十八話
「......そろそろ来る頃とは思ってはいたが、ユリウスが村を出るまでは来ないものとばかりタカを括っていた。最早隠しようもないから言うが、......あれはな、王都の連中からの嫌がらせだ」
家に戻れと言われ、仕方なしに不承不承ながらも俺が帰宅した十数分後。
親父も漸く帰って来たかと思えば、苦々しい表情を浮かべながらそう教えてくれた。
「......嫌がらせ?」
「あぁ。人を出すか、税を多く納めるか。その二択をあいつらは定期的に迫ってくる」
辺鄙な村とはいえ、一応この村も王都へ税を納めている。その事に関しては村長であるアレクさんから話を何度か聞く機会があった。
......恐らく、あの申し出を断れば税を多く納めさせられる羽目になるのだろう。
そして親父の言い草からして、人手を出せば————ほぼほぼ間違いなく、死にでもするのかもしれない。
死ぬと分かっていて人を送り出す。
嗚呼、あぁ。なるほど。
「いいか、ユリウス。〝戦姫〟————ビエラ・アイルバーク。コイツだけには何があっても関わるな。冗談抜きで、周りから〝死神〟とも呼ばれてるようなやつだ。供回りの騎士ですら大半が数ヶ月で死に、そのスパンで代わりの者が配置され直していると聞く」
あまりの死亡率に、ビエラ・アイルバークが味方を殺してるのではと噂されるレベルであると親父は言う。
「......よく知ってるね、親父」
「......あの女はこんな辺鄙な村にまで悪名を轟かせるヤバいやつだ。分かったら今日の事は忘れて明日にでも村を出ろ。万が一にもないとは思うが、目を付けられたらロクでもない末路しか待ってないぞ」
あれだけ言葉を交わしたものの、親父は万が一にもないと言う。
あの女性——ビエラ・アイルバークは恐らく、他者に対して絶望的なまでに興味を持たない人種だ。
第一印象から、人形のようであるとは思ったが、恐らくそれは決して間違いではない。
「ちなみに、あのビエラさんとやらに俺が付いて行った場合はどうなるの」
ここまで言ってまだそんな事を考えているのかと目に見えて呆れの感情が表情に貼り付けられ、責めるような視線が向けられる。
そして遅れてやってくる深いため息。
「......ここから南西に行ったところに〝ミナウラ〟という街がある。魔物によって荒れに荒らされた街であるが、一応は街だ。......その近辺では大量の魔物が定期的に出現するんだ。そして、ビエラ・アイルバークはその〝ミナウラ〟にて魔物討伐の任を請け負っている責任者のひとりだ。......恐らく、魔物討伐の為にとボロ雑巾のようにこき使われるぞ」
少なくとも、今回の魔物討伐が終わるまで。
そして大半の人間は、その魔物討伐が終わるまで生きてはいられない。
大半の人間が生きていられないようなモノであるというのに、ではどうしてビエラ・アイルバークは無事なのだろうか。
親父の言い草からして、彼女が村に来たのはこれが初めて、とは考え難い。
加えて、もし仮に彼女が後方にて指示をするだけと考えたならば辻褄が合うが、何処からどう見ても剣士としか言いようがない佇まいをしていた彼女がそれをするとはとてもじゃないがどうしてか思えなかった。
「間違っても、余計な真似をするなよユリウス。いいか、私はお前には死んで欲しくないんだ」
だから、二年待てと親父は俺に言ってきたのだとちゃんと理解をしている。
だけど、俺の
王都ではソフィアだって待ってるし、親父は俺が死なないで済むように色々と物事を教えてくれたのだと。
ただ、理性的な判断を下そうとする俺の思考を、『星斬り』に対する熱が何処までも邪魔をする。強くなれ。壁を超えろ。限界を壊してみせろ。そう囁くのだ。
『星斬り』を成すには常人では考えられない経験や技量が必要である事は知っている。そして、それをほんの少しでも得る為には命懸けでなければならないと二年前に身を以て知った。故に。
届かない。
きっと、俺が「はい」といって頷くまでこの声は鳴り止まないのだろう。
「......ユリウス」
ぎり、と親父は力強く歯を噛み締めた。
その理由は俺がいつまで経っても返事をしないから。
勝手に理想に据えて。
勝手に、届かないのではないかと怯えて。
『星斬り』という行為に勝手に憧れた俺が勝手に押し潰されかけているだけ。
「い、や、分かってる。分かってるよ親父」
オーガの時は、ソフィアを助けるという明確な目的があった。逃げようと思えば逃げることも出来たが、立ち向かう理由があった。
しかし、今回はそれがない。
と、己を無理矢理に納得させようと試みた瞬間に、ぶわりと何かが全てを覆い尽くす。
理由ならば幾らでもあるじゃないか、と。
俺が向かいさえすれば、少なくとも村に課せられた税は増加されない。
王都に向かって、人と同じようにダンジョンに潜って。ああ、それは幸せだろう。
の幸せがやってくる。ただ、それでは『星斬り』は夢のまた夢だろうがなと、何処からか聞こえてくる幻聴が俺を嘲笑う。
そこで漸く理解した。
ソフィアが待ってるというのに、俺がビエラに対して俺が行けば事は済むのかと逡巡なく口にしていた理由は、行くべきだと心の何処かで思っていたからなのだろうと。何かしらの超えるべき壁を俺自身が欲していたからなのだろうと。
我ながらこれっぽっちも説得力のない言葉をひたすらに言ってのける。
けれど、俺の意識はずっと親父でなく先程の話に向いていた。
村の為になる。という免罪符を片手に、ひたすら〝戦姫〟と呼ばれていたビエラ・アイルバークに意識は向いていた。
Chapter 18
"I knew this was going to happen, but I didn't expect that they'd come while you're still in the village, and have taken it for granted. There's no way to hide it now, so I'll tell you... You know, what you saw was... harassment from the people of the royal capital."
I went home after getting told to, begrudgingly and reluctantly.
My father finally came home and told me with a bitter expression on his face.
"...Harassment?"
"Yeah... It's either we send out people from our village or they'd increase our taxes, which is a regular press they do to us."
Even though we live in such a remote village, we still paid taxes to the capital.
...I also knew that if we refused their request, we'd be forced to pay more taxes.
And from the way my father talked, if we even dared to resist... we'd definitely end up dead.
Sending people out knowing they would die.
Ah... I understood.
"Listen carefully, Julius. No matter what happens, don't get involved with the Warrior Princess-- Viera Islebark. I heard that most of the knights who serve her die within a few months, and their replacements are already reassigned in that span of time. She's known as the 'Grim Reaper.'"
My father emphasized how high the death rate is, and that it was rumored that Viera Islebark was killing her allies.
"...You're rather well informed, father."
"...That woman's bad name even reached such a remote village like this after all. If you understood what I just said, forget about today's matter and leave the village tomorrow. I don't think there's any chance, but if she catches your eye, you'll end up in a very bad way."
Despite all those words exchanged, my father was certain that what he had in mind wouldn't happen at all... and I somehow knew why.
That woman, Viera Isebark, was probably a kind of person who was hopelessly disinterested in other people.
From the first impression that I had of her-- I thought she was like a doll --perhaps I wasn't wrong.
"Just so I know, what would happen if I go with that Viera or whatever she's called?"
A feeling of dismay was visibly plastered on his face, as if he was still thinking about such a thing after saying all the stuff that he said, and he looked at me accusingly.
And a deep sigh came belatedly.
"There is a town called "Minaura" southwest of this village. A town that is ravaged by monsters that appear regularly in the vicinity, and Viera Islebark is one of the people in charge of the task of defeating said monsters... And with that being said, she will probably use you like a rag having you fight them."
To fight at least until all the monsters were suppressed.
And that meant most of the people that'd fight there wouldn't live to see the end of the defeat of those monsters... or so my father said, so I suddenly wondered.
If the majority of people died, then why is Viera Islebark safe and sound?
It was hard to believe that this was the first time she had been to this village, judging from the way my father talked about it.
In addition, it would have made sense if she had only been giving instructions in the shadows, but it was hard to believe that she would have done so, given her appearance, which could only be described as that of a swordsman from all accounts.
"Even if I'm wrong, don't do something unnecessary, Julius. I don't want you to die, understand?"
Hence the reason why my father told me to wait for two years.
But, my greed...
I knew in my head that Sofia was waiting for me in the capital and that my father taught me things so that I wouldn't die.
But the fever of "Star Slaying" kept getting in the way of my attempts to make a rational decision.
I knew that it took experience and skills that were unthinkable for ordinary people to accomplish being a "Star-Slayer." And I learned firsthand two years ago that in order to gain even a fraction of what I was trying to achieve, I had to put my life on the line. Because otherwise...
I wouldn't be able to reach it.
And I was sure that this voice would not cease to whisper until I nodded my head and obeyed what it said.
"...Julius."
My father gritted his teeth firmly.
The reason for it was that I didn't respond to him.
I set it as my ideal on my own.
I was afraid that I might not be able to reach it.
I was just being crushed by my own selfish longing of wanting to be a "Star Slayer."
"I... know. I understand what you're saying, father."
I could've run away if I wanted to, but I had a reason to confront him
But this time, I didn't have a reason.
Just as I tried to force myself to accept it, something suddenly overtook everything.
There were plenty of reasons, or so the devil whispered to me.
As long as I went with them, the tax on my village wouldn't be increased at the very least.
I could just head to the capital and dive into dungeons like anyone else.
But then, "Star-Slaying" would be just a dream, as an auditory hallucination coming from somewhere taunted me.
Then I fully understood.
The reason why I wanted to go with Viera without hesitation, despite the fact that Sofia was waiting for me.
I said those words with no conviction at all.
But my mind was focused on what I had just said, not on my father...
And that was Viera Islebark, the 'Warrior Princess.
Star-Slaying Swordsman
星斬りの剣士
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/star-slaying-swordsman/
Action Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Shounen
Adapted to Manga Dark Fantasy World Male Protagonist Mature Protagonist Medieval Philosophical Romantic Subplot Sudden Strength Gain Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transplanted Memories
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7336gg/
アルト／遥月