「......外から来たB級冒険者か。同レベル帯でも冒険者相手に対人戦で後れを取るつもりはなかったが......対応を誤ったか」
イザベラが苦虫を噛み潰したような顔でそう口にする。
イザベラとしては、軽く往なして俺達を実力不足として追い返すつもりだったのだろう。
自身が実力で俺に後れを取っていると判断していれば、決闘など挑まず、別の方面から理由を付けて追い出そうとしていたはずだ。
「探索を継続させてもらえる......ということで大丈夫か?」
俺が声を掛けると、イザベラはスノウの判断を仰ぐように、彼女を振り返った。
「仕方がないでしょう、イザベラ。建前とはいえ、実力を持ち出したのはこちらです」
「は、はい......。申し訳ございません、スノウお嬢様。同レベル帯の一般冒険者相手に、この体たらくとは......」
しかし、不気味なほどにスノウが素直だった。
聞いていた限り、自身の立場を盤石にするため、かなり傍若無人に振る舞っているという話だったが。
〉に踏み込むだけの力量はあったらしいな。いいだろう、ひとまずは認めておいてやる。だが、覚えておけ。今のはほんの小手調べだ。奥の手は見せていな......!」
「イザベラ」
「はっ!」
イザベラは素早くスノウの許へと戻る。
「少し、言い過ぎ......失礼ではないかと? いえ、いえ......しかし、相手は平民の冒険者です。威厳を示さねば......。現当主様も、実績よりもお嬢様の性格を危惧されているのではないかと......はい、ええ。民のことを想っても、民の気を遣ったり、好かれようとするようになれば貴族としてはお終いだと、現当主様も......」
何やらごにょごにょと二人で話をしている。
「軽い小手調べとはいえ、この私相手に一本取ったことは認めてやる。自由に動くがいい、これ以上咎めはせん」
......何となく察していたが、もしやスノウは、他の次期当主候補との競争を制するため、舐められないように敢えて露悪的に振る舞っているだけなのではなかろうか?
俺の頭に、ラコリナのギルド長であるハレインの顔が浮かんでいた。
あの人も普段は大物振っているが、一つ予想外のことがあれば一気に崩れるところがある。
「もしかして血筋なのか......?」
噂通り、実績作りとレベル上げのために〈
ギルドへ〈幻獣の塔〉を秘匿させたのがその一環であることも間違いないが、彼女が家督争いのために〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉を利用しようとしていた......というのは、どうにも考えられなかった。
今の様子だけで判断するわけにはいかないのだが。
「イザベラ、この方に名前を聞いておいて」
「は、はい、お嬢様」
しかし、なぜ頑なに人を間に挟もうとするんだ......?
「おい、貴様! この私相手に、よくぞここまで戦えたものだ。名を聞いておいてやろう」
色々と思うところはあったが......ひとまずここは、素直に答えておくことにした。
「エルマだ」
で活躍したパーティーにいた男がそのような名前だったが......そうか、貴様だったか」
ハレインにはかなり情報を掴まれていたし、そもそも俺とルーチェをB級冒険者に昇格させたのは彼女なのだが、まだスノウ達は俺やルーチェの情報をさほど持ってはいないようだった。
こちらは一冒険者だ。
ギルド長であるハレインにはともかく、冒険者としての実績が貴族の令嬢に深く知られていないことは当然だろう。
「貴族のご令嬢が身を案じてくださっていたことには感謝する。これ以上用件がないなら、これで失礼させていただく」
「行くがいい、私達も暇ではない」
「お待ちください」
スノウが冷たい声音で口を挟んだ。
何かと思い、俺は彼女の方へと目を向けた。
「こちらの事情を鑑みて、イザベラに手心を加えてくださったことには感謝を......あ、いえ、感謝......えっと」
途中まではすらすら話していたのだが、一度噛んでから、一気に舌が回らなくなった。
何度も話している内に、どんどんとスノウの顔が赤くなっていく。
視線を俺から外し、ぱくぱくと口を動かす。
「お嬢様......! ひ、人見知りなのですから、ご無理をなさらないでください! 下手に喋って、その、威厳を落とされては......! 大丈夫です、私がこう、上手くやりますから! 後ろで堂々と立っておいてください!」
......なぜスノウがずっと沈黙していたのか、その理由がようやくわかった。
俺はルーチェと顔を見合わせた後、お互いに頷き合い......何も見なかったことにしてその場を去ることにした。
"....so, a B rank adventurer from outside. I didn't think I would lose out to an adventurer around the same level as me....It seems I made a mistake in handling the situation."
Izabella said while she looked like she bit into a lemon.
She must've intended to lightly admonish us and chase us away with the pretext of not being strong enough.
If she had judged that she had a chance of losing to me, then she would've approached this from a different direction and would've kicked us out with a different pretext.
"Can we take this as permission to continue our exploration then?"
As I called out to them, Izabella turned to look at Snow to ask her opinion.
"It can't be helped, Izabella. We were the ones that brought up the topic of fighting strength, even if it was just an excuse."
"Y-yes....I'm truly sorry, Snow-ojousama. Even though I was up against just a regular adventurer around my level, this turned into such an unpleasant state of affairs....."
However, Snow was suddenly so frank that it was somehow creepy.
The rumors said that to solidify her position, she kept acting without consideration for others recently.
"It seems they indeed possess the minimum needed strength to step into this Dungeon. Very well, we will allow it for now. However, take heed. This was just a simple test. I haven't even shown my trump card....!"
"Izabella."
"Yes!"
Izabella quickly returned to Snow's side.
"That was going a bit too far....wasn't that a bit rude? No, no....but, they are commoner adventurers. We need to maintain our dignity.... Even the current Lord might be having misgivings not with ojousama's achievements, but your personality....Yes, indeed. The current Lord said that you can act with the good of the people in mind, but concerning yourself too much with them or trying to get on their good side is a fatal mistake for a noble...."
It seems they were whisper-talking to each other.
"Even though it was just a spar, I admit that you managed to get the best of me once. We will allow you to move as you wish, we won't try to stop you anymore."
....I had a feeling that Snow was acting worse than she really is to avoid getting underestimated by other heir candidates, and it seems I might've been right about that.
I suddenly remembered Hallein, the Guild Master of La Colina.
She was also acting like a big shot until something managed to fluster her.
"Are they closely related perhaps....?"
There is no mistake that she is going around clearing Dungeons to level up and accrue some notable achievements.
That must partially be the reason why she asked the Guild to keep silent about the Phantasmal Dungeon, but using those Mourning Trapezohedrons to help with her succession problems.....is not something I think she would do.
Though I shouldn't make a conclusion based solely on the impression I have of her right now.
"Izabella, ask him what his name is."
"Y-yes, ojou-sama."
But why does she keep insisting on speaking to us only indirectly....?
"Hey, you! You did well against me. Let us know your name."
I have some various thoughts about this situation, but.....let's answer honestly for now.
"I'm Elma."
"Elma, you say? I've heard that a man of the same name was a member of the party that distinguished itself during the recent Raid Quest.....So that was you."
Hallein knows quite a bit about us already, since she was the one that promoted Luce and I to B rank adventurers, but it seems these two did not know too much about us just yet.
We are simple, run-of-the-mill adventurers.
The Guild Master may be different, but it's not at all strange that a noble young lady would not know anything about what we accomplished as adventurers.
"I'm thankful that a noble young lady such as you tried to look out for our well-being. If there is nothing else, then we would like to excuse ourselves if possible."
"Very well then. Be on your way. We don't have much time to spare either."
"Please wait a moment."
Snow interjected with a cold voice.
Wondering what she could want, I turned my gaze back to her.
"I want to thank you for handling Izabella with conzideration...ah, um, consid....uhm."
She kept going strong right until she fumbled with her words once, then she started stammering.
As she kept trying to speak, she kept blushing harder and harder.
Finally she averted her gaze from me as she kept wordlessly opening and closing her mouth.
"Ojou-sama.....! You are too shy, so you don't need to force yourself like this! Talking in an awkward way like this could lead to losing respect....! It's all right, I will like, take care of this! Just keep standing imposingly behind me!"
.....I finally understood the reason why Snow kept mostly silent until now.
After looking each other in the eye, Luce and I nodded in agreement to act like nothing happened, then we left the place behind without a word.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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