23.Runaway 【殺害・扇動】
「行くぞ!」
街の出口が近づいてきたところで、鋭く声をかけた一二三は、刀を手にして馬を駆けさせた。
「ちょっと!」
馭者をしていたカーシャが、慌てて馬車の速度を上げるが、到底追いつける速度ではない。
みるみるうちに引き離され、暗闇の先まで消えた一二三は、門の前に居る三人の兵士の一人の首を、すれ違いざまに斬り飛ばした。
勢いを殺しながら振り向いた一二三は、再度馬を走らせ、馬上からの刀のひと振りでさらに一人を殺す。
たった一人残された兵が、ようやく剣を抜いたあたりで、馬車が到着した。
「アリッサ、降りてこい」
馬を降り、刀を向けて兵を牽制しながら、目を向けずに呼びかける。
すぐにアリッサは馬車から飛び降りてきた。回復薬で無理やり復帰させた直後だが、動きは問題ないようだ。
「これを貸す」
近づいてきたアリッサに、一二三は持っていた刀を渡した。
「えっ......」
兵が斬りつけて来るが、危なげなく前蹴りで押し返して転がした。
「これでこいつを殺せ」
「そ、それは......」
アリッサは刀を受け取りはしたものの、殺せという言葉には躊躇した。知っている顔なのかもしれない。
「これから先、お前は多くの相手を殺すことになる。昨日話した相手を今日殺す事もあるだろう。まずはこいつを殺せ。お前を殺そうとした相手を殺して、ここからの離別を果たせ」
淀みなく語られた一二三の言葉に、息を飲んだアリッサだったが、そう時間もかからずに刀を構えた。
「それでいい。今朝まではお前の同僚でも、お前を裏切って殺そうとした時点で敵だ。殺さなければ、殺される」
陳腐なセリフだが、実体験を持つアリッサには効果的だった。
顔を上げた彼女の目には、もう迷いがない。
「この剣、借りるね」
未だにあがき続ける兵に、アリッサは刀を突き刺した。
研ぎ澄まされた切っ先は、首の後ろからするりと入り込み、その命を容易く断ち切る。
「......やっちゃった」
「よくやった。次は国境だ」
アリッサの手からそっと刀を抜き取り、死んだ兵士の剣を渡した一二三は背を向けて馬へと近づく。
「一二三さん、僕、これでよかったの?」
「......良いも悪いもない。俺がそうすべきだと言って、お前がそう決めた。それだけだ」
よく判らないという顔をして、アリッサは剣を片手にトボトボと馬車へ戻る。
第一段階はうまくいったと、一二三は思った。
今は、最初にここで死んでいた犯罪者の死体と一二三に殺されたゴデスラスの死体を検めて、報告書を書き上げたところだ。
「やはりヴィシーはホーラントと組んでいるのではなくて、単に利用されているのかしら。こちらと同様に国境周辺の人員を篭絡して、あの魔法具の実験をしている? でもなぜ、二国を同時に敵に回すような真似を......」
疲れた頭では考えがまとまりそうにないと、そろそろ休もうかと思っていたパジョーの耳に、遠くから叫び声が聞こえてきた。
どうやら、国境の向こう側で誰かが戦っているらしい。
「まったく、休む暇もないとはこのことね」
悪態をつきながら、鎧と剣を手早く装備したパジョーは、自室から飛び出していった。
仄暗い松明の明かりは、最低限必要な場所だけ照らすようにできていた。
基本的に夜間は国境を通すことはない。暗いと見落としが出る可能性があるし、判断力も鈍る。
稀に来る、計算を間違えて夜に到着してしまった商人などは、少し離れて野営をして過ごし、朝になってから国境を通過する事とされている。
今日は、そういう間抜けな商人はいなかったが、襲撃者はいた。
「いいか! ヴィシー側の兵は皆殺しにしろ! 一人として残すなよ!」
馬を走らせながら、一二三は鎖鎌の分銅を振り回している。
「馬車のまま砦まで突っ込め! 直ぐに降りて周りの連中を殺せ!」
「わかりました!」
砦に近づくと、大きな盾を構えた兵が街道に二人ならんで立ちふさがる。
「止まれ!」
馬は見事な跳躍で二人の兵を飛び越え、一二三はがら空きになった兵の頭上から、二人まとめて首に鎖を巻きつけて引き倒した。
10mほど引き摺ってから兵を放り捨てるが、二人共引き倒した時点で首の骨を折って死んでいる。
兵が落とした盾を、馬車を引く馬たちはさっとかわして走っていが、馬車本体の車輪が乗り上げて激しく揺れた。
バランスを崩したオリガを、アリッサがとっさに抱きとめた。
「あ、ありがとう」
お礼を言いながら、オリガは自分に触れているアリッサの手が震えている事に気づいた。
「大丈夫。ご主人様がいるし、私たちも結構強いんですよ?」
だから大丈夫と、オリガは優しく笑いながら、自分の魔法杖をしっかりと掴んで馬車から飛び出すタイミングを図っていた。
不意に、馬車の速度が落ちる。
「邪魔だぁ!」
カーシャは正面の敵に対応するようだ。
声を聞いたオリガは直ぐに飛び出し、アリッサはためらいながらも続く。
馬車の後方から降りた二人は、左右に別れて敵に向かった。
馬車が突っ込んで来るタイミングを見て一度砦から離れて馬を降りてきた一二三は、カーシャと対峙している兵の背後から近づき、その頭を掴んで、無造作に砦の壁に叩きつけた。
それだけで兵は死んだ。
さらに向かってきた敵を右手に持った刀の柄で殴り、昏倒したところを目を貫いて殺す。
葉を食いしばるような断末魔を上げ、痙攣したあと動かなくなる。
「ご主人......」
「アリッサのフォローに回れ」
何か言いたげなカーシャは無視して、一二三は死体を増やしながら国境へ近づく。
「オーソングランデの兵よ! 聞け!」
大音声
一二三のその声は、国境にはまだ距離があったパジョーにも聞こえた。
「この声は......」
「俺はオーソングランデ貴族の一二三という者だ! ここに居る兵士諸君なら知っているだろう! 我が国のハーゲンティ子爵は捕縛された! その理由を知っているか?!」
一二三の声はよく通る。国境の向こう側で状況を確認していたオーソングランデ兵にしっかりと聞こえていた。
「ハーゲンティ子爵は、ヴィシーの傀儡であった! 俺はイメラリア王女より密命を帯びてヴィシーに潜入し、かの子爵がヴィシーに操られ、非道な魔法具によって操られた兵を、我が国へと迎え入れようと画策していた事を突き止めた! そしてさらには、その魔法具の秘密を知ったうら若き女性をも殺そうとするヴィシーの行いを知ったのだ!」
語りながら、一二三はさらに二人を殺している。
その腕前を見せつけられているオーソングランデ兵の中には、彼が王女の密命を受けていてもおかしくないと信じはじめる者もいる。
「危険ではあったが、俺は彼女を救い出す事に成功した! だが、その際に俺の事が知られてしまった! 何とか追っ手は倒したが、ここを通らぬわけにもいかん!」
兵たちが視線を向けると、オリガとカーシャに助けられながら、懸命に戦う少女の姿があった。アリッサのことだ。
「オーソングランデ兵諸君! 国境はそこにあるが、それは乗り越えられない巨大な岩壁ではない! 俺たちは構わないが、彼女を助ける為に力を貸してくれ! 彼女を救うために、君たちの正義を見せて欲しい!」
一二三の呼びかけに、兵たちはお互いの顔を見合わせながら迷っていた。
(......どういうつもり......?)
だが、それが判らない一二三ではないはずだと、パジョーは考える。自分が砦へ着けば、そこでどうするかの判断をする事になるだろう。
冷静に考えれば、騎士や兵士が国境を越えて相手国へ侵入するのはまずい。さらに、向こうの国で犯罪を犯したとされる者を助けるのだ。問題にならないはずがない。
原則を守って士気を落とすか、人命を優先したとするか......。
パジョーが砦にたどり着き、一二三が指す少女がアリッサである事に驚き、さらに国境線の向こうに死体がいくつも倒れているのを見た瞬間、一二三の先ほどの言葉を思い出した。
『俺の事が知られたが、追っ手は倒した』
これが本当なら、“犯罪者をかばってオーソングランデ方面へ逃走する途中でヴィシーの兵を殺した”という事だ。すでにオーソングランデによる干渉が成立してしまっている。
相手方がどこまで知っているかはわからないが、すでに越境を控える意味が失われてしまっているのだ。
(こうなったら、何としてもアリッサを引き入れて、美談にでも仕立てあげる必要がある)
オーソングランデに正義があり、ヴィシーの非を鳴らして有耶無耶にするしかないと、パジョーは判断した。
「全員、剣を抜いて彼らの応援に行きなさい!」
自らも武器を手に、先陣を切って走り出すパジョーに、他の兵も続いた。責任者が判断したのだ。それで簡単に彼らの戒めは解かれた。
圧倒的な人数となったオーソングランデ側の猛攻に、ヴィシー兵はあっという間に数を減らしていった。
全てのヴィシー兵を殺し、国境を超えた一二三は、これ見よがしにパジョーへ礼を言った。
「勇気ある行動だった。感謝する」
「いや、気にしないでください。それより、詳しいお話を聞きたいので、こちらへ」
パジョーの先導に、素直に従う一二三たち。
一二三はもちろん無傷で、奴隷達とアリッサも、気にならない程度のカスリ傷で済んでいた。
砦近くの兵舎に併設された広い会議室に入り、見張りの兵にしばらく誰も入れないように告げると、パジョーは一二三たちに座るように促す。
一二三たちが座るのを確認してから自分も椅子に座り、大きなため息をついた。
「どうした、疲れているようだな」
「誰のせいだと......で、説明をしていただきたいのだけれど......」
一二三は、収納から取り出した書類を無造作にパジョーに放りやった。
さっと目を通したパジョーが、目尻を押さえて俯く。
「ところどころ読めなかったが、ヴィシーの中央政府の連中は、ホーラントの魔法具を使って兵の強化をしているらしいな。この二国が協力してあたるとしたら、地理的にオーソングランデだと思うが?」
「これが本物なら、そうかもしれないわね......」
絞り出すように声を出すパジョーに、一二三が追い討ちをかける。
「で、それを受け取ったアロセールの街の代表も捕まえた。ちゃんと生きてるぞ。馬車の中に転がしてある」
「誘拐じゃないの!」
机を叩いて立ち上がったパジョーに、顔色一つ変えずに一二三は言った。
「わざわざ大声出して聞こえるように言っただろう? これは危うく殺されるところだった彼女を救うための正義の行いだ。これだけの証拠が合って、その書類の事を証言できる奴がこちらに居る。何を言われても先に動いたのは
「それを判断するのは王族と高位の貴族たちで、現場じゃないわ」
「いやいや、お前はさっき現場で判断しただろう。もう状況は始まっている。手遅れだと」
一二三の言葉に、パジョーは黙って彼の顔を見ているしか無かった。一二三と並んで座っているオリガ達も、自分たちの行動から大きな話に発展している事に気づかされ、黙って息を飲んだ。
「......とにかく、今日は兵舎に泊まってください。王都へ報告を入れておきます」
「あ、鳥とかの伝達手段があるんだったな。じゃあ、ついでに王都まで連絡をして、イメラリアに会う約束を取り付けてくれ。そうだな、『密命を果たすも少女を救うために法を破ってしまった男が、王女殿下へ謝罪に参上したいと言っている』と」
Chapter 23: Runaway
"Let's go!" (Hifumi)
Approaching the town's exit, Hifumi called out sharply while holding his katana and galloping on his horse.
"Just a moment!" (Kasha)
Kasha, who was the coachman, raised the speed of the carriage in a hurry but it wasn't a speed that could catch up to Hifumi no matter how.
In an instant they were separated. Hifumi vanished into the darkness in front. One of the heads of the three soldiers in front of the gate was severed. In the act of passing each other, it was cut and sent flying.
While using the momentum of killing him, Hifumi turned around and once again hurried on his horse. Slashing his katana from atop of the horseback, he killed yet another person.
Just one single soldier was left now. As the carriage arrived, the soldier was at last being successful in drawing his sword, the carriage arrived.
"Alyssa, get off." (Hifumi)
Hifumi dismounted from the horse and pointed his katana into the direction of the soldier to keep him in check. Without shifting his attention he addressed Alyssa.
Immediately following after the forceful healing with restorative medicines, she didn't seem to have any problems with movement.
"I am lending this to you." (Hifumi)
Coming close to Alyssa, Hifumi passed on his katana to her.
"Huh? ..." (Alyssa)
Though the soldier came slashing at them, he was easily forced back with a front kick causing him to be thrown down.
"Kill this guy with this." (Hifumi)
"Th-that is ..." (Alyssa)
Although Alyssa received the katana, she was hesitating upon being told to kill the soldier.
"From now on you will kill a lot of opponents. The person you just yesterday had a friendly chat with, might have to be killed today. First off, kill this guy. Kill the opponent that tried to kill you, in order to completely separate from this place." (Hifumi)
Without any hesitation, Hifumi spoke those words. Catching her breath, Alyssa set up the katana without losing any time.
"That's fine. Up until this morning he was your colleague, but now that he betrayed and tried to kill you he is an enemy. If you won't kill him, he will kill you." (Hifumi)
Although those were cliched words, they were effective on Alyssa who had experienced it by herself.
Upon lifting her head, there was no trace of indecision left within Alyssa's eyes.
"I am borrowing this sword." (Alyssa)
Alyssa thrust the katana at the soldier who was still continuing to struggle.
The sharpened point of the katana penetrated with a smooth, unhindered motion into the back of his head ending his life simply like that.
"... I have done it." (Alyssa)
"You did well. Next we move to the national border." (Hifumi)
Hifumi gently took the katana from Alyssa's hands and replaced it with the sword of the dead soldier. Turning his back on her, he went towards the horse.
"Hifumi-san, I, did I do something good with this?" (Alyssa)
"... There is no good or bad. I told you what you should do and you decided yourself to do so. That's all there is to it." (Hifumi)
Wearing an expression that showed she didn't quite understand, Alyssa went back to the carriage trudging with the sword in her hand.
The first step went smoothly
Currently, the corpse of the criminal who made his appearance here first and the corpse of Gothras, who was slain by Hifumi, were to be examined, as she was in the process of writing down the report.
"After all Vichy hasn't formed an alliance with Horant yet, I wonder if they are not simply being used? The number of personnel loitering on their side of the border is identical to ours, was it only to experiment on the magic tool? But why? Acting in such way would make them enemies of two countries at the same time ..."(Pajou)
As it is extremely unlikely to think about matters coherently with a worn out mind, I have to soon take a rest
It seemed like there was someone fighting on the other side of the border.
"Good grief, there is no time to take a rest at all." (Pajou)
While cursing, Pajou quickly equipped her armor and sword and rushed out of her own room.
The light of the dim torch only illuminated the necessary minimum of the location.
Basically the border wasn't passed at night.
Rarely there were merchants and such who arrived at night due to ending up making a mistake in their planning. They pass the time by camping a little bit away before devoting themselves to passing through the border in the morning.
Today it wasn't such a idiotic merchant but an assailant appearing.
"Listen! Annihilate the soldiers on the Vichy side! Do not leave one person alive!" (Hifumi)
While riding the horse, Hifumi swung the fundou of the kusarigama (T/N: If you don't know what that means, reread the earlier chapters. ? )
"Plunge deeply up to the fortress with the carriage as it is! Immediately after disembarking, kill the group in the vicinity!" (Hifumi)
"""Understood!"""
Approaching the fortress, the two soldiers were setting up large shields side-by-side blocking the road.
"Stop!" (Guard)
Magnificently jumping with his horse over the two soldiers, Hifumi wrapped the chain around the necks of the two defenseless soldiers in one go from overhead and dragged them down.
After about 10 meters of pulling them along, they were discarded. At the time of dragging them down, both of them had died by having their necks broken already.
The horses pulling the carriage quickly evaded the shields the soldiers dropped as they were hurrying on. The wheels of the main part of the carriage ran aground causing it to violently shake.
Origa having been thrown off balance was right away caught by Alyssa.
"T-Thank you." (Origa)
While expressing her thanks, Origa noticed the quivering of Alyssa's hand as she was touching her.
"It's alright. Master is here and were are quite strong, too, okay?" (Origa)
Therefore it was fine, while gently smiling, Origa tightly held her magic staff as she was aiming for the right timing to jump off the carriage.
Suddenly the velocity of the carriage dropped.
"You are a hindrance!" (Kasha)
Apparently Kasha dealt with the enemy in front.
Hearing the voice, Origa immediately jumped off and although hesitating, Alyssa followed right after.
Disembarking from the back of the carriage, the pair faced the enemies separated to the left and right.
Having seen the moment arriving when the carriage plunged into the fortress, Hifumi left the horse after dismounting from it. He grabbed the head of a soldier, who was confronting Kasha, approaching him from the back and casually threw him at the fortress wall.
With only that, the soldier died.
Furthermore, he hit the soldier coming from his right side with the hilt of the katana causing him to become dizzy and then penetrated the blade through the eyes thus killing him.
Clenching his teeth, the soldier raised his voice in death agony before dying after convulsing.
"Master ..." (Kasha)
"Follow Alyssa." (Hifumi)
Ignoring Kasha, who wanted to say something, Hifumi increased the corpse count while approaching the border.
"Orsongrande's soldiers! Listen!" (Hifumi)
In a very very loud voice.
That voice of Hifumi, albeit yet quite a distance off the border, was heard by Pajou.
"This voice ..." (Pajou)
"I am an Orsongrande noble called by the name Hifumi! Some of you soldiers should already know of me! Our country's Viscount Hagenti was arrested! Do you know the reason for that?!" (Hifumi)
Confirming the situation on the other side of the border, Orsongrande's soldiers had heard it properly.
"Viscount Hagenti is a puppet of Vichy! Upon Princess Imeria's decree I secretly infiltrated Vichy while risking my life. Viscount Kano was manipulated by Vichy. Again and again soldiers, who were manipulated by inhuman magic, showed up in our country and I was able to obtain evidence of their schemes! And furthermore Vichy tried to kill a young woman, who learnt of the secret behind the magic tool performance, too!" (Hifumi)
While talking, Hifumi killed two more soldiers.
Having displayed his abilities to some of the Orsongrande's soldiers, there were some amongst them starting to believe that him having received the Princess' secret decree wasn't strange at all either.
"Although it was dangerous, I succeeded in rescuing her from the crisis! But, in doing so my circumstances ended up being revealed! Though I somehow managed to defeat the pursuers, it is regrettable that I can't pass here!" (Hifumi)
As the soldiers turned their line of sight, there was a figure of a young woman desperately fighting while helping Origa and Kasha.
"Soldiers of Orsongrande! Even though the national border is right ahead, there is no way to climb over the huge rock cliff! Don't mind us, but at the very least lend us your assistance to rescue this young woman! For the sake of saving her, I want all of you to display your righteousness!" (Hifumi)
As they were addressed by Hifumi, the soldiers looked at each others faces while wavering.
... What is he planning? ...
Having arrived at the fortress myself, what would I decide to do in this situation?
If you think calmly about it, it will be unwise for knights and soldiers to cross the border of another country and thus invade it.
Protecting the rules and thus disheartening the retainers or deciding to put the priority on saving lives, huh? ...
Finally arriving at the fortress, Pajou was surprised to find out that the young woman Hifumi had specified was no other than Alyssa. Furthermore a great number of corpses could be instantly seen having fallen on the other side of the border. She recalled Hifumi's speech he gave just now.
{Although my circumstances became known, I managed to defeat the pursuers.} 
If that was true, it was a matter of "Protecting a fleeing criminal who, while heading in the direction of Orsongrande, killed Vichy's soldiers en route."
Though I am not certain to what extent the other party is aware of matters, the significance to refrain from transgressing the border has already been lost.
Since it has come to this, we have to retrieve them no matter what it takes. It has also become necessary to tailor a beautiful tale about this.
Orsongrande is in the right. There is no other choice but vaguely denounce Vichy publicly, Pajou judged.
"All hands, draw your swords and assist them!" (Pajou)
Naturally holding a weapon too, Pajou started to run as vanguard. The other soldiers followed as well.
Due to the fierce attack by the Orsongrande's side with their overwhelming numbers, the number of Vichy soldiers decreased in a blink of an eye.
After all Vichy soldiers had been killed, Hifumi, who crossed the border, expressively showed his thanks towards Pajou.
"It was a very courageous behavior. I wish to express my gratitude." (Hifumi)
"No, please don't worry about it. Leaving that aside, because I want to listen to the detailed report, come this way please." (Pajou)
To Pajou's guidance, Hifumi's group obediently followed.
Of course Hifumi was unhurt, the slaves and Alyssa too, to the degree of settling with a few scratched which hadn't to be minded.
Entering a vast conference room in the barracks close to the fortress, the soldiers standing guard were told to not let anyone enter for a while. Pajou urged on Hifumi's group to sit down.
After confirming that Hifumi's group had sat down, she sat down on a chair herself too while breathing a heavy sigh.
"Somehow you seem to be quite worn out." (Hifumi)
"Who's fault do you think that is? ... So, usually I would expect you to explain right away, but ..." (Pajou)
Retrieving a document from his darkness storage, Hifumi casually tossed it to Pajou.
After quickly looking through it, Pajou hung her head in shame and looked down from the corner of her eyes.
"Though it was impossible to read some parts, it seems that the lot at the central government of Vichy have used a magic tool from Horant to strengthen their soldiers. If those two countries succeed in cooperating, they are geographically the same as Orsongrande?" (Hifumi)
"In case this is real, you could say that ..." (Pajou)
As Pajou was visibly squeezing out those words, Hifumi delivered the final blow.
"So, the representative of the town Aroseru, who received this as well, was arrested. He is still alive. He was left within the carriage." (Hifumi)
"Isn't that kidnapping!" (Pajou)
As Pajou slammed on the desk and stood up, Hifumi said without changing his expression.
"Did you have to expressively raise your voice so it could be heard by others? This was done rightly in order to completely save her from almost being killed at that place. With having this much evidence, the guy who can testify the validity of the document is here. What do you want to say before making a move? Vichy will reject everything like that." (Hifumi)
"This judgement will be made by the royalty and the high ranking nobles, not by those on site." (Pajou)
"No, not at all, you have decided on site just a little while ago. The situation has already started to develop. It's too late now." (Hifumi)
Olga's group, who were sitting lined up next to Hifumi, likewise were silent having their breath taken away after becoming aware of how their actions had developed into such serious affair.
"... Anyway, please stay at the barracks today. I will submit a report to the royal capital." (Pajou)
"Ah, there was the option to use birds as means of communication. Well then, while you are contacting the capital, please arrange for us to meet Imeria. Let's see, {The man, who accomplished the secret decree while also ending up breaking the law in order to save a maiden, wishes to visit Her Highness in order to express his apology} ." (Hifumi)
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido