「と、そんな感じで昨日は一家丸ごと拉致られてました。あ、食事は美味しかったです」
「まさか本当にハインド君が攫われるとは思わなかったよ。しかもこんなに早く、リィズちゃんまで一緒に......」
「はぁ。自分の都合でああも周囲を振り回すとは......誰かさんにそっくりでとても不愉快でした。食事は美味しかったですけれど、それとこれとは別問題です」
「あ? そっくりとは私のことを言っているのか貴様?」
「......他に誰が居ると?」
いつも通りのやり取りを経てユーミルとリィズが睨み合う。
俺は二人の顔を両手で遠ざけると、遮るようにして間に立った。
「むぐぅ......それにしても、どうして私を連れて行かなかったのだハインドォ!? そこまで愉快なことになっていたのに!」
「元はワルターとだけ会ってたんだって。ワルターとは、ユーミルまともに話したことないじゃん」
「確かにそうだが! ぐぬぬ......!」
TB内の農業区で農作業をしながら、昨日のあらましをリィズと共に二人に話して聞かせた。
この話題に触れる切っ掛けになったのは、昨夜俺と理世がTBにログインしなかった理由を二人に訊ねられたからだ。
移動距離が長いこともあり、あの日の夜、家に帰ってきた時間は結構遅かった。
ログインできない旨の短いメールをギルメンに送った後は、気疲れもあったので早々に就寝。
「ともかく、事態は理解した。で、あの馬鹿はどうして土の上に寝そべっているのだ?」
「ああ、うん。ああなってる理由は知ってるんだけど、本人の名誉のために言えないな......できたら触れずに、そっとしておいてやってくれ」
「よく分からんが、分かった。深くは訊かん」
「落ち込んでる......んだよね? トビ君、変わった落ち込み方だなぁ......」
ユーミルが指差した先では、畑の
その質問に俺は言葉を濁した。
言えない......ワルター、というか司の普段着の写真を見てああなっているとはとても言えない。
昼間、学校の休み時間に秀平が昨日のことについて訊ねてきたのだ。
手作りのシルバーアクセサリーを作ったことを話した後で、俺は司と二人で撮った写真があることを思い出した。
司が今日の記念にと女子のようなことを言い出したので、それぞれのスマホで一枚ずつ撮ったものなのだが。
それを聞いた秀平は、俺がスマホを取り出すと一歩下がりつつ顔を引きつらせた。
「怖いっ! で、でも、好奇心が......怖いもの見たさが......」
「だ、大丈夫か? まだ傷が癒えてないんじゃないのか? 駄目だと思ったら無理すんなよな」
「み、見る! 今の俺なら大丈夫......大丈夫......! これはきっと乗り越えるべき試練なんだ......!」
そう呟きながら写真を見た秀平は、カッと目を見開いたかと思うと......。
俺のスマホを握りしめたまま、無言で涙を流し始めた。
ちなみに教室内での出来事だったのだが、秀平がさめざめと泣いていても「また何か馬鹿をやっている」程度にしかクラスメイトに認識されていないのが悲しい。
黒板を消していた日直の斎藤さんだけが秀平を見て「どうしたの?」と視線で訊いてきたので、俺はただ苦笑を返しておいた。
彼女もそれだけで納得したように一つ頷き、元の作業に戻る。
「何でこれで男なの......何でゲーム内より可愛いくなってるの......何で私服も可愛いの......?」
その場で「何で」を三連発した秀平は、俺のスマホの画像を勝手に自分のスマホへと送ると、開くのが面倒な隔離フォルダに画像を移動させ、ロックをかけてからその場で顔を覆った。
自分の端末に残してまで繰り返し見たいのか、それともこれ以上見たくないのか......。
「わっち......俺、必ずこの子みたいな可愛い女の子を見つけるよ......」
「そ、そうか。頑張れよ――って言っていいのかこれ?」
何かがおかしい気がしたが、苦悩だけは充分に伝わってくる一言だった。
こういった経緯で、秀平は今日一日魂が抜けかかった状態で過ごしている。
畑に寝そべった傷心のトビはそっとしておき、俺達は耐暑性能を得た薬草と滋養草をどんどん植えていく。
この二種類は特に調合の際の消費が激しいので、こうして優先的に植えて増やしている。
そんな中ふと手を止めて、セレーネさんが顔を上げてこちらを向いた。
「――ああ、そうそう。何があったのかは知らないけど、ログイン前にトビ君が元気になりそうな情報を得てきたよ」
「あ、本当ですかセレーネさん? だったら是非聞かせてやってくれませんかね」
俺達の会話が聞こえているのか、寝転がっているトビの体がピクリと反応したような気が。
セレーネさんは手に付いた土をぱんぱんと払いながら話を続ける。
「確かトビ君、魔王ちゃんが好きだったよね? 実は次のイベンターとして、久しぶりに魔王ちゃんが登場するっていう噂が――」
「うおおおおおおおお! 魔王ちゃぁぁぁんっ!」
「キモッ!? 何だその動きは!」
セレーネさんの言葉を聞いた瞬間、トビがばね仕掛けのような不自然な動作で立ち上がった。
体の前面には黒っぽい土がびっしりとくっついたままだ。
その動きを見て大きく距離を取るユーミル。
どうでもいいけど、体を痛めそうな起き方だったな......ゲーム内だし平気だろうけど。
「セレーネ殿、詳しく! 詳しく!」
「あ、う、うん。ほら、今日っていつもならイベントの種類くらいは午前中に告知される曜日なのに、何も無かったでしょう? だから最初のイベントみたいに、ゲリラ的にゲーム内で告知があるんじゃないかって」
「おおおおお! マジでござるか!? マジでござるか!?
「でも、あくまで噂だから――って、聞いてないね......」
セレーネさんの言葉はトビの雄たけびによって搔き消された。
しかし、確かに順番的にも次は魔物絡みのイベントが来てもおかしくはないな。
前回と同じ時間に告知されるのなら、そろそろだと思うのだが――
『間も無く、複合型レイド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様は、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可能です』
「キターーーーーー!! 来たでござるよ! この文言なら魔王ちゃんで間違いなし!」
タイミング良く視界の下部に字幕がゆっくりと流れる。
トビの言う通り、空が見える場所ということはほぼ確定だろう。
で待機すればOKか。レイドってのは、確か通常のPTよりも大人数で戦う巨大ボスのことだったよな? ユーミル」
「うむ、その認識で問題ない。TBの上限は知らないが、ゲームによっては100人を超える人数で戦うことも可能だったりするぞ」
「巨大ボス相手に100人ですか。象に群がる蟻のような構図になりますね......」
オンラインゲームはこれが初めてのリィズと俺は、その様子を今一つ具体的に想像できない。
報酬の区分けとか戦闘中の回復・バフの対象範囲はどうなるんだろう?
「それと、ちょっと引っ掛かるのがこの複合型っていう記述なんだけど。これは一体何だろうな?」
「レイドとは別に......もしくは付随する要素として、他に何かあるって意味に受け取れるけど。こればっかりは内容を聞いてみないと分からないよ」
「そうですよね。ま、大人しく作業を続けながら待つとしますか」
「拙者もやるでござるよ! 寝ていた分を取り戻ーす!」
「うむ、働け忍者」
「さっさと分身でも何でも使って作業に参加してください、忍者」
「そこはかとなく辛辣!? ええい、なら残った種を全部寄越すでござる! やってやらぁ!」
ようやく元気を取り戻したトビを含め、イベント告知前に作業を終わらせるべく一斉に薬草の種を植えていく。
そうこうしている内に、空にざらついた何かが投影され始め......。
「あっ」
やがてそれは像を結び、クリアになった映像に一人の人物が映り込んだ。
ドアップで糸目の男、魔王ちゃんの側近サマエルが。
そしてトビは、無言でサマエルに向かって投石を始めるのだった。
[So, like that, our family got kidnapped yesterday. Ah, the food was delicious though.] (Hind)
[To think that Hind-dono was really kidnapped. And to think that Riizu-chan was kidnapped too that fast...] (Tobi)
[Hah. In my case, being pulled around by someone like that...I was really displeased because she looked exactly the same as a certain someone.
[Ah? When you say that she looked exactly the same as a certain someone you meant me?] (Yumir)
[...Is there someone else?] (Riizu)
Riizu and Yumir glared at each other while arguing like always.
I placed my hands on both of their faces to separate them and stayed in the middle.
[Nuguh...that being said, why didn't you bring me along, Hind!? Even though something that exciting happened!] (Yumir)
[I originally was only meeting Walter. Yumir, you haven't really talked much with Walter right?] (Hind)
[That's true but! Nugugu...] (Yumir)
While doing some farm work inside TB, Riizu and I told them a general outline of what had happened yesterday.
The reason we were having this conversation was because they asked us why we didn't log in yesterday.
Because it was really far away, it was really late by the time we got home.
I sent a short message to the guild members saying we wouldn't be able to log in that day and went to bed early because I was really tired.
[Anyway, I understand what happened. So, why is that idiot sprawled on top of the soil?] (Yumir)
[Ah, yeah. I know why but in order to preserve his dignity I won't say anything...just leave him be.] (Hind)
[I don't really get it but I got it. I won't ask.] (Yumir)
[He's...depressed right? Tobi-kun  seems like he's in low spirits...] (Selene)
Yumir was pointing at a space between the fields, Tobi was rolling around the ground over there.
I tried to give an ambiguous answer.
I can't say it...I can't say that Tobi has ended up like that after seeing a picture of Walter, or rather, Tsukasa in casual clothes.
During the day, Shuuhei asked me about what happened yesterday during a break.
After telling him about the handmade silver accessory, I remembered that I took a picture with Tsukasa.
Like a girl, Tsukasa said that we should take one as a commemoration of that day, so we took a photo with each one of our phones.
Once he heard that, Shuuhei took a step back as I pulled out my phone.
[Scary! B-But, my curiosity...this feeling of wanting to look at something frightening...] (Shuuhei)
[A-Are you OK!? You haven't recovered from that trauma right? If it seems impossible, don't force yourself.] (Wataru)
[I-I'll look! If it's the current me it'll be fine...it'll be fine...!! This is surely I trial I must surpass!] (Shuuhei)
While murmuring that Shuuhei looked at the photo, when I thought he would open his eyes in surprise...
While holding my phone tightly, he started to cry.
By the way, this is something that happened while we were in the classroom, but it was kinda sad how the other classmates just thought [He's doing something dumb again]  when they saw him cry.
Saitou-san, who was in charge of erasing the blackboard, was the only one that looked at me and asked [What happened?] , I only smiled wryly in reply.
With only that, she nodded as if she understood and went back to work.
[Why does this have to be a guy...why is he even cuter than in-game...why is he cute even in casual clothes...?] (Shuuhei)
Throwing three [Why] s in rapid succession, Shuuhei sent that picture to his own phone without my permission, probably because it would be problematic if he opened it, he moved it to a folder and locked it.
Maybe he wanted to look at it over and over on his own device, or maybe he didn't want to look at it ever again...
[Wacchi...I, I will definitely find a girl as cute as this one...] (Shuuhei)
[I-I see, good luc-...should I be even say that?] (Wataru)
I got the feeling that what he was saying was odd but his mental agony was clearly transmitted to me.
Due to this situation, Tobi spent the entire day in a state that looked as if his soul had left his body.
Leaving Tobi, who was sprawled on the ground heartbroken, we kept planting the medicinal herbs and nutritional plants that had heat resistance in the field.
We especially used a lot of these two types of plants while compounding so we gave them preference and planted a lot of them.
While we were doing that, Selene-san stopped her hands, looked up and faced me.
[...Oh, that's right. I don't really know what happened but before I logged in, I got some information that might make Tobi-kun happy.] (Selene)
[Oh, really? In that case, Selene-san, please go ahead and tell us.] (Hind)
Maybe because he heard us, Tobi's body seemed to twitch while being sprawled on the ground.
While clapping her hands to get rid of the soil, Selene-san continued to talk.
[If I remember correctly, Tobi-kun liked Maou-chan right? There's rumors that Maou-chan will appear again in the next event and-] (Selene)
[Uuuuuuohhhhhhhhh!! Maaaaaoooooouuuu-chan!!] (Tobi)
[Gross!! What's with those movements!?] (Yumir)
The moment he heard Selene-san's words, Tobi stood up with unnatural movements as if he was a spring.
His face was still all black filled with soil.
Seeing him act like that, Yumir took some distance away from him.
I don't really care but those kinds of movements would hurt your body...though it's fine since we are in-game.
[Selene-dono! Details! Give me more details!] (Tobi)
[Ah, y-yes. You see, usually we would have an announcement in the morning telling us what kind of event it would be but there was nothing right? So people are thinking that it might be like the first event and they are going to suddenly announce it in-game-] (Selene)
[Uoooooooooo!! Are you serious!? For real!? I'm getting motivated!!] (Tobi)
[However, these are just rumors...but he's not listening anymore...] (Selene)
Selene-san's words were drowned by Tobi's roar.
However, if we consider the order of events, I guess it wouldn't be weird for the next one to be something related to monsters.
If they are going to announce it at the same time as last time, it should be appearing about now-
{Shortly, we'll announce the combined type raid event. To the players logged in currently, it'll be possible to enjoy the special event we have prepared if you go to a place where you can see the sky and wait.} 
[It's hereeeeeeeeeee!!! It's here!! If these words are appearing, there's no doubt that it'll be Maou-chan!] (Tobi)
With great timing, letters started to flow from the ground.
Like Tobi said, if they told us to look at the sky there's pretty much no doubt that it's going to be that.
[Ah, I guess it's fine if we just stay here in the agriculture section. If they mentioned a raid, that's where you gather a party of more players than usual and fight a gigantic boss monster right? Yumir.] (Hind)
[Umu, you are not wrong there. I don't know what's the party limit in TB, but in games there are times when over a hundred players fight together.] (Yumir)
[A hundred players against a gigantic boss? The image of ants swarming against an elephant comes to my mind...] (Riizu)
Since it was the first online game for me and Riizu, we couldn't really imagine how something like that would be.
How are we going to split the rewards? How are we going to manage healing and buffing?
[Furthermore, there's that whole combined part that picked my interest. What does that even mean?] (Hind)
[Something apart from the raid...it probably means that there will be something apart from the raid itself. With only this much information, I guess we won't know until we hear the details.] (Riizu)
[You are right. Well, guess we'll just wait obediently and wait for the developers to explain.] (Hind)
[I'm going to do it!! I'll work the amount I slacked off!!] (Tobi)
[Umu, work hard, ninja.] (Yumir)
[In that case, go and use your clone and work on it, ninja.] (Hind)
[For some reason, you guys are being harsh!? Ugh, in that case, leave the rest to me!! I'll do it!!] (Tobi)
Including Tobi, who had finally cheered up, we planted the seeds before the event was announced.
In the meantime, something was being projected in the sky...
[Ah.] 
Eventually the image stabilized and a single person was projected in the sky.
An extreme close up on a slit-eyed man, Maou-chan's attendant, Samael.
At that moment, Tobi started silently throwing stones at Samael.
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