白い使徒、ステラがギルドを襲撃した頃。勇者達はメンバーを揃えて既に馬車に乗って国を発っていた。
フィニアとルルも同様に馬車に乗せられていたが、端の方に座って涙を流すルルと、それを慰めるフィニアは、勇者一行の誰とも関わろうとはしなかった。
フィニアも、放心したようにぽろぽろと涙を溢すルルに、何も出来ないのかと思った。14歳程の肉体年齢でも、彼女の精神はまだ幼い少女だ。家族であった桔音と引き離され、そして絆であった首輪も切り刻まれた。辛くない、筈がないのだ。
しかし、フィニアの考えに反して、ルルは両手に持った首輪の残骸を服のポケットに入れて、両手で涙を拭う。ぐっと涙を堪えて、強い意思を瞳に浮かべた。
―――泣いちゃ駄目......今一番辛いのは、きつね様なんだから......!
首輪は壊されてしまった。でも、自分はまだ生きていて、桔音もまだ生きている。迎えに来てくれると約束した。
なら、まだ希望は捨てちゃいけない。きっと、また会える。そう信じて泣くことを止めた。
「フィニア様......私はもう大丈夫です......」
「ルルちゃん......本当に?」
「......はい」
「......そっか。大丈夫だよ、私がずっとそばにいるから」
ルルが泣きやんだのを見て、フィニアは気丈に振る舞う彼女の頬に、その身を寄せる。フィニアだって辛い筈なのだ、大好きな桔音と引き剥がされ、自分の命であるお面は巫女が持っている。強奪防止と破損防止の為か、桔音との勝負の時に使った様な結界をお面に使っていた故に、フィニアもお面を奪い返すことが出来ない。
生殺与奪の権限が奪われている以上、現状―――フィニアも奴隷の様なものだった。
「......なぁ勇者さんよぉ、ありゃ一体どういうワケだ?」
そんな二人の様子を見てそう言ったのは、勇者と巫女に後から合流したメンバーの一人、Aランク剣士のジークだ。
魔法使いのシルフィと共にやってきた彼だが、勇者と巫女の姿の他に、ルルとフィニアの姿を見て怪訝に思っていた。見た限りではそこまで強い匂いはしなかったし、勇者達との距離感も仲が良いって訳でも、これから親睦を深めようって訳でもない様だったからだ。
ジークの問いに、凪は少し肩を落とした様子で答える。
「いや......奴隷の子だったんだけど、俺のいた所じゃ奴隷って制度は嫌悪すべきものだったから許せなくなって......決闘してあの子を虐げてた人の下から連れて来たんだ」
「決闘?」
「ああ、セシルに聞いたんだ」
ジークはその話を聞いて、交代だが現在馬を操っている巫女、セシルを窓から見た。
無論、彼はグランディール王国に決闘なんて制度がないことを知っている。そして、セシルという巫女がどれ程知略策略に長けた女であるかも良く知っていた。
故に悟った。この勇者を利用し、あの奴隷―――いや、妖精の方を略奪したのだと。
相変わらず反吐が出る女だ、と考えながらも、ジークは勇者の方へと視線を戻す。肩を落としながらチラチラと二人を見ている勇者は、なにはともあれ小物に見える。思わず溜め息が漏れた。
「はぁ......」
「お?」
ジークの溜め息と同時、隣からも深い溜め息が出た。魔法使いのシルフィだ。彼女も状況を察したようで、フィニア達の境遇に同情しているようだ。
城での勇者はとても頼もしく思えたのだが、どうやら圧倒的に経験が足りていないらしい。この先の成長次第だが、今の勇者はまだ、魔王討伐どころか生活すらやっていけない可能性がある。頑張ってくれよ、と思うしかなかった。
「......なぁ勇者さん」
「あ、俺のことは凪で良い」
「......んじゃナギよぉ、お前さんはもちっと周りを見た方が良いぜ。誰が敵で、誰が味方なのか......人は見た目じゃ何を考えてっかまでは分かんねぇんだ、気ぃ付けねぇと......足掬われんぞ」
「あ、ああ......そう、だな......ありがとう、気を付けるよ」
ジークは若い剣士ではあるけれど、凪とは比べ物にならない程経験を積んでいる。騙されたことなど何度もあるし、命を落とし掛ける事態なんて幾らでもあった。だからこそ、彼の言葉には確信めいた信憑性があった。
「ま、これ以上は言わねぇが......巫女の姐さんは見た目通りじゃねぇぜ? もしもお前さんが姐さんを清純で優しい女、なんて思ってるようなら......そいつぁ間違いだ、考えを改めた方が良い」
「なっ......そんな......」
「信じたくねぇならそれでもいいさ、ただ頭の片隅には置いとけ......この世界じゃ勇者に取り入ろうとする輩も少なくねぇんだ、人と付き合っていくなら疑う事を覚えな」
一度セシルを見て、神妙な表情で悩んでいる様子だった。ジークはそれを見て、ふと苦笑する。
悩む事は良いことだ。悩んで悩んで、間違っていても答えを出す事が成長に繋がる。時に休んだとしても、それだって成長に繋がる。大事なのは、成長しようとする意志なのだから。
「ま、しっかり悩めや、ナギよ」
そう言ったきり、ルル達を一瞥して、ジークは一眠りすることにしたようだ。
◇ ◇ ◇
眠ってしまったジークを一瞥して、Aランク魔法使い―――シルフィは横目でルルとフィニアを見た。魔法使いとして、妖精は神聖な存在。魔法を極めんとする者として、『妖精の無詠唱』が魔法の極意の一つとされているからだ。
また、思想種の妖精は無詠唱のままに大規模な威力の魔法を発動する事が出来る。故にそのメカニズムを解明出来れば、人間の魔法文化は更なる躍進を遂げるだろうとすら言われているのだ。
だがしかし、人間に魔法を伝えたのは妖精だという伝承もあり、それが真実かどうかは分からないが、魔法使いの多くは皆妖精を神聖視し、尊敬の念を抱いている。
だから妖精を傷付けたり虐げる行為は、魔法使いにとって禁忌―――破ってはならない最大のタブーなのだ。
シルフィもまたその一人。多大な魔力を内包しているフィニアが悲しそうな表情をしているのを見て、彼女はセシルに対する不満で内心穏やかではなかった。
「......食べますか?」
「......何?」
「あの......えと......金平糖っていう異世界のお菓子、らしいです」
だからか、シルフィは悲しそうなフィニアやルルに対して、無干渉ではいられなかった。
過去召喚された勇者達によって伝えられた異世界のお菓子やファッションは、この世界でも人気を誇っている。中でもシルフィは金平糖が大好物だ。砂糖菓子ではあるけれど、甘くて持ち運び便利で尚且つふとした時に食べる事が出来るのが良いらしい。
普段、金平糖を一つとして分けようとはしない彼女だが、この時ばかりは自身の大好物をフィニア達に差し出した。
「......いらない、私達に関わらないでって言った筈だよ」
「ご、ごめんなさい......でも、悲しい時には甘いものが......良いから......」
フィニアはぶっきらぼうにそう返したが、シルフィは尚も食い下がる。彼女は元々人付き合いが苦手なのだ。眼を合わせて会話する事が出来ないし、自分から言葉を切り出すのも一苦労なのだ。
それでもここまで彼女が食い下がるのは、巫女の暴挙の償いでもあった。本意ではないとはいえ、仲間の犯したことは連帯責任なのだ。
「......フィニア様、貰いましょう」
「良いの? ルルちゃん」
「この先、きつね様が迎えに来てくれた時の為に私達は生き延びないといけません......この人達を拒絶して二人だけで生きるのは......厳しいと思います......少しくらいは、歩み寄らないと」
「......そうだね、分かったよ」
そんなシルフィの言葉に、ルルが一粒金平糖を手に取った。
桔音が迎え来る、ならば生きなければならない。生きる為には、この勇者達を頼らなければならない。それに、巫女がフィニアの命を握っているのだ、下手に逆らってお面を壊されでもしたら桔音が悲しむ。
ルルは桔音という家族から離れたことで、大きく成長しようとしていた。必死に生き延びようとする桔音を見てきたからこそ、今自分がどうするべきなのか、冷静に考える事が出来た。
フィニアも、自分も、死なない為には強くならなければならない。勇者に庇護されるのではなく、勇者を自分達が生きるために利用する。
―――成長しろ、成長しろ、成長しろ......もう二度と、きつね様を悲しませたりしない......!
ルルは決意する。己の命を救ってくれた、あの優しいご主人様の為に、もう二度と......あの優しい薄ら笑いを歪ませない。
―――ここで変わらなくちゃいけない......護られる私じゃなくて、弱々しい私じゃなくて、きつね様を護れる私になりたい......!
ルルの瞳に宿る意思の力が、ぐっと強くなる。そして、その意思に応じる様に、ルルの身体に異変が起き始めていた。
フィニアはルルの頭の上に乗ったまま、シルフィの掌に乗っていた金平糖を手に取る。そして、少し躊躇したあと勢いよくガリガリと完食した。そして、その後ルルの変化に気が付く。ルルの心臓の鼓動が、一際大きく響いた。
「ルルちゃん......?」
「なんですか?」
ルル本人は、その鼓動を感じたようだが、自身の身体に起きた変化には気が付いていなかった。フィニアも、ルルの何が変わったのかは分からない。
けれど、彼女の何かが変わった様な感覚は、気のせいではないと確信していた。
桔音が此処にいれば分かっただろう。ルルに起こった変化とは、『固有スキル』の覚醒に他ならなかった。桔音を想い、自身が変わろうという本気の決意が、彼女に力を与えた。
(きつね様......私、待ってますから......迎えに来てくださるその時まで......フィニア様と待ってますから......!)
零れそうになった涙をグッとこらえ、ルルは泣かないことを決めた。
彼女は桔音への思いを馳せながら、馬車の窓から空を見て、腰に提げた小剣を優しく握り締めたのだった。
Around the same time when the white girl; Stella; attacked the guild, having everyone gathered there, the hero and his party immediately got into the carriage and left the country.
Finia and Lulu got into the carriage as well, but Lulu; who was shedding tears and sitting in the corner of the carriage; and Finia; who was consoling her; weren't associating with anyone in the hero's party, at all.
Toward Lulu who was absentmindedly shedding tears, even Finia was at loss about what to do. Even if her body was of fourteen years old, but mental-wise Lulu was still of a child. She got separated from Kitsune; who was her family; moreover the collar that was the symbol of their bonds was broken. There was no way she didn't feel heart-broken because of it.
However, on the contrary with what Finia thought, Lulu put the collar wreckage into her clothes pocket, and wiped the tears with both of her hands. Suddenly endured the tears, she showed a strong determination in her eyes.
--I must not cry... because the one who is suffering the most is Kitsune-sama...!
The collar was broken. But, she was still alive, and Kitsune was still alive as well. And he also had promised that he'd come to take them back.
Then, I must not give up yet. I'm sure we'll meet again. She believed so and stopped crying.
"Finia-sama... I'm fine already...."
"Lulu-chan... are you sure?"
"...yes."
"...I see. Don't worry, because I'll always be by your side."
Looking at Lulu who had stopped crying and braced herself, Finia leaned to Lulu's face. Even Finia definitely did feel sad, being separated from her beloved Kitsune, and her life; the mask; was taken by the miko. Perhaps it was to prevent the mask from being damaged or stolen, there was a similar barrier like the one she erected at the time Kitsune dueled the hero that was placed on it, that was why Finia couldn't take it back.
Because her life and death was in their hand, currently... Finia was similar like those of slaves.
"...say, hero-san, what do ya say 'bout dat?"
The one who said so; upon noticing Finia and Lulu; was one of the party member who joined with them afterward, the A rank swordsman, Jik.
He came together with the magician Silphy, but upon looking at those two who were there together with the hero and Cecil, he dubiously asked so. From what he could see, they weren't that powerful, moreover not just their relationships weren't that good with the hero, there was also no sign for it to get any better later on.
To Jik's inquiry, Nagi answered while dropping his shoulders.
"Well, you see... actually she was a slave, and since at my former world slavery was something that was very detested, I couldn't just let her be... so I took her from the one who oppressed her through a duel."
"Duel?"
"Yeah, I heard it from Cecil."
Upon hearing that, Jik glanced at the miko; Cecil; who was controlling the horses.
Of course, he did know that there was no such duel system at the Grandile Kingdom. Moreover, he also knew just what kind of crafty woman that miko was.
Thus, he thought that she manipulated that hero to plunder the slave, no, the fairy.
The hero; who was dropping his shoulders and kept on taking glances at the two; he looked like a lost child that didn't know what to do. Jik involuntarily let out a sigh.
"Haa...."
"Oh?"
Simultaneously when he let out a sigh, there was also a sigh from someone beside him. It was the magician, Silphy. Seemingly had somewhat guessed the situation, she felt sympathy for Finia and Lulu.
At the caslte, the hero was seemingly very reliable, but it appeared that he was overwhelmingly lacking experience. The hero might grow later on, but for the current him, letting aside subjugating demon lord, he might even face hardship just to make a living. Please do your very best, Jik involuntarily thought so.
"...say, hero-san."
"Ah, you can just call me Nagi."
"...then, Nagi, I think ya need ta look at yer surroundin' more. Which one's yer enemy, which one's yer ally... ya can't judge people simply by appearances ya see, if ya ain't careful... ya might end up in sorry, ya know?"
"Ah, umm... you're, right... thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
Jik was a young swordsman, but he had gained much more expeiences than Nagi. He had been tricked many times, he had also experienced many situations where he might lose his life. That was why, there were confidence and credibility in those words. Those words were heavy to the point made Nagi unintentionally nodded his head.
"Well, this may sound unbelievable, but... dat miko sis ain't just like her appearance, ya see? If by any chance ya think dat sis as some pure and kind woman... dat's a great mistake, ya'd better reconsider it again."
"Wha... that's...."
"S'fine if ya don't wanna believe it, but ya'd better keep it in yer mind... in this world, there ain't no few people dat want ta curry favor with da hero, if ya want ta associate with people then ya'd do better ta keep some doubt for them."
Looking at Cecil once, Nagi thought about it with a meek expression. Seeing that, Jik could only smile bitterly.
It was okay to be confused. Kept and kept on pondering, even if it might lead to a wrong answer, it'd still be a part of growth. Even when one took a breathing, that was also a part of growth. The most important part was, the will to grow.
"Well, just think 'bout it properly, Nagi."
After saying so, Jik took a glance to Finia and Lulu, and decided to take a nap.
* * *
Taking a glance at Jik who had fallen asleep, the A rank magician; Silphy; gave Finia and Lulu a sidelong glance. For magicians, fairies were sacred existence. For ones who pursued the pinnacle of magic, fairy's "chantless" was one of the highest level skill in magic.
Moreover, idea type fairies were capable of unleashing a large-scale powerful magic chantlessly. Thus, if they could understand the principle, it was said that human would be able to reach an even higher realm of magic.
However; it was still debatable; but there was a tale that said that fairies were the one who enabled human to use magic, so for the majorities of magicians, fairies were sacred being and the existence they hold reverence to.
That was why the act of oppressing fairies, for magicians it was a taboo... the greatest taboo that mustn't be violated ever.
That was also the case for Silphy. Looking at Finia; who possessed enormous magic power; showed such sad expression, she felt a strong dissatisfaction toward Cecil.
"...do you want some?"
"...what?"
"Ah... umm... this is konpeito, a kind of sweet from another world, or so I heard."
Perhaps that was why, to the sad lookingly Finia and Lulu, she couldn't bear to just let them be.
The sweets and fashions; that were took along and popularized by the previous summoned heroes; had become a prided and popular goods in this world. Amongst all of it, konpeito was her favourite one. She didn't like it simply because it was a sweet, but because not just it was tasty, it was also easy to carry, moreover it could also be eaten anytime.
Normally, she wouldn't give even one of her konpeito to other, but this time, she personally offered her favourite food to Finia and Lulu.
"...don't want it, I think I've said not to be concerned with us."
"I, I'm very sorry... but, when you are sad, eating something sweet... may rise your mood, so...."
Finia answered her curtly, but Silphy was still persistently trying. Actually she was bad at communicating. She couldn't talk without averting her eyes, and starting a conversation was something hard for her.
Nonetheless, the reason why she kept trying there was also to make up the reckless actios that were done by the miko. It wasn't her real intention, but party member's fault was the whole party's fault, after all.
"...Finia-sama, let's accept it."
"Are you sure, Lulu-chan?"
"From now on, for the sake of the moment when Kitsune-sama take us back, we have to stay alive... completely reject these people and living simply by relying on ourselves... I think that would be hard... that's why, I think we need to make some compromise here."
"...you're right, okay then."
Saying so, Lulu took one konprito from Silphy.
Kitsune would come to take them back, that was why they ought to stay alive. To stay alive, they had no choice but to rely on the hero's party. Moreover, Finia's live was in the hand of the miko, so if they untactfully opposed them, she might destroy the mask, and Kitsune would definitely sad if that happened.
Having separated from Kitsune who was her family, Lulu was rapidly growing. Having been watcing Kitsune who always desperately struggled to stay alive, she could calmly think what they should do in this kind of moment.
Finia, as well as herself, they ought to get stronger so that they wouldn't die. Not by being protected by the hero, but they'd to stay alive by make a use of the hero.
...grow, grow, grow... I don't want to make Kitsune-sama sad ever again!
Lulu resolved herself. For her kind master who saved her life, she wouldn't let him... showed such gentle faint smile ever again.
...I can't stay like how I am... not the me whom was always be protected, not the me who was frail and weak, I want to be the me who protect Kitsune-sama!
The will in Lulu's eyes shone even stronger. Thus, as if responding to her will, an unusual phenomenon was starting to happen on Lulu's body.
Still atop Lulu's head, Finia took one konpeito from Silphy's palm. Then; after hesitating a bit; she vigorously ate it. And then, after that she finally noticed the changes on Lulu's body. Lulu's heartbeat was resounding conspicuously.
"Lulu-chan...?"
"What's the matter?"
It looked like Lulu herself noticed about her own heartbeat, but she didn't notice the changes that happened on her. Even Finia also didn't know what had changed on Lulu.
However, Finia believed that she wasn't wrong when she felt there was some changes on Lulu.
If Kitsune were there, he'd definily know it. The change that happened on Lulu was, none other than the awakening of "innate skill". Her feeling toward Kitsune, and her determination to change, they granted her power. No one knew when and what would this power bring about. However, Lulu did certainly grow similarly like what Kitsune and co. did.
'Kitsune-sama... I, will be waiting for you... until the day you come to take us back... I and Finia-sama will definitely be waiting for you!'
Enduring the almost spilling tears, Lulu decided to not cry ever again.
While thinking about Kitsune, she looked at the sky through the carriage's window, and gently yet tightly grasped the short sword on her waist.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
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