Chapter 22.2

Editor: ShinonomeResearchLabs, Proofer: Hakou

「おーい,ホランド! ちょっと待ってくれ!」

"Oi, Holland! Hold up a second!"

見れば後方,馬に乗った傭兵が,こちらに向かって手を振りながら駆けてきている.

Upon turning around, Holland and group could see a mercenary on a horse galloping towards them while loudly hailing and wildly waving all the while.

「おお,ダグマル.どうした?」

"Oh, Dagmar. What's up?"

「どうしたもこうしたもないよ,トラブルだ」

"Don't be so jovial about it, there's trouble."

ケイたちの横までやってきて,騎乗で肩をすくめる傭兵.それは眉毛が濃い,よく日に焼けた中年の男だった.

The mercenary approached them and shrugged his shoulders. He was a middle-aged man, well tanned, with thick eyebrows that covered his deep, inset eyes.

『ダグマル』と呼ばれた彼は,この隊商では傭兵のまとめ役をやっており,ケイたちの直接の上司に当たる人物だ.ホランド曰く幼馴染だそうで,悪友とでもいうべき関係なのだろう,お互いにかなりフランクな口調で話している姿が,朝から度々見かけられていた.

Everyone called the man Dagmar, and he was the head mercenary for the caravan, making him the direct boss of Kei. He and Holland seemed to be childhood friends, for they could often be seen in the early hours of the morning conversing in casual tones by means of what was probably a close friendship.

「何が起きた?」

"What happened?"

「ピエールんとこのオンボロ馬車が,今になってイカれやがった.何でも,車軸がガタついて動けねえらしい.今,皆で修理してるが,これがしばらくかかりそうでよ.少しの間待っておいて欲しいんだわ」

"Pierre and Borris's carriage is a mess. Heck, the cart's stuck and the damn axles won't move. Everyone back there's working on it, but it's gonna take a while. So, I'd like you to stop for the time being."

「...それは仕方ない.が,ピエールはいい加減,新しい馬車を買うべきだな」

"... It can't be helped I guess, but seriously, Pierre needs to buy a new carriage already."

「全くだ.けどアイツ,金がねえからなぁ」

"That's true, but money makes the world go round y' know."

やれやれと嘆息したダグマルは,しかしすぐに気を取り直してケイを見やった.

Dagmar sighed, but quickly recovered and turned his attention to Kei.

「それでだ,ケイ.お前たしか力自慢だったよな? ちょっと後ろに行って,修理を手伝ってやってくれないか.馬車を支えるのに人手が必要でよ」

"That's why, Kei, you said you were pretty confident in your strength didn't you? Mind goin' back with me to help with them repairs? We need all the manpower we can."

「分かった,問題ない」

"Sure, no problem."

「助かる.俺は前の奴らにも知らせてくる,この分だと村に着くのは遅れそうだな」

"Ah, I'm saved. Thanks a lot man. I'll let the other guys know that we'll be arriving at the village late."

再び小さく肩をすくめ,ダグマルは慌ただしく前方へと駆けていく.それを見送りながら,ケイはアイリーンに"竜鱗通しドラゴンスティンガー"を手渡した.

Shrugging his shoulders, Dagmar rushed off to inform the remainder of the caravan. After seeing him ride off, Kay deftly tossed the Dragon Stinger to Irene.

「というわけで,俺は後ろに行くが.......邪魔になりそうだから,預かってくれ」

"So, it looks like I'll be going back to help... Could you hold onto it for me while I'm gone as it'll get in the way otherwise?"

「あいよ」

"Alright."

「ありがとう」

"Thanks."

弓はアイリーンに任せ,ケイは馬首を巡らせて後方へと向かった.

Leaving the bow with Aileen, Kei turned his horse around rode towards the back of the caravan.

ホランドの幌馬車から後ろに一台,二台,トラブルを抱えているのは,どうやら最後尾の馬車のようだ.商人の男と数人の見習いたちが荷台から重い荷物を降ろしつつ,工具や木材の切れ端を手に,後輪に群がるようにして慌ただしく修理を進めている.

It would seem that the last carriage, two behind Holland's, was the one having trouble. A merchant and several apprentices were busy unloading the heavy cargo from the hold and repairing the carriage with spare timber pieces, swarming around the rear wheels like a nest of bees.

「ダグマルから,人手が足りないと聞いたが」

"I heard from Dagmar, you guys need some help?"

「おお,ありがたいっ」

"Ah, yes that's correct. Thank you."

顔を真っ赤にして,荷台を持ち上げるように両手で支えていた商人が,救世主を見るような目でケイを見た.しかし同時に,その腕からふっと力が抜け,馬車の下で荷台を支えていた男が「ぬぉっ」と唸り声を上げる.

The merchant, red-faced from physical exertion, was supporting the carriage when he turned to Kei, whom he looked upon as though he were some holy savior. However, at this point, his arms suddenly lost power, and another man who was under the carriage let out a cry.

「すっ,すまない,支えてくれないか!?」

"I-I'm sorry, but could you lend a hand!? I don't think I can hold up much longer."

「任せろ」

"Oh, yes, of course."

商人の悲鳴のような声に,ケイはすぐさまサスケから飛び降りて,代わりに荷台を支え持った.ぐっ,と腰を入れて両腕に力を込めると,まだ少なくない量の商品を載せているにも関わらず,荷台は軋みを上げて僅かに浮き上がる.

Hearing the merchant's strained voice, Kei immediately jumped off Sasuke to help support the carriage platform. If one puts their weight at the right angle with the correct technique using one's arms and hips, it was not excessively difficult to lift even something as heavy as the carriage despite the fact that there was still a great deal of cargo remaining.

「おっ,軽くなった」

"Oh, it's lighter!"

下から荷台を支えていた短髪の青年が,嬉しげな声を出す.しかし,よくよく見るとこの男,どうやら商人の見習いではなさそうだった.板金付きの革鎧で身を固めている上に,腰には短剣の鞘が見受けられる.体つきも商人のそれではなく,実戦的に鍛えられた戦士の肉体だ.

The young man with short hair who was supporting the carriage from the bottom remarked out of relief. If one looked closely, man did not appear to be one of the merchant's apprentices. In addition to wearing hardened leather armor reinforced with sheet metal, a dagger can also been seen attached to his waist by the scabbard. This body suggest too that he was not a man of commerce, but a warrior who had been through rigorous training.

(護衛か? しかし初めて見る顔だな)

"Is he an escort? But this is the first time I've seen him... " (ED Note: Italics to be used to denote internal dialogue.)

腕に力を込めつつ,ケイは記憶を辿って首を傾げた.今朝,サティナを出発する前に,ケイたちは他の護衛と顔を合わせている.しかしどうにも,この青年には見覚えがない.短く刈り上げた金髪に,薄い青の瞳.肌は白く,全体的に色素が薄いように感じられる.目つきが妙に鋭く威圧的であることを除けば,その顔立ちは整っていると言っていいだろう.ピアスだらけの左耳が非常に印象的なので,仮に一度でも会っていれば,記憶に残っていない筈がないとケイは考える.

While maintaining the strength in his arms, Kei racked his memory. Before leaving Satyna this morning, Kei and the other escorts had introduced themselves to each other at a meeting, but somehow, he had no recollection of the young man with light, blue eyes and short, blond hair.

護衛の傭兵ではなく,誰かの個人的な用心棒なのか.

Was he not an escort for the caravan, but more like a personal bodyguard?

あるいは行商に同行しているだけの旅人なのか.

Or just a traveler that was tagging along for safety in numbers?

ケイが考えを巡らせていると,ふと,その青年と目が合った.'

Just as Kei was thinking, his eyes coincidentally met with those of the young man.

「あんた,なかなか,腕っ節が強いな」

"You're quite strong, aren't cha?

どこか――挑戦的な,好戦的な.そんな物騒な光を,瞳の中に見た気がした.

For some reason, Kei found the light in the man's eyes to be challenging, almost warlike in nature.

「......そいつはどうも」

"... I suppose."

おどけるように肩をすくめて,ケイはそれをやり過ごす.

Shrugging his shoulders, Kei gave a curt, disinterested reply.

「ようし,ここに板を差しこめ!」

"Alrighty, slap on a board here!"

「釘! 釘もってこい釘!」

"Nail! Someone gimme a nail!"

「こっちにも角材回してくれ!」

"Help me turn this thing over here!"

周囲の男達の騒がしい声を聞き流しながら,荷台を支える手に意識を集中させた. だが,ケイが視線を逸らしても尚.金髪の青年はじっと,野性的な目でケイを見つめ続けていた.

Ignoring the noisy racket generated by the surrounding men, Kei once again focused his attention on supporting the carriage. However, even as Kei looked away, the blonde youth still stared Kei with wild, impassioned eyes.

†††

結局,隊商の一行が次の村に到着したのは,それから数時間後のことであった.

Eventually, the caravan at last arrived at the next village a few hours later.

言わずもがな,原因は最後尾の馬車だ.実は,ケイが手助けに行ってから,十分としないうちに応急処置そのものは終わったのだが,車軸の傷みが思いのほか不味かったらしく,馬車はカタツムリのような速度しか出せなくなっていた.

Needless to say, the cause for the delay was the last carriage. In fact, even with Kei's help speeding up the repairs, the axle remained damaged and unwieldy, and could only move at a pace best compared to a snail's crawl.

言うまでもなく,これは他の商人たちにはいい迷惑だ.しかし,同じ隊商の仲間である以上,そのまま置いて行くわけにもいかない.

This undoubtedly irked the other merchants to no end. However, as long as Pierre was a member of the same caravan, they couldn't just leave him behind.

結果として一行は,その馬車に足並みをそろえる羽目になってしまった.

As a result, the group had to match the handicapped carriage's pace.

本来ならば,次の村には正午過ぎに到着するはずで,村で遅めの昼食を摂ったのち再出発する予定――だったのだが,実際に村に着いたのは,日がそれなりに傾いてからのことだった.ケイとアイリーン,それにエッダは,出発前にキスカから貰ったサンドイッチを昼食にしていたが,その他の面々は亀の歩みとはいえ移動中だっただけに,軽く何かをつまむことしかできず,村に着いた時点で相当な空きっ腹を抱えていた.

Originally, they had planned to arrive at the village just after noon, and after a late lunch at the settlement, the caravan would leave again. However, by the time the carriage actually arrived, the next day was already practically beckoning. Kei, Aileen, and Edda had sandwiches from Kiska before leaving, but the rest of the group, being on the move, could only grab something light to pad their stomachs. When they arrived at the village, they were famished.

遅延の原因になった『ピエール』という商人が,ホランドを含む全員から総スカンを食らったのは言うまでもない.

It goes without saying that Pierre, who had caused the delay, was the subject of many a dirty look from his fellow merchants, Holland included.

村はずれの広場.円陣を組むように馬車を停めた中心,隊商の皆は粛々と野営の準備を進めていた.今,ケイたちがいるのは街道から少し外れた小さな村なので,当然のように全員が休めるような宿泊施設は存在しない.しかし再出発するにはもう暗すぎるということで,今日はここで一夜を明かす運びとなった.

On a clearing near the outskirts of the village, the caravan had oriented its carriages in a circle, and was setting up camp.

「ふぇっふぇっふぇっふぇ......」

"Fufufufu... "

テントを立てたり,荷物を整頓したりする皆をよそに,焚き火にくべられた大鍋を皺だらけの老婆がかき混ぜていた.

An old woman stirred a large pot propped above a bonfire in the center of the circle. Everyone else was busy constructing tents and organizing their luggage.

「さぁて......ここに,コレを......」

"And now... let's put this in too... "

ローブの胸元から,何やら粉末を取り出してぱらぱらと鍋に投じる.さらに追加で薬草を放り込みつつ,ぐつぐつと沸騰する鍋を大べらでかき回して,老婆は「ふぇーっふぇっふぇっふぇ」と奇怪な笑い声を上げていた.

Taking out some powder from one of the many pockets in her robe, the woman poured the contents into the pot, along with additional medicinal herbs, with intermittent cackling resounding the whole time.

「......オレなんかより,あの婆様の方がよっぽど魔女っぽいだろ」

"... That old woman looks more like a witch than even me."

テントを張りながら,老婆の方を見やって,アイリーンがぽつり呟いた.

Aileen remarked while holding up the tent, sneaking glances at the old woman while she was at it.

「奇遇だな,俺も全く同じことを考えていたところだ」

"How strange, I was thinking the exact same thing."

テントを挟んで反対側,地面に杭を叩き込みつつ,ケイ.ハンマーを傍らに置いて,杭にテントのロープを結びつけつつ,ちらりと広場に目を向ける.

Kei replied as he drove a stake into the hard ground across from Aileen. Putting his hammer down, he tied the rope extending the tent onto the stake, checked that it was taut, and look with satisfaction at their newfound shelter.

湯気を立てる大鍋をかき回す,怪しい皺だらけの老婆.もちろん魔女などではない,この隊商で薬師をしているホランドの親類だ.『ハイデマリー』という名前らしいが,隊商の皆からは『マリーの婆様』,あるいは単に『婆様』と呼ばれて親しまれている.齢は七十を超えているとのことで,この世界の基準からすると,かなり長生きの部類といえた.

The suspicious old woman continued, obliviously, to stir her pot. Of course, she was not a witch, but a relative of Holland, the pharmacist of the caravan. Apparently, her name was Heidimary, but everyone in the caravan addressed her as "granny Marie," or simply "bā-sama." Because she was over seventy, she could be considered ancient by the standards of this world. (ED Note: 『婆様』(bā-sama) means grandmother.)

「婆様,まだなのか?」

"Hey, ba-sama, is it ready yet?"

テントを張り終えて手持無沙汰になったと見える,商人の一人がそわそわとした様子で声をかけた.

A merchant emerging from one of the tents called out to the old woman.

「ふぇっふぇっふぇ,焦るでない,もう少しで完成じゃ......」

"Fuwehehe, don't be impatient. It's almost done... "

ハイデマリーの返答に,おお,とどよめく男達.先ほどからハイデマリーが大鍋と格闘しているのは,何か薬品を精製しているわけではなく,皆の為に夕飯のリゾットを作っているのだ.

Hearing Heidimary's response put the starving merchants in a fervor, the reason being that she was not brewing some kind of potion, but in fact, making risottos for everyone's supper.

徐々に漂い始めた,食欲を刺激する,複数のハーブが混ぜ合わせられた良い匂い――.

An enticing aroma from the assorted herbs gradually began to waft from the stewing pot.

「ふぇっふぇ,よし,ここにキノコを入れれば,出来あがりじゃよ......!」

"Fu~, okay! It'll be done as soon as I put in the mushrooms... "

ハイデマリーはローブのポケットから,乾燥させたキノコを直に取り出し――衛生面は大丈夫なのかと不安になるケイとアイリーンであったが――それを鍋に投じようとする.

Heidimary took out some dried mushrooms from another one of her robe's pockets ― Kei and Irene worried silently to themselves about how sanitary that was ― and was just about to put them in the pot when Holland cried out.

「わ! わ! わ! 待て,待て! キノコはやめろ,キノコはダメだ!」

"Wait! Wait! Wait! Stop! What are you doing!? Don't put in any mushrooms!"

しかしその瞬間,広場の反対側からホランドが矢のようにすっ飛んできて,ハイデマリーの手から乾燥キノコを勢いよく叩き落とした.

Holland flew over like and arrow and snatched the mushrooms out of the old woman's hands.

「ああっ! なんじゃ,何をするんじゃ!」

"Oi! What do you think you're doing?"

「それはこっちの台詞だ婆さん! いい加減,何度言ったら分かるんだ! おれはキノコがダメなんだよ!」

"That's my line! How many times do I have to say it? Don't use mushrooms when you're cooking!"

「だーからって,はたき落とすことは無いじゃないかね! 苦手なら避けて食べればいいんじゃ!」

"I'll keep using it as I please! If you don't like it, you can just pick it out when you eat it!

「ダメなんだ! 中に入ってるの見ただけで,もう鍋の中身全部が食べられないんだ!」

"That's ridiculous! As soon as you put one in, the whole pot's contaminated! There's no way I can eat that!"

「はァーッ! 子供じゃあるまいし,いい歳した大人が恥ずかしくないのかね!」

"For shame! Holland, you're not a child anymore! You should be embarrassed, doing this as an adult!"

「だ・か・ら! これには深いワケが......って,勘弁してくれよ,この説明ももう何回目か分からんぞ! 耄碌したか婆さん!」

"So ― what!? There's a legitimate reason behind this! I've already told you one too many times before! Judging from this, haven't you gone senile?"

「なんじゃとーッ!?」

"Just who are you calling senile!?"

木べらを振り上げてお冠のハイデマリー,頭痛を堪えるように額を押さえるホランド,二人は鍋を挟んで,やかましく口喧嘩を始める.やれやれといった様子で,空きっ腹をなだめつつ,それを見守る周囲の者.

Heidimary whacked Holland on the crown of his head with a ladle, and the two resumed their heated quarrel. Meanwhile, the surrounding spectators looked on dispiritedly, unconsciously rubbing their empty stomachs.

「ホランドの旦那はそんなにキノコがダメなのか?」

"Is Holland bad with mushrooms?"

「らしいな」

"Apparently."

「......あー,これな,ちょっとワケがあるんだわ」

"... Ah, about that, there's a reason for it, actually."

どこか呆れた様子のケイとアイリーンに,近くに居たダグマルが渋い顔をした.

Kei and Aileen were surprised when Dagmar spoke with a bitter expression.

「というと?」

"And that is?"

「いやな.俺とホランドが幼馴染なのは知ってるだろ.アイツも小さい時は,普通にキノコ食えてたんだよ.だけど俺がガキのとき,ホランドと森に出かけてよ,一緒にキノコ狩りをしたんだが......,」

"You see, Holland and I have known each other since we were kids. When we were small, we ate plenty of mushrooms. In fact, Holland and I used to go to the forest to pick them ourselves, but one time... "

ぽりぽり,と気まずげに頬をかき,

Dagmar timidly scratched his cheeks.

「俺が間違えて,毒キノコを採っちまってな.それをホランドが食べちまったんだ.三日三晩,熱にうなされて,何とか一命は取り留めたが......それ以来キノコというもんがダメになっちまったらしい」

"I made a mistake and picked a poisonous mushroom, which Holland was unfortunate enough to eat. He was feverish for a full three days and nights afterwards, but he managed to survive somehow... Though, that experience seems to have ruined mushrooms for him."

「それは......」

"Ah... "

ダグマルの解説に一転,ケイたちは気の毒そうな顔をする.

Kei and the rest of the mercenaries felt quite sorry for Holland after hearing Dagmar's account.

「トラウマって奴か」

"Is it trauma?"

「TRAUMA?何だそれは」

"Tor-au-ma? What's that?" (ED Joke: "Is it delicious?")

「肉体的・精神的なショックで,心に負わされる傷のことさ.戦場で死にかけた兵士が戦えなくなったり,食あたりで旦那みたいにキノコが食えなくなったり......そういうのを『トラウマ』っていうんだ」

"It's an injury of the mind that results from physical or mental shock. Things like soldiers who've seen death on the battlefield being not able to fight and people who've been poisoned by mushrooms not being able to eat them anymore: that all counts as trauma."

「へえ,そいつは知らなかった」

"Hey, I didn't know that."

アイリーンの解説に,感心したように頷くダグマル.

Dagmar seemed impressed with Aileen's explanation.

そんなケイたちをよそに,ホランドとハイデマリーは,キノコを入れない方向で決着を付けたらしい.今夜のメインのリゾットが,ようやく完成した.

While Kei and them were talking, Holland and Heidimary seemed to have settled on not putting in mushrooms this time. Tonight's main dish, the risotto, was finally complete.