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ですか。

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.

Tout à fait.

通称《ロックスミス機関》――

It's to be 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 the president.

ほう……大統領の。

Really, now?

……なるほど。

...I see.

... Je vois.

つまり、組織運用が 議会に左右されないわけですね。

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

その通り…… 話が早くて助かるわ。

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 all those 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 failures to make prompt decisions or general ineptitude.

そんな問題を抱える議会から 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.

ふむ…… それは興味深い話ですな。

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

確かにエレボニアの軍情報局や リベールの旧情報部に比べても 従来の組織は見劣りしますからな。

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 already difficult enough to get anything done in a nation with such a lack of unity.

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

I guess that's just the fate of countries that take in immigrants by the truckload, 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事ですか。

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

これまでの政策を見る限り てっきり保守派とばかり 思っていたんですが……

He's always struck me as a real conservative type, so this isn't the kind of thing I thought he'd go for.

ま、それは現在置かれている 共和国の情勢を考えると うなず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.

拡大を続けるエレボニア帝国、 それに国内に潜伏する 過激派絡みのテロリスト集団……

Outside the country, we've got the threat of a rapidly expanding Erebonian Empire, while within, we have terrorists and extremists.

挙句の果てに《結社》などという 得体の知れない勢力まで現れた……

And to make matters worse, we have the enigmatic society on the loose.

もはやこうした情勢に 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。

Evidently, something 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 より柔軟な対応が常に 求められることは疑いないわ。

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。

...All right. 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。

It's about time I get to the point.

ああ、キリカに 話があるって事ですが……

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

──それで、 用意したポストは？

So, what position in the agency are you here to offer me?

へ！？

...What?!

ふふ…… さすがと言うべきかしら。

Haha. I love a sharp mind, Kilika.

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――

Your instincts are, of course, dead on.

……貴女には 是非ともその一員となって 共和国のために働いて欲しいの。

We think your talents would make you perfectly suited to joining the agency and are eager for you to be a part of it.

それにあたって、貴女には 室長クラスのポストが 用意されることになっている。

That's why you will be offered a position of division chief should you decide to join.

……これは、 大統領閣下自らのご意向よ。

And that's something President Rocksmith has proposed himself.

…………………………………

...

......

そ、そういう話か……

W-Wow...

しかし、どうしてまた 大使さんがそんな話を？

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...

ロックスミス氏とは ずいぶん昔からの馴染みでね。

...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.

なるほど……

That makes sense...

……私をスカウトする理由は？

Then what's his reason for wanting me?

あら、そんなことを わざわざ私に言わせるつもり？

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

もちろん、『泰斗流』の 奥義皆伝としての腕前も 理由の一つではあるけど……

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

それ以上に欲しいのは 貴女がギルドの受付として示した 卓越すべき情報処理と分析能力よ。

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

それは新たな機関において 何よりも必要とされる才能だわ。

Those are just what the new agency is going to require if it's to succeed.

……………………………………

...

......

じ、事情は判ったが……

W-Well, I can't say this doesn't all make sense to me...

現役の遊撃士を目の前にして ギルドの人員を引き抜きとはね。

I'm more dumfounded that you'd up and attempt to steal a capable member of the guild right in front of an active bracer like this.

なかなか堂に入ったことを してくれるじゃないですか。

That takes some nerve.

ふふ、貴方ほどの人なら 立場に囚われることなく 仲立ちをしてくれると思ってね。

Haha... Well, I do think rather highly of you. I thought you would be able to mediate without letting such trivial matters cloud your judgment.

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…… 興味深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。

At the same time, 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。

It's rare that you find it difficult to make quick judgments, but with such a big decision to make, I can't very well fault you.

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 you could do so that I booked a room here tonight.

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 pleasant night to you both.