取引掲示板の前は比較的空いていた。
『ヒースローの街』からはプレイヤーが徐々に減り始め......タートルイベント終盤が、プレイヤーの滞在人数が最も多かった期間だろう。
フィールドなどを忙しく回っていたため俺達は余り不便に感じなかったが、主要な街の施設は芋を洗う様な混雑だったそうな。
今はレベルキャップが40まで開放され、イベント産のタートル系装備がそれなりに優秀な事もあり、プレイヤー達は『ヒースローの街』から次々と旅立っている。
「どうだ? トビ」
「無いでござるなぁ......メテオ系の極上は」
「参ったな。これじゃ相場が分からんぞ」
「他の武器は、極上の場合で上質の3~4倍の値段といったところでござるか。しかし、メテオ系は上質でも既にお高い!」
「大体50,000Gだもんな。他の武器での上昇幅を素直に適用したとして、150,000G~とかいう高額武器を誰が買うというのか......」
ちなみに俺達四人の全財産を集めたGは、合計で30,000Gといったところ。
店売りの下級の回復薬を潤沢に使うことが出来る程度にはあるが、満腹度が実装された今後は料理の材料も買わなければならない。
他のプレイヤー、特に戦闘のみを行っているタイプなら大差ない状況だと思うのだが......。
生産主体のプレイヤーは自分で作った武器を使うだろうし。
「......登録だけでもしておくか。もしかしたら売れるかもしれないし」
「なるべく早めに売りたい所でござるが。オンラインゲームの装備は時間が経つほどに、性能的には置いて行かれる故に。レベル開放で倒せるモンスターの範囲も広がったでござるからな」
「そうなんだよな......そしたら、徐々に値段を下げるか。登録の度に100Gの手数料は掛かるが」
「売り時を逃すよりはマシでござるな。あ、コメントを添えられるので一言あると良いでござるよ」
「むぅ......じゃあ、シンプルな奴を」
『イベントアタックランキング1位取得に使用した武器です』......と。
味も素っ気もないが、文字数制限もあるしこれでいいだろう。
その後は、それぞれ気になるカテゴリーのアイテムや装備の相場をチェック。
「そういや、トビ。お前の忍者装備一式って誰から買ったんだ? お前は不器用だし、まさか自作ではあるまい?」
「ああ、それは和風装備を専門に作っているマサムネさんという職人が居るのでござる。会ったことはないでござるが......ほれ、今日もここに装備一式が」
取引掲示板には読めない文字で書かれた紙がベタベタと貼ってあるが、プレイヤーが実際に見るのは近付いて開く電子的なメニュー欄だ。
トビの手元に浮かんだ画面を覗き込むと、漢字で書かれた装備がずらっと並んでいる。
出品者の欄にはトビが言う通り全て『マサムネ』という表示が。
「ほう......重戦士を侍風に出来る甲冑に槍、刀、弓術士用の和弓に袴まで、色々とあるな。
「ハインド殿は和の物は作らないのでござるか?」
「刀系は特に、西洋剣とはまた違った技術が要るからなぁ......勉強してから、追々だな。作る気自体はあるぞ」
「しからば、拙者からリクエストを。可能であれば忍者らしくまきびしだとか
「そりゃあ面白いな。考えとくよ」
「おお、ありがたい! さすがわっちだぜ、話が分かる!」
「おい、リアルでの呼び名を――いや、あだ名だからいいか。本名の原型留めてないし」
以前にも触れた通り
ゲームの仕様上可能ならまきびしに毒を塗ったり、焙烙玉も煙玉にして視界を塞いでみたり。
......イメージが湧いて来たな。ちょっと本腰を入れて生産を考えようか。
そのままページをめくってアイテムなどの相場を調べていると、大きな影が背後からすっと差し込んで来た。
他のプレイヤーか? 邪魔になりそうなら移動を――
「はぁ、はぁ、見つけたぞ......!」
肩に置かれた手に振り返ると、長身の大男が息を切らせながら立っていた。
筋肉質な体と顔には傷が多数、茶の髪を短髪にしていてかなりいかつい印象だ。
その迫力に、目元しか見えないトビの顔が引き攣るのが分かった。
「驚かせてすまない......少し、俺の話を聞いてくれないか?」
見た目に反して腰が低いその男性は、俺達に何か話があるそうだ。
掲示板から少し離れ、他のプレイヤーの邪魔にならない位置で話を聞くことに。
余りの圧迫感に一瞬、PK狙いかと思ったぞ......いや、街中では攻撃できないんだけどね。
それと、レベルキャップ開放に伴って『ドンデリーの森』と『ホーマ平原』でもPK行為が不可能になった。
これは初心者狩りを防ぐための処置だと発表され――って、思考が脱線してるな。
今は目の前の筋肉モリモリマッチョマンにどう対応するかが問題だ。
俺はトビと顔を見合わせた。
そりゃあ、最近までずっと気にしていた名前だからな......。
この人がそうなのか。
「イベントで2位――げふんげふん! 途中まで1位だった御仁でござろう?」
「いや、気遣い無用。お前等に負けた2位のアルベルトで間違いない。完敗だ。見事な戦術だった」
「はあ。その様子だと意趣返しという訳では無いとお見受けしましたが......一体、何の御用で?」
「単刀直入に言おう。動画でお嬢ちゃんが使っていた剣に惚れた。俺にあの大剣を譲ってくれ!」
......更に詳しく話を聞くと、彼は別にイベント報酬のオーラが欲しくてランキングを狙っていた訳ではないらしい。
このゲームでは名前の通り傭兵プレイ――ゲーム内通貨を受け取って臨時パーティを組む、というロールプレイをするつもりだそうだ。
その宣伝の為に、大々的に名前を売る事が容易なイベントランキングに挑戦していたとのこと。
「いいでござるなー、傭兵プレイ。実力が確かなら、高難度のクエストを助けて貰ったり」
「人数が必要なイベントに期間限定で来て貰ったり? TBの世界観にも合ってるかもなぁ......色んなプレイスタイルの人が居るもんだ」
「そういうことだ。余談だが、リアルでは公務員をしている」
信用を得る為だろうか? 彼は現実での自分の職業を明かしてきた。
――って、この風体で公務員!? 嘘だろ?
体格からしてスポーツ関係者か何かだと思ったのに......ラグビーとか、せめてジムのトレーナーとか。
「こ、公務員......で、ござるか?」
「市役所で福祉関係の窓口業務を担当している......あ、言っておくがこの顔や体の傷はアバターだけの物だぞ。口調も現実では丁寧で――君達にもそっちの口調の方がいいか?」
「い、いえ、結構です! 失礼ですけど、ちょっとイメージに合わないかな......はは......」
「ゲームと筋トレが昔から趣味なんだ。どちらも仕事で溜まったストレスを発散するには最適だ......と、すまない。くだらない自分語りをしてしまったな。で、今言った条件でどうだ?」
彼の提示した金額は130,000G。
掲示板に登録した額よりは少ないが、これが彼の正真正銘の全財産だとのことだ。
偶然取引掲示板を見ていて出品を見つけ、誰かに買われる前に直接交渉する為に急遽、俺達を探してここまで来たのだそうな。
どちらにせよ売れなければ売却価格を徐々に下げるつもりだったし、彼の提示額が十分に高額なこともあり俺達は確実に売れる方を選択。
掲示板の出品登録を解除すると、アルベルトさんにメテオグレートソードを売り渡した。
その後、少しだけ彼がフィールドで試し斬りする様子を見せて貰うことになったのだが......。
「うぉ、大迫力だな......筋肉が躍動しとる......風切り音がここまで聞こえる......」
「かっけえ! 兄貴って呼んでもいいでござるか!?」
重戦士のステータス補正を入れても40kgはありそうな大剣を勢いよく振り回す姿に、トビが感動して懐いてしまった。
最終的に二人はフレンドコードまで交換し――って、それでいいのかトビよ......。
ともかく、イベントで使用した大剣は重戦士『傭兵アルベルト』の手へと渡ることとなった。
The trading bulletin board was relatively empty.
Players have started to disappear from [Heathrow town] ...the peak was probably around the final stage of the turtle event.
At the time, we were busy going around the fields so it wasn't really inconvenient for us, but when we had to use the facilities in the town it was crowded to the point we were jostling against each other.
They had raised the level cap to 40 now, since the turtle gear you obtained from the event was rather good, the players embarked from [Heathrow town] .
[How is it? Tobi]  (Hind)
[There's none...meteo type first-rate gear that is]  (Tobi)
[Well, that's troubling. I won't be able to know the market price like this]  (Hind)
[The other weapons cost about 3-4 times that of a fine-quality one when they are first-rate. However, the meteo type fine-quality are already very expensive!]  (Tobi)
[They are generally about 50.000G after all. If we just applied the formula the others use it would be around 150.000G, who would buy that...]  (Hind)
Just for the record, if all 4 of us gathered all our money, it would amount to around 30.000G.
It's enough to buy plenty of lower grade healing items from shops, but now that they have implemented a hunger system, we'll have to buy ingredients to cook.
The other players, especially the ones that just focus on fighting, probably won't see any difference though...
The crafters would use their own weapons too.
[...Shall we just register it? It might get sold somehow]  (Hind)
[We'd want to sell it as soon as possible though. In online games, when some time passes, the performance of gear does get outmatched. Now that they have raised the level cap, the scope of monsters we can beat has widened after all]  (Tobi)
[That's true...in that case, let's gradually lower the price. Though it takes 100G each time we register it]  (Hind)
[It's better than not taking this chance to sell it. Ah, you can leave a comment, so it's fine if you add a brief comment]  (Tobi)
[Nuu...in that case, something simple]  (Hind)
[It's the weapon that took 1st place in the rankings] ...like that.
It's quite plain, but there's a limit of characters you can type so it should be fine.
After that, we both checked the market price for gear and items each one of us was interested in.
[Oh right, Tobi. Who did you buy the ninja gear you have from? You are the clumsy type, so you probably didn't craft them on your own?]  (Hind)
[Ah, there's a crafter called Masamune-san that specializes in Japanese style equipment. I haven't really met him personally but...look, there's another set today]  (Tobi)
There were papers stuck on the bulletin board written in characters I couldn't read, once a player gets close enough to read them, a menu opens.
I looked at the menu that was floating close to Tobi's hand, gear with their names written in kanji were lined up in it.
The seller section was as Tobi had said, they all read [Masamune] .
[Oh? ...Spear and katana and samurai type armor for heavy warriors, even bows and hakama for archers, there's quite a lot. Naginata...I see, he even sells Kanabos. I'd like to meet him]  (Hind)
[Hind-dono, you can't make japanese stuff?]  (Tobi)
[Katanas especially, they use different techniques from western swords after all...I'll gradually make them as I study about them. I do have the motivation to make them]  (Hind)
[In that case, I'll make a request. If it was possible, I'd like to use a ninjaish Makibishi along with bo-hiyas...]  (Tobi)
[That would be interesting. I'll think about it]  (Hind)
[Ohh, thank you! As expected of Wacchi, you sure get me!]  (Tobi)
[Hey, what did I say about using our real na-...wait, it's a nickname so it's fine. It doesn't really give away my real name anyway]  (Hind)
Just as I had previously experienced, throwable items are single use, I'd like to make something with a high level of effectiveness if possible.
If the game allows it, something like coating the Makibishi in poison, or smokebomb type bo-hiyas to block their field of vision.
...I'm getting a good image of what I want to make. I should put in some effort and think about crafting them.
While we kept turning over the pages checking the market price of the items, a huge figure appeared behind us.
Is it another player? If we are bothering him, let's move...
[Hah, hah, I found you...!] 
A hand was placed on my shoulder and when I turned around, a big man stood there out of breath.
Very muscular and with a face full of wounds, tea colored hair and he gave the impression of being a very stern person.
He was really intense and I noticed how Tobi's face had stiffened.
[I apologize for surprising you...could you hear me out for a bit?] 
He was an honest man contrary to his appearance, seems like he has something to talk about with us.
We moved a bit away from the bulletin board, we moved to a place where we wouldn't bother the other players to hear him out.
The feeling of oppression lasted just a moment, I thought we were going to get PK'd...oh wait, we can't get attacked inside a town.
Besides, with the level cap being raised, PK'ing has been disabled in [Donderry forest]  and [Homa plains] .
This was a measure to protect the beginners...wait, I'm going off topic here.
I have to think about how to deal with this macho man with his bulging muscles.
I exchanged looks with Tobi.
Well, that was a name that we were curious about recently after all...
So it was this guy.
[The event's 2nd...cough cough! You are the person that was in first place throughout the event, right?]  (Tobi) * Tobi switches to a more formal tone to address the man
[No, there's no need to be so considerate. It's true I'm the Albert that lost to you and got 2nd place. It was my utter defeat. It was an excellent tactic]  (Albert)
[I see. From the way you said that, I assume you didn't come here to get revenge...but what do you want to talk about?]  (Hind)
[I'll get straight to the point. I was charmed by the sword that girl used in the video. Sell me that greatsword!]  (Albert)
...We got more details from him, he didn't really participate in the event to obtain the aura.
He was as his name implied inside the game, a mercenary...seems like he plans to roleplay that and join parties in exchange for money.
For the sake of advertising himself, he challenged the event to make a big name for himself.
[That's nice...roleplaying as a mercenary. If you are really skilled, you would be able to help with really difficult quests]  (Tobi)
[Or something like asking him to come when there's an event that needs a large amount of people? It does fit the image of the world of TB after all...there sure are quite a lot of people with different play-styles]  (Hind)
[It's like that. This might be a bit off-topic, but I'm a civil servant in real life]  (Albert)
Was that to earn our trust? He revealed his real life occupation to us.
...Wait, he's a civil servant with that appearance!? You are kidding!
I thought he would work in something related to sports with that appearance...like rugby, or at least something like a gym coach.
[C-Civil servant...you say?]  (Tobi)
[I'm in charge of the counter in the city hall's welfare services...Ah, I'll say this, but these wounds on my body and body are part of my avatar. My way of speaking is usually polite too...would you rather I spoke that way with you?]  (Albert)
[N-No, it's fine! It might be rude of me to say this, but it doesn't really match your image...haha...]  (Hind)
[My hobbies had been games and weight training. They are both really good to relieve my stress from work...oh, sorry. I ended up talking about trivial things about myself]  (Albert)
The money he offered was 130.000G.
It's lower than the amount registered in the bulletin board, but this is genuinely all he owns.
He coincidentally found it in the bulletin board and hurried up to try and make a direct transaction before anyone managed to buy it, he probably came here to search for us.
Anyway, I was planning to gradually lower the price if it didn't sell, the amount he showed is a big amount and we'll sell it for sure this way.
I cancelled the registration in the bulletin board, and sold the meteo greatsword to Albert-san.
After that, we went to a field and he displayed himself trying out the weapon but...
[Uoh, that's really impressive...his muscles are throbbing...you can even hear the sounds of the slashes from here...]  (Hind)
[So cool! Can I call you aniki!?]  (Tobi)
With the vigorous display of the 40kg greatsword due to the weight correction of the heavy warrior stats, Tobi was moved.
In the end, they even exchanged friend requests...wait, are you fine with that? Tobi...
Anyway, we have handed the greatsword we used in the event to the heavy warrior [Mercenary Albert] .
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