「人を育てるという行為ほど、傲慢なことはありません」
領主館のバルコニーから見えるフォカロルの街には老若男女様々な人々が行き交い、それぞれの人生の中の1シーンを笑ったり泣いたり、一人だったり誰かと一緒だったりして過ごしている。
遠くにそれを眺めながら、オリガは一人ごとのように呟いたが、聞いている者が一人だけいる。カイムだ。
「誰もが一度だけの自分の人生を懸命に生きています。それに口を出し手を出し、その行く末を教育と言う名目で歪めてしまうのです。未来は誰にもわかりませんが、誰もがこれが正解かなんてわからないまま生きています」
「......奥様は、教育に関して何かしらお考えのようですが。何か問題でも見つかりましたでしょうか?」
「いいえ」
オリガはくるりと振り向いて、カイムにニッコリと微笑む。
「主人の......一二三様のなさる事に間違いはありません。この街で行われている教育も訓練も、全て一二三様の深いお考えによって生み出されたもの。誰もが迷いながら選ばなければならない人生の道筋に、光が見えている私たちの幸運を考えていたのです」
オリガはバルコニーから部屋へと入り、そっと執務室の椅子へと腰を下ろした。
「それで、準備は整ったのですか」
「大きな問題はありません。トラブルは全て想定内に収まり、解決済みです。ここまでは予定通りに進んでおります」
「それは重畳」
書類に目を通したオリガは、さっとペンを走らせサインを書き込み、カイムへと手渡す。
「では、私も当初の予定に従い、再度王都へ向かいます。明日の正午には出発いたしますので、護衛の手配をお願いいたします」
「全ては、あのお方の願いを叶えるため......」
瞼を閉じると、脳裏に浮かぶ一二三の顔。
「わかっているとは思いますが、これは一二三様が私たちに課された“宿題”でもあります」
「承知しております。私も領主様の意向を充分に理解しているつもりです。どうか、フォカロルの事は我々文官に安んじてお任せを」
表情を変えないままに、平坦な口調で言われた言葉ではあるが、そこに嘘が無いことはオリガにはわかっていた。
「ふふ、私も頑張らなければなりませんね」
立ち上がったオリガは、再び外の喧騒へと目を向けた。
夕日に染まりつつある街の中、たくさんの人々が足早に歩く。家路につく者が多いのだろう。
騎士や兵士に対立しているのは、既に獣人たちだけではなくなっていた。
生まれ変わったスラムの獣人との交流は、ソードランテの平民たちから隔意を奪っていく。
スラムの街を巡回する獣人の自警団は、見た目は厳ついものの、人間の街を巡回する兵士たちのような横暴さは全く無く、落し物や軽犯罪にも親身に対応するものが多かった。
なし崩しにスラムの代表者として祭り上げられたレニとヘレンも、積極的に人間から学び、ヘレンは店舗エリアの責任者として駆け回り、レニに至っては人間側との窓口として多くの人間や獣人から頼られる存在となっていた。
人間から見ると、恐ろしいイメージの獣人とはかけ離れたレニの見た目と穏やかな性格は安心感と庇護欲を与え、獣人からは人間の知識をいち早く吸収し、獣人の街を作り上げた立役者として尊敬の念を集めた。
そんなレニは、当然ながら戦闘に関してはからっきしで、戦うということに対しては忌避感が拭えない。
「人間と戦うことになるんですか!?」
目を白黒させて驚くレニに、ゲングは重々しく頷いた。
彼の背後では、腕を組んだ一二三が口を出さずに状況を見ている。
「既に自警団の有志と、この街を守るために戦う準備をしておりやす。一二三さんの指導で、この街を守るために」
「......どうにかして、戦いは避けられませんか?」
人間と戦うことになれば、折角友達になれた人々とも敵どうしになる、とレニは涙を流した。
「頑張って、みんなで頑張ってここまでできたのに......」
「レニさん......大丈夫です。獣人だけでも何とかやっていけやすよ。人間の街から物が入ってこなくなったらしばらくは大変ですが、他の連中も随分慣れやしたから」
レニをなだめるように言葉を並べるゲングに、一二三が後ろから冷たい声で言う。
「そんなに単純なわけないだろう。お前ら、人間の馬鹿さを甘く見すぎ」
「ば、馬鹿さって......一二三さんも人間でしょうや」
「俺は自分が賢くない事を知っているから、まだマシな方だ。こういう独裁国家で地位とか生まれとかの薄っぺらな根拠に縋って生きている奴の醜さに比べたら、俺のようにどうどうと実力を持って人を殺す方がよっぽど上等だ」
それよりも、今から出かけるから、後で混乱したくなければ人間が泊まる部屋を大量に用意しておいたほうがいい、と言い残し、一二三は部屋を後にする。
「あの、一二三さんはどこに行くんですか?」
レニの問いかけに、一二三は振り向いた。
「この街はお前らが守るんだろう? そんなチマチマした戦闘より、人間の街の方に面白い壊れかけがいるから、そっちと遊んでくる」
じゃあな、と一二三は去っていった。
そして、入れ替わりに部屋へ飛び込んで来たのはヘレンだ。
全力で走って来たようで、レニを顔を見るなり地べたに座り込んで、ぜぇぜぇと肩で息をしている。
「ヘレン、どうしたの?!」
「人間が、たくさんの人間が......」
「まさか、もう攻めて来たので!?」
こうしてはいられない、と飛び出そうとするゲングの服を掴み、ヘレンは首を振った。
しっかりと服を握ったまま、何とか息を整えたヘレンは、ゲングとレニを交互に見た。
「人間が、助けを求めてスラムに入ってきたの! それも、何十人も!」
人間も獣人も殺されるという事件が続き、貴族階級や富裕層が住むエリアは厳戒態勢となり、兵士や騎士が昼夜問わず街中を巡回していた。
平民たちの間にも当然恐怖は広がっていたが、ソードランテの上層部の指示もあり、兵士たちは平民に対して非常に冷淡だった。
「どうしてこっちまで巡回してくれないんだ! 以前は用もないのに来てる兵士だっていたじゃないか!」
貴族街への入口で、どこかの店の店主だろう中年の男が、兵士たちに向かって叫んでいる。
「今は非常事態で通常の巡回とは違うんだ。いいから帰れ」
「お前は、いつも店から商品をタダで持っていくクセに、いざとなったら何の役にも立たないんなら、次からはしっかり金はもらうぞ!」
「あれはその時にお前たちの安全を守ってやってる分の礼として貰ってやっただけだ。それとこれとは関係ない」
とぼけた顔で話す兵士に、男は殴りかかろうと拳を握ったが、駆けつけてきた他の商店主たちに羽交い絞めにされて引きずられて行った。
「馬鹿野郎! あのままだと兵士に殺されていたぞ!」
「あの兵士は、あの兵士は毎日のように俺の店からパンをタダでかっぱらって行きやがって、それなのに......」
自分たちの店がある場所まで戻ると、男はとうとう泣き出してしまった。
この男も他の人間たちも、平民としてこの街で生まれてからずっと生きてきた。横暴な振る舞いをする兵士相手だったが、被害は少額だった事もあり、それで治安が守られるなら、と我慢していたのだ。
誰もが、泣きたい気持ちは同じだった。
「......落ち着こう。別に俺たちが殺されると決まったわけじゃない」
「でもよ、犯人からしたら兵士の巡回も無いんじゃ狙われ放題じゃねぇか?」
男たちの間に沈黙が重くのしかかる。
彼らだけの問題ではない、妻や子、そして大切にしていた店があり、中には老いた親を抱えている世帯もある。万一があってから、では遅いのだ。
