街まで戻って来る途中、今度こそ雑魚魔獣である狼数体に遭遇した。とりあえず瘴気に変えておいた。瘴気の量が増えた。
どうやら瘴気の量が増えても操作出来ないわけではないらしい。まぁ量が多い故に、全てを操作するのは少し難しいけれど、慣れれば適切な量を正確に操作出来る様になる筈だ。
だから、帰り道はずっと瘴気でバスケットボールを作ってバウンドさせていた。弾性はないから地面に手で落として、あたかも跳ね返って来るように操作するという操作練習だ。
とりあえずバウンドした状態じゃないと前に進まない、と自分の中でルールを決めてみた。最初の方は地面に付く前に引き上げてしまったり、地面に付いて形が崩れてしまったり......結局、僕が歩き出せる様になったのはそれを始めてから二時間後だった。
街に入ってから今も、宿までバウンド練習を続けている。おかげか、少しコツが掴めてきたようにも思える。
「でもまぁ、この状況は予想してなかったよ」
バウンドは続けている。いるが、僕の足はその場に停止していた。
何故なら、僕の目の前には一人の男が立っていたからだ。立ち塞がっていたからだ。全身黒ずくめの衣装に身を包みながら、不敵に笑っている。背は高く、その手には抜き身の剣を持っていた。今までに何人も斬って来たようで、その剣は使い込まれた跡がある。
そしてなにより、その瞳には人殺しの狂気が浮かんでいた。
「お前は―――俺が殺しても良い人間なんだってなァ?」
彼は、そう言って僕にその剣先を向けた。冒険者でも、騎士でもない、ただの殺人者が目の前で口を開いている。
僕はそんな彼を前に、『不気味体質』を発動する。完全に、話し合いの通用する相手でないことは明らかだし、街に入ったというのに周囲に誰もいない所を見れば、これが誰かの差し金であることは一目瞭然。僕に対してそんなことをしてくる奴と言えば、今の所オルバ公爵しか思いつかないな。
この男がオルバ公爵ということはないだろうけれど、関係者であることは間違いない。それにしたって随分と厄介な人間を送りこんできたものだよ。
でも、焦ったり怯えたりすることはない。僕にとって人間ほど恐怖の対象になりえない存在は無いよ。
「だって僕も人間だからね」
「お? なんだなんだァ? フンイキが変わったな......おもしれぇじゃねぇか、殺し甲斐があって良いじゃねぇの」
クハハ、と笑う男に対して、僕もいつもの薄ら笑いを浮かべる。そして、真っ黒い瘴気のナイフを作って、切っ先を男に向けた。
筋力が上がった今、もっと大きな武器も使いこなせるんだろうけど、やっぱり僕みたいな人間にはこのくらいの武器が丁度良い。手軽で、扱いやすいしね。
「君は何処の誰なのかな? 正直、僕は初対面だと記憶してるんだけど?」
「オイオイこの状況で随分と冷静じゃねぇの、情報だと大したことねぇ小物だって聞いてたんだけどな......まァ斬れんなら誰でもイイんだけどな」
「まぁ君よりもヤバい子を見てるからね、なんて言うのかな? その子に比べたら大したことなさそうだなぁと思って」
「俺よりやべぇって相当だな! クハハッ、お前......俺といいそのやべぇ奴といい、キチガイに好かれるんじゃねぇの?」
まぁ、レイラちゃんもこの男も、気は違ってるけどね。キチガイって漢字だと
それでも好かれたくはないけど、勇者気取り君や腹黒巫女もある意味頭おかしいし、否定出来ないのが悔しい所だね。
で、質問には答えてくれないのかな。
「俺の依頼主っつーの? そいつの話は出来ねぇけど......俺の名前は―――っと、これも駄目なんだったか......仕方ねぇな、偽名だけど俺の名前って事にしとけ」
「俺の名前は、ルディ......ってことにしとけや、取り敢えず今からお前を殺す奴だ」
◇ステータス◇
名前:レイス・ネス
性別:男 Lv78
筋力:7820
体力:9200
耐性:320:STOP!
