は未だにダメージの抜けきらない身体を引き摺るように動かす。木に凭れるようにして立ち上がり、脇腹を押えながらナイフの亡骸を拾い上げる。この世界がどのようなものであろうが、折れたナイフでも刃物は刃物、この先使える時が来るかもしれないと思ったのだ。
そしてそんな桔音を空中から見下ろす妖精は、首を傾げながら近づいてきた。
「ねぇねぇきつねさん、怪我してるの?」
「うんまぁね......多分あばらが何本が折れたんじゃないかな......後は背中の強打ってところかも」
「ふーん......じゃあ私が治してあげるよ!」
「え?」
妖精の提案に桔音は視線を妖精に向けた。すると、妖精はくるくる回ってその小さな両手を桔音の身体に向けた。すると、先程妖精が現れた時の様な光が両手から発せられ、その光は桔音を包みこんだ。
桔音は得体の知れないものに若干の抵抗を覚えたが、ダメージが大きくて動けない。だが、変化は直ぐに訪れた。
「これは......傷が治ってる?」
桔音の身体にあった傷やダメージがじわじわと消えていくのだ。背中の打撲や折れたあばらも少しずつ元に戻っていき、痛みも少しずつ引いて行く。
桔音がこの光を『魔法』だと理解するにはそう時間が掛からなかった。流石は異世界、と思いながら光の中に身を任せる。
「――――うん、これで大丈夫!」
妖精が両手をぺちっと合わせてにぱっと笑いながらそう言う。同時に光も消えていき、桔音は無傷の状態に完治していた。試しに身体を捻ったり飛び跳ねたりと確認するが、行動に支障はないようだった。これならばこの場に残って通りすがった獣にやられるなんてことは起きないだろう。
「......それで、君は何処の誰なのかな?」
「私? うーん......わっかんなーい! あははっ」
桔音の問いに、妖精は空中でくるくる回りながらそう言った。
『分からない』、とはどういうことかと桔音は首を傾げる。妖精はそんな桔音を見ながら腕組みしながら口を開いた。
「うーんとね、私は今生まれたばかりなんだよ! その、お面から」
「お面......?」
妖精が指差したのは、桔音の頭に掛かっている狐のお面。桔音はお面を手に取って更に首を傾げた。
何故ならこのお面は元々いた世界から自分と共に飛ばされてきた、謂わば今いる世界から見て『異世界の品』だからだ。如何にこの世界がファンタジーで妖精や魔法が存在していようと、元いた世界はそんなものは存在しない徹底した科学の世界だ。そこから妖精というファンタジーの権化が生まれる筈が無い。
だが、この世界の妖精という存在の概念はそういった世界の違いが関係無い。
「えっとね、妖精って言うのにも種類があるの......大きく分けても二種類!」
妖精は小さな手をピースの形にして突き出す。桔音はなんだか長くなりそうな話だなぁと思いながらも、篠崎しおりの容姿をしているからか素直に話を聞くことにした。
「一番多いのが自然から生まれる妖精、自然種って呼ばれるみたい! この自然種の中にも色々種類があるみたいだけど、私は詳しく知らないよ!」
自信満々、胸を張って無知の告白をする妖精に突っ込むしかない桔音。だが、妖精は気にせず説明を続けた。自分が分類される、妖精のもう一つの種類について。
「私はもう一つの種類の妖精。人の想いから生まれる妖精だよ! 思想種って呼ばれる、この世界でもあんまり存在しない妖精です! 一生の内に見ることが出来たら超幸運だよ! だからきつねさんはラッキーボーイだよ! やったね!」
「うん......そうだね」
説明すると、この世界の妖精と言えば自然種の妖精が主だ。容姿は自然種、思想種問わず、人間同様各々違うが、基本的には小さい人間に羽を生やした様なもの。故に思想種と自然種の妖精は見た目では見分けがつかない。
この世界の妖精の中に思想種の妖精は数十程度の数しかいない。桔音の元いた世界で言うのなら絶滅危惧種と呼ばれる種類の妖精だ。彼女達は人の強い想いから、もっと言えば強い想いの籠った品から生まれる妖精で、思想種の妖精は総じて強力な力を保有している。
だが、思想種が生まれる為に必要な想いの量は凄まじく、命を掛ける位の強い想いでないと思想種は生まれない。それ故の数の少なさなのだ。
また別として、自然種と呼ばれる妖精は自然が存在すれば生まれる。というより、自然の数だけ自然種は存在する。だからこそ、数多く存在する事が出来る。代わりに、思想種とは違って自然種はそれほど大きな力は持っていない。思想種が『質』の妖精だとすれば、自然種は『量』の妖精といえよう。
自然種の妖精は寿命が無い。自然が無くなれば自然種の妖精も死んでしまうが、自然が少しでも残っていれば死ぬことはない。
だが思想種の妖精は違う。寿命はないが、自身が生まれた媒介である想いの品が壊れた場合、死んでしまう。故に、彼女達は媒介である想いの品から離れることはない。
「つまり私はそのお面が壊れちゃったら消えちゃうの、だから私はきつねさんに付いて行くよ!」
「ああ、そう」
説明を終えて、妖精がにぱっと笑いながらそう言うので、桔音は簡単に頷いた。
しかし、思想種の妖精という説明を聞く限り強力な力を持った存在が味方になったのは心強いのだが、現在いる場所が何処か分からない上に、異世界という全く未知の場所に放り出されたのだ。これからどうすればいいのかも分からない。
まずは話の出来る人間と出会いたいものだが、この世界に来て会った生き物と言えば白熊レベルの化け物と妖精だけ。不安なことこの上ない。
「......とりあえず歩こうか、えーと......名前なんて言うの?」
「ないよ!」
「......ないの?」
「私は生まれたばかりだよ? 謂わば赤ん坊だよ? 名前があるわけないよね!」
桔音は、なんでこの妖精はこんなに堂々と駄目なんだろう、と思いながら明後日の方向を見た。だが、妖精の言っていることは正論だ。生まれたばかりの赤ん坊に名前があるわけが無かった。
「必要ならきつねさんが名前を付けてくれても良いよ?」
「......まぁ名前が無いと不便だもんね、それじゃあ異世界っぽく......『フィニア』で」
「響きはいいね! 由来は?」
「うわー、私の名前はなんとなく付けられた名前かー......気に入った!」
妖精......いや、フィニアは、しゅんとした後にまたにぱっと笑ってそう言った。どうやらとても図太い性格の持ち主らしい。そういう所は篠崎しおりにちょっと似ていて、桔音は少し笑みを浮かべた。
桔音は気を取り直して、元々の目的である衣食住の確保に動き出すことにした。お面を付け直し、右肩の上に思想種の妖精フィニアを連れて、薄ら笑いを浮かべながら歩きだした。
「ところでフィニアちゃん、さっきの怪我を治してくれた奴は魔法?」
話し相手がいるのは良いな、と思いながら桔音は気になっていることを聞く。妖精、魔獣とファンタジー要素満載な目にあったばかりだ、とりあえず身を守る手段を一つは確保しておきたかった。
「そうだよ! 治癒魔法! 本当なら魔法を使うには呪文の詠唱が必要だけど、思想種の妖精は無詠唱で魔法が発動出来るんだよ! えへん!」
「へぇ......それって僕にも使えるのかな?」
「人によって効果の大小は変わるだろうけど、魔力があれば使えると思うよ?」
桔音はそう言われて、自分に魔力があるのかどうかを確かめる方法はないかと聞いてみたが、フィニアは知らないようだった。魔法を使う感覚は生まれた時から知っていたようで、どうやって魔法を使うのかと言われても分からないらしい。人が手を動かす、みたいな感覚のようだ。
「うーん......ねぇフィニアちゃん、ちょっと空から川とか村とかないか見てくれる?」
桔音は取り敢えず魔法を使えるようになるには一朝一夕では行かないようだと悟って、一旦置いておくことにした。
そして、フィニアが飛べることを最大限活用する。川があれば幸運、村があればもっと良い。
「どう!? あったー!?」
結構な高さにまで上って行ったフィニアに、声を大きくして問う桔音。獣に居場所がばれる危険性もあったが、とりあえず桔音は早く空から見た情報を知りたかった。
すると問い掛けられたフィニアがくるくる回りながら下りてくる。そして桔音の肩にぽすんと腰を下ろすと、にぱっと笑いながらある方向を指差した。
「結構遠くだけど、あっちに大きな街が見えたよ! 途中に川もある!」
「最高の知らせをありがとう、フィニアちゃん」
「うん!」
その知らせは、桔音にとって福音とも呼べるものだった。川があることは勿論そうだが、『大きな街』があるということが幸運だ。街と呼べる大きさなら、まず確実に人がいるだろうし、異世界の常識等々の情報が集められる筈なのだから。
桔音は幾分軽くなった足取りで、フィニアの指差した方向へと進む。先程の問いかけの声を聞きつけてくる獣がいるかもしれない、早々に場所を移動した方がいいだろう。
「それにしても......異世界で日本語って通用するのかな?」
「え、フィニアちゃんとは会話出来てるのに?」
「私はほら、媒介が異世界の品だしね! ある意味新種の妖精? みたいなっ?」
えー......とちょっと困った表情を浮かべる桔音。だがまぁこんないるだけでいつ死ぬかも分からない森の中よりは、人のいる街の方が安全だろうと開き直る。今はとにかく、進む事が大切だ。
「ところでフィニアちゃん、遠くってどれくらい?」
「きつねさんの世界観で言えば、30km位?」
「気の遠くなる距離だぜ......」
また明後日の方向を見る。休みなしで歩き続ければ今日明日中に辿り着けるだろうが、貧弱な男子高校生であるところの桔音にそんな体力はない。フィニアは飛べるだろうが、付き合って貰うことにしよう。
◇ ◇ ◇
しばらく歩いた所で、桔音は先程とは違った獣を先に発見した。今度の獣は獣というより虫だった。見た目で言えば大きな蜘蛛、高さ2mにも及ぶ巨大さは正直敵対したくない。出来ればやり過ごしたい相手だ。
幸運だったのは蜘蛛には嗅覚で獲物を発見することがないこと。目は8つほどあるようだが、隠れていれば問題ない。
「うわー......気持ち悪いなぁ」
「きつねさんも気持ち悪がられてたよね! 仲間だ!」
「君は割と胸に来る言葉をサラっと言うね? というか、フィニアちゃん僕の世界の知識があるの?」
「きつねさんがそのお面を所持してからの記憶は持ってるよ! きつねさんが大事にずっと持ってたから色々覚えてるよ! 授業中にきつねさんのノートが炭になってたり、椅子が隠された上に破壊された状態で見つかったり、擦れ違いざまの肩パンが絶妙なタイミングだったりね!」
