「――むんっ!」
アルベルトの剛腕が唸る度に炎の魔人『ナール王の残滓』のHPはごりっと削れていく。
それを見る限りこのボスも楽勝なのではないかと勘違いしそうになるが、実態は違う。
このモンスターは常に微弱な回復を行うようで、放っておくとじわじわHPが回復していくのだが......。
問題はそこではなく、奴の高い攻撃力にある。
「ぐぅっ!」
炎の魔人から予備動作なしで熱波が発生し、アルベルトにダメージを与えてくる。
避けるのが難しくしかも範囲攻撃・魔法属性なので重戦士の前衛二人は一度攻撃を受けるだけで瀕死になる。
そのせいで俺達は慎重な攻めを強いられている。
驚くことにフィリアちゃんは獣じみた動きで躱して見せたが。
更には一定確率で状態異常「やけど」にしてくるおまけ付き。非常に厄介だ。
「リィズ!」
「はいっ!」
俺が『ヒーリングプラス』を詠唱、それに合わせてリィズが『ダークネスボール』で敵を足止めする。
遠距離攻撃が来ないことを祈りつつ、俺を庇ってくれるリィズと一緒に距離を取りながら『ヒーリングプラス』をアルベルトへ発動させた。
そして炎の魔人がこちらを向いた直後、セレーネさんが『ブラストアロー』を放つ。
炎を吹き散らしながら突風を伴った矢が魔人の胸元を貫通していく。
表示上HPはしっかり減るのだが、どうにも手応えのない光景である。
矢を撃ったセレーネさん自身もしっくりこない様子。
「......」
フィリアちゃんがちらりとこちらに目配せしてから『ヘビースタンス』を発動。
攻撃・防御が上昇するものの、魔法抵抗は上がらないスキルのはずだ。
それに、わざわざこちらを見たということは......もしや戦闘不能前提で突っ込んで、ダメージを取りに行く気か?
ならばまずは『アタックアップ』で支援、大技を放つ体勢の彼女を援護する。
バフを使ったことで魔人がこちらに炎を飛ばしてくるが、この攻撃だけは読みやすい。
躱して『リヴァイブ』の詠唱を開始する。
「行けっ、フィリア! お前の力を見せる時だ!」
「うん......!」
アルベルトに呼応してフィリアちゃんは斧を腰だめに構え、大きく息を吸って体を捻る。
そのまま突進、そして少女は炎の魔人の目の前で一陣の竜巻と化した。
『トルネードスウィング』――自分を中心に斧と共に激しく回転して、炎の塊を蹴散らしていく。
ユーミルのように三半規管の弱いプレイヤーなら一瞬で自分の方が参ってしまう欠陥のある技だが、使いこなせばその威力は抜群。
重戦士の攻撃力を軽戦士並の速度で次々と叩き込む様は圧巻の一語である。
最終的に彼女は実に三割近いダメージを『ナール王の残滓』に与えた後、反撃の炎に巻かれて戦闘不能となった。
この親にしてこの子ありという事実を、まざまざと俺達に見せつけた形である。
「すごい......」
「あれだけ回転して的を外さないのもそうですが、炎に向かって恐れずに向かっていく姿勢が......」
セレーネさんもリィズからもそんな言葉が漏れる。
見た目以外は本当に父親似なんだな......寡黙ではあっても、小さな体に溢れんばかりの闘争心が宿っているようだ。
「よし、完成! アルベルトさん!」
「分かっている! 任せろ!」
フィーネちゃんの戦闘不能から数秒、『リヴァイブ』が発動してフィリアちゃんがフラフラと立ち上がる。
その間はアルベルトが壁になり、俺達への攻撃を完璧にシャットアウトしている。この安心感。
敵のHPも残すところ三割、あともう一踏ん張り。
全員がそう思ったところで、
アルベルトの一撃が炎を斬り裂き、HPが二割を切った瞬間。
炎の魔人の体が何倍にも膨れ上がり――爆ぜた。
「――!?」
爆風によってPTメンバー全員が声も上げられずに壁に、床に、天井に叩きつけられる。
「――かはっ! はぁ、はぁ......」
熱で焼け付く喉を抑えながら起き上がった俺の目に映ったものは、倒れ伏して微動だにしない四人の姿だった。
まずいまずいまずい! 俺がやられたら全滅する!
今の爆発はどうやらHPが減少をトリガーにして発生する大技だったようだ。
発狂モードに入って暴れまわる魔人から逃げながら、最初に誰を蘇生させるか必死に思考を巡らせる。
後衛は駄目だ、どちらも敵を引き付けて逃げ回るだけの運動能力はない!
となるとアルベルトかフィリアちゃんだが――アルベルトの戦闘スタイルは攻撃は最大の防御と言わんばかりに、圧倒的な
なので、実体が無く魔法攻撃を主体とする目の前のこいつを相手に時間稼ぎをするには相性が悪い。
先程見せた少女の反応を思い返し、決断する。
俺はインベントリから『聖水』を取り出すと、バックステップしながら炎の魔人の隙を窺った。
チャンスは一度、失敗すればWTが発生して打つ手がなくなる。
炎の魔人が腕を伸ばして激しく振り回す。
それを搔い潜って瓶を振りかぶり、投擲!
「当たってくれぇ!」
魔人の攻撃が激しいせいで投げざるを得なかった瓶は、少女の体にぶつかって割れる。
青白い光が輝き、中身の液体がフィリアちゃんの体を包む。
「......?」
何が起きたのか分からない様子で、フィリアちゃんが半身を起こして周囲を見回す。
仕方ない、死に慣れているユーミルが異常なのだ。
だが、早くこちらに気付いてくれ、もう......!
「!! ハインド、危ないっ!」
初めて聞いた彼女の大声。
それに驚いている余裕は無く、俺は無様に転がって炎から逃れていく。
慌てて次の攻撃に備えて起き上がると、俺を守るようにして立つ細い背が見え......。
「......ハインド、皆の回復をお願い。私は前衛の役目を果たす」
「――! ああ、頼んだよ!」
『中級ポーション』を目の前の小さな背中に投げ、HPを回復。
彼女の生存能力を信じ、WTが開けた『リヴァイブ』の詠唱を開始。
の次に魔法耐性の高い魔導士であるリィズだ。
フィリアちゃんが跳ね、転がり、駆け、時には屈みこんで四足歩行に近い体勢すら取って魔人に的を絞らせないように動き回る。
大斧という重量級の武器を持ちながら軽戦士顔負けの回避能力を見せる彼女の姿に、自分の選択が誤りではなかったことを確信した。
惚れ惚れするような動きだ。
そして『リヴァイブ』が発動、起き上がったリィズがアルベルトに『聖水』を使用。
娘の孤軍奮闘に目を見張るアルベルトだったが、平静を取り戻すと彼もセレーネさんに『聖水』を使った。
これで全員復活、最後に『エリアヒール』を使って一気に戦況を立て直した。
そこでようやくボロボロになったフィリアちゃんが下がり、アルベルトと壁役をスイッチした。
「よくやった、フィリア。後は父さんに任せろ」
「......うん」
すれ違う瞬間、アルベルトが大きな手でフィリアちゃんの頭を軽く撫でる。
――あ、今フィリアちゃんが微かに笑ったような気が......いや、気のせいか。
『ナール王の残滓』のHPは四割にまで回復していたが、娘の活躍を見たアルベルトの背中にはかつてないほどの気合が漲っている。
既に『バーサーカーエッジ』を発動し、その体は赤黒いオーラに包まれていた。
俺達渡り鳥の後衛三人組は目配せし合うと、リィズは敵に『ガードダウン』を、俺は『アタックアップ』をアルベルトに使用。
グレートソードに赤い光が収束し、『ランペイジ』のチャージが開始される。
バフ・デバフを使用した俺達を無視して、『ナール王の残滓』はそちらに釘付けに。
アルベルトが攻撃を紙一重で躱しながらそのままチャージを続けていく。
一際眩い光が弾けてチャージが完了した直後、セレーネさんの『ブラストアロー』が魔人の体を穿つ。
矢を受けて動きを止めた『ナール王の残滓』の前でアルベルトが跳躍した。
大上段に構えた大剣、そして気合の乗った雄たけびと共に渾身の一撃を解き放つ!
「おおおおおおおおっ!!」
轟音。
四割あった敵のHPバーが盛大に弾け、炎が霧散していく。
いやはや、レベルが15も上のボスモンスターなんだけどな......あそこから一撃でもっていくのか。
限界まで重い武器を持ち、防御を捨て、攻撃を躱しながらチャージを最大まで完了。
攻撃モーションを可能な限り大きく取り、更に弱点である頭部を的確に狙う。
理論上は重戦士なら誰にでも可能とはいえ、実際にやれるかどうかは別問題だ。
戦闘が終わったことを悟ったアルベルトが静かに背中に剣を収める。
俺達も長い息を吐いて互いに笑みを交わし合った。
危なかった......勝てて本当に良かった。
そのままスーッと不自然に室温が下がり、何かが落ちる音に振り返るとそこには宝箱が置かれていた。
更には予想通りと言うべきか、視界の中にゆっくりと字幕が流れ始める。
『ダンジョン・ナール王のピラミッドにおいて 傭兵アルベルト様・フィリア様・セレーネ様・リィズ様・ハインド様 のパーティが20階を踏破しました。おめでとうございます!』
[-Mun!] (Albert)
The fire demon {Vestiges of King Knurl}  howled as his HP was shaved off by Albert's strong attack.
Seeing that made us think that this boss might be easier than we thought, but reality was different.
This monster always has a continuous slow HP regeneration, so if we leave it alone, it'll slowly recover its HP but...
The problem wasn't that, it was its high attack power.
[Guh!] (Albert)
The fire demon released a heatwave without any preemptive movements and Albert took damage.
Avoiding it was hard, furthermore, it was an attack with both physical and magical properties so since our frontline was made of two heavy warriors, if they took a direct hit, they would be on the verge of dying.
Because of that, we were forced to attack carefully.
To my astonishment, Philia-chan showed beast-like movements and dodged them.
On top of that, it had a fixed probability to inflict the status ailment [Burn] . It was really annoying.
[Riizu!] (Hind)
[Yes!] (Riizu)
I casted {Healing Plus}  and in addition to that, Riizu used {Darkness Ball}  to stop the monster in place.
While praying that a long range attack didn't come, I took some distance along with Riizu, who had used the spell to cover me and released the {Healing Plus}  on Albert.
Then, as soon as the fire demon turned towards us, Selene released her {Blast Arrow} .
While blowing the fire away, the bolt released along with a gust of wind and penetrated the demon's chest.
The displayed HP did decrease, however, it showed no reaction to it.
It also showed no signs that it wanted to go after Selene-san, who had released the bolt.
[...] (Philia)
Philia-chan glanced at me for a second and we exchanged looks, then she activated {Heavy Stance} .
It should be a skill that increases her attack and physical defense, although it doesn't increase magic resistance.
On top of that, if she went as far as too look at me....does that mean she plans to go in and deal as much damage as she can until she gets incapacitated?
In that case I supported the girl that took a stance as if she was going to release a strong skill with {Attack up} .
Since I used a buff, the demon released fire at me, this is the only attack of his that's easy to read.
I dodged it and started casting {Revive} .
[Go, Philia! It's time to show your power!] (Albert)
[Yes...!] (Philia)
Hearing those words from Albert, Philia-chan lowered the axe to the altitude of her hips and took a stance, then she took a big breath.
Next, she rushed at it, the little girl became a tornado once she was in front of the fire demon.
{Tornado Swing} ...with her own body as the center, she violently spun around along with her axe. The mass of fire was being dispersed.
If it was a player with weak semicircular canals like Yumir, it would be a skill where you would self destruct instantly, but if you were able to use it properly, it had incredible power.
Pummeling the monster with the attack power of a Heavy Warrior but the speed of an average Light Warrior was the highlight of this skill.
In the end, after she dealt around thirty percent of the {Vestiges of King Knurl's}  HP in damage, she was enveloped in flames due to its counterattack and became incapacitated.
This was a display that showed that she was really her dad's daughter, it was as if she was showing off to us.
[Incredible...] (Selene)
[There's also the fact that she didn't miss at all even though she was spinning around that much, but for her to go towards those flames without a hint of fear...] (Riizu)
Selene-san and Riizu leaked those thoughts.
Leaving aside their appearances, they were really father and daughter...even if she doesn't talk much, an overflowing amount of fighting spirit was packed in that small body of hers.
[Alright, done! Albert-san!] (Hind)
[I know! Leave it to me!] (Albert)
A few seconds after Philia-chan became incapacitated, I released {Revive} on her and she unsteadily stood up.
During that time, Albert acted as a wall and didn't let a single attack go towards us. What was this sense of security?
The enemy had around thirty percent HP left, we just needed another push.
Just when everyone was thinking that, something unusual happened.
The moment Albert's slash took down its HP to under twenty percent.
The fire demon's body swelled up to many times its size and...exploded.
[-!?] (Albert)
Due to the explosion, all of us were sent flying towards the ceiling, walls, floor without being able to make a single sound.
[-Gahah! Hah, hah...] (Hind)
While trying to contain the feeling of heat coming through my throat, I looked in front of me and saw the other four members not moving at all while facing the ground.
This is bad, so so bad! If I had died, we would have wiped!
It seems like that explosion was a powerful skill that triggered once its HP reached a certain point.
While running away from the demon that was rampaging around because it had entered berserk mode, I was frantically thinking about who I should revive first.
A rearguard is no good, both of them don't have the ability to distract the enemy while they dodge around!
That leaves it to Albert or Philia-chan but...Albert's fighting style is one where you could say that his offensive skill is his greatest defense, one where he shuts down his opponents with his overwhelming offensive power.
That being the case, against an opponent that doesn't have a physical body and mainly attacks with magic attacks, buying time would be hard for him because of bad compatibility.
Thinking back on the reflexes she showed a while ago, I made my decision.
I took out a {Holy Water}  from my inventory and increased the distance with the fire demon with a backstep.
There's only one chance, if I fail, it'll enter CD and I won't be able to use it again.
The fire demon raised its arm and violently swung it down.
I went under it while narrowly escaping getting hit, brandished the bottle and threw it!
[Please hit!] (Hind)
The bottle I had no other choice but to throw due to the demon's violent attacks, hit the little girl and broke.
It shined with a pale light and the liquid enveloped Philia-chan's body.
[...?] (Philia)
Looking as if she didn't understand what was going on, Philia raised half of her body and looked around.
Can't be helped, Yumir, who had gotten used to dying was an abnormality.
But, please notice me already, geez...!
[!! Hind, look out!] (Philia)
It was the first time I heard her shout.
Having no time to be surprised about that, I rolled to get away from the flames.
Once I took a stance in a panic to anticipate the next attack, I saw a slender body in front of me that acted as if it was protecting me...
[...Hind, I'll leave healing everyone to you. I'll do my job as a vanguard.] (Philia)
[-! Yeah, I'm counting on you!] (Hind)
I threw an{Intermediate Potion} at the small back in front of me and recovered her HP.
Believing in her physical ability, I started casting {Revive} , which had come back up.
The target is the one with the highest magical resistance after Shinto Priests, the mage Riizu.
Philia-chan: jumped, rolled, ran and at times she bent down and took a posture that made it look as if she was running on four legs and moved around to avoid the demon.
While holding a heavyweight class weapon, she displayed dodging skills that would put a Light Warrior to shame, seeing that, it made me confirm that choosing her had not been a mistake.
Those movements are mesmerizing.
Then I finished casting {Revive} , once Riizu got up, she used a {Holy Water} on Albert.
Albert opened his eyes wide once he saw his daughter fighting alone, but he remained calm and used a{Holy Water} on Selene-san.
With this, everyone is is revived and lastly, I used {Area Heal}  to instantly make us able to go back into the fight.
Philia-chan, who was finally in tatters, fell back and Albert switched in as the tank.
[You did well, Philia. Leave the rest to dad.] (Albert)
[...Yup,] (Philia)
The moment he passed by her, Albert lightly patted Philia-chan's head with his big hand.
...Ah, I get the feeling that Philia-chan made a small smile right now...no, was it my imagination? Now that I'm looking at her, she has that usual blank expression on her.
The {Vestiges of King Knurl}  had recovered its HP up to around forty percent, but having witnesses all the effort his daughter had gone through, Albert was filled with fighting spirit he didn't have before.
He had already activated {Berserker Edge}  and his body was enveloped in a dark red aura.
The three of us, members of Migratory Bird, exchanged glances and Riizu used {Guard Down} on the boss and I cast {Attack Up} on Albert.
Red light converged in his greatsword, he had started to charge {Rampage} .
Ignoring us, who had used buffs and debuffs, the {Vestiges of King Knurl}  stayed in place.
While dodging its attacks by a hair's breadth, Albert kept charging up.
Immediately he had finished charging up, it released a dazzling light and Selene-san's {Blast Arrow} hit the demon's body.
Just as the {Vestiges of King Knurl}  had its movements stopped by the bolt, Albert leaped forward.
While holding his greatsword over his head, he released all his strength in a single blow along with a war cry filled with fighting spirit!
[Uooooooooooooooh!] (Albert)
A thunderous roar.
The forty percent of HP remaining on the enemy magnificently vanished and the flames dispersed.
Goodness gracious, that's a boss monster 15 levels ahead of us you know...to have it be defeated like that in a single blow is a bit...
Holding a weapon, which weight had been pushed to its utmost limit, throwing away his defense and completely charging up his attack while dodging.
Making his motion of attack as big as possible, furthermore, aiming at its weak point, which was the head, with pinpoint accuracy.
In theory, if a Heavy Warrior can do it, anyone else can do it, but actually doing it is another story.
Having discerned that the battle was over, Albert calmly put away his weapon on his back.
We all took a big breath and exchanged smiles.
That was dangerous...I'm glad we managed to win.
Like that, the unnatural high temperature of the room was gone, when we turned around because we heard the sound of something falling, we found a treasure chest placed there.
I guess I should say this was to be expected, a stream of words appeared in our field of view.
{Regarding the dungeon, Pyramid of King Knurl, the party of : Mercenary Albert-sama, Philia-sama, Selene-sama, Riizu-sama and Hind-sama has conquered the twentieth floor. Congratulations!}
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