ダラム山における攻防
――さて、どう攻めるか。
と言っても、山賊についての話ではない。
俺達が目指す地点はヘルシャ達よりも更にぐるっと回り込む必要があるので、到着まではまだ時間が掛かる。
それまではひたすら道中のモンスターを無視しつつ山道を進んで行くだけだ。
問題なのは、目の前の小さな背中......肩口までのサラサラヘアを揺らして歩くワルターに関してのことだ。
トビはワルターの見た目がかなりタイプのようで、もし仲良くなった後で男だと発覚したら......非情に悲しい状態になることが予想される。
友人として、それは余りにも忍びない。
それを防ぐためにも、こうして探りを入れることにした訳だが。
まずは、適当に思い付いたまま脳内に選択肢を思い浮かべてみる。
選択肢その一、不意を突いて後ろから襲い掛かり、体を撫でまわす。
......うん、無いな。
もしワルターが女子だったとしたら、俺はハラスメント行為で一発BANだ。
それ以前に、仮に相手が男だったとしてもこれは無いだろう。
選択肢その二、率直に「お前もしかして男なの?」と聞いてみる。
......現状では却下で。
もしワルターが見た通りの女の子だったら酷く傷つくだろう。
が、女子と言い切るには何とも言葉にできない違和感があるんだよな......どうしてだろう?
見た目は完璧に、執事という服装以外は何処を見ても女子そのものなんだが。
長い睫毛も、艶のある唇も、綺麗な白い肌も、とても男のものとは思えない。
しかし、ヘルシャに女子を男装させて喜ぶような趣味など無さそうなのも引っ掛かるんだよな......。
これは最終手段だな。
選択肢その三、いくつか質問を重ねてさりげなく答えに誘導する。
......。
いや、考えるまでもなくこれでいいじゃん。
上手くやれば答えを得つつ、しかもワルターを傷つけずに済む。
よし、選択肢その三で決定。
キョロキョロと前で敵襲を警戒してくれているワルターに声を掛ける。
「なあ、ワルター。金持ちの屋敷に仕えていて辛い事ってないか?」
「ど、どうしたんですか急に?」
「いや、ストレスが溜まりそうな環境だと思ってな。興味半分なのもあるけど、もし嫌じゃなければ少し話を聞かせてくれないか? 母さんの職場での愚痴を聞き慣れているから、そういう話が中心でも全然構わないんだけど――」
「う、うぅぅぅ......ぐひゅっ、じゅびっ」
「号泣!? わ、悪い! 何か無神経なことを言ったみたいだな!? すまん!」
いきなり事態が暗礁に......。
緊張を解す為の雑談のつもりだったのに、何か特大の地雷を踏み抜いてしまったようだ。
「ち、違うんでず......ぐしゅっ、嬉しくて......。御屋敷でお仕えし始めてから、そんな風に言ってくれる人は居なくて......」
「そ、そうか。俺で良ければ何でも話してくれ............でないと、良心が咎めるし......」
「え? 今、最後になんて言ったんですか?」
「気にしないでくれ」
探りを入れる為の質問だったなんて、今更言えやしない。
こうなったら一から十までちゃんと聞いて受け止めてやる......こいや!
――と思っていたのだけれど。
出るわ出るわ、背が小さいから他の使用人に苛められるだの、暇なときにメイドに着せ替え人形にされるだの、上流階級のマナーが難し過ぎて覚えきれない、学校の勉強をする暇がない等々......。
段々、聞いてて疲れてきた......。
「――という訳なんです。ハインドさんはどう思いますか?」
「! お、ああ、そうだな。その掃除の場面で背が低い事を言い訳にするなって叱られたのは、自分できちんと踏み台を用意しろっていう意味だと思うぞ。少なくとも、今直ぐ背を伸ばせってことではないな」
ワルターの待遇は使用人見習いといった感じで、どうやらかなり厳しい教育を受けている様子だった。
学校には通っているようだが、屋敷に帰るとそれはもう毎日が辛い状況なのだと涙ながらに俺に語って聞かせてくる。
「それと、手が届く範囲だけで良いとかって甘言を
したメイドさんは、恐らく仕込みだな。それでも、これは自分の仕事です。全てやります! と突っぱねて欲しかった訳だな、その家令さんは」
「ボク、そんなに意地悪なことをされていたんですか!?」
驚愕の表情を見せるワルター。
しかし、話を聞く限りワルターが仕えている家は独特の家風を掲げて使用人にまで徹底している節がある。
「ヘルシャも言ってたじゃないか。大事なのは見極めること......つまりはそれも判断力を養う訓練を含んでいるんだろう。届かなかった範囲の掃除、後から誰かがやるって言ってたか? 自分で確認したか?」
「い、いいえ......でも、そんなの難しいですよぉ......」
「ワルターは素直過ぎる感じだからなぁ......もっと相手を疑うことを覚えないと。しかし、個人的に掃除はストレス解消にオススメするぞ。範囲を決めて徹底的にやることで、終わった時に良い感じの達成感を得ることが可能だ。今度、自分から進んでやってみたらどうだ?」
「は、はあ......そうは言っても、お屋敷は基本的に綺麗ですよ? 他の使用人も毎日掃除をして――」
「馬鹿野郎!!!!!!」
「!?」
俺は思わず叫んだ。
ワルター、お前は掃除に関して何も分かっちゃいない!
細い肩をがっしりと掴んで目を見開く。
ワルターが小動物のように怯えた様子を見せるが、構うものか!
「人がそこで生活している限り、汚れが完全に消え去る家などこの世に存在しない! これは絶対だ! 何の為に毎日掃除をすると思っている......毎日汚れが出るからだろうが! 掃除を舐めるな! 屋敷にも必ずお前が掃除するべき箇所が残っている!」
「で、でも、それなら掃除なんてする意味が――」
「それでもだ! それでも毎日、気持ち良く生活する為に掃除をするんだろう!? 掃除に終わりはない、掃除に完璧などない――だからやらなくてもいい? 否! だからこそだ、甘えるんじゃない! 100%が無理でも、90%以上の清潔感を維持するんだよ! それこそが掃除の意義! 存在価値だ!」
「ひぃぃ......」
俺の勢いにワルターが目を回し始める。
しかしこちらの回り続けている口は止まらない、止まれない。
「いいか、ワルター......家事は小さな達成感の積み重ねだ。やって当たり前と言われ、誰にも感謝されず、自己満足ばかりに終わる事も多い......。しかし、しかしだ。その内に、それを続けることで誰かに感謝されることや、評価される機会もきっと訪れる。仮に、お前が家事を極めた時に誰にも評価されなかったとしても......俺だけは必ずお前を褒める。お前は良くやったと、必ず肯定してやる。だから――」
「は、ハインドさん......いえ、師匠!」
「迷わず進め! まずは、お前の手で屋敷中をピカピカに掃除してやるのだ!」
「――はいっ! ワルター、行って参ります!」
そうして俺は、決意を新たに旅立つ弟子を見送って――あれっ?
「わー!? 待て待てワルター! ログアウトするな、まだクエスト中だから! 戻ってこい! 行くなぁーーー!!」
その後、俺はどうにかログアウト寸前のワルターを押し留め、再び目的地に向かって進み始めた。
えーと、何をしようとしてたんだっけ............ああ、そっか。
ワルターの性別を探っているんだった。
何かもう、どうでもよくなってきた気もするが......トビの為にも続けねばなるまい。
ここは再び何か質問を......。
どうせなら先程までの話を活かしつつ。
「そうそう、ワルター。さっきから同僚や上司の使用人の文句は言うのに、仕えているお嬢様には不満が無いんだな。やっぱり好きなのか?」
お、赤くなった。
これはオトコノコポイントに1点加算か?
異性として多少なりとも意識していれば確定なんだが。
「す......好きとか嫌いとかではなくてですね......お嬢様は絶対に道理に沿わないことは言わないのです。ですから純粋に人として、尊敬できるというか......」
「へえ。そのお嬢様が結婚した場合って、お前はどうなんの?」
「? 普通にその結婚相手である旦那様にもお仕えすると思いますが......」
ありゃ、意外と動じない。
お嬢様は恋愛対象に入らないのか。
となると、女? それとも執事だからそういうスタンス?
うーん......もうちょっとダイレクトな質問をするか。
「ワルターって、今好きな人とか居るのか?」
「え!? そ、そのう......あの............」
何だろう、我ながらこの修学旅行の夜みたいな微妙な質問は。
それを聞かれたワルターは俺の方をチラチラ見て、モジモジと言い辛そうにしている。
少し直球過ぎたか......? じゃあ、言い方を変えよう。
「言い難かったら憧れの人とか、単に気になる人でもいいぞ。ちょっとした雑談だから、気軽に答えてくれよ」
「......し、師匠は、とっても凄いと思います。会ったばかりですけど、優しいし、頼りになるし、頭も良くって、えと......うぅ......恥ずかしいです......」
「へ?」
そんなことを上目遣いで言うワルターは、ヘルシャに対する質問をした時よりも――ずっと顔が真っ赤だった。
くりくりとした瞳で、上気した頬でこちらを見詰めてくる。
この質問は駄目だ。
そんな表情をされたら、余計にどっちなのか分からなくなってしまう。
そもそも、憧れの人って聞き方は同姓に対しても当て嵌まるじゃないか。
俺の阿呆......完全に余計な一言......。
「あ、はいっ! えへへ......」
あー可愛いなぁ、畜生! それにしても、手強い......!
結局、俺は目的地に着くまでにワルターの性別を探ることに失敗するのだった。
時間切れかぁ......これはいよいよ、クエスト終わりに嫌われる覚悟で聞かなきゃならんかね......?
Chapter 34 - Regarding The Offense And Defense In Dram Mountain
...Well then, how should I deal with this?
Though, I'm not talking about the bandits here.
To reach the place we are aiming at, we need to take a circuitous path compared to Herscha, it'll take some time to get there.
Until we reach that place, we only have to ignore the monsters and keep walking.
The problem is the small back in front of me...I'm talking about Walter, walking while his smooth shoulder-length hair was swinging around.
Tobi does think that Walter's appearance is to his liking, so if after being on good terms he finds out he's a guy...I can see that turning into quite the pitiful situation.
As his friend, I can't bear to see that happen.
In order to prevent that, I'm acting like a spy here.
First off, I should think of what options I have.
First option, suddenly attacking him from the back and caress his body.
...Yup, no good.
If Walter turned out to be a girl, I'd be banned for harassing.
Even before that, even if he was a guy, there's no way I would do that.
Second option, asking him directly [Are you by any chance a guy?] .
Looking at our current state...option denied.
If Walter was a girl like her looks implied, she would be hurt.
However, I can't bring myself to state that he's definitely a girl...why is that?
Her appearance is flawless, aside from the butler costume, she looks like a girl no matter where you look.
Long eyelashes, glossy lips, lovely white skin...you wouldn't think she's a guy at all.
However, I don't think Herscha comes off as the type of person that would enjoy dressing girls with male clothes as a hobby, and that bothers me...
This calls for my last resort.
Third option, reach a conclusion after asking questions repeatedly.
...
Well, it goes without saying that this is a good option.
If I can do it well enough, I'll get my answer and Walter won't notice.
Alright, let's go with the third one.
I spoke to Walter who was looking around restlessly in case monsters attacked.
[Hey Walter, isn't working for a wealthy family tough?]  (Hind)
[W-Why did you suddenly ask me that?]  (Walter)
[Well, I thought stress would pile up in that kind of environment. It's partly because I'm curious though, if you don't mind, could you tell me a bit about it? I'm used to my mom grumbling about her workplace so I don't really mind listening to that kind of stuff...]  (Hind)
[U-Uuuhhh...*sob *sob*.]  (Walter)
[Tears!? M-My bad! I must have said something really insensitive! I'm sorry!]  (Hind)
Suddenly, the situation has turned bad...
I wanted to talk a bit to ease up the tension, but it seems that I might have stepped onto a major landmine.
[Since I started working there, there has never been anyone that said something like that to me...]  (Walter)
[I-I see. If you are fine with me, you can tell me anything...otherwise, it'll leave a mark in my conscience...]  (Hind)
[Eh? What did you say at the end right now?]  (Walter)
[Don't mind it.]  (Hind)
I can't really tell him at this point that it was a question to try to get information out of him.
With things having turned like this, I'll hear him out until the end!
...Or so I thought.
Once it starts flowing it floods, being bullied by the other servants, being forced to wear maid clothes in his free time, upper class manners being too hard and that he can't memorize them, not having time to study for school and so on...
Gradually, I was getting tired of listening to it...
[-With that being said, what do you think, Hind-san?]  (Walter)
[!! Oh, let's see. That time you said you got scolded while cleaning because you used being short as an excuse, I believe it was because you didn't prepare something like a stool for it. At the very least, I don't think they were telling you to grow taller immediately.]  (Hind)
Walter seems to be a servant apprentice from the treatment he has told me about, seems like he does receive quite the harsh education.
Sounds like he's going to school, but he's telling me how everyday is quite hard when he comes back from school while in tears.
[And the maids that make fun of you telling you that it's fine if you only clean the places you can reach, they are probably educating you.
["Even then, this is my job. I'll do everything!" They want you to reject their proposal like that.]  (Hind)
[Was I really being treated that badly!?]  (Walter)
Walter showed surprise.
However, from what I heard from Walter, it seems like the household that employs him takes pride in their unique traditions and even enforce the way their servants should speak.
[Didn't Herscha say this? That it's important to decide things by yourself...basically, it's probably training to improve your own judgement. The places you couldn't reach to clean up, did they tell you that someone else would clean it up later? Did you make sure of that yourself?]  (Hind)
[N-No...but, that's difficult...]  (Walter)
[Walter, you come off as someone really docile after all...you have to learn to distrust others. However, personally I would recommend you to clean up as a way to reduce stress. Set a scope by yourself and clean up everything thoroughly, and it's possible that you will have a feeling of accomplishment and feel good about yourself. How about you decide to do this by yourself this time?]  (Hind)
[I-I see...even if you say that, you know that the mansion is basically clean all the time right? The other servants clean it up every day-]  (Walter)
[You moron!!!!]  (Hind)
[!?]  (Walter)
I unconsciously shouted.
Walter, you don't know anything about cleaning!
I seized his slender shoulders firmly and opened my eyes wide.
Walter looked frightened like a small animal, but do you think I care!?
[As long as people live in there, there's not a single house that's completely clean! That's a fact! Why do you think they go through the trouble of cleaning every day? ...Obviously, because there's filth every day! Don't look down on cleaning! There should remain places that need you to clean them up within the mansion!]  (Hind)
[B-But, that means that there's no point in cleanin-]  (Walter)
[Even then! That's why they clean up every day to feel good about living in that place right!? There's no end to cleaning, there's no way to completely clean a place...so it's fine to not do it? No! That's why, don't go behaving like a spoiled kid! Even if 100% is impossible, you should clean to maintain it more than 90% clean! That's the meaning of cleaning! That's its raison d'etre!]  (Hind)
[Hiii...]  (Walter)
Due to my vigor, Walter's eyes were spinning.
However, that won't stop my mouth, I won't stop.
[Hear me Walter...housework is an accumulation of senses of accomplishments. People will think that it's a given that you do them, they won't even thank you and many times it will end in just self-satisfaction...
[H-Hind-san...no, master!]  (Walter)
[Go forth without losing your way! First off, you have to leave the mansion sparkly clean with your own hands!]  (Hind)
[-Yes! Walter will go do that now!]  (Walter)
Then, I watched over as I sent my disciple off...oh wait.
[AH!? Wait Walter! Don't log out, we are in the middle of a quest! Come back! Don't gooooo!!]  (Hind)
After that, I was somehow able to make sure Walter didn't log out just before he did, and we once again, headed towards our objective.
Eh, what was I trying to do again?...Ah, that's right.
I was supposed to investigate about Walter's gender.
For some reason, I can't bring myself to care anymore...but I have to keep at it for Tobi's sake.
I should ask him something again...
Anyhow, I should just go back to what we were talking about before.
[Right, Walter. You were complaining about your superiors and the other servants before, but you didn't complain at all about the ojou-sama that employs you. As I thought, do you like her?]  (Hind)
Oh, he turned red.
I guess this gives him being a guy +1 points?
It would become a fact if he recognized her as someone of the opposite sex though.
[It's...it's not really about liking her or hating her...ojou-sama is someone that will definitely act by her own logic. That's why, as a person, I kind of respect her...]  (Walter)
[I see. Once that ojou-sama gets married, what's going to happen to you?]  (Hind)
[?? I believe I would serve her husband too when that time comes...]  (Walter)
Ah, he's unexpectedly not agitated at all.
So he doesn't treat that ojou-sama as a potential romantic interest.
Which means, he's a she? Or is he taking that stance because he's a butler?
Hmm...should I ask him a more direct question?
[Walter, do you have someone you like right now?]  (Hind)
[Eh!? A-ah...eh...]  (Walter)
I wonder what it is, but this kinda feels like the type of delicate questions that are asked at night during a field trip.
Having heard that question, Walter was taking glances at me and was having a hard time speaking up while fidgeting.
Was that too direct...? In that case, let's change the way I phrase it.
[If it's too hard for you to say, you could say a person you admire or have simply taken an interest in. This is just some idle talk, you can freely answer it.]  (Hind)
[I-I think that master is really amazing. I've just met you, but you are kind, I can rely on you, very smart and...uu...this is so embarrassing...]  (Walter)
[Eh?]  (Hind)
The Walter that said that with upturned eyes, his face was...far redder than the time I asked about Herscha.
He was staring at me with his big round eyes and flushed cheeks.
This question is no good.
If he looks at me like that, I won't know which one to think that he is anymore.
To begin with, the way I asked him if he admired anyone, isn't that pointless the same way asking him for his surname is?
Stupid me...I said a word too many...
[Ah, you are welcome! Ehehe...]  (Walter)
Ah...so cute, damn it! Be that as it may, he's tough...!
In the end, by the time we arrived at our destination, I had failed to discover Walter's gender.
I'm out of time...this means that, I should prepare myself to ask him when we finish the quest even if it means I end up getting hated...?
VRMMO no Shien Shokunin ～Top Player no Shikakenin～
ＶＲＭＭＯの支援職人　～トッププレイヤーの仕掛人～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/vrmmo-no-shien-shokunin-%ef%bd%9etop-player-no-shikakenin%ef%bd%9e/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Slice of Life
Adventurers Beautiful Female Lead Blacksmith Brother Complex Calm Protagonist Childhood Friends Clan Building Cooking Crafting Curious Protagonist Dense Protagonist Elemental Magic Fantasy Creatures Game Ranking System Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Healers Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Love Rivals Male Protagonist Misunderstandings MMORPG Ninjas Possessive Characters Priests Siblings Siblings Not Related by Blood Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Younger Love Interests Younger Sisters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4014ds/
二階堂風都