붉은 달의 로제/11권

제11회　지하묘지의 결투

로제는 엘로이가 뒤돌아본 그 동작부터 냉정하게 분석했다. 아까까지의 전투로 인해 쌓인 대미지는 모두 회복되어 있다는 것을. 그뿐만 아니라 비교할 수 없을 정도로 힘이 증폭되었다는 사실을. 지하도에 있던 수십 구의 언데드를 생산하는 과정에서 빨아들였을 혈액의 양. 그것을 상상하면 당연한 결과였다. 더욱 더 무서운 괴물이 된 그가 대체 어느 정도의 힘을 가지고 있을지, 이제는 로제도 가늠하기 힘들었다.

「엘로이, 루카를 어디에 숨겼지！？」

알폰스가 고함을 질렀다.

「글쎄, 어디 있을까…… 힘으로 알아내 봐라」

엘로이는 시시하다는 듯이 말하며 천천히 검은 외투에서 팔을 뻗어 천장을 향해 손바닥을 올렸다.

엘로이의 손끝으로부터 지하묘소 전체를 덮을 정도의 압도적인 힘의 파동이 일어나더니, 금방 그쳤다. 「뭐지……？」 알 수 없는 현상에 경계하는 알폰스. 「이런！」 로제는 곧장 일어날 사태를 직감하고 바로 전투 태세를 갖추었다.

폭. 무언가 밑이 빠진 듯한 둔탁한 소리가 울렸다. 십자가가 놓인 곳에서 하얀 무언가가 나와 있었다.

사람의 손의 뼈였다. 알폰스가 그것을 알아차린 순간, 그와 로제를 둘러싸고 있던 다른 무덤에서도 차례차례 그것들이 나왔다. 팔꿈치 부분에서 접혀있던 그것이 지면을 꾹꾹 누르더니 땅 밑에 있었던 몸이 하나 둘씩 흙을 날리며 일제히 모습을 드러냈다. 그것은 과거 여기에 매장되었던 시체들이었다. 죽은 자를 조종하는 술법. 이것도 “고위 흡혈귀”만이 사용할 수 있는 고등 기술이다.

해골들은 각자 다른 종류의 방패나 무기를 가지고 있었다. 아마 이 지하도에 어느 정도 존재하고 있을 묘지 중에서도 싸움으로 인해 목숨을 잃은 자들만이 매장된 장소인 듯했다. 포위당한 채 로제와 등을 맞대고는 검을 쥐는 알폰스.

「하하하하하, 정말 대단한 힘이군！ 하하하하하하！」

황홀한 표정으로 크게 웃는 엘로이. 해골들은 조금도 움직이지 않았다. 본능에 따르는 언데드들과는 달리 흡혈귀의 의지대로 움직일 수 있는, 말 그대로 꼭두각시 인형이었다.

「가라」

신호와 동시에 해골들이 일제히 알폰스와 로제에게 달려들었다. 각 방향에서 각자의 무기에 의한 공격이 쏟아졌다. 도무지 막을 수 있는 물량이 아니었다. 직전 로제는 등 뒤에 있던 알폰스의 어깨를 두드렸다. 알폰스는 곧장 그 의미를 이해하고 해골이 무기를 휘두르는 순간 재빨리 웅크렸다.

웅크린 알폰스의 자리에 재빠르게 파고 들어온 로제의 신체는 상반신이 크게 휘어져 있었다. 그대로 몸의 왼쪽으로 뻗었던 오른팔을 휜 상반신이 돌아오는 기세를 타 휘둘렀다. 그녀가 쥐고 있던 것은 도신이 소실된 법검이었다. 그 직후 로제와 알폰스를 중심으로 시계방향으로 늘어난 도신이 날아갔다. 각각의 대열 맨 앞에서 무기를 쥐고 있던 해골들의 머리가 차례로 박살났고 그 뒤에 있던 해골들까지 날아갔다.

헛점이 생긴 틈을 파고들어 웅크리고 있었던 알폰스가 달려들었다. 일직선으로 백골들의 바다 건너편에 서 있는 흡혈귀, 엘로이에게 갔다. 길을 막는 해골들을 백은검으로 베며, 때리고, 차고, 던졌다. 훈련받은 육체에 맡긴 강행 공격이었으나, 착실하게 엘로이에게 접근했다.

남아 있던 로제는 적을 자신에게 붙잡으며 법검과 총을 능숙하게 다루며 싸웠다. 때때로 생기는 순간의 헛점을 찔러 알폰스의 사각에 있던 적을 중점적으로 쓰러트려 나갔다.

「어째서냐 엘로이！ 어째서 너는 이렇게 되어 버린 거지！？」

해골들을 부수며 전진하면서 알폰스는 가슴에 통증을 느꼈다. 수년 전, 제국군에 막 들어갔을 무렵의 기억이 머릿속에 떠올랐다.

──엘로이는 원래 가난한 생활을 하고 있던 고아였다. 그러던 중 갈라드가 그의 검 실력을 높이 사 제국군에 스카우트한 것이다. 어렸을 때 부모가 살해당한 알폰스와 처음부터 고아여서 가족을 몰랐던 엘로이는 어떤 의미에서 비슷한 처지였다고 할 수 있었다. 둘 다 갈라드 대장에게 똑같은 방식으로 구제받은 점도 마찬가지였다. 둘은 서로 공감했고, 군에서는 좋은 호적수로서 서로 절차탁마하는 좋은 라이벌 같은 관계가 되었다. 언제부터인가 영문도 모르게 험악해졌지만.

