「悲鳴ひとつあげませんか。その歳である程度の痛覚を無視出来るとは大した者です」
眼鏡をかけた痩躯の男は、嗜虐めいた笑みを浮かべながら俺の左腕に包帯を巻き付けながらそう宣う。
『わたし達に混ざる気はない?』というフィオレからの申し出に対して了承するという選択肢を選び取った俺は、フィオレが〝ピィちゃん〟と命名した
そこは、大きな地下通路が広がる場所。
その内の一人————アバルドと名乗る治癒師に折れた腕を治してもらう事になったのだが、これがまた、最悪を極めていた。
「僕の魔法の能力は
......そうなのだ。
彼の魔法は、言ってしまえば元に戻す魔法。
骨が折れたのであれば、折れてない状態に。
怪我をしたならば、怪我をしてない状態に戻す。それが彼————フィオレの従者を名乗るアバルドの能力。
一見、使い勝手の良い便利な能力に思えるが、その実、かなり対象者に厳しい魔法であった。
「折れた骨を治すともなれば、想像を絶する痛みだったと思うんですがね。右腕は右腕で罅入ってましたし」
に戻す治癒系統魔法。骨が折れているのであれば、強引に接合し、元通りに戻すだけなのだが————その魔法を行使する場合、対象者に対して怪我の度合いに比例して凄絶な痛みが伴うという欠点付き。
その代わり、すぐに治るという利点も存在するのだが、下手すれば痛みでショック死するんじゃないかと疑うレベルで痛かった。
「ま、礼は不要です。寧ろ、お嬢の申し出を受けてくれた事に対し此方が礼を言わなければいけない立場ですので」
「......そうですか」
その理由は、魔法を行使する際に痛みに耐えようとする俺を見て、アバルドは何処か楽しんでいるような節があったから。
多分こいつ、ロクでもない性格をしてると確信めいたものを持っていたけれど、流石に治してもらった手前、無碍にはできない。
という様々な事情から、俺は不機嫌ながらも返事をするというカタチに落ち着いていたのだ。
「ええ。例年通りであれば問題はありませんが、今年は人手が幾らあっても足りないくらいですから」
それだけ厄介な相手、という事なのだろう。
「ですが、本当に良かったんですか?」
「というと」
「討伐ですよ討伐。〝ミナウラ〟の悪評は王国中に轟いているでしょうから言わずもがなでしょうが、多分、かなりの高確率で死んじゃいますよ?」
「......〝ミナウラ〟を訪れている時点でその質問は今更でしょう」
魔物が溢れ出す時期の〝ミナウラ〟に足を踏み入れる連中なんてものは、普通に考えて救えない戦闘馬鹿か、正義感に痴れたおかしなヤツか、命令を受けて仕方なくやってきた王国騎士くらいのものだろう。
俺はというと、騎士ではないし、正義感なんてものも雀の涙程度しか持ち合わせてない。
魔物に苦しむ人を救いたい。
とすれば、答えは自ずと決まってくる。
「死ぬかもしれないと言われてじゃあやめておきますと言うような人間はそもそも〝
「は、はははっ、確かにそれもそうですね。では、お言葉に甘えるとしましょう」
そう言って、アバルドは大仰に態とらしく手を広げた。
「此処は親だろうが使えるものは何だろうと使う場所————〝ミナウラ〟の街。僕らは君を歓迎します。改めて、僕はアバルド。宜しくお願いいたしますね」
直後、左の手を差し出される。
あえて治したばかりの左腕を選ぶとは、やはりアバルドは性格が悪い。
そんな事を思いながら俺は彼のお陰で完治した左手で力強く握り締めてやる。
「い ゙っ!?」
怪我を治してくれた恩人ではあるけれど、その腐った性根に対してこのくらいのやり返しはして然るべきだろう。
一応これでも剣を何年と振り続けた身。
「腕の調子はどうかな?」
「お陰様でこの通り」
ぐるん、ぐるんと左腕を回す。
ちくりとも痛まないし、これはもう完治したと判断して問題ないだろう。
「そっかそっか。ま、アバルドは性格が歪んでるけど魔法の腕だけは確かだからねえ」
......人聞き悪い事言わないで下さいよお嬢。
と、背後からアバルドの声が聞こえて来ていたが、それに反応するより先に「はい」という掛け声と共にこちらに差し出される一枚の紙。
。誰が何の魔法を使えるか。どのタイプの人間か、把握してないとベストが尽くせないでしょ?」
そこには箇条書きで、今この場にいる者達————総勢十数名の情報が詳しく書き記されていた。
その中には唯一この場に居合わせていないビエラ・アイルバークの名も存在していた。
俺はその部分だけをまず、流し目で確認。
氷を自在に生み出し、操る能力。と、当然のように魔法使いとしての能力が書き記されていた。
そう言わんばかりに、フィオレは俺に背を向け、手をひらひらと振って見せる。
恐らく何らかの用事があるのだろう。
領主とも言っていたし、忙しい事にも頷ける。
渡された紙に視線を向けると、そこにはユリウスの文字が言われた通りちゃんと書き記されていた。
続くように、能力は剣を創り出す事。
タイプは一撃必殺型。などと俺についての詳細が書かれており、簡素ではあったが的確にそれは的を射ていた。
そうして他の人の情報にもザッと目を通す中、ふと疑問に思う。どうして、
「......ビエラ様が〝ミナウラ〟に帰ってくるのが明後日だからですよ」
俺の内心を見透かしでもしたのか。
ぷらぷらと俺が力強く握り締めた左の手を軽く振りながらアバルドが言う。
「一応、予定では明後日、ビエラ様と合流した後、頭である〝ジャバウォック〟の討伐を開始する運びとなっていますね。まぁ、僕は能力が能力ですので後方で待機するだけなんですがね」
「何か問題でも?」
頭に過るのは村の外でビエラ・アイルバークに言われたあの言葉。
————満月までに。
明後日は、とてもじゃ無いが満月とは程遠い。
どういう事なのだろうかと疑問に思うも、それを解消してくれるであろう人物は生憎此処には今いない。
......なら、今はその事は頭の隅に追いやっておくべきか。
「ああ、それと。言い忘れていましたが、基本的に外出についてはご自由にしていただいて構わないのですが、ここから北へは行けないようになっていますのでご注意下さい」
「......?」
北。というピンポイント過ぎる方角に、どうしてなのだろうかと疑問符が浮かぶ。
「簡単な話です。明後日までは、可能な限り〝ジャバウォック〟に刺激を与えたくはないんですよ。ああいう魔物は気配に敏感です。ビエラ様が不在の今、不用意に刺激するのは得策ではない」
恐らく、フィオレは〝ジャバウォック〟がいる場所へ人を寄せ付けないように見回りをしていたのではないだろうか。
特に、変異種の魔物と単身で戦いを繰り広げる命知らずである。放っておけば〝ジャバウォック〟に向かう可能性も無きにしもあらず。と思ったが為に、彼女は趨勢を見極めようと離れた場所で事の顛末をギリギリまで眺めていたのかもしれない。
そう考えると、色々と辻褄があった。
「分かりました」
その偶然が上手い事重なり、俺はこうして九死に一生を得た。恩を仇で返す趣味があるわけでなし。ここは素直に従っておこう。
「物分かりが良くて安心しました。それでは、明後日まであまり時間も残されてはいませんし、取り敢えず————」
と、アバルドが何かを言いかけた折。
「————た、っ、大変だッッ!!!!」
焦燥感に満ちた大声が唐突に轟いた。
その突然の出来事に、場にいた全員の視線が一斉に発声源へと向く。
地下通路を通って駆け込んできたのだろう。
出入り口付近で、肩で息をしながら見覚えのない男が叫び散らしていた。
「〝ジャバウォック〟のところに野良の魔法使いがオレが殺すと息巻いて、俺らの制止振り切って勝手に向かいやがった!!! 見張りしてた俺含めて三人がかりで止めようとしたんだが、あの野郎————」
止めようと試みた人間の一人がこの場にいる時点で、その結果は最早言わずもがな。
「————ね。そいつの特徴、教えてくれる?」
丁度、何処かへ立ち去ろうとしていたフィオレが足を止めて、慌てる男へ問い掛ける。
「......赤髪の男だ。赤髪の、魔法使い」
その言葉を耳にした俺の脳裏に、一人の男の姿が過ぎった。
"Not even a little scream from you, huh? It's quite the feat to be able to ignore that certain amount of pain at your age."
A thin man wearing glasses and a sadistic smile declared just so as he wrapped a bandage around my left arm.
I chose to accept Fiole's offer, and came to a certain place with Fiole riding the monster she named, Pii-chan.
It was a place with a large underground passageway.
One of them was the healer that tended my broken arm, which turned out to be a terrible experience-- Abald.
"My magical ability is in the healing category, but it's more of a restoring magic than a curing one."
...What he said.
His magic was, to say the least, the magic to undo things to restore.
If a bone was broken, it will be unbroken.
That was Abald's ability, the man who referred to himself as Fiole's follower.
...At first glance, it seemed to be a very convenient ability, but in actuality, his magic was quite harsh on the intended target.
"The pain from healing your broken bone should've been unimaginable, was it? Your right arm was fractured, too, to say the least."
If a bone was broken, he'd simply and forcefully put it back together-- however, the drawback of using such magic was that it causes tremendous pain in proportion to the severity of the injury to the person.
On the opposite side, its advantage was that it heals very quickly, but it'd hurt to the point where I think that if performed poorly, the target may die of shock from the pain.
"Well, there is no need to thank me. Rather, I should be the one thanking you for accepting Milady's request."
"...I see."
I replied to Abald's words in a rather displeased tone, the reason being that he seemed to be enjoying watching me trying to endure the pain under his healing magic.
I was convinced that this guy probably had a rotten personality, but after having my injuries treated by him, I really couldn't be rude.
So for a variety of reasons, I settled on a response, albeit grumpy.
"Yes. If things were the same as the previous years, there wouldn't be any problem, but this year, there is just not enough manpower available."
I guess that was how troublesome the head of the monsters they are dealing with was.
"But are you sure about your decision?"
"What do you mean?"
"This subjugation thing. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that even Minaura's bad reputation is known throughout the kingdom, but there's a high chance that you'll die, you know?"
"...I already arrived here, so that question is already too late."
Those who set foot in Minaura when it's overflowed with monsters would normally be either irredeemable fighting idiots, crazy people with a demented sense of justice, or even knights of the kingdom who had no choice but to come under orders.
As for me, I was no knight, let alone having the slightest sense of justice.
I had never had such a noble idea in my mind, such as saving people who were suffering from the monsters.
And in that case, my answer was obvious.
"I'm pretty sure that no one came to Minaura, thought that they might die, and just returned home in the first place."
"Hahahaha-- That's certainly true. I will take your word for it, then."
Saying so, Abald spread his hands in an exaggerated manner.
"This is the town of Minaura, a place that utilizes anyone that can be of help whatever their social status. We welcome you, once again. I am Abald, and I look forward to working with you."
Immediately after, he held out his left hand, probably meaning that he wanted to shake hands.
He even deliberately chose the hand that had just been healed, more proof of how evil his nature was.
With that in mind, I gripped his left hand tightly with the hand he just healed.
"OUCH--?!"
Sure, I owed him the gratitude for healing me, but this much payback was only appropriate for his rotten personality.
After all, I had been wielding the sword for years, and my body might be that of a child, but I took pride in my strong grip.
