第432話~ある日のハーピィタワー~
新生メリナード王国は復興を果たした。全土を一時聖王国の支配下に置かれ、王族も虜囚となり、実質的に一度滅びた王国がこうしてかつての栄光を取り戻し、それ以上の躍進を行った例は他にはないらしい。それもこれも俺が関わったのが原因であろう。俺の能力は集団や国家を支援するのにあまりに有用であった。有用であり過ぎたと言っても良いかもしれない。
通常では考えられない速度で食料を供給し、一夜で軍事拠点を築き、価値の高い鉱石や宝石をそこらの岩から無尽蔵に採取し、それらを使って強力な武具を同じく無尽蔵に作り出す上、万の軍を蹴散らすゴーレム兵団をこれまた無尽蔵にどこからともなく出現させる。戦略シミュレーションゲームだと内政から軍事面まで完璧なチートユニットみたいな存在だろう。
弱点は暗殺に弱いくらいだろうか。いや、言うほど弱くないかもしれないが。
「ぱぱー」
「ちちうえー」
「はいはい」
今日も今日とてハーピィタワーで突撃してくるハーピィちゃん達と戯れる。この中には俺が父親じゃない子供達が含まれているのだが、基本的にこのハーピィタワーに住んでいるハーピィ達は全員が一つのファミリーだ。ハーピィ達のハーレムやコロニーを起点とした独自の文化は長年付き合って居る俺でも未だに理解しきれないことが多いが、別け隔てなく全員がファミリーなのだという重要な部分を押さえておきさえすれば良い。
彼女達と付き合うには既存の貞操観念というか倫理観というか常識というか、そういうものを一回投げ捨てた方が色々と楽なのだ。
「大旦那様、しばらくはメリネスブルグに?」
「いや、ちょっと皆の顔を見に寄っただけだから。あっちはあっちでなかなかに忙しくてね」
「そうなのですか......夜はどうされますか?」
「うーん、悪いが今回はパスだな。また近いうちに来るから、その時にな」
本当に残念そうな顔で子守りをしていたハーピィさんがしょぼんとする。今やこのハーピィタワーに住んでいるハーピィさんも年長者は第六世代だ。俺の血が薄まってきたからか、結構ストレートにアタックしてくる。お相手したいのは山々だが、俺も忙しいしシルフィが向こうで待ってるからなぁ。
「最近のメリナード王国はどうだ?」
「そうですね......いつも通りです。大旦那様の作った農場や開拓村では豊作が続いていて、魔道炉や集魔塔から供給される魔力で人々は快適に暮らしています。政治的にも安定していますし」
「長命種が政権を担っていると政治は安定するよな」
今、メリナード王国の政権を運営しているのは俺とシルフィの息子であるイクスだ。本人はもう引退したいとぶちぶち言っているが、流石にまだ十五になったばかりのセリスに跡を継がせるのは早すぎるだろうなぁ。この後王城に行くつもりだが、またぞろ父上と母上達はズルいと駄々をこねられそうだ。
「隣国との問題なんかは起こっていないか?」
「今のところは。東方の状態も安定してきましたし、帝国とは今でも親密な関係ですから。ただ、ティグリス王国で去年に続いて今年も不作だということで、陛下達が対策を講じるという話ですね」
「ティグリス王国なぁ。ディハルト公国との合併時は色々あったなぁ」
かつて聖王国の圧力によってメリナード王国と戦争状態になり、ほぼ俺一人の手によって叩き潰された北方二国は紆余曲折の末にディハルト公国がティグリス王国に吸収される形で一つの国になった。聖王国元主流派の亡霊の暗躍とか、うちにお勉強に来ていた両国王族子弟同士の甘酸っぱい話とか色々あってな......ああ、あれは面倒だったよ。本当に。
ちなみに、聖王国はその国土を大きく減らしつつもまだ存続している。かつての強大な力は今はもう無いが、メリナード王国とヴァリャーグ帝国に挟まれた緩衝地帯のような国になっている。
暮らし向きは俺達と争っていた当時と比べればかなり慎ましくなったそうだが、彼らは原典の教えに立ち返り、今は人間と亜人の融和を是とする教えを広めている。その結果、メリナード王国としてもヴァリャーグ帝国としても敵対する理由が無くなり、今ではそこそこに良い関係を築けているのだ。
まぁ、そこに至るまでには聖王国の内戦やら離反した領主やら聖職者やらが起こすいざこざやら、難民問題やらとんでもない面倒事があったわけだが、今となってはそれも良い思い出......いや良い思い出ではねぇな。本当に大変だったよ。内政に力を入れたいのに次々と問題を剛速球で投げてよこしてくるのは本当にやめて欲しかった。
「あちらのお話も聞かせていただけませんか?」
あっち、というのは空の果てに浮かぶ巨大な惑星、オミクルの話である。イチから話すととんでもない長編小説みたいな話になるのでサクッと説明すると、子供達の成長を見届けた俺達――つまり俺とシルフィやアイラ、メルティなどの長命種は国を子供達に譲ってメリナード王国を出奔した。
いつまでも俺達が上に居座っているのも国の形態として不健全だし、何より国家運営というのはストレスが凄い。そろそろ子供達に全て譲って俺達は世界を股にかけた冒険の旅というか、新婚旅行......いや新婚ではないな。ハネムーン? まぁとにかく面倒事を全部子供達にぶん投げて世界を巡って歩くことにしたのだ。
当然、子供達は抵抗した。誰が好き好んで玉座という拷問椅子と王冠という茨の冠を被りたいと思うのか? 父上母上はまだまだ現役なんですからもっと頑張ってくださいと泣かれた。いい歳をした大人(当時五十歳くらい)にそれはもう全てをかなぐり捨てて地面に大の字になってヤダヤダと泣き叫ばれた。
だが俺達は心を鬼にして全てを彼らに押し付けて旅に出た。まぁ、流石に全部投げっぱなしというのも無責任なので、こうして年に何回かは顔を出して助言したり助力したりしているわけだが。
まぁそれは置いておこう。とにかく、メリナード王国を出奔した俺達は世界の色んな場所を観光したり冒険したりした結果、オミクルへと至ることになった。とある場所に向こうへと渡る転移装置があったのだ。不用意に起動した結果、百年くらい向こうから帰ってこられなかったわけなのだが。
お前何歳やねんって? それが今二百歳超えてるんだよね。全く身体に衰える様子がないんだけど。これが俺の能力によるものなのか、それとも他の要因によるものなのかは正直よくわからない。
グランデの血液から生成されたよくわからない薬とかアイラに飲まされたことあるしな。どう見ても人間なのに俺がいつまでも若いままなのも『だってコースケだし......』みたいな感じであんまり疑問に思われないのもいかがなものか。
当然、こうして長い時を過ごす以上は別れも多く経験することになった。レオナール卿やダナン、それにゲルダや獣人メイド達は天寿を全うするのを見送ることになったし、ハーピィさん達は寿命が短いので、ピルナ達だけでなくその後の世代の子達も多く見送ることになった。こればかりは俺の能力をもってしても、国を凌駕する富をもってしても如何ともし難い。
落ち込むこともあったが、今もなんとか俺は生きている。生きていられる。
「あっちはあっちで大変だよ。何せこっちよりも遥かに人が少ないからな。やりがいはあるけどね」
オミクルには人が住んでいた。こちらの伝承では魔物の世界だとか死後の世界だとか諸説あったが、実際のところは一度滅んで、滅亡を生き延びた極小数の人々が魔物の脅威に怯えながら細々と生きている、といった感じの世界だった。
地表近くの鉱物資源が軒並み消費され尽くしているせいで、一度崩壊した文明を立て直すことができなかったんじゃないか、と俺とアイラは考えている。何せ手掘りで銅鉱石や錫を入手するのが難しいから青銅器を作れないし、鉄の鋳造鍛造は難しいし、あちらで見かける遺物の金属は合金化されているものが多すぎてただの火や木炭程度ではまともに鋳溶かすこともできないようなものだらけなのだ。金属器が使えないと文明の発展は難しい――って地球で見た覚えがある。もう記憶も朧気だけど。
「噛むな噛むな。お腹すいたのかな?」
「そろそろ良い時間ですね。お昼はこちらで食べていかれませんか?」
「ああ、そうしたいけどイクスに昼飯に誘われていてね。それもまた次の機会だな」
「代わりと言っちゃなんだけど、お菓子置いていくから。後で皆で分けてくれ」
「おかし!」
はしゃぐハーピィちゃん達を宥めながら、お昼ごはんの用意を手伝っていくことにする。なに、イクスなら少しくらい待たせても構わんさ。ハハハ。
433 Episode 432 - Harpy Tower One Day
The new Kingdom of Merinado has been rebuilt. It seems that there is no other example of a Kingdom that has been temporarily placed under the rule of the Holy Kingdom, and whose royalty has also been taken prisoner, and which has virtually once perished, has thus regained its former glory and made further progress. That's probably why I was involved. My abilities were too useful to support the group and the nation. It may be said to have been useful and too much.
Supply food at a rate unusual, build a military base overnight, extract high-value ore and gems from the rocks, use them to create equally powerful weapons, and unleash a golem army that scatters a million armies from nowhere. In a strategy simulation game, it's like a perfect cheat unit, from the internal affairs to the military.
I wonder if my weakness is that it makes me vulnerable to assassination. No, maybe not as weak as I'd say.
"Papa..."
"Chi-chiu"
"Yes, yes."
Today, I was playing with Harpy chicks who charged into the Harpy Tower. These include children for whom I am not the father, but basically all the Harpies living in this Harpy Tower are one family. Harpy's unique culture, starting from Harlem and the colony, has been with me for many years, but I still can't understand it, but I just need to hold on to the important part that everyone is a family.
It is easier to throw away the existing chastity or ethics or common sense when you go out with them.
Milord, have you been to Merinnesburg for a while?
"No, I just stopped by to see everyone's faces." I've been pretty busy over there. "
"Is that so... what are you going to do at night?"
"Hmm, I'm sorry, but this time it's a pass." I'll be back soon, at that time. "
Harpy, who was babysitting with a really unfortunate face, shuddered. Harpy, who now lives in this Harpy Tower, is also an elder of the sixth generation. My blood is fading, so I'm going to hit you pretty straight. I want to deal with the mountains, but I'm also busy, and Sylphy is waiting for me there.
How's Merinado kingdom these days?
"That's right... as usual. The farms and reclaimed villages built by Da Milords continue to produce abundant crops, and people live comfortably thanks to the magic power supplied by the magic furnaces and magic towers. It's politically stable."
"Politics will be stable if long-lived species are in power."
Ix, son of Sylphy and I, are running the administration of the Merinado Kingdom. The person himself says he wants to retire, but I think it's too early to let Celis inherit the tracks after she's only fifteen years old. I plan to go to the royal castle after this, but it seems that my father and mother will be cheating again.
"Are there any problems with your neighbors?"
"For now. The situation in the East has stabilized, and the Empire is still close to us. However, since the Tigris Kingdom has not been successful this year since last year, it is said that His Majesty will take measures."
Tigris Kingdom. There was a lot of merger with the Duke of Dihart.
Once a state of war with the Kingdom of Merinado under the pressure of the Holy Kingdom, the two northern kingdoms were crushed almost by my own hand, and after a tortuous process, the Duke of Dihart was absorbed into the Kingdom of Tigris. There's the shadow of a kingdom-mainstream ghost, the sweet and sour stories of two royal sons and daughters who came to study at home... Oh, that was a hassle. I really did.
By the way, the Holy Kingdom still survives even though it has greatly reduced its territory. The former formidable power is no longer there, but it is a buffer zone between the Merinado Kingdom and the Varyag Empire.
It seems that their lifestyle has become quite cautious compared to when they were fighting with us, but they have returned to the teaching of the original, and now they are spreading the teaching that the harmony between humans and sub-humans is. As a result, there is no longer any reason to be hostile towards the Merinad Kingdom or the Valyag Empire, and now we have a good relationship there.
Well, there was a civil war in the kingdom, a rebellious lord, a clergyman, a refugee problem, and a lot of trouble, but now it's a good memory... no, it's not a good memory. It was really tough. Even though I wanted to focus on my internal affairs, I really wanted you to stop throwing me problems one after the other with Rigid Fastball.
"Would you mind telling me that story, too?"
Over there, the story of Omikuru, a giant planet floating at the end of the sky. Speaking from scratch, it would be like an outrageous long novel, so I explained it suddenly. We watched the children grow -- that is, I and Silfi, Aira, Melty and other long-lived species gave up the country to the children and left the Merinado Kingdom.
It is unhealthy as a form of state that we will always be sitting on top of, and above all, the state management is very stressful. It's about time we gave up everything to the children and we're on an adventure trip across the world, a honeymoon... no, it's not a honeymoon. Honeymoon? Well, anyway, I decided to throw all my troubles at the kids and walk around the world.
Naturally, the children resisted. Who would love to wear a torture chair called the Throne and a crown called the Crown? My father and mother are still on active duty, so they asked me to do more. A good-aged adult (about fifty years old at the time) threw it all away, and cried and cried on the ground.
But we went on a journey with our hearts ghosted and everything we pushed on them. Well, it's irresponsible to keep throwing everything at the boulders, so I've been showing my face several times a year to advise and help.
Well, let's put that aside. Anyway, when we left the Kingdom of Merinado, we went sightseeing and adventuring around the world, and ended up in Omikuru. There was a transfer device somewhere across the place. As a result of the accidental activation, I hadn't been able to come back from over there for about a hundred years.
How old are you? That's over 200 years old now, isn't it? I don't think my body is fading at all. I honestly don't know whether this is due to my abilities or some other factor.
I've had Ira take drugs from Grande's blood that I don't know about. In any case, even though I'm a human being, I feel like "I'm a couscous..." even though I'll always be young. How about if I don't wonder too much?
Naturally, more than spending a long time like this, I had to go through a lot of parting. Lord Leonard, Danang, Gerda, and the maids of the beast were to be sent off to complete their lifespan, and the Harpies had a short life expectancy, so they were to be sent off not only to Pirna, but also to many children of later generations. It is difficult to do this with my abilities or with wealth that surpasses the country.
Sometimes it was depressing, but I'm still alive. I can live.
"It's hard over there." There are far fewer people than we are. It's rewarding, though. "
There were people living in Omikul. In our legend, there were various discourses about the world of monsters and the world after death, but in reality, it was a world where a small number of people who had perished once and survived were terrified of the threat of monsters and lived in detail.
Aira and I believe that the depletion of mineral resources near the surface has prevented us from reconstructing the civilization that collapsed once. It is difficult to make bronze because it is difficult to obtain copper ore and tin by hand digging, it is difficult to cast and forge iron, and there is too much metal alloyed in the artifacts seen there, and there are many things that cannot be cast and melted properly by just fire or charcoal. I remember seeing on Earth that it was difficult to develop civilization without the use of metal vessels. I don't remember much anymore.
"Don't chew, don't chew. I wonder if you're hungry?"
"It's about time, isn't it?" Why don't you go eat here for lunch? "
"Oh, I'd love to, but I'm invited to lunch by Ix." That's the next chance. "
"I'll say it instead, but I'll leave the sweets." We'll split it later. "
Funny!
I'm going to help you prepare lunch while I'm indulging Harpy chicks. What, Ix can wait a bit. Hahaha.
Goshujin-sama to Yuku Isekai Survival!
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https://www.novelupdates.com/series/goshujin-sama-to-yuku-isekai-survival/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Mature Seinen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Alchemy Animal Characteristics Army Building Artifact Crafting Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Caring Protagonist Character Growth Cheats Clingy Lover Couple Growth Crafting Cunning Protagonist Demi-Humans Demons Doting Love Interests Dragons Early Romance Elves Fairies Fantasy World Farming Female Master First Love First-time Interc**rse Game Elements Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Human-Nonhuman Relationship Jack of All Trades Kind Love Interests Kingdom Building Kingdoms Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Magical Technology Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple POV Naive Protagonist Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Proactive Protagonist Racism Reverse R*pe Romantic Subplot Royalty S*ave Protagonist Special Abilities Strong Love Interests Survival Sword And Magic Technological Gap Threesome Transported to Another World Tsundere Wars Weak to Strong
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