[Chapter 8: The Noble Adventurer]
エイドリアン・ヴァルモントは、広大な領地と代々続く政治的影響力で知られる、王国でも有数の貴族ヴァルモン家に生まれた。しかし、多くの貴族とは異なり、エイドリアンは貴族生活の堅苦しい構造や息苦しい伝統を嫌っていた。若い頃から好奇心が旺盛で、開放的な性格だった。他の貴族たちが宮廷の礼儀作法を学び、優越感に浸る練習に明け暮れるなか、エイドリアンは邸宅を抜け出して町の人々と交流したり、農家の畑仕事を手伝ったり、兵舎で兵士たちとスパーリングをしたりして過ごした。
祖父のヴァルモン卿は、彼の理想を形成する上で極めて重要な役割を果たした。若い頃は冒険家であったヴァルモン卿は、エイドリアンに勇気と名誉の物語、特に伝説の指揮官ゾルテウスの物語を語り聞かせた。特にエイドリアンの心に深く刻み込まれたのは、ゾルテウスが伝説の冒険家と決闘したときの話だった。彼の祖父は、ゾルテウスが圧倒的不利な状況にあっても、揺るぎない名誉と誠実さを持って戦った様子をこう語った。「彼はただの戦士ではなかった。「彼は、たとえ世界があなたを打ち砕こうとしても、背筋を伸ばして立つということの象徴だった」
祖父がまだ17歳だった頃、野心と虚勢に満ち溢れた祖父と彼のチームは、悪名高いゾルテウスのダンジョンへの冒険を敢行した。チームのリーダーは、その比類なき強さで周辺都市に名を馳せる戦士で、突撃隊を率いた。ダンジョンの主人に立ち向かい、中に隠された財宝を奪うという単純な計画だった。しかし、奥に進むにつれ、ゾルテウスの領地が他のダンジョンとは違うことにすぐに気づいた。まるでダンジョン自体に意志があるかのように、一歩一歩が計画され、すべての出会いが計算されているように感じられた。ついにゾルテウスにたどり着いたとき、リーダーは果敢にもダンジョンボスに決闘を申し込んだ。残りのメンバーは、戦場に群がる司令官や無数のミニオンを撃退することになった。エイドリアンの祖父は最初、決闘の激しさに目を見張った。ほとんど人間離れした強さを発揮するリーダーが、ゾルテウスを限界まで追い詰めたのだ。しかし、戦いが長引くにつれ、彼のリーダーは衰え始め、ゾルテウスが全力で戦っているのではなく、相手を翻弄し、彼の決意を試していることが明らかになった。リーダーが一瞬弱気になったとき、エイドリアンの祖父は天秤を傾ける好機と見た。絶望に駆られた彼は、ゾルテウスに奇襲攻撃を仕掛けた。ダンジョンボスは彼を凍りつかせるような眼差しで彼に向き直り、真剣で、冷静で、言葉にならない警告を発した。ショックを受けたゾルテウスは、何も言わずに武器を返し、リーダーに向かって剣を振り上げた。「これは私の力と彼の名誉の戦いだ。私の力と彼の名誉の戦いだ。それを台無しにするな。その瞬間、エイドリアンの祖父は根底から揺さぶられた。ゾルテウスは財宝の山を守るただの怪物ではなく、尊敬と恐怖の念を抱かせる高潔な存在だったのだ。その出会いは、エイドリアンの祖父の強さ、名誉、そしてダンジョンの本質に対する見方を永遠に変えた。
この話はエイドリアンの心に火をつけた。彼はいつかゾルテウスに会い、対等な立場で彼の前に立ち、偉大なダンジョンボスに対して自分の価値を試してみたいと切望していた。しかしエイドリアンは、偉業への道は富や特権にあるのではなく、気概と決意、そしてゼロからの出発にあることを知っていた。
家族の落胆をよそに、エイドリアンは快適な貴族生活を捨て、冒険者になることを決意した。貴族の贅沢である高い階級から始める代わりに、彼はDランクから冒険者になることを決意し、家族の名前に頼ることなく、自分の居場所を得ることができることを自分自身と他の人々に証明しようとした。しかし、エイドリアンの高貴な生い立ちは、まったくメリットがなかったわけではない。洗練された気品と、誰にでも親しみやすい天性の魅力があった。彼の優しさと他人への純粋な関心は、どこに行ってもすぐに友人を得ることができた。しかし、彼の理想主義はしばしば世間知らずの域に達していた。人生の暗い側面から守られてきた彼は、他人の欺瞞や策略を見抜くのに苦労した。
エイドリアンの究極の目標は、ゾルテウスを筆頭とする伝説の人物に挑み、自分の強さを証明し、彼らの尊敬を得ることだ。彼の旅は虚栄心や傲慢さによってではなく、ゾルテウスが象徴するものに対する純粋で揺るぎない賞賛によって煽られる。しかしエイドリアンは、彼が憧れる人物こそがライラの父ゾーラであることを知らない。
