アイペロス王子の遺体は、立派な柩に収められ、きらびやかな絹の服をまとっていた。
頭部の縫い目は目立たないようにされてはいたが、やはり違和感は拭えない。
感情を押し殺した瞳で弟の遺体を見つめるイメラリアは、涙を見せることもなく、ただじっと遺体の側に座っていた。
謁見の間のすぐ隣にあるこの部屋は、王が私的な密談などを行うための小部屋だった。押して運べる車輪が付いた台座の上に乗せられた柩は、部屋の中央に安置され、周囲を囲むように置かれた椅子の一つに、たった一人でイメラリアが座っている。
静寂が支配する部屋に、すっと入ってきたのは宰相アドルだった。
「......失礼します」
反応を見せないイメラリアに一礼すると、アドルは王子の遺体を見つめてから、右手を胸に当てて頭を下げた。
丁寧に弔いの作法に則って動き、部屋を後にするアドルに、イメラリアは静かに立ち上がって軽く頭を下げた。
視界の端にその姿を見たアドルは、いたたまれなくなって気持ち足早になってしまう。
どうにか平静を保って部屋を出ると、静かに溜息をついた。
「ご傷心の様子ですねぇ」
いつの間にか、アドルの横には死神の顔があった。
「みだりに出てくるな。見られたらどうする」
焦るアドルの言葉にも、死神はケラケラと笑って答えない。
「そろそろお姫様に送還魔法の事を教えて差し上げてもよろしいのではないですか?」
「バカを言え。まだ資料の一枚も見つかっていない状態で、お前のような悪霊の言う事を報告できるわけがなかろう」
肩をいからせて歩き始めたアドルを、死神はフラフラと鬱陶しい程に揺れながら追う。
「傷ついたお姫様に、希望を見せて差し上げましょうよ。貴方にとっても国民にとっても、お姫様が気落ちしたままでは色々と困るでしょう?」
忌々しいという目で睨めつけ、アドルは資料室へと入っていった。
「悪霊の癖にこの国を気遣うふりをするのはやめろ。不愉快だ」
「おやおや、これでも人が懸命に生きる姿を応援する神様なんですけれどねぇ」
「......死神を名乗ったくせに、何を言うか」
視線を向けることなく、石版を漁って送還魔法やそれに類する魔法の資料を探す。もう何日続けたかも覚えていないほど繰り返した手つきは、石版の扱いにすっかり慣れていた。
「懸命に生きて、そして死んでいった者の魂こそ輝くのですよ」
死神の言葉に一瞬手が止まったアドルは、悪趣味な、とつぶやいて、そのまま作業を続けた。
それにしても、とアドルは思う。
(一二三という人物を送還して、それでこの国はどうなるというのだろうか?)
しかし、とアドルはふと手を止めた。
一二三がいなくなったとて、始まった戦いがすぐに終わるわけではない。むしろ、最大戦力がいなくなる分、オーソングランデの立場は苦しくなるのだ。
(送り返すにしてもどこへなり飛ばすにしても、その前の準備にも念を入れねば......)
「おめでとう、サブナク!」
ビロン伯爵主催の夕食の席で、主賓の席に座らされたサブナクに、ビロンは杯を持ち上げた。
「本当に、私の実家からこんな騎士が出るなんて思わなかったわ」
カラカラと笑う姉に、サブナクは疲れきった視線を向けた。
「姉さん、ぼくがそういう役職に向いていないのはよくご存知でしょう?」
「あら、あなたは小さい時から頭も良かったし、剣はへなちょこだから、むしろ現場にいるより役にたつんじゃないかしら?」
ひどい言い草だとビロンが同情の目を向けるが、サブナクは昔から遠慮がない姉の言動には慣れっこだった。
「とにかく、これでぼくは早めに王城へ戻る必要ができました。近衛騎士隊というのは、どうやら王族......今はイメラリア様のみですが、あの御方をお守りするのが役目のようですから」
「ここは気にせず、他の隊員たちと共に戻るといい。トオノ伯のサポートは私の兵でも大丈夫だし、大きな戦いはしばらく無いだろう」
ホーラント国境の状況を知っているビロンは、少なくともホーラントが本格的に挙兵するにはそれなりの時間が必要だろうと見ていた。
「サブナク、王城へ戻る前にお父様へ報告の手紙を書きなさい。私からのと合わせて、実家に送ってあげるから」
「そうだね、私からもお義父様へお祝いの手紙を送るから、一緒に送ろう」
夫妻の言葉に、サブナクは少し照れてしまった。
「ありがとうございます」
はにかんだサブナクに、夫妻もにっこりと笑った。
サブナクは、いつかの騎士隊入隊の時にお祝いしてもらった事を思い出していた。
あの時も、気持ちよく祝ってくれて、それから懸命にやってきたのだ。これからも、何とかやって行けるだろうと前向きな気持ちになってくる。
「でも、城詰めの勤務は初めてなので、緊張しますね」
食後の酒をゆっくりと傾け、サブナクは呟いた。
男同士の話になるだろう、とサブナクの姉は席を外した。
「護衛というよりは、イメラリア様の相談役という側面もあるだろうね」
ビロンの言葉に、サブナクは首をかしげた。
「相談役なら、宰相のアドル様がおられますよ?」
「そうだね。でも彼だけの意見を聞いて決めるのは、イメラリア様の思考を狭めることになる。間違いとか正しいとかじゃなくて、色々な可能性を考えて、結果を想定して、宰相やイメラリア様とは違う視点での意見を言う。これだけでも、為政者としては助かると思うよ」
特にイメラリアは王族としては素直すぎる程なので、周りの意見をよく聞いてくれるだろう、とビロンは語る。
その結果がパジョーの最期を呼んだのではないかと、サブナクの脳裏を一瞬だけ疑問がよぎったが、ビロンの意見自体は納得できた。
「なにも、身を挺して盾になることだけが護衛の仕事じゃないだろう。本当に良い護衛というものは、守るべきものを危険に近づけないものだと思うよ」
ビロンの言葉に、サブナクはゆっくりと頷いた。
「おう、起きたな」
背後から、先ほど聞いた声が聞こえる。
「一体......」
「他の仲間は片付けた。お前には聞きたいことがあったから生かしておいた」
単純でわかりやすいだろう、と背中からの声が言う。
ぼんやりしていた視界がようやく鮮明になってきて、自分が木の幹を抱きしめるような格好で縛られている事がわかった。
そして、声の相手も思い出す。
先ほど、自分を蹴り飛ばした男、一二三だ。
首を捻って後ろを見ようとしても、相手の顔までは見えない。
「無理にこっちを向こうとすると、首を痛めるぞ?」
「......何が目的だ」
極力平静を装いながら問いかけるが、声が少し震えてしまった。
相手の姿が見えないことで、不安がより掻き立てられる。
「質問があると言っただろう。時間が勿体ないから、さっさと答えろよ?」
魔法使いからは見えないが、一二三が言うにはもう一人を縛り上げていて、そっちにも話を聞かないといけないと言う。
「ふざけるな。お前が敵だということはわかって......」
必死で振り向いて抗議をする魔法使いの頬をかすめて、小さな鉄の塊が目の前の木の幹にめり込む。
頬が切れたのか、急に熱くなった。
「選択肢は二つだ。喋って生き延びるか、黙って死ぬか、だ」
答えずに歯を食いしばる魔法使いに、一二三は笑った。
「取り敢えず質問その一、王都にある魔法具の研究所はどこだ?」
一二三の質問に黙っていた魔法使いの右肩に激痛が走る。
本人からは見えなかったが、
「時間が勿体無いと言ってるだろうが」
結局、同じようなことを繰り返して、息も絶え絶えの魔法使いが全ての情報を吐いたのはそれから30分後の事だった。
研究施設の場所も警備状況も聞き出した一二三は、お疲れさん、と言いながら魔法使いを縛っていたロープを刀で切った。
立っていられないほど消耗した魔法使いは、木にしがみついたままズルズルと膝をつく。
「さっさと吐けば良かったのに」
つまらなそうに言った一二三は、ふと何かに気づいて体を逸らした。
魔法使いの悲鳴。
それを見ずに走った一二三は、縛り上げて転がしていたはずのホーラント兵が膝立ちに起き上がっているのを見て、舌打ちした。
「馬鹿かお前。口止めに殺すなら喋る前にしろよ」
言いながら、ホーラント兵の顎を蹴り飛ばす。
歯と唾を飛ばしながらのけぞった兵の胸を踏みつけ、一二三は刀を目の前につきつけた。
「さあ、次はお前の番だな」
「ふふっ、俺がそう簡単に話すわけがないだろう」
不敵に笑った兵士は、右手に持った剣を自分の喉元につきつけようとしたが、叶わなかった。
シュルっと風を切る音がしたかと思うと、右手の肘から先がポロリと落ちた。
「え......?」
「そう簡単に自害なんぞさせるか」
まるで兵士の体を地面に縫い付けるかのように、左肩を刀が貫く。
「さて、質問タイムだ。......俺を知っていたな?」
切れ長の目が釣り上げられ、冷たい視線が兵士に向けられる。
「俺を見て数人で妙な動きをしただろう。というか、俺がお前らを追いかけるように仕向けようとしたな?」
魔法使いがいるとそこで止まってしまうだろうと思ったが、始末するのは不自然なので、兵の数が減ったところで、魔法使いを抱えて逃げるつもりだったな、と一二三は問うた。
その話に、兵士は驚きに目を見開いた。
慌てて否定の言葉を発したが、一二三は言葉よりも見てとった事を信じる。
しばらく何かを考えた一二三は、ズルっと刀を抜いた。
悶絶する兵士を捨て置いて、離れて待っていたオリガたちの元へ向かう。
その際、チラリと魔法使いを見たが、既に事切れていた。
「はい」
「研究所の場所は聞こえていたな? 俺は今から一人で王城へ乗り込むから、騒ぎになっている間に、魔法具をかっさらって、そのままオーソングランデへ戻れ」
例の事は、フォカロルへ帰りがてらやってくれればいい、と一二三は言った。
「わかりました。どうか、お気を付けて......」
不安そうに語るオリガに、一二三は優しく笑った。
「まだこの世界で遊び足りないからな。まだ死ねん」
踵を返し、未だ苦痛に呻く兵士の前を見下ろすように立った一二三は、おもむろに闇魔法で魔法薬を取り出し、どばどばと兵士に振りかける。
離れていた腕は繋がらなかったが、傷はすっかり塞がった兵士は、訳がわからないまま一二三に蹴飛ばされた。
土にまみれ、ようやく体を起こした兵士に、一二三の冷たい声が届く。
「さあ、王城までの追いかけっこだ。頑張ってお前の親分にすがりつくのが早いか、俺の武器がお前を両断するのが早いか、競争しようや」
何を言われているのか一瞬わからなかった兵士だったが、我に返ってすぐに、残った左手で体を支えて立ち上がり、バランスが取れないのかフラつきながら走り出した。
「よーっしゃ! 久しぶりに走り込みだな!」
刀を収納に放り込み、袴の裾を縛った一二三は、ホーラント兵との距離が充分に開いたところで走り出した。
Ayperos' corpse was laid out in an imposing coffin and donned gorgeous silken clothes.
He was put inside making sure that the stitches on his head didn't stand out, but the out-of-place feeling couldn't be eliminated after all.
Imeraria, staring at the corpse of her younger brother with eyes concealing her emotions, just sat motionlessly next to the corpse without showing any tears.
The room right next to the audience hall was a small room for the king to carry out secret and private talks. The coffin, placed on top of a pedestal with wheels attached for transporting it, is enshrined in the centre of the room. Imeraria is the only person sitting as there was only one chair set up to be in the coffin's surroundings.
It was Prime Minister Adol who entered quietly into the room dominated by silence.
"... Excuse me." (Adol)
As he bows towards Imeraria, who doesn't show any reaction, Adol lowered his head, putting his right hand over his chest, after seeing the corpse of the prince.
As he moved according to the etiquette of polite condolences, Imeraria stood up silently and lightly bowed towards Adol as he left the room.
Adol, who saw her figure in the corner of his eyes, ends up escaping at a quick pace owing to the feeling of  being unable to endure being there any longer.
Once he left the room while somehow or other remaining calm, he quietly breathed a sigh.
"An appearance of grief, isn't it?" (Adol)
Before realising it, there was the face of the shinigami next to Adol.
"Don't appear without permission. What will we do, if you are seen?" (Adol)
Even as Adol utters his words in a fluster, the shinigami doesn't reply and simply laughs with a giggle.
"Won't it be fine to offer the information about the return spell to princess soon as well?" (Shinigami)
"Don't be foolish. With the current status of me not having yet found a single document, there's no reason to report on the things told by an evil spirit like you." (Adol)
The shinigami chased after Adol, who set off with his shoulders heaving in anger, while its legs are shaking and staggering.
"Offer hope to the hurt princess. Wouldn't there be various troubles for you as well as the nation if the princess was dispirited?" (Shinigami)
Glaring at him with eyes full of annoyance, Adol entered the reference room.
"Stop pretending to be worried about this country when you're nothing but an evil spirit. It's unpleasant." (Adol)
"Oh my! Although I may appear to be this way, I'm a god who earnestly aids people to survive." (Shinigami)magic
"... What are you say despite calling yourself a shinigami?" (Adol)
Without shifting his sight, Adol searches for lithographs depicting the return spell and furthermore documents pertaining to similar magic. Having repeatedly used his hands in such way for god-knows how many days, he completely got accustomed to handling the lithographs.
"The souls of those eagerly striving to survive and having then died shine brightly." (Shinigami)
Stopping his hands for an instant thanks to the words of the god of death, Adol muttered "what bad taste" and continued his search.
, Adol considers.
(I wonder what will happen to this country after sending home the person called Hifumi?)
, Adol abruptly stopped moving his hands.
Even if Hifumi was suddenly gone, it wouldn't mean that the wars started would end right away. Instead, with a part of its largest military strength gone, Orsongrande's position will become agonizing.
(Even if he is transferred back to where he came from, if I pay attention to prepare for that in advance as well...)
"Congratulations, Sabnak!" (Biron)
Biron raised his sake cup towards Sabnak, who sat in the seat of honor during the dinner organised by Earl Biron.
"Really, I never thought that such a knight would spring forth from my family's home." (Sister)
Sabnak turned his fed up sight towards his elder sister laughing loudly.
"Nee-san, aren't you well aware that I'm not cut out for such official position?" (Sabnak)
"Ara, your head was always good since you were small. I wonder whether it isn't better for you to have such a post rather than being at the actual site, especially as you are a greenhorn at swordsmanship?" (Sister)
Biron showed sympathy thanks to the cruel remarks, but Sabnak got used to the speech and conduct of not holding back anything of his elder sister since the old days.
"Anyway, with this, it became necessary for me to return to the royal castle ahead of time. That means, the Imperial Knight Order appears to have the role of taking care of royalty... though it is currently only Imeraria." (Sabnak)
"Don't worry about this place. It's alright for you to return together with your other order members. With Earl Tohno's support my troops will be alright as there probably won't be any large battle any time soon." (Biron)
Biron, aware of the situation at the border to Horant, assessed the least time likely necessary for Horant to raise a full-scale army to be this much.
"Sabnak, write a letter to father before you go back to the royal castle. I will match it with mine to be sent back home." (Sister)
"That's right. Since I will send a congratulatory letter to the unpopular father-in-law-sama as well, let's send them together." (Biron)
Sabnak ended up becoming slightly embarrassed due to the words of the married couple.
"Thank you very much." (Sabnak)
The married couple also laughed and smiled seeing the bashful Sabnak.
Sabnak recalled the time he received congratulations for enlisting in the knight order the other day.
Even at that time it felt good to receive congratulations. After that he earnestly put effort into doing his job. Even after this promotion, he is prepared to face forward and get on with it.
"However, as it is my first time to be appointed to work at the castle, I will be nervous." (Sabnak)
Slowly savoring the after-meal sake, Sabnak murmured.
"It will probably turn into a talk between men", Sabnak's elder sister excused herself temporarily.
"Rather than being a guard, there is likely the aspect of advising Imeraria-sama as well." (Biron)
Hearing Biron's words, Sabnak inclined his head to the side.
"Isn't there the prime minister, Adol, if it's about advising?" (Sabnak)
"That's certainly true. But, if Imeraria-sama chose to only listen to his opinion, it would result in narrowing down her thinking. There isn't only right or wrong. Thinking about various possibilities, hypothesizing results, you can state your own opinion that's different from the prime minister's and Imeraria-sama's. I think you will be able to help as statesman, even if it's only this much." (Biron)
"Especially given that Imeraria is far too obedient as royalty, she will probably listen too often to the opinion of her surroundings", Biron says.
Although that question crossed Sabnak's mind for an instant, he was able to agree with Biron's view in itself.
"I think it isn't the sole task of a guard to offer his all as a shield. Someone called a truly superb guard doesn't allow anyone, who is dangerous, to approach the person that ought to be protected, I believe." (Biron)
Sabnak slowly nodded due to Biron's words.
"Oh! You woke up." (Hifumi)
A voice was audible coming from the magician's rear.
"The heck..." (Magician)
"I disposed of your other companions. I kept you alive because there are things I want to hear from you." (Hifumi)
"Quite easy to understand, ain't it?" The voice from behind says.
As his blurry vision at last became clear, he realized his state of being tied as if hugging the stump of a tree.
And he has also recalled the voice of the other party.
It's Hifumi, the man who had sent him flying with a kick some time ago.
Even as he tries to turn his head backwards, it isn't enough to see the other party's face.
"Won't your neck hurt if you recklessly try to face this way?" (Hifumi)
"... What's your aim?" (Magician)
While feigning calmness as best as he could, he asked a question, but his voice ended up trembling a bit.
Unable to see the figure of the other party, his anxiety is further stirred up.
"I told you that I have questions. Won't you not waste my time and hurry up answering them?" (Hifumi)
Even though he can't be seen by the magician, there is one more person tied up. That being said, it isn't good if he doesn't listen to the words of that person either.
"Don't screw around. I do know that you are an enemy..."
Desperately turning his head, the magician's vision gets blurry in protest. A small iron lump is embedded into the tree stump in front of him.
It suddenly became hot.
"There are two choices. Talk and live or stay silent and die." (Hifumi)
Due to the magician enduring the pain without answering, Hifumi laughed.
"First of all, the first question is: Where is the capital's magic tool research institute?" (Hifumi)
A sharp pain pierced the right shoulder of the magician who had remained silent at Hifumi's question.
Though he wasn't able to see the person himself, a heated hoof was hammered into the shoulder.
"I told you to not waste my time, didn't I?" (Hifumi)
In the end it took 30 minutes of doing the same thing repeatedly until the magician caved in and spilled all the information.
Hifumi, who learned the location of the research institute as well as the state of its defenses, cut the rope binding the magician with his katana while saying "Good work."
The magician, exhausted to the degree of being unable to stand up, slowly slithers down to his knees while still clinging to the tree.
"It would have been best, if you had told me everything immediately." (Hifumi)
Hifumi, who said this indifferently, averted his body after suddenly noticing something.
It's the magician's scream.
Hifumi, running without looking at that, clicked his tongue seeing the soldier from Horant, who ought to be tied up, rising to his knees.
"Are you an idiot? Do it before talking if you get killed due to being forbidden to speak." (Hifumi)
While he says this, he kicks the soldier's chin.
While the soldier is scattering spit and teeth, Hifumi steps on the chest of the backward-bent soldier. Hifumi thrust his katana in front of him.
"Well then, next it's your turn." (Hifumi)
"Fufu, there's no way I will talk this easily." (Soldier)
The boldly laughing soldier tried to thrust the sword, he held in his right hand, at his own throat. But he failed.
No sooner than the sound of cutting through the wind with a *fwish* was audible, the right hand, from the elbow to its end, dropped to the ground.
"Eh... ?" (Soldier)
"Did you think you could commit suicide that easily?" (Hifumi)
As if completely pinning the soldier's body to the ground, the katana is stabbed into his left shoulder.
"Now then, it's question time. ... Did you know about me?" (Hifumi)
Raising his slit eyes, he faces the soldier with a freezing look.
"Seeing me caused several people to move strangely, don't you agree? Or rather, didn't you guys try to make me chase after you?" (Hifumi)
He thought they will end up staying there if there are magicians, but since they unnaturally were thrifty, they planned to escape while carrying the magicians away when the number of soldiers had decreased, Hifumi accused.
The soldier opened his eyes widely in surprise due to his speech.
Although he hurriedly denied it, Hifumi rather believed what he saw than what he said.
Hifumi, who considered something for a moment, extracted his katana with a *slurp*
Ignoring the soldier who fainted in agony, he heads towards a separate place, where Origa's group was waiting.
Some time during that period, he looked at the magician with a glance, but he had already died.
"Yes." (Origa)
"Did you hear the location of the research institute? Since I will march into the royal castle by myself after this, snatch the magic tools during the time I'm causing a disturbance and return to Orsongrande." (Hifumi)
"It's fine if you do the aforementioned thing as you are returning to Fokalore," Hifumi said.
"Understood. Please, be careful..." (Origa)
Hifumi gently smiled due to Origa's anxious words.
"I haven't yet played around in this world sufficiently. I can't die yet." (Hifumi)
Turning on his heel, Hifumi, looking down on the still in pain moaning soldier in front, suddenly takes out a magic potion from with his darkness magic and sprinkles it over the soldier with a *splosh*
The loped off arm didn't reconnect, however the soldier, whose wounds fully closed up, was kicked away by Hifumi without understanding left from right.
Being smeared with dirt, the soldier, finally raising his head, pays attention to the cold voice of Hifumi.
"Well then, we will play tag up to the royal castle. Let's have a contest whether you will be faster in clinging to your boss or whether I will be faster in bisecting you." (Hifumi)
The soldier didn't comprehend what Hifumi was talking about for a moment, but immediately coming to his senses, he stands up propping up his body with his remaining left hand and began to run while staggering about unable to attain proper balance.
"Looking good! It's been a while since I ran!" (Hifumi)
Tossing the katana into his storage, Hifumi, ties the hem of his hakama and began to run once the distance to the soldier from Horant increased sufficiently.
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido