「よいか、必ず勝て」
「......」
開口一番にこれですよ......。
いや、確かに美人だよ? 掲示板の皆が夢中になるのも分かる。
しなやか且つ肉感的な身体からは、匂い立つような色気が放たれているし。
ドレスも薄手の物を着ており、非常に扇情的だ。
パトラ・アデニウム・サーラという名がこの女王様の名前だそうな。
いた体勢で話を聞いている。
「ハインド。サーラ国の代表として、必ず勝って参れ。優勝すればグラドとは別に、
「まだ参加するともしないとも言っていないんですが」
ただし、そんな彼女の性格は尊大で傲慢で傍若無人。
偉そうなんていう生易しいレベルじゃなく、むしろ自分が世界で一番偉いと思ってるんじゃないかとこちらが疑いを抱くほどである。
絵に描いたような女王様気質で、外見も相まってこういうのが好きな人には堪らないのではないだろうか。
高札を見た後、ギルドホームに戻ろうとしたら王宮の兵士に俺だけが無理矢理連行された次第である。
まさかオンラインゲームで強制イベント気分を味わうことになるとは思わなかった。
女官達に団扇で扇がれながら、豪奢な長椅子に寝そべるような体勢で俺に告げてくる。
優雅なもんだな......こっちは暑くて汗だくだってのに。
「ご用件はそれだけですか? なら、俺はこれで――」
「待て。まだ返事を聞いていないではないか」
「必ず勝つ保証が出来る人間なんてこの世には居ませんよ。無茶を言わないで下さい」
の甲斐性というものではないのか? なんと情けない......」
「そう仰るなら来訪者などに頼らず、自国の兵を育てておけば良かったではありませんか」
「はあ......」
この女王様、軍備の縮小を推し進める派閥が大層邪魔だったそうで......。
なんと、決定的な責を負わせられる状況になるまで放っておいたそうだ。
それが例の『バジリスク』への
かくして、砂漠のフクロウによる討伐失敗の責を受けて軍備縮小を掲げていた派閥は王宮から追放。
それによって不便な思いをしたのは民衆や商人なのだが......この女王様、どうもそれをちっとも悪いと思ってなさそうなんだよな。
どうもその辺の意識のせいで、俺個人としてはこの女性を好きになれない。
「砂漠のフクロウの再編成はまだ始まったばかり。こちらとしては、王都唯一の来訪者たるそちたち渡り鳥に頼らざるを得ないわけなのじゃが」
「どうして俺に言うんですかね......ギルドマスターはユーミルなので、そっちに――」
「妾はそちを特に気に入っておるのでな。それこそ、渡り鳥などでなく妾の籠の鳥にしてしまいたい位に......」
言いつつゆらりと立ち上がると、女王は艶めかしい動作で俺の顎をついっと撫でた。
背筋がゾクゾクする......良い意味でも悪い意味でも。
どんな香油を使っているのか、近付かれると甘く蠱惑的な匂いがする。
平常心を保つのがしんどい。
「いや、そういうのなら仲間の覆面の男が美男子なんで、そっちに――」
「見かけの美醜など、妾は既に興味がない。美しいものなら見飽きておるしの」
女王はそう言うと、億劫そうに後ろに控えている美女揃いの女官達を顎で指した。
それから、部屋中に飾られている美術品も手の動きで示す。
最後には大きな鏡を指差し――って、そこで自分が一番美しいって顔した!
もうやだ、この人......。
やけに俺だけ女王様の好感度が高いのには、恐らく理由がある。
簡単に言うとクラリスさん→ヤイードさん→女王という話の流れが原因だ。
まず最初にクラリスさんから始まり、クラリスさんからヤイードさんへ俺の話が伝わる。
ここまでが前段階で、クエスト後にはそのままヤイードさんから女王様に俺の話が......。
といった具合に、互いに信用度の高い相手からの連鎖反応で、何もしていなくともある程度まで好感度が上がった可能性がある。
ヤイードさんまでは良いのだが、女王の好感度に関しては正直あんまり嬉しくない。
それとクラリスさんの提案で、かなり大きな姿見を特別に生産して贈った――というか王宮に献上したので、もしかしたらそちらの影響もあるかもしれないが。
先程、女王が指差した鏡がそうだ。
ここに飾ってあるということは、それなりに気に入ったらしい。
「まあ、取り敢えず俺達のギルドからも誰かしらは出場すると思います。それでベストを尽くすということで、どうか御勘弁を」
「つれない返事だのう。まあ良い。試合は妾も見に行く故に、恥をかかせるでないぞ」
来るの? 来るんだ、そっか......。
しかし、また掲示板が盛り上がりそうな話題だな。
他の国の貴賓が来るのかも気になる。可能ならば俺も見てみたいものだが。
と同時に、彼女を見たら満足して砂漠に来るプレイヤーがまた減ってしまうんじゃなかろうか? という心配が。
そんな俺の思いをよそに、彼女は話は終わったと言わんばかりに椅子に戻って大欠伸をした。
なので、こちらも一礼してさっさとその場を辞することにした。
王宮を出ると、入り口で兵士に止められていたユーミルとセレーネさんが心配そうに駆け寄ってきた。
二人が一緒ならここまで疲れなかっただろうに......絶対にわざとだ、あの女王。
「大丈夫かハインド!? 何もされなかったか!?」
「いや、別に。大丈夫だ、問題ない」
「それにしては随分と嫌そうな顔をしてるけど......」
「あの人、何か苦手です。こう、じわじわと相手のペースを乱そうとしてくる感じが......」
「私は一目見た時に、蛇みたいな女だと思ったぞ。バジリスクにそっくりだ」
ユーミルの言葉に俺は思わず吹き出しそうになった。
確かにピッタリ......あの絡みついてくるような話し方と視線が特に。
ただ、まだ王宮の衛兵が近くに居る。もし女王を笑っているとバレたらことだ。
笑いを堪えつつ、俺は一度ホームに戻ろうと提案して移動を開始した。
ホームに戻った俺達は、調理場の傍にある談話スペースでくつろいでいた。
二人はテーブルで、俺は満腹度回復のために軽食を用意しながら女王にされた話の内容を詳しく語った。
「――というわけで、別に悪い内容では無かったよ。単に砂漠の代表として大会で勝てば、ご褒美をくれるってだけの話で。プレッシャーは掛けられたけど」
「あの女が褒美とか口にすると、何となくいやらしい響きに感じるのはどうしてだろうな?」
「あはは......色っぽいもんね、女王様......」
「さすがにそういうのじゃないだろ......全年齢対象のゲームだし......」
「あれ、知らないのハインド君? NPCの対応って、プレイヤーの性別と年齢である程度変わるよ?」
「そうなんですか!?」
全然知らなかった。
そういえば、さっきの女王も俺を見て男の甲斐性がどうとかって。
......まあそれでも、さすがにその褒美とやらは常識的なものだろう。
話しつつも、料理を作る手は止めない。
皮を剥いたそら豆とニンニク、卵をよく練ってペースト状に。
パン粉、小麦粉、クミン、塩を加えて......小判型に成形。
胡麻をまぶして、低温に熱した油の中へ投下。
「異性であれば、NPCから恋愛的な好意を向けられる可能性もある......かもしれないね?」
「......むぅ......なら、クラリスは......」
「どした、ユーミル? 珍しく難しい顔をして」
「何でもない!」
「イテッ! なぜ叩く!?」
それもわざわざ立ち上がってまで。
両面がキツネ色になったところで、完成したそれの油を切って皿へ。
うーん、香ばしい良い香り。
「はい、ターメイヤ完成。足りない香辛料があるけど、それなりの形にはなっているはず」
「おおー! 揚げたてとはまた最高だな! いただきます!」
「いただきまーす」
まだ熱い内に一口。
味はあっさりながら、香辛料が後を引く美味さだ。
衣もサクサクに揚がったかな......このそら豆、芋みたいにホクホクだ。
「うん、おいしいよハインド君! 上手だよね、お料理も。器用器用」
それでもヤイードさんのターメイヤよりは少し味が落ちるか......。
今度会ったら、商売に支障の無い範囲でコツを教えてもらおう。
こう、手で持ってガブリと行くのがイイ感じだ。
学校帰りに買う肉屋さんのコロッケ的な。
それほど難しくないので、現実で作るのもいいかもしれない。
「もごごっが? もごご?」
「ちゃんと食べてから話せ。このうつけ」
口一杯にターメイヤを頬張り、ユーミルが何かを訴える。
が、いくら長い付き合いでもそれは解読不能というものだ。
「むぐ。そういえば、次のイベントはどうするのだ? 誰と誰が組む?」
「あー、そうだな。ギルドの人数的には二組作れるけど......」
セレーネさんを見ると、リスのように両手で持っていたターメイヤを置いてぶんぶんと顔の前で手を横に振った。
やはりというか、対人戦は苦手らしい。
そもそも、もし勝ち残ったら目立つことこの上ないだろうしな。
セレーネさんは不参加ということで。
「リィズはどうかな......?」
「お前が頼めば出るのではないか? ただ、ヤツはお前としか組まないなどと言い出しかねんが」
「駄目じゃん。バランス的に、後衛と後衛じゃ勝てる気しねえよ。前衛と前衛で速攻を仕掛けるならまだしも」
「ちょっと待ったぁ! で、ござる!!」
「「「?」」」
部屋に響いたのは、誰あろうトビの声だ。
しかし、声はすれども姿は見えず。
三人でキョロキョロと部屋の中を見回していると......突如、壁の一部がガコンという音と共に浮き上がる。
そのまませり出した壁は、くるりと回転。
すると、壁の反対側からぴったりと壁に張り付いた状態のトビが現れた。
おい......おい!
「話は聞かせてもらったでござるよ!」
「聞かせてもらった、じゃねえよ! 仕掛けを作る時はみんなに一言相談しろって言っただろうが! 建物の強度が落ちたらどうする!?」
「好奇心を抑えきれなかったでござる! 今はこうして反省してまーす。だから許して!」
「この野郎......!」
言葉の割には反省の色がさっぱり見えなかったので、俺はトビが手を伸ばそうとした先にあった最後のターメイヤを――
「あれっ!? 拙者の分は!? ねえ!?」
素早く手にすると、止める声を無視して自分の口へと放り込んだ。
You hear me? You definitely have to win.]  (Patra)
[...]  (Hind)
The first thing she said after opening her mouth was this...
I mean, she's beautiful, you know? I get why the people from the BBS were crazy about her.
From her refined and sensual body came an aura of seductiveness.
She also wore a thin dress, it was quite lascivious.
The name of this queen was Patra*Adenium*Sala.
I was listening to her talk while kneeling slightly away from the throne.
[Hind. As the representative of the Sala country, you have to attain victory without fail.
[I believe I haven't said yet if I was going to participate or not though?]  (Hind)
However, her personality was that of an arrogant and self-important woman.
It wasn't just at the level of being proud, I even entertained the thought that she considered herself to be the most important person in the world.
Her traits were the very picture of a queen, if we couple that with her outward appearance, I guess she would be irresistible for people that like that sort of thing.
After looking at the official bulletin board, we tried to return to our guild home but I was the only one that was forcefully dragged by a soldier from the royal palace.
To think I would be subject to an enforced event inside an online game.
Being fanned by the court ladies, she informed me of this while sprawling on her luxurious couch.
She's so refined...even though I'm here dripping with sweat from the heat.
[Is that the end of your business with me? In that case, I'll take my le-]  (Hind)
[Wait. I still haven't heard your answer, haven't I?]  (Patra)
[There's no one in this world that could guarantee you victory. Please, don't ask for the impossible.]  (Hind)
[You should be aware that that would be impossible, right?]  (Patra)
[If you are going to say that, wouldn't it be better for you to not rely on visitors and train your own soldiers?]  (Hind)
[Hah...]  (Hind)
It seems like a faction that wanted to push for the reduction of the army was really getting in her way...
However, she seemed to want to let them be until she has full power over them.
That's related to the careless way of handling the {Basilisk} .
Thus, she took responsibility for the failed subjugation and exiled the faction from the royal capital.
That created inconvenience for the people and merchants...but this queen, it seems like she didn't even think she had done anything bad.
Thanks to me knowing of that part, personally, I can't bring myself to like this woman.
[The reorganization of the Desert Owls has just begun. We can only rely on the only visitors that are in this royal capital, which means all of you from Migratory Bird.]  (Patra)
[I wonder why you are telling me all this...since the guild master is Yumir, you should-]  (Hind)
[To the point where I would like to make you into a caged bird instead of a migratory one...]  (Patra)
She slowly stood up and the queen caressed my chin with seductive movements.
I felt my spine shivering...in a good and bad way.
I don't know what perfume she is using, but as she approached me, a sweet and alluring fragrance was coming from her.
It was tiring to not lose my mind.
[Well, if that's the case, the masked man from my party is handsome, so you could-]  (Hind)
[I'm no longer interested in the beauty of someone's outer appearance.
When she said that, the queen pointed with her chin towards the court ladies that were waiting for her in a tiresome manner.
After that, she pointed at all the work of art that decorated the room.
Finally, she pointed at a big mirror...wait, she then made a face that implied she was the most beautiful in the world!
I can't take anymore of this woman...
There's probably a reason only I have such high likability with the queen.
Summarizing it simply, the source should be the flow of the conversations from Claris-san-Yaido-san-queen.
It first started with Claris-san and how she talked about me to Yaido-san.
This was the first step, after the quest, Yaido-san told the queen about me...
Given that situation, it created a chain reaction because both of them had a high level of confidence in me and there is the possibility that it raised the likability to a certain extent without me having to do anything.
I don't mind Yaido-san, but I'm honestly not very happy about my likability with the queen.
Additionally, per Claris-san's suggestion, we had a specially made full length mirror presented...well I should say we gave it to the royal palace as a present and maybe that had some influence.
The mirror the queen just pointed at seems to be it.
If she has the mirror here, it probably means that she took quite a liking to it.
[Well, for the time being, I'll think about who should participate from our guild.
[That's quite the cold reply. Oh well. I'll be going to watch the matches, so don't embarrass me.]  (Patra)
She's coming? Oh, she is, I see...
However, this is another topic that the BBS will get fired up about.
I'm curious if the other rulers will come. If it would be possible, I'd like to see them.
At the same time, maybe the players that were content with coming to the desert will decrease after seeing her? I had that kind of worries.
While I was absorbed in those thoughts, she returned to her couch and let out a big yawn as if she was telling me that the conversation was over.
That being the case, I bowed and took my leave from that place right away.
The moment I exited the royal palace, Yumir and Selene-san, who had been stopped by the entrance guards, rushed up to me worried.
Even though I wouldn't be this tired if they had been with me...she definitely did it on purpose, that queen.
[Are you OK, Hind!? Did they do anything to you!?]  (Yumir)
[No, not really. I'm fine, nothing happened.]  (Hind)
[You are making quite the unpleasant face though...]  (Yumir)
[I'm not good with her type. It's like she slowly throws her opponent out of their own pace...]  (Hind)
[The moment I took a glance at her, I thought that she was like a snake. Exactly like a Basilisk.]  (Yumir)
When Yumir said that, I was about to unconsciously start venting.
It's true that it fits her perfectly...especially the way she talks and her gaze that coils around you.
It's just that, the royal guards are still close by. They could tell her that we were laughing at her.
I held back my desire to laugh and started proposing we head back to the home.
Having returned home, we relaxed in the breakfast nook, where we could talk.
Both of them were at the table and I was preparing a light meal to recover our hunger gauges while telling them in detail about what the queen had told me.
[She just told me that she would give me a reward if we won as the representatives of the desert. Though she did pressure me.]  (Hind)
[I wonder why, when it comes from her mouth, I get these lewd vibes from it?]  (Yumir)
[Ahaha...she's quite sexy after all, the queen...]  (Selene)
[As one would expect, it can't be something like that...this is an all ages game after all...]  (Hind)
[Eh, you didn't know, Hind-kun? The NPCs will change to a certain extent depending on the age and sex of the player, you know?]  (Selene)
[Really!?]  (Hind)
I had no idea.
Now that she mentioned it, a while ago the queen looked at me and crushed my dependability as a man.
...Well, even then, her reward will probably be something ordinary.
While we talked, my hands didn't stop making the food.
I peeled the skin off the broad beans and garlic and kneaded them with eggs into a paste.
Additionally I used breadcrumbs, wheat flour, cumin and salt...and shaped it into an oval.
I sprinkled it with sesame seeds and dropped it onto the oil heated at low temperature.
[If it's from the opposite sex, there's the chance that...the likability could turn into love right?]  (Selene)
[...Muh...in that case, Claris...]  (Yumir)
[What's wrong, Yumir? It's quite rare to see you making such serious face.]  (Hind)
[It's nothing!]  (Yumir)
[It hurts! Why are you hitting me!?]  (Hind)
I waited until it rose up.
Once both sides were golden brown, I took the completed product and placed it on a plate.
Yup, it has a good fragrance.
[Alright, the Taameyyas are done. I didn't have enough spices, but I think the shape came out well.]  (Hind)
[Ooh! Fried food is the best! Thanks for the food!]  (Yumir)
[Thanks for the food.]  (Selene)
We took a bit while they were still hot.
While it was lightly seasoned, the spices made them delicious.
The outside came out crispy...these broad beans are fluffy like potatoes.
[Yup, these are tasty Hind-kun! You are also skilled at cooking. So skillful.]  (Selene)
Even then, the flavor is inferior to Yaido-san's Taameyyas...
Next time I see him, I'll ask him for the trick as long as it doesn't become a hindrance to his business.
It feels good eating something from your hand while walking around like this.
Like the croquettes you'd buy on your way back from school.
They are not that hard to make, so I might make them in real life too.
[Mogogoga? Mogogo?]  (Yumir)
[Finish eating before you talk. You fool.]  (Hind)
Having stuffed her mouth with a Taameyya, Yumir tried to say something.
However, no matter how long I've known her, I have no idea what she tried to say.
[Gulp. Now that I think about it, what are we going to do about the next event? Who's going to pair up with who?]  (Yumir)
[Ah, right. Given the number of people in our guild we can make 2 pairs...]  (Hind)
When I looked at Selene-san, she put the Taameyya she was holding on both hands like a squirrel down and waved her hand sideways in front of her face.
I guess I should have expected it, she's bad at dealing with people.
To begin with, she would stand out a lot if she advanced to the next round.
Let's leave it with Selene-san not participating.
[What about Riizu...?]  (Hind)
[Won't she participate if you asked her? However, she would say that she won't pair up with anyone other than you.]  (Yumir)
[That would be no good. In terms of balance, I don't think we would win with two rearguards. Attacking quickly with two vanguards would be better.]  (Hind)
[Wait just a moment! De-gozaru!]  (Tobi)
[[[?] ] ] 
The voice that resounded throughout the room was none other than Tobi's.
However, we could hear the voice but we couldn't see him.
The three of us looked around the room and...suddenly, a partition of the wall from the room rose up with a sound.
Like that, the wall was pushed out and rotated.
When it did, Tobi appeared while clinging to the other side of the wall.
Hey...hey!
[I have listened to your talk!]  (Tobi)
["I have listened to your talk" my foot! You said you would consult with everyone when you made mechanisms!
[I couldn't hold back my curiosity! I'm reflecting right now. That's why, forgive me!]  (Tobi)
[This guy...!!]  (Hind)
Since I couldn't see any sign of remorse from his words, I looked at the last Taameyya that Tobi was trying to reach and-
[Eh!? Where's my portion!? Hey!]  (Tobi)
While moving my hand quickly, I ignored his voice and tossed it into my own mouth.
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