二十四話
そして向けられる視線。それは、俺の持つ地図へと一直線に向かう。
「......ん」
考え込みながら青年の口から唸り声が聞こえてくる。次いで、程なく「成る程」と得心。
「つまり、あんたが案内をする代わり、オレはあんたの剣になれと。そういう事か?」
至極当然だろう帰結を彼は声に変えて口にする。俺と彼は初対面の間柄。
何かを提示された場合、それはギブアンドテイクであると事を結び付けるのが正常である。
けれど俺は、その言葉に対して首を横に振った。
「まさか。別に俺はそんな事を望んでないよ」
若干苦笑い気味に破顔しながら言葉を返す。
「こんな事を言ったのも、強いて言うなら、貴方が悪い人には見えなかったから。そう心配されずとも、襲い来る魔物くらい自分で倒せるから」
「......随分な自信だな」
「当然じゃん。なんて言ったって、俺は『星斬り』だからね。星を斬る人間が魔物如きに立ち止まるわけにはいかないんだ」
立ちはだかる障害は全て斬り捨てる。
そのくらいの気概がなければ話にならないから。
と、胸中にて言葉を付け加えた俺の鼓膜に、ひとつの笑い声が届いた。
「くっ、は、はハッ、はははは! アハハハハハハハハ!! 星斬り? なんだそりゃ。あんたはまさか、空に浮かぶアレを斬ろうとでも言うのかよ?」
その哄笑に対し、むすっ、と顔を顰める俺であったが、残念な事にそう言われ笑われる覚えはある。
そして、沈黙は即ち肯定だ。
「これでも二十五年生きてきたが、そんな事を宣う奴には初めて出会った。......だからこそ、先達として言ってやる。分をわきまえなければ待ち受けるのは死のみだぞ」
「言われずとも分かってるよ。分かってるからこそ宣うんだよ」
それ即ち、己が分をわきまえた上で、『星斬り』などという与太としか思えない行為を出来ると言い切っているという事実に他ならない。
事実出来ると俺は信じている。
俺には唯一無二の『星斬り』の男の記憶があるのだから。だから決して、不可能ではない。
「......はっ、折角オレが親切に忠告してやってんのに聞く耳なしか」
「聞いてる。ちゃんと聞いてる。貴方の言葉を聞いた上で俺はそれでもと、ただ〝ミナウラ〟に向かおうとしてるだけだよ」
「それを聞く耳を持ってねえって言うんだよ」
はぁ、と青年は何度目か分からない嘆息をする。
「......認めたかねえが、友人曰くオレは方向音痴って呼ばれる人間らしい。案内してくれるってんならその厚意に是非とも甘えさせて貰いてえんだが、本当に、オレはお前を守らなくていいんだな?」
「二言はない」
「はっ、即答かよ。ま、その意気や良し。あんたの威勢だけは買ってやるよ」
思わず苦笑い。
「分かってるとは思うが、〝ミナウラ〟に近付けば近づく程魔物は多くなる。戦闘は間違いなく避けられねえ。......死んでもオレを恨んでくれるなよ」
「再三に渡ってそう確認を取らなくてもいいよ。この考えは何と言われても変わらないから」
「......ったく、餓鬼のなりして可愛げのねえやつ」
やはり、目の前の彼は悪い人間でないのだろう。事実、こうして良いのか? 良いのか? と言葉を変えて確認を取ってくる。
......恐らくそれ程までに彼の目から俺という人間は頼りなく見えるのだろう。
「そんな事言ってっと、手え貸してやんねえぞ」
がさりと葉擦れの音が俺の耳にも届いた。
直後、脳裏に浮かぶ一つの可能性。
周囲に蔓延する鉄錆に似た死臭を嗅ぎながら、事切れた賊共の亡骸に目を向ける。
————魔物は、血に聡い。
二年前の失態。
その言葉を口にした瞬間、俺の表情から笑みが反射的に抜け落ちる。右の手は腰に下げる剣の柄へと向かい、静かに握り締めた。
「へぇ?」
魔物など度外視と言わんばかりに俺の挙措をジッ、と見詰める青年はどこか感心したように声をもらす。
「で、どうするよ。オレとしては案内役をここで失いたくは————」
けれど俺は彼の言葉にこれっぽっちも耳を貸す事なく、視線の先に隠れているであろう魔物へ限界まで圧搾した警戒心を向ける。
