168.Start Me Up
魔人族の再侵攻についての情報は、フォカロルがヴィシーと荒野の境界へ放っていた斥候からではなく、逃げてきたヴィシー難民から齎された。
初めはタイミングの問題かと思われたが、定期報告にも魔人族襲来の話は無かった。
「つまり、荒野からではなく、魔人族の軍はすでにヴィシー内にいた、ということですね」
パリュが作成した報告書を確認したカイムは、一二三が使っていた執務室を譲り受け、書類の山に埋もれているアリッサへ口頭で報告した。つまり、すぐに動けとカイムは言いたいわけだ。
「どれくらいいるのかな?」
「規模についてはまだ不明ですが、流入してくる難民の兆候から、オーソングランデとホーラントと接する国境と反対側から、着実に町を落としていると見られます。最も、暴走したピュルサンの兵も魔人族が片付けているようなので、対応が楽にはなりました」
魔人族が強化兵を排除しているところを目撃した避難民もいたらしい。
綺麗にまとめられた報告書は、カイムをして修正を求めるところが無いもので、パリュの能力をいかんなく発揮した素晴らしいものだった。合わせて送られてきた人員と物資の増量を要請する書類には、もっとどす黒い感情が込められていたが、そういった物が一切見当たらない、そのまま資料として職員に回すことができるものだ。
事実、カイムは一切の変更や補足を入れずに複製し、アリッサとヴィーネへ渡した。報告書の読み取りをする練習に丁度良いと思ったのだ。
「難民の増加もありますので、パリュは物資と合わせて、防衛のための人員を求めております。彼女の予測では、少なくとも十日以内には魔人族から接触があるのではないか、とのことで、私も同じ意見です」
もはやヴィシーは都市国家群としての機能はマヒしているらしく、中央委員会からではなく、フォカロルに近い各都市からは悲鳴のような援助要請が届き始めていた。だが、一二三の指示により“国が静観を指示しているうえ、まず頼るべきは中央委員会であろう”という理由を表に出していて、その態度をアリッサも継承している。
「いかがいたしますか?」
カイムは無表情で淡々と問うているが、国境の向こうでは一つの国が魔人族に蹂躙されているのだ。フォカロルにしてみれば、領地存亡の危機である。
ヴィーネにもそれがわかるので、報告書を見ながら震えていた。
「増員......というより、全軍であたるよ。僕も行くし、プルフラスさんたちドワーフも全員連れて行く。防御陣地の設営に使えるものは全部使うから、トロッコでピストン輸送をする準備を」
指示を素早くメモに取るカイムに書類を返すと、アリッサは続ける。
「この領地も貴族の地位も、僕は“預かった”つもりなんだ。いつか一二三さんに返すときがくるだろうし、その時に領地が減ってたり、誰かに負けてたりしたら、怒られちゃうよ」
そして、ヴィーネにも一緒に来てほしいと頼む。
「もう少しだけ、僕に付き合ってくれる? 一二三さんの所に行く時に、僕が頑張ってるって伝えて欲しいから」
「わかりました」
内心は怖かったが、ヴィーネはアリッサの頼みを快く受け入れた。ヴィーネは、一通りの教育が終わった時点で、一二三と領地の間を行き来する役職へと配置が決まっている。その役割を果たすためにも、アリッサについて行くのは当然だという気持ちもあった。
「カイムさん、どのくらいで出発できるかな?」
「すでに物資の用意は進めております。明朝には、第一陣が出発できるでしょう。軌道にトロッコを用意しておりますので、一日で到着できます」
翌日、カイムとブロクラを領主代行としてフォカロルへ残して、アリッサは補佐役としてヴィーネを伴って、国境の町ローヌへと向かった。
突貫工事で防壁の強化と投槍器などの兵器の設置を進めること三日目、想定していなかった来訪者たちがやってきた。
「あっ! ヴィーネさん、久しぶり!」
「レニさん!? 他のみんなも......!」
国境の警備兵たちに呼ばれて駆け付けたヴィーネに向かって、レニやゲングが手を振っている。その後ろには、ザンガーなどエルフたちもいた。
「ど、どうしたんですか?」
「うん。ここに住みたいと思って。ダメ?」
ヴィーネは頭がくらくらするのを感じて、額を押えながらなんとか膝に力を入れた。
「わ、わたしには決定権が無いので......」
「いいよ~」
国境を出てすぐの場所へ、たたた、と走ってやってきたのは、領主アリッサだった。難民たちの手前、威厳が欲しいという理由で、ミュカレが提案した真っ赤なマントを付けているのだが、駆けまわって翻す様子は、子供が遊んでいるようにしか見えない。
