16
レオルドが必死こいてギルバートとの組み手に励んでいる頃、バルバロトは遠征任務に就いていた。
餓狼の牙という名前の盗賊一味を討伐するという任務だ。
現在はゼアトの騎士達が野営を敷いており、多くの騎士が森に滞在していた。開けた場所に小さなテントを張って野営をしている。
そして、大きなテントには騎士達を率いる隊長がいる。現在、隊長はテーブルの上に周辺地図を広げて若い騎士に目を向けている。
「この先の廃村に餓狼の牙が潜伏していると?」
「はい。ただ、近隣住民からの報告でして......」
「斥候の方はどうなっている?」
「はい。報告によれば廃村は無人であり、人が生活していた形跡も無いとのことです」
「ふむ......」
「どう致しましょうか?」
「一先ずは待機だ。確かな情報があるまでは迂闊な真似はしないように伝えてくれ」
「はっ!」
報告を終えた若い騎士はテントから出て行く。中に残ったのは隊長のみとなった。隊長は若い騎士からの報告を聞いて、周辺地図を見ながら思考する。
その時、テントの中にバルバロトが入ってくる。隊長もバルバロトに気付いて一旦考えるのを止め、バルバロトに顔を向ける。
「バルバロトか。どうした? 浮かない顔をして」
「いえ、隊長は今回の任務についてどう思っているのか意見を聞こうかと思いまして」
「ふむ。そういえば、お前に近隣の村から餓狼の牙について聞いて回る役目を与えていたな。何か言われたか?」
「......」
「言われたのだな。まあ、餓狼の牙は良くも悪くも民衆にとっては英雄のような存在だからな。
悪徳領主から民達を救い、詐欺商人から金品を巻き上げ民衆に返還して、性悪貴族に攫われた女子供を助け、まさに正義の味方だ。
我々騎士が出来ない事をやってのける。であれば、民衆に好かれるのは当たり前だろう」
餓狼の牙が信条としている、貧しき者からは奪わない、殺さない、犯さないと言ったものを実践しているからだ。
勿論、民衆から支持を得る為に行っているのではない。これは餓狼の牙で頭領をしている男の考えだ。
「隊長はどう思われているのですか......?」
恐る恐る聞くバルバロトに、隊長は腕を組んで真剣な表情をすると、上を向いた。
「そうだな。出来れば討伐したくはないと言う思いもある。
だが、俺達は騎士だ。国に命じられれば嫌でも動かなければならん。
だから、俺は餓狼の牙を討つ。それだけだ」
「それで納得しているのですか?」
「バルバロト。割り切れ。これ以上は俺もお前も口にしてはいけない」
「......わかりました」
隊長が何を言いたいか理解しているバルバロトは、それ以上追及せずにテントを後にした。
基本的に騎士というものには、貴族の三男、四男といった家督を継げない者達が多い。その中には出世を目論む者も多く、武勲を挙げて出世しようとする者もいれば、他者を蹴落としてでも出世をしようとする者もいる。
なので、誰が聞き耳を立ててるかも分からない場所で無用心な言葉は発せられないのだ。
時が経ち、野営では夕食が作られている。本来であれば携帯食で済ますのだが、幸いにも森で食料を調達出来たのだ。
匂いに釣られて獣が襲ってくるのではないかと心配するところだが、屈強な騎士たちなのでむしろウェルカムといった具合である。
満足のいく食事を取りつつ、バルバロトと隊長が話し合う。
「ところで、餓狼の牙、頭領であるジェックスについて知っているか?」
「噂は聞いていますよ。相当な実力者だと」
「ああ。お前には期待しているぞ」
「はは。期待に応えられるよう努力はします」
「ふっ。ゼアト一の騎士であるお前なら勝てるさ」
食事を済ませた後、夜間の警備をする順番を決めた騎士たちは眠りに就く。
「二人、片付けた」
「了解。その調子で頼む」
「ん。任せて」
茂みに隠れている男と騎士を寝かせた少女は、騎士たちに気付かれないように移動する。
その後も、騎士の隙を突いて気絶させていく少女の手腕は鮮やかなものだった。
しかし、少女も優秀だったが騎士達も劣ってはいなかった。異変に気がついた騎士が声を上げ、眠っていた騎士達が目覚める。
「ごめん......」
「気にするな。十分やってくれた。ここからは俺達の出番だ!」
茂みに隠れていた男に少女は謝る。男は少女の頭に手を添えて慰める。
そして、目覚めた騎士達が明かりを灯して警戒態勢になったのを確認した男は手を振り上げる。
「行くぞ! 野郎どもおおおおおお!!!」
地響きが起きるほどの咆哮と共に、茂みの中から餓狼の牙たちが騎士達へと襲い掛かる。
「敵襲! 総員、抜刀! 出来るだけ殺すな! 掛かれぇ!」
隊長の指示の下、騎士達が剣を抜き、襲い掛かってくる餓狼の牙たちとぶつかる。深夜の森の中に男達の怒号と金属音が鳴り響く。
「我が名は餓狼の牙が頭領であるジェックス! 貴様らが欲しいのはこの首だろう! 掛かって来い!!!」
勇ましく名乗りを上げるジェックスに騎士達は気を逸らされる。そんな騎士達の中から一人飛び出す者がいた。
「我が名はバルバロト・ドグルム! お相手願おう!」
名乗りを上げたジェックスに応えるようにバルバロトは名乗りを上げた。
飛び掛ってきたバルバロトを難なく弾き返すジェックスに、バルバロトは剣を強く握り直した。
Ch 16
While Leordo was working hard on his  training with Gilbert, Barbaroto was on an expedition.
