の募集があった日の夕方、俺とルーチェは、ギルドに併設されてる酒場へとケルトとメアベルを呼び出していた。
「どうしたんよ、お二人さん。ウチとケルトさんを呼び出すなんて」
メアベルが和やかな様子で俺へと問う。
「......実は頼みたいことがあってな。危険なことだし、割に合わないと思ったなら、勿論断ってもらっていいんだが」
俺がそこまで口にしたところで、既にケルトが何かを察したかのように、怪訝な表情を浮かべていた。
「なぁ......エルマよ。それって〈水没した理想都〉のレイド絡みじゃねぇだろうな? まさかお前、あんな嫌な予感しかしねぇレイドに参加する、なんてほざくんじゃないだろうな」
「......そこまで露骨に牽制されると答え辛いんだが、そのつもりだ。前回同様に〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉絡みのようだし、一度手を出した手前、素知らぬふりをするのも気が咎めてな」
此度のレイドのハーデン侯爵の狙いは、急いた相手がこれが
......そして恐らく、相手の狙いもまた、深追いを試みるハーデン侯爵がこのレイドで犯人を釣り出そうとしていることを見抜いた上で、この場を利用するべく仕掛けてきている。
既にかなり厳しい戦いになることが予想されていた。
ただ、このレイドを放置すれば、そのまま
「マジかよ......おいおい。あのな、エルマ。お前の正義感強くて真っ直ぐなところは好きだが、あんなもん馬鹿か金のない奴が手を出すもんだ。何のための税だと思ってる? 俺らが手を出さなくても、お貴族様の兵が上手い具合にやってくれるっての」
ケルトは額を押さえた後、わざとらしく肩を竦めた。
「ま、まぁ、そのための貴族なのは同感だが......」
どうにもケルトは、あまり貴族にいい印象を持ってはいない様子であった。
ルーチェは俺の様子を見て、気まずげに苦笑いしていた。
「それに今は、A級冒険者の〈黒き炎刃〉様がラコリナに来てくださってるからな。さっきも言ったが、ハウルロッド侯爵家の兵が出てくるのは間違いねえよ。俺は正直、B級冒険者の中じゃ強さは下の方だぜ。あくまで斥候クラスだからよ。こっちのチンチクリンだって、C級冒険者だからな」
ケルトがメアベルを指で示す。
「チンチクリンとはなんなんよ。回復クラスはレベルが上がり難いし、戦地でも後衛になるから冒険者等級が低くなりやすい。探索や戦闘、連携の実践経験ではケルトさんにも引けを取ってない自負はあるんよ」
メアベルがムッとしたように答えた。
「今回のレイド......〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉の除去のためにも、また四人班でばらけて突入して異常発生した魔物を分散させつつ、間引いていく形で攻略するそうだ。ただ、裏切り者が紛れ込む可能性が高いらしい。だからギルドの編成に任せるより、信頼できる二人を引き入れておきたいんだが......」
「ただでさえ胡散臭いのに、裏切り者と来たかよ......。悪いがエルマよ、それを聞いて俺は余計に行きたくなくなったぜ。メアベル、お前も同感だろ? 前のレイドじゃ最初は騙されてたが、お前も相当な食わせ物だったからな。この手の胡散臭い依頼はお断りだろ?」
「参加してもいいんよ。ウチ、頼られるのは嫌いじゃないんよ」
「なっ......! メアベル、お前っ、参加するのか?」
メアベルの言葉に、ケルトが目を見開く。
俺も正直なところを、メアベルがあっさりと参加を表明してくれるのは意外であった。
メアベルがケルトの服をがっしりと掴んだ。
「それから......前に一人で逃げようとした挙げ句に命助けられた卑怯モンも、きっとちょっとでも恩を返すために参加してくれるんよ」
「待て、待て待て! す、少し、考えさせろ!」
ケルトがメアベルの手を払って、そう口にした。
メアベルはケルトの慌てた様子を見るとくすりと笑い、それから俺を向き直った。
「エルマさんの性格は前のレイドでよくわかってるんよ。理詰めで考えて、無理のあることはしないって。確かに高レベルの〈夢の穴〉で尻込みする気持ちはあるけど、ウチらなら適任だと踏んでのことなんよね?」
「前のスカルロード戦で、二人には〈ステータス〉を明かしてもらったからな。下手な高レベルの攻撃クラスを引き入れるより、スキルのわかっているメアベルやケルトの方が遥かに動きやすいと判断した。〈水没した理想都〉に出没する魔物のスキルや〈ステータス〉は把握しているが、この四人ならば問題なく捌けるはずだ。既にこの四人だった場合の各魔物に対する戦い方は概ね考えている。この〈水没した理想都〉はやや特殊な地形の〈夢の穴〉で、かつ〈夢の主〉は移動能力に難がある。万が一前回のように〈
俺は当初、適当な二人を雇って、レイドの開幕と同時に外に出てもらおうと考えていた。
ハーデン侯爵から裏切り者を探ってほしいと頼まれていたため、少人数で動いた方が小回りが利いて素早く動けるため丁度いいと考えていたからだ。
ルーチェと二人で道中の魔物を凌ぐ手立ても考えていたのだが、どうしても俺とルーチェだけでは対応し切れない場面が起こり得ると考えたため、ケルトとメアベルを呼ぶことにしたのだ。
「......買い被りどころか思ってた以上で、ちょっと引くんよ」
メアベルが俺を見て苦笑いを浮かべた。
「で、ウチらに負い目のあるケルトさんはどうするんよ?」
「いちいち嫌な言い方するんじゃねぇよ......」
ケルトが自身の頭に手を触れ、髪を掻いた。
「ウチ、この面子で〈夢の穴〉潜るの嫌いじゃないんよ。ケルトさんも、前に〈嘆きの墓所〉を攻略したとき......すっごい生き生きとした、いい顔してた。汚く立ち回って小銭拾ってるより、あっちの方がずっとケルトさんの性に合ってるように見えたんよ」
メアベルがくいくいとケルトの袖を引っ張る。
