72-72 Dialogue with the Pope (1/2)

「教皇猊下.

この度はお招きにあずかり、光栄に存じます────それで、お話とは」

私とロロ、イネスの三人は舞踏会のホールの奥へと呼び集められ、周囲の人々からの目線を一身に浴びながら、種々の宝石で飾られた黄金の椅子に鎮座する、荘厳な意匠が施されたローブを纏った人物と真正面に向き合っていた.

神聖ミスラ教国の頂点────教皇アスティラ.

大陸における、生ける伝説の一人.

そして皇国の没落の混乱に乗じて数ヶ月(・・・)の間に支配地域を拡げ、今や大陸の半分を支配にするまでになった大国の主(あるじ)が私達の目の前で静かに微笑んでいた.

「ふふ、そんな風に緊張することはありませんよ.

もっと、気を楽にしてお話をしようではないですか」

「────気を楽に、ですか」

私が周囲に目を配ると、大聖堂の警備を担っていた兵士たちが私たちを静かに取り囲んでいくのが見えた.

まともな神経をしていれば気を楽になど出来るような状況ではない.

「貴女は私の大事な客人なのですから、どうぞ、お気を楽に.

まずは、再会を祝おうではありませんか.

お待ちしていましたよ────リンネブルグ.

貴女が再びこの国にやってくる日を」

緊張する私たちとは対照的に、彼女は美術品のように整った顔のまま、静かに嗤っていた.

この女(ひと)は、やはり何かがおかしいと感じる.

百戦錬磨の父が、まるで魔物と向き合っているような気がする、と語った理由が、直接対峙して、今やっとわかった気がした.

目の前の女性(ひと)から漂う雰囲気は、単に会話をしているだけでも全身を全て絡め取られそうな、底なしの沼のような、ひどく不吉な気味の悪さを含んでいた.

普段、物怖じしない性格のはずの自分が初めて────人間(ひと)を、恐ろしいと感じた.

「そう言えば、聞きましたよ、リンネブルグ.

貴女が国を発つ前、そちらの都が飛竜(ワイバーン)の群れに襲われたと.

とんだ災難(・・)でしたね.

クレイス王国(あなたのくに)は今、国全体が疲弊し大変な時でしょう？

もう、二度と(・・・)そのようなこと(・・・・・・・)がないと良い(・・・・・・)のですが(・・・)」

教皇はそう言って私たち三人の反応を伺い、嘲笑うかのように愉しそうに嗤った.

「…………うぅっ…………」

ロロが口元を押さえ、苦しそうにしている.

彼女は一見、クレイス王国を気遣うかのような言動を見せるが……それはどう見ても、見え透いた脅迫でしかなかった.

「────猊下.

あの群れには【狂化】の魔法が掛けられており、お察しするに、どなたかからの贈り物(・・・)だったかと思いますが────残念ながら、我が師オーケンが一撃のもとに焼き払ってしまいました.

どなたかは存じませんが、送り主の方には少々申し訳ないことをしたと思っております」

「────そうですか.

しかし最近、魔物の活動がとても盛んになったと聞きますから.

一度起きたことは、きっと、何度でも(・・・・)あることでしょう.

今後も、周囲の様子には気をつけたほうが良いかもしれません」

「お心遣い、感謝いたします.

ですが、ご心配は無用です.

あの程度の脅し(・・)が何度来ようと、我が国は決して屈することはありませんので」

「そうですね. 私も、そのしぶとさ(・・・・)はよく知っているつもりです」

The Pope kept a smile plastered on his face.

I felt a slight chill in my stomach as I spoke up about my discomfort with her comment earlier.

”By the way, ────, your eminence.

What did you just say about Rollo, ......?

It seemed to me that you said something about ...... as if you were treating it like an object.

I'm not sure if I heard that right.

”Is ...... that ──── something?

The Pope's smile instantly disappeared at my words, and after a moment of silence, a low voice echoed around the area.

”Is there something wrong with that, Linneburg?

It was a voice that seemed to bind my heart just by hearing it.

It was a voice that bound my heart just to hear it.

I felt as if I had been swallowed by darkness in an instant.

Honestly speaking, I feel that this person in front of me is terrifying. However, I must not show any weakness to this woman (person).

I felt this intuitively, so I continued my conversation, choosing my words carefully.

I was told that it was as a friend of mine that you brought him ──── here today.

At least, that's what I told him and asked him to come here.

So, ──── I'm sorry, but I can't hear what he said.

That was ............ what a change of heart.

The Pope laughed with great amusement when I protested against his treatment of Rollo.

”Well, well, well. You are a stout man, Linneburg.

You are a stout man, Linneburg, to be unmoved by my presence and to speak such nonsense.

At your age, your boldness ──── makes me want you more and more.

”...... Your Eminence.

Are you not going to answer my question ────?

She raised one hand to interrupt me as I tried to continue my question.

”Linneburg. Don't say a word.

You're the one who's being too rude.

You seem to have misunderstood me, but there is no such thing as a change of heart.

Originally, ──── I had intended to do so from the beginning.

The Pope smiled kindly at us again, but it was no more than a sinister mask of darkness.

”From the beginning ......?　What kind of ──── is that?

I have invited you, of course, as the fiancée of my son, Tyrence.

I invited you as the fiancée of my son, Tyrence. ──── and as a dignitary of the enemy (・・・・・).

The demons there are invited as their curious friends (・・・・・).

Nothing has changed in my intentions.

There was a slight stir in the hall.

She spoke clearly.

That the Kingdom of Crais is an enemy.

We were invited to Mithra from the beginning with that intention.

That we were invited into ──── Mithra as enemies of Mithraism from the beginning.

”Your eminence, what is ──── an enemy state?

Linneburg.

Your country, ──── the Kingdom of Crace, has made the demon race there a part of the nation. Despite repeated warnings from my country.

You know what that means, right?

You know well how our country deals with demons.

It's a complete insult and hostile act against our country to give in to their evil presence. At that point, you have turned against our country. ──── It is obvious that you are the enemy.

And you knew that, didn't you, and that's why you are the guards (・・・・)?　Unfortunately, one of them seems to have disappeared somewhere.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had it.

”──── I don't understand, your eminence.

We have no hostile intentions toward you, Mithra.

Even if the two countries were hostile, why did you call me Prince Tyrence's ”fiancee”? It's in too bad taste to be a joke, and if you were serious, it would be even more ──── unacceptable.

The Pope laughed again.

I see. You don't understand?

Well, that's ──── it.

He was full of joy.

The Pope quietly raised one hand, and the soldiers surrounding us all drew their swords at once.

The crowd, which had been buzzing, quieted down again in an instant.

”Yes, I see. You're right, I may not have explained it well enough.

In simple terms, ──── it can be described as a condition.

”...... conditions?

Yes, that's right.

I have a high regard for your talent and good blood. I'm saying that it would be a shame to let it be buried in that dying little country.

There should be more opportunities to utilize them in our country.

How about ......?

How about making a formal betrothal here with my prince and leaving my country with superior blood.

I'm saying that's a condition for me to mercifully save your country ──── and the kingdom of Crais ruled by that foolish king.

The woman in front of you laughs with even more amusement as she says this,────, and as my father says, it's like a demon.

I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it's a good idea.

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

To send his lovely daughter off to a country that is against him like this.

It's a good idea to have a few guards,────, or is it just one more?

Perhaps it was intended as a tribute from the start?

If it was ────, I would be grateful to receive it.

I had a hunch when I saw that licking gaze.

This person ──── from the beginning sees other people, other than himself, as objects.

Not only the demons, but ──── probably all people are the same in the eyes of this woman (person).

The cold eyes made me think of that.

──── My father did not send me with such an intention.

”──── Yes, that's enough, Linneburg.

That's all I have to say.

Since you don't seem to be listening to me,────, I'll deal with you accordingly.

──── guards.

”────

”Seize (・・・・)

──── moment.

A lightning bolt of blue light shot from the hands of several guards and flew at the three of us.

──── That's a captivity ward.

The light of the seal where I was once captured and nearly killed by the Minotaur.

It was a much denser and more intense light than before, and it was emitted from all around us at once.

And it was ────

──────── what?

──── It was repelled by the power of the diadem that each of us wore.

The Pope gave me a surprised look and asked me.