廃坑跡を利用して五十人規模の山賊達が住み着いたのは、ゲーム時間で今から一月ほど前の事だそうだ。
討伐隊を編成して向かわせたものの、山賊達は廃坑跡を利用して巧みに逃走。
一度は山から追い払った訳だが、少し経った今になって再び集結。
に、街道を歩く商人などを狙って金品を強奪しているそうだ。
「それって奇襲を掛けて一気に捕縛するか、逃走経路を塞ぐ必要があるよな?」
「後者は難しいですわね。一度山賊達を追い払った際に廃坑跡の出入り口は全て塞いだそうですけれど、山賊達が勝手に改造していて大変だったそうですから」
「戻ってきたという事は、つまりそれらを掘り直した上に逃走経路が増えている可能性があると」
「これは大変な任務でござるなぁ」
「四人で出来るクエストだとは思えないんですけど......人数が足りませんよぉ......」
山を登る途中で満腹度が50%を切ったので、俺達は手近な小屋に入って休憩することにした。
狭い小屋には採掘道具が幾つか転がっているだけで、他には何もない。
それらを適当に隅に寄せて座るスペースを確保。
その後、用意してきたパンとジャムを取り出す。
満腹度が0になるとHPが減少を始めるので、注意が必要だ。
一度山賊達の話を切り上げ、話題は料理に関してのものへ。
「すまんな。急いでたんでこんなもんしか準備できなかった」
「いいえ、とても有り難いですわ。ハインドは細かい所まで気が回りますのね――ワルターと違って」
「うう......」
めてやるなよ。アプデ後では今日が初ログインなんだろ? 満腹度を知らなかったのなら仕方あるまい」
ヘルシャとワルターはアップデート内容を知らず、食料を用意してこなかったそうだ。
パンは多めに用意してきたので、帰りの分も含めて何とか足りるだろう。
そんな俺のフォローにワルターが顔を綻ばせる。
「ハインドさん......! なんてお優しい......」
「あ、あー......ごほん! ハインド殿、そのジャムが先程急いで作っていた物でござるか?」
「そうだよ。ラズベリーのジャムだ。三分くらいで煮詰まってトロトロになるのは、ゲームならではだな」
「ハインド殿は、一緒に行動していても何時の間にかその手の素材を集めているでござるな。それもフィールドで拾った物でござろう?」
「目に付くとつい拾っちまうんだよ。タダで手に入る物だと思うと勿体なくて。みみっちいかな?」
「あら、悪い事ではありませんわよ。使える物が即座に手に入る状況であれば、むしろ積極的に取りに行くべきだと思いますけれど」
ヘルシャの意外な言葉に、俺は目を見開いた。
本物のお嬢様だって聞いたから、こういう庶民的な感覚は馬鹿にされるかと思ったのだが。
「何を驚いていますの? 金持ちなどというものは、基本的にはケチなものです。必要だと感じた時に投資を惜しまないという点で、勘違いされ易いだけですわ」
「いいな、その考え方。締める所は締めて使うべき所にはしっかりと、だな」
「ご家族以外の方とこんなに楽しそうにお話しになるお嬢様は、初めて見ました。すごいなあ、ハインドさん......」
「む......!?」
瓶の蓋を開けると、ラズベリーの甘い香りが小屋の中に広がる。
切り分けられたライ麦パンに塗って、全員に二つずつ配っていく。
さすがのトビも食事時は頭巾を外し、インベントリに収納してパンに
「! このジャム、美味しいですわね。爽やかな香りと酸味、ほどよい甘さが調和して......」
「ハチミツでシンプルに味を
りようですこと。これで紅茶があれば、場所はともかく素敵なティータイムになりましたのに......」
「無茶言うなよ。そういや紅茶の茶葉は、まだゲーム内で一度も見掛けてないな。もしかしたら近場には存在しないのかもしれん」
「そうなのですか? お嬢様は紅茶がお好きなんです。ゲーム内で食料が必要になったのであれば、できればご用意して差し上げたいのですけど......」
「へえ。ヘルシャ、そんなに紅茶が好きなのか?」
「血と一緒に紅茶が流れているイメージが脳裏に浮かぶくらいには、好んで飲みますわね」
でも、そもそも取引掲示板を含めてもお茶自体を見ないんだよな。
カフェインといえば、コーヒーもないし......。
この状態は、プレイヤーがどうにかして流通させろってことだと思うんだけど。
「現実での紅茶の主要生産国は......インド、スリランカ、ケニア、中国、インドネシアの五つだったはず。それに近い雰囲気の場所を探してみればいいかもな。ヨーロッパ、特にイギリスに紅茶を飲む文化が浸透したのは18世紀だから――」
「中世欧州風のこのゲームでは、まだ伝来してないってことですかぁ? そんなぁ......」
「ワルター殿、拙者も協力するでござるからそう落ち込まずに」
「あ、ありがとうございます、トビさん。それにしてもハインドさんは博識ですね......尊敬しちゃいます!」
「むむっ!?」
「おい、さっきから何なんだよトビ。どうして俺を睨む」
「別にぃー。何でもないでござるよぉ?」
空腹度を満たす為の軽食が終わり、いよいよ山賊退治について本腰を入れて話し合う。
町長から借りたダラム山及び坑道の地図を見ながら作戦を練る。
地図は山賊達が坑道を改造する前のものだが、人が寝泊まりできるような広い空間は限られているとのこと。
小さい坑道を増やせても、それらは基本的に変わっていないだろう。
「つっても、今の状況で採れる戦法は一つだけだな。こっちは四人しか居ないんだし」
「ですわね」
「え? それって何ですか?」
「「敵のリーダーに奇襲を掛けて捕縛すること(ですわ)」」
ヘルシャと声が揃ってしまった。
ちょっと恥ずかしい。
「つまりお二人は敵が烏合の衆ではなく、リーダーを中心に組織立って動いているとお考えで?」
「聞いた限りの見事な逃げっぷりを考えると......」
「間違いなく居ますわね。それなりに頭の切れる親玉が」
その山賊達のリーダーを捕らえれば、後は逃げ散るなりしても大した脅威ではなくなると思われる。
まさか町長だって、四人で山賊団を一人残らず壊滅させられるとは思っていないだろう。
クエスト条件を確認して貰うと『山賊団の脅威を除くこと』となっているので、恐らくそれで問題ない。
次に、その親玉が何処に潜んでいるかだが......。
「俺はこっちだと思う」
ここにきて初めてヘルシャと意見が食い違う。
地図上でヘルシャが指差しているのは、坑道各所に指示を出し易そうな中央寄り。
対して俺は、坑道の末端......俺達が登ってきた山道の反対側と言っていい場所。
「なるほど......貴方は親玉の性格をそう読んだのですわね」
「まあな。ヘルシャは相手の人格を買い被り過ぎだと思うぞ」
「なら、二手に分かれましょうか。どちらの可能性も捨てきれませんし」
「それは賛成。実際、確実な判断を下すには材料が足りないしな」
「あのう......お二人の会話が高度過ぎてついていけないんですが......」
「拙者らにも分かるように話して欲しいでござる」
「あー、それは道中で説明するから。で、パーティをどう分けるかなんだけど......」
まず俺とヘルシャは後衛職同士、ついでに意見が分かれたこともあってばらけることに決定。
どの道、後衛二人じゃ対応できる状況が限られてしまうからな。
ワルターの職を聞くと、武闘家だという答えが返ってきたので前衛後衛のバランスは問題無し。
折角の交流ということもあり、双方コンビの相方を交換することを俺は提案した。
ヘルシャもワルターも構わないと言うので、俺はワルターと共に、トビはヘルシャと一緒に行動することに。
ワルターに関しては、個人的に少し気になる事もあるしな......。
「よ、宜しくお願いします! ハインドさん!」
「うん、よろしく。何も緊張すること無いからな? 気楽に行こう」
「は、はい!」
「で、トビ。ちょっと」
「ん? 何でござるか?」
「小屋の外で話そう――二人とも、少し待っててくれ。直ぐに戻るから」
トビと共に一度、小屋の外へ出る。
充分に距離を取り、話し声が聞こえない距離まで歩いてから口を開く。
俺の考えが杞憂ならば構わないが、もしもということがあるからな。
トビは引っ張ってこられたことに特に疑問を抱かず、頭の後ろで手を組んでボヤいた。
「どうせならワルター殿と組みたかったでござるなぁ......」
「......。そのワルターなんだけどな。ひょっとしたら..................男なんじゃないかと思うんだが」
その言葉を聞いたトビは実に間の抜けた顔をした。
次いで俺に向けた「何を言ってるんだこいつは」という表情が非常に癇に障る。
殴ろうかな。
「いや、まあ......俺の勘違いならそれで構わないさ。お前も幸せなままだろうし」
「信じないでござる! 信じたくないでござる! でも、わっちの勘は当たるから怖い! やめて! そ、そういえば何故かメイド服じゃなくて執事服だし......」
「まだ決まった訳じゃないって。同行中にそれとなく本人に確認してみる......が、もしもに備えて、ショックを受けないように頭の片隅にでも入れておいてくれ。正直、聞き方を間違えたらかなり失礼な質問だ。その場合でも、俺が嫌われるだけで済むんだから何も問題ないだろう?」
「わっち......俺、わっちと友達で良かった......! 睨んだりしてごめんよ!」
「よせやい。そんな訳で、そっちはそっちでしっかりやれよ。ヘルシャは話した感じ、感情的になりやすいタイプだと思う。暴走しないように気を遣ってやってくれ」
「ふむん。ユーミル殿と同じくらいでござるか?」
「うーん、たぶん同じくらいじゃね? これも勘だけど。じゃあ、頼むな」
その後、一度トビと小屋へと戻り、準備を整えた後に今度は四人揃って小屋から出発。
暫く登山が続き、坑道の入り口が遠目に見えた段階で散開。
それぞれ二人ずつに分かれて行動を開始した。
About 50 bandits have settled down in the mine, in game terms, this happened around 1 month ago.
Although an attack squad was sent to deal with them, they skillfully escaped from them.
They were driven away from the mountain that one time, but after some time passed, they gathered there again.
Making this [Dram mountain]  their headquarters, they stole goods from people like merchants in the highways.
[So if we want to arrest them all in one sweep, we have to seal their escape route, right?]  (Hind)
[The latter will be difficult. When they drove them away that time they had sealed all the exits, but it seems like those bandits had remodeled the mines on their own]  (Herrschaft)
[Since they have returned, that means that there's a chance that they made more escape routes]  (Hind)
[This is quite the difficult task, huh?]  (Tobi)
[This quest doesn't make you think we can do it with 4 people...we just don't have enough people for it...]  (Walter)
Since we climbed around 50% of the mountain, we entered a small cabin in the vicinity to rest.
There were some mining tools scattered throughout the small cabin but there was nothing else.
We secured a space in a corner and sat down.
After that, I took out the bread and jam I prepared beforehand.
Once your hunger gauge reaches 0 your HP will begin to slowly decrease, you have to be careful about that.
We stopped talking about the bandits for now and the conversation shifted to the food.
[I'm sorry. It was so sudden that I could only prepare something like this]  (Hind)
[No, I really appreciate it. You sure bother with all the small details...unlike Walter]  (Herrschaft)
[Uuu...]  (Walter)
[Don't bully her that much. It's the first time you have logged since the update, right? It can't be helped if she didn't know about the hunger system]  (Hind)
Since Herrschaft and Walter didn't know about the contents of the update they didn't prepare any food.
I had prepared a large amount of bread so there's probably enough for us to eat on the way back too.
Following that, Walter's face broke out into a smile.
[Hind-san...! Such kindness...]  (Walter)
[A-Ah...ahem! Hind-dono, is this jam the one you made in a hurry before?]  (Tobi)
[That's right. It's raspberry jam. They become sticky after you boil them for 3 minutes since it's a game]  (Hind)
[You really manage to gather ingredients without me knowing even though we are playing together. Did you pick them up in the field?]  (Tobi)
[I saw them and picked them up. I think they are too good to be things that can be picked up for free. Would that make me small-minded?]  (Hind)
[Oh, I don't think that's a bad thing. If you are met with a situation where you can obtain something you can use immediately, I believe you should in fact just pick them up]  (Herrschaft)
Because of Herrschaft's unexpected words, I opened my eyes wide.
Since she said she was a genuine ojou-sama I thought she would ridicule this kind of plebeian feelings.
[What are you getting surprised for? Those who have money are fundamentally stingy. We won't think it twice when it's necessary to invest, it's just that we are easily misunderstood]  (Herrschaft)
[That way of thinking is nice. So it means to economize whenever you can right?]  (Hind)
[This is the first time I've seen ojou-sama enjoy talking to someone else other than family. Hind-san is amazing...]  (Walter)
[Nuh...!?]  (Tobi)
Once I opened the lid of the jar, the sweet fragrance of raspberries spread throughout the cabin.
I spread it over the Rye bread I had cut and gave each member 2 pieces.
As one would expect from meal time, Tobi had removed his hood, stored it in his inventory and took a bite.
[! This jam is delicious. It has a refreshing aroma and sourness, and it goes well with its moderate sweetness...]  (Herrschaft)
[I prepared it in a simple way with some honey. I didn't have any time to taste test it, but if it suits ojou-sama's taste it should be fine]  (Hind)
[Oh my, that's a bad way to put it. If we had black tea here, location aside, it would make for a splendid tea time...]  (Herrschaft)
[Don't be that unreasonable. Now that you said that, I still haven't seen black tea leaves inside the game. They might not exist in the vicinity]  (Hind)
[Is that so? Ojou-sama likes black tea. If food is needed inside the game, I would like to prepare some for her if it was possible...]  (Walter)
[Eh...Herrschaft, do you like black tea that much?]  (Hind)
[You could say that you could imagine black tea flowing through me the same way blood does, I drink it because I like it]  (Herrschaft)
However, I haven't seen tea appear in the trading BBS.
Speaking of caffeine, there's no coffee either...
I believe that this situation was made so players circulate them somehow.
[In real life, the major country of origin of black tea are...India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, China and Indonesia, it should be these 5.
[Since this game is set in the European middle ages, you mean that they haven't been imported yet? No way...]  (Walter)
[Walter-dono, I'll help you so don't feel so down]  (Tobi)
[T-Thank you very much, Tobi-san. However, Hinds-san sure knows about a lot of things...I really admire that!]  (Walter)
[Nunuh!?]  (Tobi)
[Hey, why have been acting like that for quite a while? Why are you glaring at me?]  (Hind)
[It's nothing. No real reason?]  (Tobi)
After eating a light meal to satisfy our hunger, we proceeded to finally talk seriously about how we'd exterminate the bandits.
We polished our plan while looking at the map of the tunnels provided by the mayor.
The map was from before the tunnels were remodeled, but the big spaces where people could live in were limited.
Even if they made new small tunnels, that fact wouldn't change.
[In the end, there's only one plan with our current situation. We are only 4 people after all]  (Hind)
[That's true]  (Herrschaft)
[Eh? What would that be?]  (Walter)
[[Take their leader by surprise and capture him] ] 
Herscha and my voice agreed at the same time.
It was a bit embarrassing.
[So both of you think that they are not an unorganized group, but they instead move as a group with their leader at the center?]  (Walter)
[Thinking about how they escaped splendidly last time...]  (Hind)
[There's no doubt about it. Their leader seems to be somewhat smart]  (Herrschaft)
It does seem like if we capture the leader, they'll later scatter and won't pose a threat.
I doubt even the mayor would expect for 4 people to annihilate all of them without letting anyone escape.
I checked the conditions of the quest and it said [Eliminate the threat of the bandit group]  so there shouldn't be any problems.
Next up should be where said leader is lurking around but...
[I think he's over here]  (Hind)
This was the first time that our opinions differed.
The point in the map Herscha pointed at was towards the middle where it would be easy to exit through various tunnels.
On the contrary, the place I pointed was at the end of the tunnels...basically the opposite direction of where we were climbing right now.
[I see...so you believe their leader has that kind of personality]  (Herrschaft)
[Well yeah. I think you are thinking too highly of their leader]  (Hind)
[In that case, should we split in 2 groups? I can't discard both possibilities after all]  (Herrschaft)
[I agree. In reality, we don't have enough information to be sure]  (Hind)
[Eh...your conversation is too complicated and I can't follow...]  (Walter)
[I'd prefer if you could explain it in a way we could understand]  (Tobi)
[Ah, I'll explain on the way. So, how are we going to divide the groups...]  (Hind)
First off, both Herrscha and I are rear-guards, and incidentally, we have differing opinions so we are going our own ways.
Anyway, there are limits to coordinated actions if both people are rear-guards.
When I asked him, Walter said that his job was martial artist, so there won't be any issues with a balance between rearguards and vanguards.
It was a valuable chance to interchange, so I proposed switching partners.
Herscha and Walter didn't have any issues with it, so I ended up going with Walter and Tobi would go with Herscha.
After all, I'm personally quite curious about something regarding Walter...
[L-Looking forward to working with you! Hind-san!]  (Walter)
[Yup, I'm counting on you. Don't feel pressured, OK? Let's take it easy]  (Hind)
[Y-Yes!]  (Walter)
[So, Tobi. Can I have a moment?]  (Hind)
[Hmm? What is it?]  (Tobi)
[Let's talk outside the cabin...both of you, wait here for a moment. We'll be right back]  (Hind)
For the time being, I stepped outside the cabin with Tobi.
We took an appropriate distance and I opened my mouth once we reached a spot where they wouldn't be able to hear us.
There would be no problems if it was just me thinking too much about it, but I wanted to be prepared if it was really the case.
Tobi didn't really question me for taking him there, but he grumbled while he had his arms crossed behind his head.
[If it was possible I'd have wanted to go with Walter-dono...]  (Tobi)
This is regarding that Walter. I'm thinking that...there might be a possibility that he's really a guy]  (Hind)
The face Tobi made once he heard my words was pretty idiotic.
Then, he made a face as if he was saying [What is this guy even saying?]  and that kind of irritated me.
Should I punch him?
[Well, you see...I don't really mind if it's just my misunderstanding. That would just keep you happy after all]  (Hind)
[I don't believe it! I don't! However, Wacchi intuition is good so that makes it scary! Stop! N-Now that you said that, he's wearing a butler uniform instead of maid clothes...]  (Tobi)
[It's not a fact yet. I'll try to check by indirectly asking him questions while we go together...however, you should prepare yourself in case it's true so you are not shocked when it comes to light. The truth is, if I make a mistake in the way I ask her it would be quite the rude thing to ask. On the other hand, there wouldn't be any issues if it just ends with me being hated, right?]  (Hind)
[Wacchi...I, I'm glad that I'm your friend...! I'm sorry for glaring at you!]  (Tobi)
[Stop that. With that being said, do your best on your end. From the feeling Herscha gave, I believe she's the emotional type. Don't be reckless out there]  (Hind)
[Fumu. Like Yumir-dono?]  (Tobi)
[Yup, probably about the same? That's just the feeling I got. Well then, I'm counting on you]  (Hind)
After that, we returned to the cabin, prepared our stuff and came out of the cabin together this time.
We continued climbing the mountain for the time being and separated once we saw the entrance to the tunnel in the distance.
Each one of us went our way with our pairs.
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