312 嵐の前の静けさというが、昨今は嵐がいつ来るかはわかってしまう
「拙者、完全、復活!! いやぁ!! 睡眠って大事でござるよ!! 後悔はしていないでござるが!!」
「しろよ、そして反省もな」
「次回に期待ということでお願いするでござる!」
昼時。
珍しく、北宮とアメリアがキッチンに立っているときにその匂いに誘われてか仮眠室からバンと漫画に出てきそうな扉の開け方で姿を現し仁王立ちした南。
その後ろでは礼儀正しく頭を下げる勝がいる。
二人の顔色は今朝と比べれば雲泥の差と言ってもいいほど良くなっている。
寝不足のきつさは前の会社でよくわかるから、良かったなと言い席を促す。
丁度盛り付け段階に入っているからまさにベストタイミングというやつだ。
「勝君ほどじゃないけど、簡単にできるパスタにしてみたわ。味見はしたから問題はないはずよ」
「とってもおいしいヨ!」
黒のエプロンを外し料理を持ってくる北宮と、青いエプロンを外しているアメリアが料理の出来栄えを報告してきた。
コトンとテーブルに置かれた皿から漂う湯気がなんともおいしそうだ。
匂いからして醤油バター系か?
あさりとパセリそして玉ねぎとどこかで見たことのあるようなパスタがテーブルに並ぶ。
「一応、あんたたちの分も用意してたけど食べるって、聞くまでもないか」
「ありがたくいただくでござるよ!!」
「すみません、いただきます」
寝起きだから軽めにしようかと聞く北宮に対して問題ないと胸を張る南。
勝も問題ないと言えば、北宮は了解と言い追加で二人分持ってくる。
そして、全員席に着き昼食が始まる。
「それで南」
「んあ? ゴクン、なんでござるかリーダー」
食事をとりながら雑談をするのもいつものこと。
仕事のことやBGM代わりにつけているテレビから流れる内容に反応したりと各々会話をしながら、パスタを頬張る南に声をかける。
「見せてもらったが、あの話本気か?」
「その様子だと三つ目も読んでくれたようでござるね。そしてリーダーへの答えはYesでござる。本気も本気、マジと書いて本気と読むぐらいガチでござるよ。伊達や酔狂で三日も徹夜はさすがにしないでござるよ。拙者、本気でござる」
パスタを飲み込んだあと少し真剣な眼になり本気と繰り返し頷く彼女に、そうかと俺も頷き今現状の俺の心情を語る。
本来であれば嘘を言っているように聞こえるような言葉ではあるが、表情と雰囲気そして勘になるが彼女は真剣だというのがわかる。
「あの話は有りか無しかと判断すれば、有りだと俺は思う。が、話を進めるのは難しいというのが正直なところだ」
俺が話しているのは三つ目の話。
南が作ろうとしているクランの話だ。
着想自体かなり良いと思うし、内容も現実的だ。
実現すれば多大な効果を及ぼすことも確か。
しかし、それを踏まえたとしても机上の空論の域を出るとは俺は思わなかった。
「だと思うでござるよ~」
そのことを素直に話し、てっきりなんでという反論を南が言ってくるかと思っていたが、予想に反して彼女は素直に俺の予想を受け入れ、パスタを食べ始める。
「だと思うって、予想してたのか?」
「さすがの拙者もそこまで夢見がちではないでござるよ。これ通すのにどれだけの人脈や費用、根回しがいると思うんでござるか。長期的な計画、それこそ地盤固めから始めないといけないでござるよ」
残念ながらそのどれもが足りていないと自覚のある南は、今は絵空事だと自分の提案を切って捨てた。
それだと、なぜ本気だと言ったのだろう。
パスタを食べながら普段通りの表情。
大げさにリアクションを取ったりする彼女であるが、ある種普段の彼女の顔こそがポーカーフェイスになっている。
のらりくらりと真意を悟らせず、波風を立てない。
「当面の目標ってやつでござるよ。いきなりできたらそれは確かに最良でござるが、拙者にはまだ運営は難しいでござるよ。けれど、年内にはプロジェクトを立ち上げられるようにできれば上出来でござるねぇ」
何をもってして、南がここまでやる気を出したか皆目見当がつかない。
年内にプロジェクトを立ち上げる。
それすなわち、年内には現実的な見通しを立てるということだ。
「まぁ、そのためにもダンジョンテストの方も一定以上の成果が必要で、かつそろそろ本腰いれて社内交流に努めないといけないでござるよ」
そして、そのスケジュールが彼女の中で組み立てられていると悟った。
「どこまで見えている?」
「目先なら、エヴィアさんとメモリアさんのコネを使うための段取りってところでござるよ。立ってるものは親でも使えって言うでござるよ」
そのことを素直に問えば、一番身近であるコネである俺を彼女は見てきた。
エヴィアのコネ、魔王軍内のコネと貴族のコネといったところか。
メモリアの方は商会関係か。
「まぁ、二人ともリーダーの仲間だからって色眼鏡で見ることがないからしっかりと価値を示さないといけないという過程が必要なんでござるけど」
「だろうな、あの二人を説得するのはなかなか骨が折れるぞ」
「働かず、楽に生きるそれが拙者の目標だったはずなのに、どこで間違ったでござろうなぁ」
「ここに入社した時だろうさ」
「残念、それなら仕方ないでござるよ」
残念と言いつつ、残念そうにしない彼女は一回瞬きをすると瞳の色から真剣さが消え。
「む、このパスタなかなか旨いでござるな。北宮のくせに」
「くせにってなによ。料理の作れないあんたにそこまで言われる筋合いはないわよ」
「ふ~ん、拙者、できないんじゃなくてやらないだけでござるよ」
「それ、できない人の台詞でしょ」
「できるでござるよ.........カップ麺くらいなら」
「あんたそれ、本気で料理って思ってるの?」
空気が緩み、通常運行に戻っていった。
最近勝との関係で仲は良くなってはいるが、このやり取りは決してなくならないだろうと思う。
「うん、旨い」
ほんのりと感じる醤油とバターの塩梅が良いと思いつつ昼は過ぎ。
のんびりと過ごし時間は終了だ。
食後の運動というわけではないが仕事に取りかかる。
「たまには軒先を変えるのも悪くはないか」
装備を整え、準備は万端。
いつものゲートを潜り、ダンジョンへと入った。
「あまり来ない場所だけどね」
「うわ~、相変わらずすっごく魔力が濃いヨ」
「ダークと頭に付くでござるが、エルフの森でござるしね。魔力があるってイメージでござるよ」
「というより、毎回思うっすけど道、ないっすよねここ」
午後からは通常業務であるダンジョンテストだ。
今回来たのは樹王のダンジョンだ。
スエラと同じダークエルフであり魔王軍内でのダークエルフの頂点である樹王が纏めているダンジョンである。
この場所の特徴はこの方角を見失わせるほどの樹海だ。
だが薄暗いというわけではなく、ほんのりと差し込む光のおかげで視界は確保できる。
天まで届けと言わんばかりに伸びる大樹の数々、等間隔というわけではないがある一定の幅を空けて樹が育っているために進むこと自体はたやすい。
その光景は神秘的と言っても過言ではない。
日本どころか、地球全体を探してもここまで綺麗な景色はないのではなかろうか。
しかし、その風光明媚な光景に反してダンジョンらしく人が侵入するために足場がいいかと言えばそうではない。
けもの道のようなものはあれど、木の根が土より姿を現し平らな地面など作り出さない。
そして、青々と生い茂った草たちが足元を隠す。
踏み潰したり、極力見える場所を歩いているもいざというとき足を取られないように注意を払いつつ俺たちは進む。
「ここにいるのはトレント系と獣系だったか?」
「精霊種とはまだ接敵してないでござるよ。あとはダークエルフとも、現状攻略している範囲だとリーダーの言っている二種だけでござるな。まぁ、拙者たちが報告してるからかなりの確率で変わっていると思うでござるが」
「毎度思うが、自分で首を絞めている感覚に仕方ないと思い始めているのは良い傾向だろうか?」
「知らないわよ、けど、少なくとも私も同じこと思ってるわよ」
「慣れっすね」
「慣れって恐ろしいですね」
「注意して進まないとダメ! ダネ!」
俺たちが普段回っているのは機王のダンジョンがメインだ。
次点で鬼王と不死王。
最近だと竜王のほうにも行ったが、あんなことがあったから少しばかりお休みだ。
稼ぎがと一部文句を言いたげであったが、八桁稼いだのだから文句を言うなと言ったら大人しくなった。
残るは閉鎖した蟲王のダンジョンを除き、巨人王と樹王の二つ。
この二つは意図的に避けていたわけではなかったが、何かと縁のあるダンジョンを優先していたため挑んだ回数は他のダンジョンと比べてもだいぶ少ない。
