虫
何が起こったのか、にわかには信じられなかった。
私達が森の出口で出会ったのは、レイラ・ヴァーミリオンって名前の女の子。見た目年齢ではきつねさんと同じ位、身長は小柄で、見た目は可愛いなと思った、見た目はねっ。
その子はランクCのとんでもなく強いらしい冒険者だった。レベルが上がってからなんとなくそういう気配が分かるようになってきたからすぐに分かった、この子は強いって。きっとCランクでは収まらない位ずっと強いって思った。
だからこそ、ヘンだと思った。Cランクになるまでにきっと何千何百の魔獣や魔族との戦いを経ている筈なのに、腰に提げている二本のナイフは新品のように使われた跡が全くなかったから。新品を買った後だっていう可能性もあるんだろうけど、防具も新品だったもん。取り敢えず一式全部買い揃えましたって印象だった。
だから、私にはきつねさんに擦り寄るこの子が凄く怪しく映った。何かヘンな事を考えているんじゃないか? きつねさんに何かしようとしているんじゃないか? って思ってた。ハニートラップか! 色仕掛けで何をするつもりだっ、とね!
現にきつねさんは胸を押し付けられて簡単に、ころっと、容易に騙されてた。薄ら笑いがにやにやした笑いに変わってたもん。なんだかすっごくもやもやした!
歩いてたらきつねさんの腕に絡みついてたから叩いてやった、しつこく離れなかったけどきつねさんの方から離れてくれた、やっぱり一緒にいる時間が長い私の方が大事なんだよ、それにきつねさんの肩に座れるのは私だけだもんね! 特等席だもん。
ギルドに着いたら、彼女の目的がきつねさんだってことが分かった。なんでもきつねさんの存在の希少性が他国にまで伝わってたらしい。名前が他国にまで広がっているのは流石きつねさんだと思ったけど、彼女のきつねさんを見る目が凄く気持ち悪かった。人間が人間を見る目じゃないと思った。
―――まるで、獣が餌を見る様な、格下を見る目。
怪しい光を宿した瞳が、凄く気持ち悪い。きっと彼女は戦いが好き、命の削り合いが好きなんじゃないかと思う。わざわざ強者の多いグランディール王国からきつねさんに会いに来るくらいだもん。
だから私は彼女ときつねさんが戦うのを避けようとした、話をなあなあにして誤魔化すのはきつねさんの得意技だから、そうしようと思った。
でも彼女は話を聞かなかった。知らない内に勝負することが決まってた。皆なんで気が付かないの? 彼女が心に秘めてる危険な気配に。
『フィニアちゃんはルルちゃんと居てよ、ささっと終わらせてくるから』
きつねさんはそう言ってあの子の所へ向かった。ルルちゃんの肩に私を置いて、背中を向けて去っていくきつねさん、なんだかすごく嫌な予感がした。
「フィニア様......?」
「うーん......」
「どうしたフィニア、らしくないじゃないか」
ルルちゃんとリーシェちゃんが私にそう言ってくる、でもそれに対応するような余裕はなかった。腕を組んでうんうん唸る私を心配そうに見ている二人だけど、ルルちゃんはともかくリーシェちゃんはそこまで心配している様子はない。ちょっときつねさんの実力を過信してるんじゃないのかなって思う。
そういえばリーシェちゃんってきつねさんが戦っている所見たことないんじゃなかったっけ?
「......うん、やっぱり私見に行ってくる!」
きつねさんが心配だから、私は羽をはばたかせて浮遊し、ルルちゃんの肩から飛び立つ。ギルドの裏手にある訓練場まで、私は飛んで向かった。すると、ルルちゃんが後ろから付いてくるのが分かった。あの子もやっぱりきつねさんが心配だったのかな? 家族として少し嬉しい。
でも、そんな束の間の喜びはすぐに消し飛んだ。
何故なら、
「んむっ!?」
きつねさんを押し倒したあの女が、きつねさんにちゅーしてたから。
◇ ◇ ◇
「っぷはっ......」
初めてのキスは、女の子の味がしました。ばい、きつね。
なんて事を思いながら、僕は僕の唇から顔をあげた彼女の顔を見上げつつ、口を拭う。さっきまで僕の身体を縛っていた謎の悪寒は消えているけど、相変わらず僕の身体の上に跨っているレイラちゃんは、頬を紅潮させ、妖艶に吊り上がった口元に指を当てている。瞳には怪しい光が宿っていて、心なしがハートマークが幻視出来た。
というかなんだ、何が起こった。少し遡って思い出してみよう。
レイラちゃんと出会った、ギルドまで案内した、勝負する事になった、勝負した、負けた、キスされた、はいおかしい。最後とその一個前がどうやっても繋がらない。熱い溜め息を吐くレイラちゃんはそれはもう色っぽくて発情してんじゃないかと思わせる雰囲気をしているけど、今はどうしてそうなったかだ。
「えーと、レイラちゃん?」
「うふ、うふふふふ......」
「駄目だこいつ、聞いてねぇ」
話し掛けても怪しく笑うだけの彼女、正直、めっちゃ怖いです。
すると、
「きつねさんから離れてっ!!」
フィニアちゃんの声が、レイラちゃんの身体の向こう側から聞こえた。レイラちゃんで見えないけど、きっとそこにいるんだろう。その声音は、ぞっとするくらい怒気が混ざっていた。肌がビリビリと振るえる程の圧力がある。
「あはっ、貴女はきつね君にくっついてた虫ね」
「うるさい、良いからきつねさんから離れて発情猫」
なんだか、穏やかじゃない雰囲気だな。フィニアちゃんの言葉遣いや雰囲気も普段と違う、普段僕に対する悪口には悪意が全く感じられないのに、今のフィニアちゃんの言葉には節々から棘が感じられる。怒りと苛立ちの含まれた、文字通りの悪口、暴言。
対してレイラちゃんもフィニアちゃんに対して虫と言った。思い返せば彼女は出会ってからずっとフィニアちゃんに対してなんの反応も見せなかった。フィニアちゃんが彼女の手を叩いている時も、無視してた。
今思い返せば、アレはフィニアちゃんを眼中に入れてなかったってことだったのか。
とはいえこの空気は不味い、此処は僕が取り持たないと。
「レイラちゃん、どうして僕にキスしたの?」
「うふ、うふふふ......私どうしても駄目なんだぁ、興味深い人を前にすると我慢出来なくて......今までは一緒にいた仲間が止めてくれてたんだけど......今回は駄目だったの」
「いや、意味分かんない」
「あ、安心してね、今の私のファーストキスだよ?」
「全然安心出来ねぇ!」
密かに、あ、嬉しいと思ってしまった自分がいる。だって、女の子がファーストキスを僕にくれたというんだからそりゃ嬉しいですよ、若干強引だったけど、女の子にもそういう強引さがあっても良いと思う! 寧ろ美少女に強く迫られたら嬉しくない男はいないでしょ。
でも、これ以上は駄目だね。なによりフィニアちゃんが悲しむし、僕は大してレイラちゃんが好きだという訳でもないしね。
「私、興味が湧いた人を目の前にすると身体が熱くなって、思わず襲っちゃいたい気持ちになるの......きつね君は私の好みに凄く合ってるんだよ? それに、Hランクなのに私の攻撃を受けて最後まで意識があるし、弱そうなのにそうじゃない所が......もうたまらない......!」
レイラちゃんは自分の身体を抱き締めるように、何かを堪えるようにそう言う。弱そうなのにそうじゃない......これがあの有名なギャップ萌えか、いやいやそうじゃない。
ということはこういうことなのかな? レイラちゃんにとって僕はタイプの容姿をしてて、ギャップ萌えがあって、興味が湧いたから、思わず発情しちゃいましたってこと? あはは、フィニアちゃん結構的を得てるね、確かに発情猫だよこの子。
「そんな事どうでもいいよ......離れないんだったらもういい、動かないでね......今すぐに燃やしてやるっ!」
「あはっ♡ まぁ貴女が来たから興が冷めたし、離れてあげる」
「......フィニアちゃん、僕は大丈夫だから。そんなに怒らないで」
レイラちゃんが身体の上からどいてくれたことで、フィニアちゃんの怒った顔が見えた。僕は上半身を起こしてフィニアちゃんにそう言う。フィニアちゃんには怒った顔はして欲しくない、いつもみたいな笑顔で傍にいて欲しいなぁ。
すると、フィニアちゃんは猛スピードで僕のお腹に飛び込んできた。
「きつねさーん!!」
「げふっ......!」
痛みが無くて良かった、お腹に突撃してきたフィニアちゃんの一撃に、身体の中にあった空気が強制的に口から漏れ出た。苦笑しながら、僕の身体に顔を埋めるフィニアちゃんを片手で抱きしめた。小さいから潰さないように優しくね。
「なんだか妬けちゃうなぁ、ねぇきつね君、この後二人で何か美味しい物でも食べに行かない? 虫はおいてってさ」
レイラちゃんが僕にそう言ってくる。多分彼女の気持ちは恋じゃない、友愛でもなければ、好意ですらない。ただ、興味に惹かれる猫みたいなものだ、新鮮な物が嬉しい、珍しい物に興味がある、そういったただの好奇心みたいな感情なんだと思う。
でも、たとえ彼女のコレが恋愛感情だったとしても、僕は多分同じ様に返したと思う。
「ごめんね、フィニアちゃんを虫呼ばわりするお前と食べるご飯なんて、不味過ぎて食べられない、それと――――発情するなら余所でやれよ」
僕の言葉に、彼女はきょとんとした表情を浮かべた。キツイ言い方かもしれないけど、僕の本心だ。
フィニアちゃんを虫なんて呼ぶ奴は許さない。例えリーシェちゃんやルルちゃんでも、どんなに絶世の美少女や美女であっても、どんなに権力をもった王様や騎士団長でも、或いは勇者や神様であっても、僕が許さない。
それはしおりちゃんの想いに対する侮辱で、フィニアちゃんに対する侮辱だ。
「勝負は着いた、僕は帰るよ。フィニアちゃんを虫と呼ばなくなってから出直して来い」
僕は最後にそう言って、その場を去る。ルルちゃんが隠れて此方を見ているのに気が付いて、眉間に集中した力を抜いた。気持ちを落ち着かせて、表情をいつもの薄ら笑いに戻す。ルルちゃんを怖がらせるのは忍びないからね。
ルルちゃんは僕が薄ら笑いを浮かべると、多少ほっとしたようだった。僕は彼女の頭を撫でて、一緒にギルドの中へと戻る。去り際にちらっとレイラちゃんを見たら、俯いて立ち尽くしているのが見えた。でもちっとも罪悪感を抱かないまま、僕は彼女への視線を切った。
Bug
What happened, it was so sudden so I couldn't believe it myself.
The one we encountered at the entrance of the forest was, a girl named Leila Vermilion. From her appearance, it seems like she was at the same age as Kitsune, her height was also approximately same as him, and I also thought that her appearance was cute, her appearance.
It seems like that girl was an outrageously powerful C rank adventurer. Since my level had increased I was somehow able to understand such presence so I immediately understood it, that that girl was strong. She was very strong to the point she won't stopped at just C rank, or so I thought.
That was why, I thought it was strange. That was because to become a C rank adventurer, she was supposed to has fought against hundreds or thousands magical beasts thus far, but both of sword at her waist seem like brand new and had no traces to ever been used even once. There was the possibility that she just purchased a new pair, but even her armor was a brand new, after all. That's why I got an impression that it was just as if she just purchased all of it.
That was why, I totally suspected that girl who was always trying to cling to Kitsune-san. Was she thinking about something strange about Kitsune-san? Or did she intending to do something to Kitsune-san? Or so I thought. Was that a honey trap! What was she intending to do by seduce him that much!
Actually, to got her breast pressed against him, I could see that he was easily and quickly fell for it. His faint smile was unusually grinning, after all. He looked somewhat excited!
When we were walking, I clapped her hand since she kept clinging at Kitsune-san, she was obstinately won't to let him go but Kitsune-san separated himself from her himself, as expected, I who had spent much more time with him was much more important than her, moreover the one who was allowed to sit at Kitsune-san's shoulder is none other than me, after all! That was my special seat, after all.
When we entered the guild, I finally understood that her objective was Kitsune-san. Seems like the rumor about Kitsune-san's existence had been spread till foreign country. To got his name spread till the Kingdom was as expected of Kitsune-san, or so I thought, but the way she looked at Kitsune-san was very disgusting. I thought that wasn't the way a human looking at other human.
--that was as if, a beast that looking at its prey, a looking down gaze.
The ominous light at her eyes was very disgusting. I was sure she was very like to fight, to the point I thought that she might even like to do a life and death battle. There was no way such very powerful person from Grandile Kingdom would specially came here just to meet Kitsune-san, after all.
That was why I tried to avoid having her fought against Kitsune-san, glossing over a subject was Kitsune-san's special ability, so I thought to try utilizing it too.
But she won't listen to what I said. Without I noticed it, it was already decided that they would had a duel. Why did no one realized it? The dangerous presence deep inside her.
"Finia-chan, I want you to wait here together with Lulu-chan, since I'll finish it quickly, after all"
Saying so, Kitsune-san went toward where that girl was. Putting me at Lulu-chan's shoulder, he immediately turned his back at us, but when I looked at his back, I somewhat felt a very bad premonition from it.
"Finia-sama...?"
"Hmm...?"
"What's up Finia, you don't seems like your usual self."
Lulu-chan and Rishe-chan say that to me, but I have no time to answer their query. Folding my arm and nodding, both of them are looking at me with a somewhat worried expression, but leaving aside Lulu-chan, Rishe-chan seems like she doesn't worried that much. Perhaps, does she trust Kitsune-san's ability or something?
Come to think of it, Rishe-chan hasn't ever watched Kitsune-san fought, doesn't she?
"...yes, as I thought I'll go and take a look at it myself!"
Worried about Kitsune-san, I flap my wings and floating, and then fly from Lulu-chan's shoulder. I fly toward the training ground underground the guild. In doing so, I can understand that Lulu-chan comes following me from behind. Does that girl perhaps worried about Kitsune-san, too? As a family, I'm a bit happy about it.
But, that happy moment is immediately blown away.
That's because...
"Umu!?"
That girl who is pushing down Kitsune-san is, kissing Kitsune-san, after all.
* * *
"Ppuhaa..."
My first kiss, I finally tasted a girl's flavor. Yaay, Kitsune.
While thinking about what just happened, I look at that girl's face that is separating from my lips, and then I wipe my own mouth. The mysterious chill that binding me just now has disappeared, but Leial-chan who is still sit atop me is, with her face blushing, she bewitchingly puts her finger at her lips. There's an ominous light dwells at her eyes and somehow I feel like I can see a heart mark at it.
Or rather, what, what just happened? Let's try rewind the time and recollect what have happened.
I met Leila-chan, then guiding her till the guild, then deciding to have a duel, then I took the duel, then I lose, and then she kissed me, yup it was strange. No matter how I think about it, the last one is irrelevant to anything before it. Looking at Leila-chan who is passionately sighing, she looks very erotic, and it's just as if she's at sexual excitement or something, but right now isn't the time to pondering about such a thing.
"Umm, Leila-chan?"
"Ufu, ufufufu....."
"No good, she doesn't listening at all."
Looking at her who just dubiously laughing when I addressed her, to be honest, I'm very scared.
And then,
"Go away from Kitsune-san!!"
That's Finia-chan voice, I feel like hear it from the rear side of Leila-chan. I can't see her because of Leila-chan, but I'm sure she is there. Her tone is, filled with anger that even makes me shudder. There's a strong pressure comes from her body.
"Ahaha, you're the bug that was always clinging to Kitsune-kun, right?"
"Shut up, just quickly go away from Kitsune-san, you lustful cat."
Somewhat, that isn't a peaceful ambiance, isn't it? Finia-chan's wording and ambiance are different from usual, when she always bad mouthing me, I can't feel any ill will from it but right now I can feel a clear prickle from Finia-chan's word. Filled with anger and irritation, the literal bad mouth, abusive remark.
In the contrary, Leial-chan also referred Finia-chan as bug. Come to think of it, ever since we met this girl, she never gave any reaction to Finia-chan, at all. Even when Finia-chan clapped her hand, she ignored her.
If I rethink about it, she did that because she was disregarding Finia-chan, huh.
Nonetheless, this situation is bad, I must act as the mediator here.
"Leila-chan, why did you kissed me?"
"Ufu, ufufufu.... For me that was a very hopeless thing, before the man I was very interested at, I couldn't hold it anymore... thus far, my comrade would always stopped me, but... this time it was hopeless."
"Wait, I don't understand it, at all."
"Ah, please be at ease, that was my first kiss, you know?"
"It doesn't make me at ease at all!!"
Secretly, ah, I slightly feel happy about it. Because, having a girl gives her first kiss for me, of course that would make me happy, she might be a bit too pushy, but I think that a girl that has such pushy side at her also not that bad! Or rather, there's no men who isn't happy to be strongly pushed by a beauty, right?
But, anything more than it is off limit. Above all, it makes Finia-chan sad, after all, also, it isn't like I'm in love with Leila-chan or anything.
"I, my body would become hot whenever I have the person I interested at before me, and it would make me instinctively want to attack him... Kitsune-kun, you are totally my preference, you know? Moreover, even though you were an H rank, you were still conscious to the bitter end even though you had received many of my attacks, the way you look weak but that isn't the case... it's so irresistible...!"
Hugging her own body, Leila-chan says so while as if enduring something. Look weak but that isn't the case... this is that famous gap moe, huh, no no, that's not it.
Or rather, is that really the case? Because for her, I matched her preference, had a gap moe, and interesting, so she unintentionally got excited at me? Ahaha, seems like Finia-chan's remark was quite right, she indeed a lustful cat, after all.
"I have no damn care about such a thing... if you don't want to move then, okay, just don't move from there.... Since I'll burn you immediately!"
"Ahaha, since you have come here my interest has diminished, I'll move away from him."
"...Finia-chan, I'm alright, so, please don't be that mad."
When Leila-chan moves away from atop me, I finally able to see Finia-chan's angry face. And then I say so to calm her down. I don't want to see Finia-chan's angry face, I want her to keep smiling as usual.
And then, Finia-chan flies toward my stomach with a great speed.
"Kitsune-san!"
"Gefu...!"
Thank's god I can't feel any pain, receiving an attack-like hug form Finia-chan, the air inside me forced out from my mouth. While wryly smiling, I hug Finia-chan who is burying her face at my body with one hand. She's small so I hug her gently so that I won't crush her.
"I somehow got jealous you know, Kitsune-kun, just the two of us, how about we go and grab some food together? Leaving that bug aside."
Leila-chan says so to me. Perhaps her feeling isn't a love, it also isn't a friendship, I can't feel any good will from it. It's just, as if a cat that finds something interesting, happy to find something new, interested at something unusual, curiosity, something along those lines, or so I thought.
However, even if that feeling of hers is a love, perhaps I'll similarly turn it down.
"Ah, sorry, eating together with you who called Finia-chan as bug is, would be too unappetizing and I won't be able to bring myself to eat anything, also-- if you want to vent out your lust then just do it out there."
At my word, her face floats a blank expression. That's perhaps a bit harsh, but that's my true feeling.
Calling Finia-chan as bug is, I won't forgive her. Even if the one saying it is Rishe-chan nor Lulu-chan, even if she's a peerless beauty, even if he's a king nor a knight leader that hold such great authority, or perhaps even the hero nor god itself, I won't forgive any of them.
Insulting Finia-chan is, similarly means as if insulting Shiori-chan.
"The duel has been over so I'm going home. If you are still calling Finia-chan as bug then don't ever come near me again."
Saying that, I leave that place. I finally notice Lulu-chan who is hiding and looking this way, I release the power and strain at my eyebrows. Calming down my emotion, return to my usual faintly smiling expression. I can't bring myself to scare Lulu-chan, after all.
Looking at my usual faint smile, Lulu-chan looks somewhat relieved. I pat her head, and return to the guild area together. Before I leave that place, I take a glance at Leila-chan and I can see her standing still there while looking downward to the ground. But, without harboring any guilty feeling, I turn my line of sight away from her.
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