──終わった。
私が地に倒れ伏し、殺害対象であるユウが立っている事から勝敗は明らかだった。
「......」
何度も立ち上がっては自分の持てる全てを注ぎ込んでユウを殺すべく立ち向かった......けれどもただの一度として私の刃は彼? には届かなかった。
客観的に見ても私の方がスキルではない体術も、VR適性も上だったのにそれでも彼の方が上手で......少し悔しい。
よく分からないスキルと、それを扱う異常なまでに高い
私は常に後手に回され、起死回生として無理に攻めに転じたとしてもいなされる。
正直に言って彼の扱うスキルの悉くがムカつくし、やっていられない。
「どう? 満足した?」
「......満足?」
敗者である私に勝者から投げ掛けられる言葉がそれなのか......どうだ、満足したかと詰られるのだろうか。
だとするのならば彼の性格は良いとは言えない、けれどもそれを責める資格は私にはない──
「──全力で競い合うのって、楽しいでしょ?」
そう言って屈みながら、割れたペストマスク越しに私の目を覗き込む彼の言葉に息を飲む。
「PKも楽しみ方の一つではあるけどさ、やっぱりゲームって驚きと発見、そして勝った時の高揚感と負けた時の悔しさが醍醐味だと思うんだ」
「だからさ、目標の人物を殺してはい終わりじゃなくてさ......全力を出しても勝てなくて悔しいって思って貰った方がゲーマーの僕としては嬉しいかな」
そう、かも知れない......私は確かにこの人とのPvPを楽しんでいた節がある。
自分では気付けなかったけど、何かに追われる様に手段としてこのゲームをしていた私が初めて......心の底から『遊べた』気がする。
「私も、アナタに負けて悔しかったけど......次は最強装備で返り討ちにしてやるんだから!」
コッチは確かマリアという名前だったか......この子は私に殺されて恨みを抱くのではなく、ユウが語った様に悔しがってくれているのか。
本人の同意もなくPKを仕掛け、襲いかかってきた私に何故そこまで情を掛けてくれるのかが分からないが......心地いいのは確かだった。
「ほら、マリアもこう言ってるしさ......ゲーマーはね、勝った側は大袈裟に喜んで見せ、敗者は心底悔しがって再挑戦に向けて爪を研ぐ。勝者はそんな敗者の再挑戦を心待ちにするものなんだ......持論だけどね」
そう語るユウの口調は何処までも優しくて......下層で野垂れ死にした兄をどうしても想起してしまう。
「ガチ勢やエンジョイ勢の区別なく──ゲームは楽しんでやらなくちゃ勿体ないぜ」
少しばかりカッコつけた様な物言いで持論を語りながら、私へと手を伸ばすユウの......前髪に隠れて見えなかった
私が唯一識別できるこの二色、今まで見てきたどの二色よりも......私にはどうしようもなく綺麗に映った。
「え? ......あぁ、これ? これは生まれつきなんだけどさ、ゲームならキャラ作りとしてそんなに目立たないからそのままにしてるんだよ」
「そもそも前髪が邪魔で見れないから切りなさいよ」
「え、いや、それはちょっと......十六年共に過ごしてきた前髪がないともはや落ち着かない身体になっていると申しますか......」
、私と同じで生まれつき目に問題があった人なのか......そう認識すると途端に親近感が湧いてくるから不思議なものだ。
そんな事を考えながら腕を上げて伸ばされた手を掴もうと──する直前で動きを止める。
「? ......どうしたの?」
「......流石に臭いことを言いすぎて気持ち悪がられちゃったんじゃないの?」
「そ、そんな事は......!」
何だろうか、この胸の高鳴りは......なぜ一旦落ち着いたはずの私の心臓はこんなにも暴れているのだろうか。
なぜこんなにも自分の顔が熱いのだろうか......マスクを着用しているとは言え、周囲にはまだユウがスキルで出した氷に覆われていると言うのに。
どうせ識別できやしないのに、何故だかユウの顔を見る事が......恥ずかしくて出来ない。
「あ、え? フレンド申請?」
とりあえず自分の不調は一旦脇に置いておいて、直前で止めてしまった手を誤魔化す為にユウへとフレンド申請を送り付けてやる。
フレンド登録なんて、幼馴染みの男の子以外では初めての経験だったせいか、少しだけ緊張した。
「......また、君に挑んでも良いかな」
「それは勿論構わないけど? ......あ、今度は間違えないでね! フレンドなら頭上に目印アイコンが出るし、ちゃんとそれを確認すること!」
「......分かった」
良かった、また会えるんだ──じゃなくて、リベンジの機会を得られたのだからもはやここに留まる理由もないだろう。
せめて次回戦う時は、先ほどの戦いでユウが繰り出してきたスキルには対応できる様に研究しなくてはならない。
......だから、先ほどの戦いを録画した物を何回も何回も見なくてはならない。
「......じゃあ、もう行く......迷惑を掛けた」
「......ねぇ、私には?」
そのまま正体不明の恥ずかしさを振り切る様に、私は自らの喉を切り裂いてリスポーンする事にした。
「私だけフレンド申請来てないんだけど?」
「......マリアはほら、負けたから?」
It's over.
I was lying on the ground and Yuu, the target of the murder, was standing. His victory was clear.
"....."
Many times I stood up and put everything I had into killing Yuu ......, but not once did my blade reach him.
Even though I was objectively better at taijutsu and VR aptitude, which was not my skill, he was still better at it... It's a little disappointing.
I wonder if his unfamiliar skills, along with his unusually high PS (player skills), memory, and processing power, are the secrets of his win.
I was always put on the back foot, and even if I forced myself to go on the offensive as a comeback, I would be counter-attacked heavily.
To be honest, all the skills he has and the way he handles pisses me off and I can't do anything.
"How are you? Satisfied?"
"satisfied with ......?"
Is that the word that the winner throws at me, the loser? and ask me if I'm satisfied?
If that's the case, then his personality is not good, but I can't blame him for that.
"-- Isn't it fun to compete with all your might?"
He bends down and looks into my eyes through the broken plague mask, and his words take my breath away.
"PK is one of the ways to have fun, but I think the real thrill of a game is the surprise, the discovery, the excitement of winning, and the frustration of losing."
"So, you know, as a gamer, I'd be happier if you felt frustrated that you couldn't win even though you gave it your all,......, rather than just killing your target and calling it a day. The boring thing"
Yes, maybe ...... I certainly enjoyed PvP with this person in some sections.
I didn't realize it myself, but I was playing this game as a means to an end, as if I was being driven by something, and for the first time ...... I felt like I could 'play' from the bottom of my heart.
"I too was disappointed to lose to you, but ...... next time I'm going to get back at you with the best equipment and skills!"
That girl was named Maria, as I recall,...... this girl is not holding a grudge for almost being killed by me.
I don't know why he was so compassionate to me after I attacked him and set up a PK, but I was sure he was comfortable with it.......
"Look, Maria says this too... Gamers will be happy to exaggerate the winner, while the loser will be heartily disappointed and sharpen their skills for another try. The winner is the one who looks forward to the loser's second challenge... It's just a matter of opinion."
The tone in Yuu's voice is so gentle that it reminds me of my brother who died in the lower levels of the game.
He said, "Whether you're a serious player or an enjoyer you've got to have fun with the game, otherwise it's a waste."
While talking about his theory in a slightly cool way, Yuu's eyes reach out to me ... the red and black eyes that I couldn't see behind his bangs.
These two colors, the only two colors I can identify, looked irrepressibly beautiful to me ...... than any other two colors I have ever seen.
"What? ...... Oh, this? I'm born with this, but in a game, it's not that noticeable as a character creation, so I left it at that."
"You should cut your bangs because they're too distracting to look at in the first place."
"Well, no, it's just that ...... I've been with my body for ...... sixteen years, and I'm no longer comfortable without my bangs. ......"
Oh, I see... Is he like me? A person who was born with strange eyes? It's strange because as soon as I recognize it, I feel a sense of familiarity.
Thinking about that, I raised my arm and tried to grab my stretched hand -- just before I stopped moving.
"What's wrong?...."
"I thought you were done commenting on the stinky things on my bangs."
"No, that's not ...... true!"
What is this beating in my chest ...... Why is my heart, which should have calmed down, raging so wildly?
Why is my face so hot, even though I am wearing a ......cooling mask, even though my surroundings are still covered in ice from Yuu's skill?.
For some reason, I'm too ...... embarrassed to look at Yuu's face ......, even though I couldn't identify him anyway.
"Oh, what? A Friend request?"
For now, I'll put my own disorder aside and send a friend request to Yuu in order to fool the hand that stopped me just before.
I was a little nervous because this was the first time I had ever registered as a friend with anyone other than a boy I had known since childhood.
I asked him, "Do you mind if I challenge you again ......?"
"Of course I don't mind, but... Oh, don't get me wrong this time! If you're a friend, you'll see a landmark icon above your head, and make sure you check it out!"
"...... got it."
It's good, I'll see you again - but now that I've got a chance to get revenge, there's no reason to stay here anymore.
At the very least, the next time we fight, I must study our fights and tactics. So that Yuu can respond to the skills that Yuu has been performing in the fight just now.
I'll have to watch the recording of the fight at ...... over and over again.
"......So, I'm going to go now.......I've caused you trouble."
"...... hey, what about me?"
As it was, I decided to slice open my own throat and respawn to shake off the embarrassment of being unidentified
"I'm the only one who hasn't received a friend request?"
"...... Maria, you see, because you lost?"
Genocide Online ~Playtime Diary of an Evil Young Girl~
ジェノサイド・オンライン 〜極悪令嬢のプレイ日記〜
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/genocide-online-playtime-diary-of-an-evil-young-girl/
Action Adventure Fantasy Psychological
Adapted to Manga Aristocracy Assassins Beautiful Female Lead Cold Protagonist Cruel Characters Dark Depictions of Cruelty Evil Organizations Evil Protagonist Famous Protagonist Fearless Protagonist Female Protagonist Gamers Gods Gore Lack of Common Sense Level System MMORPG Modern Day Murders Overpowered Protagonist Psychopaths R-15 Royalty Ruthless Protagonist Sadistic Characters Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Wars
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7796fc/
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