21
交友関係の狭さには自信がある。第2学年には殿下以外特に見たい人はいない。そしてその殿下は人の壁に阻まれ見られそうもない。
そういえば彼は前に「グルーに芸を仕込むか何かして適当にやる」と言っていて、あまり力を入れている様子はなかった。殿下は称号がいらないのだろうか。『春』でも順位そっちのけで私を探しに来ていたし。
不思議に思ったが、これは少し考えれば当たり前だと納得できる。称号を手に入れて得られるのは学園での特権や未来への保証だ。生まれた時から全てを手にしている殿下がなぜ欲しがれると言うのか。
というわけで無理にでも殿下を見に行きたいわけではないので、合流したエミリアと適当に回ることにした。メリンダは「向こうにフリード様がいらっしゃるわ!」と飛び立ってしまったので2人だ。
特に面白かったのは『最強の子守唄』なるものを披露したカナリアだった。歌い始めた途端観客がばったばったと膝から崩れ落ち、なぜか主人である女子生徒もぐっすり眠り始めた。指で耳栓をしていた私はエミリアを抱きあげてその場を離れなければいけなかった。
お昼を挟んで第3学年の部。今度の目当てはオリヴィエだ。彼女の愛猫ならぬ愛豹は音の速さに勝らずとも劣らない脚力を見せつけて拍手喝采を浴びた。審査団の反応も上々である。正直早すぎて何が何だかよくわからなかったが、すごいのはわかった。興奮していっぱい拍手を送ってしまった。
楽しく回っていると、午前中の殿下の評判が耳に入ってくるようになった。
「殿下の幻獣が巨大化して垂直に飛び上がったの。そうしたら上昇気流が発生して雲が出来て、雨が降ってきたのよ。一瞬のことだったわ」
「まあ!」
「天気を変えるだなんて!」
「すぐに殿下が魔法で晴れに戻してしまわれたけど」
「今朝一瞬だけ降った雨はそれね」
「腰を抜かした審査員もいたそうよ」
下馬評通り、そしてシナリオ通り、第2学年の中での1位は殿下とみて間違いなさそうだ。
午後3時、第1学年の部の時間が来た。これまでと比べるとパフォーマンス性に欠けるので観客が少し減ったようだ。
今度は自分が見られる側。学園から事前に通知された自分の持ち場に向かわなければならない。
エミリアと別れて持ち場に着くと、隣は久しぶりに会うランスロットだった。「久しぶりですね」とやけにきらきら笑いかけられて、彼も攻略対象だったと思い出させられた。
第1学年は幻獣を見せればいいだけなのでご丁寧にも椅子が用意してある。ランスロットと並んで座って行き交う人を眺めた。
「夏季休業はどうでした?」
「貴方に会いたかったんですけどね、父の手伝いをしていたから時間がとれなかったんです」
「貴方の幻獣はとても可愛らしいですね」
「わかります?私の自慢の子なんです。クリスティーナと申します」
そういえば爽やか放蕩くんだ、とも思い出したので生返事をしていたのだが、彼の父親は確か宰相。その手伝いということはシナリオ通り更生しつつあるのだろう。おめでとう、爽やか放蕩から爽やか元放蕩へクラスアップだ。主人公も無しに何がきっかけでそうなっているのかは知らないが。
いや、エミリアとランスロットは時たま話しているのを見かける。エミリアは大体片手で、もしくは両の手それぞれで硬い食材を握りつぶしている。
そんなランスロットの幻獣は黒猫だった。行儀よく座る姿が気品に満ち溢れていて、先程から一般の人の多くからちらちらと...いや、かなりの視線を、もう異常なくらいの視線を集めている。
こんなにも人目を引いているのは大きさのせいもあるだろう。私は最初虎かと思った。ランスロットは「餌をあげすぎちゃいまして」などと言っているが、彼は攻略対象でもありシナリオでは今年度末五高にも選ばれる男だ、実は。それを考えるとおかしなことではない。
天気を変える鷲だの九尾だの周りに規格外が多いので勘違いしそうになるが、大多数の生徒の幻獣は普通のペットレベルである。私のクリスティーナの方が普通なのだ。彼女は今私の膝の上でとぐろを巻いてお昼寝をしている。なんてチャーミングなんだろうか。
つやつやの体を撫でていると、クリスティーナがぱちりと目を開けて頭をあげた。
起こしてしまったかな。そう思ったけど違うようだ。何やら急に周りが騒がしくなった。
「...あ」
見れば少し離れたところに人だかりと輪ができている。一人の女子生徒から周りが距離を取るように離れたせいだ。
中心で何かを抱きしめて押さえつけるようにしている女子生徒。誰だかはすぐにわかる。赤い髪が特徴的だからだ。
「キャラン・ゴウデス侯爵令嬢...?」
一体何をやっているんだろう。
聞こえたのは絹を裂くような叫び声だ。
「レティ、レティ!だめ!聞いて、お願いよ!」
次の瞬間、驚いたのは私だ。
離れたところにいる彼女が、いきなり首をぐりんと回して、完全に私一人に向かって叫んだのだから。
「逃げてっ!」
え?
それは彼女の腕から『何か』が飛び出す直前のことだった。弾丸のように飛び出し、紐で繋がれているみたいに一直線に、私に向かって駆けてきた。
それはみるみる巨躯へと姿を変える。大きすぎる体に覆い被さられて視界が暗くなった。
やけにゆっくりになった世界で私は全てを見ていた。間近で見たそれは目を血走らせ、牙をひん剥き、唾を撒き散らして吠えた。
―――熊。
あっ、死ぬ。
反射的に目をつぶった。怖いと思う時間もなかった。
Ch 21
I am confident of my narrow social circle. In my second year of school, there is no one else I particularly want to see besides His Highness. And His Highness seems to be blocked by people and unlikely to be seen.
Come to think of it, he said before, "I'll put on a show on Grue or something and do it properly." He didn't seem to be putting much effort into it. His Highness probably doesn't need a title. He came looking for me even in [Spring] without worrying about his rank.
I wondered about it, but it's something that makes sense if I think about it a little. The privilege and future assurance obtained by getting a title is something that His Highness, who has everything from birth, would not desire.
So, I don't particularly want to go see His Highness, so I decided to hang out with Emilia, who I ran into, casually. Melinda flew away saying "Fried-sama is over there!" so it's just the two of us.
What was particularly interesting was the performance of the "Strongest Lullaby" by the canary (a Phantom Beast). As soon as the singing began, the audience collapsed to their knees one after another, and for some reason, the female student who was the master also fell asleep soundly. I had to leave the scene with Emilia in my arms while plugging my ears with my fingers.
During lunch break, the third year class. This time, the target is Olivier. Her beloved leopard, which is not inferior in speed of sound, showed off its leg power and received applause. The reaction of the judging panel is also great. Honestly, it was too fast and I didn't understand what was going on, but I understood that it was amazing. I sent a lot of applause in excitement.
As I was having fun, I started to hear of His Highness in the morning.
"His Highness Phantom Beast grew huge and flew vertically. Then, an updraft occurred and clouds formed and it rained. It was only for a moment."
"Wow!"
"Changing the weather like that!"
"But His Highness quickly used magic to clear the sky again."
"That rain that fell for a moment this morning was that."
"There were even judges who were surprised."
As expected of the reputation, and the scenario, it seems that the first place in the second year class is His Highness without a doubt.
At 3pm, it was time for the first year class. Compared to before, there seemed to be a bit less audience due to lack of performance.
This time, I will be on the side being watched. I have to head to my designated spot as notified by the Academy beforehand.
When I arrive at my designated spot after parting with Emilia, next to me was Lancelot whom I haven't seen in a long time. He greeted me with a forced smile, "Long time no see." and reminded me that he was also a target for conquest.
In the first grade, all we need to do is show our Phantom Beast, so chairs are even prepared for us politely. I sat next to Lancelot and watched the people come and go.
"How was your summer vacation?"
"I wanted to see you, but I had to help my father, so I couldn't find the time."
"Your Phantom Beast is very cute."
"Do you think so? It's my pride and joy. Her name is Christina."
Come to think of it, he seemed carefree and wild, and I remembered that his father was the Prime Minister,so I guess he is getting rehabilitated as per the scenario. Congratulations, from carefree and prodigal to reformed carefree and ex-prodigal. I don't know what the trigger was for the protagonist, but I don't have to know.
By the way, Emilia and Lancelot talk from time to time. Emilia usually crushes hard ingredients (ex: apple) with one hand or both hands.
Lancelot's Phantom Beast was a black cat. It sat elegantly and was full of grace, and from earlier, it was getting a lot of glances, or rather, a lot of abnormal glances.
The reason why he/she is drawing so much attention is probably also because of the size. At first, I thought it was a tiger. Lancelot is saying things like "I've been feeding him/her too much," but he's also a target for conquest and in the scenario he's chosen as one of the top five men by the end of the year. When you think about it, it's not strange.
With many unusual things like changing the weather or the Kyuubi around, it's easy to misunderstand, but most of the students' Phantom Beasts are at the level of a normal pet. My Christina is more normal. She's currently taking a nap on my lap, coiling up. How charming.
As I stroke her shiny body, Christina suddenly opens her eyes and raises her head.
Did I wake her up? I thought that, but it looks like it's not the case. Suddenly, the surroundings have become noisy.
"...Ah."
When I look, there's a crowd and a ring of people a little ways away. It looks like they're distancing themselves from one female student.
In the center, the female student is holding and pressing something to her chest. I can immediately tell who it is. It's because of her red hair.
"Marquis Goudes' daughter, Kyaran...?"
I wonder what she's doing.
I heard a scream that sounded like it was tearing silk.
"Letty, Letty! No! Listen to me, please!
The next moment, I was the one who was surprised.
Because the person who was far away suddenly turned her head around and shouted completely towards me alone.
"Run away!"
What?
That was just before something flew out of her arm. It flew out like a bullet, connected by a string or something, and came running towards me in a straight line.
It quickly changed shape into a giant figure. My vision was obscured by the too large body.
In the suddenly slowed down world, I saw everything. When I saw it up close, it had bloodshot eyes, bared teeth, and saliva flying as it howled.
----A bear.
Ah, I'm going to die.
I reflexively closed my eyes. There was no time to feel scared.
The Villainess Carries a Strategy Guide
その悪役令嬢は攻略本を携えている
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-villainess-carries-a-strategy-guide/
Fantasy Josei Romance Shoujo
Academy Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Doting Older Siblings European Ambience Female Protagonist Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Nobles Otome Game Reincarnated in a Game World Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n6554fr/
岩田加奈