282話 錬金術士の陰謀
「ふぁ......疲れた......」
招待された場所は地下室で、いかにも秘密基地っぽい雰囲気を醸し出していた。石レンガで敷き詰められた壁を伝って地下への階段を下りてゆけば、そこには薄暗い大部屋が一つ。
そして六つの錆ついた扉がある。
地下の集合アパートを連想させるような造りだ。
「よくこんな場所を見つけたな」
「なんだか、ごちゃごちゃと器材が散乱しているね」
親友たちと地下室を眺めながらしばらく待っていると、コツコツと階段を下りてくる音が響く。
予定通りゴッホさん
「うん......? なぜ私だけしかいない?」
困惑するのも当然だろうな。
交渉する相手として選んだのだ。
こちらの要求を通しやすいようにするために。
「それに、後ろの男2人はなんだ? この場にいるにふさわしくない輩がいるようだな」
「ゴッホさん、こんにちは。この2人は他のメンバーの代理人と同義ですから、ここにいます」
俺の発言にゴッホさんは眉根を寄せる。
「他のメンバーの、代理人......? その2人も我らが秘密結社に入団したいのかい?」
「じゃあ、即刻どこかに行きたまえ。部外者じゃないか。もう既に『白銀の天使』はうちに入るしか選択肢は残されていないのだから。今更、キミらがあがいたところでどうにもならんよ」
不機嫌そうに親友たちへと語気を強めるゴッホさん。
そんな彼に俺は冷静に答える。
「いいえ。俺は貴方達の
「なんだと......? バカには何を言っても耳に入らないのか? それに『白銀の天使』、キミも何の権限があってこの2人を招き入れている? さっさと追い出してくれ」
ちょっと横暴なゴッホさんに、親友たちが一歩前に出て牽制しちゃう。
「バカって、失礼だな......それにタロには権限があるぞ?」
「タロの言う通りにしなければ、君は来月から代表取締役会から降ろされ――あ、
「何を言っている......?」
全てを買い上げた。
そして、とある『契約書』をそっと見せる。
「ゴッホさん、ここにサインしてください」
「これは、なんだ......?」
タネ明かしをしよう。
はゴッホさんやヒラガ団長と会合していた瞬間に戻る。
「それで、何人ぐらいいるのですか? 団員は」
ヒラガ団長に団員数を尋ねる。
「エレキテル! 我を含めて、6人だ!」
目の前のゴッホさん、ヒラガ団長......東の建物の影に隠れてる
たちが把握している情報を共有した結果、ヒラガ団長の言葉は嘘ではなさそうだ。こちらも戦力を伏せていたけど、あっちもそれは同様か。
唯一、あちらの誤算とすれば、それは人狼や吸血鬼の潜伏能力の高さかな。獲物を影から狙い、息の根を止める狩りを生業とする彼らは万能だ。
それからゴッホさんらと『1時間後にまた集合してお話をしたい』と約束し、その場を後にする。
もちろん、何も仕掛けずに立ち去るわけがない。
「――『追えッ......』――」
が都市と契約できるシステムがある。
先駆都市ミケランジェロと契約していれば経験値+2%、鉱山街グレルディなら鉱石系のドロップ率アップなどなど。
今回の場合、『都市』=『俺』であり、俺と契約するのが可能なのだ。
爵位や支配権を持つ
は特定の条件下での行動を制限されたり強制されたりもする。
契約内容は一月で60万エソに設定した。つまり『
資金に関しては、『サディ☆スティック』を介してのポーションの売上がじわじわと入ってきているし、刀スキルが売れた影響で現在はかなり潤沢だ。
他人に要求をのませるために最も有効にして最強、単純な武器は......
「なッ......」
「良好な関係を築くためにも、一応は1人1人の意見を聞いているのです」
ゴッホさんは初めこそ鋭い視線で俺を睨みつけていたけど、契約内容に目を走らせると顔色を変えた。
ゴッホさんが驚くのは当然だ。
俺の中でも、エソよりも痛いのは『翡翠の涙』のレシピ開示だ。すでに独占市場を作ると約束したはずの『サディ☆スティック』の商人
「しかし、しかし......これではあまりにも我々が得をしてばかりでは......キミのメリットがあまりにも......」
「ありますよ。契約内容に書いてあるじゃないですか。『
そして、ジョージ達を納得させる材料として、今後は俺達が発明したアイテムは優先的に『サディ☆スティック』に流すことで手打ちとなったのだ。
「つまり、キミは......我々の研究に対する
「あっ、そういう捉え方もありますね」
「それなら異存は、な――」
話がまとまりかけたところで、親友たちが口を挟んだ。
「俺はこのゴッホとかいう奴を、タロの傘下に置くのは反対だ」
散布の中止を最後まで反対してたって姿勢も気に入らないし、なんか信用できないよね。危険分子じゃない?」
「危険分子って......ゴッホさんは何Lvなの?」
そんなに脅威的な存在だとは思えない。
「5Lvだ......」
「低いな」
「大したことないね」
「いや、だいぶすごいよ」
「え?」
俺の称賛に一番驚いていたのは、ゴッホさん本人だった。
「だって5Lvで、この【水門回廊アクアリウム街】まで来たんでしょ?」
平均してこの街にいる
「それは、ヒラガ団長が......やるなら情勢が不安定なここで活動するのが最適って言うからであって......」
「ここに到着するまでに何回モンスターにキルされたのですか?」
「22回だ......Lvも下がってしまって、おかげでスキルレベルも下がった」
「経験値ロストってデメリットがあるのに、めげずにここまで来たんだよ。すごいファイトだよ。それに......」
「ゴッホさんの錬金術レベルは、今いくつですか?」
「35だ......」
「5レベルだから、スキルポイントを全部ふったとして25レベル。あとの10レベルは、錬金術スキルを使いこんで上げたのですよね?」
だからサクサク錬金術スキルのLvを上げられた。でもゴッホさんは違う。
俺はスキルポイント以外で、錬金術をレベルアップできたのはたったの4Lvだけ。けっこう使いこんでいるつもりでも、双極スキルに分類される錬金術は途方もなくLvが上がり辛い。
対してゴッホさんは10Lvも自力で上げている。
「双極スキルである錬金術は非常にレベルが上がりにくい。それを10回も上げるなんてすごい根性だよ。危険人物なんてとんでもない」
すうっと息を吸い込み、ゴッホさんに向けて笑顔を浮かべる。
「逆境に打ち勝ち、粘り強い根性を持ってるすごい人だ」
そうして右手を差し出し、ゴッホさんに握手をしようとする。
「ようこそ、俺達の『
だけど彼は握手に応じてくれなかった。
「誰もが......私を、私達を役立たずと
ちょっとこの人、長い前髪で顔が隠れちゃったけど......声が湿ってる!?
「......努力を、私を、認めてくれるのか......」
やっぱり泣いていた。
285 282 Stories Alchemist Conspiracy
"Huh... I'm tired..."
The place I was invited to was in the basement, creating an atmosphere that looked like a secret base. If you pass down the stairs to the basement by passing down the walls laid with stone bricks, there is one big, dim room there.
And there are six rusty doors.
It's a reminder of a group apartment in the basement.
"You've often found a place like this."
"You're kind of scattered with mess and equipment"
Waiting awhile overlooking the basement with my best friends, the tips and the sound of coming down the stairs.
Only Mr. Gogh (...) came to this occasion as planned.
"Yeah......? Why am I the only one here?
I guess it's natural to be confused.
That's why I chose you as the last person (...) to negotiate.
To make it easier for you to get through this request.
"And what are the two men behind you? Looks like there are people who don't deserve to be here."
"Hello, Gogh. These two are synonymous with the deputies of other members, so here we are."
Mr. Gogh frowns at my remarks.
"Of other members, deputies......? Do those two want to join our secret society?
"Then go somewhere at once. You're an outsider. Because 'Silver Angel' already has no choice but to come into our house. Now, there's nothing you can do where you're raised."
Gogh strengthens his tone to his best friends in a grumpy manner.
I answer him calmly like that.
"No, I'm not going into your secret society."
"What...? Whatever you say to an idiot doesn't get in your ear? And" Silver Angel, "what authority do you have to invite these two in? Just kick me out."
To Mr. Gogh, who is a little tyrannical, my best friends step forward and tow it.
"Stupid, that's rude... and Taro has authority, right?
"If you don't do what Taro says, you'll be dropped off the board next month - oh, they'll kick you out of the Mercenary Corps, right?
"What are you saying...?
I bought everything up.
And show a certain 'contract' softly.
"Sign here, Mr. Gogh"
"What is this...?
Let's do a tan reveal.
Hour (when) returns to the moment when he was meeting with Mr. Gogh and Captain Hiraga.
"So, how many are there? The team."
Ask Captain Hiraga how many members he has.
"Elektel! Including me, six!
Mr. Gogh in front of you, Captain Hiraga... there are two mercenaries (players) hiding in the shadows of the east building. One to the north, one to the south......
As a result of sharing information that the werewolves (Lycans) have grasped by their skills [Head of Herd], Captain Hiraga's words don't seem to be lies. This one was laying low in battle, but is that the same over there?
Only, if it's a miscalculation over there, I wonder if that's the height of the latent abilities of werewolves and vampires. They are omnipotent, aiming their prey out of the shadows and making hunting a living to stop the roots of their breath.
Then I promised Mr. Gogh and the others, "I want to meet back in an hour to talk to you," and I'll follow the scene.
Of course, there's no way I'm leaving without setting anything up.
"-" Chase... "-"
There is a system that allows mercenary regiments (clans) to contract with cities.
Experience +2% if you have a contract with the pioneer city of Michelangelo, increase the drop rate of the ore system if you are in the mining district of Grerdi, etc.
In this case, it's "city" = "me," and it's possible to sign with me.
A mercenary (player) with a title or dominion can hire a mercenary regiment (clan) to defend its territory. It's an unknown system because no one else in the mercenary (player) has yet reached the realm. Even I recently found out.
As long as I continue to eso mercenaries (clans), contracted mercenaries (clans) may be restricted or forced to act under certain conditions.
The contract details were set at 600,000 eso in January. In other words, it pays 100,000 eso per member of the "Secret Society (Secret Society)/Chemical Heritage Empire (Lieberegalia)".
As for the funds, the sales of potions via 'Sadie Stick' are twitching in, and they are now quite luxurious due to the impact of the sword skills sold.
The most effective and powerful, simple weapon to make demands on others is... gold.
"Heh..."
"In order to have a good relationship, we ask for the opinions of each and every one of them."
Mr. Gogh was staring at me with a sharp gaze at the beginning, but changed his complexion when he ran his eyes on the contract details.
Mr. Gogh is naturally surprised.
Among me, more painful than eso is the recipe disclosure for "Tears of Jade". The bones broke to convince the merchant mercenaries (players) of Sadie Stick, who had already promised to create an exclusive market.
"But, but... this is too much for us to gain... the benefits of you are too much..."
"I do. Isn't that what the contract says? All discoveries and knowledge of alchemy discovered by the Secret Society and the Chemical Heritage Empire (Lieberegalia) will be shared with me."
And as an ingredient to convince George and the others, in the future, the items we invented were hand-crafted by preferentially flushing them onto the Sadie Stick.
"In other words, are you...... the investor (patron) for our research...?"
"Oh, that's how you perceive it,"
"Then there's no difference."
My best friends pinched their mouths when the story was about to come together.
"I disagree with putting this Gogh guy under Taro's umbrella."
"I was against discontinuing colored fungus (virus) spraying until the end, and I don't like your posture, and you don't trust me with anything. Not a dangerous molecule?
"What's a Dangerous Molecule... What LV is Mr. Gogh?
I don't think he's that menacing.
"It's 5LV......"
"That's low."
It's no big deal.
"No, it's a lot more amazing."
"Huh?"
The one who was most surprised by my praise was Mr. Gogh himself.
"'Cause on 5LV, you came all the way to this [Watergate Corridor Aquarium Street], right?
On average, there are many LVs of mercenaries (players) in this city ranging from 10 to 14. And yet you can get there in 5LV, wow.
"That's because if Captain Hiraga... does it, he says it's best to operate here where the situation is unstable..."
"How many times have you been killed by monsters before you arrived here?
"22 times...... LV has dropped as well, thanks to which my skill level has dropped"
"Even though XP Lost has its disadvantages, I've come this far. It's an awesome fight. And..."
"What is Mr. Gogh's alchemy level now?
"Thirty-five..."
"It's 5 levels, so 25 levels as if you've filled all your skill points. The next 10 levels, you used your alchemy skills to raise them, didn't you?
That's why I was raised the LV for my crisp alchemy skills. But Mr. Gogh isn't.
Other than my skill points, only 4LV was able to level up alchemy. Even though I intend to use it this way, alchemy, classified as bipolar skills, is uninterrupted and hard to LV up.
In contrast, Mr. Gogh has raised 10 LV on his own.
"Alchemy, a bipolar skill, is very difficult to level. It's such a gut to raise that 10 times. There's no such thing as dangerous people."
I breathe softly and smile at Mr. Gogh.
"He's an amazing guy who beats adversity and has tenacious guts"
That's how I offer my right hand and try to shake Mr. Gogh's hand.
Welcome to our lab.
But he didn't respond to me shaking hands.
"Everyone... scolds me for not helping us..."
Hey this guy got his face hidden with a long forehead... his voice is damp!?
"... will you acknowledge me for my efforts..."
I knew I was crying.
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