12
「一、二、三、四!」
「......」
(あれからずっと素振りさせてはいるが、文句の一つも言わないな。
噂は本当なのか?
傍若無人で自分勝手な性格って聞いてたが、違うのか? 大体、貴族の坊ちゃんてのは基礎を怠るような奴らなのに......)
剣の稽古と言いながら、素振りしかしていないレオルドを観察しつつバルバロトはレオルドの噂について考え込む。
レオルドの方はしっかりと教えて貰えているので満足している。ただ、贅沢を言えば休憩を挟んで欲しいこと。時折、アドバイスをしてくれるのは有り難いことなのだが、この身体は休息を求めているのだ。
残念な事にお互い勘違いを起こしている。
盛大なすれ違いを起こしつつ、レオルドは素振りを続ける。しかし、今のレオルドに長時間の運動は辛い。
ギルバートとの組み手でさえ休憩があるのに、バルバロトとの稽古は休憩無しである。何が起こるかといえば、限界に達した豚が一匹音を上げてぶっ倒れたのである。
(しまった! 考えすぎてたせいで休憩させるの忘れてた!
やばい。下手したら懲罰ものかも......)
「大丈夫ですか!?」
「ゼェ......ハァ......ゼェ......ハァ......」
慌てて倒れたレオルドの側へと駆け寄るバルバロトは安否を確かめる。レオルドは息をするのがやっとのようで返事を返さない。
しかし、視線だけはバルバロトにしっかりと向けられている。
バルバロトはレオルドに睨まれていると勘違いして腹を括る。恐らく、自分は罵声を浴びせられてクビになるだろうと容易く想像できてしまう。それだけで済めば御の字だろう。下手をすればゼアトから追放、もしくは考えたくはないが死刑なんてこともあり得る。
どちらにしろ自分の未来はこれで終わりだな、と諦めるバルバロト。しかし、意外な発言がバルバロトの耳に届く。
「水を......水を......くれ」
慌ててバルバロトは水を取りに行く。井戸から水を急いで汲み上げるバルバロトだが心中は穏やかじゃなかった。
「なぜ、怒ってないんだ? 罵声の一つくらいは浴びせられると思っていたのに......」
桶に水を入れ替えてレオルドの元へと急ぐバルバロトはレオルドの対応に首を傾げるばかりであった。
桶一杯の水をレオルドは受け取り、ゴクゴクと喉を鳴らして水を飲んでいく。相当疲れていたのか桶に入っていた水を全て飲み干してしまう。その光景を見たバルバロトは、自分が仕出かした事を改めて認識してしまう。
こんなに疲労するまで放置してしまった事を。
(水を飲んで回復したら、俺のことを激しく罵倒するんだろうな......
当然か。ぶっ倒れるまで放置してた俺が悪いんだからな)
「ふう......助かった。バルバロトよ。すまなかった。遠慮せずに休憩をお前に申し出ていれば、このような事態にはならずに済んだものを。苦労を掛けてしまったな」
一瞬、レオルドが何を言っているのか理解出来ないとバルバロトはあんぐりと口を開く。
呆然としていたバルバロトは理解するのに数秒を要してしまった。
「な、何を仰るのですか! 悪いのは私であって――」
「ん? お前は何も悪くはあるまい? 俺が素振りをしているのをずっと見ていてくれたじゃないか」
「そ、それは......そうですが」
「ならば、自身の限界を超えてまで素振りを続けて倒れてしまった俺のほうが悪いだろう。お前に責任はないさ」
最早、言葉は出てこなかった。バルバロトはレオルドの寛大さに衝撃を受けてしまっていたから。
噂に聞いていたレオルドとは大違いで、どう解釈すればいいかも分からない。ただ、ひとつ言える事は噂などあてにはならないという事だ。
感極まっているがバルバロトは大きな勘違いをしている。噂はほぼ事実である。王都にいないからバルバロトは真相を確かめる事は出来ないが、知らないほうが良いということもある。
「それじゃ、再開するか」
「えっ、とはなんだ。まだ稽古は終わっていないのだろう?」
「そ、そうですね。まだ、時間はありますし」
「......どうした? 調子でも悪いのか? さっきから様子が変だぞ」
レオルドがそう尋ねるとバルバロトは姿勢を正して頭を下げた。突然の事で驚いたレオルドはバルバロトに頭を下げた理由を問いかけようとしたが、先にバルバロトが謝罪の言葉を述べる。
「申し訳ありませんでした。私は最初レオルド様のことを疑っておりました。噂を耳にしていた私はレオルド様の稽古など、どうせすぐに飽きるだろうと......
しかし、レオルド様は真面目に素振りを続けられ、その姿を見た私は噂とは違うのか? と疑いの目で見ていました。その結果、レオルド様が倒れられて水を欲していた時も私は自分の心配ばかりをしていました。
きっと、罵詈雑言を浴びせられて酷い仕打ちを受けるのだろうと......
ですが、私を責めることなくレオルド様は寛大な心で許してくださいました!」
「お、おう......」
(圧が! 圧が凄い!!!)
バルバロトの圧に押されるレオルドは後ずさってしまう。しかし、バルバロトがぐいぐいと迫っていく。
「所詮、噂は噂だとわかりました。数々の非礼をお詫び致します!
どうか、私めに罰を与えてください!」
「お前は勘違いしているが噂は事実だ。だから、お前が疑いの目で俺を見ていた事など罰を与える程の事でもない。
さっきも言ったが今回は俺が悪いのだから、お前を咎める気は一切ない」
「今日の稽古はもういい。それと噂が事実かどうかはギルバートに詳しく聞いておけ。
聞いた上で尚俺に稽古を付けてくれるなら、また頼むぞ」
唖然とするバルバロトを置いてレオルドは屋敷の中へと帰っていく。残されたバルバロトは、しばらくの間立ち尽くしていた。
自室へと戻ったレオルドはベッドに倒れこみ、枕に顔を埋める。
(ちくしょう! ちくしょう! ただの勘違いかよおおおおおおお!!!)
バルバロトが熱心に素振りを見ていたわけではなく、噂通りの人物かどうかを見定めていた事がわかったレオルドは枕を濡らすのであった。
後日、ギルバートから事実確認をしたバルバロトが剣の稽古を続けてくれると知って、また枕を濡らすレオルドであった。
Ch 12
One, two, three, four!"
"......"
(I've been making  him practice   for a while , but  he haven't complained one bit.)
*Are the rumors true?)
( I've heard that he's unpredictable and selfish, but is he not? (or the most part, noblemen's monks are the kind of guys who neglect the basics. ......)
Barbaroto ponders the rumors about Leolde while observing Leolde, who is only pretending to practice with his sword.
He is satisfied that  he is being taught  by professional . However, if  he had to be extravagant,  he would want to take a break.  He appreciate the advice given to him    from time to time, but  his body needs to rest.
However, Leolde could not ask for a break. It's a shame that  they misunderstood each other.
Leolde continues to practice , causing a huge misunderstanding. However, it is hard for the current  him to practice for a long time.
Even in training with Gilbert, there is a break, but in training with Barbaroto, there is no break. What happened was that one of the pigs, having reached its limit, made a noise and collapsed.
(Shit! I was thinking so much that I forgot to give  him a break!)
(Oh no. If I'm not careful, I might be punished. ......)
"Are you okay?'
"... haa......"
Barbaroto rushes to the side of the fallen Leolde  to check on his well-being. He barely able to breathe, so he  does not reply.
However, his gaze is firmly fixed on Barbaroto.
Barbaroto misunderstood that Leolde was staring at him and his stomach clenched. He can easily imagine that he will probably be cursed and fired. If that's all it takes, he will be lucky. If  he is  not careful,  he could be expelled from Ze'at, or even sentenced to death, which  he  hate to think about.
Either way, Barbaroto resigned himself to the fact that this was the end of his  life . However, an unexpected  words reaches Barbaroto's ears.
"Give me ...... water, "
Barbaroto hurriedly went to get water. Barbaroto hurriedly drew water from the well, but his heart was not in peace.
"Why aren't you angry? I was expecting at least one shout of abuse. ......"
As Barbaroth hurried to Leoldo to refill the tub, he could only tilt his head at Leoldo's response.
Leoldo received a tub full of water and gulped it down. He was so tired that he drank all the water in the tub. When Barbaroto saw this scene, he realized once again what he had done.
He realized once again what he had done, that he had left him there until he was so exhausted.
(When he  finish drinking the water, he's probably going to curse me ......)
(Of course. It's my fault for letting it go until  he collapsed.)
"I'm sorry. If I hadn't hesitated to offer you a break, this situation could have been avoided. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you."
For a moment, Barbaroto's mouth dropped open as he couldn't understand what Leolde was saying.
Stunned, it took Barbaroto a few seconds to understand.
"What are you talking about? I'm the one who's at fault here."
"Hmm? There is nothing wrong with you, is there? You've been watching me practice to do swordship    , but i am collapsed"
"Well, that's ...... true, but..."
"Then it's my fault for going beyond my limits and collapsed . It's not your fault."
No words came out of his mouth. Barbaroth was shocked by  his generosity.
It was so different from what he had heard about  him that he didn't know what to make of it. But one thing is for sure, rumors are not to be trusted.
Although he was overwhelmed with emotion, Barbaroth was mistaken. The rumors are mostly true. Not being in King's Landing, Barbaroto can't be sure of the truth, but sometimes it's better not to know.
"Let's resume then."
"What do you mean? You haven't finished your training yet, have you?"
"Yes, that's right. There's still time."
"...... What's wrong?  You've been acting strange for a while now."
When Leolde asked, Barbaroto straightened his posture and bowed his head. Leoldoe surprised by the suddenness of the situation, was about to ask Barbaroto why he bowed, but Barbaroto said he was sorry first.
I am sorry," I was suspicious of Master Leold at first.  I had heard rumors that Leoldo- will be bored by training would soon anyway. ......
But Leoldo continued to practice diligently, and when I saw   him , I  wondered if  he was not what the rumors said   he was. I looked at him with suspicion. As a result, when Leold collapsed and needed water,  I was only worried about myself."
"I was sure that  would be abused and treated badly. ......"
"But without blaming  me , Leolde forgave me with a generous heart!"
"Oh, . ......"
( The pressure is great!)
Leolde, under the pressure of Barbaroth, backed away. However, Barbaroto was closing in on him.
"'I see now that rumors are only rumors after all. I apologize for my many insults!"
"Please punish me!"
"You are mistaken, but the rumors are true. so the fact that you were looking at me with suspicion is nothing to bad ."
"I'm not going to blame you at all, because as I said before, this time it was my fault."
"No more practice today. And ask Gilbert to elaborate on whether the rumors are true or not.
If you still willing to training me after al of thing you heard  , i will be glad "
Leaving the dumbfounded Barbaroto behind, Leoldo went back inside the mansion. Barbaroto, who was left behind, stood there for a while.
When he returned to his room, he collapsed on his bed and buried his face in his pillow.
(Damn it! Damn it! It's just a misunderstanding!)
When Leolde found out that Barbaroto had not been watching him intently, but had been assessing him to see if he was who the rumors said he was, he wet his pillow.
Later, after Gilbert confirmed the fact, Leoldoe wet his pillow again when he found out that Barbaroto would continue to practice with him. .
Eroge Reincarnation, Struggle of a Golden Pig Aristocrat Against Fate
エロゲ転生　運命に抗う金豚貴族の奮闘記
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/eroge-reincarnation-struggle-of-a-golden-pig-aristocrat-against-fate/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Romance Shounen Slice of Life
Adapted to Manga Age Progression Aristocracy Beautiful Female Lead Broken Engagement Butlers Character Growth Complex Family Relationships Cowardly Protagonist Crafting Dense Protagonist Domestic Affairs Doting Parents Elemental Magic Emotionally Weak Protagonist Empires Fallen Nobility Fantasy Creatures Fantasy World Fat Protagonist Fat to Fit Galge Handsome Male Lead Hard-Working Protagonist Harsh Training Kingdom Building Kingdoms Knights Late Romance Lost Civilizations Loyal Subordinates Magic Magic Formations Maids Male Protagonist Management Manipulative Characters Marriage Misunderstandings Modern Knowledge Monsters Naive Protagonist Nobles Reincarnated in a Game World Royalty Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Sword Wielder Time Skip Transmigration Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong Wizards
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4214gk/
名無しの権兵衛