26. 魔物退治
今日は課外活動という名の魔物退治だ。
王都から少し離れたところの森に来ていた。
「え、魔物いるの? ってことは冒険者ギルドあるんじゃね!?」
と、初めて魔物の存在を知ったときは考えた。
しかし残念ながら、冒険者ギルドという組織はなく、魔物退治は騎士団かハンターが行っている。
場合によっては貴族が魔物を退治をすることもある。
ちなみに魔物と動物の違いは魔力を持っているか否かだ。
「ゴブリンやオークと生身で戦うとか、普通に無理だもんな」
単純に腕力で劣る人が魔物と戦うためには、魔力は必須といえる。
それ故、魔力を持たない一般人が魔物を倒すのは難しい。
そして、魔物の厄介な性質が、大抵の魔物は人間に害を成すことだ。
多くの貴族は、先祖が魔物を退治した功績によって与えられた爵位を引き継いでいる。
だから魔物退治は貴族の務めの一つともいえる。
せめて、自分に退治する能力がないのなら、他の人に頼めば良いものを。
父のことだから、自分の務めを他人に譲るのはプライドが許さないのだろう。
「先生! 魔物退治は3年生のときにやるって聞きました! なんで、1年生の俺たちがやるんですか?」
生徒の質問に対し、クリス先生が答える。
「今、サンザール学園は他校と比べても、年々力を落としている。3年生で初めて魔物退治をするのでは遅すぎる、という私の判断だ。もちろん、学園長にも許可はもらっている」
確かに、ここ最近は他校との交流戦で、勝ち星が減ってきていると聞く。
クリス先生が教師として呼ばれたのも学園の再起を図るため、と考えられる。
「まあ、安心しろ。奥深くまで行かなければ低級の魔物しかいない。それに、もし危険があれば各班に渡した魔道具で知らせてくれれば良い」
そう言って、彼女は掌サイズの黒球を見せた。
「この玉を地面に叩きつければ、私のもとに知らせが入ってくるようになっている」
三ツ星のクリス先生が駆けつけてくれるなら、安心だ。
それに、今日はクリス先生以外にも二人の教師がいる。
万全の態勢だ。
何があっても大丈夫!
フラグじゃないぞ?
「ここは低級の魔物しか出ないが、何が起こるかはわからん。問題が起きたら、必ず黒球を使うように。―――では、これより組になって行動してもらう」
そう言って組まれたチームは、中々濃いメンバー達であり、ファーレン、ドミニク、エミリアだ。
ファーレンやドミニクはもちろんのこと、エミリアもAクラスの中で有名人だ。
エミリアは魔法の成績が高く、特に秀でた属性はないものの、全てを卒なくこなせる。
オールラウンダー型の魔法使いだ。
「リーダーは俺だな!」
ドミニクはさも当然かのように言う。
いやいや、お前がリーダーって不安しかないから。
俺が反論しようとすると、
「ドミニクには無理よ」
エミリアが先に言った。
「ふんっ。侯爵家の俺以外に相応しいものなどいるか!?」
お前以外なら、全員ふさわしいと思うが。
責任感のあるファーレンや、しっかり者のエミリアなら間違いなくドミニクよりも上手くリーダーをやれる。
だが、結局、ドミニクの意見に押し切られる形で、彼をリーダーにしてしまった。
ダメだ......これは何か良くないことが起きる気がするぞ。
いや、そんなわけないか!
「よし、リーダーは決まったようだな! それでは、課題を発表する! この森にある湖に行って、水を汲んでこい! 以上!」
Aクラスは全員で18人だ。
前世の学校と比べれば少ないように感じるが、そもそも魔法を使える子供自体が少ない。
この国には他にもいくつかの学園があり、学園間での生徒の取り合いも行われていると聞く。
それに、18人とは言え、魔法使いを育てるのは大変だ。
魔法は人それぞれ異なる。
均一的な授業を施している日本とは状況が違う。
18人ということで、4人組が2グループ、5人組が2グループの計4グループが作られている。
「注意点が一つだけある。くれぐれも湖よりも奥に行かないように。あそこを区切りに、強い魔物が出現することがあるからな! そんなことはめったにないと思うが、もしものためだ! では、ドミニクのグループから出発だ」
「ふん、俺についてこい」
ドミニクは、先頭に立って歩き始める。
やっぱり、ドミニクがリーダーってのは心配だ。
ほんとに大丈夫かな?
何も起こらなければ良いんだが。
Ch 26
Today was an extracurricular activity called "Demon Slaying."
We came to a forest a little far from the royal capital.
'Oh, there are demons? That means there must be an adventurer's guild!',
I thought to myself when I first learned of the existence of demons.
Unfortunately, there was no such thing as an adventurer's guild, and demons were killed by knights or hunters.
In some cases, the nobility even exterminated demons.
The difference between a demon and an animal was whether or not it possessed magical power.
It was impossible to fight a goblin or an orc in the flesh.
In order for people with inferior arm strength to fight demons, magical power was essential.
This was why it was difficult for ordinary people without magical powers to defeat demons.
And the troublesome nature of demons was that most of them were harmful to humans.
Many noblemen have inherited the titles given to them by their ancestors for their achievements in defeating demons.
Therefore, it could be said that exterminating demons was one of the duties of nobles.
At the very least, if he didn't have the ability to exterminate them, he should have asked someone else to do it for him.
My father's pride would not allow him to hand over his duties to someone else.
"Teacher! I heard that we have to kill demons in the third year! Why do we, first-year students, have to do it?"
Chris-sensei answered the student's question.
"I've decided that it will be too late for us to do it in our third year. Of course, I have the permission of the headmaster."
Indeed, I've heard that their wins have been decreasing in recent years in exchange games with other schools.
It seems that Chris-sensei was called in as a teacher in order to revive the school.
"Well, don't worry. If you don't go deep into the forest, you'll only find low-grade demons. And if there's any danger, you can use the magic tools I gave to each group to let me know."
She then showed a palm-sized black ball.
"If you hit this ball on the ground, it will bring the information to me."
If Chris-sensei, a three-star teacher, can come running at any time, I'll be at ease.
Besides Chris-sensei, there were two other teachers today.
We were fully prepared.
No matter what happened, we would be fine!
It's not a death flag, okay?
"There are only low-grade demons here, but you never know what might happen. If there's a problem, be sure to use the black ball. --So, we'll be working in teams from now on."
And with that, the team that was formed with some very strong members: Farren, Dominic, and Emilia.
Not only Farren and Dominic, but Emilia was also a famous person in the A class.
Emilia had a high grade in magic, and although she didn't have any particular outstanding attributes, she could do everything with ease.
She was an all-rounder type of magician.
"I'll be the leader!"
Dominic said as if it was natural.
No, no, no, no, I'm just worried about you being the leader.
When I tried to argue with him.
"Dominic can't do that."
Emilia said first.
"Hmmm. Who else in the Marquess family is worthy of the position but me?"
I thought all of them are worthy except you.
If Fallen was a responsible person or Emilia was a rational person, they would definitely be better leaders than Dominic.
But in the end, Dominic's opinion pushed him over the edge and made him the leader.
It's no good. ...... I have a feeling something bad is going to happen with this.
No, I don't think so!
"Okay, it looks like we have a leader! Now, I'll announce the assignment! Go to the lake in this forest and fetch some water! That's all!
Class A had 18 students in total.
It seemed like a small number compared to the schools of my previous life, but there were not many children who could use magic in the first place.
There were several other schools in this country, and I heard that there was a competition between them for students.
Besides, even with eighteen students, it was still a lot of work to raise wizards.
Each person's magic was different.
The situation is different from Japan, where the classes are uniform.
With eighteen students, there were four groups: two groups of four and two groups of five.
"There was only one warning. Don't go deeper than the lake. Because strong demons appear there! I don't think that happens very often, but it's just in case! Now, let's start with Dominic's group."
"Hmm, follow me."
Dominic started to walk in the lead.
I was still worried about Dominic being the leader.
Was he really going to be okay?
I hoped nothing would happen to him.
Reincarnated as the Son of a Vicious Lord! ~When I Was Having Fun Learning Magic, I Had to Get Rid of My Stigma~!
悪徳領主の息子に転生！？～楽しく魔法を学んでいたら、汚名を返上してました～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/reincarnated-as-the-son-of-a-vicious-lord-when-i-was-having-fun-learning-magic-i-had-to-get-rid-of-my-stigma/
Adventure Fantasy Romance School Life Shounen
Academy Adapted to Manga Age Progression Battle Competition Character Growth Cheats Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Elemental Magic Fat to Fit Female Master Friendship Harem-seeking Protagonist Harsh Training Hated Protagonist Late Romance Loyal Subordinates Male Protagonist Modern Knowledge Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in Another World Saints Strength-based Social Hierarchy Sword And Magic Underestimated Protagonist
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6812gh/
米津