333 そして動き出している場所は一つではない
Another side
魔界で一人の男が動き出していれば、イスアルでも動きはあった。
「前線は硬直状態、兵の消耗は激しく、糧食の消耗も増える一方、このままでは今年の越冬は厳しいものになるかと」
神権国家トライス。
神を崇め、その信仰をもってして国家を成り立たせている国。
その首都たる、トライスの中央にそびえる大神殿。
礼拝堂とも取れるような大会議場で一人の騎士が長机に並ぶ大司教たちに現状を報告するも内容は芳しくないものばかり。
誰しもその表情に不満が宿っている。
現状神権国家は隣国の王国と同盟を組み帝国と交戦中。
その戦争は帝国から仕掛けられたものではあるが、突発的ではなく、十分とまではいかなくても想定の範囲内の準備状況で始められた戦争だ。
本来の予定であればもっと余裕があったはず。
なのにもかかわらず状況の色は悪い。
いや、仕掛けられて押し返したことを想定すれば決して悪くはない状況ではあるのだが、神の使徒たる彼らからすれば決して受け入れられない状況なのだ。
そうなった原因も把握している故、さらに不平不満は溜まる。
こうなってしまった不祥事が重なったことはこの場にいる首脳陣にとっても想定外だった。
一つ目の不祥事は、諜報部が帝国の造ったゴーレムを察知するのが遅れたことにより対応が遅れ対策が十全に取れなかったこと。
二つ目は後れを取りもどそうと帝国に対抗して召喚した勇者たちが全員何者かに連れ去られたこと。
そして三つ目。
「聖剣の回復はまだか?」
「はっ! そちらのほうもまだと報告が」
「急がせろ!!」
その不祥事を挽回すべく造り上げた現存する切り札が封じられているということだ。
対応をすればするほど後手に回り、成すことすべてうまくいかない。
報告している騎士の対面、この場合上座に座る男は忌々し気に騎士の報告に怒鳴りつけるように突き返す。
何より、帝国のゴーレム。
魔王の遺骸を利用して作られたゴーレムに対抗できる唯一の手段が封じられている今、その焦りも相俟っている。
本来の計画ならばもっと多くの聖剣を用意し、戦況には余裕が出ていたはずだ。
それが、彼らの予定は大幅にずれてどうにか打開策をひねり出そうとして、感情のぶつけ合いに発展している。
「唯一、作り上げることができた聖剣があのざまではな。不便にもほどがある」
騎士が退出したのを見届け、上座に座る男は背もたれに寄り掛かるように座り込む。
「仕方ありません。もともと適性値も低い男を無理に聖剣に加工したのです。性能に欠点が出てもおかしくはありません」
聖剣の材料となったのは、聖剣の材料となるべき勇者たちの引率だった成人した男。
女の色香におぼれ、骨抜きにされ、何不自由なく生活して、教師としての本分を忘れた男の末路としても悲しい結末だった。
「幸い武器としての性能は悪くはありません。使用に制限がつくのは、改善の見込みがあると報告も上がっております」
「そんなことはわかっておる」
そんな一人の男のこともただの材料としての役割でしかなく、その役割にも不平不満を隠さない男たち。
神権国家というだけあって、国家を運営するのは誰もが神官だ。
この会議の場の発言だけで誰が聖職者だと思うだろうか。
政教分離という言葉はこの国ではありえず、教皇と名のつく存在は神に祈りを捧げる存在であって、政治的発言力は例外を除きない。
なので大司教と呼ばれる存在がこの場に集まり、国の運営を、そして軍を取りまとめている。
正確には神殿騎士団と呼ばれ、団長も存在するが大まかな動きはこの場にて決定される。
首脳陣と呼ばれる存在たちが雁首揃えて頭を悩ませると言えば聞こえがいいが大半は、我欲に満ち、権力保持のことしか考えない生臭ども。
先日の勇者失踪という失敗をしでかした者の席はこの場にはなく、今頃何をやっているかということを考える輩もいない。
「前線を押し上げることは、当面無理か」
「まことに残念ながら」
「忌々しい異端者どもめ」
帝国と神権国家の祭る宗教には違いがある。
神権国家はいわゆる、神が最上位という信心深い信者の多い考え。
何か困ったら祈り、何か目出度いことがあれば祈り、と生活のサイクルの中に宗教が馴染んでいることが多い環境だ。
国として一致団結がしやすい反面、一度混乱が起きると脆い国家。
対して帝国は実力主義、神には祈るが最終的には自分でどうにかしろという考えだ。
なので、時と場合によっては宗教をないがしろにするという日本で言う織田信長に近い思想だ。
利用できれば利用し、邪魔なら黙って祈りだけ捧げろと押し込めるような感じの思想だ。
おかげでドライな雰囲気が多いせいで絶えず身内を疑う傾向がある。
そんなお国柄のためか、異端者認定を受けてもどこ吹く風、むしろ逆にその風潮を利用し神罰が落ちないことを逆手に取り神の名を驕っていると反撃に出るほどだ。
そんな国同士の仲が良いわけなく、停戦協定すら選択肢に入らないでいる。
やるとすれば敵を滅ぼすか自国が滅びるかの二択だ。
そんなことを続ければ下手をすれば互いの国は疲弊し滅びる。
そんな未来を憂いて、互いの国に穏健派と呼ばれる派閥が存在するが発言力はほぼないと言っていい。
だからこその泥沼。
互いの利権しか考えず、足元を踏み潰すことに対してなんら戸惑いを感じない故の泥沼。
腐っていると言われても仕方ないと言える。
会議とは名ばかりの愚痴のこぼし合い。
そして最も発言力のある者の言葉を肯定し持ちあげるだけの簡単なお仕事。
そんな場に続く扉が叩かれた。
「だれだ! 今は会議中だぞ!!」
『教皇様がおいでです』
扉の近くに座っていた大司教が、会議を中断されたことに腹を立て扉越しに怒鳴りつけるも返ってきたのは扉の前に控えていた騎士の声ではなく、女官の声。
そしてその女官はトップに飾られる存在の側付きであったはず。
それを理解し、その言葉を把握した大司教たちは瞠目する。
この場に足を運ぶはずのない存在が今扉越しにいるということだ。
上座に座る大司教は即座に立ち上がり、騎士を壁に寄せる。
出迎えるために膝をつき祭壇に向け祈りの姿勢になる。
それに倣う形で他の大司教も膝をつく。
そしてタイミングを見計らい騎士が扉を開く。
シャリンと鈴の音のような音が扉の奥から聞こえる。
だが、この場にいる誰もが頭を垂れ顔を上げない。
一定のリズムで鳴る鈴の音。
一歩、また一歩と進むその歩調に合わせて鳴り響く。
そしてその音は大会議室の奥へと進み、そして会議室よりも高く設置された祭壇の上へといざなわれる。
「教皇様からのお言葉です」
そして誰もが頭を上げることなく、シンと静まり返った空間に、女官の声が響きそれに続き幼い声が響く。
「太陽神様からお告げがありました」
その声の内容にビクリと反応する者はいない。
教皇とはすなわち神の声を聞き、伝える者。
政治的関与は一切ないが、この国の行動を左右する発言力を持つ者。
故にこの場に現れたということは、神からのお告げを受けたということに他ならない。
普段は首都にある大聖堂の最上の部屋にある祭壇で祈りを捧げているが、こうやって大司教たちの前に姿を現すことも珍しくはない。
だが、逆に言えば姿を現すときはイコール神のお告げがあるということだ。
「これより七日後、天より使いを出す。そのものに三人の供をつけよ。さすればその使いの導きの下、勇者のいる世界へと旅立たん」
そしてそのお告げが利益になるかそうでないかはその時によって異なるが、今回は利となる結果が告げられる。
大司教たちの心の中には歓喜が満ちる。
これで忌々しき帝国に一泡吹かせることができると。
そう思っていたが、普段なら一言二言告げただけで去る教皇が言葉をつづけた。
「心して供を選べ。かの地は神の威光の届かぬ地、未知の土地、言語は授ける。されどこの世の理とは異なると知れ」
その言葉にどういった意味があるのか大司教たちには測りかねた。
未開の地にいる勇者を迎えに行けと言われているのは理解したが、それ以外の脅威がなんなのかというのを正直把握しかねた。
「そして、かの地に月の影あり」
しかし、その次の言葉に大司教たちは思わず顔を上げてしまった。
無礼者と叱責を受けることも忘れ、その言葉が真実かどうかを確認した。
「無礼者!! 誰が顔を上げてよいと言った!!」
そして大司教たちは年下の女官に叱責される。
地位は彼らのほうが高い。
