ヴィシーからの独立を宣言し、街から国へと変わったピュルサンの中央には、街の代表から国家元首へと肩書きを変えたミノソンの屋敷がある。
屋敷はあくまで私邸であり、庁舎はすぐ近所にある。彼は毎朝自宅で朝食を摂り、短い距離でも馬車で通勤するのが習慣となっていた。街の代表となって以降、国家元首となってからも時間に遅れる事は一度たりとも無かった彼だが、今日に限っては数分遅れて玄関から表れた。
心配そうに待っていた馭者は、ようやく顔を見せた雇い主の姿に一瞬笑顔を見せたが、ひと目でわかる程にやせ衰えた顔つきに、心配を通り越して狼狽してしまう。
報告書を持ち込んだ秘書も、青い顔をしている。
「詳しい説明を......」
「はい。旧ヴィシーからは現状我々ピュルサン陣営に参加したのは3つの街とそれに付随する村のみで、残りのうち半分はフォカロルへ恭順し、残りは連合を組んでヴィシーの政体を存続させるようです」
「中央委員会はどうなっている」
「一人だけフォカロルへ恭順するために離脱。残り3名で中央を維持しておりますが、自分たちの街の防備を優先するあまり、他の街の代表からの支持が得られず、このままでは分解する可能性もあるかと」
いち早く抜け出した自分が言うのも可笑しな話だとは思うが、単なる戦争であれば、お互いの戦力をある程度削った時点で手打ちとなって、負けた方が金銭的にも労働力的にも痛い目を見て、数年ほど立て直しに必死になるだけで終わっただろう。
だが、今回は違った。
ミノソンは、一二三という男の恐ろしさは戦力とは違うところにあると思っている。
ヴィシーの連合軍がオーソングランデ領へと誘い込まれ、散々に討ち減らされたあの戦いのあと、削り取られた領地は搾取さえる事なく、一二三の指導によって公平な統治が行われ、大多数の住民にとってはむしろ住みやすくなったと言える。実力を示せば、街の代表ですら免職される事なく町長や文官として採用されるとさえ聞いた。
これでは、ヴィシー側の住民たちは何のために中央委員会の指導に従っていたのかという疑問を覚えても仕方がないだろう。事実、そのせいで多くの街がフォカロルへと寝返り、ヴィシー側に残った街の中でも、代表が残留の意思を見せても民衆は反対しているというところも少なくない。
「つまるところ、戦闘でも政治でも負けたのだ。早晩、ヴィシーという名前は無くなるかもしれんな......」
ポツリと呟いた言葉に、秘書が顔を上げるが、気にしないでくれと手を振った。
今は、この国を守る事を考えねばならない。
「再度、フォカロルへ使者を立ててくれ。産声をあげたばかりの、弱々しいこの国の危機を救って欲しいと」
地理的に孤立するのは仕方ないが、かと言ってヴィシーに残って徹底抗戦をするならば、今度こそ滅ぼされてしまいかねない。
今を耐え抜き、友好国としての振る舞いに終始することを、ミノソンは選んだ。
オーソングランデ王城では、隊長を中心とした第三騎士隊居残り組による、王子派閥の排除が進んでいた。城内にいる騎士は全て第三騎士隊所属の騎士へと代わり、政治の場でも王子派に属する貴族の発言力は見るからに落ちている。
ロトマゴという名の第三騎士隊長は、武勲ではなく諜報など情報戦での成果を認められて昇進した男だった。さほど裕福ではない子爵家の三男坊の出だった彼は、厚ぼったいまぶたで眠たげな顔つきの冴えない風貌で、とにかく目立たないのが特徴の、基本的に派手な舞台には顔を見せないタイプの人物だ。
今は珍しく現場に出て指揮をとってはいるが、それでも執務室から出ることはほとんど無かった。
そのロトマゴは今、一二三よりも王子派よりも、宰相であるアドルを注視していた。
王女派の動きには、宰相アドルも大きく関わっている。多くの貴族たちをまとめあげるのに、その肩書きとこれまでの堅実な働きは高く評価されており、理性的な説得で貴族を引き込むのに大きな役割を果たしている。
その宰相が、最近は夜な夜な城内の資料保管室に篭っているという噂があり、ロトマゴも部下を使ってそれが事実であるというところまでは掴んでいた。
それが何のためであるかまではわからなかったが......。
「......本当に、そんな魔法があるんだろうな」
薄暗い資料室にて、薄い石版に刻み付ける形で保管されている魔法関連の記録を漁りながら、宰相アドルは呟いた。
「ええ、もちろん。お姫様が成功させた召喚魔法があるんです。送還だってできますよ。過去に記録があるはずです」
何がおかしいのか、笑いを含んだ声が、アドルの背後から聞こえてくる。
「......まさか私が、悪霊の話に乗ることになる日が来るとは思わなかった」
「悪霊だなんて人聞きが悪いですねぇ」
振り向いたアドルの目の前には、黒い霧に包まれた青白い顔だけが浮かんでいる。ニタニタと貼り付いた笑いを浮かべたその顔は、半分が闇に包まれていた。
「私は死神だと言ったでしょう」
死神の言い草に、アドルは不機嫌に鼻を鳴らした。
「悪霊が神を名乗るなどおこがましい。それより、貴様も探すのを手伝え。この調子で続けていたら、記録があったとしてもいつ見つかるか見当もつかん」
「残念ながら、まだ顔までしか復活できていないのですよ。最初にお話したでしょう? 一二三さんにあの刀で斬り殺されてから、力の一部を一二三さんに貼り付けてこちらへ着て、ようやくここまで力が戻ったのです」
やれやれ、とわざとらしく眉を寄せて顔を振った。
「神を名乗る割には、随分と復活に時間がかかっているな」
「あの刀がいけないんですよ。なんというか、戦いの神様の加護がついていますからねぇ。流石の私でも、危うく消滅するところでした。それに......」
笑顔から一変、口を尖らせ、いじけるような口調に変わった。
「せっかく私が差し上げた闇魔法の力をあんまり使ってくれないものですから、私の力の源が少ないんですよねぇ。便利な収納くらいにしか思われてないみたいで、このままじゃいつまでたっても私の存在力が上がりませんよ」
困ったものです、と死神は語った。
「存在力か......」
「ええ、私たち神は人々に信仰されたり頼られたりという形で認識されることで、世界に顕現する力を得るのです。ですから、私が与えた力を使ってくれたら、それだけ私にも力が与えられるわけですよ」
「なら、この世界で一二三殿が戦い続けた方が、都合がいいんじゃないか?」
アドルの質問に、死神は「チッチッ」と舌を鳴らす。人差し指があれば横に振っていただろう。
「これでも、元の世界ではメジャーな神様なのですよ。神様そのものの新興が薄いこちらより、元の世界がずっと居心地が良いのです。そのためには、送還魔法で送り返される誰かについて行く必要がありますから」
利害が一致するでしょう、と死神が言うのに、アドルは渋い顔ながら納得する。
「さあ、頑張って探して、お姫様に希望を与えましょう。絶望の方はすでに予定が決まっているのですから」
アイペロス王子死亡の知らせという名の絶望は、宰相のところで止められていたのだった。
ミュンスターへ到着したフォカロル領軍は、一晩の休息を挟んでから二つに分けられた。
オリガが率いる魔法具奪取の為の特別任務部隊と、正面からホーラントを落としていく本隊である。
一二三は最初、オリガと共に特別任務部隊を率いるが、魔法具発見後は一人でホーラントの王城を目指すことになる。本体は1日の間隔を開けてホーラントへ正面から侵攻する予定だ。
選抜された10名の兵を率いた一二三とオリガは、トロッコを改造した台車でのんびりとホーラント国境を目指して出発した。
空は青くどこまでも晴れている。
「一二三様、良い天気に恵まれましたね」
「ああ、そうだな」
暖かな日差しを浴びながら、台車にどっかりと座り込んだ一二三は、まどろみながら適当な返事を返す。
軽自動車程度の広さがある台車の上には、一二三たちの他、運転役の兵が二名同情している。他の台車も二名ずつが乗り込み、二台は武器と食料以外は基本的に開けている。魔法具を積むためだ。
まだ荷物が少なく、重さも無い台車は、ガタゴトと音を立てながら、軽快に街道を進む。
すでに国境近くの村も通過し、間も無く国境の砦へとたどり着く予定だ。
「国境が近づいたら速度を落とせ。俺が降りて道を開く」
「はっ! かしこまりました!」
風に紛れる一二三の声を何とか聞き取った兵は、大声で返事をした。
ほどなく、目の前に見えてきた砦の手前側には、数十名の兵士たちが立っている。すでに一度全滅した国境警備隊に変わって、一時的に第二騎士隊が率いていた兵士たちの一部が代理で警備を行っている。
砦の向こうには、ホーラントの警備隊がいるのだろう。ピリピリとした空気が流れているのが、遠目からもわかる。
走行中の台車から飛び降りた一二三は、国境に立つ二人の兵の元へと進む。
「ご苦労さん。ちょっと通るぜ。あ、後ろの連中もな」
「あ、はい。どうぞ」
一二三の顔を知っていたらしい兵士は、緊張の面持ちで道を開けた。
「そう緊張しなくていい。あっちの連中はすぐに片付けるから」
刀を抜きながら微笑んだ。
砦の通路の先を見ると、3人のホーラント兵がこちらを見て剣を構えている。
「へぇ。流石に国境警備には木偶は置かないか」
誰に言うでもなくつぶやきながら、刀を右手に提げ、ゆらゆらと揺らしながら国境を越えてくる一二三に、ホーラント兵もいよいよ緊張の顔を見せた。
「オーソングランデの伯爵一二三だ。お前たちの王とかに用がある。押し通るから、死にたければ邪魔をすればいい」
選択の時間を与えるかのように、ゆっくりと歩を進める一二三に、ホーラント兵は困惑したが、誰も逃げようとはしなかった。
相手との距離が5メートルを切った瞬間、弾けるように駆け出した一二三は、三人の兵の首を瞬く間に裂いた。骨には一切触れず、柔らかな喉の肉だけを綺麗に断ち切る。
血の噴水を作り、その中を悠々とホーラント側へと出てきた一二三を待っていたのは、凡そ50名程のホーラント兵の姿だった。
「おう、出迎えご苦労。それに、木偶じゃなくて良かった。さあ考えろ。逃げるか死ぬか、二つに一つだ」
一二三の挑発に、現場責任者と思われる50歳程の兵士が雄叫びを上げると、兵たちは順番も隊列も策も無いまま、一斉に殺到してきた。
「悪手だねぇ」
敵味方が入り乱れるならまだしも、敵が一人なのに雑然と殺到したら、味方が邪魔になるだろうに、と一二三は苦笑した。だが、末端の兵士とはいえ臆せず突っ込んでくる根性は気に入ったらしく、上機嫌ではある。
身を低くして兵士たちの間に潜り込み、敵が集中する中心地から外れる。
