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The Five Elders and Mashiro (Perspective of the Five Elders)

五大老とマシロ（五大老視点）

 

“Maybe the performance was a bit too good for everyday use. The silk spider cloth I bought from Kari-chan was quite high quality.”

「ちょっと普段使いには性能が良すぎたかぁー。カリちゃんから買ったシルクスパイダー布、結構良質だったね」

“But I guess I’m satisfied since I got to see it worn at least once.”

「でも一回着てもらえたから満足かなって」

“Perhaps layering different enchantments on each frill of the gothic dress was a bit excessive.”

「ゴシックドレスのフリルひとつひとつに異なるエンチャントつけて重ねたのはやり過ぎだったかもしれない」

“It was a problem that once it was worn, it was difficult to take off. Improvement is needed.”

「一度着ちゃうと脱がせるのが難しいのはダメだったねぇ。改善改善」

“At least the headpiece… is that too much to ask?”

「せめてヘッドドレスだけでも……ダメかな？」

 

 

As the Five Elders were having a lively reflection meeting in the base’s living room, a wolf beastman carrying a wooden box passed by.

五大老達が拠点のリビングでわいわい反省会をしていると、そこに肩に木箱を担いだ狼獣人が通りかかる。

This was Mashiro, an A-rank adventurer who frequented the base to use the bath.

この拠点にお風呂を使いに通うＡランク冒険者、マシロだ。

 

“Hm? A newcomer? Since you’re here, you must be an acquaintance of Karina. Nice to meet you.”

「ん？　新顔か？　ここにいるってことはカリーナの知り合いだよな、よろしく」

 

Mashiro smiled broadly. With a wolf head, it could be seen as a smile that might make a child cry. However, the Five Elders understood from their rich life experience that it was a pure smile of a beastman, so there was no crying.

ニィッと笑顔を浮かべるマシロ。狼頭で、見ようによっては子供が泣きそうな笑顔ではある。が、五大老達は豊富な人生経験からそれが獣人の純粋な笑顔だと理解できたため、泣くことはなかった。

 

“Oh? A fluffy beastman, huh? Nice to meet you!”

「お？　フサフサ系な獣人さんだね。よろしくー」

“Nice to meet you too. Are you an acquaintance of Kari-chan?”

「よろ。カリちゃんの知り合いさん？」

“Fluffy, such nice fur…”

「もふい、良い毛皮……」

“It’s so soft. I want to pet it.”

「ふかふかだねぇ。撫でたい」

“Wild charm? It seems like something Kari-chan would like.”

「ワイルドな魅力？　カリちゃんが好きそうな感じ」

 

The first meeting between the Five Elders and Mashiro began with such light greetings.

五大老とマシロ、初めての出会いはこんな軽い挨拶で始まった。

 

And the Five Elders immediately threw a scrutinizing gaze at Mashiro.

そして、五大老は早速品定めのような視線をマシロに投げかける。

It could be called a professional habit.

それは職業病と言ってもいい。

What weapon does he use? What kind of equipment suits him? What enchantments would match?

使用武器は何か。どういう装備が似合うか。合うエンチャントは何か。

They couldn’t help but observe his character.

その人となりを、ついつい観測てしまうのだ。

 

For the Five Elders, just five seconds of observation would reveal most of an adventurer’s abilities.

五大老ともなれば、５秒も眺めれば冒険者の大体の実力は分かる。

 

――The only person they couldn’t figure out was Karina.

――分からなかった相手はカリーナくらいだ。

She looked like just an amateur despite having a dragon at her side.

あれはドラゴンを従えてるのにただの素人にしか見えなかった。

 

“Hmm. Quite skilled, but I want a bit more.”

「ふむ。中々の腕前だけど、もうちょっと欲しいかなー」

“Speed feels good. I’d like to add a little more.”

「素早さは良い感じ。もう少し上乗せしたいけど」

“This fluffiness can be polished a bit more.”

「このふわふわ感はもう少し磨けるはず」

“B… no, barely A rank? There’s still room for development.”

「Ｂ……いや、ギリＡランク？　もう少し発展の余地があるな」

“There’s no doubt that wild styles suit him.”

「ワイルド系が似合うのは間違いない」

 

That evaluation was somewhere around “not bad.”

その評価は、『まぁまぁ』といったところ。

The perspective of the Five Elders, who knew the highest standards, was somewhat harsh.

最上級を知る五大老の目線は、やや辛口だった。

 

“Huh? What’s with the sudden scrutiny?”

「んぁ？　なんだよいきなり」

“Oh, sorry, sorry. It’s just my profession.”

「あー、ゴメンゴメン。つい職業柄ね」

“We’re dwarves, you see. Everyone here is a craftsman.”

「あちき達、ドワーフだからさ。みんな職人なの」

“As an apology, I’ll make you something next time—though it won’t be free.”

「お詫びに今度何か作ってあげるよー、タダとはいかないけど」

“Since we have Kari-chan’s goodwill, I’ll give you a discount.”

「カリちゃんのよしみもあるし、格安にしてあげる」

“I’ll at least charge for materials, though.”

「最低でも材料費はもらうけどねー」

 

The five smiled at Mashiro.

ニコニコとマシロを見る５人。

 

“Hmm. Well, that’s fine then. You seem older than me, so I won’t complain too much about this. But right now, I’m saving up money and can’t afford to order anything, so I’ll ask again next time.”

「ふーん。まぁそんならいいか。アタシより年上っぽいし、この程度でグダグダ言うほど小せぇケツの穴でもねぇからな。ま、今ちょっと金貯めてて余裕ないから、また今度頼むわ」

 

With that, Mashiro waved his hand.

と、手をヒラヒラさせるマシロ。

Yes, Mashiro was currently saving money to order equipment from the Five Elders, who were acquaintances of Karina.

そう、マシロは今、カリーナの知り合いである五大老に装備を注文するため、お金をためている最中だ。

So, he had no room to ask something from an unknown craftsman who seemed a few years older than him.

なので、初対面の、自分よりいくつか年上の名も知らぬ職人に何かを頼む余裕はなかった。

 

…Seeing this reaction, the first of the Five Elders, Vermilion, also known as Mi-chan, began to whisper.

……と、この反応をみて五大老第一位、バーミリオンことミーちゃんがひそひそ話を始める。

 

“…Does it seem like he hasn’t noticed us?”

「……これウチらの事気付いてないっぽい？」

“It does seem that way. If he had, he’d be overjoyed as an adventurer.”

「ぽいぽい。気付いてたら、冒険者なら大喜びのハズだもんね」

“Not completely oblivious… It’s likely that the information about us rejuvenating hasn’t spread.”

「節穴……ってわけでもないか。わっちらが若返った情報、広まってないだろうし」

“What should we do? Should we introduce ourselves properly?”

「どーする？　ちゃんと自己紹介する？」

“Since it’s a rare opportunity, I might want to have a little fun. It could serve as a sample of his reactions towards us in the future.”

「折角だしちょっと遊びたいかも。今後私達に対する反応のサンプルにもなるし」

 

As a result, they decided to keep quiet until they were introduced by Kari-chan.

結果、「カリちゃんに紹介されるまで黙っとく」という形で対応方針は纏まった。

 

 

Then, Mashiro called out to the five who had settled on their response.

と、対応が決まった５人にマシロが声をかける。

 

“Hey. Since it’s a rare meeting, how about a drink? I brought some crawler sake that I thought to leave here. I bought in bulk, so it was a bit cheaper, but I feel like I might have bought too much.”

「なあ。折角の出会いだ、飲むか？　丁度ここに置いておこうと思ってクローラー酒もってきたんだ。まとめ買いだとちょっと安くなるって買いこんだんだが、ちーっとばかし買いすぎた気がしてたんだ」

 

ドワーフ５人と飲むには少し少ないかもだが、とリビングのテーブルに酒の入った箱をカシャンと置くマシロ。

 

“Evaluation upgrade. This kid is a good kid.”

「評価上方修正。この子ってばいい子だ」

“Yeah, yeah, I can bring out even more of his talent!”

「うんうん、あちきならもっと才能を引き出してあげられるよ！」

“I think I’ll make him a brush.”

「わっち、ブラシを作ってあげようかなー」

“If that’s the case, I can lend a hand. At a super special price.”

「これならあたし手を貸してもいいよ。超特価で」

“On the contrary, I feel like I want to dress him up in cute clothes.”

「逆に可愛い系の服を着せてみたい気持ちが芽生えた私がいる」

 

This was Karina’s base, and there was no doubt they were “friends.”

ここがカリーナの拠点であり、間違いなく『お仲間』であること。

Even though he said he was saving money, he was trying to treat them to drinks for their welcome.

お金を貯めていると言っていたのに歓迎のためお酒を奢ってくれようとしてくれること。

 

The harsh evaluation quickly turned sweet.

辛口評価はあっさりと甘く転じた。

 

 

 

 

(For dwarves, a person who treats them to drinks is basically a good person.

（ドワーフにとって、お酒を奢ってくれる人は基本良い人なのだ。

Because they treat them to drinks.)

お酒を奢ってくれるので。）

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