14. セバスの独白
セバスは先々代からペッパー家に仕えており、最も古くからいる使用人だ。
今でこそ、落ち目のペッパー家と嘲笑われるが、先代までは一流の魔法使いを輩出する名門だった。
特に先代は、魔法に関して国内有数の使い手だった。
その名は、国外まで轟いており、領民からも信頼されていた。
だが、先代は妻とともに不慮の事故で亡くなり、そこからは坂を転げ落ちるかのように、ペッパー家は落ちぶれていった。
現当主であるブラック・ペッパーに魔法の才能がなかったのが
貴族社会では魔法が重んじられる。
伯爵家を継いだ段階では、ブラックも領主としての責任を一生懸命果たそうとしていた。
だが、突然領主を任されたことと、偉大過ぎる先代の面影が、ブラックを苦しめた。
何をしても先代と比べられ、周囲の期待に応えることができない。
その事実から彼は、逃げるように暴飲暴食を繰り返すようになったのだ。
いつしか、好き放題遊ぶ愚かな領主に成り下がっていた。
セバスの話を一切聞かなくなり、完全に手が付けられない状態になっていた。
そして、ペッパー家の嫡男であるオーウェンは、ブラックに似たのか、粗暴な振る舞いをする少年に育っていた。
セバスがオーウェンに仕え始めたときには、すでに何を言っても手遅れ。
ブラックを見限ってでも、オーウェンの教育に専念すべきだった。
ペッパー家はオーウェンの代で潰えるかもしれない。
セバスは自分の力不足を呪った。
先代達に申し訳ない。
だが、今更悔いても仕方ない。
せめて、セバスだけは最後までペッパー家に忠義を尽くそうと誓った。
それが自分の役目だ、と。
そんなとき、オーウェンの様子が突然変わった。
まるで、人が変わったかのような振る舞いをし始めた。
オーウェンは相手が誰であっても感謝の言葉を忘れず、敬意をもって接するようになったのだ。
今まで、使用人を見下し、暴力を振るってきた子供とは思えない。
使用人に敬意を持って接する貴族が、はたしてどのくらいいるのだろうか。
だが、オーウェンの姿は、貴族の在り方としては間違っている。
「坊ちゃまは人の上に立つ貴族です。下の者に敬語で接してはなりません」
と注意したことがあった。
それに対して、オーウェンは、
「目上の、それも尊敬する相手に、どうして敬語を使ってはならないのですか? 天は人の上に人を造らず、人の下に人を造らず、です。ろくに学びもしなかった僕が、彼らの上に立ち、指図する資格はありません」
貴族とは元来、平民の上に立つものだ。
それは、この世界の常識と言ってもいい。
その根底にあるのが魔法至上主義であるものの、貴族は偉いというのは人々の共通認識だ。
それを否定することは社会全体を否定することに繋がりかねない。
だから、決して、オーウェンの考え方は褒められたものではない。
だが、セバスはオーウェンの考えに共感するところがあった。
何もしていない貴族がそれほど偉いのだろうか。
貴族としての務めを果たさない、現当主ブラック・ペッパーは本当に敬う存在なのであろうか。
そう思ってしまうことは度々あった。
だから、セバスは、
「今の言葉を、他の人の前では口にしないでください」
オーウェンは「学ばないものが人の上に立つ資格はない」という言葉を体現するかのように、魔法を学んでいった。
当初、オーウェンの変化を不審に思っている使用人は大勢いた。
しかし、彼の努力を目の当たりにした使用人たちは、次第に彼を応援するようになった。
彼の人柄が変わってから、2年以上経つ。
もう、この家にはオーウェンに負の感情を抱く者はいない。
きっと、この落ちぶれたペッパー家を、彼ならば立て直すことができるはずだ。
オーウェンが立派に育っていく姿を見てそう考えた。
そして、彼の成長を間近で見れることをセバスは嬉しく思った。
今日もオーウェンは朝から魔法の練習に明け暮れていた。
それを側で見ているセバスは、
「ペッパー家は安泰です」
Ch 14
Sebas has served the Pepper family since the previous generation and is the oldest servant.
