試合開始直後、MPチャージを行おうとしたところで鋭い風切り音と同時に鞭が襲ってくる。
幸いにも近くの足元を叩いただけでダメージは無かったが、思ったよりもずっと射程が長い。
更には、全く軌道が見えないのが問題で......これを見切るのはまず不可能と思った方がいいだろう。
魔導士程度の物理攻撃力ならダメージソースとしては弱いだろうから、こちらの詠唱・MPチャージの妨害メインで使う腹積もりと予想される。
「応! 行くぞっ!」
今回はこちらから積極的に仕掛ける。
ユーミルに今回伝えた指示は、極々シンプルで大雑把な方針だ。
すなわち――
「くっ、狙いは
ただひたすらにがむしゃらに、ヘルシャに張り付くこと。
開幕からのユーミルの猛攻に会場が沸いた。
こちらとの距離が開いて互いに孤立する形になり、ワルターが俺を狙ってきた場合は非情に危険だ。
しかし、俺にはある確信があった。
「! この馬鹿ワルター! ハインドにMPを渡さないようにとあれほど――きゃっ!」
「余所見とは余裕だなぁ!? そらそらぁっ! その目障りなドリルを切り刻んでやる!」
「む、無理ですよぉ! 攻撃されているお嬢様を放っておくなんて! 加勢しますっ!」
ワルターはこちらには来ない、絶対に。
師匠と呼ばれるようになった後は特にワルターとは頻繁に連絡を取り合っているが、ヘルシャの家の執事教育は本物だ。
相談してくる悩みの内容からして、現代社会にあるまじき苛烈さである。
故に体に染みついているのだ――何を置いても主を守るという習性が。
ゲームだろうと、素直なワルターがその辺を上手く割り切れるとは思えない。
俺はそれを利用し、悠々とMPをチャージ出来るというわけだ。
少し汚い手のような気もするが、ワルターの性質を考慮に入れた戦術をヘルシャが組み立てられない場合、このまま俺達が勝利することになるだろう。
MPが溜まったところで、俺はバフと回復をどんどんユーミルに向かって飛ばしていく。
ヘルシャは上手く逃げているしワルターの防御も堅いが、それでもユーミルは既にヘルシャのHPを五割まで減らすことに成功している。
――押し切れるか?
「くっ、このままでは! 仕方ありません......ワルター、プランB!」
「――! はいっ、お嬢様!」
「おおっ!? 何だ何だ!?」
ワルターが防戦主体から攻めへ転じる。
ユーミルの剣をくぐり抜けて懐へ。
更に握った両拳が光を放ち――
「いかん! 離脱だユーミルっ!」
「え?」
による対象への状態異常や通常の武闘家以上の回復力などが特徴で、この技は......。
「でねぶっ!?」
『発勁・破』、五秒という短時間ながら相手の防御力を無視した攻撃を放つことが出来る大技である。
裸同然の状態で打撃のラッシュを受けたユーミルが、為す術も無く戦闘不能になって舞台上を転がった。
これでは折角のセレーネさんの鎧も形無しである。そして、この状況は非常に良くない。
完全に油断していた......! 存在は知っていたが、ワルターはグループトーナメントでは一度もこのスキルを使用しなかった。
『レイジングフレイム』さえ警戒すれば事故は無いと思っていたのに、これだけ上手く切り返されるとは......。
――まずい、二人がこちらに向かってくる!
ワルターのスキルを警戒していなかったせいで、まだ『リヴァイブ』は完成していない!
「決勝の為の隠し玉でしたのよ! 光栄に思いなさい、ハインド!」
「師匠、お覚悟を!」
『リヴァイブ』発動まであと八秒......!
俺は少しでも距離を取る為に舞台の端へ。
ワルターが俊足を見せつけるように一気に距離を詰めてくる。
くそっ、身体能力高いな! 残り五秒!
慌てるな、俺は回避だけは得意なはず。
限界まで引き付けて......コンパクトな蹴りを放つワルターの脇をすり抜けるように前転。
少しでもかすってダメージ判定が出た時点で詠唱は止まるが――よし、あと三秒! 当たってない!
「は、はいっ!」
二人の焦った声と共に、三つの攻撃が同時に俺に向けて飛んでくる。
ワルターの体勢不十分の拳撃、ヘルシャの放った『ファイアーボール』と直後の鞭が一斉にこちらへ。
あと一秒、間に合え!
「だああっ! ――あちっ!?」
「かすった......!? やりましたわ! これで貴方もお終いですわね、ハインド!」
最も躱しやすいと見た『ファイアーボール』の方に向かって走るが、三つ発射された内の最後の球が腕をかすめてしまった。
勝利を確信し、ワルターを自分の前に立たせ大魔法の詠唱を始めるヘルシャ。
だが、俺は落ち着いて杖を構え直すとヘルシャとワルターに向かって笑みを浮かべた。
「――誰がお終いだって?」
直後、雷光がワルターを一瞬でさらっていく。
横合いから稲妻の様なオーラと共に、ユーミルが鋭い突進で目の前を駆け抜けていった。
どうやら『ファイアーボール』の目の前で発動したことで、『リヴァイブ』のエフェクトは二人に見逃して貰えたようだ。
結果的に奇襲となったユーミルの鋭い一撃を、ワルターは躱せずに横合いからまともに受けた。
ユーミルの雄叫びが舞台上に轟く。
「終わるのは貴様らの方だあぁぁぁぁっ!」
気合の乗ったユーミルの『バーストエッジ』によって、ワルターの小さな体が錐揉みしながら吹き飛んだ。
そのままグシャッ、というまともに受け身を取れていないのが間違いない音と共に落下すると、四肢を力無く投げだした。
これで戦闘不能になったのは間違いない。
それを見届けてから視線をヘルシャに戻すと、驚くことにまだ戦意の籠った目でこちらを見返してくる。
ワルターが吹き飛んでも詠唱を切らさなかったのか、掲げた手の上では既に巨大な火球が形成されていた。
「まだです! まだ決着はついていませんわ!」
「ぬおおおおっ!? ハインド、あれ皇帝の火球よりもデカくないかぁぁっ!?」
「言ってる場合か! 避けろ!」
これは魔導士のスキル『コンセントレーション』を併用しているな......!
HPを削って魔法を強化する技で、ヘルシャがここまでに行ったMPチャージの時間からして『マナコンバージョン』も使用しているだろうから、恐らく今の彼女はギリギリのHPになっているはずだ。
文字通り命を削って放つ、最後の一撃。
これで二人纏めての撃破を狙っているようだが、むしろこれを凌げば俺達の勝ちだ!
「のおおおおっ!?」
俺はユーミルの傍に一直線に駆け寄ると、攻撃後で態勢を崩しているユーミルを力の限り遠くへぶん投げた。
鎧の重さで腰が砕けそうになる......が、どうにか充分に距離を離すことに成功。
そしてそのまま、自分から巨大な火球に向かって走っていく。
皇帝戦でも使った、神官の魔法耐性を活かした魔法専門の盾。
避けられないなら、せめて被害を最小限に......!
自分から向かって行ったのは、少しでも爆風の範囲をユーミルから遠ざけるためだ。
そして火が収まった時に、残った俺のHPは......
「1!? 1残ったぁ!? 生きてる!」
「おおっ、なんという強運! 私はこのゲームで初めて見たぞ、1残り!」
「嘘......ですわよね? 私の渾身の一撃が......二人纏めてどころか、貴方達のどちらも倒せないなんて......」
ヘルシャはその光景に呆然と膝を落とし、遂には降参を宣言した。
Right after the match started, just when I was going to start charging my MP up, I was assaulted by a whip at the same time I heard the sound of the wind being cut.
Luckily, it only hit the area around my legs so I didn't take any damage, but the range was far longer than I expected.
Furthermore, the problem was that I was unable to see the trajectory at all...so I should take it as it's impossible to see.
With the physical attack of a mage it would be too weak to count as a damage source, so it can be expected that it was used mainly to stop me from chanting and MP charging.
[Oh! Here I go!]  (Yumir)
This time, we'll be the ones going on the offensive.
The orders I gave Yumir this time were extremely simple and not very precise.
In other words...
[Kuh, so you are going to aim for me!?]  (Herrscha)
It was to focus on recklessly sticking close to Herrscha.
The audience grew excited because of Yumir's fierce attacks from the get go.
With our distance growing, we were currently mutually isolated, if Walter were to focus on targeting me it would be pretty dangerous.
However, I had confidence about something.
[!! Walter, you idiot! I told you many times to not let Hind get MP--Kyah!]  (Herrscha)
[For you to look away, you sure have it easy, huh!? Take this! I'll chop those annoying drills of your!]  (Yumir)
[I-I can't do that! To let Ojou-sama alone as she's being attacked! I'll assist you!]  (Walter)
Walter won't come my way, definitely.
After being called master by him, I had been in contact frequently with Walter, it seems like Herrscha's family's butler training was the real deal.
From the contents of the worries that were in our conversations, they were very strict by today's modern standards.
It was ingrained in his body...that no matter what happened, he should protect his master.
Even if it's a game, I doubt that the docile Walter will be able to ignore that.
Making use of that, I was able to quietly charge up my MP.
I have the feeling that it's quite the dirty tactic, but if Herrscha is unable to recover from this strategy that takes Walter's nature into account, we'll probably win at this rate.
I've more or less charged up my MP, so I started casting plenty of buffs and heals on Yumir.
Herrscha is doing a good job at running away and Walter's defense is solid, however, Yumir has already managed to bring Herrscha's HP down to around 50%.
...Will they be able to get out of this situation?
[Kuh, at this rate! Guess we don't have any other choice...Walter, we are going with Plan B!]  (Herrscha)
[-!! Yes, ojou-sama!]  (Walter)
[Ooh!? What's going on!?]  (Yumir)
Walter went from playing defensive to going on the offense.
He passed through Yumir's sword and went towards her body.
Furthermore, both of his fists were emitting light-
[No good! Get away, Yumir!]  (Hind)
[Eh?]  (Yumir)
They are able to inflict status ailments on strong foes and their resilience is higher than other martial artist types, this skill...
[Denebuh!?]  (Yumir)
{Hakkei*Yabu} , it's a powerful skill that for the short duration of 5 seconds, you are able to release attacks that disregard the opponent's defense.
It goes without saying that, in a state that was akin to being defenseless, Yumir was knocked out by the rush of blows and rolled on the stage.
This made the armor that Selene-san went through so much trouble to make look bad. Furthermore, this situation is not good.
I was completely careless...! I knew about the skill, but Walter didn't use this skill in the group stages at all.
Even though I thought that we wouldn't get into trouble as long as I was careful about {Raging Flame} , to think they would be able to counterattack this well...
...No good, both of them are coming this way!
Because I wasn't being vigilant of Walter's skills, I still haven't finished casting {Revive} !
[That was a trump card that we were saving for the finals! Feel honored, Hind!]  (Herrscha)
[Prepare yourself, master!]  (Walter)
There's another 8 seconds until {Revive}  finishes casting...!
I moved towards the edge of the stage to gain as much distance as I could.
As if to showcase how fast he was, Walter shortened the distance in an instant.
Damn it, his physical ability is high! 5 seconds left!
Don't panic, dodging should be the only thing I take pride in.
Let him come closer until the last moment...then roll through his flank to slip through his kick.
Even though the system would stop your casting if it judged that you have taken damage...alright, 3 seconds left! He didn't hit me!
[Y-Yes!]  (Walter)
At the same time they talked in a panic, 3 attacks flew towards me.
A punch from Walter thrown from an imperfect stance along with a whip attack from Herrscha after having cast {Fire Ball}  flew towards me simultaneously.
Only 1 second left, please make it in time!
[Daah! ...Ouch!?]  (Hind)
[It grazed him...!? We did it! This marks the end for you, Hind!]  (Herrscha)
I ran towards the {Fire Ball}  since it looked to be the easiest one to dodge, but from the 3 balls that she shot I was grazed by the last one.
Having confirmed their victory, she had Walter stand in front of her as she started chanting a big spell.
However, I picked up my staff and took up my stance again as I smiled at Herrscha and Walter.
[...Who said that it was over?]  (Yumir)
Immediately after, Walter was swept away in an instant by lightning.
While being covered in lightning, Yumir sharply rushed in front of his eyes.
Seems like since I cast it while facing the {Fire Ball} , I was able to make them both miss the visual effect of my {Revive} .
As a result, Walter was taken by surprise and unable to dodge Yumir's sharp attack, taking a direct hit to the side.
Yumir's war cry echoed throughout the stage.
[The ones that are going to lose, are you guys!]  (Yumir)
Taking the {Burst Edge}  filled with Yumir's fighting spirit, Walter's small body was blown away while spinning in the air.
Being unable to properly take the fall, his body made a loud noise as it fell powerlessly on the stage.
There's no doubt that he became incapacitated there.
I looked back at Herrscha after making sure of that and was quite surprised that her eyes were still filled with the intention to fight.
It seems like she didn't lose concentration even while Walter was being blown away, on top of her hand there was a gigantic fireball already being formed.
[It's not over yet! The match hasn't been decided yet!]  (Herrscha)
[Nuuooooooooh!? Hind, isn't that fireball even bigger than the emperor's!?]  (Yumir)
[Is this the time for comments like that!? Run away!]  (Hind)
She must have casted it along with the mage skill {Concentration} ...!
It's a skill that empowers your magic by offering a part of your HP, judging from the MP she's been able to charge up until now, she probably has also used {Mana Conversion} , she most likely has barely any HP left.
It's literally the last attack fired after giving all her remaining life.
She probably was aiming to crush both of us with this attack, but it also means that if we survive it's our win!
[Nuooooooooh!?]  (Yumir)
I rushed over to Yumir, after breaking her posture, I threw her as far as I could with my strength.
I felt as if my back was going to break from the weight of the armor...however, it seems I was able to successfully throw her far enough.
Like that, I ran towards the huge fireball myself.
The same way I used it in the battle against the Emperor, I used the Shinto Priest's high magical resistance as a shield against magic.
If we can't dodge it, I should at least keep damage to a minimum...!!Besides, even if it comes to the worst case scenario and I'm taken out, it doesn't change the fact that it'll be our win if Yumir is left.
The reason I ran into it myself was to keep Yumir as far away as possible from the radius of its effect.
Once the fire settled down, my remaining HP was...
[1!? I was left with 1 HP!? I'm alive!!]  (Hind)
[Ooh, what luck! It's the first time I've seen it in this game, being left with 1 HP!]  (Yumir)
[This...has to be a lie right? The attack I put everything I had in...rather that crushing both of you, to think I was unable to defeat even one of you...]  (Herrscha)
Herrscha was dumbfounded at the sight of what she was seeing and dropped to her knees, then she finally declared that she was surrendering.
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