49.Do Your Thing 【裏方の生き方】
王城を抜け出した第一騎士隊長リベザルは、50名程の部下と共にホーラント方面へ向かっていた。目指しているのはホーラント方面軍として第二騎士隊が駐留している都市ミュンスターだ。
馬に乗り街道を駆けるリベザルは、はやる気持ちを抑えながら道を急ぐ。
大声で叫ぶものの、男は道を開けるつもりは無いようだ。そしてその男の言葉に、リベザルは驚いた。
「第一騎士隊長のリベザル様ですね」
「なに?」
思わず馬を止めたところで、リベザルはしまったと思った。ここで止まれば認めたのと同じだ。
じっと男を見る。目の色がわからないくらい細い目をしてヘラヘラと笑う男の顔には見覚えがない。
「へい、ワタシはベイレヴラという者です。実はヴィシーで工作員をやっておりまして......」
ベイレヴラを名乗る男の言葉に、リベザルたちは一気に警戒する。
「ま、待って下せぇ! ワタシはリベザル様の手助けをしたくてお待ちしておりましたのです!」
「待っていただと? なぜ俺がここへ来るとわかった! しかもお前はヴィシーの工作員だと言うが、こっちはホーラント側、真逆ではないか」
「それがですな、ワタシは一二三とかいう奴に狙われておりまして、国にも売られそうになりましたんで、伝手もあるホーラントへ向かっておりまして......」
ヴィシーの軍が敗北した時点で、国を売って偽名を使ってオーソングランデを通りぬけて、ホーラントを目指していたらしい。
「それで、王都を抜けようとしたところで一二三が王城へ来ているという話を聞きまして。王城の誰かがホーラント側にいる第二騎士隊の方へ向かって出てこないかと思って、先に王都を出て待っておりました次第で」
まさか、第一騎士隊長にお会いできるとは思いませんでした、と下手くそなゴマをする。
「それで、何が目的だ?」
「へい。ワタシを仲間に入れていただけないかと思いやして」
頭を掻きながら、照れくさそうに話すベイレヴラに、騎士全員が怪訝な顔をする。
「話にならんな。俺に何もメリットがない」
「おや、きっとお役にたちますぜ? 何しろ、ホーラントの魔法具をご用意できるんですから」
「魔法具? それが何の役に立つというのだ」
「それは、ミュンスターで第二騎士隊がどうなったかをご確認いただければお分かりいただけるかと」
「なに......」
自分が何を言っているのかわかっているのかいないのか、相変わらずヘラヘラと笑っているベイレヴラを捕らえるよう、リベザルは命じた。
「お前が何を狙っているかは知らんが、状況を確認してからお前の処遇を決める」
何かが引っかかるリベラルは、今のところはこの小男を生かしておくことにした。
特に抵抗もせず縄を打たれたベイレヴラは、そのままリベラルに連れられてミュンスターへと向かった。
一二三もオリガも、馬に揺られながら上機嫌で街道をフォカロル方面へと進む。
二人の機嫌が良い理由は違ったが、暖かな気候のなか、ゆったりのんびりと時間が流れる。
「一二三様、エコーロケーションに反応があります。10分程進んだところに20人。武器を持っているようです」
一瞬、一二三は何の事かわからなかったが、探索用の風魔法に自分が名前を付けてやったのをなんとか思い出した。
そういえばそんなこともあったと思いだし、地道に努力して大分精度が上がったらしいオリガに感心する。
「武器か。野盗でもいるのか?」
「おそらくそうでしょう。街道に近いと魔物も少なくなりますので」
話しながらも、馬を止めることはしない。
「ベイレヴラを追う約束だけどな。ちょっと難しいかも知れないな。ヴィシーから反応がなかったあたり、ヴィシーの中央委員会に処分されたか、何処かへ逃げたかもしれない」
「それは......」
オリガは顔を伏せた。
正直に言って、ベイレヴラを殺すことが一二三と共にいる理由だったが、いつの間にか一二三の側にいるためにベイレヴラの存在を利用していた。このままベイレヴラが見つからなければ、ずっと一緒に居られるのではないかと思ったことは一度や二度ではない。
「迷うことはない。殺すべきと思ったら殺せばいい。理由なんてそれで充分だ」
一二三はポツリとつぶやいて、鎖鎌の分銅を振り回しながらさっさと歩いて行ってしまった。
どうもオリガが気落ちしている理由を勘違いしているようだが、それよりも何よりも、あの一二三が自分を気遣ってくれたことが嬉しかった。
返事を返したオリガは、手裏剣を右手に掴んで一二三に駆け寄った。
「いつからオーソングランデの兵はここまで弱体化したのだ!」
手元へと届いた戦況報告書を握りつぶし、スティフェルスは机を殴りつけた。
「それが、ホーラントの兵は我々と同数以下ではありますが、魔法や矢の攻撃に正面から突撃したり、腕を切り落とされても攻撃してくるなど、一言でいって異常です」
第二騎士隊の面々は、アロセールやローヌで使われていた魔法具について知らなかった。ただただ命令通りに突き進んでくるホーラント兵に対し、オーソングランデの兵たちは心理的に完全に押されていた。
「しかも、敵の魔法使いは数が多く味方ごと炎の魔法に巻き込むなど、非人道的な行為を易易と行っています。こちらの兵士たちが怯えてしまって、士気はガタ落ちです」
苦虫を噛み潰した顔で報告してくる副隊長に、スティフェルスは乱暴に椅子に座った。
「とにかく、今はアイペロス王子が本陣にいる。このまま戦果を上げないまま王都へ戻るわけにはいかん。多少なり敵に損害を与えないうちは、退くに退けん」
カップに酒を注ぎ、一気に飲み干す。
「元はといえば、ホーラントが急に国境を侵害してきたのが問題なのだ! 正式な布告もない完全な奇襲など......野盗のような真似をするとは、魔法国とも言われたホーラントも落ちたものだ」
愚痴をこぼすスティフェルスだが、今彼に求められているのは現実に起きている事態をどうするかという具体的な指示だ。
「隊長......」
命令を待つ副隊長をジロリとにらみ、舌打ち。
「仕方ない。ビロン伯爵に領軍の兵を借り受ける。人数を増やして一気に押し返す」
誰か使いを出せと言う前に、アイペロス王子がやってきた。
「スティフェルス。戦況はいかがかね?」
まだ十代になったばかりというアイペロスは、侍従を何人も引き連れて精一杯の威厳を見せつけるように言う。
「はっ。ホーラントの兵の抵抗が想定より激しいので一時状況は拮抗いたしましたが、これからの作戦で押し返してみせます」
「そうか。決着がつく頃に僕に声をかけてくれたまえ」
勝ちが決まったら将として現場に顔だけ出すということだ。
楽しみにしていると言って去っていくアイペロスを、スティフェルスは苦々しく見送った。
「後から出てきて......」
第二騎士隊の実績作りのための行動に名分を持たせるためだけに利用するつもりだったのだが、必要以上にしゃしゃり出てくるようになった王子を持て余していた。
どうやら国政に積極的に参加し、民衆の支持を集める姉イメラリアを見て、焦りを覚えたらしい。このままでは王の座を奪われるとでも思ったのか、先に陣を作っていたスティフェルスの元へ、先触れもそこそこに、多くの侍従と私兵を連れてやってきた。
しかし私兵を戦に参加させる事なく護衛としてのみ使い、たくさんの人員を引き連れてきた事で、ミュンスターの街はパンク寸前だ。助けどころか迷惑以外の何者でもない。
「とにかく、兵を増やして圧倒的な戦力で敵を叩く! ビロン伯に使いを出せ」
一二三はたった今人間の命を奪った鎌をじっくりと見て、ため息を漏らした。
「大分傷んで来たな。フォカロルに戻ったら作り直すか」
既に人数が半減している野盗たちは、粗末な武器を手に一二三を睨みつけながらも、殺されて倒れている仲間たちを見ると足が前に進まない。
「今は別の武器にしておくか」
鎖鎌の代わりにトビ口を取り出し、軽く降る。
「こっちはまだ大丈夫だな」
一二三がチラリと後ろを見ると、笑顔のオリガが見えた。その足元には、三人の野盗の死体が転がっている。人質に取ろうとして返り討ちにあったのだ。
「全員で一斉にかかるぞ!」
頭らしい男の号令で、残った10名が一度に迫ってくる。
「最初からそうしろよ」
一人の首にトビ口を突き刺して引き倒す。
それに目もくれずに次の相手は首を掴んで仰向けに転がし、心臓に突き立てた。
迫る棍棒にトビ口を引っ掛けて逸らし、股間を思い切り蹴り上げる。
「もう少し工夫しろよ。つまらん」
トビ口を仕舞い、リベザルから奪ってそのまま自分の物にした槍を取り出す。
「あと7人。何秒持つかな?」
大剣を振り回す頭の両足を切り裂いて、手首を返して首を刎ねる。
頭を失った野盗たちは、武器を投げ捨てて蜘蛛の子を散らすように逃げ始める。
だが、せっかくの獲物を逃す一二三ではない。片っ端から死体に変えていく。
「いい天気......。フォカロルまで天気がもてばいいのだけれど」
嬉々として人を殺していく一二三を眺めながら、何気ない日常の幸せを噛み締めるオリガだった。
「お断りします」
援軍の要請のため、領主館を訪れた第二騎士隊の副隊長に、領主であるビロン伯爵はにべもなく断った。
「なぜでしょう。この街を守るための協力をお願いしているのですが......」
「私もこの街を守るために考えて、そしてお断りしているのです。戦況は私の部下も確認しておりますが、ホーラントの兵の様子は異常です」
それは貴方もわかっているでしょう、とビロンは副隊長を見つめたまま静かに語る。
「まともじゃない相手で、消耗を気にする様子もなく遮二無二突撃してくる連中なんて、正面からぶつかってどうこうしようなんて思ってはいけませんよ。街の防御力を使って相手側だけ消耗させて、こちらは援軍を待つべきです」
「援軍ですか」
「ええ、すでに使者を送っています。距離はありますが、防壁が破られる前には来てくれるでしょう」
そののんびりとした物言いに、副隊長は苛立ちを隠せない。
「そんな落ち着いている場合ですか!」
「おや? アイペロス王子には“拮抗している”と報告されたのでしょう? であれば、さらに防御に重きを置いて行動すれば、充分守りきれるのでは?」
もちろん、ホーラント方面軍の苦境を知っているビロンの皮肉だが、実際にスティフェルスがそう報告したのは事実なので、副隊長はなんとも言えなかった。
「そ、それで王都へはどの程度の援軍を依頼されたのですか?」
こうなったら、援軍が来ることを計算にいれた作戦を立てようと考え、副隊長は援軍の内容を確認することにした。
「たしか、まだ王都と周辺地域から4000は集められる状態だったかと思いますが」
「援軍の依頼をしたのは王都ではありませんよ?」
「は? ではどこへ......」
ビロンは紅茶が入ったカップを優雅に傾け、香りを楽しんでから微笑む。
「頼むなら強い人がいいでしょう。フォカロルの領主、一二三殿に依頼しましたよ。彼が噂通りの強さならば、ホーラント相手でも活躍してくれるでしょう」
開いた口がふさがらない副隊長の顔を見て、ビロンは少し気が晴れた。
Chapter 49: Do Your Thing
After sneaking out of the royal castle, the First Knight Unit's Ribezal brought around 50 subordinates with him and went towards Horant. His goal was the city of Munster, where the Second Knight Unit was stationed.
Ribezal was impatiently rushing his horse along the highway, but suddenly, a person could be seen standing on the road.
Although he shouted with a loud voice, the man didn't seem to have the intention to make way for them. Ribezal was then surprised by the man's next words.
"You're Ribezal of the First Knight Unit, right?"
"What?"
Ribezal damned himself inwardly as he unintentionally halted his horse. Stopping here means he recognized the man's existence.
He looked closely at the man, but his eye color couldn't be seen as he was smiling so much that his eyes turned thin. But it was not a man he had any recollection of.
"Yes, I'm known as Beirevra, and honestly, I'm a spy from Vichy..."
The words of the man called Beirevra immediately put Ribezal and his men on guard. As they put their hands on the swords by the waists, Beirevra flusteredly shook his hands.
"P-Please wait! I was waiting here because I wanted to help you!"
"You said you were waiting here? How did you know I was coming this way!? Furthermore, you say you're a spy from Vichy, but this is the border of Horant. This is on the opposite side."
"Well, you see, a guy named Hifumi was looking for me and it seemed as if the country would sell me out. So with the help of an intermediary, I went over to Horant..."
It seems that by the time Vichy's army was defeated, he had betrayed his country and used a fake name to cross Orsongrande in order to reach Horant.
"And then as I was about to leave the capital, I heard that Hifumi had arrived at the royal castle. I thought someone from the castle should hurry over towards the Second Knight Unit over by Horant, so I left the capital early in order to wait here."
But never did I think I'd meet the captain of the First Knight Unit, he clumsily flattered.
"So, what's your objective?"
"Yes. I thought that perhaps you'd like to become colleagues."
Seemingly embarrassed, Beirevra scratched his head, as all the knights made suspicious faces.
"There are no advantages for me, so there's no need to talk about it."
"Oh? I'd certainly be of some help, right? Because I can arrange some of Horant's magic tools, you see."
"Magic tools? What use would they be?"
"Well, if you were to check what happened to the Second Knight Unit over at Munster, you'll know."
"What..."
Not understanding what he's implying, Ribezal ordered his men to capture the still smiling Beirevra.
"I don't know what your goal is, but I'll decide what to do with you after seeing the circumstances."
Being pulled into something, Ribezal felt that it was best to keep the small man alive for now.
Beirevra was bound without any particular resistance, and was brought with Ribezal as they continued towards Munster.
Hifumi and Origa were riding their horses along the highway towards Fokalore in a good mood.
The reasons for their good moods were different, but the time was spent in a comfortable and carefree manner in the warm weather.
"Hifumi, there's a response from the echolocation. There are 20 people 10 minutes ahead of us. They seem to be carrying weapons."
For a moment, Hifumi didn't know what she was talking about, but then he recalled the wind magic used for searching, that he named himself.
, Hifumi thought, admiring Origa as she put forth great effort to increase the accuracy.
"Weapons, huh. Are they bandits?"
"Most likely. It's close to the highway, and there are few monsters, after all."
They didn't stop the horses as they spoke.
"About the promise to pursue Beirevra - it might be somewhat hard. Since we didn't get an answer from Vichy, by the time we finish dealing with the central committee, he might've escaped somewhere."
"That..."
Origa covered her face.
Truthfully speaking, killing Beirevra was the reason she was initially together with Hifumi, but before she noticed, she started using Beirevra as an excuse to stay beside him. She had thought more than once or twice, that if they don't find Beirevra, they'd stay together like this forever. But of course, the desire for revenge on Beirevra had still yet to disappear.
"There's no need to hesitate. If you think you should kill, just kill. That's reason enough."
Hifumi muttered a few words before he left, swinging the counterweight of the kusarigama in his hands.
It seems like he misunderstood the reason Origa was feeling down, but more than anything else, that Hifumi showed concern for her made her happy.
Responding to Hifumi, Origa grasped a shuriken in her right hand, before running to catch up with him.
"Since when did the Orsongrande soldiers deteriorate this much!?"
Crushing the war report in his hand, Stifels struck his desk.
"Well, Horant may have a fewer amount of soldiers than us, but even if we assault them with arrows and magic, or cut off their arms, they still charge right at us. Truthfully speaking, it's abnormal."
No one in the Second Knight Unit had any knowledge of the magic tools used in Arosel or Rhone. Just that as they were following orders to push against the Horant soldiers, they were completely suppressed mentally. In addition to the knights they had around 3000 soldiers, but they had already lost about a tenth of them.
"Moreover, their magicians seem to easily perform inhuman acts, like getting their own allies caught in their flame spells. It frightens our soldiers, so the morale is plummeting."
As the reporting vice captain made a bitter face, Stifels violently sat down in his chair.
"Anyhow, Ayperos is currently at the headquarters. If we keep this up and fail to rise any military achievements, we can't return to the capital. We need to inflict at least some damage to the enemy, so we can't retreat."
He filled his cup with alcohol, and drained it all at once.
"In the first place, Horant suddenly trespassing the national border is the problem! With no official statement, this is a complete surprise attack... Behaving like bandits, the magic country Horant sure has fallen."
Stifels complained, but what he wanted now was a concrete plan as to how to deal with the current situation.
"Captain..."
Glaring at the vice captain, Stifels smacked his lips.
"It can't be helped, we need to borrow Earl Biron's territorial forces. We'll increase our numbers and push them back in one go."
But before he could send someone, prince Ayperos arrived.
"Stifels. How is the war progressing?"
Ayperos, still in his teens, had brought with him several of his chamberlains, doing his best to make a dignified display.
"Yes. Horant's resistance is stronger than we expected so we're currently struggling for supremacy. The strategy we have now is to force them back."
"I see. Tell me when it's about to be decided."
When they are about to win, Ayperos needed to come out to take the helm.
Aiperos said he looked forward to it, before taking his leave, as Stifels unpleasantly saw him off.
"Coming out afterwards..."
This was all done in order to give the Second Knight Unit some achievements, but Stifels didn't know what to do with the prince who were butting in more than necessary.
It seems like witnessing his sister Imeraria actively participating in the national politics, and getting the support of the people, had made him somewhat impatient. Maybe the throne would be snatched away like this, so that's why he made that previous announcement to Stifels, as well as bringing with him a huge number of chamberlains and his private army.
But he didn't let that private army participate in the battle, and only used them as an escort. A lot of people were brought with him, so the city of Munster was about to burst. Far from being a help, they were rather a nuisance.
"At any rate, we'll increase our soldiers and strike the enemy with overwhelming power! Send a messenger to Earl Biron."
Hifumi let out a sigh as he looked at the sickle he had just reaped several human lives with.
"It's quite damaged. I'll need to reforge it when I get back to Fokalore."
The bandits, whose numbers had already been halved, were glaring at Hifumi with their crude weapons in their hands but when they saw their dead comrades on the ground, their legs didn't let them step forward.
"I'll need to use another weapon for now."
Instead of the kusarigama, Hifumi fetched his pick and swung it lightly.
"This one is still okay."
Hifumi glanced behind him and saw Origa smiling. Beneath her feet were the bodies of three bandits, who seemed to have wanted to take her hostage.
All at once, attack!"
At the words of the man who looked like the leader, the remaining 10 men all attacked.
"Do that from the beginning instead."
One person got his throat pierced by the pick.
Before his eyes got dark, the next person had already had his neck grabbed and thrown down on the ground, before getting his heart pierced.
Averting an incoming club, Hifumi kicked the person in the crotch with all his strength.
"Scheme a little bit at least. This is dull."
Finishing with the pick, he retrieved the spear he took from Ribezal.
"7 left. I wonder how many seconds you can hold out for."
The head of the bandits, who was brandishing a longsword, got both of his legs cut off, after which Hifumi decapitated him.
The bandits who lost their leader threw their weapons on the ground and began to scatter in all directions.
But if he were to let away his precious prey, he wouldn't be Hifumi. He thoroughly transformed them all into corpses.
"Nice weather... I hope it'll stay like this all the way until Fokalore."
Origa felt some ordinary everyday happiness looking at Hifumi merrily killing people.
"I refuse."
Earl Biron curtly refused the request for reinforcements the Second Knight Unit's vice captain brought with him with his visit to the Earl's mansion.
"But why? We're asking you in order to cooperate to protect this city..."
"I also took the protection of the city into consideration before I refused. My subordinates also confirmed the war situation, and the soldiers from Horant are behaving strangely."
'That's something you should also know about', Biron said as he stared at the vice captain.
"With an abnormal opponent who don't feel exhaustion and just keeps relentlessly attacking, I don't think you can just meet them head on. It'd be better to exhaust them by defending, while waiting for reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?"
"Yes. I've already sent a messenger. It's quite a distance away, but they should arrive before the defensive wall collapse."
The vice captain couldn't hide his irritation at that carefree manner of speaking.
"Is this really the time to stay calm!?"
"Oh? Didn't prince Ayperos say that you were 'struggling for supremacy'? Furthermore, if we put importance on the walls, don't we have enough defense?"
Of course, Biron was sarcastic, as he knew about the crisis with the army over by Horant. But as it was virtually the same thing Stifels had said, as well as being the truth, there was nothing the vice captain could say.
"So, what size of reinforcement did you request from the capital?"
If he could calculate the reinforcements coming, he could integrate them into the plan they had.magic
"I believe it was around 4000 men from an outskirts region of the capital."
"You didn't request reinforcements from the capital?"
"Huh? Then where from..."
Biron elegantly tipped his cup of tea a little, enjoying the smell of tea, before smiling.
"If requesting something, a strong person is preferable, right? So I requested the lord of Fokalore, Hifumi. If he's as strong as the rumors say, he should be able to play a significant role in the fight against Horant."
Seeing the vice captain not being able to close his mouth after hearing that, Biron felt a little better.
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