蔵人とイライダ、雪白は昨夜酒を呑んだ門外の木の影に座っていた。
蔵人は口を開かないが、イライダはそれをじっと待っていた。
何もいわずに黙って自分を待つイライダを見ながら、蔵人は決めた。
根拠はない。
あるわけがない。
人は、絶対に裏切る。
そして、絶対に裏切らない。
禅問答みたいな話だが、そんなものだと考えていた。
イライダは裏切るだろうか、と今更なにくれとなく面倒を見てくれたイライダの人柄を疑っても、答えは出やしない。
マクシームは自分がハンターに誘った責任を感じて、全てをアカリのためと考えて行動した結果、嘘をつくことになった。オーフィアたちを連れてきたのも、そのせいだ。アカリはザウルに見つかってはならなかった。生きていると思われてもだめだし、場所を悟られてもだめなのだ。少しでも不審がられたなら、指名手配という大義名分の下に、数の暴力で蹂躙されただろう。いくらアレルドゥリア山脈が蜘蛛の巣だとしても、防ぎきれない。
オーフィアたちがいれば、あの変人集団ということで誤魔化せるし、万が一のとき問答無用で数に蹂躙されることもない。
は草の根を分けてでも殲滅せねばならず、そこに勇者が協力を強硬に主張すればそれを退けることは難しい。おそらくオーフィアが拒否したとしても、勝手に山に入り、その加護の力からオーフィアたちより早くこちらと接触するのはわかりきっていた。せめて、そうするまいと、オーフィアは同行を許可したのだ。
裏切る理由などごまんとあるのだ。
それなら、あとは自分が信じたいかどうかにすぎない。
今回はなし崩しじゃない、自分が決めたことだ。後悔はすまい。
「......勇者のことだ」
ようやく口を開いた蔵人。
イライダは蔵人の言った勇者という一言に洞窟のことをすぐに思い出すも、蔵人の言葉を待つ。
「......勇者とは少し因縁があってな。それはあの勇者だけじゃない、アカリ以外全ての勇者とはできれば会いたくない、そんな関係だ。
出会ったら、最悪、殺しにくる。脅迫、誘拐、拷問もありえる。逆に放っておいてくれる可能性もあるし、協力してくれる可能性もあるが、悪い方に考えておいて間違いはない。
それに俺の素性が誰かに知られるのもまずい。だから、アレルドゥリア山脈に捨てられて、自力で生活していた流民の子どもといって、偽っているわけだ。
こんなわかりづらい話をしているのも、そのせいだ。サウランに行く約束をしといてなんだが、最悪、巻き込まれる恐れもある。......どうする?」
雪白は蔵人の後ろに陣取っていた。
威嚇するわけでもなく、油断しているわけでもない。蔵人に寄り添うように横たわり、ただイライダの反応を見つめていた。
イライダはようやく色々と合点がいった。
ハンターにこだわらないこと。秘密主義なこと。勇者から逃げるように去ったこと。
「一つ聞くが、あのエリカって勇者はなんだったんだい?」
クー、エリカ、アリスを思い出し、蔵人は断言が出来なかった。
だからこそ、この大陸から離れたいわけだが。
「......ふふ」
イライダが、笑った。
不敵に。
「アンタこそいいのかい?アタシは『女王蜂』なんて言われてるくらいだ、それなりに過去もあるし、今でもアタシを狙うような奴もいる、その巻き添えを食うかもしれない。まかり間違えば、アンタの素性だって調べられるかもしれない」
「調べたって、出てきやしない。勇者に聞けばわかるかもしれないが、勇者は答えないだろうし、まず勇者に聞くという発想すら浮かばないだろうな。勇者にしてもクランドの名で気づく奴が何人いるか」
「それにしたって、ばれる可能性は否定できないだろ?」
そこは蔵人も否定できなかった。
「そんなもんさ。絶対に隠し通したいなら、誰も人のいないところで生きていくしかない。だけど、そんなところがどこにある?最前線の先かい?どうやって生きていくのさ。魔獣に食われて終わりだよ」
アレルドゥリア山脈とて縄張りの主である雪白がいたからこそ、蔵人は生活できていたわけで、いちから縄張りを探すとなると、たとえ雪白がいたとしても難しいだろうことは蔵人にもわかっていた。
「旅の道連れの過去なんて気にしていたら、キリがない。そんときになったら、自分の才覚でなんとかするのがハンターってもんさ、あまったれんじゃないよ」
いかにもイライダらしい言葉である。
蔵人もそれがわかっていたからこそ、信じてみたわけだが。
「なんだい、いまさら。で、これだけかい?」
秘密主義の蔵人のことだから、ということでイライダはなんとなく言ってみただけだった。
そして次の瞬間、まさしく狐に化かされたような気持ちになる。
蔵人はまず雪白の幻影をといた。
そしてついでに自分の髪の幻影もとく。
「......何から驚いていいかわからないね」
イライダは驚き、苦笑した。
とかく秘密主義な男だから、何を明かす気なのかと思ってみたら、本当にいわくのあるものがでてきたわけだ。
「雪白が、イルニークとはね」
「これからしばらく旅に同行するわけだから、さすがに隠しておくわけにもいかないだろ?」
イライダはしゃがみ込み、至近距離で雪白と向きあう。
「ただの呑んべぇじゃないとは思ってたけどね。......いいかい?」