だが、今この場においてはその女官の言葉は正当化されている。
神の言葉を告げるのを邪魔立てするのは何人たりとも許される行為ではないからだ。
しかし、教皇が告げた言葉を無視できないのも事実。
月というのはトライスに伝わる言葉。
すなわち真実を知る者のみに理解ができる言葉。
魔族が勇者の土地に手を伸ばしているということ。
それは大司教たちにとってあってはならない事実であった。
勇者とは、教義に置いて正義の象徴、それが侵されることはあってはならないのだ。
そしてそれを理解する教皇は大司教たちが顔を上げたことに対して不問にした。
薄い白いベールに顔を包まれた小柄な人物。
過多な装飾を誇る衣装に身を包まれ、性別もわからぬ。
「神のお言葉はそれだけ、この者たちに受け入れがたい言葉だった。それだけのこと」
「失礼しました」
無感情ではなく、俯瞰した物言い。
女官が頭を下げ声を荒げたことを詫びるも、気にしたそぶりは見せない。
「恐れながら猊下、先ほどのお言葉まことにございますか?」
そして、発言のタイミングを測っていた大司教、上座に座っていた男が発言すれば、教皇は視線を女官から大司教へと移す。
「神の言葉を疑うか?」
「滅相もございません、しかし、魔族共が異界を渡るすべを持つとはいささか突飛に過ぎまして」
「されど、神の言葉は真実しか述べられぬ」
「は! 申し訳ございません」
信じたくない気持ちを大司教は代弁するも、じっとベール越しに心の奥底まで覗き込まれるような視線に大司教は視線を逸らすことができず、次に述べられた教皇の言葉に素直に頭を垂れるほかない。
「して、大司教よ」
そして、この国の権力者は教皇に逆らうことができない。
普段は誰も逆らえず、この国の上に立つ彼らがだ。
なぜか?
それはこの教皇が、一千年以上この姿のままだからだ。
政治に関与せずただ神の言葉を伝えるだけの存在。
だが、この場にいる誰よりも強者である。
彼の者を害すること敵わず、敵対してはならぬ。
それがこの国での不文律。
故に、教皇の言葉を大司教は待つ。
「供の中に聖女を入れよ、それ以外は人選を任せる」
そして言いたいことを言い終えた教皇は女官に先導され大会議室を去る。
来た時と同様、鈴の音を響かせ、去っていき、扉が閉まった後も大司教たちはしばらく祭壇へと祈りを捧げ続けた。
そして立ち上がった時には全員の額に汗が流れていた。
圧と一言で済ませられればどれほどよかったか。
プライドの塊。
腹に一物抱えない者はいない。
一癖も二癖も性格に難を抱える集団である彼らは教皇だけには下手に出る。
「ヘーゼ大司教」
「なんだ?」
そして各自元の席に座り、話を再開せようとするが先ほどまでの勢いなど存在しない。
「人選に関していかがいたしましょう?」
「.........」
それの一言に尽きる。
下手な人選をすれば問題になるのは明白。
異界を渡る際に道案内役になるのは神の使徒だ。
恐らくではあるが下手に野心があったりプライドがあったりと我の強い存在を当てればいかに実力があっても天使の機嫌を損ねることになる。
その上、機嫌を損ね万が一このお告げをないがしろにでもしてしまえば今後の戦況にも影響が出かねない。
それを理解しているがゆえに、ヘーゼと呼ばれた大司教は沈黙を選び、熟考する。
そしてその間、他の大司教たちも静かにヘーゼ大司教の言葉を待った。
「王国と連携を取る」
待った結果のヘーゼ大司教の言葉に隣の席に座っていた大司教はそれしかないかと思う。
もちろんヘーゼ大司教は最初は身内だけでどうにかしようと考えたが、現状選べる人選から該当者を模索するも誰もが不適格だと判断した。
その場合失敗の全責任はこちらが被ることになる。
神の使徒に導かれる名誉を分割することになるが、勇者を引き込めればおつりがくると判断した結果、王国に協力を要請し、責任を分割することを決意する。
そのことに異論を唱える者はいない。
「すぐに使いをだせ、ペガサスを使うことも許可する。事は一刻の猶予もない、これは大至急だ!」
そして魔界で活動を始める賢者が旅立つ日に、この決定は下された。
Another side End
今日の一言
休みの日が違うと、こういうことっておきますよね?
342 333. And There'S More Than One Place That'S Starting To Move.
Another side
If there was a man on the move in the demon world, there was a movement in Isual as well.
''The front line is rigid, the troops are being depleted, their food supply is being depleted, and if they don't change, this year's wintering will be difficult.
Theocratic State Tris.
A country that worships a god and whose faith makes up the nation.
The great temple that rises in the center of its capital, Trice.
In the chapel-like hall, a knight reports to the archbishops lined up at a long table, but his report is not good.
Everyone has a look of dissatisfaction on their faces.
The theocracy is at war with the empire, allied with a neighboring kingdom.
Although the war was initiated by the empire, it was not spontaneous, but rather it was started with anticipated, if not sufficient, preparations.
There would have been more time to prepare if it had been originally planned.
Nevertheless, the situation looks bad.
It is not a bad situation assuming that they were set up and pushed back, but from the point of view of the apostles of God, it is not an acceptable situation.
I know the reason for this, so the complaint is even more piling up.
The series of scandals that have come to this was unexpected even by the leaders present here.
The first is that the intelligence department was late in detecting the golem created by the empire, and thus the response was delayed and countermeasures were not fully taken.
The second is that all the brave men and women who were summoned to oppose the empire were taken by someone who wanted to regain the lead.
And third.
"Is the holy sword back yet?
"Ha! I'm reporting that you're not ready either.
"Hurry up!
The existing trump card that was built to redeem the scandal is sealed.
The more you deal with it, the more you fall behind and the more you do, the worse it gets.
The man who is reporting to the knight, in this case the man sitting at the top, shouts back at the knight's report with annoyance.
Above all, the imperial golem.
The only way to counter the golem made from the remains of the demon king is now sealed, coupled with the impatience of the imperial golem.
The original plan would have prepared more holy swords, and the war situation would have been more relaxed.
It has devolved into a clash of emotions as they try to deviate from their plans and somehow come up with a breakthrough.
"The only holy sword I could have made was that one. It's almost too much of an inconvenience.
Watching the knight leave, the man in the upper seat sits down to lean back.
It can't be helped. I forced a man with a low aptitude to become a holy sword. It's not surprising that there are flaws in its performance.
The material for the holy sword was a grown man who led the brave men who were to become the material for the holy sword.
It was a sad ending for a man who was drunk with the scent of women, got beaten to a pulp, lived a good life and forgot his true nature as a teacher.
Fortunately it's not a bad weapon. There have been reports of some improvement in its limited use.
I know that.
Such a man is only a material role for one man, and men who do not hide their displeasure with his role as well.
It is a theocracy, and everyone runs the state, a priest.
Who would think they are priests just by what they say in this conference.
The term "separation of church and state" has no place in this country, and a being named Pope is a person who prays to God and has no political voice, with no exceptions.
So a being called the Archbishop gathers here to run the country and organize the military.
It's more accurately called the Temple Knights, and although there is also a leader, the general movement is decided here.
It sounds good when you say that the so-called "leaders" are struggling with their heads, but most of them are greedy, power-hungry foul-mouthed men who only care about keeping their power.
The seat of the man who made the mistake of the hero's disappearance the other day is not here, and there is no one to think about what they are doing now.
"Can't push the front line for the time being?
"I'm sorry,
"d*mned heretics.
There is a difference in the religions worshipped by empires and theocracies.
Theocracies have the so-called "theocracy", the idea that God is the Supreme Being, with many pious believers.
It is an environment where religion is often a part of the cycle of life, where people pray when they are in trouble, and pray when something auspicious happens.
As a nation, it is easy to be united but fragile once chaos strikes.
In contrast, the empire is a meritocracy, praying to God but ultimately thinking that you have to deal with it yourself.
Therefore, it is similar to the Japanese concept of Oda Nobunaga, who neglected religion at the right time and place.
It is the kind of thought that tells you to use them if you can, and if they are in your way, to shut up and pray.
Because of this, there is a tendency to suspect their relatives because of the dry atmosphere.
Because of this national character, even if you are accused of being a heretic, you will be blown away, and even take advantage of this trend to counterattack against the fact that the divine punishment does not fall on you, claiming that you are arrogant in the name of the god.
There is no way such countries can get along with each other, and even the ceasefire agreement is not an option.
There are two choices if we do this, destroy the enemy or destroy our own country.
If we continue to do this, we will exhaust and ruin each other.
Fearing such a future, there are factions in each country called moderates, but they have little or no say in the matter.
That's why it's a quagmire.
It is a quagmire because they only think of each other's interests and have no qualms about trampling on each other's feet.
It is no wonder they are called corrupt.
Complaining each other in the name of a meeting.
And the simple task of affirming and lifting up the words of the one who has the most to say.
The door to such a place is slammed.
Who's there! I'm in a meeting right now!
"The Pope is here.
The archbishop, who was sitting near the door, was annoyed that the meeting was interrupted and shouted at him through the door, but it wasn't the voice of the knight at the door, but the voice of the maid, who was supposed to be the maid of honor.
And the maid must have been a top-shelf attendant.
Understanding and grasping the words, the archbishops are blindsided.
An entity that should never have come here is now at the door.
The archbishop, seated on the throne, immediately rises and pulls the knight to the wall.
To greet him, he kneels down and turns to the altar in a prayer position.
The other archbishops will follow suit and kneel down.
Then, at the right moment, the knight opens the door.
A sound like a bell can be heard from behind the door.
But no one here hangs their head and doesn't look up.
The bell tolls in a steady rhythm.
Step by step, step by step, it rings in time with their steps.
Then it leads them to the back of the main conference room and to the altar, which is higher than the conference room.
"The Pope speaks.
Then, without anyone raising their heads, a woman's voice echoed in the silent space, followed by a young voice.
The Sun God sent a sign.
No one reacts to the content of his voice.
A pope is one who hears and delivers the voice of God.
One who is not politically involved in any way, but has a voice in influencing the actions of this country.
Therefore, his appearance here means that he has received a revelation from God.
Normally he prays at the altar in the top room of the cathedral in the capital, but it is not unusual for him to appear in front of the archbishops like this.
But on the contrary, when he appears, it means that he has a sign from God.
Seven days from now, a messenger from heaven will come forth. Attach three offerings to it. Then the messenger will guide you into the world of the brave.
And whether the signs are beneficial or not depends on the time, but this time the result is beneficial.
Joy fills the hearts of the archbishops.
This will bring a blow to the abominable empire.
But then the Pope, who would normally leave after a word or two, continued to speak.
Choose your offerings carefully. That land is a place where God's majesty does not reach, a land unknown, where language is given, but know that it is different from the laws of this world. But know that this is not the way of the world.
The archbishops could not gauge the meaning of those words.
I understood that we were told to go for a brave man in a savage land, but I honestly didn't know what the other threats were.
"And there is the shadow of the moon in the land
But his next words caused the archbishops to look up.
Forgetting that they were being reprimanded for being rude, they checked to see if the words were true.
'Rude! Who said it was okay to look up!
And the archbishops are reprimanded by the younger women.
They are higher in rank.
But in the here and now, the words of the maid are justified.
It is not an acceptable act for anyone to interfere with the proclamation of the word of God.
But it is also true that the word of the pope cannot be ignored.
The moon is the word that goes to Trice.
A word that can only be understood by those who know the truth.
That demons are reaching out to the land of the brave.
That was a fact that the archbishops should never have known.
A brave man is a doctrinal symbol of justice, and that must not be violated.
And the Pope, understanding that, questioned the archbishops for looking up.
A small figure wrapped in a thin white veil covering his face.
Dressed in a garment boasting an excess of ornamentation, gender unknown.
The word of God was that much harder for these men to accept. That's all.
"Excuse me.
Not emotionless, but with a bird's-eye view of things.
The lady bowed her head and apologized for raising her voice, but she didn't seem bothered.
"I beg your pardon, your eminence, but did you mean what you just said?
And when the archbishop, the man sitting on the throne, who was measuring the timing of his statement, said it, the Pope shifted his gaze from the priestess to the archbishop, "Do you doubt the word of God?
"Do you doubt the word of God?
No, but the idea that demons would have a way to cross over to the other world is a bit far-fetched.
"But the word of God can only speak the truth.
"Ha! Sorry.
Although the archbishop expressed his reluctance to believe it, he could not look away from the gaze that seemed to be peering into the depths of his heart through the veil, and he could not help but hang his head honestly to the next words of the pope.
"And now, Archbishop,
And the powers that be in this country can not go against the Pope.
Normally, no one can oppose them, and they are the ones who stand above this country.
Why?
That's because this pope has remained in this form for more than a thousand years.
He is not involved in politics and just preaches the word of God.
But he is mightier than anyone else in the room.
Do not harm his opponent and do not go against him.
That is the unwritten law in this country.
Therefore, the archbishop waits for the Pope's words.
Put the saints among the offerings, otherwise I'll leave it to you to choose.
And having finished saying what he wanted to say, the Pope leaves the Great Chamber, led by a lady.
They rang the bell as they had come and left, and after the door was closed, the archbishops continued to pray at the altar for a while, and when they stood up, sweat was on their foreheads.
And when they got up, sweat was running down everyone's forehead.
How I wish I could have said one word: pressure.
A bundle of pride.
Who doesn't have a heart.
They are a quirky bunch of characters, and they do not fare well with the pope alone.
Archbishop Haese.
"What?
Then, each of you takes your seat and tries to resume the conversation, but the earlier momentum is gone.
What do you want to know about the selection?
".........
That's all I have to say.
It's obvious that we'll have a problem if we pick the wrong people.
It is the apostle of God who will guide you across the other world.
Perhaps, but if you use a strong selfish being with ambition or pride, you will displease the angels no matter how strong he is.
Moreover, if you displease him and neglect this announcement, it will affect the future war situation.
Knowing this, the archbishop, called Hese, chooses silence and contemplates.
And meanwhile, the other archbishops quietly waited for the words of Archbishop Haase.
"We will work with the Kingdom.
After a long wait, Archbishop Haese's words made the Archbishop, who was sitting next to him, think that this is the only way.
Of course, at first, Archbishop Haese wanted to deal with it with his own people, but then he decided that no one was qualified to be chosen from the current pool of candidates.
In that case, we will bear the full responsibility for the failure.
You will share the honor of being led by God's apostle, but as a result of judging that the change will be worth it if you can bring in a brave man, you decide to ask for the kingdom's help and share the responsibility.
There is no one to argue with that.
"Send a messenger now, and I will allow you to use the Pegasus. This is happening now, and it's urgent!
And on the day of the departure of the wise men to begin their activities in the magical world, this decision was made.
Another side End
Word of the Day
Doesn't this happen on different days off?
Entering a Company From Another World!?
異世界からの企業進出！？転職からの成り上がり録『祝1億PV突破！！』　
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/entering-a-company-from-another-world/
Action Adventure Comedy Ecchi Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Angels Average-looking Protagonist Beautiful Female Lead Childcare Demon Lord Demons Dungeons Elves Fallen Angels Fantasy World Game Elements Human-Nonhuman Relationship Level System Male Protagonist Modern Day Monsters Older Love Interests Polygamy Pregnancy R-15 Summoned Hero Transported to Another World Vampires Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1881dn/
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