38.クレブスクルム解放戦線・破軍
会議では前々から計画はしていたのでしょう、ほぼ最終確認のようなもので、要の一つである混乱の起こし方などの詳細はあくまで協力者に過ぎず部外者である私たちには詳しく語られませんでした。
まぁ、私の役目は相手の実力者を二人屠るだけの単純なものですから知らされなくてもいいですけどね。
「では解散じゃ! 」
ロン老師のその宣言と共に、ゾロゾロ集まっていた人が会議室を出ていく。
この会議では『統率』スキルや『鼓舞』スキルを持っている私が演説? をすることが追加されましたが......このスキルたちは味方を強化するだけでなく、文字通りの技能としてNPCたちやクエストにもある程度効果を及ぼすようですね、面白いです。
「うーん、どうしましょう? 」
「? レーナさんどうかしましたか? 」
「いえ、演説頼まれたじゃないですか? ですが私は街中に声を届けられるような声量が無くてですね......」
思わず漏らした声にユウさんが反応しましたので答えておきます。
「あぁ、それでしたら僕が使えますよ! 運営のネタ枠の一つである宴会魔術の《マイク》ってのがありまして」
「............なんでそんなものが使えるか聞いても? 」
本当になんでそんなスキル持っているんですか? 私、存在すら知りませんでしたよ?
「いや、その......検証したくて......」
「あぁ......」
忘れてましたけど、たしかユウさんは検証班とかいう人種の方でしたね。こういった謎スキルや人気のないスキルの有用性も検証していくのでしょうか? なんというかお疲れ様です......。
「そんなスキル群で、よく途中までとはいえ最前線をソロで行けましたね? 」
「いや〜、主力の付与を自分に掛けまくったり、それにこんなネタスキルでも運用と組み合わせ次第では使えるのでそれでゴリ押ししたというか............」
......なるほど、検証しているだけあってその特性を熟知していると。......まぁ、なんにせよ今回はそれで助かりましたね。
「では明日は支援よろしくお願いしますね」
「はい! 任せてください! 今度こそ役に立ってみせます! 」
なにやら気迫が籠っていますね? 別に役立たずだとは思ったことはないのですが......何かありましたのでしょうか?
まぁ、どうでもいいので明日に備えますか。
▼▼▼▼▼▼▼
たった今先遣隊が衛兵の詰め所や奴隷商館を複数同時襲撃したところですね。今私が居る場所は外門と中央広場の間にある公園です。驚いたことに、地下に街の中に通じる隠し通路や出入口がたくさんあったんですよね。聞いたところによると領主が代わる前、それこそ何代にも渡って造られたとかで、それを使って武装した元奴隷たちが集まってきています............ふふ、ワクワクしてきてしまいますね?
まぁ、これから私は台の上に立って色々話すわけですが......こういうのあまり慣れてないんですよね............。
まぁ、今朝に『行かないで......』と渋るニアさんと『あなたたちのために精一杯頑張ってきます』と約束して出てきたのでできる限りのことはやりましょう、約束は守るものですからね。
「ではユウさん、お願いします」
「えぇ、任せてください。宴会魔術の《マイク》とDQN魔術の《騒音》で街中にレーナさんの声を届けます」
............本当に謎のラインナップですね? まぁ、いいです。それよりも何を話しましょう......周りを見回しても左頬に印のある武装した集団―――街中の至る所からいきなり出てきたので素直に驚いた―――とそんな彼らを怯えた目で見る住民しか............これですね。
喋る事を決め私は台に立ち、奴隷......いや、元奴隷たちと見つめ合います。
「―――皆さん、周りを見なさい」
こういうのは慣れてないので、勢いとスキルでゴリ押ししましょう。
「―――今、同胞の働きにより街は混乱しています」
演説? なんて中高の新入生代表挨拶くらいしか経験ありませんからね、仕方ないです。
「――――もう一度言います、見なさい周りを、あなたたちは今、どんな目で見られていますか? 」
おや? 初日に船で飴をくれたおじいさんが居ますね? こちらを驚愕の表情で見ています。
「――――物として、道具として見られていますか? 未だ人として見られていませんか? ......否、彼らの恐怖の眼差しを、驚愕の表情を見なさい! 」
先遣隊の急襲と、どこからか湧いて出た左頬に印を持つ者たち――つまり奴隷――の大規模な反乱に、住民たちはそれこそ自分たちを脅かす者として見ています。
「彼らはそれを道具の反乱ではなく自分たちを脅かす者......人として、脅威として見ているではありませんか!! 」
おじいさんには悪いですが利用させてもらいましょう............あの飴クソ不味かったですし。
「―――そこに居るおじいさんは初めてこの街に来た私たちにも優しく接してくれましたが、その方ですら奴隷は物という認識でした。それがどうです? 今はそんな眼差しではないではありませんか! 」
そんな下を向かないでくださいよおじいさん、こっちを見て目に焼き付けるのです............ただの道具に噛みつかれる瞬間を......! ふふ、なんだかゾクゾクしますね......!!
「――――あなたたちは人です! 」
とりあえず綺麗な言葉を叫んで、大げさな動作をしとけばいいんですよね?
「――――住民たちですらそれを無意識に認めてしまっています! 」
あぁ、なんだかどんどん辛くなってきました。
「この戦いは戦争でも反乱でも、ましてや復讐でもありません! 人としての尊厳を取り戻す戦いです!! 」
いや、ぶっちゃけ公式HPも読み込んでませんし、ユウさんみたくマニア知識も無ければこの街の文化と歴史を知り尽くしているわけではないので、こんな大げさなこと叫んでる自分に笑いが込み上げて辛いです、本当に......。
そろそろ本気で辛いので締めに入りましょう、彼らの虐げられてきた歴史を思えば短いんでしょうけど持ちません、無理やり畳みます。
そのために私は腰から短刀を抜き去り自身の左頬に自ら奴隷の印―――だった物を刻み込みます。
「『っ! 』」
途端にその場にいる全員が驚愕の表情を浮かべ、中には口開けたままアホ面を晒す者も――――なんで貴方が悲鳴を上げてるんですかユウさん?
「―――この印は隷属ではなく海をかける自由の!」
ここで手を広げる。
「―――この印は早さではなくどんな嵐でも妨げられない速さの!」
ここで胸の前で両拳を握る。
「そして解放の象徴です―――!! 」
あぁ、とうとう泣き出した人たちがいますね? 私の『偽装』スキルが進化した『演技』スキルが『鼓舞』スキルなどと一緒に良い仕事をしているようでなによりです............これ、大分恥ずかしいんですからね?
「今、あなたたちの同胞が既に自由のために血を流しています! 我らが自由を手にするには、それに続き短時間で決めねばなりません!! 」
今も自分たちの同胞が血を流してることを思い出し、それまで驚いていた者や泣いていた者たちが覚悟の決まった顔になる。
「時は今! 決戦はこの今です! 」
いよいよクライマックスですよ。
「さぁ、駆けるのです! その左頬の―――」
この後のセリフ、最初はダッタン人―――現代でいうモンゴル人でしたか―――の矢よりも速く! と言おうとしましたが、NPCに通じるかどうかわかりませんでしたので止めておきました。それになによりお誂え向きのがありますからね――――
「――――――――クレブスクルムのように速く!! 」
ここで顔の横に握った右拳を持っていき、左手をお腹の前に添える。
――――ウオォォォオオォォォオオオ!!!!!!!
その時溢れんばかりの雄叫びが街中に響き、私の耳が痛くなり一瞬だけ殺意が湧きました......いや、しむけたの私なんですけどね?
一応クレブスクルムは信仰の対象でもあったらしいですから、『......よりも速く』と言うより『......のように』と変えましたが、その効果はあったようですね......というかあったことにしてくれないと困ります、何気に恥ずかしかったんですから..................。
「あれ、レーナさん耳が赤――」
台から降りたところで野暮なことを言いかけたユウさんの水月に拳を叩き込んでから、広場に駆け抜けます。
Chapter 38 - Krebskulm Liberation Front - Broken Army
Things had likely been planned long before the meeting, as it was more of a final confirmation. As for details such as how they would cause the chaos, we were not told. We were just collaborators and outsiders.
Well, my role was just to kill two of their best, so I didn't really need to be told anything.
"This concludes today's meeting. Dismissed!"
Sage Ron declared, and all of the people that had gathered began to leave the room.
During the meeting, they had decided that since I had the Leadership and Encouragement skill, that I was to give a speech...? These skills not only strengthened your allies, but also affected the NPCs and quests as well, which was quite interesting.
"Hmm. What should I do?"
"Did you say something, Rena?"
"No, it's just that they asked me to give a speech, right? But my voice isn't really loud enough to reach the whole town..."
Yuu reacted to my mutterings, and so I just told him the truth.
"Ah, then I can help you! There's a skill that management put in as a joke! It's party magic called <Mic>."
"... Can I ask you why you have such a skill?"
Really, why did he have a skill like that? I didn't even know of its existence.
"Uh, I... wanted to inspect..."
"Ahh..."
I had forgotten about it, but Yuu was a part of a group known as the 'verification team.' Did they inspect mystery skills and the utility of lesser known skills? Well, it was commendable work...
"While it wasn't all the way, it's rather impressive that you were on the frontlines while solo."
"Well... I was constantly casting powerful buffs on myself. Besides, even skills like these can be useful when combined with other skills. I suppose you could say it was with brute force..."
... I see. As someone who inspected them, he knew a lot about their features... Well, in any case, it would help greatly.
"Alright, I'll be expecting your support tomorrow."
"Yes! You can count on me! This time, I will be more useful!"
Why was he so enthusiastic? I hadn't said anything about him being useless... Did something happen?
Well, it hardly mattered. It was time to prepare for tomorrow.
******
It looked like the advance party had simultaneously attacked the guard house and the slave market. I was currently in a park that was between the outside gate and the town square. Surprisingly, there were a lot of underground entrances and exits that led into the town. From what I heard, they were made over several generations, before the landowner last changed. And now the armed former slaves were using them to gather together... Hehe. Could I be blamed for getting excited?
Well, I was to now stand on a stage and say various things... But I really wasn't used to doing this...
This morning, Nia had asked me to stay behind. But I promised them that I would do my best for their sake. And so I will. I intend to keep that promise.
"Alright, Yuu. If you will be so kind."
"Yes, leave it to me. I'll use the <Party Magic: Mic> and the <Dumbass magic: Din> to carry your voice throughout the town."
... That really was a strange lineup, huh? Oh, well. More importantly, what should I talk about...
I decided what to say and got up onto the stage. I then looked at the eyes of the slaves... no, former slaves.
"... All of you. Look around."
I wasn't used to this, so momentum and brute force through the skills would have to do.
"... Through the work of your comrades, the town is now in chaos."
A speech? The closest thing I've experienced is introducing myself as a new student in school. It could not be helped.
"... I will say it again. Look around. With what kind of eyes are the people looking at you?"
Oh? The old man was here? The one who gave me candy during our first day on the boat. He was looking at me with shock.
"... Are they looking at you as objects or tools? Do they still not see you as humans...? No, look at their expressions of fear and surprise!"
The attack from the advance party and the sudden appearance of these people with the mark on their left cheek... in other words, slaves... This was a rebellion on a large scale, and the residents saw them as a threat.
"They don't see you as tools that are rebelling... but as people. People who are a threat!!"
Old man. Sorry, but I'm going to use you now... Besides, that candy was disgusting.
"...Old man. You were kind to me when I first came to this town. And yet even you saw slaves as objects. Yet what about now? That is not the same look in his eyes!"
Don't look at the ground so much, old man. Look up and burn this into your memory... The moment that the tools bit back...! Hehe. This is so exciting...!!
"... You are all people!"
Shout what they'd want to hear and make exaggerated gestures. That's how you do it, right?
"... The residents here have admitted it without knowing!"
Ahh, it was starting to get harder.
"This fight is not a war or a rebellion or even revenge! It is a fight to take back your dignity as humans!!"
To be honest, I didn't even read what was written on the official website. I didn't have all the enthusiast knowledge that Yuu did. Nor did I know anything about the history or culture of this town. And yet here I was, shouting in an exaggerated way. It was hard to prevent myself from laughing, really...
And so it was time to wrap things up. Obviously, it was nothing compared to their long history of being abused, but I couldn't last any longer. I had to end things forcefully.
And so I unsheathed the blade on my waist and carved the mark into my own left cheek...the mark that used to mean slavery.
"!!!"
At that moment, everyone present looked on in shock. Some had their mouths hanging open with dumbfounded expressions... Why are you screaming, Yuu?
"... This mark is not about slavery, but about freedom across the sea!"
Then I spread out my arms.
"... This mark is about being so fast that no storm can stop us!"
Here, I held my hands together in front of my chest.
"And it's a symbol of freedom!!"
Ah, I can see that some have started to cry. It seems that my <Acting> skill that evolved from my <Camouflage> skill, and the <Encouragement> skill are really doing their job... I'm relieved, as this has all been very embarrassing.
"Some of your comrades are already fighting for your freedom! In order for us to be free, we need to follow them and make it happen in a short amount of time!!"
This notion that their comrades were out there bleeding had the right effect. Those who were shocked or crying snapped out of it and their faces became serious.
"The time is now! It's the moment for the decisive battle!"
It was time for the climax.
"Now, run! Run like the..."
What I said after that, was it the Tartars... currently known as Mongolians... who used to say it? Run faster than an arrow! Well, it was what I wanted to say, but doubted it would get through to these NPCs. Besides, I had something else that was well-suited...
"... Krebskulm on your left cheek!!"
It was here that I raised my right fist to the side of my face while bringing my left hand to my stomach.
---Uaaaaah!!!!!!
When I did, the town was filled with the sounds of shouting. My ears hurt so much that for a moment I wanted to kill them all... Yes, I'm aware that I'm the one who caused it.
The Krebskulm was part of their faith. And so I said '...like' instead of '...faster than.' And it seemed to be effective... Well, I'm just going to say it was. Otherwise it wouldn't have been worth the embarrassment...
"Huh? Rena, your ears look red..."
Such were the rude words that came from Yuu's mouth as I came down from the stage. And so I punched him in the stomach before running through the crowd and towards the town square.
Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~
ジェノサイド・オンライン 〜極悪令嬢のプレイ日記〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/genocide-online-playtime-diary-of-an-evil-young-girl/
Action Adventure Fantasy Psychological
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Assassins Beautiful Female Lead Cold Protagonist Cruel Characters Dark Depictions of Cruelty Evil Organizations Evil Protagonist Famous Protagonist Fearless Protagonist Female Protagonist Gamers Gods Gore Lack of Common Sense Level System MMORPG Modern Day Murders Overpowered Protagonist Psychopaths R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Wars
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7796fc/
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