アラクネ退治
それからしばらく森の中を捜索していると、僕達はようやく目的の敵に遭遇した。そう、あの大蜘蛛だ。以前より一回り大きくなっただろうか、それとも別の個体か、まぁそれは分からないけど初対面の時とは違ってやっぱり怖くはない。あの時とは違って僕達は強くなったからね、僕以外だけど。それに頼もしい仲間もいるし、負ける気はしない。いざとなったら『不気味体質』で追い払うし。
『カロロロロロ......!』
聞き覚えのある鳴き声を発しながら、蜘蛛は此方を見た。その身体はおおよそ5mほどの大きさを持ち、横幅にして8mはありそうだ。
「きつね、どうするんだ?」
「フィニアちゃん中心に攻撃、僕達は援護だね」
「まっかせなさーい!」
「ルルちゃん、とりあえず小剣を構えといてくれる? 出来る限り護るけど、今回は相手がデカイからね、万が一がある」
蜘蛛が鳴いて、そのお尻から極太の糸を吐き出してきた。
「来たぞ!」
「避けるよ!」
リーシェちゃんの言葉に、僕達は動きだす。迫りくる糸を躱し、フィニアちゃんが先行して蜘蛛へと向かっていく。追随するようにリーシェちゃんが向かっていき、ルルちゃんと僕は蜘蛛の背後へと回りこむ。
蜘蛛はその巨体に反してかなりの敏捷性を持っている。背後に回り込もうとすれば、その複眼が絶対に見逃さない。
でも、僕達の方を向けないだろう?
本能が分かっている筈だ、この中で最も危険なのは、正面から迫るフィニアちゃんだ。
フィニアちゃんが魔法を発動させる、火魔法の中でも比較的弱い魔法だけれど、フィニアちゃんの魔力量なら数百単位で連射が可能な、炎の矢!
「ルルちゃん、行ける?」
「―――頑張ります......!」
蜘蛛の目が十数本の炎の矢を捉え、それに対応しようと身体を後ろへ跳躍させた。だが、後ろには僕達がいる。ルルちゃんは小剣を水平に構え、迫りくる蜘蛛の巨体に対して横薙ぎに振るう。
「っ......!」
「下がるよ、ルルちゃん」
切られたことで蜘蛛の意識が此方を向く、僕はルルちゃんを抱えて距離を取った。一撃離脱、これも立派な戦法だ。
だが、蜘蛛君、こっちを向いてたら危ないんじゃないかい?
『カッ......ロロォ!!』
リーシェちゃんがその剣で蜘蛛の八本ある足の内の一本を切り飛ばした。あの騎士団長のオジサマとの一件以来、彼女は周囲に人がいても大分剣が振るえるようになってきた。元々鍛えていたステータスと組み合わされば、彼女の強さは飛躍的に向上する。
「いっくよー! 皆離れて!」
そこへ、いつのまにか蜘蛛の真上、かなりの高さまで飛翔したフィニアちゃんが声を掛けた。
魔力が光を歪め、なんだか嫌な気配を感じさせる。言われずとも、僕達は蜘蛛から大きく距離を取り始めていた。あれは駄目だ、良く知らないけどあれはきっと僕達も問答無用で巻き込むタイプの奴だ。
フィニアちゃんがそう唱えると、彼女の周囲に爆発的に炎が広がり、一瞬空が炎の発する紅で染まった。
そして、それは螺旋状に収束され、フィニアちゃんを中心に大きな竜巻となった。更に、次の瞬間―――フィニアちゃんが炎の竜巻を『背負って』落ちてきた。
『ギッ......ジャアアアア ゙ア ゙ァ!!?』
ゴリゴリという抉るような音と、同時に肉を焼く様な音が同時に響く。蜘蛛の悲鳴が加わり、数秒の後蜘蛛の背中に突撃したフィニアちゃんは、蜘蛛の腹部から飛び出してきた。蜘蛛の身体に一直線の大きな風穴を開けて、その命を竜巻の勢いに任せて消し飛ばしたみたいだった。
炎の竜巻が消えて、中から出て来たフィニアちゃんは、にぱっと笑って僕達の方にピースサインを送ってきた。
いやいや、ぶいじゃないよ。下手したら全滅だよ。しかも森の中でそんな馬鹿げた炎の魔法使うなよ、木に燃え移って火事になったらどうするんだ。責任取らされるんだぞ、僕が! 燃やしたのフィニアちゃんなのに!
「......はぁ」
でもまぁ、勝ったから良いか。なんか蜘蛛が凄く可哀想な死体になっちゃってるけど、良いよね。
「凄まじいな......フィニアは」
「うん......僕達のエースだよ」
「凄いです」
「へっへーん! 最強美少女妖精フィニアちゃんは無敵だよ!」
胸を張るフィニアちゃんを見て、僕達は苦笑する。
でもそれ以上に、頑張った子は褒めないとね。
「ルルちゃん、良く頑張ったね」
「あ......はいっ」
今回、蜘蛛相手に浅くとも一撃入れたルルちゃん。まだまだ腰の引けた様子だったけど、リーシェちゃんの指導は中々実を作っているみたいだ。
それに、戦闘に少しでも関わればその人は経験値を貰える。ルルちゃんはレベル1だから、結構レベルが上がっている筈だ。
「ステータス」
◇ステータス◇
名前:ルル・ソレイユ
性別:女 Lv8(↑7UP)
筋力:350
体力:200
耐性:80
敏捷:280
魔力:140
称号:『奴隷』
スキル:『小剣術Lv1(NEW!)』
固有スキル:???
PTメンバー:◎薙刀桔音、フィニア(妖精)、トリシェ(人間)
◇
おお、あの蜘蛛だけでレベルが7つも上がっている。流石は大蜘蛛、Eランクの魔獣だ。多大な経験値を持っている。
ルルちゃんのステータスが一気に僕を置き去りにしてくれたぜ。悲しくなんてないよ、僕は別に耐性さえ上がれば別に良いし? まだレベルは僕の方が上だし? 悔しくなんてないし!
「良かったね、ルルちゃん。レベルが上がったよ」
「え、本当ですか? えへへ......嬉しいです」
だから、ルルちゃんの頭を撫でながらそんな心境を欠片も見せずに褒める。これ、大人の対応。嬉しそうに笑顔を浮かべるルルちゃんを見れば、仕方が無いと思えてくるから不思議だ。まぁ僕の耐性能力値がもっと上がったら率先して前に出てみせる! それまでは温存だね、僕は切り札的存在なんだよ。
「きつね、とりあえず蜘蛛の討伐証拠になる部位は切り取ったぞ」
「あ、ごめんありがとう」
そうしていると、リーシェちゃんが蜘蛛の牙を数本切り取って持ってきた。討伐依頼は、討伐対象の特定部位を剥ぎ取って来なければ討伐したことにならない。つまり報酬が貰えないのだ。だからこうして証拠を持って帰らなければならない訳だ。今回は大蜘蛛の牙。
「じゃ、帰ろうか。日の暮れない内に」
僕の呼び掛けで、全員が返事を返し、帰る準備をする。初日で狩れたのは僥倖だったね、討伐証拠も持ったし、未だ僕の依頼達成率100%は揺るがないね!
蜘蛛の死体をフィニアちゃんに燃やしてもらって、歩きだす。まだ明るいし、この分ならあの怪物にも会わずに済みそうだ。ああ、良かった。
「なぁきつね、少し気になったんだけど」
「お前は能力値を見られるのか?」
ああ、そういえばリーシェちゃんには僕のスキルに関して何も言っていなかったっけ? まぁ仲間になってまだ日も経ってないし、仕方が無いか。この際だから言っておこうかな。
「うん、僕は人の能力値を見ることが出来るよ」
「ということは、父様のも見たのか?」
「そうか............見て尚あんな啖呵を切ったのか」
ぼそぼそと何か言っているけど、聞こえなかった。ただリーシェちゃんのそっぽを向いた横顔に少しだけ赤みが差している気がする。あれ? どっかでフラグ建ったかな? そんな気配はなかったけど......あ、そういうことか。
「大丈夫大丈夫、体重とか身長とかまでは見えてないから」
「い、いやそういうことじゃ......ああ......いやそうか、良かった」
体重とかが見られて恥ずかしかったんじゃないのかな? まぁなんにせよ溜め息を吐くリーシェちゃんの様子から気にしなくても良さそうだけど、悩み事があるなら言ってくれても良いのに。気が向いたら相談に乗るよ? 僕。
そんな事を思いながら、僕達は森の中を進む。今回は森に入ったけどそんなに遠くまでは来ていないからすぐに森を抜けるだろう。風で木々が揺れて、温かい太陽の光が木々の隙間から地面を照らす。
この森は聞いた限りだと、魔獣の多く住まう森であるらしく、人による手が一切加わっていないらしい。まぁ、危険の伴う魔獣なんかは冒険者によって狩猟されているが、基本的に温厚な魔獣は森から出ない限り狩猟されない。喰らい手なんかの例外はあるけれど。
だからこの森の中では多くの魔獣が共生している。縄張り争いで魔獣同士で殺し合いをしたりもするが、基本的に魔獣達の実力が拮抗しているからか森全体を仕切る特別強い魔獣がいない故に、お互いのテリトリー内で上手く共生しているようだ。喰らい手なんかの例外はあるけれど。
とはいえ、この森には今『赤い夜』という怪物がいる。多少森の共生バランスが崩れる可能性も無きにしも非ずだね。喰らい手なんかの例外はあるけれど。
「ねぇリーシェちゃん」
「何だ?」
「『赤い夜』って知ってる?」
「ああ......有名だからな。確かSランクに最も近いAランク魔族で、その性質は魔族というよりは魔王に近いとされている怪物だな」
魔王に近いって、何それもう二人目の魔王じゃん。
「最も怖いのはその立ち位置だな」
「立ち位置?」
「ああ、『赤い夜』はどうやら魔王の配下ではないらしい。単体にして魔王と同等と言われるほどに強いからな、それに人間を滅ぼす様な明快な目的も無いとされている。まぁ魔王と敵対しているわけでもなく、人間を喰らうことから魔王の仲間と言ってもおかしくはないが......人間でいえば遊撃担当といったところか」
ってことは、魔王の命令は聞かない人間の敵? それ抑止力ないじゃん、魔王と違って配下に魔族や魔獣がいないことが人間にとっての幸運だけど、魔王と同格ってことは勇者しか倒せないんじゃないのソレ。
「まぁ奴が動くのは夜だし、一度の被害も魔王程大きくない。出会った人間だけを喰らっているようだからな。それに、時には弱い魔獣も喰らっているという話もある。意図して人間の敵に回っているという訳でもないんだと思う」
でもそうなると僕が生き延びた理由が分からないんだよなぁ......もしかしてあれは『赤い夜』では無かったか......それとも僕が異世界人だったから究極的に味が不味かったか。左眼を食ってみたけど不味かったから残した、的な? 何それ、凄く傷付く。
多少落ち込みながら、僕達は更に歩き森の出口が見えて来た。町も視界に捉え、やっと森から出られる、と安堵の息を漏らした時だった。
「......っと?」
真横から人影が現れた。僕は少し驚いて足を止めたけれど、それが幸いしたようで現れた人影とはぶつからずに済んだ。
現れたのは、僕と同じ位の身長の女の子だった。癖のある、でも艶の良い黒髪で、白い肌の、八重歯が特徴的な可愛らしい美少女だ。でも服装はギルドでも見かける冒険者達と同じ、防具を身に付けている。腰にはルルちゃんと同じ位の小剣を2本携えていた。
「君は......?」
「あっ、もしかして貴方はきつねさんだね! 初めまして!」
「あ、うん初めまして......で、君は?」
「いやぁ、森に入ってうろうろしてたら迷っちゃってね! 助かったよー」
「あ、そうなんだ......で、君は?」
「ミニエラが何処か分かる? 良ければ一緒に行っても良い?」
「ミニエラならすぐそこだし、別に一緒に行くのは良いけど......君は?」
「そう! ありがとっ!」
話を聞かない子だ。僕の苦手なタイプだね、話が通用しない相手は総じて厄介で面倒な子だって相場が決まってるんだ。それに、人懐っこいみたいだね、笑顔が多くて、スキンシップ過多、今だってお礼を言いながら僕に抱き着いて来ているし、ささやかだけど確かにある膨らみが僕の腕に当たってるんだよ、もっとひっつけ―――いやいや、そんな事は思っていない。
「あー......と、それで君の名前を知りたいんだけど?」
ちなみにこれ聞くの5回目。
「あ、そうだったそうだった、ごめんね! 私の名前はレイラ・ヴァーミリオン、えーと確かグ、ラン......ディール? 王国から来た、Cランクの冒険者だよ!」
彼女、レイラ・ヴァーミリオンは自信満々にそう言った。
The subjugation of The Arachne
After we keep searching for it through the forest for a while, we finally encounter our target. Right, that giant spider. Whether it because there are more people than before, or perhaps because it's a different one from before, well I don't know it but as expected different from our first encounter, this time is I'm not scared at all. Because different from before, right now we've become stronger, after all, I can't think we'd lose. If something happen then I also could just drive it away with "Erie Constitution". Moreover, this giant spider isn't necessarily a weakling. So if we defeat it, I'm sure it will give us a load of experience points, there's no way we would lose.
"Karorororo....!"
While crying such voices which I'd heard it before, the spider is gazing at us. Having a 5 meters big body, its width perhaps not less than eight meters.
"Kitsune, what should we do?"
"Finia-chan should just focusing on attacking it, we'll back you up."
"Leave it to me!"
"Lulu-chan, for now could you please prepare your short sword? Of course I'll do my best to protect you, but since our enemy right now is quite big, so just in case."
The spider cries, and spiting a very thick thread from its buttock.
"It comes!"
"Evade!"
At Rishe-chan's word, we start moving. Evading the approaching thread, Finia-chan advancing toward the spider. Rishe-chan moves following Finia-chan, where I and Lulu-chan move to the rear side of that spider to surround it.
Contrary to its big body, it has a considerable agility. When I think to move to its rear, its compound eyes are always keeping an eye on us.
But, it can't turn toward us, isn't it?
It should be understand it through its instinct, the most dangerous one here is, Finia-chan who comes upfront.
Finia-chan invocates a magic, among Fire magic it is classified as a weak one but with Finia-chan's magical energy she should be able to fires several hundreds of it, those arrow of fire!
"Lulu-chan, can you do it?"
"--I'll do my best...!"
The spider's eyes seize around ten-odd of those arrow of fire, moreover it jumps its body backward correspondently. But, on the rear of it, we're there. Lulu-chan swings her short sword horizontally toward the approaching spider.
"....!"
"We're retreating, Lulu-chan."
Being slashed, the spider's consciousness is focused on us, I take some distance from it while holding Lulu-chan. Hit and run, this is also a splendid strategy.
But, spider-kun, isn't it dangerous for you to facing here?
"Ka...roroo!"
Rishe-chan cuts one of its eight legs with her sword. After the case with that knight leader uncle, even while being seen by someone she's still able to splendidly swing her sword. Combining with her tempered status, her prowess is raising rapidly.
"Here it go! Everyone, take some distance."
There, before we noticed it, overhead the spider, Finia-chan who is flying at a considerable height calling at us.
Her magical energy is shining, I have a somewhat bad feeling coming from it. As per she said, we start taking some huge distance from the spider. It's already hopeless, I'm not particularly know what would come, but I'm sure it's a type of attack which might unanimously swallow us up.
When Finia-chan shouting so, tremendous fire is spreading around her, and the sky is immediately dyed in red from the spreading fire.
And then, the fire moving circularly, and forming a great tornado with Finia-chan as its center. Moreover, at that instant-- Finia-chan says 'Get burnt' and dropping along with the tornado of fire.
"Gi...jaaaaa!!?"
Together with *gori* *gori* gouged sounds, simultaneously a sound of meat getting burnt could be heard. Along with the spider's shrieks, Finia-chan who attacked the spider's back several seconds ago is, flying out from its abdomen. Making a straight line of big hole at the spider's body, seems like its life was blown away by the force of the tornado.
After the tornado of fire disappeared, Finia-chan who come out is, immediately smiling and give a 'peace' sign to us.
No no no, don't give me that peace. If you were careless we might got annihilated, you know? Moreover, to use such absurd fire magic inside a forest, what should we do if the fire burnt some trees and spreading? Someone must take the responsibility, you know? And that would be me! Even though the one who burnt it was Finia-chan!
"...haa."
But, well, since we won so it's good. The spider is somehow ended with a very poor corpse, but, it's good, isn't it?
"You sure are amazing... Finia-chan."
"Yes... you're our Ace."
"Amazing."
"Hehe~n! The strongest and beautiful Fairy Finia-chan is invincible!"
Looking at Finia-chan who is puffing her chest out, we make a strained laugh.
But, above all, since she had tried her best so I should praise her, don't I?
"Lulu-chan, you did well."
"Ah...yes."
This time, against that spider, Lulu-chan was able to make an attack even if it was a shallow one. She was just got Rishe-chan advising her stance, but seems like she could somewhat put Rishe-chan's guidance into practice.
Moreover, even though she just took a slight part of the battle, but as long as she took a part of it she would still got some experience points. Since Lulu-chan was Lv.1 so her level should be raised considerably.
"Status."
*Status*
Name                        : Lulu Soleil
Gender                     : Female Lv. 8 (UP 7)
Strength                   : 350
Stamina                    : 200
Resistance               : 80
Agility                       : 280
Magic Power          : 140
Title                           :{Slave} 
Skill                            :{Short Sword-Arts Lv.1 (NEW!)} 
Inherent skill         : ???
PT Member             : Naginata Kitsune, Finia (Fairy), Trisha (Human)
*
Ooh, her level raised by seven with just that spider. As expected from a giant spider, it was an E rank magical beast. It hold a considerable experience points.
Lulu-chan's status is suddenly overtaking mine, you know? But I'm not sad at all, since as long as my resistance increased then I'm good with it, after all. Level-wise mine is still higher, after all. I'm not mortified at all!
"Good for you, Lulu-chan. Your level has raised, you know?"
"Eh, is that true? Ehehe... I'm so happy."
That's why, I praise her while patting her head without showing my broken mental-state. This is, an adult's way of doing. As long as I could see Lulu-chan's happy smile, it's strange that I'll come to think that that's something can't be helped. Well, if my resistance increased further then I'll come and take the frontline! Before that come I must restrain myself, since I'm a trump card-like character, you know?
"Kitsune, just in case I've take the subjugation proof of that spider."
"Ah, sorry, thanks."
When I say so, Rishe-chan comes and hand me several fangs of that spider. At a subjugation quest, if you don't bring back the subjugation proof than it would be counted as you haven't subjugated it. That means, we won't get the reward. That's why we must take the proof, like this. This time is the fang of this giant spider.
"Then, let's go home. Before it getting dark."
At my word, everyone is answering, and then we start preparing to return. Our first hunt sure is fruitful, since we got the subjugation proof, so my 100% request completion rate hasn't broken!
Having the corpse of that spider burnt by Finia-chan, we start walking. The day is still bright, at this rate seems like we won't encounter that monster. Ah, thanks god.
"Say, Kitsune, there's something I'm a bit curious about, though."
"Can you see someone's status?"
Ah, come to think of it I haven't told Rishe-chan anything about my skills, didn't I? Well, it's just several days after she became my comrade, after all, so it can't be helped. Since she just asked about it herself so let's just tell her about it.
"Yes, I'm able to see someone's status."
"That means, you'd saw my father's status?"
"I see... you said something like that even after seeing it, huh."
Seems like she's saying something in murmur, but I can't hear it. It's just I feel like I can see Rishe-chan's turned face is somewhat blushing. Hmm? Have I raised a flag somewhere? I have no such memory, though... ah, I see.
"No problem, no problem, since I can't see your body weight nor height, after all."
"N, no, that's not... ah...  no, I see, it's good then."
Was she embarrassed that I might be able to see her body weight, or the like? Well, anyhow looking at Rishe-chan's state who was just sighing, seems like I shouldn't take it in mind, but if she has some troubles then then I'll gladly hear it out, though. If you feel like it I might be even able to give you some advices, you know?
While thinking such a thing, we walk through the forest. Today we went inside the forest but since we didn't go that far so we should be able to go out from the forest soon, don't we?
From what we heard about this forest, seems like there were numerous magical beast lived inside this forest, and seems like human's influence hadn't reached here.  Well, any dangerous magical beast would got hunted by adventurers, but any basically passive magical beast that didn't leave the forest won't be hunted by adventurers. But there are some exceptions such as eater hand, though.
That's why there are many magical beast live here. There were some case where some magical beasts were fighting on turf war, but whether it because those magical beast were basically have an equal power, moreover without any special magical beast which ruled the whole forest, seems like they were able to live peacefully at their respective territories. But there are some exceptions such as eater hand, though.
Nevertheless, right now inside this forest there's a monster called {Red Night} . So the possibility of the balance of this forest collapsing isn't nonexistent. But there are some exception such as eater hand, though.
"Say, Rishe-chan."
"What's up?"
"Do you know about{Red Night} ?"
"Yes... it's infamous, after all. If my memories serve me right, it was an A rank magical being which very close to S rank, and I heard that it was a monster with nature closer to an magical beast rather than a demon."
Close to a demon lord is, the hell with that, isn't it could be called as the second demon lord?
"The most dreadful part is its position."
"Position?"
"Yes, seems like {Red Night}  isn't a part of demon lord's subordinates. Since individually, it was referred to be equaling demon lord, after all, moreover seems like it clearly has no intention such as annihilating humankind. Well by the fact it hasn't bore any hostility toward demon lord, but keep eating human so it won't be strange if it's actually demon lord's accomplice, though... if I should state it with human's status then, perhaps it's something akin to someone in charge of raiding."
That means, the enemy of humanity that doesn't listen to demon lord's order, isn't it? Isn't that dangerous? Different from demon lord, since it has no demon nor magical beasts follower so that's a great luck for human, but, to be equaling demon lord, isn't that means it could only be defeated by the hero?
"Well, since it only moves in night, so currently its victims aren't as great as demon lord do. Since it only attacks any humans it encounter, after all. Moreover, there was also someone who said that sometimes it would also eat some weak magical beasts. So I think it has no intention to waging war to humankind."
But, isn't that means I still can't understand the reason why I was left alive, isn't it?... could it be that wasn't {Red Night} ? ... or perhaps because I was an otherworlder so I had an absolutely bad taste? Something like I was left behind because when it ate my left eye, it was very bad, or something along that line? What's that, that's really hurt my feelings.
While somewhat feeling down, we keep walking for a while and finally able to see the exit. Capturing the view of the town, at least we're able to leave the forest, and it happened when I was sighing in relieve.
"...wha?"
A figure of someone appeared beside me. I slightly stop my leg in surprise, but seems like that's a lucky one since because of that I'm not bumping with the appeared person.
The appeared person is, a girl with a similar height as mine. With a quirky but glossy black hair and white skin, she's a beautiful girl with high canine as her characteristic. But her attire is a similar clothes which is usually used by famed adventurers at the guild, she even use some protective armors. At her waist, there are two short swords- similarly like Lulu-chan's -being put there.
"Who are you...?"
"Ah, could it you're Kitsune-san! Nice to meet you!"
"Ah, yes, nice to meet you, too... then, who are you?"
"Well, I was lost when I loitering around the forest, you see! You sure saved me!"
"Ah, I see... then, who are you?"
"Do you know where Miniera is? If you're okay with it then is it okay if I tag along with you till there?"
"Since Miniera is close by, so I won't mind even if you are together with us, though... then, who are you?"
"I see! Thank you!"
Someone who won't listen to other, huh. She's the hard to deal type for me, in society, someone who won't listen to other is generally stated as a nuisance and troublesome fellow, after all. Moreover, she seems very friendly, she's always smiling, excess skin-ship, even right now she is embracing me while saying her gratitude, it's modest but there are indeed some bulges pressing my arm, stick more closer-- no no, I have no such a thought.
"Ah... umm, then I want to know your name, though?"
By the way this is my fifth time asking this.
"Ah, I see, I see, sorry! My name is Leila Vermillion, I come from, umm, if I'm not mistaken, gran... dile Kingdom, perhaps?, I'm an C rank adventurer!"
She, Leila Vermillion confidently says so.
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