異世界のことに付いて説明しなくて済んだなぁと余計な手間が省けたことを喜ぶべきか、しおりそっくりの顔で虐めの内容を楽しそうに語られたことを複雑に思うべきか、微妙な気持ちになった。
「とりあえず......あの蜘蛛をやり過ごすよ」
「うん、かくれんぼみたいだね!」
茂みに隠れながら、蜘蛛が過ぎ去っていくのを待つ桔音とフィニア。じっと動きを見つめながら、音を立てないように集中して待つ。
すると、桔音の肩を叩く者がいた。
「シッ......静かに」
桔音は大蜘蛛から目を逸らさないようにして、背後の存在にそう言う。だが、その存在は気にせず桔音の肩を叩いた。
「なんだy.........えー......」
桔音が振り返った先、そこにはなんと先程の大きな狼がいた。前門の蜘蛛、後門の狼である。絶体絶命のピンチだった。というか背後から肩を叩かれる程度で済んでラッキーである。
「フィニアちゃん」
「何?」
「この狼さんを倒せる?」
「攻撃魔法なら多少嗜んでますねぇ」
「それなんのキャラ?」
フィニアがふざけるので、桔音は内心焦りながら突っ込んだ。すると、フィニアはにぱっと笑いながらその小さな手を狼に向けた。そして、次の瞬間―――
「ガアッ!?」
―――狼が吹っ飛んだ。桔音視点で言えばフィニアの手が一瞬フラッシュして、そしたら狼が吹っ飛んだといった感じだ。何が起こったのかは全く分からなかった。
「ふっ......今何をしたのか知りたい?」
「知りたいね」
「光魔法で吹っ飛ばしたのだ!」
だが、これ以上なく頼もしかった。こんな人間の1/10サイズの小さな存在に頼ってしまうのは少し情けない気がするが、桔音としては何の力も無い自分を助けてくれるのならなりふり構ってられないのだ。
「ギシャアアアア!!」
だが、今の光で蜘蛛にも気が付かれた。狼もまだまだ動ける様で、正真正銘大ピンチだった。桔音は蜘蛛と狼を交互に見て、溜め息を吐く。一難去ってまた一難とはこのことか、とこんな状況で呑気に思っていた。
「全く、いやになるね。とりあえず掛かって来い! フィニアちゃんが相手になるぞ!」
For now, as they had exchanged greetings, Kitsune tried pulling up his body, which was still as damaged as ever. He leaned himself against a tree to stand up and held his side as he searched for the remnants of the knife. Regardless of the sort of world this was, even if a knife's broken, a blade's still a blade. He thought that a chance to use it may present itself sooner or later.
The fairy looking down on him from the sky tilted her head to the side and approached him.
"Hey, hey, Kitsune-san, are you hurt?"
"Yeah, kinda... a few of my ribs have probably snapped... then there's the blow I took to the back, I guess."
"Hmm... then I'll heal it!"
"Eh?"
On the fairy's proposal, Kitsune turned his eyes towards her. She began spinning in a circle around him while both of her arms remained pointed at his body; thereupon, the flash of light that had accompanied her when she first appeared burst out of her hands, enveloping him.
Kitsune tried to put up some resistance to the unfamiliar phenomenon, but the damage inflicted on him was too great, so he couldn't move properly. But the effect came about soon enough.
"This is... my wounds are healing?"
The cuts and bruises plaguing his body were disappearing, bit by bit. The blow to his back, and the broken ribs, slowly reverted to normal along with the pain.
