10
現れたカラスはひときわ大きい。目は魔王と同じ赤、通常ではありえない鋭く大きな爪で、やっぱり頭蓋骨を持っている。放せない仕様なのだろうか。
アイリーンは地面に降り立ったカラスに目線を合わせるべく、膝を突いた。
「あなたが一番強い方?」
「ソーダ! 魔王様ノ門番! 娘、証、ヨコセ!」
「つけて差し上げるから後ろを向いてくださる? あなた、魔王様と同じ目の色なのね」
「魔王様、同ジ!」
すっかり浮かれきった様子でカラスがくるりと後ろを向く。
その目の前に、アイリーンは開けたままのバスケットを置いた。
「よろしかったら、好きなクッキーを味見なさって」
「娘、イイ心ガケ。俺様、アーモンド!」
器用にくちばしの先で一枚だけアーモンドクッキーをとり、ぱくりと食べる。
その間にアイリーンは蝶ネクタイを首にそっと回した。
意外にふわふわした羽毛が心地良い。
「ウマイ! ウマイ! 娘、貢ギ物、持ッテクルダケ、許ス!」
「あら嬉しい、あなた、綺麗な羽をなさってるのね」
「俺様、一番、強イカラナ! 娘、オ前見ル目――グッ」
びくっと全身を震わせた後、ばたんと真横にカラスが倒れた。
瞬間、視界が開ける。
明るい森の小道が一瞬で薄暗い魔王の森に変わった。
枯れた木の上には昨日と同じカラスの群れがいる。ネズミやモグラに似た魔物達もいた。完全にアイリーンが取り囲まれている形だ。
「このカラスさんの命がおしくば動かないでくださいませ、皆様。愚かな魔物だこと......人間を信じるだなんて」
「人間ノ台詞カ、ソレ!?」
アイリーンは、ぶるぶる羽の先まで震えているカラスをしっかりと抱き、パラソルの先に仕込んだ隠しナイフを突きつけながら優雅に笑う。
腕の中でカラスが呻いた。
「グ......何、シタ、娘......!」
「クッキーにしびれ薬をしこんでおきました」
「殺ス! 殺ス、娘!」
「あら、魔王様に迷惑をかけたいのですか? わたくしはドートリシュ公爵家の令嬢。わたくしが魔物に殺されたとなったら、魔王様の立場が悪くなりましてよ」
薄く笑ったアイリーンを非難するように、があがあとカラスがわめく。他の魔物達も殺気立っていた。だが腕の中にいる仲間が心配なのだろう。襲ってはこない。
かまわず、声を張り上げた。
「さあクロード様、この魔物を助けたければわたくしの前に出てらっしゃい! でなければ今からこの魔物の羽を一枚一枚もいでハゲに」
台詞を爆風が遮った。
闇を模した黒髪。宝石より深い輝きを宿した瞳が、空中からアイリーンを睥睨している。
「王!」
「魔王サマ! 人間ノ娘ガ裏切ッタ!」
「ごきげんよう、クロード様」
無言しか返ってこない。だが、狙いの人物を引きずり出せたのだから十分だ。
「この方を治して差し上げられて? 時間がたてば平気になるはずですけれども」
クロードが正面に膝をつく。そして、アイリーンの腕の中でしびれているカラスに、そっと手を触れた。
瞬間、かっと目を見開いたカラスがばたばたと羽を動かし始める。どうやらしびれが取れたらしい。
感心するアイリーンの腕からもがき出たカラスが、クロードの肩に乗って叫ぶ。
「娘! 殺ス! 絶対殺ス!」
「何がだ」
立ち上がったクロードが短く尋ねる。にこりとアイリーンは笑った。
「わたくし、忘れておりませんわよ? カラスの皆様によってたかって侮辱されたことを」
完全に冷め切っていたクロードの表情に、わずかな動揺が見えた。砂埃をはらい、アイリーンはクロードの真正面に立った。
「そこでわたくしに負い目を感じるなら、最初からカラスを教育すればよろしいのです。ねえ、先程わたくしに騙されたカラスさん」
「殺ス!」
「仲直りしましょう。お詫びにチョコクッキーを差し上げますわ」
「騙サレナイ! 騙サレナイ!」
「大丈夫ですわ。しびれ薬はアーモンドだけですの。その証拠にわたくしがほら、半分食べてみせますから」
そう言ってアイリーンは取り出したチョコクッキーを、さくりと音を立てて口に含んだ。きちんと飲み込むまで、蝶ネクタイをしたカラスが凝視している。
「ね? 大丈夫でしょう。さあどうぞ。これで仲直りしましょう?」
食べかけのクッキーを差し出す。赤い目がぎょろぎょろとアイリーンと、それからクロードを交互に見た。
クロードがため息と一緒に、アイリーンから食べかけのチョコクッキーを受取り、一口かじる。
思いがけない展開にアイリーンは目をまばたいた。クロードはすました顔で飲みこみ、半分になってしまったクッキーを肩の魔物に差し出す。
途端、ばくりとカラスがクッキーに食いついた。
「ウマイ! チョコ、ウマイ!」
「マ、魔王様......」
周囲の魔物達がそわそわしだす。クロードがアイリーンを見た。
「アーモンド以外は大丈夫なんだな?」
「え、ええ......でもどうしましょう。こんなところで困りましたわ」
「......どういう意味だ。まさかチョコクッキーにも何か仕込んだと?」
「はい。クロード様にその気になっていただこうと思って、男性にしか効かない媚薬を」
にこやかに答えたアイリーンの背後で、雷が落ちた。
CHAPTER 10
The crow that appeared was exceptionally large. Its eyes were the same red as the Demon King, with unnaturally big and sharp talon; and, as I had thought, it brought a skull with it. I wonder if it was specified not to release it?
The crow landed on the ground, and Irene knelt on the ground to match its eye level.
[Are you the strongest of them all?] 
[That's right! Demon King-sama's gatekeeper! Girl, proof, give me!] 
[I'll fasten it up for you, can you turn around for me? You, your eyes have the same color as the Demon king-sama, isn't it?] 
[Demon King-sama, same!] 
The crow looks completely delighted and quickly turned around.
Irene left the basket open as it is and left it in front of its eyes.
[If you like, do you want to taste your favorite cookie?] 
[Girl, you have a good heart. Ore-sama (1), almond!] 
It took one piece of almond cookie and eat it dexterously by using the tip of its beak.
Meanwhile, Irene properly fastened the bow tie to its neck.
Its feathers were softer and pleasant than she had originally thought.
[Delicious! Delicious! Girl, tribute, because you brought it, I forgive!] 
[My, I'm glad, you have such beautiful feathers] 
[Ore-sama, the strongest of all crows! Girl, you have good eyes----ugh!] 
With a jump, the crow's whole body started to tremble. Later, with a thud, it collapsed sideways.
In just a moment, her field of vision was opened.
In an instant, the bright trail of the forest had turned into the gloomy Demon King forest.
Same as yesterday, there was the same flock of crows on top of the dead tree. There were also monsters resembling rats and moles within the crowds. Irene was surrounded by every single one of them.
[Everyone, please don't move if you don't want this crow's life to be in danger. What a foolish monster......to easily trust a human] 
[Is that something a human should say!?] 
Irene firmly held the crows' feathers that had been quivering since earlier and thrust out the prepared hidden knife concealed at the tip of her parasol to the crow while laughing gracefully.
The crow let out a groan inside of Irene's arms.
[Ugh......what, have you done, girl......!] 
[I've mixed in anesthetic inside of the cookies] 
[I'll kill you! I'll kill you, girl!] 
[My, do you want to cause trouble for the Demon King-sama? I am the daughter of the D'Austriche Ducal Family. If I were to be killed by the monsters, the Demon King-sama position will become worse, you know?] 
Irene blatant reproach with a small smile on her face caused the crows to caw even louder. Other monsters were seething with anger as well. But, they were worried about doing anything because there in Irene's arm, was their comrade being held as a hostage. They couldn't launch an attack.
Without being bothered by the situation, Irene raised up her voice.
[Now, Claude-sama, if you wish to save this monster, then come out here in front of me! If you don't, I will start plucking this monster's feathers one by one until it becomes bald] 
Her speech was interrupted by a shock wave.
His black hair was as dark as the darkness itself. His pair of eyes were hiding profound brilliance brighter than the jewels itself, but he was glaring at Irene from mid-air.
[King!] 
[Demon King-sama! The daughter of human had betrayed us!] 
[How do you do, Claude-sama] 
Only silence greeted me. But, that's more than enough as I had already managed to pull out the man I was aiming to see.
[Do you want me to give him to you for you to heal him? It should be okay even after the time pa.s.ses] 
Claude knelt in front of her. And then, he gently touched the numb crow in Irene's arm.
In an instant, the crow opened up its eyes and started to flap its wings. It appeared that the effect of the anesthetic had been removed.
The crow which had been released from the arms of impressed Irene was screaming at her from Claude's shoulder.
[Girl! I will kill you! I will definitely kill you!] 
[For what?] 
Standing up, Claude made a short inquiry. Irene broadly smiled.
[I haven't forgotten that yet, you know? The situation in which I was being insulted by the crows] 
Claude's facial expression turned completely cold, and he looks slightly upset. Irene dusted away some dust that clung to her dress, then stood directly in front of Claude.
[If you feel indebted to me because of that, I should have educated the crows in the first place. Isn't that right, the crow-san who had been deceiving me some time ago?] 
[I'll kill you!] 
[Let's make up. As an apology, I'll give you the chocolate cookie] 
[I won't be deceived! I won't be deceived!] 
[It's okay. Only almond type cookie has the anesthetic. As proof, I'll eat half of it] 
Just as she said, the chocolate cookie that Irene took out from the basket made a crunchy sound when being eaten. The crow who was wearing the bow neck-tie stared at Irene until she properly swallowed it.
[See? It's okay, right? Here, help yourself. Let's make up with this, okay?] 
Irene offered the half-eaten cookie. Red eyes kept on switching look from Irene to Claude.
With a sigh, Claude took the half-eaten chocolate cookie offered by Irene and took a bite.
Irene blinked her eyes towards the unexpected development. Claude swallowed half of the half-eaten cookie with a straight face and offered the rest to the monster on his shoulder.
Immediately, the crow ate the cookie with gusto.
[Delicious! Chocolate, delicious!] 
[De, Demon King-sama......] 
The demons in their surrounding begin to fidget restlessly. Claude s.h.i.+fted his gaze at Irene.
[Other than the almond type, everything else is alright?] 
[Y, yes......But what should I do? I'm troubled with this kind of place] 
[......What do you mean? Don't tell me you mixed in something else inside the chocolate cookies as well?
[Yes. When I thought that Claude-sama might be interested in that cookie as well, I mixed an aphrodisiac that is effective only for men inside those cookies] 
A bolt of lightning struck down behind of Irene who had responded cheerfully to his question.
Villainous Daughter Aims for the Last Boss
悪役令嬢なのでラスボスを飼ってみました
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/villainous-daughter-aims-for-the-last-boss/
Drama Fantasy Romance School Life Shoujo
Adapted to Anime Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Bloodlines Broken Engagement Business Management Businessmen Calm Protagonist Demon Lord Demons Female Protagonist Handsome Male Lead Hated Protagonist Kuudere Multiple Reincarnated Individuals Nobles Otome Game Politics Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Saints Sword And Magic Villainess Noble Girls
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2766dz/
永瀬さらさ