少し探してみた結果、レイラちゃんはギルドにいた。
どうやら朝早くから此処にいたらしく、テーブルの上に身体を倒れさせて項垂れている。長い白髪も一部テーブルに広がって、雰囲気もなんとなく力ない。具合でも悪いのかな? でもあの子人間じゃないし、病気の魔族だし、病気に罹らないだろうあの子は。純粋に気分でも悪いのかな?
「レイラちゃん?」
「あぅっ!? き、きつね君......」
「何してるの? 昨日もいきなりどっか行っちゃったし」
「う、うん......あの時ちょーっと食べちゃいそうになったから他の人を」
なんだ全く、まぁ食べられそうになっててそれを受け入れようとしてたとか怖すぎだよ。密かに命の危機か。
でもまぁ、大事なくて良かった。いや大事ではあったけど、リーシェちゃんもレイラちゃんも無事、僕もある意味レベルアップ出来たから悪いことばかりじゃない。
でもさ、ギルドっていっても崩壊したままなんだけど。
今はテーブルと椅子、依頼書掲示板とかが置かれて、受付嬢達が簡易テーブルで受付をしている。多分立て直しまでは少し掛かるだろうけれど、なんか凄い質素になったな。青空教室ならぬ、青空ギルドになってしまっている。
大体使徒ちゃんのせいだけど、あの時は何が何だか分からない内に全員気絶していたから、起きたらこうなってたって感覚なんだろうなぁ。それに、自分達の利用するギルドを破壊されたからか、それとも護れなかったからか、冒険者達の表情もどこか浮かない。
「ルーナちゃん」
「......ああ......あんたか」
受付にいたルーナちゃんもそれは同じで、やっぱり自分がエースを張っていたギルドが崩壊した事が悲しいらしい。セクハラ発言をした僕が目の前にいるのに、昨日までの元気の良い彼女の面影はどこにもなかった。
まぁそれもそうだろう。仕事場とは言っても、あれほど冒険者達との絆も深く、騒々しくも楽しい場所だったのだから。壊されて良い思いをする筈がない。
「大丈夫?」
「大丈夫、って言いたいところだけど、ちょっときついかな......此処は私にとって大事な場所だったから」
ああ、やっぱりか。ふーむ、でもこのままじゃ不味いよねぇ、冒険者たちなんて働く気が失せてるし、受付嬢達なんて営業スマイルすら浮かべられない程に憂いた表情をしている。
どうにかして活気を取り戻さないと。グランディール王国の冒険者達は僕が勇者にやられた時、僕の力になってくれたし、なんとかしてあげたいなぁ。
「......」
「......どうしたのよ?」
―――よし。
「ねぇルーナちゃん、ルークスハイド王国に行きたいんだけど、地図とかないかな?」
「え? ああ......それならほら、これあげるわ」
「おお、ありがとう!」
ルーナちゃんに聞いて、次のルークスハイド王国への行き先を知ろうとしたら、思いがけずルーナちゃんが地図をくれた。そこにはグランディール王国からルークスハイド王国までの安全なルートが書いてある。途中幾つか村や街を経由するけれど、ミニエラからグランディールほど近くないようで、結構日数が掛かるらしい。
まして、徒歩だともっと掛かるだろうね。まぁ、それはそれで良いか......どうやら
ルーナちゃんの差し出す地図を受け取って、ポケットに入れる。これでなんとか道は分かったし、後は......上手くやるだけだね。
「―――それにしても、すっきりしたねぇ此処も!」
冒険者達にも聞こえる声で、そう言った。
「は?」
「いやいや、折角直したからちょっと残念だったけど、まぁ此処まで壊れると逆にすっきりするよね! 正直大きすぎだと思ってたし、臭いし、受付嬢の質は低いし、壊れて正解だったんじゃない?」
「なっ......あんた! 喧嘩売ってんの!?」
「だってそうだろう? 君みたいなちいさい少女の癖に巨乳とか、ミアちゃんの方が断然良かったし? ギルドを壊されて意気消沈しちゃってる君達なんて、所詮その程度だろう? あはは、流石は軍事国家だよね! 戦いは強くても精神は弱っちぃんだね!」
僕の言葉に、目の前のルーナちゃんが肩を振るわせて怒りの形相を露わにする。周囲の冒険者達もちゃんと聞こえたらしく、僕に敵意の視線を送って立ち上がる。
リーシェちゃんとレイラちゃんはなんだか分からないと言った顔をしているけれど、放っておいても良い。
「あの勇者といい、巫女といい、この国はどうやらくっだらねーカスしかいないらしい。ギルド壊されても仕方なかったんじゃない? まぁ、どっちにせよ、この程度で落ち込んで何もしない奴らしかいないんだし、遅かれ早かれこうなってたよ」
言いたい放題言ってしまえ。此処にいる奴ら全員、怒りたければ怒れば良い、こんなことを言われても仕方ないくらい、今の君達はカスばっかなんだから。
だって、大事な大事なギルドを破壊されても、落ち込むばかりで何もしないんだろう? そんなに落ち込んでいたいんなら、永遠に落ち込んでろ。
「黙れ!! あんたなんかに何が分かるっての!?」
ルーナちゃんが、吠えた。
「此処にいる奴らは全員、自分の命を賭けて此処で働いてたのよ! ギルドはね、仕事を貰う場じゃない! 命を賭けて働いて、無事に帰って来る場所なの! 帰って来てくれる場所なの! だから、この場所は皆の家なんだ! だからこの場にいる全員が家族なんだ! 家族が死ねば皆で悲しんで、家族が成功すれば皆で祝って、そうやって皆で作ってきた......自分を隠さず曝け出しても、認め合って過ごすことが出来る場所なんだ!! 何も知らないあんたに、そんなこと言われたくない!! 家を壊されて悲しくない奴なんて、この場にいる筈がないでしょ!!?」
家族、だから悲しむ。ギルドとは家なんだ、ギルドとは家族なんだ、だから一人が悲しめば、皆で励まし、一人が笑えば、皆で笑う。そういう絆を紡いで作りあげてきた大切な場所なんだ。
だから、こうして皆沈んで、落ち込んで、怒る。
でも、僕はそれを聞いてもなんとも思わない。結局、君達は家族だなんだと言っても、何もしないじゃないか。皆で落ち込んで、それで何になるんだ? 皆で励ましあって、ギルドが元に戻るのか? ギルドが破壊されたら、その絆ってのは無くなってしまうのか?
だとしたら―――とんだ絆もあったものだね。
「僕に分かる筈がないだろう。僕が来たのはつい一昨日のことなんだし、家族だなんだと言っても結局は赤の他人じゃないか。なのに皆で傷を舐め合って、絆だなんだと言ってお互いを慰めあってるだけだろう? だって、ギルドが無くなった途端にお前ら落ち込んでるだけじゃないか。仕事もしない、励ましの言葉の一つも出ない、なのにそれを指摘されたら怒る。逆ギレも良い所だよ」
「今は皆そんな余裕ないのよ!! あんたみたいにへらへら笑ってられる人間には分からないでしょうけどね、私達が流した涙は、いつかきっと皆を支える糧になる! 一人、また一人って立ち上がることが出来る!! そう信じてやってきたんだから!!」
ルーナちゃんは吠える。まるで巨大な龍の咆哮の様に強い力が内包された言葉を、僕に向かって、そして沈んでいる冒険者達に向かって、投げかける。
そしてそれは、その言葉通りに冒険者達の心を震わせた。
「そうだ......俺達はそうやってこのギルドを作ってきた......大好きな場所だった......同じ冒険者同士馬鹿やって、ルーナの嬢ちゃん達にちょっかい出して、叱られて、命を預けられる仲間がいて......帰ってきたらおかえりって言ってくれる馬鹿達が居るんだ......俺はそんなギルドが好きなんだ!」
「ああ......俺もだ! ルーナちゃんの言う通りだ、俺も此処が大好きだ!!」
俺も、俺もと、冒険者達の瞳に力が戻る。ルーナちゃんの言葉に賛同する様に冒険者達は立ち上がり、彼らはギルドを想う心を胸に、僕に敵意を向けた。
家族、良く言ったもので、確かに彼らの絆は家族と同じくらい、固く、強いものだった。
「だったらさっさと動けばいいじゃん。結局、綺麗事言っても君達はその程度だ」
「っ!!」
「ぐっ......!」
ルーナちゃんの拳が、僕の頬に突き刺さる。
耐性値が上がったおかげか、全然痛くない上に身体も吹っ飛ばない。精々多少上体が揺れた位だった。それ以前に、『先見の魔眼』のおかげで殴られることは分かっていた。まぁ使わなくても彼女が殴って来ることは分かったけどね。
それでも、彼女の小さな拳は凄く痛かった。痛くないけど、痛かった。
「......私達の絆を馬鹿にするな......! 出てって......これ以上あんたを見てると、殺したくなる......!」
ルーナちゃんはそう言った。
僕はそれを聞いて、彼女に背を向ける。扉はもうないけれど、ギルドの扉があった所から僕はそこを離れた。後ろからリーシェちゃんとレイラちゃんが付いてくる。
敵意の籠った視線が背中に突き刺さるのが分かるけれど、振り向かない。結局、立ち上がれるかどうかは彼女達次第なんだから、僕はその切っ掛けで良い。どうせこの国から出て行くつもりだったからね。
「......いいのか? きつね、あんなこと言って」
「良いんだよ。とっととこんな国からおさらばしよう」
僕はリーシェちゃんの問いに、そう返した。
◇ ◇ ◇
桔音達が去った後、ルーナは肩で息をしながらも自分の気持ちを落ちつけていた。
言われたい放題言われて、言い返したけれど結局その程度だと吐き捨てられた。殺したくなるほどに怒りの感情が溢れ出たけれど、なんとか自分を抑制する事が出来た。
「......大丈夫か、ルーナちゃん」
「......大丈夫よ、大丈夫に、決まってるわ」
テーブルに手を付いて俯くルーナに、冒険者の一人が心配気に声を掛けたが、ルーナは気丈にそう返した。
ここでへこんでいたら、先程まで桔音が言っていたことと同じだ。桔音を見返してやる為には、ここで落ち込んでいられない。ギルドが破壊されて辛いのは皆同じ、ならば家族と言いきったその絆は、きっと自分に応えてくれる筈だ。
ルーナの言葉に、冒険者達の視線が彼女に向かう。
「私は......このギルドが好き......だからお願い、依頼するわ。ギルドを建て直す人手が欲しいの! 報酬は......そんなにお金を用意出来ないけど......それでも!」