これだけで、すでに兵の大半は相手を見失った状態になってしまった。
悠々と敵集団をすり抜けた一二三は、そのまま責任者の男に近づき、音もなく首を刎ねた。
上司の声が聞こえなくなったことに、最後尾の兵士が疑問を持って振り向いた時には、地面に首の無い上司の死体が転がり、目の前にはいるはずのない敵の姿が。
「ぅひっ......」
悲鳴を上げかけたところで、一二三の左手が頬を掴み、千切れんばかりに引き倒され、刺殺される。
そのまま、敵集団の背後からザクザクと突き殺していき、全員が異常に気づいて芋洗いの状態から広がった時には、一二三の手によって10名以上、同士打ちで5名ほどが死んでいた。
再び一二三を包囲するものの、今度は距離を取って近づけずにいる兵達に、一二三は刀を納めて手を叩いた。
「やあやあ、中々暑苦しい戦いぶりだったな。で、熱狂の挙句に味方を殺した気分はどうだ? 集団の中心にいた奴には、自分の武器に手応えを感じた奴もいただろう?」
嘲りたっぷりの一二三の言葉に、何人かが思わず目を伏せる。
「よし、それじゃ......」
一二三は闇魔法収納から、シンプルな金属棒を取り出した。
「続きをやろうか」
取り出されたのは、実は契り木の棒部分だけになってしまったもので、自主稽古で木を殴りつけていたら壊れてしまったが、そのまま
慌てて構え直した兵のうち、反応が一番遅かった者がまず犠牲となった。
一二三が頭上で回転させた勢いのまま側頭部に打ち付けられた杖は、簡素な兜ごと頭蓋骨を砕いて敵を即死させた。
振り抜いた杖は、引き戻す勢いでさらに別の兵を襲い、殺す。
「そら、さっさと反撃しないと一方的に殺されるだけだぞ」
一人の背後に周り、首に杖をかけて背中合わせになって背負い投げる。
喉を潰されたまま引き上げられた兵は、首をおられて死んだ。
刃物ですらないただの棒を使っている、しかも一人だけの相手に次々に殺され、生き残った兵たちはすでに逃げ腰になっている。
しかし、ホーラントで戦場からの逃亡は間違いなく死刑となる。
逃げても逃げなくても、結果は同じなのだ。今死ぬか、後で捕まって拷問を受けて死ぬかの違いしかない。
そうして次々と殺されていくホーラント兵たちを、遠くから眺めている者たちがいた。
一二三に続いて国境を越えてきたオリガとフォカロル領兵たちだ。
傷一つ負っていないとはいえ多勢に無勢の状況に、一人の兵がつい口に出してしまったが、すぐに後悔した。
オリガの目が一気に氷点下になって兵を向く。
「貴方は一二三様のお楽しみを邪魔するというのですか? そしてそれを抑えられたなかった私に、また叱責を受けろと?」
「黙って見ていなさい。そして、できるなら一二三様の技を覚えるのです。あの御方はこの世界の住人がもっと戦える人間である事をお望みです。あの御方と共に戦うのではなく、あの御方を相手に戦う事を目指しなさい」
ここにいるフォカロル領兵は全員、ローヌでの一二三の戦いを見た者たちだ。今も目の前で一方的な虐殺が繰り広げられているというのに、それを相手に戦うのは無理だろうと皆が思っていた。
そんな兵士たちをよそにうっとりと見つめるオリガの視線の先には、嬉々として杖を振るい、敵を殴殺する一二三の姿があった。
, from a city to a nation. The mansion of Minosol, who turned from being the city's representative into having the title of head of a state, is located there.
To the very end the mansion is a private residence. The government's office building is in its immediate neighbourhood. Every day he takes his breakfast at home and has a habit of commuting to work by carriage albeit the short distance. From the time he became the city's representative, it never even once happened for him to be late, even after becoming the head of a state, but just today he appeared from the entrance to his home being several minutes overdue.
The coachman, who waited anxiously, showed a smile for an instant when the figure of his employer at last made an appearance. But, understanding with a glance, he goes beyond worry and is clearly panicking due the weakened countenance of his employer."A-Are you alright? Today you should rest..." (Coachman)"Ah, I don't have such time... I haven't taken responsibility for my choice..." (Minosol)Minosol, who boarded the carriage finally after being supported by a maid, seemed to have fainted due to the reports he looked over right after he arrived at the government's office building.
Even the secretary, who brought in the report, has a pale face.
"It's a detailed explanation..." (Minosol)
"Yes. With no more than 3 cities and their affiliated villages of the former Vichy participating in our Pearson faction, it seems half of the remaining cities have sworn allegiance to Fokalore and the others have formed an alliance continuing Vichy's system of government." (Secretary)
"What has happened with the central committee?" (Minosol)
"Only one has withdrawn for the sake of swearing allegiance to Fokalore. The remaining 3 are preserving the central government, but because they give too much priority to the defense of their own cities, they can't secure any backing from the other city representatives. If it goes on like this, it might also be possible that the committee will fall apart." (Secretary)
Though I guess that's a strange thing to say for me, who dropped out first. But, if it's mere war, you can mutually shave off the war potential of each other to some extent and at some point in time come to an agreement. Even if the defeated side has a painful experience in its finances and workers, it will probably end for them with just desperately reorganizing for a few years.
However, this time it was different.
Minosol considers the dreadful nature of the man called Hifumi to be a different aspect than his war potential.
Luring Vichy's allied forces into Orsongrande's territory, he severely defeated and cut down their numbers. After that battle, the shaved off territories came under a just rule due to Hifumi's leadership, clearly without exploiting them. The majority of the population says that it has rather become easier to live. If they prove their abilities, I heard that they can even be employed as town mayors and civil officials and even city representatives can be dismissed uneventfully.
With this, for what reason should the inhabitants on Vichy's side follow the leadership of the central committee? I guess it's even inevitable that they harbor such doubts. In reality, many cities have changed sides to Fokalore because of that. Even among the cities remaining on Vichy's side, there aren't few places where the masses are revolting due to the representative showing an intention to remain.
"To sum it up, we have been defeated in battle as well as politics. Sooner or later, the name Vichy might disappear..." (Minosol)
The secretary lifted his head due to the muttering of just a few words, but Minosol waved his hand to not mind it.
Currently they have to think about how to protect this country.
"Please send a messenger to Fokalore once again. Just having raised its first cry, I want them to save this frail, infant country from danger." (Minosol)
The geographical isolation can't be helped, but on the other hand, if we stay in Vichy and resist to the bitter end, it's not unlikely that we will be completely destroyed this time for sure.
Sticking out until the end now, Minosol chose to conduct themselves as friendly nation from the beginning to the end.
Because of the commanding officer of the Third Knight Order's group, that stayed behind at the royal castle of Orsongrande, playing a central part, the removal of the prince's faction made progress. All of the knights staying within the castle have been substituted by knights affiliated with the Third Knight Order. Even within the political sphere, the influence of the nobles belonging to the prince faction has obviously fallen.
Lotomago is the name of the Third Knight Order's commanding officer. He was a man who was promoted in recognition of his accomplishments, not for distinguished military service but for his intelligence in the information warfare. He, who was born as third son of a not very prospering Viscount household, has an unattractive appearance giving of a feeling of constantly being sleepy with heavy eyelids. In any case, his features don't stand out. Basically he is a type of character that doesn't make an appearance on a flashy stage.
Currently he has come to the actual site, which is rare for him, to give directions, notwithstanding that it almost never happened that he left his office.
That Lotomago was now maintaining a watch over the Prime Minister Adol, even more so than over Hifumi and the prince faction.
The movements of the prince faction are largely influenced by Prime Minister Adol as well. Despite bringing many nobles together, he has had a high evaluation for his reliable work befitting his title until now. He is playing a big part in winning over the nobles with rational persuasion.
There is a rumor that this prime minister is secluding himself within the castle's document room every night recently. Using a subordinate, Lotomago grasped it to the point of knowing that it is a fact.
Though he didn't yet know for what reason he is dong this...
"... Really, there is such magic, isn't that right?" (Adol)
Prime Minister Adol grumbled while rummaging through documents related to magic, that are being kept in the form of thin, engraved lithographs, in the dim reference room.magic
"Yes, of course. There is the summoning magic that Princess-sama successfully used. Even sending home is possible. There should be past records of that."
"What's so funny?" A voice filled with laughter can be heard from the back of Adol.
"... By no means I believed that the day, I would follow the talk of an evil spirit, would ever come." (Adol)
"An evil spirit has such an evil reputation, riight~?" (Evil Spirit)
In front of Adol, who turned around, only a dark, pale face, shrouded in mist, is floating. That face, laughing with a clinging broad grin, was halfway wrapped in darkness.
"I told you that I'm a death god." (Shinigami)
Adol snorted in displeasure due to the death god's way of talking.
"It's presumptuous for an evil spirit to call itself something like a god. Leaving that aside, help me search as well, you bastard. If we continue at this rate, there is no knowing when we will find it even if there was a record." (Adol)
"I'm sorry to say, I still can't restore anything but the face. Haven't I told you at the beginning? Since I was slain by that katana of Hifumi-san, a part of my power is clinging to Hifumi-san and he wears it. At least I recovered my strength up to this point." (Shinigami)
"Good grief", it shook the unnaturally frowning face.
"Doesn't your restoration take rather much time for something calling itself god?" (Adol)
"That katana is dangerous. How to tell you? It's blessed with the divine protection of a War God, okaay~ ? As expected, even I was on the verge of extinction. Besides..." (Shinigami)
Completely changing from a smiling face, it changed its tone as if loosing its nerve and pouting.
"Since the person, who I kindly offered my darkness magic, isn't using its power, the source of my power is scarce, you knoow~ ? With him believing that nothing but the darkness storage is useful, the force of my existence won't rise no matter how much time passes in the current state." (Shinigami)
"It's a disturbing situation", the death god complained.
"Force of existence, huh... ?" (Adol)
"Yea, we gods realize our form by relying on the faith of the people and thus obtain the power to manifestate in the world. Therefore, if he uses the power bestowed by me, the same power will be given to me as well." (Shinigami)
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be quite convenient for you, if Hifumi-dono continued to fight in this world?" (Adol)
Due to Adol's question, the death god's tongue makes a sound of [Tsk tsk] . If there was an index finger, it would probably swing it sideways.
"Even though I may appear this way, I'm a major god in my original world. Since the gods and the rising of their believers are weak here, my original world is far more comfortable. Hence it is necessary to go with someone if they are sent back with return magic." (Shinigami)
"Our interests match", despite the death god saying this, Adol has a grim face while consenting.
"Well then, do your best at searching. Let's bestow hope upon Princess-sama. Because the program of despair has already been decided." (Shinigami)
The pretext of despair called the notification of Prince Ayperos' death was stopped by the prime minister.
Fokalore's territorial forces, arriving at Munster, were split into two groups after having rested for one night.
A special task force with the goal of taking back the magic tools led by Origa and the main force that invades Horant from the front.
It has been decided that Hifumi will enter first and head toward the royal castle of Horant by himself after discovering the magic tools and leading the special task force together with Origa there. The schedule for the main force is to invade the cleared out Horant from the front with a delay of 1 day.
Hifumi and Origa, who led 10 chosen soldiers each, departed carefree toward the national border of Horant with a rail car remodeled into a wagon.
The clear, blue sky is spreading endlessly.
"Hifumi-sama, we were blessed with good weather." (Origa)
"Ah, that's right." (Hifumi)
While basking in the warm sunlight, Hifumi, who sat down with a flump on the wagon, dozes off while returning a suitable answer.
The surface of the wagon has a size to the degree of a K-car. The others of Hifumi's group are sympathizing with the two soldiers on driving duty. The other wagons are also manned by two soldiers each. The two wagons are basically vacant except for the weapons and food. Their purpose is to be loaded with magic tools.
The wagons, which aren't heavy yet as there is only little baggage, make clattering sounds while nimbly advancing on the highway.
They have already passed through the village close to the border too. It is estimated that they will arrive at the border fortress soon.
"Once we get close to the border, lower the speed. I will get off to clear the path." (Hifumi)
"Ha! By your command!" (Soldier)
The soldier, who somehow managed to catch Hifumi voice that was swallowed by the wind, answered in a loud voice.
Before long, there are dozens of soldiers standing close to Orsongrande's side's fortress that became visible in front of them. The once completely defeated border patrol has already been changed. A part of the soldiers, that have been dispatched as substitutes for the defense, were commanded by the Second Knight Order temporarily.
On the other side of the fortress there are Horant's guards, I guess. A tingling air is adrift, but I can also see this with my far-sightedness.
Hifumi, who jumped off the moving wagon, advances towards the position of the two soldiers standing at the border.
"Thanks for your work. Let me pass for a minute. Ah, the lot in the rear as well." (Hifumi)
"Ah, yes. Please go ahead." (Guard)
The soldier, who apparently knew Hifumi's face, opened the path with a nervous face.
"It's fine if you aren't this tense. I will dispose of the guys over there right away." (Hifumi)
He smiled while drawing his katana.
When he looks at the end of the pathway of the fortress, he can see three soldiers from Horant preparing their swords.
"Ohh, as expected, the dolls won't be deployed as border security, huh?" (Hifumi)
While murmuring without speaking to anyone specific, he lowers the katana in his right hand. As he swings it with a slow swaying, the soldier's from Horant also showed an increasingly tense face due to Hifumi crossing the border.
"I'm Hifumi, an Earl of Orsongrande. I have some business or something like that with your king. Since I will force my way through, it's fine to be a hindrance if you want to die." (Hifumi)
Hifumi is slowly stepping forward as if giving them the time to choose. The soldiers of Horant were bewildered, but none of them tried to run away.
The second the distance to his opponents decreased to 5 meters, Hifumi broke into a run as if bursting open. The heads of the three soldiers were cleaved off in a flash. Without touching their bones at all, he cleanly severed only the soft flesh of the throat.
Waiting for Hifumi, who calmly went out from within the fountain of blood he had created, on Horant's side, were the figures of roughly around 50 soldiers from Horant.
"Aye, thanks for the trouble to come meet me. Besides, it's nice that you aren't puppets. Now, decide. Run away or die, it's one of those two." (Hifumi)
Once the person in charge on site, thought to be a soldier of around 50 years, raises a roar due to Hifumi's provocation, the soldiers came rushing all at once without order, ranks or plan.
"That's a bad move, you know~?" (Hifumi)
"It's better for me if enemies and allies are jumbled together. If you rush in disorder because there is only one enemy, you will probably hinder your allies", Hifumi smiled bitterly. But he seems to be pleased with their will-power to plunge into it without hesitation though they are soldiers on the verge of death He is in a good mood.
Lowering his body, he slips in between the soldiers, deviating from the center where the enemies are concentrated.
With only this much the majority of the soldiers ended up losing sight of him.
Hifumi, easily slipping through the enemy group, approached the man in charge and soundlessly beheaded him.
At the time the soldier at the edge of the group turned his head around being doubtful as the voice of his superior couldn't be heard anymore, the corpse of his superior, no longer having his head, fell to the ground. In front of him was the figure of the enemy who shouldn't be there.
"Uhii..." (Soldier)
Even as he screamed, Hifumi's left hand grabbed his face, pulled it down as if tearing it off and stabbed him to death.
In that manner he killed the soldiers from the back of the enemy group by cutting them up roughly. When all of them noticed and inquired into the abnormality of the situation, around 10 had died by Hifumi's hands and further 5 were accidentally killed by their own colleagues.
Although they once again surrounded Hifumi, he sheathed the katana and clapped his hands towards the soldiers, who now kept their distance without closing in.
"Yo yo! It was quite a sweltering fighting style. So, how do you feel about killing your friends after going crazy earlier? For the fellows in the center of your group there were probably some who felt the feedback of their own weapons, right?" (Hifumi)
Some of them reflexively cast down their eyes due to Hifumi's fully ridiculing words.
"Good, in that case..." (Hifumi)
Hifumi took out a simple metal staff from within his darkness storage.
"Shall we continue then?" (Hifumi)
In fact it is only the staff part of the chigiriki he took out. It ended up broken when he hit a tree during his own practice. Thus he decided to use it as staff.
Among the soldiers, who fixed their stance in panic, the soldier, who reacted the slowest, became the first victim.
The staff knocked into his temporal region with the force of Hifumi rotating it overhead. Including the simple helmet, his skull was smashed and the enemy died instantly.
Pulling back the swung staff, he uses the force of withdrawing it to attack a different soldier and kills him.
"Look, if you don't counter-attack quickly, you will only be killed one-sidedly." (Hifumi)
Circling around to the back of a soldier, Hifumi locks his neck with the staff and, standing back to back, he throws him over his shoulders.
The soldier, who was lifted up in a state of having his throat crushed, broke his neck and died.
Just using a stick without even a blade, he kills his opponents one after the other while even being only one person. It is already making the surviving soldiers getting ready to flee.
However, escaping from the battlefield will definitely lead to the death penalty in Horant.
Running away or not, the result is the same. Dying now or dying after being caught and tortured, that's the only difference.
There were people who were viewing from a distance as the soldiers from Horant were killed one by one like that.
It was Origa and the Fokalore territorial soldiers who had crossed the border following Hifumi.
Due to the situation of being outnumbered albeit not having a single injury, a single soldier ended up unintentionally expressing this, but regretted it right away.
Origa's eyes went below freezing point in an instant as they turned towards the soldier.
"Do you want to interrupt Hifumi-sama's amusement? And, do you want me to receive a scolding once again because I couldn't hold you back from that?" (Origa)
"Shut up and watch. And, if you are able, learn Hifumi-sama's techniques. That gentleman wishes for there to be more fighters among the inhabitants of this world. Not to fight together as allies, but to fight as opponents of that gentleman." (Origa)
All of the Fokalore territorial soldiers being there are people who saw Hifumi's battle in Rhone. As there is currently an one-sided massacre unfolding in front of their eyes, it's probably impossible to fight that as opponent, everyone judged.
Ceasing to watch such soldiers, Origa ecstatically turned her gaze ahead where Hifumi was joyfully wielding his staff and striking his enemies dead.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido