『アルトロワの村』の隅っこ、使い慣れた見張り台の下。
ゴムの樹はこの付近にしかないので、俺達はゲームのスタート地点である村へと戻って来ている。
「よし、こんなもんだろう」
「これは結構な重労働......全部で五種類でござるか? このエルフ耳は」
目の前には、顔料と配合したラテックスを流し込んだ金属製の型が幾つか。
現在はバリなどの細かい部分の加工が完了したところだ。
今回はトビが言う様に、五種類の色違いの物を作製した。
ゴムの原料であるラテックスは固まる際に色が変化するので、やはり発色が不安だったが何とかイメージ通りに成功。
「色白・肌色・小麦色・褐色・色黒の五つだ。......で、トビ。お前ちょっとこれを試着してみ?」
「え、ええ!?」
「感覚で適当に作った色だから、違和感が出ないか試したいんだよ。ほら、この肌色の奴を」
「し、仕方ないでござるなぁ......」
満更でもない様子で頭巾を取るトビ。
付け耳を装着し、俺の方へと顔を向けて見せる。
「どうでござるか?」
「ああ。そのまま髪を金髪に染めれば、直ぐにでもエルフを名乗れそうなくらいには似合ってる......ちっ」
「ねえ、今舌打ちしなかった? 舌打ちしたよね?」
「色味も、まあ多少の違和感はあるが許容範囲内だろう。協力感謝」
「お、おう」
トビが返してきた付け耳をインベントリにしまう。
広げていた道具も全て片付け、二人で砂埃をはたいて立ち上がった。
移動を開始しながら、今後も付け耳を継続して作るかどうかの話へ。
「色が不安であれば、受注生産という手もあるでござるよ。やはり個人差はあるでござろうし」
る人で、やや高めの依頼料を提示してくれれば考えるが......ちと面倒だな」
「質が一定で同じ物であれば大量に売れる、という類のアイテムでもござらんしな......どの道、量産には向いていないようで。需要があるのは間違いないでござろうが」
「じゃあ、取り敢えずゴム製品に関してはこれで一旦凍結ということで。競合者も居ないだろうし、作った分は若干高めの値段で掲示板に登録しておこう」
「了解でござる」
掲示板でエルフ耳が欲しいと言っていた人が買えるといいが。
まぁ、俺が気にすることでも無いか。
この付け耳を全て売ることが出来れば、大剣で得た分も含めて当面の資金に困る事はないだろう。
取引掲示板は何処の街や村で登録しても共通なので、アルトロワの掲示板で一個5,000Gにて出品。
各色10個ずつ作ったので完売で250,000G、取引掲示板の販売手数料が一割なので225,000Gの収入ということになる。
とはいえ、これはあくまで皮算用に過ぎない。
トビとユーミルの薦め、それと掲示板での反応を見て生産を決めたが、売れるかどうかは未知数だ。
用が済んだので、二人で再び『ヒースローの街』へと引き返していく。
「このフィールド移動が結構しんどい......モンスターは無視できるとはいえ」
「乗り物が欲しいところでござるな。噂では、野生の馬の生息地が何処かにあるのだとか」
「捕まえて調教しろってか? それは骨が折れそう――お?」
ピロン、という軽い音が頭に響き、メールを受信したことを告げる。
トビに止まるように手で合図し、メニューを開いて確認すると......。
「ユーミル殿でござるか?」
「いや、別口のようだが......ヘルシャ?」
件名:いつかの礼をお返ししますわ!
本文:今からヒースロー東部にある「ダラム山入口」までおいでなさい!
命令口調な上に、相手の都合を全く考えない唐突な呼び出しだ。
どう対応したらいいんだ、これは。
俺が困惑していると、続けてもう一通のメールが届く。
件名:お嬢様のメールについて、です
本文:あ、あの、こんばんはハインドさん!
お嬢様が失礼なメールを送ったかと思いますが、お嬢様なりのお考えあってのものなんです! 許してあげて下さい!
つ、つきましては、ご都合がよろしければ一緒にクエストを受けて頂きたいのです。
報酬は『スキルポイントの書』で......あ、あの、お願いします!
ご都合がなんて書きましたけど、もしおいでにならなかったらお嬢様の御機嫌が......そ、その、すみません! 宜しくお願いし
――酷い泣き落としを見た!
いや、本人に悪気は無いんだろうけどさ......文末が途切れているのは、恐らくメールを作製している途中でヘルシャに見咎められたせいだろう。
ワルタ―の気遣いと苦労が
......まあ、なんだ......行くかぁ。
断る理由も特に見当たらないし、ユーミルからの連絡もまだだ。
「どうしたのでござるか? 百面相の後に溜息などついて」
「要約するとクエストのお誘いなんだが......トビも行くか?」
「もちろん! ......ちなみに、ちなみにでござるが。誘ってきたプレイヤーというのはどのような?」
「見目麗しい女子二人だが」
「ウッヒョー!」
「そのノリで行くなら置いていく」
「待って! 今すぐに落ち着くから! すー、はー、すー、はー......」
そのままヒースローの街を経由。
空腹度を満たすための料理を急いで用意し、合流地点へと向かった。
ヒースローの東にはイベント中に鉄鉱石の採取のために通っていたので、特に問題なく指定された場所へと到着した。
目当ての人物は......お、いたいた。
しかし遠くから見ても目立つなー、あの金髪。
今日も絶好調にくりんくりんと縦ロールしておられる。
ワルターの方も肩を縮めてヘルシャのやや後ろに立っており、前回会った時と変わりない様子。
「おお、確かに二人とも美人でござるな......特にショートの娘。儚げな雰囲気が拙者の好みでござる......」
「おい、そのにやけ面はそろそろ引っ込めろよ。目で分かる。またシエスタちゃんの時みたいになるぞ」
大丈夫かな、こいつ。
そのまま近付いて声を掛けると、腕組みをしたヘルシャがこちらを向いて不敵に笑った。
「よく来ましたわね、ハインド。約束通り、今日はたっぷりと返礼を――あら? そちらの不審者は一体......」
「ああ、やっぱり言われた。だから覆面は外しておけって言ったじゃないか」
「むう、忍者が余り顔を知られる訳には......」
「はいはい、分かったよ。ヘルシャ、ワルター、久しぶり。こいつは俺の友人のトビだ」
「お初にお目にかかる! 拙者、トビと申す」
「ヘルシャフトですわ。よろしく」
「わ、ワルターです......宜しくお願いします」
互いの自己紹介が終わったところで、クエストの詳細について聞いておくことに。
「今日はよろしく頼む。ところで、今回受けたクエストに人数制限ってあるのか?」
「は、はいっ!」
ヘルシャに名前を呼ばれたワルターがせかせかとメニューを開き、受領中のクエストの詳細を開いてヘルシャに見せる。
かれるのが当然といったヘルシャの態度に、俺の横でトビがやや眉をひそめているのが分かった。
もしかして、好みだからってもうワルターに肩入れし始めているのか?
「丁度四人までですわ。報酬も各自に出ます。運が良いですわね、覆面の方」
「それはありがたい。感謝致す、縦ロール殿」
「......何ですの、その呼び方は?」
「礼には礼を。非礼には非礼を
「失礼な方ですわねっ!」
「お互い様でござろう!」
喧嘩を始めた二人に、俺とワルターが急いで止めに入る。
この二人、もしかして波長が合わない......? いや、間接的にワルターが原因になっているせいか。
これは面倒なことになったな......。
In a corner of [Altrowa Village] , under the watchtower we had grown accustomed to.
The rubber trees only grow in this vicinity so we returned to the village that acted as the starting point.
[Alright, this should be enough]  (Hind)
[This was quite some work...are there five types in total? These elven ears that is]  (Tobi)
In front of us were several metal molds with pigments and a mixture of latex poured onto them.
Currently, I was removing the burrs and with that, they would be done.
Just like Tobi had said, this time I had made 5 types of them.
The rubber like material had solidified in different colors and as I had expected, I was a bit uneasy about the colors but managed to make them as I had imagined.
[Light complexion*flesh colored*light brown*dark brown*swarthy, these 5. ...So, Tobi. Can you try these on?]  (Hind)
[Eh, Eeehh!?]  (Tobi)
[The colors were made by intuition, so I want to try them out and see if they feel out of place. Here, try these flesh colored ones]  (Hind)
[G-Guess I have no choice...]  (Tobi)
With an annoyed expression, Tobi removed his hood.
He put on the ears and faced me so I could see them.
[How do they look?]  (Tobi)
[Ah. They fit you so well that you could start calling yourself an elf if you went and dyed your hair blonde right now...tsk]  (Hind)
[Hey, did you just click your tongue? You did, right?]  (Tobi)
[The color...well, they do look a bit out of place but it's still within the acceptable range. Thanks for your cooperation]  (Hind)
[O-Oh]  (Tobi)
Tobi returned the ears and I placed them in my inventory.
I finished cleaning up the tools that were spread out and we both stood up and removed the dust on us.
While we moved, we talked about if I would continue making ears or not.
[If there are worries about the color, you could make them to order. As one would expect, everyone has their own preferences]  (Tobi)
[You are right. As a very fussy person, if they showed me a somewhat high retainer fee I'd think about it...but it would be a bit bothersome]  (Tobi)
[It's the kind of thing you could sell in large quantities if the quality was fixed after all...in any case, you can't really mass produce them. Though, I don't think you have to worry if they'd be in demand or not]  (Tobi)
[Well then, let's freeze the production of rubber related products for now. There are no competitors so...let's register the ones I crafted with a relatively high price]  (Hind)
[Understood]  (Tobi)
It would be nice if the people that said they wanted to buy elven ears in the BBS bought them.
Well, it's not like it bothers me.
If we manage to sell all of these and we include the funds from selling the sword, we probably won't have to worry about money for a while.
The trading BBS is shared among all villages and towns, so I put them up for 5.000G in Altrowa's BBS.
I made 10 of each color so if they all sell that would be 250.000G, there's a 10% transaction fee in the BBS so the total income would be 225.000G.
That being said, this is just my optimistic calculation.
Tobi and Yumir recommended it to me and I made my decision after seeing the reaction in the BBS, I don't know if they'll sell or not.
Since we were done with our business, both of us returned to [Heathrow town] .
[Moving through this field is quite tiresome...even if we can ignore the monsters]  (Hind)
[Makes you want to have some sort of vehicle. There are rumors that there's a place with wild horses]  (Tobi)
[You mean, to catch them and train them? That does sound like you'd break some bon-...oh?]  (Hind)
A *piron* sound echoed in my head, telling me I had received an e-mail.
I signaled Tobi to stop with my hand and opened my menu to check it...
[Is it from Yumir-dono?]  (Tobi)
[No, seems like it's from someone else...Herrschaft?]  (Hind)
Subject: I'll return the favor I said I'd return one day!
Text: come to the [Entrance to Dram mountain]  located on the east of Heathrow right now!
On top of that commanding tone, she called me without even asking about my circumstances right now.
How should I reply to this?
While I was feeling perplexed, another email reached me.
Subject: Regarding that email ojou-sama sent.
Text: E-Eh, good evening Hind-san!
I believe ojou-sama sent you quite the rude email, that just the way she thinks! Please, forgive her!
R-Regarding that email, if circumstances allow it, we'd like to take a quest together.
The reward is a [Skill point book] ...e-eh, please!
I said if circumstances allow it but...if you don't come, ojou-sama's mood will...e-eh, I'm very sorry! Please come.
...I just saw quite the sob story!
Well, I know that the person herself doesn't have any ill-will but...since the end of the sentence was cut, it was probably because Herrschaft saw her typing the email.
It's a sentence where Walter's fears and worries come to your mind.
...Oh well...shall I go?
I don't have any reason to refuse and Yumir hasn't contacted me yet.
[What happened? You sighed after making all sorts of faces]  (Tobi)
[To sum it up, it's an invitation for a quest...Tobi, are you coming too?]  (Hind)
[Of course! ...By the way, just for the record. Who are the players that invited you?]  (Tobi)
[2 beautiful girls]  (Hind)
[Yahooooo!]  (Tobi)
[If you are going to act like that, I'm leaving you behind]  (Hind)
[Wait! I'll calm down right now! Hah, hah, hah, ...]  (Tobi)
Like that, we went through Heathrow town.
I cooked something in a hurry to deal with the hunger system and we headed to the meetup point.
Since we already went through the east of Heathrow during the event to mine iron ore, we didn't have issues reaching the place.
The people we are supposed to meet...oh, there they are.
However, they sure stand out...enough for me to see them from this far away, that blond hair.
They are perfect ringlets today too.
Walter was standing a bit behind her and looked the same as last time we met.
[Oh, it's true that both of them are beautiful...that short haired girl especially. I like that ephemeral aura...]  (Tobi)
[Hey, stop making that face already. I can tell. You are going to end up like that time with Siesta-chan]  (Hind)
Is this guy going to be OK?
We approached them like that and when I called them, Herrschaft, who had her arms folded, approached me with a daring smile.
[You did well to come here, Hind. As promised, today I'll fully return the...oh? Who is that suspicious...]  ([Herrschaft)
[Ah, she really said it. That's why I told you to remove your disguise]  (Hind)
[Muu, ninjas shouldn't show their faces that...]  (Tobi)
[Yeah yeah, I get it. Herrschaft, Walter, it's been a while. This is my friend Tobi]  (Hind)
[It's a pleasure to meet you! My name is Tobi]  (Tobi)
[I'm Herrschaft. It's a pleasure]  (Herrschaft)
[I-I'm Walter...nice to meet you]  (Walter)
When they finished introducing themselves, we heard the details of the quest.
[I'm counting on you today. By the way, is there a limit in the number of people that can take the quest?]  (Hind)
[Y-Yes!]  (Walter)
When she was called by Herrschaft, Walter hurriedly opened her menu and showed the details of the ongoing quest to Herrschaft.
Seeing that attitude of Walter that made it seems like it was natural for her to serve Herrschaft, I noticed Tobi knitting his eyebrows.
By any chance, has he started supporting Walter because she's to his tastes?
[It's exactly 4 people. Each person will get the reward. You are quite lucky, masked person]  (Herrschaft)
[That's much appreciated. Thank you, Ringlets-dono]  (Tobi)
[...What's with that way of calling me?]  (Herrschaft)
[Answer gratitude with gratitude. I'm just returning impoliteness with impoliteness?]  (Tobi)
[You are quite the rude fellow!]  (Herrschaft)
[That goes for both of us!]  (Tobi)
With both of them starting to fight, Walter and I hurriedly went in to stop them.
Are these 2 not compatible by any chance...? No, I guess Walter is indirectly the cause.
This has become quite troublesome...
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