알폰스에게 있어서 갈라드 부대 제일의 검 실력을 지닌 엘로이는 지금도 존경의 대상이었다. 점점 거북한 말을 던지고 아무 이유도 없이 차가운 시선을 보내도 그에게 있어 엘로이는 틀림없는 친구였다. 그는 지금도 믿을 수가 없었다. 엘로이가 흡혈귀라는 사실을. 아무런 죄 없는 사람들의 목숨을 비정하게 빼앗고 식량으로 삼은 끝에 농락했다는 사실을.

앞을 가로막는 마지막 해골을 부숴 버리고 엘로이에게 덤벼들었다.

「우오오오오！！」

알폰스는 달려가면서 백은검을 휘둘렀다. 그것을 보며 희미한 웃음을 띤 채 검을 뽑는 엘로이. 이 밤의 몇 번째 합일까. 검과 검이 부딪히는 금속음이 울려 퍼졌다.

「나는, 반드시 너를 막겠다…… 네 친구로서！」

「……헛소리 좀 작작 하시지！」

알폰스의 검을 한 손으로 막고 있던 엘로이. 엄청난 힘으로 검을 튕겨내자 알폰스의 팔도 뒤로 튕겨나갔다. 하지만 그는 그 기세로 한 바퀴 돌며 횡단 베기를 날렸다.

엘로이는 그것을 맨손의 손가락 하나로 막는다. 은의 도신에 닿은 손가락이 타면서 연기를 뿜었지만 엘로이는 아무렇지도 않은 듯, 오히려 힘을 주자 도신에 금이 가기 시작했다.

그 표정은, 지금까지의 승리를 확신했을 때의 여유로운 웃음이 아니었다. 증오의 형상이었다.

「뭐가 친구냐！ 너는 내 소중한 것을 뺏으려고 했으면서！」

「！？」

그 말에 충격을 받은 알폰스는 엘로이가 한쪽 팔로 휘두른 검에 느리게 반응하고 말았다. 왼쪽의 어깨에서 복부에 걸친 창상에서 피가 분출했다.

「크악……！」 「──알！！」

로제의 목소리가 울렸다. 알폰스가 해골들을 쓰러트리면서 연 길이 다시 무수히 많은 해골들에 의해 막혀 있었다. 그녀가 해골들을 맡은 이상 여기까지 도와주러 올 여유는 없을 것 같다.

괜찮아. 상처는 그리 깊지 않아. 그렇게 말하듯 알폰스는 민첩하게 후방으로 몸을 날려 엘로이와 거리를 두었다. 그리고 검의 감촉을 확인하면서 자세를 바로잡았다.

「큭…… 무슨 말이지！？ 내가 뭘 했다는 거지！」

「닥쳐라！ 이제 와서 네놈이 속죄할 길은 없어！」

조금도 틈을 주지 않고 검을 휘두르는 엘로이.

알폰스는 그에 맞섰지만 아까 전 입은 상처도 있어 완전히 막아내지 못했다. 옆구리에, 허벅지에, 오른팔에, 전신에 타격이 점점 쌓여 갔다. 출혈로 인해 비틀거리면서도 검을 잡는 알폰스. 체력도 거의 바닥을 드러내고 있었다. 그를 지탱하고 있는 것은 기력뿐이었다. 맹공을 펼치며 엘로이도 숨이 차 올랐다. 그 입가에는 다시 승리의 미소가 번졌다.

「안심해라. 외롭지는 않을 테니. 흡혈귀 사냥꾼 여자도, 그 술집 아가씨도, 모두 같은 곳으로 보내 주지」

알폰스의 몸이 움찔 떨렸다. 몸은 만신창이가 되었음에도 강한 의지를 담아 엘로이를 바라보는 알폰스.

「……네가 내게 어떤 원한을 갖고 있는지는 몰라. 하지만…… 죽을 수는 없다. 약속했으니까」

「무슨 헛소리냐……？」

알폰스의 모습에 엘로이는 다시 얼굴에서 웃음을 지웠다.

「엘로이, 할 수 있으면 해 봐라. 나는 이미 각오했다. 죽지 않겠다는 각오를. 그리고, 반드시 너를 막겠다는 각오를──！」

「끝까지 헛소리를……！！」

엘로이는 흥분하며 양손으로 검을 쥐었다. 엄청난 기운이 감돌았다. 알폰스는 지금까지 중에서 가장 크고 강력한 공격이 올 것이라고 직감했다.

「이번에야말로 끝이다！！」

혼신의 힘을 다한 일격. 덮쳐오는 절대적인 죽음. 알폰스는 그것을 방어하지 않았다. 백은검을 쥔 그 자세 그대로 정면으로 맞은 것이다. 왼쪽 어깨부터 깊게 파고 들어가는 칼날. 그것은 단련된 근육을 뼈와 함께 마치 치즈처럼 잘라낼 터였다.

「뭐──！？」

엘로이가 있을 수 없는 광경을 보았다. 그의 혼신의 힘을 다한 칼날은 왼쪽 어깨의 쇄골을 가른 지점에서 완전히 멈추어 있었다. 알폰스는 방어하기를 포기한 것이 아니었다. 공격을 그대로 받아들일 각오를 함으로써 극한까지 집중력을 높여, 자신의 육체에 칼이 들어온 순간 급격하게 근육을 경직시켜 칼날을 멈추어 세운 것이다. 있을 수 없는, 상상했던 승리의 광경과는 너무나도 다른 그 상황에 엘로이는 동요했다. 알폰스는 그 틈을 놓치지 않았다.

「우오오오오오！」

심한 통증에도 자세를 잡았다. 엘로이는 왼쪽 어깨에 들어간 검의 손잡이를 놓지 못한 채, 무방비 상태가 되었다.

그리고 백은검의 칼날이 그대로 엘로이의 가슴을 관통했다. 메마른 소리와 함께 로제와 대치하고 있던 해골들이 무너졌다. 정신없이 해골들과 전투를 벌이던 로제는 움직임을 멈추더니 상황을 즉시 이해하고 알폰스 쪽을 향했다.

그곳에는 가슴에 꽂혀있던 검이 뽑히며, 그 자리에서 무릎부터 무너져 내리는 흡혈귀의 모습이 있었다. 알폰스가 왼쪽 어깨에 꽂혀 있는 검을 빼자 피가 일제히 분출했다. 왼쪽 어깨를 손으로 눌러도 상처가 너무 깊어, 피가 끊임없이 흘렀다.

「너무, 무리했나……」

「그러게 말입니다」

넌더리 내는 목소리와 함께 상처를 따뜻하게 감싸는 감각이 느껴졌다. 달려온 로제가 법술로 상처를 치유하기 시작한 것이다.

「이런 식이라면 목숨이 10개 있어도 모자라겠군요. 정말로 어리석어요. 바보에 얼간이 소리로도 부족해요」

말과는 반대로 로제의 표정은 온화했다. 아무래도 걱정을 많이 했겠지. 알폰스는 그것을 반성하며 점점 나아 가는 상처를 보고 있었다. 체력까지 회복할 수는 없지만 일단 응급처치는 된 셈이다.

「……으으……」

희미하게 신음하는 듯한 소리가 들렸다. 가슴을 뚫려 쓰러진 엘로이는 가늘게 눈을 뜬채 천장을 보고 있었다. 금이 간 피부가 굳은 흙처럼 부서지고 있었다. 뭔가 중얼거리고 있었지만 소리가 작아 무슨 말인지 알아들을 수 없었다. 로제는 천천히 은색 대형권총을 꺼내 엘로이의 머리를 조준했다.

「이, 이봐……？」

「이대로 두어도 죽습니다. 하지만, 그냥 둘 수는 없습니다」

빈틈을 주지 않는다. 비정하지만 그것이 흡혈귀를 사냥한다는 것이다. 알폰스는 머리로는 이해했지만, 납득이 가지 않는 표정이었다. 엘로이에게는 묻고 싶은 게 많았다. 그는 만났을 때부터 흡혈귀였던 걸까？ 어째서 지금에서야 이러한 사건을 일으킨 걸까. 어째서──자신을 증오하고 있던 걸까？ 하지만 흡혈귀인 그의 존재는 너무나 위험했다. 이 세상에 존재해서는 안 됐다. 그것은 물론 알고 있었다. 그렇기에, 알폰스는 아무런 말도 하지 않았다.

하지만, 로제는 방아쇠를 당기지 않은 채 있었다.

「……이상해」

「왜 그러지？」

「이상합니다」

「그러니까 뭐가？」

「하나도 나지 않습니다. 냄새가」

「무슨 냄새？」

「“고위 흡혈귀(엘더 뱀파이어)”의 냄새요！」

냉정한 그녀가 많이 동요하고 있었다. 눈을 크게 뜨고, 몸을 떨고 있었다. 엘로이는“고위 흡혈귀”의 냄새가 나지 않는다. 그것이 무슨 의미인가. 그렇다면 그녀는, 누(・)구(・)의(・) 냄(・)새(・)를(・) 쫓(・)아(・) 여(・)기(・)까(・)지(・) 왔(・)단(・) 말(・)인(・)가(・)……

「지금까지 저는……큰 착각을 해 온 걸지도 모릅니다」

「무슨 말이지？」

「어쩌면,“고위 흡혈귀”는──」

──따로 있을지도 모릅니다.

그 순간, 칠흑의 어둠 속에서 무언가가 엄청난 속도로 발사되었다. 거무칙칙한 액체. 피로 형성된 2개의 직선.

그것을 재빨리 감지한 로제는 알폰스를 가차없이 옆으로 밀어냈다. 끄트머리가 창처럼 생긴 그것이 그녀의 복부를 가차없이 꿰뚫었다.

땅에 엉덩방아를 찧는 알폰스. 방금 전까지 눈앞에서 이야기를 하고 있던 로제는 피바다 속에 쓰러져 있었다. 그녀는 꼼짝도 하지 않았다. 미동조차 하지 않는다…… 뭐지？ 상황 파악이 전혀 되지 않았다. 그는 일어설 수조차 없었다.

「──아이고, 이런. 둘 다 한꺼번에 편하게 해주려고 했는데」

창이 날아온 어둠. 그 안에서 나타난 것은, 알폰스에게 있어 가장 친근하고 익숙한 군복의 남자.

「덕분에 못 죽었네, 알？」

「……아저, 씨……？」

그리고, 절대로 믿고 싶지 않은 인물의 모습이었다.

Chapter 11 - Battle in the Catacomb

Watching Elroy turn, Rose knew with a sinking feeling that he had fully recovered from their previous battle. It was also obvious that he was much, much stronger. Considering how much blood he must have drunk to spawn all of the ghouls they had fought on their way to reach him, it was hardly surprising, though. Nonetheless, neither Alphonse nor Rose had any way of telling exactly how powerful the monster before them had become.

'Where's Lucca?!' Alphonse shouted.

The vampire shrugged as if bored. 'Who knows? Maybe I'll tell you if you beat me.'

He slowly raised his arms, then stretched them towards the heavens. An incredible wave of power erupted from his palms, reverberating throughout the catacomb. Alphonse and Rose tensed, but then the rush of energy suddenly stopped.

'What was that...?' Alphonse asked cautiously.

'No!' cried Rose. Though the discharge of power had no immediate visible effect, she knew what was coming. Her grip on her sword tightened.

A strange 'crumping' sound filled the air, like vast, unseen movement. Alphonse's eyes darted over the area trying to find the source of the noise. 

Near one of the crosses he had noticed earlier, something white caught his eye.

It was a skeletal human hand.

With a start, he realized that similar grasping fingers and limbs were emerging from the other graves surrounding them. The twitching bones were pushing and clawing at the dirt, and not long after, the bodies they belonged to began to heave their way out of the ground, as well. The air was full of the cracking and clicking of bones and musty soil.

These were the cadaverous remains of those who had been buried long ago. It seemed the skill to wake and manipulate the corpses of the dead was yet another ability in an Elder Vampire's repertoire. 

Their new undead foes presented another problem. Unlike the ghouls, the skeletons were equipped with varying weapons and equipment. Some had axes and others swords, while many wore helmets and several had shields. Judging from all the armament on display, it seemed safe to assume that those who were buried in this particular catacomb had all been warriors or those who had fallen in battle.

Alphonse drew his sword, his back against Rose's. They were completely surrounded. 

'Hahahaha! What incredible power!' 

Elroy's shriek of laughter cut like a knife through the shuffling of withered feet and creaking of rotten leather. His expression was suffused with ecstasy as he surveyed his handiwork.

Once free of their earthen graves, the skeletons stood completely still. Unlike the ghouls who operated entirely on the instinctive desire planted within them, the skeletons were soldiers in the truest sense of the word: they awaited the command of the vampire who had woken them from their eternal slumber. 

With a sweeping cut of his hand, Elroy gave the signal to attack. The skeletons surged forward en masse towards Alphonse and Rose like a wave cresting the shoreline.

Each of them held their weapons out at the ready, but there were simply too many of them to block them all. Just before the undead army reached them, Alphonse felt Rose tap on his shoulder from behind. Instantly understanding what she was trying to tell him, he swiftly crouched to the ground.

As Alphonse ducked, Rose jumped high into the air. She twisted the upper half of her body, her right arm stretched over the left side of her torso. With a powerful swipe, she swung that arm back to the right,  her body making almost a full rotation. The motion lent even greater power to her swing as she whipped her templar sword around in a scything arc. 

The heads of the closest skeletons exploded into a fine white powder as the segmented blades made contact. The sheer force behind the blow also blasted back the second row of skeletons, giving the pair precious breathing space. Not letting the opening go to waste, Alphonse leaped up from the ground and charged forward through the sea of bones towards the vampire. Some skeletons tried to oppose his advance, but he simply bashed them aside, slashing, kicking, punching and otherwise doing whatever he had to in order to remove them from his path. It was ugly but effective - Elroy was nearly in his reach. 

Rose, meanwhile, was doing all she could to draw the skeletons' attention, switching rapidly between using her sword and pistols. She also did her best to cover Alphonse from afar, attacking enemies bearing down on him from behind.

'Why, Elroy?! What happened to you?!' Alphonse cried over the clamor of battle. 

As he smashed his way through the legion of skeletons, he couldn't help but wonder how the two of them had come to this point to begin with. They had first met several years before when Alphonse joined the Imperial Army. Elroy had been an orphan who had lived in poverty before being scouted out for the military by Garrard for his exceptional skill with a sword. As such, the two of them shared a lot in common. While Elroy didn't even know who his parents were, they were both orphans, and they were both saved from solitude by Garrard. They soon felt an affinity towards one another, becoming good rivals and aiding each other in improving their skills. Yet at some point after that, their relationship took a turn for the worse. Even so, Alphonse still saw Elroy as a comrade, and respected his strength and skill. No matter how many times Elroy acted unpleasantly or coldly to him, that feeling never changed for him. And that was why even now, after all he had seen and done, he still couldn't bring himself to believe that Elroy was a vampire. That Elroy, someone he had practically grown up with, was someone who could heartlessly take the lives of innocent people, or toy with them as food.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally dispatched the last skeleton standing between him and Elroy. His path was clear.

He raced towards the vampire, silver sword held high and a war cry erupting from his lips. Watching him with undisguised amusement, Elroy smoothly drew his own blade. Once again their swords locked together in opposition.

'I won't let you harm anyone else! As a friend, I can't allow you to!'

'...Don't you give me that!'

Elroy blocked Alphonse's attack with a contemptuous swipe of his own sword, held effortlessly in one hand. He then repelled Alphonse's blade with incredible force. Alphonse's arm was knocked back, but he turned it to his advantage and used the momentum from Elroy's attack to spin around and attack him with a sweeping horizontal slash. Again Elroy rebuffed him - this time employing but a single finger. The digit was burned by the blade, but though it smoked, Elroy didn't show the faintest sign of concern. Instead, he began to focus his strength into it, causing the sword to begin to crack. 

Alphonse looked up with gritted teeth, expecting to see the familiar superior sneer on Elroy's face, but instead of a glimpse of a man assured of his own victory he only saw pure hatred. The look was so intense that he almost faltered.

'Friend?! How DARE you call yourself my friend after you tried to steal what matters most to me!'

Elroy's words caught Alphonse so off guard that he wasn't able to react in time to parry the downward strike from Elroy's sword. The blade made contact, slicing through Alphonse's guard and uniform from shoulder to navel. Blood sprayed in the wake of the slash, and he howled in pain. 

Hearing his cry, Rose called out in concern. The path he had carved to Elroy, however, had long since filled with skeletons that she was diverting, and Alphonse knew he could expect no help from that quarter. Fortunately, the wound was fairly swallow. As if to demonstrate his fitness, he nimbly retreated backwards, and raised his sword again.

'What are you talking about?! I don't remember ever taking anything from you!'

'Silence! Your chance to repent has long since passed!' 

Elroy renewed his attack with relentless force. Alphonse tried valiantly to resist, but his injury impaired him from fighting to his full potential, and Elroy managed to land one slash after another. Blood began to soak through his shirt. Though all superficial, the number of wounds on his body increased steadily and he began to feel lightheaded. Nonetheless, he raised the sword yet again, but only pure willpower kept the blade from wavering.

Elroy watched this display with glee. His mouth quirked up in a smile of anticipated victory. 

'Don't worry, you won't be alone for long. That vampire hunter and the girl from the tavern will be joining you very soon.'

Alphonse trembled at the promise in those words, but they also filled him with renewed determination.

'...Elroy, I don't know what you've got against me, but no matter what it is, I'm not going to let you kill me. I'm not going to go back on my promise.'

'What are you talking about...?' Elroy asked, the smile slipping from his face.

'You think you can kill me? Go right ahead and try because I'm not going to die, and I WILL stop you!' 

'Enough...!' Enraged, Elroy finally clasped his sword in both hands. Fury and monstrous energy radiated from him in waves. Alphonse knew that this would be his strongest attack yet.

'You're finished!' Elroy cried, swinging his sword downwards with all of his might.

Death approached from above and Alphonse saw it coming, but he made no move to block it. His silver sword still raised in front of him, he took Elroy's attack head-on. Once again, the vampire's blade made contact with Alphonse's left shoulder, cleaving through body, muscle, bone, and all. Or, at least, that was what he expected to happen. 

'What?!'

What happened next defied all logic. As the sword carried downward it sheared through Alphonse's left  collarbone...then stopped. Trembling with effort, Alphonse looked Elroy straight in the eye and it was not the look of a man who had been bested.

Alphonse hadn't decided to not defend against Elroy's attack. Instead, he had resolved to receive it, and focused his concentration to its limit. The moment the blade entered his body, he had suddenly stiffened all of his muscles, thus allowing him to halt the sword's advance. 

Elroy was stunned by what had happened. The outcome was just so far removed from the victory he had envisioned that he could only gape at the other man. And it was that shock that Alphonse had been courting. It was the opening he had so desperately created.

'Haaaaaaaaaaaaaah!'

Ignoring the pain surging through his body, Alphonse prepared his strike. Elroy released his own sword's hilt, unable to free the blade embedded in Alphonse's shoulder. He took a half step back, weaponless, defenseless. 

The tip of Alphonse's silver sword flew forwards, piercing the vampire straight through the chest. As it sank deep and true, the catacomb fell silent. With a dry sound almost like a sigh, the skeletons Rose had been fighting crumbled to the ground. Finally free from the need to fight against them any longer, she stopped and turned to Alphonse. She watched in mute astonishment as Alphonse withdrew his sword from the vampire's chest. Elroy dropped to his knees and then collapsed.

His enemy defeated, Alphonse then turned his attention to himself. With clenched teeth, he pulled out the sword that had been embedded in his left shoulder. Blood spurted in a bright arc as he freed it. He tried to stop the bleeding by holding his hand over it, but the wound was just too deep. Blood continued to flow out between his fingers. 

'Maybe I overdid it...a little...' he said a bit unsteadily.

Rose sighed. 'You truly are unbelievable.' She picked her way over to him, carefully sidestepping bones and weapons in her path. Gently, she placed a hand over his and Alphonse felt a warm sensation suffuse his body. She was using her Thaumaturgy to heal his injuries. 

'You only have one life,' she chided him. 'You shouldn't treat it so carelessly. I always knew that you were foolish, but perhaps foolish idiotic imbecile is more appropriate.'

Despite the admonishing tone of her words, Alphonse could tell from her face just how relieved she was that he was all right. Feeling somewhat guilty for worrying her so much, he watched as his wound rapidly began to close. While her Thaumaturgy could only heal physical wounds and not restore his lost stamina, it was still more than sufficient as first aid. 

Suddenly, they heard a soft groaning sound from nearby. It had come from Elroy, who was looking up at the ceiling with a vacant expression. His skin had begun to crack and slowly crumble away. He seemed to be trying to say something, but his voice was so quiet that it was impossible to make out what. Rose slowly drew one of her silver pistols and pointed it at Elroy's head.

Alphonse started. 'Wh-What are you...?'

'His fate is sealed, regardless. But I can't allow him to pass like this.' 

There wasn't a moment to waste. As a vampire hunter, she had a duty to finish off her targets. To Alphonse, her decision seemed heartless, but he also knew that she had no choice. And yet it still frustrated him that it had to end like this. He still had a lot of questions that he wanted to ask Elroy. Had he been a vampire for the whole of the time that they had known each other? What had driven him to start taking the lives of innocents now? And why did he hate him so much? Nonetheless, he knew that vampires were simply too dangerous to be allowed to exist. As such, he stood by silently, allowing her to do what she thought had to be done...but Rose simply stood with her pistol pointed at Elroy's head, never pulling its trigger. 

'...This doesn't make any sense,' she murmured.

Alphonse looked at her. 'What doesn't?'

'I don't understand...'

'But what don't you understand?'

There was puzzlement and not a bit of wariness in Rose's reply. 'There's no scent. None at all.'

'Scent of what?'

'The scent of an Elder Vampire.' 

At that moment, something flew at incredible speed through the darkness. Two long, narrow objects made up of filthy black blood flashed towards them in a blur. Rose, who sensed their approach first, immediately pushed Alphonse out of the way. As he was thrust from the path of the objects, Alphonse watched in horror as the sharply pointed lances of blood mercilessly pierced Rose's chest. He fell to the ground with a whump, and a moment later Rose thudded down beside him. Blood began to pool around her inert body.

Alphonse couldn't process what was happening. Nor was he able to rise to his feet, so weak was he from his earlier battle. 

'Well, well...' said a voice. 'I certainly couldn't have seen that coming. I was hoping to finish you both off at the same time.'

Out of the darkness that the lances had emerged from stepped a figure. A figure whose outline and gait was achingly familiar; a man in a military uniform, who he knew better than anyone else...

'Looks like you managed to cheat death again, huh, Al?'

'...Ga...rrard...?' 

He didn't want to believe what he was seeing.

第11回　地下墓所の决闘

ロゼは、エルロイの振り向く一动作から冷静に分析した。先ほどの戦闘で与えたダメージは全て修复されていることを。それどころか、比べ物にならないほどにその力を増していることを。

地下道にいた数十体もの尸人を生み出す过程で取り込まれた血液の量——それを想像すれば、当然の结果だった。更に恐ろしい怪物となった彼がどれだけの力を有しているのか、今やロゼにも计りかねていた。

「エルロイ——ルッカをどこにやった！？」アルフォンスが叫ぶ。

「さて、どこだろうな……力ずくで闻き出してみるがいい」　

　エルロイはつまらなそうにそう言うと、おもむろに黒き外套から腕を伸ばす。そして、天に向けて掌を掲げる。　

エルロイの指先から、地下墓所全体を覆うような圧倒的な力の波が迸る。そして、すぐにそれは治まった。

「なんだ……？」意味不明の事态に警戒するアルフォンス。　

「いけない！」ロゼは直后の出来事を直感し、すぐさま戦闘态势をとった。

ぼごっ。何か、底が抜けたような钝い音が响く。十字架が置かれた场所の地面から、白っぽいものが生えていた。

——人间の手の骨だ。アルフォンスがそう気づいた瞬间、彼とロゼを取り囲むように立っていた他の墓からも、连続してそれが生えてきた。ひじの部分で折れ曲がったそれは地面をぐいぐい押しはじめ、続けて土の下で蠢いていたその身体が土埃を上げながら一斉に姿を现す。　

　それは、过去にここに埋葬された亡骸だった。

　死者の尸を揺り起こし、下仆として操る术——

これも“高位の吸血鬼”のみが使える高等な术だ。

骸骨たちは各々が盾や兜、斧や剣を统一性なく装着している。おそらく、この地下道にいくつか存在するであろう墓地の中でも戦で命を落としたものたちばかりが埋葬された场所だったらしい。取り囲まれ、ロゼと背中合わせになって剣を构えるアルフォンス。

「ハハハハハハ、なんと素晴らしい力だ！　

　ハハハハハハハ！」

　恍惚とした表情で高笑いを上げるエルロイ。骸骨たちは今のところ、微动だにしていない。植えつけられた本能に従う尸人とは违い、吸血鬼の意のままに动く正真正铭の人形だ。　

「やれ」合図とともに、骸骨たちが一斉にアルフォンスたちへ押し寄せた。全方位から各々の武器が振りかぶられる。どう考えても防御できる物量ではなかった。　

寸前、ロゼは背中越しにアルフォンスの肩を叩いた。彼はすぐにその意味を理解して、武器が振り下ろされようとする中、素早くしゃがんだ。　

入れ代わりに飞び上がったロゼの身体は、上半身が大きく捻られている。そのまま体の左侧に回していた右腕を、捻った上半身が戻る势いのまま振りぬく。　

　彼女が握り缔めているのは、刀身の消失した法剣《テンプルソード》の柄だ。　

一瞬あと、ロゼたちを中心として时计回りに、延びきった刀身が飞ぶ。それぞれ队列の一番前で武器を构えていた骸骨たちの头が次々と砕け、その后ろにいた骸骨まで巻き込んで吹き飞ぶ。

　生まれた一瞬の隙をついて、しゃがんでいたアルフォンスが駆け出す。一直线に、白骨の海の向こうに立つ吸血鬼、エルロイのもとへと。　

　立ちはだかる骸骨だけを白银の剣で斩りつけ、殴って蹴って、投げ飞ばす。锻えた肉体に任せた强引な进撃だったが、着実にエルロイへと近づいていく。　

残ったロゼは敌を自分に引き付けつつ、法剣と铳を器用に使い分けて戦う。时折できた一瞬の隙间を缝って、エルロイの死角にいる敌を重点的に倒していった。

「どうしてだ、エルロイ！

　なぜお前は、こんなことになってしまった！？」　

　骸骨を砕いて进みながら、アルフォンスは胸を绞めつけられる思いでいた。

数年前、帝国军に入ったばかりの顷のことが思い出される——。

——エルロイは、もともと贫しい暮らしをしていた孤児だった。そんな中、ガラードによって剣の腕を见出されて帝国军にスカウトされたのだという。　

かつて両亲を杀されたアルフォンスと、孤児であり家族を知らないエルロイは、ある意味似た境遇を抱えていたといえる。互いにガラード队长によって、そこから救われたという所も同じだった。

　２人は互いにシンパシーを感じ、军ではよき好敌手として互いを高めあう関系になった。

　それはいつしか理由も分からないまま険悪なものになってしまったが、

アルフォンスにとってガラード队随一の剣の腕を持つエルロイは、今でも尊敬すべき相手だった。さんざん嫌味を言われ、理不尽に冷たい目を向けられても、彼にとっては间违いなく友人だった。

　彼には今でも信じることができない。

　エルロイが、吸血鬼だったなどと。　

何の罪もない人の命を非情に夺い、粮とした挙句に弄んだなど。

目の前に立ちはだかった最后の骸骨を强引に退け、ついにエルロイへの道が通じる。

「おおおおおおおっ！！」

　アルフォンスは駆けながら、白银の剣を振りかぶる。　

それを见て、薄笑いを浮かべたまますらりと剣を抜くエルロイ。その夜何合目かの、剣と剣がぶつかりあう金属音が响き渡った。

「俺は、绝対にお前を止めるぞ……お前の友として！」　

「……笑わせるな！」

　アルフォンスの剣を片手で受け止めていたエルロイ。凄まじい膂力のままに剣を返し、アルフォンスの腕は后方に弾かれる。

　だが彼はその势いを利用し、一回転して更なる横剃ぎを加える。

　エルロイはそれを、素手の指先で受け止める。

　银の刀身に触れた指が焼け付いて烟を上げるが、エルロイは歯牙にもかけていない。それどころか更に力を込めると、刀身に小さくヒビが入り始める。　

その表情は、今までの胜利を确信した余裕の笑みではない——憎悪の形相だ。

「何が友だ！

　お前は俺の、大切なものを夺おうとしたくせに！」

「！？」その言叶に虚を疲れたアルフォンスは、エルロイのもう片方の腕から振り下ろされた剣への反応が遅れてしまう。　

　左の肩口から腹部にかけてを引き裂かれ、血が喷出る。

「ぐあっ……！」「——アル！！」ロゼの声が响く。

すでに、アルフォンスが作ったエルロイへの道は无数の骸骨たちに塞がれている。

彼女が骸骨を引き付けて戦う以上、とても援护にこれる余裕はなさそうだった。大丈夫だ、伤は浅い——そう示すように、アルフォンスは机敏に身をよじって、后方に间合いを取る。そうして、剣の感触を确かめるように构えなおす。

「くっ……何のことだ！？　俺が、何をした！」

「黙れ！　もはやお前には赎罪の暇《いとま》すら与えん！！」

　间髪いれずに、剣の连撃を加えてくるエルロイ。　

アルフォンスも応戦するが、先ほど受けた伤もあって完全には捌ききれない。横腹に、太ももに、右腕に、全身に、确かなダメージを受けていく。

　流れる血にふらつきつつも、なおも剣を构えるアルフォンス。もはや体力もほとんど尽きている。彼を支えるのは、気力だけだ。

　猛攻を加えていたエルロイも息があがっていた。その口元に再び、胜利の笑みが浮かぶ。

「安心しろ、寂しくはない。　

　吸血鬼狩りの女も、あの酒场の娘も、すぐに同じ所に送ってやる」

ピクリと体を震わせるアルフォンス。満身创痍となりながらも、强い意志を湛えた瞳でエルロイを见据える。

「……エルロイ、お前が俺にどんな恨みを持っているかは分からない。　

　だが……杀されてやるわけにはいかない。约束したからな」

「何を言っている……？」エルロイの颜から再び笑みが消える。

「エルロイ、やれるものならやってみろ。　

　俺は覚悟をすでに决めている。死なないという覚悟を。

　そして、お前を必ず止めるという覚悟を——！」　

「訳のわからないことを……！！」

　エルロイは激昂し、両手で剣を构えた。そこに祸々しい気迫が涡巻いている。今までで最大の一撃が放たれることを、アルフォンスは悟った。　

「今度こそ终わりだ！！」

绝大なる膂力に任せて剣が振り下ろされる。向かってくる绝対的な死——アルフォンスは、それを防がなかった。银の剣を前に构えたそのままの姿势で、真正面から受けたのだ。

　さきほどと同様に、左の肩口から深く进入していく刃。それは锻えられた筋肉を骨もろとも、チーズのように切り裂いていく——はずだった。　

「なっ——！？」

エルロイが见ていたのはありえない光景だった。　

彼の浑身の力をこめた刃は、左肩の锁骨を両断したところで完全に制止していたのである。

　アルフォンスは防御を舍てたわけではなかった。攻撃をその身に受ける覚悟を决めたことで、极限まで集中力を高めたのだ。そして己の肉体に刃が侵入した瞬间に、急激に筋肉を硬直させ——刃を止めた。

およそありえない、思い浮かべていた胜利の光景とあまりに食い违うそれは、エルロイを激しく动揺させた。アルフォンスはその隙を见逃さなかった。　

「おおおおおおおおっ！」

　激痛をものともせずに刺突の构えをとる。エルロイは左肩に食い込ませた剣の柄を振りほどかれ、完全なる无防备となる。

　そして——银の剣の切っ先が、真っ直ぐに——エルロイの胸を贯いた。

——乾いた音とともに、ロゼと対峙していた骸骨たちが崩れ落ちる。縦横无尽に骸骨との戦闘を缲り広げていた彼女が动きを止めた。　

　状况を即座に理解してアルフォンスの方を振り向くロゼ。　

そこには、胸に突きたてられた剣が今まさに引き抜かれ、その场に膝から崩れ落ちていく吸血鬼の姿があった。

　アルフォンスが左肩に刺さったままの剣を引き抜くと、血が一気に喷出る。左肩を手で抑えるが、伤口は深すぎた。なおも血は止め処なく流れ続けた。　

「无理、しすぎたか……」

「本当ですよ、まったく」

呆れたような声とともに、伤口を温かい感覚が包んでいくのを感じる。駆けつけたロゼが法术によって怪我の回复を行っているのだった。

「こんなことをしていては命がいくつあっても足りません。　

　本当に愚かです。そこに莫迦と阿呆を足しても钓りがきます」

言叶とは裏腹に、ロゼの颜は安堵に満ちている。流石に心配をかけすぎたらしい。アルフォンスはそれを反省しつつ、みるみる塞がっていく伤を眺めていた。体力まで戻すことはできなかったが、ひとまずの応急処置にはなっただろう。　

「……ぅぁ……」そこに——小さく呻くような声が闻こえてくる。

　胸を贯かれて倒れたエルロイは、虚ろな目をしながら天井を见ていた。皮肤にはヒビがはいり、表面がボロボロに崩れ始めている。

　ぶつぶつと何かを呟いているが、声が小さすぎて闻き取れない。

ロゼはおもむろに银の大型拳铳を取り出すと、エルロイの头に照准を合わせた。

「お、おい……？」　

「このまま放っておいても灭びます。でも、放っておくわけにはいきません」　

刹那の刻《とき》も许さない。非情な判断だが、それが吸血鬼を狩るということだ。アルフォンスも头では理解していたが、どこか纳得の行かない颜をする。

エルロイには色々と闻きたいことがあった。彼は出会った时から吸血鬼だったのか。なぜ今になってこんな事件を起こしたのか。なぜ——自分を恨んでいたのか。

だが、吸血鬼である彼の存在は危険すぎた。もはや、この世に存在してはいけない。それは十分に分かっていた。だから、アルフォンスは口出ししなかった。

しかし、ロゼはいつまで経っても引き金を引かなかった。　

「……おかしい」

「どうした」

「おかしいんです」　

「だから何が」　

「一切感じないんです——匂いを」

「何の」

「“｜高位の吸血鬼《エルダー・ヴァンパイア》”の匂いです」　

冷静な彼女が、明らかに动揺している。瞳孔を开き、身体を小刻みに震わせている。エルロイに“高位の吸血鬼”としての匂いを感じない。それがどういう意味を持つか。なら彼女は、谁の匂いを追ってここまで辿り着いたというのか〔＃「谁の匂いを追ってここまで辿り着いたというのか」に傍点〕——。

「今まで私は……大きな勘违いをしていたのかもしれません」

「どういうことだ？」

「もしかすると、“高位の吸血鬼”は——」

——别に、いるのかもしれません。　

　刹那。漆黒の暗暗から、何かが途辙もない速さで放たれた。どす黒く浊った液体——血によって形成された、２本の直线。それが向かってくる。

　いち早くそれを察知したロゼは、咄嗟にアルフォンスを突き飞ばした。

そして、枪のごとき先端を持つそれは、彼女の腹部を容赦なく贯く。

　どう、と地面に尻饼をつくアルフォンス。ついさっきまで、目の前で话をしていたロゼは血の海の中に倒れていた。彼女はピクリとも动かない。微动だにしていない。……なんだこれは？

一切の状况が把握できず、彼は立ち上がることすらできなくなっていた。

「——いや、まさかだな。

　２人まとめて楽に终わらせてやるつもりだったが」

　枪が飞び出てきた暗暗。その中から现れたのは、アルフォンスにとって最も亲しく、驯染み深い、军服の男——。

「おかげで死に损ねたな、アル？」

「……おじ、さん……？」

そして、决して信じたくはない人物だった。