幕間 動きだす世界
―――此処は、ミニエラとは違う国。戦争によって巨大になり、今現在でも魔獣や魔族との抗争、他国との探り合い等々の問題を抱えた、所謂武力による政治国家を続けている国だ。
名前を『グランディール』といい、国のトップには王族の他に、神官や巫女、騎士団長といった各方面で最も実力のある者が発言権を持っている。
そんなグランディール国では今、一つの情報に頭を悩ませていた。武力抗争を得意とする軍事国家で、その情報はとてつもなく重大な問題として圧し掛かっている。
―――『魔王』の復活
魔王という存在は、この世界においても全世界に知れ渡っている。冒険者ギルドでも恐れられている
だが、この『魔王』は歴史上召喚された『勇者』によって打倒されている。『魔王』の脅威は『勇者』によって消し去られたと、最初は皆が思った。
しかし違う、『魔王』は完全には殺せなかった。『魔王』が倒されたほんの60年後、また別の『魔王』が現れたのだ。伝承では、『魔王』を倒した『勇者』はその役目を終えて召喚された場所へ帰ったことになっている。新たな『魔王』を倒すことができる『勇者』はもういない。
ならばどうするのか? 答えは簡単、人間側も新たな『勇者』を召喚するのだ。人間側と魔族側の抗争は、こうして『魔王』と『勇者』の戦いが勃発し、勝利を手にする事で長い年月続いている。
今のところは人間側が勝利し続け、平穏を手にしているが、この均衡はいつ破れてもおかしくはない。
「しかし......勇者召喚以外に方法はない......!」
重苦しい雰囲気の中長く大きなテーブルを囲んで会議をしているこの場は、グランディール国の意思決定を行う国内会議の場だ。
『魔王』復活の報を聞いて、彼らはどのように対策を練るかを考えているのだ。しかし、最強の『魔王』に対峙出来るものがこの世界に何人いるかも分からない。やはり、『勇者』を召喚するしかないと結論は出ていた。
「......そうだな、神官シオン、そして巫女セシルよ......勇者召喚の儀を取り行う。すぐに準備に取り掛かれ」
「既に準備は整っております」
「命令を頂ければ......いつでも出来ますよ~」
「すまないな......シオン」
「いえ、これも国のためなれば......」
国王の命令に、シオンと呼ばれた神官と、セシルと呼ばれた巫女は了承の意を返した。そして、このグランディール国で『勇者召喚の儀式』が取り行われることとなった。異議を申し立てる者はおらず、『勇者』に頼らねばならない自分達の弱さに歯噛みするのだった。
かくして勇者は召喚される。
城の地下に作られた儀式の祭壇のある神聖な空間で、国の抱える魔法使い達が辛苦の表情で魔力を巫女へと注ぎ続けており、祭壇の中心でその膨大な魔力を収束し、呪文を唱える巫女がいる。
神官はその傍で己が命の炎を燃やして、時空の壁に穴を開け、強引に抉じ開ける。本来ならば時空間魔法に適性のある者がやるこの役目、だが今代のグランディールにその適性者はいなかった。故に、神官一人の『命』を代償にそれを代替する。
つまり、勇者召喚とはそれほどまでに危険で強力な魔法儀式だということだ。
「ぐぅ......あ、ああああああ!!」
「行きます......召喚!!」
身体に走る激痛と、それに反して身体から命が抜け落ちて行く感覚を感じながら、必死に精神を繋いで時空の穴を更に抉じ開ける神官。叫び声は、彼の最期の咆哮だった。
巫女はそんな彼の尽力を無駄にしない為に、召喚の魔法で次代の勇者の下へとその『糸』を繋ぐ。そして、時空の壁の向こう側で『彼』を見つけた。
あとは、引っ張り上げるだけ―――!!