他のダンジョンテスターたちの情報も多少は入手しているが、何事も実地で確認すべし。
「ならいつも通りのフォーメーションで行くか」
「今回はレベリングも兼ねるでござるから、リーダーは後方警戒でござるよ。リーダーを先頭にしたらモンスターが狩りつくされるでござるよ。ということで海堂先輩、盾になるでござるよ」
「へいへい」
「盾って、間違ってはいないっすけど言い方をもう少し優しくしてほしいっす」
「拙者の優しさは海堂先輩なら二千円になるでござるよ」
「金取るんっすか!? それも高いか安いか微妙っすね!?」
「そうでござるか? そういった系統のお店に行く海堂先輩なら安いんじゃないでござるか?」
「そういうお店と比べないでほしいっすよ!?」
雑談交じりで程よく緊張感を保ちつつ、しっとりとした大地を踏みしめ森に入る。
このダンジョンは他のダンジョンと比べマッピングが非常にしづらい。
樹海ということで同じ光景と薄暗いので特徴という物がほぼない。
一つの岩を目印にできなくはないだろうけど、それも似たようなものばかりで一度目を放したらよほど印象的な岩でもない限り見つけるのは難しい。
方位磁石など対策済みで、持ってきてもぐるぐると回るだけ。
「むぅ、少しずれるでござるなぁ。リーダー、出口の方角はどっちでござるか?」
「あっちだな」
なので南の魔法と龍の血によって鋭敏化した方向感覚でダブルチェックし着実に進む。
「遠吠えだ」
「アミーちゃん」
「OK、距離はそこまで離れていないヨ。二時の方向に群れの足音、十一時の方向にもいるネ」
そして遠吠えが聞こえると勝と海堂そして俺が周囲を警戒。
南と北宮はアメリアのサポートに入る。
両耳に手を添え音を拾う仕草を見せるアメリアはすっと目を閉じ、音源を拾う。
「二時の方向の群れはまっすぐこっちに向かってくるよ。十一時の方向はグルって回ってきそう」
「回り込んで時間差で挟撃でござるか、鉄板でござるな。まぁ、拙者たちには通用しないでござる。海堂先輩、実用試験するでござる?」
「お、いいんっすか?」
「序盤で慣らしておいたほうがいいでござるよ」
「なら、お言葉に甘えさせてもらうっす」
森に入って三十分ほど。
最初の迎撃に出てきたのはフォレストウルフ。
森狼と呼ばれる灰色の狼だ。
特徴は群れで行動し、その群れが多くなれば百を超えることもある。
強さとしてはゴブリン以上オーク以下といったところか。
大型犬と馬の中間くらいの大きさだが、今の俺たちにとっては見慣れた雑魚なのだが。
「!? おかしな音が混ざってるヨ! 気を付けて」
油断はしない。
「了解っす! 不肖、海堂忠、決めさせてもらうっすよ!」
「それがフラグになり、海堂先輩は――」
「止めるっすよそれ!? 割とここだとシャレにならないっすよ!!」
「あんたたち真面目にやんなさい」
.........油断はしない、はずだ。
アメリアの警告にかっこよくポーズを決めているつもりの海堂に南が茶々をいれ空気が弛緩する。
ここまでがある意味一連の流れだ。
「あと十秒くらいで接敵でござる。そろそろ迎撃準備するでござるよ~」
「いくっすよ!! 実戦初『変・身』」
程よく緊張がほぐれ、精神的に万全となった各々は気合を入れる。
その後は気を引き締めた南が海堂へ指示を出す。
その指示に従い、ポーズを決めた海堂の体が発光。
そして森の中では目立つ銀色のフォルムのヒーロースタイルに変身する。
「ふぉー、なかなか決まってるでござるな! 後で貸してほしいでござる!」
『どこかの変身セットみたいな感覚で借りようとしないでほしいっすね!?』
それに反応するのはやはりといった感覚で南だった。
マスク越しで若干くぐもった声になる海堂のお手並み拝見といこう。
森の中から現れた大きな狼の群れに挑む海堂を見送ったのであった。
今日の一言
地に足つけ、目標を明確にすることは大事だ。
321 312 It Is Said That The Calm Before The Storm, But These Days We Know When The Storm Will Come
I am fully recovered! Oh no! Sleep is important, that it is! I do not regret it, that I do not regret it!
