發佈者:
執事#
佩魯魯.支線故事-第1章Pelulu.Offline-Chapter 1
エルバーノ王は、ゆったりと椅子に身をもたせかけながらも、
埃魯巴諾國王悠然地坐在椅子上,
肘掛けに置かれた指は音を立てることなく一定の拍子を刻んでいた。
指尖有條不紊地輕敲着椅子的扶手。 何者かに占領されてしまったエルフ族の聖地、
到底是誰佔領了艾路菲族的聖地,
エルデンバウムの近くに現れたリュアーク・テクニスタ派の帝国、アルティメア。
艾路登波姆的附近出現了泰尼斯塔.激進派建立的帝國—阿爾堤玫亞。数日前、エルバーノ王はその内情を探るべく、
數日前,埃魯巴諾國王為了探查內情,
この街、エル・スカーロへやって来た冒険者と、それにくっついて来たキュール族の商人娘、ペルルに調査を依頼し、アルティメアへと送り出した。
請求了一位來到這座城市(艾爾.斯卡羅)的冒險者和跟他一起的裘盧族商人女孩佩魯魯前住調查,然後把他們送往了阿爾堤玫亞。しかし、彼らの道中にあるカレ・モルトに住む月の民の長老から、
但是,從住在永劫之途的月之民長老口中得知,
集落の先にある「闇の道」付近で何か異変が発生したようだとの知らせが入り、
村莊前方的「黑暗之路」附近發生了異常的現像,
異変に巻き込まれたと思われる冒険者たちを捜索するべく兵士を向かわせたが、
他派遣士兵去尋找似乎被異常現像所捲入的冒險者。何日経っても冒険者たちの安否は杳としてわからない。
可是無論經過多少天,也無法確定冒險者的安全。目の前の執務机に置かれた書類の山だけが、徐々に山積みになっていくだけであった。
只有身前辦公桌上那與日俱增地堆積的文件小山。 やがて拍子を刻んでいた指が止まり、
最終,循環往復的指尖戛然而止,
エルバーノ王がカレ・モルトの方へ顔を上げた時、
埃魯巴諾國王抬起了頭,朝永劫之途的方向望去,
回廊を走って来る音が聞こえ、
走廊傳來了急促的足音,
救援に向かった兵士の一人が駆け込んできた。
一位前往營救的士兵匆忙地跑了進來,
弾かれたように上半身を起こし、
我急不可待地躍身而起,
思わず姿勢が前のめりになるのも構わず声をかける。
不假思索地大聲問道。「おお、戻ったか!冒険者たちは⁉無事だったか?」
「哦哦,你回來了!冒險者們呢!?平安無事嗎?」 だが、あわてて装束を直し跪いた兵士の言葉は、
但是,急忙整理裝束跪下的士兵的話語,
王の上半身を椅子の背もたれに押し戻した。
把國王彰着前傾的上半身推回了椅背上。「はっ、それが…ルナヘンテ山をくまなく捜索致しましたが、山頂付近で激しい戦いの痕跡を発見したものの、冒険者殿も、連れのペルル殿もどこにも見当たりませず…」
「是,那個……我們在月之恩澤山到處搜尋,儘管我在山頂附近發現了激烈戰鬥的痕跡,但在任何地方也找不到冒險者大人和隨行的佩魯魯大人…」「むう…戦いの痕跡は、おそらく冒険者が残したものだろうが…はたして何者と戦ったのか、無事なのか…」
「唔…戰鬥的痕跡可能是冒險者留下的…是在和誰打架,不會有事吧…」 背もたれに身を預け、
士兵轉身準備離開,
目を閉じようとしたエルバーノ王だが、
雲屯霧集的思緒縈繞心頭,正當埃魯巴諾國王試圖閉目養神。その時、気になるものが視界の隅に入った。
這時,一個令人在意的東西映入眼簾。再び身を起こして兵士に、
再次詢問士兵,「そなたの横にある小汚い塊は何だ?」
「你旁邊的小髒塊是什麼?」 兵士が驚いたように自分の傍らを見ると、ボロ布を丸めたような塊が落ちている。
士兵訝異地看着自己身旁,一塊粗麻布球掉了下來。それをつまみ上げながら、
把它撿了起來, 「ああ、この者は山頂で迷子になっていたようなので助けて参りました。親とはぐれて泣き通しだったのか、干からびてひどい状態でしたので…」
「哦哦,這個小孩好像在山頂上迷路了,所以我幫助了她。她應該是跟親人走失了,一直在哭,所以她現在有點脫水的狀態…」 兵士が襟首を持ってぶら下げたのはボロ布の塊ではなく、
士兵脖子上掛着的不是一團布塊,
小さな人物だった。
而是一個很小的人。汚れてあちこちがほころびているものの、その服装には見覚えがある。
雖然很髒亂,但我記得那衣服。しかし、顔は…まぶたが腫れて開かず、頬はげっそりと痩せこけ、
但是,臉上…眼皮腫脹無法張開,臉頰瘦削,
全体的に乾燥してひびが入るほどになっている。
全身乾燥到浮現裂紋。エルバーノ王はその顔をまじまじと見つめ、確証なさげに尋ねた。
埃魯巴諾國王盯著他的臉,並詢問和確認。「そなた…ペルルか?」
「你是…佩魯魯嗎?」「へ?あ、はいぃ…」
「唉?啊,是的…」力なく答えるのを聞いて、ぶら下げていた兵士も驚いて顔を見る。
聽到了那無力的回答,提着她的士兵驚訝地看着她的臉。「え?ペルル殿?こ、これは!し、失礼しました‼」
「咦?佩魯魯大人?這,這個!真的很抱歉!!」あわてて丁重に下へ降ろす。
士兵慌忙地輕輕放下了她。ふらつきながらも下を向いて立ったペルルの様子を見て、王は質問を続けた。
看着眼前搖搖欲墜地站着的佩魯魯,國王繼續提出了他的疑問。「いったい何があった?一緒にいた冒険者は?」
「發生什麼事了?和你一起的冒險者呢?」 その言葉を聞いた途端、ペルルの涸れきった腫れぼったい目が見る見るうちに湿り気を帯び、ぺたんと座り込みながら、
一聽到這句話,佩魯魯那浮腫的眼睛濕潤了起來,脱力地躺坐在地上,「死んじゃった…見た事もない怪物に…」
「死了…被一隻從沒見過的怪物…」とだけ言うと、しゃくりあげるように嗚咽を始めた。
欲言又止,她開始嗚咽,然後淚如崩堤,嚎啕大哭。エルバーノ王も、ペルルを連れて来た兵士も、彼女の言葉が放った衝撃で言葉を続ける事ができない。
埃魯巴諾國王和帶佩魯魯來的士兵,也被她的話所驚撼得啞然失聲。 とりあえず、兵士に下がるよう手で合図を送り、王はペルルが泣き止むのを待つことにした…
此刻,揮手示意士兵退下,國王決定靜靜地等待,直到佩魯魯停止哭泣…
King Elbano sat back in a relaxed manner while silently tapping his fingers on the armrest in rhythm.
Ultimea, the empire of the Lyark Technista faction emerged near Eldenbaum, the mecca for the Elf tribe that has been occupied by unknown beings. In order to find out about it, a few days ago King Elbano requested the adventurer that came to this city, El Scaro, as well as Pelulu, the merchant lady of the Cule tribe that tagged along, to investigate it, thus sending them out to Ultimea.
Later, the news about the occurrence of unusual phenomenon near the ‘Road to Darkness’from the elder of the Lunite Village that lives in Calle Mort reached King Elbano. Assuming that the adventurers might have got caught up in the trouble as Calle Mort is situated midway between El Scaro and Ultimea, soldiers were dispatched to look for them. However, no matter how many days passed, their safety remained completely unknown. While the documents on the desk right before him continued to pile up.
The rhythmic finger tapping finally stopped and as the king raised his eyes and stared in the direction of Calle Mort, the sound of someone running and approaching from the corridor became audible. It was one of the soldiers sent out for rescue that came rushing in. The king jumped to his feet and despite nearly falling forward, he exclaimed, “Ooh, you’re back! Where are the adventurers?! Are they all right?”
The soldier got down on his knees after quickly fixing his attire and replied, “I... I have looked all over Lunagent Mountain and even found some traces of intense battle near the summit. However, the adventurer and Pelulu were nowhere to be found...” Hearing that sat the king back down.
“Hmm... traces of battle, perhaps, the adventurer left them, but... whom did the adventurer actually fight and were they all right...”
King Elbano sat back and as he was about to close his eyes, he saw something bothering on the edge of his vision. He then rose back and asked the soldier.
“What’s that dirty lump beside you?”
The soldier seemed surprised as he looked next to him, was a lump of tattered cloth. He picked it up with his thumb and index finger and said,
“Ooh, this fellow seemed to have got lost at the summit, so I helped her. She might have lost sight of her parents and she kept crying back then. She was in a really bad state...”
The thing that the soldier picked up was not a lump of tattered cloth, but a tiny figure. The dirty clothes that are badly torn here and there seemed familiar. However, her face... with her swollen eyelids and extremely sunken cheeks showed that she had lost so much weight that she was nothing but skin and bones. King Elbano took a careful look at that face and asked in doubt.
“Are you... Pelulu?”
“Uh? Y-yess...”
Hearing that helpless response, the soldier that was grabbing her by the collar was astounded and took a look at her face.
“Oh my? Miss Pelulu? I-I’m so sorry!!”
He carefully put her down at once. Looking at Pelulu who was facing down while unsteadily standing on her feet, the king went on with his question.
“What happened exactly? Where’s the adventurer that was with you?”
As soon as Pelulu heard that, her dry and puffy eyes got watery. She plopped down in W position and replied,
“He’s dead... A monster I’ve never seen before...”
She stopped right there and started sobbing. Both King Elbano and the soldier were left completely gobsmacked.
The king then gestured the soldier to step back and let her be for the time being and decided to wait until she stopped crying...
A few hours later, a neat and pretty Pelulu stood before the king. Even after getting changed and having plenty of food and water, she was still not 100% who she used to be. While sympathizing with her, the king pried the unbelievable incident that took place in Lunagent Mountain out of her and somehow tried to comprehend.
“Hmm... so the adventurer was seriously wounded and knocked down by a monster?”
While sitting with her knees hugged, she murmured,
“Yeah... then as the monster was about to crush him, an arrow of light came flying out of nowhere... at first, I thought the arrow would only impale it, but it also sent the monster flying and it fell beyond the wall...”
Hearing that, King Elbano lowered his head and while stroking his chin with his right hand, he said,
“Hmm, impaling the monster with an arrow of light in a single shot... it’s not something humans can possibly do, but who did it... well, anyhow the monster was gone after that, so was the adventurer breathing when you ran up to him...?”
Pelulu who already looked small as she was curling up in a ball, became even smaller possibly after recalling what happened that day. She then answered, “I dunno... no matter how many times I called, didn’t move at all... I was at loss for what to do and I started crying, but then suddenly the body began to glow...”
“What?” reacted the king as he turned and looked at Pelulu after listening to her story that was far from reality.
While keeping her stance, Pelulu continued her talk. “Then he floated in the air and his body suddenly glowed so bright and just vanished into thin air...”
Once again the king lowered his head and as he stroked his chin with his right hand, he recalled the narrative about miracles written in the document he read long time ago. There will be light when a miracle happens, and most of the light is the proof of the great god’s protection. Being wrapped up in light and disappeared, doesn’t that mean he’s now under the protection of god? It’s true that the adventurer was badly injured, but it may be too soon to think that he’s dead... As the king was about to tell Pelulu what he was thinking, he suddenly changed his mind. The light of the great god’s protection is nothing more than a story in the ancient document. It doesn’t prove anything that the adventurer is still alive. While having the urge to console and comfort Pelulu who was swaying her curled up little body left and right, King Elbano constrained himself from giving her false hope that may let her down...
“Pelulu, why don’t you go get some air? If you just stay like that, you’ll get moldy, you know?” said King Elbano to Pelulu who was lying down in the corner of the room.
It had been a few days since she returned to El Scaro, but she still looked as if she had lost her spirit. She just lay there doing nothing and would not move an inch.
“I know you had gone through a series of foolhardy adventures with the adventurer that you barely had time to breathe, and now that everything ended so suddenly, telling you to get through it is sort of silly, but you can’t stay like this forever. You need to find ways to jazz up your life...”
When the king said that, a sentry presented himself before the king in the hall and went on his knees.
“Your Majesty, a city resident called Filecia has come to earnestly request for your help. What shall I do with her?”
“Trivial matters shall be settled by the sentries. I’m positive all of the city residents are aware of that, yet she wants my help. It bothers me... Well, bring her in.”
The sentry bowed once, left the hall and came back with a woman after a while. She was plain, but her clothes that are made of high-grade fabric and her silver ringlets indicated proper upbringing. Furthermore, her spectacles gave the impression that she is an intelligent woman of the Elf tribe.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Filecia, a city resident from the Aruna family...,” said the woman after bowing once to the king as soon as she entered the hall.
“Your Majesty, I wish you continued good health and much happiness. I understand it is too presumptuous of me to trouble you with my request...”
“No problem. What’s going on? Just say it.”
Believing she should just get to the point of her story, the king cut off the formal introductory remarks. Realizing that, Filecia continued right away. “Gladly, Your Majesty. As a matter of fact, inexplicable phenomena have been taking place around me lately... Bizarre things such as the furniture that moved by itself or the mansion residents that suffered from sudden loss of consciousness keep happening. Therefore, as the leading expert on not only various laws, but also magic and sorcery, I have come to rely on you, King Elbano.”
The king then said, “I see. Now I got it. However, even if I want to, I can’t set up a plan without conducting a thorough investigation on the mysterious phenomena... I’ve got official duties to perform and that somehow makes it difficult for me to conduct the investigation in person...”
The king began to think while stroking his chin with his right hand. Then suddenly, he elevated his head. Reflected in his eyes was Pelulu who was daydreaming in the corner of the hall. He quickly got his hand off his chin, strode towards her, bent down and took a peek into her face.
“Pelulu, oh, Pelulu! Sorry, but can I count on you?!”
“H-hah? W-what happened?” reacted Pelulu who did not expect the king’s loud voice in surprise and while lifting her head.
The king looked further into her face and said, “I want you to go to Filecia’s house now to find out about the mysterious phenomena that have been happening. If possible, I want you to solve them because anyway, you’re the one that made it out alive from numerous adventures with the adventurer until recently!”
Pelulu grimaced slightly as she heard the word ‘adventurer’.
“How many times do I have to tell you... you’re overestimating me. The adventurer did everything. I didn’t do anything... Besides, I’m still not in the mood to do anything...”
That was all she said and then she sprawled on the floor. That sight brought a smile to the king’s face. He stood up and turned to look at Filecia.
“Filecia, you’re from the Aruna family, aren’t you? It’s probably not very appropriate to ask, but I heard the noble families are losing their assets recently. Does it happen to your family too?”
Filecia seemed baffled for a second, but as soon as she saw Pelulu pricking up her ears, she grinned.
“Thank you for your concern. But we have a manor and we are selling the vegetables harvested within the manor, so our assets are actually growing, although just a little. Once the mystery of the phenomena is solved, please allow me to prepare an adequate reward for troubling you.”
After assuring himself that Pelulu heard what Filecia said, King Elbano talked to Pelulu once again.
“Pelulu. Let me ask you once again. I need you to investigate the mysterious phenomena in Filecia’s house...”
Just as the king finished his words, Pelulu instantly got up slowly and while pretending to brush off her dustless body, she gently opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, you have been very kind to me for letting me stay here. I have to say yes. I’ll investigate it. But as you know, I’m just a good-for-nothing that have always been following the adventurer around.”
The king nodded a few times appearing satisfied with Pelulu’s cold response. And thus, began the little tale of Pelulu’s adventure who was separated from the adventurer.
Ultimea, the empire of the Lyark Technista faction emerged near Eldenbaum, the mecca for the Elf tribe that has been occupied by unknown beings. In order to find out about it, a few days ago King Elbano requested the adventurer that came to this city, El Scaro, as well as Pelulu, the merchant lady of the Cule tribe that tagged along, to investigate it, thus sending them out to Ultimea.
Later, the news about the occurrence of unusual phenomenon near the ‘Road to Darkness’from the elder of the Lunite Village that lives in Calle Mort reached King Elbano. Assuming that the adventurers might have got caught up in the trouble as Calle Mort is situated midway between El Scaro and Ultimea, soldiers were dispatched to look for them. However, no matter how many days passed, their safety remained completely unknown. While the documents on the desk right before him continued to pile up.
The rhythmic finger tapping finally stopped and as the king raised his eyes and stared in the direction of Calle Mort, the sound of someone running and approaching from the corridor became audible. It was one of the soldiers sent out for rescue that came rushing in. The king jumped to his feet and despite nearly falling forward, he exclaimed, “Ooh, you’re back! Where are the adventurers?! Are they all right?”
The soldier got down on his knees after quickly fixing his attire and replied, “I... I have looked all over Lunagent Mountain and even found some traces of intense battle near the summit. However, the adventurer and Pelulu were nowhere to be found...” Hearing that sat the king back down.
“Hmm... traces of battle, perhaps, the adventurer left them, but... whom did the adventurer actually fight and were they all right...”
King Elbano sat back and as he was about to close his eyes, he saw something bothering on the edge of his vision. He then rose back and asked the soldier.
“What’s that dirty lump beside you?”
The soldier seemed surprised as he looked next to him, was a lump of tattered cloth. He picked it up with his thumb and index finger and said,
“Ooh, this fellow seemed to have got lost at the summit, so I helped her. She might have lost sight of her parents and she kept crying back then. She was in a really bad state...”
The thing that the soldier picked up was not a lump of tattered cloth, but a tiny figure. The dirty clothes that are badly torn here and there seemed familiar. However, her face... with her swollen eyelids and extremely sunken cheeks showed that she had lost so much weight that she was nothing but skin and bones. King Elbano took a careful look at that face and asked in doubt.
“Are you... Pelulu?”
“Uh? Y-yess...”
Hearing that helpless response, the soldier that was grabbing her by the collar was astounded and took a look at her face.
“Oh my? Miss Pelulu? I-I’m so sorry!!”
He carefully put her down at once. Looking at Pelulu who was facing down while unsteadily standing on her feet, the king went on with his question.
“What happened exactly? Where’s the adventurer that was with you?”
As soon as Pelulu heard that, her dry and puffy eyes got watery. She plopped down in W position and replied,
“He’s dead... A monster I’ve never seen before...”
She stopped right there and started sobbing. Both King Elbano and the soldier were left completely gobsmacked.
The king then gestured the soldier to step back and let her be for the time being and decided to wait until she stopped crying...
A few hours later, a neat and pretty Pelulu stood before the king. Even after getting changed and having plenty of food and water, she was still not 100% who she used to be. While sympathizing with her, the king pried the unbelievable incident that took place in Lunagent Mountain out of her and somehow tried to comprehend.
“Hmm... so the adventurer was seriously wounded and knocked down by a monster?”
While sitting with her knees hugged, she murmured,
“Yeah... then as the monster was about to crush him, an arrow of light came flying out of nowhere... at first, I thought the arrow would only impale it, but it also sent the monster flying and it fell beyond the wall...”
Hearing that, King Elbano lowered his head and while stroking his chin with his right hand, he said,
“Hmm, impaling the monster with an arrow of light in a single shot... it’s not something humans can possibly do, but who did it... well, anyhow the monster was gone after that, so was the adventurer breathing when you ran up to him...?”
Pelulu who already looked small as she was curling up in a ball, became even smaller possibly after recalling what happened that day. She then answered, “I dunno... no matter how many times I called, didn’t move at all... I was at loss for what to do and I started crying, but then suddenly the body began to glow...”
“What?” reacted the king as he turned and looked at Pelulu after listening to her story that was far from reality.
While keeping her stance, Pelulu continued her talk. “Then he floated in the air and his body suddenly glowed so bright and just vanished into thin air...”
Once again the king lowered his head and as he stroked his chin with his right hand, he recalled the narrative about miracles written in the document he read long time ago. There will be light when a miracle happens, and most of the light is the proof of the great god’s protection. Being wrapped up in light and disappeared, doesn’t that mean he’s now under the protection of god? It’s true that the adventurer was badly injured, but it may be too soon to think that he’s dead... As the king was about to tell Pelulu what he was thinking, he suddenly changed his mind. The light of the great god’s protection is nothing more than a story in the ancient document. It doesn’t prove anything that the adventurer is still alive. While having the urge to console and comfort Pelulu who was swaying her curled up little body left and right, King Elbano constrained himself from giving her false hope that may let her down...
“Pelulu, why don’t you go get some air? If you just stay like that, you’ll get moldy, you know?” said King Elbano to Pelulu who was lying down in the corner of the room.
It had been a few days since she returned to El Scaro, but she still looked as if she had lost her spirit. She just lay there doing nothing and would not move an inch.
“I know you had gone through a series of foolhardy adventures with the adventurer that you barely had time to breathe, and now that everything ended so suddenly, telling you to get through it is sort of silly, but you can’t stay like this forever. You need to find ways to jazz up your life...”
When the king said that, a sentry presented himself before the king in the hall and went on his knees.
“Your Majesty, a city resident called Filecia has come to earnestly request for your help. What shall I do with her?”
“Trivial matters shall be settled by the sentries. I’m positive all of the city residents are aware of that, yet she wants my help. It bothers me... Well, bring her in.”
The sentry bowed once, left the hall and came back with a woman after a while. She was plain, but her clothes that are made of high-grade fabric and her silver ringlets indicated proper upbringing. Furthermore, her spectacles gave the impression that she is an intelligent woman of the Elf tribe.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Filecia, a city resident from the Aruna family...,” said the woman after bowing once to the king as soon as she entered the hall.
“Your Majesty, I wish you continued good health and much happiness. I understand it is too presumptuous of me to trouble you with my request...”
“No problem. What’s going on? Just say it.”
Believing she should just get to the point of her story, the king cut off the formal introductory remarks. Realizing that, Filecia continued right away. “Gladly, Your Majesty. As a matter of fact, inexplicable phenomena have been taking place around me lately... Bizarre things such as the furniture that moved by itself or the mansion residents that suffered from sudden loss of consciousness keep happening. Therefore, as the leading expert on not only various laws, but also magic and sorcery, I have come to rely on you, King Elbano.”
The king then said, “I see. Now I got it. However, even if I want to, I can’t set up a plan without conducting a thorough investigation on the mysterious phenomena... I’ve got official duties to perform and that somehow makes it difficult for me to conduct the investigation in person...”
The king began to think while stroking his chin with his right hand. Then suddenly, he elevated his head. Reflected in his eyes was Pelulu who was daydreaming in the corner of the hall. He quickly got his hand off his chin, strode towards her, bent down and took a peek into her face.
“Pelulu, oh, Pelulu! Sorry, but can I count on you?!”
“H-hah? W-what happened?” reacted Pelulu who did not expect the king’s loud voice in surprise and while lifting her head.
The king looked further into her face and said, “I want you to go to Filecia’s house now to find out about the mysterious phenomena that have been happening. If possible, I want you to solve them because anyway, you’re the one that made it out alive from numerous adventures with the adventurer until recently!”
Pelulu grimaced slightly as she heard the word ‘adventurer’.
“How many times do I have to tell you... you’re overestimating me. The adventurer did everything. I didn’t do anything... Besides, I’m still not in the mood to do anything...”
That was all she said and then she sprawled on the floor. That sight brought a smile to the king’s face. He stood up and turned to look at Filecia.
“Filecia, you’re from the Aruna family, aren’t you? It’s probably not very appropriate to ask, but I heard the noble families are losing their assets recently. Does it happen to your family too?”
Filecia seemed baffled for a second, but as soon as she saw Pelulu pricking up her ears, she grinned.
“Thank you for your concern. But we have a manor and we are selling the vegetables harvested within the manor, so our assets are actually growing, although just a little. Once the mystery of the phenomena is solved, please allow me to prepare an adequate reward for troubling you.”
After assuring himself that Pelulu heard what Filecia said, King Elbano talked to Pelulu once again.
“Pelulu. Let me ask you once again. I need you to investigate the mysterious phenomena in Filecia’s house...”
Just as the king finished his words, Pelulu instantly got up slowly and while pretending to brush off her dustless body, she gently opened her mouth.
“Your Majesty, you have been very kind to me for letting me stay here. I have to say yes. I’ll investigate it. But as you know, I’m just a good-for-nothing that have always been following the adventurer around.”
The king nodded a few times appearing satisfied with Pelulu’s cold response. And thus, began the little tale of Pelulu’s adventure who was separated from the adventurer.
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