流石に馬の足にはついていけないという二人に合わせ、手綱をとって歩く一二三たちは、林を抜け、日差しが照りつける荒野を進む。
「で、人間の国に行ってどうするのさ」
ヘレンが、頭一つは背が高い一二三を見上げる。
「まずは見てからだな。見て終わりか、潰すか、まあその時に判断する」
「潰すって......」
呆れ顔のヘレンを見て、苦笑いのレニが言葉を続けた。
「一二三さんは反対方向の人間の国から来たんですよね? 荒野に一人で来るのは怖くないんですか?」
「そうだな、怖くは無いな」
しれっと答える一二三に、ヘレンはフン、と鼻を慣らして耳を揺らす。
「虎じゃなくて狼だったらどうなのよ。あいつら集団で襲ってくるらしいから、一人じゃ相手できないんじゃないの?」
「狼の獣人なら何十人か殺したぞ。話かけもせずにコソコソ付いてきて、数人がかりで飛び込んで来たからな。片っ端から鼻をぶって転がして、首を踏み折ってやった」
あいつら、人の言葉が話せないんじゃないか、と一二三は不機嫌そうに言う。
「すごいなぁ」
「そういう問題じゃないと思うんだけど......」
弱肉強食の荒野を進んでいる割には、和やかな雰囲気のままその日の夕暮れを迎える。
一二三が収納からいくつかの料理を取り出して、三人で輪になって食べる。デザートはあの赤い果実だ。
果実の名前は“ボダン”と呼ばれているらしく、多くの獣人が好んで食べるが、綺麗な水があるところにしか出来ないので、たまに見つけるご馳走のような扱いらしい。
今は、彼女たちの目の前に無造作に積まれているが。
「やっぱり、美味しいね」
嬉しそうに笑うレニだが、口周りは果汁で真っ赤だ。
「もうちょっと落ち着いて食べなよ。意地汚いよ」
そういうヘレンも、久しぶりのボダンに笑顔がこぼれる。
「明日から、熊族や豹族のいるエリアを通ることになるんだけど......大人しくしてよね。戦いに巻き込まれるなんてゴメンだから」
お腹が膨れると、ヘレンは一二三に注意を促した。
人間の国に挟まれた荒野は、両端の人間が住む場所に近い位置ほど、強い種族がいるエリアになり、中央部程弱い種族が増える。
川や林が多く、自然の恵豊かな東西のエリアを有力な獣人が押さえているという理由もあるが、人間が弱い獣人を見つけた場合、捕まえて奴隷にする場合があるので、それを避けるために人間より弱い種族は人里を避けるという理由もある。
「この辺りまでは、まだわたしたちのような戦いを好まない種族が多いけど、明日には危険なエリアに入るから」
「なるほどな。じゃあ、案内はそこまででいい。そこから先は方向を教えてくれれば、一人で行く」
あっさりと納得した一二三。
ヘレンは当然という顔をしたが、レニは寂しそうな表情を浮かべた。
「じゃあ、明日でお別れですか?」
「どうせ戻る時には荒野を通るんだ。運がよければまた会うだろう」
「フン、その前に熊や豹に殺されないように、せいぜい頑張ることね」
第一、とヘレンは続けた。
「なんであんたは人間なのに、人間の国を潰そうなんて思うのよ。変な奴」
「理由か。そうだな......」
しばらく考えた一二三は、首を振った。
「簡単に言えば、敵は潰して当たり前だという大前提があるから、だな」
「敵? やっぱり、攻撃されたら反撃するのは戦える人なら当然なんですね」
「いや、それは違う」
レニの言葉をあっさり否定する。
「“攻撃されてから”は遅い。攻撃されそう、で殺すには充分だ」
「それはちょっと、あんまりじゃない?」
「馬鹿言え。攻撃されてそれで反撃する間も無く殺されるかもしれんだろうが。如何に速く、殺すかどうかを判断するのは重要なことだ」
お前と同じだ、と一二三はヘレンを指差す。
「わたしと?」
「聞こえた音を判断して、逃げるべきかを一瞬で判断するように癖が付いているだろう? 少し判断が遅かったら、それが死につながるからな」
「う......確かに」
「俺は戦う力があるから、逃げずに殺す。違いなんかそれだけだ」
一二三とヘレンが話す間、レニは何かを考え込んでいたが、ふと顔を上げて一二三を見つめた。
「やっぱり、戦う力は必要ですか?」
「別に?」
さらっと言う一二三に、きょとんとする二人の少女。
「戦いたいなら鍛えて頭を使って、必死で殺すための努力をするべきだろうけどな。別に世の中の奴全員が武力を持ってないといけないなんて考えてないぞ」
「でも、敵だったら殺すって......」
「俺はそうするってだけだ。戦う気がない、戦えないのがわかってる奴が勝てないやつと敵対するのは阿呆の極みだな。誰かを敵に回して戦う気があるなら、殺されても文句は言えないだろう」
言いながら、一二三は布を敷いて横になる。
いつの間にか、馬も眠る体勢になっていた。
「......なら、あんたも誰かに殺されても文句無いってこと?」
からかうように言うヘレンに、一二三は目線も向けずに答えた。
「当たり前だ。命のやり取りをする以上は、いつ死んでもいいと常に考えるのは当然だ」
明日も歩くから、さっさと寝ろ、と一二三は目を閉じた。
顔を見合わせたレニとヘレンは、人間は不思議な考え方をするんだね、とお互いに首をかしげた。
“騎士の国”と呼ばれる所以は、その国ソードランテの成り立ちが、オーソングランデから離反した騎士隊による入植だったとされているからだ。
開国当時は国と言うにはお粗末な村だったが、しっかりとした防壁を築き、騎士たちについてきた平民たちも次第に農業や狩猟に慣れ始め、百年もする頃には国としての制度も整えられていた。
何より、建国当時の騎士隊の実力が相当なもので、獣人たちと対等に渡り合うどころか、幾度となく襲い来る獣人を完全に撃退していたと言われている。
彼ら騎士たちの中で最も地位の高い者が王となり、他の騎士たちはそれぞれ王を支える貴族として支配体制を形作った。
国といっても大きな街が一つあるだけで、高い壁に囲まれた街を中心に、周囲に農地を広げていった。
実力豊かな騎士たちは、期を見ては獣人を捉えて従わせ、労働力として使役することを選んだ。本来ならば開拓という苦行にも等しい労働に従事していた平民たちも、自分たちより危険な作業をさせられ、ろくに食べ物も与えられずに使い捨てにされる獣人たちを見ることで、心を慰めた。
そして、現在でも獣人を捉えて奴隷とする制度は存在している。
「ちっ。ガキしかいねぇか」
馬を駆る男は、鎧をガチャガチャと鳴らしながら唾を吐いた。
周囲にいる兵士たちは、簡素な革鎧に槍を持ち、周囲を警戒している。
「収穫無しで帰るよりはマシだが、この分だと俺の成績に響くな」
男が視線を向ける先は、覆いの無い荷台を引く二頭立ての馬車だった。
荷台の上には鉄製の檻が乗せられ、中では二人の小柄な獣人がぐったりと横たわっている。一二三が出会った、虎獣人の兄妹だ。
「アンドラス様、周囲には獣人がいません」
移動しますか、と聞いてくる兵士に、アンドラスと呼ばれた男は街からもう少し離れる事に決めた。
あまり街から離れると、彼らが対応できないほど強い獣人が出てくる可能性があるので、慎重に行かなければならない。
開国の頃の騎士たちは、熊や虎の獣人とも渡り合ったそうだが、アンドラスは眉唾だと思っている。今のソードランテにいる騎士たちでは、戦闘が得意な獣人相手では1対1でも互角に戦えるかどうかも怪しい。
「うぅ......」
うめき声を上げ、目を覚ましたのは檻の中の少年だ。
「こ、ここは」
「目が覚めたか。大人しくしてれば、お前ら獣の住処よりもずっといい場所に住めるし、いいモンも食える」
だから大人しくしていろ、とアンドラスは目で威圧をしたつもりだったが、少年は檻から出せと喚き始めた。
一人の兵士を呼びつけて、未だに意識が無い女の子に剣を突きつけるように指示した。
ためらい無く兵士が言われた通りにすると、少年は口を閉ざした。
「静かにしないと、お前じゃなくてそっちのメスガキを殺す。外からちょいと突くだけだからな」
わかったら黙ってろ、とアンドラスは言い捨て、進行方向に視線を戻す。すると前方の木陰に熊獣人の子供が一人、隠れるように眠っているのを見つけた。
「お、幸先がいいな。またガキだが、頭数は揃ったな」
すでに捕まえた気でいるアンドラスの指示で、そろりそろりと兵士たちが熊獣人へと近づく。
槍先を熊獣人に向けた兵士が、あと数歩で接触するかという距離まで進んだ瞬間、
「人間だ! 逃げろぉおおお!」
檻の中の少年が、精一杯の声を張り上げた。
アンドラスが怒りの声を上げたが、熊の子供は既に顔を上げて起き出し、すぐ近くまで近づいていた人間に気づいて驚いている。
「ちっ! さっさと囲め。多少傷モノになってもかまわん」
熊獣人はつぶらな瞳に小さな丸い耳が可愛らしい女の子だった。手足に傷があっても、見た目が良い獣人の娘はそれなりの需要がある。
手間かけさせやがって、と呟いたアンドラスの眼前で、指示に従って駆け足で距離を詰めようとした一人の兵士が突然吹き飛ばされた。
「なんだ!?」
うろたえる兵士たちの目の前、少女を守るように立ちはだかったのは、身長3mを超えんばかりの、巨大な熊獣人だった。
硬そうな毛を生やした太い両手には太く力強い指先に分厚く尖った爪を持ち、むき出しになった牙は怒りに震えている。
「人間め! 俺の娘を狙うなぞ、許さん!」
巨体に似合わぬ俊敏さで兵士に近づき、右手を振り抜くと、破裂音と共に兵士の首から上が無くなった。
さらに近づいていた兵士たちを殴り殺し、突き出された槍を歯で受け止め、蹴りが兵士の腹をぶち抜く。
内蔵をこぼして痙攣している兵士が倒れた時には、熊獣人はアンドラスの目の前まで来ていた。
アンドラスは素早く剣を抜き、馬から飛び降りた。
