Chapter 99: 99-99 Return

「もう、そろそろ、街の外か」

俺たちはあの惨事の中で奇跡的に無事だった馬車に揺られながら、ミスラの街を出ようとしていた. 　

「はい. ミスラの首都(ここ)にはほんの少しの滞在でしたが────けっこう、長く感じましたね」

リーンは前より元気を取り戻したようだった.

あの後、無残にもボロボロになった白いドレスからイネスが持ちかえってきたいつもの服に着替え、休憩して幾らか疲れは取れたらしい.

俺はリーン、イネスと三人でクレイス王国に向かっているが、ロロだけ別行動で魔竜(ララ)に乗って帰ることになった.

魔竜(ララ)はロロが持っているあの紅い石が嵌まった指輪から出したように見えたから、また戻せばいいと思ったのだが、指輪に魔竜(ララ)を戻すには、ここに居る人間の力だけでは不可能なのだそうだ.

ロロとの別れ際、俺も一緒に乗っていくかと聞かれたが────それは全力で断った. あの時は骨と戦って気を張っていたおかげでなんとか下に意識を集中させずに済んだが……今乗ったら、確実に気を失う自信がある. ロロに「ララが残念がっている」と言われて少し悪い気はしたが、やはり苦手なものは苦手だ.

「でも、良かったのか？　このまま出発してしまって. 瓦礫の撤去ぐらいなら手伝っても良さそうだが」

ミスラの街の中は荒れ果てていた.

道は崩れ、建物は壊れ放題といった酷い有様だ.

俺が馬車の窓から外の様子を覗くと、大きな広場に人が集まり、野営の準備を始めている.

彼らはあそこで夜を明かさねばならないのだろう.

……何か手伝えることはある気がするのだが.

「おっしゃる通り、手を貸したいところではあるのですが……でも、私達は私達で自分たちの街の復興があります. それに彼らは自分たちでちゃんと、なんとか出来る人たちだと思います. ティレンスは優秀ですし、私たちが心配することもないと思います」

「それも、そうか」

「それに、私としても友人の大事な時間(・・・・・)は邪魔したくありませんので」

そう語るリーンはどこか上機嫌に見えた.

「大事な時間、か」

あの後、すぐにアスティラはティレンス皇子を連れて街中を走り廻り、怪我人を治療していた. その中で、暗い顔をしたミスラの人々を見つけると『大丈夫！　生きてさえいればなんとかなりますから！』と手を握り、かたっぱしから励まして回っていたそうだ.

その甲斐もあったのだろうか.

街は荒れているが人々の表情は不思議と穏やかだった.

皇子は割と好き勝手に動き回るアスティラにかなり振り回されている様子だったが、そんな中でも部下達には細かく指示を出し続け、彼女(アスティラ)と一緒に居る時はまんざらでもなさそうな表情だった.

彼らは案外、いいコンビなのかもしれない.

「アスティラとあの皇子は、やはり、本当の親子ではないんだよな？」

「……はい、そのようです」

「ではずっとこれから、ふり(・・)を続けるということか」

「ええ、そうなると思います. この事実は、しばらく公にはされないでしょう」

彼女(アスティラ)はこれから、しばらくあのまま偽(・)の『教皇』を続けるらしい.

本物の教皇は、あの骨の化け物(スケルトン)に喰われてしまった.

どういうわけか、あの魔物に嬉々として自分を捧げて死んでしまったのだ. 　

She was nothing like the "Pope" that I had imagined from the stories I had heard. Perhaps this is what I mean when I say that there is a big difference between what you hear and what you see.

His son, Prince Tirens, did not seem to be on good terms with his mother, but it must have been hard for him to witness his mother's death in front of him.

Would Astira really be able to take her place?

I don't think so.

Astira seems to think that she is good at acting and that she is a good impersonator, but ...... to be honest, she doesn't look like her at all. Even though they have the same facial features, they have completely different atmospheres and behaviors from that person who seems to have a bad personality.

I think it's just a matter of time before the people around you find out about you. ...... I mean...

I think a lot of people have already noticed this.

I'm not sure if it's something I should be concerned about,......, but it's something I'm willing to do.

For some reason, the prince and the people around him seemed to think that this was fine.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. ...... To be honest, I'm not sure I fully understand what's going on here.

I'm sure that if it's okay with them, it's okay with them.

Yes, it is. We can only hope that they will do well.

I agree.

I think so, too.

That's all I can say.

I realized once again that there are still many things in this world that I don't understand.

I realized again that there are still many things in this world that I don't understand.

──── Inez, who is now driving the carriage in front of us, is also a truly amazing person.

She amazed me once again.

When I was fighting those fleshy bones, she was laughing and smiling while I was striking down lightning bolts with no time to breathe. In addition, she was moving faster and faster. ──── I was almost left behind many times during the fight.

I was so surprised when she suddenly started slashing lightning that I almost dropped my sword, but then she became even more amazing that it is difficult to put into words.

With a smile that I've never seen before, she shredded that huge flesh-covered monster like it was a vegetable in soup. I couldn't help but shudder as I watched Inez's profile.

In order to protect her and the dragon, I had to play with lightning. ...... No, I think it's better to leave this to her alone. ......

In the event that you're not sure what to do, you'll be able to always ask for help.

...... I don't think I'll be able to compete with her in the future, no matter how hard I try. 　

I stared at the back of Inez's head.

I stared at the back of Inez's head. "──── What is it, Lord Noor?

I'm sure you've heard of it.

.................. No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it.

"......?

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.

So long as ...... you don't piss her off.

As I looked at the back of her head, I made up my mind that I would never offend her in the future.

If not, I can only see a future where I'll be gleefully chopped up like that monster.

There are some ...... amazing people in the world.

I couldn't help but mumble with a sigh.

She (Inez) really was amazing.

The way she smiled at me during the fight was a surprise to me, but no wonder Lean relied on her.

But it wasn't just her that I thought was amazing, of course.

──── This girl sitting next to me, Leanne.

I knew she was something else.

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I knew that I shouldn't be fooled by her small and slender appearance.

I had been wondering if it was possible, but at the last moment, that tremendous light flashed before my eyes.

The thing that vaporized the skeleton's flesh in an instant was apparently something she had shot from the ground.

That pillar of light startled me ──── to death.

Suddenly, I thought something was glowing, and I noticed that the fleshy bone monster (skeleton) had been reduced to its original bones.

In addition, the bones were rushing towards me at a very high speed.

I froze in fear as I saw Ines's floor of light disappear from under my feet, but a sword I swung in desperation luckily hit the bone monster and shattered its body in an instant.

The bones were much more fragile than I had imagined.

It was almost without any response, and it crumbled like glass.

It disappeared so quickly that I was amazed that it was so weak .......

I was told that she had arranged everything up to that point, and that I and my bones were being rolled around in her hands. To tell the truth, I was hoping she would have told me in advance.

Besides, I heard that she was able to minimize the number of injured people during the commotion.

At her age, she's able to take charge of things like this, and I'm sure she's going to be a big deal in the future. She is truly, truly scary.

No, ...... Lean is not the only one who is scary.

──── Rolo.

He's also turned into a hell of a lot more than I've seen in a while.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a little nervous about the whole thing.

...... No. Rather than manipulating it, they seem more like human friends. They are able to communicate with each other perfectly. I've heard that the demon dragon is a terrifying entity that can easily destroy a city. ......?

I can't even imagine what's going to happen to her.

I'm sure you're not the only one.

...... I think I'm definitely growing up.

I think I've made a lot of progress in my own way by being able to play the thunderbolt, but I feel like someone is telling me that I'm too young to be smug about that.

Looking back, those bones were quite a piece of cake.

But of course, I was able to win thanks to the help of many people, and most of all, thanks to this sturdy sword.

I'm sure it wasn't just my own strength that helped me win this time.

I'm sure it wasn't just my ability that won this time.

After returning home, I felt the need to train myself even harder.

I think I need to ask Gilbert to accompany me to train again.

I'm sure ...... he doesn't have a lot of time on his hands, but if he does....

Well, that's it. I'm still on the road.

It's okay to enjoy the feeling of traveling for a while longer.

So I looked at the scenery of the carriage ──── and suddenly realized that I had forgotten something important.

I'm not sure what to do. ...... and ...... I've got ......!

I'm not sure what to say.　How can I help you ......?

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm sure you'll understand.

It's not that big of a deal. It's not a big deal, ...... but it's pretty important to me. However, I don't think it has much to do with her, and ...... it's hard to say this now.

But I've decided to talk to her about it.

"I'm sorry, Leanne. I need a favor.

"...... Yes, what is it?

Can we stop in some city on the way?　...... If possible, I'd like to buy something to take home. I forgot to buy a ...... souvenir.

──── Well, my colleagues at the construction site had asked me to pick up something for them when I got out of town.

I told them I was going to do that, and I made sure I had the money for it.

And yet, I was careless.

I really wished I could have bought something in Mithra.

But the city was in such a mess, and I couldn't go back now that I'd already left.

The only thing left to do is to go to ...... and return to the city.

The only thing left is ...... the city to go back to. ...... I see, so that's it. Then it's no problem. We were in too much of a hurry on the way there, why don't we take it a little slower on the way back?

Yes, that would be very helpful.

Inez, can you help me?

Yes, ma'am.

Inez loosened the reins and the carriage, which had been running at a brisk pace, began to move at a slower pace, a little faster than walking. The scenery outside the window, which had been changing so fluidly, suddenly seemed familiar to her.

It's a beautiful day, why don't we open the window?

Leanne opened the carriage window, and a soft breeze blew, and a leaf fell into the carriage with it.

I picked up a small leaf that had fallen in my lap and looked at it.

I picked it up and looked at it. ...... I've never seen such a leaf before.

Yes, it's not something you see often in the Kingdom of Crais. It's a leaf from a species of tree called the 'celestial star tree', which is only found in this region. It's a very rare species.

Is that so?

Yes. I've never seen it in person, only read about it in books. ...... The tree is very long-lived, and it is said that whoever gets its leaves will have good luck. According to one theory, the leaves contain a substance that can give you some euphoria when you taste it, and when you brew it into a tea, it has a mild taste, and it is especially popular among connoisseurs. According to some historical books, it was also used by the royal families of ancient times. ────

Starting with the topic of leaves, he started talking about lean crap as usual.

He really knows a lot, but he's talking so fast that I'm only getting about half of it.

But ────

"Well, I guess I'll take this home, too.

I decided to take it home for myself, though it was not a good souvenir.

It's just a leaf, but I still like to discover such small details.

Cities and large buildings that I have never seen before are nice, but when I see animals and plants that I don't know like this, I feel that I am in a strange land.

In that sense, this little leaf is very nice.

They are not too bulky to carry home.

If you keep them well after you return, they will last for a while.

Perhaps this is the best way to remember your travels.

──── Ah, it's finally starting to feel like a trip.

With that in mind, I half-listened to Lean's increasingly talkative and heated explanation, and watched the scenery outside the window.

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