161話 石と植物だけが友達です
「声をかけたのはボクの方なのに、驚いたりしてごめんなさい」
大きなリュックを背に抱えた少年は、礼儀正しく非礼を詫びてくれた。
「い、いや......こちらこそ、なんだか驚かせてしまって申し訳ないです」
お互いにぺこりと頭を下げ、わずかな沈黙が両者に流れた。
「えと、ボクはジュンヤと言います」
「俺はタロです」
何故かよろしく、と嬉しそうに握手を求められたので、おずおずと俺はそれに応じた。
どうやらジュンヤ君は、『採取』という行為に目がないらしく、同じく採取に夢中になっていた俺を見かけて、ぜひ情報交換をしたいと思い声をかけてくれたらしい。
「情報交換も重要だけど、何より採取を
愛する
「うんうん! だってキミは、あんなにも感極まった様子で採取をしていたじゃないか。素材の考察とかについて呟いたり、喜びに打ち震え天を仰ぎみたり、不思議なカメラ? で素材を撮って資料として保存してるのかな? とにかく、これって『採取』に対する愛がないとできないでしょ?」
うぁ......見られていたのか。
なんだか、他人から錬金術に夢中になっていた自分の姿を、まざまざと説明されると恥ずかしいモノがある。
そしてジュンヤくん、キミは早口だな。
「ボクだって、集めます!」
彼は目をキラキラと輝かせ、興奮した様子で言い放つ。
まるで同好の士を発見した喜びを全身で表現するかのように、大袈裟な身ぶり手ぶりで、マシンガントークを続けてきたジュンヤ君。
いい響きだ。
「やっぱり採取はいいよね! ボクは特に鉱石や植物に興味があるんだ。いずれは
に会えたら、嬉しくなってこうなってしまうんだろうな。というか採取をしてたのは、マイナーで人気のない錬金術スキルのためです、なんて言い辛くなってしまった。
「ええと、まぁ戦闘は得意な方ではないかな」
や学校の同級生なんかにくっついて、お世話になってる感じなんだけどね。こんなプレイスタイルだと、ダンジョン攻略とか敬遠されがちなんだ」
「その感じ、わかる」
クラン・クランを始めたばかりの頃、『百騎夜行』のゆらちーに、メインスキルが錬金術だと知られ、お荷物だから一緒にプレイするのを断わられた事を思い出す。今となっては錬金術の真価を認めてくれ、頼り頼られる
そうジュンヤ君に向かって言ったものの、わずかにあった自分の劣等感に対して慰めと希望の言葉を吐く。
「そうだね。うちの副団長なんかは、こんなボクを評価してくれてたりもして嬉しいんだ。自分が極めようとしてるスキルを悪く言うのもアレだけど......『採取』スキルを評価してくれる
「その気持ちもわかる」
「うんうん! うわぁ、やっぱり嬉しいな! 採取仲間なんて今までいなかったから、こうやって話ができるだけでも楽しいよ!」
喜ぶ彼の姿を見て......。
どうしよう、ますます錬金術スキルですって言えない空気に......。
乾いた笑い声を俺が響かせると、ジュンヤ君はズイッと近寄ってきて何故かジッと見つめられた。
「その仮面でそんな笑い方されると、インパクトがあって怖いね! 最初はビックリしたけど、今はとても素敵な装備に見えるよ。こう、世界に散らばる宝を探し求める、死神さんって感じで最高にクールだ!」
おっと、ジュンヤ君もリッチー師匠が残してくれたこの
「採取は装備によって採取量が変化したりと奥が深いよね」
「それ、わかる」
先程、探求者シリーズ装備や
ほほほう、まさかこの仮面の貴重性だけでなく、効果まで言い当てるとは。
ジュンヤ君はなかなかの慧眼の持ち主だ。
、モンスターや素材の詳しい情報がわかる装備だったりする。これは大切な装備で、俺にとっては思い入れのある一品なんだ」
「思い入れ......それ、ボクもわかるよ! 見て、ボクのこの鉱山師セットの装備を! 鉱物系の採取量を20%の確率で増やしてくれるって効果付きなんだけど、このセットをそろえるのに、すっごく苦労したんだ。でもさ、その分手に入れた時の嬉しさはおっきいし、愛着も湧くよね!」
』を手に入れるには時間もかかったし、たくさんのイベントを乗り越えた果てに、棚ぼた的な感じで手に入れたとはいえ、とても嬉しかったものだ。
「すごくわかるよ、ジュンヤ君!」
「わかるよ、タロ君!」
うん、いつのまにか互いの両手を握って、歓喜に打ち震えていた。
なんだろうね、この感じは。嬉し恥ずかしなので、俺は慌てて離す。
「というか、すごいよその装備は! クラン・クランは戦闘面で弱いと風当たり厳しいゲームだけど、やっぱり情報はすっごく大事だと思うんだよね。ボクも素材に関するデータや、モンスターの生態系にはすごく興味があって、それらを観察、考察、調べるのに手間は惜しまない主義なんだ。結果的に採取の効率を上げる事に繋がるし!」
錬金術は素材が命と言っても過言ではないわけで、その元となる素材やフィールド背景の成り立ちなど、あらゆる角度から情報収集するのはとても大事な要素だ。未知なるものを追い求める上で、必須事項と言っていい。
「もちろんだよ! タロ君!」
「嬉しいよ、ジュンヤ君!」
ふへへ。
なんだか使うスキルは違えど、ここまで共感してくれる
またもや俺はジュンヤ君と両手を繋ぎ合っていた。
それに気付き、今度は彼の方がコホンと咳払いをして手を離した。
「この『七色蛍の樹形地』周辺の歴史、NPC達が噂する内容、素材やモンスターから取れる情報をまとめると、もっと
貴重な鉱物
「それは非常に興味深い......」
「もちろん、タロ君には教えるよ!」
ニコッと人懐っこい笑みを浮かべ、快く無償で貴重な情報を提供してくれるジュンヤ君に、俺も感謝の笑みを返す。
越しだから俺の表情すら見えないと気付き、ちゃんと言葉にしておかないと。
「ありがとう、ジュンヤ君!」
「別にお礼なんていいのに。ボクは......石と植物だけが本当の友達みたいな、
がいなかったら......ぼっちに近い学校生活になってただろう。
親友二人がいても、性転化した時点で引き籠りまっしぐらだったし。
163 161 Stories, Stones And Plants Are The Only Friends.
"I'm sorry to surprise you, though I'm the one who spoke up"
The boy with the big backpack apologized politely and disrespectfully.
"Yes, no... I'm sorry to surprise you this way"
We bowed our heads to each other, and a slight silence flowed to both. Hotaru drifted, and Trent and I stared at each other.
"Uh, I say Junya"
"I'm Taro."
For some reason, she asked me to shake her hand with pleasure, so she and I responded accordingly.
Apparently, Junya, you have no eyes for the act of 'collecting', and she saw me obsessed with collecting as well, and she called out to me wanting to exchange information.
"Exchange of information is also important, but most importantly, I wanted to get along with a mercenary (player) who loves to collect."
"Oh, love?
"Yeah, yeah! 'Cause you were doing the sampling like you were so impressed. Whimpering about material considerations, trembling with joy, looking up to heaven, strange cameras? So you're taking material and saving it as material? Anyway, you can't do this without love for' harvesting ', can you?
Ugh... were they watching?
Somehow, there's something embarrassing about how I was obsessed with alchemy by others when they described me as different.
And Junya-kun, you're a fast talker.
"Even I collect!
He makes his eyes sparkle and says it off in an excited way.
As if expressing the joy of discovering a homosexual all over your body, Junya, who has continued to talk about machine guns with a great deal of wearing hands.
Sounds good.
"I knew collecting was good! I'm particularly interested in ores and plants. I wish I could do insect collection or something like reality (over there), I don't know!
If I could meet a mercenary (player) who puts his back in alchemy, I'd be happy to see this happen. I mean, I was picking because of my minor and unpopular alchemy skills, which made it hard to say.
"Uh, well, I guess you're good at fighting"
"I knew it would happen, right? I usually stick with mercenaries (players) from the same mercenary regiment (clan) and classmates from school, and it feels like I'm taking care of them. Such a style of play is named after a dungeon offense or distraction."
"It feels, I know"
When I was just starting Clan Clan, I remember Yuki from The Hundred Rides Night Trip being told that her main skill was alchemy and that she refused to play with me because it was her luggage. Admit the true value of alchemy now, and be a trusted companion (friend), but the mercenary regiment (clan), "Wu (Bu) batter (bi)," and the public's eyes on alchemy are painful.
Yes, Junya. I said to you, but I vomit words of comfort and hope for my inferiority, which was slight.
"Right. My deputy chief would appreciate it if he appreciated me like this. I'm also allergic to saying bad things about the skills I'm trying to be extremely skilled... I'm glad to hear that there aren't many mercenaries (players) who appreciate my 'picking' skills."
"I know how that feels too"
"Yeah, yeah! Wow, I'm glad to hear it! I've never had a sampling buddy before, so it's just fun to talk like this!
Look at him happy......
I don't know what to do, it's more and more an alchemy skill in the air......
When I sounded the dry laugh, Junya, you came close and for some reason you were stared at.
"When you laugh like that in that mask, you have an impact and you're scared! I was surprised at first, but now you look like a very nice piece of gear. Looking for treasures scattered all over the world like this, it feels like a reaper and it's the coolest!
Whoa, Junya, have you noticed how good this mask (visor) Master Richie left you too!
"Collection can vary deeply depending on the equipment."
"I know that."
Earlier, it was a timely topic for me to admire the effects of Explorer series equipment and masks (visors).
Ho ho, I didn't expect you to mention the value of this mask as well as its effects.
Junya, you are quite the bearer of wisdom.
"Actually, this mask (visor) can be a piece of equipment that gives detailed information about monsters and materials. This is an important piece of equipment. It's a thoughtful dish for me."
"Thoughtful... I know that, too! Look, I need this miner's set of gear! It has the effect of giving me a 20% chance to increase my mineral-based harvest, but I had a really hard time putting this set together. But for that matter, the joy of getting it is boring, and so is the attachment!
It took me a long time to get this Visitor's Mask, and it was a great pleasure to get it over a lot of events, even though it felt like a shelf.
"I know very well, Mr. Junya!
"I get it, Mr. Tallo!
Yeah, sometime we were holding each other's hands, shaking with joy.
I wonder what this feels like. Happily embarrassed, I rush away.
"Or the awesome approximate gear! Clan Clan is a tough game when it comes to weakness in battle, but I still think information is so important. I'm also very interested in data about materials and monster ecosystems, and it's a hassle-free doctrine to observe, reflect on, and examine them. As a result, it will increase the efficiency of the collection!
Alchemy is not an exaggeration to say that a material is life, and it is a very important element to gather information from all angles, such as the material on which it is based and the composition of the field background. You can say it's a must in pursuing the unknown.
"Of course you are! Taro!"
"Glad to hear it, Mr. Junya!
Hehe.
I am delighted because I have not met a mercenary (player) who empathizes with me so far because I have different skills to use.
Once again, I was joining hands with you, Junya.
I noticed that, and now he coughed up more with Cohon and let go of his hand.
"Summarizing the history around this" seven-colored fluorescent tree-shaped land, "what the NPCs rumor, and the information they can take from materials and monsters, I assume we can discover more valuable minerals (...)"
"Hmm. 'Cause I want you to wait. Did you discover any more precious minerals around here?
"That's very interesting..."
"Of course, Taro, I'll teach you!
I also return a grin of gratitude to you, Junya, who brings a nicotine, people-friendly grin and provides you with pleasant, free and valuable information.
Whoa, now that I'm over the mask (visor), I realize you can't even see my expression, and I need to put it in proper words.
"Thank you, Mr. Junya!
"I wish I didn't have to thank you. I... only stones and plants are like true friends, because they are Yin (in) Ca. I'm just glad you're interested in these stories, Mr. Tallo."
When I said that... I would have lived close to me in school if I hadn't been here at night or Yuki.
Even if I had two best friends, they were all pulling cages at the time of the sexual transformation.
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん