182.Outro
睨み合い。という言葉は、互いに微笑んでいる今の状況には今一つ適さない。一二三はオリガの強さを認めているし、先ほど左腕に傷を入れられたことに対して、負の感情は少しも無い。それどころか、喜んでいた。
血が流れる手首を一瞥し、一二三が笑う。風の刃は全て防いだが、最初の傷からの出血は増えていた。
「......魔法薬を、使われないのですか?」
「あと二本しかない。それに、お前を相手にそんな悠長に構えていられないからな」
「あ......こ、光栄です」
オリガは多少誇張した表現だと思っていたが、一二三としては割と真剣な評価だった。
不可視の刃を操り、小柄な体躯で素早く動きながら相手を牽制し、なおかつ近接でも鉄扇を使って斬撃と打撃の両方を行える。
組技・投げ技をほとんど教えていないのだが、できないとも限らない。少なくとも、魔人族兵を数百人相手にするよりも、オリガ一人を相手にする方が面倒だ、と一二三は考えている。
「良く鍛えている。これは......楽しめそうだ」
「ええ、たっぷりと味わってください!」
オリガの声が終わる前に、一二三は背後に向かって左手を振るった。力なく揺れる黒い手が、大きく回り込んで飛来してきた風魔法を打ち消す。
同時に真正面から歩くよりも早く、走るよりも遅い速度で距離を詰めたオリガは、奇襲が失敗した事にも動揺を見せることなく、鉄扇を一二三の膝へと向かって袈裟懸けに振り抜いた。
軽く足を引いて避けた一二三は、その足で鉄扇を踏みつけにかかる。
だが、オリガは無理やり蹴りを出して一二三の足を逸らした。
防御のために開かれた鉄扇の上を刃が滑り、火花が飛ぶ。
互いに相手の武器を押し込むようにして、距離を取った。
刀は下げたまま、先ほどのオリガと同じように、まっすぐ突き進む。だが、その勢いは段違いだ。
暴風すらも凌駕する、圧倒的な力が押し寄せるプレッシャーに、オリガは思わず足が後ろへ向かって出るところだった。
だが、ここで逃げに転ずることは許されない。情けない姿を見せて、愛想をつかされたら......もし、それが原因で共に眠る事を拒否されたら?
恐ろしいにも程がある未来予想図を脳裏から掻き消し、オリガは前に出た。しかも、風魔法で自らの背中を押して。
「風魔法、か。器用なもんだ」
「一二三様にご教授頂いた賜物です」
「嬉しい事を言ってくれる」
片手で刀を押えつけてくる一二三に対し、オリガは両手で鉄扇を支えながら、魔法で牽制を行う。
手数としては勝っているオリガは、再び魔法で一二三の気を逸らそうとしたが、先に一二三が動いた。
「きゃっ?」
不意に膝から力が抜けたように視線が落ちていく中、足払いを受けた事に気づいて、オリガは素早く身体を丸めて刀が届く範囲から離れつつ、歯噛みした。相手の注意を逸らす事に集中して、自らの足元が疎かになっていた。
容赦なく踏込み、突きを入れてくる一二三に向かって魔法で作った水を飛ばし、その間にさらに距離を取る。
オリガは長く一二三と訓練していく中で、彼の間合いを自然と憶えていた。四歩以上の距離を取って対峙すれば、攻撃が来る前にオリガの魔法で対処できる。
しっかりと構え直し、鉄扇を開く。
一二三が、オリガに注視している。彼女の動きからは動きが読めていないからだ。視線が絡み合う状況を、オリガはもっと長く楽しみたかったが、急がねばならない。
「色々とお話させていただきました」
「そうだな。まあ当たり前と言えばそうだが、何よりお前は俺を求めた。そして俺はお前に強くなる事を求めた」
「訓練もお仕事も、夜の時間も。離れている間のお話も色々と聞かせてくださいました。そんな何にも代えがたい時を過ごす中で、一二三様は一つだけ失敗なさいました」
そして、オリガは大きく息を吸い込む。
瞬間、一二三は攻撃の正体に気付き、刀を捨てて耳を塞いだ。だが、左手に力が入らず、左耳は完全に塞げない。
一二三の耳を、風魔法で増幅され、音と言うより衝撃へと変化した声が一二三を襲う。多少の指向性はあるものの、周囲の魔物たちや騎士たちは昏倒し、当事者であるオリガですら、鼓膜が破れて両耳から血を流していた。
だが、攻撃はそれだけでは無い。
「......くっ!」
左耳から血を流し、多少ふらつきを見せているもののしっかり立っている一二三に向かい、オリガは猛然と駆け出す。
刀を拾いあげ、振り上げる姿が見えた。
音も聞こえない、静寂が支配した戦場の中で、右手に掴んだ鉄扇が奔る。
狙うは左手。
一二三は万全ではない。斬られる可能性は高いが、いつもの速度よりは遅いはずだ。
臆するな、と自分に言い聞かせ、できうる限りの速さを持って、一二三の左手首へと、横なぎに鉄扇を振るう。
ふと、オリガの視界の端にヴィーネが見えた。
「うおっ、と」
そのまま、勢い付いてしがみついて来た二人の女性に巻き込まれる形で、一二三は転倒する。
周囲に、分厚い魔法障壁が発生するまで、ほんの数秒だった。
だが、答えは返ってこない。それどころか、自分の耳も聞こえない。
苦笑したオリガが身体を起こすと、同時に一二三が刀を引き抜いた。痛い、というより熱いという感触が身体の芯まで震わせる。
オリガが顔を赤らめながら、胸を押さるように座り込んでいると、同じように身体を起こした一二三。その腰のあたりにしがみついたまま、ヴィーネが目を回して気を失っていた。
