第八十四話
街は武闘大会の話題で盛り上がっており、メインストリートは混雑していた。
蒼太達は大会の観覧も考えているので、早く落ち着ける場所に行きたいと考えまずは宿屋へと向かうことにした。
いくつかの大衆的な宿に行くが、大会開催間近のためどこも空きがなく、最終的にたどり着いたのは主に貴族などが宿泊に使う高級宿だった。料金は高かったが冒険者でも宿泊することができ、馬車の管理もサービスで行っており、部屋ごとに風呂があるなど設備も整っていた。そして最大の決め手となったのがこの宿では宿泊客用の武闘大会のチケットを用意してくれることだった。
二人は部屋に荷物を置くと、動きやすい服装に着替え、最低限の装備を身につけて街の様子を見に行くことにした。街には多種多様な種族の者がおり、また多種多様な職業の者がいた。
大会への参加を考える冒険者や武芸者、そして各国お抱えの騎士などの姿も見かけた。それ以外では、このお祭り騒ぎを商機と考える商人などの姿も見かける。大会中は露店を開けるエリアも確保されているため、そこで店を開く者やお祭り価格を期待しての仕入れを目的とする者など目的も様々だった。
蒼太達は道すがら出ている屋台で買い食いをしながら大会が開催される武闘場へと向かっていた。
武闘場の周囲もまた露天が並んでおり、参加予定であろう戦士風の男達が並んでいる武器や防具などを物色していた。また大きな掲示板があり、そこには参加者の名前が記載された札が次々にかけられていた。蒼太達はどうせ知っている名前はないだろうと確認をしなかった。
「ソータさん、どれかに参加されますか?」
ディーナは楽しそうに蒼太へと尋ねる。参加して欲しいという気持ちがありありと伝わってきた。
「俺は参加しないぞ。正直未だにどこまでの装備でどこまでの力を出していいのかよくわからん」
「全力装備で、本気でいけばいいと思います!」
やる気なさそうに返す蒼太に対して、ディーナは目を輝かせ握りこぶしを作りながら蒼太に迫っていた。
「ちょ、ちょっと落ち着け。とにかく俺は参加するつもりはない。何か揉め事や陰謀に巻き込まれてもかなわないからな」
蒼太は迫るディーナの頭を片手で抑え、話を切ろうとした。
「おー、あんたたちも参加するのか?」
傍から見たらじゃれあっているように見える二人へ声をかけたのは、ガルギスだった。
「お前は......ガルなんとか」
「えっと、白虎の人」
「ガ・ル・ギ・スだ!」
名前を思い出せずにいる二人に、ガルギスは自分の名前を叫んだ。
「冗談だ、ちゃんと覚えてるよ。ガルギスだろ?」
「そうです、ガルギスさんですね」
「お前ら......冗談なのか本気なのかわからん」
二人の反応にガルギスは肩を落とした。
「冗談はさておき、俺たちは参加しないぞ」
未だ蒼太の参加に未練を残すディーナを無視して、蒼太は不参加を断言した。
「そうかぁ、もったいないな。あの時は思わず間に入ったが、あんた......相当な実力だろ」
ガルギスは、蒼太を射抜くような視線で睨みつけるが口元は笑みが浮かんでいた。
「さてどうなんだろうな。自分でもよくわからんさ、とりあえず観戦目的で闘技場には行くからガルギスの応援くらいはさせてもらうよ」
その視線を受けながらも表情は変えず肩をすくめるだけに留め、そんな返答を返した。その返答に納得していないディーナは頬を膨らませて不満顔になっていた。
「自分で戦わなくて済む獣魔部門だったら参加してもよかったんだろうが、あいにくテイムしている魔物はいないんでな」
「余程力を隠したい理由でもあるのか......まぁ深く聞くのは野暮ってもんだな。参加締め切りまでまだ数日あるから、気が変わったら参加するといいさ。それじゃ、俺は用があるから行くな」
ガルギスは二人に別れを告げ、闘技場の中へと入っていった。
「やっぱりあの方は参加されるんですね」
「そうだな、なかなか強そうだからいい所までいくんじゃないか?」
「ソータさんが参加すれば優勝確実なのに......」
蒼太はそういうディーナの頭を撫でる。
「多少目立つくらいならいいんだが、大会となるとな」
ディーナの表情は徐々に笑顔にかわっていた。
「もう、仕方ないですね。許してあげます」
ディーナの機嫌が直ったため、蒼太は手を離す。
「さて、もう少し色々見て回るか」
街中がお祭り騒ぎになっているせいか色々な出店があり、ただ見ているだけでも二人の好奇心は満たされていった。
二人は外部からの出店だけではなく地元の店にも寄り、買い物をしながら情報収集を行っていく。王都だけあり、著名な鍛冶師のいる工房や大きな図書館などがあり、それらへの行きかたや穴場の店の情報なども教えてもらった。
街の規模はトゥーラより大きくまた見る物も多いため、情報収集がひと段落した頃には日が落ちてきていたことから二人は一度宿へと戻った。
二人は荷物を部屋に置くと、宿の食堂へと向かった。一流の宿だけあり馬鹿騒ぎに興じる者はおらず落ち着いた食事を摂ることが出来た。
その味も一流で、ゴルドンの料理を更に洗練させたような味だった。もちろんそれらは二人の舌を満足させるものでおかわりまでしてしまった。店の雰囲気から最初は二人とも躊躇していたが、ウェイターに質問すると快く注文を受けてくれた。
また、料理を褒める二人のことを厨房に伝えたためシェフ自ら挨拶に来るというおまけつきだった。
夕食に満足した二人は、それぞれ部屋に戻ると風呂に入り早めに就寝した。
まるで、翌日の騒ぎを予感しているかのように......。
Chapter 84
The main street is crowded, everyone seems to be excited as they're talking about the upcoming battle tournament .
Souta also plans to watch the tournament, but before that, he decides to look for a place where they can settle down, and so he quickly looks for an inn .
After going through some popular inn, they still can't find a place with free room thanks to the upcoming tournament . Finally, they find an inn with free rooms . It's a luxury inn which mainly used by n.o.bles . It charges an expensive fee, but it lets even adventurers stay there . The inn also taking care of the management of the carriage as a service, not to mention the facility it has, such as having a bath for each room . However, the biggest decisive factor is this inn will prepare the ticket for the battle tournament for their guests .
After putting their luggage in their rooms, they change into an easy to move clothes and decide to see the state of the city with only minimal equipment . There are a wide variety of races in this city, various kinds of occupations too .
There are many adventurers and martial artists considering to partic.i.p.ate in the battle tournament and even knights from other countries too . On the non-fighter side, there are many merchants that consider this as business opportunity . During the tournament, there is an area where people can open their stalls, as such there are many people with their own reason hanging there, such as those who want to open the shop, or those who want to stock up with the festival price .
Souta and Dina are heading to the arena where the tournament will be held while eating the food they buy on the stalls they pa.s.s through .
There is an open area around the arena, fully armed warrior-like people who want to partic.i.p.ate can be seen lined up there . There also a big bulletin board where tags with partic.i.p.ant's names listed one after another . As Souta and Dina don't know any of the names, they don't check them out .
[Soutsan, which one will you be entering?] 
Dina happily asks Souta . He can vividly feel her expectation for his partic.i.p.ation .
[I won't enter . Though if I need to be honest, I still don't know how much strength I can use for the tournament like this, it's the same for equipment too . ] 
[With the best equipment, also Soutsan need to fight seriously!] 
In contrast to Souta's answers which doesn't have any motivation with it, Dina is closing in on Souta with her hands clenched and sparkling eyes .
[CCalm yourself down . In any case, I won't be entering anyway . Unless there is an unavoidable reason to...] 
With one hand, Souta tries to keep Dina from getting too close while he tries to end the topic of entering the tournament .
[Oh, are both of you want to enter the tournament too?] 
The one who opens up a conversation with them, which if looked by the third party they're pretty much in the middle of flirting, is Gargis .
[You are...... Gau I think?] 
[Err... the white tiger beastkin . ] 
[It's Gar-gis!] 
Gargis spells his own name with a shout toward the two who forget his name .
[It's just a joke, I remember, it's Gargis right?] 
[Yes, it's just a joke . You're Gargis-san right?] 
[Both of you...... I don't even know if you're just joking or actually serious...] 
Seeing the reaction of Souta and Dina, Gargis drops his shoulders .
[Joking aside, no, we're not going to enter . ] 
Ignoring Dina who is still hung up with Souta's decision, he tells Gargis his decision .
[Really? That's kinda unfortunate . At that time, I reflexively trying to defend you, but you...... you are strong . ] 
Despite the smile on his face, Gargis sends a piercing gaze toward Souta .
[Well, I wonder about that . I don't really understand it myself, though, for the time being, we're going to the arena because we want to watch the tournament . Also, we will be cheering for you Gargis . ] 
While accepting his gaze, Souta shrugs and gives him an answer without changing his expression . Dina who is still unsatisfied with the outcome puffed her cheeks in displeasure .
[I don't mind joining the monsters division, after all, I don't need to fight myself in that case, though unfortunately, I don't have a monster I can use as representative . ] 
[Is there any reason for trying to hide your power that badly...... no nevermind, I'm not going to meddle into your circ.u.mstance . There are still a few days until the deadline for registering for the tournament, I hope you will enter the tournament in case you change your mind . Well then, I need to get going soon . ] 
After exchanging farewell with the two, Gargis goes into the arena .
[So he really is going to enter the tournament . ] 
[Looks like so . He seems to be quite strong, he looks like will rank quite high . ] 
[Even though Soutsan will be victorious as long as you enter......] 
Souta strokes the displeasured-Dina's head .
[I don't want to attract too much attention, this tournament ran parallel to that wish . ] 
Dina's expression gradually turned into a smile .
[Geez, then it can't be helped . I will forgive you . ] 
Since Dina's mood is fixed, Souta pulls his hand back .
[Now then, should we look around a little more?] 
Due to the festivities in the city, there are various stalls opened . Even just watching satisfy their curiosity .
They're not only visiting the stalls on the street but also local store, they also collect information while they're shopping . As expected from imperial capital, there are things like a workshop with prominent blacksmith and big libraries and so forth . They even get the information about little-known good stores .
Because the city is bigger than Toura, and there are many things to see, by the time they get all the information they need, the sun already setting, and so they return to their inn .
After leaving their stuff back at their room, they head to the dining room of the inn . As expected of first-cla.s.s inn, there is n.o.body who is fooling around and merrymaking, everybody eats their meals in a calm and composed manner .
The taste is also first-cla.s.s, it tastes like more refined Gordon's dish . Of course, as the tastes satisfy their tongue, they ask for a second helping . Both of them were hesitant at first because of the atmosphere of the place, but when they ask the waiter, he kindly accepts their order .
Also, as a bonus, the chef personally came to greet them after the floor staffs tell the kitchen staffs about how Souta and Dina praise the dish .
Satisfied by the dinner, the two returns to their own respective rooms, enter the bath, and then go to sleep .
It's as if they expect the trouble that will happen the next day......
Will the Re-Summoned Hero Live as an Ordinary Person
再召喚された勇者は一般人として生きていく？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/will-the-re-summoned-hero-live-as-an-ordinary-person/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Adventurers Amnesia Arrogant Characters Beast Companions Beastkin Carefree Protagonist Cheats Demon Lord Demons Dragons Dungeons Dwarfs Elves Fantasy World Former Hero Game Elements Genius Protagonist Gods Heroes Hiding True Abilities Kingdoms Level System Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple Transported Individuals Overpowered Protagonist Past Plays a Big Role Protagonist Strong from the Start Royalty Skill Assimilation Sword And Magic Time Skip Transported to Another World Unreliable Narrator
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6022cs/
かたなかじ