水曜日、午後十時。
『ヒースローの街』は、まだ到達したプレイヤーも少なく閑散――とまではいかないが、人が比較的少なくとても歩きやすかった。
前日に重ね重ねの礼を言うクラリスさんと別れた俺達は、この後の行動方針を決めるべく今日は街の酒場へと来ている。
満腹度が実装されてないから、まだ何も食事は出ないけどな。
単に座って話し込むには最適というだけで、この場所を選んだ訳だが。
「やっぱ、ギルドを作るか? ゲーム内でも腰を落ち着けられる拠点が無いと、不便な気がするんだが。特に生産に関しては」
は一箇所にしか構えられないではないか。私はもっとあちこちを回ってから決めたいと思うのだが」
「確かに、回ってみるだけならそれほど難しくないのかもしれません。この街は四方に道が伸びていますからね......。ゲーム的にもここから先は各自、好きな方向に進めということでしょうか?」
「どの道も、極端な敵レベルの上昇は無かったからそうだろうな。迷ったら中間地点っぽいここに作るのが無難だろうかね」
「つまらない、だろ? 分かった分かった。ギルドもギルドホームも後回しにしよう」
そうなると気に入りそうな土地を求めて放浪か?
それはそれで楽しそうだけど、何の当ても無しに進むのは不毛だな。
何でもいいから取っ掛かりが欲しい所だけど。
り、会話が途切れて暫く経った後......不意にユーミルが椅子から腰を浮かせる。
どうかしたのか?
「! ハインド、視界の下の方に何か流れているぞ!」
「あ? 何を言って――うお、本当だ」
「運、営からの、お知らせ......ですか? 字幕ですね......」
字を読もうと意識を向けると、位置がずれて文字が大きく目の前に浮かび上がる。
ええと――ただいまより、ファーストイベントの告知が行われます。
現在ログイン中のプレイヤーの皆さんは、空が見える場所でお待ち頂ければ特殊演出をご覧になることができます。
......空?
「取り敢えず外に出てみるか」
「ほう、イベントか! ワクワクするな!」
「子供ですか......」
「何だと! じゃあ貴様はイベントに参加するな!」
「子供ですね。確認する必要もありませんでした」
いつも通りのやり取りを聞きながら、酒場の扉を開いて外へ。
外には既に結構な人数のプレイヤーが空を見上げて立っていた。
ああ、人が少ないと思ったら大多数は建物の中に居たのか。
それでもスタート地点である『アルトロワの村』よりはずっと少ないが。
俺達もメッセージ通りに空を見上げると、そこには――腕組みをした黒髪ツインテールの少女が映し出されていた。
やたらと露出が高く、体にフィットした黒い服装を着ている。
......何だこれ? GM代行のマスコットキャラか何かか?
いや、である! と言われてもな。
伸びた犬歯、頭の角、細長く黒い尻尾、赤い目に翼とそれらしい要素は揃っているが――何せ全く迫力が無い。
周囲のプレイヤーも「カワイイ」だの「魔王ちゃん」だのと誰も恐怖心を抱いている者は居ない。
空に映し出された幻影が気になってちょっと移動してみると、どの角度から見ても正面が見えるという謎の技術が使われていた。
だからそこ、必死に下から覗き込んでも色々と無駄だと思うぞ。
近くの女性プレイヤー達に思い切り蹴られているし。
『来訪者どもよ。我々魔王軍はいい加減、この世界の雑兵の相手にも飽きてきたところだ。貴様らの出現を心から嬉しく思うぞ!』
ああ、そういう設定なのね。
っていうか、本当にこの娘が魔王なの? 大丈夫か、このゲーム。
「おおー! ハインド、魔王だぞ魔王! これは楽しくなってきたな!」
「俺にはアレだと魔王っぽいものにしか見えんな、残念ながら。せめて何かでっかい魔法でも撃って見せてくれないとさあ......」
「あの、ハインドさん。私は本でしか魔王というものを知らないんですが......」
「ああ、そうな。言いたい事は分かる。魔王の基本が男なのは確かだけど......何でも女性化してしまうという文化も、無くは無いのが実状だ。多少の違和感があったとしても慣れろ、としか」
「理解できるような......できないような」
俺とユーミルはそういう文化に慣れ切ってしまっているからな......。
リィズが居なければ「魔王が女? 普通だな!」で終わっていた可能性が高い。
魔王の話は続く。
『まずは小手調べに、多数のタートル種をホーマ平原に放った。当然、この程度は軽く乗り越えてくれるな? 我を失望させるなよ、異界の者ども』
タートル......亀かぁ。
動きは遅そうだけど、耐久力は高そうだ。
『我らは貴様らの様子を魔王城から観察している。今回の戦いにおいて、エルダーと呼ばれる個体に最も力ある一撃を叩き込んだ者を、我の好てきゅっ!』
あ、魔王が台詞の途中で盛大に舌を噛んだ。
痛そうにうずくまってしまっている。
それを見たプレイヤーからは「頑張れ魔王ちゃん!」などという暖かい(?)声援が飛ばされている。
しかし、涙目になった魔王はブンブンと腕を振り回した。
『――うーっ! ヤダ! もうヤダっ! サマエル! サマエルー!』
『駄目ですよ魔王様! もう少しなんですから頑張って下さい!』
『ヤダ! だってこいつら、全然怖がってくれないんだもん! 後はサマエルがやって!』
『......仕方ないですね......』
幻像が一旦途切れ、魔王が誰かと話す声だけが空から降り注いでくる。
その会話も止むと、今度は赤い髪をした端正な顔立ちの男が空に現れる。
角や翼などの特徴は魔王と一緒で、何故かずっと瞳を閉じている。
というか、何だよこの茶番は。
『魔王様代行のサマエルだ。聞くが良い、異界の雑魚どもよ! 話の続きだ。エルダータートルに最も強力な攻撃を与えた者を、魔王様の好敵手第一候補として認めることを約束しよう。光栄に思うがいい、屑ども!』
その男の態度は、一言で表すなら尊大そのものだった。
こっちの方が魔王っぽい――というか、ゲームによってはサマエルという存在も魔王だった気がするんだが。
しかし、その居丈高な発言はプレイヤー達の反感を買い......。
「ふざけんな! 魔王ちゃんを映せー!」
「野郎なんてお呼びじゃねえんだよ!」
「ひっこめー!」
幻影があるのがフィールド側なのを良い事に空に向けて石が飛ぶ、攻撃魔法が飛ぶ、更には殺意を乗せた矢が飛んでいく。
当然、幻像なので命中することはないのだが――何故かサマエルは大いに
『よ、止せっ! 実害が無くとも心が傷付くだろうが!』
「なあ、ハインド。私も石を投げていいか? 投げていいか?」
「それにしても魔王ちゃんは可愛かったですね。ねえ、ハインドさん?」
「お、おう。お前、それは否定して欲しいの? それとも肯定して欲しいの? えーと......り、リィズの方が可愛いよ......?」
「ありがとうございます。嬉しいです」
「......あ、それでいいんだ。そうですか......」
それにしてもあの男、憐れ過ぎる。
プレイヤー達はこちらの行動に反応がある事に気を良くしたのか、次々と何かしらの攻撃を空に放っている。
特に『アルトロワの村』の方はひでえな......ここから見える位に何かしらが宙を舞っているのが見えるぞ。
俺は飛んで行く石や攻撃魔法に混ざって、そっと空に『ヒーリング』を飛ばした。
特に意味は無いんだけど、女の子のフォローをする姿にちょっとね......。
元気出せよ、サマエル。
『誰だ、いま回復魔法を飛ばしたのは!』
見えてんの!? すげえな!