Nowadays, the Pepper family is ridiculed as a failed family, but until the last generation, they were a prestigious family that produced top-notch wizards.
His predecessor, in particular, was one of the best wizards in the country.
His name was known all over the world, and he was trusted by his people.
However, the previous generation died in an accident along with his wife, and the Pepper family went into decline as if they were plummeting down a hill.
The main reason for this is that the current head of the family, Black Pepper, had no talent for magic.
In aristocratic society, magic is valued.
At the stage when he took over the Count's family, Black was also trying his best to fulfill his responsibilities as a lord.
However, the sudden appointment as lord and the overly great image of his predecessor made Black suffer.
No matter what he does, he is compared to his predecessors and cannot meet the expectations of those around him.
This fact led him to repeatedly engage in eating and drinking to escape.
At some point, he had become a foolish lord who played as he pleased.
He had stopped listening to any of Sebas' words and was completely out of control.
And Owen, the legitimate son of the Pepper family, had grown up to be a boy with rough behavior, perhaps like Black.
By the time Sebas began to serve Owen, it was already too late to say or do anything.
He should have given up on Black and focused on Owen's education.
The Pepper family may be destroyed in Owen's generation.
Sebas was frustrated by his lack of strength.
He felt sorry for his predecessors.
But there was no point in regretting it now.
At least, Sebas swore to be loyal to the Pepper family until the end.
'That is what I'm supposed to do.'
Then, Owen's behavior suddenly changed.
He began to act as if he was a changed person.
Owen never forgot to say thank you and treat others with respect, no matter who they were.
It is hard to believe that he is the child who has been disrespecting and attacking his servants.
'I wonder how many nobles treat their servants with respect.'
However, Owen's appearance is not the right way for a nobleman to be.
"Bochama is a nobleman who stands above others. He must not address those below him with honorifics."
He had warned him about this.
Owen, on the other hand.
"Why can't we use honorifics with our elders, even those we respect? Heaven does not create man above man, nor man below man. I am not qualified to stand above them and tell them what to do because I have not learned enough," he answered.
Aristocrats were originally meant to be above the common people.
It is common knowledge in this world.
It is common knowledge among the people that nobles are great, although the basis of this is magical supremacy.
Denying it could lead to the denial of society as a whole.
So, Owen's way of thinking is, by no means, a commendable one.
However, Sebas had some sympathy for Owen's thoughts.
Would a nobleman who had done nothing be so great?
Is the current head of the family, Black Pepper, who is not fulfilling his duties as an aristocrat, really someone to be respected?
There were many times when he felt that way.
So, Sebas...
He told him not to say anything, "Please don't say what you just said in front of others."
Owen learned magic as if he were the embodiment of the saying, "Those who do not learn are not qualified to stand above others."
At first, many of the servants were suspicious of Owen's change.
However, the servants who witnessed his efforts gradually came to support him.
It has been over two years since his personality changed.
No one in this house has any negative feelings toward Owen anymore.
'I am sure he'll be able to turn this fallen Pepper family around.'
That is what he thought as he watched Owen grow into a fine young man.
And Sebas was happy to be able to see his growth up close.
Today, Owen had spent the morning practicing his magic.
Sebas watched from the side.
"Pepper's family is safe," he muttered to his late ancestors.
Reincarnated as the Son of a Vicious Lord! ~When I Was Having Fun Learning Magic, I Had to Get Rid of My Stigma~!
悪徳領主の息子に転生！？～楽しく魔法を学んでいたら、汚名を返上してました～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/reincarnated-as-the-son-of-a-vicious-lord-when-i-was-having-fun-learning-magic-i-had-to-get-rid-of-my-stigma/
Adventure Fantasy Romance School Life Shounen
Academy Adapted to Manga Age Progression Battle Competition Character Growth Cheats Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Elemental Magic Fat to Fit Female Master Friendship Harem-seeking Protagonist Harsh Training Hated Protagonist Late Romance Loyal Subordinates Male Protagonist Modern Knowledge Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in Another World Saints Strength-based Social Hierarchy Sword And Magic Underestimated Protagonist
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6812gh/
米津