が眼を覚ました時、最初に視界に入って来たのは木目のある天井だった。左手で顔を撫でると、顔の左側には包帯が巻かれていた。誰かの手当てが施されたということだろう。
桔音は身体を起こし、周囲を確認する。どうやらベッドに寝かされていたようで、身体に掛かっていた毛布がぱさりと落ちた。構わず横を見ると、手を伸ばせば届く距離に木のテーブルがあり、その上に桔音の物であるお面と簡単な食事が置いてあった。桔音はとりあえずベッドから足を下ろし、お面を頭の横に来るように付け、立ち上がる。
「......ここは......」
どうやら此処は誰かの部屋の様だ。桔音以外には誰もいないが、待っていれば誰かが帰ってくるのだろう。
桔音はフィニアの姿を探す。お面を『ステータス鑑定』で見てみるが、どうやらお面の中にはいないようだった。桔音の予想ではおそらく、この部屋の主と共にいるのだろうが、いままで一緒に行動を共にしていた相手がいなくなるというのは、中々寂しいものがある。
すると、桔音の腹から空腹の音が鳴った。取り敢えず、この部屋から出るのは得策ではないと考え、桔音はテーブルの上に置かれた数個のパンと果物に手を付けることにした。
人の手によって加工された食料を食べるのは随分と久しぶりな気がして、少しだけ感傷的になった。だが、一口食べれば止まらない。どうやらかなり空腹だったようで、テーブルの上にあった食事は全て、ものの数分で桔音の腹に収まった。
「......ふぅ、お腹も膨れたし......とりあえず......二度寝しよう」
「......やぁフィニアちゃん、おはよう」
「うんおはよう! というか今はもうこんにちわの時間だけどね! ぐっどあふたぬーんだよ!」
「あはは......というか何処から入って来たの今?」
「扉から!」
桔音がベッドに腰掛けた途端に入ってきたフィニア。いつものような毒舌を吐きながら桔音の胸に飛び込んできた。桔音はフィニアの言葉を聞いて、部屋の唯一の出入り口である扉に視線を向けた。
そこには、緋色の髪を後頭部でお団子の様に纏めた少女がいた。年齢は桔音と同じ位、翠色の瞳が特徴的で、服の合い間から見える肌には包帯や軟膏が多く見られた。そしてなにより桔音の眼を惹いたのは、彼女が片手に携えている剣だ。
だが、まずはこの部屋の主であろう彼女のことを知らねばならないだろう。
桔音の言葉に、少女は苦笑気味にそう言った。桔音は元の世界では他人の悪意の多い環境で毎日を過ごしていた、またこの世界に来てからの生活もあって、他者の悪意に随分と敏感になっている。故に、彼女に悪意がないことを感じとり、少しだけ警戒心を和らげた。
「えーと、それで......君が僕を助けてくれたのかな?」
「あ、ああ......この国の入り口に倒れていて満身創痍なようだったからな、本当なら医者に見せてやりたい所なんだが、素性の知れない奴だったからな......それに怪我は左眼以外大したことはなさそうだったから、取り敢えず私の下宿している此処に運んだんだ」
「そう......ありがとう、左眼の手当ても君が?」
「ああ、勝手だが放っておくと傷口が悪化するからな」
「というか、国?」
「ん? ここはミニエラという名の国だよ」
桔音の問いに少女は淀みなく答えた。どうやらここは街ではなく国だったようだ、異世界故に、桔音とは国の人口数の常識が違うらしい。
とりあえず、桔音は色々世話になっていることに対して、再度礼と共に頭を下げた。
「えーと、ごめん君の名前は......」
「ああすまない、紹介が遅れたな......私の名前はトリシェ・ルミエイラだ。出来ればトリシェの方で呼んでくれ」
「うん、僕の名前は薙刀桔音......ああ、きつねでいいよ」
「うん? ナギナタ......が、名前じゃないのか?」
「いや、僕の場合は桔音が名前なんだ......そっか、こっちでは桔音・薙刀になるのかな?」
桔音はこっちの世界では元の世界と色々違う事がありそうだ、と思いながら名前を言い直す。すると、トリシェは成程と頷きながら笑みを浮かべる。そして、桔音に歩み寄って手を差し出した。
「まぁ悪い奴ではなさそうだな......それに、きつねが起きるまでにフィニアと少し話したが、話してて悪意は感じられなかった。とりあえず、よろしく頼む」
「......うん、よろしくね......えーと、リーシェちゃん」
「トリシェなんだけど......まぁ良い、好きに呼んでくれ」
桔音は差し出された手を握って、握手する。そしてフィニアもまた、繋がれた二人の手に両手をついて、にぱっと笑いながらそう言った。
桔音と命名リーシェは、そんなフィニアの純粋な笑顔を見て、お互い噴き出すように笑った。
「はぁ......それじゃ、とりあえず食事にしようか。先程フィニアと共に食料を買いに行ってたんだ」
「そうなの?」
「そうなの!」
桔音は腰掛けていたベッドから立ち上がり、リーシェについて部屋を出た。部屋を出ると、どうやらここは宿のようで、先程まで桔音がいた部屋の他にも幾つか部屋があった。
「この宿は客も調理場が使用出来るんだ、だから食料さえ用意すれば自分で好きに食事を作ることが出来る」
「へぇ......ってことはこの宿から料理を貰う事も出来るの?」
