晩酌
side:ユキ
今日はロシュール王との晩餐会、いや晩飯のあとお酒に付き合えと言われた。
もう王が視察にきてはや5日。
冒険者ギルドのグランドマスターとの会見もすませ、ダンジョンの視察もほぼ終わり。
あとは、のんびりダンジョン生活を満喫してもらうだけだ。
「婿殿、これは?」
「ああ、強いお酒です。大丈夫ですか?」
「そりゃ、ブランデーですからね。ワインをさらに蒸留して樽に漬け込んだ物で...。そうですね、ワインの5倍はキツイと思いますよ。アルコール度は55%ですから」
「55か...、ふふふ」
ロシュール王はそう言ってグラスの中の琥珀色の酒をみて笑う。
「何か問題でも?」
「いや、感覚でしかわからない酔いの成分か? その量を的確に言う。婿殿は流石異世界人でいらっしゃる」
「......いつからお気づきで?」
「いやぁ、そうだのう。ダンジョンに人を住まわせる。といった時からかの」
「ああ、決め手はこのダンジョンに来てからじゃな。どう見ても、昔からある異世界人の特徴に似ておる。民に政権を委ねるところが特にな。まあ、文献にある方法とは違って、かなり現実的なやり方をしておるみたいだが」
特に隠す理由もないから答えたけど、となると......。
「では、やっぱり今回のお姫様...シェーラの件は俺達に渡すつもりでしたね? 真意は俺に役立てろと」
「ふ、いや。わしではアレを上手く使えん。お前さんほど身も軽くないのでのう。一日でも行方をくらませれば大騒動よ」
そういって、満面の笑みを見せる。
どこかの悪ガキみたいだ。
「ぷっ、そりゃ、王様だしな」
「まあ、このダンジョンの様子を見て姫の事は考えるつもりだったのだがな。初日でもうお前さんに任せてよいと思ってしまったわ」
そう言って、ブランデーを飲む。
「...っく~!! 強いのう」
「でも、美味いだろう?」
「うむ」
おれが、空になったグラスに氷とブランデーをまた注ぐ。
「...異世界人。多くは救世主と呼ばれ、数多の奇跡をこの大陸に残してきた。最初は偶然なのやもしれんが、今では異世界人を意図的に呼ぶ、異世界召喚などというバカげた誘拐を国で行っている所も多々ある」
「わしもな、昔、若造の頃、冒険者として暴れたもんじゃ。継承権は第5位での、基本気楽じゃった。その冒険者稼業でな、一人の男と出会ったんじゃよ。駆け出しの若造のわしを王族としっても徹底的に扱き上げた異世界人がな」
ロシュール王は遠い昔を思い出しながら、酒を飲みながら話をする。
「不思議な武器を持った黒髪の男じゃった。セラリアが持ってた武器と同じじゃ刀と言ってな。魔力の欠片も感じないのに、魔剣持ちの剣士を剣ごと切り裂くほどの腕前での。よく鍛えてもらったわ」
「...その人が異世界人と?」
「その通りじゃ、上泉信綱とか言ってたの」
「ぶっほ......っつ、げほっ、げほっ!?」
「大丈夫か? 何か知ってる名前か? お主の友人か?」
いや、知ってるも何も、その人剣聖じゃねーか!?
本人かは知らないけど。
「おかげでな、わしは剣術レベル5という前人未到の技量を身に着けた」
あ、本物だ。
あの人、教えるのも上手かったらしいし。
「その、上泉って人は特に異世界人らしくなかったんじゃないか?」
「ん? おお、よくわかったのう。お主みたいな服ではなく...そうさの、浴衣だったか、あれに近い服を着ておったぞ? 文献通りの考え方ではなく、本人は只の修行者といっておった」
「歳は幾つぐらいで?」
「ああ、見た目は20代後半ってとこでの、本人は天寿を全うしたが若返ったと言っておったのう。わしは冗談かと思っておったわ」
......うわー、剣聖が天寿全うして若返ってこっちにきたって?
チートじゃねーか。
「で、その上泉師とは知り合いなのか? あの師は剣術ですべてを薙ぎ払うツワモノであったわ。是非、彼の事をしっているのなら、教えて欲しいものだ」
おうおう、そりゃそーだろうよ。
「そうだな、俺の世界...いや俺のいた国で「剣聖」って言われるほどの人だったよ。確か5・600年前の人だ」
「剣の聖か...納得じゃ。あれは剣聖じゃった。彼が木の棒を握れば、手も足も出らんかった」
「そりゃ、剣術レベル計測不能だったろうよ......」
「よく知ってるのう。一度見せてもらったのじゃが、レベルが300超えで剣術に至っては無限とかいてあったわ」
......おい、ルナ。表記ルールどうなってる。
「と、話がずれたのう。で、異世界人である婿殿になぜじゃな?」
「ああ、なんでダンジョンマスターでもある異物にそんな支援を?」
「そうじゃのう。婿殿をみて、師を思い出してのちょっとした恩返しというわけじゃ。いつか同郷の人間に会えば少しばかり手助けをしてやってくれとな」
「はっはっはっは。心配はいらんさ、その褒賞に見合う成果もあげておる。それに道を探求しておった師とは違って、お主は色々面白そうでのう。ここのダンジョンがいい例じゃ。縛り上げる方がどうかしておるわ」
とんだ食わせ物じゃねーか、やっぱり王様ってのは伊達じゃねーな。
「......婿殿は、ダンジョンに街を作ることや、他国と関係を結ぶだけが、目的じゃなかろう?」
「いや、暮らしを良くするためにしてるだけだからな」
「はっはっはっは。そういう事にしておこう。いずれ話してくれることを願う」
「......今はまだ早すぎる。時期が来ればな」
「そうか......。うむ美味い」
カランと氷がグラスに当たって音が響く。
「娘を、セラリアとよろしく頼む」
そう言って、ロシュール王はしっかり頭を下げる。
「いい娘さんだよ」
「ありがとう」
いい顔で笑う男2人。
傍からみたらどうなんだろうな。
「......どうする? 指定保護はかけてコールで連絡はできるが、城をダンジョン化して、安全を図ってもいいんだが」
「...ふ、気持ちはありがたいが、それは遠慮しておく。わしは最後までこの大陸の住人でありたいのだよ。婿殿には理解できない拘りなのかもしれないが......」
「いや、分かる...っていってもあれだな。人それぞれだ。何も悪くないし、それが生き様ってやつだろう?」
肯定も否定もしない俺の言葉に、王は只頷いて酒を飲む。
「そうさな、孫の顔を見るぐらいまでは何とか生きるつもりじゃが、そこら辺はどうだ?」
「ん、積極的で大変だよ」
「くっ、くははは!! あのセラリアがな。ちょっと扱きすぎて、女傑になって心配しておったが大丈夫のようだな」
「なんだ、あの性格は母親譲りかとおもったんだが?」
「いや、それで間違いはない。アーリアとセラリアの母が一緒で、エルジュが別じゃ」
「ああ、それは本人から聞いたよ」
「どちらも、冒険者時代組んでいた仲間でな。アーリアとセラリアの母はわしもかくやというぐらいの、剣と魔術の使い手じゃった。エルジュの母親はチームの回復役でのう」
「ああ、よい妻であったよ。妻同士仲も悪くなくてな。娘達にとってもどっちも大事な母親であった。残念かな、流行り病でコロリよ。セラリアは当時幼くてな、政務にかかり切りで母を蔑ろにしたのを今でも納得できていない。代わりに、面倒をみてくれたエルジュの母にべったりじゃったが、彼女もエルジュを産んで体を悪くしてのう」
「どうも、男手一つ育てるのは大変だ。セラリアは最悪一生独身かと思ったぐらいじゃ。今回の事は感謝しとるよ」
「娘を掻っ攫ったのにか?」
「子供が巣立つのは寂しいが、大きく羽ばたくのも見たい...という感じじゃ」
そうやって、また静かに飲む時間が続く。
「ああ、一ついいかの?」
「なんだ?」
「今更じゃが、息子が欲しかったが、男は生まれなくてな。それであきらめた夢があるのじゃよ」
「それは?」
「息子と酒を飲みかわす事よ」
「もう飲んでるがな」
「ああ、だから今更じゃよ」
チンとグラスがぶつかり合う音がする。
夜はまだまだこれからだ。
Chapter 86 - Evening Drink.
Side: Yuki
Today we'll be having a dinner party with the King of Roch.e.l.le. I was told that the King and myself will be meeting together for a drink tonight.
It's already been 5 days since the King arrived for his visit.
We finished the interview with the Grand Master of the Adventurer Guild and the tours of the different small Dungeons are almost over too.
Afterwards I will just relax, living my daily life inside the Dungeon. 1)
(King)[Son-in-law, what is this drink?] 
(Yuki)[Ah, it's a strong liquor. Is that okay?] 
(Yuki)[Well, that's brandy. It is wine which was distilled and then aged inside a barrel... Well, I think it's about 5 times stronger than wine. Alcohol content should be 55%] 
(King)[55... Fufufu] 
The King of Roch.e.l.le looks at the amber in the gla.s.s and laughs.
(Yuki)[Is something wrong?] 
(King)[No, isn't the alcohol content something that only someone who is extremely used to the feeling of drunkenness would know? That description is very precise. As one would expect of my son-in-law, someone who comes from an isekai2).] 
(Yuki)[...... When did you notice?] 
(King)[No, It was guesswork. Since you started settling people inside the Dungeon. Around that time I guess.] 
(King)[Oh, the decisive factor is this Dungeon. No matter how you look at it, this place resembles the characteristics of a story from ancient times about another world. Where it was particularly important to entrust the administration to the people of the nation. Well, unlike the methods in the story, you seem to be going about things in a fairly pragmatic way.] 
Well there is no particular reason to try to hide it, but then what about......
(Yuki)[So, despite knowing that, you still intended to hand over the Princess... Shera to us? What were your real true intentions.] 
(King)[Fu, no. I can't manage something as skillful as deceit in that way. I'm not as nimble as you. There would've been an uproar if her matter had been left unmanaged for even one more day] 
He said that and grinned with his whole face.
In a way, he's just like a brat.
(Yuki)[Puh, that is a King's convenient excuse.] 
(King)[Well, I was planning on considering about the Princess while I looked at this Dungeon. However, I had already decided that I could entrust her to you on the first day.] 
After sparing some words he drank a mouthful of brandy.
(King)[... Hkuh~!! It's strong.] 
(Yuki)[But, is it delicious?] 
(King)[Umu.] 
I replace the melted Ice and top up the brandy inside the empty gla.s.s again.
(King)[... Otherworlders. Many are called saviors and bestowed a number of miracles upon this continent. At the beginning, there were places where such summons were accidental, but now they are usually purely intentional isekai summonings, where countries essentially kidnap foreign people and force them to do their bidding.] 
(King)[A long time ago, back when I was still a young man, I was a violent adventurer. I was living carefree, being the fifth in line I didn't have to worry much about, being a royalty. During that time I met a man who was not an adventurer. Even though I was fully aware that I was a green youth, even if from royalty, meeting someone from an Isekai, a so-called savior, was my dream.] 
The King of Roch.e.l.le is reminiscing over his past while he drinks a little alcohol.
(King)[The man was black-haired and wielded a mysterious weapon. It was the same kind of weapon that Seraria has. No amount of magical power could be felt fro
(Yuki)[... And that person was from an Isekai?] 
(King)[Oh that's right, he said he was called Kamiizumi n.o.butsuna3)] 
(Yuki)[Buho... Uhtsh, Gehoh, Gehoh!?] 
(King)[Are you okay? Do you know that name? Are you friends?] 
No, I'm just aware of him, but isn't he a master swordsman!?
Although I don't know much about him.
(King)[I owe my unprecedented level 5 in swordsmans.h.i.+p to him.] 
Oh, it's real.
He seemed to have been good at teaching.
(Yuki)[This Kamiizumi did he have anything special from an isekai?] 
(King)[Uh? Oh, I'm well aware of such things. His clothes for example, though they weren't like yours... I heard he was wearing a yukata, or perhaps something close to that? It was not a dresscode according to any literature I had heard of, but he himself said that he was just a pract.i.tioner of the sword and that the yukata was a part of it.] 
(Yuki)[How old was he?] 
(King)[Oh, he looked like he was in his late twenties. He told me that he carried Tenju4) and was then rejuvenated. I thought it was a joke.] 
.... Uwah, the master swordsman reincarnated with his memories?
Cheating? 5)
(King)[So, do you know about Kamiizumi? That teacher was a strong warrior who could do everything in regards to swordsmans.h.i.+p. Please if you ever see him, let me meet him by all means.] 
Oi oi, that must be it.
(Yuki)[Let's see, in my world... No, in the country where I lived, there was such a person called a [Sword Saint] . That man that lived somewhere between 500 and 600 years ago though.] 
(King)[Sword Saint... I am convinced. That was the Sword Saint. If he wielded a wooden stick, neither his hands nor his feet could be seen.] 
(Yuki)[It was probably impossible to measure, his level with the sword...] 
(King)[I'm well aware of that. I had him show me once, but his level exceeded 300 and the swordsmans.h.i.+p he reached was said to be infinitely exceeding.] 
...... Hey, Luna. What is spelling of rule?
(King)[Oh, I left the main topic. Then, what led my son-in-law here from another world?] 
(Yuki)[Ah, you mean why I am a Dungeon Master, even though I am foreign to this world?] 
(King)[That's right. Looking at my son-in-law, I remembered my teacher and instinctively repaid his favor a little. I hope that someday I can meet some people from the same town as him, I would be honored to a.s.sist them a little.] 
(King)[Hahahahah. You don't need to worry about the details, I gave a reward appropriate to the results. Unlike my master who was exploring the world, you are interesting in various ways. The Dungeon here is a good example. You are someone who has been tied down to this world. 6)] 
Ahh this guy... isn't this King showing off a little too much?
(King)[... My son-in-law, isn't the purpose of making this town inside this Dungeon to establish connections with the other countries?] 
(Yuki)[No, I'm just doing that for the sake of improving my life.] 
(King)[Hahahahah. Let's keep it as such. Let's end the difficult talks.] 
(Yuki)[...... Now is still too early. The time will come.7)] 
(King)[Really...... Well, delicious.] 
He shake his gla.s.s and the sound of the ice hitting the side echoes.
(King)[I entrust you with my daughter, Seraria.] 
Saying that, the King of Roch.e.l.le slightly tilted his head.
(Yuki)[She is a good daughter.] 
(King)[Thank you.] 
Both of us laughed with a refreshed smile.
I wonder what it looks like from the side.
(Yuki)[... What would you like to do? I can offer you the Guardian Appointment, you'll be able to call anytime. I could also convert your castle into a Dungeon to provide you with safety if you would like.] 
(King)[... Fu, I'm grateful for your offer, but I will abstain from it. I would like to be an inhabitant of this continent till the end. It may be incomprehensible for my son-in-law but.....] 
(Yuki)[No, I understand... What you're trying to say. You would cease being someone who lives by this continent, it's rules and the people in it. There's nothing bad about it, it's your way of life isn't it?] 
For my words that neither affirm nor deny, the King merely nods and drank.
(King)[I'm thinking about living until the time I could see my grandchild's face, around that time?] 
(Yuki)[She's extremely a.s.sertive.] 
(King)[Kuh, Kuhahaha!! That Seraria huh. I was afraid she would become a heroic woman because of intense training and her prejudices, but it seems like it'll be okay.] 
(Yuki)[Oh, do you think she inherited her character from her mother?] 
(King)[No, well that's not wrong I suppose. Aria's and Seraria's mother is different from Herge's.] 
(Yuki)[Oh, I've heard about that.] 
(King)[Both are companions I met back when I was an adventurer. Kakuya8) is the mother of Aria and Seraria, she is a user of both the sword and magic. Herge's mother was the team healer.] 
(King)[Oh, she was a good wife. My relations.h.i.+p with her was good. For my daughters, both were important mothers. Too bad that Kololi9) caught an illness. Seraria was very young at the time and even now she's still convinced that it's because I neglected her mother, putting priority on taking care of political affairs. To make amends, I put her in the care of Herge's mother, but when she gave birth to Herge, her body weakened quite a lot.] 
(King)[It has been hard raising them by myself as a man. For a while I thought that Seraria might remain in a state of celibacy10) for her whole life. For this, I have to thank you.] 
(Yuki)[Weren't you trying to keep your daughter?] 
(King)[I do feel lonely that my daughters are leaving the nest, but... I want to see them flap their wings and soar high in the sky.] 
In that way, the drinking quietly continues.
(King)[Oh, would this be okay?] 
(Yuki)[What is it?] 
(King)[Even now, I still want a son, but I never gave birth to a male. That's why, it's a dream that I had forgotten.] 
(Yuki)[And that is?] 
(King)[To be able to drink alcohol together with my son.] 
(Yuki)[Mou you're already drinking.] 
(King)[Oh, let's go with it for now.] 
We hear the chime of the gla.s.ses colliding with each other.
The night is still young.
Hisshou Dungeon Unei Houhou
必勝ダンジョン運営方法　相手に合わせる理由がない
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/hisshou-dungeon-unei-houhou/
Adventure Comedy Drama Ecchi Fantasy Harem Mature Psychological Romance Seinen Slice of Life Tragedy
Adapted to Manga Aggressive Characters Aristocracy Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Clever Protagonist Dungeon Master Dungeons Early Romance F*llatio Game Elements Gore Loli Love Interest Falls in Love First Male Protagonist Management Multiple POV Nudity Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy R-15 Reverse R*pe S*ave Harem S*aves Strategist Strong Love Interests Succubus Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7891ca/
雪だるま