57
レオルドは全ての仕事を片付け終わり、しつこく戦おうと誘っていたベイナードの元へと向かう。
ベイナートは暇を潰していたようで、剣の素振りをしていた。汗を大量にかき、足元には水溜りが出来ている。一体、何時間剣を振り続けていたのだろうかと気になったが、レオルドは考えていた事を口にする。
「ベイナード団長。先程の件ですが――」
レオルドが言い終わらない内にベイナードは何を言いたいかを察し、目を輝かせながらレオルドの言葉を食い気味に遮る。
ぐぐっと暑苦しいベイナードが近付いて来たので、レオルドは手で押し返しながら答える。
「ええ。俺なんかでよければ」
「構わん! さあ、戦おう!」
「まずは条件があります」
「む、なんだ?」
「俺は魔法の使用ありでベイナード団長に一撃でも入れた場合は勝利、そして俺が気絶、もしくは戦闘が続行出来ない状態になったら、その時点で終了とさせてください」
「うむ! それくらいなら全然構わんぞ!」
「では、とりあえず戦いやすい場所に移動しましょう」
「おお!」
やる気満々のベイナードはレオルドに付いて行く。レオルドは審判としてバルバロトとギルバートに声を掛ける。
二人はベイナードとレオルドが戦うと知って、大いに驚いたが止める事はしなかった。ギルバートなら止めるかと思っていたのだが、レオルドの意思なので止める事はしなかった。
四人はゼアトから出て、レオルドが魔法で直した場所に着く。
流石に焼け焦げた木やへし折れた木をレオルドは直せなかったので、丁度いい空き地になっていた。
ここならばレオルドとベイナードが戦っても問題はないように思えるが、それは二人の匙加減によるといったところか。
「じゃあ、ルールはさっき説明した通りで始めます」
「よし! いつでもいいぞ!」
「それでは、始め!」
審判としてレオルド、ベイナードの二人の間に立っているギルバートが手を下ろして合図を出す。
待ち構えるベイナードはレオルドを迎え撃とうとしていたが、突然バックステップで下がる。
バックステップで下がったベイナードの前に雷が落ちる。
レオルドが最も得意とする雷魔法だ。無詠唱で発動されたから威力は低いが、ベイナードは一撃でも当たれば敗北する。
しかも、無詠唱ときた!
ふはははははっ!
豪快に笑うベイナードにレオルドはヒクヒクと顔が引き攣っている。レオルドが放ったのはライトニングで最も得意な魔法である。
それを無詠唱で発動し、雄叫びを上げながら突撃するように見せて気付かせないようにしていたのに、それをあっさりと避けるのだから顔が引き攣るのも仕方ない。
(うっそだろ、おい......!
そりゃ、ギル並には強いと思ってたけど......
どんな反射神経してるんだよ......)
レオルド自身、先程のライトニングで決まると思っていた手前、避けられると自信が無くなってしまう。
(ふう、落ち着け。ベイナード団長は性格はあれだが、実力は間違いなくある。今の俺じゃどうやっても勝てないのは確かだ。
でも、一撃を入れるくらいなら可能性はある。ただ、それでもとんでもなく難しいけど)
レオルドは次の作戦を練り始める。ベイナードはレオルドが次の手を考え始めている事に気がついたが、あえて手は出さなかった。
それに手加減すると言ったのだから、それくらいは当然である。
「アクアスピア!」
レオルドはライトニングの次に鍛錬を積んだ水魔法のアクアスピアを発動させる。自身の後方に浮かばせると、レオルドはベイナードへと駆け出す。
距離を詰めてくるレオルドに対し、ベイナードは剣を構えて微動だにしない。
「さあ、どこからでも来るがいい!」
ベイナードの言葉に応えるようにレオルドは剣を繰り出す。力強い踏み込みで剣を振るうがベイナートに軽くあしらわれる。
だがそれは折り込み済みで、レオルドはすかさず後方に浮かばせていたアクアスピアをベイナード目掛けて撃ち放つ。
しかし、レオルドが魔法を使うだろうと予見していたベイナードはアクアスピアを避けてみせた。
だが、レオルドは避けられる事も想定していて、次の手を打った。避けられてベイナードの後方へと飛んでいくアクアスピアを破裂させて、水飛沫を放つ。
これにはベイナードも驚いたが、有り得ないほどの速さで剣を振って水飛沫を風で弾き飛ばした。
「なっ!」
「ははははは! 今のが決まっていれば、一撃だと言うつもりだったのだろう?」
「くっ......!」
図星をつかれてレオルドは顔を歪める。自分ではいい作戦だと思っていただけに悔しいのだ。
そして、改めて思い知る。これが王国で二番手とされている強者だと。
だからこそレオルドは高揚する。自分の力はどこまで通用するのかと。今の自分なら、どこまで戦えるのかと。
レオルドはいずれ来る運命の時に備えて力を蓄える必要がある。だから、この数ヶ月でどこまで自分が成長したのか確かめる為に、レオルドはベイナードへの闘志を燃やす。
Ch 57
Leolde finished up all the work and went to Baynard, who had persistently invited  him to fight.
Baynard seemed to be killing time, and was  practice with his sword. He was sweating profusely and there were puddles of water on his feet. . He wondered how long he had been swinging his sword, but Leolde said what he had been thinking.
"Commander Baynard. About what you said earlier..."
Before Leolde could finish, Baynard knew what he wanted to say and interrupted Leolde's words with a glint in his eye.
As the hot Baynard approached him, Leolde  pushed him back with his hand and replied.
"Yes. If it's okay with me.
"I don't care! Come on, let's fight!"
"There's a condition first."
"What  is it ?
"If I manage to land even a single blow on Commander Baynard with the use of magic, I win, and if I am knocked out or otherwise unable to continue the fight, then the  victory is yours .
"Mm! I don't mind that much at all!"
"Then let's move to a more comfortable place to fight for now."
"Oh!"
A motivated Baynard follows Leolde. He calls on Barbaroto and Gilbert as judges.
They were very surprised to learn that Baynard and Leolde were going to fight, but they did not stop them. He thought Gilbert would have stopped them, but he did not, because it was Leoldo's wish .
The four of them left Ze'at and arrived at the place where Leolde had fixed it with magic.
Leolde could' fix the burnt and snapped trees, so there was a nice clearing.
(It seems to me that there is no problem for Leolde and Baynard to fight here, but it depends on the two of them.)
"So, we'll start with the rules as I explained earlier.
"Okay! Ready when you are."
"Let's begin!"
Gilbert, who was standing between Leolde and Baynard as the referee, lowered his hand and gave the signal.
Baynard, who was waiting for him, was about to intercept Leolde, when he suddenly back stepped.
As Baynard back stepped, lightning struck in front of him.
This is the lightning magic that Leolde is most skilled at. It's not very powerful because it was invoked without chanting, but Baynard will be defeated if even a single blow hits him.
And with no chanting!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
Leolde's face twitches as Baynard smiles boldly. It is the best magic Lightning that Leolde   can  use .
He  had activated it without chanting and made it look like  he  was charging at him with a yell, so that he would not notice, but he easily  understand it, so  he could not help but feel  his face twitch.
(No way. Hey, ......!)
(That's right, I thought you  was as strong as Gil, but ......)
(What kind of reflexes do you have? ......)
Leolde  thought that the Lightning would be the decisive factor, but when he was able to avoid it, he lost confidence.
(Calm down. Commander Baynard may not have the personality, but he definitely has the ability. I'm sure I can't beat him no matter what I do now.)
(However, it is possible that I can at least land a blow. But even then, it would be ridiculously difficult.)
Leolde begins to plan his next move. Baynard noticed that Leoldoe was starting to think about his next move, but he didn't dare make any moves himself .
And since  he  said  he  would go easy on him, it was only natural.
"Aqua Spear!"
Leordo activates Aqua Spear, a water magic that he trained  with Lightning. He floats behind  him and runs towards Baynard.
As Leolde closed the distance, Baynard held his sword and did not move an inch.
"Now, you can come from anywhere!"
As if in response to Baynard's words, Leolde unleashes his sword. He swung his sword with a powerfully , but was lightly brushed aside by Baynard.
But that was already taken care of, and Leorde quickly fired the Aqua Spear that was floating behind her at Baynard.
However, Baynard, who had foreseen that Leolde would use magic, avoided the Aqua Spear.
However, Leolde assumed that he would be able to avoid it, and made his next move. The aqua spear, which was dodged and flew behind Baynard, exploded and released a splash of water.
This surprised Baynard, but he swung his sword at an unbelievable speed, and the splashes of water were blown away by the wind.
"No!
"Hahahahaha! If you had decided to do that, you would have said it was a blow, wouldn't you?"
"Damn ......!"
Leoldo's face twisted as he was pointed outwith sword . He was frustrated because he thought it was a good plan.
Then he realized once again. This is the second strongest person in the kingdom.
That's why Leolde  is elated. He wondered how far his power could go. How far can the current me fight?
Leolde needs to build up his strength in preparation for the time of destiny that will eventually come. So, in order to see how far he has grown in the past few months, Leorde burns with the will to fight Baynard.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