桔音の才能
私は思想種、人の想いから生まれた特別な妖精だ。
私の生みの親が私を生み出す程の強い想いを向けた相手は、
だから私は見知らぬ私の生みの親である少女と同じで、きつねさんが大好きだ。厳密には、まだ会って一日も経っていないけれど、一目見た瞬間に私はきつねさんこそが少女の想い人だと確信していた。だって、きつねさんを見た瞬間に私もきつねさんが好きになったんだから、きっと『そう』に違いない。
きつねさんは弱い。強力な力を持っているからと言って、まだまだ生まれたてで本当に強い者を相手にすれば足元にも及ばない私よりも、ずっと弱い。私と戦えば魔法なんて使うまでも無く勝つ事が出来るだろう。
だから、私が護ってあげないと直ぐに死んでしまう。貧弱で、脆弱で、虚弱、吹けば簡単に消えてしまう小さな
森の中、きつねさんは生きようと必死だった。見た目や言動からは全く焦りや不安が汲み取れないけれど、きつねさんの瞳はいつだって逆境の中生き抜こうと必死だった。狼に襲われても諦めない、大蜘蛛と対峙しても恐れない、何に縋りついてでも生きようとする姿は、とても醜く、痛々しい。
そんなきつねさんの命を奪おうと、また魔獣が現れた。不意打ちにきつねさんを攻撃して、きつねさんは毒で動けなくなった。現れたのは蜂の集団。ブンブンと羽音が不快な音になって、近づいてくる。
―――護らないと
そんな考えが頭を埋め尽くした。きつねさんは死なせちゃいけない、だって、きつねさんは今......『独り』だもん。誰も見てない、誰も知らない、たった一人、孤独に死ぬなんて――――私が許さない。
を背に隠した。麻痺した身体を無理矢理動かして取った行動が、私を護ることだなんて、これ以上なく嬉しかった。私の中にあるきつねさんを想う感情が膨れ上がる。胸が張り裂けそうなほどだった。
―――今ならば、なんだって出来る気がした。
気が付けば私は動きだしていた。自慢の羽をはためかせて、近づいて来ている蜂に突撃する。きつねさんは、死なせない。
普通なら溜めが必要な魔法だけど、今の私はこの魔法を即座に組み立て、発動出来た。想いの妖精は強い想いから生まれた妖精―――故に、その想いと同じ想いを妖精自身が抱いた時、更に強い力を発揮する事が出来る。
小さく、白い焔がまとめて数匹の蜂を消滅させる。塵も残さない勢い、空中で完全燃焼し、地面に落ちる前に燃え尽きた。
「不意打ち上等! 虫共掛かっておいで! この美少女妖精フィニアちゃんが一匹残らず相手してやんよっ!」
きつねさんを好きだと思う気持ち、それが私の原動力。この想いが私を強くする!
フィニアが桔音の下を離れて、蜂達との戦闘を開始したことは、桔音にも理解出来た。炎の光と攻撃が当たった音が聞こえるからだ。森の中で火を使うのは山火事的な危険が伴うものの、そうしなければ死ぬのだからあまり禁止出来るものではない。
が、今この状態でフィニアと距離を離されるのは少し不安が募る。不幸なことに、桔音は今麻痺毒で指一本動けない状態なのだ、今別の蜂からもう一発喰らったりしようものなら、
今度は筋肉や神経系が麻痺して心臓麻痺や心肺停止を引き起こす可能性がある。
見た限りではあの蜂は十数匹いた。桔音の知識ならば、蜂は基本的に巣を中心に広い範囲で行動する。広範囲故に、一匹で活動している事もしばしば見かけることがある。
だが、あれだけの数が集団で行動しているということと、先程の白い花が群生していることを考慮すれば、この場所は桔音にとって非常に不味い場所である可能性が高い。
「......ぐっ......くそ、動かねー......」
何とか動いてみようとするが、やはり麻痺で身体は動いてくれない。筋肉を動かそうと脳が電気信号を送っても、痙攣した筋肉はそれを実行に移せない。
桔音は何かこの状況を打破する手段が無いか、破れかぶれに『ステータス鑑定』を発動させた。
◇ステータス◇
名前:
敏捷:10
魔力:20
だが、何か変化がある訳ではない。状態異常の表示なのか、麻痺の表示が出ているが、それ以外は前と同じだ。
「くっそ......!」
歯噛みする。なんの打開策も浮かばない。
そんな桔音の耳に、最悪の音が聞こえた。
―――ブブブ......
