第096話~大聖堂へ~
少年の案内してくれた食堂で食事を済ませ、宿へと帰ってきた。
え? 食事の感想とか少年から得た情報? ああ、うん。食事はね、まぁ肉とパン、スープって感じだったね。不味くはなかったし、ボリュームもあったけど特筆するような点は正直なかったよ、うん。
この世界的には塩と胡椒をたっぷり使っていれば割と美食の類らしいです。塩と胡椒以外に蜜とか色々な調味料があった黒き森のエルフの里が世界標準で言えば進んでいる感じだったらしい。そして俺がクラフトで生み出す料理はその上を行く。まぁ、うん。宿の食事にも期待はしないでおこう。
で、少年から得た情報に関しては......まぁ世間話レベルだったからね。彼は情報屋ってわけでも事情通ってわけでもないから、仕方ないだろうけど。ただ、俺みたいな傭兵か冒険者かって感じの奴らが徐々に集まってきているってのは確かであるらしい。
それに、少し前には綺麗な揃いの鎧を着た教会騎士団も到着したと言っていた。恐らく例の聖女の護衛だろう。
強いのか? と少年に聞いてみたのだが、わかんないと言っていた。教会騎士は無敵だっていう話は聞くけど、それだったら帝国との戦争にはとっくに勝ってるはずだよな、とも言っていた。一般的には精鋭揃いとされているのは確かであるようだが、少年は眉唾だと思っているらしい。
うーん、俺には判断がつかないな。地下に戻ったらベスかポイゾに聞いてみよう。
で、飯も食ったから宿に帰ってきたわけなのだが。
「やることがねぇ......」
チラリと部屋の窓から陽の高さを推し量る。うーん、昼過ぎ、午後二時前後ってところだろうか。日没までまだ時間はあるが、今から教会に行って早速ミスリルのロザリオを入手するか......?
時間的には十分行けそうな気がするけど、あまり急ぐと事を仕損じるような気がする。今日はそれなりに緊張もして精神的にも疲労しているはずだし、部屋で大人しくしているべきだろうか。
とは言っても、この狭い部屋の中じゃクラフトもできないし暇も潰せないよなぁ。世間一般の傭兵や冒険者ってのはどうやって暇を潰しているんだろうか?
女将さんか宿の娘さんに聞こうかとも思ったが、不自然だろうか? 歴戦かどうかはわからないが、この宿に泊まれる程度に稼ぐ傭兵か冒険者が一般的な暇の潰し方を聞いてくる......うん、奇妙だな。
いや、待てよ? 暇だからどこかに遊びに行こうかと思うんだけど、良い場所知らない? って聞いてみるのは十分アリだな。俺がこのメリネスブルグに初めて来たから遊び場がわからないというのは不自然ではないはず。
というわけで、部屋を出たら丁度通りがかった宿の娘さん――確かラザエラちゃんだったか――に聞いてみた。
「遊び場、ですか?」
「そう、遊び場というか暇潰しをできるところだね。この街に来るのは初めてだからさ」
どうもこの子は傭兵とか冒険者の類を怖がっているようなので、できるだけ優しくフレンドリーに話しかけてみる。みた。のだが。
何故か困ったような顔で目を逸らされた。なんでや。
「ええと、心当たりないかな?」
「いえその、ないわけでは、ないですけれど。そういうの、私に聞きます?」
何か話が致命的に噛み合っていない気がする。
「ええと、観光名所とか、何か面白いものを売っている店とか、本屋とかで良いんだけど」
俺の言葉に娘さんがキョトンとした顔をしてから一気に顔を赤くした。この話の流れでどうして......? あっ、あー......そういう? もしかして勘違いしちゃった?
「誤解させたのはこっちのミスかも知れないけど、流石にそういうのを年頃の娘さんに聞くようなことはしないぞ......」
「す、すみません......!」
娘さんが顔を真赤にして謝る。うん、この世界で傭兵や冒険者の男の娯楽といえばそういうことなのね。よくわかった。
だとしてもね、流石に娼館がどこにあるのかとか年頃の娘さんに聞くような真似はしませんよ、俺は。しませんとも。セクハラ大好きなエロオヤジじゃないんだから。
「ええと、それはなかったことにしよう。うん、お互いに。それで、何かオススメなスポットは無いかな?」
「え、ええ、そうですね。ええと、大通りを街の中心方向に歩いていけば中央広場に出ます。そこには吟遊詩人や曲芸師なんかがいますよ」
「ほうほう、本屋とかはあるのかな?」
「本ですか......私はちょっと場所までは。ただ、街の北西にある貴族や豪商が住んでいる地域にはそういうものや宝飾品を売っているお店があるはずですね」
「なるほど。後はそうだなぁ......武器屋とかは?」
「そういったものを扱う職人街は街の南門の周辺ですね」
「なるほど、ありがとう」
そう言って俺は彼女に銅貨を数枚押し付けた。チップってやつだな。彼女は少し困ったような顔をしたが、結局ちゃんと受け取ってくれた。チップの文化は無いのだろうか? でも、受け取ってくれたしそういうこともないのかね。
「中央広場に行った後に職人街を覗いてみるよ。遅くとも夕食頃には戻るから」
「あ、はい。お気をつけて」
見送ってくれる娘さんにヒラヒラと手を振りながら受付で女将さんに部屋の鍵を預け、宿を出て中央広場へと向かう。
で、楽しめたかと言うと......うーん、微妙。全くもって微妙。吟遊詩人は所謂弾き語りってやつだ。ギターというかリュートっぽいものを奏でながら地方の英雄譚とかを歌っていたようだが......元ネタを知らないせいか笑いのツボとか興奮のしどころが今ひとつわからなかった。
正直芸人のほうが楽しめたね。ジャグラーとか手品師とかいたよ。
武器屋はね......ガラガラだった。何がって商品棚が。どうやら聖王国軍が武器を徴収しているらしく、所謂色物武器的なものしか残っていなかったのだ。欲しい武器があれば特注で作ってもらうしか無いらしい。
職人街の近くに市場もあったので寄ってみたのだが、主婦らしきおばちゃん達が最近食料品が値上がりして大変だとぼやいていた。商店主も高いと文句をつけられては聖王国軍が物資を集めてて品薄なんだよ、と言い返していたな。やはり、再度の侵攻......というよりアーリヒブルグの奪還に向けて聖王国軍は動き続けているようだ。
なんとか軍が動き出す前に戻りたいところだな。これはもう真面目に走って帰ることを検討したほうが良いかもしれない。俺の走破能力を勘案するに、余程のことがない限り成功しそうな気がする。
でも、余程のことがあった場合完全にアウトなのが良くないんだよなぁ、うん。
まずは目の前のことを一つずつ、だな。ミスリルのロザリオを手に入れて地下に戻って、大型のゴーレム通信機を作って解放軍と連絡を取る。それに集中しよう。
そういやキュービの野郎は解放軍の武器や戦術、ゴーレム通信機についての情報も持ってるんだよな......今更どうにもできないか。相手に知られているということを認識しつつ、運用に気をつけていくしかないな。
真似は無理だろうけどな。クロスボウは模倣される可能性が無くもないが、投射武器の類は聖王国ではあまり歓迎されないようだから大規模な運用は暫くはないだろう。爆弾や銃器の類は技術的な問題でそうそう真似は出来ないはずだし、ゴーレム通信機に至ってはゴーレムコアを量産できないとどうにもならないはずだ。そもそも書き込む術式とやらが複雑でそうそう模倣はできないはず。
俺はクラフト能力でなんとでもできるけどね。こういうところは正にインチキだよな。
翌日である。
久々の独り寝はなんとなく寂しい。こっちに来てからというものの、独り寝することが殆ど無かったからな......それだけでこの世界に来た価値が十二分にある気がする。色々と痛い思いとか怖い思いとかしてるけど、それを補って余りあるな。うん。
身支度を整え、ちゃんと革鎧も着込んで階下の食堂に降りる。昨日の夕食もこのラフィンの宿の食堂で頂いたのだが、昨日の昼食を食べた食堂よりも美味しかった。昨日の食堂が微妙だっただけなのかもしれない。質よりも量重視の食堂だったのかもしれないな。
笑顔の女将さんに見送られて早朝の宿を後にする。この世界に来てからというものの、早寝早起きが身体に染み付いてしまった。
アデル教の教会の位置は既にリサーチ済みである。昨日のうちに案内人の少年に聞き出しておいたのだ。流石に国の根幹を支える宗教の施設というだけあって、大変目立つわかりやすい場所に建設されていた。王城の真横である。
その威容を思わず見上げる。宗教建築というものは兎角荘厳というか、見るものを圧倒する雰囲気を発するものだが、この教会......いや、大聖堂と言うべきか。この大聖堂もご多分に漏れず大変立派な佇まいであった。
「しかしこりゃどういうことかね」
その荘厳で立派な大聖堂は何やら物々しい雰囲気で満ち満ちていた。揃いの鎧を着込んだ騎士達が入り口の両脇を固め、大聖堂へと続く道の両脇に控えているのだ。どう見ても厳戒態勢である。
ちょっと怖いが、警備に就いている騎士の一人に声をかけてみた。
「すみません、何かあったのですか?」
「聖女様による聖日の礼拝と説法が行われる。そのための警備だが......」
「傭兵か冒険者の類か」
「はい。そうなると武器を帯びたままというのは不味いですよね......大聖堂に入る前にお預けしたいと思うのですが」
「うむ。大聖堂の入り口で預けるが良い」
「聖光の加護があらんことを」
教会騎士が印を結んだので、頭を下げて大聖堂へと向かう。うーん、良くないタイミングで来てしまったようだ。よりによって例の真実の聖女とやらが来ている時に鉢合わせてしまうとは......いや、今回は礼拝の儀式と説法だけみたいだし、ピンポイントで尋問でもされない限り問題ないだろう。
聖女とやらがどんな人なのか興味が無いと言えば嘘になるし、ここで踵を返してどこかに行くというのも教会騎士達に怪しまれそうだ。できるだけ目立たないようにしていれば問題ないだろう。
大丈夫大丈夫、何も起きやしないって。起きたとしてもこれだけ教会騎士が居れば俺は隅っこで小さくなっているだけで大丈夫なはずだ。問題ない問題ない。
なんとなくフラグをおっ立てている気がしなくもないが、大丈夫だろう。
教会の入口を固めている教会騎士に剣帯だけでなく武器を隠せそうな雑嚢や革鎧も預け、財布だけを持って大聖堂に足を踏み入れる。
高い天井に宗教画、そして綺羅びやかなステンドグラス、光り輝く黄金の光芒十字。信心なんて欠片もない俺でも驚嘆せざるを得ないような圧倒的な荘厳さ。これは凄いわ。
アデル教の教義なんてロクに知らない俺でも感動に近い感情を抱くのだから、根っからの信者である聖王国の民にとってはそれ以上に素晴らしい大聖堂なんだろうな。まぁ、この豪華で荘厳な大聖堂を建設するために何人の亜人が売り飛ばされ、虐げられ、財産を奪われたのかということを考えてしまうとちょっと嫌な気分にもなるけど。
それはそれとして、この大聖堂に芸術的な価値があることは間違いないだろう。解放軍がメリネスブルグを奪還した後にこの大聖堂が破壊されたりしないことを切に祈るばかりである。
で、適当な席に座ったんですが。
「神よ、私の罪をお赦しください。神よ、私をお守りください。神よ......」
なんか隣の人が物凄い血走った目でブツブツと神様にお祈りをしている。他の人もそうなのかと不安になって周りを見てみるが、そんなことはないようだ。どうやら隣に座っているこの人だけが普通じゃないらしい。ぶっちゃけコワイ。
どうしようかなぁ、席変えようかなぁと迷っているうちに高らかに鐘の音が鳴り始め、大聖堂の扉が閉ざされた。大聖堂内がシンと静まり返り、静謐な雰囲気が辺りに漂い始める。ぶっちゃけて言うと席を立って別の場所に移るということが許されなさそうな雰囲気である。
隣の人も目こそ血走ったままだけど静かになったので、我慢することにしよう。
鐘が鳴り終わると、大聖堂の奥から数名の神官らしき人々が現れた。何か祝詞のようなものを口にしているが、言葉遣いが古いのか、それとも何か別の要因があるのか意味がよくわからない。もしかしたら言葉ではないのかもしれない。
そして、祝詞のようなものが終わると大聖堂の奥から純白の衣に身を包んだ娘が現れた。しゃなりしゃなりと典雅な足取りで講壇へと歩を進めた彼女は閉じていた眼を見開き、その真紅の瞳で俺を含めた大聖堂の信者達を見回す。
美しい娘だ。腰まで伸びた輝く金髪に、紅玉のような真紅の瞳、金糸で刺繍が施された分厚い聖衣の下からでもその存在を主張する豊かな胸に、白磁のように白い肌。なるほど、聖女と呼ばれるのも納得できる、神々しい雰囲気を纏っている娘だ。
その真紅の視線が俺を捉え、何故か困惑の色を浮かべたように思えた。だが、それも一瞬のこと。いや、もしかしたら俺の勘違いだったのかもしれない。
何にせよ、いきなり教会騎士に囲まれて連行されるといったようなトラブルもなく、無事に礼拝の儀式が始まるようだ。さて、どんな話が聞けるのか少し楽しみだな。
97 Episode 096: To The Cathedral
I finished my meal in the dining room where the boy showed me, and came back to the inn.
What do you think of the meal, the information from the boy? Oh, yeah. Meals were like meat, bread and soup. It didn't taste bad, and it was voluminous, but I didn't have anything special to be honest about, yeah.
Worldwide, it seems that if you use plenty of salt and pepper, it is a kind of delicacy. Apart from salt and pepper, it seemed that the village of the black forest elves, which had honey and various seasonings, was progressing as a world standard. And the cuisine I produce in craft goes on top of that. Well, yeah. Don't expect anything from the inn meal.
And as for the information I got from the boy... well, it was a public story level. He's not an informant and he doesn't know what's going on, so I don't know what to do. However, it seems certain that there is a gradual gathering of mercenaries and adventurers like me.
And a while ago, the Knights of the Church in beautiful armor arrived. Probably the Virgin's escort.
Are you strong? I asked the boy, but he said he didn't understand. I hear that the Knights of the Church are invincible, but they also said that they would have won the war against the Empire a long time ago. Generally speaking, he seems to be the best, but he thinks the boy is spitting on his eyebrows.
Hmm, I don't know what to say. Let's ask Beth or Poison when we get back to the basement.
So, I went back to the inn because I ate dinner.
"There's nothing to do...."
Guess the height of the sun from the windows in the room. Hmm, after noon, around 2 pm. There's still time till sundown, but do you want to go to church now and get the Mythrill Rosary...?
I feel like I can go enough in time, but I feel like I'll rush things too fast. You must be quite nervous and mentally exhausted today, and should you be in your room?
That said, I can't craft in this cramped room, and I can't crush my free time. How do mercenaries and adventurers ruin their time?
I thought I'd ask the general or the inn's daughter, but isn't it natural? I don't know if it's a war, but a mercenary or an adventurer who makes enough money to stay at this inn will ask you how to crush your time in general... yeah, that's weird.
No, wait. I'm free, so I thought I'd go somewhere to play, but don't you know a good place? That's enough ants to ask. It shouldn't be unnatural that I don't know the playground because I'm here for the first time.
So, when I left the room, I asked the daughter of the inn - was it Lazara?
"Playground?
"Yes, it's a playground, or a place where you can squander your time. I've never been to this city before."
Apparently he's afraid of mercenaries and adventurers, so I'll try to be as kind and friendly as possible. I've seen it.
For some reason, I was distracted with a troubled face. Why not?
"Um, do you have any idea?
"No, it's not that, but... Is that what you're asking me?
I don't think there's anything fatally meshing with the story.
"Well, a tourist attraction, a shop selling something interesting, a bookstore, etc."
My daughter blushed in my words and then blushed her face. In this story, why...? Ah, uh... is that so? Maybe you're mistaken?
"It may be my mistake to mislead you, but I'm not going to ask my daughter about it with a boulder..."
"I'm sorry...!
My daughter apologizes for turning her face red. Yeah, when it comes to the entertainment of mercenary and adventurer men in this world. Very well.
Even so, I don't imitate asking my younger daughter where the brothel is on a boulder. You have to. I don't love sexual harassment.
"Well, let's just say it wasn't. Yeah, to each other. So, are there any recommended spots?
"Yeah, yeah, that's right. Uh, if you walk down the boulevard in the direction of the city centre, you'll get to Central Square. There are bards and songwriters."
"Well, do you have a bookstore or something?
"Is it a book... I can't get anywhere. However, there must be shops selling such things and jewellery in the northwestern part of the city where nobles and luxury merchants live."
"I see. Later on... the weapon dealer?
"The craftsmen's town that handles these things is around the south gate of the city."
"Well, thank you."
That's why I pressed a few coins against her. Chip, huh? She looked a little embarrassed, but in the end she received it properly. Isn't there a culture of chips? But I wonder if you have received it or not.
"After going to Central Square, I'll peek into the craftsmanship district. I'll be back by dinner at the latest."
"Ah, yes. Be careful."
Leave the room key at the reception and walk out of the inn to Central Square with a wave of hands to the daughter who will drop you off.
So, when I say you enjoyed it... hmm, subtle. Totally subtle. A bard is a so-called bullshit. It seems that while playing a guitar or something like a lute, I was singing a local hero tune... but I didn't know the excitement of laughing because I didn't know the original story.
You enjoyed being an honest entertainer. There were jugglers and magicians.
The weapon dealer... was rattled. There's a shelf for what happened. Apparently, the Holy King's Army was collecting weapons and there were only so-called colored weapons left. It seems that if there is any weapon you want, they will have to make it to order.
I stopped by because there was a market near the craftsman's town, but the housewives' aunts were vague that the groceries had recently gone up. The shopkeeper complained that it was expensive, but the Holy King's Army gathered supplies and said it was poor quality. Again, the Holy King's Army seems to be moving towards recapture of Arihibourg rather than another invasion....
I'd like to get back before the army moves. You might want to consider running home seriously now. Considering my ability to run, I feel like I'm going to succeed unless I have much more to do.
But if there's too much going on, it's not good to be completely out, right?
First things first, one at a time. Get the Mythrill Rosary and return to the basement to build a large Golem transmitter to contact the Liberation Army. Let's focus on that.
Well, Cubby's got information about the Liberation Army's weapons, tactics, Golem communicators... Can you do anything about it now? We have to be careful with operations while recognizing that they are known to others.
I don't think I can imitate it. Crossbows are unlikely to be imitated, but the type of projectile weapons seems to be less popular in the Holy King's Landing, so large-scale operations won't be around for long. Bombs and firearms are technical issues that we can't imitate, and if we can't mass produce Golem cores as far as Golem communicators, we can't help it. The technique and method of writing is complicated in the first place, so you can't imitate it.
I can do anything with my craftsmanship. This place is pretty tight, huh?
The next day.
Sleeping alone for a long time is somewhat lonely. Since I've been here, I've barely slept alone... and that's all I feel worth coming to this world. I have a lot of painful feelings and scary feelings, but I have more to make up for. Mm-hmm.
Get dressed, put on your leather armor, and get down to the dining room downstairs. Yesterday's dinner was also served at this restaurant in Raffin's inn, but it was better than the one where I had lunch yesterday. Maybe the cafeteria yesterday was just subtle. Maybe it was a canteen that focused more on quantity than quality.
The smiling general drops me off and leaves the inn early in the morning. Though I have come to this world, my body is soaked in early sleep and early rising.
The position of the Adele church has already been researched. I asked the guide boy yesterday. It was built in a very conspicuous and easy-to-understand place, just as it was a religious facility that supported the country's roots on boulders. It is directly beside the royal castle.
I looked up at the prestige without thinking. Religious architecture is the majesty of rabbits or the overwhelming atmosphere of what you see, but this church... no, should we call it a cathedral? This cathedral was also very splendid without much leakage.
"But what does that mean?"
The majestic and splendid cathedral was filled with a somewhat vivid atmosphere. The knights, wearing matching armor, held the sides of the entrance to the cathedral by both sides of the road. In any case, it is a state of strict alert.
I was a little scared, but I tried calling one of the knights on the guard.
"Excuse me, what happened?
"Holy day prayers and sermons are performed by the Virgin. That's what security is for....."
Mercenaries or adventurers.
"Yes, so it tastes bad to be armed... but I'd like to keep it before I enter the cathedral."
Hmm. You can keep it at the entrance to the cathedral.
May the Holy Light protect you.
Now that the knight of the church had made a mark, he lowered his head and went to the cathedral. Hmm, looks like it came at a bad time. Depending on what happens when the true Virgin comes... No, this time it's just a ritual and a theory of worship, and unless you're interrogated on a pinpoint, it'll be fine.
If you say you're not interested in who the Virgin is, you'll be lying, and the church knights will suspect you're going somewhere with your heels back here. Try not to stand out as much as you can.
It's okay, it's okay, nothing's going to happen. Even if I wake up, with all the knights in the church, I'll be fine just being small in the corner. No problem. No problem.
I don't even feel like I'm somehow flagging it, but I'm sure it's okay.
Leather armor and satchels that could conceal weapons as well as sword belts were deposited with the church knight who was holding the entrance of the church, and he stepped into the cathedral with his purse alone.
Religious paintings on high ceilings, beautiful stained glasses and shining golden crosses. I have no pieces of faith, but I have to marvel at the overwhelming majesty. This is amazing.
I don't know Adele's doctrine, but I have feelings close to being touched, so it's probably a much better cathedral for the people of the holy kingdom, who are deep-rooted believers. Well, considering how many sub-people were sold out, bullied and robbed to build this luxurious and majestic cathedral, I feel a little uncomfortable.
That being said, there is no doubt that this cathedral is of artistic value. I only pray that this cathedral will not be destroyed after the Liberation Army has recaptured Merynesburg.
So, I sat in the right seat.
"O God, forgive me my sins. Protect me, O God. God...."
Somehow the neighbor is praying to God with his bloody eyes. I was worried about other people and looked around, but it didn't seem to be the case. Apparently, only this person sitting next to you is normal. Shut up, Kowaii.
I don't know what to do, I was wondering if I should change seats, and the bell began to ring softly, and the cathedral door was closed. The cathedral calms down and a quiet atmosphere begins to drift around. It is an atmosphere in which it seems unacceptable to stand up and move to another place.
My neighbor's eyes were still bloody, but they were quiet, so I decided to put up with it.
After the bell rang, several priestly people appeared from behind the cathedral. I am talking about something like congratulations, but I don't understand the meaning of whether the language is old or whether there are some other factors. Maybe it's not a word.
Then, after the congratulations, a daughter dressed in pure white appeared from the back of the cathedral. As she walked to the podium in her elegant footsteps, she opened her closed eyes and looked around at the followers of the cathedral, including me, with her crimson eyes.
She's a beautiful girl. Bright blonde hair stretching to the waist, red eyes like red balls, rich breasts claiming its existence even under thick sacred clothing embroidered with gold thread, white skin like white magnetism. I see, she has a divine atmosphere that is convincing to be called a Virgin.
The crimson gaze caught me, and somehow it seemed like I had a confused color. But that was for a moment. No, maybe it was my mistake.
Regardless, it seems that the ritual of worship will begin safely without any trouble, such as being suddenly surrounded and taken by church knights. Well, I'm looking forward to hearing what you can tell me.
Goshujin-sama to Yuku Isekai Survival!
ご主人様とゆく異世界サバイバル！
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/goshujin-sama-to-yuku-isekai-survival/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Mature Seinen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Alchemy Animal Characteristics Army Building Artifact Crafting Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Caring Protagonist Character Growth Cheats Clingy Lover Couple Growth Crafting Cunning Protagonist Demi-Humans Demons Doting Love Interests Dragons Early Romance Elves Fairies Fantasy World Farming Female Master First Love First-time Interc**rse Game Elements Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Human-Nonhuman Relationship Jack of All Trades Kind Love Interests Kingdom Building Kingdoms Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Magical Technology Male Protagonist Monsters Multiple POV Naive Protagonist Older Love Interests Overpowered Protagonist Polygamy Pregnancy Proactive Protagonist Racism Reverse R*pe Romantic Subplot Royalty S*ave Protagonist Special Abilities Strong Love Interests Survival Sword And Magic Technological Gap Threesome Transported to Another World Tsundere Wars Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n3742ey/
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