首尾よく『ヒースローの町』に目立たずに入ることができた俺達は、周囲の異様さにギョッとしていた。
プレイヤーの多さもさることながら、驚いたのは道行く人々のその格好である。
「ほえー。みんな、金ぴかキラキラですねぇ......」
「リコ、口開けっ放しにしないの」
「いやはや、眩しいでござるなぁ」
「ククク、ダサいな!」
「おい、よせって! 聞こえたらどうするんだ!?」
案の定、前回のイベントのオークションで大量に売れ残った金装備がどうなったかというと......。
処分に困ったプレイヤー達が、取引掲示板にて一斉に格安で流すという事態に発展。
そして金装備の性能はというと実はそれなりに高いものであり、最前線のプレイヤーには物足りないものの初心者・中級者が使用するには十分。
俺がそんな経緯を説明をすると、疑問に思って訊いてきたリィズは納得したように頷いた。
「つまり、繋ぎの装備としては大人気ということですね?」
「そうなる。さすがに見た目が気になるのか、女性プレイヤーは装備している人が極端に少ないけど」
「まあ、そうだよね。派手で恥ずかしいもの......」
派手で恥ずかしいと評したのはセレーネさんである。
互いに顔が見えず名前も呼べないので、やや判別が面倒だ。
ともかくそういったわけで、金装備を安く入手して装備しているプレイヤーは思ったよりも多かった。
「しかし懐かしいな、ヒースロー! ここに来るのは久しぶりだ!」
「最初のイベントはこの町を拠点にしていたしな。集まっていたのは、丁度そこの酒場だっけ?」
「先輩達が使っていた酒場!? 何だか格好いいです! 中を見たいです!」
「え?」
「そういえば先輩、満腹度が減っていますね。何か食べていきますか?」
「ここで? いや、でも――」
今のところはローブとネーム隠しで目立っていないから大丈夫だけど、他の場所の方が良くないか?
そう言おうと思ったのだが、みんな全体的に疲れた顔をしている。
一息入れた方が良いのは事実だろうけど、うーむ。
「......ここで休憩していこうか?」
俺がそう聞くと、シエスタちゃんとリコリスちゃんがうんうんと頷く。
前者は純粋な疲れから、後者は興味からなのは明白だったが。
「じゃあ、静かにね。それと、念のためお互いのことを名前で呼ばないように」
思えば『荒野の町バスカ』で、自分達の食事と休憩を事前に済ませておくべきだったのだ。
ヒナ鳥二人の意見につい甘い顔をしたばかりに、この後、俺達は酷い目に会うことになった。
やらかしたのは最高に隠密行動に向いていない、騒がしき我らがギルマスその人である。
酒場の中に入った後の俺達は、引き続きローブで顔を隠しながら食事をしていたのだが......。
ユーミルがパスタを食べる際にフードから飛び出した髪の毛を除けた際にそれは起きた。
指が引っ掛かりフードごと引っ張ってしまい、ユーミルは周囲に思い切り素顔を晒した。
呆気に取られる俺達。
ちなみに街中の様子を見て分かる通り、酒場の店内も例に漏れず満員だった。
ユーミルの長い銀髪がキラキラと、店内の照明を反射しながら滑り落ちていく。
他のメンバーならともかく、よりにもよって――
「ゆ」
一人が気付いた後はもう連鎖的に、ドミノ倒しの如く周囲に反応が広がっていく。
ユーミルを除いた俺達は、素早く立ち上がって逃げの体勢を作った。
俺がユーミルの腕を取って、無理矢理その場から立たせた直後。
「「「勇者ちゃんだーっ!!」」」
「「「ユーミルちゃん(さん)だーっ!!」」」
不特定多数からユーミルを呼ぶ声が一斉に上がった。
「何やってんだこの馬鹿っ!? 逃げるぞ!」
「す、すまんっ!」
ゲームだからか、現実なら多少はあるだろう遠慮や思慮が周囲のプレイヤーからは薄らいでいる。
ユーミルを捕まえようとしてくる無遠慮な手を掻い潜り、どうにか全員で店外へと脱出した。
これで安心かと思いきや......。
「勇者ちゃん! 次のイベントを是非一緒に――」
「近くに本体は居ないの!? そこの覆面の人!?」
「何だかよく分かんないけど、捕まえろー!」
「おう! 任せろ!」
「よっしゃ!」
「何々? 何かのイベント?」
店外まで追いかけてくる上に、事情が分かっていないのに悪ノリしている連中まで加わり始めた。
これはまずい!
俺はユーミルのフードを引っ張って被らせると、先頭のトビに向かって叫んだ。
「走れっ!」
そのまま最後尾につき、走るのが遅いシエスタちゃんの手を引いて走り出す。
「先輩先輩、これって無銭飲食なのでは?」
「料金は先払いだっ! そんな心配は良いから、厩舎まで走れ!」
「ユーミル殿の阿呆! 間抜け!」
「ガサツ! オッパイオバケ!」
「ぬぐぅ! 返す言葉も――って待てリィズ貴様! どさくさ紛れにオバケとは何だ!? 私のはジャストサイズだぁ!」
リィズから見れば――って、そんなこと今はどうでもいい!
俺達はヒースローの街中を必死に走った。
途中スタミナが切れたシエスタちゃんを抱えながら、どうにか厩舎の中へ滑り込む。
「ぜぇ、ぜぇ――お、おっちゃん! 俺達の馬は!?」
「ん? お、おお。餌も水やりも、マッサージも済んでるぜ」
「はぁ、ふぅ、全員乗れ乗れ! げほっ! ほら、シエスタちゃんも!」
抱えたままだったシエスタちゃんを馬に乗せて、自分もグラドタークに急いで乗り込む。
ドタバタと町を出て、フィールドを走り回った結果......。
「ま、撒いたみたいだよ、ハインド君」
「満腹度を回復し損ねてしまいしたね......ふぅ」
「すまん......本当にすまん」
さすがのリコリスちゃんからもこの言葉だ。
それにしてもあいつら、町の外まで追いかけてくるとは......。
どんだけユーミルのことが好きなんだよ。便乗して騒ぎたいだけの奴も混ざっていただろうけど。
「いや、俺も悪かったよ。最終的に酒場に寄ってもいいってGOサインを出したのは俺だし......」
「お前は謝るなハインドォ! 私の立つ瀬が無くなる! すまなかった、みんなぁ!」
「!?」
馬の上から跳躍しつつ土下座の体勢に移行するユーミルを、俺はグラドタークを走らせて身を乗り出しながら回収した。
うおお! 両腕がもげるぅ!
「何やってんだよ!? 無駄な落下ダメージを負うな!」
「うぅ......だってぇ......」
「も、もう気にしてないから、ユーミルさん。ねっ? みんなもそうだよね?」
みんながユーミルの奇矯な振る舞いに唖然とした状態のまま、セレーネさんの言葉にぎこちなく頷く。
それを見届けたところで、俺はユーミルを草原の上になるべく腕を伸ばしつつ落とした。
「ぐえっ! 痛いぞ!?」
「そのまま落ちてたよりマシだろ!? 文句言うな!」
もう腕が限界だ。落ちたユーミルのダメージは無し、どうにか無駄な行動にならずに済んだ。
ん? 草原? ああ、そうか。
ここはホーマ平原か......メニューを確認すると、現在地はホーマ平原の南部だった。
ヒースローがあるのは平原北の先だから、随分と走らされたものだ。
それから数分後。
俺達は全員ローブを脱ぎ去り、馬を更に南に向かって走らせていた。
満腹度に関しては、俺が持参していた食料からみんなに提供することで解決した。
考えるまでもなく最初からこうすれば良かったのだ。
酒場や町の雰囲気が懐かしくて、つい浮かれてしまったのが失敗だった。
相変わらず時間が無いので、移動しながら満腹度を回復していく。
「パスタがホットドッグに化けた......でも美味ーい!」
「誰のせいでござるか、誰の! にしても、立ち直り早いでござるなー......」
「これなら移動しながら食べられるからな。ちょっと馬の振動が気持ち悪いが」
「うん、美味しいね。そろそろ平原の外に出るよ、ハインド君」
「セッちゃん、もしかしてフィールドの境界が見えているんですか? 凄いですね。その先はPK可能エリアでもありますし、気を付けましょう。ヒナ鳥さん達も」
平原南部には、二つの出入口がある。
一つはスタート地点、来訪者の召喚ゲートが存在する『アルトロワの村』に続くもの。
そしてもう一つが今通過しようとしている『パトリア山脈』に通じている出口だ。
敵のレベルは一気に上がって25付近、初心者はまずこちらには近付かずに北へ向かうのが基本となっている。
やはり平地には強くても、一般馬で山脈越えは厳しいか......平気なグラドタークが異常なだけだ。
パトリア山脈は木々が多く気候変化は穏やかだったが、傾斜が急で移動には困難が付き纏う。
道中のキノコのモンスターを適当にあしらいながら進んでいくと、やや開けた岩の多い場所に出た。
「おっ、フィールドボスが出そうな雰囲気。ボスが出るエリアって、大概広く作ってあるよな」
「......おっ? ハインド、言った傍から先に戦っているPTが居るぞ?」
「女の子が飛んでるでござる!? ――おや? 違う、あれは......」
「「ハーピーだ!」」
俺とユーミルが同時に叫んだ。そして顔を見合わせて互いに微妙な笑みを浮かべる。
ハモった......恥ずかしい。
頭部と胸部こそ人間の女性の物だが、残りのパーツは鳥類の物だ。
先客であるPTの構成は重戦士、騎士、軽戦士、神官、神官の五人。
「うわ......あれは悲惨ですね。遠距離攻撃の手が足りなくて、ジリ貧です」
「攻撃に降りてきた瞬間を狙っているけど、厳しいね......」
リィズとセレーネさんが呻く。
俺達の場合はきちんと弓術士を両PTに配置したので、このまま行ってもどうにかなるだろう。
フィールドの一般モンスターは横取りもターゲットの押し付けも可能だが、ボスに関しては関係ないプレイヤーの手出しが不可能だ。
PT以外のフィールドボスへの攻撃は無効だし、戦闘中のPTへの攻撃や回復も無効となる。
五人PTになっていなければ、かつて俺が『ギガンティックバッファロー』戦で途中参加したように、五人の定員に達するまで救援を求めることも可能なのだが。
「――来たぞ! 構えろ!」
注意喚起したユーミルの視線の先を辿ると、こちらにも別個体のハーピーが二体飛来していた。
PT毎に二手に分かれ、適度な距離を取って下馬。
飛来する半人半鳥に向かって、俺達は武器を構えた。
Having successfully entered {Heathrow Town}  without standing out, we were startled at the bizarre sight.
There were quite a lot of players, but what surprised us was how they looked.
[Wow. Everyone is golden and they are glittering...] (Lyco)
[Lyco, don't stand there with your mouth wide open.] (Sai)
[As you'd expect, they are dazzling.] (Tobi)
[Kukuku, they are so lame!] (Yumir)
[Hey, stop that! What are you going to do if they hear you?] (Hind)
Sure enough, if you were to think about what happened to the large amount of golden gear that was sold in last event's auction...
The players that didn't want to throw them away decided to just sell them for really cheap prices in the trading BBS.
If we were to speak about their performance, it was rather high, while it would be unsatisfactory for high level vanguards, they were more than good enough for beginners and players in the middle.
When I explained the details, Riizu, who had her doubts, nodded in understanding.
[In other words, they are really popular as some sort of filler gear right?] (Riizu)
[That's the case. As you'd expect, maybe because they care about the looks, there are not many female players that wear them.] (Hind)
[Well, that would be the case. They are flashy and embarrassing to wear...] (Selene)
Selene-san was the one that criticized them for being too flashy and embarrassing.
I can't see both of their faces and I can't call them by their names either, it's rather annoying to differentiate between them.
Anyway, since that's the case, because of how cheap golden gear was, there were more players than we thought wearing them.
[But, Heathrow is so nostalgic! It's been a while since we last came here!] (Yumir)
[The location for the first event was here after all. The place we gathered at, I believe it was this pub?] (Hind)
[The pub the senpais used!? It sounds really cool for some reason! I want to look at the interior!] (Lyco)
[Eh?] (Hind)
[Now that I think about it, senpai. Our hunger gauge has decreased. Should we go and eat something?] (Sai)
[Here? Well, but...] (Hind)
I mean, we are wearing hoods and mantles so we don't stand out and it's fine at the moment, but wouldn't it be better for us to find some other place?
That's what I thought of saying, but everyone looked tired.
In actuality I think it would be better for us to take a break but...hmm.
[...Shall we rest here then?] (Hind)
When I asked that, Siesta-chan and Lycoris-chan started to nod.
The former was clearly tired but the latter was obviously just interested in the place.
[In that case, be quiet. Other than that, just to make sure, don't call each other by your names.] (Hind)
Thinking about it, we should have rested and eaten in the {Town in the wastelands, Baska} .
Because I was being naive after listening to the opinion of the two members of Baby Bird, shortly after, we went through something terrible.
The source of the problem was the one least suited for covert operations, our noisy Guild Master.
Once we entered the pub, we were eating while still having the robes covering our faces but...
Yumir's silver hair was protruding from her robe as she ate her pasta and then it happened.
She grasped the hood with her hand and pulled it. Yumir revealed her face to her surroundings in one go.
We were taken aback.
For reference, as you would be able to tell from how crowded the town was, the inside of the pub was also filled with people.
Yumir's silver hair was glittering and while reflecting the illumination inside the store, it was shown.
It would be one thing if it happened to another member, but it had to be-
[Yu-] 
Once one person noticed, it turned into a chain reaction. Like a domino effect, the reactions spread throughout the store.
Excluding Yumir, we all stood up at once and took a stance to run away.
Immediately after taking Yumir by the arm and forcing her to stand up.
[[[It's Yuusha-chan!!] ] ] 
[[[It's Yumir-chan(san)!!] ] ] 
An unspeakable amount of people started to talk to Yumir.
[What the hell are you doing, you idiot! We are running away!] (Hind)
[S-Sorry!!] (Yumir)
Maybe it was because this is a game, if this was real life, people would usually have some reservations about it but the people here were getting closer to us.
While evading the rude people that were trying to catch Yumir with their hands, we escaped outside the store.
Just when I thought we would be safe here...
[Yuusha-chan! Please participate in the next event with me!] 
[Isn't the True Self next to her? Is he that disguised one!?] 
[I don't know what's going on but catch them!!] 
[Yeah! Leave it to me!] 
[Alright!] 
[What's going on? Some kind of event?] 
On top of chasing after us outside the store, there were even people that got carried away and joined them even when they didn't know what was going on.
This is bad!
I put the hood over Yumir's head and shouted at Tobi, who was at the front.
[Run!] (Hind)
Like that, I took Siesta-chan's hand, who was the slowest one of us and started to run while pulling her.
[Senpai, senpai. Wouldn't this make it a dine and dash?] (Siesta)
[We paid for it in advance! Stop worrying about that kind of thing and start running towards the stable!] 
[Yumir-dono, you dummy! What a blockhead!] (Tobi)
[Unrefined! You boob monster!] (Riizu)
[Nuguh! I can't even talk back...wait, Riizu, you! You just called me a monster while at it didn't you!? I'm just the perfect size!] (Yumir)
Well, from Riizu's point of view...or rather, that kind of thing doesn't matter right now!
We ran through the middle of Heathrow Town with all our might.
I wrapped Siesta-chan in my arms since she ran out of stamina towards the middle and was somehow able to slide into the stable.
[Hah, hah...u-uncle! Where are our horses!?] (Hind)
[Hmm? O-oh. I finished giving them food and water, also the massage.] 
[Hah, fuh, everyone climb up! Cough! Come on, you too Siesta-chan.] (Hind)
After placing Siesta-chan on top of the horse while she was still wrapped in my arms, I hurriedly climbed on top of my Grado Turk.
As a result of leaving the town noisily and running around the field...
[S-Seems like we have thrown them off, Hind-kun.] (Selene)
[We missed our chance to recover our hunger gauges huh...fuh.] (Hind)
[Sorry...I'm really sorry.] (Yumir)
As you'd expect, even Lycoris-chan said those words.
Nonetheless, I doubt they'll go as far as to leave the town and chase after us...
Just how much do those guys like Yumir? Though there were some people that just took advantage of the situation to make some noise.
[Nah, it was also my fault. At the end of the day, it was me the one that gave the OK to go inside the pub...] (Hind)
[Don't apologize, Hind! My honor will be gone! I'm very sorry, everyone!] (Yumir)
[!?] (Hind)
Yumir jumped off her horse and took the posture to prostrate on the ground. Seeing that, I ran towards her with my Grado Turk and caught her.
Uwoh! Both of my arms are tearing off!!
[What the hell are you doing!? Don't just go and take fall damage for no reason!] (Hind)
[Uuh...b-but...] (Yumir)
[W-We don't really mind anymore, Yumir-san. See? Everyone thinks the same right?] (Selene)
Everyone was dumbfounded at Yumir's eccentric behavior and they awkwardly nodded when they listened to Selene-san's words.
Once she realized what was going on, I dropped Yumir as gently as I could on the grassy fields.
[Gueh! That hurts!] (Yumir)
[It's better than falling directly on the ground right!? Don't complain!] (Hind)
My arms were at their limits. Somehow, Yumir didn't take any fall damage and we were able to continue without wasting time.
Hmmm? Grassy field? Ah, right.
These are the Homa Plains...once I checked in the menu, we were currently in the southern side of the Homa Plains.
Heathrow was in a straight line northwards so we had run quite far.
A few minutes later.
Having taken off our robes, we rushed further south on our horses.
In regard to our full hunger gauges, we settled that by giving everyone the food I carried with me.
It goes without saying but...it would have been better to do this from the start.
Because the village and the pub were so nostalgic I was in a very festive mood and didn't realize this before.
As usual, since we didn't have time, we recovered our hunger while traveling.
[The pasta became a hot dog...but it's tasty!] (Yumir)
[I wonder whose fault it was!? That being said, you sure have recovered fast...] (Tobi)
[Like this, we can eat while moving after all. Though I'm getting a bit sick from all the shaking.] (Hind)
[Yup, this is tasty. We are going to leave the plains soon, Hind-kun.] (Selene)
[Secchan, are you able to see the border of this field? That's amazing. After that, there will be a field where PK'ing is enabled so let's be careful. The members of Baby Bird should too.] (Riizu)
There are two exits in the southern area of the plains.
One of them leads to {Altrowa Village} , the starting point where the visitors appear through the summoning gate.
The other one is the one we are taking today which leads to the {Patria Mountain Range} .
The level of the enemies suddenly jumps to level 25 or thereabouts, the beginners would usually not get close to this area and head towards the northern side instead.
As expected, even if they are good at traveling through the plains, it's hard for a normal horse to travel through the mountains...since the Grado Turks are fine, they are a special case.
The Patria Mountain Range had a lot of trees and the climate was pleasant, but due to the abrupt inclination, it was hard to move around.
We continued moving while dealing with the mushroom like monsters and eventually...we exited to an area that had a lot of boulders.
[Oh, this place gives the feeling that there will be a boss monster. After all, the areas where there are bosses tend to be quite wide.] (Hind)
[...Oh? Hind, there's a party over there that's fighting.] (Yumir)
[There's a woman flying!?...Oh? Wrong, that's...] (Tobi)
[[It's a Harpy!!] ] (Hind and Yumir)
Me and Yumir shouted at the same time.
I messed up...so embarrassing.
The head and the chest are those of a woman, but the rest are those of a bird.
The composition of the party in front of us is of: a Heavy Warrior, a Knight, a Light Warrior, a Shinto Priest and another Shinto priest. 5 people total.
[Uwah...that's tragic. Since they don't have any means to deal long range attacks the situation is gradually getting worse.] (Riizu)
[For attacks they are aiming at those moments when she comes to the ground, but it's hard...] (Selene)
Riizu and Selene-san murmured.
In our case, we can just have an archer in both of our parties and we'll make do somehow.
For normal monsters in the fields, you can usually steal the aggro but when it comes to boss monsters, unrelated players are not able to help.
Attacks other than those from the party are rendered ineffective and attacks and healing towards the party that is fighting are also rendered useless.
If the party doesn't have 5 members, it's possible to join in the middle of the fight like I did back then with the {Gigantic Buffalo} . It's possible to request help until you reach the party limit.
[-They are coming! Prepare yourselves!] (Yumir)
From the direction that Yumir warned us about, another pair of Harpies were approaching.
We separated in two groups and dismounted in a safe spot.
Then we prepared our weapons to deal against the half bird half human enemies that were flying towards us.
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