Idle Talk: Ragna’s Feelings
I lay down next to Rei, who fainted from exhaustion, without my clothes.
Aleph and Ciel each have their own rooms, and I use my privilege to sleep together with him.
I removed the dress that Ane-sha prepared, stripped off the cosmetics, and I combed the hair of Rei, who was lying down in his birthday suit.
I found Rei in the skies of Verna, a town located at the edge of the Kingdom of Yodelia.
I thought it was a small animal floating, but it was a Human.
With his small head and thin limbs, he looked like a small animal with his eyes raised up, and it started when I became interested and called out to him.
I left my hometown with the other adults and wandered around many countries aimlessly.
While working as an adventurer, I was thanked and/or feared anywhere I went, and I personally experienced that the Dragonian seemed to be an extremely powerful race.
Even if I try to get along and act as their equals, they become scared and distance themselves.
Just from being pointed at by their look of adoration, my desired relationship is still far off.
Humans in particular are fragile, weak, and small, and they are beings who desire my protection. But they fear the Dragonians and would only look at me from a distance.
いつの日か愛らしい嫁を人族から見つけられればと思い描いていたが、口惜しくも叶わぬ願いであった。
I did imagine myself finding a charming bride from the Human race, but it was a regrettably unfulfilled wish.
しかしこの人族の子供は珍しく俺を恐れる様子がない。莫大な魔力を持っているせいか、否、子供独自の性格によるようだ。
But this Human child unusually shows no sign of being afraid of me. Is it because he holds an enormous amount of magic power, no, it appears to be the child’s own personality.
敬語は要らぬと告げると忽たちまち口調が砕ける。
When I told him that he doesn’t need to use honorifics, his tone changed at once.
このように反応されることはなかなかない故、俺は人族の子供、レイとの会話を楽しんでおった。
Since no one has ever reacted like this before, the conversation with the Human child, Rei, was enjoyable.
「で、こんなところで何をしておる」
[So, what are you doing here?]
「まあ、散歩？いや空歩？ラグナもそんな感じか？空の上って気持ちいいよな」
[Hmm, a walk? No, a sky walk? Does Ragna also feel like this? Coming up to the sky feels good, doesn’t it?]
これ迄までであれば警戒し敵意を向けられるか、俺の名を聞き敬意を表される所だ。レイが示したのは笑顔で世間話を振るという選択であった。
Up at this point, it is a situation where I will either be faced with vigilance and hostility, or he’ll hear my name and show respect. What Rei showed was the choice of having a small chat with me with a smile.
ついぞこのように話を振られたことなぞない。まるで友に対するような気安さではないか。
嬉しさ故に自然と笑い声が溢れ出た。
No one has ever talked to me in this manner before. Isn’t this like a familiarity between friends? Laughter spilled out from me due to happiness.
「ハッハッハ…竜人を恐れず敵対もせず、無闇に崇めもせず友のように接する。面白い人族だ」
[Hahaha…. You treat a Dragonian like a friend without fear, hostility, and indiscriminate worship. What an interesting Human.]
「はあ、そりゃどうも」
[Oh, well thanks.]
「気に入ったぞ、レイ。俺の嫁になれ」
[I like you, Rei. Be my wife.]
つるりと口をついて出た思いつきは、なかなかよいように思えた。嫁か。ふむ、よいな。このように無邪気な嫁がおればさぞ楽しい毎日が送れるであろう。
I thought that the suggestion that slipped out of my mouth sounded quite good. A wife, huh. Fumu, sounds nice. If I have an innocent wife like him, I will be having enjoyable days for sure.
抱きしめると程よく腕の中に収まる大きさであり、いきなりのことに戸惑う腕は非力だ。抵抗する姿でさえ愛らしい。
His size settled rightly inside my arms when I hugged him, and my bewildered arms suddenly became powerless. Even his resisting appearance is so lovable.
骨格は少年のものであったが、性別なぞ気にならん程にレイが気に入ってしまった。
Although the skeletal structure is that of a youth, I became attracted to Rei without minding the distinction of his gender.
この短時間でこれ程の気持ちを抱くなぞ、なんの因果か。
For me to harbour this much feelings in such a short period of time, such a fate.
魔力に惹かれたかと思うたが、レイの反応が違えばきっと嫁にしたいとは思わなかったろう。今となってはどちらでも構わん。
I thought that I was only attracted to his magic power, but if Rei’s reaction was different then I probably wouldn’t have thought to want to marry him. Now I don’t mind either way.
見失ったレイを探して、しばらく国を彷徨った。一度覚えた魔力はどこにあるか方向くらいわかる筈はずだったが、一向に手がかりは掴めなかった。そんなある日のことだ。
Looking for the missing Rei, I wander around my hometown for a while. I should have been able to tell at least which direction the magic power that I remember at some point was at, but I couldn’t catch a clue at all. It’s about that certain day.
「やあトカゲ。レイの居場所を教えてあげよう」
[Hey, Lizard. Let me tell you where Rei is.]
魔人から連絡が入り、突如レイの居場所がわかるようになった。魔人の思惑が絡んでいるのを感じたが、悪いものではなかろう。俺は無事にレイと再会した。
The Demon contacted me and I quickly knew Rei’s location. I felt that the Demon’s thoughts were involved, but it’s probably not something bad. I safely reunited with Rei.
レイは頑なに俺の嫁ではないと言い張ったが、俺が諦めるつもりがない限りいつかは嫁になるのだ、俺は気にせず嫁扱いをし続けた。
Rei stubbornly insisted that he isn’t my wife, but he will eventually be my bride in the future as long as I don’t give up, and I continued to treat him as my wife without worrying about it.
なに、悪いようにはせん。それどころか大切に大切に愛でるつもりだ。力加減を覚えねばいかんな。
What, I’m not going to do something bad. On the contrary, I plan to love him with extreme care. If so then I must learn to control my strength.
押して押して押し続けた結果、レイは俺を受け入れた。
As a result of my endless pursuit, Rei accepted me.
腕が立ち義を重んじる剣士に、若きエルフの賢者、永き時を生きる魔人と錚錚そうそうたる顔ぶれに囲まれておるレイは、俺の家族にも気に入られた。
Rei, who is surrounded by eminent and distinguished people like a talented and righteous swordsman, a young Elf Sage, and a Demon who has lived a very long life, was also loved by my family.
気に入られすぎて遊ばれていたがな。レイが苦手意識を持ってはいかん故、少々お灸を据えておいたのでこれからは姉者も暴走しないであろう。
They loved him so much that he got played with, though. Since Rei doesn’t have the awareness that they will be hard to deal with, I scolded her a little so Ane-sha will probably not run wild after this.
弟はやんちゃが過ぎる故見張っておらんとな。
My younger brother is too mischievous so I have to keep over him.
レイの髪を梳いておると、魔人が顔を見せた。レイに顔を近づけ何やら呻いておる。
The Demon showed himself while I was combing Rei’s hair. He approached Rei’s face and groaned for some reason.
「うーん、綺麗にしたのにまだお酒臭い気がする」
[Hmm~, he’s been cleaned up but I think he still smells like alcohol.]
「あれだけ飲んだ故、体に酔いが残っておるのだろう」
[As he drank that much, there’s bound to be some drunkenness left in his body.]
魔人はことが終わった後毎回レイの汚れを魔法で綺麗に取り去る。魔法を使う過程でレイから放たれた体液を取り込み、魔力を得ておるのだろう。
After the event, the Demon repeatedly eliminated the dirt on Rei with magic. He may have acquired magic power by capturing the body fluid from Rei using magic.
今日は取り込んだ後に微妙な顔をしていた。よっぽど酒が苦手なのであろう。
Today he was making a delicate expression after taking it in. He must really be bad with alcohol.
「酒が合わんのか？」
[Do you not like alcohol?]
「体質的には平気だけどね」
[I’m fine physically.]
長く生きておると話したく無いことも一つや二つあるであろう。俺は口を噤つぐんだ。
If you have lived for a long time, there’s bound be one or two things that you don’t want to talk about. I closed my mouth.
魔人はレイには触れず、ただ見つめている。
The Demon was simply watching Rei without touching him.
「魔人よ、お前はレイをどう思うておるのだ？」
[Demon, how do you feel about Rei?]
「トカゲがそんなことを気にするとは思わなかったなあ」
[It never crossed my mind that Lizard was concerned about that.]
「気にしてはおらんが、どう答えるのか興味があってな」
[It doesn’t concern me but I am curious how you will answer me.]
魔人は肩を竦めて告げた。
The Demon shrugged his shoulders and said.
「前から言っているように、レイのことは気に入っているよ」
[As I have said before, I am interested in Rei.]
「それは終生を共にするくらいにか？」
[Is it at the point of wanting to spend the rest of your life with him?]
「どうだろうね、さすがの私にも未来のことはわからない。そうなる可能性も無い訳じゃないよね」
[Who knows, as expected, even I don’t know about the future. It’s not like there isn’t a possibility.]
「ふむ、ではやはりお前も俺達の同志であるな」
[Hmm, then you are our comrade after all.]
魔人はそれには応えずに問い返した。
The Demon asked back without answering that question.
「トカゲはそれでいいんだ？剣士くんは気に入らないみたいだけど」
[Is Lizard fine with that? Swordsman-kun doesn’t seem to like it, though?]
「俺は構わんよ、お前はお前が考えている以上にレイを大切に思っているようだしな」
[I do not mind it, besides, it seems that you value Rei more than think.]
アレフもシエルも気づいておらんようだが、魔人がレイを見る目に確かに感じるものがある。
It seems that Aleph and Ciel haven’t noticed, but the Demon’s eyes when looking at Rei certainly contains affection.
ひょっとしたらレイは無意識に勘付いておるかもしれんな、だから一見心無い対応で扱われても、呑気に側に置いておけるのであろう。
Perhaps, Rei may have unconsciously felt it, that’s probably why even if he’s being treated seemingly inconsiderately, he can carelessly leave him(D) by his(R) side.
今日の魔人は殊勝な態度だ、もう少し踏み込んだ質問をしてみてもよいかもしれん。
Today’s Demon has an admirable attitude, so it might be a good time to ask a more personal question.
「お前は人を愛したことはあるのか？」
[Have you ever loved a Human before?]
「ないよ」
[I haven’t.]
「そんなに生きておるのにか。寂しい奴よな」
[Even though you’ve lived that long? What a lonely guy you are.]
「寂しいことなんて何もないよ？」
[There’s nothing to be lonely about, you know?]
魔人は微笑み、部屋の空気はひやりと温度を下げた。自覚がないとは厄介なことよな。今日はこのくらいにしておくとしよう。
The Demon smiled and the air temperature of the room dropped. Having no self-awareness is such a worry. Let’s leave it up to this for today.
「さっきから一体何の話？」
[What have you been talking about since earlier?]
「レイが幸せであればそれでよいという話だ」
[It’s about Rei being happy and that’s all that matters.]
「ふうん？それじゃそういうことにしといてあげよう」
[Really? Then let’s leave it at that.]
魔人に自覚があろうがなかろうが、それはどちらでもよい話だ。
Whether the Demon is aware of it or not, either way, it is a good thing.
ここにレイがいて、安心して眠っておる。それでよい。
Rei is here and sleeping peacefully. That is enough.]
俺の隣で無防備に眠り続けるレイは、寝返りをうち俺に細い腕を絡めた。
Rei, who continues to sleep unsuspectingly beside me, turned over and wrapped his thin arms around me.
この瞳が見開かれても、俺を恐れずに見つめてくれることを知っている。
I know that even if these eyes open, they will look at me without any fear.
それにしても起きる気配が微塵もないとは。信頼してくれておるのだろう、まったく愛い奴だ。
Even so, to think that he doesn’t show even a tiny sign of waking up. He must really trust me, what a lovable fellow, seriously.
触れているせいか、ついつい欲望が頭を擡もたげてくるが、疲れ果てて寝ているところを起こすわけにはいかんな。起きたら付き合ってもらうとしよう。
Perhaps because he’s touching me, my desire starts to raise its head against my better judgment, but I mustn’t wake him up just when he fell asleep from exhaustion. Let’s have him keep me company once he wakes up.