緊張問題
睨み合う僕とオジサマの間には、緊迫した空気がピリピリと火花を散らしていた。僕と彼の間にある実力差は圧倒的で、戦えば2秒で僕が負けることは僕を知っている誰もが知っている。
でも、僕としてはこのオジサマを見て見ぬふりするのは無理だ。
彼はリーシェちゃんの父親、でも彼はリーシェちゃんを勘当しようとしている。それは駄目だ、親は子を導く者、護る者、愛する者、けして子を捨てても良い筈が無い。間違った道を正せないのならば、出来ないことを強制するようならば、それは親心では無い、ただの虐待だ。
僕は、それを知っている。そうされる子供がどれほど辛いのか知っている。本で読んだからね。
「話が見えないけれど、僕の恩人であるリーシェちゃんを虐めるのは止めてくれないかな?」
「何?」
オジサマは青筋を立てて、僕を睨む。『不気味体質』が発動して、精神的に圧倒しているのは確かな筈だけど、『赤い夜』といいこのオジサマといい、強い者はやはり逃げたりしないみたいだ。心底面倒な相手だなぁ。
「コレは私の娘だ、家族の話に部外者が介入するな」
「娘をコレ呼ばわりで家族はないでしょ、親が娘を物扱いか。僕の知ってる家族と違うなぁ」
「貴様ッ......」
「それに、自分より弱い者に対して自慢の剣を抜こうとするのも笑えるね」
「なんだと? 私の剣術を侮辱するか......その首、この場で落としてやってもいいんだぞ」
「強がるなよ、弱く見えるぜ?」
「なっ......!?」
剣術は高い実力を持っているみたいだけど、内面はただの老害だね。若い世代を駄目にするタイプの人間だ。それに、かなりプライドが高いと見える。僕みたいな若い人間に挑発されると苛立ちを覚えるみたいだね。
僕の言葉に、リーシェちゃんが悲しそうな顔で固まった。
だが、僕が見たかったのはオジサマがこの言葉に何も言い返せない現実だ。言い返せない、つまりそれは自分でも分かっているということだ。
「分かってて―――その条件かい?」
「酷い親だね、過酷な現実を突き付けるなんて。可哀想可哀想、なんで親が子に鞭を打つの? 一週間という猶予なんて、執行猶予みたいなものだよ」
オジサマは何も言えない。正直な所、ここまではちょっと頭が回れば誰でも分かる。でも、此処から先は出来る人と、出来ない人が大きく別れる。正直な所、このオジサマ相手に何かを言える奴はそういないだろう。
でも、僕はこの世界の人間じゃないから、権力とか良く分からないし、少なくとも今の僕にとって目の前にいる怪物は―――ただの年老いたおじさんでしかない。
「だから、一週間とか要らないよ」
「何......?」
「きつね! おまえっ......!」
一週間なんて猶予が与えられるなんて、それこそトドメの一撃の様なものだ。時間はあればあるだけ無駄になる。特に、リーシェちゃんみたいな人間に対しては。
それに、リーシェちゃんを騎士に上げる方法なんて腐るほどある。僕の出来る限りでは、一つ二つくらい思い付くんだよ。
「一日で十分」
「............何?」
「明日の夜、また此処においでよオジサマ。リーシェちゃんといっしょに、楽しい楽しいティータイムをしよう」
紅茶を飲む様な素振りを見せながら、薄ら笑いを強くした。『不気味体質』は、僕の精神が相手よりも優位に立っていればいるほど効果を強くする。
それがどれだけ強い相手だろうが、どれだけ権力が上の相手だろうが、それは変わらない。平等に、全員僕の格下だ。
「......一日で、トリシェを騎士になれるレベルまで鍛えるというのか?」
「違うよ、一晩寝て起きたら―――勝手にリーシェちゃんが強くなるだけだ」
「馬鹿な......良いだろう、ならば一日だけ待つ。それでトリシェが騎士に上がれないようならば......」
その先は、言わなくても分かってる。
「うん、リーシェちゃんは僕が貰っていく」
オジサマの表情が唖然とした物になるのを見て、僕は面白そうにそう言った。
「どういうつもりだ!? お前っ、なんであんなことっ......!」
「落ちつけよリーシェちゃん」
あの後、オジサマは少し疑問を呈してきたけど、捨てるなら僕が貰っても良いだろう? と言ったら黙ったので、そのまま帰って貰った。明日の夜、リーシェちゃんを試験しに来るだろう。
それまでにリーシェちゃんを強くする方法。それは、恐怖の克服だ。
「......どうやって私を強くするつもりだ?」
「とどのつまり、リーシェちゃんの実力が発揮されないのは......人一倍戦いに恐怖を感じるから」
恐怖なら、僕の専売特許だ。
僕は『不気味体質』と『威圧』、二つの威圧系スキルを持っている。が、この二つは大きく性質を異ならせている。
『不気味体質』はプレッシャーを掛けて威圧するんじゃない。相手の心の内で僕に感じている印象を、恐怖に似た感情へと変質させるスキル。その効果は、僕が相手よりも優位の精神状態であり、かつ相手が僕のことを悪意で、もしくは弱者と見る程高まっていく。まぁ主なのは僕の精神状態の優劣だけど。
『威圧』はその逆、それこそプレッシャーを掛けて威圧する、純粋なまでの威圧系スキル。でも、これは僕の弱さから言って『不気味体質』と組み合わせないと単独ではあまり効果は発揮出来ない。
今回はこれを使う。リーシェちゃんが眠っている間、ずっとこの二つのスキルで精神的に攻撃し続ける。この二つのスキルが発動している間、特に『不気味体質』が発動している間、僕と同じ空間で眠ることはまず不可能だ。それは、強者であるほど絶対性を増す。自分が恐怖している存在の前で、睡眠という最大の隙を見せるのは、理性よりも本能が拒絶する。
でも、この条件下でリーシェちゃんが数秒でも眠れたのなら......それは怖がる身体を自分で支配出来たということ。つまり、戦闘時、恐怖で動かない身体を自分で支配出来るということに繋がる。
「リーシェちゃんはこの部屋で、ただ寝るだけで良い」
「......それで、強くなれるのか? 本当に......」
「寝られるものならね。後はリーシェちゃんが眠れるかどうか、それだけだ。あのオジサマに認められたいのなら、眠る努力をするんだね」
「頑張れリーシェちゃん! 私が子守唄でも歌ってあげるぞ!」
「が、頑張って......下さい」
フィニアちゃんもルルちゃんも、僕のやることにストップを掛けない。信頼されているからか、それとも家族ゆえか、それはまぁ分からないけど。
とはいえ、これでリーシェちゃんが出来ようが出来まいが、僕にとってはどっちも得になる。出来ればリーシェちゃんは騎士になれて、僕も晴れて恩返しが出来るというものだし、出来なければ上手いこと言いくるめてリーシェちゃんを仲間に出来る。
「う............分かった、それじゃあよろしく頼む」
後者であれば一緒にいる内に恩返しの機会は何回でも訪れるだろうし、グランディール王国への道案内も頼める。出来ればリーシェちゃんには失敗して欲しいけれど、ここは最大限、力を尽くそう。
「それじゃ......眠って貰おうか」
ベッドに寝そべって、渋々眼を閉じるリーシェちゃん。最早藁をも掴む気持ちでいっぱいだろうが、此処から先は君次第。
僕は椅子に座り、彼女に向かって二つのスキルを同時に発動させた。
「っ!?」
勢いよく起き上がり、立て掛けてある剣を手にしたリーシェちゃん。その表情は、何かに怯えるような表情で、剣を抜こうとする手も震えている。どうやらこの作戦は上手く嵌まった様だ。かなり強引な荒療治ではあるけれど、強弱関係無く圧倒するこのスキル......強者であれば立ち向かえる―――その領域に踏み込めるかな?
「眠る努力、頑張ってねリーシェちゃん」
僕はそう言って、薄ら笑いを向けた。
翌朝、空が段々と青白くなってきた頃。リーシェちゃんはまだ眠れずにいた。僕は夜型だから良いけれど、フィニアちゃんやルルちゃんには僕の部屋で眠るように言って寝かせている。
夜までに眠れればいいのだが、その眼元には隈が出来ており、眼を閉じれば眠れそうな程眠そうな雰囲気を醸し出している。とはいえ、やはり恐怖の中では眠れないのかスキルを発動する度に起き上がる。
レベルは相当高く、ステータスだって一般騎士に負けない能力値を誇っているというのに、何故こうも戦いに怯えるのか、それが良く分からない。
本人は緊張してしまうというが、緊張しても身体が全く動かなくなるというのはどうもおかしい。これは一回聞いてみる必要があるだろうか。
「ねぇリーシェちゃん」
「な、なんだ......」
「どうして君は騎士になりたいの? というより、何故あのオジサマの期待に応えようとするの?」
僕がそう言うと、ばつが悪そうな表情で眼を伏せた。
元々、彼女は騎士になりたいがために騎士見習いを2年続けていると聞いた。そう、2年もだ。おそらく同期の人間はとっくに騎士になっているだろうし、才能の無いと理解出来た人間は1年掛からず辞めていった筈だ。
「......私の、」
すると、リーシェちゃんは決まり悪そうにぽつりぽつりと話し始めた。自分のことを。
「私の父は......この国の騎士団長をやっている。そして、私の家系は代々『先見の魔眼』を受け継いでいるんだ」
「先見の、魔眼」
リーシェちゃんにも、そしてあのオジサマにもステータスにあった『先見の魔眼』。イメージ通りなら二人の眼には先を見る能力が備わっているんだと思う。
でも、リーシェちゃんはそれを使ってはいないようだけど......?
「私の家系は昔から騎士を輩出していてな......父を始めとして、祖父や先祖様まで、この国に名を残す程の実力ある騎士だったらしい。
また、『先見の魔眼』は私達の家系だけのものではない......が、その力は凄まじく、過去輩出された祖父達は一対一の戦いなら負けなしと言われるほど強く、そして誇り高い騎士と聞いている」
「ふーん」
「当然、私もその魔眼を持っている......だが、使えないんだ。なんでも、私には魔眼の適性が低いらしくて......魔眼を使おうにも先なんて全然見えない......それを知った父達は、私を酷く叱りつけた。一族の恥、なんて何度言われた事か......」
魔眼。保有していたとしても使えない代物。それを持って生まれても、必ずしも本人に恩恵を与える訳ではない、か。
「でも、両親は私を見捨てなかった。魔眼が使えないのならば、自分自身だけの力で騎士になってみせよ、と。過去、魔眼を持たずに大成した先祖様もいたからな」
「でも、それから1年、2年と経って......未だに騎士になれない自分がいる......教官にも才能が無いと言われ、私自身も成長していない。私は騎士団長の娘だから、周囲の期待も凄かったが、こうなっては陰口や陰湿な悪事にも晒される......流石に父も騎士になれない私の面倒を見切れなくなったんだろう」
だからこそ、今の状況になっているのか。多分リーシェちゃんの身体中にある包帯や手当の後はその陰湿な悪事によるものもあるだろう。父親も、一度は見捨てなかった。でも二度目はなかった。
正直、魔眼の適性が無いのは生まれのせいだ、仕方ない。でも、リーシェちゃんが戦闘時身体を動かせない理由にはならない。
何が彼女の動きを縛っているんだ? 恐怖、緊張、とはいいつつも、彼女は実際レベルを上げている。魔獣を倒したことが無いわけではない筈だ。であれば、その違いはなんだ?
「リーシェちゃん、君が魔獣を倒した時とこの前の僕達と一緒に行った時、何が違った?」
確実にある筈だ、何らかの違いが。
「......そうだな......きつね達がいたか、いなかったか......かな? 武器や体調は一緒だったし、それ位しか思い浮かばない。敵の強さもそう変わらなかった」
一人であれば魔獣を倒せるって事かな? 人が傍にいると緊張するってことか? でもリーシェちゃんは人見知りってわけじゃない、人が傍にいると緊張するのなら戦闘時以外も碌に人と話せない地味な子になる筈......なのに戦闘時だけだなんて。
そこで、ふと思い出す。先程リーシェちゃんが言っていたこと、過去彼女の先祖達は一対一の勝負では負けなしの実力を誇っていたと。
「リーシェちゃん、もしかして――――」
僕は一つ、思い付いたことを話してみた。すると、リーシェちゃんは少し考えた後、頷く。それで僕は確信した。リーシェちゃんが戦闘時に動けなくなる理由を。
「なら、それで行こう」
スキルを解いて、僕は薄ら笑いを浮かべる。リーシェちゃんには眠って貰い、体力を回復して貰う。
さて、それじゃ僕は夜まで色々駆け回るかな。
Nervous problem
Between me and uncle who are glaring at each other, a strained atmosphere is tingling and sparking. His prowess is overwhelmingly stronger than me, if we fight against each other, I know, everyone know that I'd just need two seconds to lose to him.
However, it's impossible for me to turn a blind eye at this uncle.
He is Rishe-chan's father, but he's intending to disinherit Rishe-chan. That isn't allowed, parents should lead, protect, and love their kid, there's no way they would cast their kids away. If he doesn't correct their kid's wrong doing, if he forces something their kids are unable to, that aren't parental love, but mistreatment.
I, fully know that. I know how painful the kid would suffer. Since I've experienced it myself after all.
"I don't know what you're talking about, but could you please stop bullying Rishe-chan? She is my benefactor after all."
"What?"
Vein popped up at uncle's face, and he glares at me. I've activated {Eerie Constitution} , I'm sure that I should be overpowering him mentally, but whether at the time with the "Red Night", also this uncle, seems like strong people are as expected won't yield huh. They sure are troublesome opponent.
"This is my daughter, an outsider shouldn't intervene at others' family affairs."
"There's no family that would refer their child as this right? How could a parent treats his child like an object? That's quite different than family which I know."
"You bastard...."
"Moreover, it sure is laughable how you intend to draw your prided sword against someone weaker than you."
"What? Are you insulting my sword art? That neck, I don't mind to chop it here you know?"
"Don't bluffing, you sure are look weak you know?"
"Wha...!?"
He's indeed seems like he has a great ability at sword art, but inside he is just a gerontocratic person. He is the type of person who would corrupt the young generation. Moreover, he seems like has a great pride. Being provoked by a youngster like me, seems like he remembers how is irritated feels. He seems like an embodiment of a typical self-important person. So this is the knight leader huh, the future if this country sure is gloomy.
At my word, Rishe-chan stiffened with sorrowful looking face.
However, what I want to see is the fact that uncle doesn't even objecting my word. Doesn't objecting, so that means he is also aware of it.
"Even when you aware of it... you still give her that condition?"
"What a terrible parent, to thrust a cruel reality to their own child. How deplorable, why does a parent must hit his child with a whip? That one week extension time, that feels just like a sentence suspension you know."
Uncle doesn't say anything. To be frank, up until now as long as they want to think about it, they would be able to understand it. But, from here on there would be a great difference between a capable and an incompetent person. To be honest, against this uncle, he isn't seems like opponent who would yield just by talking. As a knight leader, moreover an A rank monster, even though authority-wise he is a troublesome opponent already, moreover combined by his prowess, there should be rarely anyone who has the guts to talk against to such person at this world. Even normally he isn't someone I could talk to.
But, I'm not a person from this world, I don't know about authority, at least the monster right before me is... none other than an old man.
"That's why, we don't need that one week time limit."
"What...?"
"Kitsune! You...!"
To give her that one week limit, that is none other than a finishing blow. No matter how much time she got that would be just a waste. Especially, for a person like Rishe-chan.
Moreover, there are many ways for Rishe-chan to become a knight. With my ability, at least I'll be able to think one or two way.
"One day is enough."
"...what?"
"Tomorrow evening, please come here again esteemed uncle. Together with Rishe-chan, let's have a very fun tea time."
While showing an attitude as if drinking a black tea, I faintly smiling. The {Eerie Constitution} is, the stronger my mind compared to my opponent, the stronger the effect would become.
No matter how powerful he is, no matter how great his sword art is, nothing that matter. Equally, everyone are lower than me.
"...just one day, that means are you going to train Rishe to the level where she would be able to become a knight?"
"You're wrong, when she woke up from her overnight sleep... Rishe-chan would just arbitrarily become stronger."
"Impossible... okay, if that's the case then I would just wait for one day. And then if you're unable to make Rishe into a knight...."
The continuation, I already know without he needs to say it.
"Yup, I know, if that happens then I'll take Rishe-chan."
Successfully see uncle's dumbfounded expression, I say that amusedly.
"What were you doing!? You, why did you...!"
"Calm down Rishe-chan."
After that, uncle seemed like a bit doubtful to me, but when I said 'if you're intending to throw here away then there would be no problem if I pick her up right?', he didn't say anything and just go back like that. Tomorrow evening, he would come here to test Rishe-chan right?
A way to make Rishe-chan stronger. That is, to overcome her fear.
"...what are you intending to do to make me stronger?"
"In the first place, the reason why you can't display your true ability is... because you're too scared when fighting."
If it's about fear, then it's my speciality.
I have {Eerie Constitution}  and {Overpower} , two skills which designed to overpower the opponent. But, these two has a greatly different nature.
{Eerie Constitution}  isn't overpowering the opponent by using pressure. It's a skill which alter the impression about me inside their mind into something fearful. That effect is, giving me superiority mentally than my opponent, any living opponent would see me as a malice, or perhaps become more conceited as if seeing a weakling. Well, the most important part is my mental state though.
{Overpower}  is the opposite, it overpowers the opponent by using pressure, a genuine overpower skill. But, because of hoe weak I'm, if I don't combine it with {Eerie Constitution}  I won't be able to pull its full effect out.
Now I'm going to use both of it. When Rishe-chan is going to sleep, I'm going to keep intimidating her by using these skills. As long as both of these skills are activated, especially {Eerie Constitution} , it was impossible to sleep at the same space as me. That is, the stronger the existence the stronger the effect would be. Before the most fearful existence, to show her greatest weakness by sleeping, her instinct would against it stronger than Rishe-chan herself.
But, if Rishe-chan is able to sleep even by just several seconds under that condition... that means she's able to control her scared body. So, it would also lead to her ability to control her stiffened body at the time she is scared when fighting.
"Rishe-chan, you just need to sleep at this room."
"...with just that, I'll become stronger? Really...?"
"If you're able to. The rest it whether Rishe-chan would be able to sleep or not, just that. If you want to be recognized by that esteemed uncle, then you should try your best to be able to sleep."
"Do your best, Rishe-chan! I even would gladly sing you a lullaby!"
"Do, do your best... please."
Finia-chan and Lulu-chan seem like don't have any intention to stop what I'm going to do. Is it because they're believe in me, or perhaps because we're family, I don't know.
Nevertheless, whether Rishe-chan would be able to do it or not, either way it would be a good thing for me. If she's able to do it then she would be able to become a knight, and that would also means that I'm able to repay her favor, and if she's unable to do it then that's also good since I'll be able to get Rishe-chan as my comrade.
"Yes... I got it, then I'll be in your care."
If it comes the latter then I'll have many chance to repay her favor since we're going to be together, I even would be able to ask her to guide me to the Grandile Nation. If possible, I hope Rishe-chan would fail, but... let's exert my utmost ability here.
"Then... please sleep."
Lie down at the bed, Rishe-chan reluctantly closes her eyes. She must be have experienced so much hardship already, from here on it is depending on yourself.
I sit at the chair, and activate both of these skills toward her.
"!?"
Vigorously woke up, Rishe-chan takes and draw her sword. That expression, is an expression as if scared of something, even her hand which draw the sword is shivering. Seems like this strategy is working properly.  It's indeed seems like an extreme method, but this skill which is able to overpower anyone regardless of their statuses' values... if they're strong then they would be able to overcome it... will she able to reach that?
"Do your best to sleep, Rishe-chan."
I said that, while faintly smiling.
The next morning, around the time when the sky is gradually brightening. Rishe-chan is still unable to sleep. I'm fine since I'm a nocturnal type, but since Finia-chan and Lulu-chan are seemed sleepy so I let them slept at my room.
There won't be any problem if I let her sleep till evening, but you can see shadow at her eyes already, when she shut her eyes it seems like her drowsiness would take her to dreamland anytime.
Her level is considerably high, even her statuses' values aren't inferior to the average knight, but why does she is scared to fight, I can't understand that.
Perhaps she's just nervous, but to be unable to move her body even by just a bit because of nervous is also strange. Perhaps should I ask her about it?
"Say Rishe-chan."
"Wh, what's up...."
"Why do you want to become a knight? Or rather, why are you trying to live up to esteemed uncle's expectation?"
When I said that, she averts her eyes with an embarrassed expression.
To begin with, I had heard that she kept continuing to become a knight apprentice for almost two years because she wanted to become a knight. Right, two years already. Perhaps her peers were already become knight a long time ago, and for people who understood that they didn't have talent there they would give up on it after a year. But even so, does Rishe-chan want to become a knight that badly?
"...my...."
And then, Rishe-chan embarrassedly begin to speak bit by bit, about her.
"My father is... the knight leader of this country. And then, my family lineage are always inherit {Demon Eye of Foresight}  for generation."
"Demon eye of, foresight."
{Demon Eye of Foresight}  which is stated at Rishe-chan and uncle's statuses. If my presumption is right, I thought that both of their eyes are supposed to be endowed with an ability to see the future.
But, I never saw Rishe-chan used it though....
"My family lineage were always become a knight from the olden generation.... Starting with my father, grandfather and also ancestors, seems like their prowess were even go down in this country's history.
Also, {Demon Eye of Foresight} isn't limited to our family lineage... but, its ability is tremendous, each of my ancestors were strong enough to be invincible at one on one fight, and I also heard that they were a prideful knight."
"Hmmm."
"Of course, I also have that eye... but, I can't use it. I have been told many times already, that my aptitude with my demon eye is low... and I also haven't see any trace that I would be able to use it near future... and then when father and the other heard about it, he harshly scold me. The disgrace of the family, just how many times I've heard it...."
Demon eye. Even of one possess it, that won't mean one would be able to use it for sure. Even if they possessed it since they were born, that wasn't necessarily mean that it would grant its power to its holder, huh.
"But, my parent have abandoned me. If I can't use this demon eye, then I just need to become a knight with my own power, or so I thought. Since at the past, there was a great ancestor who didn't possess demon eye but was able to accomplish it after all."
"But, after one year, two years passed... I'm still nothing than a knight apprentice... even my instructor said that I don't have any talent, and I haven't growth at all. Whether because I'm a daughter of the knight leader, there were a great expectation from my surrounding, but right now they are badmouthing and do some devious act at me ... and as expected even my father would give up to care about me who is unable to become a knight right."
That's way, it come to the current state of affairs huh. Perhaps the bandage and scars around her body are because of that devious act right. Even her father, for now he haven't abandoned her. But there won't be any second chance.
To be honest, the aptitude with demon eye were decided when they were born, so it can't be helped. But, that won't become the reason why Rishe-chan was unable to move her body when fighting.
What was binding her movement? Fear, nervous, even with that, she's still able to raise her level properly. It doesn't seems impossible for her to defeat a magical beast. Then, what's the difference?
"Rishe-chan, when you're able to defeat magical beasts and when you were together with us some times ago, is there anything different?"
There must be is, then this difference.
"...let's see... whether Kitsune and Finia were there, or not... perhaps? Since my weapon and physical were same after all. My enemy's power were also not much different."
So that means if she was alone she would be able to defeat that magical beast, huh? Does that means she's nervous when there was someone around her? But Rishe-chan isn't a shy person, if she's nervous when there's someone around her then even other than when fighting time she should be also a timid girl who is unable to fluently speaking with other people... but to be only happen at fighting.
And then, I suddenly remember. About what Rishe-chan just said, at the past her ancestors were boasted with prowess which were invincible at one on one fight.
"Rishe-chan, could it be--"
I try to tell her about the idea I just thought about. And then, after Rishe-chan thought about it a bit, she nods her head. And then I'm certain of it. The reason why Rishe-chan was unable to move her body when fighting.
"Then, let's go with that."
Canceling my skill, I float a faint smile. I let Rishe-chan to sleep and recover her strength.
Well then, should I stroll somewhere till evening.
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/
こいし