「っああああああああ!!!」
全身全霊を振り絞って、セシルと呼ばれた巫女の少女は自分と勇者を繋ぐ糸を手繰り寄せる。
この糸の先に、勇者がいる。この世界を救う、勇者が。
そして、時空の穴が砕けて閉じる。それと同時、この世界に一つのイレギュラーが出現した。
祭壇に広がる白く、神々しい光の奔流、
その中から、一人の男が姿を見せる。
「っ......なんだ、此処......?」
男の服装はこの場に置いて浮いていた。服装はブレザーの制服、見たことも無い材質の服、この場にいる全ての人間が勇者召喚の儀が成功したことを悟った。
そして、セシルは神官シオンの下へと歩み寄り、既に『息絶えている』彼の身体を抱きしめた。成功したぞと、貴方のおかげで無事に勇者が召喚されたぞと、労う様に。そのせいか、死んでいる彼の表情は何処か、嬉しそうに微笑んでいた。
そして、そのまま数秒抱きしめて、セシルは騎士団長にシオンの遺体を任せる。
まだ彼女にはやるべきことがあった。
「初めまして勇者様、私はグランディール王国の巫女......セシル・ディミエッタと申します。どうか、私達を御救い下さい......!」
勇者の導き手、それもまた巫女の役目。その身を全て勇者へと差し出し、その力を全て勇者と世界の為に捧げるのが、彼女の役目、巫女の役目。
「え、と......とりあえず、この場の説明をしてくれると助かる......」
まずは、この状況を理解出来ず困惑している勇者に、自身の役割とこの状況について説明するのが先決だろう。
一方、その頃。
魔族達の住まう暗黒大陸では、復活した魔王が臣下達の前で圧倒的な威圧感と共に王座へと座っていた。
この世界では、大きく分けて3つの大陸がある。人間達や獣人のような亜人達が住まう大陸、魔族達が住まう人間が暮らすには厳しい環境の暗黒大陸、そして自然種の妖精や神獣達の住まう、人間や魔族達も知らない海の向こうにある新大陸の3つ。
ここはその内の一つ、魔族達の住まう暗黒大陸だ。魔王の拠点とも言えるこの場所、魔王はひっそりと但しその存在感は強固なものとして、そこにいた。
「宵も深まる今この時に、粛々と世界は変化を遂げている。私が今日、この場において復活を遂げた様に、人間という種族も同様にこの長き60年の間で進化を遂げた筈だ。そして歴史は繰り返す、新たな勇者が私を殺しに来るだろう」
「......はい」
魔王の言葉に相槌を返すのは、臣下の中でも最も強く、魔王のいない60年の間魔族達を導き、支配者として君臨していた存在。今この時を持って、彼の役割は魔王を支える右腕となること。
「だが、過去はあくまでも過去だ。此度のこの時代、私が勇者に敗北するようなことになるのならば、それこそ歴史の焼き直しにすぎない。勇者に勝利し、私はその先の未来を手中に収める」
魔王はその拳を天に掲げ、世界をその手に収めるかのごとく握り締める。その姿は、あらゆる魔族に見惚れる程のカリスマと、その言葉を現実にするのではないかという夢をみさせる。
拳を上げる、ただそれだけで私に付いて来いと言わんばかりの圧倒的な気配。その場にいた全ての魔族が自然とその膝を付いていた。
「今この時、私は宣言しよう。この時代、勇者を打ち倒し―――世界を手にする! 従う者は付いて来い、気に入らない者は全て掛かって来い! 私はその全てを圧倒的な暴力によって魅了してみせよう!」
魔王は高らかに、声を張り上げて宣言した。その体内に秘められた膨大な魔力がこの場を埋め尽くし、広がる大地を揺らす。
逆らおうと思う者など、ただ一人としていなかった。
「勇者に絶対の信頼を置いて胡坐を掻いている人間どもに、目に物を見せる!」
魔王はそう言い、空高く振り上げた拳を開き、人差し指で空を指す。その瞳は遠く、世界を見ていた。その魔力は、世界を相手にしようと退くことはない。
―――行くぞ、世界を引っ繰り返す
その言葉を疑う者は、この場にはいなかった。
かくして、長い長い歴史上幾度となく行われてきた、魔王と勇者の衝突の役者が揃った。
それは人間と魔族の戦争が始まることを指している。武力と武力のぶつかり合い、勝った方は遠慮なく侵略し、負けた方は全てを剥奪される。血で血を洗う様な、無残で悲惨で残酷な戦いの幕が、近い未来に迫っていた。
だが、そんな世界の中に現れた
この世界で勇者と魔王以外に、世界を相手にしようと力を伸ばしている少年がいることは、まだ誰も気が付いていない。のらりくらり、薄ら笑いを浮かべたその少年が、この抗争の中で何かを引き起こすのか、それはまだ誰にも分からない。
それこそ、少年をこの世界へ投じた張本人―――全知全能の神であっても
Interlude - Movement of the world.
-Here is, a different country than Miniera. With an enormous war happen here and there, even with the threat of magical beasts and demons, having many problems with the surrounding countries, it is a country which is referred as a military nation.
The name is "Grandile", at this nation aside than the King as the leader, there are also priest, miko and also knight leader, they are the most prominent person at their own fields across this nation.
At this Grandile nation, currently there is a certain information which is racking this nation leader's brains. As a nation which is excel at military affairs, that information become a very serious problem.
-the revival of the "Demon Lord".
An existence called demon lord is, at this world it is an existence which is well-known around the world. Even compared to the dreadful disaster class (A rank) demons, it's still further higher, it's a world destruction class (S rank) demon. With a power which is even called to be able to bring this world to its end, with just a swing from that power he undoubtedly would be able to alter the terrain.
But, this "Demon Lord" was defeated by the historical summoned "Hero". The threat called "Demon Lord" was already erased by the "Hero", that was what people thought.
But the reality is different, the "Demon Lord" wasn't completely killed. Just around sixty years after the defeat of the "Demon Lord", a new "Demon Lord" appeared. According to the legend, the "Hero", after finishing his duty to defeat the "Demon Lord" he returned to his former world. So there's already no "Hero" who is able to defeat the "Demon Lord" anymore.
If that's the case then what should they do? The answer is easy, they just need to summon a new "Hero". And with that, at the dispute between humankind and demonkin, the battle between "Hero" and "Demon Lord" occurred, and every sides are always hoping that they would become the winner.
Currently humankind always become the winner, they were able to obtain peace, but that peace, wouldn't be strange to be destroyed soon.
"But... there's no other way than Hero summoning...!"
With a heavy atmosphere, people are sitting surrounding a long and big table, it is a place where Grandile nation performing an internal meeting to make a decision. The leaders who hold the right govern the nation, the king, priest, miko and the knight leader are discussing with a heavy expression.
After they heard the report about the revival of the "Demon Lord", they are currently discussing about a way to measure the situation. However, they didn't know whether is there any existence in this world who is able to stand against that strongest "Demon Lord" or not. And as expected, they concluded that there's no other way but to summon a "Hero".
"...you are right, priest shion, also miko Cecil... you should carry out the hero summoning ritual. Begin the preparation immediately."
"The preparations are already arranged."
"As long as we receive the order... we could carry it out anytime~"
"I'm sorry... Shion."
"No, if it is for this country's sake...."
With the order from the king, the priest who is called Shion, and the miko who is called Cecil, are answering in acknowledgement. And then, at this Grandile nation, "Hero Summoning Ritual" is decided to be performed. While putting on anyone who declaring their objection, they could only grind their teeth at their own weakness and could only rely on the "Hero".
And thus they are summoning a hero.
At a sacred place with an altar which is located at the castle's basement, the magicians who are employed by the country are pouring their magical energy toward the miko with a heavy expression, at the center of the altar where that enormous magical energy are gathered, there is a miko who is chanting a certain spell.
The priest is standing at her side, burning her life force and making a hole at space-time wall, forcefully open it up. Originally that role is supposed to be performed by a magician who has an aptitude with space-time magic, but currently there is no one who has that aptitude at Grandile nation. Therefore, the priest is acting at the substitute and compensating that aptitude with her "Life Force".
That means, hero summoning is such a dangerous ritual and also need an enormous amount of magical energy.
"Guh... a, aaaaa!!"
"I am going... summon!!!"
With pain spreading at her whole body, moreover while feeling the sensation where her soul is forcibly coming out from her body, the priest is frantically connecting the space-time hole. That scream was, her last voices.
To not make that sacrificial for naught, the miko is connecting a "String" of summoning magic to the place where the new hero is belong at. And then, she finally able to find "Him" at the opposite side of the wall.
Lastly, she just need to pull it up--!!
"Aaaaaaa!!"
Mustering all her strength, the miko who is called as Cecil is pulling the string which is connecting her and the hero.
At the end of that string, hero is there. The one who would rescue this world, the hero.
And then, the space-time hole is collapsing. Simultaneously, another irregular arrives at this world.
At the altar, a torrent of divine light is spreading.
Inside it, they can see a figure of a man there.
"... what is, here...?"
That man's attires are completely different from the people's there. His attire is a blazer uniform, a clothes which is using a material that they have never see, everyone there are realizing that the hero summoning ritual is a success.
And then, Cecil moves toward the priest who is called as Shion, and suddenly hug that "Not breathing" body. This success, thanks to you we are able to successfully summon the hero, thank you. There, the expression of the deceased person is somehow, delightfully smiling.
And then, after hugging her for several seconds like that, Cecil entrusts Shion's corpse to the Knight leader.
She still has something she must do.
"Nice to meet you Hero-sama, I am the miko of Grandile nation... my name is Cecil Dimietta. Sincerely, please save us...!"
Guiding the hero, that is also miko's duty. Presenting her whole body to the hero, presenting her whole strength for the hero and for the world, that is her duty, miko's duty.
"Ah, umm... first of all, I'll be glad if you could explain what happens here to me...."
First, to make the bewildered hero to understand the state of affairs here, she decided to explain their duty and also the state of affairs at this world.
On the other side, at the same time.
At the Dark Continent where demons reside in, the revived demon lord is sitting at the throne with an overwhelming intimidating aura in front of his retainers.
This world is divided into three big continents. A continent where humankind and demi-humankind reside in, then the Dark Continent where demons reside in which is hard for human to reside in, and then a place where natural fairies and divine beasts reside in, the third, new continent overseas which is unknown among humankind and demonkin. There are many different countries at the continent, but the race-wise it is divided to these three.
Here is one of those continent, the Dark Continent where demonkin reside in. A place that could be said as Demon Lord's base, the Demon Lord is quietly and rightfully sit there with a powerful presence.
"Right now when the night is deepening, we would change this quiet world. Today, similarly like my revival here, a race called human must be also finally making a move after this long sixty years. And then, repeating the history, there should be a new hero who would come to kill me."
"...yes."
The one who answering the Demon Lord's word is, the strongest one even among his retainers, the one who guided the demonkin at that sixty years of disappearance of the Demon Lord, an existence who is capable to become a leader. Right now, the role he carries out is to support the Demon Lord as his right hand.
"However, in the end a past is nothing but a past. Right now, at this era, if I am able to defeat the hero, that way we would be able to overthrow the history. After defeating the hero, I'm going to grab the future beyond that."
The Demon Lord is floating his fist to the sky, the hand which would able to grasp the world. That figure is, very charismatic that even fascinated every demons there, they are seeing a dream when that words come into reality.
Raising his fist, with just that, it's as if he is saying 'follow me' with his overwhelming presence. Every demons there are spontaneously kneeling at their knee.
"Right now, I am declaring it. At this era, I'm going to defeat the hero--I'm going to take the world! The one who want to abide me then follow me, the one who doesn't like it then bring it on! I'm going to show you how fascinating when I grab all of it with my overwhelming power!"
The Demon Lord declared that with a loud and sound voice. The enormous magical energy which are hidden inside his body are filling that place, spreading and shaking the ground.
Someone with a thought to oppose him, there's not even one of them.
"To the human who just sit and entrust everything to the hero, we should show them who we are!"
The Demon Lord said that, at his fist which is raised high overhead, he points his index finger to the sky. His eyes are looking at a faraway world. His magical energy is, doesn't has any intention to take a single step back even against the world.
-Let's go, let's overturn the world.
Someone who doubt that words, there's none of them there.
Thus, the long history is finally moving, the actors of the clash between the hero and the demon lord have presented.
That would become the beginning of the war between humankind and demonkin. A clash between military might and military might, the winner would be able to take everything as they pleased, the loser would lost everything. Like washing blood with a blood, the curtain of a cruel disastrous and harsh war is opened soon.
However, at this world there's another existence than those two (Demon Lord and Hero), a true irregular who is entirely irrelevant with that war.
Another existence aside than the Hero and the Demon Lord, the existence of a youth who would gain a power which is able to face against the world, there's still no one realizing him yet. The youth who is lazy and always floating a faint smile, whether he would pull something at that dispute, there's is still no one know it yet.
That is even, the ringleader who threw that youth to this world-- even the almighty God.
I Kinda Came to Another World, but Where’s the Way Home?
【書籍化】異世界来ちゃったけど帰り道何処？
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-kinda-came-to-another-world-but-wheres-the-way-home/
Action Adventure Comedy Drama Fantasy Harem Shounen Slice of Life
Apathetic Protagonist Bullying Calm Protagonist Demi-Humans Demon Lord Demons Dense Protagonist Fairies Game Elements Ghosts Heterochromia Knights Level System Male Protagonist Murders Naive Protagonist R-15 Royalty R*pe S*aves Sword And Magic Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist Yandere
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2650bx/
こいし