イライダは昨夜一緒に飲み明かしたとき、この魔獣がほとんど人とかわらないくらいの知能を有していると気づいていた。
だから、イライダは雪白に直接尋ねた。
雪白も珍しく素直に了承する。呑んべぇ同士、気が合ったのかもしれない。
イライダが雪白の首から頬にかけてを撫でる。
「これが白幻かい、これからよろしく頼むよ」
――ぐぁう
雪白もよろしくなとでもいうように一声かけた。
イライダはそのまま蔵人を見上げる。
イライダの大きな胸の谷間が蔵人の目に飛び込んでくる。
持ちか、それとも魔法具持ちか。どちらにしても、どうりで魔法具に食いつかないわけだ」
「......それは秘密だ」
蔵人はわずかに目をそらす。
「これだよ」
アンタのご主人はかわらないねと雪白に話しかけるイライダ。
――ぐあうがう
雪白はわたしが保護者だ、とでもいいたげに不満そうだった。
そして翌日。
イライダは宿を引き払って、門の外で蔵人を待っていた。
とはいっても、門から見える位置に蔵人はいるのだから、蔵人のほうもすぐに気づく。
買ったばかりの革張りのトランクと食料リュックを背負い、蔵人はイライダと合流した。
「おはよう」
そういってイライダは門には向かわず、石壁沿いに歩きだす。
「ん?どこに行くんだ?」
蔵人の疑問にイライダはいつものように溜息をつく。
「どうやって雪白を連れて街に入るつもりさ?」
蔵人は今更ながら、その点に気づかされる。
「......港だけなら、石壁沿いに行けば入れるところがあるんだ。ほら、行くよ」
そういってイライダは歩き出した。
蔵人と雪白はそれにカルガモの子どものようについていく他なかった。
船に乗る際、ひと悶着あったが、蔵人、イライダ、雪白は無事、船に乗ることができた。
ひと悶着といっても、雪白を見た水夫が驚いて、船長室に駆けこんだというだけのことだ。
さすがに屈強な水夫といえど、大きな黒豹の姿をした雪白を腕づくでどうにかしようとは考えなかったらしく、きっと船賃も頭にちらついたのだろう、わずかな葛藤の末、船長室に駆けこんだというわけだ。
だが意外にも船長は、雪白を見ても少し驚いただけで船に乗せてくれた。
雪白がすんなりと船に乗れた理由はいくつかあった。
蔵人と合わせて二人分の二万ロドを払う意思があるということ。
雪白が非常に賢く、しつけができていること。
それに、なにより、深緑の環が効いていた。
辺境であればあるほど、月の女神の信仰、尊敬は強い。
』の恩恵と信義を詳しく知っている船長は彼女らが保障する人種と魔獣ならば問題あるまいと判断したのだ。
雪白は黒豹の幻影を纏っているが、前脚の深緑の環は見えるようにしているし、蔵人も袖に隠してはいるが、いつでも見せられるようにしていた。
それが功を奏したようだ。
船は帆に風を受け、軽快に海面を進んでいる。
陸はもうずいぶんと離れ、小さくなっていた。
甲板で緩やかに吹く風と朝日を堪能しているのは、蔵人と雪白だ。
波が荒くないせいか、船はそれほど揺れない。
実をいえば、蔵人は心底、安堵していた。
そして珍しく、祈っていた。このままずっと、荒れてくれるなと。
蔵人は勇者と同じくらい、船酔いを恐れていたのだ。
蔵人の乗る船、アル・メード号は三本のマストにいくつもの大きな帆を持つ、ずんぐりむっくりしたガレー船といった姿をしている。
帆の出し入れといった部分では人力のようだが、それでもアル・メード号は決して遅くない。
今も数人の風精使いの水夫が、その大きな帆に向けて、付近に流れている風をゆるやかに集めている。 船の両脇に突き出ている長いオールは、ゆっくりと稼働し、船にさらなる速度を与えていた。むろん、オールを動かすのは奴隷ではなく、自律魔法具である。
これなら、船酔いになる前につくかもしれない。
だが、そんな蔵人の希望的観測、現実逃避にも似た想定は、背後に現れたイライダに、砕かれる。
「この調子だと、中月を過ぎた頃には到着するってさ。船長が風も潮もいいと喜んでたよ」
蔵人は絶望した。
五十日弱も海が荒れない。さすがにそれはありえない。
「......なんでそんなこの世の終わりみたいな顏をしてるんだい」
蔵人はイライダに答えることも忘れ、雪白に全体重を預けて、ぐんにゃりしてしまった。
イライダの言葉をきいただけで、蔵人は軽い船酔いになった気分だ。
体重を預けられた雪白は、しょうがない奴だとでもいいたげな顔をし、そのまま蔵人を尻尾で背中に乗せると、船室に向かって歩き出した。
「これじゃあ、どっちが保護者かわからないじゃないか」
イライダはため息をついた。
「......船酔いかい」
しばらくしてから、イライダは何度目かわからないため息をついた。
「船酔いするのに、なんでわざわざ船で砂漠に行こうとするかね。勇者から逃げたいってだけじゃないんだろ?そもそも数人だけどサウランにも勇者はいるって聞くしね」
蔵人は吐き気に苛まれながら、船室に横たわっていたが、その言葉にピクリと反応する。
「......いるのか?」
「いるに決まってるだろう?というかいない大陸はないんじゃないか?」
蔵人の吐き気はさらに増した。
