―――分かりません。
「レイラちゃんの存在だってある意味精神的な支えになってるんだ」
何故貴方はそんな眼をしているのでしょうか? 何故魔族を庇うのでしょうか? 人間なのに、弱くて脆くて、私には到底及ばない人間なのに、どうして歯向かうのでしょうか? どうして逃げないのでしょうか? どうしてそんな、意思の籠った瞳をしているのでしょうか?
分かりません。
「奪おうって言うなら―――」
私には全く、分かりません。
「―――君は僕の敵だ」
分かりません。私には全く、分かりません。
元々、彼女―――ステラには、桔音を殺すつもりはなかった。
彼女は人間の住まうこの大陸へと足を踏み入れてから、世界の揺らぎの原因である勇者を浄化するべく動いてきた。歩き続け、前に立ち塞がるものは魔獣であろうと、自然障害であろうと、全てその圧倒的な力で命を奪ってきた。
彼女は『浄化』という言葉を、人間と魔族にのみ使う。魔獣は人間達に害為す存在ではあるが、そこに知能はない。彼らは生存競争の中で、己の本能に従い、精一杯生きようとしているだけなのだ。
それでも彼女は彼らをなんの躊躇いも無く殺す。生存競争の中で生きる彼らには、同じく弱肉強食という自然の摂理を持って対応しているのだ。
―――自分の方が強い、だから弱い魔獣の命を奪った。
ただそれだけのことなのだ。
では逆に、彼女にとって『浄化』するべき対象である人間や魔族達は、手当たり次第に殺しているのか、と言われればそうでもない。
彼女は出会った人間の心を見極め、善意を持った良心的な人間に対してはその力を振るわない。『浄化』とは、悪意に染まった人間や、罪を犯した人間の心をその力を持って浄化し、肉体から純粋な魂だけを開放することなのだ。
故に、彼女は悪意を持って行動する人間を『浄化』する。
人攫い、強姦魔、山賊、殺人者、泥棒、復讐、そういった悪意のある罪を犯す人間を『浄化』する。
何故なら『悪意』とは、神が創りだした尤も最悪な感情だからだ。神を殺す、それを目標に掲げている彼女にとって、それは見逃せないのだ。
故に、彼女がギルドに辿り着いた時、冒険者達が勇者に対して浮かべていた怒りと、桔音の形容し難い復讐心を感じ取り、彼女は動いた。
ギルドをその力で持って吹き飛ばし、その感情を収めようとしたのだ。怒りを覚えるのは生物の正しい感情故に、殺しはしなかったが、意識を奪う程度のことはするつもりであった。
だが、そこで立ちあがった二人。
人間である桔音はともかく、魔族であるレイラには情けを掛けるつもりは毛頭ない。彼らは悪で、何の罪もない者を意味もなく殺す。『使徒』である彼女が、見逃す筈もなかった。
最初の一撃は、レイラではなく寧ろ桔音に対しての警告のつもりだった。
圧倒的な力を目の前にした時、生物は本能的に逃走を選ぶ。
レイラの実力が自分に届き得る物だと判断したステラは、周囲への被害を考えて戦いながら国の外へとレイラを誘導し、何の罪もない人々への被害は最小限に収めるつもりだった。
だからこそ、尤も近くにいる人間である桔音に逃走して貰おうと、まずは警告で彼我の差を見せつけたのだ。
「神殺しがどうした、僕は妄想の中で24回世界を滅ぼした男だぞ」
彼は逃げなかった。寧ろ逆―――レイラを護る様に、自分の前に立ち塞がったのだ。
彼女にはソレの意味が分からなかった。魔族を人間が庇う意味が分からなかった。命を投げ捨てる様な行動の、動機が理解出来なかった。
「......その行動の意味は分かりかねますが......魔族を庇おうと言うのなら、貴方も同じです。魔族もろとも、浄化しましょう」
「あはは、掛かって来いよ白髪ドレスちゃん......逃げるなら今の内だぜ?」
だが、理解する必要はない。敵である魔族を護ろうと言うのならば、それは十分浄化の対象になる。ステラはその手に持った稲妻の槍を構え、バチバチと弾ける様な音を響かせた。
◇
「......レイラちゃん、悪いんだけど瘴気でナイフか何か作ってくれない?」
「え......あ、うん」
迷いはなく、目の前で武器を構えるステラを前に、桔音はまず武器を入手することにする。幸い、レイラは瘴気で武器を作れる。桔音は、少し黒ずんでいるけれど、しっかりとナイフへ変貌した瘴気の武器を受け取り、ステラに向かって一歩踏み出す。
勇ましい桔音とは対照的に、レイラは最初の一撃以降放心状態だった。ステラへの恐怖と、戦ったら死ぬという確信があった。
「きつね君! 駄目だよ、死んじゃうよ!」
自分を護る為に、桔音がステラへ向かって行くのを止めるべくそう言った。逃げるべきだと思った。
正直、レイラは自分が桔音にとってうっとおしい存在だということを理解している。我儘で、自分勝手で、桔音のことも考えずに自分優先で行動する自分が、桔音に好かれていないことも分かっている。でも彼女にとってそれは何も問題ではなかった。心も痛まないし、桔音に好かれたいとも思っていないからだ。
自分が好きならそれで良い、桔音は美味しいし、面白いし、一緒にいて楽しいから付いて来ている。ただそれだけのことなのだ。
彼女は桔音に恋をしているというが、結局の所それは間違いなのだ。
彼女は桔音が美味しくて面白いから惹かれているだけ、お菓子をくれるおじさんに子供が寄って来る様なものなのだ。そうでなければ、桔音に嫌われている事を享受出来る筈もないのだから。
だから、桔音に言った言葉は桔音を心配して言った言葉ではない。無謀だと思ったからそう言ったのだ。
桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべながら振り向き、レイラにそう言った。
あまりにはっきりと、自信に満ちた様な声音でそう言う桔音に、レイラは思わず息を飲んだ。
何故そんなことを言えるのか、何故逃げないのか、それは分からなかったけれど、レイラはそう言う桔音の表情に思わず、見惚れてしまった。
「そこに居て―――君は僕が護るよ」
いつもの薄ら笑いではなく、優しげに微笑んでそう言った桔音に、レイラは胸の高鳴りを覚えた。
心臓が大きく鼓動し、体内の血液が一気に熱くなった気がした。ドキドキと留まることを知らない心臓の鼓動と、何か込み上げてくるような感情が膨れ上がる。
顔が熱い、無意識に熱い溜め息が出た。
自分で自分の事が分からない。夜でもないのに発情してしまったのだろうか? でも、彼女にははっきり分かる、今までの発情していた時と――――何かが違っていることが。
桔音を見ると、きゅうっと胸が締めあげられる様な感覚に囚われる。下唇を噛んで、眉が切なげにハの字につりあがる。膨れ上がり、どうにも出来ない大きな感情に、何故かじんわりと涙が溢れた。
切なくて、苦しくて、でも嫌じゃなくて、ぐちゃぐちゃした感情が胸の中で大きくなって、堪え切れない気持ちの昂りがあった。
「きつね......君......」
名前を呼び、また心臓が大きく鼓動した。
「はぅ......なに、これ......知らない......こんなの知らないよぉ......!」
ステラへと一歩ずつ近づき、逆にレイラから一歩ずつ離れて行く桔音。その後ろ姿を見るだけで、レイラはぽろぽろと涙を溢しながら胸を抑えた。
そのまま地面にへたり込み、桔音の背中に手を伸ばす。届かないその手は、空を掴んでは虚しく動く。
「きつね君......行かないでぇ......!」
レイラはそう溢して、小さな子供の様に嗚咽を漏らした。
「......貴方は私に勝てると思っているのですか?」
「勝てる勝てないじゃないんだよ......ここでお前に立ち向かうか、向かわないかだ」
ステラと対峙し、瘴気のナイフを構えた桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべながらそう言う。ステラはそれに対しても無表情で、瞳にもなんの感情の起伏も感じられなかった。
「そんなにあの魔族が大事なのですか?」
「大事じゃないよ、正直死んでくれるなら直ぐにでも死んでほしいくらいだ......でも―――」
そこで一旦言葉を区切り、桔音は続ける。
「―――それは今じゃない」
「......分かりません」
「分からなくても良いよ。あの子は僕のストーカーだ、被害届を出した覚えはまだないよ」
「言ってる意味は分かりませんが......庇おうと言うのなら、貴方も浄化します」
会話は終わりだ、とばかりに桔音とステラはお互い構えた。彼我の差は歴然、桔音が勝つ可能性は一片たりとも存在しないだろう。
でも、ここで立ち向かわなかったらレイラが死ぬ。そうなった時、果たして桔音は喜んだだろうか? 普段からあれだけ心の中でも侮蔑の言葉を吐き続けてきたのだ、喜ぶ筈だ。桔音も最初は、そう思った。
だからこれはちょっとした気まぐれだ。レイラが死ぬのを想像して、自分は全く喜びを感じなかった。それがどういうことだろうと、結局の所今の桔音はレイラが死ぬのを良しとしないらしい。
ならば桔音は思う。自分の気持ちを信じて行動すれば良い。今までもそうしてきたのだから。
「はぁっ!!」
『不気味体質』に『威圧』を発動し、『不屈』でステータスを向上させ、自分の出せる最高速度でステラに突撃する。ステラは唐突にやってきた威圧感と心の内から生まれた恐怖心に身体を硬直させ、桔音に懐に入ることを許す。
だが、あくまでも桔音はHランク。怪物クラスのステラは彼が懐に入って来ようが、対応するのは十分以上に時間があった。
瘴気のナイフがステラの腹部へと向かうが、それをひらりと躱すステラ。そして隙だらけの桔音の腹へ、逆に蹴りを入れる。メキメキと沈む彼女の足が、桔音の内臓を圧迫する。
「ごふっ......! まだ―――まだ!」
だが桔音は入れられた蹴りのダメージを一身に受けながら彼女の足を抱える様に捉えた。痛みを無効に出来る桔音だからこそ、怯まずに出来る捨て身の戦術。無表情のままだが、ステラはその行動に驚きつつ、次の行動に移っていた。
「ぐっ―――!」
こうも間合いが近いと槍が上手く振るえない故に、彼女は地面に付いている足で跳び、そのまま桔音の頭へと踵落としを叩き込む。肉を叩く音が響き、桔音はその威力に地面へと頭から倒れた。
だが、まだ意識はある。ナイフもまだ放していない。桔音は地面に顔を打ちつけながらも、そのナイフでステラの足を斬りつける。
「!」
「っ......!」
だが、ソレに気が付いたステラは、さながら後出しジャンケンの様に足を引き、躱した。
桔音の速度では、ステラにとって見てから動きだしても十分間に合う速度なのだ。攻撃が当たることはないと、確信していた。
「貴方は私には敵いません。貴方の動きは遅すぎます」
「う、るさいな......! そんなことは僕が一番分かってるよ......!」
倒れた桔音を、見下ろしながらそう言ったステラだが、桔音は全身に力を込めてなんとか立ちあがる。
地面に顔を打ち付けたから、鼻血は出ているし、痣も出来ている。最初に蹴られた腹なんて、腹筋が大きなダメージを受けているだろうし、内臓にも大きな負荷が掛かっていることだろう。それでも彼は立ちあがる。痛みがないから、なんとか立ちあがる。
「それでも、僕はやりたいようにやるだけだ」
桔音の言葉に、ステラは再度その拳を振りかぶった。
--I don't understand.
"It could be said that even Leila-chan's existence is kind of mental support for me."
Why are you looking at me with such eyes? Why are you covering up for a demon? Even though you're human, weak, fragile, and stand no chance against me, why are you still opposing me? Why aren't you running away? Why, why are you glaring at me with such serious eyes?
I don't understand.
"If you want to take her away--"
I don't understand, at all.
"--then you're my enemy."
I don't understand. I can't understand it, in the slightest.
Initially, she-- Stella, had no intention to kill Kitsune.
Ever since she step into the continent where human resided in, she moved with the sole intention to purify the hero, who was the cause of the world's instability. Step by step, anything that dared to step into her path, either it magical beast, or even the nature itself, she'd blast off all of it with only a single swing of her overwhelming power.
Her 'purification' word, was applied to human and demon alike. Magical beasts were existence that tend to harm human, however they had no intelligence. They simply followed what their instinct told them in desperate to stay alive. Thus, they that didn't bear any ill intention, as far as Stella concerned, they weren't one of her purification target. Or rather, it could be said that they were better existence than human and demon.
Nevertheless, she still unhesistantly killed them. To them that acted simply in struggle to stay alive, she simply acted according to the law of the jungle that they hold alike.
--she was stronger, that was why she killed the one who was weaker than her.
That was all.
Then, contravesely speaking, would she indiscriminately kill any human and demon who were practically her 'purificacation' targets? The answer was no.
She'd probe the mind of any human she met, and she wouldn't brandish her power to any upright human who hold virtuous mind. 'Purification' was, brandishing her power to separate and release the pure soul from the human who was tainted by ill will, and the body that had commited sin.
Therefore, she'd 'purify' any human who act harboring ill will.
Kidnaper, rapist, bandit, murderer, thief, vengeance, she'd 'purify' any human who commited any sin as such.
It was because, 'evil' was the worst emotion that was created by God. Slaying God, for her who hold such a goal, she couldn't overlook that.
That was why, the moment she arrived at the guild, the moment she perceived the anger that the adventurers hold toward the hero, as well as Kitsune's undescribable desire for revenge toward him, she moved.
She blown off the guild with her power to subside those emotions. Wrath was one of the righteous feelings for any living being, that was why she didn't kill them, and intended to only make them fall unconscious.
However, there were two person who she couldn't overlook. Naginata Kitsune (human) and Leila (demon), she wasn't intending to simply stop after putting them into unconsciousness.
Leaving aside Kitsune who was human, she had no slightest intention to show any mercy to Leila who was demon. Demons were evil, they killed innocent people with no reason. And as an 'Apostle', she obviously had no intention to overlook her.
The first attack, it wasn't done with intention to warn Leila, but Kitsune instead.
Facing an overwhelming power, any living being would naturaly follow their instint and run away.
After estimating how powerful Leila was, while making sure about their surroundings' safety, she intended to lead her to the outside of the country to minimize the possibily of warping the innocent people into their fight.
That was why, she intended to make the closest human there, Kitsune, to run away, by showing just how distant apart their powers were.
"What's up, god-slayer? Here, I'm the man that, in his mind, has destroyed this world no less than 24 times already, you know?"
He didn't run away. On the contrary-- as if protecting Leila, he stood before her.
She couldn't understand that. She couldn't understand why a human would protect a demon. She couldn't understand his reason that led him to act even as if with conviction to throw his life away.
"...I don't understand what you're doing... but, if you insist on protecting that demon then, along with that demon, I'll purify you."
"Ahaha, bring it on white-dress-chan... by the way if you want to run away, now is your only chance, you know?"
However, she didn't need to understand it. If he kept on insisting to protect a demon, then that was an enough reason for her to purify him as well. Stella brandished the lighning lance in her hand, and cracking sounds were resounding from it.
*
"...Leila-chan, sorry but, could you please make a knife or something with that miasma of yours?"
"Eh... ah, yes."
Without any hesistation, before Stella who was brandishing her weapon, Kitsune decided to look for some weapon first. Luckily, Leila could create weapons with her miasma. Kitsune was a bit hesistant, but he hardened his heart and received the knife which was made of miasma, and then took a step forward toward Stella.
In contrast of Kitsune's gallant figure, Leila was still absentminded ever since Stella's first attack. The causes were the fear toward Stella, and her believe that she'd definitely die if she fight her.
"Kitsune-kun! Stop, or else you'll die, you know?!"
She shouted so to stop Kitsune, who was intending to fight Stella in order to protect her. She thought that he'd better just to run away.
Actually, Leila herself realized that she was an irritating existence for Kitsune. She realized that she was selfish, wilful, always acted according on her own interest without any regard of Kitsune himself, and never did anything good for him. However, as far as she was concerned, she didn't see anything wrong with that. It was because she didn't feel any guilt in doing so, as well as she didn't feel any need to be liked by him.
She only needed to do anything as she pleased, Kitsune was tasty, interesting, and together with him was fun after all, that was why she followed him. That was all.
Her falling in love in Kitsune, in the end that was only her misunderstanding.
She was simply attracted to him because she thought he was tasty and interesting, something like a child who was attracted to an old man who gave her candy. Or else, there was no way she'd let herself to be hated by Kitsune, after all.
That was why, the word she said to Kitsune wasn't word of worry. She said it simply because she thought that he was being reckless there.
Kitsune turned his face while floating a faint smile, and said so to Leila.
To his word that was very clear, and his tone that was as if filled with confidence, Leila spontaneously catched her breath.
How could he say so? Why did he not run away? She didn't understand any of that, but looking at Kitsune's face when he said so, Leila was involuntarily fascinated by it.
"Just stay put there.... I'll definitely protect you, after all."
To Kitsune who floated a gentle smile, not his usual faint smile, when saying so, Leila could feel her heart was throbbing violently.
Her heart was throbbing violently, she could feel her body getting hotter because of the rushing blood in her body. Her heartbeat refused to calming down, she could feel that something was welling up within her.
Her face was hot, she uncounsciously let out hot breath.
She didn't understand what happened to herself. It wasn't night yet, but, had she turned on or something? However, there was something she perfectly understood, compared to anytime she turned on thus far, this time there was something different.
Whenever she looked at Kitsune, she could feel as if her heart was somewhat tightened. Biting her lower lip, her eyebrows were forming (/\) shape as if in pain.
It was painful, suffocating, and yet not unpleasant, the jumbled emotions were swelling up within her heart, and she could feel that there was a certain unbearable feeling.
"Kitsune...kun...."
Calling his name, her heart reacted violentlt once again.
"Hau... what, is it... don't know... I don't know what it is...!"
Kitsune took one step toward Stella, and contravesely, he took one step away from Leila. Simply looking at his leaving back, Leila held her her chest while tears overflowing her face.
Sitting down on the ground, she reached her hand out toward Kitsune. Her hand was reached out in vain, it couldn't reach Kitsune, and could only reach at the air.
"Kitsune-kun... don't go...!"
Leila shouted so, while weeping as if a child.
"...do you really think you can defeat me?"
"It isn't about winnin or losing... it's simply about facing you, or not facing you."
Facing against Stella, Kitsune who wielded the misma knife said so to her while floating a faint smile. Stella was stay expressionless, there was no slightest change nor emotions in her eyes.
"Is that demon really that important to you?"
"Not in the slightest, honestly speaking, if I must say, I hope she'd die as soon as possible... however...."
Pausing his word there, Kitsune continued.
"...now isn't the time yet."
"...I don't understand."
"You don't need to understand. She's my stalker, and I don't feel like I've sent any indicement about her yet."
"I don't understand what you're talking about, but... if you insist on protecting her then I'll purify you as well."
The conversation was over, as if saying so, both Kitsune and Stella brandished their respective weapon. The disparity between them was very distinct, Kitsune's chance of winning was even less than one percent.
However, if he didn't stand up here then Leila'd definitely die. If that happened, would Kitsune be happy? For him who normally could only unceasingly find contempt about her, without a doubt he'd be happy. At first, he thought so.
That was why perhaps this time he was out of his mind. When he imagined the moment of Leila's death, somehow he couldn't feel any joy in it. Just what was the meaning of it? In the end, it seemed like the current Kitsune couldn't let Leila die.
Then, Kitsune thought, he should just act and believe to what his feeling told him to. Because that was what he always did thus far, after all.
"Haa!!"
Activating 'Eerie Constitution' and 'Overpower', then increasing his status with 'Persistence', he charged toward Stella with his maximum speed. Stella got her body stiffened up after sensing the sudden intimidating air and the fear that was born in her heart, and involuntary let Kitsune closed up the distance between them.
However, to the bitter end Kitsune was only H rank. For a monter level like her, with the time he needed to reach her, it was more tha enough for her to cope up with him.
The miasma sword was sliced toward her abdomen, but she nimbly dodged it. Then, toward the full of openings Kitsune, she let out a kick at him instead. Her leg that perfectly landed on him put a great amount of pressure on his internal organs.
"Gofu...! No... not yet!"
However, while receiving the damage from her kick, Kitsune seized her leg. He was able to nullify any pain, that was why he could fearlessly undertake such life-staking tactic. Stella was still expressionless as usual, but in spite of her surprise in his act, she immediately took another action.
"Gu--!"
In such short distance she couldn't properly swing her lance, that was why she swung her other leg and threw an ax kick toward Kitsune's head as it is. Along with the sound of crushed flesh, Kitsune collapsed to the ground head first from the impact.
However, he was still conscious. He also still held the knife in his hand. Even while getting his face trashed to the ground, Kitsune swung the knife at Stella's legs.
"!"
"...!"
However, noticing that, as if waiting for his attack, Stella pulled her legs and dodged it.
With Kitsune's speed, for Stella, the interval between his first notions to the moment it almost touched her, it was more than enough time for her to take an action for it. She had convinced that there was no way for his attack to land on her.
"It's impossible for you to defeat me. Your movements are too slow."
"Shut up...! I understand that more than anyone else..."
Stella said so while overlooking the collapsed Kitsune, but Kitsune mustered up all of strength to his whole body and somehow managed to stand up.
His face was knocked to the ground so his nose was bleeding, and his face was also bruised. Even his kicked abdomen, his muscle and innards had definitely received some severe injuries. And yet he still stood up. He didn't feel any pain, that was why he was somehow able to stand up.
"Even so, I'll keep on doing what I want to do."
At Kitsune's word, Stella brandished her fists once again.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
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