34
調査二日目、先日と同じメンバーで行われる。しかし、明らかに違うことがある。それは、レオルドへの態度だ。
数人だが、レオルドへの態度が悪意のあるものへと変わっていた。恐らく、昨日の件が引き金となっているのだろう。
先日と変わらず、森の中を探索する調査隊。そして、相変わらず歩調が合わないレオルド。
昨日は特に何も言われはしなかったが、今日は違う。足手まといであるレオルドに舌打ちをする騎士がいた。
見過ごすことは出来ないとバルバロトが剣に手を添えるがレオルドが止める。
「大丈夫だ。何かされた訳でもない。だから、怒りを収めよ」
「......わかりました」
渋々ではあるが舌打ちをされた本人であるレオルドが言うのだから、仕方がないとバルバロトは怒りを収める。
しかし、レオルドが何も言わないのをいいことに舌打ちをした騎士は言ってはならないことを口走る。
「へっ、いい身分だよな。公爵家ってのは」
これにはバルバロトだけでなく他の騎士も反応した。当然、公爵家の一員であるレオルドも先の発言には顔を顰めた。
(流石に今のは言い過ぎなんじゃない? 俺個人にならどれだけ罵倒しても構わないけど、公爵家ってのは見過ごせない。ここは印象悪くなっても怒っておくか)
「先の発言をした者は誰だ。名乗り出よ!」
レオルドは騎士達の視線の先に立って、うろたえている騎士へと足を進める。
「貴様か......」
「ち、違いますよ。俺じゃありませんて」
「だが、皆の目はお前に向いているぞ?」
「あいつら、俺を陥れようとしてるんです! おい、俺じゃないだろ!」
レオルドの前にいる騎士は自分ではないと主張して、他の騎士へと罪をなすりつけようとしている。
「そう言っているが、どうなんだ?」
「違います。そいつが勝手に言っているだけです」
「なっ!? 嘘を言うな! お前らだって――」
「黙れ。それ以上は聞くに堪えん」
元々、誰が言ったかなどレオルドには分かっていた。声色で既に判明しているのでレオルドの質問に意味もなければ騎士達の言い合いも無駄である。
「公爵家を侮辱した罪を教えてやる。バルバロト、この愚か者を斬首せよ!」
「はっ! お任せあれ!」
「お、お許しください! 冗談なんです! ただの冗談で――」
「貴様はただの冗談で我がハーヴェスト家を侮辱したのか?
はははは。これは愉快な話だ。恐れを知らぬ勇者だな」
「へ、へへ......」
「だが、許すと思うたか?
戯けめ。貴様は口にしてはならぬことを言ったのだ。
俺のみを罵倒するならばまだしも、貴様は我がハーヴェスト家を侮辱したのだ。その命を以て償うがいい」
「あ、あぁ......どうか、どうか命だけは!!!」
形振り構わず騎士は土下座を選んだ。額を地面に擦り付けて許しを乞う姿は哀れだ。迂闊な発言をした愚か者には相応しい末路だ。
「バルバロト。剣を収めよ」
「これだけ脅せば十分だ」
「そうですか」
バルバロトは剣を鞘へと収める。その様子に他の騎士達もてっきり殺すのだと思っていたから驚いていた。
「へ、どうして......?」
土下座をしていた騎士も突然の心変わりに呆気に取られている。
俺のことはどれだけ馬鹿にしようと蔑もうと構わん!
だが、我がハーヴェスト家への侮辱は今後一切許しはしない!
肝に銘じておけ!」
『は、はい!』
死の淵に立たされていた騎士は、なんとか生き延びたことに喜んだ。しかし、腰が抜けたようで中々立つことが出来ない。
その様子を見たレオルドは他の騎士を呼び寄せて立てない騎士に肩を貸すように命じた。
「さて、調査を再開するか」
レオルドの一言により調査隊は歩き出す。レオルドに並んで歩いているバルバロトは小声でレオルドへと話しかける。
「ああ。確かに公爵家への侮辱は許されないがここには俺しかいない。それにあいつも公爵家全体を言ったわけではなく、俺への文句として言ったんだろう。ただ、言い方が悪かったが」
「そうかもしれませんが、相応の罰は必要だと思いますが」
「なら、兵舎の便所掃除を一ヶ月とかでいいんじゃないか?
俺にはこれくらいしか思い浮かばんから、あとの処理はお前に任せる。だから、好きにしてくれ」
「レオルド様がそう言うのでしたら、俺のほうで片付けときますね」
「殺すなよ?」
「わかってますよ」
何を言っているのやらと肩を竦めるバルバロトを見てレオルドは口元が引きつる。バルバロトの思いは嬉しい反面、やりすぎないで欲しいと溜息を吐いた。
調査は順調に進むが水源は見つからない。レオルドの他にも土属性持ちがいて調査を行っているが成果は出ていない。
調査の最中に魔物と出くわす事も増えてきて、二日目の調査も一旦打ち切ろうかとしていたら、レオルドの足が止まる。
「どうかなさいましたか、レオルド様?」
「......これは水脈か?」
「まだ分からん。その可能性があるというだけだ」
「それだけでも十分です! おい、この場所を地図にしるしておけ」
水不足の今、レオルドの発見により希望が湧いてきたことにバルバロトは喜んだ。そして、これは大きな功績になるに違いないと確信している。
ゼアトの水不足という問題をレオルドが解決したと分かれば世間の評価も変わるに違いないとバルバロトは浮かれているが、残念ながらレオルドの評価が変わることは難しい。
確かに水不足といった深刻な問題を解決したとなれば評価は高いだろうが、それを差し引いても過去の悪行がマイナスなイメージを強く印象付けてしまう。
なので、世間がレオルドへの認識を改めるにはもっと多くの功績が必要になる。果たして、レオルドに出来るかどうか。
Ch 34
The second day of the survey is conducted with the same members as the previous day. However, there is a clear difference in their  attitude towards Leoldo.
A few of them had changed their attitude toward Leolde to a malicious one. This was probably triggered by yesterday's incident.
The survey team was still exploring the forest as they had the day ago . And then there was Leoldo, who was still not keeping pace with the others.
Yesterday, nothing special was saying , but today was different. There was a knight who clucked his tongue at Leolde for slowing him down.
Barbaroto puts his hand on his sword, but Leolde stops him.
It's okay," he said." It's not like he did anything to me. So let him be ."
"...... I understand.""
Barbaroto was reluctant to say anything, but since Leolde was the one who had been tongue-tied, he had no choice but to calm his anger.
However, taking advantage of the fact that Leolde did not say anything, the knight who had spoken out of turn said something he should not have said.
"Living as , duke is nice , isn't it ..."
Not only Barbaroto, but other knights also reacted to this. Naturally, Leolde, a member of the duke's family, also frowned at the earlier remark .
(That was a bit of an exaggeration, wasn't it? I don't care how much you abuse me personally, but I can't overlook the fact that  he is saying bad things about a duke. I'll be angry even if it makes a bad impression.
"Who  said this ? Come forward!"
He stood in front of the knights' gazes and strode toward the groggy knight.
"It's you, ......."
". It's not me."
"But all eyes are on you, right ?
"They're trying to trick  you ! Hey, it's not me!"
The knight in front of Leolde claimed that it wasn't him, and was trying to pin the blame on the other knights.
"'That's what you say, but what do you think?"
I  just saying what I thinks."
"What? Don't lie to me! You're all..."
"Shut up. I can't bear to hear any more  of it."
Originally, Leolde knew who had said it. The knights' arguments were futile, as the tone of his voice already revealed that there was no point in asking him questions.
"I will tell you the crime of insulting the dukes. Barbaroto, behead this fool!"
"Yes! Leave it to me!
"'Oh, please forgive me! I'm just kidding! It was just a joke--""
"You insulted my Harvest family  and it was a mere joke?
Ha-ha-ha. This is a hilarious  thing. You are a fearless and brave man."
"Heh, heh. ......"
"But do you think I'll forgive you?"
Nonsense. He  have said what  he should not have said.
"You   have insulted the Harvest family, if not me, then you have insulted the Harvest family. You will pay for it with your life."
"Please spare my life ! "
The knight, without any formality, chose to get down on his knees. It was pathetic to see him rubbing his forehead on the ground and begging for forgiveness. It was a fitting end for a fool who had made a careless remark.
"Barbaroth. Put away your sword."
"This is enough of a threat."
"Is that so?"
Barbaroth sheathed his sword. The other knights were surprised to see him, as they had thought he was going to kill  him.
"Heh, why ......?"
The knight who was on his knees was also taken aback by the sudden change of heart.
"I don't care how much you make fun of me or how much you despise me!"
"But I will not tolerate any insults to the Harvest family!"
Keep that in mind!"
"Yes, sir!"
The knight, who had been on the verge of death, was glad that he had managed to survive. However, he seemed to have  hurt his back and was unable to stand up.
Seeing this, Leolde called the other knights over and ordered them to lend a shoulder to the knight who could not stand.
"Now, let's resume our investigation.
With Leorde's words, the investigation team started walking. Barbaroto, who was walking alongside Leolde, whispered to him .
"Yes. It is true that insulting the dukes is unacceptable, but I am the only one here. I'm sure he wasn't referring to the dukes as a whole, but to me as a complaint. I just didn't say it in the right way."
"I don't know if that's true, but I think he needs to be punished accordingly."
"Maybe a month of cleaning latrines in the barracks?"
That's all I can think of, so I'll leave the rest to you to handle. So do what you want.""
"If you insist, Master Leolde, I'll take care of it myself."
"Don't kill  him , okay?"
"I know"
When he saw Barbaroto cowering from what he was saying, Leoldo's mouth tightened.While Barbaroto was happy, he sighed that he shouldn't overdo it.
The investigation went smoothly, but no water source was found. In addition to Leorde, there are other people with earth attributes who are investigating, but they are not getting any results.
As  they were about to call it quits on the second day, Leorde stopped in histracks.
"What is it, Master Leoldo?"
"...... Is this a water vein?"
"We don't know yet. It's just a possibility."
"That's good enough for me! Hey, mark this place on the map."
Barbaroto was glad that Leolde's discovery had given him hope in time of water shortage. He was sure that this would be a great achievement.
Barbaroto is excited to know that Leoldo has solved the problem of water shortage in Ze'at, and that the public's opinion of him will change, but unfortunately, it is difficult to change Leolde 's opinion.
It is true that if he had solved a serious problem such as the water shortage, he would have been highly evaluated, but even if that were not the case, his past misdeeds would have left a strong negative impression.
Therefore, more achievements are needed to change the public's perception of Leoldo. He wonder if Leolde can do it.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