「知らなかったのかい?アルバウムが半分ほど抱えてるみたいけどね。建前上は友好の証としての、人道的支援。本当のところはたぶん、他の国から勇者を独占するなと集中砲火を受けたってところじゃないか。いくら、アルバウムが大国でも大陸中の国とは戦争できないからね」
「......それでもアルバウムの近くにいるよりはましだ」
そんなもんかね、と言いながらイライダは蔵人の背中をさする。
「すまんな。まあ、あとは絵を描いたり、笛を吹いたりしたいんだろうな」
「......アタシはもうアンタをハンターと思わないことにするよ。...そういやアンタの絵、見たことないね」
蔵人は船室を這うように荷物に近づくと、雑記帳を取り出し、イライダに渡す。
「......アンタ、アレルドゥリア山脈にいたんだよな?」
「そうだが」
「......なんで、どの絵にも女がいるんだい?」
「男なんて描いてなにが楽しいんだ?男なんてほっといても生きていくんだ、面白くもなんともない」
さも不思議そうな顔をする蔵人。
「それに景色だけっていうのはなんとも味気ないだろ。俺にとっては、人がいてこそ世界があって、その時の、その世界の意味を考えるのが楽しいんだ」
「人が嫌いってわけじゃないようだね」
「自分も人だぞ?嫌えるわけがない」
蔵人は決して人が嫌いなわけではない。
嫌いだったら誰も助けないし、誰とも関わらない。
ただ、社会と上手く折り合いをつけられなかっただけだ。
船がオスロンから南東に舵をとって、十日ほど経っていた。
蔵人はというと、すでに青白いスライムと化して、ぐったりしていた。
今も甲板から海に顔を突き出して項垂れている。
雪白は一度イライダが蔵人の背中をさするのを見てからは、それを真似するようになった。
無論、尻尾で。
今も、手のかかる奴めといった様子で、蔵人の背中をさすっていた。
朝食の残骸だけが、海に流れていく。
雪白のぬくもりを背中に感じながら、蔵人はそれを眺めることしかできなかった。
――それゆえに、気づけた。
胃の内容物が、不自然に流れていくのだ。
「......イライダ」
蔵人が死にそうな声でイライダを呼ぶ。
「なんだい、まったく。アタシにそんなもん、みせ、て......」
イライダの顔色が変わっていく。
そして、瞬時に周囲を見渡す。
周囲が、妙に慌ただしくなっていた。
船には海の魔獣の専門家といってもいい、対魔獣戦を得意とする傭兵やハンターが雇われているが、そんな彼らもわからないとなると、魔獣ではないのか。
イライダは船長を探す。
「――待て」
青白い顔をした蔵人が、イライダの腰を引きよせた。
「な、なにするんだいっ、こんなときに」
そういって見下ろした蔵人の顔は真剣だった。
見ると雪白もその尾を蔵人、そして自分に巻きつけ、蔵人と密着している。
くるぞっと蔵人が小さく言った。この時、蔵人はすでに水精で海を探り、気づいていた。
無軌道な水精の動きを、精霊の悪戯を。
そして、船が、真っ二つになる。
まるで東洋の龍のように、唸りを上げる海流が船を覆う物理障壁ごと船腹を喰い破った。
オールが折れ飛び、マストがへし折れる。
船尾にいた蔵人たちはあまりの衝撃に、船にしがみつくことしかできない。
かすかな怒号と船の破壊音。
轟々と蠢く、いくつもの海流。
飢えた狼がついに見つけた屍肉に飛び付くように、
数匹の龍が、船に喰いついた。
なんと馬鹿げた海だろうか。
蔵人は海にぷかぷか浮かびながら、苦笑しかできなかった。
雪白も初めての海で、これだけ馬鹿げた現象に直面したにも関わらず、気楽に寝そべっている。
「......意外と余裕じゃないか」
イライダは少しやつれた顔をしていたが、声はいつもの調子である。
「いや、あんなのもう笑うしかないだろ。本で読んだことしかないが、あれが精霊の悪戯って奴なんだろ」
「みたいだね。アタシも海では初めてだよ」
「こんなのが頻繁にあるようなら、水精使いの水夫もどうにもできないだろうな」
「あんなのが毎回あってたまるかい。せいぜい月に一回くらいさ」
ひと月百日なので、年に四回ほどということになる。
それが多いか、少ないかは蔵人にはわからないが。
蔵人たちは今、海の真ん中で、歪な氷の球体に包まれ、海に浮いていた。
あの時、船が完全に破壊されて海に投げ出される直前に、蔵人が氷戦士の丸盾にまとわりついていた氷精を使って、作りだしたものだ。
海に氷精がいなかったために、蔵人は盾の氷精を使ったのだが、自分たちを覆うので精一杯だった。他の水夫やハンターを助ける余裕などなかった。
海には水精ならばそれこそ最上級精霊魔法を使えるほどいるのだが、氷精はいなかった。
水精と氷精はコインの裏表のような関係にある。
矛盾を承知で表現するなら、水精の凍ったものが氷精で、氷精の溶けたものが水精といえる。ゆえに水精が多いと氷精は少なくなり、氷精が多いと水精が少なくなる。
そうなると、水精が先か、氷精が先か、という問題がでてくるのだが、それは二百年前から精霊学者たちが論争している。さらに水が先か、水精が先かという問題まであり、どちらもいまだに決着はついていなかった。
それはともかく、海に放り出された蔵人たちだったが、幸いにも食料に困ることはなかった。
船室に置く荷物は、盗まれてもいいものだけだとイライダに言われて、甲板に荷物を持ちこんでいたが、そのお陰で船が砕けても、荷物を失うことにはならなかった。
丸一日、蔵人たちは大波と海流にもみくちゃにされ、今に至るわけだが、いまもぐんぐんと恐ろしいほどのスピードでどこかに運ばれていた。
というよりも、今も龍の如き海流にバシバシ喰いつかれるたびに罅が入り、砕けそうになる氷の修復を続けている結果として、運ばれているだけで、氷の修復が間に合わなくなったとき、そこで海に放り出されることになる。
だが、周囲に島や大陸などはなかった。
「どこに運ばれてるか、わかるか?」
蔵人の言葉にイライダは首を振った。
「そうか。じゃあ、氷精の扱いは?」
「巨人種は寒いところの出身が多いんだけどね、アタシは生まれつきなぜか氷精との相性が悪い。風や炎とは相性がいいんだけどね」
「ということは、俺と雪白の魔力が切れたら、ボチャンだな」
「......どれくらいいけそうだい?」
「この調子だと、十日がギリギリだろうな。それ以上になると身体がもたない」
「アンタと雪白が交代でやっても十日かい。それを考えるとアタシの分の魔力をいれても十一日くらいかね」
「それまでに水精が俺たちに飽きてくれるか、それともどこかに流れつくか、だな」
蔵人とイライダはため息をつく。
「まあ、万が一バラバラになって、どこかに流れついたら、近くの協会に連絡を残すようにしようか」
「へぇ、そんなこともできるんだな」
「緊急時だけさ。そうしたら、どこの協会にいてもいつかは連絡がつく。......よっぽど離れてなければね」
そんな風にイライダと示し合わせたあと、十一日が過ぎ去った。
すでにイライダは気絶し、誰よりも頑張った雪白もぐったりしている。
蔵人も、もうすぐだな、という自覚があった。
ふと、氷の外に黒い影が見える。
「――陸かっ」
そう叫んだ瞬間、氷が完全にぶち抜かれ、三人は海に呑まれていった。
Kurando, Iraida, and Yukis.h.i.+ro sat in the shade of the tree outside of the gate that they drank at last night.
Kurando didn't open his mouth, but Iraida stared at him and waited.
While keeping silent by not saying anything and looking at Iraida who waited on him, Kurando decided.
There was no basis for it.
There was no way there could be one.
People will absolutely betray others.
And then, they absolutely won't betray others.
It was a zen-like dialogue, but he thought that it was something like that.
Even if he doubted the character of Iraida, who had looked after him in various things, at this late point in time by thinking "would Iraida betray me", the answer wouldn't come out.
Maxim felt responsible for inviting her to become a Hunter, and as a result of thinking and acting as everything being for Akari's sake, he ended up lying. Even how he brought along Orphia and the others was due to that. Akari couldn't be allowed to be discovered by Zaul. They couldn't allow him to think that she was alive, nor could they let him sense her location. If he were to find something even the least bit suspicious, he probably would have trampled them down with many violent acts in the name of the just cause of arresting someone on the wanted list. Even if the Alerudouria Mountain Range was a spiderweb, they wouldn't be able to defend against them.
If Orphia's group was around, they could pa.s.s it off with that group of oddb.a.l.l.s, and even in the worst case, they wouldn't be able to trample them down with numbers without any questions asked.
It was the same with Orphia. Since the Explode (monster attack) occurred, even if the monsters split their rank and file, as long as they weren't annihilated, if the Heroes that were there were to stubbornly insist on cooperating, it would have been difficult to exclude them. He understood that most likely, even if Orphia refused them, they would have entered the mountain on their own, and would have gotten in contact with him faster than Orphia's group could have through the power of their divine protection. Orphia approved travelling together to at the very least prevent that.
There were a great number of reasons to betray him.
In that case, all that was left was nothing more than if he himself wanted to trust them.
This time, he decided that he would not do it little by little. He would not regret it.
[......It's about the Hero.] 
Kurando finally opened his mouth.
Hearing the word Hero that Kurando said, she immediately remembered about the cave, and awaited Kurando's words.
[......I have a bit of a connection with the Hero, see. And I'm not just talking about that Hero. If possible, I don't want to meet with any of the Heroes other than Akari. It's that kind of relations.h.i.+p.
If we were to meet, in the worst case, they would come at me to kill. Threatening me, abducting me, or torturing me would also be possible. There is the possibility that they will do the opposite and get away from me, and there's even the possibility that they will cooperate with me, but there is no mistake in thinking that things will go in a bad direction.
Besides, it would be bad if my background were to be known by someone. That is why I lied about being abandoned on the Alerudouria Mountain Range and was a refugee child that lived there by my own strength.
That is the reason for this hard to understand story. Although I had promised to go with you to Saulan, I also fear that, in the worst case, you'll get dragged into it all. ......So what will you do?] 
Yukis.h.i.+ro took a position behind Kurando.
It wasn't like it was threatening her, and it wasn't like it was letting its guard down. Stretching out so as to snuggle up to Kurando, it simply watched intently for Iraida's response.
Iraida was finally able to comprehend various things.
About how he didn't fuss over being a Hunter. About his secretiveness. About how he left as if running away from the Hero.
[I'll ask this one thing but, what was up with that Hero called Erica?] 
Remembering Kuu, Erica, and Alice, Kurando wasn't able to a.s.sert it completely.
It was because of that that he wanted to get away from this continent.
[......Fufu] 
Iraida laughed.
Fearlessly.
are you fine with it? I'm strong enough to be called {Queen Bee} , I also have quite the past, there are also guys that would aim for my life even now, and you might end up getting mixed up in all that. If things go wrong, they might even investigate your origins.] 
[Even if they investigate, nothing will come out. They might know if they ask the Heroes, but the Heroes probably won't answer, but they surely wouldn't come up with the idea of asking the Heroes in the first place. And even among the Heroes, who knows how many of them would realize it with the name Kurando.] 
[Even if that's the case, you can't deny the possibility of it being exposed, right?] 
Even Kurando was unable to deny that part.
[That's just how it is. If I wanted to absolutely stay hidden, I would have no choice but to live in a place where there isn't a single person around. However, where would that kind of place be? Beyond the forefront? And then how would I live. It would end with me being eaten by magic beasts.] 
Even in the Alerudouria Mountain Range, it was because the master of the territory, Yukis.h.i.+ro, was there that Kurando was able to live there, and even if he were to search for territory from scratch, even Kurando understood that it would be difficult even if Yukis.h.i.+ro was there.
[If I were ta be bothered by somethin' like the past of a fellow traveller on my journey, there'd be no end to it. When the time calls for it, dealin' with it somehow with one's own quick wits is what a Hunter is. Ya don't act like a spoilt child.] 
Those were indeed Iraidlike words.
It was because Kurando also understood that that he believed in her though.
[What's this, sayin' that at this point. So, is this all?] 
Since this was about the secretive Kurando, Iraida simply wanted to try saying that for some reason.
And then, in the next moment, without a doubt, she felt like she was tricked by a fox.
Kurando first removed Yukis.h.i.+ro's illusion.
And then, he also removed the illusion on his own hair while he was at it.
[......I got no idea where I should start gettin' surprised from.] 
Iraida was surprised, and made a wry smile.
Since he was a particularly secretive man, when she thought about what he was planning on revealing, something with some real pretext came out.
[To think that Yukis.h.i.+ro, was an Ireniiku.] 
[Since we'll be travelling together for a while from now on, as expected, it's not like I can keep this hidden, right?] 
Iraida squatted down, and faced Yukis.h.i.+ro at point-blank range.
[I did think that you weren't a simple heavy drinker but. ......Was that alright?] 
