夜の王宮。国王クライドの執務室に、彼と剣聖雨宮蔵人の姿があった。
身なりを整えた蔵人は、木蓮の治療によってサムから受けた傷が綺麗になっていた。
「――蔵人よ、木蓮に腕をつなげてもらわなかったのだな」
クライドは、膝を着き首を垂れる友人に、嘆息混じりで声をかけた。
「私にはその資格がありませんゆえ」
「この度のことはすべて聞き及んでいる。サムと決闘すると聞いたときには、なにを血迷ったかと思ったが、まさか娘が人質に囚われていたとはな。ミッシェル家め、くだらぬことをしてくれる」
「申し訳ございませんでした」
「まったくだ。せめて、友人である余に相談してくれれば――いや、娘が人質になってしまったのだ、それも難しかったのだな」
クライドは蔵人に同情する。
同時に、クライドにとって大切な友人を利用したミッシェル家に怒りが湧く。
すでにミザリー・ミッシェルの身柄は押さえてある。
彼女は両腕を失った息子を目にし、大騒ぎした挙句、失神した。
ミッシェル家の使用人を複数人尋問した結果、雨宮家の使用人の誰が内通していたのかもわかった。
ただ、その内通者たちも、ミザリーに家族を人質にされて脅されていたことが判明した。
使用人たちもことみを攫うなどしたくなかったようだが、家族の命を盾にされたら従う他なかったようだ。
情状酌量の余地があるため、厳しく罰するつもりはない。
「もうミッシェル家に恩義など感じまい?」
「メンデス様には感謝しています。ですが、もう、恩義は果たしました」
「だろうな。メンデスも文句は言うまい。いや、むしろ、早々にあの親子に見切りをつけなかったことを嘆くだろう」
「かもしれません。それでも、私にはできなかったのです」
「愚かだが、そなたらしい」
良くも悪くも蔵人が義理堅い人間であることをクライドはよく知っていた。
友として、蔵人には同情しているが、王としては裁かないわけにはいかなかった。
「蔵人よ。今をもって、そなたから剣聖の称号を取り上げる」
「事情は十分承知しているが、それでも許せることではない」
「もちろんです」
「国に長く貢献したそなたから、爵位までは奪わぬ。静かな余生を過ごすといい」
「......ご温情に感謝致します」
甘い、という声が出るかもしれないが、すでにギュンターを介してサムから大事にしないでほしいと言う旨の伝言を受け取っている。
クライドとしてもサムの申し出はありがたかった。
「次の剣聖にふさわしい者がいると聞いている」
「......まだ未熟ではありますが、いずれ私よりも優れた剣士になると思っています」
ギュンターの報告では、サムを殺すつもりで斬りかかった蔵人の一撃を、娘水樹が止めたという。
であれば、実に将来が楽しみである。
「それほど優れた娘がいるのであれば、王宮がユリアン・ミッシェル程度を次の剣聖に認めるはずがなかろう」
最終決定権は国王である自分にある。
次期剣聖候補者たちの資料は手元に届いているが、どれも剣聖たる実力があるとは思えなかった。
とくに、有力視されていたミッシェルも、資料に改竄の形跡があるとすでにわかっており、それを行ったのがミッシェル家に関係するものであることは把握済みだ。
すでに改竄者は捕縛済みであり、その者からミザリー・ミッシェルに大金を積まれ依頼されたと証言もある。
さらに言えば、ミッシェル家は貴族派に王族派の情報をながしていた一族でもあった。気づいたのは最近だが、今回の一件で処罰するいい大義名分を手に入れることができた。
「わかっていながらも、ミッシェル家の要望を拒めませんでした」
「だろうな。まあ、いい。次の剣聖に、そなたの娘雨宮水樹がふさわしいかどうか確かめてから、後継者にするか決めるとしよう。それまでは、剣聖の座を空位にする」
水樹のことはクライドもよく知っている。
「娘たちはどうする? 余は、娘たちをどうこうするつもりはない。聞けば、次女ことみはサムの弟子になるだとか。ならば、今までと変わらない生活をするといい」
「――ありがとうございます」
「だが、余は水樹をサムに嫁がせることを考えている」
「陛下?」
「今回の一件は、できるだけ表に出ないようにはしたが、それでも王宮にいる人間の口を閉じることはできぬ」
「おっしゃる通りです」
「すでに、いくつかの貴族にそなたのことは伝わっており、剣聖の地位の剥奪をはじめ、死刑を望む声も届いている」
貴族の中には蔵人を快く思わない人間も多い。
今回の一件で、これ幸いと蔵人を糾弾しようとする者もいた。
「水樹を人質として、サムの妻とする」
「陛下、それはどういう?」
「そなたが同じ過ちを犯さぬよう、二度目はないという意味を込めている。というのは建前であるがな。そのくらいしなければ他の貴族たちが納まるまい」
建前と言ったものの、もし蔵人が同じことを繰り返せば、クライドは水樹やことみに責任を問わなければならなくなる。
無論、そのようなことはないと信じている。
ただ、クライドが信じていても、蔵人を敵視する人間はそれでは納得しない。彼らに、蔵人を糾弾させないためにも、水樹を差し出す形としてサムに預けるのだ。
サムには悪いが、いざなにかあった時に、蔵人や水樹を止めることのできる人間が近くにいたほうが安心できる。
無論、反対する声もあるだろう。
現在、サムと婚姻を求める声は多い。
水樹はあくまでも人質としてサムに預ける形になるが、なにもなければ普通に妻として、彼と愛を育み、子を産んでもらって構わない。
それを快く思わない人間も間違いなくいるだろう。
「――余は友を失いたくない」
「かつて戦場で命を救ってもらったことは今でも鮮明に覚えている。妻に贈り物をするとき、夜通し一緒になって考えてくれた思い出もある。余にとって、そなたは掛け替えのない友人であるのだ」
「......もったいないお言葉です」
結局のところ、クライドは親友を失いたくないのだ。
「サムには迷惑をかけてしまうだろうが、腕の立つ器量のよい妻が増えるということで許してもらおう。もっとも、そんなことを勝手に決めた余は恨まれるかもしれぬし、婚約者を増やしたせいで娘にも嫌われるかもしれぬがな」
サムが多くの妻を持つことを望んでいないのは承知しているので、後日謝罪しようと決める。
「さて、蔵人よ」
「サミュエル・シャイトは強かったか?」
「とても強い少年でした」
「なにやらギュンターが鬱陶しいくらい、気を昂らせておったが、なにかあったのか?」
「魔法に疎い私にはわかりかねますが、彼が目指す最強の魔法使い、その称号を得る日はそう遠くはないでしょう」
「なるほど。義理の息子の将来が実に楽しみである」
実を言うと、サムが蔵人に勝利するとは思わなかった。
サムが竜をも退ける強さというのは知っているが、市街地で手数が限られている状況下で、魔法使い殺しを相手にどこまで戦えるのか不安だったのだ。
ゆえに、ギュンターをいざと言う時のために送り込み、木蓮も屋敷の傍に控えさせていた。
(もう少し早く事を知れていたら止めることもできただろうが......それが悔やまれる。だが、サムは見事だった。蔵人を、余が知る限り最強の剣士を圧倒した。将来が楽しみでたまらぬ)
しかし、決闘の結果はサムの勝利だった。
蔵人は事情から後に引けず、再び立ち上がったようだが、結果はサムの勝ちだ。
サムを殺させるつもりはなかったが、まさか勝つとは思わなかったのだ。
ユリアンにはある意味感謝している。
奴が横槍を入れたおかげで、ふたりのどちらも失わずに済んだ。
「一応、そなたに言っておくことがある」
「自害は許さん。国外に出ることも許さん。そなたは生きて、そうだな、今までと変わらず弟子を取り、育成せよ」
「......よろしいのですか?」
「サムがそなたに処罰を望まぬそうだ。命を狙われながらも豪胆よな。サムに感謝し、生きよ」
クライドの言葉に、蔵人は額を床に当てるほど深く下げた。
At the royal palace during the night, King Clyde's study was occupied by him and the Sword Saint, Amemiya Kurando.
Kurando, now neatly dressed, bore no trace of the wounds he had received from Sam, thanks to Magnolia's healing. However, his left arm was missing.
"Kurando, you didn't let Magnolia attach your arm?"
Clyde addressed his friend, who knelt down and hung his head in a mixture of exasperation and sadness.
"I don't have the right to do that."
"I'm aware of everything that's happened. When I heard that you were going to duel with Sam, I couldn't believe what madness had taken over you. But to think your daughter was taken hostage... Those Michel people, engaging in such pointless actions."
"I apologize."
"Absolutely. At least if you had consulted me, your friend--no, the fact that my daughter was taken hostage complicates matters."
Clyde sympathized with Kurando. He felt indebted to the former head, Mendes, and Kurando had been devoted to the Michel family. However, the results were far from satisfactory.
Simultaneously, Clyde's anger grew towards the Michel family for using his dear friend.
Michel Misery was already in custody.
She had witnessed her son, who lost both arms, causing a commotion and fainting in the process.
After questioning several of the Michel family's servants, they determined which of the Amemiya house's servants had been involved.
However, it turned out that those informants within the Amemiya household had been coerced by the Michel family, who held their families hostage.
Though the informants didn't want to participate in acts like kidnapping Kotomi, they had no choice when their families' lives were threatened.
Given these mitigating circumstances, the intention was not to harshly punish them.
"You no longer feel indebted to the Michel family?"
"I'm grateful to Mendes-sama. However, I've fulfilled my debt."
"Indeed. Mendes won't have any complaints. In fact, he might regret not cutting ties with that family sooner."
"Perhaps. Still, I couldn't have done it."
"Foolish, but typical of you."
Clyde knew well that Kurando was a person of strong principles, for better or worse. He couldn't help but feel regret that if Kurando had been more diplomatic, they might have avoided this situation.
As a friend, he sympathized with Kurando, but as a king, he couldn't avoid making judgments.
"Kurando. As of now, I'm revoking your title of Sword Saint."
"I'm well aware of the circumstances, but even so, I can't condone this."
"Of course."
"While I won't strip you of your title as nobility, given your long service to the nation, I suggest you spend your remaining days in peace."
"I appreciate your mercy."
One might think that these words sounded soft, but Clyde had already received a message via Gunther, through Sam, requesting that he not treat Kurando too harshly.
Clyde also found Sam's offer quite useful.
"I've heard there's a suitable candidate for the next Sword Saint."
"She's still inexperienced, but I believe she'll eventually become a better swordsman than I am."
According to Gunther's report, it was Mizuki who prevented Kurando's strike, intended to kill Sam.
This made the future look promising.
"If you have such an outstanding daughter, it's unlikely the palace would recognize someone as mediocre as Julian Michel as the next Sword Saint."
The ultimate decision lay with Clyde himself, as the king.
He had the profiles of the prospective Sword Saint candidates, but none seemed to possess the necessary skills to be a Sword Saint.
Especially Michel Julian, who had been considered a contender but was now known to have manipulated his profile, pointing to a connection to the Michel family.
The forger had already been apprehended, and testimony confirmed that they had been paid a substantial sum by Michel Misery to do so.
Furthermore, the Michel family had been involved in transmitting information between the noble and royal factions. Though this had only recently been discovered, the current incident had provided a perfect justification for their punishment.
"Even though you understood, you couldn't refuse the Michel family's request."
"Well, fine. First, confirm if your daughter, Amemiya Mizuki, is worthy of succeeding you as the next Sword Saint. Then we'll decide if she becomes your successor. Until then, the position of the Sword Saint will remain vacant."
Clyde was well acquainted with Mizuki. He had held her in his arms when she was born, as the daughter of his friend.
"What about your daughters? I have no intentions of interfering with them. I've heard that your second daughter, Kotomi, will become Sam's disciple. In that case, she can continue living as she has."
"Thank you."
"However, I'm considering arranging a marriage between Sam and Mizuki."
"Your Majesty?"
"While I've tried to keep this incident as discreet as possible, it's impossible to silence everyone in the palace."
"You're right."
"Some nobles already know about this situation and have sent petitions, demanding not only the revocation of the Sword Saint's title but also his execution."
Among the nobles, there were many who didn't hold favorable opinions of Kurando.
In light of the recent incident, there were those who saw this as an opportunity to criticize and condemn Kurando.
"Use Mizuki as a hostage and make her Sam's wife."
"Your Majesty, what does that mean?" magic
"It's a way of ensuring you don't repeat the same mistake. It's a pretense, of course, but it's also a message that there won't be a second chance. Additionally, it's to appease the other nobles."
Although it was presented as a pretext, if Kurando were to repeat the same mistake, Clyde would have to hold Mizuki and Kotomi responsible.
However, he firmly believed that such a scenario wouldn't occur.
Yet, even if Clyde believed this, those who held animosity toward Kurando wouldn't be satisfied. To prevent them from condemning Kurando, Clyde decided to place Mizuki in Sam's care, as a form of assurance.
Clyde knew that it was unfortunate to do this to Sam, but in case something happened, it would be reassuring to have someone capable of restraining Kurando and Mizuki nearby.
Of course, there would also be voices of dissent.
Currently, there were many voices calling for Sam to marry. Not just Sam, the kingdom's most powerful mage, but also Countess Liselotte, Court Wizard Murasaki Hanae, and even Princess Stella. Many wanted to forge connections with him.
While Mizuki would initially be handed over to Sam as a hostage, if everything went well, she could become his wife, share love with him, and bear his children.
Certainly, there would be individuals who didn't approve of this.
"I don't want to lose a friend."
"I still vividly remember when you saved my life on the battlefield. I also have memories of us staying up all night together, thinking about gifts for our wives. To me, you are an irreplaceable friend."
"Your words are too kind."
Ultimately, Clyde didn't want to lose his dear friend.
"Although Sam might be inconvenienced, having more skilled and capable wives is a good thing. However, making such a decision without proper consultation might make some resent me. Moreover, it might make my daughters dislike me for increasing their prospective stepmothers."
Knowing that Sam didn't desire to have numerous wives, Clyde planned to apologize to him later.
"Now then, Kurando."
"Was Samuel Scheidt strong?"
"He was a very strong young man."
Gunther had been quite agitated lately. Was there something going on?
"I'm not well-versed in magic, but I don't think it'll be long before he attains the title of the strongest wizard he aspires to be."
"I see. I'm looking forward to the future of my honorary son."
To be honest, Clyde hadn't expected Sam to defeat Kurando.
While he knew that Sam possessed the strength to overcome dragons, he was unsure of how Sam would fare against a Wizard Slayer like Kurando, especially in a confined urban setting.
That's why Gunther had been sent as a precaution, and Kuren was stationed near the estate. The reason the duel wasn't stopped was to avoid cornering Kurando.
(If only I had learned about this a little earlier, I might have been able to prevent it... But Sam was amazing. He overwhelmed Kurando, the strongest swordsman I know. I'm excited about their futures.)
However, the outcome of the duel was Sam's victory.
Despite Kurando's circumstances, he had stood up again. But the final result was Sam's triumph.
He hadn't intended for Sam to be killed, but he hadn't expected him to win either.
In a way, he was grateful to Julian.
Thanks to him intervening, neither of them had lost. They had managed to minimize the damage.
"I should tell you one thing."
"I won't allow you to commit suicide. Leaving the country is also forbidden. You will live on and, well, continue taking on disciples and nurturing them as before."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Sam doesn't wish for you to be punished. It's bold of you to be so resolute, even when your life was at risk. Be grateful to Sam and live on."
Upon Clyde's words, Kurando lowered his head deeply, so much so that his forehead touched the floor. It might have been an illusion, but his body seemed to tremble slightly.
The Reincarnated Wizard Who Will Eventually Become the Strongest
いずれ最強に至る転生魔法使い　〜異世界に転生したけど剣の才能がないから家を追い出されてしまいました。でも魔法の才能と素晴らしい師匠に出会えたので魔法使いの頂点を目指すことにします〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-wizard-who-will-eventually-become-the-strongest/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Slice of Life
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Child Protagonist Childcare Cute Children Death of Loved Ones Demon Lord Demons Depictions of Cruelty Dragons Fantasy World Female Master Kingdoms Magic Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Reincarnated in Another World Reincarnation Resurrection Royalty Student-Teacher Relationship Summoned Hero Sword And Magic Time Skip Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n1154gq/
飯田栄静＠市村鉄之助