Chapter 66: The Escape of Jules Narl
66話 ジュール・ナールの逃走
“Damn it! Hey! You lot! Go grab that girl! You can be a bit rough, but don’t leave any marks! Got it!!”
「クソッ!オイ!貴様ら!あの娘を攫って来い!多少手荒な真似はしても構わん!だが傷物にはするなよ!良いな!!」
Cameron Fourier, showing no signs of hiding his irritation, barked orders at the five guards he had brought along.
キャメロン・フーリエは苛立ちを隠そうともせず、語気を荒げて連れて来た5人の護衛に命令を下した。
“The rest come with me for protection! We’re heading back to Corptown! You lot bring the girl there!!”
「残りは私と来て護衛をしろ!コープタウンまで戻るぞ!お前達は娘をそこまで連れて来い!!」
フーリエはそれだけを早口で捲し立てると、直ぐ様自分の部屋のある方向へと、通路を足早に向かって行った。
Of the five men, two exchanged glances and quickly followed Fourier.
5人居る男の内、二人が目配せをし合うと直ぐにフーリエの後を追って行った。
Another two men nodded at each other with smirks and headed in the opposite direction.
更に二人の男が互いに口角を釣り上げながら頷き合い、それとは反対の方向へと向かった。
The last remaining man, Jules Narl, furrowed his brow, scratching his fallen cheek with his right hand, and looked up at the ceiling with his droopy eyes.
残った最後の1人、ジュール・ナールは眉根を寄せ、右手の指で自分のこけた頬を掻きながら、大きく垂れた目で天井を見上げていた。
This is no good.
どうにもいけない。
When told to grab the young girl, he had turned his body toward the two who had gone off with a grin, but it felt as if he were blocked by a massive, thick steel wall, and he had no motivation to move forward.
小娘を攫えと言われ、楽な仕事だとニヤケながら向かった二人の方へ身体を向けると、巨大で分厚い鋼の壁にでも阻まれている様で、身体を進ませる気がまるで起きない。
Even when he tried to follow Fourier, it felt as if his feet were shackled by heavy chains, and they wouldn’t budge.
それならばとフーリエの後を追おうとしても、やはり重い鎖にでも足が囚われている様で、足が前へ出ようとしない。
Am I stuck?
これは詰んじまったか?
Scratching his round nose, he let out a big sigh, murmuring in frustration.
自分の丸い鼻をコリコリと掻きながら、然も困った様に大きく溜息をつき呟いた。
Jules Narl had been living in the back alleys of society since he could remember. He didn’t even know the faces of his parents or siblings.
ジュール・ナールは、物心ついた時から社会の裏街道に身を置いていた。親兄弟の顔さえ知らない。
He had done anything to survive.
生きる為には何でもやって来た。
Harming and stealing from others was a matter of course.
他人を傷付け奪う。それは当たり前の行為だった。
He felt no pangs of conscience about it.
特にそれで良心が痛む事も無い。
It was no different from wild animals preying on other creatures.
野生動物が、他の動物を捕食するのと何ら変わらない。
For him, that was simply living.
彼にとっては、それが生きる事だったからだ。
The reason he had managed to survive in such a perilous life, akin to that of wild animals in human society, was due to his absolute ability to sense danger.
そんな、人の社会に於いて野生動物と変わらぬ剣呑な生活を送っていた彼が、今日まで生き抜いて来れたのは、その絶対的な危機察知能力があったからだ。
Paths he must never tread.
絶対に進んではいけない道。
Choices he must never make.
絶対に選んではいけない選択。
By always trusting that divine warning emanating from within himself, he had managed to survive until today.
常に彼はその自らの内から発する、神憑り的な警告を信じる事で、今日まで生き延びて来れたのだ。
When he took on this bodyguard job, he thought it would be quite an easy task.
この護衛の仕事を受けた時は、随分楽な仕事だと思っていた。
In reality, it was enough to be surrounded by the knight order and protect the inside. There was no way anyone could breach the knight’s wall.
実際、騎士団に囲まれ、その内側を守っているだけで良いのだ。騎士団の壁を超える者などいる筈も無い。
There was hardly anything to do while on the move.
移動中にやる事なども殆ど無い。
Most of the time, he enjoyed himself inside the carriage, which was hidden from view.
大抵は外から見えない馬車の中で、それなりに楽しませて貰っていた。
In the first place, the true job of this employer was to guide and protect him when he went to enjoy the underground places in various towns during his travels.
そもそも今回の雇い主が旅先の街々で、アンダーな場所へ愉しみに行く時の案内と護衛が、本当の意味で彼らの仕事だったのだ。
Since the employer had quite a good taste, the establishments that suited his preferences ended up being illegal places in deeper areas.
雇い主は中々に良い趣味を持っている為、その趣向に合う店は、より深い場所の非合法な店となってしまう。
Naturally, there was no way to bring the knight order along as protection, let alone guide them, so it became their turn to act.
当然騎士団を護衛に連れて行ける筈も、ましてや案内など出来る訳もないので彼らの出番となる。
This employer seemed to have a particular fondness for tormenting young girls, and satisfying such a kink inevitably led them far away from legitimate businesses.
この雇い主は年端もいかぬ相手を甚振るのが大層好きらしく、そんな性癖を満足させるとなると、必然的に表だって商売をしている所からは大きく外れてしまう。
Despite having such tastes, he was overly concerned about appearances.
そんな趣向を持つ癖に、世間体だけは必要以上に気に掛けるのだ。
At one point, he even said that he had to strangle something during the act because he was seen in a well-lit area. He also told them to take care of the cleanup afterward.
ある時など、灯りのある所で自分の顔を見られたからと、行為の最中にソレを縊ったと言って来た。ソレの後片づけをして置けとも。
They had to negotiate for compensation for damages with the store and handle the disposal as well.
店側に、その商品の損害賠償の交渉や廃棄も彼らがやった。
Jules Narl thought to himself, how much more the ones in power can do as they please, while processing the body of the girl who had become a silent witness.
ジュール・ナールは つくづく地位のある奴ほど好き勝手やるよな と物言わぬ姿となった娘の身体を処理しながら苦笑していた。
He felt no aversion or guilt about such tasks. To him, it was just another mundane job.
こういった作業にも、ジュール・ナールは忌避感や罪悪感を覚える事は無い。彼にとっては在り来たりな作業の一つでしかないのだ。
Cleaning up after the employer and covering his tracks; most of the work on this journey had been like this.
雇い主の後片付けや尻拭い。この旅での仕事は大体がこんな物だった。
Of course, he also did his job as a bodyguard properly.
勿論護衛もしっかりやった。
Having survived in the underworld from the beginning, he had considerable confidence in his skills.
元からアンダーな世界を生き抜いてきた彼だ。腕にも相当の自信があった。
By acting alongside the knight order, he could gauge their abilities as well.
騎士団と行動を共にして、彼らとの実力も推し量れた。
He could handle members of the order without any issue. Even if surrounded by several, he could likely break through the encirclement. He could manage even with squad leaders.
団員クラスなら問題無く対処できる。数人に囲まれても包囲を抜けられるだろう。班長クラスでも問題無い。
However, that brigade commander and vice-commander were on a different level.
だが、あの大隊長と副長は別格だった。
Such monsters were not seen every day.
あんな化け物達は然う然う見ない。
Unless they were bodyguards for some major player in the underworld or hitmen, he couldn’t deal with them.
裏の世界の、それも余程大物のボディーガードか、始末屋の類でも無けりゃアレは相手に出来ない。
Even he, who had faced many strong opponents, felt a power that made him think he could never match them.
多くの強者と渡り合って来た彼にも、自分には到底手が出せないと思わせる力を感じさせた。
But more shocking than that was the Amkam.
だが、それ以上に衝撃だったのがアムカムだ。
What on earth are the residents here?
一体何なのだ此処の住人達は?
For a long time, there had been talk of Amkam among the underworld dwellers.
昔から、アンダーな住人の口からアムカムの話は上がっていた。
Don’t mess with the Amkam.
アムカムの奴等に手を出すな。
If you ever find yourself in a situation with them, run without hesitation.
もしも奴らと事を構えそうになったら、迷わず脇目も振らず逃げろ。
They are untouchable. Don’t think you can do anything with numbers or weapons. Stay away from them!
奴らはアンタッチャブルだ。数や武器でどうこう出来ると思うな。奴らには関わるな!
He had occasionally heard such phrases, but they were mostly during drinking sessions. He had taken them with a grain of salt.
そんな台詞を時たま耳にする事はあったが、大抵が酒の席での事だ。話半分に聞いていた。
しかし実際にアムカムに来て見て、それが比喩でも大袈裟に風呂敷を広げていた訳でも無かった事を思い知った。
Anyone walking around there was clearly stronger than a squad leader.
その辺に歩いている奴が、班長クラスより明らかに強いのだ。
His instincts blared alarms, warning him to stay away from them.
自分の嗅覚が、そいつらには絶対近付くなとビンビン警報を鳴らしまくる。
Among them, there were several who seemed far more monstrous than that vice-commander or brigade commander.
中には、あの副長や大隊長より遥かに化け物だと思える奴らが何人も居た。
He wondered how aware the others he was working with were of this.
一緒に雇われている連中は、この事にどの程度気付いているのか…。
At least two seemed to sense some kind of discomfort. Those with sharp instincts tend to live longer in this world.
少なくとも二人は、何らかの違和感は感じている様だ。こう言った嗅覚が鋭い方がこの世界では長生き出来る。
But the other two were hopeless.
だが残りの二人はダメだ。
They were still treating the maids here the same way they had in the mansion where they had been employed in another town.
他の街で雇い主と世話になった屋敷と同じ感覚で、此処でもメイドにちょっかいを掛けていた。
The maids deftly avoided their hands without being touched.
メイド達は奴らに触れられる事無く、自然な動きで奴らの手を躱していた。
The two men merely tilted their heads, unaware they were being dodged.
奴らは首を傾げるだけで、躱されているとは思ってもいない。
The maids here were also quite the monsters. Those who couldn’t even notice such things would undoubtedly not live long.
此処のメイド達もいい加減化け物の類だ。そんな事にも気が付かない此奴等は、間違いなく長生き出来ない。
Even now, they laughed as they headed to kidnap the lord’s daughter, thinking it was an easy job.
今も、領主の娘を攫うのが楽な仕事だと笑いながら向かって行った。
Are they idiots?
馬鹿なのか?アイツらは?
An easy job? No way!
楽な仕事だと?冗談じゃない!
On the surface, they might seem like ordinary girls, but she is the biggest monster in this village!
表面はその辺の小娘と同じ様な雰囲気を装っているが、あれがこの村一番の化け物だ!
The fact that she gives off no aura of a strong person is even more unsettling.
強者の気配を一切感じさせない事が、より不気味だ。
And those eyes!
それにあの目!
Those cobalt green eyes, like the sea, seemed to connect to an unfathomably deep ocean.
あの海の様なコバルトグリーンの瞳が、途轍もなく深い海の底へ繋がっている様だった。
Just a glance from those eyes made him feel as if they were peering deep into his soul.
あの目で一瞥されただけで、魂の奥底まで見据えられた様な気分になった。
He couldn’t see the bottom of her depths at all.
その果て無く深い瞳の様に、娘の底が丸っきり見えないのだ。
Yet those guys… those who cannot see are truly fortunate.
だと言うのにあの連中は…、物が見えない者は実に幸せだ。
It would be far safer to dive into the lair of the Queen Hydra and collect some eggs than to mess with her!
アレにちょっかいを掛けるぐらいなら、クイーンヒュドラの巣穴に潜って、卵でも採って来る方が格段に生存率が高い!
Those who don’t understand that are already done for.
それが判らないアイツらはもう終わりだ。
The employer who gave that order won’t last long either.
それを指示した雇い主にも、まず先は無い。
Going forward is no good. Going back is also the end. I’m really stuck. This is it.
進むもダメ。後ろへ行っても終わる。やっぱり詰んでいる。こりゃもう潮だ。
If both front and back are no good, I have no choice but to take another path.
前も後ろも駄目なら、別の道を行くしか無ェわな。
Jules Narl opened the window in front of him, wrapped his slender body in his cloak, and silently left the Amkam House.
ジュール・ナールは目の前の窓を開け、細身の体をマントで包ませ、音も無くアムカムハウスを後にした。
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The drug they were about to use was a paralyzing poison.
彼らが使おうとしていた薬は麻痺毒だった。
It was a type of muscle relaxant.
いわゆる筋弛緩剤の類だ。
It was a powerful drug, but it was also highly volatile, and if used outside, it would hardly be effective unless directly applied to the face.
強力な薬だが揮発性も高く、外で使うとしたら直接顔にでも当てなければ殆ど効果は期待できない。
However, indoors, the effect could be expected to be sufficient.
だが、室内なら効果は十分に期待できる。
Given the width of this corridor, if they threw the container of the drug at their feet and scattered its contents, a space of about one meter in radius would be filled with the drug’s effect for nearly 30 seconds.
この通路の広さなら、薬の容器を足元に投げ付けて中身を飛び散らせれば、半径1メートル程の空間が30秒弱、薬の効果で満たされる筈だ。
If they protected their mouths with a damp towel, they could prevent the drug, but hardly anyone would think of such a thing in a pinch. One breath would be the end.
湿らせたタオルででも口元を保護すれば薬は防げるが、咄嗟にそんな事に思い至る者などそうは居ない。一息吸い込めば終わりなのだ。
Well, even if by some chance the drug was dodged, they could just threaten with a blade.
まあ、もし万が一薬が躱されたとしても、刃物で脅してやれば済む話だ。
The lord’s daughter… a girl from a good family could be dealt with quickly with just a bit of violence. It was truly an easy job.
領主の娘…良い家の小娘など、ちょっとした暴力を示せば直ぐ片が付く。実に楽な仕事だ。
Since the order was not to leave any marks, it would be quick if the drug worked.
傷物にするなとのオーダーだったので、薬でかたが付いてくれれば手っ取り早い。
The two men huddled around the corner of the corridor and peeked into the passage beyond.
彼ら二人は通路の角に身を寄せ、その向うの通路を覗った。
Just then, the target girl was approaching with a maid.
ちょうどターゲットの娘が、メイドと二人連れだって此方へ向かって来る所だった。
The two men exchanged glances, nodded, covered their mouths with masks, and threw the container of the drug at the target’s feet.
男達二人は目線を合わせ頷き、口元をマスクで覆い、ターゲットの足元へ薬の容器を投げ付けた。
The distance to the target was less than 10 meters. They started running at the same time they threw the drug bottle.
ターゲットまでの距離は10メートルと無い。薬瓶を投げ付けたのと同時に走り出す。
The container shattered right at the target’s feet as intended.
容器は思い通りにターゲットの足元で弾ける様に割れた。
A colorless, odorless gas overflowed, and the effect should manifest almost instantly.
無色無臭のガスが溢れ、ほぼ一瞬で効果が現れる筈だ。
The men ran toward their respective targets, the girl and the maid. They intended to catch their bodies to prevent any loud noise when they fell due to the drug’s effect.
男達はそれぞれのターゲット、娘とメイドに向かって走って行く。薬が効き昏倒した時に、倒れた拍子に大きな音を出させない為、その身体を受け止めるつもりなのだ。
However, there was no sign that the drug was working on the targets.
だが、ターゲット達に薬が効いている様子が無い。
The girl stopped, looking down at the broken container at her feet, but her consciousness remained intact.
娘は足を止め、足元で割れた容器に視線を落としているが意識は正常に保っている。
The two men gaped in surprise at the fact that the drug had no effect, but they quickly drew their knives from their waists and thrust them forward.
薬の効果が現れなかった事に男二人は瞠目するが、直ぐ様走りながら腰のナイフを抜き、突き出した。
Somewhere, there might have been a shift in the air that they couldn’t perceive, causing the drug to dissipate before it could take effect.
どこか、此方からは分らない空気の動きがあり、薬が効果を出すより早く散ってしまったのかもしれない。
If one cannot adapt to a sudden situation, they cannot call themselves professionals.
咄嗟の状況判断で立ち回れねばプロとは言えない。
The men decided to use the most straightforward and effective means of making them comply: violence.
男達は暴力で言う事を聞かせると言う、最も単純で一番効果的な手段を使う事にしたのだ。
They ran low toward their respective targets.
二人はそれぞれのターゲットに向かって、身を低くして走った。
The man heading toward the girl held a knife in his right hand, spread his left hand to block her path, and charged forward.
娘に向かった男は、右手にナイフを持ち、左手を広げ、娘の行く手を阻む様に突き進んで行く。
He intended to scoop her up, cover her mouth with his hand, and press the knife to her throat.
そのまま抱え込み、口元を手で覆い、ナイフを喉元へ突き付けるつもりなのだ。
脚が床を蹴り、そのまま娘に手が届くと思われた時、娘が下げていた左手を上げ、その指先がナイフを握る自分の右手に触れたように感じた。
In that instant, the man’s consciousness was blown away.
その瞬間、男の意識が吹き飛ばされた。
With a sound like a whirl, the man’s body spun like a top, slicing through the air at high speed.
ギュルンと言う音を響かせ、男の身体がコマの様に超速回転をし空気を切り裂いた。
直後、パンという、何かが破裂した様な音がその場に響き渡る。
The man who had approached Suzy, with his right hand holding the knife, was blown outward as if his arm were being yanked, and his body was dragged along with that momentum, spinning rapidly and crashing into the wall.
スージィに向かって来た男の、ナイフを握っていた右手が、大きく外へ弾かれる様に吹き飛ばされ、その勢いのまま腕に身体が引き摺られ、高速で回転し飛ばされ壁にブチ当ったのだ。
His right arm bent in an unnatural shape, and his entire body was plastered against the wall like a squashed frog.
右腕が非常識な形に曲がり、その全身は潰れたカエルの様になり壁にへばり付いていた。
His face might have been crushed, but he seemed to be barely alive.
顔面は潰れたかもしれないが、辛うじて生きてはいる様だ。
“Fragile!? Why? Why? I used the Friendly Finger like I did with Stefan, didn’t I?”
「脆っ!?ナンデ?何でぇ?ステファンにしてる様に、フレンドリーフィンガー使ったの、にぃ?」
Suzy tilted her head, expressing her bewilderment at the situation.
スージィが小首を傾げ、この有り様が実に不可解だと口にした。
She seemed to think she was being cute, but the gruesome scene remained unchanged.
可愛く言っているつもりらしいが、その惨状は変わらない。
“My lady… it is a mistake to treat the people of Amkam and outsiders as equals.”
「お嬢様……、アムカムの者と、外の者とを同列に扱うのは間違いでございます」
“Is that so? Hmm… is that so…?”
「そうなの?ぅーん……、そうなの、ね……?」
Anna Mary admonished Suzy, but Suzy, showing no signs of remorse, continued to tilt her head in confusion.
アンナメリーはスージィに諭す様に注意を促すが、スージィは悪びれた様子も無く、やはり不思議そうに小首を傾げたままだ。
She thought, it’s their fault anyway.
悪いのはコイツ等だしねー 位にしか思っていない。
She felt no pangs of conscience or pain toward the man who was now a pitiful sight stuck to the wall.
壁にへばり付いて無残な姿を晒している男に対してなど、良心の呵責も痛みも何にも無い。
After all, he was someone who had attacked her with unpleasant malice directed not only at her but even at Anna Mary.
元より、自分はおろかアンナメリーにまで不快な害意を向けながら襲って来た輩だ。
There was no reason to show any kindness or restraint.
優しく手加減をしてやる理由など、在る筈も無い。
一方、アンナメリーに向かった男は、彼女の足に踏み敷かれて居た。
足元の男は、ナイフを握っていた筈の右腕が、二の腕からもう一つ関節が出来た様に曲がり、アンナメリーの足で背中に押し付けられ踏み付けられている。
His face, pressed down to the floor, was turned white, frothing at the mouth, and he seemed to have long lost consciousness.
うつ伏せで床に押し付けられたその顔は、白目を剥いて泡を吹き、意識はとうに手放している様だ。
The paralyzing poison that had been dispersed had already evaporated, losing its toxicity.
散布された麻痺毒は、既に揮発して毒性は失われている。
Suzy noticed that some kind of poison had been sprayed, but before she could even think about it, her body had already resisted the poison.
スージィは何らかの毒が散布された事は気付いたが、その事を意識する前に、既に身体は毒をレジストしていた。
There was no way such a low-grade poison could affect Suzy’s body.
この程度の低位の毒が、スージィの身体に作用を及ぼす故も無いのだ。
Furthermore, Anna Mary was nearby, and there was no sign that the poison had affected her either.
更にアンナメリーも近くに居たのだが、彼女にも毒が作用した様子は無い。
“Anna Mary. I thought poison had been sprayed… are you alright?!”
「アンナメリー。毒が撒かれたはずだけど……、貴女は大丈夫、なの?!」
“Thank you for your concern, my lady. However, there is no need to worry. I have been trained since childhood to have resistance to all kinds of poisons, so this level of paralyzing poison has no effect on me.”
「お気遣いありがとうございます、お嬢様。しかしご心配には及びません。私、幼少の頃よりあらゆる毒に耐性を持つよう訓練されておりますので、この程度の麻痺毒など、効果の出ようが御座いません」
“…Ah, I see.”
「……あ、そ、そうです、か」
She thought perhaps Anna Mary had taken some kind of countermeasure, but it felt like she had just casually said something impressive.
恐らく、何らかの対処を取っていたのだろうと思い聞いてみたが、なんだか、さり気無く凄い事言われた気がする。
It was amazing that she could identify that as paralyzing poison so easily… What kind of early childhood education does the Bylos family provide?!
サラリとあれが麻痺毒だったと分ってしまうのも凄いけど……。どういう幼児教育をして居るのでしょうか?バイロス家は?!
What on earth are they trying to raise?!
一体何を育てるつもりなの?!
Suzy’s cheeks twitched as she pondered this.
などと考え、頬が引き攣るスージィだった。
While she was thinking about such things, Anna Mary clapped her hands.
そんな事を考えていると、アンナメリーがポンポンと手を叩いた。
“I just instructed to clean up this filth. I ended up taking unnecessary time, but my lady, let’s hurry to your room.”
「今、この汚物を片付けるよう指示を出しました。つい無駄な手間を取られてしまいましたが、お嬢様、急いでお部屋へ向かいましょう」
While Anna Mary was saying this to Suzy, several maids silently gathered at the scene.
アンナメリーがスージィにそんな言葉をかけている間に、数人のメイドが音も無くその場へ集まって来た。
As Anna Mary waved her hand lightly toward the men, the maids began to carry the men away with fluid movements, cleaning up the dirty floor and walls.
そのままアンナメリーが男達へ向けフワリと手を振ると、メイド達は流れる様な作業で男達を連れ出し、汚れた床や壁を綺麗に片づけ清掃を始めた。
“Now, my lady, let’s leave this to these girls. We must hurry.”
「さあ、お嬢様、此処はこの娘達に任せてまいりましょう。出来るだけ急ぎませんと」
“…Yes, Anna Mary, let’s hurry. We need to prepare quickly!!”
「……ええ、アンナメリー、急ぎま、しょう。急いで支度を、整えるの、です!!」
“The purpose and mastermind behind these individuals can be entrusted to these girls without worry. They will do a good job, so you can rest assured… Well, it’s obvious who is behind this, but testimony is necessary… ufufufu.”
「この者達の目的や黒幕は、この子達に任せておけば間違いありません。大丈夫です、この子達は良い仕事を致しますからね、安心ですよ……。まぁ背後に誰がいるかなど分り切った事ですが、証言は必要ですからね……ぅふふふ」
“…Ah, I see…”
「……あ、さ、左様です、か…………」
Suzy, slightly twitching at Anna Mary’s faint smile, took her hand and hurried toward the Amkam House’s private room.
スージィは、アンナメリーの薄い笑いに若干引き攣りつつも、彼女を連れ立ち、足早にアムカムハウスの自室へと向かって行った。
Thank you for reading.
お読みいただき、ありがとうございます。
Tomorrow, I will post another chapter.
明日、もう一話投下します。
Next time: “The Deployment of Team Aria”
次回「チームアリアの出撃」