31.ベルゼンストック市その2
とりあえずこの街ではなにして『遊ぼう』か悩んでいましたが、お誂え向きの文化があるようで丁度いいですね。
「いつまで固まっているんですか? 早速情報収集と準備に取り掛かりますよ」
「あ、ハイ」
なにやら諦観の表情を浮かべたユウさんを伴ってまずは聞き込みですね。
▼▼▼▼▼▼▼
さて、まずどこで聞き込みをしましょうか?
「ユウさんは丁度いいところ知りませんか? 」
「うーん、......街の中に走る定期船はどうでしょう? 広い街中を張り巡らせた水路を通る公共機関なんですが、それになら様々な階級の人たちがいると思うんです」
なるほど定期船があるんですね、確かに海に流れる大河を跨ぐようにしてこの街はありますから必要でしょう。
「それにその船を漕ぐのも奴隷ですから、彼らを知るのにも丁度いいのでは? ほら、目の前のあの船着場がそうですよ」
「さすがユウさんです、では行きましょう」
ユウさんの勧め通りに、目の前の屋根しかない受付へ向かいます。
「すみません、二人分です」
「あいよ! お、兄ちゃんえらい別嬪さん連れてるねぇ? これからデートかい? 」
「で、でででで?! ち、ちが! 僕と彼女は――――」
「そんな慌てんなって! 」
ユウさんが『チケットを買ってくるので待っててください』と言っていたので少し離れた場所から待っていますがなにやら揉めてますね?
「どうしましたかユウさん? 敵ですか? 落としますか? 」
「――――っ! れ、レーナさん?! って違いますよ! 敵じゃないです! 少しからかわれただけです! 」
「お、落とす......? 」
どうやら違ったみたいですね、受付のおじさんも此方を困惑した目で見てます。残念です。
「と、とりあえず船に乗りますよ! 」
丁度よく定期船が来たので乗り込んでいきます............なぜあの受付のおじさんはこちらを生暖かい目で見てくるのでしょう? やはり落とした方がよかった気がします。
「疲れた......」
なにやら既にお疲れのユウさんを放っておいて、船内の客を観察します。席のグレードなどの違いはもちろんありますが、確かに色んな階級層の方がいますね。あと全体的に共通してるのは、全員が笑って幸せそうですね。
「おや? 見掛けない顔だね、観光かい? 」
船内を見回してみると、優しそうなおじいさんが話しかけてきましたので応じましょう。
「やっぱりそうだと思ったんだ、どうだい? この街は、隅々まで綺麗で豊かだろう? 」
「えぇ、素敵な所だと思います」
確かに街は隅々まで清掃が行き届いていますし、それによって地中海沿岸地域のような真っ白な建物の群れは太陽と海からの光を反射していてとても綺麗です。
そして市場は物に溢れ、道行く人々は一部を除いて明日の不安などないと太陽にも負けない眩しい笑顔でした。
「しかしながら若いのに大変だねぇ...重い荷物を持ってモンスターの出るところを長距離歩いてくるのは大変だったろう......飴でも食べるかい? 」
「ありがとう存じます」
おじいさんが飴をくれました、どうやらご自身のお店の商品だそうで。
「こちらはそうでもないですよ? そちらこそその歳になると重い荷物などを運ぶのは大変ではないですか? 腰とか」
飴を口に含みながらおじいさんの会話に応えておきましょう。
「? 何を言ってるんだね君は、そんなもの奴隷にさせればいいだろう? 」
おや? さっきまでこちらを気遣い、誰にでも優しそうだったおじいさんがまるで不思議な物でも見るかのように困惑していますね。
こんな善良そうな人ですら、奴隷は人でなく物として認識しているようですね......。
「............これがひっくり返ると思うとゾクゾクしますね(ボソッ」
「? なにか言ったかね? 」
「いえ、なんでもありません。そうですね、奴隷にさせますよね普通は」
おっと、いけません。ちゃんと受け答えなければなりませんね、この高揚感はまだ取っておきましょう。
「..................聞こえちゃった、やっぱ怖いよこの人(ボソッ」
「では、ワシはここで降りるでな、ゆっくりしていくんだよ」
おじいさんは次の船着場で降りていきましたね、会話する相手も居なくなりましたし、船を漕いでいるであろう奴隷たちを見てみます。
「『......』」
泣きそうな者、辛そうな者、こちらを睨み付けている者、絶望しかけている者、様々な人たちがいますが、皆に共通しているのはそこに諦観の表情が微塵もないことですね。
見聞きした限りだと諦めの表情を浮かべる者が一人くらい居てもいいと思うんですけど、彼らは何を支えにしているんでしょうね?
「......もしかしたら奴隷たちの地下組織のようなものがあるのかも知れませんね」
「そうなんですか? 」
「ただの想像です」
ふむ、これは本格的に調べてみますか。計画に利用できるかも知れませんからね。
Chapter 31 - Belzenstock City (Part 2)
I was skeptical when he said we should 'play' in this city for the moment. But the culture here seemed to be perfect for it.
