今回俺が作ったエイシカドレスは、アレンジ装備の欠点であるサイズの融通の利かなさをある程度だが対策してある。
ウエストをベルトで締める設計であり、それが気に入らない場合はリボンで締めることも可能だ。
分類的にはシンプルなAラインのロングドレスである。
丈も簡単に直せるように――とまあ、残念ながら女王に合わせた作りにはなっていない。
性能的にはエイシカクロス自体が魔力を帯びており、魔導士向けの防具である。
「ぐあーっ、惜しい! 本当に惜しいなぁ、ハインド!」
「ここまで来たら1位でござろうよぉ! 何で2位なんでござるかぁ!」
「いや、いいんじゃないの? 俺らしくて......」
何が不満なのか、俺以上に悔し気に二人が叫ぶ。
どの道、詰めが甘い自覚はあったし......個人的には想定以上の満足いく結果だ。
女王の好みに合いそうな派手な赤いドレスを作っておきながら、オークション対策でサイズに遊びを持たせてしまった。
中途半端にせずに、どちらかに振り切るのが正解だったかもしれない。
それで1位が取れたとは限らないのだが。
「ともあれ、おめっとさんです先輩。めでてー」
「あ、おう。ありがとう」
シエスタちゃんの発言を皮切りに、次々と祝福の言葉を掛けられる。
その後に発表された1位はプロのデザイナーが作った金のドレスだった。
スカートの部分が網目のように複雑な構造をしており、金という扱いの難しい色でありながら下品にならず幻想的な雰囲気を放つ逸品。
仮に俺が女王に完璧に合わせたドレスを作っていたとしても、これは普通に負けていたのではないだろうか?
実力的に完敗である。プロ、強し。
そしていよいよ最終部門の発表時間がやってきた。
セレーネさんが出品したカテゴリである装備・武器部門。
当事者である彼女が祈るように手を組んだまま目を閉じているので、自然と俺達も静かにそれを見守る形に。
ラストに向けて盛り上がりを見せる女王の玉座の間とは対照的な状態である。
100位以内に入った武器は、防具に続いて黄金の物が多かったのだが......。
俺はその中にある、決して華美ではない一本の杖から目が離せなかった。
「......」
「どうしました? ハインドさん」
「あ、いや。もし――」
――オークションに出品されたなら、欲しいと思える杖があった。
俺はリィズにそう言い掛けて口を閉ざす。
これは俺の杖の面倒を見てくれているセレーネさんを侮辱する発言に等しい。
「何でもない。ただみんな、女王の機嫌を窺い過ぎだと思ってな。人の事は言えないけれど」
「確かにそうですね。ですが、そういう品物はオークションで苦労すると思うので」
「入賞した物はまだしも、それ以下の黄金系は悲惨なことになるかもな......」
金ピカ装備なんて、はっきり言って特殊な趣味だ。
買う人間が皆無とは言わないが、それほど広い需要は見込めないと思う。
作った武器・防具はゲームの仕様で溶かすのが不可能だからなぁ......。
『では参るぞ! 最終部門装備・武器、第10位は――』
女王の言葉と共に、一振りの武器が取り出された。
順位が上へ進んでいっても、俺達と違ってセレーネさんの表情に焦りはない。
ただ一心に祈りながらの不動の体勢。
みんなも分かっている。
セレーネさんの狙いは1位のみ......むしろ、途中で呼ばれてしまうのは本意ではないだろう。
『第4位は――』
まだ呼ばれるな、という今までとは逆の念を送りながら映像を見守る。
4位の武器はマードック作・炎雷のガントレット。
左右のガントレットから炎・光の別々の属性を発揮し、更には混合させることも可能という武闘家向けの装備だ。
防具以上に武器の上位陣は、鍛冶の有名プレイヤーが所狭しとひしめいている。
『第3位――』
3位、ブランドン作・黄金の戦槌。
性能と女王の好みを両立させる、他の職人気質の鍛冶師とは一線を画す柔軟な思考を感じさせる武器だ。
重量と適性を考えると、これは重戦士専用となるだろう。
『第2位の作品は――』
第2位はマサムネ作・無銘刀真打。
一切の無駄を感じさせない、3位や4位とは対照的な無属性で一見地味にすら感じさせる刀だ。
が、女王がミレスの持った鉄板をその刀であっさり両断してみせた。
その斬れ味たるや、言語に絶するとでも評せば良いだろうか?
