女王が締めの挨拶をし、映像が途切れて暫く。
出品していたアイテムが返却され、ここから24時間はオークションの受付時間となる。
締め切った直後からまた24時間が入札期間となり、即決価格の設定等は自由だ。
「オークションの結果が出るのは、今から丸二日後だな」
「人気商品に入札する場合は、明後日のこの時間はゲームに張り付く必要があるでござるな」
「そんなもの、圧倒的な金額を積めば解決だろう! 桁二つ上で入札だ!」
「相変わらず大雑把ですね、貴女は......それだけの大金を持っていればの話でしょう?」
そんな俺達の会話をよそに、ヒナ鳥三人組は非常に眠そうだ。
中学生には結構良い時間だな......帰るタイミングを計り損ねているみたいだし、まずは三人をログアウトさせよう。
「サイネリアちゃん、枕は誰の名義で出すんだい?」
「――あ、はい! コンテストが私名義だったので、そのまま私が出します」
「じゃあ、リコリスちゃんは出品時に添えるコメント考えて。シエスタちゃんは――もう限界っぽいから放っておこう」
「......はーい、分かりましたぁ......」
「......」
やはり眠いのか、サイネリアちゃんの反応はやや鈍い。
リコリスちゃんの返事も緩く、シエスタちゃんに至ってはもう机に突っ伏して微動だにしていなかった。
指示を出して出品作業をサクサクと終わらせ、動かないシエスタちゃんを揺すって起こした。
どうにか三人が椅子から立ち上がり、帰る体勢を整える。
「では先輩方、お先に失礼します。おやすみなさい」
「「「おやすみー」」」
代表してサイネリアちゃんが挨拶し、寝ぼけ眼の二人を伴ってログアウトしていった。
次は俺達の番だな。
まずはユーミルの方に向き直る。
「ユーミル、アデニウムはどうする?」
「むう、何か用途があるわけでもなく飾り用のアイテムだからな......出品せずにホームに飾らないか?」
「了解、そうしよう。じゃあこの談話室にするか」
七色のアデニウムは談話室に飾って観賞を楽しむことに決定。
売れるかどうか予想が難しい物なので、正しい判断だと思う。
「苦無は元から出品予定でござったが......コメントはいかように?」
「詳細な個数だけで良いんじゃないか? 箱で出すと苦無セット×3としか表示されないし」
「ではそのように。売上金は半々で分けるでござるよ」
「OK、頼んだ」
トビが共同名義で苦無をオークションに出品。
連名にしてあらかじめ利益配分を設定しておくと、売却が決定した直後にその通りに振り込まれる仕組みだ。
コンテストは女王の発表の都合か、代表名義者一名でしか出品できなかったが、取引掲示板の仕様を引き継いでいるオークションはそういった細かな設定が可能である。
「で、リィズ。偽薬ポーションはどうする? 出すか?」
俺の質問に、リィズは少し考えるような素振りを見せた後でこう答えた。
「......止めておきましょう。PKなどに悪用される未来しか見えませんから」
「......だよな。女王が大層お気に入りの様子だったけど、個人的に頼まれた場合は?」
「提示価格によっては請け負います。可能な限り高値で売りつけてやりますよ」
「リィズちゃん、こわーい顔になってるよ......?」
「あ、セレーネさん」
椅子の上で固まっていたセレーネさんだが、ようやく常態に復帰したらしい。
怖い顔と評されたリィズが「そうですか?」と呟きつつ自分の顔を撫でた。
ユーミルに言われたら一瞬の間も置かずにキレてたと思うんだけど、セレーネさんの言葉には素直な妹である。
「ご迷惑をおかけしました......」
「いえいえ、おめでとうございますセレーネさん」
「おめでとうだ、セッちゃん!」
改めて他のメンバーからも祝福の言葉が掛けられた。
照れたように笑うセレーネさんの手には、返却された宝石付きの『支援者の杖』が。
良いよなぁ、あの杖......初見の時から俺はずっと惹かれている。
もっとも、発表があるまでセレーネさんの物だと確信は持てなかったのだが。
「あの、ハインド君。少しお話があるんだけど......いいかな?」
おずおずと話しかけてくるセレーネさん。
視線の動きから察するに、どうやら俺だけをご指名のようで......。
後片付けを他のメンバーに任せ、俺達は鍛冶場へと移動した。
「これっ、受け取ってくだひゃいっ!」
噛んだ......盛大に噛んだ......しかも本人、気付いてない......。
ここは敢えて指摘しないのが優しさだと思う。
鍛冶場に着くなり、セレーネさんは両手で持った杖をこちらに向けて差し出してきた。
受け取った白銀の杖は美しく輝き、先端の大きな紅い宝石を見事に引き立たせている。
......この杖を、俺に?
「ありがとうございます......正直、すっっっげえ嬉しいです!」
俺はコンテストで一目見た時から、この杖に惚れ込んでいることを話した。
それを聞いたセレーネさんは驚いたように目を見開いていたが、次いで柔らかく微笑んだ。
「そうなんだ。なんか、嬉しいな......何を出品するのか、みんなに秘密にしておいて良かったかも」
そのまま彼女は手を後ろで組み、少し落ち着かない様子で体を左右に動かす。
なんだろう、このこっぱずかしい空気は......。
何か言わなくては、と思うのだが頭の中で考えが上手く纏まってくれない。
眼鏡の奥から覗く彼女の熱っぽい視線が、俺の思考をかき乱してくる。
「......ハインド君、私ね。最近、毎日がとっても楽しいんだ。前までは我慢して一人で大学に通って、バイトして、部屋に帰ったら趣味のゲームをやって眠る......その繰り返しだったの。それが嫌だったわけじゃないんだけど......正直少し、寂しかった。殻にこもっている自分のせいだって、分かってはいても」
オンラインゲームをやってもソロプレイだったしね、と彼女は自虐的に笑う。
俺は何かを言おうとするのをやめると、彼女の話に耳を傾けた。
それは知らなかった。
二人で話しているところは見かけたが、そこまで仲良くなっていたとは思わなかった。
「今では大学でも、少しだけ友達ができたの。初対面の相手にも......自分からは話しかけられないけど、どうにか受け答えくらいはできるようになった――つっかえながらだけどね。みんなみんな、ハインド君のおかげなんだよ? ......本当にありがとう」
「それは違いますよ。セレーネさんは自分から人見知りを直したがっていましたから。俺が何かしたんだとしても、単に最初の切っ掛けを作ったに過ぎません」
セレーネさんは俺の言葉に対し、首を横に振って否定する。
「前にも言ったと思うけど、その最初の一歩が私みたいな人間にとっては凄く大変なんだよ。一度自信を無くすとね、どんどん心も体も重たくなっていくんだ。鉛で足を固められたみたいに......私の一番酷い時だと、部屋から出て家族に会うのも辛かった時期もあるくらいで」
ごめんね、こんな話をしてとセレーネさんは俯いた。
しかし俺は嬉しかった。
確かに重い話だが、それを俺に打ち明ける度に彼女の表情が......それこそ、鉛でも外していくかのように軽く晴れやかになっていくのを感じたからだ。
単に一緒に遊ぶという、一見何でもないようなその行為。
それで救われる心があるのだから、やっぱりゲームの力ってすげえなと俺は思うわけで。
「だから、その杖にはハインド君に対する私の感謝の想いを全部込めたつもり。......ごめんね? 想いっていうより、気持ちが重いかもしれないけど......」
「いやいや、セレーネさん。そこに来てそれはないでしょう?」
ここまで真面目な話をしていて、まさか最後に駄洒落に持っていくとは思わなかった。
そのどうしようもなさに、互いに思わず苦笑が漏れる。
一気に弛緩した空気の中、話はこれで終わりかと俺は思っていたのだが――
「私はハインド君のことが、好きです」
彼女の口から自然に零れた言葉に、俺の体は一瞬で硬直した。
The Queen finished giving her congratulations and the image in the projection was cut off.
The items exhibited were returned to the players and the auction would open 24 hours from now.
People were free to bid during the 24 hour period of the auction and you were free to set a price for the items.
[The results of the auction will be announced two days from now right?] (Hind)
[For those that want to bid for the most popular items, they'll need to stay online the day after tomorrow around this time.] (Tobi)
[In those cases, you just have to bid an overwhelming amount of money! Just bid an amount that is two digits higher than the rest!] (Yumir)
[You sure are crude as always, that...that would only work if you actually had such an amount of money right?] (Riizu)
While we were having that kind of conversation, the members of Baby Bird looked awfully sleepy.
It's quite late for a middle schooler after all...seems like they missed their chance to leave, so let's have them log out first.
[Cineraria-chan, who is the one going to exhibit the pillow in the auction?] (Hind)
[...Ah, yes! We used my name in the contest, so I'll just exhibit it under my name.] (Cineraria)
[In that case, Lycoris-chan, think about a comment for when you are going to put up the pillow in the auction. As for Siesta-chan...since it seems like she's at her limit, let's leave her alone.] (Hind)
[...Yeees, Understoood...] (Lycoris)
[...] (Siesta)
I guess they were really sleepy, Cineraria-chan's reaction was quite sluggish.
Lycoris-chan's reaction was also slow and Siesta-chan already had her face on top of the table and wasn't moving.
I gave them instructions and quickly finished the procedures to put up the item in the auction and shook the unmoving Siesta-chan to wake her up.
Somehow, all three of them managed to stand up from their seats and prepared to leave.
[Well then, senpais. We'll excuse ourselves first. Good night.] (Cineraria)
[[[Good night.] ] ] (Hind and co)
With Cineraria-chan acting as the representative and saying good night, she logged out along with the other two, who were wearing sleepy expressions.
Next up, it's our turn.
Let's start with Yumir.
[Yumir, what are you going to do with your Adenium?] (Hind)
[Muu, since it's just a decorative item with no real use...let's just use it to decorate the house without exhibiting it?] (Yumir)
[Got it, let's do that. In that case, let's set it in this lounge.] (Hind)
We decided to set the seven color Adenium in the lounge for people to appreciate.
It's hard to guess if people would buy it, so I think that it's the correct decision.
[We planned to sell the kunais from the start but...what sort of comment are going to write?] (Tobi)
[Wouldn't it be fine to just specify the amount inside? If we exhibit the boxes it'll just come out as "Set of Kunais x3" after all.] (Hind)
[Let's leave it at that then. Let's split the earnings in half.] (Tobi)
[OK, I'll leave it to you.] (Hind)
Tobi put up the kunais in the auction under both of our names.
If you sign up an item under multiple names the profits will be shared, like the name implies, once the item is sold and the money is sent to the player, it'll be distributed evenly.
In the contest it was set so that the Queen would announce the names, so we could only have one name in it, but since the auction works the same way as the trading BBS, you are able to set small details like this.
[So, Riizu. What about the Placebo Potion? Are you going to put it up?] (Hind)
When I asked her, she looked as if she was thinking about it a bit and then replied like this.
[...We'd better not do it. I can only see people abusing it to PK in the future.] (Riizu)
[...True. Though the Queen seemed to have taken a liking to it, what if she personally asks for them?] (Hind)
[That will depend on how much money she's willing to offer. I'll sell it to her for the highest price possible.] (Riizu)
[Riizu-chan, you are making quite the scary face you know...?] (Selene)
[Ah, Selene-san.] (Hind)
Selene-san, who was frozen in place on top of the chair, finally returned to normal.
Having been told that she was making a scary face, Riizu murmured [Is that so?]  and started to pat her face.
If Yumir was the one that told her that, I believe she would have immediately snapped, but if it's Selene-san telling her, she's still remained my meek little sister.
[Sorry for causing you guys an inconvenience...] (Selene)
[It was nothing, congratulations, Selene-san] (Hind)
[Congratulations, Secchan!] (Yumir)
Everyone started to congratulate her again.
Selene-san started to smile bashfully and in her hands was the {Supporter Staff} , now with the gem attached to it.
That staff is so nice...I've been drawn to it from the start.
Though, I was not sure if it was made by Selene-san until her name was announced.
[Eh, Hind-kun. Can I talk to you for a moment?] (Selene)
Nervously, Selene-san talked to me.
From the way she was looking at me, it seems like she only wanted to talk to me...
We left cleaning up to the other members and moved towards the blacksmith's workshop.
[Please, accept thiush!] (Selene)
She fumbled it...she magnificently fumbled her words...on top of that, the person herself hasn't noticed it...
I think the proper course of action here is to not point it out.
The moment we arrived at the blacksmith's workshop, Selene-san held out the staff she was holding with both hands towards me.
The silver staff I received glowed with a lovely radiance, on one of its ends, a crimson gem splendidly stood out.
...This staff, for me?
[Thank you...to tell you the truth, I'm reaaaaaaaaaaaally happy!] (Hind)
I told her that from the moment I saw this staff in the contest, I've been charmed by it.
When she heard that, Selene-san opened her eyes wide in surprise, then started smiling.
[I see. That sort of makes me happy...I might be glad that I kept what I was going to exhibit a secret from everyone.] (Selene)
Like that, she joined her hands behind her back and seemed unable to calm down as she moved her body left and right.
What with this embarrassing atmosphere...
"I have to say something", is what I was thinking but I was unable to form anything inside my head.
The feverish gaze coming from behind her glasses made me unable to think.
[...Hind, I. I've been having a lot of fun lately. Before, I just endured going to university alone, going to my part-time job, returning to my room and playing the games I liked and then sleeping...it was a cycle like that.
"Even if it was an online game, I would still play alone", she gave a self-deprecating smile.
I stopped myself from saying anything and just focused on listening to what she had to say.
I didn't know about that.
I saw both of them talking, but I didn't think that they had gotten along so well.
[Now, even at university, I've been able to make a few friends. Even with people I meet for the first time...I might not be able to talk to them first, but I've become able to at least reply to them...even if I fumble my words doing it.
[That's not the case. It's because Selene-san has worked hard to fix her fear of strangers. Even if I really did something, it would only amount to creating the first chance for you to do so.] (Hind)
Towards my words, Selene-san started to shake her head to deny them.
[I think I've said this before, for someone like me, just taking that first step is a big hurdle. Just by losing my confidence once, I can feel my heart and body becoming heavier and heavier. My legs freeze in place and feel like lead...in the worst case scenario, there are times when I even have a hard time getting out of my room and meeting my family.] (Selene)
"I'm sorry", Selene-san hung her head and apologized for having this sort of conversation.
However, I felt happy.
It's true that the contents of the conversation were gloomy, however, the expression on her face as she confided in me about these topics...I felt brightness from it as if a weight had been removed from her body.
Just the simple fact of playing together, an act that didn't feel really important at a first glance.
Just because of that simple fact, it was possible to bring salvation to the heart of someone. It's things like this that makes me think that the power of games is amazing.
[That's why, I put all my feelings of gratitude towards Hind-kun in this staff. ...I'm sorry, rather than feelings, they might be the weight of my feelings...] (Selene)
[No no, Selene-san. I don't think you are supposed to say it like that with that timing?] (Hind)
Having such a serious conversation just to have her make a pun at the end, I didn't think it would turn out like that.
We both made a wry smile at the fact.
Within the atmosphere that had become way more relaxed quite suddenly, I thought that the conversation had already ended when-
[I like Hind-kun.] (Selene)
Due to the words that casually spilled from her mouth, my body suddenly stiffened.
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