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翌朝、エイドリアンとライラは一緒に、第三のパーティメンバーを探しに町をさまよう。エイドリアンの生き生きとした態度と楽観主義がライラの気分を高揚させるようで、彼女は予想以上に彼との付き合いを楽しんでいることに気づいた。彼のカリスマ性は通行人の注目を集め、礼儀正しい挨拶は多くの人の顔に笑顔を残した。にぎやかな市場を歩いていると、ライラはチクチクとした不安を感じ始めた。肩越しに見ると、誰かが少し長居をしているのに気づいた。
二人は歩き続け、ライラはエイドリアンを細い路地に誘導した。やがて二人は急な角を曲がり、ライラはエイドリアンに立ち止まるよう合図した。ライラは壁に体を押しつけ、静かに待った。しばらくして、影のような人影が角を曲がった。「捕まえた！」。フードを被った若い人影は驚いて叫び、身をよじって自由になろうとしたが、ライラはしっかりと掴んだ。エイドリアンはすぐに助けに入り、その落ち着いた声で緊張を切り裂いた。「落ち着いてください。「私たちはあなたを傷つけるつもりはありません。私たちを追ってきた理由を話してください」。フードを被った人影は凍りつき、肩を落として敗走した。ライラには聞こえないほど小さな声で、彼らは息をひそめて何かをつぶやいた。「話せ！」。ライラは強く握った。その人物は頭を少し上げ、一対の印象的で不釣り合いな目を見せた。「あなたのパーティに参加させてもらおうと思ったのですが......」彼らは声を震わせながら、そっと言った。
ライラとエイドリアンは驚きの表情を交わした。
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Adrian Valmont was born into one of the most prominent noble families in the kingdom, the Valmonts, known for their vast estates and generations of political influence. However, unlike many nobles, Adrian detested the rigid structure and suffocating traditions of noble life. From a young age, he exhibited a curiosity and openness that set him apart from his peers. While other nobles spent their days learning courtly etiquette and practicing their airs of superiority, Adrian spent his time sneaking out of the manor to interact with the townsfolk, helping farmers in their fields, or sparring with soldiers in the barracks.
His grandfather, Lord Valmont, played a pivotal role in shaping his ideals. An adventurer in his youth, Lord Valmont narrated Adrian with tales of bravery and honor, especially the stories of Zortheus, the legendary commander. One story, in particular, etched itself deeply into Adrian's mind ,the tale of Zortheus' duel against a legendary adventurer. His grandfather described the way Zortheus fought with an unwavering sense of honor and integrity, even in the face of overwhelming odds. "He wasn't just a warrior," his grandfather had said. "He was a symbol of what it means to stand tall, even when the world tries to break you."
When his grandfather was just 17, full of ambition and bravado, he and his team dared to venture into the infamous dungeon of Zortheus. The team's leader, a warrior renowned across the surrounding cities for his unmatched strength, led the charge. The plan was straightforward, confront the dungeon's master and claim the treasures hidden within. But as they delved deeper, they quickly realized that Zortheus's domain was not like any other dungeon. Every step felt orchestrated, every encounter calculated, as if the dungeon itself had a will of its own. When they finally reached Zortheus, their leader boldly challenged the Dungeon Boss to a duel. The rest of the team was left to fend off the commanders and countless minions that swarmed the battlefield. At first, Adrian's grandfather was awestruck by the sheer intensity of the duel. His leader, wielding strength that seemed almost inhuman, pushed Zortheus to the edge. But as the fight wore on, his leader began to falter, and it became clear that Zortheus was not fighting at his full strength, he was toying with his opponent, testing his resolve. When his leader was momentarily vulnerable, Adrian's grandfather saw an opportunity to tip the scales. Driven by desperation, he launched a sneak attack at Zortheus. The Dungeon Boss turned to him with a look that froze him in his tracks, serious, calm, and filled with an unspoken warning. To his shock, Zortheus handed his weapon back to him without a word and raised his sword toward the team leader. "This is a fight between my power and his honor. Do not ruin it," Zortheus said, his tone firm but not unkind. That moment shook Adrian's grandfather to his core. Zortheus wasn't just a monster guarding a hoard of treasure, he was a being of integrity, commanding both respect and fear. That encounter forever changed how Adrian's grandfather viewed strength, honor, and the very nature of dungeons.
This story lit a fire in Adrian's heart. He longed to meet Zortheus one day, to stand before him as an equal and perhaps even test his worth against the great Dungeon Boss. But Adrian knew that the path to greatness wasn't through wealth or privilege, it was through grit, determination, and starting from the ground up.
Much to the dismay of his family, Adrian renounced the comforts of noble life and decided to become an adventurer. Instead of starting with a higher rank, which was one of the nobles luxury, He decided to become adventurer starting as a D-rank, he sought to prove to himself and others that he could earn his place in the world without relying on his family's name. Adrian's noble upbringing, however, was not entirely without merit. It gave him a refined sense of grace and a natural charm that made him approachable to almost everyone. His kindness and genuine interest in others quickly earned him friends wherever he went. Yet, his idealism often bordered on naivety. Having been shielded from the darker sides of life, he struggled to see deceit and manipulation in others.
Adrian's ultimate goal is to challenge the legendary figures, Zortheus foremost among them, to prove his strength and earn their respect. His journey is fueled not by vanity or arrogance but by a pure and unshakable admiration for what Zortheus represents. What Adrian doesn't know, however, is that the very man he idolizes is Lila's father, Zora.
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The next morning, Adrian and Lila set out together, wandering the town in search of a third party member. Adrian's lively demeanor and optimism seemed to lift Lila's spirits, and she found herself enjoying his company more than she expected. His charisma drew attention from passersby, and his polite greetings left smiles on many faces. As they walked through a bustling marketplace, Lila began to feel a prickle of unease. She looked over her shoulder and noticed someone lingering a little too long, always keeping their distance but never straying too far.
"Adrian," she whispered, leaning closer to him. "Have you noticed someone following us?" Adrian tilted his head in confusion, scanning the crowd casually. "Following us? No, I don't think so. Are you sure?" Lila frowned. "I'm sure. They've been tailing us since the guild." Adrian shrugged lightly, his cheerful nature shining through. "Maybe they're just curious about you. After all, you're a new adventurer. It's probably nothing." But Lila wasn't convinced. "Stay close to me," she said. "I have a plan."
They continued walking, with Lila subtly guiding Adrian through a series of narrow alleys. Eventually, they turned a sharp corner, and Lila motioned for Adrian to stop. She pressed herself against the wall, waiting silently. Moments later, the shadowy figure rounded the corner, only to be met with Lila leaping forward and grabbing their arm. "Gotcha!" The figure, a young person cloaked in a hood, yelped in surprise and tried to wriggle free, but Lila held firm. Adrian quickly stepped in to help, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Please, calm down," he said gently. "We're not going to hurt you. Just tell us why you've been following us." The hooded figure froze, their shoulders slumping in defeat. They muttered something under their breath, too quiet for Lila to hear. "Speak up!" Lila demanded, her grip tightening. The figure raised their head slightly, revealing a pair of striking, mismatched eyes, one bright green and the other an unnatural shade of violet. "I was going to ask to join your party," they said softly, their voice trembling.
Lila and Adrian exchanged surprised looks, neither expecting this answer.
