魔王、再び
「急ぎ伝達します」
「うむ、頼むぞ」
謁見の間。
魔導書の事で国王に頼みたいことがあってやってくると、その国王がなんだか困っていた。
おれの直前に会っていた男が謁見の間を飛び出して行く。
「王様、どうしたの?」
「お? おお余の千呪公ではないか。どうしたのだ今日は」
それはこっちの台詞だ、そっちがどうしたんだ。
今にも死にそうな顔をしてるけど。
「大丈夫王様、なんだか顔色が悪いけど」
「わかるか......いやなんでもない」
国王は表情を取り繕った。
「何か用か、余の千呪公よ」
「王様、ぼくにも王様のお役に立たせて」
「千呪公......」
国王は感動したかのように、目をうるうるさせた。
「わかった。どっちにしろ隠し通せるものではない。実は魔王が復活したのだ」
「魔王? バルサタルのこと?」
ちょっと前に魔導書をよんで復活させてしまったそれの事を思い出す。
「いや、その魔王ではない。バルサタルの子孫、バルサタル七世だ」
「バルサタル七世?」
「うむ、三十年前に時の勇者に倒されたはずのものだが、先日復活し、全世界に通告を突きつけてきた。我に服従せよとな。それで今世界中が大慌てになっているのだ」
「そっか......ところで勇者はいないの?」
「先日生まれた......まだ生後一ヶ月だ」
それは役に立たないな。
「先代勇者も一応いるが、使者を向かわせたところ、酒とギャンブルで妻に逃げられた直後らしい」
転落人生だー。
「それでどうしようかと困っていた所だ」
「それよりも千呪公の用件はなんだ」
「大した事じゃないよー、図書館のことだから。そういうことならまた出直すよ」
おれはそう言って謁見の間を出て、王宮を離れた。
外の空気を吸いながら伸びをする。
「殺ってくるか」
おれはこの世界を好きになってる。
魔法が使えて、シルビアとナディアと自由気ままに過ごせるこの世界が好きだ。
魔王だのなんだのに世界の平和をかき乱されたくない。
魔王討伐を決めた。
魔法を選ぶ――使う。
「キャラクターサーチ:バルタサル七世」
魔法を使った後、頭の中にレーダーみたいなのが浮かび上がってきた。
中心におれがいて、離れたところに光の点があるイメージだ。
「あっちか。トランスフォーム・ドラゴン」
次の魔法を使って、巨大な竜に変身。
頭の中にあるレーダを頼りに飛ぶ。
全速力で飛んでいく。
一時間くらい飛んだあと、光る点のある場所についた。
まわりがどくどくしい沼に囲まれた城。
空は雷雲におおわれ、雷が絶え間なく落ちてくる。
いかにも魔王の城って感じの場所だ。
「ってことは最上階だな、魔王も」
ドラゴンの姿のまま最上階に飛んで着陸した。
「なにもの!?」
「ビンゴかな」
そこは広い部屋で、玉座がある。
真ん中にケバイ格好の女が座っていた。
頭に角が生えてて、マントと露出の高い服装をしてる三十代くらいの女の人。
おれはドラゴンから人間に戻った。女はますます驚いた。
「魔王はどこ?」
「子供だと? 何をしにきた」
「質問を質問で返さないでほしいな。魔王はどこ? っておれは聞いたんだ」
「何者かはしらないけど。われが魔王だ」
「お前?」
「おーほっほほほ。そう、われこそ今の魔王、かの偉大な魔王、バルサタルの血を受け継ぐバルサタル七世」
「へえ、あいつの子孫なのか」
七世は眉をひそめた。顔が豹変した。
青筋をたてたド怒りの表情。
「そのものいい、万死に値する」
七世は手を振った。かぎ爪の形にした手をしたから振り上げた。
それが衝撃波になって、部屋を地面ごとえぐっていく。
大人の体よりも太い爪痕が五本、地面から壁――そして天井に伸びた。
「跪け、今の発言を取り消せ。さすればひと思いにやってやるぞ」
「ああそのものいい、バルサタルに似てるわ」
あの時もこんなことを言われた記憶がある。
そういうと、七世はますますぶち切れた。
「慮外者が!」
手をかざして魔法を唱えた。
瞬間、おれのまわりが爆発した。
部屋が崩落するほどの爆発。魔王らしい、高い破壊力の魔法だ。
バルサタルに匹敵する程の魔力だ。
まっ、その前に魔法で防壁を張ったから無傷だけど。
「まったく、キレやすい年頃か」
「なっ、何故無傷か」
「それよりもお前、世界征服を企んでるらしいな」
「当然だ」
「それ、やめてくんない?」
「戯れ言を。征服がわがよろこび、人間の苦しみこそわが幸せ」
「われはバルサタル七世。今度こそ世界を征服し、人間をあるべき家畜の姿に戻してやる。配下のモンスターは既に世界各地に散った、われの命令一つで侵攻して、世界は三日で落ちるだろう」
結構のっぴきならぬ状況らしい。
「命令はまだ出してないのか」
「降伏勧告の返事を待とうとおもったが、気が変わった。貴様を八つ裂きにした後、世界に後を追わせてやる」
説得ですめばそれで良かったんだけど、おれは実力行使することにした。
魔力をかき集めて、数少ない、純粋な攻撃魔法をとなえる。
「メテオリックベストナイン」
雷雲を突き抜け、流星が降ってきた。
まっすぐ、バルサタル七世に降っていった。
「なっ――これは」
「流星が九個連続で降ってくる魔法だ。お前の先祖バルサタルは九個をしのぎきったけど、お前はどうかな」
「ま、待って、やめ――」
血相を変えておれに何かを言おうとしたけど、その前に流星が降ってきて直撃した。
流星が、降り続けた。
「謎の隕石群が魔王城を直撃。それによって魔王の生死は不明。しかしながら各地の魔物が沈静化したことを鑑みるに......」
「魔王はしんだ、か」
次の日、謁見の間にやってくると、国王が使者とまた話していた。
昨日と違って、話は緊迫してるけど、表情は明るかった。
「状況を引き続き調べてくれ、くれぐれも油断せぬように」
「はっ」
使者が出ていった。おれは国王に近づく。
「おお、余の千呪公か。今日はどうした」
「王様は? 今日はいいことあったみたいだね」
「うむ。まだ油断できないが、魔王の脅威はなんとか去りそうだ」
もうさったよー、と言おうとしたけどやめた。
四発で跡形もなく消し飛んだ腰抜け魔王の事はどうでもいいからだ。
それよりも本来の、昨日の用件を済ませることにした。
「それより王様、これ」
「これは?」
「魔導書......のコピーかな、ぼくが写してみた。これで読めるといいんだけど」
アニメに続き、魔法を覚えたい国王のためにする事第二弾だ。
国王は感動した。
おれからマンガを受け取って読んだ。
マンガは読めたけど、魔法を使うことはできなかったのだった。
Chapter 39: Demon King, Once Again
[I will dispatch it immediately] 
[Umu, I'm counting on you] 
Audience hall.
When I came because I want to ask something concerning Grimoires to the King, but that King was somehow troubled.
The man that he was meeting with earlier jumps out of the audience hall.
[Ou-sama, what happened?] 
[Oh? Isn't it my Senjukou. What is it today] 
That's my line, what is it with you.
You're making a face that you'd die anytime.
[Are you okay, Ou-sama, your complexion is really bad] 
[Can you tell......no, it's nothing] 
The King feigned his expression.
[Do you have something you need, my Senjukou] 
[Ou-sama, let me of Ou-sama's help] 
[Senjukou......] 
The King, as if he was moved, he had wobbly eyes.
[I got it. Either ways, it's not something that can be hidden forever. Actually, the Demon King resurrected] 
[Demon King? Is it Balthazar?] 
I remembered that I resurrected him by reading a Grimoire recently.
[No, it's not that Demon King. Balthazar's descendant, it's Balthazar the 7th] 
[Balthazar the 7th?] 
[Umu, he should've been defeated by the Brave of time thirty years ago, but he resurrected recently, so posed an announcement to the whole world. He said submit to him. Because of that the whole world is on panic] 
[I see......by the way, isn't there a Brave?] 
[Just born recently......he's still one month after birth] 
That would be useless huh.
[There is the predecessor Brave, but when I sent a messenger, it was immediately after his wife ran away because of gamble and alcohol] 
It's a downfall life?.
[And I am just troubled of what to do] 
[Rather than that, what does Senjukou need] 
[It's nothing much?, it's only about the library. If it was like that I'll just come again] 
I said that and went outside of the audience hall, and left the palace.
I stretched while taking a breath of the air outside.
[I'd do(kill) it huh] 
I became to like this world.
I like this world where I am able to use magic, live freely and wilfully with Sylvia and Nadia.
I don't want this world's peace to be disturbed by a Demon King or whatever it is.
I decided the subjugation of the Demon King.
I choose the magic--I used it.
[Character Search: Balthazar the 7th] 
After I used the magic, a radar-like something emerged inside my head.
It's an image where I was in the middle, and there was a point in a place at a distance.
[There huh. Transform: Dragon] 
I used the next magic, and transformed into a giant dragon.
I flew relying on the radar inside my head.
I flew with full speed.
After flying for an hour, I reached the place where the point was lighting.
It was a castle surrounded by poisonous swamps.
The sky was covered by lightning clouds, and lightning was falling without stop.
It was a place that really felt like the Demon King's Castle.
[Then it means, on the top floor right, the Demon King] 
I flew and landed on the top floor while in dragon form.
[Who are you?!] 
[Bingo huh] 
That was a wide room, there was also a throne.
In the middle, a woman with heavy make-up was sitting.
It was a woman whose around 30 years old, there were horns that grew on her head, wearing a mantle and clothes that have a high exposure.
I returned to human from dragon. The woman was more and more surprised.
[Where is the Demon King?] 
[A child? What did you come for] 
[Can you not reply to a question with a question. Where is the Demon King? I asked] 
[I do not know who you are, but. I am the Demon King] 
[You?] 
[O?hohhohoho. That's right, I am the current Demon King, the one who inherit the blood of the Great Demon Lord, I am Balthazar the 7th] 
[He?, you were his descendant huh] 
The 7th scowled. Her face had a sudden change.
It was a very angry expression with her veins popping.
[That way of talking, deserves certain death] 
The 7th swung her hand. She raised her hand after making it claw shaped.
That became a shockwave, and gouged the room's floor.
Five scars that were thicker than an adult's body, extended from the ground--to the walls and ceiling.
[Kneel, take back what you said right now. If you do that, I will kill you with one breath] 
[That way of talking, it's similar to Balthazar] 
I have memories that I was also told like that at that time.
When I said that, the 7th was more and more pissed off.
[You arrogant!] 
She reached out her hand and chanted.
An instance, my surroundings exploded.
It was an explosion that even shook the room. It was a Demon Lord-like, magic with high destruction powers.
It was magic powers that was even equal to Balthazar.
Well, I made a barrier with magic before that so I'm uninjured.
[Goodness, are you in the age with low temperance] 
[What! Why are you uninjured] 
[Rather than that, they said that you're plotting for world domination] 
[Of course] 
[That, can you stop?] 
[Gibberish. Domination is my joy, my happiness is when humans suffer] 
[I am Balthazar the 7th. I will dominate the world this time for sure, and return humans to their original domesticated appearance. My monster subordinates had already scattered throughout the world, invade with one of my command, and the world will fall within three days] 
It looks like it's a situation that I can't be leisure.
[Haven't you release your command] 
[I was thinking of waiting for the surrender reply, but I changed my mind. After I tear you into pieces, I'll drive in the world after] 
If it ended with persuasion, that'd be good enough, but I decided to use force.
I gathered magic powers, and chanted one of the only few, magic that was completely for attacking.
[Meteoric Best Nine] 
Breaking through lightning clouds, meteor fell.
Straight towards Balthazar the 7th, it fell.
[Na!--this is] 
[It's a magic that makes meteors fall nine times consecutively. Your ancestor, Balthazar had endured all nine of them, but what about you] 
[W-Wait, sto--] 
Changing her face colors, she tried to say something to me, but before that, the meteor that fell hit directly.
The meteor, continued to fall.
[Mysterious meteor strikes hit the Demon King's Castle directly. Because of that, the fate of the Demon King is unknown. But, seeing that the monsters around the country had calmed down......] 
[The Demon King died, huh] 
The next day, when I came to the audience hall, the King was talking again with the messenger.
Different from yesterday, their talk were not tense, but their expressions weren't bright.
[Continue to investigate the situation, be sure to not let your guards down] 
[Ha!] 
The messenger left. I approached the King.
[Ohh, my Senjukou. What is it today] 
[What about Ou-sama? It looks like a good thing happened today] 
[Umu. We still can't let our guards down, but it seems like the threat of the Demon King would pass] 
It already passed?, I tried to say that but I stopped.
It's because that coward of a Demon King that disappeared without trace after four shots doesn't matter.
Rather than that, I wanted to finish what I originally wanted to do yesterday.
[Rather than that, Ou-sama, this] 
[This is?] 
[Grimoire......the copy of it, I duplicated it. It would be nice if you were able to read it with this] 
Continuing after the anime, it was the second shot to make the King learn magic.
The King was moved.
He received the manga from me and started reading it.
He was able to read the manga, but it seems like he couldn't use magic.
Manga wo Yomeru Ore ga Sekai Saikyou ~Yometachi to Sugosu Ki mama na Seikatsu~
マンガを読めるおれが世界最強～嫁達と過ごす気ままな生活
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/manga-wo-yomeru-ore-ga-sekai-saikyou-yometachi-to-sugosu-ki-mama-na-seikatsu/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Arranged Marriage Beastkin Beautiful Female Lead Calm Protagonist Caring Protagonist Child Protagonist Clever Protagonist Demons Devoted Love Interests Doting Love Interests Early Romance Easy Going Life Genius Protagonist Kind Love Interests Loli Love Interest Falls in Love First Magic Male Protagonist Marriage of Convenience Nobles Overpowered Protagonist Playful Protagonist Polygamy Protagonist Strong from the Start Reincarnated in Another World Shota Skill Assimilation S*aves
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9488db/
三木なずな