国家だった頃であれば、ミノソンはもっと長い目で見た計画を立てていただろうし、およそ一地方にすぎないフォカロルなど、その計画の中で封じ込めるための動きをしていただろう。
政治を無視する横暴さによってフォカロルが躍進した事で、それが自らの予測を裏切る結果となった事で、ミノソンは壊れてしまったのかもしれない。
「時間が無い。編成が出来次第すぐに出発するように」
「では、軍部へお伝えして参ります」
「失礼します」
退室し、軍の司令部がある建物へと歩きながら、伝令は思いを巡らせていた。
「どうせ合流したところで、ピュルサンとフォカロルでは技術的にも練度でも戦力的には雲泥の差なのだから、厄介者か無駄飯喰らいの扱いにしかなるまい。平和のための助力と言えば聞こえは良いが、果たしてそれをヴィシーの狸どもがまともに受け止めるだろうか?」
流通が鈍った結果、物価が上がり、繁華街であった通りも閉めたままの店が目立つようになった。
客引きの声は小さく、強い風に煽られて道行く人々の耳に届いているかどうか。
人々の表情は暗い。独立したばかりとは思えないほど、先の見えない国の状況に心身ともに疲れきっている。
「軍がどうとか、印象がどうとか言っている場合か? 今実際に民は飢えの可能性に怯えている。まずはこれをどうにかすべきではないのか......」
立ち止まった男は、人々の顔を見て思考に耽る。
「......よし、決めた」
再び歩き出した男は、再び軍の司令部へと歩き始めた。
だが、やがて司令部へ辿りついた男が軍上層部の相手に話したのは、ミノソンの言葉とは全く違うものだった。
「国家元首からの指令です。十名程の部隊を編成し、オーソングランデへと向かい、女王へ謁見を求めるように、と。私も大使として同行します」
常識が通じない相手とやり取りするのが大変だと言うなら、話が通じそうな相手と交渉すればいい。伝令の男は、大胆にも無断でピュルサンの大使をやってみる事にした。
「急ぎましょう。おそらく、余裕は然程ありません」
国家元首に発覚するまでの時間か、ピュルサン崩壊までの時間か、余裕がないのはどちらの事なのか、言葉を発した伝令自身にもわからなかった。
「よお」
「え、あれ......りょ、領主様!?」
「馬を休ませてやってくれ。長旅に付き合ってくれたからな、何か美味いものも食わせてやると良い」
フォカロルの入口、検問前に突然騎乗で現れた一二三は、ひらりと馬から飛び降りると、困惑する兵士に手綱を渡してさっさと町へ入っていった。
ブルブルと鼻を鳴らす馬の顔を見て、次に去っていく領主の後ろ姿を見た兵士は、最後に同僚の顔を見た。
すぐに、顔をそらされたが。
「......えっ?」
「ここはいいから、領主様の言われた通りに馬を連れていけ」
「あっ、はい!」
手綱を手に困惑している兵士は、上司に言われて恐る恐る馬を連れて城の厩舎へと向けて歩いて行く。
何かの拍子で馬に傷でも付けようものなら、何をされるかわかったものではない。
馬の方は疲れているせいか大人しく、見慣れた街の風景を懐かしそうに見ながら、兵士に合わせてゆっくりと歩いて行った。
「やれやれ、ここしばらくは平和だったのだがな。また何か騒動でも起きるんじゃあないか? 押さえ役のアリッサ長官がご不在の今、もし戦闘になれば領主様が直接指揮をなさるのか......」
町の警備にあたるこの兵士は、フォカロル領兵として王都から選抜されてやって来た最古参の兵士で、現在は小隊長の肩書きを持っている。
アロセールでの戦闘にも参加し、一二三に嬲り殺される敵兵を目の当たりにしている。
「いや、違うな。あれは指揮とかそういうのじゃなかったな。あれは単に虐殺を見せられただけだったな」
自分がやったのは後片付けだけだった、と乾いた笑いを浮かべる小隊長を見た兵士たちは、何がおかしいのだろうと首をかしげていた。
一二三が向かった方向から歓声が聞こえてくる。
街の人々が、領主の無事な帰還に湧いているのだろう。街は急激に人口が増えたせいか、一二三の戦いぶりを知る者の比率は非常に少ない。語り草となって、街の酒場などで語られる話を小隊長も耳にしたことがあるが、ほとんどが美化されたものだった。
「領主様の帰還、か」
