恐怖と絶望
「ルルちゃんを......連れていく......?」
「ああ、同じ異世界人として......あんたの所業は俺が阻止する」
ふざけたことを、抜かす餓鬼だ。
ルルちゃんは僕の家族で、お前なんかが引き裂いても良い様な関係じゃないんだよ。お前にとって奴隷は認められないんだろうけど、そんなこと知らない。自分勝手な正義感振りかざして、他人を悲しませてりゃ本末転倒じゃないか。
何が、勇者だ。
「そんな勝負、僕が受ける訳ないじゃないか」
「いえ、貴方は断れませんよ」
「......どういうことかな?」
決闘を断ろうとしたら、今度は巫女服の彼女が口を挟んできた。
少し苛々している所にそんなことを言われると、少しだけ頭に来るものがあるけれど、億尾にも出さずに薄ら笑いを受かべて問い返す。笑顔が最大のポーカーフェイスとは良く言ったものだよね。
すると、彼女は淡々と事務的に答えた。
「この国では強さが全てです。故に勝負を仕掛けられたら受ける、それが暗黙の決まりです......もし勝負を受けなかった場合、それは敗北とみなされます。そして敗北した場合はこの国の法に則って勝者は敗者の全てを奪うことが出来ます......まぁ全てと言っても命や最低限の人権は奪えませんが」
つまり、僕がこの勝負から逃げたら問答無用でルルちゃんを奪われるってことか......そして勝負を受けて敗北した場合もルルちゃんを連れていくって訳だね。随分とまぁ今の勇者に都合よく出来たルールだな。
「そして、決闘はルール上―――当人以外他者の介入は一切許されません」
僕と勇者の、一対一って訳か......よりにもよって此処まで不利な勝負があるなんて、理不尽極まりない。とんでもない場所に来てしまったなぁ、何の手掛かりも得られず、逆に家族を奪われようとしている訳だ。
随分と、舐めた真似してくれるじゃないか。
勇者が僕から大きく距離を取り、腰に提げた剣を抜く。既に戦闘準備は整っているらしい。
勝負を受けなければならないなら、どうにかして此処から逃げる。勝ち目はないし、ルルちゃんを連れて国を出ればこの国のルールは適用されない筈だ。
ギルドから僕達を見ているレイラちゃん達、距離はそこまで遠くないけれど、勇者が立ち塞がっている以上あそこまで行くのは至難の業だ。
「......君は、勇者を止めないのかい?」
駄目もとで巫女ちゃんにそう言う。彼女は多分僕がルルちゃんを虐げていない事くらい察している筈だ。
ルルちゃんの服装や身体に傷がないこと、何より眼がそこらの奴隷と違ってちゃんと生気を灯しているのを見れば、勇者と違って奴隷など見慣れた彼女が見れば、一目瞭然だろう。
なのに止めない。そこには何か思惑があるのか、それとも本当に気が付いていないだけか。
「......私は、ナギ様に付き従うのが役目ですから」
どうやら前者の様だ。
であれば、大した従者だ。反吐が出る。
「そうかい......従者失格だね、君」
僕の言葉に大した反応を見せず、彼女は何かを唱えた。
すると、彼女を中心に光の輪が地面に浮かぶ。そしてそれが広がり、僕と勇者を囲む程に大きくなると、その輪から内側と外側とで、何か空気が変わった気がした。
「貴方はどうやら随分と捻くれた性格をしているようなので、保険です」
「保険?」
「今私が発動したのは一種の結界です。短時間ですが......発動している間は例え魔王だろうと内側への干渉は不可能......勿論、内側から外へ出る事も出来ません......逃がしませんよ?」
どうやら従者失格と言ったのを怒っているのか、彼女は絶対に僕を逃がすつもりはないらしい。主の考えを止めてやるのも、従者の役目だと思うんだけどなぁ......随分と入れ込んでるみたいだ。
とはいえ、逃げられないなんて絶体絶命じゃないか。この二人、主従揃ってどうしようもないな。魔王なんて倒せやしないだろうな、この分じゃ。
「でも......ピンチはピンチ......どうしたものかな......」
目の前には勇者、退路は塞がれ、負ければ家族が奪われる。そして、僕には一切の、勝ち目が―――ない。
「始めようか......きつね先輩、邪魔の入らない勝負を」
どうやら考える暇も与えられないみたいだ。
◇ ◇ ◇
桔音と凪の勝負の様子は、輪の外側にいるフィニア達からも見えた。対峙する丸腰の桔音と、剣を抜いた凪。勝敗は誰がどう見ても明らかだった。
まして、桔音の実力を知っているフィニア達からすれば尚更だ。彼は勇者と違って弱いHランクの冒険者なのだから。
「きつねさん!」
フィニアは飛んで行き、輪の中へ入ろうとした。しかし、なにか透明な壁に阻まれたかのようにそこから先へと進めない。叩いてもびくともしなかった。
だったら、とフィニアは火魔法で攻撃してみたのだが、やはりびくともしない。
「なにこれ......! きつねさん!」
「どいてフィニア」
すると、フィニアの後を追い掛けてきたレイラがその拳で壁を殴った。Sランクの魔族である彼女の攻撃、もっと言えばかなり全力の拳だ。
でも、壁は破壊されるどころかなんの変化も無かった。
その事実に、レイラも軽く眼を丸くする。そして、興味深そうにその壁をぺたぺたと触るが、彼女も破壊出来ないという事実は覆せない様だった。
「............コレ、固いね♪」
「もうっ......きつねさん......!」
フィニアはレイラに少し期待したのだが、彼女でも破壊出来ないということは完全にお手上げということだ。歯噛みして、輪の内側にいる桔音を見る。
「フィニア様......!」
「ルルちゃん......リーシェちゃんも......」
「此処から先に行けないのか......!?」
「うん......」
合流したルルとリーシェ、しかし輪よりも内側に入れないという事実を知って彼女達も歯噛みする。状況はなんとなく分かっている、勇者が桔音に決闘を挑み、巫女がその退路を断った。そして桔音にはそれをどうにかする手段がない。
元々、桔音はフィニア達を纏める立ち位置だ。役には立たないけれど、力のある彼女達を一つに纏める存在、ハサミの中心で二つの刃を留めている楔の様な、なくてはならない存在なのだ。戦闘能力でいえば、全く太刀打ち出来ないのだ。
「きつね様......!」
ルルが桔音の無事を祈る様にそう言って、全員の視線は輪の中へと向けられた。
◇
桔音は、目の前で剣を構えて自分を見据える勇者を見て、内心どうしたものかと考えていた。『不気味体質』のおかげで、どうやら迂闊に踏み込んで来ない様子ではあるが、元の桔音は隙だらけなのだ。いつ踏み込んできてもおかしくはない。
故に、ここで打開策を見つけられない限りは桔音に活路はない。
だが、しかし、
「......何を隠し持ってるのかは知らない......が、意味ないな」
勇者はそう言って、桔音の目の前に踏み込んできた。
―――速いッ!
桔音がそう思ったと同時、彼の剣が桔音の腹に突き刺さり、背中へと貫通する。
「ごぶっ.........ぐっ......ぁあッ......!!?」
そこで桔音は困惑する。勇者の速さに、ではない。自分の身体の変化に、だ。
元々、桔音は『痛覚無効』のスキルのおかげで痛みを感じない。というより痛みに強いのだが、今は違う。貫かれた腹部に激痛が走っていたのだ。
元来痛みには慣れている故に、そこまで叫び声を上げることはなかったが、それでも今までとは全く違う状態の変化に付いていけない。どういうことなのか、全く理解出来ない。
「ぐっ......その剣......!」
「違う、この剣はただの直剣だ」
「うぐっ......ガッ......ぁぁあああ......!!」
ずるり、と勇者の剣が桔音の身体から引き抜かれ、血液が大量に噴き出す。そして感じる激痛に、桔音は膝を地面に着いた。腹を抑え、勇者を見上げるように睨む。気が付けば『不気味体質』も発動していなかった。
目の前に立っている勇者は、そんな桔音を見下ろして口を開く。
「俺には勇者としての固有スキルがある。その効果は......『敵発動スキルの無効化』だ」
桔音はそれを聞いて思い出す。勇者の固有スキル『希望の光』、敵のスキルを全て無効化し、発動中であろうが全てシャットアウトする固有スキル。これが発動している時は、どんな存在でもスキルを発動する事が出来ない。
つまり、桔音の『不気味体質』も『痛覚無効』も一切機能しないということだ。
「......成程、魔王もスキルを無効化されれば後は肉体だけの勝負だから、人一倍才能を持った勇者なら勝てるって訳か......」
桔音は思う。なんて卑怯な勇者だ、と。
「―――結局その程度か、勇者も」
桔音の纏う、雰囲気が変わった。
桔音は、ふらふらと立ち上がり、薄ら笑いを浮かべる。
勝てる算段が付いた訳ではない。寧ろ絶体絶命の状況は変わらぬままだ。
それでも、桔音はまるで優位に立っている者の様に勇者の前に立ち、そして薄ら笑いを浮かべながら勇者に人差し指で指差した。
「お前の......何処が勇者なんだ?」
認めない。お前が勇者など、認めない。例え天地が引っ繰り返ろうとも、お前だけは勇者だなんて認めない。
桔音はそう思い、言い放つ。目の前の勇者
「聞こえなかった? お前の何処が勇者なんだ? 無手の僕に対して剣を使い、挙句スキルの使用まで封じて弱らせて、容赦なく僕の腹を貫いた訳だけど......お前、拘束して動けなくした赤ん坊に剣を突き立ててるのとやってること同じだぜ?」
勇者は桔音の言葉に、瞳に籠った怒りを強くした。
そして腹部からとめどなく溢れる血液をものともせずに笑う桔音に苛立ち、桔音の腹を抑える手の上から蹴りを入れた。
しかし桔音は、後方に吹っ飛ばされたが地面から足を離さず、ふらつきながらもなんとか倒れなかった。
「ごふっ......っ痛.........!」
「俺は勇者だ......あんたみたいに小さい女の子を虐げたりしない」
「っはは......それが間違ってるんだよ......小さい女の子を虐げない? なら僕は虐げても良いって言うのかな? 君よりも圧倒的に弱くて、武器も持ってなくて、挙句スキルすら使えないただの男子高校生を痛めつけるのは......良いって訳だ?」
「っ......それは!」
「矛盾してるね、勇者気取り」
桔音はそれを彼に問いただしていた。お前がやっているのはただの弱い者いじめで、けして正義ではないのだと告げていた。
「大体......ルルちゃんを僕から奪ってどうするつもりだ? 魔王を倒す旅に同行させて危険な目に遭わせるの?」
「それは......一人で生きていけるようにお金を渡して......」
「はいさようならって? あはは、今まで奴隷として生きてきた子が......一人で生きていける筈がねーだろ、最後まで面倒も見れないのに自己満足で誰かの人生を弄ぶなよ」
「ッ......自己、満足......!?」
桔音は勇者に向かって一歩、踏み出した。噴き出す血が、地面を赤く濡らす。しかし、桔音はその足を止めない。一歩、一歩と勇者に近づいて、数cmの距離まで近づき、薄ら笑いを浮かべながら勇者の顔を覗きこむ様に見上げた。
「自己満足だろ? 可哀想な奴隷の少女を救って、俺格好良いって言いたいんだろう? その後少女がどうなるのかには目を背けて、勇者として良いことしたって言いたいんだろう? 凄い凄いって持て囃されたいんだろう?」
「違うって言うなら」
桔音は勇者の言葉を遮って、左眼の包帯を剥がす。
赤黒い、眼球の無い穴と、桔音の右の瞳が、勇者を見る。勇者はその凄惨な左眼の傷跡に息を飲み、桔音の発する空気に呑まれた。
スキルの発動は一切無効化している筈なのに、身体が震える。まるで『不気味体質』が発動しているかのように、彼は桔音に恐怖を抱いた。
「違うって言うなら、存在する奴隷を全て救ってみせろよ。一人だけ救うなんて――――」
――――不公平だろ?