「あ、アリッサ様......」
首をかしげているレニに、ヴィーネがアリッサのことを説明すると、レニはアリッサに頭を下げた。
「みんな、人間と同じように生活したいんです。お願いします!」
「じゃあ、とりあえずこの町で生活してね。ヴィーネさん、宿かどこか、空いてる建物をパリュに聞いて誘導と、戸籍の登録もお願い。それと、みんなには色々話を聞かせてもらいから、よろしくね」
がっしりと握手をしたアリッサとレニは、お互いにふにゃっとした笑みを見せて別れた。
ヴィーネがパリュを探して臨時役場へ走り、アリッサは別の仕事があるから、と工事中の防壁へと向かった。
「......なんだか、あっさり決まっちまいましたね。一二三さんの後継者ってことですが......こう言っちゃなんですが、大丈夫なんでしょうか?」
「大丈夫じゃないかなぁ?」
ゲングの不安を、レニはすぐに否定した。
「多分、あの子......じゃないや、領主様は、ここにウチたち獣人やエルフがいる方が、都合が良いって思ったんじゃないかな? 色んな人が壁を補強したり武器を用意したりしているし、兵士もすごく多い。多分、魔人族が攻めてくると思ってる」
「それで、どうしてあっしらの存在があって、都合が良いので?」
「一二三さんに、戦は相手の予定を狂わせるのが基本だって教わったことがある。ウチたちが人間の町にいるなんて、魔人族は知らない......と、領主様は思ってるだろうし」
「それじゃあ、あっしらは......」
「盾にするつもりはないと思うけど......罠の一つ、かな? 人間と戦うつもりで来て、獣人とかいたら、現場の人はどうしていいかわからないと思うし。いずれにせよ、マルファス君の事があるから、ウチたちの動きは向こうに知れてる可能性もある」
ふと見ると、ヴィーネが走ってこちらへ向かってくるのが見えた。
「とにかく、ウチたちも役に立つところを見せて、守ってもらおうよ。ほら、なんだか良い匂いもするし、とりあえずは休もう。もうクタクタだよ」
ここまで歩き詰めだった人々は、レニの言葉で疲れを自覚すると、ヴィーネが用意した部屋まで何とかたどり着き、それぞれが深い眠りについた。
「何言ってんだ。馬鹿かお前は」
「ぅぐ......」
オリガを含めた一二三への対応に関する会議の終了後、イメラリアは城内に宿泊している一二三を自室へと呼び出していた。
侍女も含めて全員に私室へ近寄らぬように言い含めているが、その事自体が一二三の警戒心を刺激していることに気付いていない。
そして、話を聞いてみれば、イメラリアは自分の子供が欲しいと言う。艶事なり睦言なりを聞かれるのが恥ずかしくて使用人を遠ざけただけかと考えると、一二三は力が抜けてソファにもたれかかった。
「そういえば、オリガが妙な視線を向けて来てたな。こういう事か」
「おおお、オリガさんには、一二三様の奥様ですから、先に許可を......」
「俺はお前たちの玩具じゃないぞ。貸し借りされるなんぞ不愉快だ」
立ち上がった一二三に、イメラリアが慌てて駆け寄り、袴の裾を掴む。
「お、お待ちください! これは別に、貴方を取り合ってとか、共有するとか、そういう話しではありません!」
声にしようとしている言葉は、輪にかけて最低な思考から出てきた発想だが、それが一二三の興味を引くはずだ。
「......これは、貴方を殺すための準備でもあるのです」
イメラリアの軽い身体はずるずると引き摺られていたが、その言葉でぴたりと止まった。
「どういう意味だ?」
振り向き、イメラリアを見下ろす一二三。
目を逸らさないように、しっかりとイメラリアも見上げ、一二三の目を見る。黒い瞳は、最初に出会った時よりもずっと黒みが深くなった気がする。
「貴方を、貴方の子どもに討たせようというのです。そのために、貴方の子を欲しいと言っているのです」
言ってしまった、と思うと、後悔よりも先に次々と言葉が出てくる。
「わたくしは、貴方が嫌いです。憎いです。わたくしの家族は、貴方を呼び出した、そのために貴方に殺された。父も母も、弟も、決して良い人物では無かったかもしれません。ですが、だからと言って、家族が殺されても良いと思えるほど、わたくしは割り切ることのできる人間ではないのです......」
一二三が言葉を発さず、自分をただ見ていることを確認し、イメラリアは夜着を脱いだ。まだ発展途上の身体を、わずかな衣擦れの音を立てて、薄い布が滑り落ちる。