怖い反面、またあの狂騒の最中に放り込まれるのかと思うと、小隊長は心がそわそわする気持ちを覚えていた。ヴィシー進攻もホーラント遠征も、大変だったが楽しかった。
今は平和ではあるが、またあの無茶苦茶な戦いを間近で見られるかもしれないのは、少し楽しみでもある。
「さて、仕事に勤しみますか」
「お帰りなさいませ」
「ああ、しばらく寝てるから、放っておいてくれ」
何でもない日常のように話す一二三とカイムを、周りの職員たちは目を丸くして見ている。
前触れもなく帰ってきた領主にも驚いたが、まるで日課から戻ったかのように迎えるカイムにも驚いていた。
領主館は内も外もざわめいており、館の中は一二三が休む事を知った職員たちの説明で最低限の騒音で済んではいたが、領主館前から街へいたる通り沿いでは人々が口々に領主の帰還を伝達しながら、喜びに湧いていた。
「大騒ぎになりましたね」
「そりゃそうだろう。俺だって騒ぎたい気持ちはわかる」
右往左往する職員を見ていたパリュの言葉に、ドゥエルガルが眉をしかめて応えた。
荒野に単身入り込んで戻ってくるなど、前人未到の事なのだ。一二三の戦果があったにせよ、住民のいくらかは荒野からは流石に無事では帰れないだろうと思っていただろうし、他の何割かは荒野へ向かったという話自体を信じていなかったかもしれない。
「その割には、ドゥエルガルさんは冷静ですね」
「......周りが浮ついていると、逆に冷静になれるってもんだ」
二人が話している間にも、カイムの指示を受けた職員たちが住民たちを落ち着かせていた。
どうやら、明日にでも状況を発表するので、今日は領主を静かに休ませるようにと言って回っているらしい。さらに、帰還祝いは盛大にやるので、それまで仕事に励むようにとの言葉も付いているようだ。
「いいのかね、あんな事を勝手に決めて」
「良いのではないですか? 誰が発表するとは言っていませんから、カイムさんが領主様の話を聞いて発表すればいいわけですし。お祝いに領主様が出てくるなんて職員の口からは一言も言われていませんからね」
何かの書類を書き付けながら、職員たちの話の内容を拾い上げたパリュの言葉に、ドゥエルガルは頭を掻いて笑った。
「パリュ、お前も中々強くなったな」
「そうですか? それよりも、これから街はしばらく特需に
そして、とパリュはデュエルガルを見上げてニコリと笑った。
「その準備に人手が必要ですよね? まだまだ新規の流入はありますから、どんどんポストを作ってくださいね?」
さらにパリュは手紙を出さなくては、と続けた。
「手紙?」
「奥様にですよ」
パリュが言う奥様とはオリガの事だ。
「なんでまた」
「怒られたくないからですよ。領主様が帰還された事を、私たちが黙っていたと奥様に知られたらと思うと......」
「良し、軍から馬と人手を出してもらおう。速度最優先で、帰りは奥様を連れて帰れるように手配しておく。手紙の用意を頼む!」
何かから逃げるように走って出ていったドゥエルガルの後ろ姿を見て、パリュはクスッと笑った。
「アリッサ長官にも出さないといけませんね」
忙しいことです、とパリュは軽い足取りで自分の執務室へと戻っていった。
一二三帰還の報は、あっという間に町中に広まった。
増え続けた街の人々はかなりの割合で一二三の顔を知らず、その姿は黒目黒髪の青年で、細い剣を巧みに操り、敵を華麗に討ち果たすというような話ばかりが広まっている。
英雄の帰還は街の活性化に直結し、その日は深夜になっても街のあちこちの酒場から灯りが消えることは無かった。
ところが、期待された領主の言葉は翌日になっても翌々日になっても発表される事は無く、不穏な噂が街に流れ始めた。
実は、その頃になってようやく一二三は長い眠りから目を覚ましていた。
ベッドにあぐらをかいて座った一二三は、自分の左手を見つめて、右手で頭を掻いていた。
視線の先にある左手の全ての指先が、第二関節まで固く変質していたのだ。
まるで、硬い樹木のように。
Chapter 119: Mess Around
Pursang which declared its independence from Vichy which is a combination of city-states.
Minoson, who became its very first head of state, was constantly driven to the wall since the time the nation was established. Although they became independent, Vichy, he considered to collapse soon, is still going strong and has even begun to interact with Fokalore which should have been hostile to them.
On the other hand Pursang, which ought to have a friendly relationship, is far away from Fokalore and thus people and goods come largely delayed. Hifumi, the feudal lord of Fokalore on whom he relied, has even decided to take a long absence from his own territory, to say nothing about keeping up the friendly exchange.
Looking for a plan to break the deadlock of the state of affairs in such circumstances, Minoson did his best to frequently gather new information. Even today one of the messengers, who has been sent in the direction of Fokalore, has come visiting his office.
"... The territorial forces of Fokalore have been deployed at the border between Orsongrande and Vichy, you say?" (Minoson)
Scraping his thoroughly thinned-out cheek, Minoson turned his look at the messenger who brought in the news. The area around his eyes is tinged with a darkish shade.
"To be precise it should be "stationed" I guess? It's not like they have taken up a position against Vichy. Their objective is to protect the territory in response to the monsters who turned ferocious, I assume."
The countenance of Minoson's face is ghastly, but the messenger, who got used to that, reports the intelligence indifferently.
"In reality ferocious human-shaped monsters have been confirmed to linger in said area and there have been victims even at the guilds of the concerned areas. It looks like the current mobilization has happened upon a request from the guild."magic
"The guild it is, huh? Usually the guild is requested to deal with monsters which can't be managed by soldiers, however that's a complete turn-around." (Minoson)
"Haha", with an awkward laugh Minoson placed the documents of the investigator on his desk.
"Come to think of it, if the other party comprehended such words like "commonly" or "usually", they wouldn't plunge Vichy into such a mess, eh...?" (Minoson)
Entrusting his back to the chair, Minoson lowered his dull eyes towards the floor.
He leaks a sigh.
"... Create a unit of around 50 people and have them join up with Fokalore's feudal army. Tell them that it's a cooperation for the sake of protecting the peace of the area and make sure they are taken along even if you use a slightly high-handed manner." (Minoson)
"Haa..."
Without understanding Minoson's aim, the messenger gave an unenthusiastic reply.
"Common sense doesn't apply to the feudal lord of Fokalore. If the other party is someone you don't know what they will do next, let's at least make a joint operation in order to be seen as close by Vichy, even if it's forcibly. It will be fine if Vichy judges Pursang and Fokalore to be friendly with each other." (Minoson)
"If they let me at least use them to such an extent", Minoson muttered in a small voice without addressing anyone in particular.
Seeing his state, the male messenger felt
If it was the time when Pursang was still a city-state, Minoson would probably make more plans while looking at the long term benefits. He would have likely moved in order confine something like Fokalore, that is nothing more than just one district, in his own plans.
Minoson might have ended up broken by the situation of Fokalore rushing ahead by oppressing and ignoring politics and thus betraying Minoson's expectations.
"There's no time. Depart immediately as soon as the formation has been completed." (Minoson)
"Then I shall go to convey this to the military authorities."
"Excuse me."
Exiting the room, the messenger was deeply in thought while walking towards the building where the army's headquarters is located.
"Since there's a world of difference in war potential and practical experience between Pursang and Fokalore, even if we joined up with them, no matter what, it won't become anything but us being treated as burden or parasites. It gives a nice ring if you speak of it as support for the sake of peace, but will the sly foxes of Vichy really accept that at its head value?"
As result of the circulation of money and good weakening, the cost-of-living had risen and the closed shops, even in the streets of the shopping district, were standing out.
It's uncertain whether the small voices of the barkers are reaching the ears of the people walking down the streets stirring them up in a coercing manner.
The expressions of the people are dispirited. Even their bodies and minds are exhausted by the situation in the country, which doesn't seem to have a future, to a degree that one wouldn't believe that we got independent just recently.
"In that case, what about the army? What about the impressions? I'm currently scared of the possibility of the citizens actually starving. Shouldn't we first do something about this one way or another..?"
The man, who stopped, is lost in his thoughts while looking at the faces of the people.
"... Alright, I decided."
Beginning to walk once more, the man set out to the army's headquarters once again.
However, what the man, who finally reached the headquarters before long, told to the party of the army's top brass was something totally different from what Minoson had told him.
"It's an order from the head of the state. Organising a unit of around 10 soldiers, head towards Orsongrande and request an audience with the queen. I will also accompany them as ambassador."
If you say that it's difficult to deal with a party that doesn't abide to common sense, it's better to negotiate with a party that looks like they understand said common sense.
"Let's hurry. It's likely that we don't have much time left."
Whether it was the time left until the head of state discovered his lie or whether it was the time left until the collapse of Pursang; the messenger, who declared those words, didn't know himself which of the two situations had no time left.
"Yoo." (Hifumi)
"Eh? Huh...? L-Lord-sama!?"
"Please have the horse take a rest. It will be fine to feed it something delicious since it kept me company on my long trip." (Hifumi)
Hifumi, who suddenly appeared mounted in front of the inspection at the entrance of Fokalore, nimbly jumped off the horse, passed the reins to a baffled soldier and promptly entered the city.
The soldier watched the retreating figure of the feudal lord leaving, then he looked at the expression of the horse snorting and trembling and lastly checked the face of his colleague.
That soldier turned away his face right away though.
"... Eh?"
"Since this place's fine, take the horse along as Lord-sama told you."
"Ah, yes!"
The soldier, who is bewildered with the reins in his hand, walks towards the stable of the castle while timidly taking along the horse as told by his superior.
There's no one who knew what would be done to him if he caused an injury to the horse by some chance.
As result of the horse being tired it was docile and walked slowly together with the soldier while observing the dearly missed view of the city it got used to.
"Good grief, this place has been peaceful for a while. Won't some turmoil occur once again? With Military Director Alyssa being currently absent for the suppression campaign, Lord-sama will take direct command if it comes to a battle, won't he...?"
This soldier, who was successful at the defence of the city, is currently holding the title of platoon leader as one of the longest-serving soldiers who had been picked from the capital as Fokalore's territorial soldier.
Participating in the battle of Arosel, he had been personally present when the enemy was killed and made fun of by Hifumi.
"No, it's different. That wasn't something you'd call commanding or such. It was merely a display of slaughter."
The soldiers, who saw the platoon leader making a dry laugh, were puzzled wondering what might be so ridiculous.
Shouts of joy can be heard from the direction where Hifumi went.
As result of the city's population radically increasing the ratio of people knowledgeable of Hifumi's fighting style are very few. The platoon leader also happened to hear the stories which are told in the city's bars with Hifumi as topic, but most of them were glorifications.
"The return of Lord-sama, huh?"
Although the invasion of Vichy and the expedition to Horant were difficult, those were definitely fun.
Currently it's peaceful, however being able to observe those absurd battles from close-by once again is also something I'm looking forward to.
"Well then, I got to do my work diligently, eh?"
"Welcome home." (Caim)
"Ah, please leave me alone since I'm going to rest for a while." (Hifumi)
The surrounding staff members stare in wonder at the talk between Caim and Hifumi which is similar to a trivial everyday occurrence.
They were also surprised about the feudal lord returning without prior notice, but likewise they were astonished of Caim who welcomed him as if the feudal lord had simply returned from his daily routine.
With the inside and outside of the lord's mansion being astir, the explanation of the staff members, who knew about Hifumi taking a rest within the mansion, finished with a minimum of noise, but the people, who came to know of the feudal lord's return from the city's soldier in front of the lord's mansion, expressed their joy.
"It became an uproar." (Paryu)
"That's only natural. Even I understand their feeling of wanting to make a fuss." (Doelgar)
Doelgar replied to the words of Paryu, who looked at the staff members going right and left, while knitting his brows.
Something like coming back after entering the wastelands alone is an unprecedented event. Even if considering Hifumi's military gains, some of the residents have likely believed that he won't be able to return safely from the wastelands to some extent. An unknown ratio of the others probably didn't believe in the story that he had gone to the wastelands in itself.
"Considering all that, you are quite calm, Doelgar-san." (Paryu)
"... I'm able to cool down myself if my surroundings are restless." (Doelgar)
Even while those two were talking, the staff members received instructions from Caim to calm down the citizens.
Given that the state of affairs will be made known tomorrow, he is apparently going around telling them so that the feudal lord can peacefully rest today. Moreover, since there will be a grand celebration of the lord's return, he asks them to strive in their work until then.
"I wonder if it's alright for him to selfishly decide such a matter." (Doelgar)
"Isn't it fine? Since we haven't been told who will make the announcement, it will be a good excuse if Caim-san announces it after listening to Lord-sama's story. Not a single word has escaped from the staff members' mouth that Lord-sama will appear at the celebration." (Paryu)
Doelgar smiled at the words of Paryu, who picked up the contents of the staff members' chats while writing something down in the documents, while scratching his head.
"Paryu, you have become quite strong, too." (Doelgar)
"Is that so? Rather than that, please pass on the communication to not be negligent in preparing the goods particularly in regards to luxury grocery items since the city will sink in emergency demands for a while from now on." (Paryu)
"And", Paryu looked up to Doelgar and smiled brightly,
"Manpower is necessary for those preparations, right? Please create post's steadily since there's still much more of fresh influx to come." (Paryu)
"Moreover I haven't sent a letter", Paryu continued.
"Letter?" (Doelgar)
"To his wife-sama, that is." (Paryu)
The wife Paryu is talking about is Origa.
"Why again?" (Doelgar)
"It's because I don't want her to get angry. If I consider what will happen if his wife-sama gets to know that we stayed silent about the return of Lord-sama..." (Paryu)
"Alright, let's procure men and horses from the army. I will arrange their return so that they can take his wife-sama and come back with speed as maximum priority. I leave the letter to you!" (Doelgar)
Looking at the retreating figure of Doelgar, who left running as if he was escaping from something, Paryu slipped a chuckle.
"It won't do if I don't send one to Military Director Alyssa, too." (Paryu)
"It's a hectic situation", Paryu returned to her own office with a light pace.
The news of Hifumi's return spread within the city in the blink of an eye.
Quite the percentage of the people in the continuously increasing population of the city doesn't know the face of Hifumi. Only stories of him having the appearance of a young man with black pupils and hair, him using a thin sword and him splendidly slaying his enemies are circulating.
The hero's return is directly connected to the invigoration of the city. Even when it became late at night on that day, the lights within the bars all over the city stayed on.
However, as there was no announcement of the feudal lord's anticipated statement once it was the next day and then even the day after, an unresting rumour began to spread in the city.
As a matter of fact, it was at that time when Hifumi finally woke up from his long sleep.
Hifumi, who sat on the bed cross-legged, stared at his left hand and scratched his head with his right hand.
All of the fingers of his left hand in front of him became stiff down to the second joint.
It's completely as if they have turned into solid wood.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido