48話 猛者揃い
俺達は互いの自己紹介をする間もなく、厳戒態勢に移行した。
さっきは耳元からの
NPCではないと、バレてしまったのは仕方ない。
ならば、ここは強気で行進するのみ。
の群れを、先頭を進むジョージが無言で切り開いていく。
ジョージの正面に立った傭兵はなぜか『ヒッ』と怯えた顔をして道をあけてくれるから不思議だ。
まぁそんなジョージのおかけで進む足が止まることもない。もっと絡まれるかと思っていたのだが、俺とミナを挟むように、周囲に対して威嚇をあらわにした
「そんな奴らが何故、鉄血ジョージといるんだ?」
「百騎夜行ねぇ......さしずめ、謎の姫を守る騎士といったところか?」
口々に憶測や感想を述べる
そんな観衆のどよめきに、割って入るようによく通る声が周囲に問い掛けた。
声の主は両手を広げ、恐れるものなど何もないといった、傲岸不遜な態度でこちらを一心に見つめている。
燃えるような赤髪に上質なローブを着込んだ少年、『百鬼夜行』のグレン君だ。後ろには副団長であるユキオくんを引き連れている。
「我が姫、お迎えにあがりました」
ツカツカとこちらに歩み寄ってきたかと思いきや、素早くジョージと俺の間に割り込み、颯爽と片膝をついた眠らずの魔導師。
グレン君は自信満々に前髪を右手でかきあげ、左手を差し伸べてくる。
なんだか、これが当たり前だとでもいうかのような親密な態度に、俺は首をかしげる。
「ずいぶんな態度じゃないかグレン」
がグレン君を諌める。
「『戦争』中のボクたちが、
も追撃をかける。
しかし、そんな事は意にも解さないといったように涼しい笑みを浮かべるグレン君。
「愚かしい。これは我と姫、二人の問題であって、貴様らが横から口を挟む資格などない」
いや、まぁ確かにそうかもしれないけどさ。
「この舞踏会で、姫をエスコートする大役は我と決まっている。なぜなら、可憐な姫君ご自身が、良き友人である我を指名するからだ」
なんでグレン君はそんなに自信満々なんだろ。
、『百鬼夜行』のみなさんにはいい感情は持ち合わせていないのに。
どう対応するのがベストなのか判断しあぐねていると、足を止めたジョージがくるりと振り返り、グレン君のおしりをなでた。
その動きは清らかな流水の如く、滑らかにして俊敏。
その場にいた誰もが反応できなかった。
グレン君の少しみっともない声が上がるのをにこやかに眺め、ジョージは語りかける。
ただのオトコではないオカマが言うと、言葉に重みがあるな。
「オトコなら無駄な争いをしてる場合じゃないと思うわぁん? グレンちゃんは天使ちゃんの敵なのかしらぁん?」
ジョージの両目閉じウィンクに気圧されたかのように、裏返った声でしどろもどろになるグレン君。
「なぁらぁ、話しは簡単ねぇン? 天使ちゃんさえ良ければ、後についてきなさぁいん」
ジョージがチラッと俺に視線を寄越した。
確かにここでグレン君と無駄に争うのは悪手にしかならない。ならば、
「べつにいいよ」
俺の了承を得たジョージは、グレン君を有無言わさぬ動作で腕を握り、立たせて歩くことを促した。
こうして、先頭がジョージ。そのすぐ後ろにグレン君とユキオ君。
。5人の壁に守られながら、俺とミナは会場の奥深くへと進んでいく。
喜ばしい事にこのままのペースで行けば、王城の扉付近まで辿り着くことができるかもしれない。ミケランジェロの王が出てくるとしたら、
ただ、少し残念なのがシズクちゃんやゆらちーだ。
『百騎夜行』が買えた馬車は一頭二輪馬車で、乗車人数が二人までなのだ。
のみ。後日、馬車を交代してシズクちゃんとゆらちーも会場入りすると言っていたが、初めての舞踏会を一緒に体験できないのはちょっぴり寂しく思う。
そんな事を考えていた矢先。
ジョージの前に立ちはだかる大男が現れた。
「ようよう、よぉーう。ジョージじゃねえか」
ガサツな喋り方の男はジョージに親しげに挨拶を飛ばした。
その粗野な口調とは正反対で、ピシっと黒の正装に身を包む30代半ばぐらいと思われる
ベンテンスとジョージに呼ばれた男は、自分の髪の毛をゆっくりと両手でなでつけた。そいつは黒髪をポマードか何かで固め、オールバックにしている。
さらに右目は刀傷か何かでつぶれているようで、黒スーツ姿+悪人相とか、ぶっちゃけていうとマフィアの幹部みたいな雰囲気を出している。
「元気そうじゃねえか、ジョージぃ。おめえさんには世話になってるから、たまには連絡くれると嬉しいんだがなぁ」
「あらあらぁん♪ あちきに興味があるのかしらぁん?」
「あんたも気になるが、そこの綺麗な
けちゃうわねんっ。天使ちゃんはあちきのだぁーいじなお友達なのよぉん☆ いくらベンテンスでもぉん、女の交友関係を探るのは男としてどうかと思うわぁン?」
「そう、ケチなこというなよジョージィ。俺とお前の仲だろうが」
そう言ってベンテンスの兄貴はグイッとグレン君を押しのけ、俺に近づいてきた。
「よぉう、嬢ちゃん。俺は『黄昏時の酒喰らい』って
差し出された右手は太くてごつい。
握られたら、つぶされてしまいそうだ。
俺とベンテンスとの間では体格差がかなりあり、山のような大きさの彼を見上げる。
そして軽く膝を折り、頭を下げる。
「タロと言います。ジョージとは懇意の仲であるとか。どうぞ、今後ともお見知りおきを」
握手は遠慮させてもらった。
「おおう、ちっこいくせに、肝っ玉の据わった嬢ちゃんだなぁ? いい友達じゃねえかジョージぃ」
「えぇん、そうでしょうともん♪」
ズイッと顔を近づけてくるベンテンスに、思わずたじろぐ。
彼は俺の肩にちんまりいる小人を凝視して、ニマリと笑う。
「挨拶代り、いや友好の印として俺に教えてくれねえか」
どうやら周囲も、話の流れに耳を立てているのか、ソワソワとしだす。
さらに今更ながら気付いたのだが、ベンテンスと同じ黒スーツを着たガタイのいい傭兵が他に三人、俺達を囲む位置で立っている。
おそらく、ベンテンスと同じ
ここで素直に妖精ですと答えれば、果たして簡単に解放してくれるのだろうか。せめて、王がよく見えそうな場所まで移動してから、こういった質問責めに受け答えしたかったのだが......。
「そろそろ、ボク達は会場の更に奥へ向かおうと思いますので」
がベンテンスと俺の前に入り、にこやかな笑みを飛ばす。
「そうだな。そろそろウチの姫さんがしびれを切らすところだ。機嫌が損なわれる前に移動しないとだな。というわけでオッサン、そこどいてくれ」
も俺やミナを庇うように立ち位置を変えた。
二人は高校一年にしては身長が高いほうだと思う。
リアルモジュールでキャラを作ったから、その背格好はなんら現実と変わらない。そもそもクラン・クランは現実との身体の誤差5cm未満でキャラクリを作らなければないのだが、敢えて言おう。
その二人が壁役としてベンテンスの前に立ちはだかっても、ベンテンスは頭1つ分高く、大熊のような威圧感を放っていた。
「あぁん? てめぇらは勝手に歩いてろよ。俺はジョージと銀髪の嬢ちゃんに話しかけてんだよ」
うるさい虫共だとでもいうように、ベンテンスは俺のクラスメイトを見下す。
「そうはいきません。ボクたちは貴方が言う『銀髪の嬢ちゃん』とお友達なので」
「早い話が、おっさんに構ってるヒマはない、だ」
二人の不退転な態度に、少し苛立ちを募らせたのかベンテンスのこめかみに一筋の脈が走る。
「同じくコウだ」
名乗りを上げる
「我は眠らずの魔導師グ「お前は知ってる、いらん。中二病のガキだろ」
グレン君の口上を遮り、ユウとコウに向き合うベンテンス。
横にいたミナも手が震えているのに、俺の前に立ってくれたりしている。
「お前らなんぞ、聞いた事もない弱小
俺は脅しをかけるベンテンスを睨み、晃夜や夕輝を押しのけて自らの力で対峙しようとする。
だが、その動きを留まらせたのは、俺の肩にソッと手を置いてウフフと微笑むジョージだった。
「ベンテンスぅん♪」
「あんだよ、ジョージぃ」
ジョージもそこそこの長身であるが太さ、高さ、共にベンテンスが上だ。
ジョージのアフロが心なしか1.5倍に膨れ上がったような気がする。
さらに、二の腕の筋肉がモコリと動く。
どうでもいいが、晃夜と夕輝、ドンマイ。
さすがはイケメンだよお前ら、さっそくオカマにターゲットされたな。
ほんと、イケメンに生まれた事を呪うんだな、ざまぁ。
「お、おうっ。ジョージィ、そんなこええ顔すんなよ。今日はせっかくの宴だろ? そりゃあ俺だって普段より
表情はいかついまま、強面のベンテンスであったが、額には汗が流れ始めている。
「......お、うよ。おら、おまえら行くぞッッ」
ベンテンスがそう言うと、黒服の3人は彼の後に続いて更に会場の奥へと進んでいった。
彼らが去った後、
の独り言に、すっかり空気と化していたグレン君がジョージに疑問を投げかける。
「しかし、なぜもっと早急に奴を追い返さなかったの、ですか?」
ぎこちない敬語を使うグレン君にジョージは満面の笑みで答える。
「だってぇん、彼。お得意さまだものぉん」
オカマは上機嫌にウフンっと投げキッスを、去り行くベンテンスの背中に飛ばす。
の貴重な買い手だったというわけか。
なぜかジョージの言葉が俺の頭に残響していた。
48 48 Stories, All Fierce.
Before we introduced ourselves to each other, we moved on to strict precautions.
Earlier, I was unexpectedly upset by the Ikebo exhalation attack caused by the night shaking from my ear (thus), but I am again alert.
If it's not NPC, I can't help but find out.
Then this place only marches with strength.
George, who leads the way, silently opens up a swarm of mercenaries (players).
It's strange because the mercenary standing in front of George somehow turns his way with a 'hiss' and a frightened face.
Well, thanks to George like that, I can't even stop my legs moving on. I was wondering if it would be more tangled up, but there are also shaky nights (Koya) and evenings (Yuki) that reveal intimidation against my surroundings, like pinching Mina with me, and there are no mercenaries (players) out there trying to talk directly to me.
"Why are they with George Iron Blood?
"A hundred rides at night. Hey... like a knight who whispers and protects the mysterious princess?
The whispers (whispers) of mercenaries (players) who verbally express their speculations and opinions come to your ears.
At the behest of such an audience, a voice who often went through to crack and enter inquired around.
The Lord of the Voice opens his hands and looks at this one with an arrogant attitude, such as nothing to fear.
It's Glenn from The Hundred Nights, a boy with burning red hair and fine robes. Behind us is Yukio-kun, the deputy commander.
"My princess, I'm here to pick you up"
I thought you'd walked over here with Tsukatsuka, a sleepless magician who quickly interrupted between George and me, refreshed and on one knee.
Glenn confidently lifts his forehead with his right hand and reaches out his left hand.
I kind of put my neck around this intimate attitude as if this were normal.
"That's a lot of attitude, Glenn."
Glenn flatters you at night.
"Do you think we're going to send our friends (Taro) to you, the enemy, in the middle of the war?
Yuki also pursues.
But, Glenn, you have such a cool grin that you don't even want to solve that.
"Stupid. This is between you and me, princess, and you don't deserve to pinch your mouth from side to side."
No, well, maybe it does.
"In this ball, the major player escorting the princess is decided with me. Because the poor princess herself will nominate me as a good friend."
Why are you so confident, Glenn?
When I say one way or the other, I don't have any good feelings for the mercenary groups (clans) or the "Baijitsu" who are hostile to Evening Fai (Yuki) or Shaking Night (Koya).
As I looked up to determine how best to handle it, George, who had stopped his leg, turned around and gave Glenn your buttocks.
The movement is like clean running water, smooth and agile.
Everyone on the spot couldn't react.
Glenn looks at your slightly slurred voice rising, and George speaks.
When Okama says he's not just an otoko, words weigh a lot.
"I don't think Otoko would be in a futile quarrel. Wow? Is Glenn the enemy of angels?
Glenn, who wanders off with an inverted voice, as if he was barely pressured by George's double-eyed closing wink.
"Hey, it's not easy to talk to you, huh? As long as angels are good, let's talk about later."
George gave me a glimpse.
Sure, it's only a bad hand to argue with you in vain here, Glenn. So, even if there is hostility to Evening Faith (Yuki) or Shaking Night (so on), if you don't have that kind of attitude towards me, why don't I focus on it and follow it subtly?
"It's good for the basket."
George, with my approval, urged Glenn to hold his arm in unspoken motion, let him stand and walk.
Thus, George takes the lead. Right behind it, Glenn, you and Yukio.
To the left and right, Evening Fair (Yuki) and Shaking Night (Koya). Me and Mina go deep into the venue, protected by five walls.
Happily, if we keep going at this pace, we may be able to reach near the door of the royal castle. If the king of Michelangelo were to come out, it must be near a door lined with divine soldiers (Deus). He told everyone in advance that he wanted to taste the ball in the closest position he could see the king, so I think nature and destination are guessing. Except for you, Glenn.
It's just a little shame, Shizuku.
The carriage that Hundreds of Nightrides could buy was a two-wheeled carriage with up to two passengers.
So this time, we are only here at night (Koya) and evening glow (Yuki). Later, he said that Shizuku and Yuki-chan would also enter the venue after changing carriages, but I feel a little lonely not being able to experience the first ball together.
I was thinking about that, arrowhead.
A big man appeared standing in front of George.
"Hello, wow. It's George."
The gutsy talking man skipped a friendly greeting to George.
Contrary to its crude tone, the mercenary (player), who appeared to be in his mid-30s dressed in pisci black, peered from the top of his black clothes with no less forged muscles than a wolf.
The man called to Bentens and George slowly twisted his own hair with his hands. He stiffens his dark hair with pomado or something and makes it all-back.
Plus his right eye seems to be crushed with a knife wound or something, and he gives an atmosphere like a mafia executive when he puts on a black suit + a bad face or something.
"You don't look well, George. No. I'm looking after you, so I'd love to hear from you once in a while."
"Oh, my God.  I wonder if you're interested all around?
"I care about you, but I care about the beautiful featherworm."
"Ya, jealous. Angel is always there - he's still a friend. No matter how much Bentens, I wonder if it's as a man to explore a woman's friendship. Wow?
"Yes, don't be an asshole, Georgie. Me and you, I know."
That's what Bentens' brother said. Glenn pushed you away and approached me.
"Wow, lady. I'm the vice president of the Mercenary Corps (Klan) called" The Alcohol Eater at Dusk ". Say hello."
The right hand offered is thick and crusty.
If they grip me, they're going to crush me.
There's quite a physical difference between me and Bentens, and I see him up the size of a mountain.
Then gently fold your knees and lower your head.
"I say taro. You think George and I are good friends? Please, stay tuned."
I let him shy away from shaking hands.
"Whoa, you little bitch, you're the lady with the liver balls? Aren't you a good friend, George? No."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Unexpectedly wander over to Bentens, who keeps his face close.
He stares at the dwarf stuck on my shoulder and laughs nimally.
"Say hello instead. No, you can tell me as a sign of friendship."
Apparently, the surroundings, too, are listening to the flow of the story, softly.
Furthermore, I now realize that three other good mercenaries in the same black suit as Bentens are standing in positions surrounding us.
Probably the same mercenary regiment (clan) as Bentens. Besides, the fact that the four of us are in the venue must have probably been in the venue with a 'two-headed four-wheeled carriage'. The maximum number of people on that carriage is up to four, just like my carriage.
If I honestly answer here that I am a fairy, will you fulfill and release me easily? At the very least, I wanted to travel to a place where the king seemed to see well before answering these questions blame......
"It's time for us to head further back to the venue."
So Yuki and Yuki enter before Bentens and me and smile.
"Right. It's time for our princess to cut the numbness. We have to move before the mood breaks. So Osama, get out of the way."
Then, at night, he changed his position to shelter me and Mina.
I think they should be taller for a year of high school.
I made a character out of real modules, so that outfit is no different from reality. In the first place, Clan Clan has to make a character clip with less than 5 cm of physical error from reality, but I dare say.
Even as those two stood in front of Bentens as a wall actor, Bentens was high for one head and emitted a sense of intimidation like a big bear.
"Ah? You can walk on your own. I'm talking to George and the silver-haired lady."
Like all the loud bugs, Bentens looks down on my classmates.
"That's not going to happen. We're friends with what you call a silver-haired lady."
There's no such thing as an old man talking fast.
A pulse runs on Bentens' temples whether he has caused them to be slightly irritated by their unrelenting attitude.
"It's Koo as well."
Evening glow (Yuki) and night shake (Koya) to raise his name, and now Glenn speaks out in the way you panicked.
"I'm a sleepless magician, Gu." You know, I don't want it. You're a middle-aged kid. "
Glenn, Bentens blocks your mouth and faces Yu and Kou.
Mina, who was lying next to me, is also standing in front of me, even though her hands are shaking.
"You guys are weak mercenaries (clans) I've never heard of. What kind of advice do you give me? You know what's gonna happen, don't you?
I stare at the menacing Bentens and try to confront them on my own by pushing over the night and evening glow.
But it was George who put his soggy hand on my shoulder and smiled at Woof.
"Bentense."
"It's you, George. No."
George is also long there, but the thickness, the height, and the bentense are up there.
I feel like George's Afro swelled up 1.5 times without a heart.
In addition, the muscles of both arms move in a dust.
I don't care, Shaking Night and Evening Fai, Don Mai.
That's a handsome guy, you guys, you just got targeted by a wolf.
Really, you curse the fact that you were born handsome, huh?
"Oh, ooh. Georgie, don't look at me like that. It's a feast, isn't it? Well, I'm more excited than I usually am."
The expression remained strong, Bentense on the strong side, but sweat is beginning to flow on his forehead.
"... oh, let's. Hey, you guys, come on."
When Bentens said so, the three men in black followed him further behind the venue.
After they left, Yuki and Koya took a breath.
To Yuki's soliloquy, Glenn, who was completely turned into air, questions George.
"But why didn't you drive him back sooner, did you?
George answers you with a full grin, Glenn, who uses an unscrupulous salute.
"Because, he. Good at what you do."
Okama flies his upbeat, uh-huh throwing kiss to Bentens' back as he leaves.
So George was a valuable buyer of Hui Sword (Arts)?
For some reason, George's words lingered on my head.
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん