第九話 山賊と怪鳥
俺はルーチェと共に悲鳴の方へと向かったのだが......そこには、意外な光景が繰り広げられていた。
スノウとイザベラが武装した五人に囲まれていた。
ただ、戦況は明らかにスノウ達の方に傾いていた。
どうやら聞こえた悲鳴は、襲撃者側のものであったらしい。
「ら、楽に大金が得られるって聞いてたのに、こんなの話が違うじゃねえか......! 貴族の馬鹿娘が、道楽で〈
先頭のリーダーらしき男が弱音を漏らす。
「お頭、他の冒険者が来たみたいです!」
「なんだと......? て、撤退だ! クソ!」
山賊の頭が、俺達のいる方向とは逆の方へドタドタと慌ただしく逃げていく。
スノウとイザベラに追うつもりはないらしく、彼の背を睨んでこそいたが、その場からは動かなかった。
「手助けは必要なかったようだ」
「わざわざ相手をするのも面倒な連中だった。奴らの逃亡が早まったことには感謝しておいてやる」
イザベラは不機嫌そうにいい、刃を振って付いた血を飛ばす。
「そのようだが、C級冒険者程度はあったな。あれだけの強さがあれば、ラコリナで食うには困らない。大方......犯罪者になって、大手振って都市を出入りできない連中だろう。ああいう手合いが一番厄介だ。最近は大分減ったはずだったんだが」
C級冒険者程度......か。
それはただの山賊の中ではかなり強い方に入る。
この世界では、強者が生活に困って犯罪者になることは少ないからだ。
生活の困窮が理由であるならば、こんなふうにリスクを取ってまで貴族を襲うよりも、真っ当に〈
しかし、それにしても疑問が残る。
「欲を張ったもんだな。貴族の令嬢を誘拐して無事で済むなんて、本気で思ってたのか......?」
おまけに冷酷で狡猾と有名なハウルロッド侯爵家相手に......だ。
当主本人に会ったことはないが、父アイザスから聞いた話の限りでは、娘のスノウが誘拐でもされれば、見殺しにしてでも山賊団全員を捕縛して、見せしめに一人一人拷問に掛けて殺していくことだろう。
「山賊などそんなものだ。短絡的な馬鹿しかいない。都市部から離れて過ごしているから、世間の事情や常識にも疎い。その癖、欲深く単純だから、どんなに間抜けな計画でも疑いもしない」
イザベラは吐き捨てるようにそう口にした。
「イザベラ、そこについては少し不審な点があります」
スノウが口を挟んだ。
「お嬢様......?」
「世間知らずな彼らが、わざわざ貴族の一令嬢である私の顔を把握していて、この〈
「つまり......なんだというのですか、スノウお嬢様?」
「何者かが彼らに、自分にとって都合のいい情報だけを吹き込んだのではないでしょうか。金銭も、その人物より受け取る手筈だったのかもしれません」
さすがハウルロッド侯爵家の第一子というだけはある。
かなり頭が切れるようだ。
「確かに、そう考えた方が筋が通っていますね、お嬢様。......だとしたら、何としてでも一人は捕えておくべきだったか。しかし我々も、もうHPにもMPにも余裕がないからな。魔物相手に消耗していなければ、あの程度の五人組、即行縛ってやれたのだがな」
イザベラが忌々しげに呟く。
「しかし、刺客にしても随分と中途半端な連中だ。警告か? スノウ嬢、何か心当たりは......」
俺が声を掛けようとすると、スノウは顔を赤くしてびくりと肩を跳ねさせ、さっとイザベラの背後へ隠れるように回り込んだ。
......切れ者なのは確かなようだが、どうにもそれ以上に人見知りが激しいようだ。
次期当主候補としてはかなり致命的に見えるのだが......。
「あ、あまりお嬢様に軽々しく話しかけるでない! いずれ辺り一帯の地を治められる、高貴な御方だぞ!」
イザベラが慌ててフォローを入れる。
そこが原因でないことは明らかなのだが......まぁ、下手に突っ込まないようにしておこう。
別の次期当主候補の仕業だろうか?
真っ先に思い浮かぶのはそこではあるが、それにしてもあまりに直接的過ぎるようにも思えるが......。
一族内でこんな真似をすれば、さすがに現当主が黙ってはいないはずだ。
しかし、イザベラもB級冒険者相当で、かつ魔物以上に対人戦を得意とする戦闘スタイルに見えた。
少なくとも対人用剣術をかなり鍛錬しているのは間違いない。
スノウもこの〈
そんな彼らに金で釣った山賊を嗾けても、警告以上のものにはなりようがない。
いや、別のことも考えられるか?
〉内の深くに釘付けにしておくことが目的だったとしたら......。
「イザベラ、すぐにスノウ嬢を連れて外に出た方がいい」
「フン、貴様に言われなくともそのつもりだ」
イザベラは俺にそう言うと、スノウの方を向いた。
「行きましょう、スノウお嬢様......ああ、お足に怪我をなさっているではありませんか!」
スノウの足から血が出ている。
あの山賊にやられたようだ。
本人は平然とした顔をしているが、それなりに怪我は深い。
高レベルの人間ほど治癒能力も高いとはいえ、数日は戦闘に支障が出そうだ。
「これくらい騒ぐことではありません。ただ......帰路の間、肩を貸してもらえますか?」
「あのクソ山賊共......! 落ち着いたら当主様の許可を得て、兵を動かし、ここら一帯を山狩りして、皆殺しにしてやりましょう!」
そのときだった。
「ぎゃあああああっ! 助け、助けてくれぇっ! 死にたくねぇっ! 死にたくねぇっ!」
さっきの山賊の男が、必死に俺達の方へと駆けてくる。
その背後から、ぬっと、長い首が伸びてきた。
その化け物は大きな口を開けて......男の頭部を丸呑みにした。
首を失った男の身体が、呆気なくその場に倒れた。
「ギュー......ギュッ、ギュギュ」
低い嗄れた奇怪な声で鳴く。
四つ足であり、前脚にも後ろ脚にも、強靭な鉤爪が付いている。
「こっちが本命かよ......!」
俺は歯を喰いしばって、化け物の人面を見上げた。
魔物:ポタルゲ
Lv :80
HP :722/734
MP :272/272
Volume 3 - Ch 9
Luce and I headed towards the direction I heard the scream from, but....when we got there we found an unexpected scene.
Snow and Izabella were surrounded by five armed people.
Only, the progress of battle clearly favored Snow's side.
It seems the scream I heard came from the attacker's side.
"They assured us that we could make some easy money, but this is nothing like what they told us....! Wasn't it supposed to be just a simple idiot noble daughter delving into a Dungeon as a hobby!"
The leader-looking guy at the front started whining.
"Boss, some other adventurers are here!"
"What did you say....? R-retreat! Shit!"
The bandit leader ran away in a hurry in the opposite direction from us.
Snow and Izabella didn't seem to intend to pursue them; they kept glaring at their backs, but didn't move from where they stood.
"It seems there was no need for us to help."
"It was quite bothersome to have to face off against that bunch. We are somewhat thankful that you hastened their departure."
Izabella said in a displeased tone as she swung her sword to clean it of blood.
"It seems like it, but they were about the same as a C rank adventurer. With strength like that, they wouldn't have any problems feeding themselves in La Colina. They are probably people that became criminals and can't openly enter a city anymore. Those are the most problematic ones. Though their numbers should've greatly decreased recently."
At the level of a C rank adventurer....huh.
That's on the stronger side among bandits.
There are numerous examples of strong people turning to crime due to not being able to make end's meet.
Though if they have become criminals only due to financial difficulties, then rather than attacking a noble like this, clearing a Dungeon would be much more helpful.
However, I'm still somewhat doubtful.
"It seems they got too greedy. Did they really think that they would be able to get away with it if they manage to kidnap a noble young lady.....?"
And someone from the famously cunning and ruthless Howlod Family to boot.....
I have not personally met the current Lord, but according to what I've heard from my father, Izas, if his daughter, Snow, were to be kidnapped, then he would have no cumpunction about slaughtering every bandit group in the area to the last man, then capture, torture, and finally execute, everyone directly responsible as a warning to others.
"Bandits are all like that. They are all short-sighted idiots. They live away from residential areas, so they are ill-informed of current events and norms. Despite that, they are greedy simpletons who don't question any plans, no matter how foolish they may be."
Izabella all but spat out.
"Izabella, there are a number of suspicious points about what you've just said."
Snow interjected.
"Ojou-sama....?"
"It's strange that those ill-informed people were apparently aware of the appearance of a noble girl like me, and that I entered this Dungeon as well....They seemed to know that I was visiting various Dungeons too. So, they had proper information, and yet, their execution was severely lacking for some reason."
"Then.....what does that mean, Snow-ojousama?"
"Someone must've only let them know the part that was convenient for them. Perhaps they were supposed to get their money from that person as well."
As expected of the eldest child of the Howlod Family, I think I should say.
She seems to be quite clever.
"That indeed sounds logical, ojou-sama. Though that means I should've made sure to catch at least one person. However, we are low on both HP and MP. If fighting monsters hadn't worn me down, then I would've been able to take down those five right away."
Izabella muttered, sounding highly annoyed.
"However, for assassins, they were quite half-baked. Was this supposed to be a warning? Snow-ojou, do you have any idea...."
When I tried to talk to Snow, she twitched, went red in the face, then quickly hid behind Izabella to hide from me.
.....although she seems to be quite clever, apparently her shyness is greater than even that.
That seems like a crucial weakness for an heir candidate to me.....
"Don't try to talk to ojou-sama just whenever you want! She is a noble personage who will one day rule this territory!"
Izabella tried to cover for her in a hurry.
That was obviously not the real reason for it, but....well, I will refrain from digging further.
Was this the work of a different heir candidate?
That is the first thing that comes to mind in a situation like this, but I think this was really much too direct.....
I don't think even the current Lord would keep silent if something like this were to happen within the family.
However, Izabella should be around the level of a B rank adventurer and it looked to me that her fighting style might be more suited for fighting humans, rather than monsters.
She is highly proficient in fighting with a sword against people, that's for sure.
Since she is here in this Dungeon, Snow shouldn't be that weak either.
Sending hired bandits after people like them could never amount to anything more than a simple warning.
Is there anything else this could be?
If their aim was to wear them down....and also to make sure they stayed put in a place deep inside the Dungeon, then....
"Izabella. It would be best if you took Snow-ojou and left the Dungeon right now."
"Hmpf, that was my intention even without you saying that."
After she said that, Izabella turned back to Snow.
"Let's go, Snow-ojousama....Ah, your leg was injured!"
Blood was dripping from a wound on Snow's leg.
It seems a bandit managed to hit her just now.
She herself was acting like nothing serious happened, but the injury seemed to be quite deep.
The higher level a person is, the faster they heal, but even so, she would be at a disadvantage if she were to fight in the next few days.
"No need to make a fuss about something like this. However.....could you lend me your shoulder on the way back?"
"Those bastard bandits.....! After things calm down, let's ask permission from the Lord to mobilize the soldiers and hunt every bandit in the area to extinction!"
It was at that time that something happened.
"Gaaaaaaah! Sa-save me! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die!"
One of the bandits from before was desperately running in our direction.
From behind his back, a long neck stretched out.
The monster opened its large mouth, then.....swallowed the head of the man whole.
After losing its head, the man's body unceremoniously flopped to the floor.
"Gyuuuh......gyuuuuuh, gyugyuh"
It quietly cried in a strange, hoarse voice.
It also had four legs, all of them covered in tough scales.
"So this was their real aim....!"
I clenched my jaw as I looked up into the human face of the monster.
Monster: Podarge
Level: 80
HP: 722/734
MP: 272/272
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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