「ああ、お金を払えば朝昼晩と三食ちゃんと出てくる。まぁ指定時間内に食堂に来なければ食べられないんだけどな」
「その場合はお金の無駄使いって事になるね!」
リーシェの説明に桔音は頷き、フィニアはそんな感想を言った。
と、そこまで来て桔音は気が付いた。宿からはお金を払えば食事が出る、だが先程リーシェはフィニアと食料を買いに行っていたと言った。ということは、
「リーシェちゃん......料理出来るの?」
「む、失礼な......これでも料理は得意なんだ、友達にも店を出せるレベルだと言われたことがある」
「ああ、フィニアのもちゃんと作るから座って待っててくれ」
桔音とフィニアはリーシェに言われたとおりに空いているテーブルに腰掛けた。すると、リーシェは調理場の入口に歩いて行き、奥へと姿を消した。
桔音はそれを見送ると、少しだけ身体の力を抜いた。そしてテーブルの上に足を伸ばして座るフィニアに視線を向けながら、口を開いた。
「フィニアちゃん......僕、どれくらい寝てた?」
「うん? えーと、この国に着いたのは朝方だから......5時間位?」
「そっか......それじゃリーシェと一緒に買い物に出てたって言ってたけど......街......ああ国だっけ......の様子はどんな感じだった?」
桔音はフィニアからこの国についての情報を聞きだす。もとより、この国に来た目的は魔獣からの安全確保とこの世界についての情報収集だ。少しでも情報を集めなければ、元の世界に帰るなんて夢のまた夢、この世界で生活すること自体不可能だろう。
桔音は先程のリーシェとの会話の断片から、少しづつこの世界についての知識を収集していた。まずは名前、この世界では和名は珍しいようだ。リーシェの名前からして、片仮名の名前が常識的なのだろう。となれば、フィニアにフィニアと名付けたのは中々良い選択だったということになる。
『異世界人』というものは、自身の称号としてステータスに表示されるほどの『異様』な存在だ。ならば、これは隠しておいた方が良いだろう。少なくとも、この世界において異世界人という存在が認知されているかいないか、それがはっきりするまでは。
まして、桔音の服装は異世界の学ランだ。一文無し故にこの服装を変えるつもりはないが、それでもトリシェの女戦士の様な服装を鑑みれば、桔音の服装がこの場において珍しいことは容易に理解出来る。
「......とりあえず、此処で生活するには多少なりともお金が必要だ。早めに働き先を見つけないと」
「あ、じゃあ冒険者になってみようよ!」
「冒険者......?」
「うん、さっき買い物に行く途中で見つけたんだ! 冒険者ギルド! リーシェにも聞いて確認したから間違いないよ!」
冒険者ギルド。桔音はそれを聞いて、少し考える。
ギルドといえば、異世界の定番だ。依頼を受注し、魔獣を討伐したり、薬草を収集したりすることで依頼者から報酬金を貰う仕事。所謂何でも屋の様なものだ。
だが、それ故に危険が付き纏う。魔獣と戦うリスクは街に逃げて来た桔音からすればあまり背負いたくはないし、仮に平和的な依頼だけを受けたとしても、周囲に『魔獣を殺せる人間』がいるのはやはり怖い。
「でも......それしかない、かなぁ......」
リーシェの反応から、この世界においてもその人の『素性』というものはそれなりに重視されていることは分かる。ならば、客商売に就職するのはあまり出来そうにはないだろう。素性の知れない男を接客業に携えてくれる者など、そうはいない。
「フィニアちゃん」
「なにかな?」
「あれ、まだ有効かな? ......僕を護ってくれるってやつ」
「―――勿論だよ、きつねさんは私が護る」
「うん、それじゃああとでギルドに行こう。でもね、フィニアちゃん」
「ん?」
「僕も強くなるよ、誰にも殺されない程度には」
「......うん、一緒に頑張ろうね!」
桔音は決めた。多少のリスクは背負うことを。そうしないと、何もかも始まらない。
これから元の世界へ戻る為の手段を探すのだ。それはつまり、世界との戦いといっても良い。その過程で、魔獣や人と戦うことは避けられない筈だ。ならば、少しでも強くなる。桔音はそう決意した。
とそこへ、リーシェがやってきた。その手にはサラダとステーキが器用に持たれていた。見た目的には元の世界にあるものとあまり変わらないが、その内容は見たことのない食材が使われている。
「これ、何の肉?」
「ああ、これは国の近くに生息してる鳥型魔獣トリスの肉だ」
桔音は目の前に出たステーキが、今まで自分達の命を脅かす敵だった魔獣の肉だと知って、少し微妙な気分になった。食べてみて、また味が良いのが更に微妙な気分になる。
だが、となりでステーキをもぎゅもぎゅと頬張っているフィニアを見ると、それもまぁいいかと思えた。食事を必要としない妖精の彼女だが、それでもものを食べている子供を見ているようで、少し微笑ましい。
「うん、美味しいよ。リーシェちゃんって料理上手なんだねぇ」
「ありがとう、これだけは私も得意なんだ。まぁ、剣の腕はまだまだだけどな」
「剣......ってことはリーシェちゃんは冒険者?」
「ああいや、私はこの国の騎士団の見習いだ」
「騎士団?」
食事をしながら、リーシェが説明してくれる。
この街には冒険者ギルドの他に、騎士団と呼ばれる組織があるらしい。これは桔音の世界でいう所の警察の様なもので、この街を警邏したり、犯罪者を取り締まったりする組織だ。騎士団はある程度実力のある人間なら試験を受けられ、そして合格すればなる事が出来る。給金は手柄次第で増えるが、失態を犯さない限り一定金額は保障される職業である。
そして、リーシェの言う騎士団見習いというのは、騎士団に入る為の実力を付ける為に、実際に騎士団にいる騎士から手ほどきを受けている者のことだ。実力が付いてくれば、教導騎士から試験を受ける許可が貰える。
「リーシェちゃんは見習いになってどれくらいなの?」
「ああ......もう二年になるが、まだ実力が足りていないらしい」
「ぐさりと来る発言をするな......きつね」
「あ、これおいしい」
「露骨に話を逸らさないでくれ」
そんな話をしながら、桔音は食事を終えた。
「その挨拶はなんだ?」
「ん、いやまぁ僕のいた場所での食事作法だよ」
「なるほど......どういう意味があるんだ?」
「んー、食事を作ってくれた人や僕達の血肉になった命に対する感謝、だっけ?」
「......へぇ、見習いたい意識だな」
リーシェはそう言いながら食器を片づける。また調理場に持っていき、しばらくして洗い終えたのか戻ってきた。
「それで......きつねはこれからどうするんだ?」
リーシェが口を開いて始めたのは、これからの話だった。
When kitsune's awoken, his first view was a wooden roof. After a while, he touched his face with his left hand, and found some bandages on his face. Seems that somebody has nursed him, isn't it!?
Kitsune raise his body and take a look around him. It seems that somehow he ended up on a bed, and his blanket fell slowly. Glancing to his left, there's a wooden desk that can be reached just by stretching his hand. On the desk his mask is laid, and some simple food is served. He hastily stood up from the bed, and wore his mask.
[.... Where is this?...]
No matter what, this place seems to be somebody's room. Though there's nobody here aside from kitsune now, if he waited around there might be someone coming back.
Kitsune tries to find finia, by wearing the mask, he saw [status judgement], and somehow after checking, finia is not there. In his assumption, maybe she is with the person staying in this room. Feeling the partner that walks with him all this time suddenly disappear makes him felt very very lonely.
After a while, his stomach starts to grumble. Even so, he thought, that getting out of this room is not the best choice for him, then kitsune took on his hand some bread and fruits from the table.
He's aware that he kept eating the food in his hand, he felt some sentimental feelings about it, at first it's just a bite but afterwards he can't stop eating. No matter what he's really hungry since he ate all the food on the table.
[...Fuu, my stomach is bigger now.... So sleepy... let's get some more sleep]
[.... Oo, good morning finia-chan]
[yes, good morning! In other words its guu~dafteeeernoon!!]
