156話 とある鍛治師の予感
「ボクだって、集めます......」
妙な客人、というか冷やかし? が『
「ガンテツさんやゲンクロウさん、親方が認めるぐらいの鉱石って、なかなかないと思って......あの子は一体、何なのですか?」
「はん! 妙なガキだがぁ、いいモンは持ってんじゃねえか? 『白銀の天使』だなんだって、一部にゃ騒がれてる理由もわかるってもンだぁな」
ガンテツさんは、副団長の第二席である立場にいながら、末席のボクなんかにも鍛冶スキルのコツなどを教えてくれる親切な
彼は言葉は荒いけど、その丁寧な指導を施してくれるスタンスで人望は厚かったりして、ちょっと憧れの存在。反面、自分が気に入らない事は絶対に受け入れない、曲がらない芯をもってて同性として兄貴ともお父さんとも呼びたくなってしまう。そんな人が、ふらっと現れた美少女を認定宣言したのだ。
そんな経緯もあって周囲の
「どうして錬金術士なんかに」
「ちょっと見た目がいいからって、わがままそうだったよな」
「ガンテツさん、まさかあの美少女にほだされて?」
「あの人に限ってそれはないだろうよ」
たちの愚痴じみた会話を聞きながら、ボクは急に訪問してきた謎の銀髪美少女の事を考えてみる。
確かにその美貌に一瞬クラっときたものの、みんなは炎に魂を捧げた身として揺らぐ訳にはいかなかったのだろう。事、職人業に関して、手の内を見せてくれという要望に、簡単にハイソウデスカと了承するわけにはいかないし。
「何か特別な金属を持ってきたらしいぞ」
「それを交渉材料に、か......」
「大方、あの美少女っぷりじゃ、
「そいつから、特別な金属とやらを入手したってわけか」
「きたねえな......」
特別な金属......そう、ボクが最も気になるのは、彼女が役立たずな錬金術を使ってるとか、この世のモノとは思えない美貌の持ち主だとか、幼い少女だとか、そう言った要素じゃないんだ。『
『武打ち人』に所属していながら、『鍛冶』スキルと同じぐらい『木工』スキルにも手を出している。そして実は、『採取』スキルというモノを本筋で成長させているんだ。
なぜかと言えば、ボクは鉱物や昆虫をコレクションにして飾るのが好きだから。
鉱石は元のままでも美しく、固い。秘められた可能性を色んな手法で加工することによって形を変え、より美しく強固な存在に昇華するところが魅力的なんだ。昆虫もやっぱり綺麗だと思う。小さく、短命であるにも
いくらでも、無限大に、様々な物を集めることができる。
そして評価してくれる人たちも、今はいるんだ。
素材を採取して、それらを集めつつ、ダブった物は売りに出す。
そうして資金を貯めて、より効率のいい採取装備を手に入れ、ゆくゆくは自分の展示店を持つのがこのクラン・クランでのボクの目標なんだ。
だから、採取した素材をただ売り出すだけじゃなく、加工して売った方が利率が上がるんじゃないだろうか、と思い至って『鍛冶』スキルと『木工』スキルを獲得したんだ。
ボクが主に採取したいのは、鉱物と植物、それに今はまだできてないけど昆虫の類。それらを加工すると言えば、『鍛冶』と『木工』、この二つが最適だと判断した結果なんだ。
当然と言えば、当然なのだけど、やっぱり悲しかった。
そんなボクは何を考えたのか、暴挙に出た。鍛冶
団長のマサムネさん自らが面接をして、副団長であるガンテツさん、第三席であるゲンクロウさんの承認を持って入団許可という運びになるんだけど。
どうせ無理だと思っていたけど、やるだけなら、と挑戦してみた結果......。
入団試験の面接と言っても、マサムネさんはほとんど無口で『どうして入りたい』と質問を一つ、浴びせてきただけだった。
な態度にバカにされているのかと思い、自暴自棄にも近い勢いで、鉱物に関する知識や美しさ、クラン・クラン全種の鉱石を集めてコンプリートしたいという思いを喋り続けたら、何故か合格をもらえた。
もちろん正直に、展示店を開くために『鍛冶』で金儲けをしたいからだとも言い放ったのに、だ。
『おめぇの鉱石に関する情熱や知識にゃあ、うちの手助けになんぜ。ここのみんなに活かしてくれや』
『鍛冶よりやりたい事があるのに、ウチに入ろうとするなんて、面白いなお前さんは』
ガンテツさんとゲンクロウさんが、朗らかに笑ってそう言ってくれたのは今でも鮮明に思い出す事ができる。思えばクラン・クランをプレイして、初めて他の
「ガンテツさん、彼女が持ってきた金属、鉱石ってどんなモノでしたか?」
「おおう? まぁ詳しくは言えねえが......」
数瞬の間に生じた沈黙は、周囲にいる
に変える、なんて大それた眉唾ものの逸話がある錬金術師。
しかし、彼女なら本当に......まさに錬金術師然たる振舞いで、ボクら鍛冶師に嫌味を放ったわけで......
それが鉱石の類で金属に成り得るのならば、やはりボクのコレクションの対象内なんだ。
「黄金なんて、クラン・クランじゃまだ発見されてないよな?」
「殴って曲がっちゃう武器なんて、笑えるな」
「装飾品の
だが、ガンテツさんがもう一唸りすると、各々はすぐに口を閉ざした。
二席が彼女の持ってきた『
「木刀、だからこそ不戦の意味も含まれていたのかもしれないな。バカにする意図も敵対する意志もないと......」
ガンテツさんに続き、第三席のゲンクロウさんも話に加わってくる。
「昔の......伊達政宗が徳川忠長のクーデターの誘いを『謁見の場で、木刀を帯刀することによって断わった』っていう話もあるしな。刀の形をかろうじて保つだけの木刀のような存在、こんな使い物にならない私でよければ謀反に参加しますってな。しかし、この有様では私が参加しない方がいいでしょうって」
「というとなんでぇい! あの嬢ちゃんは、敵を切り! 打ち砕く武器を作るこの場所に! ドヤ顔で木刀を持ってきた。その真意は平和的でありながらも、鍛冶に関しては使い物にならねえと自身の在り方を謙虚に表明し、だけんども自分の意思は曲げねえって、俺らに言ってたわけかぁ!」
「しかるべき場所で、しかるべき者が刀を帯刀する。そこにどういった意味があるのか......あの子の意図を読み取れなかった俺達は、まだまだ武器を鍛え造る者として、未熟だったのかもしれん」
「偉そうな物言いだったよな」
「なーにが、『錬金術師は万物を相手にしている』だ」
「あぁ、それな。『錬金術のどこが鍛冶より劣っていると? 優れている点はあれど劣っていると言われる筋合いはない』だとさ」
「俺達の鍛冶の方が下だって? 生意気な事を言いやがって」
「ガンテツさん達はああ言ってるけど、ジュンヤもそう思うだろ?」
徒弟仲間の一人が、ボクへ急に話を振って来た。
確かに鍛冶スキルは、想像以上に難しい作業の連続で難易度が高い。
自分たちの頑張りや楽しんで打ち込んでいる事を下だと言われたら、いい気分にはなれない。
でも、元はと言えば徒弟たちやゲンクロウさんが、あの子のメインスキルがゴミと揶揄される『錬金術』を使用していると聞いた途端、態度が硬化したのが原因じゃないかなと思うんだ。
だから、仲間にどう答えればいいのか迷っていると......。
山のような背丈、岩のような筋肉、鍛冶師の頂点にいる
ボクたちの傭兵団長、マサムネさんだ。
というか親方が、鍛冶の話以外で口を開いた!?
その驚くべき事実に徒弟たちも、ボクも唖然としていた。
親方は、滅多に喋らない。そんな彼が、珍しく言葉を発したのだ。
「......あの目は、職人の目だ......」
誰の目、と団長は言わなかった。この場の徒弟たちは全員、それを口には出さないが感じ取っているはずだ。
ボソっと吐き出す言葉は単調。だけど、普段滅多に口を開かない人だからこそ、この発言はボクたちの胸に重くのしかかった。
「......あの嬢ちゃんは、俺達の鍛冶を見て......『途中まで、武器が、歓喜の声を上げていました』と言った......」
ゆっくりと、だが揺るぎない口調で白銀の天使を語る親方。
「......炉の熱さにたじろぐでもない。鉄の硬さに
何と語り合いたいのか。とは、誰も質問をしない。
まがりなりにも、ここにいる子弟たちは職人の端くれだから。
確か、白銀の天使は『錬金術の相手は万物』だと豪語していた。
「......あの嬢ちゃんが、『噂の』天使か......」
深く、息を吸って吐く団長を前に、今や彼女に不満を覚える
「......これは、負けてられん......」
クラン・クラン最上に位置する鍛冶師、ボクたちの団長マサムネさん。
『千年鍛冶の大老候』という類稀なる称号を所持する親方は、彼女を
158 156 Stories A Forge Artist'S Premonition
"Even I collect..."
Strange guests, or chills? watched blurry as he left the workshop of "Wushu Man (We)," and I was somewhat whining (crushing). Then Mr. Gantetsu, who has been looking after me from day to day, asked me with a gahaha laugh.
"Mr. Gantetsu, Mr. Genklow, I don't think I have enough ore for my parents to admit... what the hell is that kid?
"Ha! Strange kid, don't you have a good mon?" The Silver Angel. "I don't know why it's so noisy."
Mr. Gantetsu is a friendly mercenary (player) who, while in his second seat as deputy commander, also teaches me some tips on blacksmith skills in the last seat.
He's rough on words, but his desire can be thick with that polite guidance, and he's a bit of an admirer. On the other hand, I will never accept what I don't like, and with a core that doesn't bend, I want to call you both brother and father as same-sex. Such a person declared a beautiful girl who appeared flustered.
With that background, the surrounding brothers didn't seem to feel funny.
"How could you be an alchemist?"
"You seemed selfish because you looked a little good."
"Mr. Gantetsu, are you kidding me about that beautiful girl?
"Only that guy won't have it."
Listening to the foolish conversation between my brothers, I think about the mysterious silver-haired girl I've suddenly visited.
Although I did get a moment into that beauty, I guess everyone couldn't have swayed it as a body that gave its soul to the flames. With regard to the craftsmanship, I can't easily accept the request to show me what's in my hand.
"I hear you brought some special metal."
"Put that in the bargaining material, or..."
"Daimyo, that pretty girl must be a man mercenary (player)."
You mean you got special metals and stuff from him?
"Hey there..."
Special metals... yes, what bothers me the most is not the element she used useless alchemy, the beauty owner who doesn't seem to be anything in the world, or the young girl who said so. I can't help but wonder about the fact that the top three seats in "Wushu Man (We)" had enough negotiating materials and rare metals to approve that it was okay to show the weapon creation itinerary.
While I belong to the Mercenary Corps (Clan) "The Martial Striker," I am as good at "woodworking" skills as I am at "blacksmithing" skills. And as a matter of fact, I'm growing something called 'harvesting' skills.
For whatever reason, I like to decorate minerals and insects as collections.
Ore is beautiful and stiff even as it was. It's fascinating to change the shape of the hidden possibilities by processing them in various ways, and to elevate them into more beautiful and robust beings. I think the insects are beautiful after all. Even though it is small and short-lived, it is beautiful where the body is colored in various patterns, depending on individual ecosystems and habitats.
We can collect a variety of objects, no matter how much, infinitely.
And there are people who appreciate me now.
Collect the materials and collect them while the dubbed items are put up for sale.
It is my goal at this clan clan to save money, get more efficient collecting gear, and have my own exhibition shop.
So instead of just selling out the material I collected, I figured it would be more interesting to process and sell it, so I gained 'blacksmith' skills and 'woodworking' skills.
Minerals and plants, and insects that I haven't been able to harvest yet. When it comes to processing them, 'blacksmiths' and 'woodworking' are the results of the decision that these two are the best.
Naturally, naturally, I was sad after all.
What did I think of such an outrage? He applied to join the Battlefighter, said to be the culmination of the Blacksmith Mercenary Corps (Klan).
The captain, Mr. Masamune, will interview himself and carry the permission to join the group with the approval of the deputy captain, Mr. Gantetsu, and the third seat, Mr. Genklow.
I didn't think I could do it anyway, but if I just wanted to, I tried and it turned out...
Even when it came to interviewing for the enlistment exam, Masamune asked me one question, almost silently, 'Why would I want to come in?', and I just let her bathe.
I wondered if I was fooled by such a grumpy (bumpy) attitude, and if I kept talking about my knowledge of minerals, my beauty, and my desire to collect and complete all Clan Clan varieties of ore with momentum close to self-destructive abandonment, I got a pass for some reason.
Of course, to be honest, I also said it was because I wanted to make money from 'blacksmiths' to open an exhibition store.
"Your passion and knowledge of ore. Oh, why help us? Let everyone here take advantage of me. '
"It's funny how you're trying to get into our house even though you want to do more than blacksmith."
I can still vividly recall Mr. Gantetsu and Mr. Genklow laughing and saying that to me. It may have been the first moment I played Clan Clan and was recognized by another mercenary (player).
"Mr. Gantetsu, what kind of metal, ore, was it that she brought?
"Whoa? Well, I can't tell you the details..."
The silence that arose during a few moments was also a sign that her brothers and sisters around her were also somewhat interested in her.
An alchemist with an anecdote of what a great eyebrow spit is about turning just iron into gold.
But she really... behaved like an alchemist, and she hated me and the other blacksmiths... I don't know how she got Kim, I don't know, but I want to collect her.
If it can be metallic like ore, it's still not part of my collection.
"The Clan Clan hasn't discovered gold yet, has it?
"It's funny what a weapon that beats and bends"
"Mixing with ornaments at best"
But when Mr. Gantetsu roared one more time, each shut his mouth immediately.
I'm waiting for a reflection on "Kim" that my two-seat girlfriend brought.
"Wooden knife, maybe that's why it included the meaning of no war. Without the intention to fool around or hostile..."
Following Mr Gantes, Mr Genklow from the third seat also joins the story.
"There are stories of the old... Dada Shinto turning down Tadashi Tokugawa's coup d 'etat by carrying a wooden knife. It's like a wooden knife that barely keeps the shape of a knife, and if I'm useless like this, I'll participate in a conspiracy. But in this case, it would be better if I didn't participate."
"Why not! That lady, cut off the enemy! I'll make a weapon to smash. In this place! I brought a wooden knife with a Doya face. Though its sincerity is peaceful, it is useless when it comes to blacksmiths. You said to us that you humbly express your ways, and that more and more people do not bend their will!
"In the place of righteousness, the righteous carry a sword. I don't know what that means... we may not have been able to read her intentions yet, but we may have been immature as weapons builders."
"That sounded great."
"Nah, but the Alchemist is dealing with everything."
"Oh, I guess." What do you think is inferior to blacksmithing in alchemy? There's no such thing as being inferior. "
"Our blacksmiths are better down there? I don't know what to say."
"Mr. Gantes says oh, but Junya thinks so too, doesn't she?
One of my brothers suddenly came to talk to me.
Indeed, blacksmithing skills are more challenging in a series of tasks that are harder than you can imagine.
I don't feel good when they tell me that we're down there doing our best and enjoying ourselves.
But as soon as I heard that my brothers and Genklow were using "alchemy" where his main skills were trashed, I wondered if it was because his attitude had hardened.
So when I'm wondering how to answer my buddies...
Mercenaries (players) at the top of mountainous backs, rocky muscles, and blacksmiths suddenly broke their hips.
This is Mr. Masamune, our mercenary commander.
Or my parents opened their mouths other than talking about blacksmiths!?
Both my brothers and I were stunned by that amazing fact.
Parents rarely talk. That's what he used to say.
"... those eyes are the eyes of craftsmen..."
Whose eyes, the captain did not say. All the brothers and sisters in this room should feel it, though they don't put it in their mouths.
Boso The words that spit out are monotonous. But this statement was heavy on our hearts because we're usually the ones who don't open our mouths.
"... the lady looked at our blacksmith and said... 'Until halfway through, the weapon was raising its voice of joy'..."
A parent who speaks of an angel of silver in a slow, but unwavering tone.
"... not even wandering over the heat of the furnace. Not even the iron hardness. I'm not fascinated by the beauty of blacksmiths. That gaze, yes. 'I want to talk more'. That's what I had my eyes on..."
What do you want to talk to? That means no one asks questions.
Nonetheless, the children here are at the mercy of the craftsmen.
Indeed, the angel of silver used to brazenly say that 'the alchemy counterpart is everything'.
"... that lady is the 'rumored' angel..."
Deep, breathing and vomiting in front of the captain, there would now be no jailed brother (or brother) dissatisfied with her. As the rusted sword regains its sharpness and radiance, the cloudy perception of our brothers and sisters will be sharpened.
"... this is something you can't lose..."
Mr. Masamune, the blacksmith at the top of the clan clan and head of our regiment.
Parents who possess the rare title of "The Great Age of Millennial Blacksmiths" felt as though they recognized her as a partner (rival).
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