「まずはメニュー画面を開くだろう?」
「ほうほう、それで?」
「次に、こうビュワーと念を送ると......ポンと装備欄に現れる訳だ。外す時はフワーっと......」
「???」
金曜午後八時半、TB内『ヒースローの街』の一画。
トビがそういえばイベント報酬はどうなったの? とユーミルに質問したことでこの状態になっている。
今日はバイトが無かったので、ユーミル、俺、トビの順でTBへと早い時間にログインした。
トビが居ない間にイベント報酬『勇者のオーラ』の行方に関しては全て解決したため、こうして話して聞かせることになっている訳だ。
「は、ハインド殿......お助けを」
「つまりこういうことだ。オーラは実体が無い。なのでメニューの装備欄を開き、オーラが欲しい! と念じることで装着が可能になるってことだ。外す時も外したい! と思うだけで外す事ができる。インベントリから出し入れ出来ないから、こういう仕様なんだと思うが」
「お、おお......!」
俺の言葉でようやくトビが理解の色を示す。
「装備したオーラを出す時も一緒だぞ。気合を入れてガッ! とやるとギュンッと出てくるからな! 気分が乗ってくると更にバリバリと――」
「VRギアの脳波感知機能の応用みたいだぞ。プレイヤーの意識というか、要は戦闘中の戦意の高揚次第で一段上の派手なエフェクトが出るんだ。このアクセサリー自体は苦労に見合った高度な技術が詰まってるってこったな。装備として無能力なのは変わらないけど」
「おおー、凄いでござるな......」
「ハインド殿の超翻訳が」
「馬鹿な!? 何故このアクセサリーの素晴らしさが伝わらん!?」
「その返しに驚愕でござるよ!? 分かる方がおかしいのでござる!」
まあ、これは付き合いの長さ故のものだから分からなくても仕方ないだろう。
トビは中学からの付き合いだからな......。
「そういえばハインド。妹はどうしたのだ? 今日は随分と遅いではないか」
「ああ、あいつは日曜に全国模試だから。それが終わるまではログインしないってさ」
今頃は部屋で勉強していると思う。
後でココアでも持って行ってやろうかね。
「フンッ。全国一位様の癖に、何をこれ以上勉強することがあると言うのだ」
「定期テストで赤点スレスレの拙者からすると天上人でござるなぁ。ところで、リィズ殿は何か目標でもあるのでござるか? 何処か有名大学でも狙っておいでで?」
「いや、良く分からん。ただ、将来的に俺を養えるくらいの職に就きたいって言ってたかな......。それを聞かされた時は、喜んでいいのか頼りにされていないと悲しむべきなのか分からなかったよ」
ただ、本人的には奨学金を受けて成績優秀者で返済免除、というシナリオを描いているような気がする。
しかし、もうちょっと頼ってくれても良いのになと思う兄心母心がある訳で。
そんなことを考えていると、対面の二人は物凄く微妙な顔をしている。
どうした?
「亘、気を付けろよ。いや、むしろ私が気を付ける。お前の身の安全は、私が必ず守るからな!」
「わっち、監禁とかされないように注意してね......。俺はちょっと理世ちゃんに恐怖を感じるよ。凄まじい一途さというか執念というか......」
「お前ら何言ってんの?」
人の妹を何だと思っているんだ。
時々やけに俺を見る目が怖いし悪戯もするけど、基本的には優しい子なんだぞ?
「お?」
雑談を続けていると、何やら女子中学生くらいの三人組に声を掛けられた。
視線の方向からして、目当てはユーミルの模様。
「私か。ハインド、こういう時はどう答えればいいのだ? 何いきなり話かけて来てるわけ? ――とでも言えばいいのか?」
「普通に用件を聞けよ......恥知らずって言われちゃうぞ、それだと」
「そーか。私に何用だ、小娘ども!」
「ひっ」
ユーミルの特に意味の無い大声が少女プレイヤーを襲う!
結果、先頭で声を掛けてきた少女は委縮した。
「威圧すんな。普通に聞けってば」
「こんな態度でも、ちゃんと聞いているので言ってみると良いでござるよ?」
「そこでお前が仕切りだす意味は分からんが。覆面してるし怪しさ満点だろうが。
「うむ、そうやって会話の主導権を得ようとするとは。汚いなさすが忍者きたない」
「ひどい!? 話が進まないから気を回してみただけなのに!」
「ふ、ふふふ......あ、ごめんなさい!」
この反応から、少女が生真面目な性格だということが分かる。
見かねたもう一人の少女が、横から声を掛けた理由を説明してくれた。
「すみません。この子、騎士なんですけど......動画で見たユーミルさんの積極的な戦い方に憧れてて。そこを通ったら偶然見つけたものですから、運命だなんてのぼせ上っちゃって」
「ちょっと、サイちゃん!?」
「あ、私はサイネリアっていいます。この子はリコリス。こっちの眠そうなのがシエスタです」
「こんばんはー......ふぁぁ」
「不躾で申し訳ないのですが、お願いがあるんです。少しでいいので、リコリスの為にユーミルさんの戦いを見せて欲しいんですが――」
「いいんですか!? 即答!?」
「あ、ありがとうございます! 感激です!」
思わぬ切り返しに、目を細めて眠そうにしていた
こういう奴なんだよ......諦めて下さい。
「構わないだろう? ハインド」
「ああ、行ってこいよ」
「ん? 一緒には行かないのか?」
「どの道、今夜は例の大剣を売ったり量産型のエルフ耳を作ったりで、別行動しようと思っていたからな。トビはどうする?」
「拙者も、取引掲示板の相場が気になるでござる。レベルキャップも開放されたことでござるし、今夜は情報収集を優先したい。ここはハインド殿と共に参るでござるよ」
「という訳らしい。一段落したらメールをくれ」
「分かった!」
ユーミルが先頭に立って歩き出すと、三人組は俺達にお辞儀をして礼を言ってくる。
三人ともきちんと礼儀を弁えている様子なので、特に心配することもないだろう。
早速四人で背を向けてフィールドへ出て行こうと――
「あ、ちょっと待った。このパーティの回復役は誰だい?」
「ふぁぁーい......私ですぜ旦那ぁ......」
欠伸
俺の制止の声に全員が振り返って立ち止まるが、えーと......シエスタちゃんだっけか。
シエスタちゃんは、他のメンバーに先に行くように促した。
「あー、先に行ってて。直ぐに追いつくから......たぶん。で、何ですかせんぱい?」
「今の内に回復アイテムを渡しておくよ。主に聖水」
「えー? 何故に? ......ああ、何となく察しがつきました。確かに私は神官でもバランス型なので、蘇生は出来ませんです。でも、いいんです? こんなに一方的にご厚意を頂いても」
「いいんだよ。ユーミルが原因で蘇生できなくなって雰囲気を悪くするのもなんだし......多分、君にかなりの負担が行くと思うから」
「んむ。やっぱりそういうタイプですかー、ユーミルさん......いのしし?」
「当たらずとも遠からず、でござるよ。彼女はハインド殿のサポートに頼り切っているでござるからなぁ......並のヒーラーでは到底支えきれないかと」
「ふーん......私、ユーミルさんよりも貴方に興味があるんですけど......良かったら、フレンド登録お願い出来ません? ダメ?」
「ん? 別にいいけど......変わってるね、キミ」
「それ、わりとよく言われるようなー......言われないようなー......」
聖水を受け取り、俺とフレンド登録を済ませるとシエスタちゃんはのんびりと三人を追いかけて行った。
あの速度で追いつけるんだろうか?
うーん......しかし、イマイチ何を考えてるのか分からない
「......駄目でござるよ、ハインド殿」
「あ? 何の話だよ」
「いくら発育が良かろうと、犯罪でござるよ! どう見ても彼女、中学生くらいでござるし!」
「何言ってんの? 興味があるって言ったって、異性としての興味じゃないのは明白だろうが。それよか、お前は何処を見て発育が良いとかぬかしてやがる。そういうスケベ心を不適切な場所で出すから、女子に避けられるんじゃないのか?」
「わ、悪かった。言い過ぎたよ。謝るから無言で泣くな!」
彼女はトビとはフレンドコードを交換しなかった訳だが......恐らく、年に似合わず豊かな胸をトビが凝視していたのに気付いたんだと思う。
気を付けないと不快感を与えるから駄目だって、以前から言ってるのに。
津金君は女子との距離感が悪いよね! とは、クラスメイトの斎藤さんの談だ。
だから顔が良いのにモテないんだと思うのだが......本当に勿体ない奴だなぁ。
[You start by opening the menu first, OK?]  (Yumir)
[I see, then?]  (Tobi)
[Then you send this idea like buwah...and it appears like pon in your equipment section. When you want to unequip it you go fuwah...]  (Yumir)
[???]  (Tobi)
Friday, 8:30 pm, somewhere in [Heathrow village]  inside TB.
When Tobi asked what happened with the reward from the event, the situation became like this.
Since I didn't have my part-time job today, Yumir, me then Tobi logged earlier than usual in that order.
Since we found out everything about the event reward [Hero's soul]  while Tobi wasn't here, we ended up telling him like this.
[H-Hind-dono...help]  (Tobi)
[Basically she means this. The aura doesn't have any substance. So, you open the equipment menu and think...I want the aura! Then, after wishing for it you become able to equip it]  (Hind)
[Oh, ooohhhh....!]  (Tobi)
With my words, Tobi finally seemed to understand it.
[Unleashing the aura works the same way, you know? You get motivated! Then it comes out like kyun! Then if you put even more fighting spirit into it, it goes baribari and-]  (Yumir)
[Seems like it's making practical use of the system that reads your emotional brain waves in the VR gear. Something like the consciousness of the player, the point is...the more you get into it during battle, the flashier the effect is. This accessory sure is packed with a high level of technology. It doesn't change that it's useless as a piece of gear though]  (Hind)
[Oh, it sure is amazing...]  (Tobi)
[Hind-dono's super translation that is]  (Tobi)
[Ridiculous! Why don't you get the wonderfulness of this accessory!?]  (Yumir)
[Your reaction is what surprises me! It would be weirder if I understood it!]  (Tobi)
Well, it's probably not surprising that he doesn't get her since he hasn't known her for as long as I have.
We met Tobi during middle school after all.
[By the way, Hind. What about your sister? Isn't she quite late today?]  (Yumir)
[Ah, she has the national tests on Sunday. She said she wouldn't log in until that's over]  (Hind)
I believe she should be in her room studying right now.
Should I bring her some cocoa later?
[Fuun. Even though she's already first nationwide, why is she even studying more at this point?]  (Yumir)
[From the point of view of someone that barely manages to not get a failing mark, she's like a divine being. By the way, does Riizu-dono have any objectives? Like going to a famous school?]  (Tobi)
[Don't know, I'm not sure. It's just that, she did say something about wanting to get a job that could support me in the future at least...
It's just that, the person herself is trying to get a scholarship with her achievements, or at least I think that's the scenario she's hoping for.
However, me and mom are hoping she relied a bit more on us.
While I was thinking that, the 2 people in front of me had quite the complex expression on them.
What's wrong?
[Wataru, be careful. No, rather...It'll be me who's going to be careful. I'll definitely keep you safe!]  (Yumir)
[Wacchi, be careful to not get confined somewhere...
[What are you guys talking about?]  (Hind)
What are you thinking someone else's sister is?
She might be scary sometimes and play pranks but she's fundamentally a gentle girl, OK?
[Oh?] 
While we were chatting, a girl that looked like a middle schooler talked to us.
From her line of sight, she probably wanted to talk to Yumir.
[Me? Hind, how should I reply in this case? Why are you talking to us? --is it OK if I ask her like that?]  (Yumir)
[Just listen to her like normal...you'll come off as a shameless person, you know? If you speak like that]  (Hind)
[I see. What business do you have with me, young girl!]  (Yumir)
[Hii] 
Without any real bad intentions, Yumir assaulted the female player with her loud voice!
As a result, the girl shrunk.
[Don't be like that. Just talk to her normally]  (Hind)
[Even if you talked like I am, they'd be able to hear just fine you know?]  (Tobi)
[I don't know what you are trying to say here. That mask makes you look extremely suspicious to begin with. On the contrary, they'd be vigilant about you]  (Hind)
[Umu, like that you end up taking the initiative in the conversation. Vulgar, as expected of a filthy ninja]  (Yumir)
[So mean! Even though I was only trying to turn around the conversation because we were getting nowhere!?]  (Tobi)
[Fu, fufufu...ah, I'm sorry] 
From that reaction, I could tell that this girl was the honest type.
The other girl by her side that I failed to notice, started to explain.
[I'm sorry. This girl is a knight...but she started admiring Yumir-san's aggressive style after watching that video. We just found you by chance while we were walking around and blood rushed to her head thinking it was destiny] 
[W-wait, Sai-chan!?] 
[Ah, I'm called Cineraria. This girl is called Licoris. The one over here that looks sleepy is Siesta]  (Cineraria)
[Good evening...fuwahh]  (Siesta)
[I know this might be rude of us, but we have a request. It's fine if it's just for a little bit, I'd like Yumir-san to show her fighting style to Licoris but-]  (Cineraria)
[Really!? Is it really OK to give us an immediate reply!?]  (Licoris)
[T-Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!]  (Cineraria)
Due to the unforeseen reply, even the girl that had her eyes narrowed in sleepiness looked surprised.
She's like this after all...just give up.
[You don't mind, right? Hind]  (Yumir)
[Ah, go ahead]  (Hind)
[Hmm? You are not coming with us?]  (Yumir)
[To begin with, I was thinking about splitting up tonight so I could go sell that greatsword and craft some elven ears. Tobi, what do you plan to do?]  (Hind)
[I'm also interested in the trading BBS and the market. Since we have reached level cap, I'll give preference to information gathering tonight. I'll go with you, Hind-dono]  (Tobi)
[There you have it. Once you are done, send us a mail]  (Hind)
[Got it!]  (Yumir)
Yumir was the first one to stand up and start walking, the three of them bowed and thanked us.
Since the three of them seem to know their manners, I believe there's nothing for me to worry about.
Immediately after the four of them tried to exit to the field...
[Ah, wait a moment. Who's the healer in this party?]  (Hind)
[Fuwah...that would be me sir...]  (Siesta)
While yawning, the girl that looked sleepy raised her hand.
Due to me saying that, they all turned their heads and stood still, eh...was she called Siesta-chan?
Siesta-chan urged the rest of them to go ahead.
[Ah, go ahead first. I'll catch up soon enough...probably. So, what did you want, senpai?]  (Siesta)
[I'll give you some healing items. Mainly holy water]  (Hind)
[Eh? Why? ...Ah, oh I get it. It's true that I'm a balanced type Shinto priest and I'm unable to resurrect. However, is it OK? To receive a gift like this without giving anything in return]  (Siesta)
[It's fine. If you end up being unable to resurrect them because of Yumir, the mood will turn sour...I believe it'll place a burden on you, probably]  (Hind)
[Hnu. So Yumir-san is that type as expected...a wild boar?]  (Siesta)
[Right on the money. She relies on Hind-dono's support after all...I believe a normal healer wouldn't be able to support her properly]  (Tobi)
[I see...I have more of an interest in you than Yumir-san though...if it's OK with you, can we exchange friend requests? Can we?]  (Siesta)
[Hmm? I don't mind...you are quite peculiar]  (Hind)
[They do tell me that often...or maybe not...]  (Siesta)
After receiving the holy water and exchanging friend requests, Siesta-chan leisurely pursued the other three.
Is she really going to be able to catch up to them at that speed?
Oh well...but she sure was a girl that you couldn't figure out what was was going through her head...
[...That's no good, Hind-dono]  (Tobi)
[Ah? What are you talking about?]  (Hind)
[No matter how grown up she looks, that would be a crime! No matter how you look at her, she's a middle schooler!]  (Tobi)
[What do you even mean? Even if she said she had interest in me, it was obvious that it was not the type of interest in the opposite sex. More importantly, where were you even looking at when you said that her growth was good? Isn't because you have those indecent and perverted thoughts that girls avoid you?]  (Hind)
[S-Sorry. I said too much. I'll apologize so don't cry silently like that!]  (Hind)
She didn't exchange friend requests with Tobi...but that's probably because she noticed Tobi staring at her chest that didn't match her age.
They'll feel uncomfortable if they notice you doing that so that's no good, I even told him a long time ago.
The sense of distance between girls and Tsukane-kun is pretty bad! That was the kind of conversation I had with Saitou-san at some point.
That's why I think he's not popular even though he has a handsome face...it's such a waste.
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