敏捷:9500
魔力:2100
【称号】
【スキル】
【固有スキル】
◇
「うん分かった、よろしくねレイス君」
「さり気なく本名言ってんじゃねぇよ」
「君の顔に書いてある」
「お前も大概気が狂ってるみてぇだ」
ステータスを見ただけだけど、僕としては君達と同列に並べられるのはちょっと嫌だ。僕はまともで健全な青少年だよ、確信して言えるね。
「まぁ素性が割れてんなら割れてるで良いや、殺す事には変わりねぇしな」
男......レイスが頭を掻きながらそう言う。こんな会話をしながらも、一切剣先がブレないのだからやはり高い実力が窺える。ステータスでスキルが見えない所を見ると、その部分は隠蔽関係のスキルが働いているのだろう。使徒ちゃんもそうだったし。
でも、僕もそう簡単に殺されてあげるわけにはいかないんだよね。ということで、帰って来る途中で思い付いた僕の新たな戦い方の実験台になって貰おう。
「それじゃ、僕は君を殺さず素通りすることにするよ」
「何?」
訝しげに眼を細めるレイス、僕の実力で言えば、彼を素通りするなんて到底出来ないんだろう―――でも、僕にはSランクの怪物が扱う最強最悪な武器がある。
初見殺しも、いいとこだ。
そう言って、僕はぱちんと指を鳴らした。
◇ ◇ ◇
レイス・ネスは、元々快楽殺人鬼として世間に名を轟かせた犯罪者だ。ちなみに、冒険者と同じく犯罪者にもその危険度でランクが付けられる。彼の場合、その危険度は最大のSランク。その理由としては、Aランクに値する実力と、無差別に人を殺す人格があげられる。
彼はその経歴上、記録に残っているだけでも1043人を殺害している凶悪殺人鬼だ。その出生や幼少期のことは謎に包まれているが、正確に分かっているだけでも、彼はおよそ12歳の頃から人を殺している。
おそらく、記録に残っていない数を含めればその殺害数は2000人を大きく越えるかもしれない。無差別に、毎日毎日、人を殺し続けた危険な男。
普通なら常軌を逸した精神なのだろうと思いきや、彼には存外正気だった。何人も殺している癖に、正常な精神を保って居られる強靭な精神力。
それは逆に危険な男として捉えられる要素になった。正常な精神のまま、人を殺すのだから。
彼は国から指名手配を受け、逃亡しながら、時に追手すら殺して逃げ回り、約10年間逃げ回った末に、国の依頼を受けたSランク冒険者によって捕らえられた。死ぬまで拘留される筈だった彼は、その5年後突如釈放された。
釈放を命じたのは、オルバ公爵。
彼は今でこそ黒ずくめの首まで隠した服装をしているが、その下には奴隷の証である『隷属の首輪』がある。契約上、命令違反を犯せば首を絞められ死んでしまうが、彼は用心棒として手元に置かれる為に釈放された。普通の奴隷とは違い、虐げられる様な扱いはされない。
オルバ公爵は強力な用心棒を得る、レイスも合法的に人を殺すことが出来る。利害が一致している故にレイスもオルバ公爵の傍にいるのだ。『隷属の首輪』は、凶悪犯罪者の彼に対する鎖というわけだ。
そして用心棒になってから、彼はオルバ公爵に反抗してきた人間を殺してきた。時には暗殺を企てていた者を事前に殺したこともある。
「お前に両眼の色が違い、黒い服を着た男を殺して貰いたい」
だから、今回も人を殺す命令を即断即決で受け入れた。殺せるのなら、誰でもいい。
人を殺すことで悦楽を得るのが彼なのだ。人を殺す理由だって、気持ちいいからとしか言い様がない。
「まぁ報告によれば実力は大したことがない男らしい、お前には簡単な仕事だ」
「ふーん、まぁ殺せるなら誰でも良い、後始末はいつも通りそっちでやってくれよ?」
「ああ、周辺の人払いもやっておく」
「いつもながらありがたいことで」
今回はあまり歯応えのある標的ではないと聞いていた。でも、それでも良いと思っていた。どんな人間であれ、人である限りは中に赤い血が詰まっていて、温かい鼓動を持っている。
自分は熱い返り血を浴びたい。その鼓動を自分の手で止めたい。段々と死に近づいて行く人間の表情を、見下ろしたいのだ。
実際に標的と対峙してみて、今までにないナニカを感じた。
目の前に佇む少年は、黒い服に、両眼で色の違う瞳を持っている。報告で聞いた通りの人物。戦えば簡単に殺せそうないつも通りの、ただの人間だった。
でも、その時思った。
―――コイツ......本当に人間か?
一瞬、人間に見えなかった。人間の様な何かに見えた。人間は殺す為に存在すると思っていた最凶の快楽殺人鬼が、ただの少年に恐怖を抱いた。死神の様な死を感じさせる恐怖の威圧感を放っていた。
そして、何処に隠していたのか、いつのまにか真っ黒なナイフを構える少年。その武器も禍々しく、その黒さが絶対的な危険を感じさせる。
だが、それでも平常通りに振る舞い、殺す旨を告げると、彼は張りつけた様な薄ら笑いを浮かべながら、言う。
素通りすると言った。その言葉を証拠付けるように、恐怖を感じさせる威圧感を放っているのに、殺意がないことに気づく。
その言葉は、本気で言っていた。
何かある、と警戒心を高めながら、切っ先を少年に向けて視線を外さない。
そして彼の手がゆらり、と上げられ――――ぱちん、と気の抜ける様な音を鳴らす。
瞬間、少年の姿が消えた―――否、視界が真っ黒に塗りつぶされた。
あの黒いナイフと同じ、漆黒の、闇みたいな色が、視界を満たしている。光が全く存在しない世界に引き込まれた様だった。
驚愕したが、直ぐに我に返って少年の気配を探す。すると、少年の気配は自分の背後にあった。今も普通に歩く様なペースで、離れている。
「素通り............って訳か......!」
文字通り、言葉通り、素通りだった。少年は自分の横を歩いて、通り過ぎたのだ。
振り返ってもやはり視界は真っ黒で、少年の姿は見えない。無意識に、歯噛みした。実力に自信がないと言えば、嘘になる。でも、自分の実力にプライドがあったわけでもなかった。
だから、自分を素通りしたことに怒りを覚えたわけでない。ただただ、興味を抱いた。
故に、その狂気を前にして平然と薄ら笑いを浮かべる少年に、興味を抱いた。尚且つ素通りすると言った少年に、興味を抱いた。そして何より、その言葉を格上の自分相手に実現してみせた少年に、興味を抱いた。
「は、ハハ......クハハッ......! クハハハハッハハハハッハハハアハハハハ!!!」
笑いが溢れた。殺してみたい、殺してやりたい、殺したらどんな顔をするんだろう、あんな人間も、赤い血を出すのだろうか? そんな興味が溢れて仕方ない。
真っ黒な色が消え、元の街並みが戻ってきた。そして戻ってきた視界に映って来たのは―――
「......クハッ......随分とまぁ、えげつねぇことで」
―――少年の姿はなかった。
代わりに、全方向から取り囲むように、大量の真っ黒なナイフが切っ先を向けて宙に浮いていた。
While I was heading back to the town, I encountered several small fry wolf-type demonic beasts. I decided to turn them into miasma, thus the amount of miasma I had increased.
Apparently it didn't seem to be impossible to control even if the amount of miasma had increased. Well, because there was a lot more miasma, it became a bit difficult to control all of it, but once I became accustomed to it, I should be able to precisely control an appropriate amount of miasma.
Thus, on the way back home I kept playing with a miasma made basket ball. Because it had no elasticity, this served as control practice to make it looked as if the ball bounced back at me the moment it hit the ground.
In doing so, I decided to put a rule first, that was I wouldn't take a single step forward unless I could make it bounce. At first I pulled it up before even reaching the ground, or it hit the ground to much that it lost its shape... in the end, it was two hours from the beginning of the training that I started walking.
Even after entering the city, I keep practicing bouncing it even while heading to the inn.
"But well, I've never expected this situation."
I'm still bouncing the ball, but my feet are stopped on the spot.
That's because there's a man standing in front of me. He's standing on my way. Clad in a full-body black outfit, he's smiling daringly. He is tall, and he also has a brandished sword in his hand. Seemingly has killed numerous people with it, he looks already very accustomed to hold that sword.
And above all, the madness of murderer is emerging from his eyes.
"You are -- the target I must kill, aren't you?"
Saying so, he turns toward me. Those words don't come from either an adventurer or a knight, but from a murderer that's standing in front of me.
I activate "eerie constitution" right in front of him. It is obvious that he isn't the type that words could reach, and given the fact that there's no one around even though we're right in the middle of a town, it's obvious that this all is instigated by someone. As far as I can tell, right now someone who would do such a thing is none other than Duke Orba.