桔音はそう言って、笑う。勇者は身体中にじっとりと嫌な汗が浮かぶのを感じた。
「どうしたんだい? 勇者になれて嬉しかったんだろう? 皆が優しくしてくれて、今までの自分とはまったく違う自分になれて、多くの人が期待してくれて、そして丁度良く僕みたいな『敵』を見つけたんだろう? そんな気持ちが無かったとは言わせないよ。確かに君はルルちゃんを助けたかったんだろう。奴隷の存在が認められているのが許せなかったんだろう。でも、それでも、君は心の隅で思った筈だ、『ここでこいつを倒せば誰かが褒めてくれる』って」
桔音は畳み掛ける。勇者の心にじわじわと、言葉の棘を突き刺して、精神を圧倒していく。
桔音から離れようと、勇者は一歩下がる。しかし桔音は一歩進んで逃がさない。夥しい量の血液など全く意にも介さず、痛みなど感じていないかのように笑う。
「違う......そんな......」
「心が揺れている時点で、はっきり言い返せない時点で、お前の勇者としての思いなんてそんなもの――――たかが知れてる」
桔音がそう言った瞬間、耐え切れず勇者は大きくバックステップして桔音から距離を取った。今度は流石に追えず、桔音と勇者の間に大きく距離が空いた。
大して動いた訳でもないのに、精神的に追い詰められたからか勇者は息を切らしていた。嫌な汗が身体を伝い、心が揺れる。そして心が揺れれば、剣先も自然と揺れた。
「!」
と、そこで桔音が吐血する。表情に変化はないが、負傷は確実に桔音を追い詰めていることを勇者に理解させた。それだけで、多少彼の心にゆとりが戻る。
そして考える。相手は弱く、自分が負ける要素は何一つないのだと。何を言われようと、奴隷を使役する存在である事には変わりない。確かに後のことや桔音を一方的に痛めつける事の正当性は考えていなかった。
しかし、それは後でも考えられる。そうやって彼は、
「あんたの言ってることは正しい、でも......ここで救わなかったら俺はきっと今の俺を後悔する!」
「あははっ......逃げたね、勇者らしからぬ今の君は正直滑稽だぜ」
桔音はそう言って笑う。
「もう惑わされない!」
「がっ......ごぶっ......!」
地面を蹴り、間合いに入った瞬間に跳ぶ。そして、そのまま跳んだ勢いで桔音の身体を横薙ぎに蹴った。メキメキと音を立てて桔音の身体が真横へと転がるが、勇者は止まらず、着地した瞬間方向転換して転がる桔音を追う。
そして桔音がなんとか転がりながらも体勢を立て直し、膝を地面に着きながらも上体をあげた瞬間、手に持った剣で桔音の右肩を穿つ。
「ぎっ......ぁぁぁあああああッッ!!!」
立て続けの激痛に耐え切れず、呻き声をあげる桔音。起こした上体は肩に突き刺さった衝撃で倒れ、地面に背中を強打し肺から息が漏れた。
なんとか抵抗しようと剣を掴もうとした桔音の左手を、勇者は蹴り飛ばして踏みつける。押し倒す、という訳ではないが、倒れた桔音の肩と左手を剣と足で抑えた勇者は、桔音の上に跨る様に彼を見下ろしていた。
「はぁ......はぁ......俺の勝ちだ」
「っ......いや、まだ僕は負けを認めてない!」
負けたらルルが連れていかれる。そう思った桔音は、右肩に突き刺さった剣を気にせずに、上体を起こす。
「あ、ああああああああああ!!!!」
ずぶずぶと肩の肉を貫く剣をものともせず、桔音はガラ空きの腹へと頭突きを入れた。
―――負けるわけにはいかない、ルルちゃんは僕が護るんだ!
そう思えば、肩を貫く剣の痛みなど無視出来る。
「ッ―――なっ......!」
頭突きでふらついた勇者の隙を見逃さず、踏みつけられた左手を引き抜いて突き飛ばす。勇者は捨て身の行動に驚愕し、思わず剣から手を放し、ふらついた様子で二歩三歩と後ろに下がった。
そして桔音は肩に突き刺さった剣を立ちあがりながら引き抜き、まだ諦めていない瞳で勇者を睨んだ。
「はぁ......はぁ......!」
「っく......あんた、そうまでして......!」
「渡さない......ルルちゃんは渡さない......」
「このっ!」
桔音のしぶとい様子に、勇者は苛立った様子で踏み込んで、最初の様に顔面を殴り飛ばす。
「ぐっ......!」
「あんたの、負けだ! 勝ち目が、無い事くらい、分かるだろ!」
「がふっ......うぐっ......ごっ......かふっ......あぐっ......!」
だが倒れない桔音に、彼は何度も何度もその拳を叩き付けた。出血多量に加え、満身創痍のダメージで、意識も朦朧としてきた桔音は、既に手に持っていた剣を落としている。
しかし、勇者はそれを拾うことなく桔音を殴る。その表情は桔音を倒すという意思よりも、早く倒れてくれという意思が感じられた。
「ゼェ......ヒュー......ゼェ......ヒュー......」
呼吸も正常ではなくなってきた桔音、それでも彼は2本の足で立っていた。その耐性の能力値故に、桔音の限界よりも先に勇者の拳に限界が現れる。
痛みの走る拳に、勇者の殴打が一旦動きを止めた。
「はぁ......はぁ......! 倒れろよ......あんたはもう負けたんだ!」
桔音は、半分意識がなかった。それでも、意地と家族を失う事の恐怖が、彼を立たせていた。
倒れることは、敗北、
敗北は全てを失うことになる、
そんなのは―――嫌だ!
執念を見せる桔音、勇者はそんな桔音に恐怖を抱いた。幽鬼の様に身体中から血を流し、顔はもう血と打撲の色でぐしゃぐしゃだ。右肩を深く抉られた故に、右腕はだらんとぶら下がっており、ふらふらと動く上体は不気味としか言い様がない。
数歩、桔音から離れる勇者。
「っ......セシルか......」
その背後からそっと支えたのは、二人の他に唯一輪の中に居たセシル。彼女は勇者の背中に自身の額を付けて、優しく言った。
「貴方は勇者です。誰が何と言おうが、貴方は勇者です......恐れることはありません」
「あ、ああ......そう、だな......」
セシルの言葉に、勇者は少しだけ余裕を取り戻した。
彼はまだ弱い。戦いではなく、心が弱い。人と訓練して、戦って、がむしゃらに強くなったけれど、未だ彼は何かを殺したことはないのだ。故に、圧倒的に実戦経験が足りていない。何かの命を奪うだけの覚悟とメンタルの強さが足りていない。
だから桔音に恐怖を抱いたのだ。本来ならば動けない筈の怪我を負って尚、その足で立って向かってくる。元々命を奪うことにすら抵抗を覚える勇者だ。これ以上桔音を傷付けるのは、殺してしまいそうだから。
命を奪う覚悟が足りていない彼には、桔音は十分怖かった。
「彼はもう戦えません、足を払って倒してしまえばもう立ち上がれないでしょう」
セシルの言葉に従うように、彼は桔音の足を払った。すると、桔音は体勢を崩し、うつ伏せに倒れた。短い呻き声をあげ、立ちあがろうとするけれど、身体に力が入らないようだった。
本来ならば『臨死体験』が発動してもおかしくはないレベルなのだが、『希望の光』が発動している故に、『臨死体験』は発動しない。
「この勝負、ナギ様の勝利です」
そして、桔音を見下ろしたセシルは淡々とそう告げた。同時に外からの干渉を阻害していた光の輪が解除され、フィニア達が直ぐに桔音に駆けよって来る。
「きつねさん! きつねさん!」
直ぐにフィニアは治癒魔法を発動しようとした、しかし勇者の『希望の光』はその発動すらも許さない。
「なんでっ......なんでっ!!」
フィニアは必死に治癒魔法を発動させようとするのに、魔力が空回りする様に霧散していく感覚が、虚しく手から伝わってくる。
「......約束通り、あんたの奴隷の子は俺達が連れていく」
しかし、そこに勇者は倒れる桔音を見下ろしながらそう言った。そしてフィニア達はその言葉を聞いて、ルルを見る。
ルルもまた、その言葉に目を見開いて驚愕していた。そして、一瞬で桔音と別れるという考えが脳裏を過ぎり、焦った様に桔音に視線を向ける。そして首輪に触れて、一つの考えに至った。
「きつね様っ......私に、命令して下さい......!」
―――命令、奴隷に対して絶対のルール。
「私に行くなと命令してください......! そうすれば......!」
そうすれば、ルルは勇者に連れ去られた瞬間に首輪の効果で死ぬだろう。勇者はそれを良しとしない筈だ。そう考えた。
「る......る、ちゃん......い......」
桔音もそれを理解して、命令を下そうとした。でも、その口は最後まで命令を下さない。何故だとルルは焦った。
しかし、桔音には出来なかったのだ。ルルに命令する事が、ましてルルが死ぬ可能性のある命令をすることが、桔音には出来なかった。
「どうして......きつね様......!」
「る、るちゃん......耳、貸......して」
涙を流して桔音の優しさに苦しむルルを、桔音は呼ぶ。
ルルはそんな桔音の言うことを聞いて、桔音に口元に自身の耳を寄せた。
「―――――――」
桔音はルルにだけ聞こえる声で、何かを言った。何を言ったのかはルルしか分からない。
「きつね......様......分かりました」
しかし次の瞬間、彼女は何かを決意した顔で立ちあがる。そして勇者の目の前まで歩み寄り、勇者を見上げてこう言った。
「私を―――連れて行ってください......勇者様」
その言葉に、フィニア達はただただ呆然とするしかなかった。
「な、なんで......ルルちゃん!」
「......すいませんフィニア様」
「ああそうでした」
ルルの行動に納得がいかないフィニアだが、その言葉を遮って巫女のセシルが前に出てきた。
「大切なものは、人を変えます......どうやらナギ様は奴隷をあまり好ましく思わないらしいので......返して欲しければそういった心を改心して来て下さい」
セシルはそう言った。白々しく、そう言った。
リーシェはそれを止めようと口を挟んだが、セシルの威圧感のある言葉と瞳に気圧されてしまう。
「っ......! きつね! レイラ、きつねをギルドの看護室に運んでくれ!」
「うーん......まぁいいか、きつね君に死なれても困るしっ♪」
吐血した桔音に、リーシェはすぐ対応する。ギルドの看護室ならば的確な治療が出来る筈だと考えたのだ。そして、レイラはリーシェの指示に珍しく素直に従い、桔音を抱きかかえてギルドの方へと足を一歩進め、一瞬勇者を一瞥した。
首を傾げる勇者だが、レイラは気に止めずに視線を切り、ギルドへと桔音を抱えて走って行った。
残ったのは、勇者とセシル、ルル、そして勇者たちに対峙するリーシェとフィニアの5人だけ。
「その面は返してくれ......それはきつねの大切なものなんだ」
「先程も言ったでしょう? これはあの方が改心したらお返ししますと......どうしてもというのなら―――」
セシルはフィニアとリーシェの耳元に近づいて、勇者には聞こえないように言う。
「あの奴隷の子、死にますよ?」
その言葉が、トドメだった。ルルの命を人質に取られ、そして力づくで戦おうにも今のフィニアは魔法が発動出来ず、リーシェも勇者に敵わない。
従う以外に、道は残されていなかった。
Fear and Despair
"You're going to... take Lulu-chan...?"
"That's right, as fellow otherworlder... I'll stop your evil deed."
What a joke, you damn spoiled brat.
Lulu-chan is my family, as if I'll let you take her away from me. Perhaps you can't accept slavery, but like hell I care. Forcing such self-centered justice, aren't you just robing someone's important without any regards of other?
Hero, my ass.
"Such challenge, as if I'll ever accept it."
"No, you can't decline it."
"...what do you mean?"
When I decline his challenge, this time the miko-clothed girl opens her mouth.
When she interjects, I get slightly irritated, I get a bit mad, but I put my usual faint smile and ask so. People says that smile is the strongest pokerface after all.
And then, she plainly answer in businesslike manner.
"In this country, strength is everything. That's why anyone have to accept any challenge presented at them, that's an unspoken rule... if you decline the challenge, then that means you lose WO. And then, according to this country's rule, the winner could take everything from the loser... well, even if it says everything, the winner won't take life or any minimum human rights, though."
That means, if I decline this challenge, he'll get the authorization to take Lulu-chan away from me... and if I accept this challenge and lose, he'll take away Lulu-chan from me, huh. Quite a hero centered rule.
"Also, according to duel rule... aside from the concerned parties, no one could interferences."
So it would become one on one duel for me against this hero, huh... to think that such an unbalanced duel exists, how outrageous. I've come to such an amazing place huh, not just unable to gain any clue, there's even a great chance I might lost my family.
Aren't you, quite looking down on us too much?
Immediately, I activate "Eerie Constitution". The hero immediately takes a great distance from me, and brandishes the sword at his waist. Seems like immediately turning into duel stance.
If I can't decline the duel, then I'll have no other way but to run away somehow. I have no chance to win after all, if I take Lulu-chan away from this country, this country rules shouldn't affect us anymore.
Leila-chan and the others are looking at us from the guild, the distance isn't that far, but since the hero is standing between us, going there seems like to be quite a hard task.
"...you, won't stop the hero?"
I helplessly ask so to miko-chan. Perhaps, at the very least, she should've realized that I didn't oppress Lulu-chan.
Looking at Lulu-chan's attire and the fact that there's no bruise at her body, moreover the fact that she has such lively eyes different from the eyes of the previous slave, as someone who's used to slavery as her, I'm sure miko-chan's fully aware about that, isn't she?
And yet, she doesn't stop him. It's whether she has her own motives, or she simply really doesn't realize it.
"...I'm, appointed to support Nagi-sama."
Seems like it's the former.
I see, what a great follower. Very disgusting.
"I see... what a disgraceful follower, you are."
Without showing any response to my word, she chants something.
And then, using her as the center, light starts rising from the ground. And then spreading, and when it wide enough to surround me and the hero, I feel like the area inside and outside the circle are separated.
"Seems like you have quite a twisted personality, so I made some insurance."
"Insurance?"
"I just activated a special barrier. It's only for a short amount of time... but as long as it's still there, even demon lord itself won't be able to enter nor interference us here... of course, we can't come out of it as well... so, you won't be able to run away."
Perhaps she was angry to be called as a disgraceful follower, it appears that she has no intention to let me away. Straightening their master's mistake is also a part of followers' task though, or so I thought... what an ambitious one.
Nonetheless, since my escape has been blocked, that means I'm in a desperate situation, huh. These two, seems like these master-follower duo are already beyond help, huh. I even feel like there would be no chance for them to defeat the demon lord, at this rate.
"However... crisis is still a crisis... what should I do, I wonder?"
There's a hero before me, without any escape route, if I lose, my family would be taken away from me. Moreover, my chance of winning is-- zero.
"How about we start it... Kitsune-senpai, a duel without anyone interferences."
Seems like I don't even have the time to think, huh.
* * *
The state of the duel between Kitsune and Nagi could also be seen by Finia and the other who were outside the barrier. The unarmed Kitsune, against Nagi who brandished his sword. No matter how they look at it, the victor was as clear as day.
Esprecially for Finia-chan and the other who were fully aware of Kitsune's ability. Different from the hero, he was merely a weak H rank adventurer, after all.
"Kitsune-san!"
Finia fled and tried to enter the barrier. However, she was unable to step in as if she was blocked by some kind of wall. It wouldn't budge even when she hit it.
Then, Finia unleashed a fire magic toward it, but as expected it didn't budge at all.
"What's it...! Kitsune-san!"
"Step away, Finia."
And then, coming from Finia's rear, Leila brandished her fist toward the barrier. An attack from an S rank demon, moreover quite a serious one.
And yet, leaving aside destroyed, there was no change at the barrier at all.
At that fact, even Leila herself was quite shocked. And then, after patting and inspecting it, she was convinced that she wouldn't be able to destroy it.
"...this, sure is hard, huh."
"Geez....Kitsune-san...!"
Finia was quite expecting that perhaps Leila would be able to do something about that barrier, but soon realized that even Leila had no way to destroy it. Grinding her teeth, she looked at Kitsune inside the barrier.
"Finia-sama...!"
"Lulu-chan... Rishe-chan...."
"We can't pass through it...?"
"That's right...."
Lulu and Rishe came over there, however after knowing the fact that they couldn't pass through the barrier, they also could only grinded their teeth. They pretty much understood the situation, the hero challenged Kitsune for duel, and the miko cut off his escape route. Also, the fact that Kitsune had no way to deal with that situation.
Originally, Kitsune was the one that led Finia-chan and the others. He had no influence at battle, but he was the one who led these capable girls as one, like a linchpin that act as the core of the two blades of scissor, an indispensable existence. Regarding his battle prowess, he was nothing compared to the hero.
"Kitsune-sama....!"
Lulu shouted so in pray for Kitsune's safety, while fully focusing toward him inside the barrier.
*
Looking at the hero who was pointing his sword toward him, Kitsune thought about what to do. Thanks to "Eerie Constitution", seems like the hero wouldn't carelessly attack him, however Kitsune himself originally had so many openings, so it wouldn't be strange for the hero to attack him anytime soon.
Moreover, if he didn't find any plan to overcome this situation, Kitsune wouldn't be able to have any chance of escaping.
And yet, however,
"...I don't know what kind of card you hide under your sleeve... however, it's futile."
Saying so, the hero charged toward Kitsune.
--fast!
When Kitsune thought so, that sword had already stabbed at Kitsune's abdomen, and pierced through his back.
"Gah... gu... aaa...!!?"
There, Kitsune was bewildered. Not because of the hero's speed, but at the state of his body.
Originally, thanks to "Pain Nullification" skill, Kitsune couldn't feel any pain. Or rather, he could resist any pain, however it was different this time. Pain was spreading at his stabbed abdomen.
Not just he'd already got used to pain, he never let out such a groan, and yet he still couldn't understand what happened to his body. He couldn't understand what was happening.
"Gu... that sword...!"
"No, this sword is just a normal sword."
"Ugu... ga... aaa...!!"
*zururi*, the hero pulled out his sword of Kitsune's body, and a large amount of blood sprouted out. And then, because of the pain, Kitsune dropped to his knee on the ground. Holding his abdomen, Kitsune glared at the hero. Without he noticed it, "Eerie Constitution" has stopped activated.
Looking at him at that state, the hero, who was standing before Kitsune, said toward him.
"As a hero, a have a certain innate skill. Its effect is to... 'Nullify any skill activation of my opponent'."
Hearing that, Kitsune recalled something. The hero's innate skill, "Ray of Hope", a skill that nullified any skill activation of his opponent, even when those skills were already activated. If this skill was activated, no matter who it was, they wouldn't be able to activate any of their skills.
That means, Kitsune's "Eerie Constitution" and "Pain Nullification" were nullified.
"...I see, by nullifying all of demon lord's skills, the rest is just physical clash, and since as a hero you have such great innate abilities, you would be able to win, huh...."
Kitsune thought. What a sly hero. In the end, he would only fight against the weakened opponents. Such cowardice mean, a way that was very unsuitable for a hero, or so he thought.
"...in the end, that's all your worth, o great hero."
The air around Kitsune, changed.
Kitsune unsteadily stood up, and floated his usual faint smile.
It wasn't like he had found a mean to win. Or rather, he was still at such desperate situation.
Nevertheless, as if he was the superior one, Kitsune stood before the hero, and pointed out his index finger toward him while floating a faint smile.
"You... which part of you that is of a hero?"
I won't accept it. I won't accept you as hero. No matter even if heaven and earth were collapsed, I won't ever accept you as hero.
Kitsune said so with such a thought. At the strength of the fake hero youth before him, he laughed it off.
"You didn't hear it? I asked, which part of you that is of a hero? Using a sword against the unarmed me, nullifying all of my skills and weakening me, and then mercilessly stabben my abdomen... you, what you just did was similar to stabbing a restricted baby with a sword, you know?"
At Kitsune's word, the hero's anger was rising higher.
And then, irritated by Kitsune who was laughing with blood endlessly flowing out from his abdomen, the hero kicked Kitsune's hand that was holding his abdomen.
However, Kitsune was blown away but he his legs didn't come off of ground, even by staggering, he somehow resisted it without collapsing to the ground.
"Gofu... it hurts...!"
"I'm hero... unlike you, I won't ever oppress a little girl."
"Ahaha... you're mistaken there... won't ever oppress a little girl? Then, does that mean it's okay to oppress me, I wonder? Someone who's far way weaker than you, unarmed, and unable to use any skill, nothing but a mere normal high school boy... is it fine to bully me?"
"...that's!"
"What a double standard, o fake hero."
The thing you were doing was just bullying the weak, a far cry act of justice.
"In the first place... what are you planning to do after taking Lulu-chan away from me? Taking her along to accompany you at your dangerous journey to defeat the demon lord?"
"That's... I'll gave her enough money to live by herself."
"Immediate good bye? Ahaha, she's a little girl who only ever lives as a slave... there's no way she'd be able to live by herself, right? Without any resolve to taking care of her to the bitter end, please don't trifle at someone's life simply to fulfill your self-satisfaction."
"...self, satisfaction...!?"
Kitsune took a step toward the hero. The flowing out blood was dying the ground red. However, Kitsune didn't stop his legs. One step, and another step, he approached the hero, till only several centimeters left separated them, he looked up at him as if to peered in at hero's face while floating his usual faint smile.
"It's just for your self-satisfaction, isn't it? For saving a pitiful slave girl, I'm sure you thought that 'I'm so cool', didn't you? Even if you would simply abandon her afterward, you thought that at least you'd do a great deed as a hero, didn't you? 'amazing, amazing', you wanted to be praised so, didn't you?"
"If that's not the case, then...."
Interjecting the hero's word, Kitsune ripped off the bandage at his left eye.
A dark-red hole without an eyeball, and Kitsune's right eye were staring at the hero. Looking at such gruesome left eye, the hero gasped and overwhelmed by Kitsune's air.
Even though the hero was supposed to have nullified all of Kitsune's skills, his body was trembling. As if "Eerie Constitution" was activated, he harbored fear against Kitsune.
"If that's not the case, then save all the existing slaves. To just saving one of them--"
--isn't that unfair?
Saying so, Kitsune laughed. The hero could feel his body was drenched in unpleasant sweats.
"What's up? You were happy to be a hero, weren't you? Being treated kindly by everyone, becoming someone who was completely different from the past you, being expected by many people, and then you just luckily found an 'enemy' like me. I won't let you say that you didn't have such thoughts. Sure, I feel like you do want to save Lulu-chan. You can't accept the existence called slave, right? However, at the bottom of your heart, I'm sure you have such a thought, 'If I defeat him here, I'm sure someone will praise me', don't you?"
The hero's heart was shaken, pierced and overwhelmed by his word.
As if to run away from Kitsune, the hero took a step away from him. However, Kitsune took a step forward as if not to let him away. Without any care of the large amount of blood he lost, and as if he didn't feel any pain, Kitsune laughed.
"That's... not it...."
"With the fact that your heart is shaking, and the fact that you can't even clearly rebuke my word, the height of your hero capacity-- is merely that much."
The moment Kitsune said so, the hero took a great step back and made some distance from him. As expected this time Kitsune couldn't pursue him, and a great distance was presented between them.
Even though he didn't do any strenuous move, however the hero was out of breath because of the mental damage he received. His body was drenched in unpleasant sweats, his heart was shaking. And then, since his heart was shaking, his pointed sword and gazes were shaking as well.
"!"
There, Kitsune vomited out of blood. There was no change at his expression, however the hero understood that the injury had cornered him. With that, calmness started returning to his mind.
And then he thought, that his enemy was weak, and there was no chance for him to lose. No matter what Kitsune said, it wouldn't change the fact that he was someone who possessed a slave. Indeed, he never thought about any legitimate reason that justified him for one-sidedly attacking Kitsune.
However, later matter should just be handled later. That was how he, ran away.
"What you just said sure were true, however... if I don't save her right here right now, I'm sure I'll regret it later."
"Ahaha... so you run away, huh. As a hero, your state as if you were being scolded just now was actually very amusing, you know?"
Kitsune said so while laughing.
"I won't be deceived anymore!"
"Ga... gobu...!"
Kicking the ground, the hero closed the distance between them. And then, with that charging force, he side kicked Kitsune. Along with cracking sounds, Kitsune's body rolled over sideway, but the hero didn't stop there, the moment he landed on the ground, he immediately chased after him.
And then, even while rolling, Kitsune could somehow regain his stance, but the moment he raised his body with his knee on the ground, his right shoulder was pierced by a sword.
"Gi... aaaaa!!!"
Unable to resist the consecutive pain, Kitsune let out a scream. From the impact for being stabbed at his shoulder, he collapsed with his back smashed on the ground and air leaked out of his mouth.
Pushing down, not exactly that, but by pinning down the collapsed Kitsune with his leg, and with his sword at Kitsune's right shoulder, the hero looked down on him.
"Haa... haa... it's my win."
"...no, I haven't lost yet."
If he lost then Lulu would be taken away. Thinking so, without any care about the sword at his right shoulder, Kitsune rose his body up.
"A, aaaaaa!!!"
Along with the sound of smashed flesh, Kitsune head-butted the hero's defenseless abdomen.
--I couldn't afford to lose here, I'll definitely protect Lulu-chan.
Thinking so, he could ignore the pain at his right shoulder.
"...wha...!"
Surprised by Kitsune's do-or-die act, the hero spontaneously let his hand away from his sword, and took several steps back in stagger.
While standing up, Kitsune pulled out the sword at his right shoulder, and glared at the hero with eyes that said that he hadn't given up yet.
"Haa... haa...!"
"Ku... you, to go that far...!"
"Never... I won't ever let Lulu-chan away...."
"You!"
Looking at Kitsune's tenacious act, the hero charged at him in irritation, and hit Kitsune's face like this first strike he made.
"Gu...!"
"You, lose! You know, that you have no, chance of winning, don't you?!"
"Gafu... ugu... go... kafu... agu...!"
However, toward the kept standing Kitsune, the hero kept smashing his fist at him over and over again. With excessive bleeding, injuries all around his body, and mind that had gone hazy, Kitsune suddenly dropped down his hand that gripper the sword.
However, without picking the sword up again, the hero kept on attacking Kitsune. Rather than the thought of defeating Kitsune, his expression said that all he wanted was to make Kitsune collapsed to the ground.
"Zee... hyu... zee... hyu...."
Kitsune's breath was already ragged, however Kitsune was still standing still in his two legs. Thanks to Kitsune's high reistance stats, it appeared that the hero's fist almost met its limit already before Kitsune did.
With his fist in pain, the hero stopped his attack.
"Haa... haa...! Just drop down already... you've lost!"
Kitsune, didn't even half conscious. However, his willpower and his fear for losing his family, made him kept standing.
If he collapsed, he lost.
If he lost, he'd lose everything,
I-- definitely won't let it happens!
Kitsune's whole body was covered in blood was if a ghost, his face was crumpled with bruises and blood, his right shoulder was severely gouged, his right hand was dangling down, and with the fact that he could only move unsteadily, he was at a state that could only be called as eerier.
The hero took several steps away from him.
"...Cecil, huh...."
The one that softly called out of him from his back was the sole existence inside the barrier aside from Kitsune and himself, Cecil. She put his forehead on the hero's back, and gently said.
"You're hero. No matter what people say, you're hero... there's nothing to worry about."
"Ah, right... you're, right...."
At Cecil's word, the hero slightly regained his composure.
He was still weak. Not his prowess, but his mind. He had practiced and sparred against many people and became ridiculously powerful, however he haven't killed anyone yet. That's why, he was overwhelmingly lacking in real battle experience. He didn't have the resolve to take someone's life.
That was why he feared Kitsune. Normally, with such severe injuries no one should be able to move at all, and yet he stood in his two legs there. Resisting himself from killing was something that the hero thought by nature. If he attacked him any further, he might end up killing him.
For the hero that didn't have any resolve to killing someone, Kitsune was pretty frightening.
"He can't fight anymore, if you simply brush his legs away, I'm sure he won't be able to stand up again."
As if abiding Cecil's word, he kicked Kitsune's legs. And then, Kitsune's stance crumbled, and collapsed face down. Letting out a short groan, Kitsune tried to stand up again, however, he couldn't muster up any energy anymore.
Originally, "Near-death Experience" should have been activated here, however because of "Ray of Hope", this skill couldn't be activated.
"This duel, Nagi-sama is the victor."
And then, while looking down at Kitsune, Cecil plainly declared so. Simultaneously with the disappearance of the circle of light that obstructed any interferences from outside, Finia and the other immediately rushed over toward Kitsune.
"Kitsune-san! Kitsune-san!"
Finia immediately tried to invoke recovery magic, however, the hero's "Ray of Hope" didn't even let it to be activated.
"Why... why?!!"
Even though Finia desperately tried to invoke recovery magic, she felt as if her racing magical energy was running toward nothing.
"...as we agreed before, we'll take custody over your slave."
However, there, the hero said so while looking down at Kitsune. Hearing that word, Finia and the other looked at Lulu.
And Lulu herself, was shocked at that word. Then, when the thought of she'd be separated from Kitsune crossed through her mind, she flusteredly looked at Kitsune. And then, while touching her choker, she crossed at a certain idea.
"Kitsune-sama... please, give me order...!"
--order, an absolute rule for slave.
"Please order me not to go...! Then...!"
Then, the moment the hero took her away, the chocker would activate and kill her. The hero definitely wouldn't let that happen. Or so she thought.
"Lu...lu, -chan... r...."
Kitsune was also aware about it, then he opened his mouth. However, she couldn't hear any order from him. 'why?', Lulu flusteredly pondered so.
However, Kitsune couldn't do it. Giving order to her, moreover with the possibility that it might end up killing her, he couldn't do it.
"Why... Kitsune-sama...!"
"Lu, lu-chan... lend, me... your, ear...."
Kitsune softly called at Lulu-chan, who was suffering and shedding tears at Kitsune's kindness.
Doing as what he told her to, Lulu put her ear near Kitsune's mouth.
"---"
With a voice that could only be heard by Lulu, Kitsune said something. Only Lulu know what he just said. However, hearing that word, Lulu was surprised and opened her eyes wide.
"Kitsune... sama.... understood."
The next instance, as if she had made her resolve, she stood up. And then, she walked up till before the hero and said while looking up at him.
"Please... take me with you... hero-sama."
At her word, Finia and the other could only be dumbfounded.
"Wh, why... Lulu-chan!"
"...I'm sorry, Fini-sama."
"Ah, right."
Finia couldn't understand Lulu's conduct, however the miko, Cecil, stepped forward as if interjecting her word. And then, she crouched down near Kitsune, and took up the mask that was hanging at his head.
"Valuable things would change people... since it seems like Nagi-sama isn't particularly interested in slave, so... if you want to take them back then please correct yourself first and ask it properly later."
Cecil said so. Shamelessly, said so. Hearing that word, Kitsune immediately understood something. That this woman, wasn't as pure as her appearance. She was the type that would always acted after calculating about its gain and loss. And then, he was sure that she thought that, if she took that mask away from him for themselves,
Rishe opened her mouth to stop her, however she was overwhelmed by the intimidating air of her word and eyes.
"...! Kitsune! Leila, take Kitsune to the guild's nursing room immediately!"
"Kay... well, I'll be troubled if Kitsune-kun die, after all."
Toward the vomiting blood Kitsune, Rishe immediately took action to deal with it. If they brought him to guild's nursing room, he should be able to receive a proper treatment, or so she thought. And then, unusually obeying Rishe's order obediently, Leila hold Kitsune's body and walked toward the guild, she glanced at the hero for a moment.
The hero inclined his head in wonder, however Leila immediately averted her gazes and brought Kitsune inside the guild.
The one left there was, the hero and Cecil, Lulu, and then the one that confronted the hero and co; Rishe and Finia, those five.
"Return that mask... that's an important thing."
"Didn't I said it before? If he corrected himself, I'll return it... but if you're that eager to take it back--"
Cecil closed her face to Finia and Rishe's ears, and said with a voice that could be heard by the hero.
"That slave child, will die, you know?"
That word was, the finishing blow. Lulu's life was taken as the hostage, and even if they wanted to fight them back, Finia was in the condition that couldn't use any magic, and Rishe's was no match for the hero.
There was no choice but, abiding it.
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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