マサムネというプレイヤーはトビが取引掲示板を通じて装備を購入している職人でもあり、和風装備に関しては現在右に出る者が居ない。
『そして、栄えある第1位の作品は......これじゃ!』
女王が手に持った杖。
それに俺はあっと思わず声を上げそうになった。
先程の一斉紹介の時に目が離せなくなった例の杖である。
そして肝心のセレーネさんは微動だにせず......これが彼女の作品なのかそうでないのか確信が持てない反応の薄さだ。
『はっきり言おう。この武器は4位から2位までの武器と比べ、作成者の腕は同程度である! いずれも素晴らしき出来だと断言しておこうぞ!』
女王はその杖をクルリと回し、プレイヤー達に良く見えるようにゆっくりと角度を変えて映していく。
他の上位の鍛冶師と同程度という言葉を受け、セレーネさんが肩を震わせた。
杖に繊細に彫られた紋様及び装飾は控えめで、誰かの性格と似た物を俺に感じさせる。
その期待と確信が持てない不安とが入り混じり、どうにも落ち着かない心持ちだ。
『されどこの杖の先端......』
女王の言葉に杖の先端を見ると、そこには本来あるべき宝石が嵌まっていない。
杖系統の武器は、先端に大型の宝石を設置することで魔力を補助する機能を十全に発揮する。
つまりこの杖は未完成品なのだ。
セレーネさんの様子を考慮して誰も言葉を発していないが、みんなが疑問に思っているのは明白だった。
恐らく、この映像を見ている他のプレイヤー達もそうだろう。
『この空座にノービリス・カーバンクルを嵌めろ、というメッセージだと妾は受け取った。わざわざ未完成品を妾に対して出品するその豪胆さ、挑戦心――誠に気に入った! 1位を取ってこそ完成するこの杖の出品者の名は............』
ごくりと唾を飲み込み、画面を食い入るように見つめる。
女王が長い長い間の後、息を一杯に吸い込んでから艶のある唇をゆっくりと開く。
『出品者の名は、セレーネ! 杖の名は支援者の杖、である!』
その瞬間、談話室内では喜びの叫びが爆発した。
口々にセレーネさんを称えながら、椅子を蹴立てて一斉に立ち上がる。
「うおおおおおおっ! セッちゃん! セッちゃああああん!」
「やった! やったでござるよセレーネ殿おおお!」
「「おめでとうございます、セレーネ先輩!」」
「おめでとうございまーす」
「お見事です、セッちゃん。さすがですね」
「やりましたね、セレーネさん! セレーネさん......?」
セレーネさんは画面を見たまま口を開けて固まっている。
目の前で手を振ってみても反応は無く、肩を揺すってもそれは変わらなかった。
「き、気絶してる......」
「セッちゃん、しっかりしろ! 気を確かに持て!」
喜びの余り気絶したセレーネさんの虚ろな視線の先では、1位の報酬『ノービリス・カーバンクル』をセレーネさんの杖に嵌めた女王が、それをそのまま使って魔法の光を画面一杯に放出していた。
Regarding the Eishika Dress I've made this time, I've prepared some countermeasures to the fact that since it's an arranged item, it has the weakness that its size won't adapt to the wearer.
The waist part is tied by a belt, in case the person doesn't like it, it's also possible to remove it and replace it with a ribbon.
Regarding its classification, it's a simple A-Line long dress.
In order to be able to easily fix its height...well, it's kind of a shame that it wasn't made to fit the Queen.
In terms of performance, the Eishika Dress itself contains traces of magic, it's defensive gear fit for a mage.
[Guah, that was so close! It was really close, Hind!] (Yumir)
[If we've come this far, make it 1st place! Why is it in 2nd place!?] (Tobi)
[Well, isn't it fine? It's fitting for me...] (Hind)
I wonder why they were dissatisfied, these two were screaming as if they were more disappointed than me.
Anyway, I was aware that my finishing touches were a bit lacking...personally, this is better than what I had expected, so I'm satisfied with the result.
While making a dress that fit the tastes of the queen, since she liked the color red, I played around with the size so that it would be able to sell in the auction.
Without doing it halfheartedly, I didn't cut corners in any of those two requirements and it seems like it paid off.
Though that wasn't enough to have taken 1st place.
[Anyway, congratulations, senpai. All th-] (Siesta)
[Ah, yeah. Thanks.] (Hind)
Siesta-chan was the first one to congratulate me and then, the rest started to do so one after another.
After that, 1st place was announced, it was a golden dress made by a professional designer.
The part of the skirt had a complicated pattern like that of a mesh, even though the golden color was supposed to be hard to use, it was a masterpiece that released a magical aura without feeling vulgar.
Suppose that I had made a dress that perfectly fit the Queen, wouldn't I still have lost to this product?
I completely lost in terms of skill. As expected of a professional, they are really strong.
It was finally time to announce the winners of the last category.
It was the Gear*Weapon category that Selene-san was participating in.
The person herself was currently crossing her fingers and had her eyes closed as if she was praying, so, all of us naturally stayed quiet while watching over her.
In contrast, the space a bit of a distance from the throne of the Queen was showing that this was finally the climax of the event.
Among the weapons and gear within the top 100, there were a lot of golden ones but...
Among those, I couldn't tear my eyes away from a single staff that wasn't flashy at all.
[...] (Hind)
[What's wrong, Hind-san?] (Riizu)
[Ah, nothing. I was wondering...] (Hind)
...It was a staff that if it was going to be sold later on in the auction, it made me think that I would like to buy it.
I shut my mouth and refrained from telling Riizu that.
That sort of statement would be like an insult to Selene-san, who went through the trouble of looking after my staves.
[It's nothing. I was just thinking that everyone is trying too hard to get on the Queen's good side. Not that I'm one to talk though.] (Hind)
[You are right. However, I think that those products will have a hard time selling in the auction.] (Riizu)
[Aside from if it was a product that won the event, I think it will be hard for the other golden items that place below that...] (Hind)
Golden and shiny pieces of gear, speaking quite frankly, are only for those with particularly unique tastes.
I'm not saying that no one will buy them, however, I don't believe that demand is that high.
On top of that, you are not able to melt the gear in this game after all...
{Let's start then! 10th place in the last division, Gear*Weapons...} (Queen)
Along with those words, the Queen took out a weapon.
We were slowly going through the ranks and unlike us, Selene-san didn't show any signs of getting impatient.
She just stood still in her praying posture.
Everyone understands.
Selene-san was only aiming for 1st place...in fact, you could say she had no intention of having her name called until we reached that spot.
{In 4th place...} 
"Don't say her name yet", while sending prayers with the opposite meaning of what we've done until now, we looked towards the screen.
In 4th place, there was a Marduck made, Thunder and Flame Gauntlets.
The left one was of fire element and the right one of light element, furthermore, it was possible to mix the elements, a weapon for martial artists.
The higher ranks in weapons and gear category was filled with famous blacksmiths.
{In 3rd place...} 
3rd place, Brandon made, Golden Warhammer.
With a mixture of performance and fitting the Queen's tastes, it was a weapon that showed flexibility in the way of thinking of the crafter compared to those master blacksmith's that took pride in their own work.
Judging from its weight, this is probably made for a Heavy Warrior.
{The product in 2nd place is...} 
2nd place, Masamune made, Unsigned Katana.
I didn't see a single speck of waste in the crafting of this blade, it wasn't an elemental weapon like those in 3rd and 4th place, a single glance would make you think that it was just a plain katana.
However, the Queen cut the iron plate that Miles was holding without any effort.
Should we take it as if that sharpness goes beyond what could be expressed with words?
The player called Masamune is the one that Tobi buys gear from through the trading BBS, in terms of making Japanese style equipment, there was no one that could compare to him.
{And the excellent product in 1st place is...this one!} 
The staff that the Queen held in her hands.
I unconsciously raised my voice once I saw it.
It was the staff I couldn't take my eyes off back when they showed all the items at the same time.
And Selene-san wasn't moving at all...it was hard to infer if this was her product or not considering that reaction of hers.
{If I were to be honest, the one that made this weapon had about the same skill level as the ones from 2nd to 4th place! I can say with certainty that it was splendidly made!} (Queen)
The Queen then started spinning the staff around, and the projection showed the staff from different angles so that the players could see it clearly.
Hearing that it was of the same level as the other master blacksmiths, Selene-san's shoulders trembled.
The patterns and decorations in the staff were carefully carved and conservative, I could feel that it was similar to a certain person's personality.
The anxiety of not believing in oneself and the expectations of the person were mixed in there, it was a feeling I couldn't shake off.
{At the tip of this staff is...} (Queen)
Hearing the Queen's words, we looked towards the pointed end of the staff and what awaited us there was not the usual gem.
Staff type weapons have a gem encrusted at the tip of one end in order to assist with the users' magic.
Which means that this staff is incomplete.
Taking Selene-san into consideration, no one was saying anything, but it was obvious that everyone was wondering about that.
Most likely, the same goes for all the other players watching this.
{I took this empty space as a statement telling me that "A Noblis Carbuncle should be placed here". To be so bold and daring as to send in an incomplete product...I really liked that! The name of the crafter that made this staff that took 1st place is...} (Queen)
While swallowing our saliva, our gazes were concentrated on the screen.
After a long long time, the Queen took a breath and her glossy lips slowly opened.
{The name is Selene! The name of the staff is Supporter Staff!} (Queen)
At that moment, the lounge room erupted with cries of joy.
While sending words of praise towards Selene-san, everyone stood up from their seats in unison.
[Uwoooooooooooo!! Secchan! Secchaaaaaan!!] (Yumir)
[You did it! You did it Selene-donoooo!!] (Tobi)
[[Congratulations, Selene-senpai!] ] (Lyco and Sai)
[Congratulations.] (Siesta)
[Well done, Secchan. As expected of you.] (Riizu)
[You did it, Selene-san! Selene-san...?] (Hind)
Selene-san was frozen in place watching the screen.
She didn't react even if you waved your hand in front of her eyes, that didn't change even if you tried shaking her shoulders.
[S-She fainted...] (Hind)
[Secchan, get a grip! Return to your senses!] (Yumir)
Projected in front of Selene-san's eyes, who had fainted from being too happy, was the Queen inserting a {Noblis Carbuncle} , which was the prize for getting 1st place, on top of the staff and then using the staff to release light magic towards the screen.
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