2013-11-12: The Mad, Mongbat-Minded Mage
The Mad, Mongbat-Minded Mage / 変人魔術師はモンバットがお好き
| Author: EM Drosselmeyer | Published: November 12, 2013 |
The city had been a nicer place once. It had been busier, filled with bustling life and mages learning and earning their keep amidst masters and grandmasters. But that was many years ago, he reminded himself...and despite the ferocity of those remaining in these lands, so many had already moved on to calmer waters. He'd been warned against going at all by his Royal Guard, with them finally relenting when he agreed to take two with him as protection, but he told them as simply as he understood it himself; If he found who he was looking for and they were intractable, a regiment would likely not be enough.
The gates of wrought iron still stood, and though there were traces of rust, it was no worse off than the rest of the great city. As he passed through, more foreboding signs abounded...there were bodies amidst the streets, and he shook his head...most of them inhuman, monstrous things that should have been in the dungeons of the lands instead of the streets of a city steeped in history. Cracks of lightning and the pull of bowstring could be heard from various directions, but it was when the entire sky seemed to open up with a continuous peal of thundering roars that he knew where he wanted to go.
As they headed forward, his guards saw a dragon rise up from behind a building, jaws smeared with the red of blood, and let loose a roar at the trio. They immediately stepped in to engage, mace and war axe singing their deadly song as the warriors danced with the beast, and the man found his hands conjuring forth power. Fireballs and bolts of pure energy were slung forth from his hands before one of the guards sank his war axe deep into the beast and wrenched it free as it fell, shaking the ichor from it as they resumed on their way once more. “We must hurry, because I fear he will not tarry long.”
“Aye, M'lord.” They responded in unison, falling into pace with their King as he quickly headed forward. Turning a corner, they came across a rank of mages under the command of a man standing astride a slanted rooftop, wrapped in a robe and cloak of llamahair and shouting commands. Even as the mages under his command worked in unison, he spoke in chants that shook the heavens with their power, and a bolt of lightning as wide as a house blasted down into the lighthouse, and it shattered under the power, exploding into ruin. This was the man he sought.
Astride the roof, the man turned with a curious look as one of the mages called out to him, and he grinned a crooked grin as he saw the King. He motioned with an expansive gesture that took in the broken cobblestone and cracked walls of the buildings of the city, smiling widely as he spoke. “Well, boys and girls, all bid welcome to your rightful ruler and King, the most esteemed and glorious Lord Blackthorn! It seems he's seen fit to give us a call, and here we've no feast prepared! What do you think we should do about that, m'boys?”
The knights bristled at hearing the words in such a mocking manner to their King, but he merely waved them down. “Were I to call in that fashion I'd bring a feast for you and your men, rather than expect you to provide, Grand Councilor.”
“How magnanimous! But you'll never find a mage wanting for food, Lord Blackthorn, only for reagents!" A grin and several chuckles came out of the crowd as the lively man cast a spell and teleported down, appearing only a few feet from the king. "Of course, you were a mage once yourself, weren't you? I heard about that mess with the gates, so I assume you still are..." The mage swayed back and forth on his feet, examining the regent before speaking again. "Now, what brings the Regent of all Britannia to Felucca Moonglow, M'lord?”
“Grand Councilor Anon, it's you that have brought me; Or rather, searching for you has. I would ask a favor of you.”
Anon looked at him incredulously. “You came here to ask me a favor? And why would I help you, Blackthorn? You did precious little to convince Nystul of his folly when siding with me might have swayed him.” Distrust and paranoia seemed to tinge each of his words, and his hands were constantly moving in agitation.
King Blackthorn gave an appreciative nod to his remark, noting the behavior once before forcing himself to look Anon in the eyes. “That is true, Grand Councilor...and I cannot say if I had the chance whether I would have changed that or not. I do not have that chance; But we have a chance now to work together. With Nystul gone and Clainin dead...”
“A halfwit and his puppy...”
King Blackthorn ignored the remark, continuing on. “There is no doubt whom is the most powerful and knowledgeable mage in all the realm.”
Anon puffed up slightly, looking rather pleased at the praise, and was about to open his mouth before the King spoke once more.
“Or, rather, there would be no doubt if someone hadn't managed to open the way for these invasions. Currently, I suppose most would think our culprit is the most powerful mage.”
Anon's words died as he was about to speak them, a red flush of anger coming to his face. “I am far greater than Minax could ever hope to be! It's me and my council of mages that have kept her forces in check for years, while that little nonce Dupre played about on horses like he was at a joust!”
The King nodded, despite the insult to Sir Dupre...far more intriguing was the surprising information Anon had revealed. He'd suspected Minax as a possibility, but Anon seemed to have information he did not. “Well, Grand Councilor, I wish to remind her who it is that is her superior in this realm...yourself, of course...but I find it difficult to do without your assistance; And I think I might be able to provide you with certain resources you don't have.”
Anon studied Blackthorn's face, searching for something there that Blackthorn wasn't quite sure of. Many mages were said to get more eccentric as their power grew, and Anon had always been eccentric even long ago...Even putting aside the mongbats, who could know how much he had changed?
Finally, he nodded, and turned to his men. “Well, boys, it looks like I might be forced to traipse off to the land of daisies and stuffed bears! I'll bring you back some souvenirs, though...and which of you is it...Ah, Kovis! Kovis, you're in charge of Knobby and Flappy. Take care of them!" Turning back to the king, he gave an overly flamboyant curtsey in front of him. "Well, M'lord King Blackthorn His Grace, allow me to be at your service for one favor...of course, I will expect a payment we can discuss soon...”
The King smiled to him despite the Councilor's mocking manner, as he knew he needed his abilities more than his own pride. “Then come with me, Grand Councilor, and let us plot. Ocllo should serve well." Before he could finish, Anon was already casting a gate to the city. "And before I forget...Knobby and Flappy?” His brow was quirked in a curious manner as he studied the mage.
Anon responded by giving a heated glare. “My pet mongbats, and it's the last we'll speak of them.”
King Blackthorn only nodded, even though he couldn't stop the thought crossing his mind. Eccentric, indeed...
Japanese version
かつてこの街は今よりも良い場所だった。街はもっと賑やかで、多忙な生活と、マスターやグランドマスターに混じって学び働く魔法使い達であふれかえっていたものだ。しかし、それはもう何年も前のこと、と彼は一人回想した。……血気盛んな者がこの地に残ってはいるが、既に多くの者がより穏やかな領海へ移り住んでいた。ロイヤルガードは今回の訪問に猛反対したが、警護を二人つけることを彼が了承したので最終的にはしぶしぶ折れた。このとき、彼は自分の理解通りにこうも言った。もし目的の人物が見つかり、彼らが頑なな態度を取るのであれば、たとえ一個連隊を引き連れていったところで十分ではあるまい、と。
飾り細工の施された鉄の門は今も立っていた。サビの痕跡は認められるものの、他の大きな街々に比べて酷く劣るほどでもない。門をくぐり、さらに多くの前兆……通りに散乱する死体を目にして彼は首を振った。ほとんどは冷酷でおぞましくダンジョンに巣くうべき物の死体だ。歴史に包まれた街の通りにあるべき存在ではない。ライトニングの炸裂音と弓のうなりはあらゆる方向から聞こえてきたが、続けざまに轟く雷鳴と同時に空が割れるように光り、彼は目指すべき方向を悟った。
一行が進む中、顎を朱に染めた一匹のドラゴンが建物の裏から起き上がり、三人に向かって唸りだしたことにガードの一人が気づき、たちまち火蓋が切られた。メイスとウォーアックスが絶息の調べを奏で、獣を相手に戦士たちが舞踊る。魔法を放つ男の手。ファイアボールと純然たるエナジーボルトが撃ち込まれ、続いてガードの一人がウォーアックスを深々と食い込ませた。絶命した獣から引き抜いたウォーアックスで血振るいをした後、一行の歩みは再開された。「急ぐぞ。あの男も鈍重ではあるまい」
「はい、陛下」二人は声を揃えて答え、歩みを速めた王に合わせて足を速めた。角を曲がると、一人の男に率いられた魔法使いたちの列に遭遇した。屋根の斜面に立って大声で命じているその男は、ラマ毛織りのローブとクロークをまとっている。部下の魔法使いたちが一糸乱れず動くと同時に男が天を震わす詠唱を行うと、家一軒ほどの幅のある稲光に直撃された灯台はその力に屈して爆発、四散した。見つけた、この男だ。
魔法使いの一人に呼ばれ、屋根の上で大きく足を広げて立っていた男は探るような表情で振り向き、王を目にするとゆがんだ笑いを顔に浮かべた。男は大げさな身振りで壊れた敷石と街の建物の壊れた壁を示すと、大きくニヤリと笑いながら言った。「これはこれは。皆の者、正統なる統治者にして王であらせられる、尊く輝かしきロード・ブラックソン(Lord Blackthorn)をお迎えしようではないか！どうやらわしらとの会合が適切とお認めになったようだが、あいにく宴の準備はしておらん！皆よ、さてどうしたものかな？」
この慇懃無礼な言葉に騎士たちは気色ばんだが、王に手振りで制された。「このような訪問であれば、宴は私の方で用意したかったものだ。大評議員」
「おお、なんと寛大なお言葉！だが、食べ物を求める魔法使いなどおりますまい。求むるは秘薬のみ！」と言って男が呪文を唱え、王からたった数フィートの位置にテレポートで降りてくると、人々の間からクスクスと笑いがこぼれた。「もちろん、ご自身も以前は魔法使いでしたな？ゲートの惨状の件を聞くに、恐らく今も……」魔術師は身体を前後に揺らし、この支配者をじっくりと観察してから再び口を開いた。「さて、一体何がブリタニアの王をフェルッカのムーングロウにまで赴かせたのですかな？」
「アノン大評議員(Grand Councilor Anon)、あなたを探して来たのだ。お願いしたいことがある」
アノンは疑いに満ちた目で見やった。「お願い？なぜわしが手を貸すというのだ、ブラックソン？お主はわしの側につかず、ニスタル（Nystul）の愚行を止めなかったではないか」アノンの一語一語は不信と偏執に彩られ、興奮が彼の手をぶるぶると震わせた。
ブラックソン王は彼の言葉を認めるように頷き、もう一度頷いてから、努めてアノンと目を合わせた。「その通りだ、大評議員……それに、もしあの時に戻れたとして、私が違う判断を下すかどうかも判らない。そんな機会はあるはずもないが、我々が今手を取り合うことはできるはずだ。ニスタルが去り、クレイニン（Clainin）が亡くなった今であれば……」
「痴れ者とその飼い犬か……」
ブラックソン王はその言葉は無視して続けた。「我が国最高の魔術師は誰か、その答えは明らかだ」
その言葉に満足したのか、アノンはやや得意げな面持ちで口を開こうとしたが、王は続けた。
「いや、この侵攻を起こした者さえいなければ明らかだった、と言うべきか。現状ではその犯人こそが最強の魔術師だと皆は思っているだろうからな」
口に出そうとしていた言葉を飲み込み、アノンは怒りで顔を真っ赤に染めた。「わしはミナックス(Minax)が思うよりずっと偉大だ！この何年もの間、わしとわしのメイジ評議会がミナックス軍を撃退してきたんだぞ！デュプレ(Dupre)なんぞが馬上槍試合よろしく馬で駆けまわっている間にな！」
デュプレ卿への侮辱的発言ではあったが、王は頷いた……アノンが明かした驚くべき情報の方がずっと興味深かったのだ。ミナックスかもしれないと思ってはいたが、ブラックソンも知らない情報をアノンは持っているとみえる。「ええ、大評議員。あの女に思い知らせたいものだ。この世界にあの女を越える者がいることを……むろん、あなたのことだ。しかし、それにはあなたのご協力が必要だ。それから、そちらに無いあるモノを私が提供することもできると思う」
アノンはブラックソンの顔をじっくりと眺め、何かを探っているようだったが、それが何なのかはブラックソンもハッキリとは判らなかった。力が強大になった魔法使いの多くは風変わりになると言うが、アノンはずっと昔からいつも風変わりな人物だった……。モンバットのことは脇へ置いておくとしても、彼がどれほど変わったのか判る者などいないだろう。
最終的に彼は頷き、部下の方に向き直った。「皆の者、わしはヒナギクと熊のぬいぐるみの地を歩かねばならんことになりそうだ。お主等は土産でも待っておれ。それから、そうだな……コヴィス(Kovis)！コヴィス、クノッビー(Knobby)とフラッピー(Flappy)の世話はお主に任せる。ちゃんと面倒を見るようにな」そして王に向き直り、得意げにわざとらしい会釈をして見せた。「さあ、栄光ある我が王、ブラックソン陛下。陛下にお仕えすることをお許しください……もちろん、報酬の取り決めは後ほど」
慇懃無礼な評議員の態度に対し、王は笑みで応じた。重要なのは自尊心にこだわることではなく、彼の力を得ることだと判っていたからだ。「では来てくれ、大評議員。計画を練ろう。オクローがいいだろうな」彼が言い終えるより早く、アノンはその街へのゲートを開く呪文を唱えていた。「忘れぬうちに聞いておきたいのだが……クノッビーとフラッピーとは？」彼は眉を興味深そうに動かし、魔術師を見つめた。
アノンはギラギラと鋭く睨み返して答えた。「わしのかわいいモンバットたちだ。あの子等のことは二度と口にするな」
ブラックソン王はただ頷いたが、内心こう思わずにはいられなかった。まったく、とんだ変わり者だ……。
