雄者たちの酒場　受注クエスト投票企画第五回 (Pixiv Fanbox)

「アストラルマッサージ？」

聞き慣れぬ単語に、見慣れぬチケットだった。

ベアセスは訝しげに首を傾げると、豪奢な箱に収められたその異物を分厚い指先で拾い上げた。

「『この度は誉れ高き怒りのザクロ亭の皆様に～』……。成る程、間違って混じったものってわけじゃあなさそうだ」

ベアセスがそう感じるのも無理からぬことだった。

この箱には目利きの才などまったくない者が一目見るだけでわかる報酬で溢れている。金貨や宝石、魔術書に短剣。つい先日怒りのザクロ亭の１人が協力した大捕物についての報酬だ。

そんな中に混じってマッサージのサービス。王都がその価値を認めているということだ。

「ふぅむ……しかしなあ、アストラル……エルフ流の精神干渉か」

それは常人の想像を遥か上回るものだという。

兎角エルフ直伝の術に関する噂は尾ヒレがデカいというのが通説だが……、そのような紛い物が金銀財宝に混じっているとは考え難い。

おそらくすべて真実なのだろう。

「記憶と精神を施術し、冒険者の体を過去から癒やす……か」

曰く、その神秘は肉体の奥底に眠るものを呼び覚ますだとか。

忌々しき記憶を消し去るだとか。

逆に喜びを再生して活力を取り戻すだとか。

「活力……まあ、最近疲れてたからなあ。連中も」

肉体派は多数を占めるギルド怒りのザクロ亭だが、その体力も無尽蔵というわけではない。

特にここ最近の戦いは、肉体より精神や神経、なにより誇りを傷つけられるようなものばかりだ。

皆豪放な男ばかりだ、表ではなんでもないという顔をしているが、快楽に数日間漬けられた者や、味わったことない刺激によって肉体感度が変わってしまったものも居る。

そういったものも癒せるというのならば、これは渡りに船というものだ。

だが……もし逆だったら…………。

さて……どうするか……。

コイツを誰に渡すべきか、渡さざるべきかっと……。

ベアセスチケットを照明に透かしてつぶやいた。紙切れははどんな宝石よりも重く感じた。

【ENG】

"Astral massage?"

It was an unfamiliar word and an unfamiliar ticket.

Bearceth tilted her head quizzically and picked up the foreign object in the luxurious box with her thick fingertips.

The word "For the honorable people of the Red Pomegranate Tavern" is from ....... It seems that it was not mixed in by mistake.

Bearceth was right to feel this way.

This box is full of rewards that a person with no talent for discernment would recognize at first glance. Gold coins, jewelry, magic books, and daggers. It was a reward for a big catch that one of the red pomegranate taverns had helped to pull off just the other day.

Mixed in with that is the service of a massage. It means that King's Landing recognizes its value.

"Hmmm ...... but hey, astral ...... elf-style mental interference."

It is said to be far beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

The rumors about the direct elvish technique are usually that the tail fins are huge,......, but it is hard to imagine such a contrivance mixed in with the gold and silver treasures.

Perhaps it is all true.

"Is it ...... that heals the adventurer's body from the past by applying memory and spirit?"

The mystery, according to some, is that it awakens what lies deep within the body.

It is said to erase the memories of the past.

On the other hand, it is said to regenerate joy and restore vitality.

"Vitality ......, well, I've been tired lately. So have they."

The physical body is the majority in the guild Red Pomegranate Tavern, but its physical strength is not inexhaustible either.

The most recent battles, in particular, have been more damaging to the spirit, nerves, and above all, pride, than to the body.

They are all men of great courage, and though they may appear to be fine on the surface, some of them have been soaked in pleasure for several days, and others have had their physical sensibilities altered by stimuli they have never experienced before.

If it can heal them too, this is a godsend.

But ...... if it were the other way around, .............

Now ...... what to do .......

Who should I give this to or not?

Bearceth mumbled as he looked at the ticket through the light. The piece of paper felt heavier than any jewelry.