Tower of Karma

“Herga, put in”

Vlad was laid back on his chair and was relaxed. There is no reason to know the tragedy that has just happened, and even if you knew it, you would not expect anything. It is because you can see where the elephants don’t reach you and you’re still in a safe zone.

“It’s not a helga, 伯爵”

Hearing his voice, Vlad jumped out of his chair. I could see William standing in front of the door, and I could only make a bad smile with a bad taste of meat decoration in this room, shaking in view of the situation I was standing .

“Why are you here? I don’t remember inviting you to this mansion”

Here is my area. The advantage is Vlad who speaks with himself.

“I have something I would like to talk to you, and I ask you in a rude manner.”

“Go back soon. I am your relationship with me until today. Never come close to me again.”

Listening to that, William makes a disappointing face.

“Today I saved Marianne”

Vlad laughs.

“So, I want you to give up? It seems that the tour of the head got worse. I was disappointed. What I ordered was to keep Victoria in a mansion. I should give it up. Why did I not do what I wanted, so I stepped into my private residence, you a fool? ”

“It might be an idiot. It was a foolishness to save Marianne because of the desire for Viktoria, because I was afraid of disappointment from Viktoria, so I was foolish.

Vlad hides the spear. It is understood as Vlad that it is only a pose that William likes Victoria. He was planning to push it on that. Although the appearance of Leo Degar changed the priority significantly-

“The emergence of Leo Degar will cause Viktoria to move out of my hand.

Vlad sniffed something in this conversation. An officer-specific nose, something useful to himself, is about to fall.

“I came here and I was still lonely. So today I wanted to walk one step. I knew the darkness of the wolf that I had not approached until now, and my darkness that I did not know, nor the naked William. And give me a victorian, do you use it more than before, or cut it down? ”

There is no fluctuation in William’s eyes. You will have confidence. Vlad drank a bribe and a spit. I have a great interest in the card that William Liwius cuts now. That man got more power than before, this man.

Even beyond their own equipment.

“Continue”

“Thanks. First of all, this is the story of the comparison between me and Leo Degar. Now, I believe that Zen is definitely like this. Leo Degar is better than William. Of course, if you think it is normal. But is that a fact?

Vlad has a mysterious face. He is a great prince and a single baron, and a rising stranger. Even if we think about the future, the army will rise to Leo Degar. Everyone thinks so. It is meaningless to compare it.

“The left minister, it’s the value of Leo Degar. It’s a true, very civilian pole. But now he is not. It will be eventually, but now he is not. The value of William Liwyus is that the military commander is the closest, except for the current general and Jan von Zecht in “General”. ”

The moment the name of Yang came out, Vlad’s face became cloudy, but in the following words it faded away.

“Idiot. You will still be the headmaster. By the time the army leader is on you-”

“They are not enemies. It is correct to say that they can not be enemies. It is also due to the reason I chose Arcadia as the first place … but this country has more human resources than other countries. There are three people who have been sitting at the top for many years, Valdias, Bernhard and Kaspar, and no one has threatened them, they are not giants, they are far from being an absolute person …… That’s Arcadia’s force, it’s only that. ”

In that sense, Ostberg is also thin. But there is an absolute person in the country. There is a monster called Three Giants. In Estad, El Cid and his children. Werkingens to St. Lawrence. Nederlux is not a giant, but it was a predecessor, but the three generations of the last generation were a complete set of talents who crossed with the giants. Now it is a valley, but sprouts are already growing. Gallias is a superpower that combines quality and quantity of human resources led by the king of innovation.

“The big ones who grew up under the three were about Yan. The generations below that were lined with Oswald’s genealogy, mainly Swordsman and Kenoni. But now, the lineage of Oswald’s hope for the future is broken Kikiki and Kenki were drunk by the new Mikishi, and the remaining Golden Sword and the Ace of Aces were smashed into giants, and now Arcadia is hollowing out the General. If the remarkable ones noticed, they were all destroyed, so … what about the generation below? ”

“Do you want to say that you are responsible for the next generation?”

“No, it’s a matter of course, as a prerequisite.”

Vlad has a drowning face. I have never seen something overconfident. I thought I was a little more humble, but I didn’t think that it was such a precious person.

“Gilbert, Anselm, Hilda, Gregor, Carl, I think that a prominent figure is around here. Among them, Carl is a relative who is a relative, and Anselm is a subordinate who swears to me. Hilda is not my enemy either

“I hear that Gilbert has an excellent talent among the Oswalds. I will be a general in the end, as I have a family, but maybe it will be a long time to go.

“Gilbert has refused to be promoted in the previous war.”

The movement of Vlad moves.

“Gilbert’s well this is probably the blood of the sword, but he has a tremendous wealth of knowledge. It may rise to the height of me and so on with regard to the sword, but the treatment of the army is to me. The military will rise, and from now on the difference will be open. ”

Vlad has a mysterious face. The arms of the sword and the arms of the war, Vlad and others tend to think that they are equal. But do not forget. Even in the age of swordsmanship, where the war was more childish than before, swordsmen experienced a number of defeats in the military vs. military battle. It was not an absolute on the battlefield.

“His strength is similar to the strength of a gladiator. Just the strength to defeat a single enemy, so the general does not serve. He understands himself. That is why I can treat myself as my own sword. I found a general, and thought to shake the sword under the man, that was Carl von Taylor, and it was only me who gave the tactics to that curl. ? ”

Vlad shook his throat.

“Why Valdias chose me as an aide, because I am the best in this Arcadia. At least the young, mid-career are better than me.”

“Yeah, but you’re a stranger. There will always be a difference in promotion. There will be a lot of complaints and so forth. There are a lot of people who already complain.”

As a civil servant, Vlad was trying to pick up public stories in the palace as much as possible. Among them, there are many who hate William even at this point. From now on, the more you stand out, the louder the voice will be. And speaking of loudness has an influential power. People have been overwhelmed by it over and over again.

“Of course I understand. There is a person who contacts Nico Nico and me in the front and there is a spread of bad reputation in the back. I intend to understand the strength of his voice. I do not agree with the problem at all. ”

Vlad falls into the sense of being ahead of William. It is decided to ask such a question from the beginning and answer this way, and Vlad is also happy with it, but finally according to William’s speculation-

“The reason is worldhood. The world of the future, the era of war will come. There will be no doubts about this. All the world we are aware of will be battlefield. Sideways Estad and Arkland will fight Then Naderks attack against Arcadia, and then Ostberg will start moving forward to defeat the previous battle, which is a scene that will happen several times from now on. There is nowhere. ”

The fire of war was reflected in William’s eyes. Seeing the color of the flame, Vlad distracts his gaze. This man is looking forward to the war. We are sincerely welcome the age of war. It is not something I knew what my country would be. If you even put yourself up-

“In particular, it is not the words of the civilian officer but the power of the military officer. I am sorry to say in front of Sir Vlad, who is the civilian officer, but it is also the military officer that will move Arcadia from now on That’s what the war era is like. ”

William spread the lead.

“So, who do you think is the most glorious, glorious in the world? In this Arcadia, who do you think it would be better to sit back in the chair of the General, overriding Valdias, a relic of the old era?”

“Is it a relic of the old age pointing to Valdias of the hero” Fudo “?”

“The fact is, if this war era, they will endure if they cling to the top forever. Because it is known that Valdias makes me accustomed to learning. Bernhard understands to be scolded. In order to forge Gilbert and other people away from the center of the country, Caspar put out his life and connected hope to the future, and it is imposed on us that we will push them out and stand at the top. It is your duty, because that is your wish.

There was no sound of Vlad. As a matter of fact Valdias leaves much to William. Among them, it was heard that Vlad’s ear was that William was doing something that greatly exceeded the authority of the first division chief. Certainly the treatment is different. Of course, it is natural to see from the results established. It is also unusual according to the conventional wisdom of Arcadia.

“Oh, yes, you may be close to the top of the military officer. But I am not sure. On the other hand, Leo Degar will definitely sit in the seat of the left minister. I think there is still a difference.”

“If Arcadia is the same as before, that may be the case, but it may not be. There is nothing for sure, especially in these times.”

William was still confident. There are still cards left to cut. I have a feeling of turning off as Vlad. If it is just drained as it is, only if it is danced to the thought of William, we want to somehow return it to its own flow.

“The story of the position so far. From here on, let’s talk about the real benefit, that is, the money.

When I heard the money, Vlad threw something in my heart. The Bernbach family is not troubled with special money but is not a special rich. The top nobles also have a lot of money, including land and other assets. Vlad wasn’t humble as I didn’t want to be.

“I think it is a well-known thing that I run a business association. I have been working with medicines until now, but I have also started handling weapons and armors this year.”

“I know that. It’s not good either.”

William deliberately makes a troubled face. In a word, it will be in the range of assumption. Vlad remembered the feeling that he was getting into the quagmire.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m not doing well. I don’t have the same number of weapons and armor. Well I’m buying something low on the battlefield at a low price, and it’s difficult to get along with various things. It’s a situation, which will soon come to a limit, though I can not hold in this situation, even though I hold down the Second Army, and in turn the Second Prince Erhart.

A word that holds down the second prince who told us. It echoed loudly to Vlad’s ear. The fact that the second prince and William are allegory has recently begun to spread in the palace. He has not yet expressed his relationship with each other, but still there is no smoke where there is no fire.

“Thus, I am in the midst of trying to hold down the northern mines I have settled in. Having a primary source will solve everything. On the contrary, it will even be possible to change the current market … maybe”

The flow has changed. Clearly changed. The eyes of Vlad shine brightly.

“But you are not the only one moving. It will also be the business that is against you. It’s not just looking at other great aristocrats with your fingers.”

Vlad gets a chance for William. But this is not serious. Vlad is expecting. That William is ahead. It is about to entrust itself to the flow-to prepare solutions and benefit Vrad beyond Vlad’s thought.

“Let’s keep the aristocrats on this occasion. They won’t win by fighting with them. Their movement is slow, but if they start moving, they will be forced to pull. I’m about 50% of our company’s company We believe that the lower nobles can make a share of it, and that we should compete against that. ”

It is quite large to say to the north and one bite. The number of mines may be greater than in the mainland of Arcadia. Because mining is north, there are many untouched lands that are extremely difficult. The potential for mining will depend on future research, but it will no doubt increase over time. Even if it says 50%, it will become a considerable scale. Vlad that counts it in my head instantly. A spear comes out.

“I’m attracted to trading companies. My initial goal was to hold down to 20%. That alone is big, but then I think the problem is not enough.”

When Vlad heard about 20%, he gave up his selfish appearance. Still, there is a point, says William Livius.

“Now we are moving to put all 50% in our hands.”

Vlad pops up. All 50% would certainly be ideal. It’s about getting all the rest that the aristocrats couldn’t hold down. But that is impossible. There is a competitor. Moreover, there is a stronger opponent in the world of commerce than current William.

“My enemy, the Five Chambers of Commerce, has a man called Laurent von Taylor, who was called the quotient monster, and what I am moving as a soldier is Einhart von Taylor. The two have a fierce battle It is unfolding. The present condition is … … It will be superior to Laurent. ”

Hearing the story, Vlad becomes smashed. If you do not win at all if you are Laurent superior. Fifty percent is another dream of dreams.

“The agreement between Laurent and the Five Chambers is to distribute half of them to themselves and the other half to Laurent individuals under full backing of the five chambers. This agreement is very personal. It is something that is not a Taylor company but a personal connection with Laurent. ”

Here, William smiles distorted.

“Don’t you think it’s a little funny? Of course Laurent is no longer the head of Taylor’s company. He will only have to turn if Carl isn’t in Arcas, but … but he’s still a member of Taylor’s company Yes, it is customary to close such large projects between trading companies, though this contract is a contract between a trading company and an individual.

Vlad was becoming a flame trap that was in the eyes of William. The sound of gold that starts to be heard little by little. Well, you, the gold and silver treasures who walk in.

“If this was a sort of a banch that I worked with Laurent from the beginning, what do you think of 伯爵?”

The wrinkles of desire are engraved on Vlad’s fort. The greedy ones fell to Numa.

“Oh, no, no matter how much you, no, even if it is an individual’s contract in the first place, it should not be possible to infringe it. To get some of the 50% that Laurent can get No, but as much as possible. ”

Thought covered in desire. William is convinced here. Vlad has fallen. After that, I just do my best. Prepare to raise and raise up to the bottom of hell.

“Lorlan is ill. It has been a while since I left the quotient front, and the condition has worsened since the end of last year. It’s long this winter, if it’s short I’ll die right now. Either way winter The only people who know this are the daughter Rutgard and the chief of service, and I and his own doctor. ”

Vlad gets more drunk. Deep and deep, you will no longer be aware.

“Laurand and my promises are to end the contract that disappears as I die, to make all the resources that Laurent has acquired belong to the Liwius Chamber and the Taylor Chamber of Commerce. To transfer the main body of the Chamber to Einhart and on top of that. …… I was allowed to stand up ”

It is too convenient for William. To the point of doubting that there is something wrong.

“Lorran’s wish is the prosperity of the house. The direction of the armed forces is no more than ideal for curls. On the contrary, with regard to the direction of quotients, if you lose Laurent, the Taylor Corporation will come to an end. It must be avoided, it is absolutely necessary to call back Einhart, not just calling it back, to become a merchant beyond yourself, to thrive the Taylor Corporation, so this is also for Laurent. It’s a convenient situation, because you can train Einhardt and get mines to make a trading company a stone at the same time.

Vlad reached the truth of the matter in an instant. Lauren decided to stay under William for the prosperity of the house. Even if he loses curls, Einhart remains as a heavyweight in the company. Even if he loses Einhardt, William will support Karl from the circumstances so far. Even if both sides are lost, the vessel called Taylor Shokai remains. It would be possible for Rutgard to reappear once again if she had a baby.

“Lauran is moving literally this time. Einhart is also trying his best to go beyond his parents. There is no room for the other to enter, as these two men are betting their full power, and both of them win. Deafly, I will get all the shares of both sides. ”

How much effort did this man spend to build this foundation? The road that William Liwius walked, the connection he has created there, is about to bloom now. Large flower. Huge power, a mechanism to make money.

“Well, it’s not a finalized story. Please listen to the story.”

Not been determined. Etc. William does not think. This is a prescribed route. That is the same as Leo Degar becoming the left minister. There was such persuasive power in this man.

“If all went well, there is a bit of a problem. To be honest, I can not help myself. As Vlad said, I’m a foreign baron. I got the land. Even so, do the kings and nobles still convince me that they could be seized by a noble or royal family? ”

Vlad’s head is filled with uncontrollable, unimaginable, lust. It was not the swamp but the ocean that Vlad was caught. Deep and wide, endless sea of ​​desires.

“Therefore, I would like Vado to have a certain position among nobles, Bernbach with tradition and prestige, own mines I have acquired.”

Vlad has fallen. It has fallen by the end of the day.

“Of course we will do management. We will decide on the price of iron well we know the market. We need to destroy the price of this country once to conquer the market. I will promise great benefits to Lord Vlad, who is the grandmaster. If you can partner with me, a lot of money will come in. ”

Vlad was trying hard to keep her face likely to come off. Thinking does not make sense. You can get a lot of money by riding William. And the relationship with the future general can be strengthened without any more. The choice in Vlad was destroyed by William.

“Bernbach’s tradition and formalism, with huge money added, Bernbach will be a noble without a match in the capital city, and my armed forces will add to it, and the stone will be completed.”

To lift Bernbach, Vlad’s longtime dream, to a height. To that end she has married her daughters to various homes. So I got my current position, but I’m not enough after hearing this story. Because William gives Vlad an unrealistic advantage to them.

“There is one more point, if I have a bill that runs out, that’s right … I’m pretty uncertain but I’m going to put it in my ears. Actually, there is one relationship between I and Erhart’s Highness We are holding another person, it is the first time to profess this. ”

Vlad’s thoughts are long broken. But I will break it further. May not be trace.

“I used to go to the royal palace often because of the promises of Princess Eerhard’s second sister, Eleonora, and the relationship is still going on. It doesn’t mean to say that it’s not that age yet, but I don’t know what will happen in the future, because she’s attracted to me … because I can get in my hands even for the insensitive one Well, I think you can now understand why I had Victoria’s request for marriage.

Vlad forgot the words in a row of facts rushing to the barrage.

“I want Viktoria, but I don’t want to abandon the relationship with the princess. If you accept the suiting now, Eleonora will cut off my feelings for me. It’s still pale, and it doesn’t take much time for my feelings to disappear … You should know if it is a brilliant Vlad, who should be the second wife of a man who has a princess as a regular wife, or a regular wife of a rising baron, which would be good for Bernbach? ”

Dancing to Vlad’s head is a form in which he joins the royal family. Leo Degar is a great prince. Even if you take it there is no change in being a relative of the royal family. But the distance is different. The concentration of blood is too different between the direct princess and the grand lord.

“My heart is Victoria’s. It’s for the sake of practicality to get in on the princess. And that is also for Bernbach. This is my whole, Lord Vlad.”

It is already decided which way to take. No doubt, Vlad was not foolish enough to mislead the other. But not foolish but not wisdom. After all, he did not understand. The bottom of William Liwius. Rage of a drop from the bottom of the sea of ​​desire.

“Now, please scrutinize. Me or Leo Degar, everything depends on your balance.”

The fallen man had a dark smile. The story that William presented was so full of charm that it could not be helped. Even how much jealousy, cautiously, a man dressed as calm and coming to this place, is finally on the palm of a white beast. There is no choice but to dance with humor.

“Oh, I’m you. I will take you. I will give you Viktoria, and so on. I hope you like other sisters and sisters as well. Instead, fill me. My knight”

“I’m glad, my you”

How funny it is to look like a dog that looks like a dog waiting for food. The preparation is now complete. After that, I just let it take a year and let me drown. Make a dream come true and finally give true despair. In addition, this made it impossible for Helga’s words to reach Vlad’s ear. A word without definitive evidence does not reach a man who has fallen into the sea of ​​lust. Rather, the word may even kill Helga.

(Don’t be an idiot so far. I’ll get you dancing a little more, Nana Mizo and her husband)

Control the movement of Helga, who is listening outside the door, which makes William’s position once again a stone. Rather a solid footing than before. We were able to create a new use value for Bernbach and create the necessary situation. By the end of the day, William got a lot now. It moved to get more. It’s just that it’s all right.

“But I also want to respect Victoria’s heart. If she leaves me, I will not hold it back, of course, it is only her intention. Even then, this story continues If you feel that you need a connection, you can get it at Ernesta. ”

“Well, you’re a good young man. You’re thinking about your daughter-in-law, too. Just the ideal Buddha. In the unlikely event Victoria will not reject you, I will give Ernesta at that time. Today is a good day. I feel very good. ”

Vlad sits in a chair. So I took a deep breath. On the surface is Vlad regaining calm.そしてウィリアムも座るように手招いた。

ウィリアムが座ったと見るやぶどう酒をグラスに注ぐヴラド。相当上等のものなのだろう。しかし、ほのかに香る匂い。血の、薫り。ウィリアムは一瞬で感づいた。これはヴラドの悪癖の一種、上等のぶどう酒と新鮮な血のブレンドである。

ウィリアムが気づいたことを悟り、ヴラドは笑みを浮かべる。

「私の趣味を知ったのはいつかね？」

ヴラドの試すような目。あれだけの醜態をさらして、今更少しでも上位に立とうとしているのだ。その滑稽さにウィリアムは苦笑しそうになる。

「伯爵にお会いしてすぐのことです。私になりに伯爵のことを調べさせて頂きました」

「ほほう、それで、こういう趣味は嫌いかね？」

「いえ、私も強きが弱きを踏みつけることに快感を覚える性質でして……伯爵のお気持ちは共有できることと思います」

ヴラドはにんまりと微笑んだ。

「それは結構。いずれ上物を振舞わせていただこう。何、これもまた貴族の嗜みだよ」

「その時はご教授願います、御義父さん」

「もちろんだ我が息子よ」

グラスを重ね一気に飲み干す両者。

ご満悦のヴラドに対するのはこちらも笑顔のウィリアム。しかしヴラドは知らない。その笑顔と言う仮面の下に眠る暴発しそうなほどの怒りを、絶望を。だがウィリアムはそれをぐっと押さえ込む。溜め込んでいるのだ、復讐するその時にまで――

絶望の深淵。白き獣が生まれた場所まで、引きずり込むための下準備である。

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ウィリアムはヴラドの私邸をあとにし、着替えるために自分の屋敷に戻った。

そしてそこには当然のごとく――

「お帰りなさい、ウィリアム」

向日葵のような笑顔で出迎えるヴィクトーリアの姿があった。そこにいるだけで場が華やぐ、ただの一声だがすっと自分の領域に入り込んでくる。ウィリアムはそれを心の中でしっしと追い払い、頑として踏み込ませてなるものかと強い意志で抵抗していた。

「もう一度、ここにおいていただけますか？」

ヴィクトーリアは不安げな顔を見せる。いつも明るいヴィクトーリアだが、その心は決して強靭ではない。人並みに傷つくし、人並みに脆い。それを奮い立たせてウィリアムの前に立っているのだ。なるほど、愛するというのはなかなかに困難な道である。

だからウィリアムは――

“I refuse”

“Huh!?”

それを笑顔で拒絶した。あわてるヴィクトーリア。一応ヴィクトーリアの中では葛藤した結果勝算があったらしい。なんとなくそれに乗っかるのは癪なので、とりあえず拒絶から入ってみる。

「い、いやです！ ここにいます！」

「ここは俺の家なんだが？ 何をするにも裁量は俺が持つと思うぞ」

「ひ、ひどい。ウィリアムの意地悪！ ヴィクトーリアは断固居座ります！」

まあこの程度で退くようならウィリアムも興味は持たない。何しろ妹一人に命を差し出す女だ。家族の親愛と男女の愛はまた異なるかもしれないが、ちょっと冷たくした程度で折れる相手とはウィリアムも思っていない。

だが、ここでこの女にはひとつ決意表明をせねばなるまい。ウィリアム・リウィウスの障害として、ある意味で最悪の敵として立ちはだかるというのだ。

ウィリアムはヴィクトーリアの目を正面から見据えた。じっとその瞳の奥を覗く。

「俺はお前が嫌いだ。『無関心』ではいられないほど、俺はお前が嫌いになった」

ヴィクトーリアの表情が、

「愛想が尽きたらいつでも出て行って構わない。伯爵にはちゃんと話を通してある。俺としてもそれが一番好ましいからな」

ぐしゃりと歪んだ。涙が零れ落ちる。すごく、すごく嬉しそうな泣き笑い。嫌いと言ってくれた。無関心ではいられなくなったと言ってくれた。それだけでヴィクトーリアにとっては充分なのだ。充分すぎる御褒美である。

「絶対出て行かないもん。絶対、ぜーったい、私は貴方を好きでいつづける」

確信はさらに強固になる。

「馬鹿が。後悔しても知らんぞ」

そう言ってヴィクトーリアの横を通り過ぎるウィリアム。あわててヴィクトーリアはボロボロになったマントを外してやる。ちょっと前までの習慣どおり、しかし二人の距離は変化していた。先へ進んだのか、後退したのか、それは誰にもわからない。

「不束者ですがどうぞよろしくお願い致します」

ちょっと嫁気取りであった発言にウィリアムの眉がぴくりとはねる。

「……調子に乗るな」

ウィリアムのデコピンが炸裂した。「うぎゃ」と言って倒れるヴィクトーリアを無視してウィリアムは着替えを探しに一人歩む。その背をせかせかと追うヴィクトーリア。ウィリアムは不機嫌そうな顔、ヴィクトーリアは満面の笑顔――

当面この関係は変化しそうにない。

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ファヴェーラが男を引き連れて現れたとき、ウィリアムの目は驚きに大きく見開かれた。色々と情報を抜くために拷問を行ったのであろう、顔色は土気色であり体調はすこぶる悪そうに見える。年月も経っており当時の面影は薄い。

しかし、それでも男の顔をウィリアムは忘れていなかった。

「へ、へへ、ウィリアムの旦那ァ。俺ァ、ヴラドにこそ見切りをつけましたが旦那のような優秀な御方に付き従いたいとずっと思ってたんでさあ」

手枷をかけられている男はこびへつらう目でウィリアムを見る。まるで餌を待つ犬のような所作。これを愛玩動物ではなく一人の中年が行っているのだから醜い話である。

「こいつはヴラドを裏切ってユルゲン・フォン・フリューア侯爵に取り入ろうとした。……どうしたのウィリアム？ 顔色がおかしい」

ファヴェーラが心配そうにウィリアムを見る。心配そうな顔つきでもなければ心配そうな声色でもないが、ウィリアムと後ろに控えているカイルにはわかった。

「いや、たいしたことじゃない。そうか、ユルゲン侯爵か。以前誕生パーティで少し話したが……ヴラドとは旧知の仲と言っていたぞ」

「それなんです。ユルゲン侯爵はヴラドと旧知の仲ですが、ずっと下に見ていたそうなんでさ。だけど最近ヴラドが調子付いてきて、なんと大公家から求婚までされた日にゃユルゲンも黙っていられなかったようで。それで俺みたいなクズにお声おかけていただいたんでさ、へえ」

割って入ってきた男。ここが勝負どころと思っているのだろう。どうにかしてウィリアムに取り入ろうとしてくる。その姿の滑稽さに、ウィリアムは笑みをこぼした。それを良い方に捉えて男もまた「へへ」と笑う。

「なるほど。ならば前回とは関連性がない、な。そもそも前回の暗殺に比べると多少頭の弱さが露呈していた。上手くないんだ。タイミングも、やり方も」

ウィリアムは事実確認をし、事実に紐付けをする。前回と無関係であるならば好都合である。結局、暗殺ギルドもその先にいる依頼 者もまだあせっていない。つまり刻限をきっちり待っているのだ。ニュクスや白龍がどういう説明をしたのかはわからないが、依頼者はかなり頭が切れる、そし て長期的な視野にたって物事を考え、かつヴラドを相当憎んでいることになる。

ウィリアムに現状心当たりはないが、なかなかに厄介な相手であると再認識した。ユルゲンに関しては論外。突発的かつ刹那的、頼った相手もこの男だ。

「わかった。ありがとう。ところで、有能な君を買い取りたいのだが侯爵にはいくらで買われたんだ？」

「あ、銀貨、いや、金貨一枚でこぜえます旦那ぁ」

ここで盛ってくるあたり本物の愚者である。しかしウィリアムは微笑みを持って懐から金貨一枚を取り出した。

「今日から君は俺の部下だ。いいね？」

金貨を受け取り有頂天になる男。

「もちろんでさあ！ 旦那に一生を捧げますぜ」

「そうか。それは良かった。じゃあ死ね」

男の顔が歪む。泣き笑いのような顔。

「へ、は？ な、なんでですか？ いや、確かに俺はヴラドを裏切りました。しかしこれからは心を入れ替えて旦那に仕えようと。俺ァなんでもしますよ！」

男は手枷をされているにもかかわらず、地面にはいつくばってウィリアムの靴をなめ始めた。一心不乱に汚れをなめ取るさまを見て、カイルやファヴェーラは視線をそむける。ウィリアムだけはそれを冷淡な目で見下ろしていた。

「ヴラドを裏切ったことなんて死ぬほどどうでもいいんだ。だって俺もあいつを殺すからな。一年もしないうちに」

男の舌が止まる。「え、なんて」と顔を上げ、其処に浮かぶ貌を見て、その貌が意味する感情を捉えて、男は絶句した。

「なあ、俺が何でヴラドを殺すと思う？ お前はその理由の一端を知っているんだぜ」

男は精一杯努力して笑みの形を保つ。

「ヴ、ヴラドの悪癖で大事な人を奪われたんですかい？ でも旦那ァ、俺は悪くねえ！ あいつが命令したんだ！ 俺みたいな平民じゃ断れなかったんだよ！ わかるだろ旦那も、だから差し出したんだ、あんたも、大事な人を」

その瞬間、鬼の形相をしたカイルが男の髪をつかんで腹に拳を叩き込んだ。本気ではない。しかし剣闘王の一撃は男の許容量を容易く超えた。

「やめろカイル。ファヴェーラも手に持ったナイフをしまえ」

カイルは憤怒の形相で男を投げ捨て、男は地面でとしゃ物を撒き散らしながらのた打ち回る。

「お前の言うとおりだ。俺には止める機会があった。それを逃したのは俺の責任。お前やヴラドにそれを擦り付ける気はない。きっかけは其処だが、今は仕事でやつを殺すんだ。関係者だから俺がお前を殺す、ってのはないぞ」

ウィリアムはにこりと微笑む。男もそれに釣られてにこりと微笑み――

「お前を殺すのは別の理由だ」

ウィリアムの居合いに気づくこともなく笑っていた。自分の手が撥ね跳び、手枷の重みが片手に全て乗って、ようやく男は気づいた。

「あ、いあ、お、俺の手、俺の手がァァァアアア！」

男の叫びを聞き流してウィリアムは剣についた血をぬぐう。

「お前は俺に金言を与えてくれた。俺を人間じゃないとののしり、僕の大事なねえさんを蹴り飛ばした。お前が僕に教えてくれたんだよ」

William’s face is distorted.ウィリアムではなく『アル』の笑みが、絶望に彩られた最初期の記憶がよみがえってくる。

「奴隷は牛や馬以下。非人間。ありがたかったよ、あれで世界を知った。この国で僕がどうあるべきか、どうであったのかを知ることが出来たんだァ」

男は、記憶の深淵に眠っていたものを、思い出して戦慄する。

「お、おまえ、あの時のガキ、か！？」

男の記憶の片隅にもいなかった黒き髪の少年。男を睨み付ける眼と、その後聞こえてきた咆哮に気味の悪さは感じていたが、まさか名を変えてこの国で成り上がっているなどとは思考の端にもなかった。

「お久しぶりです名もなき敗者よ！ 僕の靴を一心不乱に君がなめていたのはすこぶる滑稽だったよ。君が言うには僕は非人間らしい。その靴をなめる君は、いったい何なのだろうねえ。非人間以下の、この世界にはびこる有象無象はいったいどんな生き物なのだろうかねえ」

アルは哂う。始まりの衝動が身体を充たす。

「俺が王になった時、世界を制した時、それがこの世界の死だ、人間世界の終わりだ！ お前の言う人間は全て滅びるんだよォ！」

ウィリアムは吼える。すべての頂点に己が立った後の世界を想像する。全てが自分にへりくだり、全てが自分を崇め奉る。その滑稽な地獄を想像して悦に浸るのだ。全てを足蹴にした景色を求めて――

「お前のおかげで今の俺がある。今となっては取るに足らぬ小物だが、それでもきっかけであることには変わるまい。お前にチャンスをやろう。手枷を外してやったんだ。お前は、自由だぞ」

ウィリアムは耳元でささやいてやる。それを聞くや否やすぐさま立ち上がって逃げ出す男。生命力の感じさせる動きである。理性なき、ただ生き延びようとする本能に支配される哀れな獣。

「さあさあ逃げろ逃げろ。お前は自由だ！」

男は自らがやってきた入り口に向かう。訓練場にはひとつしか扉がない。そこに向かって全力疾走する。誰よりも早く、何者も自分には追いつけない。

「しかし環境は人間の自由を束縛する。それもまた理だ」

ファヴェーラは怪我の完治こそしていないが、そこらの一般人に速力で劣る足ではなかった。扉の前に立ち、男を威嚇する。

「どけ女ァ！」

狂乱する男にファヴェーラはナイフを突きつけた。一瞬の早業、男の首元にナイフが添えられる。途端血の気が引いて後退する男。

「お前があいつをこうしてしまった。受け入れろ、それが貴様の業だ」

後退した先にはカイルがいた。カイルは男の頭を掴んで扉から遠ざかるように放り投げた。着地点はウィリアムの足元。カイルはそれきり視線を外す。

「あ、あへ、た、たしゅけてくだしゃい」

ウィリアムの足元にひれ伏し、幾度も頭を地面にこすり付ける男。勢いのあまり額から血が出てくるが気にも留めない。

「それは難しい相談だ。俺は君を金で買った。つまり君の所有者だ。君は昔俺に言ったね、買ったものをどうしようと買ったものの勝手だと。私はその言葉に深い感銘を受けたんだ。だから殺すことにした」

ウィリアムは手枷のついた方の腕も剣で切り飛ばした。

「因果はめぐるねえ。正直今の今まで俺は君を忘れていた。忘れていたわけじゃないが捜そうとまで思わなかった。それが今こうして俺の所有物として死ぬんだ」

「こ、こんな金は要らない！ 返す、返すから許してくれェ！」

「俺に返すことが出来たら許してやってもいいぞ」

手のない男は自分の状況に絶望する。胸ポケットに入っている金貨を取り出そうと懸命に身体をよじる姿は芋虫にも似ていた。

「次は足だ。その次は鼻をそごう。ちょっとずつ、ちょっとずつ、壊してあげるよ。名も知らぬ我が所有物よ」

カイルもファヴェーラも一切止める気はない。彼らは常識人だが、彼らにとっての親友を奪い去った元凶の一人、優しいアルをここまで堕とした世界の歪み。それを助けることなどありえない。

「いやだぁぁぁああああ！」

金貨一枚の命。この男にしてはあまりにも過分であった。それでも価値を決めたのは男自身。安易に命を売ったこの男もまた、アルや他の復讐者たちと同様愚かであったと言わざるを得ない。愚者の末路は往々にして決まっているのだ。