「......チッ、仕方ねぇか。お前らに恩があるのは確かだ。それに......C級冒険者の回復役と、新人B級冒険者二人にゃ荷が重いレイドだろうからな。この一流の斥候の俺が手を貸してやるよ」
ケルトが観念したように溜め息を吐いた。
「ありがとう......ケルト、メアベル」
「ま、お前らは妙に金回りがいいからな。せいぜい勝ち馬に乗らせてもらえることを期待してるぜ」
ケルトがニヤリと口端を上げた。
「ふふ~ん、この人、悪振ってるけど案外可愛いところあるんよ。強く頼まれたら絶対すぐに折れるって、ウチ、最初からわかってたんよ」
メアベルはカラカラと笑いながら、肘でぐりぐりとケルトの肩を突いた。
「......今からでも降りてやろうか?」
ケルトが苦虫を噛み潰したような顔でメアベルを横目で睨む。
On the same day the recruitment for the Raid Quest started, Luce and I invited Celt and Mabel to the tavern adjacent to the Guild building.
"So what happened with you two to call Celt and I like this?"
Mabel asked us in a genial mood.
".....there is something I would like to ask you two. It would be quite dangerous, so if you think it's not worth it, then you can of course refuse."
It looked like Celt had already guessed my objective from the little I've just said, so he had a dubious expression on his face.
"Heey....Elma, my man. It wouldn't have anything to do with the Raid to the Sunken Utopia, right? You wouldn't be about to suggest that we join that Raid that I already said I have an extremely bad feeling about, would you?"
"....well, when you say it like that, it becomes hard to just come out and say it, but yeah, that was my intention. Like last time, this Raid is connected to the Mourning Trapezohedrons as well, and since we were already involved, I would've felt bad about acting like it wasn't our business."
Marquee Harden's aim for the Raid this time is to flush out the people trying to take this last chance to create a Zork and take them out wholesale.
.....furthermore, the enemy is probably aware of Marquee Harden's intentions to suss out the traitor during this Raid, so they will most likely try something to exploit that situation.
It's already clear that we are in for a difficult fight this time.
However, if we ignore this Raid and they really manage to create a Zork, then La Colina may end up drowned under a Monster Calamity.
"Are you serious right now.....hey hey. Listen here, Elma. I like that straightforwardness and moral fortitude of yours, but the only ones that would want anything to do with that are either stupid or broke. That's what taxes are for, you know? Even if we don't get involved, the blue-bloods and their soldiers will take care of it properly."
After holding a hand to his forehead, Celt shrugged his shoulders.
"W-well, I agree on the fact that that's what nobles are for....."
It seems like Celt did not have too good of an impression of nobles.
Seeing my reaction, Luce had an awkward smile on her face.
"Also, we even have the A rank adventurer, the Black Flame Sword himself in La Colina right now. The soldiers of the Howlod Family will be there for sure too. To be truthful, among the B rank adventurers, I'm below average in terms of strength. I have a scout-type Class after all. The pipsqueak here is only a C rank as well."
Celt pointed his finger at Mabel.
"Who're you calling a pipsqueak? It's hard for a healer Class to level up and we mostly stay at the back during a fight, so our adventurer rank tends to be lower. I'm confident that I would not fall behind Celt in experience with exploration, battle, and teamwork."
Mabel replied with indignation.
"Apparently, for the Raid this time..... partly because of the Mourning Trapezohedrons, we will be clearing the Dungeon by splitting into four-man teams to divide up the monsters that appeared in abnormal numbers and gradually thin them out. However, there is a high probability that a traitor or traitors could slip into our midst. That's why, rather than leaving it to the Guild, I would like to invite you two, since I know I can trust you....."
"This was all kinds of fishy to begin with, but now you say that there is a traitor even..... Sorry, Elma, but now I want to go even less. It's the same for you as well, right Mabel? You managed to pull the wool over my eyes at the beginning of our last Raid, but you are quite a vily one as well. You don't want to get yourself mixed up in something as shady as this, right?"
"I'm fine with coming along. I don't hate it when people rely on me."
"Wha-.....! Mabel, you want to participate?"
Celt's eyes opened wide in surprise from what Mabel said.
Even I felt it was unexpected that Mabel would just accept right away like that.
Mabel grabbed a fistful of Celt's clothes.
"Also.....I'm sure that someone, who tried to run away by himself last time and ended up having to be saved in the end, will do his best to repay that debt even a little by participating this time."
"Wait, wait wait! L-let me think it over for a bit!"
Celt said while he brushed away Mabel's hand.
Seeing Celt's panicking expression Mabel giggled a bit, then she turned towards me.
"I've got a read on your character during the last Raid, Elma-san. You think things through logically and avoid hopeless situations as best as you can. I admit I'm hesitant about going into a high level Dungeon like that, but you only invited us because you thought that we would be a good fit for it, right?"
"We shared our Statuses with each other before that Skull Lord battle. I judged that working with you two, whose Skills I know, would be much easier than someone else with a high level damage dealing Class. I know the Skills and Statuses of every monster that could appear in the Sunken Utopia and the four of us should be able to handle them without a problem. I've already thought of strategies on how to fight against every type of monster there with this lineup. The Sunken Utopia has a certain unique topology and thanks to that the Dream Lord can't move that freely. Even if another Wandering Lord appears this time as well, with all of our Skills I should be able to prepare a way out for us. If I let someone else dictate who we team up with, the end result would never come close to how efficient and safe this lineup could be."
At first, I was thinking of hiring two people for the party, then have them exit the Dungeon right after the start of the Raid.
I thought since Marquee Harden asked us to search for the traitor, it would be better to have fewer people with us, since we would be able to maneuver faster that way.
I thought of ways Luce and I could get through the monsters on the way, but even so, there were still possible circumstances which only the two of us have no way of handling by ourselves, so I decided to try and invite Celt and Mabel.
".....rather than overestimating you, I seem to have done the opposite. It's kind of creepy to be honest."
Mabel had a wry smile on her face while looking at me.
"So, what will the in-debt-to-us Celt-san do?"
"Stop saying everything in such an unpleasant way....."
Celt raised his hand to his head and raked it through his hair.
"I don't hate the idea of delving into a Dungeon with this party. Last time, when we managed to clear the Graveyard of Sorrows.....Celt-san, you were pretty energetic and lively. Rather than trying to make money by acting like a villain, I think that is closer to your real nature."
Mabel tugged on Celt's sleeves a few times.
"....tsk, I guess I have no choice. I am indeed in your debt. Also.....this Raid would be a bit too much for a C rank healer and two newbie B rank adventurers, so this first rate scout will lend you a helping hand."
Celt let out a sigh of resignation.
"Thank you....Celt, Mabel."
"Well, you also have a strange tendency to rake in the money, so I'll be riding your coattails."
The corners of Celt's mouth curved up into a grin.
"Fufuun, this guy, even though he tries to act like a villain, he's quite cute sometimes. I knew from the beginning that he would fold right away if someone pleaded with him."
Mabel kept poking Celt's shoulders with her elbow while laughing.
".....is it too late to take it back now?"
Celt kept glaring at Mabel from the corner of his eye with a sour expression.
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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