そして体重を前へと傾け————後方へ土塊を蹴飛ばしながら、跳躍。
「————ねえから、っ、て、オイ!? オレの話ちったあ聞いてけよ!?」
はぁあっ!? と、声をあげる青年であったが、魔物に対する俺の姿勢は先手必勝。
相手から仕掛けられる前に虚を衝いて攻め切ってしまうというもの。
「多分、ここらへん」
言葉にするが早いか、腰に下げていた剣を引き抜き、それを逆手持ちに持ち替える。
「はぁぁあっ!? あん、っ、底無しのバカとは思ってたが、自分の武器を手放すって頭おかしいにも程があんだろッ!?」
後ろで青年が何してんだあんた!! と悲鳴のような叫び声をあげていたが、やはりこれも度外視。
は己の側に常に存在している
次いで、投擲した剣が大地に突き刺さるや否や、その付近で身を潜めていた魔物の気配が音を立ててその場から散開。
数は————五か。
「ごめんっ! そっちに二体行った!! 魔物は四本足!! 多分、ウォルフ!!」
要らぬお世話であると知りながら、慌てて俺は大声を上げた。
四本足の肉食獣。
恐らく賊共の死臭に誘われてやって来たのだろう。あの青年の恐るべき技量に気を惹かれ、完全に失念していた。
親父からも、死臭のある場所からは数十の魔物に囲まれて尚、倒し切れる自信がないのであれば、出来る限り遠ざかれと口酸っぱく言われていたというのに。
「いや! それは構わねえが!! それよりあんた、剣が今ねえだ————ろ......?」
しかし、必死の形相で心配する青年の言葉とは相反して、俺の手には投擲された筈の剣が既にある。だからなのだろう。
彼が途中で言葉を止めてしまったワケは。
「一体くらい突き刺さってくれても良かったのにさあ。やっぱ、そう上手く事は運ばない、か」
ウォルフは素早い魔物だ。
狙いを定めれば必ず当たってくれる。なんて生優しい魔物ではない。そして現に、投擲した剣は虚しく大地に突き刺さっている。
散開した五体のウォルフ。
その三体が俺に狙いを定め、一斉に草陰から飛び出して襲い掛かって来る。
いつも通り
「いくら素早いとはいえ、狙いが単調なら対処のしようがある」
特に、先手を取られるとウォルフに限らず知性の低い魔物は決まって直線的に襲い掛かってくる。予め直線的と分かってさえいれば此方にも対処のしようがある。
若干身体を屈め、一瞬で創造した剣を地面に滑らせるように。
ごり、と骨を斬る独特の感触が剣から手に伝い、少しだけ眉をひそめながらも、振り切る。
続け様、手首を返して再び一閃。
転瞬、二つの首が、同時に宙に飛んだ。
「ん」
一呼吸のうちに、更に死屍累々。
確実に三体の魔物の首を飛ばした事を確認してから、肩越しに後ろを振り向くと案の定と言うべきか。魔物を始末し終えていた青年の姿が視界に映り込んだ。
鼻腔をくすぐる鉄錆と肉塊の臭い。
凄惨に大地を彩る赤色と相まって不快さが天井知らずに上昇してはいるが、この二年でそれなりにもう慣れていた。
「......こりゃ驚いた。村人の癖してあんた、〝魔法使い〟か」
「確かに、戦い方もそうだがアレ程なら、オレの言葉は要らぬ節介だったな」
ウォルフは決して強い魔物ではない。
強さでいえば二年前に出くわしたあのオーガの方が何十倍も強い。
それでも、目の前の青年が要らぬ節介だったと言葉にした。
その理由は恐らく、手際の良さが理由だろう。
「案内してくれるってんなら。と思っててっとり早く恩を返そうかと思ったが、この様子だと不要らしい。だから、この件についてはいつか恩を返させて貰うとする。————今更だが、オレの名前はシヴァ。ただの剣士だ」
随分と強いただの剣士だなと思いながらも、シヴァに倣うように俺も名乗り返す。
「俺はユリウス。『星斬り』を目指すただの剣士だよ」
「はっ。......それはあえて言わずとも、さっき聞いた」
やはりどこか呆れながらも、シヴァは俺の発言に笑みを向ける。ただ、先程までの棘のようなものはすっかり消え失せていた。
Chapter 24
And so a gaze was focused on the map that I was holding.
"...Hmm..."
A snarl came from the young man's mouth as he thought it over.
"So you want me to be your sword in exchange for your guidance?"
He spoke out loud with a conclusion that was quite natural, as he and I had never met before.
When something was offered to someone, it was normal to conclude that it was a give and take.
But I shook my head at his words.
"No way. I'm not expecting anything like that."
I returned the words with a slightly bitter smile on my face.
"I said it because, if I had to say so, you didn't seem like a bad person. And you don't have to worry about me, I can fend myself against the monsters that'd attack by myself."
"...You seem really confident."
"Of course. I'm going to Slay the Stars after all. I can't call myself a 'Star Slayer' if I can't stand against mere monsters."
I would cut down every obstacle that stood in my way.
Without that kind of spirit, there was no story to be told.
As I spoke these words from my heart, a burst of laughter reached my eardrums, which roared louder and louder each time.
"Ku-- Hahaha!! AHAHAHAHAHA!! A Star Slayer? What the hell is that? You're not going to really try and slay those things in the night sky, are you?"
I frowned in response to his loud laughter and, unfortunately, I recalled having memories of being laughed at for saying such a thing in the first place.
And so I chose to be silent about it.
"I have lived for twenty-five years, and I've never met anyone who'd proclaim such a thing... so I'll tell you as your senior. If you fail to know your place, the only thing that awaits you is death."
"I know without having you tell me. I understand it best, and that's why I'm proclaiming it."
That was to say, he's saying that one should know their place, and that one should be capable of doing something that could only be considered a fool's errand, let alone Slaying the Stars.
And in fact, I believed I could do it.
I had the memories of the only and only "Star-Slaying Swordsman," and therefore, it was not impossible.
"...Haaah. I give you friendly advice, but you won't listen to me."
"I'm listening just fine. Upon hearing your words, I'm just still planning to get to Minaura, that's all."
"That's what you call not listening."
The young man sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"...I would rather not admit it, but according to my friend, I'm what you call a hopelessly direction-impaired person. If you're going to show me the way, I'd love to take advantage of your hospitality, but are you sure you don't want me to protect you?"
"I'm not repeating myself again."
"Hah-- What a quick reply. Well, that's the spirit. I like your enthusiasm, if anything."
He chuckled uncontrollably, overflowing with laughter at my lack of grace.
"I'm pretty sure you already know, but the closer we get to Minaura, the more monsters we'll encounter, and such battles are definitely inevitable... Don't hold a grudge on me if you end up dying."
"I don't need you to reiterate that. I won't change my mind about this, no matter what you say."
"...Jeez. What an unloveable little brat."
He really wasn't a bad person.
...That was probably how unreliable I looked in his eyes.
"I'm not going to lend you a hand if you really insist, are you really sure?"
At the same time, the sound of rustling leaves reached my ears.
And immediately afterward, a possibility popped into my mind.
Smelling the stench of death, similar to iron rust that pervaded the area, I turned my attention to the direction where the corpses of the bandits were.
...Monsters were sharp at discerning the scent of blood.
I was suddenly reminded of the blunder I made two years ago where I had lured the ogre to me because I let the goblin's blood stick to my body.
My right hand went to the hilt of the sword on my waist and clenched it quietly.
"Hmm~?"
The young man who stared at my posture, as if he had no regard for monsters, sounded somewhat impressed.
"So, what are you going to do? I can't have my precious guide get--"
But I paid no heed to his words, and instead, I turned my attention to the monsters that were likely hiding just beyond my line of sight, with an alertness that I had pressed to the limit.
I leaned forward with my weight and leaped backward, kicking the earth away from my body.
"--killed here, h-HEY! Were you even listening to me?!"
He raised his voice, but my approach toward monsters was to win.
The idea was to attack the opponent before they even had the chance to engage me.
"Probably somewhere around here..."
Quick as a flash, I pulled out the sword at my waist and shifted my hand to a reverse grip, then I threw the sword in a spear-like throwing motion.
"HUUUH?! Haaah... I knew you were hopelessly stupid, but who is crazy enough to give up his only weapon?!"
The young man was screaming, perhaps to get an answer as to what I was doing, but I still ignored it like I was doing earlier.
My sword was a magical weapon that would always exist by my side, so there was all the more reason for me to not be concerned about it.
As soon as the sword I threw pierced the earth, the monsters hiding in the vicinity made a noise and dispersed from the area.
Determining their count-- there were five of them.
"Sorry, two of them went your way! Those monsters have four legs... They're probably wolves!!!"
Knowing that it was unnecessary, I still yelled out in a panic.
A four-legged predator, and a monster that easily tears off human limbs-- The wolf.
I had been so caught up in the young man's fearsome skill that I had completely lost track of it.
Even my father had told me to stay as far away as possible from places that smelled of death unless I was confident that I could defeat them even when surrounded by dozens of monsters.
"No, don't mind that! You don't have a sword now, do-- ...you?"
However, contrary to the frantic concern of the young man, I was already holding the sword in my hand that was supposed to have been thrown away at the distance.
And that's why he stopped speaking in the middle of his sentence.
"It would've been nice if I was able to impale at least one of them. But I guess things don't work out how you want after all."
Wolves were very quick monsters.
In fact, the sword that I threw was just piercing the earth in vain.
Five wolves spread out.
Three of them set their sights on me and jumped out from behind the bushes to attack me at once.
And as usual... they came at me jumping in a straight line.
"No matter how quick you guys are, if you can only aim in one direction, there's a way to deal with you."
Monsters with low intelligence, especially wolves, only attack in one straight line.
Bending slightly, I slid the sword I had instantly created over the ground.
The unique feeling of a bone-cutting strike is passed from the sword into my hand, and I shrugged it off with a slight furrow of my brow.
I turned my wrist and struck again.
Two heads flew into the air at the same time.
"Hm."
Within a breath, the number of corpses increased.
After confirming that I had definitely sent the heads of three monsters flying, I looked back over my shoulder and, sure enough, there he was.
The smell of iron rust and lumps of meat tickled my nostrils.
Although the discomfort in combination with the red color that gruesomely painted the earth rose at a concerning pace, I had already gotten used to it in my own way over the past two years.
"...Now this is a surprise. For a mere villager, I didn't expect you to be a magician."
"You're also a pretty skilled fighter. I guess I was meddling for nothing."
Wolves were no strong monsters.
In terms of strength alone, the ogre I encountered two years ago was tens of times stronger.
Even so, the young man in front of me said it was an unneeded interference.
Perhaps the reason for it was because of the craftiness shown in my process.
"I thought I'd return the favor as soon as you offered to guide me, but from the looks of it, it seems unnecessary. I'll have the favor returned someday, then. --It's a bit late, but I'm Siva, just a swordsman."
I considered him to be a very strong swordsman, but following Siva's example, I introduced myself as well.
"I'm Julius. Just a swordsman who's aspiring to be a Star Slayer."
"Heh... I don't even need to hear that, you already said it earlier."
Siva smiled at my statement, still somewhat taken aback.
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