171.Blank Space
「わあ、久しぶりですね。忙しくしているみたいだけれど、大丈夫?」
「プーセさんこそ、お元気でしたか? あ、これザンガー様からお届け物です」
王城を訪れたオリガとヴィーネを入口で迎えたプーセは、オリガに一礼するとヴィーネとかしましく話あっていた。
オリガを迎えた相手は、イメラリアである。
「国境からの報告書、並びに魔人族の長と名乗る人物からの手紙をお届けに参りました」
「魔人族からの手紙ですか。夫君の領地は話題に事欠きませんね」
「ええ。おかげさまで退屈せずに済みます」
にこり、と整った顔をした美少女二人が笑顔で言葉を交わしている様を見て、城内を警備している騎士たちは微笑ましいものを見たような、穏やかな顔をしていた。一二三をめぐる二人の争いを知らなければ、表面上は親しい貴族階級の付き合いにしか見えない。
「わたくしとオリガさんは、少し相談事があります。プーセさんはヴィーネさんと積るお話もありましょうから、お二人でゆっくりされると良いでしょう」
「ありがとうございます、陛下」
嬉しそうに頭を下げたプーセと、合わせて礼をしたヴィーネを見送り、イメラリアは近くにいた騎士に彼女たちの部屋へお菓子とお茶を運ばせるように指示を出す。その姿はずいぶんと落ち着いて、自然な振る舞いになっている。
「主人の使用人にまでご配慮いただきまして、ありがとうございます」
「構いませんよ。その程度は雇い主の務めです」
プーセの役職は『相談役』なのだが、家臣では無く、客分として扱われている。エルフが長命であり、家臣として高い地位に付けると後年問題になるかも知れない。かと言って、王の相談を受ける立場の者が下級の貴族や官吏というのもおかしい、と宰相たちが頭を捻って考え、“一時的にエルフの集落からお招きした相談役”という
城内に執務室と居室を与えられ、専用の侍女を付けられた。自給自足に近い生活をしていたプーセは、突如として変化した生活に、最近になってようやく慣れてきたところだった。まだ、侍女に対して指示を出す事には慣れていないのだが。
「城にも複数の魔法使いがいますし、魔法が使えなくても魔法を使う相手との戦いを訓練したいという希望もあり、最近では騎士隊の訓練にもお手伝いいただいています」
「なるほど。それは良いことですね」
イメラリアの執務室へと場所を移し、侍女たちに部屋から出るように告げると、向き合う二人の顔から笑顔が抜け落ちた。
「それで、その手紙を見せていただけますか?」
「どうぞ」
そっけなく渡された手紙を見て、封蝋がそのままになっていることを、イメラリアは意外に思った。
「一二三様は中を確認しておられないのですか?」
「主人からすれば、すでに引退した身だから興味が無い、ということのようですね」
イメラリアは慎重にナイフで封を解き、内容にしっかりと目を通した。
そこには、女王ウェパルの署名付きで、停戦のための話し合いを行いたい旨が書かれていた。女王自らイメラリアの居城へ赴く用意がある、と記されている。
「......なるほど」
文面だけで判断するのは危険だが、被害軽微な小競り合いで終わっていても、国軍の兵士を国境へ手中させ、駐留部隊を養うだけでも経費がかかる。終わらせられるならそうしたいのが為政者としての本音だ。
魔人族がいるエリアに来い、ということであれば罠を疑うところだが、来ると言うのであれば用意はできるだろう。
考え込んでいたイメラリアが、ふと視線を感じて顔を上げる。そこには、無表情で見つめているオリガの姿があった。
「魔人族の王という方から、停戦の申し込みです。実現されれば良いのですが......」
「停戦ですか。良い知らせです。あまり戦いが長引くと、アリッサの負担にもなります。向こうも攻めあぐねているようですから、良い頃合いでしょう」
オリガの言葉には、当然停戦を受け入れますね、という意味合いが強く含まれている。それが彼女の考えからなのか、一二三に言い含められてのことなのかは不明だが、イメラリアにこれを受けない理由は無い。
「そうですね。このお話は受けるべきでしょう」
ふと、イメラリアの脳裏に、今の状況を利用できないかという考えが浮かんだ。
「......オリガさん。明日の昼食、ご予定は?」
「主人と過ごす予定です」
当然の事と言わんばかりなオリガの言葉に、イメラリアは内心の苛立ちを笑顔で包み隠す。
「良かったら、一二三様も交えて、打ち合わせも兼ねて城で昼餐としませんか? 正式な内容はその時に詰めたいと思いますが、国境からここまで、魔人族の女王をエスコートしていただきたいのです」
「......それは、国軍で行うべきではありませんか?」
「今、一二三様に鍛えていただいている騎士の訓練も兼ねて、という形でお願いいたします。それに、魔人族の精鋭が万一国内で暴れたとき、一二三様ならば確実に押さえつけることができます」
依頼料や行動スケジュールなどについて、一二三本人を含めて相談したい、と繰り返したイメラリアに、オリガは保留の態度を取った。
「主人に相談してから、今日のうちにはご連絡させていただきます」
「わかりました。よろしくお伝えください」
簡単なあいさつを交わし、オリガは城を後にする。
入れ替わりに室内へ入り、二人分のティーセットを片付け始めた侍女に、イメラリアは「急ぎでお願いします」と声をかけた。
「サブナクさんと宰相に、すぐここへ来るように伝えてください」
「畏まりました、陛下」
手早く茶器を盆にまとめ、侍女は足早に出て行った。
「......明日の敵は今日の友......。いえ、友とは言えませんね」
政治に関わると、思考がどんどん黒くなる、とうんざりしながらイメラリアは自らのお腹を撫でた。まだ確定の診断は出ていないが、なんとなく、そこに命がある気がする。
「......友ならば、利用しようとは思わないでしょうからね」
「そう。ご苦労様」
ウェパルは報告に訪れた男に、優しく声をかけた。
ヴィシー中央委員会の執務室をそのまま使っている女王の為の執務室は、次第に書類で埋まりつつあった。部屋の隅で、ニャールとフェレスの二人が、ひぃひぃ言いながら書類の仕分けをしている。書類が増えて面倒になってきたウェパルが、二人に緊急性の高い順に分けるように命じたのだ。
ブツブツと泣き言を言いながら書類を捌くニャールへ、男はちらりと視線を向けたが、言及はしなかった。そこに触れたら自分も巻き込まれるかもしれない。
「偽装は完璧だったのですが、まさか見破られそうになるとは思いませんでした。不覚です」
「しっかりと親書を渡してくれて、報告に戻ってきてくれたのだから、あまり気にすることはないわよ。また潜入をお願いするかもしれないから、その時は気を付けてね」
「はっ。次の機会がいただけましたら、より完璧に任務を達成して御覧に入れたいと思います」
男が持ち帰った情報で、一二三が領主から退いてオーソングランデという国の首都に滞在している事、ホーラントという国とオーソングランデが連携を取っている可能性があることが分かった。
「まさか引退していて、しかも首都にいるとはね」
褒美については後日、と伝えて男を下がらせてから、想定外だった、とウェパルは天井を仰ぎ、両手で顔を覆った。
「そういう事なら首都に行くなんて書かなかったわよ。勘弁してほしいわね。下手したら人間と魔人族がいるところで余計な事されかねないわ。停戦どころじゃなくなるかもしれない」
「そんな真似したら、お城を舞台に魔人族と人間の両方を敵に回すことになるわよ」
わざとらしく大声で笑い飛ばし、不安をかき消す。
ニャールとフェレスが気の毒そうな顔で見てくるが、今さら部下にどう見られようが知ったことか、という気分だ。
ひとしきり笑って、ようやく気持ちが落ち着いて来た頃に、バシムが足早に入室してきた。魔人族の将としてヴィシー攻めを指揮し、一二三に片腕を奪われた男だ。
金属鎧を着た片腕の男は、乱暴な足取りウェパルの前まで進み、ドン、と音を立てて跪いた。
「人間の町に使者を送ったと伺いましたが!」
「使者というより、手紙を送っただけよ。それがどうしたの?」
ウェパルは、気持ち突き放すような言葉になった。彼女は、粗暴で出世欲を剥き出しにしているバシムの事を好きになれなかった。尊敬しろとまでは言わないが、国家と言う組織として他の国家とやり取りをしていくことを考えれば、形だけでも女王に対する敬意を見せられるようにするべきだ。
それができそうにないバシムを、ウェパルは今の地位以上に上げる気は毛頭無かった。
「一体、どのような内容をお送りされたのです。よもや、降伏勧告などではありますまいな」
書状の内容を教えてやる必要など無い。ウェパルにとってこういう無礼な奴は組織運営の邪魔なので、早々に排除したいところだったが、戦場に置いておく数合わせとしては使える程度に実力があるのが問題だった。
それに、オーソングランデとの接触は、こういった主戦派への偽装も兼ねている。
「文面だけを見れば、停戦のための講和を結ぶ話し合いの打診よ」
「停戦だと!? ......失礼しました。しかし、現状我々は負けているわけではありません。まして、一国を陥落させ、今も二正面作戦を大きな損害も無く推敲しております。今この段階で停戦を、しかも我々から申し入れる必要は無いのでは、と愚行いたしますが」
「落ち着きなさい」
「しかし......」
「停戦は方便です。バシム、私の新たな転移魔法の制限を知っているでしょう」
転移先は“ウェパルの魔力を込めた目印”を置くか、彼女自身が訪れたことがある場所に限定される。
魔人族の主戦派が妙な提案を持って来る可能性を考え、ウェパルは早々に自らの魔法についての弱点を公表していた。
「なるほど! つまり陛下は恩自らが敵地の中心部へ赴くことで、一気呵成に敵の本拠地を叩き潰す準備をなさるわけですな!」
興奮気味に話すバシムに対して、ウェパルはニヤリと笑った。“うまく乗ってくれた”と。「わかったなら、兵たちとの調練を勧めなさい。万一、首都で私を害する動きがあれば、戦いはそこで始まるのだから」
満面の笑みで出て行ったバシムは、きっと兵たちに向かって、今の会話で出た作戦について嬉々として喧伝してくれるだろう。そして、士気の高い兵士たちを以て、号令一つで突撃してくれるはずだ。
「もし、一二三があの剣を握るようなら、その時点で呼んであげようかしらね」
そして、見事に盾となって女王を逃がすための時間を稼いでもらおう。バシムの後任は、もう少し女王の意を汲んでくれる者を選ぼう。
ふと、部屋の中で相変わらず書類と格闘していた二人に声をかけた。
「ニャール、フェレス。将軍とかやってみたくない?」
「絶対嫌です」
即答したフェレスに、ニャールも同意するように何度も頷いていた。
Chapter 171: Blank Space
"Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it? It looks like you are busy, but is everything alright?" (Puuse)
"You too, Puuse-san, are you holding up well? Ah, this is a present from Zanga-sama." (Viine)
Greeting Origa and Viine, who visited the royal castle, at the entrance, Puuse bowed towards Origa and then noisily chatted with Viine.
The one welcoming Origa is Imeraria.
"A report from the border and a letter from a person calling themselves the leader of the demons have been delivered." (Origa)
"A letter from the demons? The territory of your husband does not lack excitement, does it?" (Imeraria)
"Yes. Fortunately it does not get boring." (Origa)
Seeing the two young beauties exchanging words while smiling sweetly, the guards patrolling the castle looked warmly at them as if seeing a pleasant scene. As long as one doesn't know about their rivalry revolving around Hifumi, they simply look like close noble associates on the surface.
"There is something Origa and I have to talk about. Puuse-san, I am sure you have plenty of things you want to tell Viine-san, so it is probably a good idea for you to slowly catch up with each other." (Imeraria)
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty." (Puuse)
Seeing off Puuse and Viine, who delightfully bowed their heads and then left, Imeraria orders a nearby knight to have sweets and tea brought to their room. She's conducting herself very calmly and naturally.
"Thank you very much for taking even my husband's servant into consideration." (Origa)
"Do not mind it. That much is the duty of an employer." (Imeraria)
Puuse's official position is {Advisor} , but she has been treated as guest and not as retainer. As elves are long-lived, it might turn into a problem in later years if she's given a high position as retainer. Having said that, the prime ministers and his subordinates pondered and racked their brains over the whole matter, as it would be weird for a person with the position to consult the ruler to be a low-ranking noble or a government official, and decided to handle her as "Advisor who had been temporarily invited from the elven village."
She was granted a living room and an office within the castle, and an exclusive maid was assigned to her. Recently Puuse, who had always lived providing for herself, was finally at the point of getting used to the suddenly changed lifestyle. Though she still hasn't accustomed herself to giving orders to her maid.
"There are several magicians in the castle, so I have the ambition of wanting to train fighting against magic users even if I can't use magic myself. Recently I have been even helping out in the training of the knight order." (Imeraria)
"I see. That is nice." (Origa)
They changed location to Imeraria's office. And then, once Imeraria had told the maids to leave the room, any smiles vanished from the two's faces as they sat across each other.
"So, can I have you show me that letter?" (Imeraria)
"Here you go." (Origa)
Seeing the letter that had been handed to her curtly, Imeraria considered it unexpected for the sealing wax having been left untouched.
"Hifumi-sama has not checked the contents?" (Origa)
"In the eyes of my husband, he has already retired, so he does not have any interest in it. Those were his words." (Origa)
Imeraria carefully undid the seal with a knife and thoroughly scanned through the content.
It was signed by Queen Vepar and basically requested to hold armistice negotiations. It also mentioned that the queen herself is preparing to head towards Imeraria's royal castle.
"...Hmm." (Imeraria)
It's dangerous to use only the contents of the letter to make a judgment, but just supporting the garrisoned forces, who were left in charge of the royal army's soldiers at the border, costs money even if the whole battle finished with a skirmish with insignificant damage. Wanting to make something like that to end as soon as possible is the true wish of any statesman.
Being told to come to area where the demons are would resulted in me suspecting a trap, but if she says that she will visit, I think I will be able to arrange a meeting.
Imeraria was brooding over it, but suddenly feeling a gaze on her, she lifts her head. The one expressionlessly staring at her was Origa.
"It is a proposal for a ceasefire from a person calling herself queen of the demons. If it is actually implemented, that will be great, but..." (Imeraria)
"A ceasefire? Those are good news. If the battle drags on for too long, it will also become a burden for Alyssa. As the other side seems to also be at a loss how to continue, I guess it is just the right time." (Origa)
Origa's words strongly contain implications that it's only natural to accept the ceasefire. It's unknown whether those are her own thoughts or something she was told by Hifumi, but Imeraria has no reason to not go along with this.
"I guess you are right there. I probably should accept to hold those talks." (Imeraria)
Suddenly the idea whether she can't make use of this situation crossed Imeraria's mind.
"...Origa-san, do you have any plans for tomorrow's lunch?" (Imeraria)
"I plan to spend time with my husband." (Origa)
Imeraria conceals her irritation at Origa saying it is as if it was just natural to do so with a smile.
"If you like, Hifumi-sama can join us as well. How about a luncheon in the castle that at the same time serves as preparatory meeting? I want to wrap up the official details at that time, but I would like you to escort the queen of the demons from the border to this place." (Imeraria)
"...Is that not something which should be carried out by the royal army?" (Origa)
"I would like it to take the shape of it serving as training for the knights who are currently being trained by Hifumi-sama. Besides, in worst case if the demon elites started to act up within Orsongrande, Hifumi-sama would definitely be capable of suppressing them." (Imeraria)
"I would like to discuss the request fee and the schedule when Hifumi-sama himself is with us," Imeraria added. Because of that, Origa put the decision it on hold.
"As I have to consult with my husband, I would like you to allow me to contact you at a later time  today." (Origa)
"Understood. Please take care of passing on my request." (Origa)
After exchanging simple words of parting, Origa leaves the castle.
Imeraria told the maid, who entered the office in exchange and started to clean up both women's tea sets, "Please hurry."
"Also, please tell Sabnak and the prime minister to come here right away." (Imeraria)
"As you order, Your Majesty."
The maid swiftly placed the tea utensils on a tray, and left at a quick pace.
"...Yesterday's enemy is today's friend...no, I can't call them friends, now can I?" (Imeraria)
While becoming fed up with her thoughts steadily becoming dark as she deals with politics, Imeraria gently caressed her belly. A definite medical diagnosis still hasn't come up, but somehow she has a hunch that there's a life dwelling in there.
"...After all one wouldn't consider to make use of one's friend." (Imeraria)
"Yes. Thank you for your efforts." (Vepar)
Vepar gently thanked the man who visited her to make a report.
The office of Vichy's central committee that's being used as the queen's office as is was gradually getting buried in documents. In a corner of the room Nyarl and Pheres are sorting documents while breathing heavily. Vepar, who had become troubled by the increasing amount of documents, ordered the two to sort the documents by their level of urgency.