Do it and be reminded of it.
"We'll have to wait for next time, that is!
LUNCH TIME .
It's rare that Kitamiya and Amelia were standing in the kitchen when the smell of Kitamiya and Amelia appeared from the napping room with a bang and a door opening like something out of a comic book, Minami standing on his knees, perhaps lured by the smell.
Behind him is Masaru, who politely bows his head.
The two men's complexion has improved by a wide margin compared to this morning.
You can see how hard the lack of sleep is in your previous company, so you say it's a good thing you're happy to see them, and urge them to sit down.
It's the best time for you to sit down, as it's just about time to serve the food.
Not as much as Katsu-kun, but I made a simple pasta dish that's easy to make. I tasted it, so there shouldn't be a problem.
It's so good!
Kitamiya and Amelia, who has removed her black apron to bring the food, and Amelia, who has removed her blue apron, report on the results of the cooking.
The steam wafting from the plates on the table looks very tasty.
By the smell, is it a soy-butter type?
The familiar pasta with clams and parsley and onions is on the table.
I had some for you guys, but I thought I might as well ask you to eat it.
Thank you very much, that I do!
"Excuse me, thank you.
I'm going to have to ask you if you'd like to lighten up because I'm a sleepyhead, but Nanbu is proud to say it's no problem.
When Masaru says it's not a problem, Kitamiya says yes and brings more food for two people.
Then everyone takes their seats and lunch begins.
So, Minami.
"Hmm? Gokun, what's the leader
Chatting with each other while having a meal is one of the usual things.
You are able to talk about your work and react to the content of the TV that you have on as background music, and call out to Minami as she munches on her pasta.
I've shown you, but is that story serious?
From the looks of it, it looks like you've read the third one too, that it is. And the answer to your leader is yes, that it is. I'm so serious, that I'm serious enough to write "serious" and read "serious" as "serious," that I am. I'm not going to stay up all night for three days with a drunken rage, that I'm sure of it. I am serious, that I am.
After swallowing the pasta, her eyes turn serious and she nods her head repeatedly to say she's serious, and I nod my head to tell her how I'm feeling right now.
The words would normally sound like a lie, but the expression on her face, the atmosphere and her intuition tell you that she is serious.
"I think that's a yes or no story. But I have to admit that it's hard to move forward.
I'm talking about the third story.
It's about the clan that South is trying to create.
I think the idea is pretty good, and the content is realistic.
I'm sure it will have a great effect if it comes to fruition.
But even with that in mind, I didn't think it was beyond the realm of theoretical thinking.
I think so, that I do.
I told her that honestly, and I thought Minami would argue why, but contrary to my expectations, she accepted my expectations honestly and started eating her pasta.
Did you expect that?
I don't tend to dream that much either, that I do. How many contacts, costs and manpower will it take to get this done? We need a long-term plan, that we need to start from the ground up.
Unfortunately, none of that is enough, and the aware Minami cut off his own proposal as now a pie-in-the-sky.
That being the case, why did I say I was serious?
A normal expression while eating pasta.
She has an exaggerated reaction, but her normal face has become a kind of poker face.
She doesn't let you know her true intentions and doesn't make waves.
It's a goal for the time being, that it is. It would certainly be best if you could do it all of a sudden, that it would be best, but it's still difficult for me to manage, that it is. But it would be great if I could launch the project by the end of this year.
I have no idea what has motivated the South to get to this point.
The project will be up by the end of the year.
That means we'll have a realistic outlook by the end of the year.
Well, for that, the dungeon test has to have a certain level of success, and we need to get serious about internal communication, that we do.
And then she realized that the schedule had been assembled in her.
How far do you see?
"For the time being, it's just a matter of arranging to use the connections between Evia and Memoria, that it is. They say you can use what you're standing for, that it's your parents' choice.
If you ask honestly about it, she has seen me with my closest connections.
I'd say she has connections within the demon king's army and the nobility.
Is Memoria's one of the merchant associations?
You will need to have a process to show your value, that is, because you don't look at them through the lens of your leader's friends.
I know, it's going to take a lot of work to convince those two.
My goal was not to work and live comfortably, but where did I go wrong?
That's when I started here.
"Too bad, that I have no choice in the matter, that I do.
The seriousness in her eyes faded away as she blinked once, saying she was sorry, but she didn't look sorry.
This pasta is quite good, that it is. I'm not a princess.
What do you mean, "You're a prude. You don't know how to cook and I don't have to take that kind of crap from you.
Hmmm, I'm not saying I can't do it, I just don't do it, that I can't.
"That's what people say when they can't
"You can do it, that you can: ......... If it's just a cup of noodles
Do you really think you're cooking?
The air loosened up and went back to normal operation.
Although my relationship with Katsu is getting better lately, I don't think this exchange will ever go away.
Yes, it's delicious.
Lunch passed, thinking that the saltiness of the soy sauce and butter with a hint of saltiness is good.
Time to take it easy is over.
It's not so much the after-dinner exercise, but it's time to get to work.
Sometimes a change of eaves is not a bad thing.
Equipped and ready to go.
I walked through the usual gate and entered the dungeon.
It's not a place you come to often, though.
"Wow, you're as magical as ever.
"The word 'dark' comes to mind, that it does, in the elven forest, that it does. I have an image of magic, that I do.
I mean, every time I think about it, there are no roads here.
In the afternoon, it's regular business: dungeon testing.
This time we're in the Juhou's dungeon.
It is a dungeon held by the Juhou, a dark elf like Suera and the pinnacle of the dark elves in the demon king's army.
This place is characterized by a sea of trees that can make you lose track of this direction.
But it's not so dim that you can see thanks to the faint light that comes through.
The trees are not evenly spaced, but they grow at regular intervals, making it easy for you to follow them.
It is no exaggeration to say that the scene is mysterious.
Even if you were to search the entire globe, not to mention Japan, you would not find such a beautiful landscape.
However, contrary to the scenic view, it's not like a dungeon to have a good foothold for people to enter.
There are animal trails, but the roots of the trees don't make the ground flat by appearing above the soil.
And the lush grass hides your feet.
I try to crush them and walk where I can see them, but when the time comes, I take care not to lose my footing as we go.
"Are there trent and beastly types here?
We haven't come into contact with any spirit species yet, that we haven't. It's only the two dark elves that the leader says are in the range of our current attack, that it is. Well, since we are reporting on them, there is a good chance that they have changed, that I am sure.
I wonder if it's a good trend that I'm starting to feel like I'm strangling myself every time?
I don't know, but at least I feel the same way.
I'm used to it.
It's a scary thing to get used to.
"You have to proceed with caution! Danae!
We usually go around the dungeons of the KIOH dungeons are the main ones.
Next is the Demon King and the Immortal King.
Recently we went to the Dragon King, but after all that happened we had to take a little break.
You wanted to complain about how much money you've earned, but when I told you that you've earned eight figures, you became more relaxed.
Except for the closed dungeon of the Mushroom King, there are only two left, the Giant King and the Tree King.
These two dungeons were not intentionally avoided, but since I prioritized dungeons that had something to do with them, I attempted them much less often than other dungeons.
I've gotten some information from other dungeon testers, but you should always check everything out in person.
Then we'll go with the usual formation.
"This time, it is also for leveling, that it is. If you leave the leader in the lead, the monsters will be hunted down, that they will be. And so, Kaido-senpai, I'll be your shield, that I will.
"Hey, hey.
"A shield, there's nothing wrong with that, but you need to be a little gentler with your words.
My kindness would be worth 2,000 yen if I were you, that I am.
"You're going to get money? It's also expensive or cheap!
"Is that so? If you go to such a store, Kaido Senpai would be cheaper, that is.
"I don't want you to compare me to those stores!
You'll enter the forest, stepping on the moist earth while keeping the tension just right with chit-chat.
This dungeon is very difficult to map compared to other dungeons.
Because of the same scenery and the dimness of the tree sea, there are almost no features.
Although you may be able to find a single rock, it's hard to find it unless it's a very impressive rock once you let your eyes go.
We've taken precautions against that, such as a directional magnet, and even if we brought it with us, it would just spin around and around.
Hmm, we're off by a little bit, that we are. Leader, which direction is the exit, that it is?
It's over there.
So proceed steadily, double-checking with a sense of direction sharpened by southern magic and dragon's blood.
It's a howler.
"Amie.
Okay, it's not that far away. I heard a flock of footsteps at two o'clock and they're at eleven o'clock.
And I heard the howls and Katsura, Kaido, and I alerted the perimeter.
Minami and Kitamiya come in to support Amelia.
Amelia puts her hands over her ears and gestures to pick up the sound, then closes her eyes and picks up the sound source.
"The two o'clock herd is going to come straight at us. The eleven o'clock herd is going to come around in circles.
"To come around and pincer the enemy with a time difference, that it is, that it is ironclad. Well, it doesn't work for me, that it doesn't work for me. Kaido-senpai, you want to put it to the test, that you do?
"Oh, are you sure?
"You should get used to it in the beginning, that I do.
Then I'll have to take you up on your offer.
About thirty minutes into the forest.
The first to intercept was a forest wolf.
It is a gray wolf called the forest wolf.
They are characterized by pack behavior and can number more than a hundred if the pack becomes large.
In terms of strength, they are more like goblins or less than orcs.
They're about halfway between a big dog and a horse...but we're all familiar with them now.
"? Funny sounds mixed up! Take care.
I'll be careful.
I'll be careful. Kaido-chu, I'll let you decide!
"It became a flag, and Kaido-senpai--
"I'm going to stop it! It's not a joke in here!
You guys need to get serious.
......... I won't let my guard down, I'm sure.
The air relaxes as Minami throws a tantrum on Kaido, who had thought he was striking a cool pose to warn Amelia.
This is a sequence of events up to this point.
We're about ten seconds away from the enemy, that we will be close, that we are. We'll be ready to intercept them soon, that we will.
Let's go! The first time in a real battle, "Hangei, myself
The tension has been relaxed, and each of us, now mentally prepared, gets into the swing of things.
Then, a braced Minami gives instructions to Kaido.
Following his instructions, Kaido's body glows as he strikes a pose.
Then it transforms into a silver-formed hero style that stands out in the forest.
Wow, that's pretty cool, that it is. I'd like to borrow it later, that I do!
"Don't try to borrow it as if it's some kind of transformation set!
It was still the south with a sense of reaction to it.
You'll be able to see how Kaido's voice becomes slightly muffled through the mask.
It was Kaido who saw him off as he challenged a large pack of wolves that emerged from the forest.
Word of the Day
It's important to be grounded and clear on your goals.
Entering a Company From Another World!?
異世界からの企業進出！？転職からの成り上がり録『祝1億PV突破！！』　
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/entering-a-company-from-another-world/
Action Adventure Comedy Ecchi Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Angels Average-looking Protagonist Beautiful Female Lead Childcare Demon Lord Demons Dungeons Elves Fallen Angels Fantasy World Game Elements Human-Nonhuman Relationship Level System Male Protagonist Modern Day Monsters Older Love Interests Polygamy Pregnancy R-15 Summoned Hero Transported to Another World Vampires Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1881dn/
七士七海