第四十四話 エドヴァン家との決別
「アイザス伯爵、これで認めてもらえるな?」
さすがに文句の付けようがないはずだ。
正面から戦い、武器を弾き、相手を昏倒させたのだ。
これでもまだ言い掛かりを付けられては何もできない。
「......ああ、そうだな。このギルドに不正はなかったらしい。確かに......〈夢の主〉を討伐できるだけの実力はあったようだ」
アイザスは重い口を開いた。
散々冒険者ギルドと俺に言い掛かりを付けていたため、撤回するのに気が重いのだろう。
元より自尊心の高いアイザスのことだ。
酷く苦しげな表情を浮かべていた。
せめてマリスが勝てばまだ格好はつくと考えていたのかもしれないが、彼女が戦闘不能の状態であることは火を見るよりも明らかであった。
何はともあれ、これで引き下がってくれそうな様子であった。
引っ込みが付かなくなったアイザスが往生際悪くまた言い掛かりを付けてくるのではないかとも身構えていたのだが、さすがにその心配は不要だったようだ。
元々、アイザスは俺に敵意があったわけではない。
あくまでも『伯爵家の名を持ち出していた』と判断しての尋問が目的だったのだ。
マリスとは違い、最初からこの模擬戦自体に乗り気ではなかったようだった。
追い出した自分の息子とギルド職員の前で赤っ恥を掻く形になったとはいえ、さすがにこれ以上騒いで恥の上塗りをするつもりはないらしい。
アイザスはマリスの刀を拾い、気を失っている彼女を背負った。
その後、アイザスは強張った表情で俺を睨み付ける。
何か物言いたげに口を数度動かした後、ぐっと噛み締め、俺へと背を向けようとした。
「父様」
俺はアイザスを呼んだ。
アイザスが足を止め、俺を振り返る。
「......十五年間、育てていただきありがとうございました。あの日は気が動転しており、別れの言葉もロクに口にできなかったので。母様にもそうお伝えください」
俺は頭を下げた。
アイザスは目を見開き、じっと俺を見つめていた。
数秒間沈黙した後、彼は再び俺へと背を向けて歩き始めた。
返事はなかったが、これでいい。
元々期待していたわけではない。
ただ、自分の中でケリを付けておきたかった。
「あ、あのっ、待ってください、アイザス伯爵様!」
ルーチェが声を上げた。
俺はルーチェの声に驚いた。
アイザスは傲慢で冷酷で、プライドが高く、気も長い方ではない。
大人しく去ってくれているのだから、下手に声を掛けて呼び止めるべきではない。
「過去に何があったのかはアタシには知りませんけれど......エルマさんに、謝ってください! 一方的に言い掛かりを付けて、理不尽な要求を押し付けて......それで自分が間違っていたってわかったら、黙ってそのまま立ち去るんですか? どうして『ごめんなさい』の、たった一言も言えないんですか?」
アイザスの顔が険しくなる。
アイザスは親族であろうが、自分に口応えする者は一切許さなかった。
俺だって、些細なことで厳罰を受けた記憶は一度や二度ではない。
そしてアイザスは、平民に一方的に説教をされて見逃せる程寛容ではない。
身分や立場の差異に厳格な性分なのだ。
「ルーチェ、いいんだ。それ以上は......」
「赤の他人ならまだしも......だって、伯爵様は、エルマさんの実の父親なんでしょう? いくらなんでも......そんなの、冷たすぎる......何より、寂しいです。あなたを見ていると、エルマさんが、あまりに不憫です......」
ルーチェが肩を落とし、消え入りそうな声でそう漏らした。
アイザスはほんの少しの間だけ黙っていたが、すぐにルーチェへと背を向け、再びギルドの出口へと向かっていった。
「おい、小娘」
アイザスは扉に手を掛けたとき、動きを止め、俺達に背を向けたままそう口にした。
ルーチェは顔を青くし、びくりと肩を震わせた。
貴族相手に言い過ぎた自覚はあったようだ。
俺も万が一に備え、咄嗟にルーチェを庇うように彼女の前に立った。
「......エルマを、よろしく頼んだ」
絞り出すように、アイザスはそう口にした。
アイザスから、俺を気遣うような言葉が出てきたのが意外だった。
俺は呆気に取られ、彼の背を見つめていた。
あくまでもルーチェにそう伝えたのは、俺へと直接口にするのは、アイザスの立場と自尊心が許さなかったのかもしれない。
アイザスはその言葉を最後にギルドを出ていった。
Ch 44
"Count Izas, will you admit to my strength with this?"
He should have no complaints after this.
I fought my opponent face-to-face, made her lose her weapon, and finally caused her to faint.
If after all this he still tried to accuse me of things, then there is nothing I can do.
"....aah, yes indeed. It seems that there are no signs of malfeasance in this Guild. It seems....that you in fact have the ability to defeat a Dream Lord."
Izas reluctantly spoke.
With how he kept accusing me and the Guild of various things, it must've been difficult to take it all back now.
Especially in the case of Izas, who had a lot of pride in himself to begin with.
He had a really bitter expression on his face.
He may have been thinking that if at least Mariss managed to win then he could keep his dignity, but it was clear that she was in no condition to fight anymore.
Anyhow, it seems that things will calm down with this.
I was ready for Izas to not to know when to give up and keep accusing me of other things, but it seems I won't need to worry about that after all.
Izas did not have a personal enmity with me to begin with.
His sole reason for his interrogation was because he judged that I must've 'used the name of the Edvan Family'.
Contrary to Mariss, he did not come here expecting that mock battle to occur.
He ended up being shamed in front of the Guild officials and the son he threw away, but it seems he did not want to add to his embarrassment by making a fuss after all that.
Izas picked up Mariss's katana and put the unconscious girl herself on his back.
After that Izas glared at me with a stiff face.
It looked like his lips moved a few times, as if trying to say something, but he finally just clenched his jaw and turned his back at me.
"Father."
I called out to Izas.
Izas stopped in his steps and turned back towards me.
".....thank you for raising me for fifteen years. That day I was in a state of confusion, so I did not even say goodbye properly. Please convey my words to Mother too."
I bowed my head.
Izas looked at me with eyes wide open.
After a few seconds of silence, he once again turned his back to me and started walking away.
He did not answer, but it was fine like this.
I did not expect he would do so to begin with.
I just wanted to settle things within myself.
"A-ah, please wait a moment, Count Izas-sama!"
Luce spoke up.
I was startled by Luce's voice.
Izas is an overbearing, cold, prideful person, who is far from patient.
It's not someone who you should stop from leaving quietly.
"I don't know what exactly happened in the past, but.... apologize to Elma-san please! After one-sidedly accusing him of things and pushing your unfair demands on him.....you want to leave without saying anything once you've found out you were wrong all along? Why can't you say a single word of sorry to him?"
Izas's expression went grim.
Even if it was someone from the family, Izas never forgave someone for talking back to him.
I remember getting punished for minor things not just once or twice.
Izas isn't open-minded enough to tolerate getting berated by a commoner either.
He is very mindful of differences in social standing.
"Luce, it's fine. You should stop...."
"If he was a complete stranger, then it might be different, but....the Lord is Elma-san's own father, right? That is just too cold of you....and above all, too sad. When he's looking at you, Elma-san looks so heartbroken...."
Luce dropped her shoulders and trailed off in the end.
Izas stood still for a short while, but then he turned his back to Luce and once again started heading for the exit.
"Hey, little girl."
Izas said from the door, where he stopped with his back still turned towards us and one hand on the doorway.
Luce blanched and her shoulders twitched in fear.
It seems she realized that she went too far with her words towards a noble.
I also prepared for a worst case scenario and stepped in front of Luce to protect her.
"....take care of Elma."
As if squeezing out the words, Izas said to Luce.
I did not expect a word of concern towards me to leave Izas's mouth.
I kept looking at his back, stunned.
Perhaps the reason why he aimed those words at Luce was because his pride and position did not allow him to say it to me directly.
With those parting words, Izas left the Guild.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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