When they were drinking the night away together last night, Iraida noticed that this magical beast owned an intelligence that was hardly any different from that of a person.
That is why Iraida directly asked that to Yukis.h.i.+ro.
Yukis.h.i.+ro made a rare docile acknowledgement. It might have gotten along with the fellow heavy drinker.
Iraida caressed from Yukis.h.i.+ro's neck to its cheek.
[So this is the White Phantom. I'll be in yer care from now on.] 
----Guau.
Yukis.h.i.+ro also made a cry that sounded like it was giving its regards.
Iraida looked up at Kurando while still squatting.
The cleavage of Iraida's large chest barged into Kurando's eyes.
[So, yer either an Origin holder, or a Magic Tool holder. Either way, it's no wonder ya didn't really get into Magic Tools.] 
[......That's a secret.] 
Kurando averted his eyes a bit.
[It's this.] 
Iraida talked to Yukis.h.i.+ro saying "Your master just doesn't get it".
----Guaugau
Yukis.h.i.+ro sounded dissatisfied as it cried that as if to say "I am the guardian".
And then, the next day.
Iraida vacated the inn, and waited for Kurando outside of the gate.
That being said, since Kurando was in a place that could be seen from the gate, Kurando also noticed her immediately.
Carrying his newly bought leather-covered trunk and food rucksack, Kurando joined up with Iraida.
[Good morning.] 
Saying that, without facing the gate, Iraida started walking along the stone wall.
[Nn? Where are we going?] 
Iraida breathed her usual sigh at Kurando's question.
[And how do you plan on enterin' the town with Yukis.h.i.+ro?] 
While it was a bit late, Kurando was made to realize that point.
[......If it's just the port, there's a place it can enter by going along the stone wall. Come on, let's go.] 
Saying that, Iraida started walking.
Kurando and Yukis.h.i.+ro did nothing but follow her like ducklings.
When they were getting on the s.h.i.+p, there was a single trouble, but Kurando, Iraida, and Yukis.h.i.+ro were able to safely get onboard the s.h.i.+p.
single trouble, it was just that the sailors that saw Yukis.h.i.+ro were surprised, and ran to the captain's cabin.
As expected, although they were muscular sailors, seeming like they didn't think that they could handle Yukis.h.i.+ro, who had the appearance of a large black panther, with brute force, and with the thought that there was surely a faint conflict about the fare flickering in their heads, they ran to the captain's cabin.
But surprisingly, the captain was only a little surprised even after seeing Yukis.h.i.+ro and let them on board.
There were several reasons why Yukis.h.i.+ro was smoothly let onboard the s.h.i.+p.
How there was the intent to pay for it along with Kurando as two person's worth which came out to 20,000 Rodo.
How Yukis.h.i.+ro was extraordinarily smart, and was properly disciplined.
And, above all, the dark green band was effective.
In the frontiers, respect for the Moon G.o.ddess Faith was that strong.
The captain, who was well-versed in the blessings and faith of the {Maluuna Nyuumu} , determined that if it was a person and a magical beast that those women would vouch for, then there wasn't a problem with it.
Yukis.h.i.+ro was covered in Kurando's illusion, but the dark green band on its forefoot was made to be visible, and even Kurando, although it was hidden in his sleeve, he made it so that he could show it at any time.
It seemed that that had bore fruit.
The s.h.i.+p caught wind in its sails, and nimbly advanced on the sea.
It had already separated from the sh.o.r.e quite a bit, and it had become small.
The ones enjoying the gentle blowing breeze and morning sun on the deck were Kurando and Yukis.h.i.+ro.
Maybe because the waves weren't rough, the s.h.i.+p didn't shake all that much.
In truth, Kurando was relieved from the bottom of his heart.
And then, he made a rare prayer. Asking that everything stay like this, without getting rough.
Kurando feared seasickness as much as he did the Heroes.
The s.h.i.+p that Kurando was on board, the Al Meed, had three masts and several large sails, and had the appearance of a small but wide galley s.h.i.+p.
The part of furling and unfurling of the sails seemed to need human effort, but even so, the Al Meed was by no means slow.
Even now, several Wind Spirit User sailors were facing towards those large sails, and were gently gathering the wind that was flowing in the vicinity. The long oars that were sticking out on both side of the s.h.i.+p were slowly working, giving the s.h.i.+p even more speed. Of course, what was moving the oars weren't slaves, but automatic Magic Tools.
With all of this, they might arrive before he gets seasick.
However, that wishful thinking of Kurando's, that a.s.sumption that was similar to escapism, was broken by Iraida who had appeared behind him.
[Going at this rate, we should arrive by around the half month. The captain was delighted by how the winds and the currents were doin' well.] 
Kurando fell into despair.
The sea not getting rough for a little more than 50 days. As expected, that was impossible.
[......Why're ya makin' that face that looks like it's the end of the world?] 
