「ドニにリュック、クォーツに――アイザックまで! まさかあなたまできてくれるとは思わなかったわ。あなた一応、貴族なのに」
「きたくなかったっつーの」
どちらかと言えば薄汚れた格好の人間が多い中、一人いかにも貴公子な格好と整った面差しをした青年が、頭をがしがしかきながら前に出る。
「でも魔王だろ? 何やってんだって思うだろ? みんな心配してきたんだよ」
「あら、有り難う。でもわたくしのことなら心配無用よ?」
「そう言うと思ったけどよ......あったまおかしーわ相変わらず。あのな。今オメーは大人しく引っ込んでしくしく泣いてりゃいいの。そういうタテマエが大事なの。んで同情集めて、その間に裏であの二人を引きずり落とす画策すんだよ」
不躾に鼻先に指を突き付け、ずけずけ言うアイザックに、鼻で笑い返す。
「そういうのはあなたが得意でしょう? 頭脳戦はあなたに任せるわ」
「ってやらせんのかよ! やらせるならちったぁ俺の言うこと聞いてみろよ!」
アイザック・ロンバール。アイリーンと同じ学園の生徒だ。商売を成功させ金で爵位を買ったロンバール伯爵家という、成り上がり貴族の三男。それだけで、特に何か目立ったところがあるわけではない。
(マークスの親戚ってくらいで、ゲームにも出てこないものね)
金で買った爵位なので、マークスとは血のつながりもないし、性格も真反対で、お互いがお互いを無視している。マークスが目立って人気がある分、アイザックはどこにでもいる学生の一人としか認識されていないだろう。
アイリーンだって、たまたまペアで課題をするくじに当たらなければ、特に気にかけなかった。その時リリアはセドリックを引き当てていたのだから、世の中の縁はうまくできている。
「――セドリック皇子はお前が思ってるような男じゃねぇって、散々言ってやったのにな」
「そう言えばあなた、あの夜会の時、どこにいたの?」
「見てたよ、遠くからな」
「......見てたの。そう」
「俺が助けられるかっつーの。皇太子とマークス・カウエルだぞ? あれに睨まれて生きていけるのはそれこそお前だけだ。俺が出て行きゃただの無駄死に、正義感の無駄遣いだ」
「分かってるわ。あなたのそういうところは信頼しているもの。――セドリック様にクビを切られてくれたんでしょう?」
事業を開始するにあたって、既に実家から商売を任されていたアイザックをアイリーンは取り込んだ。
金の流れに関してはアイザックの方が内情を把握している。しかも成り上がりとはいえ貴族だ。セドリックが積極的にアイザックを切り捨てにかかったとは思えない。
「......リリア様好みの顔だったんだろ。それだけだよ」
ぶっきらぼうに告げたアイザックに笑う。
三白眼の鋭い顔立ちをしたアイザックは、間違いなく美形の部類だ。いわゆる不良っぽくて近づきがたいので、騒がれないだけだ。
愛嬌のある顔立ちをした小柄な少年が、大人っぽく肩を竦める。
「アイザックさんは、自分で啖呵切って抜けたんですよ」
「おいドニ、いい加減なこと言うな。クビっつったのはあっちだ」
「ドニも有り難う。あなたがいれば安心して現場を任せられるわ。親方はお元気?」
「ええ、元気ですよ! アイリーン様がドートリシュ宰相に進言してくださったおかげで、第五層にも診療所ができましたから」
小柄で身軽が取り柄の少年は、第五層でも腕利きの職人だ。孤児だったところを彼が親方と呼ぶ職人に拾われ、遊び代わりに家を建てていたという経歴の持ち主でもある。手先が器用で、ろくな教育を受けていないのに図面がひける、天才建築士だ。彼とは、父親にくっついて第五層の視察に行った時に出会った。
そして、ドニの親方が通う診療所に勤めている人間に、アイリーンは目を向ける。
「リュックも。ごめんなさいね、利益が出て、やっとあなたの希望だった薬の開発ができそうだったところに、こんなことになって」
「いえいえ。薬師としての興味で言えば、魔王の森の方が何か新しい発見がありそうでわくわくします。ね、クォーツ」
癖の強い髪の毛が風になびくのを押さえながらリュックが話しかけたのは、彼の幼馴染みだ。
難しい顔をした眼帯の青年は、両腕を組んだままふいと背を向ける。
「挨拶くらいしなよ、クォーツ」
「いいのよ。クォーツもきてくださって有り難う。ドートリシュ公爵領の農園に連れていってあげられなくてごめんなさい。魔王の森の植物にも興味を持ってくれればいいんだけれど」
「......怒っているのかしら」
長い髪を一つにまとめた端整な顔立ちの青年が滅多に喋らないことは知っているが、最近は挨拶くらいしてくれるようになっていたので、不安になる。リュックが笑った。
「大丈夫ですよ、アイリーン様。クォーツが怒っているのは、自分が折角アイリーン様のために丹精込めて作った植物を、セドリック皇子が持ってっちゃったことですから」
クォーツは無口だが、植物を心の底から大事に育てる植物学者だ。植物を愛しすぎていて、商売に使うことを説得するのに随分骨を折った。だからこそのこだわりだ。
「それは、本当にごめんなさい。リュック達が考案した処方箋も、持っていかれてしまったのよね......」
「いいんですよ、アイリーン様のせいじゃない。ね、クォーツ」
答えてくれたクォーツにほっとする。
「なら、二人とも魔王の森であっても、わたくしの元で働いてくれるのかしら」
「ええ、もちろん」
リュックに続いてクォーツも小さくだが、首を縦に振った。二人とも第五層の出身だが、その才覚で特待生扱いで第四層の学園に通った優秀な人材だ。こんなに心強いことはない。
「ありがとう、本当に。頼りにしているわ」
「頑張ります。大丈夫ですよ、いざとなれば痕跡が残らない毒を開発しますから。ね、アイザック様」
「おい、勝手に巻き込んで俺を首謀者に仕立て上げようとするな腹黒薬師! 企んでないからな俺は、皇太子暗殺なんて。そういうのは流行んねーの!」
「......。魔王の森に、いい素材があればいい」
「やーめーろー。ドニ、止めろ!」
「うーん。それよりは一定以上負荷がかかると壊れちゃう橋とか......?」
「お前もか!」
「あのー......そういうの置いといて、もう仕事の話に入った方がいいんじゃねぇか。すっげぇ風吹いてて寒いんだけど!」
ずっと黙っていたジャスパーの提案に、アイリーンはふと空を見上げる。強くなった風は曇り空を連れてきていた。
「さっきまで晴れてたのに......でもどうしましょう。ほら、お城はこの状態でしょう? これだけの人数を入れるだけの場所がないのよ」
「はーいそこでやっと私めが登場ですよ!」
ドニが連れてきた職人達の一番後ろから手が上がった。驚いてアイリーンは振り向く。
「キース様! どうしてそこに」
「紛れ込んでちょっと様子見してました。いやあ、想像以上ですよ。私めびっくりー」
「......。誰だ?」
「魔王の従者だ」
アイザックの答えに、ざっと人の波が割れた。ふふっとキースが笑う。
「脅えることはないですよ。私は普通の人間ですから。......アイザック・ロンバール。元シュミット商会、今はロンバール社の三男。才覚だけなら兄達より上と噂の問題児。あなたがアイリーン様の
「......どーも。俺はただの出納係だけどな」
「ドニ様も有名ですねぇ。建築の設計からデザインまでこなす天才肌。お抱えにならないかって貴族も多いとか」
「そんな、僕は自由にやってるだけですよー」
「リュック様とクォーツ様は第五層自慢の秀才達じゃないですか。二人で経営されてる薬局は良心的・効き目も抜群と大好評。人望も高い」
「......。ただの結果だ」
「でも一番すごいのはアイリーン様ですかね? これだけの人材をおさえて、これだけの人間を魔王の城の前に集まらせる。今まで誰にもできなかったことです」
達者な口を披露しながら、キースがアイリーンの目の前までやってきた。ベレー帽の下から、ジャスパーが低い声で尋ねる。
「魔王様と一緒に森に引っ込んでるって話だったが......従者はよく知ってるな。俺以上の情報通じゃないのか?」
「そりゃあ、魔王様の従者ですから。それくらいの情報収集、当然です」
人を食ったような笑みを向けた後、キースが揺れる木々を見上げた。
「ああ、いけない。おしゃべりがすぎてクロード様が苛立ってますねぇ。雨がきそうだ」
そう言ってキースがうらぶれた廃城の鉄扉の前に立つ。
「クロード様、お客様が雨に打たれないよう城をお願いしますよ。さあ、皆様。中へご案内致しましょう」
キースがアイリーン達に恭しく頭を下げる。同時に、鉄扉の門が一人でに開いた。
破れた国旗が曇り空の下で強風に煽られている。完全にホラーだ。
初めて魔王の城にきた時と同じ面持ちで、アイリーンはこくりと喉を鳴らす。それでも真っ先に自分から足を踏み出した。代表は自分だ。
溜め息をついたアイザックが次に、ドニは少し脅えながらその後に続く。ジャスパーは顰め面で追いかけるように足を踏み出し、リュックとクォーツも顔を見合わせてから続いた。その後ろには彼らが連れてきた者達が、それぞれ脅えながら、あるいは虚勢を張りながら続く。
誰もここにきて怖じ気づかなかった。それを確認して、キースは振り向く。
「アイリーン様は、本当に見込みがありますね」
薄く薄く、弧を描いた唇が笑みを象る。
「私め、気に入っちゃいました」
[Donny, Luc, Quartz----even Isaac!I didn't think that you would come as well. Despite being more or less a n.o.ble] 
[I really didn't want to come, you know?] 
If one had to say then, there's a lot of people whose appearance were dirty looking in this group, but there's one young man whose indeed looked like a n.o.ble youth and had a well-ordered feature, came out while briskly scratching his head.
[But, it's Demon King, isn't it? "What is she doing" is what everyone thinking, you know? Everyone is worried that's why they come here] 
[My, thank you. But, there's no need to worry about me, you know?] 
[I thought I would say that as well, but......my head is weird as usual. Say, is it okay for you not to be quietly depressed and crying your eyes out right now? That kind of front is important, you know? And then, you'll be able to gather sympathy, while scheming to drag both of those two a.s.ses down] 
Irene answered back by laughing scornfully towards Isaac frank statement while thrusting her finger in front of Isaac's nose.
[That kind of thing is what you're good at, isn't it? I'll leave the planning to you] 
[Eh, you're making me do it?! If you're making me do it, try to listen to what I'm saying a little bit!] 
Isaac Lombard. A fellow student who went to the same academy as Irene. The third son of an upstart n.o.ble family, whose family had a successful business and bought a court rank with money, the Lombard Earl's House. Other than his status, nothing particularly stood out about him.
(I heard he's almost related to Max, but he never made an appearance in the game)
Since his family bought court rank with money, he's not related to Max by blood. Their personalities also clashed, so they mutually ignored each other. Just as much as Max stood out because he was popular, Isaac was just like any other students and would probably be recognized by only one person.
Even in Irene's case, if they weren't coincidentally a.s.signed as a pair for their a.s.signment, he won't even be under her radar. At that time, because Lilia had drawn Cedric as her partner, by chance she was able to successfully socialize with Isaac.
[----Prince Cedric is similar to what you've thought, he's not a man; I wish I had thoroughly told him off] 
[Which reminds me, where were you during that evening party?] 
[I was watching from a distance] 
[......You saw the incident? I see] 
[There's no way I could help you. It's the Prince and Max Cowell, you know? There's no one but you who can live after glowering at them. If I were to go out, I would only die in vain and my sense of justice would be wasted for nothing] 
[I know. I have faith in that part of you. ----Cedric-sama did fire you, didn't he?] 
At the time when she wanted to start a business, Irene had already taken in Isaac, leaving the commerce in his hand from home.
Isaac had a better understanding of the true state of affairs related to the money flow. Moreover, he's still a n.o.ble despite being an upstart one. She didn't think that Cedric would aggressively fire him.
[......You do have a face favored by Lilisama, don't you? It's only because of that] 
Isaac laughed when he was told that bluntly.
Isaac had sharp features with a pair of sanpaku eyes (1). Without a doubt, he's considered a beauty. He was unapproachable due to his so-called delinquent-ish nature, but he was just a noisy fella.
The small statured young man with charming features shrugged his shoulders.
[Isaac-san paid for his own verbal shot] 
[Oi Donny, don't say such an irresponsible thing. The one who was fired was you] 
[Donny as well, thank you. If you're here, I'll feel safe to leave the site to you. Is your Master healthy?] 
[Yeah, he's fine!Thanks to Irene-sama's proposal to D'Austriche Prime Minister, a clinic was able to be built in the fifth layer] 
The small-statured and nimble young man with redeeming features was a capable craftsman from the fifth layer. His extraordinary career started when he was adopted by a craftsman called "Master" when he was an orphan. Instead of playing like kids at his age would, he built a house. Even though he hadn't received a decent education, he was a genius architect who can draw any plans with his skillful hands. She met him when she went along with her Father to carry out an inspection at the fifth layer.
And, Irene turned her eyes towards Donny Master who was amongst the people who built the clinic.
[Luc as well. I'm sorry, we have to turn the profits. Just when the development of the medicine that you wished for, finally seems possible to be realized, this kind of things happen] 
[Nono. Speaking of my interest as a doctor, I have more interest in the Demon King's forest, for it seems like I'll be able to discover something new; so I'm excited. Right, Quartz?] 
Luc talked to his childhood friend, Quartz while he was holding down his hair that fluttered by the wind.(2)
The young man with an eye patch made a difficult face, and with both of his arms crossed, turned his back.
[At least say your greeting, Quartz] 
[That's fine. Quartz as well, thank you for coming. I'm sorry I was unable to bring you to the D'Austriche plantation. But I hope the plantation in the Demon King's forest will catch your interest] 
[......By any chance, are you angry with me?] 
She knew that this handsome young man with long hair rarely talked; but recently, it seemed like he didn't even give her a greeting, so she couldn't help but to be anxious. Luc laughed.
[It's fine, Irene-sama. Quartz is angry because after he painstakingly raised a plant for Irene-sama's sake, it ended up being taken away by Prince Cedric] 
Quartz was a taciturn man, but he was a botanist who took care of the plants from the bottom of his heart. He loved the plants so much that it took a lot of effort to persuade him to use them for business. That is why he is committed.
[I am truly sorry about that. Even the medicine prescription that Luc and the others had devised ended being taken away as well......] 
[That's okay, it's not Irene-sama's fault. Right, Quartz?] 
When she received an answer from Quartz, she felt relieved.
[Then, even in this Demon King's forest, are the both of you okay with working under me like before] 
[Yes, of course] 
Following Luc, Quartz as well, although the movement was small, he definitely nodded his head. Although both of them came from the fifth layer, they were excellent talented people who went to school in the fourth layer and were treated as the honor students. There's nothing more rea.s.suring than this.
[I truly thank you. I'm counting on both of you] 
[I'll do my best. It's alright because when push comes to shove I'll develop a poison that will not leave traces. Right, Isaac-sama?] 
[Oi, don't selfishly dragged me into a plan and make me the mastermind, you wicked doctor! I don't want to plan for the Crown Prince's a.s.sa.s.sination. That kind of thing won't flourish!] 
[....... It's good if there's a good material in the Demon King's forest] 
[St-op-it. Donny, stop it!] 
[U~n. Other than that, maybe a bridge that will collapse after taking a certain amount of load for example......?] 
[You as well?!] 
[Um-......Isn't it better if we leave that alone and start talking about work already? The wind is blowing so strongly I'm kinda cold over here!] 
At Jasper's suggestion who had been silent all this time, Irene casually looked up at the sky. The strong wind brought along the cloudy weather.
[Even though it had been sunny just now......But, what should we do? Look, the castle is in this current condition, right? There's no s.p.a.ce for this many people] 
[Okay, at that, it's finally time for me to make an appearance!] 
The craftsmen that Donny brought along behind him were the first to raise their hands. Surprised, Irene turned around.
[Keith-sama!Why are you there?] 
[I slipped in 'cause I want to observe the situation for a little. Wow, there are more of them than I imagined. I'm surprised-] 
[....... Who is he?] 
[The Demon King's attendant] 
At Isaac answer, people quickly made way for him. Keith laughed.
[There's nothing for all of you to be afraid of. Because I am an ordinary human being, after all.......Isaac Lombard. Previously Schmidt Company, but now the third son of the Lombard Company. The rumored problem child who has quick, better wits than his brothers. So, you're Irene-sama's "brain"? Nice to meet you] 
[......Hi. But, I'm just a treasurer] 
[Donny-sama is famous, too. A prodigy who is good at architecture, from an architectural plan to designing. And, there are many n.o.bles who wanted to employ you, yet you refused] 
[That, I just want to do everything freely-] 
[Aren't both Luc-sama and Quartz-sama the fifth layer's pride for being their talented people? The pharmacy that being operated by both of you is exceptionally popular with its honesty and effectiveness. You guys are popular, too] 
[....... Well, that's all thanks to the pharmacy] 
[But, the most amazing one would be Irene-sama? To be able to get a hold of these many talented people and to a.s.semble them in front of the Demon King's castle like this. It's something that no one was able to do until now that is] 
Keith came standing in front of Irene while showing off his glib tongue. From below the beret, Jasper inquired in a low voice.
[I heard a story that the Demon King brought you in together with him into the forest, but......for an attendant, you know quite a lot of things. Aren't you more well-informed than me?] 
[That's because I am the Demon King-sama attendant, after all. Doing just this much of information gathering is normal] 
After showing a creepy smile, Keith looked up at the swaying trees.
[Ah, my bad. We talked too much, and Claude-sama is starting to lose his patience. It seems like it's going to rain] 
As he said that, Keith stood in front of the abandoned castle's ruined iron door.
[Claude-sama, please let these guests in so that they won't be drenched by the rain. Come on, everyone. Let me guide you in] 
Keith lowered his head respectfully towards Irene and the others. At the same time, the iron door opened up by itself.
The torn national flag was flapping from the strong wind underneath the cloudy sky. Everything was a horror.
Gulping her saliva, Irene had the same expression as when she first came to the Demon King's castle. Still, she stepped forward before anyone else did.  I am the representative.
With a sigh, Isaac followed Irene, and Donny who was trembling a little came after him. With a grimace, Jasper took a step forward to chase after them while Luc and Quartz followed them after looking at each others' faces. Behind their back were the people they brought together with them. Some of them were trembling, and perhaps, some were putting on a bold front; but, they still went after the people in front of them.
No one who came here lost their nerves. Keith looked over his shoulder to confirm that.
[Irene-sama is truly promising] 
Very thinly, his lips formed into an arc, imitating a smile.
[My interest in her is piqued]
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