"How long are you going to stay frozen there? We should begin our information gathering and preparations."
"Ah, right!"
Yuu seemed to be disheartened about something, but I should get more information while in his company.
******
Well, where should we start our information gathering?
"Yuu, do you know a perfect place to start our information gathering?"
"Hmm... how about we check out the liner that runs in this city? It's a public institution that manages the waterway that runs in this large city. I think we should be able to find people of various classes there."
Certainly, a liner would be necessary since large rivers spanned over this whole city and flowed into the sea.
"The slaves are rowing the boats. It would be perfect timing to get more information from them. Do you see that harbor right in front of us? Let's go check it out."
"As expected of Yuu. Let's go then."
Following Yuu's recommendation, we headed straight to the reception area that only had a roof over it.
"Excuse me. Tickets for two, please."
"Okey-dokey! Oh, you're bringing a very pretty lady, bro! Are you going on a date?"
"D-d-d-da --?! N-no, I'm not! We're --."
"Calm down!"
Yuu told me to wait for a moment while he was buying us tickets. So I waited at a distance apart. But what could be happening with him - a dispute?
"What's happening, Yuu? Is he an enemy? Do you want to finish him off?"
"--! R-Rena?! N-no, he's not! He's not an enemy! He was just teasing me a little!"
"F-finish me off ...?"
Apparently, I must have mistaken him for the enemy. The old man at the reception was staring at me in bewilderment. That was too bad.
"A-Anyway, let's get on the boat!"
The liner had just arrived, in time for us to get on .... Why in the world would the old man at the reception keep staring with such disagreeably warm eyes? Had it been better to finish him off after all?
"So tired ...."
I decided to observe the passengers on board and leave the exhausted Yuu. There were distinctions in class of seats, as well as people of various social stratums. The only thing they had in common was the contended and cheerful expression.
"Oh? You look like a new face around here. Are you here sightseeing?"
I glanced over to where the voice was coming from to find an elderly man with a very gentle expression. I guess I had to respond accordingly.
"That's what I thought. So what do you think of this place? Every corner of this city is beautiful and rich, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think this is a very wonderful city."
Indeed, every corner of the city was well-groomed, which made the immaculate white buildings that were lined up like the Mediterranean coastal cites reflect the sunlight and the sea. It was absolutely stunning.
The market was abundantly supplied with goods, and the dazzling smiles of the passersby could not be subdued even by the bright sun - it was as if they had no worries about tomorrow.
"But even though you're so young... it must have been tough on you to walk such a great distance through places infested with monsters while hauling heavy luggage... Would you like some candy?"
"Thank you very much."
The elderly man handed me some candy. Apparently, it was the product of his shop.
"I'm fine. But the same goes for you, don't you have a hard time dragging along heavy luggage at your age? Isn't it tough on your back?"
While maintaining the conversation with the elderly man, I put the candy in my mouth.
"What are you saying? We should just leave that sort of thing to the slaves!"
Oh? I had been walking on eggshells regarding this subject. But even this elderly man, who seemed to be the kindest person, gave me a perplexed look as if I had said something out of the ordinary.
Even such a seemingly good person perceived slaves as objects, not people...
"... It would be riveting if this whole thing were to be overturned." I whispered to myself.
"Did you say something?"
"Oh no, it's nothing. You're right; we usually let the slaves handle them, don't we?"
Oops, my bad. I should answer properly, but I wanted to savor this uplifting feeling.
"... He heard it. As expected, he's scary." I whispered to myself again.
"Well, this is my stop. Please, enjoy your trip."
The elderly man disembarked at the next harbor. I had no one else to talk to, I shall go meet the slaves who were rowing this boat.
"..."
Everyone was staring this way - people who were holding back their tears, people who looked desperately and in agony - though there were various people, what they all had in common was the lack of resignation in their expressions.
I presumed there would be at least one person who would show a sign of giving up. But as far as my eyes could observe, everyone was persevering as if supporting something.
"... Perhaps there is an underground organization of slaves."
"Really?"
"It could just be my imagination, though."
Hmm, we shall officially continue this investigation. This might be useful for my planning.
Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~
ジェノサイド・オンライン 〜極悪令嬢のプレイ日記〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/genocide-online-playtime-diary-of-an-evil-young-girl/
Action Adventure Fantasy Psychological
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Assassins Beautiful Female Lead Cold Protagonist Cruel Characters Dark Depictions of Cruelty Evil Organizations Evil Protagonist Famous Protagonist Fearless Protagonist Female Protagonist Gamers Gods Gore Lack of Common Sense Level System MMORPG Modern Day Murders Overpowered Protagonist Psychopaths R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Wars
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7796fc/
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