「いよいよ、迷いの森に着いたのね」
アリシアは不安そうに杖を握り締めると森の中を見ている。
俺はそんなアリシアの姿をよそにエセリアルキャリッジを収納する。
出てきた時と同様に光が覆い、粒子となって指輪へと吸い込まれていく。
魔法生物とはいえ、これまでの道中をともにした馬たちに俺は愛着を覚えていた。
「お疲れさん。また頼むからな」
指輪を撫でながら話し掛ける。
アリスの笑い声に俺は顔を上げた。血が通っていない魔法生物に親しみを覚えている様子を見られたのだ。
「やっぱり変か?」
それこそ大昔に作られたアーティファクトなので意志なんてないに決まっている。そんな存在に労いをするなんて王族から見て奇異に映ったことだろう。
「こうしてここまで一緒にきたせいか、どうもただの道具に思えなくてな」
俺がそう考えているとアリスは......。
「別にいいじゃない。エルト君のそういうところ気に入ってるから」
普段のからかう様子ではなく俺の肩をポンと叩くと行ってしまった。
「なんだったんだ?」
どういうところを気に入られたのか、俺は首を傾げるしかなかった。
「ね、ねぇエルト。本当に大丈夫なの?」
森を歩きながらキョロキョロと周囲を見渡すアリシア。
ここを出るまで知らなかったのだが、エリバン王国の迷いの森といえば入った人間は無事に帰れないことで有名だったのだ。
そんな場所に足を踏み入れたせいで不安で仕方ないらしい。
「平気なのですよ。マリーに任せるのです」
迷いの森に入ってから同行者に加わったマリー。彼女は俺と契約している精霊なのだが、風の精霊を統率する精霊王なのだ。
迷いの森のいたるところに風の精霊を飛ばし、モンスターの位置を完全に割り出してくれる。
「実際、マリーのお蔭で私たちは不意打ちを食らうことがなかったしね」
アリシアを安心させるためなのか、セレナは俺たちが迷いの森から出たときの話をしていた。
「そ、そうなんだ......。マリーちゃん凄いんだね」
「エヘンなのです。マリーがいれば怪我一つ負うことがないのです......あうちっ!」
そう言ってるそばから木の根に足を引っかけて転ぶ。調子に乗って足元がお留守になっていたようだ。
「まったく。仕方ない子ね......」
それをみたセレナが手を差し伸べると......。
マリーは泥を払いながらその手を掴んだ。
「というか、マリーは空を飛べばよくない?」
空を飛べるマリーが一緒に歩いていることにセレナは突っ込みを入れると......。
「ううう、久しぶりに呼ばれたので少しでも御主人さまの近くにいたいのですよ」
空を飛ぶと風が巻き起こるので離れなければならない。そうすると傍にいられないと思ったようだ。流石にそこまで言われては放っておけない。
「周囲の警戒をしすぎて足元まで注意がいかなかったんだろ」
俺はマリーに近づくと手を取った。
「ご、御主人さま......」
ウサミミを揺らしながら感激した様子を見せる。
「ううう、羨ましい」
「こうやって次々に女の子を垂らしこんでるのね」
三人が呆れたように俺を見てくる。
「エヘヘ。御主人様大好きなのですよ」
だが、マリーの嬉しそうな顔を見ると俺は手を離すことができなかった。
Alicia: [So, we're finally in the Lost Forest.] 
Alicia clutched her staff anxiously and looked into the forest.
I stored the Ethereal Carriage despite Alicia's appearance.
Just as when it came out, light covered it, becoming particles that were sucked into the ring.
Even though they were magical creatures, I had grown attached to the horses that had accompanied me along the way so far.
Elt: [Good work, guys. I'll ask your help again.] 
I speak to them while stroking the ring.
I looked up at Alice when she laughed. She seemed to be getting to know the bloodless magical creature.
Elt: [Is that weird?] 
It's an artifact that was created a long time ago, so of course it doesn't have a will. It must have seemed strange to the royals to be working with such a being.
Elt: [Maybe it's because we've been through so much together that I don't feel like they're just a tool.] 
When I said that, Alice....
Alice: [It's fine. I like that about you, Elt.] 
She patted me on the shoulder, not in her usual teasing way, and left.
[What was that about?] 
I could only tilt my head thinking about what she liked about me.
Alicia: [Hey, Elt. Are you sure it's okay?] 
Alicia looked around as we walked through the forest.
I didn't know this until I left here, but the Lost Forest of the Erivan Kingdom is famous for its inability to return safely to those who enter.
She felt uneasy because she had stepped into such a place.
Marie: [It's fine. Leave it to Marie.] 
Marie joined me as my companion after we entered the Lost Forest. She's a spirit that I've made a contract with, and she's the spirit queen who leads the wind spirits.
She uses the wind spirits all over the forest and perfectly locates the monsters.
Serena: [In fact, thanks to Marie, we were never caught by surprise.] 
Perhaps to reassure Alicia, Serena was talking about the time we left the Lost Forest.
Alicia: [I, is that so.... Marie, you're awesome.] 
Marie: [Ahem. If you have Marie, you will never get hurt. ......Auch!] 
As she was saying this, she caught her foot on a tree root and fell down. It seems that she was in a good mood and she wasn't paying attention to her surroundings.
Serena: [Not at all. You're a helpless child...] 
When Serena saw her, she reached out to Marie....
Marie grabbed her hand, brushing off the mud.
Serena: [I mean, shouldn't Marie just fly?] 
Serena pouted at the fact that Marie, who could fly, was walking with her.......
Marie: [Uuuu, it's been a long time since I've been summoned, so I want to be as close to master as possible.] 
If she flies in the air, she has to move away from the wind as it rolls in. She seemed to think that if she did that, she wouldn't be able to be near me. I can't leave her alone if she said that much.
Marie: [I guess I was too cautious of my surroundings to pay attention to my feet.] 
I approached Marie and took her hand.
Marie: [Ma, ster....] 
She looked impressed as she shook her bunny ears.
Serena: [Uuuu, I envy you.] 
Alice: [So that's how you've been getting girl after girl.] 
The three of them look at me in disgust.
Marie:[Ehehe. I love you, Master.] 
But when I saw Marie's happy face, I couldn't let go of her hand.
I, the Sacrifice, Somehow Killed the Evil God (WN)
【書籍化】生贄になった俺が、なぜか邪神を滅ぼしてしまった件【コミカライズ】
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-the-sacrifice-somehow-killed-the-evil-god/
Action Adventure Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Charming Protagonist Childhood Friends Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Different Social Status Dragons Elves Evil Gods Eye Powers Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fast Learner Game Elements Gods Hard-Working Protagonist Hated Protagonist Healers Kind Love Interests Lack of Common Sense Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Magic Magic Formations Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Popular Love Interests R-15 Royalty Spirit Users Spirits Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7677gq/
まるせい