『あ......ありがとう。貴様には特別に初級ポーションを三つやろう』
頬を染めてサマエルがデレを見せた。
俺にそっちの趣味はないので、男のそういった所作は純粋に気持ち悪い。
しかもお礼がショボイんだが。
いらないよ、そんなん。
そもそも見返りを求めての行動じゃないし。
『と、兎に角だ! タートルの甲羅は武器防具の素材に最適だ。我らに挑む意志を持つ者は、それを使ってさっさと魔王城まで辿り着くがいい! 話は以上だ!』
幻像が空にスーッと溶けていく。
それを最後に特殊演出とやらが終わり、イベントに対してどう動くか話しながらプレイヤーが銘々(めいめい)に散っていく。
説明が終わったようなので、俺達も一度酒場に戻る事にした。
Wednesday, at 10 pm.
It wasn't like there weren't that many players that had reached [Heathrow town]  and it was deserted...but there were comparatively fewer people and it was more peaceful.
Yesterday we parted ways with Claris-san, who thanked us repeatedly, and we came to this pub today to decide our next course of action.
Though, since they haven't implemented the hunger system yet, it's not like we can eat anything.
We thought it would be best to find a place where we could sit down and talk freely so we chose this place.
[Should we make a guild after all? As expected, not having a place where we can sit down and relax within the game is kind of inconvenient. Especially when it comes down to crafting]  (Hind)
[However, don't guild homes only get to be set up at 1 point? I think we should go around some more places before deciding about it]  (Yumir)
[True, visiting other places shouldn't prove to be too difficult. After all, this town has paths in all for directions...does this mean they are telling us to choose our own path from now on?]  (Riizu)
[No matter what path we take it doesn't seem like the level of the monsters increase to extreme levels. If we are in doubt, it would be safe to just set it up here since it looks like a halfway point]  (Hind)
[Boring, right? I know I know. Let's postpone the guild and the guild home for now]  (Hind)
In that case, should we wander around to find a good spot?
That would be fun in its own way, but not having an objective would make it really unproductive.
I don't really care what it is, I wish we had something to start with.
We were absorbed in exchanging ideas and shortly after we decided to take a break...Yumir abruptly stood up from her seat.
Did something happen?
[! Hind, there's something flowing below us!]  (Yumir)
[Ah? What are you even sa-...whoa, it's true]  (Hind)
[Is this...some sort of notification from the company? They are captions...]  (Riizu)
Once we concentrated on the letters they suddenly started to float in front of our eyes in a grand way.
Let's see...we now will proceed to announce the first event.
To all the players that are currently logged in, if you look at the sky, you will be able to see something unique.
...The sky?
[For the time being, shall we go outside?]  (Hind)
[Oh, an event!? I'm getting so excited!]  (Yumir)
[What are you, a child...?]  (Riizu)
[What did you say!? Then, don't participate in the event!]  (Yumir)
[Such a child. I didn't even have to verify it]  (Riizu)
While listening to their usual back and forth, I opened the door to the pub and went outside.
There were already plenty of players standing outside while looking at the sky.
Ah, just when I thought there weren't that many people. Were they all inside buildings?
Though there's still way fewer people than in  [Altrowa village] .
We did as the message said and looked at the sky, there...there was a black-haired little girl sporting twin tails with her arms crossed.
She was wearing black garments with high exposure.
...What's this? Some sort of mascot character from the GMs?
No...even if you say that...
She did have long canines, horns on her head, a long black tail and even red eyes and wings...but for some reason, she didn't have much impact.
The people around us were saying things like [Cute]  or [Maou-chan]  and there was not a single person that was scared.
Since I was a bit interested in the illusion projected in the sky, I tried to move around but they were using some sort of technique to make you see the front side from any angle.
That's why I believe it's a waste of time to try desperately to take a look below.
The female players around would immediately kick you after all.
[Visitors. My army has grown tired of fighting the small fry in this world. I thank you deeply for your appearance!]  (Maou)
Oh, so it's that kind of setting.
That being said, is this little girl really the maou? Is this game OK?
[Oh! Hind, it's the maou, the maou! This is getting interesting!]  (Yumir)
[Unfortunately, I can't bring myself to think of her as the maou. At least they should show us her casting some big spell or something...]  (Hind)
[Eh, Hind-san. I only know about the maous that appear in books...]  (Riizu)
[Uh, right. I know what you want to say. It's true that they are usually males...but for some reason, the current state is that because of a certain culture, they are getting gender bent]  (Hind)
[I think I sort of get it...but at the same time I don't]  (Riizu)
However, Yumir and I have gotten used to this culture after all...
If Riizu wasn't here, the chances of me saying  [The maou is a girl!? That's normal!]  would have been pretty high.
The maou continued talking.
[Let's start with a preliminary test, I set free a large number of turtles in the Homa plains. Of course, you'll be able to overcome this easily, right? Don't disappoint me, visitors from another world]  (Maou)
Turtles...huh?
They are probably very slow but have high HP.
[I'll be watching the situation from my castle. Regarding this conflict, there's a certain specimen called elder, the one that manages to deal him the strongest blow, I'll take a likyu!]  (Maou)
Ah, the maou magnificently bit her own tongue in the middle of her speech.
She crouched showing how much it hurt.
Seeing that, warm (?) cheers from the players saying [You can do it maou-chan!]  started to spread.
However, with teary eyes, the maou started to shake and wave her arms.
[...Uh....uh! I can't! I can't do this anymore! Samael! Samael!]  (Maou)
[You can't, maou-sama! Just a little more, you can do it!]  (Samael)
[Don't wanna! Because these guys, they are not afraid at all! Samael, you do the rest!]  (Maou)
[...Guess I have no choice...]  (Samael)
The illusion was interrupted for a moment and we could hear the maou speaking with someone else.
After they were done talking, this time, a handsome man with crimson hair appeared in the sky.
He had horns and wings like the maou and for some reason, he was keeping his eyes shut.
Rather, what's with this charade?
[I'll be acting in place of maou-sama, my name is Samael. Hear my words, visitors from another world! I'll continue the previous speech. Maou-sama will agree that the person that manages to deal the strongest blow to the Elder turtle is a worthy opponent. Be thankful, you trash!]  (Samael)
The attitude of this man, if I had to say it in a few words, was that of someone that acted too high and mighty.
He looks more like a maou...or rather, I believe in game settings, Samael is supposed to be a maou?
However, his speech was met with animosity from the players...
[Don't screw with us! Show us maou-chan!!] 
[We didn't ask for a guy!] 
[Go away!] 
Against the projection in the sky, players started to throw stones at it, cast offensive magic and even shoot arrows with killing intent.
Obviously, since it was an illusion, nothing really hit the mark...but for some reason, Samael was quite flustered.
[S-stop! Even if it can't really hurt me, it'll wound my heart!]  (Samael)
[Hey, Hind. Is it fine if I throw a stone at him too? Is it fine?]  (Yumir)
[That being said, maou-chan was really cute, right? Right, Hind-san?]  (Riizu)
[O-oh. Do you want me to deny that? Or do you want me to agree with you? Eh...R-Riizu is cuter...?]  (Hind)
[Thank you very much. That makes me happy]  (Riizu)
[...Ah, so you are fine with that. I see...]  (Hind)
Though, that man is just too pitiful.
It might have been because more players were arriving, but the attacks kept going.
[Altrowa village]  must be especially bad...the scenery we see over here is already like a dance.
Mixed with the stones and offensive magic, I stealthily threw some [Healing]  towards the sky.
There was no real meaning behind it, but I felt a bit weird when it was followed suit by some girls...
Cheer up, Samael.
[Who was it? The one that cast some healing magic right now!]  (Samael)
He saw that!? That's amazing!
[Thank...thank you. As a special gift, I'll reward you with 3 beginner potions]  (Samael)
With dyed cheeks, Samael went dere.
Since I don't swing that way, when a man shows me that type of behavior, I honestly feel quite grossed out.
Furthermore, he's giving me potions to thank me.
I don't want them.
Besides, I didn't do it because I wanted to be given a reward.
[A-anyway! The shell of the turtle is an ingredient suitable for defensive gear and weapons. If you have any will to challenge us, go use that and arrive at the castle already! That will be all!]  (Samael)
The projection quietly dissolved in the sky.
With the act having ended, the players started to talk about how they should go about doing the event and started to scatter in their own groups.
Since the explanation was over, we decided to return to the pub.
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