Vermillion

Chapter 23.1



翌朝。

Next morning.

隊商は再び、予定よりも少し遅れて出発した。

The caravan departed a little later than planned… again.

原因は言わずもがな、ピエールの馬車だ。村の鍛冶屋に手を借りて入念に修理した結果、普通に速度を出しても問題ないレベルまで直ったものの、代わりにかなり時間を食ってしまったのだ。

Needless to say, it was due to Pierre’s carriage. The village blacksmith had repaired it to working condition again, and the problem was fixed, but it took up a lot of time.

何かあったら今度は置いていくぞ――というのは、隊商の長シェフたるホランドの言葉である。

“If anything happens again, I’m going on without you.” Holland had threatened angrily.

ガラガラガラと、車輪の転がる音。

The carriage wheels rolled along with a clatter.

サスケの背に揺られるケイは、何の因果か、ピエールの馬車の横にいた。

Riding Saskue, Kei was, for some reason or another, stationed next to Pierre’s carriage.

「いやぁ、ケイ君が居てくれると心強いなぁ」

“Iya~, I’m reassured now that Kei’s here.”

馬車の手綱を握りながら、ニコニコと笑顔を向けるピエール。彼は二十代後半ほどの痩せの男で、見習いから叩き上げで馬車を持った若手の行商人だ。が、商売を始めたばかりで資金力がないせいか、はたまたその貧相な体格のせいか、ホランドや他の商人たちと比べると、どうにもみみっちい印象を受ける。

Pierre had a huge smile on his face as he held the reins of the carriage, the gloom from being scolded by Holland nowhere to be seen. He was a thin man in his late twenties, a young peddler fresh out of apprenticeship. However, despite being a full fledged merchant, Kei had different impression of Pierre compared to that of Holland and the other merchants. Perhaps it was because he had just started business and lacked capital, or that he had a poor physique.

「また何かあったら、その時はお願いするね! 頼りにしてるよケイ君」

“If anything else comes up, please lend me your assistance! I’ll be counting on you, Kei!”

「……そいつはどうも」

“… That’s great.”

ピエールの言葉に生返事をして、ケイは気取られない程度に小さく溜息をつく。

To Pierre’s enthusiasm, Kei unintentionally let out a small sigh to himself.

要は、配置転であった。

It short, he had been reassigned.

昨日、ピエールはケイの腕力にいたく感動したようで、いざという時のフォローの為に、ケイを傍に置いてもらえるようホランドに頼んでいたらしい。そして特に断る理由を持たなかったホランドは、あっさりとそれを承認してしまったのだ。

Yesterday, Pierre seemed to have been impressed by Kei’s strength and had petitioned Holland to have him stationed by his carriage in the event of an emergency. Holland, who had no reason to refuse, easily agreed.

そもそもケイとアイリーンは、元は必要とされていなかった人員、この隊商における余剰戦力だ。本来ならばただの旅人として参加するところを、コーンウェル商会のコネによって、給金を受け取れる『護衛』の立場にねじ込んでもらったに過ぎない。

In the first place, Kei and Aileen were the surplus forces on the caravan who weren’t necessarily needed. They were originally just travelers tagging along, and only received the role of escort where they earned a salary through their connection to the Cornwall Institution.

つまるところホランドからすれば、ケイの配置は、割とどうでもいいのだ。それが中央であろうとも、後方であろうとも。

Thus, from Holland’s perspective, Kei’s location was not really important. Where he was could be moved around at will.

(――まあ、それはいいんだが、)

(――Well, I suppose this is fine, but… )

むぅ、とケイは難しい顔をした。じっとりとした目で見やる、数十メートル先。

“Mu~,” Kei had a troubled expression. He eyed a scene a dozen meters or so away.

スズカに跨るアイリーン――と、その横をついて歩く金髪の青年。

Aileen was riding Suzuka―with a blond young man walking alongside on foot.

(……アイツが前に行かなくていいだろ!)

(… You don’t have to be that aggressive!)

言うまでもない、アレクセイだ。

Naturally, the young man was Alexei.

旅人として隊商に参加する彼は、戦士ではあるが護衛ではなく、従って給料を受け取らぬ代わりに特別な義務も発生しない。せいぜい隊商が襲撃を受けた際に助太刀をするくらいのもので、後は皆に迷惑をかけぬ限り、何をしていてもいいのだ。

Even though he was a warrior and a member of the caravan, Alexei was not an escort. Thus, he had no special obligations in exchange for not getting a salary. At best, he would help defend when the caravan was attacked, but besides that, he could do whatever he wanted as long as it did not disturb anyone else.

今は能天気に頭の後ろで手を組んで、大股で歩きながら、楽しげにアイリーンに話しかけている。

Presently, he was cheerfully talking to Aileen while carefreely taking slow, elongated strides with his hands behind his head.

「И так, ты знаете?」

『So, did you know?』

「Что?」

『About what?』

「Когда он был маленьким …」

『When he was little… 』

風に流されてくる、楽しげな二人の会話。ロシア語なので何を話しているのかはさっぱりだが、朝からずっとこの調子だった。

Snippets of the conversation could be heard, carried over by the wind, though Kei couldn’t understand any of it as naturally, it was in Russian. Such had been the case the entire morning.

「…………」

“ … ”

なんとも――、落ち着かない気分。「アイリーンが誰かとロシア語で話している」、言葉にしてしまえばただそれだけのこと。しかしその”それだけ”が、気にかかって仕方がない。会話の内容が分からないからか、アレクセイが妙に馴れ馴れしいからか、もしくは――。

Kei felt himself becoming restless. It was clear that Aileen was simply talking to someone in Russian, but nonetheless, he couldn’t help but feel irritated over it. Perhaps it was because he didn’t understand the contents of the conversation, or maybe it was the fact that Alexei was talking to Aileen in an overly-familiar manner―

もしくは……。

Or…

「……ふぅ」

“… Fuu~”

小さく溜息をつく。

Kei let out a small sigh.

もやもやと胸の奥底から湧き上がる、この釈然としない感情を、どう処理したものか。孤独な馬上でケイは、ひとり頭を悩ませていた。

How was he supposed to deal with this feeling springing forth from the bottom of his chest? Kei fretted over this question lonelily atop his mount.

あるいは、ケイが二人の様子をよく観察していれば。

Or rather, he was engaged in observing the Russian-speaking pair in parallel.

会話の大部分をアレクセイが占めており、アイリーンは質問を挟みつつも、基本的に相槌を打っているだけ、ということに気付けたのかもしれないが――。

It was readily evident that Alexei occupied most of the conversation. Aileen was basically just fielding the answers.

「どうしたんだい、ケイ君。元気がないように見えるけど」

“What’s up, Kei-kun. You don’t look that well.”

ぼんやりとしていると、横から声をかけられる。

Someone inquired vaguely from the side.

見れば右手、心配げにこちらを覗き込むピエールの顔。

It was Pierre, who was looking worriedly at Kei.

「……いや、」

“… Nothing.”

一瞬、「お前のせいだよ!」と言いたい衝動に駆られたが、頭を振ったケイは手をひらひらとさせて誤魔化した。

For just a moment, Kei had the urge to retort “it’s your fault!” but kept that to himself. Instead, Kei fervently shook his head and gestured with his hands in denial.

「そんなことはない。いつも通り元気さ」

“There’s nothing of the sort. I’m perfectly normal.”

「そうかい?」

“Is that so?”

「ああ」

“Yeah.”

そこでふと、昨夜のアレクセイの言葉を思い出す。”ピエールの旦那とは個人的な知り合いでな”

Kei suddenly recalled Alexei’s words from last night: “I’m an acquaintance of Mr. Pierre’s.”

「……なあ、ピエール、ひとつ聞きたいんだが」

“… Ah, that’s right Pierre. There’s something I wanted to ask you.”

「ん? なんだい? 僕が知ってることなら、何でも聞いておくれよ」

“Hm? What is it? Feel free to ask me anything on your mind.”

人懐っこい笑みを浮かべるピエールに、悪い奴じゃないんだがなぁ、と苦笑しつつ、

As Pierre answered with a laugh, Kei thought to himself that the merchant really wasn’t that bad a guy.

「昨夜、アレクセイが言ってたんだが、あなたは彼と個人的な知り合いなんだろう? どんな風に知り合ったんだ?」

“Last night, Alexei said that you were acquaintances. How’d you get to meet him?”

「ああ、アレクセイか。彼はね、僕の命の恩人なんだよ」

“Oh, Alexei? He’s my lifesaver.”

「命の恩人?」

“Your lifesaver?”

思わぬ言葉が飛び出てきた。興味深げなケイをよそに、ぴょるん、とした控え目なカイゼル髭を撫でつけながら、ピエールはどこか遠い目をする。

An unexpected answer kita~. Pierre had distant eyes as he began recounting his story while stroking his incipient stubble. (ED Note: The “kita~” ーliterally “it has come/arrived”ー is a meme, something along the lines of “a wild pikachu appeared!” There’s an “omg” or “aaah!” factor associated with it.)

「二年前のことだったかなぁ。僕がまだ見習いだったときの話さ。師匠の馬車に乗って、モルラ川より東で行商をしてたんだけどね、街道からちょっと外れたあたりで、盗賊に襲われてさ」

“Ah, that was two years ago, when I was still an apprentice. I had been riding on my master’s carriage, just east of the Morula river, when we were attacked by bandits.”

「ほうほう」

“Oho.”

「後方から、弓矢の奇襲だったかな。それで運悪く、二人いた護衛の片方が即死、もう片方も怪我しちゃってね。……一応、ほら、僕ら商人も戦うからさ」

“It was a sneak attack. They sniped us with bows from the back, so one of the escorts died instantly and the other was wounded… There was no choice but for my master and the other apprentices, myself included, to fight too.”

ひょい、と御者台の傍らに置いていたショートボウを、持ち上げて見せるピエール。

Pierre lifted the tarp of the carriage to reveal a short bow placed just behind the carriage bench.

「師匠と、怪我した護衛と、僕ら見習いが何人か……。全員戦う覚悟は出来てたんだけど、いかんせん相手が多くてね。七、八人はいたと思う、しかもけっこう強そうでさぁソイツら。こりゃもうダメかな、と諦めかけた、まさにその時!」

“Our master, the injured escort, and the other apprentices… we were prepared to put up a fight, but there were a lot of enemies. Seven, no, I think there were eight of them, and they all looked strong on top of that. Just as I was just about to give up, he appeared!”

手綱を放り出して、ピエールは大袈裟に天を仰ぐ。

Pierre theatrically threw up the reins, facing the heavens.

「道の向こう側から、地を這うように、放たれた矢のように、猛然と駆けてくる少年が一人ッ! ……それが彼さ。あの時は、今より背も低かったし子供っぽかったけど、本ッ当に強かったなぁ。こう、バッタバッタと……あっという間に五人を討ち取っていったよ。残りの賊は、こりゃ敵わないと尻尾捲いて逃げていった」

“This boy comes darting across from the other side of the road like a flying arrow… It was him! At the time, he was shorter and more childish than he is now, but he was still really strong. Like a mantis, he killed five of the bandits in an instant, and the rest fled with their tails between their legs.”

「ほう、それは……やるな」

“My, that’s… certainly impressive.”

ケイの口から漏れ出たのは、紛れもなく本心からの言葉。現在、アレクセイは十八歳ほどに見える。それが二年前の話となると、当時の彼は十六にも満たない、子供といってもいい年頃だろう。話を聞く限りでは機先を制したようだが、それでも大の大人を五人も殺害するのは、容易なことではない。

The words that came from Kei’s mouth were undoubtedly heartfelt. Currently, Alexei looked about eighteen years old. Two years ago, he would’ve been roughly sixteen. Judging from the story, he seemed to have won from the momentum of his surprise attack, but nevertheless, taking down five grown men was no easy feat by any stretch of the word.

なかなかに侮れぬ――と、そう思うケイの目は鋭い。

“It seems he can’t be made light of,” thought Kei with sharp look as Pierre continued.

「あの光景は目に焼き付いて離れないよ。本当に強かった……それから近くの村によって、師匠がお礼とばかりに宴会をして。僕は、見習いだったから、特に何もできなかったけど。次に会った時は、何かお礼をしたいなと考えていたんだよ。そして、つい先日、サティナの街で偶然アレクセイと再会した――というわけだ」

“That scene left such a strong impression on me that it was burned in my mind: I can still remember it to this day. Man, he was really strong… Master held a feast for him as thanks in the next village, but I, as an apprentice, couldn’t do anything. I had sworn to myself then that the next time we met, I’d thank him properly. And just the other day, I ran across Alexei in the city ―would you believe that?―and here we are now.”

そして、つい先日、サティナの街で偶然アレクセイと再会した――というわけだ。

It would seem that “the next time” was just a few days ago, in Satyna.

「なるほど、な……。しかし、すごい偶然だな。街道のはずれで、彼のような強者に出会い、その助太刀で九死に一生を得るとは……」

“I see, but… what a coincidence. It’s not everyday that a skilled, sword-bearing stranger saves your life in the middle of nowhere… ”

「だねえ、僕もそう思わずにはいられないよ」

“It’s not just you. I can’t help but think that way myself.”

「しかし、奴は雪原の民だろう? なんだってこんな辺鄙な場所に、しかも一人で?」

“But, he’s one of the Snowfield people, right? Why would he be in such a remote place by himself?”

ケイの疑問に、ピエールはしたり顔で頷きながら、

Leaning towards Kei, Pierre answers secretively,

「何でも、成人の儀を兼ねた武者修行の旅らしいよ。話によると彼は、優秀な戦士にのみ許される、『紋章』をその身に刻んでいるらしい」

“It seems that he was on a training journey… some sort of coming of age ceremony for the Snowfield tribe if you will. Apparently, he has a Crest, an emblem given only to a clan’s finest warriors.”

「……ほう」

“… Ho.”

相槌を打つケイの声が、真剣味を増した。

Kei’s voice tensed when he heard Pierre mention Crests.

『紋章』は、少なくとも【DEMONDAL】のゲーム内においては、雪原の民が編み出したとされる秘術であった。いわゆる一種の魔術で、精霊の力を借り、野獣の魂をその身に封じて肉体を強化する業。

Crests were a secret art created by the Snowfield people, at least according to the background story of Demondal. It was a kind of magic that borrow the power of spirits in order to seal the soul of a beast within a person’s body, greatly strengthening them in the process.

プレイヤーがそれを獲得するには、雪原の民の居住地を訪れ、長老より課せられる厳しい試練――課金アイテムにより難易度の軽減が可能――に打ち勝つことが必要であった。おそらく、術の形態や試練の内容は、この世界においても同じだろう、とケイは予想する。

In order for players to obtain it, it was necessary to visit the homes of the Snowfield people and complete tough trials imposed by the elders, though the difficulty could be reduced though purchasable items. Kei likely suspected the mechanics and the content of the trial to be the same in this world as in-game.

それが余所者に開放されているかは謎だが――。

Although, it was unknown whether the trials were open to outsiders here.

ともあれ、課金と廃プレイの併せ技により、ケイは現在『視力強化』『身体強化』『筋力強化』の三つの紋章をその身に刻んでいる。

Anyhow, through a combination of in-game purchases and outright grinding, Kei managed to get three of such emblems: “Sight Enhancement,” “Body Enhancement,” and “Muscle Strength Enhancement.”

対人戦闘において、紋章の有無は大きな能力差を生む。年端もいかぬアレクセイが、複数の盗賊相手に大立ち回りできたのも、それに依るところが大きいだろう。おそらく、『筋力強化』か『身体強化』か――運動能力を底上げする紋章を、その身に刻んでいると見て間違いない。

In PvP battles, the possession of a Crest makes for a huge difference in ability. That would explain how Alexei, who at the time was not even an adult yet, had been able to single handedly subdue multiple bandits. “Strength Enhancement” or “Body Enhancement”―it’s likely that he a strength boosting Crest engraved on him.

「紋章を得た雪原の民の戦士は、二年ほど各地を放浪して、武勇を磨かなければならないらしい。二年前に僕らと別れた後、一人で鉱山都市ガロンまで向かって、東の辺境で魔物や未開の部族と戦ってたんだって。……あ、あと、」

“Snowfield warriors who earn a Crest seem to wander around the country for two years in order to polish their skills. After we parted ways two years ago, they usually head east towards the mining city of Garon where they would fight against monsters and uncivilized tribes along the frontier… Oh, also―”

思い出した、と言わんばかりに、ピエールはニッコリと笑みを浮かべた。

Just from recalling the thought, Pierre broke into a smile.

「アレクセイの場合、新しい血を入れるために、お嫁さん探しも兼ねてるんだってさ」

“In Alexei’s case, he’s also out looking for a mate to introduce some fresh blood into the clan.”

「……ほーう」

“… Ho―.”

相槌を打つケイの声が、僅かにその温度を下げた。

The atmosphere became chilly at Kei’s response.

「へっへっへ、どうしたケイ」

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong Kei?”

ピエールを挟んで反対側。馬上で黙って話を聞いていたダグマルが、ケイの顔を見て笑い声を上げる。

On the opposite side of the carriage, Dagmar, who had been silently listening to the conversation on his own horse, piped up to tease Kei.

「そんなに気になるのか?お前の嫁さんが」

“Are you concerned your bride is being snatched away?”

面白おかしげな顔で、ダグマルは前方に、ちらりと意味ありげな視線を送った。

Dagmar addressed Kei with an amused expression while glancing towards the carriage ahead.

目を瞬かせること数秒、「your wifeお前の嫁さん」が、アイリーンを指し示していることに気付き、

Following Dagmar’s line of sight, only after a pause did Kei realize that “his wife” that Dagmar was referring to was in fact Aileen.

「別にっ、そういうわけではない」

“That’s not the case, you know.”

ぶんぶんと手を振りながら、早口なケイの否定に、「本当か?」と笑みを濃くするダグマル。その笑顔にムッとしながら――なぜ自分がムッとしているのか疑問に思いつつ――ケイは、自分を落ちつけるように大きく咳払いをした。

While shaking his head, a mysterious smile crept up Dagmar’s face, as saying “really?” in response to Kei hurried reply. Seeing Dagmar’s disconcerting expression, Kei let out a cough to calm himself down.

「――別に、彼女は俺の妻じゃないし、恋人でもない。そもそも俺たちはそ・う・い・う・関係じゃないんだ」

“Anyhow, she’s neither my wife, nor my lover. We were never in a relationship to begin with. Per-i-od.”

「へっ?」

“Heh?”

ケイの言葉に、ダグマルが気の抜けたような声を出す。

Dagmar’s tone was practically dripping with doubt.

「……つってもお前、あの娘と一緒のテントで寝てるだろ」

“… But you’re sleeping in them same tent as that girl, aren’t you?”

「まぁ、それは、そうだが……」

“Well~, you’re not wrong.”

返す刀のダグマルの指摘に、渋い顔をする羽目になったのはケイだ。

Having been called out by Dagmar, Kei wore a sober expression.

昨夜、ケイとアイリーンは、同じテントの中で眠った。

Last night, Kei and Aileen had indeed slept in the same tent.

夜番の関係でケイが先に眠りについたこともあり、揃ってテントにINしたという感覚は薄いが、添い寝に近い至近距離で一緒に寝ていたのは事実だ。

As Kei had fallen asleep early due to the night shift, he was never consciously aware of the fact that actually in the same tent as Aileen, but it was true nonetheless that they had slept close together in some semblance of a bed.

一人より二人の方が色々な面で安全だから――ケイ以外に知り合いがいないから――持てる荷物の量に限りがあってテントが一つしかないから――理由は色々とあるが、少なくとも、『別々に寝る必要性を感じなかった』のは、これもまた事実といえるだろう。今まで散々、宿屋で同じ部屋を取っておいて、何を今更という話ではあるのだが。

But the logic behind their cohabitation was disappointingly utilitarian. For one, two people together are safer than one. Furthermore, they didn’t have the quantity of luggage necessary to justify a second tent, nor the actual tent for that matter. There were other reasons too, but the baseline was that the thought of “it’s inappropriate to sleep together” had never crossed Kei’s mind before. They had been sleeping in the same room in the inn the whole time, what difference did it make now?

「一緒のテントで寝てはいるが……、その……、接触とか、そういうのはないぞ」

“It’s true we’ve been sleeping in the same tent but… you see… there wasn’t no ‘contact’ or anything, you know?”

「……マジで言ってんのか?」

“Are you serious?”

「ああ」

“Yeah”

重々しく頷くケイに、「理解不能」といった表情で、顔を見合わせるダグマルとピエール。やがて、ダグマルは何かを察したように、

Seeing Kei’s hesitant response, Dagmar and Pierre looked at each with an incomprehensible expression on their face. Eventually, Dagmar seemed to have an epiphany as he exclaimed,

「そうか……お前、男色だったのか。今度からケイじゃなくてゲイって呼ぶわ」

“I see… so you’re into men. In that case, I’ll call you gay instead of Kei.”

「違うッ、そういうわけでもないッ!」

“No, that’s not right!”

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