「―――報酬は、ルーナちゃん達受付嬢の笑顔、だ」
「え?」
お金はいらない。そんなものよりも、家族が笑顔でいてくれることが最高の報酬だ。冒険者は命を賭けて戦うけれど、家族の為に汗を流す仕事だって、それと同じくらい大切な仕事なのだと思う。
だから、冒険者達にはルーナの依頼に対して、受けないという選択肢は最初からなかった。
家を立て直すのだ、力は幾らでも貸そう。
「笑ってくれよルーナちゃん! アンタはウチのエース受付嬢だろ?」
不敵に笑ってそう言う冒険者の一人、彼は奇しくも落ち込む桔音に話し掛けてきた冒険者であった。
ルーナは冒険者達も自分と同じ気持ちなのだと知って、途端に心が温かくなる。嬉しい、素直にそう思った。
だからルーナはいつものように、自信満々、私が一番だと言わんばかりの元気溌剌で可愛らしい笑顔を浮かべて、こう言った。
「ありがとう、皆!」
桔音の言葉を切っ掛けに、このギルドは立ち上がる。もう一度進みだした。
After looking for Leila-chan for a while, we finally find her at the guild.
Seems like she has been here since early in the morning, she lays her body atop the table with her head hung down. Her long hair's spreded atop the table, she's also seemingly pretty feeble. Is she sick or something? But, she isn't a human, or rather she's demonic virus itself, so there's no way for her to catch some disease, does she? Is she just feeling unwell or something, I wonder?
"Leila-chan?"
"Au! Ki, Kitsune-kun...."
"What are you doing? Even last night, you suddenly went somewhere like that."
"Um, umm... back then I suddenly felt like eating something, so...."
What's wrong with her? Well, given the fact that I might get eaten back then, moreover I even personally accepted it, that's very scary. I was secretly in danger, huh.
But well, fortunately it wasn't because of something important. Well, that sure was important in its own way, but Rishe-chan and Leila-chan were safe, and I even kinda leveled up in some ways, so that event didn't only bring about bad things, did it?
But well, you see, even if I say guild, it's still in its wrecked state, though.
Right now there's only tables and chairs, and some kind of temporary quest board, the receptionists are accepting requests at some simple tables. Perhaps, it'd take quite a while before everything is reorganized, but the current scene somehow looks very simplisitic. The guild's turned into something similar like an open-air class under the blue sky.
This was all apostle-chan's fault, but since everyone was unanimously fainted back then without knowing what happened, when they woke up it turned into like this, huh.
"Runa-chan."
"...ah... it's you, huh."
Runa-chan who is at the reception table is also the same, as expected, seems like she's sad that the guild; where she acts as the ace receptionist at; was destroyed. Even though I; the very person who sexually harassed her; am right in front of her eyes, her lively expression she showed yesterday is nowhere to be seen.
Well, that's a matter of course, huh. Even if it's just a work place, it was the place where the adventurers deepened their bonds, and was a noisy yet fun place, after all. There's no way for them to feel fine after having it in such a wreck.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, or so I want to say, but as expected it's a bit hard... for me this is a precious place, after all."
Ah, as thought, huh. Hmm, but well, it looks bad if it's left as it is, doesn't it? Even the adventurers don't seems to be so inclined to work, were the receptionists are sad-looking and showing nothing but business smiles.
I have to somehow liven them up again. When I just got beaten by the hero, Grandile Kingdom's adventurers helped me out, after all, so I have to do something here.
"...."
"...what's the matter?"
...okay.
"Say, Runa-chan, I'm intending to go to Rookshade kingdom but, is there map or something?"
"Eh? Umm... if that's the case, here, you can have it."
"Oh, thank you!"
When I ask Runa-chan about Rookshade kingdom; which I'm going to go to; she unexpectedly gives me a map. There's a safe route from Grandile Kingdom to Rookshade Kingdom printed there. There are villages and towns along the way, but it's considerably farther than Miniera to Grandile Kingdom, so it looks like it's going to be quite a long trip.
Not to mention if we go there by foot. Well, it's fine in it's own way, I think... from what I can see, it looks like if we walk by around half a day, we'll be able to reach the next town.
Receiving the map; that's presented by Runa-chan; I put it into my pocket. With this we should have somewhat known the way, the rest is... depending on how well we through it.
"...nevertheless, this place sure has become quite refreshing, hasn't it?!"
I say so, loud enough to be heard by the adventurers.
"Ha?"
"Wait, wait, you see, I do feel bad for the guild to be broken just after we especially repaired it, but to be such a wreck, on the contrary, in a way it does feel refreshing, doesn't it?! Honestly speaking, I do think this guild was oversized and also stinky, even the receptionist were of low level, so don't you think it actually deserves to be destroyed?"
"Wha... you! Are you picking a fight?!"
"Well, just look, even though you're such a little girl like and yet you've got such huge boobs? Mia-chan is definitely way better. Moreover you all; who get depressed simply by having your guild destroyed; in the end you're only amount that much, aren't you? Ahaha, as expected of a military country! Even if you're strong in fights, your mental is very weak!"
At my word, Runa-chan; who's before me; her shoulders are trembling and she reveals an angry expression. Seems like the surrounding adventurers can also clearly hear all of it, and are staring dagger at me.
Rishe-chan and Leila-chan are showing expressions that of a wonder, but they aren't saying anything.
"Firstly the hero, and then that miko, seems like there's nothing but lowly scum in this country, huh. So it can't be helped if the guild was destroyed, right? Well, either way, simply having the guild destroyed, there's none but those who are feeling down and doing nothing, so I thought sooner or later something like this might happen."
Let's just say anything as I pleased. Everyone here, just be angry if you want to, right now you're all nothing but sore losers who won't do anything even after I say that much.
After all, even if your precious guild was destroyed, if you do nothing but feeling down, nothing would happen, right? If you want to be feeling down that much, then just sit there and feeling down for eternity.
"Shut up!! As if you could understand it!!"
Lulu-chan, shouts so.
"Everyone here, they've been working and putting their life on the line here! You know, guild isn't just a place to take requets! This is the place where they return to after risking their life in their works! That's why, this is everyone's home! That's why, everyone here is family! If the family members dies everyone would be sad, if the family members succes everyone would congratulate them, that's how things work here... even if they don't know everything about the others, this is the place where they could spend time together! You who don't know anything, you have no right to say such a thing! Someone who isn't sad after losing his home, as if there'd be one here!!"
Family, that's why they're sad. Guild is their home, guild is their family, that's if one is sad, everyone would be sad, if one is laughing, everyone would be laughing. This is the place that has forged such bond.
That's why everyone is sad, feeling down, and angry.
But, even after being told so, I still don't feel anything. In the end, even when they say they're family, they still are doing nothing, aren't they? By feeling down together, what will it bring about? By encouraging each other, will the guild be repaired? The guild was destroyed, but does that mean the bond's destroyed as well?
If that's really the case... what a frail bond.
"As if I'd understand. I just came here several days ago, you say family or whatnot but in the end you're just stranger to other, aren't you? And yet here you're doing nothing but licking each other's wounds and consoling each other because of that so called bond of yours, aren't you? After all, simply by losing the guild, all you do is nothing but feeling down, right? No one is working, no words of encouragement, and yet you get angry when I point it out. I should be the one who's angry here."
"We have no time for such a thing! A person who's always foolishly laughing like you wouldn't ever understand it, the tears we shed will definitely become our support later someday! One after another, we'll definitely be able to stand straight up again! That's what we believe!"
Runa-chan shouts so. These words posses a powerful energy as if a roar from a giant dragon, it's pointed at me, then reverberate toward the feeling down adventurers.
And then, their hearts are shaken by those words.
"That's right... that was exactly how we built this guild... this is our cherished place... fooling around with other adventurers, making a pass at li'l Miss Runa-chan and the other receptionists, getting scolded, entrusting our lives to our comrades... and the fools who'd welcome us when we return... I love such a guild!"
"Yeah... me, too! What Runa-chan says are right, I also love this place!"
Me too, me too, and so on, energy is returning to their eyes. As if agreeing to Runa-chan's words, the adventurers are standing up, and staring dagger at me, while holding their feelings toward the guild inside their heart.
Family, well said, their bonds are surely as strong and as solid as family.
"Then just move your ass already. In the end, is spouting such flowery words all you could do?"
"!!"
"Gu...!"
Runa-chan grips her palm tight, and then launches it to my face.
Perhaps it's thanks to my high resistance stat, not just it doesn't hurt, I also don't get blown away. It only makes me somewhat shaken. Also, thanks to "Demon-eye of foresight", I already knew that she'd hit me. Well, even without using it, I already knew that she'd definitely hit me, though.
Nevertheless, her little fist sure is very painful. It doesn't hurt, but it's painful.
"...don't you ever make fun of our bond...! Go away... if I see any longer, I might end up killing you...!"
Runa-chan says so.
Hearing that, I turn my back on her. There's already no door, but I leave through the location where the door used to be. Rishe-chan and Leila-chan are following behind me.
I'm fully aware of the sharp gazes at my back, but I don't turn back. In the end, whether they'd be able to stand up again is simply depending on them, after all, all I need to do is to lit it up. Also, I've intended to leave this country, after all.
"...are you sure, Kitsune? Saying something like that."
"It's fine. Let's leave this country immediately."
I answer so to Rishe-chan's inquiry.
* * *
After Kitsune and co. left, even while heavily breathing, Runa calmed herself down.
Being told something as he pleased, she rebuked, but then she was told that in the end they were only amount that much. Anger was overflowing her to the point she wanted to kill him, but she was able to somehow restrain herself.
"...are you okay, Runa-chan?"
"...I'm fine, of course, I'm fine."
Toward Runa who hung her head and placed her hand atop the table, one of the adventurers called out to her, but Runa firmly answered so.
If she felt down here, it'd be just like what Kitsune just said. To triumph over Kitsune, she mustn't feel down here. Everyone was similarly sad because of the guild was destroyed, then with the bond that the refered it as family, they'd definitely meet her feeling expectation.
Toward Runa's word, the adventurers'gazes were all gathered on her.
"I... love this guild... that's why, please, I'll put up a request. Please help me rebuild the guild! As for the reward... currently I don't have that much of money, but... nonetheless!"
"...the reward is, yours and the other receptionists' smiles."
"Eh?"
Runa raisd her head. And then, she could see adventurers; who were floating wide smile; were looking at her. They didn't need money. Rather than such a thing, the smiles of the family members were the best reward possible. Adventurers were usually working while putting their lifes on the line, but for the sake of their family, even such sweat work was as important.
That was why, the option to refuse Runa's request was nonexistent from the very beginning.
To rebuild their home, they'd lend however much power they had. That was why everyone was smiling, everything wasn't over yet. So that everyone could smile again, so that they could stay be family from there on, they'd restart it again there.
"Please smile, Runa-chan! You're our ace, aren't you?"
One of the adventurer said so while boldly smiling, he was also the adventurer who once called out to the depressed Kitsune.
Understanding that all the adventurers were feeling the same as her, her heart felt warmer.
That was why, she returned to her usual confidence self, she floated a lively yet cute smile that said she was the best, and said.
"Thank you, everyone!"
With Kitsune's word as the trigger, this guild was standing up, and starting to move on again.
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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