魔王を一撃で消滅させる光り輝く剣、エルメイア皇国に伝わる伝説の聖剣。その剣は魔を打ち払い皇国を建国した乙女の体から出てきたと言われている。持ち主の意思に応じて姿を変え、天を貫く巨大な剣にもなり、その光の粒子は魔物を灼く。
だがエルメイア皇国の長い歴史上、その聖剣を持っていた女性はその乙女一人きりだった。
いつか聖剣を持つ乙女が生まれるよう、皇族と公爵家はその血をつないだが、結局聖剣は『乙女の生まれ変わり』という設定でリリアが持つことになる。
魔を打ち払い、人間を守るために乙女は剣を振るう。平和な世界が訪れるように。
「私達と一緒に来て欲しいんです、アイリーン様」
「......こんな真夜中に? 訪問しろと言うなら日中の方がいいのではなくて」
「逃げろ、アイリーン」
膝をついたベルゼビュートが、浅い呼吸を繰り返しながらかすれた声で言う。それをかばうように抱き締めながら小さく答えた。
「逃げるのはあなたよ、ベルゼビュート。早くその怪我を、クロード様に――ッ!!」
「余計な会話はしないでもらおう」
首ねっこをつかまれ、マークスに引きずられた。ベルゼビュートが顔を上げる。
「アイリーン!」
「いいから早く逃げなさい! わたくしは自分でなんとかするからっ......駄目! やめて!」
リリアが聖剣をベルゼビュートに向けたのを見て、その手をつかむ。だがすぐに背後からマークスに腕で首を締め上げるように拘束された。それでもリリアの意識をそらすために、声を張り上げる。
「用があるのは、わたくしでしょう! それに魔物を殺せば、不戦条約に反するわ。皇帝の怒りを買うつもり?」
ぴくりとリリアの眉が動いた。笑顔のままだからこそ、余計不気味な動作だ。
(何かあったの? 皇帝と。......そもそもイベントなら、目的はキース様のはずなのに)
分からない。ただこれはゲームにはなかった展開だ。
「大丈夫ですよ。アイリーン様にひどいことはしませんから」
「もう十分、侮辱的なことをされている気がするわ」
「侮辱されているのは私です。でも、仕方ないの。セドリックが困ってるから......」
物憂げに睫毛を下ろしたリリアの肩を、労るようにセドリックが抱く。そしてマークスに拘束されたアイリーンを見て、妙に優しく微笑んだ。
「喜ぶといい。お前を俺の第二妃にする。今夜中に」
「......は? なに、を――!」
「待て! アイリーンを、はなせ......!」
ドニにもらった武器を杖代わりに、ベルゼビュートが立ち上がる。リリアが困ったように眉をよせた。
「あの、私は別に、あなたを攻撃したいとか思ってないんですけど......」
「その女は、大事な女だ」
まっすぐにベルゼビュートがアイリーンを射貫く。
「王の、大事な女だ......!」
「そんなに必死にならないでください、聖剣にかなうわけないんですから。大体、魔物のくせに大事とか」
ぱん、と乾いた音が響いた。アイリーンの平手が、リリアの頬を打ったのだ。
血相をかえたマークスが、慌ててアイリーンを拘束したまま距離を取る。
「アイリーン、お前リリアになんて真似を!」
「ベルゼビュート、戻りなさい。クロード様のところへ。――わたくしは」
呆然と打たれた頬に手を当てているリリアを睨め付けながら、アイリーンは宣言する。
「わたくしは、あなたを侮辱したこの女に、負けたりしない――っ」
側頭部に強い衝撃が走り、ぐるんと世界が回ると同時に闇に落ちていく。
「――アイリーンの影に気をつけろ。まあ、聖剣がそばにいて寄ってくる魔物がいるとは思えないが......」
セドリックの声も遠くなる。最後にかすめ見えたのはベルゼビュートの愕然とした表情だ。
でも大丈夫。彼は、最善を考えて行動してくれる。そう、信じられた。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
羽を動かす度に、激痛が走る。傷口から体力が根こそぎ奪われていくようだった。
それでも夜目で必死に周囲をさがす。作戦では、後始末も兼ねて近くにいるはずだ。
早く早く、この速度では森にたどり着くまでに時間がかかる。その前に力尽きてしまうかもしれないから、だから。
(――居た、人間!)
「ベルゼビュートさん!? その怪我......っ!」
「ド、ニ......俺は、いい。アイリーンが」
「リュックさん! 来て下さい、ベルゼビュートさんが!」
「いいから聞いてくれ」
腕を強くつかむと、ドニは小さな体でベルゼビュートを支えながら、まっすぐに見つめてくれた。
「アイリーンが、連れて行かれた。三人組だ。人間の、あの夜会にいた......」
「三人......リリア様とセドリック様と、マークス様?」
「そう、そんな、名前だった......早く......」
「ドニ、どうしたん――この怪我、焼き切られて......!? と、とにかく応急処置だ、クォーツ、この薬を混ぜて水を!」
何か薬剤をかけられたのか、一瞬激痛が走り、意識が引き戻された。冷やされて、痛みが幾分か引いていく。
「おーい、騎士団の方はうまく誤魔化せたぞー......ってどうしたよ!」
「ジャスパーさん、よかった。アイザックさんどこですか。アイリーン様がセドリック様達にさらわれたって!」
「はああ!? なんでンなことに」
「......第二妃に、と......」
荒い呼吸を繰り返しながら、それだけ絞り出す。それ以外は分からない。けれど、ベレー帽の男が口元に手を当てて答えを探し出す。
「まさかあれマジだったのか。リリア様の皇妃の資質に懸念が持たれるから、せめてアイリーンお嬢様を第二妃にしたらっていう......」
「は? それでなんでさらうんです? 馬鹿ですか? 正々堂々求婚して見事に玉砕すればいいものを――ベルゼビュートさん、少ししみますからね。ドニ、水を飲ませてあげて」
「ドートリシュ宰相が大反対してんだよ。あの夜会で魔王様と踊ってるのを見てる貴族達の中からは、いっそクロード様を皇太子に戻したらって話も出ててだな......あーとにかくアイザックに説明してくるわ、そしたら状況把握と策も立てられる」
「頼みます!」
「すま、ない」
漏れ聞こえる会話への、安堵感のせいだろう。思わぬ言葉が、零れ出た。
「俺は、逃げた」
「......ベルゼビュートさん......」
「聖剣が、怖かったわけじゃない。助けられるなら、聖剣に殺されてもよかった。だが、俺一人では、助けられないと、思って」
「――それで正解だっつーの」
目から溢れる雫のせいで、そう言った人間の姿がよく見えなかった。
「お前はよくやったよ、さすが魔王の右腕だ。聖剣に怯まなかった」
「......アイザックさん」
「おめーら声でかいんだよ、全部聞こえてたっつうの。おっさん、魔王様ンとこ報告だ。あの暗殺者みたいな従者には今しらせるな、ややこしくなる。――まあ、魔王様が助けに行くんだろ、どうせ。だったら俺らの仕事は、そのお膳立てと、後始末だ」
だからと、生意気にも人間ごときが自分の瞼の上に手を置いた。
「寝とけ。大丈夫だ。目が覚めたら、またアイリーンが魔王様に結婚しろって迫ってるよ」
そうか、それならいい。
アイリーンが王のそばにいれば、自分もそこにいられるから。
The s.h.i.+ning sword that could annihilate the Demon King with one blow was the legendary Holy Sword that being pa.s.sed down in the Elmeier Kingdom through the legend. That sword was said to have emerged from a Maiden's body who had repelled the monsters then founded the Empire afterward. It could change its shapes according to its owner's will, for instance, a gigantic sword that could pierce the sky and burned the monsters by using those light particles.
However, in the lengthy history of the Elmeier Kingdom, the only woman who possessed the sword was only that Maiden alone.
Someday, when a maiden who possessed the Holy Sword is born, she'll be connected to the Royalties and the Dukes' families by blood; but in the end, the setting has been arranged for Lilia to be the{Maiden's reincarnation} and to possess the Holy Sword.
For the sake of repelling the monsters and protecting human, the Maiden will wield her sword in order for world's peace to come.
[We want you to come along with us, Irene-sama] (Lilia)
[......In midnight? If you want me to visit, it's better if we do it during the day instead] (Irene)
[Run away, Irene] (Beelzebub)
Already fallen on his knees, Beelzebub told Irene to escape with a hoa.r.s.e voice while repeatedly taking shallow breaths. In order to protect him, Irene replied with a small voice while holding Beelzebub closely.
[You're the one who needs to run away, Beelzebub. You need to quickly let Claude-sama look at those injuries----!!] 
[Let's not make any unnecessary conversation here] (Max the a.s.shole)
Max grabbed Irene by her neck and pulled her away from Beelzebub. Beelzebub raised his face.
[Irene!] 
[I'm fine, just run away quickly! I'll do something on my own......You can't!Stop it!] 
When Irene saw Lilia pointing the Holy Sword towards Beelzebub, she wanted to grab that hand. But, she was immediately restrained by Max who had constricted her neck with his arm from behind. Still, she raised her voice to avert Lilia's attention.
[It is with me that all of you have some business with, right?!Moreover, if you kill a monster, you'll be violating the peace treaty. Do you intend to provoke the Emperor's wrath?] 
Lilia's eyebrows twitched. Because she still had that smile on her, her behavior was eerie than ever.
(Did something happen?With the Emperor that is. ......If this is an event in the first place, their target should be Keith-sama, and yet)
Irene didn't know. Only, this was a development that wasn't in the game.
[It'll be alright. Because we won't do something awful to Irene-sama, after all] (Lilia)
[But I feel like all of you have done plenty of offensive things already, though] (Irene)
[The one who slighted you is me. But, I can't help it. Because Cedric-sama is troubled......] (Lilia)
Cedric embraced Lilia's shoulders as if to console Lilia who looked weary with her lowered eyelashes. And then, he looked at Irene who was restricted by Max and showed her a strangely affectionate smile.
[Rejoice. Tonight, I'll make you my second princess consort] (Cedric)
[......Huh?What are you----!] 
[Wait!Let Irene go......!] 
Beelzebub stood up using the weapon he received from Donny as a cane. Lilia frowned as if she was troubled.
[Umm, I'm not really planning to attack you or anything, though......] (Lilia)
[That woman is an important woman] (Beelzebub)
Beelzebub pierced Irene with an honest look.
[Our King's important woman......!] 
[Please don't be that desperate because you're simply no match for the Holy Sword. I mean, valuing something despite being a monster is...] (Lilia)
A dry sound reverberated in the scene. Irene had slapped Lilia's cheek with her palm.
Max's expression changed, and he hurriedly distanced himself from Lilia while still restraining Irene.
[Irene, what kind of behavior is that?!] (Max)
[Beelzebub, go back to where Claude-sama is. ----I] 
While Lilia was frowning and putting her hand on her cheek after being dumbfounded due to the slap, Irene declared.
[I won't be defeated by this woman who had insulted you----] (Irene)
As a result from the sudden strong impact hitting the side of her head, Irene felt that the world was spinning. Soon, she sank into the darkness.
[----Be careful of Irene's shadow. Well, it's unlikely for the monsters to approach us with the Holy Sword by our side......] 
Cedric's voice faded. The last thing she saw after her vision was blurred was Beelzebub's terror countenance.
But, it'll be alright. He will come up with the best course of action. That's what she believed.
-------------------------------------------------
Every time he moved his wings, intense pain ran all over his body. It seems like his strength was thoroughly being s.n.a.t.c.hed away by his wounds.
Still, he desperately searched for his surrounding in the dark. According to the strategy, he should already be close to the people who would be cleaning the mess afterward.
Faster, faster. With his speed, it would take some time for him to reach the forest. Because before that happens, he might've already used up all of his strength... That's why...
(----There's a human!)
[Beelzebub-san!? These injuries......!] (Donny)
[Don, ny......I am, fine. Irene is...] (Beelzebub)
[Luc-san!Please come over here, Beelzebub-san is!] (Donny)
[Don't mind that, just listen to me] (Beelzebub)
Beelzebub grabbed on Donny's arms with a force. While supporting himself using his small stature, Beelzebub looked at Donny with desperate eyes.
[Irene was, taken away. By the gang of three. They were there on that evening party......] (Beelzebub)
[Three people......Lilisama, Cedric-sama, and Max-sama?] (Donny)
[That's right, it was, that kind of, names......Quickly......] (Beelzebub)
[Donny, what's the mat----These injuries were from being burned......!?A, anyway, I'll do a first-aid treatment, Quartz, mix this medicine with water!] (Luc)
Maybe because some kind of medicine was being applied to him, in an instant, an intense pain ran through him and brought back his awareness. As he was being chilled, the pain started to ebb to some degree.
[O-i, We've successfully deceived those Holy Knights-......Eh, what happened?!] (Jasper)
[Jasper-san, I'm glad you're here. Where is Isaac-san? Beelzebub-san said that Irene-sama had been kidnapped by Cedric-sama and the others!] (Donny)
[Huuuh!? Why did they do such a thing?] (Jasper)
[......He said, second princess consort......] 
While repeatedly taking rough breaths, that was all Beelzebub was capable of squeezing out. He didn't know any more than that. However, the beret guy put his hand on his mouth and found an answer to that.
[Holy c.r.a.p, don't tell me that it's true? There's a talk about how some people are concerned about Lilisama's disposition as an Empress. If the Crown Prince can at least get Irene Ojou-sama to be his second princess consort ......] (Jasper)
[Huh?So, why did he kidnap her?Is he stupid?He will be better off doing a fair and square marriage proposal and suffer a praiseworthy honorable defeat----Beelzebub-san . This will sting a little. Donny, let him drink some water] (Luc)
[Prime Minister D'Autriche is strongly opposed to it. Because the n.o.bles saw her dancing with the Demon King during that evening party, there's a talk coming out from amongst the n.o.bles saying it would be preferable if Claude-sama was to be restored as the Crown Prince......Ah-anyway, I'll explain the situation to Isaac, then he'll be able to grasp the situation and formulate a plan as well] (Jasper)
[We'll leave it to you!] (Donny)
[I'm, sorry] (Beelzebub)
It might be due to the sense of relief he felt from listening to the conversation: unexpected words spilled forth from his mouth.
[I, ran away] 
[......Beelzebub-san......] (Donny)
[It's not like I, was afraid of the Holy Sword. If I could save her, I don't mind even if I were to be killed by the Holy Sword. But, I thought, I can't save her, on my own] (Beelzebub)
[----And that is the right course of action] (Isaac)
Because of the drips of water overflowing from his eyes, he couldn't really see the figure of human who said that.
[You did well. As expected from the Demon king's right-hand man. He didn't even falter from the Holy Sword] (Isaac)
[......Isaac-san] 
[You guys' voices were too loud, I can hear everything, you know? Ossan, go to the Demon King-sama and report this to him. And currently, don't inform this situation to that a.s.sa.s.sin-like attendant. Things will get messy if you do so. ----Well, in any case, the Demon King-sama will go and rescue her, right? If that's the case, my job is to prepare to clean up the mess afterwards] (Isaac)
So, as if the human was being cheeky, he put his hand on Beelzebub's eyes.
[Just go to sleep. It's alright. When you wake up later, Irene will once again pressure the Demon King-sama to marry her] (Isaac)
I see, then it's fine.
Because if Irene is there next to the king, I can be there as well.
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