さて、恐らく私の所属するパーティのリーダーであるところの、薄ら笑いに定評があるあのきつねという男が、宿へ帰りニコのおねしょの後始末をしていた頃の話。
私はEランク依頼である、『Eランク魔獣
そして戦闘で溜まった疲労が回復するのを待ってから、私は街へと帰ろうとした。ギルドへ報告して、報酬を貰おう。Eランク依頼だから多少報酬も高い。きつねも頑張っているのだから、頼まれた通り纏まったお金を稼がないとな。
「......ふぅ、レイラは大丈夫かな......ニコを食べてないと良いんだが」
彼女は魔族だ。きつねはどう考えているのか分からないが、ニコと一緒に居させるというのは些か危険ではないだろうか。その辺が少しばかり心配だ。
まぁきつねの頼みを断ったり、無為にする様な奴ではないとは思っているが、良くも悪くも欲望に忠実な奴だ、確実な確証は得られない。
「......帰ろう」
そう呟いて、私は踵を返す。そして、視界に見える街へと足を踏み出そうとした。した瞬間に、
―――背筋に走る悪寒が足を止めた。
振り返ったばかりではあるものの、私の視線は勢いよくまた背後へと戻ってしまう。レイラに感じた恐怖と、似たような感覚だ。そう、これはきつね達と『
そう、一線を越えれば凄まじい脅威が降り注ぐ危機、そんな感覚だ。
そしてその感覚は正しかった。私の視界のずっと先、豆粒よりも小さくはあったが―――先程倒した猿が大量に、大群で、遠方から迫っているのが分かった。此処へ来るまでまだ時間は掛かるだろうが、それでもあと三十分もすれば、あの大群は一直線に街を襲う筈だ。
「これ、は......! 不味い......ッ!?」
私が眼を見開いてこの状況の危険を理解した瞬間、街の方から警鐘が鳴り響いた。どうやら街に配属されていた周辺監視の人間もまた、あの魔獣の大群に気が付いたらしい。恐らく、すぐにでもあの街の冒険者や、グランディール王国の冒険者から応援を呼ぶだろう。
そのことに少し気を落ち付かせることが出来た。そしてまた視線を魔獣の大群へと向ける。
「......猿だけじゃないな......狼に......ゴブリンにゴブリンナイト......ッ! な、あれは―――!?」
その中には、猿や狼といった獣系の魔獣達が『逃げるように』大群の戦闘を走り、その後ろを『追う様に』ゴブリンやゴブリンナイト達が走っている。
そして、その後ろに更に大きな影があった。
後々聞かされるが、きつねが戦ったという猿の亜種と同等かそれ以上の、巨大なゴブリン。
おおよそ5mは越えるであろうその巨大なゴブリンが、大きく距離が空いているにも拘らず、身の竦む様な圧倒的威圧感を放って此方に走って来ていた。
「ゴブリン......キング......!?」
推定Dランク上位の、全力を出せば魔族の領域に手を掛けることも出来る、巨大な醜鬼。
ともすれば、後に聞くことになるきつねの戦った剛拳猿の亜種以上の実力を持った魔獣だ。いや、もっと言えば、中途半端に知能を持った個体もいることから、半分魔族、半分魔獣と言った方が正しいのかもしれない。
だがどちらにせよ、Dランク以上の冒険者が数十名で掛からなければ勝てない怪物が、そこまで迫っていた。
「しかし何故だ......何故今......!」
私は歯噛みしつつそう吐き捨て、街に向かって駆けだした。まずはきつねと合流しなければならないだろう。最悪、レイラがいればなんとかなる。そう考えた。
その頃、オルバ公爵は帰ってきたレイスからあまり良い結果が聞けなかったことで、少しばかり苛立っていた。
報告ではさして大した実力もないと判断された少年であったにも拘らず、犯罪者ではあるが用心棒として実力は信用しているレイスを退けたというのだ。驚愕な事態以上に、不愉快な事態だった。
故に、その憂さ晴らしという訳ではないが、オルバ公爵は自ら、捕らえた男―――ニコを桔音に預けた男の下へとやって来ていた。
「はぁっ......はぁっ......はぁっ......!」
「フン、そこまで痛めつけられてもまだ吐かないのか」
「はぁ......はぁ......あの子は、渡さない......!」
男は尋問され、何も吐かなかった。
故に、彼は拷問に掛けられることになった。痛めつけられ、身体がボロボロになった所で治癒魔法を掛けられ、そしてまた痛めつけられる。その繰り返し。吐くまで行うつもりだった。
そして、既に拷問が始まって一日は経っている。それでも彼はニコの意場所や預けた桔音のことは何一つ吐かなかった。
「お前の大事なクソガキはとっくに居場所を特定してある。問題は......お前がガキを預けた人間だ」
「......何?」
だが、それは問題ではない。結局、桔音が状況を理解していない以上、ニコが見つかるのは時間の問題だったのだ。
問題だったのは、預けた男にとっても、オルバ公爵にとっても、桔音という人間が予測不能な人格者だったこと。
事実、ニコを預かってはくれたものの、桔音はこの街を出ようとはしなかった。Sランク犯罪者を差し向けたものの、桔音はそれをHランク冒険者の身でありながら退けた。
「あの男......何者だ?」
「......知らない、俺は逃げている最中で偶然出会っただけだからな」
「......だろうな、お前に接点のある人間は全員抑えてある。あのガキを預けていればこんなしみったれたくせぇ場所になんか来ねぇよ」
苛立ちのせいか、口調は乱暴になっているオルバ公爵だが、男は自分の大切な娘を預けた人物が、どういう人間なのか少しだけ、不安を抱いていた。
もしも、娘を痛めつける様な人間だったら。もしも、娘に欲情する様な変態だったら。
今更ながらにそんな考えが浮かんでくる。もしかしたら、自分はとんでもない人間に娘を預けてしまったのかもしれない。そう思った。
「だが、それでもこの街から出てねぇってことは......少なくともこの街に何か用があるって事だ。そんで、あのガキを匿ってることも考えれば......十中八九奴の目的はお前だと俺は睨んでる」
「ッ!?」
オルバ公爵は考えたのだ、あの人間―――桔音を打破する最大の手段を。
シンプルかつ単純に効果的な方法......『人質』だ。オルバ公爵が欲しいのは、父親では無くその娘、ニコの方なのだ。その為ならば、目の前で膝を付いている満身創痍の父親など、寧ろ殺してしまっても構わないくらいなのだから。
「だからさぁ、ちょーっとエサになってくんねぇ? まぁ拒否権はねぇけどな」
両手を合わせて、お願いとばかりに笑うオルバ公爵。年齢的にはもう三十路後半の彼だが、その言動や言葉遣いからはかなり若さが感じられる。同じくらい、子供の様な無邪気な狂気も感じられるが。
「ッ......くっ......!」
拒否権も、抵抗する力もない男は、悔しそうに項垂れる。それを見て、オルバ公爵は楽しそうに口端を吊り上げた。
と、そこに―――
「オルバ公爵様! ご報告があります!」
「あー? なんだー?」
「中央北側、約2km先に魔獣の大群が現れました! その数、およそ300体! しかもその中に......ゴブリンキングがいます!!」
「なっ......にぃ!!?」
―――突然の危機が告げられた。
唐突に訪れた魔獣の大群の知らせを受け、冒険者や騎士達はすぐさま態勢を整え街の入り口へと出向き、その魔獣の大群を視界に入れていた。
集まった冒険者は、およそ二十人。その中で一番ランクが高い者でも、Dランクが一人、その他はEランクやFランクがほとんどだった。
ちなみに桔音達はその場にいない。宿でおねしょの始末をした後、普通に寛いでいた。
「......なんだか外が騒がしいね♪」
「そうだねぇ......魔族でも出たんじゃない?」
「私ならここにいるよ?」
「君じゃない魔族だよ......魔王とか?」
「きつね君目当ての可能性が高そうな予想だね♪」
「だとしたら最悪の事態だ、引き籠ってやり過ごす」
桔音達はある意味、迫りくる危機よりも到底あり得ない危機を想像していた。
レイラや勇者、使徒と、凄まじいチート連打が続いたせいで危機の感覚がかなり麻痺しているのだ。
恐らく、今の桔音にゴブリンキングが迫ってきたという事態を伝えたとしても―――
「きつねっ! 大変だ! 魔獣の大群が攻めてきた! しかもその中にはゴブリンキングがいる!!」
「へぇ、ゴブリンって美味しいのかな?」
「うーん、微妙かなぁ......でも量はあるから小腹が空いた時とかにいいかも♪」
―――この程度の反応しか得られないのだ。部屋に飛び込んできたリーシェは、桔音の反応にきょとんと眼を丸くしている。
ニコだけは、ゴブリンキングの名前を聞いてなんか凄そう、と眼をキラキラと輝かせていたが、思っていた反応と違う。
「いや、あの......ゴブリンキングなんですけど」
「ねぇリーシェちゃん」
もっと驚いて欲しい、とリーシェは何故か敬語で再度ゴブリンキングだと言う。
だが、桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべながらリーシェに視線を向ける。リーシェも桔音の視線を受けて少し身じろいだが、唇を尖らせて不満気に見返すした。
「......なんだ?」
「僕の目の前に居るのってなんだっけ?」
「ね?」
「ねじゃないが」
と言いつつも納得してしまったリーシェ。Sランク魔族が一緒に居るのに、Dランク上位のゴブリンキングなど、最早恐れるには少しインパクトに欠けるのだ。
いや確かに桔音よりも幾分ステータスも高く、Cランクの下級魔族であっても十分善戦出来る実力を持った半魔族半魔獣の怪物なのは間違いなのだが。
「......取り敢えず今、この街の冒険者と騎士が総出で迎え撃つ準備をしている。私達はどうする?」
リーシェが桔音に振ると、桔音はレイラに振る。桔音に振られたレイラは、そのまま笑顔でニコに流した。そして、最後の最後に回ってきたニコは、まさか来るとは思ってなかったのか硬直してしまった。
そして、その反応が予想通りだったのか桔音とレイラはクスクスと笑う。リーシェは子供をからかう二人に呆れた表情だ。
「あはは、そうだねぇ......どうしようかな―――あっ!」
「どうしたのきつね君?」
「オルバ公爵はゴブリンキングの対処の為に慌ててる可能性が高いから、今の内にニコちゃんのお父さん奪い返しちゃえばいいんじゃない?」
桔音は思い付く。どさくさ紛れにニコの父親を奪還する事を。今がその絶好の隙だということを。
「ついでだし、あそこにあるお金になる物とか貰って行こうぜ」
「それは盗賊という奴じゃないかと思うんだ私?」
桔音は薄ら笑いを浮かべて、オルバ公爵の居る場所へ乗り込む事を決めた。ゴブリンキングはとりあえず放置することにしたらしい。
Now then, this story was occurring probably around the time as my party leader whose faint smile was his trademark, Kitsune, just returned to the inn and was cleaning up Niko's bed-wetting aftermath.
