厩舎から出て街を歩き始めると、俺達の前を進む三人は王都の賑やかな様子に感心しながら周囲を見回している。
「早速どこをホームにするか決めましょう! 街の観光はそれからです!」
「ハインド先輩、渡り鳥のホームはどこですか?」
しかしそれも長くは続かず、鼻息を荒くして俺達のホームの場所を訊いてくる。
渡り鳥のホームは王宮から少し下った辺り――利用しているのが貴族の屋敷跡という都合上、高級住宅街の一等地に存在している。
ここワーハでは貴族街というものは存在しておらず、付近には豪商の屋敷なども身分の区別なく建っていたりする。
ラクダを買えないと言った彼女達の予算がどの程度かは分からない。
しかし近くが良いと言うのだから、一先ず俺達のホームに案内することに関して異存はない。
「ああ、今から案内するよ」
「付いてくるがいい!」
マーケットを抜け、比較的治安の良い一般市民の住宅地を抜けて、王宮へ続く緩やかな傾斜を登っていく。
用水路の流れに逆らうようにして進んでいくと......豪邸と呼んで差し支えない屋敷が見えてくる。
「ここが私達のホームだっ!」
「またまた、ご冗談を!」
「いくら先輩方が凄いプレイヤーだって言ってもこれは嘘でしょう?」
「......リコ、サイ。先輩達二人とも、嘘を言っている目をしてない。あと入口の上、ギルド渡り鳥ホームって表示されてるから......」
リコリスちゃんとサイネリアちゃんが硬直した。
「......なるほど、そのおっきな蛇を――」
「リコ、バジリスク」
「......バジリスクを退治した功績で、購入権を得たんですね? それも格安で」
この屋敷を購入した経緯をきちんと話すと、二人はようやく理解の色を示す。
現在の大多数のギルドホームは集合住宅タイプなので、一軒家タイプな上にこれでは面食らったのも仕方ないことだと思う。
「そういうこと。バジリスクの報酬も全て注ぎ込んだ上でギリギリだったから、普通に買う場合は数千万後半から下手すると億じゃないかな?」
「億......今のプレイヤーの平均的な所持金を考えると、かなり遠い数字ですねえ。考えるだけで眠くなってきました......」
「違いない。数百万Gの馬を買うのにも苦労しているプレイヤーが多いからな。私達は運が良かった」
今では先行到達者に対する特典のようなものだったと思っている。
あれ以降バジリスクが出現したという話は聞かないし。
「でも、それだとこの近くにホームを構えるのは難しいですかねー?」
「ユーミル先輩とハインド先輩に賭けて得たお金には手をつけずにおいたんですけど......」
「ああ、俺達に賭けてくれてたんだ? ありがとう」
「む? しかしお前達は先程、ラクダを買う金は無いと言っていなかったか?」
「ラクダに使うお金は無い、って意味ですよー。私達の全財産は全員で集めた20万Gを賭けた払戻金1000万G......先輩達のお誘いがなかったら、歩いてワーハまで来るつもりでしたので。もちろん、私は反対しましたけども」
歩いて......土日を丸々使えば到着したかもしれないけど、ちょっと無謀だ。
今は初心者以外ならどのプレイヤーでも、最低限ロバは保有している状態だし。
「1000万Gか......この一帯以外の、一般住宅街の物件なら大体買える額だと思うけど」
「折角なので、出来れば近くが良いんですけど......やっぱり無理でしょうか?」
シュンとした顔でこちらを見てくるリコリスちゃんに、俺はウッと胸が詰まった。
更にはユーミルが追い打ちをかけてくる。
「ハインド、何とかしてやれないのか?」
何とかって言われても......年下の前で見栄を張りたいのは分かるけど、それは無茶じゃないのか。
お金を融通してやるのはこの子達のためにならないだろうし、かといってここまで付き添ってきたのに放り出すのも無体だろう。
そしてそれ以前の疑問なのだが、何故俺に振ってくる?
「ハインド先輩......」
「先輩......先輩の困り顔、とっても好みです。むふふ」
どいつもこいつも......特に最後のシエスタちゃんは後で覚えてろ。
人の苦境を楽しむんじゃないよ。
「――ああもう、分かった分かった! ユーミル、そしたら俺は王宮に行ってくるから。三人に渡り鳥のギルドホームの中でも案内しておいてくれ!」
「王宮......? おお、その手があったか! 了解した!」
「王宮に行って何をするんです?」
首を傾げるリコリスちゃんに対して、俺はこう返した。
「使い道のなかった、闘技大会の余禄を使うのさ」
丁度いい物件はいくつか心当たりがあるので、恐らく問題なく事は運ぶだろう。
四人を残すと、俺はとある権利を行使すべく王宮への道を登って行った。
約束通り、大会優勝への褒美をやるとしよう――そんな言葉を女王様が発したのは、俺達が再ログインした二日前のことだった。
気分が良いので何でも申してみよ、と言われたが俺とユーミルは何も思いつかずに保留とした。
女王様はその回答に酷くつまらなそうな顔をしたが、優勝直後ということで機嫌を損ねるには至らず。
なら後から何かあれば言うがよい、という意外にも寛大な御言葉を頂いた。
そんな訳で......
「王家所有の物件で、格安で譲っても良いっていう物件を幾つか紹介して貰ってきた」
ギルドホームの談話室で休んでいた彼女達に、王宮で交渉してきた結果を報告。
トビ、リィズ、セレーネさんは先程までここで一緒に話していたが、今は各自の作業に戻っているとのこと。
「ありがとうございます! 本当にありがとうございます! ハインド先輩、素敵です!」
「でも宜しいんですか? 優勝のご褒美を私達なんかのために......」
無邪気に喜ぶリコリスちゃんに対して、サイネリアちゃんは申し訳なさそうにしているが......。
俺達としてはそういう気遣いは不要だと思っている。
「だって......なあ、ユーミル?」
「うむ。私達は既に皇帝から賞金と立派な馬、更には自分たちに賭けた際の多額の当選金を受け取っているからな。色々と一気に得過ぎて、正直何を要求すればいいのか分からない状態なのだ。それとあの女王の性格上、な」
三人は俺達の話に感心したように「はー」と口を開けて聞いている。
でも本当に面倒なんだよ、あの女王様。
下手な願い事をすれば、絶対に好感度がダダ下がりになるのは目に見えているし。
なので、バジリスクの時と同じような報酬を要求してみたら二つ返事でOKが出た。
ギルド内でも処理に困っていた案件だし、かといって放置は勿体ないのでこれはそれを使ってしまう良い機会だと思っている。
「でも、どうせそこまでしてくれるならタダで――」
「こら、シー! 失礼じゃない! 何てことを言うのよ!」
「駄目でしょ、シーちゃん! 今の条件でも破格だって、私ですら分かるよ!」
現金なシエスタちゃんに、俺とユーミルは思わず苦笑いだ。
タダは素晴らしいことだけど、ゲームなんだしそれだと達成感が足りない気がするのだが......どうだろう?
そんな訳で、リストを見ながら彼女達のギルドホームの候補を一軒ずつ回ることに。
「まずは俺達のホームから一番近いここ」
「......? ここって、渡り鳥のホームの一部じゃないんですか?」
「いや、建物の造りや外観が近いからそう見えるだろうけど、実は違う。ここは本来、使用人達が泊まるための別邸だったみたいだ。で、所有者が居なくなった時点で敷地も購入の権利も別に分かれているらしい。だから今は空き家」
「そうだったのか!? 知らなかった......」
「おい」
ユーミルはこの建物を何だと思っていたのか。
サイネリアちゃんが俺の言葉に成程と頷く。
「言われてみればあちらの本邸、で良いんでしょうか? よりも、大分こじんまりとしていますね」
「なるほどー。でも、ここにすれば渡り鳥とお揃いっぽい? 比べるとかなり小さいけど、単体で見ると充分でっかいし」
お揃い、という単語にリコリスちゃんの耳がぴょこっと反応したような気がした。
次いで目をキラキラと輝かせ始める。
あー、もしかしてこれは......。
「ここにしよう! サイちゃん、シーちゃん! 私、ここが良い!」
「え......? リコが良いんなら、私は構わないけど......」
「本当にここで良いのかい? 確かに必要な機能は揃ってるけど、ここよりも大きな屋敷とか、広い庭のある候補も......」
「ここが良い! です!」
「うむ、直感は大事だぞリコリス! こうと決めたら突っ走るのだ!」
「はい! ユーミルさん!」
この二人......はぁ、まあいいや。
リコリスちゃんの勢いに押され、どうやら他の物件を見ずにここに決まりそうな流れだ。
サイネリアちゃんは動揺しつつも賛成、そしてシエスタちゃんはというと。
「ここが一番近いんでしたよね、先輩?」
「うーん、徒歩三十秒以内なんてのはここのみだね。当たり前だけど」
「じゃあ私もここが良いです。あまり遠いと、遊びに行くときにだるくなっちゃうんで」
そんなこんなで一件目であっさりと決まってしまった。
購入費用は大幅値引きされて900万G。
そして彼女達のギルド名は三人の相談の末、渡り鳥にあやかって『ヒナ鳥』に決定。
そのネーミングはちょっと自分達を下げ過ぎではないか? と思ったが、本人達がご満悦だったので結局何も言えず。
こうして『渡り鳥』と新設ギルド『ヒナ鳥』は、姉妹ギルドとして同盟を締結させたのだった。
We left the stable and started walking around town, the three of them were walking around and looking at how bustling the Royal Capital was with admiration.
[Let's decide on where we want our home right away! Sightseeing can be left for later!] (Lycoris)
[Hind-senpai, where is Migratory Bird's home?] (Cineraria)
However, that didn't go on for long, and now they were both asking us where our home was while breathing heavily,
Migratory Bird's home was in a neighborhood found if you descended a bit from the royal palace...it was in an high-end residential area where people like nobles would reside.
But nobles didn't exist in Waaha, merchants were the ones that made their residences in this area.
I'm not sure what their budget looks like considering they weren't able to buy camels.
However, since they said it would be nice to get one close to ours, I had no objections in guiding them to ours for the time being.
[Sure, I'll guide you there now.] (Hind)
[Follow us!] (Yumir)
We skipped the market and came out of the residential area for the common people, which had decent public security, then ascended up the gentle slope that led to the royal palace.
While walking in the opposite direction of the water from the irrigation channels...we arrived at a residence that would be accurate to call it a Mansion.
[This is our home!] (Yumir)
[Please, that's a good joke!] (Lycoris)
[Even if senpai and the rest are amazing, this would have to be a lie right?] (Cineraria)
[...Lyco, Sai. Both senpais don't look as if they are joking around. On top of the entrance, Home of the guild Migratory Bird is displayed too...] (Siesta)
Lycoris-chan and Cineraria-chan were petrified.
[...I see, so you beat that giant snake...]  (Lycoris)
[Lyco, it's called Basilisk.] (Cineraria)
[...So you exterminated this Basilisk and gained permission to buy a house in this area? And they even made it cheaper for you?] (Lycoris)
I explained in detail how we managed to buy this house and they both seemed to finally understand.
Since the majority of the guilds use an apartment type house right now, I believe that it can't be helped that they were shocked at seeing this single house.
[That's the case. Even when we used all the money we got from exterminating that Basilisk, it was barely enough. If you bought it normally, it would be tens of millions of G at the lowest and worst case scenario maybe even hundreds of millions?] (Hind)
[Hundreds...looking at how much the average player would have right now, that seems so far away. Just by thinking about it I'm getting sleepy...] (Siesta)
[No doubt about it. There are a lot of players that even struggle to buy a horse that costs a few millions. We were just lucky.] (Hind)
We could say this is something like a privilege for being the first ones to reach the capital.
We haven't heard about another Basilisk appearing after that.
[However, wouldn't that make it hard for us to get a house around here?] (Lycoris)
[We have the money we got for betting on Yumir-senpai and Hind-senpai but...] (Cineraria)
[Ah, you placed a bet on us? Thanks.] (Hind)
[Muh? Didn't you say that you didn't have enough money to buy a camel a while ago?] (Yumir)
[We meant that we didn't have money to spend on camels. We bet everything we owned which amounted to 200k, that gave us 10 million...if you didn't invite us, we were planning on coming to Waaha on foot. Obviously, I was against it.] (Cineraria)
Walking...if they spent the entire weekend they might have got here, but it was pretty reckless.
Right now, apart from the beginners, it seems like everyone has a donkey at the very least.
[10 million huh...with the exception of this area, I believe it would be enough to buy a house in a residential area.] (Hind)
[Given the occasion, we would prefer if it was close by but...would that be impossible?] (Lycoris)
Seeing Lycoris-chan's dejected expression, my chest hurt.
On top of that, Yumir came with a follow up attack.
[Hind, can't you do something about it?] (Yumir)
Even if you tell me to do something...I get that you want to show off in front of your juniors but...isn't this too unreasonable?
Lending money to these children won't work in their favour, but we can't just abandon them after coming this far either.
I've also been wondering this for a while but...why are they asking me?
[Hind-senpai...] (Cineraria)
[Senpai...senpai's troubled expression, I love it. Mufufu.] (Siesta)
All these people...especially what Siesta-chan said at the end, you'd better remember this.
Enjoying the situation when someone else is in a difficult situation.
[...Oh geez, I get it, I get it! Yumir, in that case, I'm heading to the royal palace.
[The royal palace...? Ooh, there was that! Understood!] (Yumir)
[What are you going to do by going to the royal palace?] (Lycoris)
I replied to Lycoris-chan, who was tilting her head.
[I'm going to use the additional reward from the tournament that I haven't used yet.] (Hind)
We have various places in mind, so there probably won't be any issues.
Leaving those four behind, I exercised a certain special privilege I had and ascended towards the royal palace.
"As promised, let's proceed with the reward for winning the tournament"...this was something the Queen said to us two days before we logged in again.
She told us that she was in a good mood and we could ask for anything, but since Yumir and I couldn't think of anything we put it on hold.
The queen made a face as if she had found our reply to be incredibly boring but since it was right after we won, it didn't put her in a bad mood.
In that case, you can ask whenever you need something, those unexpectedly tolerant words came from her.
With that being the case...
[These are properties owned by the royal family, I got a list of properties they said it would be fine to buy for a cheap price.] (Hind)
I announced the results of my negotiations in the royal palace to the girls, who were resting in the guild home's lounge.
Tobi, Riizu and Selene-san had been talking to them here until a while ago, but they had now returned to their work.
[Thank you very much! We are really thankful! Hind-senpai, you are amazing!] (Lycoris)
[But is it really OK? To use your reward for winning the tournament on people like us...] (Cineraria)
Contrary to Lycoris-chan, who was innocently jumping from joy, Cineraria-chan felt apologetic.
However, we feel that this sort of consideration is unneeded.
[I mean...right, Yumir?] (Hind)
[Umu. We already got a reward from the emperor and also those amazing horses, furthermore, we also got a large amount of money from placing a bet on ourselves.
The three of them looked at our conversation with admiration and let out an [I see] .
But that queen is seriously annoying.
If you wished for something carelessly, your likability would definitely visibly decrease.
That being the case, once I asked for the same reward as that time with the Basilisk, she immediately gave the OK.
This is a matter we were having trouble with within the guild, and I believe that it would be quite a waste to not do anything with it, so I believe this is a great opportunity to make use of it.
[However, if you are going to go that far, why not make it fre-] (Siesta)
[Hey, Si! That's rude! What are you even saying!?] (Cineraria)
[That's right, Si-chan!These terms are already exceptional, even someone like me can tell!] (Lycoris)
Seeing Siesta-chan try to take advantage of the situation, Yumir and I smiled wryly.
Being free would be something incredible, but since this is a game, I wonder if that wouldn't give much sense of accomplishment?
That being said, we went through the candidates for a guild home while the girls were looking at the list.
[First off, this is the one closest to our home.] (Hind)
[...? Isn't this part of Migratory Bird's home?] (Cineraria)
[Formerly, this seems to have been a secondary residence of the previous owner. So, since the owner is gone, the purchase of the plot is being done separately. That's why this place is vacant right now.] (Hind)
[Is that so!? I didn't know...] (Yumir)
[Hey.] (Hind)
I wonder what Yumir thought this building was.
Cineraria-chan nodded in understanding of my words.
[Now that you mention it, that would make that one the main building right? This one looks quite compact.] (Siesta)
[I see. However, if we chose this one, wouldn't it make us match with Migratory Bird? It's quite smaller if we compare them, but if we looked at it by itself, it's more than big enough.] (Cineraria)
It would make us match, I felt as if those simple words made Lycoris-chan react once they got through her ears.
Following that, her eyes started to sparkle.
Ah, don't tell me this...
[Let's settle on this one! Sai-chan, Si-chan! I think this one is good!] (Lycoris)
[Eh...? If you are fine with it, I don't really mind but...] (Cineraria)
[Are you really fine with this one? It's true that it has all the necessary facilities, but there are bigger buildings or buildings with spacious gardens...] (Hind)
[This one is fine!] (Lycoris)
[Umu, it's important to follow your instincts, Lycoris! Once you have set on an objective, you just have to run towards it!] (Yumir)
[Yes! Yumir-san!] (Lycoris)
These two...oh well, who cares.
Being pressured by Lycoris-chan's vigor, it seems like we will settle on this one without looking at the other properties.
Cineraria-chan approved with excitement and when it came to Siesta-chan...
[This is the closest one right, senpai?] (Siesta)
[Yup, this one is the only one that takes less than 30 seconds to get to ours. Though that was obvious.] (Hind)
[Then I'm fine with this one too. If we were too far, it would be too tiresome whenever I felt like going there to play.] (Siesta)
Like this, we easily decided on the first property we visited.
The cost of it was 9 million with the big discount we got.
Then, they discussed what their guild name would be and decided on a similar one to Migratory Bird, {Baby Bird} .
With that name, wouldn't it feel as if it was quite the downgrade compared to ours? Is what I thought, but since they looked satisfied with it, I didn't say anything.
Like this, {Migratory Bird} and the newly formed {Baby Bird}  became sister guilds and entered an alliance with each other.
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