326話 裁魂の戦女神モリガン
「ここが【鉄と鎖の腐敗都市ギルディガリオン】......」
検問を終え、いざ犯罪都市に入ってみると最初に抱いたのは感嘆の念である。
一都市にしてはあまりに大きすぎる規模に目を見張る。
城壁のように天高くそびえ立つ外壁を一度くぐれば、都市内部も背の高い建築物ばかりが乱雑に並び立っていた。
頑丈な石造りの建物は3階より低いものは存在せず、壁内にギュッと詰め込まれ、ひしめき合っている。残された土地が少ないのか、道幅はどこも狭めで常に裏路地風情が漂っている。
「先駆都市ミケランジェロより大きな都市かもしれませんわね」
「王都でもある【雷炎を仰ぐ都イグニストラ】と比べても同等かそれ以上、ですね......」
「んー、でもなんだか薄暗いっていうか......全体的に灰色? ちょっと汚いかな」
リリィさん、ミナ、トワさんの3人はそれぞれの感想を述べる。
後ろ暗い連中が集結し、ナンバーワンを決める場として選ばれただけの事はあって、人口もだいぶ多いように思える。
この都市が、今は俺が所有する領地であると思うとゾッとする。
ちゃんと手綱を握らないと......!
「やっぱり一番気になるのはアレですね」
俺は頭上のさらに先、建物の上を走る幾筋ものたるんだ
「あれって、鎖ですよね?」
「ええ、見る限り鎖ですわね」
「ただの鎖、とは言い難いですけど」
「おっきいよね。色々な建物のてっぺんに繋がってるのかな?」
トワさんの指摘通りその鎖はえらく巨大で、下から見上げれば、まるで巨大な蛇が空を這っていると錯覚してしまう。
2メートルは優に超える太さがあり、建物そのものを引っ張って持ち上げられてしまいそうなほどの頑強さを誇り、それらは都市の中央付近に繋がっているようだ。
狭い空の向こうをどうにか覗き込めば、都市の真ん中にはクラン・クランで見たどの建物よりも高い建造物がそびえ立っていた。
それは漆黒一色に染まった長四角のオブジェクト、まるでモニュメントのように均等なデザインで造られたそれは窓1つなく、のっぺりと平坦だ。
都市中央のオブジェクトを中心に、いくつもの鎖が都市の外部へと張り巡らされている。
ちょっと蜘蛛の巣を連想してしまったのは俺だけだろうか......。
「あのオブジェクトの頂上にも鎖がありますわよ。他の鎖よりさらに巨大ですわね」
「空にそのまま伸びてます」
「でも途中で消えちゃってる?」
みんなが指摘する通り、黒いオブジェクトは天より垂らされた鎖に繋がれていた。
しかしその鎖がどこから伸ばされているのかは不明で、空の途中で霧のように姿を消している。
「この都市の上空には一体......何があるんだ?」
「なんだ、ねーちゃん! 綺麗ななりしてんのに、そんなことも知らないのか?」
俺の疑問に答えたのはPTメンバーではなく、ボロボロの服を着た少年だった。
「き、キミは...?...」
「俺はプーアってもんだ!
の情報屋だッ! いっちょ前にガキがホラ吹いてやがンぜ。せいぜい、ただの使いぱしりだろうが」
そんな彼を乱暴に押しのけたのは、これまた身なりのひどいおじさんだった。
「あンたら、見たところここには不慣れなようだな。どうだ? こんなガキを相手にするより、案内人の俺を雇ってくれよ」
「おい! バッカスのじいさんよ! あいつらは俺が先に目をつけた獲物だぞ!」
「あンな上物を相手にするのは百年早え、ガキは黙ってな」
「ねーちゃんたちは俺を選ぶよな!?」
:NPCプーアを雇いますか? バッカスを雇いますか?:
:拒否しますか?:
ふむ。
どうやら特定の役割を担ったNPCらしい。
道具屋や装備屋と同じく、情報を買えるNPCの類のようだ。
彼らが俺たちに声をかけてくれたのはありがたいが、あまり騒ぎになりたくないのでここは穏便に済ませたい。
「えーっと、2人ともおちついて......」
「この生意気なガキが!」
「飲んだくれのジジィめ!」
俺の制止は完全にスルーで汚く罵り合う2人。
ただでさえ、女子ばかりのメンバーでこんな場所に入って来たからなのか、さっきから物珍し気にこちらを見てくる視線をチラホラと感じているのだ。今のところはボロ布を着たようなNPCばかりが路地に座りこんでいたり、歩いていたりするが......クラン・クランのNPCは油断ならない場合も多々あるし、これ以上は下手に注目を集めたくはない。
それに、もう少し先へ行けば必ず
こんなところで揉め事を起こしたくはない。
「静粛に。2人とも雇います。静かにしなければ報酬は払いません」
俺はログから雇用ボタンをタップする。
「話のわかる嬢ちゃンたちだな」
「それで2人とも、あの黒くて太く長いオブジェクトはなに?」
元気よく答えたのは少年プーアだ。
「俺達、貧者の間で根強く信仰されてる戦女神なんだ!」
「どんな神様なの?」
「悪い魂を裁く、正義の戦女神さ! いつか、この都市から罪が消えれば、神々の住まう場所に招待されるんだ! あの塔を中心に天へと繋がる鎖に引き上げられ、空中都市になるって伝説があるんだぜ!」
に頼まれたら情報を売ったりしてるけど、いつか必ず悪を倒すんだ! そのために今は生きて、金をためて、力を蓄えなきゃな!」
にわかに信じがたい情報だが、どうやらこの都市は元々『正義』を司る女神の傘下にあったようだ。
「ふむ。こんな土地でも、正義の芽は育っているのか」
「その通りだねーちゃん!」
機嫌よく話してくれたプーアとは反対に、バッカスおじさんは面白くなさそうに『チィッ』と舌打ちをする。
「嬢ちゃンよお、あんたはここを理解してねえな......」
そういうバッカスおじさんは歩きながら葉巻を口にくわえ、『おい、火ぃ貸せ』とプーアをどついた。
プーアはしぶしぶとマッチを取り出し、彼の葉巻に火をつける。
「ここを見ろ? 罪人共が勝者だ。それがこの都市の唯一無二の真実だ、嬢ちゃン」
「ふむ。バッカスさんが言う罪人たちとは?」
「この都市は主に4つの一家に仕切られてンだよ」
「ふむふむ。どんな一家がいるの?」
「一つはこのガキが世話になってる【奈落】だ。『オルトロス
バッカスおじさんは、『そいつらに情報を売って、誰かを貶めてンのは誰かさんだ』と少年をチラリと見て言った。
「まあ、あっこは遺跡荒らしもやってるから、人殺しばかりに走ってるわけじゃねえ。わりと落ち着いた一家だな。何より、以前この都市を牛耳っていた【運命の指針】の前ボスを殺ったのがいい」
「あたりめえだろ。そンなバカ共の中で、最も悪名高いのは通称【運命の指針】、『フェイト・ノストラード
先代ってことは2代目ボスとか健在って意味だよな......。
「やっぱり人殺しとかたくさんしてた?」
「ふん、そンな生易しいもンじゃねえ。人の運命すら操るほどの悪の中の悪よ。薬、武器はお手の物、人のありとあらゆるものを壊し、しゃぶり尽くす輩だ。殺しの専売特許は他の一家だな」
「殺し専門なら、『殺人請負会社リトル・マッドハッター・インク』だな。通称【狂気の殺し屋】は、金さえ払えば、
「んで、最近勢いを増してンのが本格武闘派の【
夜叉
そこを突くように、プーアは不平をもらす。
「バッカスじじいは女に甘すぎる!」
「ばかやろう! 大抵の男は女に優しいンだよ! これだからガキはッ......まあ、あっこは新興だから他の
ゴホンッと咳払いをするバッカスじいさん。
「いいか、正義の芽なンてもンは、育つ前に摘み取られンのがオチだ」
それから彼はぶっきらぼうに俺を見つめて言う。
「それが理解できたンなら、正義なンて寝言は寝て言いな。プーア! てめえもいい加減、新参者に構うのはやめろ! どこで他の
が見てるかわかったもンじゃねえぞ!」
「だとしても俺は、バッカスじじいよりは上手くしのげるぜ!」
「ばかやろうが! お前はこの間も......!」
なんだかんだ、バッカスじいさんは世話好きな気がする。
プーア少年に対しても強く当たってはいるが、もしかしたらプーア少年に気付かれないように保護者的な行動をしているのかも。
この危険な町で他人のために世話を焼けるのは......正義かどうかはともかく、確かにここには優しい心が密かに根付いているようだ。
「うっせーガキは無視して、まずはオベリスクから案内すっぜ」
そんな2人の向こうで黒い何かが揺れる。
ん?
あれは、どこかで見たような――
物凄く可愛らしい顔で、前髪パッツンの......少年? 少女?
一瞬だけ視界にとらえた人をもう少しちゃんと見ようとした矢先、その人は物陰へ隠れるように姿をくらます。
「んん、ただのNPCだったかな?」
俺の独り言も、路地裏の闇へと消えていく。
同時に信頼のおける臣下を影のように滑り込ませておくのも忘れない。
330 Episode 326: Morrigan The Goddess Of Soul Reduction
"This is the [corrupt city of iron and chains, Gildigarion]...."
The first thing I felt when I finished the examination and entered the crime city was admiration.
Watch out for a city that is too big.
Once through the outer walls rising high like castle walls, all the tall buildings in the city were lined up in chaos.
Sturdy stone buildings do not exist lower than the third floor, and are clumped together in the walls.Whether there is little land left, the roads are narrow everywhere and there is always a backalley atmosphere.
"The pioneer city might be bigger than Michelangelo."
"Compared to the [Ignistra, the capital of thunder and flames], which is also the king's capital, it's the same or more..."
"Hmm, but it's kind of dark... overall gray? It's a little dirty."
Lily, Mina, and Towa each share their thoughts.
The dark people gathered behind me and were only chosen as the place to decide the number one, and the population seems to be quite large.
It's terrifying to think that this city is my territory now.
I have to hold on to the rope...!
That's what bothers me the most.
Further above my head, I point to a few loose lines (...) running over the building.
"That's a chain, right?"
Yes, as far as I can tell, it's a chain.
"It's hard to say it's just a chain."
"It's big, isn't it? Is it connected to the top of various buildings?"
As Tois pointed out, the chain is so huge that if you look at it from the bottom, you can imagine a huge snake crawling through the sky.
The two meters are superior in thickness, and boast enough robustness to pull and lift the building itself, and they seem to connect to the city's central neighborhood.
Looking beyond the narrow sky, there was a taller structure in the middle of the city than any one seen in the Clan Clan.
It is made of a long square object dyed in a dark black color, with an even design like a monument. It has no windows and is flat on the top.
Around objects in the middle of the city, several chains are stretched out of the city.
I guess I'm the only one who remembered the spider's nest...
"There's a chain on top of that object, too.It's even bigger than the other chains. "
"It's stretching in the sky."
"But did it disappear on the way?"
As everyone pointed out, the black object was tied to a chain hanging from the sky.
However, it is unclear where the chain is stretched out, disappearing like fog in the middle of the sky.
"What the hell is over this city...?"
"What, hey! Don't you know that even though you're beautiful?"
It was not the PT member who answered my question, but the boy in the run-down clothes.
"Come, are you...?"
"I'm Pooh!I'm a family shoe polisher. "
"Hey, it's a family informant!The kid blew it off a while ago.At best, it's just a waste of time. "
It was this nasty uncle who pushed him so violently.
"Ahn, I see you're unfamiliar with this place.Why don't you hire me as your guide instead of dealing with a kid like this? "
"Hey, it's Grandpa Bacchus! They're the prey I saw first!"
"It's been a hundred years since I've had a good one, kid. Shut up."
"You guys pick me!?"
: Hire NPC Poor?Hire Bacchus?:
: Reject?:
Hmm.
Apparently the NPC played a specific role.
Like tool shops and gear shops, it seems like an NPC that can buy information.
I appreciate that they've spoken to us, but I don't want to make too much noise, so I'd like to be quiet here.
"Er, relax, both of you...."
"You little brat!"
"Drink it, Jiji!"
My stillness is completely through and dirty between the two of us.
Even just because you're just a member of a group of girls, you just feel like you're looking at us with a rare glance.For now, there are only NPCs sitting or walking in alleys that look like worn rags... Clan Clan NPCs are often unattended, and I don't want to attract any more bad attention.
Besides, if you go any further, you will definitely encounter criminal (Gilty) mercenaries (Player) and war criminal (Judah) mercenaries.
I don't want to get into trouble here.
"Quiet, I'll hire both of you.If you don't keep quiet, you won't get paid. "
I tap the hire button from the log.
"Ladies who know the story."
"So, what's that big, thick, black object, both of you?"
It was Boy Pua who answered energetically.
"We are deeply believed goddesses of war among the poor!"
"What kind of god are you?"
"The Goddess of Justice, who will judge evil souls!Someday, if sins disappear from this city, you will be invited to the place where the gods live!There is a legend that the tower will be pulled up into a chain leading to heaven and become an aerial city! "
"That's right! I'm selling information when the family asks me to, but one day I'm going to defeat evil!That's why we have to live now, save the money, save the power! "
This is incredible information, but apparently this city was originally under the umbrella of the Goddess of Justice.
"Hmm. Is justice sprouting in these lands?"
"That's right, honey!"
Contrary to Pua, who was in a good mood to talk to me, Uncle Bacchus whispers "chi" as if it wasn't funny.
"Young lady, you don't understand this place...."
Uncle Bacchus put a cigar in his mouth as he walked and said, "Hey, give me the fire."
Pua snaps out the match and lights his cigar.
"Look here? The sinners are the winners.That's the only truth in this city, young lady. "
"Hmm. Who are the sinners, Mr. Bacchus?"
"This city is divided into four main families."
"Hmm, what kind of family is there?"
"One is [Naraka], where this kid is taken care of.As for the "Orthos family", whoever chases them to the bottom of [Naraka], steals their property, takes their will, and takes their lives. "
Uncle Bacchus looked at the boy and said, "Who is it that sells information to them and despises someone?"
"Well, I'm not just running around killing people because I'm vandalizing the ruins.It's a calm family.Above all, it would be better to kill the former boss of the [Fortune of Fate] who used to bull this city. "
"You're right. Among these idiots, the most notorious is the" Fate Nostrad Family ", commonly known as the" Guidelines of Fate ".Previously on Joe the Boss, it was outrageous.I did everything I liked to do to keep all evil together. "
The previous generation means that the second generation boss is alive...
"Was there a lot of murder after all?"
"Hmm, it's not that easy to live with.Evil in evil enough to manipulate man's destiny.Medicine and weapons destroy everything in a man's hands and suck it out.The monopoly on killing is another family. "
"If you're a killer, it's Little Mad Hatter Ink, a murder contractor."Commonly known as "Crazy Killer" is famous for paying money and never making a difference.Thanks to this, the underworld organization is asking me to go there.At best, be careful how you swing so you don't have to be designated. "
"Nh, the [Yasha] group of real militants has been gaining momentum recently.Call me a militant, which means I'm not gonna kill you in a big family.But I'm surprised to hear that the boss here is feminine.I don't really know if it's a sword or a gokudo, but swinging it to a guy like us... well, he spills. "
It was always a critical Bacchus, but the tone softened slightly only when talking about the "Night Forks".
Poor complains as if he were poking at it.
"Bacchus is too sweet for a woman!"
"Idiot! Most men are kind to women!This is why the kid is... well, he's new, so compared to other families, he's a weak kid who's two or three steps behind. "
Grandpa Bacchus coughed up.
"Listen, even if it's a sprout of justice, it's the thief who's been picked before he grows up."
Then he looks at me in a blind eye and says.
"If you understand that, go to sleep and say the words of justice.Pooh! Stop being a rookie!I didn't know where the other families were watching! "
"I don't even know if I'm in a fight!"
"But I'll do better than Bacchus!"
Idiot! You've been...! "
Somehow, I feel like Grandpa Bacchus likes to take care of me.
It hits the Pooh boy very hard, but maybe he's taking guardian action to keep the Pooh boy from noticing.
Taking care of others in this dangerous town... whether it's justice or not, it certainly seems that a kind heart is secretly rooted here.
"Ignore the kid and let Obelisk guide you first."
Something black sways over those two.
Hmm?
I think I saw it somewhere.
What a lovely face, with a patty forehead... boy or girl?
An arrow tip that tries to see a person in sight for just a moment, and that person hides in the shade.
"Nh, was it just an NPC?"
My solitude disappears into the darkness of the alley.
At the same time, don't forget to slip your trusted subordinates into the shadows.
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん