確か、乗り物酔いに効くツボがあったな......。
俺はうずくまるユーミルの手を取った。
びくりと震えたが、気にせず体を起こさせてその場に座らせる。
「な、なんだ急に......?」
「いいから、じっとしてろ」
防具を外して腕を捲り、指で位置を調整する。
手首のシワから肘に向かって指で一、二、三つ分ほどの場所。
そこの手の真ん中をゆっくり押す。
確かここが自律神経を整えるツボだったはずだ。
「深呼吸」
「む? ......すー、はー......」
「そのまま続けてくれ」
VRでも効果があるのか? という疑問はあるものの。
ユーミルが息を吐くタイミングに合わせてぐっとツボを押す。
暫くすると、浅かったユーミルの呼吸が徐々に平常に近付いてくる。
「どうだ?」
「おお、楽になってきた......気がする」
「じゃあ続けるか。もう一箇所押すぞ。後は、そうだな......遠くの景色を見ると良いって聞くけどな」
「......今吊り橋の方を見ると気が滅入るのだが。吐くぞ?」
「じゃあ、あっちだ。街の方」
「むー......」
腕を持ったまま一緒にぐるりと方向転換。
今度は手の平の真ん中のツボを緩く回しつつ押していく。
まあ気休めだろうが、無いよりはマシということで。
そうしていると、俺達が乗っていた二頭のラクダがニュッとこちらに顔を出した。
もしかして、心配してくれているのか? ......いやいや、まさかね。
買ったばかりのラクダだし、懐くほど一緒に居た訳でもない。
単に好奇心で何をしているのか気になったのだろう。
「ハインド、これはツボ押しか? 治し方が、おばあちゃんの知恵袋みたいだな」
「......さっきからお母さんだったりお父さんだったり、終いにはおばあちゃんかよ。もう俺は何者なんだよ、全く」
「みんなの保護者枠ということで、どうだ?」
「どうだ? と言われてもなぁ」
頼りにされて嬉しくないということはないのだが、変な呼び方は勘弁願いたい。
そんなことを話していると、段々とユーミルの顔に血色が戻ってくる。
元気の無くなった声も、もう普段通りだ。
「よし、こんなもんか」
「――ありがとう。だが、もう少しツボ押しを頼めないか? まだ吐き気が残っているようなのでな」
「そうか? じゃあ......」
続けて手のツボを刺激する。
見た目には既に大丈夫そうだが、本人がそう言うのなら。
それにしても、握っている手が段々とあたたかーくなってきたような?
顔にも普段以上の赤みが差しているし。
「ふふ、ふふふふ......」
「なにをにやけてんだ?」
「――そうですよ。許せませんね? 弱ったふりをして関心を引こうだなんて」
「殺気!」
「!?」
突如リィズのチョップ......否、鋭い手刀がユーミルの手を狙って振り下ろされた。
飛び退いて躱したユーミルが、そのままリィズを睨みつける。
俺は突然の状況に完全に置いて行かれた形に。
「フリではない、酔ったのは本当だ! 私はただ状況を利用したに過ぎん!」
「居直らないで下さい! 手を握られてご満悦ですかぁ? 代わりなさい羨ましい!」
「本音が駄々漏れだぞ貴様! 人の事を言えた義理か!」
どうでもいいんだけど、もうユーミルの体調は大丈夫そうか?
......うん、元気に喧嘩してらぁ。
もうアレは一種のじゃれ合いに近いから、放っておこう。
俺は二人を放置してトビとセレーネさんを探しに行くことにした。
ラクダにも慣れただろうし、そろそろ集合・出発しても大丈夫だろう。
吊り橋の幅はラクダがギリギリ一頭通れる幅だ。
一列になって、ラクダの手綱を引いて橋を渡る。
床板はラクダが足を引っかけないように、隙間なく綺麗に木が張られていた。
これ、向こうから誰かが来たらアウトだと思うんだけど......その場合はどうするんだろう?
意外な事に、ラクダは高所を怖がらずにしっかりと付いてきてくれる。
これも調教が良いからだろうか?
そんな取り留めのないことを考えつつ、長い吊り橋を渡っていく。
「しかしこの吊り橋、どうやって作ったのでござろうな?」
真後ろのトビが声を上げる。
俺は橋の前後に建っている柱を指しながら答えた。
「まあ、吊り橋は見ての通り二本の塔を建ててロープを向こう岸まで伸ばすのが基本だけど。お前が聞きたいのは、どうやってロープを張ったかってことだろ?」
「然り。この峡谷、幅が百メートルはあるでござろ? 深さも相当でござるし、下まで降りて対岸の崖を昇るのは過酷な作業だと思った故に」
「魔法アリの世界観だからなぁ。ロープを浮かせて飛ばすってことも出来そうではあるが」
といっても、魔法前提なら頑丈な石橋を建造したりも出来そうなものだが。
このゲームの魔法の限界を良く知らないから、確としたことは言えない。
分かっている範囲で有力なのは弓矢系なので、俺はトビの後ろのセレーネさんに視線を向けてみる。
「そうだね。でも魔法じゃないなら、私のクロスボウじゃ届かないから......もっと大きな攻城兵器のバリスタみたいな射出機で、ロープを対岸まで飛ばしたんじゃないかな? バリスタは四百メートルくらいまで届くらしいから」
「現実でも、明石海峡大橋のように距離が長い時は、最初の一本目のケーブルをヘリで運んだりしていますね。場所によっては火薬を用いた小型のロケットを飛ばした、などという例もあります」
更にリィズからも補足が入る。
現代でも古代でもケーブルなりロープなりを対岸に届かせなければならないのは同じなので、このように時代や状況に応じた方法が選ばれるわけだ。
この橋の場合について詳しく知りたいなら、再度街を訪れた時にNPCに訊けばいいと思う。
「ゆ、ユーミル殿ぉ! 拙者らと御三方との知識量の差が天と地でござるよ!?」
「わ、私を巻き込むな! 少しくらい、私にだって知識はある!」
「じゃあじゃあ、吊り橋に関して何か一言! どうぞ!」
「え ゙? ええと、ええと..................つ、吊り橋は、揺れるっ!」
「うごごご!」
揺れてんのは言われんでも分かる。
幸いにも高所恐怖症は俺達の中に居なかったが、そういう人には地獄の様な状況である。
怖いので、トラブルが起きない内にサッサと渡ってしまおう。
とはいえ、この『バスカ大橋』は砂漠に存在する街とを繋ぐ生命線だ。
周辺に魔物の姿もなく、橋も整備が行き届いていて何も問題なく通過することができた。
橋を渡り切ったところでラクダに乗り、荒野を西へ向かって進んで行く。
「ユーミル、酔ってないか?」
「うむ、コツが分かってきたぞ。真下を見ずに、少し先に視線を置けば酔いにくい」
「そりゃ良かった」
傾斜などでの揺れも予測できるし、合理的だな。
ユーミルがそこまで考えているかは分からないけど。
そのまま進むこと数十分。
西へ行くほどに、ぐんぐん気温が増していく。
そして周囲の土は荒野よりも更に水分を失い、サラサラとした細かな砂へ。
どちらを向いても砂しか存在しない景色になるまで、そこからそれほどの時間を必要としなかった。
「うへぇ、あっちぃ......」
「砂漠らしくなってきたっ! 燃えてきたー!」
「くーっ! このラクダで砂漠を進む感じ! 旅やら冒険やらの浪漫が詰まった光景でござるな!」
「暑苦しい。ただでさえ暑いのに......はぁ」
「そういうリィズちゃんはクールだね......」
体感だが40°Cは超えている気がする。
進む方向に関しては、簡易マップに『荒野の街バスカ』で訊いた砂漠の街の場所をマーキング済みだ。
この目印も何も無い砂漠で、迷う心配が無いのは非常に助かる。
ナビゲーションをオンにすると視界に矢印が表示されるので、それに向かって進むだけでOKだ。
「まあ、お前らの言うことも分からんではない。ゲーム時間で夕方になったら、夕日をバックにスクリーンショットを撮ろうぜ。ラクダと一緒に」
「おお、それはいい! それはいいぞハインド!」
「掲示板に上げても構わないでござるか? 砂漠地方の良さを伝えるために」
トビの言葉にセレーネさんを見ると、ブンブンと首を横に振る。
まあ、そうだよな。俺も別に掲示板で目立ちたいとは思わないし。
「俺達が映っていない写真で良いなら、好きにしてくれ。映ってるのは駄目だ」
「うむ、了解でござる」
「てかお前等、早く服装を変えないと。状態異常になってるぞ」
「おお、本当だ! やけどになっとる!?」
「言われてみれば、妙にヒリヒリすると思ったでござる!」
二人の為に一度休憩することにし、ラクダを休ませて服装を整えさせる。
ユーミルの頭に大きめのヘッドスカーフを巻き、首筋と頭を出さないようにしておく。
トビは最初から肌が出ていないので大丈夫......とは言えないか。
黒ずくめなので、事前に買わせておいた白っぽい服で上からカバー。
何となく現実と同じノリで用意した訳だが、結果的に正解だったな。
後衛三人は暑さを感じた時点で各自着替えていたので、問題無し。
元の装備の上に日除けとしてあれこれ被せるだけだが、これでも日差しのダメージが随分と和らぐ。
二人のやけどを『リカバー』で直し、『ヒーリング』でHPを回復して終わり。
「よし、じゃあ再出発――」
「ハインド君! 砂地に不自然な動きが!」
セレーネさんの警告に全員が身構える。
すると周辺の砂がボコっと盛り上がり、砂漠色の殻を持つサソリが多数顔を出した。
囲まれた......!?
If I remember correctly, there was an acupuncture point that was effective for motion sickness...
I crouched and took Yumir's hand.
She jumped a bit in surprise, but I didn't mind that and made her sit down in that spot.
[W-What's with you suddenly...]  (Yumir)
[It'll be fine, stay still.]  (Hind)
I took off her arm's defensive gear and turned her arm over, then searched for the spot with my fingers.
The spot was about 3 fingers placed across on your wrist towards the direction of your elbow.
Then I pressed the middle of that location.
I believe this should be the spot that helps with autonomic nerves.
[Take a deep breath.]  (Hind)
[Muh? ...Suh, hah...]  (Yumir)
[Keep breathing like that.]  (Hind)
Would this have any effect inside VR? I was having that kind of doubt.
I pressed firmly on the spot while matching the timing of Yumir's breaths.
After a while, Yumir's shallow breathing start to gradually turn normal.
[How is it?]  (Hind)
[Ooh, I think...I feel better.]  (Yumir)
[In that case, let's continue. I'll press another spot. After that, let's see...I heard that looking at the scenery in the distance is good.]  (Hind)
[...If I looked at the suspension bridge now, I feel that I'd get depressed though. I might vomit, you know?]  (Yumir)
[In that case, look over there. Towards the town.]  (Hind)
[Muh...]  (Yumir)
While holding her arm, we turned around.
This time I pressed in the middle of her palm and traced circles slowly.
Well, it might only give her temporary peace of mind, but it's better than nothing.
When I was doing that, the two camels we got off of, turned their heads around towards us.
Could it be that they are worried? ...No no, no way, right?
We just bought them, there's no way that they would have warmed up to us to that point.
They are probably curious about what's going on.
[Hind, is this a pressure point? Even the cures you know, are like the knowledge of a grandma.]  (Yumir)
[...You were saying I was like a dad or a mom a while ago and in the end I'm a grandma now? Jeez, what kind of person am I even?]  (Hind)
[How about, everyone's caretaker?]  (Yumir)
[Even if you ask me that...]  (Hind)
It's not like I'm unhappy about them relying on me, but I wish they wouldn't give me weird nicknames.
While we were having that kind of conversation, Yumir's complexion kept getting better.
Even her lifeless voice was turning back to normal.
[Alright, guess this should be about it?]  (Hind)
[-Thank you. However, could I ask you to keep pressing it? I still feel a bit sick.]  (Yumir)
[Is that so? In that case...]  (Hind)
I kept pressing the spot with my hand.
She did look like she was fine already, but if the person herself says so.
Though, I get the feeling that the hand I'm holding is getting warmer?
I think her face is also redder than usual.
[Fufu, fufufufu...]  (Yumir)
[Why are you grinning?]  (Hind)
[-Right? It's unforgivable, right?
[Bloodlust!]  (Yumir)
[!?]  (Hind)
Suddenly, Riizu's chop...no, spearhand thrust aimed at Yumir's hand.
Yumir, who had jumped out of the way to avoid it, glared at Riizu.
I was completely left out of the sudden situation.
[I wasn't pretending, I was really feeling sick! I was just making use of the situation!]  (Yumir)
[Don't get all defiant on me now! Was it delightful to hold hands? I'm so envious that I'd wish that I was in your place!]  (Riizu)
[You finally let out your true thoughts! Do you have any right to tell people what to do!?]  (Yumir)
I don't really care, but I guess Yumir is fine already?
...Yup, she's engaging in a lively quarrel.
That's already something akin to playing with each other, let's leave them alone.
I left them there and went to search for Tobi and Selene-san.
They are probably used to the camels by now, it's about time we gathered and departed.
The width of the suspension bridge was barely enough for a single camel to go through.
We made a row and pulled the camels across the bridge.
To not let the camel's legs get stuck in the floorboard, we were careful to go through the boards that didn't have any crevices.
Though, I think this would be a no go if someone was coming from the other side...what should we do if that happened?
Unexpectedly, the camels didn't have a fear of heights and calmly followed us.
Was this also because of how well trained they were?
While having those kind of nonsensical thoughts, we kept crossing the suspension bridge.
[However, I wonder how they managed to make this bridge?]  (Tobi)
Tobi, who was right behind me, raised his voice.
I replied to him while looking at the pillars erected on both sides of the bridge.
[Well, as you can see, they are made by building a tower on each side and passing a rope from one side to the other.
[The width of this canyon is about 100 meters? It's quite deep too, so bringing the rope down and climbing with it on the other side would be quite tiring in my opinion.]  (Tobi)
[This is a world with magic after all. There's the chance that they could make the rope float and make it fly to the other side?]  (Hind)
Though, if we assumed they made it with magic, they could also make one made of stone.
I'm not sure about the limits of magic in this world, so I can't be certain about it.
Since I knew about an influential archer, I looked past Tobi and directed my gaze at Selene-san.
In the case that it's not done by magic, I wouldn't be able to reach it with my crossbow...maybe they send the rope flying with something like a big ballista? It seems like a ballista can reach a distance of about 400 meters after all.]  (Selene)
[In real life, when it comes to long distance bridges like the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, the first cable is carried by a helicopter.
Furthermore, Riizu chipped in.
Be it today or in the old days, the need to find a way to get something like a rope or cable to other shore is the same, so they would have to search for a suitable method in this era.
Since we don't know about the details of this particular bridge, it would be nice to go back to the town and ask the NPCs for details.
[Y-Yumir-dono! The difference of knowledge between me and those three is like heaven and earth!]  (Tobi)
[D-Don't drag me in with you! I do have some knowledge about it!]  (Yumir)
[In that case, go ahead and say something about suspension bridges! Go ahead!]  (Tobi)
[Eh? Ehm, huh...s-suspension bridges, shake!]  (Yumir)
[Ugogogo!]  (Yumir)
We would know that they shake even if you didn't point it out.
Luckily for us, there wasn't anyone among us with a fear of heights, it would be hell for someone like that.
I'm getting scared, so we should cross this bridge before we get into any trouble.
That being said, this [Baska's great bridge]  is like a lifeline for towns that exist in the desert.
There are no monsters in the vicinity and they take great care of maintaining the bridge so we were able to cross without any issues.
Once we crossed the bridge, we rode the camels and headed west of the wastelands.
[Yumir, are you not feeling sick?]  (Hind)
[Umu, I'm getting the hang of it. As long as I don't look down and direct my gaze a bit in front of me, I don't feel that sick.]  (Yumir)
[Glad to hear that.]  (Hind)
She can predict when it's going to shake by looking at the inclination so I guess it's reasonable.
Though I'm not sure if Yumir has thought that out.
We proceeded like that for ten minutes.
As we went westwards, the temperature rapidly increased.
Then, the surrounding wasteland's earth lost all its moisture and turned into delicate sand.
Until it turned into a scenery that was sand no matter which direction you looked at, it didn't take long to become like that.
[Uheh, it's so hot...]  (Hind)
[Now it's turning more into a desert! I'm getting fired up!]  (Yumir)
[Kuh! This feeling of going through the desert on a camel! It's a romantic scenery that reminds you of a trip or an adventure!]  (Tobi)
[It's so hot. Even though it was hot already...hah.]  (Riizu)
[Even then Riizu-chan, you are staying cool...]  (Selene)
This is just from feeling, but I believe this is over 40degC.
Regarding where we were heading, we were heading towards the town in the desert we heard from in [Town in the wastelands, Baska]  that I had marked on the map.
To not have to worry about getting lost in such a desert with no landmarks helps a lot.
Once you turn on the navigation, an arrow will display in your field of view, it's fine as long as you follow that.
[Well, I don't know if you'll want to. Once dusk comes inside the game, let's take a screenshot. With the camels included.]  (Hind)
[Oh, that would be nice! Good idea, Hind!]  (Yumir)
[Do you mind if I upload it to the BBS? To show them the good parts of the desert.]  (Tobi)
When Tobi said that, I looked at Selene-san and she started shaking her head.
Well, I thought so. Personally, it's not like I want to stand out in the BBS.
[If you are fine with a screenshot that doesn't show us, do whatever you want. It's no good if we show in it.]  (Hind)
[Umu, understood.]  (Tobi)
[Wait guys, we got to change clothes soon. You are getting a status ailment.]  (Hind)
[Oh, you are right! We are getting burnt.]  (Yumir)
[Now that you mention it, I was thinking that I was feeling some kind of stinging!]  (Tobi)
For both of their sakes we decided to take a break and let the camels rest, changing their clothes in the process.
Yumir rolled a big head scarf on her head hiding her head and the nape of her neck.
Since Tobi didn't show his skin to begin he should be fine...guess I can't say that.
He was wearing all black, so he switched to the whitish clothes he had previously bought.
We somehow decided to make preparations as if this was real life and it turned out to be a good choice.
Since the rest of us felt hot and decided to change clothes beforehand, there were no issues with us.
Our initial clothes were already good to cover us from sunlight, but these ones did soften the sunlight even more.
I used [Recover]  on both of them to heal them from burn and healed their HP with [Healing] .
[Alright, let's depart aga-]  (Hind)
[Hind-kun! I can see unnatural movements in the sand!]  (Selene)
Due to Selene-san's warning, we all put ourselves on guard.
When we did, the surrounding sand exploded upwards and a large number of desert colored scorpions appeared.
We are surrounded...!?
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