オリガには聞こえなかったが、一二三が何かを呟き、魔法薬の瓶を二つ取り出したかと思うと、開封してヴィーネの口へ突っ込んだ。
その間に、残った魔法薬を一二三が飲み干す。顔や腕の傷はふさがったようだが、左手首から先は再生しなかった。だが、一二三はそれを気にした素振りも見せない。
そして、残った一本をオリガへと差し出した。
耳が聞こえ無いせいでうまく話せないようだが、どうやら敗北した自分には、一二三と共にいる資格が無いというような事を、オリガは心身の痛みに顔を歪めながらポツポツ話している。
「まったく。変な所で手間のかかる奴だ」
オリガの脇の下へと左腕を差し入れた一二三は、力任せに引き上げ、抱きしめるような形で顔を近づけると、片手で魔法薬の蓋を飛ばし、中身を口に含む。
「えっ......」
突然の口づけに、オリガは一瞬だけ身体を強張らせたが、すぐに受け入れた。
肩や背中の傷も塞がり、音も聞こえるようになると、二人の間に聞こえる水音が恥ずかしく感じたのか、オリガは口を離しかけた。が、思いとどまってそのまま一二三にしがみつく。
「ご、ご主人様、大丈夫ですか!?」
どうやら復活したらしいヴィーネが一二三にしがみつくと、ようやく口づけが終わる。
「折角の戦いを邪魔しやがって......ああ、始まったか」
「きゃあ! 何ですかこれ!?」
再び抱きついてきたヴィーネに、ため息交じりで一二三が答える。
言葉とは裏腹に、一二三は笑っている。
三人とも、ゆっくりと足元から石化が始まっている。
一二三を挟んでオリガとヴィーネが寄り添うようにして立っている。
すでにその膝あたりまでは白く輝く石へと変化していた。
「だ、大丈夫なんでしょうか......」
不安に怯えているヴィーネを、一二三は笑い飛ばし、オリガが不満を顔に出す。
「ヴィーネ、今さら怖気づいたか? オリガ、その顔で固まるつもりか?」
二人の女性があれこれと話しているところへ、サブナクを伴ったイメラリアと、アリッサがやって来た。
「もういいのか?」
一二三の目の前に立ち、挑発するように微笑むイメラリアに、一二三は右手を伸ばした。
「まあ、お前にしては良くやった」
「人材がいなかったからな。魔人族を巻き込んだのは良い選択だった。お前らだけじゃ、ここまで時間を稼ぐのは無理だったはずだからな」
「なぜ......」
イメラリアが突然の評価に驚いていると、横からアリッサが身を乗り出してきた。
「一二三さん! やっぱりもう一回お話したい!」
「時間がもうあまりないからな。何だ?」
「僕、しっかり領地を守るよ! 一二三さんが戻ってきたら、またあの館に戻れるようにしておくから!」
「ああ、任せた」
「それから、それから......」
次の言葉を探しているアリッサの後ろから、イメラリアが悲鳴にも似た声を上げた。
「どうして、今この時になってそんな、そんな......」
「この世界が俺好みになるよう蒔いた種が芽吹いたような気がした。その中心にいたのがお前だった。そういう事だ。お前は良くやってくれた。情報を集め、下準備をして、必要な駒を揃えて、勝てる見込みを立てて行動に移した。この世界の誰もがやらなかった、できなかった事だ」
厳しい評価をすれば、まだまだ落第点だが、と一二三は言う。
すでに、腰のあたりまでが石化しているようだ。身体が上手く動かせない違和感に、一二三は眉を顰めた。
「お前は俺に対して復讐をする気持ちがあった。それがお前を成長させた。そしてこれから先、人間・獣人・エルフ・魔人が入り乱れるこの世界で、人間が生き延びるために必要な事は、お前やアリッサが学んだ」
一二三が語る間、イメラリアは俯いて拳を振るわせている。
「いずれ俺は復活するだろう。何十年、何百年先になるかわからんし、その時にどんな世界になっているかわからん。だが、願わくば腑抜けで戦い方を知らない奴ばかりになっていないことを祈るばかりだ。......そうじゃなくちゃ、殺し甲斐も無い」
イメラリアの平手が、一二三の頬を張る。
一二三は、それを避けずに甘んじて受けた。非力な彼女の攻撃など、大した痛みではないが。
「そうだ。それでいい。いつか憎む相手が復活する、と肝に銘じておけ。そして子供に伝え、戦いの準備を怠るな......ん?」
一二三の言葉に、再び震えていたイメラリア。だが、一二三を見上げたその顔は、笑っていた。
「一二三様の一番大きな欠点は、女性の気持ちを理解できないことですわ」
そう言うと、イメラリアは一二三の首に腕を回し、顔を寄せた。
「憎しみだけでここまでする女がいるわけないでしょう」
一二三の反論が出る前に、強引に口づけを交わす。
「僕も!」
イメラリアが離れた瞬間、アリッサも飛びついて、乱暴に唇を重ねる。キスと言うよりは、ペットが飼い主の顔を舐めているような無邪気さで。
「ああもう、いい加減にしろ!」
頭突きでアリッサを引きはがした一二三は、再びイメラリアを見る。
「とにかく、俺たちをどう後世に伝えるかは勝手にすれば良い。アリッサも、お前が領主なんだから、好きにすれば良い」
「ええ。一二三様の悪口をたっぷり遺しておきますわ」
「僕は、ちゃんと領地を発展させる!」
はいはい、と適当に答える一二三に、二人は不満を漏らしているが、一二三はもう聞いていない。
すぐそばにいるオリガが、腰に手を回してくれと頼み、ヴィーネも同じことをねだったからだ。二人を両手に抱くようにすると、オリガが顔を寄せてきた。
「一二三様......いえ、あなた。何故私を殺さなかったのですか? あの時、もう少し左を突かれていれば、私は死んでいました。......あなたが、そのような失敗をするとは思えません」
「俺は、分別が付かない子供は殺さない。お前の腹の中にも、子供の気配を感じた。そういうことだ」
「え、何それ本当ですか? おめでとうございます、奥様!」
顔を赤らめて一二三を見上げたまま固まっているオリガの代わりに、ヴィーネが一人、盛り上がっている。
「オリガ、そんな顔のままで石になるつもりか? 笑えよ。俺の妻には、それが一番似合っている」
「......はい。あなた」
ゆっくりと、首から顎へと石化は進み、微笑みながら見つめ合った二人と、満面の笑顔で抱きついている一人は、完全に石像と化した。
イメラリアが解読した文献の通りであれば、彼らの時間は既に停止している。何も考えることなく、次に意識が戻るのは、誰かが封印を解いたその時になるだろう。
「う......うあああ......」
すがるように一二三の足元へと頽れたイメラリアは、顔を伏せて泣き出した。
サブナクはそれを止めることもせず、ただ待っていた。いや、彼も涙を流している。悲しみかどうかはわからないが、少なくとも共に在った人物との別れだ。遠慮せず、言葉を交わしておけば良かった、と今さら後悔していた。
未曾有の災害とも、阿鼻叫喚の戦闘とも言われた王城前の乱闘は、多くの魔人族が死に、人間側にも死者を出した。挙句、最後まで残っていた兵も騎士も、まとめて気絶して終了するという結果となった。
だが、これは王城の禁書庫に眠る記録にのみ記載された事実であり、民衆へと齎された情報は違う。
“細剣の勇者、魔人族との死闘を見事に制するも、呪いによって妻や従者と共に封印さる”
広場の中央に新たな台座が設けられ、そこに一二三たちの像は安置された。台座へ嵌め込まれた石版には、『勇者の肖像』とだけ記され、詳しい事は何一つ書かれていない。全ては民衆の噂話によって紡がれるに任せる事になった。
ただ、石版を外した部分に、イメラリアが彫らせた一文がある。
『イメラリアによって呼び出された殺戮者 ここに眠る 災厄を起こすこと
Chapter 182: Outro
A standoff. That word was ill-fitted and lacking for the current situation of both smiling. Hifumi recognized Origa's strength. He didn't harbor the slightest negative feelings towards her having wounded his left wrist just now. On the contrary, he was delighted.
He had blocked all the wind blades, but the bleeding from his first wound had increased.
"...Are you not going to use a magic potion?" (Origa)
"I have only two left. Besides, I can't leisurely take care of it with you as my opponent." (Hifumi)
"Ah...i-it's an honor." (Origa)
Origa believed that to be a slightly exaggerated assessment, but for Hifumi that was a relatively serious evaluation.
She restrained her opponent by manipulating invisible blades while nimbly moving with her small body. On top of that, she could even handle close combat by striking and slashing an enemy with her iron-ribbed fan.
I haven't taught her group combat and throwing techniques almost at all, but even without her being able to use those, it doesn't limit her. At the very least it's much more troublesome to take on Origa alone than fighting several hundreds of demon soldiers
"You have forged yourself well. This seems...to be something to look forward to." (Hifumi)
"Please savor it to your heart's content." (Origa)
Before Origa finished speaking, Hifumi swung his left hand towards behind him. The black hand, which swayed feebly, erased a wind spell that had flown at him after taking a big detour.
Origa, who closed the distance faster than walking but slower than running from the front at the same time, slashed her fan diagonally from the shoulder at Hifumi's knee without showing any discomposure at the surprise attack having failed.
Avoiding the slash by nimbly pulling back his leg, Hifumi then attempted to step down on the fan with that foot.
However, Origa forced a kick, averting Hifumi's foot. Having trampled down on the ground as a result, Hifumi slashed with the katana, which had dangled in his right hand, as if scooping up.
Origa let the blade slide off the top part of her opened fan, causing sparks to scatter.
Pushing each other's weapons, both took some distance. Hifumi exhaled deeply through his faintly opened mouth.
This time it was Hifumi who attacked. With his katana lowered, he plunged straight at Origa as she had done moment's ago. But, there was a remarkable difference in their force.
Due to the pressure approaching her with an overwhelming strength that excelled even a gale, Origa was reflexively on the verge of escaping backwards.
However, at this point she wouldn't be allowed to turn around and run away. If she were to hurt his fondness for her by acting pathetic here...what if she were to be denied to sleep together with him for that very reason?
Wiping that frightening image of a possible future from her mind, Origa stepped forward. Moreover, she pushed her own back with wind magic.
"Wind magic, huh? That's quite skilful." (Hifumi)
"It's a result of your kind teaching, Hifumi-sama." (Origa)
"Hearing that makes me happy." (Hifumi)
Contrary to Hifumi who had been suppressing her with his katana in one hand, Origa held him at bay with her fan in both hands while performing feints with magic.magic
Origa, who had the advantage in regards to the number of moves at hand, was about to distract Hifumi with magic once more, but Hifumi moved first.
"Kyaa?" (Origa)
Noticing that she had been tripped up after lowering her eyes as she had apparently lost her strength in her knees all of a sudden, Origa curled up her body swiftly, and ground her teeth while getting out of the katana's range. Focusing on distracting her opponent, she had neglected to watch out what was happening at her feet.
She splashed water, which she had created with magic, at Hifumi, who mercilessly stepped in and thrust his katana at her, and took some distance in the meantime.
During the long training sessions with Hifumi, Origa had naturally been able to learn of his combat distance. If she confronted him while keeping a distance of more than four steps, she could use magic before any approaching attack.
Properly fixing her stance, she opened the fan. Breathing out such a hot breath that it seemed as though her innards were on fire, she fixedly stared at Hifumi.
Hifumi was closely observing Origa. It's because he couldn't read the changes from her movements. Origa wanted to enjoy the state of their looks entwining with each other much longer, but she had to hurry.
"I had the privilege to talk about various things with you." (Origa)
"That's true. Well, if you say that it's only natural, you're correct, but above all, you wanted me. And I wanted you to become stronger." (Hifumi)
"Our training, our work, and our nightlife. And I was even allowed to hear various things about the time when we were separated. While spending such an irreplaceable time, you made only one mistake, Hifumi-sama." (Origa)
And then Origa breathed in very deeply, opened her mouth, turned it forward, and caused her throat to tremble strongly.
In an instant, Hifumi noticed the true nature of the attack. He threw away his katana and blocked his ears. But, he couldn't put any strength into his left hand, resulting in his left ear not being plugged completely.
The voice, which had turned into a shock wave rather than a sound, was amplified by wind magic as it assailed Hifumi's ear. Although it had a certain extent of directionality, the surrounding knights and monsters fainted, and even Origa, the source, shed blood from both ears as her eardrums had been torn.
However, that wasn't the end of the attack.
"...Kuh!"
Origa started to fiercely run towards Hifumi who was firmly standing despite shedding blood from his left ear and looking somewhat lightheaded.
Origa could see him picking up his katana and raising it overhead. However, she didn't stop. She readied her fan, and stepped in without dropping her speed, no, while putting even more power into it.
Within the battlefield ruled by silence, the fan in her right hand took flight.
The aim was his left hand.
Hifumi wasn't in a perfect state. The possibility of her being cut was high, but he should be slower than usual.
While warning herself to not hesitate, she mowed her fan sideways, targeting Hifumi's left wrist with a speed being as fast as she could muster.
Suddenly Viine appeared at the edge of Origa's field of vision. As visible from her long ear's bleeding, she had apparently been hit by the shockwave. And yet, with a somewhat unsteady gait, she earnestly came running while shedding tears.
"Uooh."
Just like that Hifumi tumbled over in the shape of two women clinging to him at full force.
It took mere seconds until a thick magic barrier sprung forth around them.
However, no answer came back. On the contrary, she couldn't hear with her ears either.
Once Origa raised her body while smiling bitterly, Hifumi pulled out his katana at the same time. A feeling of passion rather than the pain made the core of her body tremble.
Origa sat down in order to suppress her agitation while blushing, and just like her, Hifumi raised his body. Viine had fainted while clinging to his waist.
Origa didn't hear him, but Hifumi murmured something, and no sooner than taking out two magic potions, he opened one and thrust it into Viine's mouth.
Meanwhile Hifumi drained down the remaining liquid in the magic potion. It apparently healed the wounds at his face and arm, but it didn't regrow his left hand. However, Hifumi didn't show an inkling of minding that.
And then he offered the remaining potion to Origa.
She couldn't talk well because her ears weren't working, but Origa was bit by bit talking about something along the lines of having no qualification to be together with Hifumi as the one who lost while twisting her face because of the pain of her body and heart.
"Good god, why are you such pain only at such weird times." (Hifumi)
Hifumi, who inserted his left arm beneath Origa's armpit, pulled her up with all his strength, brought his face close in a pose as if hugging her, unplugged the magic potion with one hand, and poured the contents into his mouth.
"Eh...?"
Due to the sudden kiss, Origa's body froze for an instant, but she immediately accepted him.
As her shoulder and back wounds got healed and once she became able to hear again, Origa tried to separate her mouth, seemingly feeling embarrassed by the wet sounds audible between the two. But, she gave up on it and clung to Hifumi just like that.
"M-Master, are you alright?" (Viine)
When Viine, who had apparently revived, clung to Hifumi, the kiss finally came to an end. And then Hifumi lowered his fist on Viine's head.
"Stupid rabbit, you interrupted our precious fight...oh, it started, huh?" (Hifumi)
"Kyaa! What's this!?" (Viine)
While sighing, Hifumi answered to Viine, who was embracing him once again, "It's the sealing. That damn Imeraria had fully aimed for that moment."
Contrary to his words, Hifumi was laughing.
Slowly the petrification started at the feet of the three.
They were standing with Origa and Viine snuggling up to Hifumi from both his sides.
At this point, their legs up to their knees had already transformed into white, shining stone.
"A-Are we going to be okay...?" (Viine)
Hifumi laughed off Viine who was frightened and anxious. Origa's face was tinged with dissatisfaction.
"Viine, did you get cold feet at this point in time? Origa, do you plan to turn into a statue with such an expression?" (Hifumi)
As he was talking about this and that with the two women, Imeraria, accompanied by Sabnak, and Alyssa showed up.
"Is it fine now?"
Hifumi extended his right hand towards Imeraria who was smiling as if to provoke him while standing in front of him. He gently placed his hand on the head of Imeraria, whose body became stiff.
"Well, considering it's you, you did well." (Hifumi)
"You didn't have any capable personnel. It was a good choice to get involved with the demons. If it had been just you and your retainers, it should have been impossible to gain enough time." (Hifumi)
"Why...?" (Imeraria)
Imeraria was surprised by the sudden evaluation. Alyssa bent herself forward from the side.
"Hifumi-san! I want to talk with you once more, after all!" (Alyssa)
"There's not much time left anymore. What is it?" (Hifumi)
"I will properly protect the territory! So that you can return to that mansion again if you come back, Hifumi-san!" (Alyssa)
"Okay, I leave it to you." (Hifumi)
"And, and..." (Alyssa)
"Why!?" Imeraria raised a scream-like voice from behind Alyssa who was searching for her next words.
"Why, now that it has come to this, such, such..." (Imeraria)
"I felt like the seeds I sowed so that this world would come to my liking had budded. The one in the center of it all was you. That's it. You worked well for me. Gathering information, doing the spade work, assembling the necessary pawns, and changing your actions while forming an estimate how you can win. All of it are things no one in this world did or could do." (Hifumi)
"If I were to assess you sternly, it would still be a failing grade for a long time to come, though," Hifumi added.
He had already petrified up to his waist. Hifumi knitted his eyebrows due to the uncomfortable feeling of being unable to move his body freely.
"You had the preparedness to get your revenge against me. That made you grow. And I taught Alyssa and you what will be necessary for the humans to survive in this world, where humans, elves, dwarves, and demons are all jumbled together, from now on." (Hifumi)
Imeraria looked down and swung her fists while Hifumi was talking.
"I will likely come back sooner or later. I don't know whether it will be several tens or hundreds of years in the future. I don't know what kind of world it will be at that time. But if there's a wish, I only pray that it won't be filled with fools who don't know how to fight. ...Otherwise, there won't be any fun in killin' them." (Hifumi)
"A person like you...!" Imeria slapped Hifumi's cheek with her palm.
Hifumi resigned himself and received it without dodging. Something like a powerless attack of her didn't cause any significant pain, though.
"That's it. It's fine like that. Bear in mind that your hated opponent will revive one day. And tell the child to not shirk on its preparations for the coming battles...mmh?" (Hifumi)
Imeraria trembled once more due to Hifumi's words. However, her face as she looked up at him was smiling.
"Hifumi-sama, your biggest flaw is that you can't understand the feelings of women." (Imeraria)
Saying so, she put her arms around his neck and brought her face close.
"There's no way that a woman would go this far on hatred alone, is there?" (Imeraria)
Before Hifumi could object, she forcibly kissed him.
"Me too!" (Alyssa)
The instant Imeraria separated from him, Alyssa jumped at him as well, and roughly pressed her lips on his. Rather than kissing, it was an innocent act similar to a pet licking her owner.
"Ah, geez! Cut it out!"
Hifumi, who got rid of Alyssa with a headbutt, looked at Imeraria once more.
"Anyway, feel free to tell the future generations about us what you like. Alyssa, you can also do as you like since you're the feudal lord now." (Hifumi)
"Yes, I shall leave plenty of slander about you behind, Hifumi-sama." (Imeraria)
"I will develop the territory properly!" (Alyssa)
The two expressed their discontent at Hifumi irresponsibly replying with "Yeah, yeah," but Hifumi didn't listen to them anymore.
It's because Origa, who was close to him, asked him to put his hand around her waist, and Viine demanded the same as well. As he made sure to hug the two with both arms, Origa brought her face close.
"Hifumi-sama...no, dear. Why didn't you kill me? If you had stabbed a little bit to the left at that time, I would have died. ...I can't believe that you'd make such a blunder, dear." (Origa)
Hifumi shook his head at Origa, who looked up to him with a serious look, "I don't kill unborn children. I felt the presence of a baby in your belly. That's all."
"Eh? What's with that? Is that true? Congratulations, madam!" (Viine)
In exchange for Origa, who blushed and froze while looking up to Hifumi, Viine got all excited by herself.
"Origa, do you intend to become stone with such an expression? Laugh. That's what suits my wife the most." (Hifumi)
"...Yes, dear." (Origa)
The petrification slowly advanced from their neck to their chin. The two, who stared at him while smiling, and the one, who was embracing them while brightly smiling, fully turned into stone statues.
According to the books which Imeraria had deciphered, their time had already stopped. Without thinking anything, their consciousness would likely return next when someone removed the seal.
"U...Uuuuaaaa..."
Imeraria, who had crumbled down at Hifumi's feet as if clinging to them, hid her face and burst into tears.
Without being able to stop that, Sabnak simply waited. No, he also shed tears. He didn't know whether it was out of sadness or not, but at the very least this spelled a parting with people with whom he shared some time together.
The scuffle in front of the royal castle, which was called pandemonium and an unprecedented calamity, took the lives of many demons, and even the human side had to pay a heavy toll. In the end, the soldiers and knights, who had survived, all fainted, spelling the end of the battle.
However, this was a fact which was recorded only in the documents sleeping in the forbidden treasury of the royal castle. The news, which were spread to the populace, were different.
"The Hero of the Slender Sword magnificently held back the demons in a struggle to the death, and got sealed together with his wife and attendant due to a curse."
A new pedestal was built in the center of the plaza, and the statue of Hifumi and the others was enshrined there. Only {Portrait of the Hero}  was inscribed on a lithograph embedded in the pedestal without mentioning any details about him. It was decided to entrust the rest to the people spinning their gossip.
However, Imeraria had one sentence carved into a part that was separate from the lithograph.
{The slaughterer summoned by Imeraria sleeps here. You must not wake the calamity.}
Summoned Slaughterer
呼び出された殺戮者
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/summoned-slaughterer/
Action Adventure Fantasy Martial Arts Mature Psychological Romance Shounen
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Arrogant Characters Average-looking Protagonist Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Betrayal Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Cunning Protagonist Dark Demi-Humans Demons Determined Protagonist Different Social Status Dwarfs Elemental Magic Elves Enemies Become Allies Enemies Become Lovers Evil Protagonist Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fearless Protagonist God-human Relationship Gods Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Beasts Magical Space Male Protagonist Marriage Monsters Nobles Obsessive Love Overpowered Protagonist Politics Power Struggle Protagonist Strong from the Start R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Samurai Schemes And Conspiracies S*aves Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Summoning Magic Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Transported to Another World Underestimated Protagonist Unique Weapon User Unique Weapons Wars Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4399ci/
井戸正善／ido