6
殿下の手をしっかり握り返すと、彼の風魔法が私たちの背中を押し始めた。少しの跳躍で宙に浮くかの如く移動できる。
文字通り飛ぶように廊下を走って501号教室の扉が見えたときだった。
「来るぞ」
短く声をかけられた直後、扉の向こうの角から一人の女子生徒が姿を現した。
ふわふわした深緑の髪を揺らし、背後へ向かって何か言いながら扉へ走り寄り、
「お兄ちゃん、ゴールが――――うわっ!?」
叫び声を上げて急ブレーキをかけた。
飛び出してきた女子生徒、もといジュディス・セデンに、床を踏み抜く勢いで加速した殿下が一気に肉薄したのだ。
目にも留まらぬ速さで彼が腕を振り上げると同時、その手の中で魔力の刃が形成されていく。
鋭い切っ先が出来上がると同時にジュディスの首に届こうとする。
――しかし。
にゅっと大きな手が伸びた。ジュディスの背中を掴み、間一髪で引き戻す。
ガキン。ジュディスと入れ替わりに前に出たその男は、殿下の一撃を当たり前のように受け止めた。
殿下は殿下で表情を変えることもなく、当たり前のようにニ回目、三回目の攻撃を加える。
「ルウェイン、妹に怪我をさせないでくれよ」
猛攻を受けながらなお笑みを浮かべてみせた彼こそ、三強が一角・オズワルド・セデン。
精悍という表現がぴったりで、今年も乙女ゲームの攻略対象の一人だ。妹と同じ穏やかな森のような瞳と髪。
童顔と鍛えられた身体のギャップが女性、特に年上のお姉様方に大変人気である。
「防御魔法があるだろう」
「君の攻撃は防御魔法を無効化しそうで怖いんだよ......」
殿下の攻撃を紙一重のところで捌いて受け流している。見事な剣技だ。去年にも増して一層磨きがかかっている。
だが殿下は攻撃の手を緩めない。魔法を交えた攻撃を立て続きに浴びせ、それらはさらに鋭さを増していく。
「ッ、ルウェイン、なんか君怒ってないか?」
「先程気にくわない男に会った。オズワルド、お前でその苛立ちを解消する」
「堂々と八つ当たりしないでくれ、ッ!?」
殿下が一際力強い蹴りを放ち、オズワルドが危ういところでかわした。殿下の足がドゴンと凶悪な音をたてて壁に入り、大穴が開く。
「――あっ!」
その音と衝撃でようやく我に返った人物がいた。先程寸でのところで兄に救われ、それ以降尻餅をつき口をパカっと開けて二人のやりとりを見ていた、ジュディスである。
立ち上がって剣を構え、一気に駆け出す。
しかし、やっと準備ができたのは私の方だ。
おそらく殿下といえど三強と五高の兄妹が連携してかかってくれば分が悪い。でも殿下だって一人じゃない。
私はずっと準備していた。兄妹を一網打尽にする、最低でもどちらかに致命傷を与える、逃げ場のない一発。
クリスティーナに分けてもらった尋常でない量の魔力を全て、体内で炎に変換した。
結果出来上がったのは、私という名の令嬢型超強力火炎放射器である。
「殿下っ!」
「!」
短く叫ぶ。その視線が刹那私に向く。オズワルドも気を取られた。
その一瞬の隙をつき、殿下がバチンと両手を合わせた。離すと同時、手の間で作り出された巨大な網が、ぶわりと広がって兄妹を襲う。
殿下自身はすぐさま横の窓を開けて外に避難した。
というわけで遠慮はいらない。
私は素早く息を吸い込み、喉のギリギリまで迫り上がっていた炎を一気に吹き出した。
「うっわあ!?」
「ッ!?」
壁を溶かすほどの熱の塊が廊下を埋め尽くす。一瞬だけ聞こえたジュディスの悲鳴も、轟音でかき消えた。
全て吐き出しきって、肩で息を整える。兄妹の影を探して立ち込める煙に目を凝らした。ものが焼け焦げる匂いが辺りに充満している。
がらりと窓を開けて戻ってきた殿下が私の隣に並んだ。魔法で煙を一掃してくれる。
私は息を呑んだ。
――――いない。誰もいない。
代わりに彼らがいた場所にぽっかり空いた、大穴。
思わず口角を上げた。――やられた。
「ああ、どこにいるかと思ったら。床を掘って階下に逃げたな」
穴を覗き込んでも見えるのは下の階の床だけだ。二人の姿は無い。
オズワルドの幻獣が地面にぼこぼこと穴を開けられることは知っていたが、まさか鉄筋コンクリートの床を突き破れるとは思わなかった。
「追いかけることもない。今のうちにゴールしよう」
殿下と二人、扉に向き直る。真っ黒に焼け焦げているのはご愛嬌だ。『行事』で壊れたものは先生方が直すので問題ない。
コンコンコン。息を合わせて叩けば、私たちは本校舎の大広間にいた。昨年度もゴールのあと行き着いた場所である。
ぐるりと一周見回してから目を丸くした。
そこにはまだ誰もいなかったのだ。
隣で殿下がふうと息を吐く。彼は右の手のひらを私に向けて、
「レベッカ、良い攻撃だった」
満足そうに笑ってくれた。彼の手にぱちんと自分の手を合わせる。さらに勢いのまま抱きついた。
殿下との初共闘は、文句なしの白星だ。
Ch 52
When I firmly grasped His Highness's hand, his wind magic began to push us forward. We can move as if we can float in the air with a small leap.
It was when we saw the door of classroom 501 running through the corridor as if we were flying.
"Coming."
Just after being spoken to briefly, a female student appeared from around the corner on the other side of the door.
With fluffy deep green hair swaying, she runs towards the door while saying something to her back.
"Onii-chan, the goal is -------- Uwa?!"
She screamed and made a sudden brake.
The female student who came out, or rather Judith Ceden, had been worn away by His Highness's acceleration with a force that trampled the floor.
At the same time as he raises his arm with a speed that can't be caught by the eye, a blade of magic is formed in his hand.
As the sharp cutting edge is completed, it will reach Judith's neck.
----But.
A big hand stretched out. He grasped Judith's back, pulled her back narrowly.
Gakin. The man who came out instead of Judith, took His Highness's first blow as if it were normal.
His Highness does not change his expression, and as usual, adds the second and third attacks.
"Llewayne, don't hurt my little sister."
He who showed a smile even while being attacked fiercely, is one of the Three Strongs, Oswald Ceden.
"The expression "fearless" fits perfectly, and he's one of the targets of the otome game this year too. He has the same peaceful forest-like eyes and hair as his sister.
The gap between his childlike face and his well-trained body is popular among women, especially older ladies.
"He must have defensive magic."
"Your attack seems like it would nullify defensive magic, it's frightening..."
He skillfully handles the attacks of His Highness with ease. It's a beautiful sword technique. He's become even sharper than last year.
But His Highness doesn't let up on his attacks. He continues to rain down mixed attacks with magic, and they become even sharper.
"Hey, Llewayne, are you angry about something?"
"I just ran into a man who I didn't take kindly to. Oswald, you're going to take out that frustration."
"Don't take it out on me, huh?!"
His Highness unleashes a powerful kick, and Oswald barely dodges it. His Highness' foot makes a terrible and fierce sound as it digs into the wall, creating a large hole.
"----Ah!"
At the sound and shock, someone finally came to their senses. She had just been saved by her older brother, and after that, she had been sitting there with her mouth agape, watching their exchange. It was Judith.
She stands up and takes up her sword, and runs out all at once.
But, it was my turn to be ready.
Even if he's His Highness, if he's attacked by the three strongs and five highs siblings working together, it'll be bad for him. But His Highness isn't alone."
I have always been preparing. A shot that would round up the siblings, at least fatally wound one of them, with no way out.
I converted all of the abnormal amount of magic I received from Christina into flames inside my body.
As a result, I am a lady-type super powerful flame thrower named myself.
"Your Highness!"
"!"
I shout short. His gaze turns to me for an instant. Oswald is also distracted.
Taking advantage of that moment, His Highness clapped his hands together. As soon as they let go, the huge net created between his hands spread out and attacked the siblings.
His Highness himself immediately opens the window next to him and escapes to the outside.
So there is no need to be polite.
I took a quick breath and blew out the flames that had been rising to the edge of my throat in one gulp.
"Uwa?!"
"?!"
A mass of heat that melts walls fills the hallway. Judith's screams that were heard for a moment were also drowned out by the roar.
After blowing out everything, I catch my breath with my shoulders. I fixed my eyes on the smoke that was standing up, searching for the siblings' shadows. The smell of something burning fills the surrounding area.
His Highness, who came back by opening the window with a bang, lined up beside me. He swept away the smoke with magic.
I was surprised.
--------No one is there.
Instead, there is a big hole where they were.
I couldn't help but raise the corner of my mouth. ----I got caught.
"Oh, I thought about where he was. He dug through the floor and ran downstairs."
Looking into the hole, only the floor of the lower floor can be seen. There is no sign of the two of them.
I knew that Oswald's Phantom Beast could make holes in the ground, but I never thought it could break through a reinforced concrete floor.
"There's no point in chasing them. Let's just go to the goal now."
The two of us, His Highness and I, face the door. The completely blackened thing is a courtesy. [Event] what broke is fixed by the teachers so it's not a problem.
Knock-knock-knock. When we knock in unison, we were in the main school hall. This is where we arrived last year after the goal.
After looking around the room, I widened my eyes.
No one was there yet.
His Highness breathed out next to me. He turned his right palm to me,
"Rebecca, that was a good attack."
He smiled contentedly. He snapped his hand with mine. He hugged me with even more force.
My first battle with His Highness was, without a doubt, a perfect score.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