19
レオルドが餓狼の牙を討伐する為に編成されていた騎士隊が敗北をしたと知ったのは、バルバロトが任務に赴いた事を聞いた二週間後の事だった。
「騎士隊が全滅? バルバロトは無事なのか!?」
「落ち着いてください。坊ちゃま」
「落ち着いていられるか! バルバロトは今どこにいる!」
「バルバロト殿は現在療養中です。どうやら、戦闘の際に腕を折られた様で」
「馬鹿な! バルバロトはゼアト一の騎士だったのだろう!? そのバルバロトを倒すなんて......」
(いや、待てよ? よく考えれば餓狼の牙は大事なイベントに出てくる敵だから補正でもかかってるのかも......そう考えたら納得するが)
「坊ちゃま?」
「ギル。バルバロトに会いたい。面会は可能か?」
「可能でございます。療養中といっても本人は今ゼアトの兵舎にいますから」
「なら、手配を頼む」
「仰せのままに」
いつものように組み手を行っていたレオルドはギルバートにバルバロトとの面会を頼む。ギルバートは胸に手を添えてお辞儀をしたら、一瞬で姿を消した。
(ふう......やっぱりゲームと同じでジークが倒すようになってるのか......?)
胸中を不安がよぎる。レオルドは未来を知っており、運命には抗えないのかと暗い気持ちになる。
(弱気になるな。俺は何の為にギルやバルバロトと訓練をしてるんだ。生き残るんだ、必ず。どんな手を使ってでも!)
だからと言って、ただ何もせず諦めて死ぬよりは泥水をすする事になろうとも汚名を浴びようとも、レオルドは生き残る事を誓う。
「坊ちゃま。馬車の準備が出来ました」
「ご苦労。すぐに向かうとしようか」
バルバロトの見舞いにレオルドは赴く。ギルバートが用意した馬車に乗り込み、バルバロトが療養している兵舎へと向かう。
(思えば、俺がこの屋敷から出るのは初めてだったな。ずっと、屋敷でダイエットと魔法の勉強ばかりしてたから、ちょっと楽しみ)
レオルドはゼアトに来てから一月以上が経過していた。その間、レオルドは一度も街を訪れてはいない。
ダイエットを決意してギルバートに毎日扱かれてクタクタになっているから、外へ出かけようという気が一切起きなかったからだ。さらにはバルバロトとの剣術の鍛錬も加わったので余計に街へと出掛ける気が起きなかった。
その為、今回バルバロトの見舞いという名目で街を見ることが出来てレオルドは楽しそうに景色を眺めていた。
(うひょー! ゲームじゃ砦しか細かく描写されてなかったから分からなかったけど、ずいぶんと活気のある街だな~)
ゼアトは辺境とは言っても国境にある砦の為、重要な役割がある。過去にあった戦争では防衛拠点として有名になっている。
隣国からの出入り口となっているので、多くの商人が行き来している。なので、珍しい商品が出たりするので王都にも負けない賑わいだ。
ただし、運命48ではレオルドが来た事により活気付いていた街は瞬く間に衰退していった。何の権力も持っていないレオルドだが、やはり公爵家という人間なだけあって逆らう者はいなかったのだ。
(う~ん! やっぱ屑だよね、俺って!)
しかし、今はレオルドは真人の記憶が宿っているので運命48とは違う歴史になるかもしれない。
馬車は進みゼアトの騎士が寝泊りしている兵舎へと着いた。レオルドは馬車から降りると、兵舎の中へと足を進める。
ゼアトの兵舎で門番をしている騎士はレオルドを見るなり、敬礼して中へと通す。ギルバートと共に兵舎の中へと入っていくレオルドを見送った門番は呟く。
「あれが金色の豚ね~。頼むから何もせずに帰ってくれよ」
彼の声は誰かに届くわけでもなく風が吹くように消えた。
レオルドは兵舎の中を進んでいくが、バルバロトがどこにいるかわかっていない。ゲームの知識にはないから、適当に進んでいるのだ。
やがて、ピタリと止まり後ろにいるギルバートへと振り返る。
「ギル。バルバロトのところまで案内してくれ」
「どんどん先へ進まれるものですから分かっていたのかと思いましたが」
(くっ! 探査の魔法を使ったけど、バルバロトがどこにいるか分からん! くそ! ミニマップでもあれば!)
そんなものはない。ゲームなら話は別であっただろうが、ここは現実である。探査の魔法でバルバロトを探し出したとしても、兵舎のどこにいるかまではわからない。
それならば、最初から知っているギルバートに聞いたほうが早いのだ。その事に気がついたレオルドはギルバートに呆れられてしまったが。
ギルバートに案内されてバルバロトが休んでいる部屋まで行くと、ベッドの上で本を読んでいるバルバロトがいた。
バルバロトは見舞いに来た二人に気が付くと、本を閉じて二人に顔を向ける。
「久しいな。バルバロト」
「わざわざ来てくれたんですか、レオルド様?」
「まあな。それより怪我の具合はどうだ?」
「見ての通りです。腕以外は治りましたから、いつでも稽古は再開できますよ」
「それは頼もしい限りだが、今は治療に専念しておけ」
「医者みたいな事を言いますね~」
「ふ......それよりもだ。餓狼の牙は強かったのか?」
「......何故、そのような事をお聞きに?」
「気になるからだ。それだけではダメか?」
「いえ、構いませんよ。機密事項でもありませんから。
餓狼の牙は全体的には強くはありません。ただ、リーダーであるジェックスという男は強いです。間違いなく俺よりも」
「お前よりもか? 冗談ではと言いたいが結果が語っているか......」
「ええ。私は一騎打ちで敗れましたからね。油断はしていなかったつもりですが、相手の方が一枚上手でした」
「ふむ......ジェックスは何か持っていなかったか?」
「何かとはなんです?」
「あー、その、魔剣とか」
「どうしてその事を知っているのですか!? あれは戦った騎士以外は知らないはずですよ? 国には報告しましたがレオルド様にはまだ届いていないはずです」
(しまったー! ゲームの知識だから、どうやって誤魔化そう......ええい!)
「独自に調べていたんだ。魔剣については確証はなかったが、餓狼の牙が奪った金品の中には珍しいものがあると聞いていてな。
ならば、魔剣の一つや二つあってもおかしくはないだろう?」
咄嗟な言い訳ではあるが、自分にしては上出来だとレオルドは内心で自画自賛をしていた。
「それは凄いですね。私達も餓狼の牙討伐の為に情報は集めましたが、そこまでの情報は入手できませんでしたよ」
「ま、まあ公爵家の力を以ってすればな」
このままではボロが出ると判断したレオルドは強制的に話を終えて、兵舎から逃げるように屋敷へと帰った。
「所で、いつ餓狼の牙をお調べに?」
帰った後にギルバートから質問攻めに遭ったが、必死に誤魔化す事で難を逃れた。
Ch 19
It was two weeks after he heard that Barbaroth had gone on a mission that Leoldo  learned that the knight squadron that had been organized to defeat the hungry wolf's fangs had been defeated.
"The knights were wiped out? Is Barbaroth safe?
"Please calm down.  master "
"How can I calm down? Where is Barbaroth now?"
"Barbaroth is currently recuperating. It seems he broke his arm in battle."
"Nonsense! Barbaroth was the best knight in Ze'at, wasn't he? Defeating that Barbaroth would be ......."
(No, wait, what? If   to think about it, the fangs of the hungry wolf are enemies that appear in important events, so maybe they're being compensated for. ...... That makes sense if  to think about it...)
"Master?"
"Gil. I want to see Barbaroth. Is it possible to see him?"
"Yes, it is possible. He's recuperating, but he's at the barracks in Ze'at."
"Then make the arrangements."
"As you wish.
Leolde, who had been doing training as usual he asked Gilbert for a meeting with Barbaroth. Gilbert bowed with his hand on his chest and disappeared in an instant.
(...... is it still the same as the game, and Zeke is supposed to defeat ......?)
A feeling of uneasiness crept into  his heart. Leorde knows the future, and he feels gloomy, wondering if he can't resist fate.
(Don't lose heart. I'm training with Gil and Barbaroth not just  for nothing. I will survive, I sear . No matter what it takes!)
Rather than just giving up and dying, Leoldo vowed to survive, even if it meant sloshing around in the mud or being stigmatized.
"The carriage is ready. "
"Thank you. I'll be right there."
Leolde went to visit Barbaroth. He got into the carriage that Gilbert had prepared and headed for the barracks where Barbaroto was recuperating.
(Come to think of it, this is the first time I've been out of this mansion. , since caming here  all I've been  doing is training and studying magic.)
It had been over a month since Leorde had arrived in Ze'at. During that time, he had not visited the city even once.
Because he had decided to go on a diet and was exhausted from being handled every day by Gilbert, he had no desire to go out at all. In addition, the addition of sword training with Barbaroto made it even more difficult for  him to go out into the city.
So, when he was able to see the city under the guise of visiting Barbaroto, Leoldo looked at the scenery with pleasure.
(Wow! I didn't understand it in the game because it was only described in detail as a fort, but it's quite a lively town~)
Even though Ze'at is a frontier town, it has an important role to play as it is a border fort. In past wars, it has become famous as a defense base.
Since it is a gateway from neighboring countries, many merchants come and go there. Therefore, it is as crowded as the royal capital because of the rare goods that can be found there.
However, in Destiny 48, the vibrant city quickly declined after the arrival of Leoldo. Leoldo has no power, but as a duke, there was no one who could resist him.
(Hmmm! I'm such a trash, aren't I?)
However, now that Leoldo has the memories of a past life , his history may be different from that of destiny 48.
The carriage proceeded and arrived at the barracks where the knights of Ze'at were sleeping. Leorde got off the carriage and walked into the barracks.
The knight who is the gatekeeper of Ze'at's barracks sees Leolde, salutes him and lets him in. After watching Leolde walk into the barracks with Gilbert, the gatekeeper muttered, "So that's the golden pig.
"That's the golden pig, isn't it? Please, just leave without doing anything."
His voice disappeared like the wind without reaching anyone.
Leoldo made his way through the barracks, but he didn't know where Barbaroth was. It was not in his knowledge of the game, so he was just going along at random.
Eventually, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked back at Gilbert, who was behind him.
"Gil. Please lead me to Barbaroth."
"I thought you knew  where is he ), since you kept moving forward."
(Damn! I used the probe spell, but I don't know where Barbaroth is! Damn it! If only there was a mini-map!)
There is no such thing. If this were a game, it would be a different story, but this is reality. Even if  he  could find Barbaroth with the magic of exploration,  he wouldn't know where he was in the barracks.
If that was the case, it would be faster to ask Gilbert, who knew him from the beginning. When Leorde realized this, she was taken aback by Gilbert.
When Gilbert led him to the room where Barbaroto was resting, he found Barbaroto reading a book on the bed.
When Barbaroto noticed that they had come to visit him, he closed the book and turned to face them.
"It's been a while . Barbaroth."
"Have you come all this way, Master Leorde just to check on me ?
"Well, yes. How's your injury?"
". As you can see, the   my arm is healed, so I can resume my training soon "
"That's very kind of you, but for now you should concentrate on your treatment."
"You sound like a doctor."
"...... But that's not the point. Were the fangs of the hungry wolf strong?"
"...... Why are you asking me this?"
"Because I'm curious. Isn't that enough?"
"No, it's fine. It's not confidential.
"The Fang of the Hungry Wolf is not strong as a whole. However, their leader, a man named Jex, is strong. Definitely stronger than me."
Stronger than you?" I'd say you're kidding, but the results speak for themselves. ......"
"Yeah. I've lost in single combat. I didn't let my guard down, but my opponent was one step ahead of me."
"Hmm. ...... Did Jex have anything on him?"
What do you mean by "something"?"
"Oh, you know, like a magic sword."
"How do you know about that? Only the knights who fought in the war would know about it, right? I've reported it to the state, but I'm sure it hasn't reached Master Leolde yet."
(Oh no! It's a game knowledge, so how can I   know ......?)
"I was doing my own research. I was not sure about the magic swords, but I heard that there were some rare items among the money and goods that the Hungry Wolf Fang took."
If that's the case, it wouldn't be surprising if there were a magic sword or two, would it?"
It was a spur-of-the-moment excuse, but Leolde was inwardly proud of himself for doing so well.
"That's great. I also gathered information to defeat the Fang of the Hungry Wolf, but I couldn't get that much information."
"Well, with the power of the dukes, I suppose."
Leorde, judging that he would be ripped apart if he continued, forcibly ended the conversation and returned to the mansion as if fleeing the barracks.
"In the meantime, when did you check out the fangs of the hungry wolf?
After he left, Gilbert asked him a lot of questions, but he escaped by desperately trying to deceive him.
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