「......スラムの連中を頼ろう」
「獣人の店を作ってる大工の連中か? 確かに腕っ節はあるだろうが......」
「いや、獣人たちに護衛を頼もう」
肉屋をやっている男が小さな声で提案した内容は、すぐには受け入れられなかった。
「な、何を考えてるんだ。敵を呼び寄せるような真似をするのか?」
「そうだぜ。獣人が街をうろついてるのを見たら、兵士たちが何を言ってくるか......」
「その兵士が来ないから、こんな話をしているんだろうが」
決して大声ではなかったが、肉屋の言葉は他の男たちを黙らせるのに充分だった。
「大工たちがな、獣人に頼まれて肉を買いに来ることが多いんだ。別に騙されてるとか脅されてるとかじゃなくて、なんというか、友達の頼みで来たって感じでな」
「そう言えば、俺のところにもそんな客が多くなってきた」
八百屋が同意すると、金物や木製品の小物を売る店の店主も思い出したように頷く。
「俺は、つくづく人間の兵士が嫌になった」
俯きがちに話していた肉屋は、顔を上げて真剣な目をした。
「家族に話して、一度スラムに家族と一緒に話をしに行く」
「待ってくれ! 俺も行く!」
毅然として歩き出した肉屋に続き、八百屋も声をあげて追いかけていく
残った数名の男たちは顔を見合わせ、眉をひそめる。
「......俺も、行く。役に立たない人間と付き合うより、気のいい奴らなら獣人と過ごした方がずっとマシだ」
泣いていたパン屋が立ち上がって歩き出した。
残った男たちもしばらく話し合い、農夫や猟師たち、大工も交えて話し合った結果、獣人がどうしても受け入れられない数名を除いて、多くの平民たちがスラムに出入りする大工を通じ、獣人に街の巡回や家族の保護を依頼することになる。
「かわいそうになぁ。すっかり狂ってしまったか」
夜に出歩く者もいなくなり、兵士すら巡回することも無くなった街。
ゴーストタウンと言ってもおかしくない程、街の住人も減っていた。多くがスラムへと助けを求め、街へ残った者は息を潜めて家の中に閉じこもっている。
「でもまぁ、その方が獣人らしいと思うぞ」
そんな暗い夜道で、牙を剥いたサルグを指差しているのは一二三だった。
刀も持たず、丸腰のままで左手は懐に差し入れたまま、右手でまっすぐに獣人を差す。
「狂っただと......? 俺こそが獣人たるべき自由を愛する精神を守っている! 人間ごときに何がわかる!」
「自由なぁ」
激昂して叫び声を上げるサルグに対し、一二三は自然体のままで笑っている。
「自由を押し付けて、拒否されたんだろう? お前の言う自由は、他人に不自由を押し付ける自由か? 傲慢を押し付ける力がある奴だけが堪能できる自由なら、人間の国の方にもそこいらに転がっているぞ?」
結局は、押し付けで名ばかりの自由が受け入れられないから、子供のように喚いて暴れているだけだ、と一二三はサルグを言葉で斬る。
「ぐぅおおおお!」
もはや言葉で返すこともできず、サルグは身体を低くして四肢を使って駆け寄り、そのまま一二三の腹に向かって牙を剥いた。
「おおっと」
一二三は袴の裾をつまみあげてマタドールのように身体をひねってやり過ごすと、通りすぎるサルグのすねを思い切り蹴り飛ばした。
「ギャン!?」
土煙を上げ、走る勢いのまま地面を転がったサルグは、痛む足をこらえながら立ち上がる。
「お前と、な」
一二三は再びサルグを指差す。
「似ている奴がいるぞ。この国の王を名乗る奴だ。獣人を殺し、過去と今の戦闘力を吹聴して周囲を従えている。お前と同じ、傲慢な自由を力で押し付けている」
話している間にも、サルグは一二三を攻撃する。
