の後日......俺とルーチェはカロスに招かれ、宿の一室へと訪れていた。
前回以上に外部に漏らしたくない話になるということで、こうした形になった。
どうやらこのためだけに広い部屋を取ってくれたそうだ。
では本当にありがとうね。君達のお陰で災害騒動の輪郭がようやく掴めてきた。それに......君達がいなければ、レイドメンバーは全滅し......戦力を欠いたラコリナが、スカルロードの討伐に当たらなければならなくなるところだった」
カロスが申し訳なさそうにそう口にする。
だったため、順当に進めば全滅していたかもしれないことに責任を感じているのだろう。
「災害の原因の方や......それから地図の件に関しては、何かわかったのか?」
〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉の発見や、〈嘆きの墓所〉の地図の不備についても、既にカロスを通じてギルドに報告されている。
地図の不備は、明らかにギルドの怠慢や、小銭稼ぎに虚偽の報告をした冒険者の仕業ではない。
あの地図は、各パーティーに委託された正規ルートのみ、大きな誤りがなかったのだ。
もし正規ルートが誤りだらけであれば、早々に引き返したり、他のパーティーとの合流を試みたりする冒険者が続出していたはずだ。
あの地図は正規ルート以外の道が出鱈目になっていた。
あれのせいで、スカルロードの出現に気が付いても引き返して〈
明らかに冒険者を一人でも多く殺そうという悪意を持って組み込まれたものであった。
もう一つ根拠がある。
それは〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉が、正規ルートから離れた位置に埋められていた、という点である。
ケルトが好き勝手に動かなければ、そして〈第六感〉で感知しなければ、あのアイテムを見つけることはできなかった。
あの地図は〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉が発見されることを防ぐ意味合いもあったのではないかと考えている。
「ラコリナの冒険者ギルドには、ギルド付きの冒険者から職員になった男がいた。彼は優秀で、冒険者の立場や事情を知っている職員だったため、多くの仕事を任されていたようだ。〈嘆きの墓所〉攻略の
「なるほど......そうなったか」
あの地図改竄は、一連の事件を暴くための大きな鍵になるはずだった。
「私はずっとこの異変を追って、このノルスン王国中を旅していたんだ。ようやく決定的な手掛かりを得たと思ったら、こんな逃げ方をされて歯痒い想いだよ。ただ......この尻尾切りの犯人は、私はハウルロッド侯爵家、或いは彼らの中の一派であると確信している。こんな手際のいい怪事件を幾つも引き起こせる組織は、この王国の中でそう多くない」
カロスが〈嘆きの墓所〉攻略直後にも口にしていたことだ。
ハウルロッド侯爵家が怪しい、と。
「順当に考えれば、そうなるな」
王国各地で〈哀哭するトラペゾヘドロン〉をばら撒いて〈
戦力と金銭、人手を持った組織となれば、この世界では貴族が筆頭となる。
ハウルロッド侯爵家は最有力候補の容疑者だ。
ただ問題は、その動機の方だ。
〉の仕様確認が目的だったとしても明らかにやり過ぎだ。
こんな真似をして得する人間がいるのか疑問だった。
「ラコリナでここまで派手に動いた以上......必ずまた、何かしらの行動を起こすと思う。ただ、そうなれば私一人では力不足なことは既に証明されている。かといって......協力関係にあるハウルロッド侯爵家も手放しに信用はできない。君達にはそのときが訪れたら......ハウルロッド侯爵家ではなく、私に協力して欲しい」
ここが本題だったのだろう。
今回の騒動はかなり胡散臭い。
手出しをするのは危ないとはわかっているが、放置をするのもまた危険な気がしていた。
〈嘆きの墓所〉だって、俺が向かわなければレイドメンバーは全滅し、都市ラコリナの危機へと発展していた可能性が高い。
俺は貴族として......そして、この世界の裏側の仕組みを知る者として、この事件に挑む責任があると、そう考えていた。
「わかった。俺なんかでよければ、快く協力させてもらう」
「ア、アタシも! アタシにできることでしたら必ず......!」
ルーチェがぎゅっと握り拳を作り、そう口にした。
「ありがとう......。このラコリナで、君達に会えてよかった」
カロスは温和な笑みを浮かべた。
話し合いが終わった後、俺とルーチェは席を立ち、部屋の扉へと手を掛けた。
「エルマ、ルーチェ」
カロスが声を掛けてきた。
俺達は彼を振り返る。
「この広大なノルスン王国の地は、貴族や騎士、そして各地の上級冒険者......たった数百人ぽっちの、上澄みの実力者が守っているのが実情なんだ。君達には本当に期待しているよ」
俺達はカロスへと頷き、部屋を後にした。
俺はルーチェと並び、ラコリナの街を歩く。
この後すぐに、また別件で人と会う約束があった。
「なんだか難しいお話でしたけれど......魔物を強化して、ラコリナに嗾けようとしている人達がいるんですよね......? いいんでしょうか? アタシ達、こんな悠長に構えていて......」
怪しんでいることを相手に知られれば、こちらの動きが制限されるだけだ。
強引な手を使って排除に出てくるかもしれない。
こっちは相手の目的も、規模も、全くわかっていない。
後手に回っていくしかないのだ。
「しかし、あの状況......まるで
ルーチェが不思議そうに首を傾げる。
高レベル冒険者を多く狩った〈夢の主〉は、次の進化条件を満たして暴走を起こす。
ひとまず、今回は〈嘆きの墓所〉で起こされかけていた惨劇を回避することができ、存在さえ不確かであった『敵』の存在を明らかにすることができた。
大勝利といっても過言ではないだろう。
「お、来たかよエルマにルーチェ! 待ちくたびれてたぜ。陰険女がまたネチネチ俺を責めて来てやがって、十分が一時間にも感じる想いだったぜ」
ケルトが俺達へと手を振る。
その横にはメアベルも並んでいた。
の報酬は既に分配したのだが、その打ち上げのようなものである。
明らかに俺がラストアタックで稼ぎすぎていたので、その埋め合わせ......というにはあまりにも不釣り合いではあるのだが、ケルト達に食事を奢ることになったのだ。
鍛冶師のベルガは、ラコリナの冒険者業が栄え過ぎた結果、そこに乗っかって甘い汁を啜るだけの小狡い者ばかりになってしまった、と苦言を口にしていた。
実際、そうした側面もあるのかもしれない。
ただ、一見そうした狡猾な冒険者に見えたケルトもメアベルも、彼らのことを知っていく内に、ラコリナで冒険者としてやっていくためにはそうならざるを得なかったのだろうと気が付いた。
果たしてそれは、人間が先なのか、環境が先なのか。
「ウチはもうちょっと待たせてくれててもよかったんよ。結構楽しかったから」
メアベルがあっけらかんとそう口にし、ケルトが溜め息を吐きながら顔を押さえていた。
「ケルトさんとメアベルさん、なんだか仲良くなりましたね......」
ルーチェが苦笑いを浮かべ、そう言った。
The day after the Raid Quest, Luce and I were invited by Kalos to a private room at an inn.
Apparently, he wanted to avoid the possibility of someone overhearing us even more than before.
It seems he paid for a room just for that.
"Once again, thank you for what you did during the Raid Quest. Thanks to you two, the truth behind these calamities are starting to emerge. Furthermore....if you weren't there, then all those who participated in the Raid Quest would have ended up dead.....and La Colina would've had to contend with a Skull Lord, after already having lost most of its fighting force."
Kalos said in an apologetic tone.
He must be feeling responsible for the fact that the Raid Quest he was in charge of nearly got wiped out, only avoiding this fate by an unexpected upset.
"Did you find out anything about the reason why the calamities happened....or what was up with the maps?"
We already reported to the Guild through Kalos the discovery of the Mourning Trapezohedron and the inaccuracies with the maps.
Those mistakes were clearly not because of a simple mistake on the Guild's part, or because of adventurers trying to sell fake information to stuff their pockets.
On those maps we got, only the designated route did not have large mistakes.
If that wasn't the case, then some parties may have tried to turn back or meet up with other people instead.
Aside from the designated route, the other parts of the map were entirely made up.
Because of that, even if someone noticed the presence of the Skull Lord, the possibility of escaping outside the Dungeon was cut off.
It was intentionally designed in a way that it would get the most adventurers killed.
There is another reason for that conclusion.
The fact that the Mourning Trapezohedron was buried away from the designated route.
Without Celt going wherever he pleased or without his [Sixth Sense], we couldn't have found it.
It's possible that those maps were made that way to prevent us from finding those Mourning Trapezohedrons.
"There was a man that became a staff member after a Guild sponsored adventurer career. Apparently, he was an outstanding employee who had a good grasp of the circumstances of the adventurers, so he was trusted with numerous duties. It seems he even pressed the need for this Raid Quest to his superiors and ended up taking care of most of the minutia, like setting the reward money and such, mostly by himself, but.....his whereabouts are currently unknown."
"I see....so that's how it is."
The how-and-why of those maps getting altered should've been a large clue to the recent incidents.
"I kept traveling through this Norsun Kingdom to investigate the abnormalities for a while now, and just when I finally thought I would be able to find a decisive lead, it fell through my fingers just like that. It's quite vexing. However....I'm confident that the culprit that took care of that loose end is the Howlod Family, or perhaps a faction within the Howlod Family. There aren't that many organizations in this kingdom that could enact a well executed hidden plot like this."
It's just like he said after we cleared the Graveyard of Sorrows.
That the Howlod Family is suspicious.
"If you think through it logically, then it seems to be the case."
Without the support of a large-scale organization, scattering a bunch of Mourning Trapezohedrons in various Dungeons to overdrive them is not feasible.
If you think about who could be behind such an organization that requires a lot of money, fighting strength and other various personnel, then the nobles are obviously the first to come to mind.
That's why the Howlod Family is the prime suspect in this case.
However, the problem is the motive.
Even if it's to gather more information about the Dungeons, this is clearly overkill.
It's doubtful if there is anyone that would gain anything from all this.
"Now that they made a showy move like this in La Colina.....I expect them to do something again soon for sure. However, it was already proven that I am too weak to stop them by myself. That being said.....I can't trust the Howlod Family to cooperate with me on this either. If it comes down to it, then I would like you two to follow my lead instead of the Howlod Family's."
This must've been the real issue at hand.
This incident was obviously fishy.
I know that it could be dangerous to involve ourselves in this even further, but not doing so might be risky as well in my opinion.
Even with the Graveyard of Sorrows, if I wasn't there, then there is a high possibility that all Raid participants would have got wiped out, the danger spreading to La Colina as well.
I feel that as a noble....and as someone who is aware of how this world functions, I have a duty to involve myself in this case.
"Got it. If you are fine with me, then I will be happy to assist."
"M-me too! If there is something that I can help with, then by all means....!"
Luce clenched her fist and declared.
"Thank you.... I'm happy that I've met you two here in La Colina."
Kalos gave us a warm smile.
With the talk over, Luce and I stood up from our seats, then I put my hand on the door to open it.
"Elma, Luce."
Kalos called out to us.
We turned back towards him.
"The truth of the matter is that this large land of the Norsun Kingdom is being protected by only a few hundred cream of the crop nobles, knights, and high level adventurers. That's why I really look forward to your future exploits."
We nodded at Kalos, then left the room behind us.
With Luce next to me, we were walking the streets of La Colina.
We promised to meet someone else after this about a different matter.
"All that talk was a little too complicated for me, but....in essence, there are some people that are trying to strengthen some monsters and set them on La Colina, right....? Can't we do something about that....?"
If they manage to find out that we suspect them, then it would only limit our movements.
They may even move to forcibly eliminate us first.
We have no idea about the size of their organization, nor what they are really after.
We can only bide our time for now.
"However, that situation....it's as if their aim was to cause a Zork."
Luce tilted her head in confusion.
After hunting down a bunch of high level adventurers, fulfilling its next Evolution requirements, a Dream Lord goes on a rampage.
For the time being, we were able to avert the tragedy that the Graveyard of Sorrows could've turned into, and were able to confirm the existence of a mysterious {enemy} , which was very much in doubt until now.
It would not be an exaggeration to call it a significant victory.
"Oh, you've arrived, Elma and Luce! I got tired of waiting for you already. This wily woman kept bugging me, so even ten minutes felt like an hour."
Celt waved at us.
Mabel was standing next to him.
Although the rewards for the Raid Quest were already handed out, this was something like a celebration for that.
I clearly got the largest share due to my last hits, so to make up for that somewhat, I was about to treat everyone to lunch. Not like that would be able to compensate for that, but still.
The Blacksmith Berga was complaining about the fact that La Colina's adventurer industry flourished too much, leaving only those that would try to line their pockets without doing any actual work.
That may indeed be the case from a certain point of view.
However, even though Celt and Mabel both looked to be a crafty adventurer like that at first sight, as we got to know them, it became clear that to make a living in La Colina as adventurers, they had no choice but to become like that.
Who knows if the conditions are like this because of the people here, or the people are like that because of the current conditions.
"I wouldn't have minded if you took your time a bit more. I was having fun."
Mabel said that with a blank face, making Celt sigh and facepalm.
"It seems Celt-san and Mabel-san somehow became good friends already....."
Luce said with a strained smile.
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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