第二十九話 〈黒き炎刃〉
後日......俺はギルドの受付でマルチダに呼び止められた。
「エルマさんですね。ヒルデさんから例の五千万ゴルドのお支払いがありましたのでご報告いたします。必要なときにいつでも仰っていただければ」
「本当にあいつ用意できたのか......」
まだあれから二日も経っていない。
最悪ずるずると引っ張られてなかったことにされるのではなかろうかと危惧していたのだが。
「冒険者同士の揉め事の対処はギルドが慣れていますからね。ギルドはその気になれば、冒険者が〈
「......まあ、そうだな」
一般的には、冒険者ギルドに登録している冒険者でなければ、〈
そういう面では、冒険者は活動基盤と生命線を、常に貴族に握られ続けている形である。
「もっとも、領主様と冒険者は持ちつ持たれつの関係......権利を盾に出し惜しみして横暴に振る舞っていれば、魔物災害が起きた際に対応できずに領地が滅ぶことになるかもしれません。......ただ、ギルド側の切り札として、規律を乱す冒険者の方にちらつかせることもあります」
「そりゃ効果も覿面なわけだ」
「しかし、ヒルデはよく五千万ゴルドなんてぽんと用意できたもんだな。あの口振りからして、すぐに作れるのは三千万ゴルドが限度な様子だったが......」
「冒険者の方は、金銭とは別の形で資産を持っていますからね。本人が好む好まないは別として、お金を作ること自体は不可能ではない方が多いはずですよ」
「それはどういう......」
「あっ! エ、エルマさん、あれ......」
ルーチェが声量を落としながら、くいくいと控えめに俺の袖を引く。
「む?」
手には〈黒鋼の鎌〉と〈ベアシールド〉を装備している。
そのアンバランスな武器に、一瞬で事情を察した。
いっそ典型的過ぎるくらいの、破産者の間に合わせ装備であった。
〈マジックワールド〉でもたまにああした装備のプレイヤーは存在した。
金欠に陥ってメイン装備を失うことになり、辛うじて手持ちの片隅にあった武器をああして装備しているのだ。
専用装備ではないが攻撃力はまあまあある〈黒鋼の鎌〉。
そして性能はそこそこだが、リーズナブルな〈ベアシールド〉。
盾の中央には、コミカルなクマの顔が大きく描かれている。
この世界であんな恥ずかしい装備をできる冒険者がいるのだろうかと俺は疑問だったが、まさかヒルデがそうなるとは思っていなかった。
恥ずかしさから顔を赤くし、殺気立ったように周囲を睨んでいる。
「ああ、なるほど......武器を売ったのか」
マルチダの言っていた意味がようやくわかった。
冒険者の資産とはずばり武器のことだったらしい。
「あー! いた! キサマら!」
ヒルデを声を荒げ、俺の方を指差した。
「ルーチェ、逃げるぞ」
「逃がすと思っているのか!」
ヒルデが俺達の歩いていた先へと素早く回り込む。
「......何の用だ、ヒルデ。そっちからしてみれば、俺達になんて二度と会いたくないものだろうと思っていたが」
「盾と目線を合わせながら話すな。そんなにオレ様の盾が珍しいか?」
俺はさっとヒルデへと目線を上げた。
「前回と言い、散々このオレ様を馬鹿にしくさってくれたな。だが、オレ様から奪い取った五千万ゴルドは返してもらうぜ」
五千万ゴルドは諦めがつかなかったらしい。
ただ、決闘の対価として、正式に受け取ったものだ。
ギルド職員に間に入ってもらおうとマルチダの方を振り返ろうとしたとき......前方から、強烈な圧迫感を感じた。
「ヒルデ、それが例の重騎士か」
「ああ、ああ! こいつらだ師匠! こいつらがオレの五千万ゴルドを、卑劣な手段で奪い取りやがったんだ!」
長身の銀髪の男だった。
長い髪を後ろに括っている。
美形で、表情が薄い。
だが、その双眸からは強い意志を感じた。
佇まいというか、気迫でわかった。
こいつは強い。
人間相手に、ここまでプレッシャーを覚えたのは初めてのことだった。
聞かなくてもわかった。
この人物が恐らく、本物の〈黒き炎刃〉だ。
「クラス魔剣士......A級冒険者のカロスだ。ヒルデから君達の話を聞いて、ぜひ会いたいと思ってね」
場に冷たい空気が走る。
相対しているだけで、格が違うと思い知らされているような気分だった。
「失礼だが、まず最初に確認しておかなければならないことがある。ヒルデから五千万ゴルドを騙し取ったというのは本当か?」
「......〈ミスリルの剣〉を寄越せと脅しを掛けられて、成り行きで決闘で決着をつけることになった。その結果だ」
〈黒き炎刀〉は本物の実力者だ。
冒険者の都とて、そう何人といないA級冒険者。
果たしてギルドを盾にしてもどれだけの効果があるものか......。
カロスは静かに頷くと、握り拳を作り、ヒルデの頭へと一直線に落とした。
ゴンッと鈍い音が響く。
「つ、つう......! し、師匠、急に何をするんだ! こんな奴の言い分を信じないでくれ!」
「最初からどうせそんなところだと思っていた」
「なっ......! オ、オレの言ったことを信じてくれるって、言ってたじゃねぇか!」
「会ってみたいから連れて行けと、そう口にしただけだ」
カロスがうんざりしたように息を吐く。
「そもそも師匠師匠というが、私は別に君の師になったつもりは......」
「え......あ......し、師匠......?」
ヒルデが泣きそうな顔をする。
カロスは頭を押さえ、溜め息を吐いた。
「......今それを言えば、責任逃れのような形になってしまうか。私の不行届で随分と迷惑を掛けてしまっていたようだ」
カロスが苦々しげな表情で、俺へと頭を下げた。
「い、いや、別に俺は......。決闘自体、挑発に乗って受けただけで、断ろうと思えば断れたことだ」
こんなことで頭を下げられては、むしろ俺の方が寝覚めが悪い。
「君はいい奴だな、エルマ」
「......小遣いを作れれば得だくらいに思っていたし、そこでそう評価されても」
なぜ弟子がこうなったのかわからないくらいの善人だった。
善人過ぎて居心地が悪くなってきた。
「私は新人時代、あまり仲間に恵まれなくてね。ただその苦労あって、人を見る目には自信があるんだ」
本当にやめてほしい。
窮屈になってきた。
今お金を返してあげてほしいと頭を下げられたら、そのまま受け入れてしまいそうな空気だった。
「それから例のお金なんだが......」
俺は咄嗟に身構える。
「この子は、身に痛くないと覚えないタイプでな。本人のためにも絶対に返さないでやってくれ」
俺は小さく頷いた。
Volume 2 - Ch 29
The next day....I was called over to the reception desk by Maltida.
"Elma-san, right? I need to notify you that Hilde-san has fulfilled the aforementioned 50 million gold payment. You can ask for it anytime you need."
"So she really managed to gather all that money, huh...."
It hasn't been even two days since then yet.
In the worst case, I was prepared for her to delay paying it as much as possible.
"The Guild is quite experienced with dealing with disputes between adventurers. The Guild can even revoke an adventurer's permit to enter Dungeons if it comes to that. To begin with, Dungeons are a resource that belongs to the Lord, which is made available to the adventurers through the Guild's handling."
"....well, that's true."
Generally, unless you register at the adventurers' guild as an adventurer you won't be able to enter a Dungeon.
From that point of view, the basis of an adventurer's livelihood is invariably controlled by the nobility.
"That being said, the Lord and the adventurers are in a give-and-take relationship....If the Lord takes advantage of that privilege, then he may find his territory unable to defend against a monster calamity, ultimately leading to its destruction. .....however, it still serves as the ace in the hole for the Guild against adventurers that don't follow regulations."
"No wonder it's that effective of a threat."
"But how did Hilde manage to gather that 50 million gold? From what she said, she shouldn't have been able to get more than 30 million gold this soon...."
"Adventurers also possess resources that are different from hard currency. If we pay no attention to the fact if the person dislikes the method or not, in most cases it's more than possible for them to produce the money."
"What does that mean exactly....?"
"Ah! E-Elma-san, look...."
Luce pulled on my sleeves as she whispered the last part.
"Hmm?"
She had a Black Steel Sickle and a Bear Shield on her.
When I saw those unfitting items on her, I immediately realized what happened.
It was the most stereotypical make-do equipment of the recently bankrupt that she was wearing.
Even in Magic World, there were players sometimes walking around in equipment like that.
They would be wearing whatever equipment they still had on hand after losing their main weapons due to money problems.
The Black Steel Sickle that's not a custom weapon, but still has a pretty good Attack bonus.
Then the Bear Shield, which has an okay performance, but is quite affordable.
In the center of the shield, a large drawn chibi face of a bear could be seen.
I was doubtful if there was a single adventurer that could bear the embarrassment of wearing something like that, but I never would've thought that Hilde would be one.
She was blushing from embarrassment though, and kept sending killing intent filled glares at her surroundings.
"Aah, I see.....she sold her weapons."
Now I understand what Maltida was trying to say.
An adventurer's different kind of resource was their weapon, in other words.
"Aaah! There! You bastards!"
Hilde raised her voice and pointed towards us.
"Luce, we are running away."
"You think I would let you get away!"
Hilde swiftly circled around to block our path.
"....what do you want, Hilde? I expected you wouldn't want to meet us ever again?"
"Don't talk to me while you are looking my shield in the eye. Do you find my shield that captivating!?"
I quickly raised my gaze up to Hilde.
"You bastards keep making light of me! However, I will have the 50 million gold you stole from me back now!"
It seems she wasn't able to give up on that 50 million gold after all.
However, it's something that's officially ours because of that duel.
When I was about to turn back to Maltida to get her to intervene as a Guild employee....I felt an intense pressure coming from in front of me.
"Hilde, is that the Heavy Knight you told me about?"
"Yeah, yeah! It was these two, teacher! These two robbed me of 50 million gold by using vile and underhanded means!"
It was a tall, silver haired man.
His long hair was tied up in the back.
He was somewhat of a pretty boy, with an expressionless face.
However, a strong will could be felt from looking him in the eyes.
It was obvious from the way he stood and carried himself.
This guy was strong.
This is the first time I've felt a pressure this strong from a human.
I knew it without asking.
This person was the real Black Flame Sword.
"I'm Kalos, a Magic Swordsman and an A rank adventurer. I've heard about you two from Hilde and I really wanted to meet you."
A cold air swept through the place.
I felt that it was made obvious that he's on a completely different level just by coming face-to-face with him like this.
"I'm sorry, but I need to confirm something with you first. Is it true that you cheated Hilde out of 50 million gold somehow?"
".....we were threatened to hand over the Mythril Sword, which somehow led to us holding in a duel to resolve the situation. That was the outcome of that duel."
The Black Flame Sword was someone truly strong.
One of the few A rank adventurers, of which there weren't that many of, even in this City of Adventurers.
I honestly don't know how much effect hiding behind the Guild would even have at this point....
Kalos nodded quietly, then made a fist and dropped it straight onto Hilde's head.
A dull impact sound rang out.
"U-ugh....! T-teacher, what are you doing all of a sudden! Don't believe a word this guy says!"
"I thought this would be the case right from the beginning."
"Wha-.....! You said you believed me when I told you what happened!"
"I only told you to take me to them because I wanted to meet them."
Kalos let out a sigh of being so done with this whole thing.
"You keep calling me teacher teacher again and again, but I don't remember taking you as a student....."
"Eh....ah.....T-teacher.....?"
Hilde looked like she was about to cry.
Kalos just held his head and let out a deep sigh.
"....but I guess if I said that now it would just be shirking my responsibilities. It seems that due to my negligence, I've caused a lot of trouble for you."
Kalos bowed his head to us with a pained expression.
"N-no, it's not a big deal.... I only accepted the duel because I couldn't help but respond to her provocation. If I really wanted to, I could've refused it."
If he starts apologizing to me about that, then I would be the one to feel bad instead.
"You are a good guy, Elma."
".....I even thought of it as a good chance to make some pocket money, so you shouldn't judge me so highly."
He is such a good guy that I have no idea how his disciple ended up like that.
He's being so honorable, in fact, that I'm starting to feel uncomfortable here.
"When I was just starting out I had no luck with finding good comrades. However, after experiencing all that, I'm confident that I'm good at judging people."
Really, please stop it already.
I'm starting to feel stifled.
If he asked me right now to return the money while bowing his head, then I would simply hand it over, just to get out of this situation.
"Then, about that money...."
I resolved myself for what was coming.
"She is the type that doesn't learn without pain, so for her sake too, please don't give her that money back for any reason."
I nodded slightly.
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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