The man threw a fleeting glance at Nyarl who is processing documents while continuously grumbling, but he didn't address her.
"The disguise was perfect, so I certainly didn't expect them to see through it. It's my blunder."
"Since you came back to report after properly passing on the signed letter, you don't have to worry over it too much. As I might ask you to infiltrate them once more, you just have to be careful at that time." (Vepar)
"Yes, Your Majesty. If you allow me another opportunity, I'd like to show you that I can accomplish my mission even more perfectly."
According to the information brought back by him, Hifumi has resigned as feudal lord and is staying in the capital of the country called Orsongrande. Also, it's possible for the country called Horant and Orsongrande to have formed a cooperative alliance.
"Certainly I didn't expect him to retire, much less to say about him staying in the capital." (Vepar)
After telling the man that they would talk about the reward on another day and having him withdraw, Vepar looks up to the ceiling while saying, "That was a surprise," and covered her face with both hands.
"If I had known about that, I wouldn't have written about going to their capital! Please give me a break. If I'm careless, it's not unlikely that something unnecessary might happen between the demons and humans. Not just the ceasefire might be a lost case then." (Vepar)
"If he did something like that, it would only result in him turning both sides, humans and demons, into enemies with the castle as stage." (Vepar)
She drowns out her anxiety by deliberately laughing it off loudly.
Nyarl and Pheres look at her with faces full of pity, but at this point she felt as if she knows how she's regarded by her subordinates.
When her emotions finally settled down after laughing for a while, Bashim entered the room hurriedly. He's the man who commanded the attack on Vichy as general of the demons and who had one of his arms stolen by Hifumi.
The man, who wore a metallic armor, proceeded towards Vepar with rough steps and knelt down with a thump.
"I heard that you sent an envoy to the human city!" (Bashim)
"Rather than an envoy, I only sent a letter to them. What about it?" (Vepar)magic
I won't go as far as telling him to show some respect, but if I plan to go to another country to have an exchange with them as an organization that's called a state, I should make sure that he can show respect towards his queen, even if it's only for form's sake.
Vepar didn't have the slightest intention to raise Bashim, who doesn't look as if he would be able to do that, above his current position.
"Just what have you written in the letter you sent? Certainly it's something like a recommendation to surrender, right?" (Bashim)
. Since such a rude fellow is nothing more than a hindrance for Vepar in her management of the organization, she was at the point of wanting to get rid of him as soon as possible, but it was a problem that he has so much power that he can be used to make up for numbers if placed on a battlefield.
Besides, the contact with Orsongrande at the same time also serves as camouflage towards the hawks in the demon army.
"If you only look at the content of the letter it looks as if we are sounding them out about a discussion to conclude peace through a ceasefire." (Vepar)
"Ceasefire, you said!? ... Excuse me. However, in the current situation there's no way for us to lose. Not to mention that we made a whole country surrender. Even now we are polishing a two-front-strategy without any big losses. At the current stage a ceasefire, moreover one proposed by us, is unnecessary and a foolish move." (Bashim)
"Calm yourself." (Vepar)
"But..." (Bashim)
"The armistice is just a means. Bashim, you know about my restrictions for new transfer destinations, don't you?" (Vepar)
The transfer destinations are limited to set-up "marks filled with Vepar's mana" or places she herself had visited.
Considering the possibility of the demon army's hawks coming up with strange proposals, Vepar quickly announced the flaw of her own magic.
"Ooh! In other words, the favor of you, Your Majesty, personally heading into the center of the enemy territory is a preparation to smash the enemy headquarter in one swipe!" (Bashim)
. "If you understand, have the soldiers train. At worst, if it develops into me being injured in the capital, the battle will start there."
Bashim, who left with his face being all smiles, is certainly heading to the soldiers and gleefully spreading the strategy he heard in the conversation just now. And then he should come attacking with the highly-spirited soldiers under one command.
"I think I will call them at the moment when it seems that Hifumi is holding that sword." (Vepar)
And then I will have him become a splendid shield to buy time for allowing his queen to escape. Let's choose someone, who can guess what their queen thinks a bit better, as Bashim's successor.
All of a sudden she called out to the two who still grappled with the documents inside the room.
"Nyarl, Pheres, don't you want to have try on becoming a general?" (Vepar)
"Absolutely not." (Pheres)
Pheres replied immediately and Nyarl also kept nodding her head repeatedly in agreement.
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