「貴方に復讐ができるのであれば、わたくしはなんでもやるつもりです。それが人倫にもとる行為であろうと、貴方を殺すことができるのであれば、どんな危険なことでもやりましょう」
ゆっくりと、一二三が逃げないことを確認しながら、身を寄せる。
不意に浮遊感。
両脇から抱え上げられ、ベッドの上に放り捨てられた。
細い身体は尻から落ちて、足を崩して座っている格好になる。なんとなく気恥ずかしくなり、薄いシーツを引き寄せて胸元を隠した。
その間に、一二三はソファへ戻ってどっかりと座り、冷めた紅茶を飲む。
「それだけだと、お前の貧相な身体を抱く気にはならん。俺を殺すためというのは良い。遠回り過ぎて、その思考は理解しがたいが、悪くは無いな。まだ身内を殺した事は無いから、想像することもできんが」
「女と言うのは、一つ思いを抱えたら死ぬまで忘れることはありません。一二三様のように、女心を理解しない朴念仁には、それこそ最期まで理解はできないでしょう」
「酷い言われようだな。俺はお前に呼び出されてこの世界へ来た。身勝手な理由で呼ばれたから、身勝手に振る舞ったにすぎん。それを非難されようが恨まれようが、俺がそれに応える義理は無い。違うか?」
「ええ、違いません。貴方の人生を狂わせたのはわたくしであり、その罪を負うべきは、父では無くわたくしであるべきです」
イメラリアは、枕元に置いていたナイフを掴んだ。
「わたくしに力があれば、これを貴方に刺して終わらせたでしょう。貴方がこの世界に戦いの火種を広める前に、貴方がこの世界で平和に暮らすのであれば、わたくしの方がこれで死ぬことも一つの決着のつけ方だったかもしれません」
ナイフを放り捨てる。
イメラリアと一二三の間、分厚い絨毯の上へ、ナイフは跳ねることなく落ちた。
「でも、最早それで済む状況ではなくなりました。貴方を退場させ、なおかつ貴方が引っ掻き回したこの世界を治める力を得る必要があるのです」
「その力が、俺との子供というわけか......。わからんな、そのために好きでもない男に抱かれるか」
「好きですよ。愛しております。一目見た時から、貴方が勇者様だと確信しておりました。次の瞬間には、武器を向けられていましたけれど」
くすくすと笑いながら、イメラリアは裸体のままでベッドから降りた。
目の前に立っている裸の女王を、一二三はいぶかしむ目で見つめていた。
「さっきは憎んでいると言っただろう」
「その二つの感情は、同居できるのですよ。女心は奇妙で気まぐれで、矛盾に満ちているのです」
そろりそろりと近づき、ふとナイフを拾い上げる。
一瞬の躊躇いを見せ、イメラリアはナイフを振り降ろした。
銀色に光る刃が一二三に触れることは無かった。
思い切り振り降ろされた手を一二三の左手が掴み、右手がイメラリアの首を掴む。
ナイフを落としたイメラリアは、首を引き寄せられて目の前に近づいた一二三の顔を見て、自分がどんな表情をしているのかわからなかった。恥じらいか、怒りか、それとも見とれているような、甘い表情をしているかも知れない。
「何を考えている?」
「わたくし一人のものにしたくなった、と言えば理解していただけますか?」
「わかるわけがないだろう。お前、どこかオリガに似てきたな。大丈夫か?」
「し、失礼なこと言わないでください。それに、女の前で別の女の名前を出すなど、それも失礼です」
息がかかるほどの至近距離での会話。
息苦しいが、嫌では無かった。
「俺の子ができたとして、俺のように強くなるとは限らんぞ」
「教育係は、今貴方が育てているでしょう? それに、魔法を教える教師もそろえる伝手ができました。うまくいけば、一二三様よりもずっと強くなるでしょう」
「あいつらが、か。用意周到なことだな」
一二三が呆れた声を出した瞬間、首をつかむ力が緩んだ。
その瞬間、一二三の頭を掴み、イメラリアが唇を押し付けた。
「わたくしを抱きなさい。貴方が望む世界はその先にあります。そして、その終焉もそこにあります。わたくしがその歴史を作ります」
一二三には、懸命に言葉を並べるイメラリアの目が、すでに狂人のそれになっていると感じられた。
同時に、それが自分の妻と重なったことも否めない。
「俺は、何とも女性運が悪いのだな」
鼻息を荒くしてしがみついてくるイメラリアを抱え、ベッドへと運ぶ。
夜が明けた時、イメラリアの隣に一二三はいなかった。
鈍い痛みを抱えながら、彼女は作戦の成功と恥ずかしさで興奮し、変な悲鳴を上げてしまった。
Chapter 168: Start Me Up
The news about the new invasion by the demons came not from one of the Fokalore patrols dispatched at the borders with Vichy and the Wastelands, but was brought in by Vichy's refugees who managed to escape.
At first it was considered to be outdated news due to refugees having been on the run all the time, especially as any mention of a demon invasion was also missing in the regular reports.
"In other words, that means the demon army didn't come from the Wastelands, but suddenly appeared inside Vichy." (Caim)
Caim, who checked the report drawn up by Paryuu, orally reported to Alyssa who is buried under a mountain of documents after having taken over the office formerly used by Hifumi. In short, what he wanted to tell her was to make a move immediately.
"How many troops do they have?" (Alyssa)
"Their scale is still unknown, but going by the number of refugees flowing in, it's likely that they are steadily occupying cities opposite of the border touching with Orsongrande and Horant. Since it looks like the demons are also eliminating the rampaging soldiers of Pyursang, it became easier to deal with that side." (Caim)
Apparently there were refugees who witnessed the demons killing reinforced soldiers.
The neatly summarized report was a splendid writing that had no places that required corrections by Caim and amply showed the abilities of Paryu. In addition, usually such documents, which appealed for an increased number of goods and personnel to be sent, had a lot darker emotions put into them, but in Paryu's report something like that couldn't be found at all, allowing for it to be passed around to staff members as material list without any changes.
And as matter of fact, Caim reproduced it without a single adjustment or supplement, and handed it over to Alyssa. He considered it to be just the right document to practise how to read reports.