まるで金属のような音を立ててカチ合う牙の攻撃も、鉄ですら切り裂きそうな鋭い爪の振り抜きも、柳のようにゆらゆら揺れる一二三にかすりもしない。
「王が語る自由とは、獣人や平民を虐げて得られる立場に自らが在る事だ。それはお前がやっている事と、何か違うか?」
熊の獣人らしく力任せに振り下ろされた拳は、一二三に当たらず地面を殴る。
大きな木槌を叩きつけたような音が響いた。
真っ直ぐに突き立てられたサルグの腕、その肘の外側にある痛覚のツボに、一二三が軽く突きを入れた。
しびれるような痛みに、さすがのサルグも腕を抱えこんだ。
「ならば、証明して見せろ。お前は獣人を開放するのが目的だろう? 人間のボスを倒して獣人を人間の街という枷から解き放ちたいと思うなら、こんなところで土にまみれて転がっている場合じゃ無いだろう」
一二三の指が、今度は城を差している。
「あそこにいるぞ、お前の自由を阻害する者が。獣人を街という檻に閉じ込め、荒野という広い世界を忘れるほどに人間の生活を押し付けた元凶が。考えろ、ここで俺と戦っている場合か?」
痛む肘をさすりながら、一二三を睨むサルグだったが、その言葉にはしっかりと耳を傾けていた。
「......なぜ、俺に王を殺させようとする?」
サルグの疑問に、一二三は簡単だ、と答えた。
「獣人が戦う事は本能だと思うからな。ちょいと後押ししてやろうと思っただけだ」
ブルブルと首を振ったサルグは、腕の毛皮にまとわりつく土埃を叩いて落とす。
「人間を殺す後押しだと......? 俺には、お前の行動も考えも理解できん。だが、戦う事が本能というのは素直に賛同する。そして戦うべき相手は、確かに人間のボス、王だ。その周りにいる人間と、人間に飼いならされた獣人を殺していくつもりだったが......」
サルグは、城の方を見つめた。
「王とやらが真の元凶というのなら、まず王を殺してやる。それが嘘でも構わない。また違う人間を殺せばいい。人間が減り、俺の行動を見れば、いつか、この街の獣人たちもわかってくれるだろう」
いつの間にか、サルグの目は穏やかな光を帯びたものになっていた。だが、その瞳の奥にある狂気が、些かも弱まっていない事を見てとった一二三は、嬉しくて顔がニヤける。
「それがわかったなら、早く行け」
一二三に促されたサルグは、痛みも忘れて城に向かって走り去った。
それを見届けた一二三は、収納から鎖鎌を取り出した。
「さて......くまさんの戦いを見物させてもらおうかね」
路地に入り込んだ一二三は、袴の股立を取り、風を引き裂くような速度で走り出した。
大通りを駆けるサルグですら追い越し、先に貴族街へとたどり着くほどに。
そのまま巡回の兵士を無視して駆け抜けた一二三は、城が見える位置に立った。
門は開いており、門番たちの向こうに見える広い庭には、かがり火に照らされ、騎士たちとその後ろに兵士たちがズラリと並んでいる。彼らに向かって壇上に立っている騎士の言葉から、彼らがスラムへと向かう事はわかった。
一二三は夜空を見上げてゆっくりと深呼吸をする。夜でも暖かい空気を吸い込み、乾いた空気の匂いを感じる。
その間に、騎士と兵士たちは城を出発し、スラムの方へと向かって進んでいく。
一二三は彼らに構わず、方角からサルグともぶつからないだろう事だけを確認する。
「さて、城では王と熊の対決。スラムでは羊が率いる獣人連中と騎士や兵士の対決か」
そして決着がついた後は......と想像し、鎖分銅をくるくると回しながら、一二三はニヤニヤと笑う。
「どう転んでも、なかなか楽しめそうだ」
一人のよそ者が楽しむための、ソードランテの長い一夜が始まった。
"The act of educating people is nothing arrogant."