"How is your arm?"
"It's doing just fine, as you can see."
I rotated my left arm in a circle.
It didn't hurt even a little bit, so I guessed it was safe to assume that it was completely healed now.
"I see, I see. Well, Abald is twisted to the core, but I can vouch for his magic skills."
...Don't sully my reputation like that, milady, Abald said.
Upon hearing his voice from behind us, Fiole then yelped out in surprise and gave him an affirmative reply.
"And also have a look at this. This has our information of who can use what kind of magic and such.  We can't be effective if we don't know what kind of people we have, right?"
There laid bullet points of detailed information on a total of more than a dozen people currently present in this place.
Viera Islebark, the only one who wasn't here, was also listed.
I only read through her particular part first.
She has the magic to create and manipulate ice at will.
As if to say that she already told me the things that she wanted to tell, Fiole turned her back on me and waved her hand in the air.
Perhaps she had some business to attend to.
She also mentioned that she was the lord of this town, so no wonder why she was busy.
I looked at the paper that was handed to me and saw that my name was properly written there, just as I'd been told.
As it was written, my ability was said to create swords, and that I was a one-hit-kill type person.
The details about me were simple, but they were right on the mark.
While I was reading through the other people's information, I suddenly wondered.
"...Because Viera-sama will be back here in Minaura the day after tomorrow."
Maybe he saw through my inner thoughts.
Abald said, lightly waving his left hand, which I had clasped tightly with a powerful grip.
"As for the schedule, we will be joined by Viera-sama and commence defeating the Jabberwock, the head of the monsters here in this town. And since my ability can only do so much, I'm just going to stay in the rear of the pack."
"Is there a problem?"
What came to my mind were the words that Viera Islebark said to me outside the village.
--Before the full moon.
The day after tomorrow was far from a full moon, though not by a long shot.
I wondered what was going on, but unfortunately, there's no one here who could clear that up for me.
...I should put that thought in the back of my mind for now, then.
"Oh. I forgot to mention that you are basically free to step outside, but please note to not go north from here."
"...?"
North. The direction was too pinpointed, and I wondered why.
"Quite simply, we do not want to provoke the Jabberwock as much as possible until the day after tomorrow. Such monsters are very sensitive, so it would be unwise to anger them in the absence of Viera-sama."
Perhaps Fiole was on patrol to keep people out of the Jabberwock's area, which was the reason why she happened to run into me.
If left on my own, there was a possibility that I might really head for the Jabberwock, and that was maybe the reason why she watched my situation from a distance until the very last minute, trying to determine the course of events.
When I thought about it that way, it made sense in many ways.
"I understand."
I had a good conscience, and nine lives in stock for me to live.
"It's a relief that you are so understanding. Well then, we don't have much time left until the day after tomorrow, so let's wrap this up here--"
Just when Abald was about to say something...
"--T-Terrible news!!!"
A loud voice filled with impatience suddenly roared through the air.
The suddenness of the event caused all eyes in the place to turn to the source of the voice at once.
They must have rushed in through the underground passage.
Near the doorway, an unrecognizable man was breathing on his shoulders and shouted across the room.
"A stray magician went to the Jabberwock, screaming that he was going to kill it, and then went off on his own against our orders!!! The three of us, including me, the one on the watch, tried to stop him... but that bastard..."
When only one of the people who attempted to stop the offender was here, it went without saying.
"--Hey, could you describe him?"
Fiole, who was just about to leave somewhere, stopped and asked the panicked man a question.
"...He's a magician with red hair..."
When I heard those words, an image of a man flashed through my mind.
Star-Slaying Swordsman
星斬りの剣士
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/star-slaying-swordsman/
Action Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Shounen
Adapted to Manga Dark Fantasy World Male Protagonist Mature Protagonist Medieval Philosophical Romantic Subplot Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transplanted Memories
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7336gg/
アルト／遥月