アンドラスを捉えそこねた熊獣人の爪が、馬の脇腹を引き裂き、悲鳴が上がる。
転がって距離をとり、顔を上げた時には、すぐ目の前まで熊が迫る。
振り下ろされた腕を剣で防ぐ。
何とか止めたが、衝撃で左腕に痛みが走り、折れた、とアンドラスは直感する。
さらに腕を振り上げたところで、右手一本で横なぎに剣を振るう。
熊獣人の胸をかすり、浅い傷を付けるが、構わず振り下ろされた腕を這う這うの体で潜り抜ける。
避けそこねた分、頬をざっくりと切られたが、アンドラスに気にしている余裕は無い。
立ち上がりざまに切り上げたアンドラスの剣は、熊獣人の脇に更に傷をつけた。
だが、アンドラスの奮闘もそこまでだった。
のけぞって避ける体勢を取った熊獣人は、そのまま右足でアンドラスの股間を強かに蹴り上げた。
大きな足のつま先は、アンドラスの急所を潰し、さらにめり込む。
声も出せない程の痛みで地面に倒れ、アンドラスはあっけなく踏み潰されて死んだ。
「ふぅ......」
「お父さん、大丈夫?!」
一部始終を怯えながら見ていた熊獣人の女の子が駆け寄ると、さっきまでの怒りの表情はどこへやら、男は優しく笑ってみせた。
「ああ、もちろんだ。お前の方こそ怪我はないか、オルラ」
「大丈夫。あの子に声をかけてもらったから、怪我する前に気づけたの」
「そう言えば、俺もあの声で気づかされたんだった」
檻に近づいた男は、格子を掴むと力任せに開いた。
「勇気ある行動だった。おかげで俺の娘が助かった。礼を言う」
男はサルグと名乗り、虎の少年の手を引いて檻から出すと、気を失っている少女を優しく抱えて助け出した。
「あの......」
戦いを見て、助けられるまで呆然としていた少年は、意を決して声を出す。
「うん?」
「俺も、おじさんみたいに強くなれますか?」
日々の政務に忙殺されている新たな女王であるイメラリアの元へ、フォカロルから届けられたのは王都訪問の日程を報告する書面だった。
一二三は全く無視していたが、貴族は領地の出入りが自由ではあるものの、不文律として王都へ入る際には届出をするようになっている。王都へ入った貴族を、王が呼びつける場合もあるのと、他意がないことを示すためだ。
「フォカロルから? 一体誰が来られるのです」
一二三が荒野へと長い旅に出たことは、貴族のみならず平民にも知れ渡っており、長年人間と敵対していた獣人との戦いに単身向かったのだ、と新たな伝説が始まるとして、市井の人々の格好の話題となっている。
「王都訪問をされるのは、トオノ伯の奥方のようですな」
書類を読んでいた宰相のアドルは、イメラリアの質問に冷静に答えた。
「陛下への謁見を希望しているようですね。しかも、私にまで同席を求めておるようです」
「オリガさんですか......。しかし、一体どんなご用なのでしょうか?」
「さて、そこまでは記載がありません」
しばらくは首をひねっていたイメラリアだが、考えても仕方がない、と予定を決めておくように指示を出した。
「よろしいので?」
「一二三様の奥様です。無碍にはできません。それに、彼女の意思であれ一二三様の指示であれ、目的は直接確認しておくに越したことはないでしょう」
なるほど、とアドルは頷き、執務室を後にした。
「本当に、居ても居なくても心配させる人ですね......。今頃は、荒野のどこで暴れているんでしょうね」
とてもではないが、荒野で野垂れ死にをしているなんて想像はできなかった。そして、一二三の顔と同時に、随分前に出会った、奴隷だった頃のオリガの顔を思い出した。
「......本当に、何が目的なのでしょうか?」
できれば、一二三が居ない間くらいは、静かにしておいてもらいたいと切に願うイメラリアだった。
Hifumi, who walks holding the reins matching the two beastgirls that can't follow the pace after all, leaves the forest and advances into the blazing sun of the wastelands.
"So, what are you going to do once you reach the human country?" (Helen)
Helen looks up at Hifumi, who's a head taller than her.
"First I will have a look. After looking? I will crush it? Well, I will decide it at that time." (Hifumi)
"Crush it, you say..." (Helen)
Watching Helen's stunned expression, Reni continued her words with a wry smile,
"Hifumi-san, you came from a human country in the other direction, right? Aren't you afraid to travel the wastelands by yourself?" (Reni)
"Correct, I'm not afraid." (Hifumi)
Due to Hifumi replying nonchalantly, Helen shakes her ears and leaks a snort through her nose.
"Unlike with the tigers, how did it work out with the wolves? As it seems that they come attacking in groups, isn't it impossible for a single person to oppose them?" (Helen)
"If it's wolf beastmen, I killed several tens of them. Sneakily following me without even striking up a conversation, several of them came plunging at me. Rolling on the ground after having their noses systematically beaten, I stepped on their necks and broke them." (Hifumi)
"Aren't these fellows able to speak human language?" Hifumi says seemingly pouting.
"How amazing." (Reni)
"Though I don't think that's the issue here..." (Helen)
Compared to advancing through the wastelands, where it's survival of the fittest, they welcome the evening of that day in a relaxed mood.
With Hifumi taking out several dishes from within his storage, the three of them eat their dinner in a circle. Their dessert is that red fruit.
Apparently it is called by the name "Bodan." Many beastmen like to eat it, but since it can't be found anywhere but at places with clear water, they apparently treat it as a feast once they stumble upon it occasionally.
Currently those are casually being piled up in front of the girls.
"They are delicious, after all." (Reni)
Reni laughs delightfully, but the area around her mouth is bright red with fruit juice.
"Eat them in a bit more refined manner. You are a glutton." (Helen)
Even as Helen says so, she spills a smile due to having bodan after a long time.
"From tomorrow on we will pass through the areas of the bear and leopard tribes, however... stay docile, okay? I'd like you to excuse us from getting involved in your fights." (Helen)
Once her stomach bulged, Helen called out to Hifumi.
The wastelands, which are in-between the human countries, have the areas of the strong tribes at the outer edges, fairly close to the locations where humans live on both sides of the wastelands, and the centre of the wastelands, which are inhabited by the weaker tribes.
At the edges there are many forests and rivers. But, although there is also the reason of the nature being abundant in the east and west controlled by the strong beastmen, there is likewise the reason that the weaker tribes avoid human habitations, because in case humans discover one of them there are cases of them being caught as slaves.
"Up to this point there are still many tribes, like us, who don't like to fight, but tomorrow we will enter a dangerous area." (Helen)
"I see. Well, then it's fine with you guiding just that far. Once you tell me the direction to head for afterwards, I will go by myself." (Hifumi)
Hifumi consented easily with her.
Even though Helen showed a facial expression that it was only natural, Reni had a lonely look.
"Then tomorrow will be goodbye?" (Reni)
"I will have to pass through the wastelands on my way back anyway. We might meet again if you have good luck." (Hifumi)
"Humph. Before that, do your best to not get killed by the bears and leopards." (Helen)
"In the first place", Helen continued,
"I wonder why a human like you wants to crush a human country? You are a weirdo." (Helen)
"A reason, huh? Let me see..." (Hifumi)
Pondering about it for a while, Hifumi shook his head.
"To put it simply, since I have the principle that it's just normal to crush an enemy, that's the way it is." (Hifumi)
"Enemy? Isn't it only natural for humans to fight back, if they are attacked?" (Reni)
"No, it's different from that." (Hifumi)
He quickly denies Reni's words.
is too late. There's plenty reason to kill them, if they appear as if they want to attack." (Hifumi)
"Isn't that slightly... excessive?"
"Don't say such foolishness. You might get killed without the time to counter-attack after getting attacked. It's important to decide whether to kill or not as fast as possible." (Hifumi)
"You are the same", Hifumi points at Helen.
"I am?" (Helen)
"Don't you have the habit of judging in an instant whether you should run away once you determined a sound you heard? If you were just a little bit late in your judgement, that would lead to your death." (Hifumi)
"Uhh... certainly." (Helen)
"Because I have the power to fight, I kill without fleeing. That's the only difference there is." (Hifumi)
In the time while Hifumi was talking to Helen, Reni brooded over something, but suddenly lifting her head, she stared at Hifumi.
"Strength to fight is necessary after all?" (Reni)
"Not really?" (Hifumi)
The two girls stare blankly due to Hifumi saying this forthrightly.
"If you want to fight, you train and use your head, though you might have to put in great and desperate efforts to kill. I don't particularly believe that everyone in this world should possess military power." (Hifumi)
"However, you say to kill if it's an enemy..."
"It's only me who does this. For a fellow, who knows they can't fight or has no interest in fighting, it is the height of idiocy to oppose someone they can't win against. If you feel like making an enemy out of someone and fight them, you probably shouldn't complain about getting killed either." (Hifumi)
With these words Hifumi lies down on the spread-out cloth.
Before anyone noticing, even the horse had entered a pose of sleeping.
"... If that's the case, you wouldn't complain, if you someone were to kill you, either?" (Reni)
Hifumi answered Reni's words, she told as a tease, without turning his sight towards her.
"Of course. Above it being the giving and taking of life, it's just natural for me to always think that it's fine even if I die any time." (Hifumi)
"Go sleep quickly as we will walk tomorrow, too", Hifumi shut his eyes.
Reni and Helen, who looked at each other, were confused about the strange ways of human thinking.
The reason it was called "Knight Country" was that this nation, Swordland, originated from a knight order, which became alienated from Orsongrande and had immigrated.
At the time of founding the nation it was a poor village, but by building a sturdy bulwark, the commoners, who followed the knights, began to gradually get familiar with hunting and farming. It took a century for it to establish the system of a nation.
Above all, with the knight order from the time of founding possessing considerable might, far from being able to equally compete with the beastmen, they completely repelled the beastmen, who came to attack, on countless occasions.
The person with the highest position among the knights becomes king and each of the other knights supports the king as nobles. That's the shape of the governmental system.
Although it might be called a nation, it is nothing more but a single, large city. With the centre of the city being surrounded by high walls, the circumference had agricultural land spreading out.
The knights, with their great might, captured beastmen at the time they saw them, had them obey and chose to employ them as labour force. The commoners, who originally likewise engaged in the mortifying manual labour of reclaiming the wastelands, were comforted in their hearts by watching the beastmen doing more dangerous work than themselves and being discarded after abusing them without even giving them proper food.
And even now the system of catching and enslaving beastmen still exists.
"Tsk. Ain't there anythin' but brats?"
Spurring on his horse, the man spit out while his armour made clinking sounds.
The soldiers, who are in the vicinity, are cautious of their surroundings wearing plain leather armours and spears.
"It's still better than returning without results, but at this rate it will effect my records."
There was a two-horse cart pulling a load-carrying tray without cover at the place the man turned his sight to.
On top of the load-carrying tray an iron-made cage is placed. Within there are two small, completely exhausted beastmen. It's the older brother and younger sister, who met Hifumi.
"Andrus-sama, there are no beastmen in the surroundings."
Due to the soldier asking whether they should move on, the man called Andrus decided to split away from the city a bit further.
Since there's the possibility of strong beastmen appearing, to the degree that they wouldn't be able to deal with them, if they separated from the city too far, they have to be careful in their movements.
The knights from the time of founding the nation apparently fought with the bear and tiger beastmen, but Andrus believes this to be a tale. For the knights, who are currently in Swordland, it's doubtful whether they could equally fight 1-on-1 against beastmen, who are strong in combat.
"Uuhh..."
It's the young tigerboy raising a moan as he wakes up within the cage.
"Th-This place is..."
"Did ya snap outta it? If ya stay obedient, ya will be able ta keep living in a far nicer place than yer animal dwelling. Ya will even be able ta eat da good stuff." (Andrus)
"Therefore, be nice", Andrus intended to coerce him with his gaze, but the tigerboy began to shout to let him out of the cage.
Calling a single soldier, he ordered him to thrust the sword at the still not conscious tigergirl.magic
As the soldier did it without a single shred of hesitation, the tigerboy shut his mouth.
"If ya ain't quiet, I will kill dat female brat over there and not ya. She will be simply stabbed from outside." (Andrus)
"Shut yer trap, if ya get it", Andrus says over his shoulders and returns his gaze towards the direction of their travel. Thereupon he discovered a single bearchild sleeping visibly hidden in the shades of the trees ahead.
"Oh, whatcha great omen. Though it's a brat once again, da quota had been reached." (Andrus)
By the order of Andrus, who felt like having already caught it, the soldiers slowly and quietly approach the bearchild.
The instant a soldier, who turned his spearhead towards the bearchild, advanced to a distance where he could touch it after a few steps,
"It's the humans! Run awaaaaay!"
The tigerboy within the cage shouted with all his strength.
Although Andrus raised his voice in anger, the bearchild, who had already lifted its head after waking up, has been surprised in noticing the humans, who had approached right next to it.
"Tsk. Surround it quickly! I don' even mind, if it has a few injuries here n' there." (Andrus)
The bearchild was a girl, who had cute, rotund eyes and small, round ears. Even if her hands and legs had wounds, there will be demand for a beargirl with such a nice appearance.
"It will be well worth the time", before the eyes of Andrus, who mumbled that, a single soldier, who tried to shorten the distance by running fast upon his order, was abruptly blown away.
"What is it!?"
In front of the panicking solders' eyes a gigantic bear with a height of above 3 m stood in the way in order to protect the beargirl.
Having grown tough-looking fur, it possesses thick, sharp claws on the powerful, fat fingers on both paws. It is trembling in rage baring its fangs.
"Human trash! I won't permit you targeting my daughter!"
Closing in on a soldier with a nimbleness that doesn't fit its large build, everything above the soldier's neck was gone with an explosive sound once it waved its right paw.
In addition to beating the soldiers, who approached closer, to death, the bearman catches the thrust-out spear with his teeth and hits a soldier's belly with a kick.
At the time the soldier, who vomited out his intestines with spasms, collapsed, the bearman came in front of Andrus.
Andrus, quickly drawing his sword, jumped off the horse.
Although the bearman's claws fail to seize Andrus, the horse's flank is torn up and it raises a shriek.
Taking a distance by rolling on the ground, the bearman had already approached immediately before his eyes when he lifted his head.
He protects himself against the downward-swung arms with his sword.
Even though he managed to stop them somehow, a pain travels through his left arm due to the impact and it broke. Andrus knew that by instinct.
At the moment the bearman raised his arms overhead once more, Andrus swings his sword sweeping sideways with only his right hand.
Grazing the chest of the bearman, he inflicts a shallow wound, but without minding he evades the swung arms by scurrying.
He was cut deeply at a part of his face that failed to avoid it, however Andrus hasn't the leeway to worry about that right now.
The sword of Andrus, who finished getting up in a sorry mess, inflicted yet another wound at the flank of the bearman.
But, Andrus' hard struggle ended at that point.
The bearman, who took an evasive stance by bending back, severely kicked the nether region of Andrus with his right foot as is.
The large paws of his foot smash Andrus' crotch and sink further into him.
Falling to the ground with such a pain that he can't even leak a voice, the bearman quickly crushed Andrus underfoot and thus he died.
"Fuu..."
"Dad, are you alright?"
Once the beargirl rushed over seeing it all from the beginning to the end while being scared, the bearman showed a gentle smile making his expression of rage from before a lie.
"Yea, of course. You have no injuries, Olra?"
"I'm fine. I noticed them before they could hurt me since that kid called out to me." (Olra)
"Which reminds me, I was made aware of the situation by that voice as well."
The bearman, who approached the cage, grabbed the iron grid and burst it open with all his strength.
"It was a courageous act. Thanks to it, my daughter was saved. You have my thanks."
The bearman, calling himself Salgu, pulled out the tigerboy from the cage and helped out with the unconscious tigergirl by gently carrying her.
"Umm..."
Watching the battle, the tigerboy, who was dumbfounded until he was saved, resolves himself and speaks.
"Yea?" (Salgu)
"Will I also be able to become as strong as mister?"
It was a letter for Imeraria, who is the new Queen and very busy with the daily governmental affairs, reporting the schedule of the royal capital's visit delivered by Fokalore.
Although a noble has the liberty of leaving and entering a territory, there is an unwritten rule to send a notice before entering the capital, albeit that was completely ignored by Hifumi. It's for the sake of showing that a noble, who entered the capital, has no ulterior motive, even if there are also cases of them being summoned by the king.
"From Fokalore? Just who the heck is coming here?" (Imeraria)
Not only the nobles but even the commoners knew very well about Hifumi having left for a long journey towards the wastelands to fight by himself against the beastmen, who opposed mankind for a long time. It has become a commonly repeated topic among the townspeople as the start of a new legend.
"It appears to be Earl Tohno's wife, who is coming for a visit of the royal capital." (Adol)
Prime Minister Adol, who read the documents, calmly replied to Imeraria's question.
"Apparently she is hoping for an audience with you, Your Majesty. Moreover she is even requesting my presence." (Adol)
"Origa-san, is it...? However, just what kind of business does she have with us?" (Imeraria)
"Well, the notice doesn't explain that far." (Adol)
Imeraria cocked her head in puzzlement for a while, but considering it inevitable, she issued instructions in order to prepare the arrangements.
"Is it fine?" (Adol)
"She is Hifumi-sama's wife. It's impossible to ignore her. Besides, it's probably better to directly confirm whether her aim is for her own purposes or upon Hifumi-sama's instruction." (Imeraria)
"I see", Adol nodded and left the office.
"Really, he is a person who causes worries no matter whether he is here or not... I wonder where in the wastelands he is currently rampaging about." (Imeraria)
Although it wasn't by all means, she wasn't able to imagine him dying a dog's death in the wastelands. And, simultaneously with Hifumi's face, she recalled Origa's face at the time they met quite a while ago when she was still a slave.
"... What is she really aiming for?" (Imeraria)
If possible, Imeraria was earnestly hoping to lead a quiet life at least for the period Hifumi wasn't there.
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