293話 人体を喰らい尽くす錬金術士 (1)
静かに忍び寄る夜の影。
闇の匂いが漂い始めれば、昼はのんびりと寝ていた者たちも狩人のごとく動き出す。
獲物を求め、怪しく光る双眸が時たまこちらを狙っていると錯覚してしまうのは考え過ぎだろうか。
「うにゃぁ」
うん、考えすぎだった。かわいい。
石垣の上にヒョイっとジャンプして姿を現した白ねこちゃん。『
アビリティ『エサ友』は餌付けした猫を、一匹だけパートナーとして契約できるというものだ。もし猫のHPが全損してしまうと、3分以内に蘇生できなければパートナー契約は解消され、二度とその猫とは会えなくなる。
絶対に死なせるわけにはいかない仕様だ。
「猫ちゃんこっちおいで~」
「可愛い子たちねぇん♪」
ジョージが言うには、イベント【
どう変化したかと言えば、荒々しくなっているのだとか。
そんな風には全く見えない。
今だって白ねこちゃんの頭をカリカリとかいてあげれば、気持ちよさそうに目を細めているし。
「うにゃぁ、ぐるるぅぅん............ゲホォッゲェッ、ゲェッ、ゲホォォッ!」
「ふぁ!? 猫ちゃん、大丈夫か!?」
なんと、急に白ねこちゃんが吐き出した。
「ジョージ!? 猫ちゃんの具合が悪いのかも!?」
とっさに傍にいるジョージへ助けを求める。
「あらぁ? それは毛玉ねぇん。猫たちはねぇん、猫草とか食べて胃に絡まった余計な物を吐き出す習性があるのよぉん♪」
「心配いらないってこと?」
:『白ねこの毛玉』を入手しました:
「あ、なんか素材が手に入った?」
「ほぉ......?」
俺は即座に『鑑定眼』で見極める。
『白ねこの毛玉』
【毛づくろいの末、猫の胃に入った白い毛とその他。ぽかぽかお日様の匂いと、その他の香りが混じっており、ちょこっと生臭い。猫によって作られた宝玉であり、魔法が宿ると言う者もいる】
ふふふ、宝玉か。
見た目は全く綺麗じゃないけど、これは何かに使えると俺の第六感がビシビシ叫んでいる。
今まで錬金術はゴミと評された物にこそ、最強の種子が眠っていると俺に証明し続けて来たのだ。
「ジョージ! 俺はちょっとやりたい事ができたんだけど、ジョージはそのままパートナー探しを続ける?」
「じゃあ、今日はもうバイバイかな?」
「あらぁん♪ それじゃあ、ま・た・あ・し・た♪」
「んー明日はインできるかわからないけど、また!」
「天使ちゅわん、ゲームのやりすぎで学校に遅刻しちゃダメよぉん」
「ンフフフンッ♪ アデューッ!」
妙な笑いを残し、ジョージは闇夜の中にサッと消えた。
どうやら本気でパートナー探しの旅に出たようだ。
「タロ閣下、おかえりなさいませ」
『無名都市』こと、俺の領地へ『
大邸宅で俺を迎えたのはNPC執事のセバスだ。
「あぁ、セバス。今から錬金術をやるから」
「かしこまりました。しかし、その前にお耳に入れておくべき情報がいくつか」
さっと領地経営システムを起動させ、ズラーッと並んだ項目を流し読みしていく。
武器『刀』がどれほど売れ始めたかを聞いておきたい。
それによっては、無用の長物だった俺が創り出す金属の価値も大幅に上方修正されるかもしれない。なにせ今のところは、俺の金属でしか刀は作れていないのだから。
あとは......他に刀を生成できる金属が発見されたか、探りを入れておかないとだな。
「ん......セバス、『復興都市アクアタロン』に変化が......?」
「はい。ヴラド伯爵一行が閣下の支援を大いに喜ばれたそうで、復興作業に尽力されているようです」
「なんだ、この都市計画書は......?」
ヴラド伯爵から送られてきた書状には【
あの都市は上層、中層、下層と巨大な螺旋階段のような都市設計になっている。そして上層から下層へと水路を流し、都市内部の清潔さを保っていた。いたるところに水を象徴する施設があり、元々は美しい都市、それが【水門回廊アクアリウム街】。
それがウィルスパンデミックの汚染で中層は酷いありさまになっているのだが......この都市計画書を元に実行すれば、あの街は生まれ変わる。
「しかし......この計画書に記されている、【
】と言われる伝承の秘宝、その中の一つでもある『水球を封じた竜生石』とやらを使用し、中層を完全に作り直すとの提案書に半信半疑になる。
『水球を封じた竜生石』は【水の世界が封じられた、竜の力を生みだす法石】らしい。
巨大な水球を空中で生成し、そこから無限に綺麗な水を流す事のできる代物で......なんと水の動きなどの全てをコントロールできる
「あの都市に伝わる秘宝だそうです。以前はその希少性さ故に、上層で厳重に管理していたのですが、今回の閣下の協力姿勢に感銘を受けて決断したようです」
セバスに説明され、思案する。
新たな都市のデザインは、中層を完全に水没地帯にして美しい湖に見立てるとの事。そして中層の湖面地帯から下層へ穴を多数開ければ、多くの滝がこぼれ落ちる設計になり......巨大な水柱が降り注ぐ【水の都】としてのブランド力を上げられる。クラン・クラン内には美しい街並みを誇る都市がたくさんあるけれど、以前の【水門回廊アクアリウム街】はトップクラスの人気を誇っていた。
あの街を観光として訪れる者、拠点に活動する
こうすれば外観を美しく、さらには中層の建築費用は当面は浮く。もちろん中層は後日、湖上に立つ都市として建物を少しずつ建設してゆけば良い。
「吸血鬼たちは、自分たちの秘宝をさらけ出すのに納得してるのか?」
「はい。閣下の高潔なるお考えに応えたく、と申しております」
実は吸血鬼たちが水質にこだわるには理由がある。それは一番の栄養素でもある人間の血の鮮度、旨味が『飲んでる水の質』によってだいぶ左右されるからだそうだ。故に彼らは自らの力で綺麗な水を生み、その恩恵を人間たちに与える。その代わり人間たちから美味しい血液を適量だけ摂取する、といったウィンウィンな関係を古来より築いていたようだ。
その生命線ともなる秘宝を、中層で管理するとは......彼らの俺に対する覚悟が窺い知れる。
「この構想は確かにいい都市計画だが、実現するには将来的に莫大な費用がかかる」
簡単にOKサインを出せないのも事実。まだ先の話とはいえ、中層に......水上に一つの新たな街を作る事業になるわけだから。しかも街は全体的に斜めっている構造だから、水が流れて重さに耐えやすい半面、建物を立てるとなるとそれ相応の技術と費用がいる。
俺の『無名都市』よりも遥かにすごい都市へと進化するんじゃ......ん、待てよ?
たちの注目を『無名都市』よりは集めやすいだろうし、隠れ蓑にはちょうどいいかもしれない?
晃夜や夕輝たちも、『無名都市』の支配権を狙って傭兵たちが襲いかかって来るんじゃないかって、常に心配してたじゃないか。
「よし。全面的に協力しようと伝えておいてくれ」
「御意に......!」
よしよし。
一通りの公務を終えた俺は、やりたかった錬金術へとようやく手をつける。
『白ねこの毛玉』を研究するのだ!
さっそく合成釜へ『白ねこの毛玉』をぽちゃんと投入。
それから、各種素材を掲げて相性の合う物を探す。
「む......『結晶の枝』が、ふむふむ」
釜の中の空模様が一番晴れ渡ったのは、ミソラさんが支配する『宝石を生む森クリステアリー』で取れた素材だ。クリスタルのように透き通った小枝と毛玉の相性が良いとか、誰が予測できたろうか。
『結晶の枝』をそっと釜へ入れて煮込む。
中火だ。
それからもちろん、少しでも成功確率を上げるために『飽くなき探求』を発動しては万能素材『ようせいの粉』をビーカーへと流しこみ、三つ目の素材として金色の液体を振りまく。
さらに合成の成功率を上乗せさせるアビリティも発動。
しばらくすれば合成釜から成功を示す青色の煙がもくもくと立ちこめ、俺はにやにやが止まらなくなる。
:『白ねこの毛玉』+『結晶の枝』+『ようせいの粉』→『ほうき星のネコじゃらし』ができました:
【宝石猫のなりそこない。細かく枝分かれした先端には、キラキラと光る結晶の粒がたくさんついており、猫ちゃんたちは流れ星のように尾を伸ばす輝きに魅せられ、喜びじゃれるだろう。揺れるほうき星に意識はなくとも、その煌めきが薄れることはない】
【効果:使用するたびに、猫の好感度+30】
ふ、む。
とても良いアイテムができた!
しかし、しかしだよ諸君......このアイテムが
決して誰も答えてはくれない虚空へと問い掛け、頭の中を整理する。
「合成結果は間違いなく成功......しかし、なりそこない......つまりッ!」
答えを導き出すなど造作もない!
『白ねこの毛玉』には他に可能性があるというわけだ! そうとわかればもっと合成だ!
』で大量に毛玉は買いあさってある。ジョージの情報通り3エソと投げ売り状態だったのだ。
黒ねこの毛玉とか茶とら猫の毛玉とか色々とあったけど、まずは白で統一してある。
「これらが消費される前に、毛玉の秘密を解き明かすのだ!」
296 293 Stories Alchemist Eating Up The Human Body (1)
The shadow of a quiet sneak night.
If the smell of darkness begins to drift, those who slept relaxed during the day also move out as hunters.
Is it too much to think about seeking prey and being illusioned that suspiciously glowing eyes sometimes aim at this one?
"Ugh."
Yeah, I was thinking too much. Cute.
White cat showed up by jumping a leopard over a stone wall. If you give me the "Margro fillet" I bought from "Auction and Bounty Neck (Wonted)," it's just soothing to see you scrub your head with a scratch in your throat with "Guru".
Ability "Feed Friends" means you can contract only one fed cat as a partner. If the cat loses all of its HP, the partnership agreement will be dissolved if it fails to resuscitate within 3 minutes and you will never see that cat again.
You can never let him die. Specifications.
"Cat, come here."
"Pretty kids."
George says the cats' movements around the city are enlivened as the event [black and white (chuckles) meatballs and hidden castles] begin.
Speaking of how things have changed, are they getting rough?
It doesn't look that way at all.
Even now, if you keep White Cat's head crunchy or something, he's narrowing his eyes to make you feel good.
"Ugh, guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
"Huh!? Cat, are you all right!?
Oh, my God, the white cat suddenly spit it out.
"George!? Maybe your cat is not feeling well!?
Seek help from George, who is beside him.
"Oh? That's a hairy jade. Cats don't have the habit of eating cat grass and spitting out excess stuff tangled in their stomachs."
"You mean you don't have to worry?
: I got 'White Cat Hair Ball':
"Oh, did you get any material?
"Ho...?
I immediately identify with the Appraisal Eye.
"White Cat Hair Ball"
[White hair and more in the cat's stomach after hairy. It has a mix of pompous sunny smells and other aromas, which smell a little raw. It is a treasure ball made by cats, some say magic dwells]
Hehe, a treasure ball?
It doesn't look pretty at all, but my sixth sense is screaming bizzy that this can be used for something.
Alchemy has always proved to me that the strongest seeds are asleep because of the garbage.
"George! I've got a little something I want to do, and George keeps looking for a partner?
"So, am I going to say bye already today?
"Oh  Well, then, mah mah mah mah mah mah mah mah "
"Hmm. I don't know if I can get in tomorrow, but again!
"Angel Cucumber, don't be late for school for too much gaming."
"Nfuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Leaving a strange laugh, George disappeared sassy in the dark night.
Apparently, I'm on a serious journey to find a partner.
"Welcome back, My Lord Tallo"
"Anonymous City", run "Silver Sperm (Argent) Carriage" to my territory and return in minutes.
Sebastian, the NPC butler, greeted me at the mansion.
"Oh, Sebastian. 'Cause I'm gonna do the alchemy now."
"Yes, I did. But before you do, there's some information you should have in your ear."
Start up the territorial management system and read the items alongside the sloppy ones.
I want to hear how much the weapon 'Knife' has started to sell.
Depending on that, the value of the metal I create, which was a useless long object, could also be significantly revised upwards. Anyway, so far, only my metal can make a knife.
And then... we need to find some other metal that can generate a knife, or we need to put some exploration into it.
"Hmm... Sebastian, there's been a change in 'Reconstruction City Aquatalon'...?
"Yes, Count Vlad said a line was very pleased with His Excellency's support and seems committed to the reconstruction work"
"What is this urban plan...?
The letter sent to me by Count Vlad contained a plan for the construction of the Tempura Aquarine and a document entitled:
That city is designed to be like an upper, middle, lower and giant spiral staircase. He then ran the waterway from the upper to lower levels, keeping the city's interior clean. There are facilities everywhere that symbolize water, originally a beautiful city, which is [Watergate Corridor Aquarium Street].
That's the contamination of the virus pandemic that's left the middle class terrible... but if you run this city plan based on it, that city will be reborn.
"But... as stated in this plan, [The Divine Stone of Law (Oracle Gem)]... does it really exist?
I find myself half-hearted by the proposal to completely recreate the middle layer, using "Dragon Stone Sealed with Water Polo," which is also one of the heirloom treasures said to be [the Divine Stone of Law (Oracle Gem)].
"Dragon Stone Sealed with Water Polo" seems to be [the water world sealed, a method stone that creates the power of dragons].
It's a substitute for generating a giant water polo in the air and infinitely flowing clean water from it... what a work of art by the gods (Oracle Art) that allows you to control the movement of water and everything else.
"They say it's a treasure to pass on to that city. Previously, due to its rarity, I managed it strictly at the upper management level, but I was impressed by your cooperative attitude."
explained to Sebastian and conceived.
The design of the new city is to make the middle layer a completely submerged zone and see it in a beautiful lake. And if you drill a number of holes from the middle lake area to the lower level, many waterfalls will be designed to spill... increasing your brand power as a [water capital] with giant water columns pouring down. While there are many beautiful cities within the Clan Clan, the previous [Watergate Corridor Aquarium Street] was a top notch popularity.
There were not many visitors or mercenaries (players) based in the city. In other words, the use and consumption of Auctions and Bounty Neck (Wonted) is directly linked to tax revenue.
This way the exterior is beautiful and even the building costs of the middle floor float for the moment. Of course, the middle floor can be built a little later as a city standing on the lake.
"Are the vampires convinced to expose their treasures?
"Yes, I would like to respond to your noble thoughts."
Actually, there's a reason the vampires stick to water quality. That's because the freshness and taste of human blood, which is also the most nutrient, depends a lot on the quality of the water you're drinking. Therefore they produce clean water in their own power, and give the humans their bounty. Instead, he seemed to have a win-win relationship with humans that consumed just the right amount of delicious blood.
I didn't know they would manage the treasure that would be their lifeline in the middle... I can see their readiness for me.
"This concept is certainly a good urban plan, but it will cost enormous in the future to make it happen"
It's also true that you can't give an OK sign easily. Though we are still ahead of us, it will be a business to create a new city on the water. Moreover, the city is an overall diagonal structure, so there are corresponding technologies and costs when it comes to putting up a building, a half-side where water flows easily to withstand the weight.
Evolve into a city far more amazing than my 'Unknown City'... Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
It would be easier to get the attention of mercenaries (players) than 'unnamed cities', and maybe just right for hiding?
Shaking Night and Evening Fai were constantly worried that mercenaries would come after control of the 'Unknown City'.
"All right. Tell them to cooperate fully."
"My pleasure......!
All right, all right.
After all my official duties, I finally get my hands on the alchemy I wanted to do.
Study "White Cat Hair Ball"!
Just put 'White Cat's Hairy Ball' in the synthetic cauldron.
Then, list all kinds of materials to find a compatible object.
"Mm..." Crystal Branches, "Hmm"
The clearest of the sky patterns in the cauldron was the material taken in "The Jewellery Generating Forest Cristaly," dominated by Mr. Misora. Who could have predicted that twigs as clear as crystals would go well with hairballs?
Gently simmer the "Crystal Branch" in a kettle.
It's a medium heat.
Then, of course, in order to increase the chance of success at all, the all-purpose material "Yoshinori powder" is flushed onto the beaker to activate "Exploration Without Boredom", and the third material is used as a golden liquid.
Abilities are also activated to increase the success rate of the synthesis.
After a while, the blue smoke that shows success from the synthetic cauldron stops, and I can't stop sniffing.
: "White Cat Hairy Balls" + "Crystal Branches" + "Fine Powder" "Looks like a Broomstick Cat" is ready:
[Gemstone cat is not there. The finely branched tip features lots of sparkling crystalline grains, and the cats will be enchanted and delighted by the brilliance of stretching their tails like a shooting star. Even if there is no consciousness in the swinging broom, its brilliance will not fade]
[Effect: Whenever used, cat's liking + 30]
Phew, mmm.
Very good item done!
But, but, gentlemen... I doubt this item is going to (...), right?
Ask to the void, where no one will ever answer, and sort out your head.
"Synthetic results are definitely a success...... but not likely...... I mean heh!
There's no such thing as deriving answers!
"White Cat's Ball of Hair" has other possibilities! It would be more synthetic if I knew that!
As a matter of fact, a large number of hairy balls have been bought at Auction and Bounty Neck (Wonted) as they come to Unknown Cities. George told me he was in a threesome state.
There was a lot of black cat hair balls, tea and cat hair balls, but first it is unified in white.
"Uncover the secrets of the hairy balls before these are consumed!
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