第一話 〈加護の儀〉
今日は俺ことエルマ・エドヴァンの〈加護の儀〉の日であった。
エドヴァン家の広間には親族が集まっており、静かに俺を見守っている。
加護とはクラスとも呼ばれ、か弱い人間達が魔物に対抗できるように、神々が授けてくれる力のことである。
クラスを得た人間は身体能力が強化されると同時に、様々なスキルと呼ばれる力を得ることができるようになるのだ。
クラスには魔法剣士や黒魔術師といったものがあり、それぞれ戦闘スタイルや役割が異なる。
満十五歳となった次の年始まりの日が、その人物の〈加護の儀〉の日となる。
血筋や言動、運命によってクラスは左右されると言われており、〈加護の儀〉までの十五年は神々が新たな戦士の本質を見極めるための時間だといわれている。
当主のクラスは貴族家の権威にも大きな影響を与える。
エドヴァン伯爵家は代々、剣を扱う系統の強大なクラスである剣聖を有して領地を守護し、導いてきた。
当然、次期当主として、俺にもその役割が期待されている。
別に神官の質はクラスに左右しないだろうが、俺に少しでもいいクラスを引いてほしい、という親心から行った願掛けのようなものだ。
しかし......なんだろう? この状況、妙なデジャヴを感じる。
「では、ご子息様や、失礼いたしますな。〈バプテスマ〉!」
老神官がそう口にした途端、俺の周囲に魔法陣の青白い光が浮かんだ。
〈バプテスマ〉は聖魔法に属するスキルであり、条件を満たした人間に加護、クラスを発現させることができるのだ。
「これで完了いたしました。貴方は〈ステータス〉を使えるようになったはずです」
〈ステータス〉というのは、クラス持ちであれば誰もが扱える力である。
五年、いや、もっと前......そう、俺が生まれるより前に。
この世界は、俺が前世でやり込んでいたVR対応オンラインゲーム、〈マジックワールド〉と全く同じなのだ。
色々と理解しがたいが、そうとしか言いようがない。
一日二十時間をこのゲームに費やした日もあり、隅から隅まで知り尽くしている。
敢えて言うのならば、前世の俺の妄執が転生の垣根を超越したのかもしれない。
その瞬間、俺は歓喜と、勝利の確信があった。
前者の歓喜は、熱中していたゲームの世界に入り込んだその喜び。
生まれたばかりの赤ん坊が自身の生き様の面接を受けるわけにもいかないので、現実とゲームの擦り合わせによって生じた変化なのかもしれない。
どのクラスでも上手くやってみせる自信はあるが、やはり〈マジックワールド〉で愛用していた、
【エルマ・エドヴァン】
クラス:重騎士
HP :10/10
MP :4/4
俺は表示を見た瞬間、笑みが込み上げてきた。
勝った......〈マジックワールド〉最強と呼ばれる、インチキクラス、重騎士だ。
重騎士は守り特化で、敵の攻撃を引き付けて味方を守るクラスである。
だが、他の防御クラスと比べても性能に応用が利かず、活躍の幅が狭く、攻撃性能が低すぎてレベルもまともに上げられない、不遇クラスを超えた欠陥クラスだといわれていた。
特に〈マジックワールド〉は、如何に効率よくレベルを上げるかがキャラを鍛える一番のポイントであった。
その時点で、能動的に攻撃できない重騎士は、ゲームコンセプトから見放されている、とまでされていた。
それでも物好きはいるもので、サービス開始からしばらく経った頃、重騎士の性能検証を徹底的に行う解析チームが現れた。
使えない使えないといわれれば、逆に使いたくなるのが人間の性というものである。
俺も関心が出て、サブキャラで重騎士を作って解析に協力していた。
俺はずっと使い続けていたメインキャラを捨て、重騎士のサブキャラに乗り換えた程である。
俺が重騎士を引いたのはある意味当然のことだったのかもしれない。
「やりました父様! 重騎士です!」
やり直しの利かない一度きりの勝負で、熟知しているインチキクラスを引けたのは大きい。
だが、父は、引き攣った顔で俺を見る。
「い、今......何と言った? け、剣聖と、そう言ったのであるよな?」
父の表情を見て、遅れて思い出した。
前世の記憶と混同していた。
この世界では、わかりやすい強クラスが持て囃されており、晩成型やテクニカルなクラスへの評価が低いのだ。
俺は理解が追い付かなかった。
父は自分勝手なところはあるが、自身の子息である俺に対しては、厳しいながらに優しい面もあった。
「お、落ち着いてください。軒並み低いわけではありません、HPと防御力は最上位クラスで......」
「どうでもよいわそんなことは! お、俺の顔に、泥を塗りおって! 他家の貴族に、どう説明しろというのだ! エドヴァン家の血筋で、こんな外れクラスを引こうとは! 貴様の怠慢と、腐った性根が原因に違いない! それ以外に考えられんわ! この、この役立たずめ!」
父は俺の襟を掴むと、そのまま床へと引き倒した。
さすがに手加減はしているだろうが、前線に出て何度も魔物の討伐を行ってきた父の筋力を、【Lv:1】の状態で受けたのだ。
「はぁ、はぁ......チッ! こんな事態を想定したわけではないが、館内で行ってよかったわい! 外でこんな赤っ恥を晒したら、エドヴァン家がどうなることか!」
「ああ、エルマなどを信頼しておったのが間違いであったのだ! この出来損ないの次に、子に恵まれんかったのが俺の不幸だ! もう少し早くに手を打たねばならんかった!」
親族達も黙りこくって、俺達の様子を眺めていた。
父同様に、俺を見下しているような目もあった。
同情してくれているらしい人もいるが、何も口を挟むことはしない。
エドヴァン伯爵家は当主の言葉が絶対である。
というよりも、クラスとレベルが全てを支配するこの世界では、貴族や権威者の力が俺が元いた国、日本よりも遥かに強いのだ。
上位貴族の当主は皆、強大なクラスと絶対的なレベルを有した人類最強格の英雄ばかりで、平民が絶対に逆らえない社会になっている。
〈マジックワールド〉ではそこまでではなかったのだが、ゲームの世界が現実と擦り合わせられた結果とでもいうべきなのか。
「あの、ボクも〈加護の儀〉を受けることになっているんだけど、いい?」
彼女はエドヴァン伯爵家の分家の子女......つまり叔父、父の弟の娘である。
名前をマリスという。
父が落ち着くまで、後回しにしたいと思ったのだろう。
「いや、よい。早く〈加護の儀〉を始めろ」
俺はそのとき、なんとなく嫌な予感がしていた。
マリスは〈ステータス〉を開くと、口許を歪め、微かに笑みを浮かべた。
「剣聖......か。悪いね、エルマ様の才を、奪ってしまったみたいで」
嫌な予感が的中した。
日頃、分家の者を下に見て、暴言を吐いたり、無茶な命令を出したりしていたこともある。
その子女が剣聖のクラスを得たと知れば、ただでさえ悪い父の機嫌が......。
「素晴らしいぞ、マリスよ......! さすが、エドヴァン家の人間だ!」
父は感涙を流し、マリスへと抱擁した。
「マリス、今日からお前は我が娘......エドヴァン伯爵家の跡継ぎだ!」
俺は呆気に取られ、ただただその様子を眺めていることしかできなかった。
マリスは父の抱擁に対し、いつも通り無感動な目で、彼の顔を観察しているようだった。
その後ちらりと俺を振り返り、目が合った。
それからまた口許を歪め、薄い笑みを湛えた。
「エルマ様......いや、エルマに次期当主は荷が重いと、前々から思っていましたよ」
マリスがそう言うと、父はそこでようやく俺のことを思い出したように彼女への抱擁を解き、俺へと振り返った。
「失せよ、エルマ! 俺の期待を裏切った貴様は、もはや息子ではない。エドヴァン家の本家に重騎士が出たなど、恥でしかないわ! 即刻、この館から出ていけ!」
「と、父様、それはさすがに......! 重騎士は、強いクラスなんです! 俺が必ずエドヴァン家を......!」
「黙るがいい! 俺が酷なことを言っていると思うか、エルマ? 違う! 貴様が、それだけのことをしたのだ! 二度とその面を見せるな! 外でエドヴァンの姓を名乗るなよ、そのときは俺が貴様の首を刎ねてやるわ!」
Ch 1
Today is the day that I, Elma Edvan, would receive my <Divine Blessing.>
Relatives from the Edvan Household were gathered in the saloon, quietly watching over me.
Divine Blessings; also known as Classes, were powers handed by the Gods to the weak humans for them to be able to counter the demons.
Humans who acquired classes would have their physical abilities boosted, and at the same time, they would also be able to obtain various powerful skills.
There were various classes you could obtain; a magic swordsman, a warlock, and other different classes with their own fighting styles and roles.
The moment one turns 15, they would be able to receive their <Divine Blessing> on the first day of a new year.
It's been said that one's class can be influenced by one's fate, bloodline and demeanor. In addition, fifteen years prior before acquiring one's Divine Blessing, was the time the Gods were keeping an eye in order to pinpoint one's true nature.
The classes of the existing heads of nobilities also had a great impact on maintaining their influence and authority.
The County of Edvan, which, for generations, have had a lineage of sword-wielders, holding the powerful class known as, Sword Saint, had earned respect for properly protecting their territory.
Naturally, as the next head of the family, I am also expected to fulfill that duty.
However, it's not like the quality of the priest performing the ceremony would influence the Divine Blessing one would receive. But, as my parents wanted me to obtain a good class, they had this wishful thinking and hired the said priest.
But.. you know... I feel a strange sense of deja vu in this situation.. Back then, whenever I saw or learned something, it felt like I've had always known it for a long time. Well... It might just have been my imagination..
"Well then, I will now conduct this young boy's ceremony. <Baptism>!"
The moment the Elder Priest said those words, a bluish-white magic circle started to emerge around me. And then, I could feel a sudden surge of power welling inside my body.
<Baptism> is a skill associated with Holy Magic. Once a human meets the necessary requirements, the skill then would be used to grant them blessings and classes.
"And with this, we're finished. By now, you should be able to use <Status>"
<Status> is a spatially projected character tree anyone with a class can freely use. It is one's way of checking one's class and character attributes.
Five years ago.. no, it was way more back then.. Yes, before I was even born.
This world is exactly the same as the VR-supported online game, called <Magic World> I used to play back in my previous life.
It's hard to believe in various stances but that's all I can say.
I know every nook and corner of this game as there are days where I spent more or less 20hrs playing said game.
If I dare say it, my former life's deep-seated delusions may have brute-forced its way into reincarnation.
As I thought of this, I was both delighted and confident with my triumphant victory.
The delight I was feeling was due to the fact that I had entered the game world I was playing in my previous life. And the confidence of winning I felt was due to the fact that I knew all the classes, skills, as well as the nature of demons.
Since newly born babies couldn't be asked questions about their way of living, the change must have been from the game and reality overlapping with each other.
I am quite confident that I can do well with any classes that I might get.. Still, I want to get my favorite and frequently used class in <Magic World>. I really want... that class...
[(Elma Edvan)] 
Class : Heavy Knight
HP : 10/10
MP : 4/4
The same time I saw what was displayed on my status, a smile crept on my face.
Victory is mine... The strongest, crappy class well-known in <Magic World>, the Heavy Knight..
Heavy Knight is a class that specializes in defense which protects its allies by luring in enemy attacks to him. Or at least, that's what they said after it was released.
However, compared to the other defensive classes, the said class wasn't so versatile and their efficiency in combat was very shitty. The attack power was also very low that you couldn't even level up properly. It was even said to be the most defective class out of the other worse classes to exist.
After all, the most important point in the game was how efficiently you raise your character's level.
Considering those facts, the class was even considered to be removed from the game concept.
Still, there are others who liked it. And after some time the said class was available, an analysis team appeared and thoroughly verified the efficiency of the Heavy Knight class.
After all, it was human nature to try things that've been said to be unusable.
Even I, with my curiosity piqued, made a heavy knight sub-character and cooperated with the analysis team to gather information about the class. In the end, the heavy knight has evolved into an extremely technical character that hides behind its defensive speciality.
That fact though, wasn't discovered five years after the game was released. I even abandoned the main character I had been using for a long time and switched to the heavy knight sub character I had created.
In a sense, it may have been natural for me to draw the lucky stick and get the heavy knight class. With how much hard work I'd cultivated into analyzing and training the said class back in my previous life, of course, the God observing me wouldn't grant me any other class besides it.
"I did it, Father! I'm now a Heavy Knight!"
The ceremony could only be done once, and being able to receive the crappy class I had cheat knowledge of, it was, of course a big win for me.
However, my father was looking at me with a cramped face as I joyfully reported the results to him.
"J-Just now... I heard it wrong, r-right? You said.. S-sword Saint, right?"
I remembered it late as I looked at my father's face.
Ah.. I messed up. Why did I mix my previous life and this life's knowledge...?
In this world, strong and easy to master classes are highly favored, while classes that are technical and would only bloom later on are lowly valued. Perhaps, it is because the assessment and evaluation of the classes' real potential have not progressed.
I couldn't even catch up to what he was saying.
My father had a selfish way of doing things but, he had treated me, his son, strictly but kindly. I hadn't expect him to change his attitude this easily.
"P-please calm down for a moment.. my stats are not that low.. My HP and defense are in the top bracket.."
"I have no concern for such things! You even had the gall to put dirt on our family name! How can I possibly explain this to other noble households!? To get a faulty class like that from an Edvan lineage.. This is without a doubt due to your negligence and rotten nature! I can't even think of anything else but that! You useless idiot bastard!
As my father said this, he grabbed my collar and threw me to the floor. Because of this, I was knocked down hard.
Although my father held back, I, who was still Level 1, had received a throw coming from someone who'd been to the front line of the battlefield, defeating countless demons at the same time.
"Haa.. ha... Tch! I didn't expect something like this would happen.. Still, I'm glad I had the ceremony conducted privately.. Had I made you be ceremonized publicly, your shame would've made the Edvan Household lose face!" My father yelled at me as he roughly scratched his head.
"Ugh.. I was wrong to place my faith in you Elma! It's my misfortune that I have not been blessed with a child next to this good-for-nothing bastard! I should've done something a little sooner!"
Our family relatives were silently watching this scene unfold before their eyes.
Just like my father, there were also some of them who were looking down at me.
Some of them seemed to sympathize with me, but they didn't even interrupt or say a single thing.
After all, the Head of Edvan Household's words were absolute.
Rather, in this world where one's class and level holds importance over everything, the influence of nobles and people with authority are much stronger than the country in which I came from, Japan.
The heads of the upper nobilities are all of humanity's strongest heroes, with powerful classes and absurdly high levels, making it a society where commoners can never oppose them.
That, however, wasn't how it was in <Magic World>. But perhaps, because of the game world being integrated with reality, it turned out like that.
"Uhm... I'm also supposed to have my <Divine Blessing Ceremony> today.. Is it fine to do it now?" The person who broke the silence looming over the room was a young black-haired girl. She had wide eyes with long eyelashes and beautiful fair skin. Although she had a somewhat neat face, because of her thin appearance and long groggy disheveled hair, she had quite a sinister aura about her.
She is a daughter of the branch-family of the Edvan Household... In other words, she is the daughter of my uncle, my father's little brother.
Her name is Maris. I recalled playing with her a few times when I was still a child, but my father somehow didn't like for me and Maris to see each other and tried to keep us away, so for the past five years I've only seen her from a distance and we've barely even spoken to each other.
He's probably thinking of delaying it until my father calms down.
"No, it's fine. Start the <Divine Blessing Ceremony> for her right now." However, my father suddenly switched gears as he said that to the priest.
At that moment, I somehow had a bad feeling.
When Maris opened her status, her mouth twisted into a faint smile.
"...Sword Saint, huh.. Sorry Elma-sama, it seems that I had robbed your talent off of you."
The bad feeling I had before came true.
He would sometimes look down on the branch family and would throw abusive words or give unreasonable orders.
And when my Father had learned that the girl from that same branch family got the Sword Saint class, his worse than usual mood from before had...
"That's wonderful, Maris! As expected from a member of Edvan Household!"
My father said as he hugged Maris with tears in his eyes.
"Maris, From today onwards, you'll be my daughter and become the next successor of the Edvan Household!"
I was taken aback by the situation happening in front of my eyes and could only watch it. The same was true for the other people as well as they were also dumbfounded.
Maris, who was in my father's embrace, observed his face with her usual emotionless stare.
After that, she turned her head to me and met my eyes.
Then, she distorted her face and made a twisted smile.
"I've always thought back then that Elma-sama.. no, Elma had the responsibility of becoming the next successor..."
As Maris said those words, my father, who had seemed to finally remember me, released Maris from his arms while turning to head in my direction.
"Get lost, Elma! You, who had betrayed my expectations, are no longer my son! Getting a Heavy Knight class as a member of the main family of Edvan Household, you only bring nothing but shame! Leave this mansion at once!"
"B-but, father! As expected, leaving is just too much... Heavy Knight is a strong class you know! I'd definitely make sure the Edvan Household dont lose face...!"
"Shut your mouth! Do you think what I'd just said was unfair? No! That's just how f*cked up you've become! Don't let me see your face ever again, and if you use the Edvan family name outside, I'd definitely cut your head off that time!" My father shouted as he threw those words at me in a fit of rage. He didn't even listen to a single word I said.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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