「ああ......拙者の、ターマ......ターム......あれ?」
「ターメイヤ、だよ。トビ君」
「――ターメイヤがっ!」
料理の名前も覚えていないじゃないか。
馴染みのない響きだから仕方ないけれども。
心配しなくても、リィズの分も含めて別に取ってあるので問題なし。
「で、なんだよ。人の会話を遮って出てきて」
「お、おお、そうでござった! PvP大会の話でござるよ! 拙者もハインド殿と組みたい!」
「それは困るな! ハインドは既に私と先約済みだ!」
とはいえ、二人は大会参加に意欲的ということか。
これでリィズが参加可能なら前衛後衛で二・二に上手く分かれるのだが。
俺の否定的な言葉にユーミルが悲し気な顔をするが、一瞬だけ口元が弛んでいたのが見えた。
これはこいつが嘘をつく時の兆候......というか、癖だな。
作った表情であることがバレバレである。
「嫌ではないが、まだ組むかどうかなんて決まってなかっただろ。嘘はいかんよ」
「ちぃっ! 勢いで誤魔化せると思ったのに」
「残念でござったな!」
そんな話をしていたら、扉がノックされてリィズが顔を覗かせた。
これで全員が揃ったので、次のイベントでどう動くかを本格的に話し合うことができる。
分けておいた二人分のターメイヤを揚げながら、リィズにイベントの内容を簡単に説明していく。
それから大会参加の意志を確認したところ......。
「ハインドさんが一緒に出ろと言うなら出ますが、それ以外は嫌です。面倒です」
「む、何ですかその反応は......」
「別にぃ。で、どうするのだハインド?」
俺が前衛も出来る攻撃型の神官なら悪くなかっただろうけど。
自分を回復しながら防御主体で粘って、後ろからリィズに攻撃してもらうと。
しかしどちらも完全な後衛型な以上、俺とリィズが組むのは負けに行くようなものだろう。
物理攻撃力の高い相手に接近された時点で、詰みだ。
「そういうことなら、イベント中はセレーネさんとリィズは自由行動に――」
「あ、私も。鍛冶で必要な武器・防具があったら言ってね。作るから」
トビが攪乱、ユーミルが本命のアタッカーで短期決戦を挑めばそれなりに行けると思うのだが。
しかし、互いに相手を指差してユーミルとトビは同時にこんなことを言った。
「「こいつ(ユーミル殿)とだと、勝てるビジョンが全く浮かばない......」」
「あー、何となくだけど......分かるよ。ユーミルさんとトビ君、偶にだけど戦闘中にぶつかりそうになってるよね?」
セレーネさんが言うならそうなんだろうけど。
きちんと事前に作戦やら優先ターゲットを打ち合わせておけば、そこまで酷い事にはならないと思うのだが。
原因が分からないので、詳しい説明を二人に要求する。
「何と言ったらいいのか、動きのテンポが合わないのだ。タップダンスを踊っている横で、日本舞踊を舞われているかのような......」
「拙者から言わせて貰うなら、歌舞伎の舞台でヘビーメタルを鳴らされている感じなのでござるが」
「どっちも分かり辛い例えだなー......なのに、何で今までの戦闘では連携が破綻しなかったんだ? ぶつかりそうにはなっても、どうにかなってたんだろう?」
「それは、適度にハインドの指示が飛んでくるからだろう」
「崩れたリズムが直るんでござるよなー。あの声を聞くと」
「え、なにそれこわい」
効果には個人差があります。多分、この二人だけだと思う。
なので、自分を含めて二人のどちらかと組む必要がある。
個人的に対人戦に対する忌避感は特にないので、自分が出るのは一向に構わないが。
「取り敢えず、完成したからまずは食事を済ませてしまってくれ。リィズも」
「おおう、揚げたて! 良い香り! 頂くでござる!」
「ありがとうございます。いただきます」
「食べてる間に適当なくじを作っておくから、後でトビとユーミルで引いてくれ。それで決定にしよう」
ターメイヤに手をつけた二人を横目に、俺はインベントリから適当な材料を取り出した。
テーブルの上で、二本の紐を握って二人の前に差し出す。
くじは先が赤く塗ってある方が当たりというシンプルなもの。
ユーミルが手を伸ば――そうとして、引っ込めた。
手を組んで手首を回しつつ、深呼吸。
その間にトビが、意を決して紐を引き抜こうと――抜こうと――したのだが、やはり一度手を引っ込め――
「早く引けよ!!」
俺の声を受けて、ようやく握った手から二本の紐が持っていかれる。
結果、ユーミルが赤い印のついた紐を引いて椅子から立ち上がった。
「ぃよおおおおおおしっ! よし!」
「ぬああああああああっ! 何故じゃあああ!?」
くじの結果に大騒ぎな二人を見て、リィズが溜息をついた。
ユーミルと参加することに決定、と。
床に手をついて悔しがるトビを、セレーネさんが苦笑しつつ助け起こした。
「......でも、トビは他のフレと組めば良いんじゃないのか? 居るんだろ、俺達と合流する前に知り合ったプレイヤー」
「あー......拙者が交流を持ってたプレイヤー、いわゆる類友なタイプが多くてござってな。他のゲームから移住してきた長い付き合いのフレンドも、居るには居るでござるが」
「ふむ。それはつまり、やり込み系のプレイヤーってことだよな? それの何が悪いんだ? 大抵は強いだろう、そういう人らなら」
「強い弱い以前に、そういう連中は得てして動き出しも早いもので。まだペアを決めていないプレイヤーが残っているかどうか......」
「早いって......まだイベント初日ですよ? 内容も一時間ほど前に出たばかりですし......」
そんなリィズの疑問をトビは鼻で笑った。
うざったい表情にリィズの顔にはっきりと青筋が浮く。
そのまま鋭い視線で睨みつけられ、トビが怯えて俺を盾にするようにして隠れた。
早めに謝った方が良いと思うぞ......リィズは根に持つから。
「だが、社会人とかなら、まだインすらしてない人も居るんじゃないのか? ほら、仕事が忙しい人とか」
「甘い甘い、ハインド殿。アプデする日には休暇を取り、先週のようなイベントの無い週は必死に働く......拙者のゲーム内の知り合いには、そんな大人しかおらんのでござるよ! 時間に余裕のある学生ならば、言うに及ばずっ!」
「誇らしげに語るような内容ではないと思うのですが」
「趣味に全力で生きてるってことだよね......きっと」
愛すべきゲーム馬鹿たち......とでも言えばいいのだろうか。
俺には想像の及ばない世界で生きている人達のようだ。
トビも大差ない感じだし、本人が言う通り似た者同士ということになるんだろう。
「とんだ道楽人どもだな」
「ユーミル殿にだけは言われたくないでござる! 鏡を見ろぉ!」
「あ-、ともかく連絡取ってみろよ。出たいんだろ? 大会」
「勿論でござるよ! こうなったからには、必ず出場してハインド殿とユーミル殿は拙者が倒す! で、ござるよ!」
おー、相変わらず二人とも無根拠に自信満々だ。
俺は全く自信が無いんだけど......。
そもそもトビも出場できたとして、互いに直接対決するまで生き残れるかどうかも分からないのに。
「じゃあ、こんなところで今夜はもう自由行動にしようぜ。イベントに関しては明日からで......ってことでいいか? ユーミル」
「どうして私に訊くのだ?」
「いや、お前がギルマスだろ。俺のはギルド員としての一意見だから。解散も集合も、最終的なタイミングはユーミルが決めてくれないと」
「お、あ、そうか。皆が今夜の内に、ギルドとしてやりたいことが終わったのならそれでいいぞ! うん!」
「これでは、どちらがリーダーなのか分かりませんね」
「う、うーん......ま、まあでも、私はこのゆるい空気が好きだよ。ゲームで肩肘張っても、疲れちゃうだけだし。いいんじゃないかな?」
「早速メールを送りまくるでござる! 誰か、拙者を拾ってー!」
Aah...my, tama...tamu...eh?]  (Tobi)
[It's called Taameyya, Tobi-kun.]  (Selene)
[-Taameyya!!]  (Tobi)
He doesn't even remember the name of the food.
Though it can't be helped since he's not familiar with it.
There was nothing to worry about, there was another portion for Riizu and him to eat so there were no issues.
[So, what is it? Why did you interrupt our conversation?]  (Hind)
[O-Oh, that's right! It was about the PvP tournament! I want to pair up with Hind-dono!]  (Tobi)
[That would be troubling! Hind has already decided to pair up with me!]  (Yumir)
That being said, I guess this means they are both motivated to participate in it.
If Riizu participated, we could form two pairs of vanguards with rearguards.
Yumir made a saddened face because my words seemed to deny what she said, but I saw her lips loosening for a second there.
That's a sign that she's telling a lie...or maybe I should call it a habit.
You can tell from the expressions she has.
[It's not like I don't want to, but we still hadn't decided if we would pair up, right? You can't go around lying.]  (Hind)
[Tsk! Even though I thought I would be able to deceive him.]  (Yumir)
[Such a shame!]  (Tobi)
While we were having a conversation like that, Riizu peeked through the door after knocking.
With this everyone had gathered, so we started discussing seriously what we would do about the next event.
While giving them both their portions of the Taameyya, I gave a simple explanation of the contents of the event to Riizu.
Then it was checking to see if she had any intention of participating in the tournament...
[If I'm with Hind-san I'll participate, other than that I don't want to. It would be a pain.]  (Riizu)
[Muh, what's with that reaction...?]  (Riizu)
[It's nothing. So, what are we going to do, Hind?]  (Yumir)
It wouldn't be bad if I was an attack type Shinto priest that could go as a vanguard.
I could concentrate on healing myself and defending at the front and leave Riizu to attack from behind.
However, we are both pure rearguards and if I paired with Riizu it would be like us going there to lose.
Once someone with high attack manages to get close to us, it would be checkmate.
[In that case, Selene-san and Riizu are to do whatever they want during the event-]  (Hind)
[Ah, same for me. Tell me if you need any weapons or defensive gear that's done through blacksmithing. I'll make them for you.]  (Selene)
With Tobi pressuring the enemies, I thought they would be able to win with Yumir focusing as an attacker and deciding the match in a short period of time.
However, they both pointed at each other and said this at the same time.
[[Pairing up with him (Yumir-dono)? I can't see us winning at all...] ]  (Yumir and Tobi)
[Ah, I get the feeling...I know why. Yumir-san and Tobi-kun feel like they will crash into each other during battles sometimes, right?]  (Selene)
It's probably true if Selene-san said it.
If they properly set up a strategy and decided on their targets, I believe it wouldn't be that bad though.
I don't know the reason for it, so I asked them both for a detailed explanation.
[How should I explain this, it's like the tempo of our movements don't match. As if one of us were dancing tap dance and next to me there was someone dancing traditional Japanese dance...]  (Yumir)
[If I had to explain it, it would be like having heavy metal on a Kabuki stage.]  (Tobi)
[They are both difficult to understand comparisons...even then, why haven't you failed to coordinate during battle yet? Even though it looked like you would crash into each other, you were able to do something about it right?]  (Hind)
[That's probably because we receive commands from Hind.]  (Yumir)
[We fix our rhythm after all. Once we hear that voice.]  (Tobi)
[Eh, what's with that? That sounds scary.]  (Hind)
The effect is because of their individual differences. I'm pretty sure it just happens to these two.
In that case, we have to decide who I'll pair up with from both of them.
Personally, I'm not the type that would want to avoid PvP, so I don't have any problems with joining.
[For the time being, since the meal is done, go ahead and finish eating. You too, Riizu.]  (Hind)
[Ooh, they are freshly fried! They smell so good! Thanks for the food!]  (Tobi)
[Thank you very much. Thanks for the food.]  (Riizu)
[While you do that, I'll make a simple lottery so pull from it later, Yumir and Tobi. That should settle things.]  (Hind)
After taking a glance at both of them picking up the Taameyyas, I took the suitable materials from my inventory.
I placed my hand that was grasping at two strings on the table in front of them.
The lottery was about winning by pulling the one painted in red, a simple one.
Yumir extended her hand...then, she retracted it again.
She then crossed her arms and took a deep breath.
While she was doing that, Tobi steeled himself and pulled a cord...pulled it...but, he ended up retracting his hand-
[Pull them already!]  (Hind)
After they heard me say that, they finally held both strings in their hands.
As a result, Yumir pulled the one that was painted red and stood up from her chair.
[Alriiiiiiight!! Yes!!]  (Yumir)
[Nuaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! Why!?]  (Tobi)
Riizu heaved a sigh when she saw them causing such an uproar due to the result.
It was decided that I would participate with Yumir.
Selene-san helped Tobi, who had his hands on the floor in an act of vexation, stand up while having a wry smile on her face.
[...However, wouldn't it be fine if Tobi just paired up with a friend? There should be some right? Players that you partied up with before partying up with us.]  (Hind)
[Ah...there are a lot of players I have exchanged friend requests with, they are the so called hobby friends.
[I see. To sum it up, they are the speedrun type of players? What's bad about them? That type of players would be pretty strong.]  (Hind)
[Before even getting into if they are strong or not, those are the type of people that take action really fast. I wonder if there's any that still don't have a partner...]  (Tobi)
[Take action really fast you say...isn't it still the first day of the event? I mean, the contents have been revealed about an hour ago...]  (Riizu)
When Riizu asked that, Tobi sneered at her.
Seeing his annoying expression, veins popped in Riizu's face.
After that, she glared at him sharply and Tobi got frightened, so he concealed himself behind me as if I was a shield.
I believe it's better if he apologizes as soon as possible though...Riizu will hold a grudge after all.
[However, if it's working adults, shouldn't there be people that haven't logged in yet? Look, like someone that's busy with work.]  (Hind)
[You are naive, Hind-dono. They'll take a day off when an update comes and in weeks where there are no events they'll work their asses off...within the adults I know in the game, there are only that kind!
[I don't think that's something you should say while looking that proud though.]  (Riizu)
[They live by pouring all their effort into their hobbies right? For sure.]  (Selene)
I guess we should call them...idiots that love games.
It seems like they are people I could never imagine the world they live in.
They don't feel that much different from Tobi, just as he said they are probably people like him.
[They are horrible hobbyists.]  (Yumir)
[I don't want to hear that from Yumir-dono! Look in the mirror!]  (Tobi)
[Ah, anyway, try contacting them. You want to participate in it right? In the tournament.]  (Hind)
[Of course I want to! Now that it has gotten to this point, I'll definitely participate and defeat Hind-dono and Yumir-dono! De-gozaruyo!]  (Tobi)
Like always, they both have quite the baseless confidence.
I don't have any self-confidence though...
To begin with, even if Tobi managed to join, we wouldn't know if we would survive long enough to face each other.
[In that case, let's finish here and switch to free action for the night. Regarding the event...is it OK if we start tomorrow, Yumir?]  (Hind)
[Why are you asking me?]  (Yumir)
[I mean, you are the guild master. This is just my opinion as a guild member. Ultimately, You have to decide on the timing where we gather and break up.]  (Hind)
[Oh, Ah, I see. For the night, it's fine if you are all done with the things you want to do as a guild! Yup!]  (Yumir)
[Like this, we don't know who is the leader at all.]  (Riizu)
[Y-Yeah...w-well, you know, I like it when the mood is laidback. Being all stiff inside the game would just tire us out. Isn't it just fine?]  (Selene)
[I'll get to sending those emails right away! Someone, please pair up with me!!]  (Tobi)
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