蜂の羽音。それも、大木を背にしている桔音の背後、ではない、正面からだ。フィニアが戦っている方向ではなく、目の前からだ。
視線を上に上げてみれば、そこには一匹の蜂が浮遊していた。お尻に付いた円錐型の毒針が、桔音にその先端を向けている。
桔音は苦し紛れに蜂のステータスを除く。
種族:昆虫型魔獣 Lv5
体力:50
耐性:15
スキル:『麻痺針』『群体行動』
この蜂は敏捷能力に関しては桔音よりも高い。おそらく、桔音が攻撃を当てようとしてもけして当たらない程の格差があるだろう。
「これはどういう......?」
桔音は此処までの道中、フィニアの知る能力値についての知識を収集していた。その結果、『耐性』という能力値を分かりやすく表現すると、その人の『防御力』ということだと分かった。
そして、フィニアの筋力が桔音の12倍であれだけの力を持っていることを踏まえると、桔音の耐性値はこの蜂の針を生身で受け止められる位の防御力である筈。
「まさか......ステータスの力を発揮出来てない......?」
桔音は考える。もしかしたら何か見落としている部分があるのかもしれないと。耐性100の力を発揮出来ていないのかもしれないと。
だが、考えている暇はなかった。
蜂は、思考する桔音を敵とみなした。その針が射出される。
桔音はその瞬間、世界がスローモーションに見えた。針の先端が少しづつ近づいて来ている。その向かう先は桔音の眉間、確実に死亡コースまっしぐらだ。
その時、桔音は思い出した。フィニアが魔法をどうやって使っているのかを。彼女は桔音が魔法を使う方法を聞いた時、生まれた時から知っていた、感覚で使えると分かっていたと答えた。
つまり、意識の部分で桔音は自分の出来ると思っている事と表示されるステータスが噛み合っていないのだ。
結果―――肉体が針を防げる筈がないと桔音が思っているから、針はステータスの差を越えて桔音の肉体を穿ったということだ。
(――――なら......)
桔音はスローモーションの視界の中で、生きる望みをまだ捨てない。耐性100のステータスを信じ、桔音は迫る針が自身の肉体を穿てる筈が無いと信じた。思い込み、その針を生身一つで対抗する。
(まだ、死ねないんだよ......!!)
針が桔音の眉間に触れた、そしてその勢いのままに桔音の肉を......
―――穿てなかった
歯と歯をぶつけたような音が響き、蜂の毒針は桔音の肉体に弾かれ地面に落ちた。
「.........耐性100......やるじゃない、僕」
桔音はどっと吹き出る汗を感じながら、自分のステータスとその使い方を理解した。痛みはなく、傷も無い。これが桔音が唯一得た耐性の才能の力、桔音はそれを体感して薄ら笑いを浮かべた。
そして、毒などなかったかのように軽々と『立ち上がった』。
「耐性ってのは状態異常にも効くみたいだね」
本当は効いていなかった毒を効いていると思い込んでいたから麻痺で動けなかったのだ。効かないと分かれば本来は効いていなかった毒など屁でもない。桔音は針を失った蜂を素手で捕らえた。どうやら蜂の方は桔音に攻撃が通らなかったことで困惑していたらしく、逃げるのが遅れてしまったようだ。
「針の無くなった君なんて、全然怖くない。針があっても怖くないけどね」
その時、蜂は身体を硬直させる。桔音と対峙した蜘蛛が感じたように、危険な気配を感じ取ったからだ。蜂はジタバタともがく、なんでもいいからとにかく桔音から出来る限り距離を取りたかったのだ。
不気味で、気持ち悪い
桔音のスキルにもある『不気味体質』、これがこの危険な気配の正体だ。
―――『不気味体質』:敵と対峙し、精神的優位に立った時相手を威圧し心を圧し折るスキル。
桔音が精神的に優位に立った時、レベル差に関係なく相手を威圧し精神的に圧倒する凶悪なスキルだ。桔音が敵と認識していないと発動しなかったり、精神的下位に立っている時は発動しなかったりと、発動には様々な条件があるが、決まれば確実に桔音の力になるスキルだ。
「ギ......ィ......!」
蜂は桔音の手で抑えつけられ、桔音の眼を直視させられる。眼を離したいのに、離せないこの状況が拷問の様に感じていた。
すると、桔音は口端を吊り上げながら蜂の羽を掴む。
「ありがとう蜂君、君のおかげでこれから少しはやっていけそうだ」
ぶちぶちと音を立てて蜂の身体から羽を全て引き千切る。蜂は悲鳴を上げようとするが、桔音はそれで他の蜂が寄せ集まって来る危険性を防ぐために、蜂の口に地面に落ちている毒針を捻じ込んだ。
すると、どうやら蜂の毒は蜂自身にも効くらしく、蜂はもがくのを止めて痙攣し始めた。
「あれ? てっきり自分の毒は効かないんだと思ってたよ。ごめんね」
桔音は蜂を地面に落として興味が失せたとばかりに視線を切る。殺す気はなかった、桔音なりにステータスの使い方を教えてくれた蜂には感謝しているのだ。とはいえ、羽を失った蜂はこのまま他の魔獣によって捕食されるのだろう。
だが蜂は安堵していた。桔音が目の前から姿を消してくれることがなにより安心出来た。例えこの後、自分が別の魔獣によって殺されるとしても、桔音が自分から離れてくれるのならそれでもいいと思う位だった。
「ああ、そうだよね、このまま放置すれば他の魔獣に食べられちゃうよね」
言葉は理解出来ない蜂だが、桔音が振りかえった瞬間に絶望を感じた。少しづつ、桔音が歩み寄ってくる。人間で例えるのなら、首吊りの十三階段を登らされている様な気分だった。
桔音が蜂を持ち上げる。
「だから、僕が殺してあげた方がいいよね?」
「ギ......!?」
薄ら笑いから、悪意を感じ取った。不気味な気配が更に危険度を増す、蜂は無意識に痙攣とは別で身体を振るわせた。魔獣の本能が恐怖を感じ、死が避けられないことを確信した。
「さっきまでは殺さないつもりだったけど、君のことを考えたら殺した方が良いもんね――――それじゃ、さようなら」
桔音は蜂を地面に落として、その上に自身の足を落とす。
メキャグチャ、とグロテスクな音が響いて、桔音の足の下―――蜂は潰れて死んだ。
蜂は自分に足が落ちてくる瞬間、精神が崩壊したのを感じていた。そして最後、桔音の足が自分の身体を踏みつぶして行く感覚を他人事のように感じながら、スイッチが切れるようにその命を失ったのだった。
「さて.........ん?」
桔音は蜂を殺して、自分の身体に違和感を感じた。すかさず『ステータス鑑定』で確認する。こういうとき便利だなぁと思いつつ、自分の状態を確認した。
スキル:『痛覚耐性Lv8』『不気味体質』『異世界言語翻訳』『ステータス鑑定』『不屈(NEW!)』『威圧(NEW!)』
どうやらレベルが上がったらしい。魔獣を一匹殺した経験値と能力値の低さが幸いしてかなりのレベルアップとなったようだ。だがそれでもレベル1のフィニアのステータスに及ばない所がやはり桔音の弱者である事実を再確認させる。
「うーん......でもまぁ耐性上がったから良いとしようかな」
「きつねさぁぁぁぁん!!」
「おっと......!」
そこへ蜂相手に無双してきたのか無傷のフィニアが返ってきた。フィニアが戦っていた場所を見ると、地面が焼け焦げている部分が所々あるが、蜂の死体や血は全く存在していなかった。全て焼却したようだ。
フィニアちゃんマジ容赦ねぇー、と思いながら、桔音はこの状況を切り抜けられたことを素直に喜んだのだった。
Chapter 7: Kitsune's Ability
I'm an Ideological, a special sort of fairy born from Human Emotion.
The feelings harbored by my parent, the emotions strong enough to create me were directed at Naginata Kitsune... Kitsune-san. Thus, I am a Fairy of Unrequited Love. Strong feelings for another, a fairy born of the highest, and most sacred of emotions. Those feelings reside within me as my core.
That's why, like my parent, the girl that I've never met, I like Kitsune-san. To be more specific, only a day has passed since I first met him, but at a glance, I was certain that Kitsune-san was the beloved one of that girl. I mean, the moment I saw him, I started to like him, so I'm sure that's the case.
Kitsune-san is weak. Even if I'm supposed to possess great power, I was just born, and I wouldn't even reach the ankles of those who are truly strong. Yet he remains much weaker than me. If we were to fight, I'll bet I wouldn't even have to use magic to win.
That why if I'm not there to protect him, I'm sure he'll die instantly. He's frail, and fragile, and feeble, an existence like a faint candle that would go out if you only blew in its direction.
In the forest, Kitsune-san was desperate to survive. From his appearance and behavior, you can't feel any impatience or anxiety, but his eyes were always filled with the desperation to overcome adversity. Assaulted by the wolf, he didn't give up hope. Confronted by the giant spider, he stood his ground. The form of him desperately grasping for something to cling to in order to survive was extremely unsightly, and pathetic.
Trying to take that boy's life, yet another Magic Beast emerged. In a surprise attack, they attacked Kitsune-san, and he became unable to move from the poison. What appeared was a group of bees. Their wings buzzed in a discomforting frequency as they approached.
... I've got to protect him.
My mind was buried in thoughts like that. I can't let Kitsune-san die. I mean, he's... alone. No one's watching. No one knows. No one cares. By himself, dying in solitude... I won't allow it.
At that moment, Kitsune hid his mask (my life) behind his back. For the action he forced his paralyzed body to carry out to be protecting me, I can be nothing but happy. That thoughts within me directed at him begin to swell up. Enough that it felt as if my chest was going to burst.
... If it's now, I feel like I can do anything.
I had moved before I noticed it. I flapped my prided wings, and assaulted the bees drawing close. I can't let Kitsune-san die.
It's a magic that usually requires some charging, but the current me can deploy it instantly and activate it. Ideological Fairies are ones born of strong emotions... as such, when the fairy itself harbors those same feelings that made it, they can display even stronger powers.
A small and white flame annihilates several bees altogether. Not even ash is left behind, as they completely burn up and scatter before touching the ground.
"Surprise attack? Perfect! Now come at me bugs! I, Bishojo Fairy Finia-chan will take take on every single one of you!"
The feelings of affection I have for Kitsune-san are my driving force. These feelings make me stronger!
Even Kitsune could understand that Finia had left his side to commence combat with the bees. It was because he could see the flashes of the fire, and hear the sounds. Using fire in the middle of a forest had the risk of starting a bushfire, but if she didn't, they would probably die, so Smoky be damned.
But in a situation like this, being separated by Finia invited a bit of anxiety. Unluckily, Kitsune had been inflicted with paralysis, and he couldn't move a single finger. If he were to take a similar sting from another bee...
There was a possibility the paralysis would affect his muscles or nervous system, and induce cardiac arrest or a heart attack.
From what he saw, there were a few dozen bees. Based on his knowledge, Kitsune knew that bees generally operated in a wide scope centered around their hive. As such, it isn't that rare to see them working individually.
But with that many of them grouped together, it was quite possible that they were somewhere near their hive. If that were the case, the noises from Finia's battle might work to stimulate them, meaning it wasn't just the bees here now... in the worst case, there was the possibility that a large army may be dispatched directly from the hive.
"... Guh... dammit, I can't move..."
He tried struggling, but of course, the paralysis was still in effect. Even if his brain continued to send the signals for his muscles to move, his convulsing sinew was unable to put it into effect.
Seeing if there was anything he had to break down the situation, Kitsune desperately brought up his status screen.
*Status*
Name: Finia
Dexterity: 60
Magic: 0
But there had been no change to it. A paralysis icon appeared to indicate his status abnormality, but other than that, it was exactly the same as before.
"Dammit...!"
He gritted his teeth. No plans formed in his mind.
And next to his ear, the worst possible sound came.
... Bzzzzz...
The buzzing of wings. Kitsune had his back to a large tree, and it wasn't coming from behind. From right in front him. Not where Finia was fighting, but right before his eyes.
He tried directing his eyes upwards, and there, he saw a lone bee floating around. The conical stinger attached into its abdomen had its tip pointed at him.
Kitsune desperately took a glance at the Bee's Status.
Race: Bug-Type Magic Beast Lv5
Stamina: 50
Resilience: 15
Skill:{Paralyzing Needle} {Colony Mobilization} 
This bee's Dexterity was higher than Kitsune's. It's likely that the disparity was one that even if Kitsune could attack, he wouldn't be able to hit it.
"What does this..."
Kitsune tried piecing together the information he had been given bby Finia's on ability points up until now.  He was able to understand that {Resilience}  was, simply put, one's {Defense} .
And comparing the power Finia had displayed thus far with her Strength twelve times his, Kitsune's resilience should easily provide enough defense to take the bee's needle in the flesh.
"Could it be... I'm not making use of the power from my Status...?"
He thought. Perhaps he was overlooking something crucial. That he wasn't fully displaying his 100 Resilience.
But there was no time left for idle ponderings.
As he thought, the bee registered Kitsune as an enemy. It shot its needle towards him.
And at that moment, Kitsune saw the world in slow motion. The point of the stinger was approaching him ever so slowly. Its destination was the middle of his forehead, and it was definitely on a course that would result in certain death.
He remembered. When Finia gave an explanation ho how to use magic. When Kitsune had asked her about it, she had known how to from the moment she was born, and she had done it by intuition.
To summarize, what Kitsune consciously thought he was able to do didn't correspond with what was displayed on his Status.
As a result... since he had thought there was no way his body would be able to block the stinger, the needle was able to overcome the disparity in stats, and dig into his flesh.
(... Then...)
In his decelerated field of vision, he had yet to give up on his will to live. Believing in his own Resilience, Kitsune convinced himself there was no way the encroaching point would be able to pierce him. He forced the assumption onto himself that his body was more than enough to deal with it.
(I'm not going to die yet...!!)
The needle touched the spot between his eyes, and with that momentum...
... It failed to do anything.
A sound like teeth clashing against one another rang out, and the bee's stinger snaps on his forehead before falling to the ground.
"... 100 Resilience... way to go, me."
HE felt the sweat erupting all over his body as he gained an understanding of how to use his Status. There was no pain, and no wound left behind. This was the lone ability that had been granted to the boy, and having experienced it, Kitsune let a faint smile surface on his face.
And as if there had been no poison to begin with, he easily stood up.
"It seems that Resilience works on Status Abnormalities as well."
Because he had been caught up in the thought that the poison had worked, he had been unable to move. Once he understood it wouldn't do anything to him, the poison that shouldn't have worked on him in the first place lost its effect. Kitsune grasped the now-stingless bee in his bare hands. IT seems the bee was perplexed as to why its own attack hadn't worked, and thus, it was slow to escape.
"When you don't have your stinger, you aren't scary at all. Well, it seems you aren't scary, even when you have it."
At that moment, the bee's body stiffened. Just as the Spider he confronted before had sensed, it felt an aura of danger from him. It struggles and squirmed. It no longer cared about anything else, it just wanted to get as far away from Kitsune as possible.
Creepy and revolting.
Kitsune's skill, {Eerie Constitution}  was the source of the aura.
... {Eerie Constitution} : When confronted with an enemy, when you have the psychological advantage over them, this skill allows you to overpower them by smashing their motivation.
As long as he stood on a higher mental ground, it was a frightening skill that allowed him to emotionally overpower any enemy regardless of level difference. If Kitsune didn't recognize them as an enemy, or he stood on lower ground psychologically, it wouldn't activate. The skill had various conditions, but once they were settled, it was one that would definitely grant power to him.
"Gi...I...!"
The bee remains pinned down by his hands, staring directly into Kitsune's eyes. No matter how hard it tried to look away, it wasn't able to. The situation was like torture to it.
Using one hand, Kitsune grasped an area close to its mouth, and used the other to grasp its wings.
"Thank you, bee-kun. Thanks to you, I think I'll survive for just a little longer."
With a snapping sound, the wings were fully plucked from the bee's body. It tried raising a scream, but as Kitsune was wary that it would attract other bees, he stuffed its mouth with the poisonous stinger that had fallen onto the ground.
Apparently, the poison worked on the bee itself, and it stopped struggling, going into severe convulsion.
"Oh? I was certain your own poison wouldn't work on you. Sorry."
Kitsune discarded the bee on the ground, and as he had lost interest, he turned his attention elsewhere. He didn't feel like killing it. He was quite grateful to the bee who taught him how to use his Status. Even so, a bee without wings would probably soon become the prey of some other Magical Beast.
However, the bee felt relief. The very fact that Kitsune had disappeared from its eyes was more reassuring than anything else. Even if, in the near future it was to die by some other Beast's hand, it thought it was fine as long as it was able to get away from Kitsune himself.
"Ah, that's right, if I just abandon it like this, it'll be eaten up by some other monster, right?"
Even though the bee couldn't understand words, it felt despair the moment Kitsune turned around. Slowly, Kitsune draws himself closer. To compare it to human standards, it felt as if it was walking the thirteen steps up the gallows.
Kitsune hoisted its body up.
"And so, it's better if I kill you, right?"
"Gi...!?"
From his faint smile, the bee felt malice. The danger it felt from the unnerving presence increased even further, and the bee subconsciously began quivering in a manner appart from the convulsions it was going through. Its Magical Beasts instincts were overcome with fear, and it was certain there was no way it could avoid death.
"Until now, I didn't plan on killing you, but when I think of your sake, perhaps killing you would be better for you... well then, good bye."
Kitsune dropped the bee on the ground again, this time, dropping his own foot on top of it.
A grotesque crunching sound resounded, and below his foot... the bee had been crushed to death.
As it saw the foot being lowered onto it, the bee felt the collapse of its own spirit. In the end, the sensation of it being tread on was nothing more than someone else's problem to it as its life went out with like the flip of a switch.
"Now then... hmm?"
After killing the bee, Kitsune felt a sense of discomfort across his body. Without delay, he confirmed it with his Status Discernment Skill. How convenient, he thought as he confirmed his own condition.
Skill:{Pain Resistance Lv8} {Eerie Constitution} {World Language Translator} {Status Discernment} {Persistence(NEW!)} {Coercion(NEW!)} 
It seems his level had risen. The fact that he killed a single Magical Beast, and that his own level was so low, provided him with quite a large level up. But the fact that he still didn't compare to Finia's level 1 stats served as reaffirmation of the fact that he was indeed one of the weak.
"Yeah... anyways, my Resilience rose, so I'll leave it at that."
"Kitsune-saaaaaaaan!!"
"Whoops...!"
As the bees were no match for her, Finia rushed back unhurt. Looking at the area where she fought, there was scorched land here and there, but there were no bodies or blood. All the evidence had been incinerated.
'Finia-chan really shows no mercy' he thought, as he honestly felt joy having overcome the situation.
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/
こいし