"Since there's an increase in the number of refugees, Paryu has requested goods and in addition personnel for defense duties. According to her estimation, there will probably be contact with the demons in less than 10 days. I share the same opinion." (Caim)
It seemed that Vichy as group of city-states had already ceased to function. Loud requests for assistance started to flow in not from the central committee, but from the various cities close to Fokalore. But, in accordance with Hifumi's order, they officially gave the reason "On top of instructing them to calmly watch the country, they should rely on the central committee first." Alyssa adopted that stance as well.
"What shall we do?" (Caim)
Although Caim inquired expressionlessly and indifferently, one country on the other side of the border is being overrun by demons. Considering Fokalore, it was a danger affecting the existence of the territory.
Given that Viine understood that as well, she trembled while looking at the report.
"Increase the number of personnel... or rather, we will send the entire army. I will go as well. I will also take Pruflas-san and the other dwarves along. Prepare a shuttle service with rail cars since we will use all those who are useful for the construction of a defense base." (Alyssa)
Once she returned the document to Caim, who was swiftly noting down her instructions, Alyssa continued,
this territory and noble title. Someday the time will come when Hifumi will come back, and then I will be scolded if the territory has shrunk or if I lost to someone." (Alyssa)
And then she asked Viine to come with her as well.
"Can you keep me company for just a bit longer? I'd like you to tell Hifumi that I'm doing my best when you go to him." (Alyssa)
"Understood." (Viine)
In her heart she was scared, but Viine willingly accepted Alyssa's request. It had been decided that Viine would be stationed at an official position that allows her to travel between Hifumi and the territory once she finished the basic education. She felt it to be natural for her to accompany Alyssa for the sake of playing that role.
"Caim-san, how long until we can depart?" (Alyssa)
"The preparation of goods is already making progress. Probably it will be possible for the first group to depart tomorrow morning. Since the rail cars and railroad tracks are ready, they will be able to arrive there in a day." (Caim)
The next day Caim and Brokra stayed behind in Fokalore as representatives of the feudal lord, and Alyssa headed towards the border city Rhone while being accompanied by Viine as assistant.
On the third day of them setting up weaponry such as spear throwers and reinforcing the walls at high speed, unexpected visitors showed up.
"Ah! Viine-san, it's been a while!" (Reni)
"Reni-san!? The others as well...!" (Viine)
Going towards Viine, who rushed over after being called by the border guards, Reni and Gengu approached her while waving their hands. The elves such as Zanga were present behind them as well.
"W-What's wrong?" (Viine)
"Yeah, we want to live here. That's okay?" (Reni)
Viine felt dizzy. She somehow managed to put strength into her knees while holding her head.
"I-I don't have the authority to decide that, so..." (Viine)
"Sure~." (Alyssa)
The one who came running to the place right before crossing the border at a light pace was the feudal lord Alyssa. She was additionally wearing a red mantle upon Miyukare's suggestion, who said that she'd like Alyssa to be dignified in front of the refugees, but with her running around causing the mantle to fly in the wind, it only looked as if a child was playing around.
"A-Alyssa-sama..." (Viine)
After Viine explained to the puzzled Reni about Alyssa, Reni bowed her head towards Alyssa.
"Everybody wants to lead lives similar to humans. Please!" (Reni)
"Then, for starters you will live in this city. Viine-san, please ask Paryu whether there are any free buildings or inns and guide them there. Also please register them in the census, too. And, I'd like to listen to everyone's stories, so please treat me well at that time." (Alyssa)
Alyssa and Reni, who exchanged a firm handshake, smiled at each other faintly and separated.
Viine ran to the temporary town hall to look for Paryu. Alyssa told her that she has another task and headed to the wall that was still under construction.
"... Somehow it was decided all too easily. Although you said that she's Hifumi's successor...I'm sorry to say that, but will it be alright?" (Gengu)
"Isn't it fine?" (Reni)
Reni immediately rejected Gengu's concerns.
"Maybe that child... ah, wrong, Lord-sama thought that it would be convenient for us elves and beastmen to be here? Various people are reinforcing the walls and preparing the weapons. There are also very many soldiers present. They are probably expecting the demons to attack." (Reni)
"So, why would be our existence be convenient to them then?" (Gengu)
"I was taught by Hifumi that it's the basics to make your opponents plans go haywire in a battle. The demons don't know that we are in a human city... that's likely what Lord-sama is thinking." (Reni)
"That means we are..." (Gengu)
"I don't think that they plan to use us as shields, but... as one of the traps, maybe? I think the commanders-on-site won't know what they should do if they run into beastmen after coming here with the intention to fight against humans. At any rate, since there's also the matter with Malfas, it's possible that our movements have been leaked to the other side." (Reni)
Reni casually looked around and saw Viine running in her direction.
"Either way, let's have them protect us by showing them our usefulness. Hey, something smells nice. For starters I will take a break. I'm already exhausted." (Reni)
The people, who continued to walk until here, realized their own exhaustion due to Reni's words and fell into a deep slumber after somehow arriving at the rooms prepared by Viine.
"What are you saying. You, are you an idiot?"
"Uhh..."
After the meeting in regards how to deal with Hifumi, which also included Origa, Imeraria summoned Hifumi, who's lodging in the castle, to her own room.
She had given detailed instructions to everyone, including the maids, to not get close to her room, but didn't notice that this act in itself had provoked Hifumi's wariness.
And when he confronted her about it, Imeraria told him that she wants his child. Once he concluded that she probably kept the servants away out of shyness that her love affair or whispered intimacies would be overheard, Hifumi lost all strength and fell back into the sofa.
"Which reminds me, Origa sent a weird look my way. So it's about this, huh?" (Hifumi)
"Yeah, Origa-san is your wife, Hifumi-sama, I got her permission first..." (Origa)
"I'm not a toy to be used by you guys. Being lent out feels unpleasant." (Hifumi)
Imeraria rushed over in a hurry to Hifumi, who got up, and grabbed the hem of his hakama.
"P-Please wait! This isn't really about something like sharing or competing." (Imeraria)
The words she was trying to voice out should attract Hifumi's curiosity, although they were based on a thought that had appeared after her having considered the lowest possible ideas in circles.
"... This is also a preparation to kill you." (Imeraria)
He was dragging Imeraria's light body after him, but suddenly stopped upon hearing those words.
"What do you mean by that?" (Hifumi)
He turned around and looked down on Imeraria.
Imeraria also firmly looked up directly into the eyes of Hifumi in order to not avert her eyes. She felt like his black pupils became even blacker in comparison to the time when she met him for the first time.
"It means that you will be defeated by your own child. That's why I'm telling you that I want your child." (Imeraria)
and I will keep talking before I regret it.
"I hate you. You are detestable. My family summoned you and was killed by you because of that. My father, mother and younger brother might not have been good people by any means, but while that may be true, I'm not a person who can come to terms with it to the degree of considering it as fine for my family to be murdered..." (Imeraria)
Imeraria made sure that Hifumi was simply looking at her without saying anything and took off her night-clothes. The thin cloth slips off with a faint rustling, exposing her still developing body.
"I intend to do whatever I must if it allows me to get my vengeance. I will do anything, no matter how dangerous it might, if it enables me to kill you, even if that might be acts going against human nature." (Imeraria)magic
She slowly leaned in close while confirming that Hifumi wasn't escaping.
Suddenly she felt a sensation of floating.
She was lifted up from both sides and tossed on top of the bed.
Her slender body fell on its butt while assuming a posture of sitting at ease. Feeling somehow embarrassed, she pulled the thin bed sheet towards herself and covered her chest.
During that time Hifumi returned to the sofa, sat down with a flump and drank his cold black tea.
"If it's only that, I won't have any motivation to embrace your seedy-looking body. Saying that it's for the sake of killing me is nice and all. Your thinking is difficult to understand as it's too roundabout, but it's not bad. Since I never killed my own family yet, I can't understand your emotions either." (Hifumi)
"If a woman harbors a single desire, she won't forget it until her death. A blockhead, who doesn't understand the heart of women like you, Hifumi-sama, will definitely be unable to comprehend until their death." (Imeraria)
"It sure seems like I'm being called heartless here. I came to this world after being summoned by you. Because I was called here for a selfish reason, I passed my time by acting selfishly. Although you might resent or blame me for that, I don't have any obligation to humor you in that. Or am I wrong?" (Hifumi)
"No, you are not wrong. The one who threw your life out of order was me. The one who should bear that crime wasn't father but me." (Imeraria)
Imeraria grabbed the knife placed near her pillow.
"If I had the power, I could have put an end to all of it by stabbing you with this. Me dying through this might have been another conclusion, if you had lived peacefully in this world, before you spread the triggers of battle all over the world." (Imeraria)
She threw the knife away.
The knife fell on the thick carpet between Imeraria and Hifumi without bouncing.
"But, the option to finish it in such way has already disappeared. It's necessary to have you exit the stage and moreover to obtain the power to subdue this world that was thrown into chaos by you." (Imeraria)
"So you're saying that my child will become that power, huh...? I don't understand. You are going to sleep with a man you don't even like for that sake?" (Hifumi)
"I like you. I have been in love with you. Since the time I took a look at you for the first time, I was always convinced that you are hero-sama. Though you pointed a weapon at me in the next instant." (Imeraria)
While giggling, Imeraria let her naked body fall on the bed.
Hifumi stared at the nude queen in front of him suspiciously.
"Just now you told me that you hate me, didn't you?" (Hifumi)
"Those two emotions can coexist. A woman's heart is strange, whimsy and full of contradictions." (Imeraria)
Drawing slowly and quietly near, she suddenly picked up the knife again.
Imeraria showed an instant of hesitation and then swung the knife downwards.
The silver-shining blade didn't touch Hifumi.
Hifumi's left hand grabbed her hand that was swung down with all her strength, and his right hand seized Imeraria's neck.
Imeraria, who lowered the knife, looked at Hifumi's face that was approaching in front of her eyes as her neck was drawn towards him. She didn't know what kind of face she was making. It might be one full of shame, one of anger or even a charming, sweet one.
"What are you thinking?" (Hifumi)
"I didn't want to be left alone by myself. If I told you that, would you understand?" (Imeraria)
"There's no way I would, is there? You are certainly similar to Origa in some respects. Are you fine with that?" (Hifumi)
"P-Please don't say something so rude. Besides, bringing up the name of another woman in front of a woman is impolite." (Imeraria)
It was a conversation at a range where they could feel each others breaths.
It's suffocating, but not detestable.
"Apart from it being my child, that doesn't necessarily mean that it will become as strong as me." (Hifumi)
"Right now you can raise it and be in charge of its education, can't you? Besides, I managed to prepare someone trustable who will teach it magic. If all goes well, it will likely become far stronger than you, Hifumi-sama." (Imeraria)
"Those guys, huh? You sure prepared things thoroughly." (Hifumi)
At the instant Hifumi spoke in astonishment, the the strength constricting her neck relaxed.
Using that chance, Imeraria grabbed Hifumi's head and pressed her lips on his.
"Make love with me. The world you desire is ahead of that. And its demise is to be found there as well. I will shape that history." (Imeraria)
They eyes of Imeraria, who earnestly lined up word after word, felt to Hifumi as if they had already become that of a lunatic.
At the same time he couldn't deny that they overlapped with the eyes of his wife.
"I really have bad luck with women, don't I?" (Hifumi)
Holding Imeraria, who was clinging to him while roughly breathing through her nose, he carried her to the bed.
At the time when dawn broke, Hifumi wasn't at Imeraria's side anymore.
While feeling a dull pain, she ended up releasing a weird scream due to the success of her strategy and her excitement out of embarrassment.
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