It didn't take the boy very long to understand that the light was {Magic} . 'As expected of another world,' he thought as he entrusted his body to it.
"...... Yep, that should do it!"
The fairy clapped her hands together and formed a smile as she spoke. At the same time, the light faded, and Kitsune had experienced a full recovery. He tried twisting his body and jumping as a test, but he felt no difficulty in those actions. If it's like this, then he probably wouldn't be done in by that passing beast too quickly.
"... So, who are you, and where are you from?"
"Me? Let's see... no idea~! Ahaha."
On Kitsune's question, the fairy spun and laughed.
Unable to understand what, 'I don't know' was supposed to mean, Kitsune tilted his head. Seeing him like that, the fairy folded her arms and opened her mouth.
"Well, you see, I was just born right now! From that mask."
"Mask...?"
What the Fairy pointed to was the fox mask on his head. Upon removing it, and looking it over, Kitsune only became even more confused.
The reason being that that mask was something sent here alongside him from his own world. From the point of view of this world, it was a real {Otherworldly Item} . No matter how much of a fantasy world this was, with fairies and magic, and what not, his former world was a one of concrete science without such things. There's no way the very incarnation of fantasy, a fairy, could be born from it.
But this world's concept of a fairy wasn't related to such differences in worlds.
"Well, you see, with fairies, there are different types... if you do the most basic division, there are two large groups!"
The fairy thrust out her small hand in a peace sign. As he grumbled to himself about how this sounded like it would take a while, he conceded to listen to the explanation of the fairy with the appearance of Shinozaki Shiori.
"The larger one is the fairies born from nature, called the Natural Variety, apparently! There are many different categories in the Natural Variety, but I don't know the specifics!"
At the fairy who stuck her chest out and overflowed with confidence as she confessed her own ignorance, Kitsune could do nothing but offer a Tsukkomi. But without minding that, she continued on with her exposition. About the one she was a part of, the second variant of fairy.
"I'm part of the other type. A fairy born from human feelings! We're called the Ideological Variety, and we're not that common in this world! Just seeing one of us over your life is supposed to be super lucky! That's why Kitsune-san is a lucky boy! Good job!"
"Yeah... right."
According to her, the majority of this world's fairies were of the Natural Variety. Regardless of the variety, while there were individual differences, they generally looked like small humans with wings. As such, the two Varieties were difficult to tell apart by appearance alone.
In this world, the number of Ideological Fairies numbered less than a few dozen. In Kitsune's former world, they would be something of an endangered species. These girls were born of a human's strong feelings, or more specifically, items that have received strong feelings, and therefore, they usually possess strong powers.
However, the amount of emotion necessary for an Ideological to be born is absurd, and unless they're strong enough for one to bet their life on, nothing will be born. For that reason, their numbers are scarce.
On the other hand, the Natural Variety can be born as long as nature exists. No, it's more that there are as many Natural Fairies as there are nature. As such, they can exist in large numbers. In exchange, unlike the other type, they generally don't have that much power. It can be said that the Ideological are the {Quality} , and the Natural are the {Quantity} .
Natural Fairies have no lifespan. If nature were to die out, then they would die, but as long as even a little remained, there would be no death for them.
But Ideological Fairies were different. They had no set lifespan, but if the intermediary through which they were born were to be destroyed, they would die. Therefore, it was rare for them to separate from that item.
"To summarize, if that mask breaks, I'll disappear, so I'll follow Kitsune-san!"
"Ah, I see."
The explanation over, the fairy said that with a bright smile, and Kitsune nodded easily.
Hearing the explanation on Ideological Fairies, he felt it reassuring that one who possessed great power was to be his ally, but as long as he didn't know where exactly he was, it didn't change the fact that he was abandoned in the middle of nowhere in an unfamiliar world. He didn't know what it was he should do.
First, he wanted to meet a human he could talk with, but since coming to the world, the only things he'd met so far were a polar bear level monster, and a fairy. It left him quite uneasy.
"... For now, I guess we'll keep moving forward. Um... what's your name?"
"None!"
"... None?"
"I was just born, you know? I'm a baby, you know? There's no way I have a name!"
Kitsune pondered to himself just how this fairy could be so blatantly hopeless, as he stared off into the distance towards another day. But her words were sound. There was no way a freshly born baby would have a name.
"If it's necessary, then it's alright if Kitsune-san gives me a name."
"... Well, it's inconvenient if you don't have one. Let's see, something a bit otherworldly... let's go with Finia."
"Nice sound to it! What's it from?"
"Wah, so my name was one you just kinda felt... I like it!"
The fairy... no, Finia, broke into another smile after a short period of despondence. It seems she was the possessor of quite the brash personality. That part of her slightly resembled Shinozaki Shiori, causing Kitsune to give a slight smile.
He got himself back together, and began to move towards his original goal, the acquisition of life's necessities, once more. With the mask on his head again, and the fairy Finia perched on his right shoulder, he walked forward with a faint smile on his face.
"By the way, Finia-chan, was that thing you used to heal my injuries magic?"
While thinking of how nice it was to have someone to talk to, he tried asking. He had just experienced Fairies, Beasts, and other fantasy-esque factors, so he wanted to secure a means to protect his own body.
"That's right! Healing Magic! Usually you nead a spell incantation to use magic, but Ideological Fairies can use it without! Hehe!"
"Hmm... can I do something like that too?"
"The output likely changes based on the person, but as long as you have Mana, you can probably do it, you know?"
Hearing that, Kitsune asked whether there was a means to check if he had Mana, but Finia didn't know. It seems she had the sense to use magic from the moment she was born, so she had no idea how to use magic in itself. It was like a human knowing how to move their hands.
"Yeah... Hey, Finia-chan, could you go up into the sky to see if there's a river or village around?"
Understanding that he wasn't going to become able to use magic anytime soon, he put the matter aside.
So, he put Finia's wings to use. If there was a river, then he would be in luck. A village, even more so.
"So!? Was there anything!?"
Kitsune raised his voice to the fairy who had risen quite high. There was the chance the beast would find out his location, but he wanted to get the information from the sky quickly.