The mission was to defeat a gang of bandits named the Hungry Wolf's Fang.
The knights of Zeato were currently camped out, and many of them were staying in the forest. They were camped out in small tents in the open space .
And in the big tent, there is a captain who leads the knights. Currently, the captain is spreading out a map of the area on the table and looking at the young knights.
"You're saying that the Fang of the Hungry Wolf is hiding in the abandoned village ahead?""
"'Yes, sir. But it was reported by the neighbors. ......"
"How are the scouts  going on ?"
"Yes, sir. According to reports, the abandoned village is uninhabited and there are no signs of human habitation."
"Hmm. ......"
"What should we do?
"Stand by for now. Tell them not to do anything rash until we have solid information.
"Yes , sir !"
The young knight who finished his report went out of the tent. The only one left inside was the captain. The captain listened to the report from the young knight and thought about it while looking at the map of the area.
At that moment, Barbaroth entered the tent. The captain also noticed Barbaroto, stopped thinking for a moment, and turned his head to look at Barbaroto.
"Barbaroth. What's wrong? "
"No, I was just wondering what you thought of this mission."
"Hmm. By the way, I gave you the task of going around to the neighboring villages to ask about the fangs of the hungry wolf. Did they say anything to you?"
"......"
"They told you, didn't they? Well, the Fang of the Hungry Wolf is like a hero to the people, for better or worse."
"It's a great way to save your people from corrupt lords, take money from fraudulent merchants and return it to the people, save women and children kidnapped by evil nobles, and it's a true friend of justice."
"They can do what we knights can't. So it's no surprise that the people like him."
As the captain said, the Hungry Wolf Fang is a hero to the people because he practices what the Hungry Wolf Fang believes in: not robbing, not killing, and not raping the poor.
Of course, they are not doing this to gain support from the people. This is the idea of the man who is the chieftain of the Hungry Wolf Fang.
"What does the captain think of ......?"
When Barbaroto asked fearfully, the captain crossed his arms and made a serious expression, then looked up.
"I suppose so. I have a feeling that I don't want to defeat them if that possible .
"But we are knights., and if we are ordered by the state, we have to move even if we don't want ."
"That's why I'm going to take on the fangs of the hungry wolf. That's all.""
"Are you satisfied with that?"
"Barbaroth. Split it up. There's nothing more you or I can say."
"....... - "All right."
Barbaroto, who understood what the captain was trying to say, left the tent without pursuing the matter any further.
Basically, many knights are the third or fourth sons of noble families who cannot inherit the family name. There are many of them who plan to rise in the ranks, and some of them try to rise through military service, while others try to rise by kicking others down.
So you can't speak carelessly in a place where you don't know who might be listening.
As time passed, dinner was being prepared in the camp. Normally,  they would have used portable food, but fortunately,  they were able to procure food in the forest.
They were  worried that the smell of the food might attract some beasts to attack  them , but since  they were strong knights,  they  were able to take them down.
While eating a satisfying meal, Barbaroth and the captain talked .
"By the way, what do you know about Fang of the Hungry Wolf and his chieftain, Jex?"
"I've heard rumors about him. I've heard rumors that he's a very powerful man.
"Yeah. I have high hopes for you."
"Haha. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations."
"Hmm. You're the best knight in Ze'at, after all .
After finishing their meals, the knights, who had decided on the order in which they would stand guard during the night, went to sleep.
"The two of you are taken care of it ."
"Got it. Keep up the good work.
"Hmm. I'll take care of it.
After laying down the man and the knight hiding in the bushes, the girl moved so that the knights would not notice her.
Girl's skill was brilliant as she exploited the knight's gap and knocked him out.
But while the girl was excellent, the knights were not inferior. The knight who noticed the change raised his voice, and the knights who were asleep awoke.
"Sorry, ......."
"Don't worry about it. You've done enough. This is where we come in!"
The girl apologized to the man who was hiding in the bushes. The man puts his hand on the girl's head to comfort her.
Then, after confirming that the awakened knights have turned on their lights and are now on alert, the man raises his hand.
"Let's go! Bastards!'
With an earth-shaking roar, the fangs of the hungry wolves attacked the knights from the bushes.
"Enemy attack! All of you, draw your swords! Don't kill them if you can ! Lets'go !"
Under the command of the captain, the knights drew their swords and collided with the attacking hungry wolf fangs. In the midnight forest, men's shouts and metallic sounds rang out.
"My name is Jex, chieftain of the Fang of the Hungry Wolf! What you want is this head! Came at me than !!!!"
The knights were distracted by Jex, who bravely announced his name. I'm not sure what to make of that.
"My name is Barbaroth Dogrum! I am your opponent!"
As if in response to Jex's name, Barbaroth came forward.
As Jex effortlessly flipped Barbaroth back as he leapt at him, Barbaroth regripped his sword tightly.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