無造作に進んでいるのか侵入者の足音が聞こえる。
私は木の陰に隠れると機会を伺っていた。
(一体何の目的で? エリバンが裏切った?)
王女である私がここにいることを知っているのはエリバン王国の重鎮と同行の騎士だ。
同行の騎士の選定には気を使ったし、何よりここで私に危害を加えたところで責任問題になる。
(そう考えるとエリバンかしら?)
だが、エリバン王国も我が国と敵対する意味がない。そもそもの話、これまで国交がなかったのだから、恨みもなければ縁もないのだ。
今回の調査みたいに便宜をはかることはあっても邪魔をする意味はない。
(いずれにせよ、相手の意図がわからないなら先制した方がいいわね)
結界を壊して入ってきているのだ、とりあえず無力化してから拷問にでもかけて目的を聞き出せばいい。
しばらく息をひそめて待つ。相手の実力が図れないとなると、心臓が脈打つ。
私はどうにか心をコントロールすると音もなく剣を抜いた。
そして、目標の影が映ると......。
「はっ!」
死角から飛び出すと斬りつけた。
――キイーーーーン――
金属がぶつかる音が泉にこだまする。
「いきなり何をするっ!」
目の前には1人の青年が立っていた。
年のころは私と同じぐらい。だが、妙に目が惹かれてしまいそうな顔立ちに一瞬私の思考が鈍った。
「それはこちらの台詞よっ! 大人しく倒されなさいっ!」
完全な不意打ちを防いだことも驚きだが、恐ろしく綺麗で鋭い剣が目に入る。
あのタイミングで剣を受けたということは最初から帯剣していたということになる。
そうならばやはり目的は私ということになる。
「っと! くそっ! 話ぐらい聞いてくれてもいいだろうがっ!」
男は私の剣を躱しながらも会話を続ける。もしかすると仲間が駆けつけてくるまでの時間稼ぎだろうか?
「やるじゃない。私の剣をここまで躱す人間は久しぶりねっ!」
王国で、私に並びたつ剣士は存在しなかった。
私は初めてまみえる強敵を前に自然と口の端が釣りあがる。
「ったく。クズミゴには臭いをつけられるし、変な女に斬りかかられるし......。呪いでも掛けられてるんじゃないか?」
「だ、誰が変な女ですっ! この無礼者っ!」
小手調べは終わりとばかりに私は男へと飛び込む。そして......。
「【ロイヤルバッシュ】」
剣が輝き力を増幅した横薙ぎを放った。この威力は金属の盾ごと騎士の鎧を斬り裂く。普通に避けるしかない攻撃だ。
相手が思っているよりも手練れだったので、手加減が出来なかった。腕の1本ぐらいは諦めてもらう。
そんな、覚悟で放った1撃が......。
「えっ?」
手に伝わってくるのは最小の衝撃。
本来強い力がぶつかればお互いの腕に衝撃が走るはず。
だが、目の前の男はその衝撃を完全に殺す受け方をしたということになる。
私は警戒すると距離をとった。
今のような受け方は余程相手との実力差がなければできない。つまりこれをされた時点で相手の方が強いということに。
「はぁ、仕方ない。話を聞く気がないなら無力化させてもらうからな」
ようやく男は真剣になり剣を構えた。その型は使う人間を見たことがない、だが知っている型だった。
「それは古流型剣術ね?」
「どう呼ぶかは知らないな。知り合いのエルフが使っていたから教わったんだよ」
エルフは余程の変わり者でなければ人間を好んでいない。
そんなエルフと知り合いというのは個人的に興味を惹かれる。
「それじゃあ......。受け損なうなよ?」
真剣な言葉に喉をゴクリとならす。今まさに攻撃がくる。目の前の男に集中していると......。
「ふっ!」
一瞬にして男との距離がゼロになった。そして............。
4撃目を受けると吹き飛ばされ泉へと落ちた。
「ちょっ! わぷっ!」
咄嗟のことで慌てる。攻撃を受けた手が痺れていて水を飲んでしまった。
このまま溺れてしまうのか。そんな風に水中から上を見ていると......。
「大丈夫か?」
手をグイっと引っ張られ水中から顔を上げる。
口の中から水を吐き出し、目の前の男に抱き着く。
男は泳いできたようで衣服が水にぬれてべったりと張り付いていた。
「悪かった。もう少し手加減しても良かったんだけど、避けられる気がしたんでな」
「あ、あれで手加減したって......嘘でしょう?」
水に濡れた顔が目の前にある。至近距離から男を見ていると視線を外せなくなりドキドキしてきた。
しばらくの間、男と見つめ合う。男の澄んだ瞳に吸い込まれそうになり顔が自然と近づいていくのだが......。
「そ、それより離れてもらっていいか?」
男は私から視線を逸らすと要望を口にする。私が首を傾げると......。
「非常に言いづらいんだが、服が水で透けている」
その指摘に私は自分の身体を見る。すると......。
慌てて背を向ける。私の服も濡れて透けていたからだ。
「すまない。不可抗力なんだ......」
そう言って謝る男。私は涙目になると男を睨みつけた。
「せ、責任とってもらうからねっ!」
I could hear the sound of intruders' footsteps, as if they were advancing haphazardly.