Finia spun in the air as she descended. Lowering her back onto Kitsune's shoulder, she smiled as she pointed in a direction.
"It was quite far, but I saw a large town! There's a river on the way too!"
"Thanks for the good news, Finia-chan."
"Yep!"
That information was the best news to the boy. The fact that there was a river was one thing, but the large town was good luck. If it was that big, then there would definitely be people, and he would be able to gather some necessary otherworldly information.
With somewhat lighter steps, he proceeded in the direction of Finia's finger. Some monster may have heard his voice, so it was best to change locations swiftly.
"Even so... will Japanese work in another world?"
"Eh? Even when I can talk with you just fine?"
"I'm, you know, that. I was born from Japanese goods! In a sense, I'm a new breed of fairy, right? Something like that."
Eh... a troubled expression came up. But, well, the fact that a human settlement was there was much more reassuring than being in a forest when he didn't know when he would die. Anyways, moving forward was important.
"By the way, Finia-chan, about how far is far?"
"Based on your world, about 30km, I guess?"
"That's a distance to distance one's spirit..."
He stared out towards a brighter future again. If he kept walking without rest, he would probably reach it in a day or two, but as a frail high school boy, Kitsune didn't have such stamina. Finia could probably fly there, but she decided to follow him.
* * *
After walking for a while, Kitsune found a different beast from before in front of him. Rather than a beast, this one looked like a bug.  Its appearance was that of a spider, whose height exceeded 2m. Honestly, he didn't want to have to deal with it. If possible, he wanted to pass peacefully.
Luckily, spiders didn't use their sense of smell to catch prey. While it had eight eyes, as long as he hid and stayed a distance, there wouldn't be a problem.
"Uwah... It's creepy."
"Kitsune-san's also creepy, right? You've finally found a comrade!"
"You casually throw out some heart-stabbing words, don't you? And wait, Finia-chan, you have knowledge from my world?"
"I have memory from when you first got that mask! You always held it close, so I remember quite a bit! Like how your notes were turned to charcoal during class, and how your chair went missing, only to be found destroyed, and how your shoulder was accidentally punched by a passerby with splendid timing!"
He could have gotten off without an explanation of his own world, but should he feel happy that he didn't have to waste time explaining anything himself, or feel conflicted that someone with Shiori's face was happily divulging the contents of his bullying? It was a peculiar feeling.
"For now... let's try sneaking past that spider."
"Yay, it's like hide-and-seek!"
They hid in the thickets as Kitsune waited for the spider to pass by. He gazed at its movements as he concentrated as not to make a sound.
But there was one tapping his shoulder.
"Shh... quiet."
Kitsune turned his attention from the large spider, and spoke to the one behind him. But without minding his words, it kept tapping him.
"What are y... eh~..."
As he turned his head, he found the wolf from before behind him. In the front, the spider, and behind, the wolf. It truly was a desperate pinch. And wait, he was lucky to have gotten off with nothing but his shoulder tapped so far.
"Finia-chan."
"What?"
"Can you defeat this wolf-san?"
"I more or less specialize in offensive magic, dude."
"You were that sort of character?"
Finia was messing around, so Kitsune tsukkomied while his inner thoughts were in turmoil. She smiled as she raised her small hands at the wolf, and in the next instant...
"Grah!?"
... The wolf was blown away. From Kitsune's point of view, it looked like Finia's hands let off a flash for a moment, and the wolf was sent flying by it. He had no idea of exactly what had happened.
"Fufu... do you wanna know what I just did?"
"Yes, I want to know."
"I sent him off with light magic!"
But she couldn't be any more reliable. He felt it a little shameful to depend on the small existence 1/10 his size, but if she was going to protect him when he didn't have any power of his own, he didn't have the time to mind his own appearance.
"GISHAAAAAAAH!"
The light didn't go unnoticed by the spider. The wolf still appeared to be able to move, so they were in quite a tight spot. Kitsune looked back and forth between the two monsters, and let out a sigh. So this is what it means to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. He offered a carefree thought, even in this situation.
"Good grief, this is the worst. For now, come at me! Finia-chan'll take you guys on!"
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/
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