In the city of Fokalore, seen from the balcony of the Lord's mansion, various men and women of all ages are going back and forth. For each person it's one scene in their life; be it that they are laughing or crying; be it that they are spending their time together with someone or are by themselves.
While gazing at it from a distant place, Origa murmured that as if being by herself, however there is a single person listening to her. It's Caim.
"Everyone is earnestly living the one life they have. Extending our hands to them and talking with them, we end up twisting their fates under the pretext of education. No one knows about the future, but everyone is living without knowing whether theirs is the correct way." (Origa)
"... Madam seems to be thinking in some ways about education, but did you discover some problem?" (Caim)
"No." (Origa)
Origa turns around with a whirl and smiles sweetly at Caim.
"There's no mistake in what my husband... Hifumi-sama is doing. The training as well as the education carried out in this city are all things created by Hifumi-sama's profound ideas. I thought it is our fortune to see the light ahead on the path of life, everyone must choose while hesitating over it." (Origa)
Entering the room from the balcony, Origa quietly sat down on the office's chair.
"So, are the preparations in order?" (Origa)
"There are no larger problems. All troubles have been concluded within our estimations and are resolved. It's advancing as planned up until here." (Caim)
"That's excellent." (Origa)
Origa, who's looking through the documents, lets the pen fly quickly across the papers, signs them and hands them to Caim.
"Well then, in accordance with the first point of the plan, I will head to the capital a second time. Please prepare the escort since I will depart tomorrow morning." (Origa)
"Everything is for the sake of granting that gentleman's desire..." (Origa)
Once she closes her eyes, Hifumi's face floats up within her mind.
"I believe you are aware of it, but this is also the "homework" which was assigned to us by Hifumi-sama." (Origa)
"I'm well aware. I'm convinced that I'm adequately comprehending the intentions of Lord-sama as well. Please, be at ease and leave the matters of Fokalore to us civil officials." (Caim)
It's words said in a flat tone without him changing his expression, however Origa understood that there was no lie in them.
"Fufu, it won't do, if I don't do my best, too." (Origa)
Standing up, Origa once again shifted her attention to the hustle and bustle outside.
A large number of people walks at a quick pace in the city, dyed by the setting sun.
What the knights and soldiers confronted wasn't the beastmen only anymore.
The exchange with the beastmen of the reborn slums is depriving the commoners of Swordland from their reservations.
Although the vigilante corps, which patrols the slum's city, has a grim appearance, they aren't oppressive, like the soldiers patrolling the human's city, at all. There were many occurrences of minor offences and lost property, they dealt with cordially, too.
Even Helen and Reni, who were set up as representatives of the slums little by little, learn from humans pro-actively. Helen ran around as representative of the shopping area and Reni became a reliable existence for many beastmen and humans as point of contact for the human's side.
Seen from the viewpoint of the humans, the appearance of Reni, who was very different from the terrifying image of beastmen, gives a sense of security with her gentle character and triggers a desire to protect her. She gathered a feeling of respect as key person, who built up the beastmen's city by quickly absorbing the human's knowledge as beastgirl.
Such Reni naturally isn't able to completely eliminate her evasive nature towards fighting and combat.
"It will result in a battle with the humans!?" (Reni)
Gengu solemnly nodded to Reni, whose eyes darted about in surprise.
Behind him Hifumi is watching the situation without interrupting the conversation while folding his arms.
"We are already preparing to fight for the sake of protecting this city with the volunteers of the vigilante corps ~ssu. To guard this city with Hifumi-san's guidance." (Gengu)
"... Aren't we able to avoid the battle in some way?" (Reni)
"If it turns into a fight with the humans, the people, who became our friends at great pains, will also become mutual enemies", Reni shed tears.
"I will keep at it, we got up to this point by everyone doing their best and yet..." (Reni)
"Reni-san... it will be alright. Even if it's only the beastmen, we will somehow get through it ~ssu. It will be difficult for a while, if the people from the human's city don't come here, but they other guys have gotten quite skilled ~ssu." (Gengu)
Due to Gengu lining up words after words in order to calm Reni, Hifumi says in a cold voice from behind,
"It won't likely be that easy. You guys take the human stupidity far too lightly." (Hifumi)
"S-Stupidity, you say... aren't you a human, too, Hifumi-san."
"Since I'm well aware of the things I'm not knowledgeable about myself, I'm still on the better side. If you compared it to the ugliness of fellows, who are living by clinging to such things as birth right or status in such dictatorship, it will be a lot better to kill people, who possess a fair amount of ability like me." (Hifumi)
"Also, putting that aside, since I'm going to depart now, it would be better, if you prepared a large amount of rooms for the humans, who don't want to be mixed up in the following mayhem", leaving those words, Hifumi heads towards the room's exit.
"Umm, where are you going, Hifumi-san?" (Reni)
Hifumi looked over his shoulder due to Reni's question.
"You guys are going to protect this city, right? Rather than such slow-paced battle, I will go enjoy myself over at the human's city since it will be more fun to break that place apart." (Hifumi)
"See ya", Hifumi went away.
And, as if changing place, Helen plunged into the room.
Apparently having come by running at full speed, she sits down on the ground right after having seen Reni's face and breathes heavily with a *pant pant*
"Helen, what's wrong?!" (Reni)
"Humans are, a lot of of humans are..." (Helen)
"No way, did they already come attacking!?" (Gengu)
Grabbing the clothes of Gengu, who tries to rush out while saying "I can't idle around like this", Helen shook her head.
While tightly clutching his clothes, Helen somehow got her breathing in order and looked at Gengu and Reni in alternation.
"The humans came entering the slums wanting to help out. And in addition to that, there are several tens of them, too!" (Helen)
With the successive affair of beastmen and humans being killed, the residential area of the nobles and rich went on high alert. Soldiers and knights patrolled the whole block, regardless of day and night.
Naturally fear spread amongst the commoners as well, but upon the order of Swordland's upper echelon, the soldiers were very indifferent towards the commoners.
"Why don't you patrol our place!? Wasn't it you soldiers, who came here before although you had no business with us?"
At the entrance to the noble block, a middle-aged man, who's likely the shopkeeper of some store, is yelling at the soldiers.
"With the current state of emergency, the patrol is different from our usual routine. Listen up and go home."
"If you are some good for nothing once push comes to shove in addition to your bad habit of always taking away merchandise from my store for free, I will have you pay money properly from the next time onwards."
"That was simply received as your share of gratitude for protecting your guys' safety. This and that have no relation with each other."
Due to the soldier talking while having a blank facial expression, the man clenched his fists and was on the verge of hitting him, but he had his arms restrained and was dragged away by the other shopkeepers, who rushed over.
"Idiot! At this rate you would get killed by the soldier!"
"That soldier, that soldier has snatched bread from my store almost everyday, despite this..."
Once they returned to the place, where their own stores are at, the man finally burst into tears.
This man as well as the other humans were born and always lived in this town as commoners. Although the group of soldiers behaved in an oppressive manner, it's also true that the harm was small. Because of that, they endured it as long as the soldiers were keeping the public order.
All of them had the same feelings of wanting to weep.
"... Calm down. It's not like it's particularly decided that we will be killed."
"But, ya know, Won't the criminal then aim as much as possible at the places where the soldiers ain't patrolling?"
A heavy silence falls upon the men.
It's not only their problem. There's their wives and children as well as their cherished stores. Some of them are taking care of their old parents, too. It will be too late once they run into an emergency.
"... Let's rely on the folks from the slums."
"The group of carpenters, who has built the beastmen's stores, you mean? Certainly, they probably have some physical strength, but..."
"No, let's request guards from the beastmen."
The subject, proposed in a small voice by a man who's working as butcher, couldn't be accepted right away.
"W-What are you thinking? Do you want to act as if calling for the enemy?"
"That's right. What will the soldiers say, if they see beastmen loitering around in the city...?"
"We are having such a conversation because those soldiers won't come here though."
By no means it was in a loud voice, however the butcher's words were enough to silence the other men.
"It has been many times that the carpenters have come to buy meat requested by the beastmen. It's not like they were particularly threatened or deceived to do so. How to call it? Ah, yea, it was a feeling of a friend doing a favour."
"Which reminds me, there were many such clients at my place as well."
Once the greengrocer agrees with it, the shopkeeper of the store, which is selling small articles of wooden products and ironware, nods as if he had remembered it, too.
"I've gotten completely sick of the human soldiers."
The butcher, who spoke while looking down, lifted his face and seriousness was reflected in his eyes.
"I will talk with my family and go to the slums to talk about moving there temporarily with my family."
"Please wait! I will go too!"
Following the butcher, who headed out walking with resolution, the greengrocer also raises his voice and runs after him.
The remaining lot of men look at each other's faces and knit their brows.
"... I will also, go. Rather than going along with useless humans, it will be a much better way to support the beastmen, if they have a good heart."
The sobbing baker stood up and walked away.
Discussing it among the remaining men for a while and as result of talking it over together with the the farmers, hunters and carpenters, many commoners, except several people who can't accept the beastmen no matter what, have decided to request the beastmen for the protection of their families and the patrolling of the city by using the carpenters, who are entering and leaving the slums regularly, as liaisons.
"Aren't you pathetic? You ended up going completely mad, didn't you?"
It's the night in the city, devoid of any people taking a stroll and with even the soldiers doing their rounds missing.
Although you might call it a ghost town, it isn't odd. The residents of the city have diminished after all. With many requesting help from the slums, those, who remained in the city, are holding their breaths and secluding themselves within their homes.
"But well, I think that this way is beastmen-like." (Hifumi)
In such dark night alley it was Hifumi pointing at Salgu, who was snarling at him.
Without even holding his katana, he extends his right hand straight at the bearman while having his left hand inserted in his bosom in a state of being unarmed.
"Mad, you say...? I'm protecting the spirit of loving freedom, which ought to be the rightful way of beastmen! What would a human like you know about that!?" (Salgu)
"Freedom, eh?" (Hifumi)
In response to Salgu, who raises his voice into enraged yelling, Hifumi laughs in a natural stance.
"Forcing a freedom that was refused, right? The freedom you are talking about is a freedom pushed as inconvenience onto others, isn't it? If it's a freedom of having one's fill of killing by fellows, who just have the power to force their arrogance onto others, the human country's side has been plastered all over with it." (Hifumi)
"In the end you are only rampaging around and crying like a little child because your compulsory make-believe freedom hasn't been accepted", Hifumi cuts Salgu with his words.
"Guuoooo!" (Salgu)
Without being even able to return any words anymore, Salgu lowers is body and rushes over using his four limbs. He bore his fangs towards Hifumi's abdomen.
"Uuh-oh." (Hifumi)magic
Hifumi picked up the hem of his hakama with his fingers, twisted his body like a matador, let him go past and kicked the lower leg of Salgu, who went too far, with all his strength.
"Gyan!?" (Salgu)
Salgu, who fell to the ground with the momentum of running, raises a cloud of dust and stands up while bearing the pain in his foot.
"Hey, you." (Hifumi)
Once again Hifumi points at Salgu.
"There's a fellow, who resembles you. It's the guy, who calls himself the king of this country. He is announcing his past and current fighting strength and his surroundings are obeying him. Same as you he is forcing his arrogant freedom with strength." (Hifumi)
Even while he is talking, Salgu attacks Hifumi.
The attacks of his fangs, which are making sounds as if made out of metal, and the swings of his sharp claws, which look as if they would even cut through iron, are not even remotely close to hitting Hifumi, who is slowly swaying like a willow.
"The freedom, the king is talking about, is about himself being in a position, which enables him to tyrannize the commoners and beastmen. How is that any different from what you are doing?" (Hifumi)
The fist, swung downward with all the might apparent in a bearman, strikes the ground without hitting Hifumi.
A sound, as if a huge wooden mallet stroke into something, reverberated.
Hifumi made a light thrust at the acupuncture point for the sense of pain, which is located at the outer elbow of Salgu's arm, which was directly stabbed towards the ground.
As expected, even Salgu had to hold his arm due to the arm's soreness similar to turning numb.
"If that's the case, show the proof. Your objective is to liberalize the beastmen, right? If you believe that you want to release the beastmen of the fetters called the human's city by defeating the human's boss, you don't have the time to be rolling around while being covered in dirt at this place, right?" (Hifumi)
Hifumi's finger points towards the castle next.
"He is over there; the one who's obstructing your freedom. He is the main cause of locking the beastmen in the cage called city and forcing them into a human lifestyle to the degree of making them forget the vast world called wastelands. Think, do you really want to fight me here?" (Hifumi)
Salgu glared at Hifumi while rubbing his hurt elbow, but he carefully listened to Hifumi's words.
"... Why are you trying to have me kill the king?" (Salgu)
Hifumi answered "That's simple" to Salgu's inquiry.
"It's because I think that fighting is the beastmen's instinct. I just thought I would give a little push." (Hifumi)
Salgu, who shook his head with a trembling, claps the fur of his arms to get rid of the dust.
"Pushing to kill a human, you say...? For me your way of thinking and behaviour is incomprehensible. But, I will frankly approve about me fighting because of my instinct. And, the opponent, who I ought to fight, is definitely the human boss, the king. I intended to go kill the beastmen, who were tamed by humans, and the humans in the king's vicinity, but..." (Salgu)
Salgu stared in the direction of the castle.
"If the one called king or whatever is the true ringleader, I will kill the king first. It doesn't even matter if it's a lie. It will be fine, if I kill a different human, too. If they see my actions and the number of humans decreasing, the beastmen of this city will likely understand it as well." (Salgu)
Before realizing, Salgu's eyes were tinged with a light of calmness. However, the madness, which dwells within his pupils, hasn't abated even a bit. Hifumi, who saw that, breaks into a smile with a delighted expression.
"If you got it, hurry up and go." (Hifumi)
Salgu, who was urged on by Hifumi, ran away towards the castle, even forgetting his pain.
Making sure of that with his own eyes, Hifumi retrieved the kusarigama from his storage.
"Well then... let's go spectate kuma-san's battle, eh?" (Hifumi)
Going into an alley, Hifumi picked up the vents at the hips of a pair of hakama and dashed with a speed as if tearing through the wind.
Passing even Salgu, who runs on the main street, he finally arrives at the noble block ahead.
Hifumi, who ran through while ignoring the soldiers on patrol, stood at a position, where he can watch the castle.
The vast garden, visible on the other side of the gatekeepers through the open gate, is illuminated by bonfires. Knights and behind them, soldiers, are lining up in rows. He knew they would be heading towards the slums after the speech of the knight, who is standing on a platform while facing them.
Hifumi looks up to the night sky and slowly takes a deep breath. Breathing in the warm air, even though it's night, he experiences the scent of the dry air.
In the meanwhile the knights and soldiers depart from the castle and advance into the direction of the slums.
Without caring about them, Hifumi only confirms that they likely won't bump into Salgu going by their direction.
"Now then, in the castle it's a showdown between the king and the bear. In the slums it's a showdown between the knights and soldiers and the beastmen lot led by a sheep, huh?" (Hifumi)
"And after the conclusion it will be..." imagining that, Hifumi smiles with a broad grin while whirling the upper counterweight around.
"No matter how it turns out, it looks like I will be able to enjoy myself quite a bit." (Hifumi)
The long night of Swordland for the sake of a single outsider's pleasure began.
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