This man is very unlikely Duke Orba himself, but without a doubt he is related to that guy. Moreover, sure is quite a troublesome person he has sent here.
But I'm not particularly flustered or frightened. For me, there is no human being that can give me fear.
"Because I am also human, after all."
"Huh? What is this? The air around you changes... interesting, looks like you're also quite used to death battle, aren't you?"
When the man starts laughing 'Kuhaha', I also put my usual faint smile. After that I make a jet-black miasma knife and point it to the man.
Now that my muscle strength has gone up, I can use larger weapons, but for someone such as myself, this kind of weapon suits me best. It's simple and easy to handle, after all.
"Who are you, and who did send you here? Honestly speaking, as far as I can remember this is our first meeting, though?"
"Oy oy, in this kind of situation you're quite calm, aren't you? From the information, I heard that the target is a small fry, but... whatever, I'll kill everyone so such a thing doesn't matter, though."
"Well, it's because I've seen someone more terrifying than you, I guess. How should I put it, compared to that girl, I think you're nothing."
"To be more terrifying than me, quite something isn't she?! Kuhaha, you... first that terrifying girl and now me, you're quite loved by freaks, aren't you?"
Well, both Leila and this guy, they do have some screws loose though. Not just freak, perhaps you can even call them madman, that word fits the crazy Leila and this guy to a tee.
Also, I really do not want to be liked by them, but that fake-hero-kun and that wicked miko were also crazy in a sense. It is vexing that I can't deny his remark about this.
But well, I wonder if he'll answer my question.
"My client? I can't tell you his name, but ... but my name is -- oops, I also can't tell you that, huh.... It can't be helped then, it's a pseudonym but just take it as my name."
"Let's just say my name is... Rudy. I'm here to kill you."
* Status *
Name                        : Reis Ness
Gender                     : Male Lv 78
Strength                   : 7820
Stamina                    : 9200
Resistance                : 320: STOP!
Agility                       : 9500
Magical power          : 2100
[(Title)] 
[(Skill)] 
[(Innate Skill)] 
*
"I see, nice to meet you, Reis-kun."
"Don't just casually saying my real name like that, mind you?"
"It's written all over your face, though."
"Looks like you're somewhat screwed yourself, huh."
I only peek at his status for a bit, though. I really don't want to be lumped together with the likes of them. I am a decent and proper youth you know? I can even say that with confidence.
"Well if you already know who I am then that's also fine, it doesn't change the fact that I'm going to kill you, after all."
This man, Reis, says that while scratching his head. Even while doing such a conversation, from the fact that the point of his sword doesn't waver even a bit, I can tell that without a doubt he's skilled. Looking at the fact that I can't see his skill on his status, most likely he has some sort of concealment skill. That Apostle-chan was also like that, after all.
However I also can't afford to get myself killed just like this. So, let's use this chance to test out the new way of fighting I came up on the way back before.
"Well then, I've decided to pass through without killing you."
"What?"
Reis narrows his eyes doubtfully, speaking of my battle prowess, it's indeed impossible for me to pass through him... however I have the strongest and the worst weapon that's also used by an S-ranked monster.
This is a good chance to test this out.
Saying that, I snap my fingers.
* * *
Reis Ness was an infamous criminal who took pleasure in killing people. By the way, similarly like adventurers, criminals were also ranked based on their danger. In his cases, he was one of the most dangerous ones of S ranks. The reason for that was with the prowess deserving of A rank, he had the tendency to kill people indiscriminately.
He was a heinous murderer whose recorded victims were no less than 1043 people. His birth and childhood were shrouded in mystery, but even if it was only from the known rumors, he had been killing people since he was about twelve years old.
If you include the victims that weren't recorded, most likely the number would easily exceed 2,000 people. He was such a dangerous man who kept killing people indiscriminately everyday.
Normally such a person would be a madman, but unexpectedly he was without a doubt sane. Despite having killed so many people, he had such strong mind that didn't break and was still sane.
However, that showed just how dangerous this man was. Because he could kill people with clear mind.
When he was put on wanted list by the country, while running away, he kept moving from place to place while killing the pursuers who occasionally came after him, and after running away for about 10 years he was captured by an S rank adventurers who took the request from the country. He who was supposed to be detained until his death, somehow was suddenly released during the fifth years.
The one who ordered his release was Duke Orba.
Currently he was donning a full-body black outfit which hid his neck, however beneath it there was a "Slave choker" which was the proof of a slave. In contract, should he violate the order, the choker would strangled him to death, however upon his release he was appointed as Duke Orba's bodyguard. Unlike ordinary slaves, he wasn't treated oppressively.
Duke Orba got a powerful bodyguard, Reis could legally kill people. Since their interests met, Reis was also on good term with Duke Orba. The "Slave Choker" was used as a chain to rein the atrocious criminal he was.
And since becoming his bodyguard, he had been killing people who were opposing Duke Orba. There were times when he killed people who were scheming to assassinate Duke Orba first.
"I want you to kill a man who has different eye colors and wears black clothes."
Therefore, this time he also readily accepted the order to kill someone. If he could kill then anyone was fine.
He was the type of person who took pleasure in killing people. His reason for killing people was solely because it felt pleasant.
"Well, according to the report, his ability isn't worth mentioning, so it should be an easy job for you."
"Well, as long as I can kill then anyone is fine. Can I leave the cleaning up afterward to you as usual?"
"Yeah, I'll also clear up the surrounding area."
"Thanks as always."
He heard that this time the target was an easy one. However, he thought that that was also fine. As long as the target was still human being, the body would be filled with red blood, and there'd also warm heartbeat.
He wanted to be soaked in that hot spurt of blood. He wanted to stop that heartbeat with his own hand. He wanted to look down on the expression of the person who was slowly approaching death. Because murder was his hobby, murder was his speciality, murder was his entertainment, murder was his raison d'etre, and murder was he himself.
Upon actually facing the target, he felt something he'd never felt before.
The standing still youth in front of his eyes had different eye colors and also wore black clothes. The target was exactly as what he'd heard in the report. A mere human that was seemingly he could easily kill if he wanted to, just as usual.
But then, he suddenly thought.
-- this guy... is he really human?
In an instant the youth did not look like a human. The youth looked like something in human form. The murderer who took pleasure from killing was afraid of a mere youth. He could feel death from the terrorizing intimidating air emitted by the youth that seemed just like death god.
And then, he didn't know where it was hidden at, but without he noticed somehow the youth had already had a jet-black knife pointed at him. That weapon was also very ominous, he could sense absolute danger from its blackness.
However, he still acted as usual, but when he said that he was going to kill the youth, the youth only floated a faint smile, and said...
The youth said he'd pass through him. As if proofing those words, he noticed that despite the youth was emitting such fearsome intimidating air, there was no killing intent at all.
That meant the youth said those words seriously.
Something is coming, while raising his caution to the limit, he fixedly pointed both his sword and his eyes toward the youth.
And then the youth slowly raised his hand... and with a snap, he could hear the sound of finger snapping.
At that moment, the youth's figure disappeared... No, it was his field vision that turned pitch black.
Just like that black knife, jet-black darkness-like color filled his sight. It seemed as though he was drawn into a world where no light existed at all.
He was surprised, but he immediately calmed himself down and starting looking for the youth's presence. And then, he noticed that the youth presence was already behind him. The youth was slowly walking away in steady pace.
"Exactly... passing through, huh!"
Just as the youth said, literally, passing through. The youth simply walked and passed through him.
Even when he turned around, his sight was still pitch-black so he couldn't see the youth's figure. Unconsciously, he grinded his teeth. If he said that he wasn't confident in his skills, then he'd be lying. However, he didn't particularly hold high pride in his ability.
Therefore, he wasn't particularly angry that the youth passed through him just like that. He was simply interested.
Therefore, he was interested in the youth who could calmly smile faintly even in front of such madness. He was also interested in the youth who said that he'd pass through him. And above all, he was interested in the youth who did exactly as he said even against someone as powerful as himself.
"Haha ...... Kuhaha ... ...! Kuhahaha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!"
I want to kill him, I want to fight him to death, what kind of face will he make when I kill him I wonder? Will such person also spurt red blood I wonder? He couldn't contain his curiosity.
The pitch-black color disappeared and he returned to the townscape. And within his field of vision that had returned --
".... Kuhaha ... quite a nasty one he was."
-- The youth's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, as if surrounding him from all directions, numerous pitch-black black knives were floating in the air with the tips pointed at him.
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