翌日、俺達はピラミッドの入口前に立っていた。
メニュー画面には現在地『ナール王のピラミッド』と表示されている。
ヤービルガ砂漠に複数ある点在するピラミッドの内の一つで、ここが最も敵モンスターのレベルが低かった。
前にリィズが偵察に一回だけ入ったピラミッドでもある。
低いといっても敵モンスターのレベルは50から、現在のレベルキャップは40なので本来ならまだ踏み入るべき場所ではないのかもしれないが。
メンバーは渡り鳥からは俺、セレーネさん、リィズの三人。
それと今回は時間を俺達に合わせてくれたアルベルト親子が同行する。
トビ......もとい秀平は昨夜の課題の出来が悪かったらしく、再提出に向けて今夜は家で勉強中。
未祐は父親の章文おじさんと外食に行くそうで、今日はTBにログインしない。
本当はくじかジャンケンでもして探索に行くメンバーを決める予定だったのだが。
二人とも残念がっていたが、これで都合よく五人パーティが出来上がる形となった。
「さて、鬼が出るか蛇が出るか」
「悪いものばかりじゃなくて、お宝が眠っているといいんだけど......」
「中の広さはどうなんだ? 一応、俺達はサブの武器として短剣なども所持してはいるが」
アルベルトの疑問に関してはリィズが知っている。
なので俺は視線を傍に立つ妹へと送った。
「内部は必要以上に広かったので、アルベルトさんが大剣を振り回しても問題ないかと」
リィズの話によると、見た目に反して中は非常に広かったのだそうだ。
灯りも壁に等間隔で設置されており、探索に不便はないとのこと。
ゲームならではの設定というか、現実通りにしても意味はないというはっちゃけ具合というか。
「ならば問題ないな。移動時は俺が先頭、最後尾にフィリアを配置する。戦闘時は前に。俺達はどちらも重戦士だ、存分に盾として使ってくれ」
「おおー、頼もしい。そのまま全体の指示出しをお願いしても?」
「それはお前がやれ、ハインド。俺もフィリアもお前の指示に従う」
「......うん。従う」
やってくれないのか......。
しかし見るからに高難度ダンジョンのここに来たのは、彼等の戦闘力を当てにしてのことである。
特にアルベルトの兄貴が居れば、10のレベル差くらいなら何とかなるのではないか? と期待を寄せている。
得たアイテムがもし素材系ならそのまま剣と斧に使用、余った分は俺達が頂く。
それ以外なら適当に山分けするという事前の取り決めだ。
「......じゃあ、行きましょうか」
俺の号令に全員が頷き、狭い入り口を一列になって通っていく。
しかし今回も俺が指揮官役をやらなきゃならんのか......。
兄貴が居るから、楽できると思ったんだけどな。
中はリィズが言った通り、俺がイメージするピラミッド内部とは違っていた。
というより、知識の中にある現実のピラミッドとも大きく違う。
地下構造は無く上に向かって階段を登っていくダンジョンのようで、このタイプの物だと頂上に何かがあるというのが定番ではないだろうか?
そして最初に出現したモンスターもこれまた定番の動き回るミイラだった。
それを見たリィズが声を上げながら俺の腕に縋りついてくる。
「きゃー怖いですハインドさんー」
「すっごい棒読みだよリィズちゃん!? くっつきたいだけなのが見え見えだよ!」
「大体リィズは二度目だろう、このモンスターを見るの......」
「フンッ!」
緊張感の無い俺達を尻目にアルベルトが剣を一閃、敵の体力が極僅かに残ったところをフィリアちゃんが大斧で潰し切った。
レベル差など関係無いと言わんばかりの二人の攻撃力である。
この親子強いわー......知ってたけど。
「群れで襲われなければ問題なさそうだ。ハインド、ユーミルのように俺達も防御を気にせず突っ込んで構わんか?」
「あ、はい。もちろんです。回復はお任せを」
「フィリアちゃんも、支援が欲しい時は遠慮なく言ってくれ。バフは一通り習得してあるし、状態異常も回復できるから」
「......ありがとう」
ユーミルを対象にした時のようなノータイムでの蘇生は無理だが、闘技大会で見た限りこの二人は押し引きがはっきりしているので、もし戦闘不能になったとしてもかなり合わせやすい部類だ。
こちら側のメンバーは全員が後衛なので、それほど連携が取り辛いということもないし。
その後で数戦したのだが、アルベルトとフィリアはこちらの動きを見てセレーネさんとリィズの射線を確保する動きすら見せ始める。
傭兵を名乗るだけあって、さすがの適応力と言うべきだろう。
即席パーティにしては良い連携に仕上がってきている。
「おおー......」
「はぁぁぁぁぁっ!」
......なのだが、先程からほとんど俺達の出番がない。
途中からアルベルトは最も多く出現するミイラ男の弱点を見つけたようで、敵が複数で来ない限りは俺達が攻撃する前に戦闘が終わってしまう。
五階に到達した時点でピラミッドの出現モンスターはミイラ男に加えて宝箱に擬態したミミック、ウィル・オ・ウィスプ等、いわゆるアンデット系のものが多く生息......生息? している。
生きているのかどうか微妙な連中だが。
それらは階層を登る毎にレベルがじわじわと上がり、九階に到達する頃にはモンスターのレベルが遂に55にまで到達した。
ちなみに道中にある宝箱に関してだが、ミミックかどうかどうやって識別しているかというと......
「――むっ!」
単純明快、アルベルトによる漢識別である。
今触れた目の前の宝箱はミミックだったらしく、その逞しい腕に鋭い歯を立てて思い切り噛み付いている。
アルベルトが近場の壁に噛まれた腕ごとミミックを叩きつけ、そのまま戦闘開始。
だが俺がアルベルトに回復魔法を使い終わるころには、一斉攻撃によってミミックは粉々になっていた。
兄貴の壁への叩きつけで既に瀕死だったしな......どえらいパワーですよ、本当。
本来なら軽戦士のバランス型が識別系のスキルを保有しているのだが、生憎このパーティに軽戦士は存在しない。
なのでこのように、最もHPの高いアルベルトが罠等を気にせず開けるという強引な方法を採っている。
状態異常やダメージを受けても
そして戦闘後でも息一つ上がっていない彼は、大剣を収めると悠然と歩みを再開した。
俺達はその背中を追ってぞろぞろとついていく。
「しかし、兄貴が先頭でグイグイ進んでくれるから攻略が早い早い。ただでさえ半端なく強いのに」
「本当ですね。ユーミルさんやトビさんだと、罠の度にギャーギャー騒いで直ぐに止まってしまうでしょうから。弱くはないのですけど」
「えと、この階段を登ると十階......かな? このピラミッド、本当に外観と中身の大きさが一致していないね」
そういえば闘技場も同じだったな。
どちらも外見と中身を一致させると尋常じゃない巨大建築物になってしまうからな。
景観だったり移動の邪魔にならないようにだったり、色々と都合はあるのだろうけど。
と、そこで急に先頭を行く大男が、こちらを振り返りつつ立ち止まった。
「どうやら十階は安全エリアのようだ。ここで一度休憩にしよう」
アルベルトの大きな背中越しに階段の先を見ると、壁の一部が崩れて日光が差し込む静謐な一室がそこにはあった。
次の階段も直ぐ近くの見える範囲にあり、部屋に入ると安全エリアであることを示す緑色の光が足元から浮かぶ。
俺達は武器をしまうと、一息ついてその部屋の適当な場所へと座り込んだ。
今日のゲーム内の食事メニューは「羊肉のカツサンド」である。
探索ということで食べやすくカットしたものを全員に配り、早速一口――
「食べるのはやっ! ――と、ごめんごめん。ちょっと待って」
「ソースが絶妙」
フィリアちゃんに遮られ、一度自分の分を置いて籠の中を漁る。
多めに作ってきて良かった......。
バスケットの中からカツサンドを取り出し、フィリアちゃんの小さな手の上に載せる。
彼女は礼を言ってセレーネさんとリィズの近くに戻ると、両手でカツサンドを持ってかぶりついた。
それを何とはなしに見ていると、アルベルトが俺の傍に歩み寄って来る。
「いえいえ。フィリアちゃんは戦闘で頑張ってくれたので」
今のところ、アルベルト親子のおかげで戦闘は非常に安定している。
この上の階がどうなっているかは分からないが、レベル差20くらいまでならひょっとしたら行けてしまうかもしれない。
無理そうならさっさと撤退する予定だが。
「今日のフィリアは普段よりも楽しそうだ。――考えてみれば、ダンジョン探索するのは初めてだからな」
「......普段より楽しそうなんですか? あれで?」
傍目には違いがまっっったく見受けられないんだが。
身内なら分かるのだろうか? 少なくとも俺には、会った時から変わらず同じ無表情としか思えない。
「俺と同様、愛想のない娘だが仲良くしてやってくれ。お前達との交流なら、俺としても安心だ」
どういう判断基準でアルベルトがそう言ったのかは分からないが......。
それなら折を見て、フィリアちゃんにもフレンド登録を持ちかけてみようかな。
そこでようやく自分の分のカツサンドにありつくと、噛んだ味と共に僅かに疲れが取れるような感覚に包まれた。
うん、美味い。
The next day, we were standing at the entrance of the pyramid.
The menu window showed that our current location was {King Knurl's Pyramid} .
This was one of the many pyramids in the Yabilga desert and it also was the one with the lowest level monsters.
It was also the one that Riizu scouted before.
Even if I say the lowest, the monsters here were level 50 so...since the current cap is level 40, it might be a place we shouldn't be going into yet.
The members from Migratory Bird were: me, Selene-san and Riizu.
Besides that, the Albert parent and child duo were going to accompany us this time.
Tobi...or should I say, Shuuhei, it seems like the homework he handed in was done quite poorly, so they asked him to redo it and he's studying today.
Miyu seems to have gone out to eat outside with uncle Akifumi so she's not going to log in today.
The truth is, we were going to decide who was going to participate via lottery or rock paper scissors but...
I feel bad for those two but we have managed to form a five man party without issues this way.
[Well then, I wonder what will show up in here.] (Albert)
[Instead of only monsters, it would be nice if there was some treasure in there...] (Hind)
[What's the scope of the place inside? For the time being, we have brought short swords as back up weapons.] (Albert)
Riizu should be able to answer Albert's question.
That being the case, I gazed at my little sister, who was standing over there.
[The inside was really spacious, so I believe that Albert-san should be able to swing his greatsword around.] (Riizu)
Judging from what Riizu said, it seems like it's more spacious inside than it looks.
It also looks like there are lights at fixed intervals on the side, so exploring won't be an issue.
It's probably set like this because it's a game, it's something that would have no real purpose realistically speaking and it's done so that you can go in without worries.
[In that case, there's no issue. While we are moving, I'll be at the front and Philia will be at the rear.
[Ooh, so reliable. In that case, can I ask you to give all the instructions?] (Hind)
[You do that, Hind. Philia and I will follow you instructions.] (Albert)
[...Yes, we'll obey.] (Philia)
You won't do it...?
No matter how you look at it, this is a high difficulty dungeon, we came here after borrowing their strength.
Especially if Albert aniki is here, won't we be able to do something even if there's a ten level difference? That's the expectation I'm having.
Regarding the items we obtain here, if they are ingredients that can be used, they'll be used for the greatsword and axe, the leftovers will be left for us.
As for the rest, we've agreed to divide them equally between us.
[...In that case, let's get going.] (Hind)
After I gave the order, everyone nodded and we entered through the narrow entrance one by one.
But, do I really have to act as a commander this time too...?
Since aniki is here, I thought I'd be able to take it easy this time.
Just as Riizu had said, the inside of the pyramid was different from what I had thought.
Or rather, it was far different from the interior from real pyramids that I had read about.
Instead of leading underground, it was a dungeon with stairs leading upwards, in this type of setting...isn't there usually something at the top?
Then, the first monster we met was a standard one, there was a mummy moving around.
Seeing that, Riizu raised her voice and linked her arms with mine.
[Kyaa, I'm scared, Hind-san.] (Riizu)
[Your voice is really monotone Riizu-chan! It's really obvious that you just want to stick close to him!] (Selene)
[To begin with, this should be the second time you've seen this monster...] (Hind)
[Hmph!] (Riizu)
Seeing how we acted without a hint of tension by giving us a side glance, Albert swung down his sword in a flash and left the monster with a slimmer of HP and Philia-chan finished it off with her axe.
It was as if their offensive ability was saying that there was no meaning in their difference of levels.
This parent and child duo are so strong...though I already knew that.
[It seems like there won't be any issues unless they come in groups. Hind, is it fine if I charge in without bothering to defend like Yumir does?] (Albert)
[Ah, yes. It's obviously fine. Leave the healing to me.] (Hind)
[Philia-chan too, if you need support, don't be reserved and ask for it. I have learned buffing skills and I can heal status ailments.] (Hind)
[...Thank you.] (Philia)
It might be impossible to instantly revive them like I do with Yumir, but from what I saw in the tournament, these two know when to go in and retreat, so I believe they will be quite easy to revive in case they ever become incapacitated.
Our members are all rearguards, so I believe it won't be that hard to work together.
After that, we got into quite a few fights but...Albert and Philia started to move while keeping track of Selene-san and Riizu's line of sight.
They are worthy of the name "Mercenaries", they can adapt really well.
Even if it was an impromptu party, we had really good teamwork.
[Oooh...] (Hind)
[Haaaaaaaaaah!] (Philia)
...That being the case, for quite some now, we haven't had the chance to do anything.
On the way, Albert found the weak point of the male mummies, who were the most common enemies here, so as long as they didn't come in groups, we finished the battles before they could even attack.
Once we reached the fifth floor, apart from the male mummies, mimics that acted as treasure chest, will-o-wisps etc appeared. You could say that a large number of undead type living...living beings? Appeared there.
They were the type that made you doubt if they were really alive or not.
As we climbed floors, the levels of the monsters slowly increased, by the time we reached the ninth floor, their levels were at 55.
By the way, regarding the treasure chests we found on our way, the way we found out if they were a mimic was...
[-Muh!] (Albert)
To say it simply, Albert identified them.
It seems like the one he touched right now was a mimic, the sharp teeth proceeded to bite his burly arm without any hesitation.
Albert violently slammed the mimic that had bitten his arm against a nearby wall and the battle started.
But, just when I finished using healing magic on Albert, he proceeded to attack it instantly and the mimic was cut into small pieces.
After all, the mimic was already nearly dead by the time aniki had slammed it against the wall...just how strong is he, really.
Normally, we would make use of the identification type skills from the balance type Light Warriors, however, this party currently doesn't have one.
That being the case, we adopted this method of having Albert, whose HP was the highest, to forcibly touch the treasure chests without worrying about traps.
Even if he takes damage or status ailments, there's a Shinto Priest here after all.
After the battle was over, Albert, who wasn't breathing even slightly heavily, put away his greatsword and continued walking as if it was natural.
And we just followed him as a group.
[However, since aniki is proceeding as the vanguard without any hesitation, our clearing speed is really fast. He's really strong.] (Hind)
[That's true. if it were Yumir-san and Tobi-san, they would immediately start screaming and making noise each time we found a trap and we would stop. Even though it's not like they are weak.] (Riizu)
[Eh, these stairs lead to...the tenth floor, right? This pyramid, the dimensions of the exterior and interior really don't match up at all.] (Selene)
Now that she mentions it, the arena was the same.
In both cases, if the interior and exterior had to match, they would be gigantic structures after all.
Things like, making them so that they don't get in the way of the scenery, there are a lot of things that they have to take into account.
Just then, the man that had quickly gone forward, turned back to us and stopped moving.
[It seems like the tenth floor is a safe area, let's rest here.] (Albert)
I passed by Albert's big back and looked forward, over there was a peaceful room illuminated by sunlight from a portion of the wall that had collapsed.
You could see the stairs leading to the next floor from here, a green light from under our feet appeared indicating that we had just entered a safe area.
We put away our weapons and moved to a suitable place to sit down.
Today's menu is[Lamb meat katsu sandwich] .
Since we are out exploring, I cut them in a way that would be easy to eat and handed one to each member, time to give it a bit-
[You eat so fast! ...eh, sorry, sorry. Wait a moment.] (Hind)
[The sauce was exquisite.] (Philia)
Having been interrupted by Philia-chan, I left my own portion aside for a moment and looked through the basket.
I'm glad I made some extra...
I took some katsu sandwiches from inside the basket and placed it on top of Philia-chan's hand.
She thanked me for them and returned to where Selene-san and Riizu were, then she started to sink her teeth on the katsu sandwiches that were in both of her hands.
When I looked at that for no particular reason, Albert approached me.
[It's no problem. Philia-chan is working hard during fights after all.] (Hind)
Until now, thanks to this duo, our fights had been really stable.
I'm not sure how things will be in the next few floors, but it might be possible to somehow clear them until there are about twenty levels of difference between us.
If it seems impossible, we have planned to just retreat.
[Today, Philia seems to be having more fun than usual. ...Now that I think about it, it might be because it's the first time we have explored a dungeon.] (Albert)
[...She's having more fun than usual? Looking like that?] (Hind)
As an outsider, she looked no different from how she usually was.
He might know because they are family? As far as I am concerned, she still has the same blank expression as the first time I met her.
[She's similar to me, please get along with my unsociable daughter. If she's to interact with all of you, I'll be at ease.] (Albert)
I don't know what criteria Albert used to say that...
In that case, by taking advantage of this, I guess I should suggest to Philia-chan that we exchange friend requests.
I was finally able to pick up my own portion of katsu sandwich and as I took a bite, I was enveloped in a sensation as if the fatigue was being taken away from me.
Yup, it's tasty.
VRMMO no Shien Shokunin ～Top Player no Shikakenin～
ＶＲＭＭＯの支援職人　～トッププレイヤーの仕掛人～
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/vrmmo-no-shien-shokunin-%ef%bd%9etop-player-no-shikakenin%ef%bd%9e/
Action Adventure Comedy Fantasy Harem Slice of Life
Adventurers Beautiful Female Lead Blacksmith Brother Complex Calm Protagonist Childhood Friends Clan Building Cooking Crafting Curious Protagonist Dense Protagonist Elemental Magic Fantasy Creatures Game Ranking System Gamers Hard-Working Protagonist Healers Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Love Rivals Male Protagonist Misunderstandings MMORPG Ninjas Possessive Characters Priests Siblings Siblings Not Related by Blood Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Younger Love Interests Younger Sisters
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n4014ds/
二階堂風都