こいつら、フィールドボスを倒して攻撃可能になるタイミングを狙ってやがったな!
他プレイヤーからの攻撃判定を受けて、視界の中に青文字で『攻撃可』の文字が表示される。
ユーミルが剣を横薙ぎに、トビが二刀で、リコリスちゃんが盾を構えて前に出た。
こうなった場合の反撃や防衛行動は、相手を戦闘不能に至らしめた場合でも当然ながらPK行為にカウントされない。
俺が初期の頃にやったように、MPKで仕掛けてきた相手を戦闘不能にしたとしても大丈夫だ。
PKの強みである不意打ちはどうにか凌いだが......襲ってきた周囲のプレイヤーの情報に目を配る。
オレンジネームは名前を隠す設定を行うことが不可能だ。
「不味いな......リィズ、どう思う?」
「ええ。これは良くありませんね」
「何がだ!? 無論、全て倒して先に進むのだろう!?」
「馬鹿言え、人数差を考えろよ! しかもあちらさん、レベルがこっちとどっこいだぞ」
「む......」
さすがにレベルキャップ開放直後とあってか、カンストこそしていないが。
ざっと見たところ40前後が半分、残りも30代には乗っているようだ。
相手はかなり本格的なPKギルドと見える。
俺達は海を背にしないようにじりじりと一塊になって後退しながら、逃走の隙を窺う。
幸い、まだ包囲には至っていない。
「ハインド先輩。最初の打ち合いを見た限り、こういう場合にPT制限は......」
「掛からない。だから5体5を複数回って形にはならず、今の状況は純粋に8対50ってことになる」
サイネリアちゃんが牽制の矢を放ちながら早口でこちらに確認を取る。
50という数字はPK達のギルド名が同じことから、1ギルドの定員一杯の数字を口にしただけだが。
実際、ざっと見た感じその位の数は居るような気がする。
ギルド名は『夜陰の刃』と表示されているように見えた。
フィールドでPTを組むことで得られる恩恵は経験値分配、経験値ボーナス、味方情報の表示、それとフィールドボスに挑む際にそのメンバーで行えるという、ただそれだけのものだ。
PKに攻撃されたからといって、フィールドボスのようにPKの1PTとだけ戦えるような状態にはならない。
「トビ! プランCだ!」
「おっ!? ......そうでござるな、仕方ない。直ぐに準備致す!」
「みんなも良いな!?」
俺の言葉に全員が頷く。
PKが出ることは予想していたので、事前にいくつか作戦を練っておいた。
プランCは退却用の作戦で――と、俺は敵の弓術士の目を狙って『シャイニング』を放った。
命中。目を抑えて、弓術士が射撃体勢を解く。
そして包囲が完全になる前に、トビがインベントリからアイテムを取り出して投擲する。
一個目は焙烙玉、敵の密集地帯に投下したそれはダメージこそ今一つだが強烈なノックバックで敵後衛の手を止めさせた。
リィズは『ファイアーボール』、サイネリアちゃんは『ダブルショット』、セレーネさんは『ストロングショット』、シエスタちゃんは俺と同じ『シャイニング』を発動。
この状況、詠唱の長い魔法や隙の大きいスキルを放っている隙は無い。
トビが焙烙玉に続けて、新開発のアイテムを「自分の足元」に向かって叩きつけた。
玉が弾け、大量の白っぽい煙が周囲に広がっていく。
「馬をっ!」
この一言で通じるはずだ。
俺は片手の指で輪を作ると、口に付けて強く息を吹いた。
ピューッ! と高い音が鳴り、煙の中で馬蹄の音が近付いてくる。
これはゲームの仕様で、指笛を鳴らすと自分が直前まで騎乗していた乗り物を呼べる機能なのだが......。
「ブーッ!」
「ピヒュッ!」
「鳴ってない!? 鳴ってないよ君達!? 誰でもできるように補正掛かるんだから、ちゃんと練習しとけって言っただろうがぁ!」
「ハインド君、大声出したら位置がバレちゃうよ!?」
「ハインドさんの気持ちも分かりますけどね。はぁ、しまりのない......」
「その、すみません。ウチの二人が......」
「ウチの馬鹿二人も一緒なので、気にしないでください」
指笛をきちんと鳴らすことができたのは8分の4である。
現実よりも簡単に鳴るようにゲーム側で設定してあるのだが、これは酷い......。
事前に練習した時はどうにか全員が吹けたのに。
それでも半分は呼べたので、二人ずつ相乗りして呼べなかった馬達の傍へ。
「どうした、ハインド!?」
「肩口に痛みが――ってなんじゃこりゃあ!」
「刺さってる刺さってる! ナイフが肩に刺さってるぞ!」
相乗りしているユーミルが前で身をよじりながら叫ぶ。
こういうナイフってどうすればいいんだ!?
矢の場合は放っておくと消えるんだけど――あっ、血と一緒に消えた。
と思ったら毒状態!? 毒ナイフ!?
「マジかよ、半端じゃない殺意だな!」
「無言で来るから滅茶苦茶怖いでござる! ――あだっ! 矢がぁ!」
そういう意味ではトビよりもよっぽど忍者らしいとも言える。
しかし、脳天に矢が刺さっても平気とは......さすがゲーム。
奴ら、ここまでの動き的には山賊盗賊よりもギルド名が示す通り暗殺集団に近い。
「ハインドさんっ!」
一早く俺の状態に気付いたリィズが解毒薬を投げつけてくれる。
瓶が割れ、体の周囲に光のエフェクトが出て解毒成功。
「サンキュー! 着いたぞユーミル、急いで乗り移れ!」
ユーミルが勢いよく跳躍し、もう一方のグラドタークの背に跳び移る。
確かに急いでとは言ったが......さしものグラドタークも、突然の背への衝撃に大きく
そして俺は『アタックアップ』をユーミルに使用。
「よし、暴れてこいっ! ただし――」
「HPが半分を切ったら撤退開始だな!? 分かっている!」
「それと、万が一に備えてサブ装備に切り替えておくのを忘れるな! 後で泣きたくなかったらな!」
「うむ、行ってくる! ......あ、そうだった。ここは私に任せて――」
「いいから早く行けっ! 言ってる場合か!」
ユーミルがメニューから普段の物とは違う装備セットを選択。
その結果、早着替えの様に一瞬で装備が切り替わる。
見た目は今までの物と似ているが、成功作までの過程で出来た性能が劣る失敗作(セレーネさん談)なのだそうだ。
ただし、ランク的には全て極上+1~2だが。失敗作?
ユーミルがグラドタークと共に駆けだした直後、漂っていた煙が浜風に流されていく。
「あっ、あっちも馬に乗ってるよ!」
「ユーミルが時間を稼ぐ! みんなも早く自分の馬に乗ってくれ!」
相手の馬は等級がバラバラなのか、移動速度にバラつきが大きいが......。
これだけ馬を揃えているとは、やはり逃げを打って正解だったという思いが強くなる。
ユーミルがロングソードを手に、グラドタークごと敵陣に突っ込んでいく。
おっと、まともにぶつかった向こうの一般馬が簡単に吹っ飛んだ......やっぱグラドタークは最強だな!
「ハインド殿、よく考えたらこれってあの捨て
「と、自分に言い聞かせる先輩なのであった」
「うっ......お、俺は悪くねえ! 俺は悪くねえ! あいつがやるって言ったんだ!」
「まあ、ゲームですし。あの人が失敗しても本当に死ぬわけじゃないんですから、ハインドさんが気にする必要は何もないかと」
「リィズちゃんクールだね。というより、ユーミルさんに対しては容赦がないね」
「ユーミル先輩、どうかご無事で......!」
「あ、ユーミル先輩のおかげで追手の足がかなり鈍りましたよ。これなら逃げ切れそうです」
こうして俺達は『クレシェンテ海岸』から逃げ出すことに成功した。
そして数分後、一つ前の町である『カナリスの町』に痺れ状態で瀕死になったユーミルが戻ってきた。
ユーミルはほとんど動けない状態だったのだが、それを背に乗せているグラドタークはピンピンしている。
「ハインドー......治療してくれぇ......痺れと低体力で動けん......」
「待ってろ、直ぐにやる!」
「おおう、本当に生きて帰ってきた! ユーミル殿の癖に!」
「トビ、後で殴る......うぅ......」
よく生きて帰ってきてくれたものだ。
まずは痺れを治療し、続けてHPを回復させていく。
治療を始めてしばらくすると、ユーミルはすっかり元気になった。
ユーミルの治療を終えた俺達は、町の食事処で対策を相談しながら休むことにした。
馬は厩舎に預け済みである。
「――もう一回行ってもまだ居るようなら、これは別ルートで行くしかないかもなぁ」
俺の発言に、ユーミルが机を叩いて勢いよく立ち上がった。
置かれたスープがこぼれそうになる。
「は? 嫌だぞ私は! あんな連中、粉砕して進まないと気が済まん!」
「気持ちは分かる。でもお前、さっきの戦いで何人倒せた?」
「ぐっ! ............だ」
「一人だ! 一人! ぐぬぬぬぬぬ......しかも直ぐにリヴァイブで蘇生された! バーストエッジで一人倒しただけだ! くそぅ!」
「だろ? あれだけの人の壁を越えて、後ろに居る神官を先に倒す......そこから殲滅できれば最高だろうが、八人じゃどうしたって難しい」
「他に手は無いのか!?」
「少数で勝ちたいなら普通は指揮官狙いになるんだろうが......あいつら声を出さないから誰が指揮官なのか分かんないし。しかも決闘なんかの正式なPvPと違って、神官じゃなくても聖水で戦闘不能を回復できるときたもんだ。勝ち筋がまるで見えん」
「ここに来てまた人数の壁でござるか......となると、やはり――」
対面のテーブルに座るセレーネさんが急に驚いたような声を上げる。
俺の後ろの方を見ているようだが――と、そこで肩を叩かれる感触。
何だ? と思いつつ振り返ると......総髪で和装をした男性が、こちらに向かって手を上げて笑っていた。
「――ミツヨシさん!?」
「よっ、久しぶり。迎えに来たぜ。渡り鳥に、ヒナ鳥ちゃん達」
These guys, they were aiming for the moment where they were able to attack us after the field boss was defeated!
Since it was judged that we had been attacked by other players, the words {Attacking is enabled}  appeared in our vision written in blue letters.
Yumir swept her sword sideways, Tobi took out his two blades and Lycoris wielded her shield and they came forward.
Having come to this, even if we counterattack and defend ourselves, in the case that we defeat them, it won't count as PK.
Like I did when we started playing the game, I was fine even when I MPK'd that other player.
We were able to somehow endure through the ambush, which is a PK's biggest advantage but...the information of the players that attacked us came into view.
It's impossible to hide your name if it has turned orange.
[This is bad...Riizu, what do you think?] (Hind)
[Yes. This is not looking good.] (Riizu)
[What is not looking good!? Obviously, we just have to beat them up and proceed forward right!?] (Yumir)
[Don't be stupid, think about the difference in numbers! On top of that, their levels are around the same as ours.] (Hind)
[Muh...] (Yumir)
As you'd expect with the level cap having been raised not long ago, it's not like they have reached level cap.
From a quick glance, there were some in the early or mid 40s and the rest were in the 30s.
They looked like a genuine PK Guild.
Making sure that the sea wasn't behind us, we slowly grouped together while backing away and looked for a chance to run away.
Luckily, they still hadn't surrounded us.
[Hind-senpai. Judging from that first attack, in this case, the party limitations...] (Sai)
[They don't matter. That's why they group up in teams of 5, right now, it's like a genuine 8 vs 50.] (Hind)
Cineraria-chan asked me in a hurry while releasing arrows.
Though the number 50 was just because PKs are under the same restrictions as normal guilds.
Actually, I think they roughly have that number from a quick glance.
The guild name that was displayed was {Night's Edge} .
It's just that when they pair up in the field. They have to share the experience and bonuses between each party , can only see their own party member's information and they have to challenge bosses with each party.
Even though we were attacked by PKs, it's not like we can fight each party 1 by 1 like we do with field bosses.
[Tobi! Plan C!] (Hind)
[Oh!? ...Is that so, guess there's no choice. I'll prepare it right away!] (Tobi)
[Did everyone hear me!?] (Tobi)
Everyone nodded at my words.
I expected PKs to attack us, so I prepared a few strategies beforehand.
Plan C is one that's used when running away...so, I released a {Shining}  towards the enemy archers eyes.
It was a direct hit. The archers rubbed their eyes while their shooting posture crumbled.
Then, before we got surrounded, Tobi took out certain items from his inventory and threw them.
The first one was a bo-hiya, it was thrown at the grouped up enemies to deal some damage and also to stop the rearguards with its strong knockback effect.
Riizu used {Fireball} , Cineraria-san {Double Shot} , Selene-san {Strong Shot}  and Siesta-chan and me used {Shining}  at the same time.
In this situation, we don't have the leisure to use long casting time magic or skills that leave us wide open.
After using the Bo-hiya, Tobi threw the new item towards his own feet.
The ball split and white smoke started to cover the surroundings.
[To the horses!] (Hind)
They should be able to understand with just these words.
I made a circle with a pair of fingers and blew strongly while placing them inside my mouth.
Pyuu! After a strong ringing sound, the sound of horse hooves could be heard within the smoke.
This is a game system, it has the function of calling the mount you have previously ridden towards you when you whistle through your fingers but...
[Buuh!] 
[Pihyu!] 
[The sound is not coming off!? You guys, the sound is not coming off properly! It's made so everyone should be able to do it so I told you guys to practice until you could do it!] (Hind)
[Hind-kun, if you shout like that they are going to be able to tell our position!] (Selene)
[Though I can understand how Hind-san feels. Sigh, such lack of discipline...] (Riizu)
[Eh, I'm sorry. About those two...] (Sai)
[Since those two idiots from our group are the same, don't mind it.] (Hind)
Only four out of eight were able to properly whistle.
In reality, it should have been made easier to whistle in game than it is in real life but...this is just terrible...
Even though everyone was able to do it when we had practiced previously.
Regardless, since we have been able to call half of them, we decided to ride in pairs and got closer to those idiots that couldn't call their horses.
[What happened, Hind!?] (Yumir)
[My shoulder started to hurt-...wait, what the heck is this!?] (Hind)
[He's been stabbed, he's been stabbed! There's a knife protruding from his shoulder!] (Yumir)
Yumir, who was riding in front of me, shouted as she turned around.
What should I do with this knife!?
When it comes to arrows, they disappear as soon as you pull them out but...oh, it disappeared along with the blood.
Just when I thought that, poison status!? It was a poisoned knife!?
[Are you serious!? These guys are not messing around!] (Yumir)
[Since they are not saying a single word it makes them scary as hell! -Adah! An Arrow!] (Tobi)
In a certain way, you could say they are more ninjaish than Tobi in this case.
However, to be fine even if you have an arrow sticking out of your head...as expected of a game.
These guys, given their actions until now, it would be better to call them a group of assassins like their guild name states instead of mountain thieves.
[Hind-san!] (Riizu)
Having instantly noticed my condition, Riizu threw an antidote at me.
The bottle broke and I was successfully detoxified as a light effect enveloped my body.
[Thanks! We arrived Yumir, hurry up and get on top of the other one!] (Hind)
Yumir energetically leaped from the horse and went towards the other Grado Turk and jumped on top of it.
I mean, it's true that I told her to hurry up but...as you'd expect, even a Grado Turk would complain if you were to suddenly crash onto his back.
Then, I used {Attack Up}  on Yumir.
[Alright, go and rampage! Though remember-] (Hind)
[I should retreat if my HP goes under 50% right!? I know!] (Yumir)
[Other than that, just in case, don't forget to switch to your sub gear! If you don't want to end up crying later that is!] (Hind)
[Umu, I'll get going! ..Ah, that's right. Leave this to-] (Yumir)
[Just get going! Is this the time to be saying that!?] (Hind)
Yumir chose a different set of equipment from what she usually wore.
As a result, the gear she was wearing changed instantly.
The appearance was similar but...the process of making them and their performance could be called a failed product (According to Selene-san).
However, the rank was still first-rate +1 or +2. Are these failed products?
Immediately after Yumir ran off with the Grado Turk, the smoke was blown away by the sea breeze.
[Ah, they are riding horses too!] 
[Yumir is going to buy us some time! Everyone, hurry up and get on top of your horses!] (Hind)
Maybe because the rank of their horses were all over the place, there was a big difference between the moving speed of each other...
To think that they would have gathered so many horses, as expected, choosing to run away was the best choice.
With a longsword in hand, Yumir rushed towards the enemies.
Whoa, after bumping into one of their horses, the horse was blown away easily...as expected, the Grado Turks are the best!
[Hind-dono, thinking about it, doesn't this make it a Sutegamari?] (Tobi)
[And that's how senpai tried to convince himself.] (Siesta)
[Uuuh...I-I did nothing wrong! It's not my fault! She's the one that said she'd do it!] (Hind)
[Well, this is a game after all. Even if that person fails, it's not like she's really going to die. There's no need for Hind-san to worry about her.] (Riizu)
[Riizu-chan is acting coldly. Or you could say that she has no leniency towards Yumir-san.] (Selene)
[Yumir-san, please stay safe...] (Lyco)
[Ah, thanks to Yumir-senpai our pursuers have slowed down. We might be able to get away at this rate.] (Sai)
Like that, we successfully escaped towards {Cresciente Coast} .
A few minutes later, Yumir returned to the previous town we passed through called {Town of Canaris}  with her body numb and on the verge of death.
Yumir was in a state where she couldn't move but the Grado Turk she was riding was in perfect condition.
[Hind...heal me...because of the numbness and my low stamina I can't move...] (Yumir)
[Wait a moment, I'll heal you right away!] (Hind)
[Ooh, she really came back alive! Even though she's Yumir-dono!] (Tobi)
[Tobi, I'll kill you later...uuh...] (Yumir)
She really did well to come back alive.
I first cured her numbness and then started to heal her HP.
The moment the treatment started, Yumir immediately went back to being cheerful.
After Yumir's treatment was over, we went to a restaurant in the town to discuss countermeasures while we rested.
We left the horses in the stable.
[...I think they'll still be there even if we went and tried again, I guess we might need to take another route after all.] (Hind)
When I stated that, Yumir stood up while vigorously hitting the table.
The soup looked as if it was going to spill over.
[Huh? I refuse! I won't be satisfied until I beat those guys to a pulp and proceed!] (Yumir)
[I know how you feel. However, how many people did you defeat back then?] (Hind)
[Guh! ...son.] (Yumir)
[One person! One! Gunununu....on top of that, he was revived instantly after that! I was only able to defeat one of them with Burst Edge! Damn it!] (Yumir)
[Right? We would have to go past that wall of people, then defeat the Shinto Priests on the back...after that we would exterminate the rest. That would be the ideal scenario but it would be hard to do with only eight people.] (Hind)
[Is there no other way!?] (Yumir)
[If you wanted to win with a small group, you would usually aim for their leader but...since no one is saying anything, we don't know who their leader is. Besides, since it's not like an official PvP duel, even if we were to defeat the Shinto Priests, they can still revive with Holy Water. I can't see a way to win this.] (Hind)
[I guess this is the limits we have with our low number of people...in that case, as expected-] (Tobi)
Selene-san, who was sitting in front of me, suddenly raised her voice in surprise.
Seems like she's looking towards something right behind me...then, I felt something touching my shoulder.
Who is it? As I turned around while thinking that...a male wearing japanese clothing and had his hair tied into a knot had his hand raised in our direction and smiled at us.
[...Mitsuyoshi-san!?] (Hind)
[Hey, been a while. I've come to get you. People of Migratory Bird and Baby Bird.] (Mitsuyoshi)
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