[hahaha.... By the way, how did you get in?]
[from the door!]
Kitsune sit back on the bed as finia arrives. And as usual finia throws some rude remarks straight to kitsune. While kitsune gazed on the only entrance - exit in the room while listening to finia.
On the door there's a female with a scarlet hair, with dango like hair. She looked like kitsune's age, her eyes are green which makes her different from most other people, and on her skin in the middle of the clothes, there's bandages and ointment, lots of it. But aside from that, the sword on the female is what amazed kitsune. It is a {one hand slayer} sword.
First things first, he need to know about the girl in this room.
On kitsune's word, the girl started to smile bitterly. In his own world, kitsune gave of an unpleasant feelings which more of a malice to people around him, he pass his days like that, and even after coming to this world, he is unsure whether he will experience such life again, he's feeling sensitive that he would make such atmosphere. But after seeing her, he felt the girl doesn't seem to feel like that, so his wariness eases up a little bit.
[e-too, then, you are the one that helped me?]
[a,aa... since you collapsed with body full of injuries in from of the city gates-na, I wanted to show the wounds to a doctor but... I don't understand how it could have happened... beside, your left eyes wound seemed not so severe, so I brought you to my room here]
[i see.... Thank you. Then you are also the one that healed my left eye?]
[yes, if left alone, the wounds will get worse-na]
[here, is a country?]
[nn? This is miniera country]
The lady answered kitsune question without hesitation. Seems this place is a country, not a city... since this is a different world, for kitsune it seems that the common sense of population of a country is different.
Anyhow, since he has troubled the girl too much, again he bowed his head and said his thanks.
[ee~to, your name is?]
[ah forgive me... its a bit of a late introduction-na.. My name is trishe rumiela. But you can call me trishe]
[un, mine is naginata kitsune... ah, you can call me kitsune]
[un, the name is not "naginata"?]
[no, in my place, its called "kitsune"... I see, here it would be kitsune naginata instead]
Kitsune re-said his name while thinking that this world and his world has some differences. Seems that trishe understood it and offers her hand. Then, kitsune started to approach and also give hand for hand shake.
[well, seems you are not an evil person-na.... And again, while waiting for you to regain consciousness, I talked with finia, and seems there is no bad intention from you. So nice to meet you ne]
[un, ah nice to meet you too... ee-to, rishe-chan]
[my name is trishe... but never mind, call me as you like]
Kitsune shakes her hand then finia sits on both their palm, while smiling.
Kitsune and rishe, laughed together after seeing finia innocent smile.
[well then, let's just have some meal for now. I already went shopping with finia earlier]
[that so?]
[yes that so!]
Kitsune who's sitting on the bed immediately raise his body, and rishe came out of the room. After coming out of the room, it seems this room is used for travelers. Aside from the room kitsune was in, there's several other similar looking room. And if they go down from the end of the corridor, they arrived in a void. There's several table lined, and it seemed to be a canteen/tavern. The canteen, itself links with the receptions, and there's a lady that looks like a [japanese restaurant mistress] stood there.
[in this inn, the guest can use the kitchen, so when you want to, you can cook your own favorite food]
[hee... in other words, you can also ask for food from this inn?]
[ah, if we pay, we can get 3x meal per day, morning, noon, and dinner. Well, even so, you still have to come on the set time of the day-na]
[well if so then, the money is wasted then (t/n : useless basically)]
Kitsune nodded on the explanation by rishe, and finia seems to emit a feeling of understanding as well.
And, up to there kitsune realized... food can be served by the inn if you pay, but earlier rishe and finia mentioned they went out to buy groceries. In other words...
[rishe-chan can cook?]
[hemm... how rude... even though like this, i'm a good cook, my friends even told me I can even opened up a shop at my cooking level]
[aa, I will make some for finia as well, please sit and wait ok]
Kitsune and finia both sat on an empty table as rishe said. Then rishe went into the kitchen and disappears.
After kitsune saw that rishe went into the kitchen, he relax his body and, finia that are stretching her legs while sitting on top of the table gazed around and yawned.
[finia-chan... how long was i... asleep?]
[ee? Umm, we've been in this country since morning, so... around 5 hour?]
[i see.. Then, you said you went out shopping with rishe.. In town... ah no... this country... what do you think about this country?]
Kitsune listen to the information about this country from finia. Since the beginning, their plan coming to this country was to find safety from magic beasts and to gather information about this world. If it's not possible to collect information about this country for even a tiny bit, then the dream to return to the previous world is just a dream, and they won't be able to survive in this world right?
Kitsune who's listening from bits of rishe's chat, slowly starts to understand about this world. First is name, which is family name is not common in this world. So names with katakana is common sense (t/n note : not sure about this one). If it's finia the nits called finia (t/n: seems the author is trying to express naming by katakana to be the norm here). In any case, in this country kitsune will not introduce himself with family name. Like finia what called him [kitsune], then he would introduce himself as such. And keep his coming in from another world as a secret.
Listening to kitsune's talk, finia who are bonded with him, nodded without asking the reason. [Isekai/ other world], as a name that was given by himself alone is a strange enough] has been shown by status. It's better to keep it hidden for now. At least until he can understand the people that's living in this world.
In addition to that, the clothes kitsune wore is a high school uniform. Since he's poor he has no intention to replace his clothing. But even so, by seeing trishe's uniform that looks like a female soldier, kitsune's clothes is weird in this world. That is easy enough to understand.
[at the very least, to survive in this world. No matter how little, money is needed. I have to get some work soon]
[a, ok then let's try to be an adventurer!]
[adventurer?]
[yes, when I was shopping I saw! Its [adventurer's guild]! I asked rishe as well, there's no doubt about it!]
Adventurer's guild. Kitsune listen and think about it.
Guild is a standard in fantasy world. Accepting request to defeat magic beast, or gathering medicinal herbs, then receiving monetary compensation for it. It's basically a good place.
However, danger constantly follows this. For kitsune whose run to the town was to escape from fighting magic beast, this is the least he of what he wanted to do, and, even only temporarily, wanted to live in peace. [People that kills magic beast] is of course scary to their surrounding.
[but we can't just do that...]
From rishe's reaction, even in this world, [such people] can be understood that they have some weights. By that, the chance of being hired by service industry is non existent. Nobody will entertain someone with unclear pasts, no one. That's why adventurer job where there is no past will be asked and getting compensation for it, is the best place for kitsune to get some living cost with his current condition.
[finia chan]
[yes, what is it?]
[is it still valid? The promise that you will protect me?]
[........... Of course, I will protect you kitsune san]
[ok then, let's join the guild. But, finia chan]
[nn?]
[i will also become strong... at least strong enough to not get killed by someone else] (t/n: is it someone else? Or something else as in magic beast? Dunno but the translation said someone else)
[..... Yes, let's fight together!]
Kitsune decided, he will take a small chance. Otherwise he won't start anything at all.
Starting now, he will find a way to return to his world. In other words, even fighting this world will be fine.
On the plate rishe brought, there's salad and steak, appearance wise, it's not so different with his world, but there's also something else that he never seen before.
[this, what kind of meat is this?]
[ah, this is torisu meat. Its a magical beast bird class that lives in a nearby area]
The steak served in front of him, is known as the meat of the magic beast that endangers him and his partner. He tried eating it and more or less the good taste makes him feels complicated
But when he saw finia chan next to him exerting a mogyu mogyu expression with a meat in her mouth, he thought ..... Never mind....
[un, this is tasty. Rise chan is good at cooking]
[thanks, but this is all I can cook, well... if its sword related then its still nothing]
[sword.... in other words, Rise Chan is an adventurer?]
[ah no, i'm an apprentice [Knight Group] of this country]
[Knight Group?]
Rishe explained to him while eating.
Seems that in this town aside from [adventurer's guild], there is also an organization called [knight's group]. In kitsune world, this is known as police, they're an organization that patrols the city, and do crime control. [Knight group] is people that took the test to see their ability. And if they pass, they can become knights. The salary also increases according to their ability, as long as they don't do violation, the income is guaranteed.
Then, what rishe said as apprentice knight, to have jitsuryoku to become a knight, in reality is a guidebook obtained from knights in the [knight group]. To get this jitsuryoku, you have to get an approval to take the test from the knights academy.
[rishe chan, how long have you been an apprentice knight?]
[ah, around 2 year, but... seems that my jitsuryoku is still lacking]
[don't say things that hurts... kitsune]
[a, this is tasty!]
[don't change the subject!]
While chatting like that kitsune finishes his meal.
[what does that means?]
[emm, well.. Its an expression for food in my hometown]
[i see, what is the meaning of it?]
[ehm, it's an expression of gratitude for families or friends that gave the food required to live, something like that?]
[... He, it's a followable common sense -na]
While talking like that, rishe gathers the plates and utensils. Carried it to the kitchen to wash it then came back.
[now.... What will kitsune do?]
With rishe's word, all the tale of kitsune will be started.
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