Forgetting to even answer to Iraida, Kurando leaned all of his body weight onto Yukis.h.i.+ro, and went limp.
Just from hearing Iraida's words, Kurando felt like he got a bit seasick.
Yukis.h.i.+ro, whom he had leaned all of his body weight on, made a face as if to say that he was a helpless guy, and after putting Kurando on its back with its tail just like that, it started walking towards the cabins.
[Seein' this, ya just can't tell which one of them is the guardian.] 
Iraida breathed a sigh.
[......So it's seasickness.] 
After a little while, Iraida breathed her nth sigh.
[Even though you get seasick, why'd ya go outta yer way to go to the desert on a s.h.i.+p. You just said that ya wanted to run away from the Heroes, right? To begin with, although it's only a small number of 'em, I've heard that there are Heroes even in Saulan.] 
While being tormented by nausea, Kurando was lying down in the cabin, but hearing those words, he twitched in response.
[......So there are some?] 
[Ain't it obvious that there are? Or more like, there ain't a continent that doesn't have any, ya know?] 
Kurando's nausea grew even worse.
[Did ya not know? Well, it looks like Alubaum has about half of them though. Officially, it's humane a.s.sistance as a sign of friends.h.i.+p. But
[......Even so, it's better than being close to Alubaum.] 
While saying "I guess it's like that", Iraida rubbed Kurando's back.
[Sorry about this. Well, after this, I'd like to draw some pictures, or play the flute.] 
[......I've decided to stop thinkin' of ya as a Hunter already. ...Come to think of it, your pictures, I've never seen any of 'em.] 
When he got close to the luggage as if he were crawling in the cabin, Kurando took out his notebook, and handed it to Iraida.
[......You, you were in the Alerudouria Mountain Range, right?] 
[Yes, that's right.] 
[......Then why, are there women in all of the pictures?] 
[What's so fun about drawing men? I can live even if I just leave men alone, and they aren't interesting at all.] 
Kurando was making a face as if he found what she asked to be extremely strange.
[Besides, it would be too dull if it were just scenery. For me, the world is there because people are there, and I find it fun thinking about the meaning of that world, at that time.] 
[Seems like it's not like ya hate people.] 
[I'm also a person, you know? There's no way I would hate them.] 
By no means did Kurando hate people.
If he hated them, he wouldn't save anyone, nor would he get involved with anyone.
It's just that he wasn't able to get along very well with society.
The s.h.i.+p turned the rudder to go southeast from Oslon, and about ten days pa.s.sed.
As for Kurando, he had already turned into a pale Slime, and was limp.
Even now, he was sticking his face out at the sea on the deck and hanging his head.
Yukis.h.i.+ro, ever since it saw Iraida rubbing Kurando's back one time, had been imitating that action.
Naturally, with its tail.
Even now, with a look that said "what a troublesome fellow", it was rubbing Kurando's back.
Only the ruins of his breakfast flowed into the sea.
While feeling Yukis.h.i.+ro's warmth on his back, Kurando was unable to do anything but gaze at that.
----Because of that, he noticed.
That the contents of his stomach, were unnaturally washed away.
[......Iraida.] 
Kurando called for Iraida with a voice that sounded like he was going to die.
[What is it, honestly. Showin' me somethin', like, that......] 
Iraida's complexion changed.
And then, she immediately surveyed the surroundings.
The vicinity had strangly become busy.
Mercenaries and Hunters that specialized in battles against magical beasts and could even be said to be specialists with magical beasts of the sea were hired and on the s.h.i.+p, but seeing as how they didn't understand what was going on either, was it not magical beasts?
Iraida searched for the captain.
[----Wait.] 
Kurando, who had a pale face, pulled Iraida's waist to stop her.
[Wh, what're ya doin', at a time like this.] 
Saying that, Kurando's face that was looking down was serious.
Looking closely, even Yukis.h.i.+ro had wrapped its tail around Kurando as well as herself, and was sticking close to Kurando.
Kurando quitely said "it's coming". At this time, Kurando had already searched the sea with Water Spirits and noticed it.
The reckless movements of the Water Spirits, the mischief of the spirits.
And then, the s.h.i.+p, was split right in half.
As if they were oriental dragons, the roaring ocean currents bit away the bottom of the s.h.i.+p along with the physical barrier that covered the s.h.i.+p.
The oars were broken off, and the masts were broken down.
Being at the stern of the s.h.i.+p, Kurando's group could to nothing but cling to the s.h.i.+p due to the incredible impact.
There was a faint bellow and the sound of the s.h.i.+p's destruction.
Rumbling and wriggling, there were several ocean currents.
Just like starving wolves jumping at a carca.s.s that they finally found,
Several dragons bit at the s.h.i.+p.
What an absurd sea.
While floating in the sea, Kurando was unable to do anything but make a strained laugh.
Even Yukis.h.i.+ro, on its first time at sea, despite having encountered this absurd of a phenomenon, it carefreely sprawled out.
[......You're surprisingly composed, ain't ya.] 
Iraida was making a slightly haggard face, but her voice had the usual tone.
[No, I can't do anything but laugh at something like that. I had only read about it in books, but that was probably one of those things called the Spirits' pranks.] 
[Looks like it./>[Looks like it. This is also my first one at sea.] 
[If something like this were to happen often, then not even the Water Spirit Using sailors would be able to do anything about it.] 
[As if somethin' like that would happen every time. At most, it'd be once a month.] 
Since one month was a hundred days, that meant that it would happen about four times in a year.
Kurando wasn't able to tell if that was a lot or a little though.
Right now, in the middle of the sea, Kurando's group was packed in an irregular sphere of ice, and were floating in the sea.
It was something that, at that time just before the s.h.i.+p was completely destroyed and they were thrown out to sea, Kurando used the Ice Spirits that coiled about the Ice Warrior's round s.h.i.+eld to create
Since there weren't any Ice Spirits in the sea, Kurando used the Ice Spirits of the s.h.i.+eld, but since it would have to cover them, that was the best he could do. They didn't have the leeway to save the other sailors or Hunters.
At sea, if it was about Water Spirits, there were enough of them to be able to use Spirit Magic of the highest grade, but there were no Ice Spirits.
Water Spirits and Ice Spirits had a relations.h.i.+p like both sides of the same coin.
If one were to express that contradiction with knowledge, what froze Water Spirits was Ice Spirits, and what melted Ice Spririts was Water Spirits. Therefore, when there are a lot of Water Spirits, there are fewer Ice Spirits, and when there are a lot of Ice Spirits, there are fewer Water Spirits.
With that being the case, the question of "which came first, the Water Spirits or the Ice Spirits" but that is something that Spirit scholars have been disputing over for the past two hundred years. Furthermore, there was even the question of "which came first, water or Water Spirits", but neither question has reached a conclusion even now.
Putting that aside, Kurando's group was thrown out to sea, but fortunately, they weren't troubled in terms of food.
Being told by Iraida that the luggage to be left in the cabin should only be things that were okay even if they were stolen, he had brought his luggage onto the deck, and thanks to that, even though the s.h.i.+p was broken, they didn't end up losing their luggage.
Kurando's group was jostled about by the large waves and ocean currents the whole day up until now, but even now, they were being carried away somewhere at a terrifying speed.
Or rather, every time they would be hit by the ocean current that was like a dragon even now, cracks would appear, and as a result of continuously repairing the ice that looked like it would break, they were simply carried along, and at times where he didn't make it in time to repair the ice, they would end up being thrown into the sea right there.
However, there wasn't an island or a continent anywhere in their surroundings.
[Can you tell where we're being carried off to?] 
Iraida shook her head at Kurando's words.
[I see. Then, how's your handling of Ice Spirits?] 
[There are a lot of Giants that originate from cold places, but for some reason, my affinity with Ice Spirits has been bad since birth. My affinity with Wind and Fire is good though.] 
[In that case, if my and Yukis.h.i.+ro's magical power runs out, we'll go splash.] 
[......'Bout how long does it seem like we'll last?] 
[At this rate, it'll just barely be ten days. Any more than that and our bodies won't be able to hold out.] 
[So it's ten days even if you and Yukis.h.i.+ro take turns huh. Thinkin' of it like that, it'll be about eleven days even if we put in my portion worth of magical power.] 
[Until then, it'll have to either be that the Water Spirits lose interest in us, or we get washed up somewhere.] 
Kurando and Iraida breath sighs.
[Well, just in case we do get separated, if we do get washed up somewhere, I guess we should leave a way to get into contact with each other at the nearest Guild.] 
[Heeh, so that sort of thing is possible.] 
[It's only for emergencies. By doin' that, we'll be able to contact each other someday no matter which Guild we're at. ......If we're not greatly separated though.] 
After arranging things like that with Iraida, eleven days pa.s.sed.
Iraida had already pa.s.sed out, and even Yukis.h.i.+ro, who had perservered more than anyone else, was completely exhausted.
Even Kurando was aware that he would fall at any moment.
Suddenly, a black shadow outside of the ice could be seen.
[----Land huh.] 
The moment he shouted that, the ice broke completely, and the three of them were swallowed by the sea.
Because Janitor-san Is Not a Hero
用務員さんは勇者じゃありませんので
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/because-janitor-san-is-not-a-hero/
Action Adventure Fantasy School Life Supernatural Tragedy
Academy Adapted to Manga Betrayal Contracts Cunning Protagonist Goddesses Gods Hard-Working Protagonist Heroes Magic Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple Transported Individuals R-15 Summoning Magic Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4202cb/
棚花尋平