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Chapter 141: Each Night, Part 1 (In the Case of Philip Cloud)

141話　其々の夜　その1（フィリップ・クラウドの場合）

“I hate you, Father!!”

「お父さまなんて！大っっキライ！！」

“A-Annie?!”

「ア、アニー？！」

 

With a strong retort, Annie rushed out of the room.

力強く捨て台詞を残し、部屋から勢いよく駆け出すアニー。

Philip watched her leave, his expression frozen in shock.

それをフィリップは、呆然とした表情を張り付かせながら見送った。

He then stumbled and collapsed onto a nearby sofa, sinking into it weakly.

そのままよろよろと近くのソファーに崩れ落ち、力無くそこへ沈み込んで行く。

 

He had braced himself for some rebellion, but he never expected that being directly told “I hate you” would hit him so hard.

多少の反抗は覚悟していたが、『嫌い』と言う言葉を直接投げ付けられる事が、これほどまでに心に来る物だとは思ってもいなかった。

 

“Listen, Philip. That’s unacceptable. I can’t see any way to win. Even surrounded by a horde of monsters in the depths of Iroshio, it wouldn’t feel as hopeless as this. If you are a father with a daughter, you will eventually face this. Make sure you are prepared so that it doesn’t become a fatal blow when it hits you unexpectedly.”

『いいかフィリップ。アレはいかん。勝ち筋が全く見えんのだ。イロシオの深層で魔獣の群れに囲まれたとて、あれほどの絶望感は有りはしない。お前も娘を持つ父親であれば、いつか出くわす事もあろう。不意に喰らった時に致命の一撃にならぬ様、心積もりだけはしておけよ？』

He remembered his brother talking about this at a drinking party, but he never thought he would experience something like that himself…

前に酒の席で兄貴が語っていた事を、ただ笑い話として聞いていた覚えはあったが、まさか自分もそんな目に遭う事になろうとは……。

 

Summoning the remaining strength he had, Philip pressed his arms against the edge of the sofa and finally managed to stand up.

フィリップは残る力を振り絞る様に、ソファーの縁にかけた腕に力を入れ、やっとの思いで立ち上がる。

From there, he made his way to the study’s cabinet with unsteady steps. Normally, it would take him less than two steps to cover that distance, but today it felt so far away.

そしてそこから書斎のキャビネットまで力の無い足どりで辿り着いた。普段であれば2歩とはかからぬ距離なのに、今日はなんと遠くに感じる事か。

He retrieved the special malt whiskey he had stored inside.

そして中に仕舞い込んでいた、とっておきのモルトウィスキーを取り出した。

 

He broke the seal on the bottle, and with a little effort, pulled out the cork, releasing a pleasant sound as the rich aroma of malt wafted out.

瓶の封を切り、僅かばかりの力を入れて口栓を引き抜けば、心地よい音と共にモルトの芳醇な香りが漏れ広がる。

As he tilted the bottle into the crystal glass he had taken out, the amber liquid filled the glass with a rhythmic sound as it met the air.

一緒に取り出したクリスタルグラスにボトルを傾ければ、琥珀の液体がリズミカルに空気を打つ音と共に、グラスを見る見る満たして行く。

Normally, he would savor that aroma and enjoy it slowly, but Philip gulped it down all at once.

本来であれば、その香りを堪能しながらユックリと味わう所なのだが、フィリップはそれを一気に喉の奥へと流し込んだ。

 

I can’t hold back any longer…

これは飲まずにはやっておれん……。

 

He tossed his jacket onto the sofa, unbuttoned the collar of his shirt, and tilted the glass two or three times, but that wouldn’t lift his spirits.

上着をソファーの上へ脱ぎ捨て、シャツの襟元のボタンを外し、二度、三度とグラスを傾けるがそんな事で気分の晴れる筈もない。

 

Unknowingly, a deep sigh escaped him.

我知らず、深い溜息が漏れて出てしまう。

 

 

 

After receiving a report from Irvin during the day, he immediately sent the guards he had prepared to the facility.

昼にアーヴィンの報告を受け、準備させていた衛士達を直ぐ様施設に送り出した。

Although nothing serious had happened, he felt a slight chill run down his back when he heard that Annie had engaged in combat afterward.

事無きを得たとはいえ、その後アニーが戦闘を行ったと聞いた時には、少しばかり冷たい物が背中を伝った。

 

If she had grown up in Amukam from the beginning, perhaps it would be dismissed as “just this much.” But no, he distinctly remembered how shaken his brother was when he heard that Ravi, at the same age as Annie now, had faced an orc.

最初からアムカムで育った子であれば、『この程度の事』と言われてしまうのかも知れないが……。いや、確かラヴィが今のアニーと同じ年の頃、オークと対峙したと聞いた時の兄貴の動揺は尋常ではなかった。

 

However, Ravi’s opponent at that time was a sick orc from Iroshio.

だが、その時のラヴィの相手はイロシオのシックオークだ。

It was different from the thugs of Anatris. Moreover, it was said that Ravi had successfully repelled them… He recalled that the child had always been extraordinary.

アナトリスのゴロツキとは訳が違う。しかも、ラヴィは見事に撃退までしたと言う……。あの子も昔から規格外だった事を思い出す。

 

No, no, this is about Annie.

いやいや、今はアニーの事だ。

 

 

Thanks to the somewhat suspicious situation in that country, the surrounding areas have begun to feel the effects. There’s no doubt that this is a good opportunity. However, he couldn’t bear to place his daughter in the midst of such turmoil any longer.

件の国が少しばかりきな臭くなったおかげで、その周辺にも影響が出始めている。これが好機である事は間違い無い。だが、自分の娘をこれ以上荒事の只中に置く気にはなれない。

 

Even if he told Annie, “Your work is done,” she would obviously not accept it. She would argue, “The work is not finished yet,” and “I can’t just give up halfway.”

アニーに「もう仕事は終わりだ」と告げても、本人は当然納得などしない。「まだ仕事は終わっていない」「途中で投げ出すわけにはいかない」と反論して来る。

 

He had anticipated her rebellion, but he realized that his words had been insufficient.

当然反抗する事は予想していたが、自分の言葉が足らなかった。

He was also aware that his tone had become harsher.

言い方も強くなってしまった事は自覚もしている。

Another deep sigh escaped him.

重ねて大きな溜息が漏れた。

 

“Dear, even though it’s after a meal, aren’t you drinking a bit too much?”

「アナタ、食事の後とは言え、少し飲み過ぎではありませんか？」

“It’s a matter of feelings.”

「気持ちの問題だよ」

“Please drink in moderation.”

「程々になさいませ」

“I know… I know, but…”

「分かっているさ……。分かってはいるんだけどね」

“You really are hopeless.”

「しょうのない方ね」

 

Liliana, who had come to check on her husband, sighed in exasperation.

夫の様子を見に来たリリアナが、呆れた様にため息をついた。

She then sat down next to him and said, “Since there’s no helping it, I’ll accompany you for a little while,” prompting Philip to stand up happily to grab another glass.

そしてそのまま夫の隣に腰をおろし、「仕方がないので、少しだけお付き合いいたしましょう」と告げると、フィリップは嬉しそうにグラスをもう一つ取ろうと立ち上がる。

 

However, at that moment, a quiet knock sounded at the door. From beyond the door, the house steward announced that urgent business had arrived.

しかし、そこに扉を静かに叩く音が響いた。扉の向こうからは、屋敷の家令が急ぎの用件が届いたと告げている。

If he allowed entry, the elderly steward would approach Philip with quiet steps and open his mouth.

入室を許せば、老齢の家令が静かな足取りでフィリップの前まで進み口を開く。

 

“Sir, I have news from the Bear Trading Company.”

「旦那様、ベア商会よりの報せで御座います」

“From Colette?”

「コレットからか？」

“And also a report from the Bairos family.”

「それと、バイロス家よりもご報告が」

“What happened?!”

「何が起きた？！」

 

Philip quickly gathered his thoughts and received the note the steward had brought, scanning it swiftly.

フィリップは瞬時に意識を整え、家令が持って来たメモを受け取ると素早く目を通した。

But immediately, his eyes widened in shock.

だが、直ぐにその目を精一杯見開く。

 

“Dear? What happened?”

「アナタ？どうなさいました？」

“She did it! She really did it!!”

「やってくれた！やってくれたよあの子は！！」

“She…?”

「あの子……ですか？」

“It’s Suzy! Haha! That girl has done something incredible!”

「スージィだよ！はは！あの子がやらかしてくれた！」

 

Philip, overwhelmed with emotion, slapped his palm against his forehead.

フィリップは感極まった様に手のひらで自らの額を打ち付ける。

 

“She crushed all their bases, incapacitated almost all the soldiers, and even freed the hidden vault!”

「連中の拠点を悉く潰し、剰え殆どの兵隊を戦闘不能にさせ、隠し金庫も解放したそうだ！」

 

That child had not yet conveyed that she had been preparing and watching for an opportunity against that gang of thugs.

あの愚連の集団に対し、機会を窺い準備を進めていた事はまだあの子は伝えていない。

What they had been trying to do for years, she accomplished in just one night.

我々がここ数年間で、やろうとしても出来なかった事をたった一晩でやってしまった。

 

“Isn’t it a mockery of us who have been preparing for so long?!”

「時間をかけて準備をして来た我々を嘲笑うかの様な手際じゃないか？！」

“You seem quite pleased.”

「何か嬉しそうですね」

“Haha! The schemes of clever people can be overturned in just one night! This is truly the embodiment of Amukam itself! How can I not laugh?!”

「はは！小賢しい人の謀など、たった一夜でひっくり返される！正に顕現したアムカム其の物だ！これが笑わずにいられるかね？！」

 

Philip couldn’t hold back his laughter.

フィリップが堪え切れずに笑いを漏らす。

 

In Amukam, he had seen that child sparring with his brother many times. He had also sparred with her numerous times.

アムカムで、あの子が兄貴との手合わせをしている所は何度も見た。自分も幾度も手を合わせている。

He fully understood that she was extraordinary beyond measure. He thought he understood Suzy’s abilities.

あの子が規格外の規格外である事は十分に分かっている。スージィの実力は理解しているつもりだ。

 

But how could she pull off something so outrageous in such a short time without any information?!

だが、何の情報も無い筈なのに、この短時間で此処迄ぶっ飛んだ事をやらかすか？！

 

His brother had repeatedly bowed his head, saying, “I think it will be troublesome, but please take care of it. Almost certainly, she will do something. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please take care of it.” He had also mentioned, “I have assigned the daughters of the Kuroki and Matisson families as watchers, but when she does something, she really does it, so just be prepared.”

兄貴からも「面倒をかけると思うが宜しく頼む。恐らくほぼ間違いなく十中八九必ず何かやらかす。迷惑をかけると思うが何卒よろしく頼む」と何度も頭を下げられた。「目付として、クロキ家マティスン家の娘達を付けたが、やらかす時にはやらかすので覚悟だけはしておいてくれ」とも。

 

What on earth! Even though she must have done something outrageous, why is my heart racing so much?!

全く！とんでもない事をしてくれた筈なのに、何故に自分の胸はこんなにも躍っているのだろうか！

 

“But this will significantly shorten our schedule! We can’t miss this opportunity! Send a messenger to Chief Goldberg! I will request the deployment of the guards in Dekkenbel! Have them set up a siege by morning!”

「だが、これで予定が大きく短縮出来る！この機は逃せない！ゴールドバーグ本部長へ使者を出せ！デケンベル中の衛士の出動を申請するぞ！朝までに包囲網を敷き上げさせろ！」

 

Philip issued instructions to the steward, took his discarded jacket, and slipped it on.

フィリップは家令へ指示を飛ばすと、先程脱ぎ捨てた自分の上着を手に取り、そこに袖を通す。

 

“I will be going to Colette’s place now. She must be in a panic by now.”

「私はこれからコレットの所へ行って来る。彼女もどうせ今頃は大慌てだろうさ」

“Then I will head to the Dekkenbel Defense Headquarters. I will convey the message to Lord Robert Randall Goldberg myself.”

「では私がデケンベル方面防衛機構本部へ伺いましょう。ロバート・ランドル・ゴールドバーグ様へは私からお伝えいたします」

“Can I count on you?”

「頼めるかい？」

“Fufu! I am also very excited right now!”

「フフ！私も、今とってもワクワクしてますのよ？」

“Haha! So am I! Now! Let’s prepare for the festival!”

「はは！私もだよ！さあ！祭りの準備を立ち上げるぞ！」

 

Even though night was beginning to fall, the lively voices of Philip and the others echoed throughout the Cloud residence.

夜も更け始めたと言うのに、クラウド邸の中ではフィリップ達の勢いのある声が響き渡る。

 

It was just after Annie had cried herself to sleep, unable to digest her anger towards her father.

それはアニーが父への怒りを消化しきれず、泣き疲れて眠りに就いてから間もない頃だった。

 

Thank you for reading.

お読み頂き、ありがとうございます。

 

 

Thank you for pointing out any typos or errors!

誤字脱字のご指摘、ありがとうございます！

 

Thank you for your bookmarks and evaluations! They are always a source of encouragement!!

ブクマ、ご評価もありがとうございます！いつも励みになっております！！

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