「いらっしゃいませ――あ、お待ちしてましたよ。ハインド様」
「こんにちは、クラリスさん。仲間も一緒ですけど、大丈夫ですか?」
「残念ながら報酬は増えませんけど、それでも宜しければ。今、店番を交代する者を呼びますので少しお待ちくださいね。おばあちゃーん!」
店内に他のプレイヤーは居ない。
クラリスさんが呼び掛けながらカウンターの奥の扉へと入っていく。
おばあちゃんって言ってたな......。
相手が年寄りなら、出てくるまでに少し時間が掛かりそうか?
「あれがNPC......? 会話の対応力といい、従来のものとは大きく違うようだな......とても信じられん」
「え? あの人がそうなんですか?」
「頭の上の名前の表示を思い出せ。我々のネームとは色が違っただろう?」
「ああ......なるほど」
「しっ、ユーミル。どうやらNPCという単語は、彼女らにとって差別用語のように聞こえるらしいぞ。気を付けないと、機嫌を損ねることになる」
「そうなのか......?」
ムキになって武器屋のオヤジをNPCと連呼していたプレイヤーがぶん殴られていたので、恐らく間違いない。
直後に聞いたオヤジの話によると「意味は知らないが、妙に癇に障る呼び名」だそうだ。
そういった行為をやり過ぎると店を利用不能になるという噂も立っており......ともかく、避けるに越したことはない。
こちらが『来訪者』なら、彼女たちのことは穏便に『現地人』とでも呼ぶべきだろうか?
「運営からのある種のメッセージだと思う。少なくともプレイ中、本人達の前では現実に存在する人間と同じ様に扱って欲しいってことだろう」
「なるほど......承知した。VRという媒体を考えるなら、確かにそれが正しい楽しみ方だろうしな。むしろ、そういう考え方は嫌いじゃない」
「そうやって一つの世界を演出していく訳ですか。私が思っていたよりも、ゲームって趣が深いんですね」
「ふふん、当然だろう!」
「ユーミルさんが威張る意味が分かりません」
その時、扉が開いて少し腰が曲がった老婆が姿を現す。
続けて支える様にクラリスさんが。
老婆はゆっくりと歩いて来ると、俺の顔をじっと観察してきた。
な、何かな?
「ふうん......なるほど、中々悪くなさそうだ。こいつにするのかい? クラリス」
「まだ引き受けてもらってないけど......うん、そうなるかも。おばあちゃん、後はよろしくね。皆さん、中へどうぞ。依頼の内容について、詳しくお話をさせて頂きます」
「はい」「うむ」「ハインドさんをジロジロと......失礼な御婆様ですね......」
俺達は他のプレイヤーが入る機会が無さそうな、店の奥へと通された。
普通にテーブルセットなどが置かれた部屋のようで、腰掛けるとクラリスさんが契約書のような物を渡してくる。
「依頼内容は、ここに書いてあります。読んでみて下さい。その上で、何かご質問などがあれば」
「はい、分かりました。ええと......」
内容:行商人を志す「とある人物」を連れ、ヒースローの町まで護衛して下さい。
報酬:スキルポイントの書
人数:1人以上
※この依頼を再度受け直す事は出来ません。
......何だ、このゲーム的な成分を多量に含んだ簡素な内容の契約書は。
困惑した俺はユーミルとリィズにも契約書に目を通してもらい、クラリスさんへと向き直った。
「ず、随分とシンプルで分かり易い契約書ですね」
「この世界ではこれが普通なんですけど......何かおかしかったですか?」
「い、いいえ。ところで、このとある人物というのは......?」
クラリスさんが急にもじもじとし出した。
大人っぽい容姿の彼女がそういう仕草をすると、ギャップで心が高鳴ってしまうんだが。
い、いかん、頬が緩んで――はっ!?
「随分とだらしない顔をしているじゃないか......なあ、ハインドよ」
「不潔ですね......その顔は、私以外の人に向けたら駄目なんですよ......?」
「わ、悪かった......確かに女性に不快感を与える酷い顔だった......かもしれない。でも、寒気がするからその視線止めてくんない? ダブルだと、本気で凍えそうなんだが......」
「フン。で、誰なのだ? その護衛対象というのは」
「わ、わたし......です」
クラリスさんの意外な言葉に、俺とユーミルは驚愕するのだった。
少し相談させてください――そう言って俺達は部屋の隅に三人で固まった。
クラリスさんが不安そうな視線を向けてくるが、今はそれどころではない。
「どういうことだ、ハインド! N――現地人が自分の意志で他の場所に移動するだと!? しかも道具屋なんていう重要な役割の人間がか!?」
「俺も何がなんだか。でも、彼女に品定めされていた理由はこれではっきりしたぞ。護衛ってことは自分の命を預ける相手だからな......慎重にもなるさ。だから、破格な条件の割引を提示して、俺がどう出るか見ていたんだろう」
この村には元々、商人の護衛を出来そうな職業のNPCは見掛けないからな......。
そういう設定なのだろうが、わざとだろうか?
つまり行商人になりたいクラリスさんにとって『来訪者』の出現は渡りに船だったのだろう。
代わりの店員になりそうなおばあさんも居るし、これはある意味では運営の意図通りの行動......なのだろうか?
「......そういう事ですか。確かに私も、ユーミルさんのような単純な人には頼みごとを安心して任せられないですから「何だと!」言葉の裏を読める疑り深い人の方が好ましいです。そういう意味では、私と彼女は同類かもしれません」
「で、どうなのだハインド。確かヒースローの町というのはホーマ平原を北に抜けた先だろう? ということは、あのオーガを突破しなければならん筈だ。勝算は――」
「ある。そっちは大丈夫だ。で、どうするユーミル? この依頼......」
「無論、受ける! そっちの方が楽しそうだからな!」
「了解。んじゃ、行きますか」
俺達はクラリスさんの依頼を引き受ける事にした。
その返答に満開の笑顔を咲かせたクラリスさんは、即座に何処からか取り出した大荷物を背負って準備は出来ていると告げてくる。
頭の上の『道具屋クラリス』の文字が消え、代わりに『行商人クラリス』という文字が表示されて――いや、ほんとびっくりだよ。
着ている服まで一瞬で切り替わるんだもん。
村娘らしいゆるっとした服から、旅装束のようなしっかりとした服へ。
こういう所には気を使わないんだな......ここの運営の基準がよく分からん。
その後、俺達は少しだけ店の前で待つように指示されたので、入り口の前に立って待機している。
店内のプレイヤーがクラリスさんの変化に驚いているな......無理もない。
そのクラリスさんはというと、どうやら代わりに店番に立っていたおばあさんと抱き合っている様子。
別れの言葉でも言っているのだろうか?
「うぅ、私はああいう場面を見るのは苦手だ......」
「はい? ユーミルさん、まさかちょっと涙ぐんでいるんですか? 二人とも、さっき会ったばかりの人でしょう? そこまで心を動かされる理由がないと思うんですけど」
「実は、クラリスの両親は亡くなっていてな......あのおばあさんが女手一つで育て、今日という旅立ちの日を迎えた訳だ。そのおばあさんの胸中を思うとな......大事に育てた孫娘に行って欲しくない、でも夢も叶えさせてやりたい。そんな複雑な感情が入り乱れて......」
「そ、そうだったんですか? 知らなかったとはいえ、失礼なことを――」
「という所まで妄想した」
「言ったかと思いましたが勘違いでした。死んでください」
「はっ、貴様に言われなくとも戦闘に入ったら私は死ぬぞ! 間違いない!」
ユーミルのあまりにあんまりな発言にリィズが唖然とした。
いや、そんな当たり前の様に言われてもな......。
暫くして出て来たクラリスさんが行きましょうと告げ、俺達は四人でホーマ平原へと向かった。
[Welcome...Ah, I've been waiting for you, Hind-sama]  (Claris)
[Hi Claris-san. I'm with my friends but...is that OK?]  (Hind)
[Unfortunately the reward won't go up, but if that's OK with you, there's no problem. I'll ask for someone to replace me now so wait for a bit. Grandma!]  (Claris)
There were no other players inside the store.
While calling for someone, Claris-san went inside the door further behind the counter.
She said grandma right...?
Since the person is someone older, will it take long for her to come out?
[That's an NPC...? The way the conversation went was very different from usual...I can't believe it]  (Yumir)
[Eh? That person was an NPC?]  (Riizu)
[Remember the name that was displayed. The color was different from ours right?]  (Yumir)
[Ah...I see]  (Riizu)
[Shh, Yumir. I heard that the word NPC is discriminatory for people like them. If you are not careful, it'll affect their mood]  (Hind)
[Is that so...?]  (Yumir)
After being called an NPC repeatedly by players, it seems like the old man from the weapon shop beat them up, so it's probably true.
From what I heard from him after the fact, he said that [I don't really get it, it was a name that got on my nerves] .
There's even a rumor that says that if you overdo it, you won't be able to use the shops anymore...anyway, it's not something we can't avoid.
Since we are the [Visitors] , Should we just simply call them [Natives] ?
[I believe it must be some sort of message from the developers. At the very least, while we are playing, they probably want us to deal with them as if they were real people]  (Hind)
[I see...got it. If we think about VR, it's true that this should be the correct way to enjoy it. In fact, I don't dislike this way of doing things]  (Yumir)
[With that they make a new world, huh? Games are deeper than I thought]  (Riizu)
[Fufun, Of course they are]  (Yumir)
[I don't really get why Yumir-san is boasting about it]  (Riizu)
At that moment, an old woman with her back slightly bent appeared from the door.
Right after, Claris-san appeared as if she was supporting her.
The old woman slowly walked towards us and was staring at my face.
I-is something wrong?
[Fuun...I see, he doesn't seem that bad. Are you going to have him do it? Claris]  (old woman)
[He still hasn't taken up the request but...yup, it might end up like that. Grandma, I'll leave the rest to you. Everyone, please come inside. I'll tell you in detail about the contents of the request] (Claris)
[Yes]  [Fumu]  [Staring at Hind-san like that...she's quite the impolite grandmother...] 
We were allowed inside the shop to a place that was probably not allowed to other players.
It was a normal room with a table and chairs, Claris-san sat down and spread what looked like a contract.
[The details of the contract are written here. Please read it and tell me if you have any questions]  (Claris)
[Yes, I understand. Let's see...]  (Hind)
Contents: Accompany a certain person that aspires to be a peddler and escort him/her to Heathrow  town.
Reward: Skill point book.
Number of people: 1 or higher.
*It's not possible to take up this request more than once.
...Oh, the contents of the contracts in this game are summed up in a concise way.
While being perplexed I showed the contract to Yumir and Riizu and turned towards Claris-san.
[I-It was quite the simple and easy to understand contract, huh?]  (Hind)
[That was a normal contract in this world...was there anything wrong with it?]  (Claris)
[N-No. Anyway, who is this certain person that this contract is referring to...?]  (Hind)
Claris-san started to get fidgety.
Seeing the gap between her adult-like appearance and her actions, my heart started to beat fast.
N-no good, my cheeks are starting to loosen...hah!?
[Aren't you making quite the dirty face...huh? Hind]  (Yumir)
[So indecent...you can't be making that kind of face towards people other than me, you know...?]  (Riizu)
[S-sorry...certainly, it was a face that might have given a woman a sense of discomfort. However, since it's giving me chills, could you stop looking at me like that? With both of you, it feels like I'm going to freeze...]  (Hind)
[Fun. So? Who are we going to escort?]  (Yumir)
[I-it's...me]  (Claris)
Because of Claris-san's unexpected words, Yumir and I stood there in shock.
After asking for some time to discuss the quest among ourselves...we gathered in a corner of the room.
Claris-san looked at us with anxiety, but it was not time for that.
[What's the meaning of this, Hind!? A native is going to move to another place of her own will!? Furthermore, it's the person that has the important role to work in the second-hand shop!]  (Yumir)
[I don't get it either. However, now I know why she was evaluating me. Having someone escort you means that you are placing your life in their hands after all...you have to be careful about that. That's probably why she offered me such a discount and observed how I reacted to it]  (Hind)
To begin with, I haven't seen any sort of NPCs that could take an escorting job in this village...
Is it that kind of setting? Was it done on purpose?
To sum it up, the appearance of [Visitors]  was like a godsend for Claris-san.
There's also the fact that her grandma can act as a replacement, in a certain way, you could say that...this has gone accordingly to the developer's plan?
[...Is that so? It's true that I wouldn't feel safe leaving the job to someone straightforward like Yumir-san and I'd prefer someone that says [What did you just say!?]  and proceeds to doubt my words. In that sense, I might be the same type of person as her]  (Riizu)
[So, what are we going to do? Hind. If I remember correctly, Heathrow  town is further up north from the Homa plains? That means that we'll probably have to get past that ogre. Regarding our chances of victory...]  (Yumir)
[We can win. It'll be fine in that regard. So, what do you want to do about this request Yumir?]  (Hind)
[Of course we are going to take it! That way it'll be more fun after all!]  (Yumir)
[Got it. In that case, shall we go?]  (Hind)
We decided to take up Claris-san's request.
The smile Claris-san made after hearing our reply was like a flower in full bloom. Immediately she took her big luggage out from somewhere and informed us that she was done preparing.
The words above her head [Second-hand shop Claris]  disappeared and instead [Peddler Claris]  appeared...I was really surprised.
After all, even the clothes she was wearing immediately changed.
From the clothes of a villager to those of a traveler.
So they are not really careful in this regard...I don't really get the standards of these developers.
Afterward, we were told to wait for a bit in front of the store, so we stood in front of the entrance.
The players inside the store were surprised at Claris-san's change...though it was understandable.
Regarding that Claris-san, she was currently hugging her grandma, who was going to tend the store in her stead.
Is she saying goodbye?
[Uu, I'm weak against this kind of scenes...]  (Yumir)
[Huh? Yumir-san, are you by any chance...crying a bit? Didn't you just meet both of them a while ago? I don't think it's a reason for being that moved]  (Riizu)
[To tell you the truth, Claris' parents died...and today is the day that the female helper she has raised is going on a journey. If we got into that grandma's shoes...she probably doesn't wish for her precious granddaughter to go, but she wants to grant her her wish. She's currently having those complicated feelings...]  (Yumir)
[S-So it was like that? I might have not known, but I said quite the rude-]  (Riizu)
[That's the delusion I'm having]  (Yumir)
[...Is what I thought about saying, but seems like I was wrong. Please, go and die]  (Riizu)
[Huh? Even without you saying that, once we get into battle I'll die! Without any doubt!]  (Yumir)
Riizu stood there dumbfounded when Yumir gave such a terrible statement.
Even if you say it as if it was natural...
After Claris-san informed us that we should get going, we headed towards the Homa plains.
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