I hid behind a tree and waited for my chance.
(What the hell is the purpose of this? Did Erivan betray me?)
The only people who know I'm here as a princess are the overlords of the Erivan Kingdom and the knights accompanying me.
I was very careful in selecting the knights to accompany me, and more importantly, it would be a liability issue if they harmed me here.
(Or is it even Erivan, now that I think about it?)
However, the Kingdom of Erivan has no reason to be hostile to my country. In the first place, since we have never had diplomatic relations before, we have no grudge and no connection.
There's no point in interfering with them, even if it's for the sake of convenience like this investigation.
(In any case, if I don't know their intentions, it's better to preempt them.)
They've broken the wards to get in, so we can incapacitate them for now and then torture them to find out what they want. 1
I wait for a while, holding my breath. When I can't figure out what they're capable of, my heart pulses.
I managed to control my mind and drew my sword without a sound.
And when I see the shadow of my target, I.......
[Ha!] 
I jumped on his blind spot and slashed at him.
----Keeeeeeeeeeeen----
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the springs.
[What are you doing!?] 
There was a young man standing in front of me.
He was about the same age as me, but his face was strangely attractive, and for a moment my thoughts were dulled. 2
[That's my line! ] 
I was surprised that he was able to prevent a complete surprise attack, but I also saw a beautiful and sharp sword.
If he got out the sword at that moment, it means that he was wearing the sword from the beginning.
If so, then their goal is me.
[Shit! Damn it! You could've at least listened to me!] 
The man ducks under my sword and continues his conversation. Perhaps he is stalling for time until his friends come running?
[You're good. It's been a long time since anyone has ducked my sword this well!] 
There was no swordsman in the kingdom who could stand up to me.
The edge of my mouth naturally flew up in front of my first encounter with a powerful enemy.
[Jeez. Kuzmigo made me smell, and now some strange woman is slashing at me.... Am I under a curse?] 
[Who is strange? You are so rude!] 
I jumped into the man's arms, thinking that my little investigation was over. And......
[[(Royal Slash)] ] 
My sword shone and it unleashed a horizontal slash that amplified its power. This power could slice right through a knight's armor even if it defended with a metal shield. It's an attack that can only be avoided normally.
My opponent was more skilled than I thought, so I couldn't go easy on him. He would have to give up at least one of his arms.
The first blow that I unleashed with such determination was......
[Eh?] 
The smallest impact felt in the hand.
Normally, when strong forces collide, there should be an impact on each other's arms.
However, it means that the man in front of me received the shock in a way that completely killed it.
I was alarmed and moved away.
You can't take a hit like this unless there is a huge difference in strength between you and your opponent. In other words, when someone does this, they're stronger than you.
[Haa, no choice. If you're not going to listen to me, I'm going to have to neutralize you.] 
The man finally turned serious and held up his sword, a kata I had never seen anyone use, but he knew it.
[That's koryu kata kenjutsu, isn't it?] 
[I don't know what you call it. I learned it from an elf I knew who used it.] 
Elves don't like humans unless they are very strange.
The fact that he know such an elf is something interesting to me.
[Well, then.... Don't fail to receive it, okay?] 
I gulped at the serious words. The attack is coming right now. Concentrating on the man in front of me.......
[Fu!] 
In an instant, the distance between me and the man dropped to zero. And then..........
I was blown away by the fourth blow and fell into the spring.
[Whoa! Wap!] 
I panicked as quickly as I could. My hand was numb from the attack and I drank some water.
Will I drown like this? Looking up from the water like that, I saw......
[Are you okay?] 
I look up from the water as he pulls my hand.
I spit the water out of my mouth and hugged the man in front of me.
The man seemed to have swum in the water and his clothes were wet and sticking to him.
[I'm sorry. I could have gone a little easier on you, but I felt like you could have avoided it.] 
[Oh, you were lying when you said you went easy on me.......] 
The water-soaked face is right in front of me. I can't take your gaze off the man as I look at him at close range and my heart starts to pound.
For a while, I stared at the man. The man's clear eyes almost sucked me in, and my face naturally moved closer......
[C, can I ask you to step away?] 
The man turns his gaze away from me and speaks his request. I nod my head and......
[I'm very sorry to tell you this, but your clothes are soaked with water.] 
At this point, I look at my own body. Then.......
I turned away in a panic, because my clothes were also wet and transparent.
[I'm sorry. It was inevitable.] 
The man apologized. I glared at him as my eyes began to tear up.
[Y, you will take responsibility for this!]
I, the Sacrifice, Somehow Killed the Evil God (WN)
【書籍化】生贄になった俺が、なぜか邪神を滅ぼしてしまった件【コミカライズ】
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-the-sacrifice-somehow-killed-the-evil-god/
Action Adventure Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Charming Protagonist Childhood Friends Dense Protagonist Depictions of Cruelty Different Social Status Dragons Elves Evil Gods Eye Powers Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fast Learner Game Elements Gods Hard-Working Protagonist Hated Protagonist Healers Kind Love Interests Lack of Common Sense Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Magic Magic Formations Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple POV Nobles Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Popular Love Interests R-15 Royalty Spirit Users Spirits Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7677gq/
まるせい