「......結局、無断で出てきちゃったなあ」
とは言うものの、考えれば考える程、王都に向かわないのであれば無断で家を飛び出す選択肢が何より俺にとって都合が良かった。
だから、
「だけどまぁ————これは仕方ない」
そう言って自分勝手に己の行動を肯定する。
ただ、本当に無断で家を出ると親父が慌てて追いかけて来る可能性も無きにしもあらずだったので、「星を斬るまで死ぬ気はない」とだけ置き手紙を残している。
恐らく、これで親父が追いかけて来る可能性は消えたと言って良い。
『星斬り』が絡んだが最後。
何を言っても俺はテコでも動かないと親父は誰よりも知っているだろうから。
「......この事は今は割り切って、〝ミナウラ〟にたどり着く事だけ考えないと、ね」
ポケットの奥に押し込んでいた地図を取り出し、内容を確認。
置き手紙を書き終えてからそのまま予め用意していた荷物袋を背負って家を出ている。
その為、辺りはまだ夜の世界から抜け切ってはいない。曙光が差し込むまであと二時間といったところか。
夜は、魔物の世界。
出てきてしまった以上、日が昇るまでは歩き続ける必要がある。あれだけの事を宣っておいて、道中の魔物に殺されでもしたら死んでも死に切れない。
「急げば恐らく一週間」
俺の暮らしていた村と、その辺りにある小さな湖。それらが地図に記載されていたお陰で〝ミナウラ〟までの距離は大体ではあるけれど把握する事が出来る。
故に、一週間。
「......ひとまず一日でどこまで進めるか把握しないと」
いくら満月までまだ時間があるとはいえ、悠長な事はしていられない。
幸い、〝ミナウラ〟までの道中に幾つか目印となりそうなものが地図に記載されている。
それを目安として今は進む他なかった。
この世界において、人の命というものは比較的軽い存在だ。出会って、意気投合して、同じ釜の飯をかっ食らった友や家族が何らかの悲劇に巻き込まれ、次の日に命を落としてしまう。
————どこにでもある事だ。
そんな言葉が当然のように口を衝いて出てくるのがこの世界。
悲しい出来事ではあるがさして珍しくもない。
魔物という人を襲う存在がいるこの世界では、別段珍しくもない惨劇である。
そして人の命が軽いが為に、乱暴を働く者も多々存在する。欲しいものがあれば殺して奪ってしまえ。などと考える連中が偶にいるのだ。
そう、例えば————賊であるとか。
「————......凄いね」
気付けば、感嘆めいた言葉が俺の口からこぼれ出ていた。
家を無断で飛び出してから早、数時間。
既に外はすっかり明るくなっており、熱気を伴った日差しがこれでもかと言わんばかりに頭上から降り注ぐ。
それは、数名の賊を相手に立ち回る一人の青年の姿。見る限り俺と歳はそう変わらないだろうに、その立ち回りは歴戦の剣士を彷彿とさせる熟練としたものであった。
「......先を急いでんだ。そこ、どいてくれねぇかな」
気怠げに目を細めながら青年は鞘に納められた剣を片手に言葉を並べ立てる。
彼の目の前には盗賊が......八名。
だけれど、彼の力量を判断する材料としてそれらは十分過ぎた。
「......手助けを、と思ったけど」
どちらが悪かなど一目瞭然。
だからこそ、俺は囲まれる青年の手助けをしに駆け出すべきであると考えたが、先の攻防でその考えはものの見事に霧散していた。
......恐らく、かえって邪魔になる。
木陰に隠れながら俺はそんな事を思っていた。
「一度目は見逃したし、忠告もした。これ以上邪魔するのなら相応の対応をこっちも取らなくちゃいけなくなる」
「オイオイ、言うじゃねえか。......まぐれが二度も続くとは思わねえこった」
蔑んだ言葉が青年に向けられる。
しかし、青年は一顧だにせず、亜麻色の双眸で呆れたように居並ぶ賊を睨み据えるだけ。
そしてひと息。
相手に譲る気がないと理解して、つくづくと青年は呟いた。
「————......はぁ。どうにも今日は厄日らしい」
面倒臭い事この上ねえと愚痴る青年であるが、その瞳は狩猟に向かう狩人そのもの。
猛禽類もかくやという炯眼で己が敵へと焦点をジッとあて続けていた。
そんな様を目の当たりにし、もし仮に俺があの青年と対峙する事があったならば果たして打ち勝つ事は出来るだろうかと考えて。
恐らく無理だろうねと判断し、俺は
する。村を出た途端にこれだ。
ビエラ・アイルバーク然り、世界はこれほどまでに広く、己の立つ段階を上げてくれるであろう機会がこれほどまでに溢れている。
だから、笑わざるを得なかった。
「......お前らがふっかけてきたんだ。当然だが、文句は受け付けねぇ」
悠然とした動きで、青年は手に掴んでいた鞘から剣を引き抜き————中身の無くなった鞘を手から離し、地面に落とす。
視界に映る泰然とした立ち姿。
それが、手にする剣が決して見せかけだけのものでないと確かな説得力を持って俺に告げてくるのだ。
しかし。
強気の言葉の反面、どうしてか青年は剣を構えながらも一歩後退。
見方によれば逃げ腰になったとも取れるその行動。それを確認した賊共が、やはり虚勢だったかと勝手に納得し————目を輝かせながら大地を蹴り上げ、青年へと殺到を始める。
(......上手い)
傍目から見ていたお陰で正しく判断する事が出来た。あの青年は臆したわけでも、虚勢を張っていたわけでもない。
自分に賊が嬉々として殺到するように。
だから、腰が引けたかのように一歩後退した。
とすれば————最早、結末など見え透いているようなもの。
そしてその予感は間違いでなかったと肯定するように、ぶん、と力強く鼓膜を揺らす剣風の音と、程なく舞い飛ぶ鮮紅色の液体。
一瞬にして死臭によって五感すべてが埋め尽くされる中、その光景を前に、ぶわりと俺の汗腺が一気に開いた。
「............は?」
聞こえる素っ頓狂な声。
それは斬られた賊の男によるものであった。
何が起こったのかが分からない。
泣き別れした己の胴体を見遣りながら、断末魔の叫びすらあげられず、ごとり、と重量感のある音を遺してその声は消え失せる。
「次」
剣を返し、再度ぶん、と傘の水を払うような血振りの動作を一度。
そしてその動作を隙と断じ、懐に入り込み、斬り込もうとする一人の賊がいたが、
「これは隙じゃねえ。あえてつくったんだよ」
鋭い右の脚撃が吸い込まれるように賊の男の鳩尾へと叩き込まれ、めきり、と軋む骨の痛みに顔を歪めながら目をせり出し、ボールのように後方へと二度、三度と大地に弾んで蹴り飛ばされてゆく。
飛ばされた先は角ばった岩が存在する場所。
思わされた瞬間、残りの五人の身体から噴き出すように一斉に血飛沫が上がった。
(今、あの人は何をした......?)
......ただ、ほんの僅かな違和感は感じていた。
まるで、俺が剣を創造する時のような独特の感覚を。
タネがあるとすれば、恐らくは〝魔法〟か。
......ともあれ、威勢よく青年に話し掛けていた一人の男を除き、これで全員が凄惨に大地を彩る血に沈んだ。
思わず見惚れる程恐ろしい手際である。
「ま、待ってくれ!!! 違うんだ!!! 俺はただ、頼まれて———!!」
「文句は受け付けないと、そう言った」
目の前の青年が己らの手に負えない怪物であったと今更ながらに理解をした賊の男が必死に言葉を並べ立て、命乞いを始める。
けれど、青年がそれに耳を傾ける様子は一切なく————向けられた言葉に対する返答は、横薙ぎに繰り出される冷ややかなひと振りであった。
「............はあ」
血振りの動作を一度。
地面に落としていた鞘に剣身を納めながら青年は深いため息を一度吐いてから
「それで、あんたはいつまでそこで隠れてるつもりだ」
分からないとでも思ったかと。木陰にずっと隠れていた俺に呆れの言葉が向けられた。
やはり、と言うべきか。
いくら不可抗力であったとはいえ、覗き見をしておいて、何事もなくはい終わり、とはなってくれないらしい。
"...I guess I left without permission after all."
However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that if I wasn't planning to go to the capital, the option of leaving home without permission was more convenient for me than anything else.
Therefore--
"But oh well-- It can't be helped."
Saying so, I selfishly affirmed my own action.
Still, there was a possibility that my father might come after me in a great panic if I really left the house safely, let alone without permission, so I decided to leave a note saying that I had no intention of dying until I slew the stars.
Perhaps it was already safe to say that this had eliminated any chance of my father coming after me.
The last thing I needed was not being able to Slay the Stars.
And he knewbetter than anyone that no matter what he said, I wouldn't budge.
"...I'm going to have to put this topic behind me for now and just think about getting to Minaura."
I took out the map I had shoved in the back of my pocket and checked its details.
After finishing the letter, I left the house carrying the luggage I had prepared in advance.
The surroundings have not yet broken out of the night scene, having two more hours before the sunrise.
Night is the world of monsters.
And now that I've left, I need to keep walking until the sun comes up.
"If I hurry, it'd take me probably a week."
Thanks to the map showing the village where I live and the small lakes in the area, I could determine the approximate distance it'd take for me to reach Minaura.
It'd take one week, indeed.
"...I need to figure out how far I can go in one day."
Even though there was still time before the full moon, I couldn't take my time.
Fortunately, there were several landmarks on the map on the way to Minaura.
And using them as a guide, the only thing to do now was to continue onward.
Friends and family members who meet, connect with each other, and eat from the same pot might end up being involved in some kind of tragedy and die the next day.
--No matter where one lived, that was indeed the case.
Such words came out of our mouths as if they were a matter of fact in this world.
It was a sad event, but it was not that unusual.
In this world where monsters, beings that attack people, existed, it was not an unusual tragedy.
And because human life was so light, there were many people who engaged in violent acts.
Yes, for example-- bandits.
"That's amazing..."
I found myself saying words of admiration.
It had been several hours since I left the house unannounced, and it was already bright outside.
The hot sunlight was pouring down from above as if it would never end.
He was probably not much older than me, but his skillful stance was reminiscent of a swordsman who had fought many battles.
"...I'm in a hurry. Won't you move it?"
The young man's eyes narrowed lazily, with his sword in its sheath in one hand and his words in the other.
In front of him were... eight bandits.
However, they were more than enough to judge his ability.
"...I'm thinking of helping him out, but..."
It was pretty obvious which of the two parties was the evil one.
That's why I thought that I should rush and help the young man who was surrounded, but that thought had been completely erased by their previous exchange.
...I'd probably just get in his way.
Or so I pondered as I hid behind a tree.
"I'll let you guys off the hook the first time, but let me warn you all. If you interfere any further, I'll have to take some appropriate measures."
"Hey hey hey, aren't you quite the talker? ...Don't think that you could pull off a fluke on us the second time."
Contemptuous words directed at the young man.
He only stared at the bandits with loathsome eyes, as if exasperated.
He let out a sigh.
Understanding that the other party had no intention of budging, the young man murmured.
"Haaah... Seems like today is a bad day for some reason."
The young man complained about the trouble he was going through, but his eyes were those of a hunter on the prowl.
He kept his piercing eyes fixed on his enemies, as if he was a bird of prey.
Witnessing such a scene, I couldn't help but wonder if I would be able to overcome him if we were to face each other.
I decided that it would probably be impossible, and so I burst out laughing.
The moment I left the village, this was what greeted me.
As per Viera Islebark, the world was so big, and there were many opportunities that could raise one's standing.
So I just had to laugh about it.
"...You're the ones that came and picked a fight so, obviously, I'm not accepting any complaints later."
With graceful movements, the young man pulled the sword from the sheath in his hand,  and dropped it to the ground.
A calm and composed figure reflected in my vision.
This told me with certainty that the sword in his hand was not just for show.
But, I wasn't so sure about it.
Despite his bold words, for some reason, the young man took a step back with his sword poised in the air.
The bandits, seeing this, were convinced that he was bluffing, and with a gleam in their eyes, they kicked up the earth and began to rush toward him.
(...He's good.)
Thanks to the side view, I was able to judge the situation correctly.
He wanted the bandits to rush to him with joy.
So he stepped back as if he had been terrified.
If that was the case-- the end was already in sight.
A powerful breeze from a sword shook my eardrums, and soon after, a bright red liquid flew into the air.
In an instant, the smell of death filled my senses, and my sweat glands broke out in a flash at the sight of it.
"......Huh?"
Said by a wild voice.
It was the voice of the bandit who had been cut down.
He didn't know what happened, and his voice was leaking out as if to say so.
Looking at his own torso, which had been separated, he couldn't even give a desperate cry, and his voice faded away with a heavy thud.
"Next."
He turned his sword, and made another heavy swinging sound, as if he was brushing away rain from an umbrella.
Then, one of the bandits, who had dismissed the movement as an opening, entered the gap and tried to slice through, but...
"This isn't an opening. It was purposeful."
The bandit absorbed a sharp right leg blow as he got kicked like a ball, his face contorted in pain as his bones creaked and his eyes bulged out, bouncing twice, three times on the ground.
He was sent flying and landed at an angular rock, and the unpleasant sound of something crushing and breaking filled my ears.
Or so I thought, as at the same moment, blood splashed out of the bodies of the remaining five.
(What did he do just now...?!)
...I felt a slight sense of discomfort.
It was as if he was creating a sword.
And if there was a source, it was probably "magic".
...At any rate, with the exception of one bandit in front of the young man, everyone was  submerged in their own blood that painted the earth in a gruesome manner.
It was so horrifically done that I could not help but admire it.
"W-Wait!!! This is just a misunderstanding!!! I was just asked by them to--!!!"
"I told you I wouldn't accept any complaints later."
The bandit, now realizing that the young man in front of him was a monster beyond his control, began to frantically string together words and beg for his life.
However, the young man didn't seem to listen at all, and his response-- a cold, side-splitting blow.
"Haaah..."
Once again, there came the blood swinging motion.
The young man let out a deep sigh as he sheathed his sword in the scabbard he had dropped on the ground.
"So how long are you going to hide over there?"
I had been hiding in the shade of a tree for a long time, and the words of dismay were directed at me.
Well, I should say that this was a given.
It seemed that no matter how much of an irresistible scene was happening, peeping in on someone was not going to end without incident.
Star-Slaying Swordsman
星斬りの剣士
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/star-slaying-swordsman/
Action Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Shounen
Adapted to Manga Dark Fantasy World Male Protagonist Mature Protagonist Medieval Philosophical Romantic Subplot Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transplanted Memories
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7336gg/
アルト／遥月