After finishing the E rank request, "Subjugating 3 E rank demonic beast - crazy monkey.", I stripped off parts of their bodies which were the subjugation proofs. The subjugation proofs were their fists which were their trademark. After cutting off the three pairs of both left and right fists with my sword, I tied them with up a string and then put them inside my waist bag.
Then, after waiting for the accumulated fatigue from the battle to recover, I decided to head back to the town. After reporting to the guild, I'd receive my reward. Since it was an E rank request, the reward was pretty decent. Kitsune was also doing his best, so I had to properly earn money as he requested.
"... Fuu, is Leila alright, I wonder?... I hope she didn't eat Niko."
She was a demon. I didn't know Kitsune's thought about this matter, but since he let Niko to be with her, perhaps she wasn't that dangerous. That eased my worry, albeit only slightly.
Well she didn't seem like someone who'd ignore Kitsune's order and did things on her own, but for better or worse, she was faithful to her desire, so I still couldn't rid of this worry.
"... let's go back."
Muttering so, I headed to the town. And then, the moment I was about to take a step forward toward the town. At that very moment,
--I stopped from the chills running down my spine.
Although I just turned around, I ended up turning my head to my rear again. This dreadful feeling was similar like the one I felt from Leila. Right, this feeling was similar to when I spotted "Eater hand" when I went to subjugate "Arachne" with Kitsune and co.. This was the type of threat that although in itself it wasn't that formidable, but once I made a move on it, I'd be done for.
That's right, once you touched it, the dam would send tsunami your way, that's the kind of threat I was feeling at this moment.
And my premonition was right. At the end of my sight, although the seemed smaller than a grain-- I could see a large number of monkeys, similarly like the ones I defeated before, were approaching from the distance. It would still take some time for them to reach here, but perhaps in about thirty minutes, that large group would definitely head directly to the city.
"This is...! It's bad...!"
The moment I opened my eyes in realization of how dangerous this situation was, alarm bell was ringing from the town. Seems like the assigned guards around the town also had noticed the demonic beast horde. Most likely, they'd soon call for support from adventurers within the town as well as adventurers from Grandile Kingdom.
I felt a bit relieved thinking about that. And then I turned my sight toward the demonic beasts horde again.
"...They aren't just monkeys... there are also wolfs.... goblin, goblin knight... wha, that's --!"
Among them, monkey and wolf types demonic beasts were running as if 'running away' from the horde, while the goblins and goblin knights were running as if to 'chase after' them right behind them.
And behind them all there was an even larger shadow.
I only heard it on later dates, but it was a huge goblin that was the same if not larger than the variant monkey Kitsune fought before.
The huge goblin, which seemingly exceeded 5 meters, although it was running quite a distant away behind the horde, it was heading this way while emitting overwhelming intimidating air that might even freeze the body of those who saw it.
"Goblin... King...!?"
Presumably it was top D ranker, that if it ran wild with its whole strength, power-wise it might even reach demon level, a huge ugly demon.
Which meant, I only heard it on later date, but it was a monster that was stronger than the variant crazy monkey which Kitsune fought. No, specifically speaking, if we included the fact that it possessed low-level intelligent, it might be more accurate to call it half-demon, half-demonic beast.
In any case, however, it was a monster who couldn't be defeated unless dozens of D rank adventurers were sent to subjugate it, that one was for sure.
"But why... why now ...?!"
I murmured so while grinding my teeth, and then I swiftly ran toward the town. First thing first was to meet up with Kitsune. When push came to shove, we could ask Leila to do something about it. Or so I thought.
On the other side, Duke Orba was currently slightly irritated with the fact that Reis returned with not a good news.
Although in the report the youth was supposed to be a small fry, he somehow managed to slip away from his bodyguard Reis who although he was a criminal, he possessed solid prowess. Beyond the astonishment, it irritated him more.
Therefore, it wasn't exactly to vent his frustration, but Duke Orba decided to meet the captive man, the man who entrusted Niko to Kitsune, himself.
"Ha... ha... ha...!"
"Hmm, even after going through so much torture, you're still unwilling to talk, huh?"
"Ha... Haa... I won't ever let you touch her...!"
Although the man had been interrogated, he didn't tell them anything.
Therefore, they decided to torture him. He was beaten up, healed with recovery magic, and then beaten up again. Over and over again. They intended to do that until the man decided to tell them what they wanted to know.
And then, ten days had passed since they started torturing the man. Nevertheless he told them neither Niko's whereabouts nor who Kitsune, whom he entrusted her to, was.
"We've long located your precious shitty brat's whereabouts... The problem is ... the person you left the brat with."
"...what?"
However, that wasn't a problem either. After all, as long as Kitsune didn't grasp their tail, it was only a matter of time before the Niko was found.
The problem was, either it for the man who entrusted Niko to him or for Duke Orba, the person named Kitsune was simply unpredictable.
In fact, although he was entrusted with Niko, Kitsune didn't decide to leave the town. Although S ranked criminal was sent to deal with him, Kitsune somehow managed to slip away despite being an H rank adventurer.
"That man ... Who is he?"
"... I don't know, I just came across him by chance while running away."
"... guess so, I've thoroughly investigated everyone who has connection with you, after all. Had you obediently handed over that brat, you wouldn't have to suffer in a place like this you know?"
Perhaps due to frustration, Duke Orba's words became slightly rougher, but on the other side, the man was starting to get anxious about what kind of person the person he'd entrusted his precious daughter to.
What if he was someone who love to abuse his daughter. What if he was a pervert who'd lust after his daughter.
It might be already too late, but such thoughts started swarming his mind. Perhaps, he might have left his daughter to a very outrageous person. Or so he thought.
"However, given the fact that they still haven't left this town... that means at the very least they still have some business in this town. And then, given the fact that they are sheltering that brat.... I guess, most likely their objective is you."
"!?"
Duke Orba had thought about the best way to break that man, Kitsune.
A simple yet effective method... "hostage". The one Duke Orba wanted wasn't the father, but the daughter, Niko. That was why he didn't care about the full of wounds man in front of him, even if the man died.
"That's why, will you act as a bait for a while? Not that you have the right to refuse though."
Joining his hands together, Duke Orba requested so in smile. Age-wise he was already in his latter half of the thirty, but his speech and conduct was like that of a youngster. Child-like innocent madness could be felt from it.
"... kuh...!"
The man who had neither the ability to refuse nor to resist could only hang his head in frustration. Seeing that, Duke Orba lifted the edge of his mouth as if finding it funny.
And then, right at that moment--
"Lord Orba! Urgent report!"
"Huh? What's it?"
"About 2 kilometers in the north, a huge group of demonic beast have appeared! The number is approximately 300! And among them, there is a goblin king!"
"What...the...!!"
-- A sudden crisis appeared.
After noticing the sudden appearance of the demonic beasts horde, adventurers and knights promptly headed to the town entrance to build up defense lines, their gazes are focused on the demonic beasts horde.
There were about twenty adventurers gathered. The highest rank among them was D rank which there was only one person, the rests were mostly E rank and F rank.
By the way, Kitsune wasn't among them. After cleaning up Niko's bed-wetting aftermath, he was casually relaxing in the inn.
"... isn't it kinda noisy outside ?"
"You're right ... has a demon appeared or something, I wonder?"
"I'm right here, you know?"
"I mean a demon that's not you... like the demon lord or something?"
"Since it's you we're talking about, Kitsune-kun, I think the likelihood is pretty high "
"If it is really the case, that's simply the worst, let's just holed up inside the room."
In a sense, rather than the approaching danger, they were imagining about the danger that was way more impossible to actually occur instead.
Leila, the hero, and then the apostle, perhaps because he'd been continuously faced with such barrage of bizzare cheaters, his sense of danger had gone fairly numb.
Perhaps, even if the current Kitsune was informed that a Goblin King was currently approaching the town--
"Kitsune! Terrible news! A horde of demonic beasts is approaching the town! Moreover there's even a goblins king among them!"
"Oh, are goblins delicious?"
"Well, so-so I think ... But, they come with quantity, so they may be a good choice when you are very hungry or something "
--he'd only give that kind of response. Trisha, who just barged into the room, had her eyes opened wide in bewilderment.
As for Niko, perhaps finding Goblin King's name sounded amazing, her eyes were shining brightly, but that reaction was still different from the one Trisha expected.
"Umm, you see .... It's a goblin king, you know?"
"Say, Rishe-chan."
She wanted them to be more surprised, Trisha even for some reason said the Goblin King for the second time in a polite manner.
However, Kitsune turned his gaze toward Trisha while faintly smiling. Being stared at, Trisha was somewhat stirred, but even while pouting, she still answered back to him.
"...what's it?"
"Who's the one in front of me?"
"See?"
"Don't 'see' me."
Even while saying so, Trisha was also somewhat convinced. Given the fact that they lived together with an S rank demon, the threat of a top D rank magical beast, goblin king, lost most of its impact to actually make them terrified.
However, that didn't change the fact that this half-demon half-demonic beast had status that was somewhat higher than Kitsune's, and was unmistakenly capable of putting up a good fight against a lower rank C rank demon.
"...anyway, currently adventurers and knights in this town are putting up defenses to hold the horde. What should we do?"
When Trisha asked Kitsune, he passed the question to Leila. Receiving the question from Kitsune, Leila then passed it to Niko while in smile. And then, as the last one receiving the question, perhaps never expecting that one coming, Niko stiffened.
And then, perhaps finding her reaction exactly as they expected, Kitsune and Leila started to giggle. Staring at the two making fun of a child, Trisha made an astounded expression.
"Ahaha, let's see... I wonder what to do-- Ah!"
"What's it, Kitsune-kun?"
"There's a high possibility that Duke Orba is currently in frantic to deal with the Goblin King, right? So don't you think it's a good chance to take back Niko-chan's father?"
Kitsune thought so. Taking advantage to the hectic situation, they'd take back Niko's father. Right now was the perfect chance to do that.
"While we're at it, let's take something that can be turned to money from there."
"I think that's what you usually call as robbery, you know?"
While smiling faintly, Kitsune decided to raid Duke Orba's house. Looks like he decided to put the goblin king matter aside for the time being.
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