Répliques

共和国版の……情報部？

An intelligence division in Calvard?

そんなモンができるんですか？

Really?

Vraiment ?

大統領の主導で まもなく設立される予定よ。

It's going to be established quite soon, under the guidance of the president.

《ロックスミス機関》―― 部内ではそうあだ名されているわ。

It's become known as the Rocksmith Agency.

ふむ…… いかつい名前ですな。

Hmm... Well, it's appropriate, at least.

では、もしやご用というのは……

Then I presume the reason you're here...

たぶん、お察しの通りよ。

Likely so.

キリカさんには このたび新設される機関で 共和国のために働いて欲しいの。

The president would like you to join this new agency and work in, and for the good of, the Republic.

大統領閣下は、貴女のために 機関中枢のポストを用意してるわ。

You'll be given an important post, too.

国内外の情報収集と分析を 一手に引き受ける新設機関――

You've proven yourself to have spectacular information handling and analytical skills in your position at the guild...

貴女のその才能を発揮するのに これ以上の舞台はないと思うけど。

So I can hardly think of a more fitting place for you to put those skills to use.

おい、キリカ……

Umm... Kilika...

大丈夫…… ちゃんと聞いてるわ。

Don't worry. I'm listening.

ふふ、さすがの貴女も 少し戸惑ってるみたいね。

Haha. It's quite rare that you find it difficult to make quick judgments, but I suppose no one can fault you this time.

いいわ。 じっくり考えてちょうだい。

I won't rush you. Take a night to think long and hard about it.

返事は明日聞かせてもらうわ。

I'll ask you for your answer again tomorrow.

最良の決断を期待してるわよ。

I'm looking forward to hearing it.

……ありがとう。

...Thank you.

そうさせてもらうわ。

I'll give it some thought.

じゃ、また明日ね。

Well, a good night to you both.

ふむ……

Hmm...

Hmm...

要するに、共和国に新たな 情報機関が出来るわけか。

So there's going to be a new intelligence agency set up in Calvard, huh?

ええ、大統領の主導で まもなく設立される予定よ。

That's right. Under the direct guidance of the president himself.

Tout à fait.

《ロックスミス機関》――

It's known as the Rocksmith Agency.

その名の通り、 ロックスミス大統領の直属に 置かれることとなるわ。

...and as the name suggests, it's going to be an organization that answers directly to him.

ほう……大統領の。

Really, now?

なるほど。

...I see.

... Je vois.

……つまり、組織運用が 議会の決定に左右されないわけね。

I presume that is so that parliament can't have any influence over its running?

ふふ、その通りよ。 話が早くて本当に助かるわ。

Correct.

Correct.

決定を先送りにし、 組織をフルに活用できない 悪癖とも言える体質……

Perhaps this new agency's biggest advantage is that it's separate from parliament, with all of its issues and vices.

一部の特権者たちによる 悪質かつ不透明な組織運用……

The last thing we need is an organization like this suffering from parliament's inability to make prompt decisions or general ineffectuality.

そんな不実を抱える議会から 権限を切り離したことが 本組織の一番のポイントね。

Or being run in the same opaque and shady manner by a privileged few as it.

ふむ…… それは頼もしい話だな。

Hmm... That does sound like a good idea, I'll admit.

帝国の情報局や 王国の旧情報部に比べても、 従来の組織は遜色するからな。

We're never going to be able to compare to the Empire's Intelligence Division, or Liberl's old one, if parliament's at all involved.

ええ……本当に。

Quite.

共和国は何につけても 統制のなさがネックだから。

It's very difficult to get anything done in a nation with such a lack of unity, after all.

ま、そこは移民を 受け入れてきた国の性#2Rさが#とも 言うべきかもしれんな。

I guess that's just the fate of countries that take in massive amounts of immigrants, though.

しかし、何より驚いたのは あの大統領が積極的に 働きかけているって所か。

Honestly, though, I think the thing that surprises me the most is that the president's actually being proactive for once.

これまでの施政を見る限り、 てっきり保守派とばかり 思っていたんだが……

He's always struck me as a real conservative, so this really isn't the kind of thing I thought he would ever do.

ま、それは現在置かれている 共和国の情勢を考えると、 うなづけるかもしれないわね。

That said, given the state of the Republic right now, it's hardly surprising that he would choose to act this way.

今日も台頭し続ける帝国の主戦派、 それに、国内に潜伏する 過激派絡みのテロリスト集団……

Outside our borders, we have the ever-present hawk faction in the Empire, and inside them, we have terrorists and extremists...

これらの勢力に対し、もはや ただ指をくわえて見てるだけには いかないでしょうから。

Something clearly has to be done, and I think he knows that as well as anyone.

ええ、そうね。

Indeed.

En effet.

何にせよ、これからの時代は 常により柔軟な対応が 求められることは疑いないわ。

It's clear that in the times ahead of us, we're going to need to be able to respond flexibly to a variety of new and unforeseen threats.

……と、ここまで 話が長くなっちゃったけど。

...Regardless, I think my introduction to the matter has gone on long enough.

そろそろ話を 本題に進めさせてもらうわよ。

I should probably get to the point.

ああ、キリカに 話があるとのことだったな。

Oh, yeah... You've got something you need to specifically talk to Kilika about, right?

もしや、そのお話というのは……

I'm guessing the reason you're here...

たぶん、お察しの通りよ。

I think you're probably right.

大統領の直属にして 国内外の情報収集と分析を 一手に引き受ける情報機関――

The president would like you to join this new agency and work in, and for the good of, the Republic.

キリカ女史、貴女には ぜひとも、その一員となって 共和国のために働いて欲しいの。

Given your skills, I can hardly think of a more fitting place for you to work.

それにあたって、 貴女には機関中枢のポストが 用意されることになっている。

You'll be given an important post, too, of course.

……これは、 大統領閣下自らのご意向よ。

This is all the will of the president himself, too.

……なるほど。

I see...

Je vois...

ふう、やっぱりか……

*sigh* I figured as much...

でも、どうしてまた 大使さんがそんな話を？

Still, what led to you being the one to bring this to Kilika, anyway?

ふふ、本来こういうのは 各地に出向いている スカウトの仕事なんだけど……

A fair question, I suppose. Ordinarily, this would be a scout's work...

こう見えて、実は 大統領とは昔からのなじみでね。

But I've known the president on a personal level for quite some time now...

キリカさんのことは 個人的に頼まれちゃったのよ。

So he took it upon himself to ask me to come to you personally.

ほう、大使さんにそんな縁が……

I suppose that makes sense...

……ですが、大統領はなぜ私を？

...So, what's his reason for wanting me?

あら、そんなことを私に わざわざ言わせるつもり？

Surely you know that without asking... Or do you want to hear it said regardless?

共和国が誇る古流武術、 『泰斗流』の奥義皆伝として 名高いことはもちろん……

Naturally, your master-class Taito skills are one reason for you being selected by the president...

ギルドであげた数々の 事務実績に目を見張る物が あるのは明らかなのよ？

But above all, he wants you for the exceptional analytical and information handling abilities you've shown in your position in the guild.

これほどまでの 非凡な才能を示しておいて、 まだ他に理由が必要かしら？

Surely no further reasons are necessary? You were practically born to do this job, if you ask me.

………………

...

......

は～、それにしても 遊撃士を目の前にして ギルドの貴重な人員を……

Still, you've got some real courage trying to steal an important member of the guild right in front of an active bracer.

それを分かった上で 俺を同席させるとは、まったく 随分と堂に入ったやり口だな。

Especially given that you were the one who asked him to be here yourself.

……でも、その点は 人選ミスだったようね。

...Well, if she was hoping that you being here would make me more tempted to accept the offer, she was very much mistaken.

貴方がいることと 私がこの話を受けるかどうかは 全くの無関係だから。

You being here will have no influence on my choice at all.

うぐ…… かわいくないやつめ。

Ugh... You and your way with words.

……………………

...

......

で、どうかしら…… キリカさん。

Still... What do you think, Kilika?

貴女の率直な感想が 聞きたいのだけど？

I'm not asking for an answer immediately, but I would like to know what's going through your mind.

そうですね…… 有難い話だとは思います。

Well, it's certainly an interesting proposal...

ですが……やはり 受ける理由はないかと。

But I'm not sure I have any reason to accept it.

でも――受けない理由もない。

But you have no reason to refuse it, either.

そうじゃなくて？

Am I right?

そ、それは……

W-Well...

E-Eh bien...

………………

...

......

ふふ、さすがの貴女も 少し戸惑ってるみたいね。

Haha. It's quite rare that you find it difficult to make quick judgments, but I suppose no one can fault you this time.

ま、じっくり一晩 考えてもらえるかしら。

I won't rush you. Take a night to think long and hard about it.

そのために、この旅館を 取ったんだから。

It was so that you could do that I booked a room here tonight, after all.

返事は明日聞かせてもらうわ。

I'll ask you for your answer again tomorrow.

最良の決断を期待してるわよ。

I'm looking forward to hearing it.

……ええ。

...Of course.

そうそう、最後に これだけは言っておくわね。

Oh, and one more thing before I depart...

……あなたのその才能は とてもギルドの受付に 収まるものじゃないわよ。

...If you ask me, remaining in your position as a simple guild receptionist just isn't going to let you use your abilities to their fullest.

………………

...

......

それじゃ、また明日ね。

Well, a good night to you both.