233話 錬金姫の蹂躙劇
「ここの【化石】はダメだニャ。取ったりしたら、警備ゴーレム達が殺到するニャ」
レディによる当然の返答は、俺とジュンヤ君の高揚した気持ちをしぼませた。
冷静に考えれば、わざわざ展示されるほどの貴重品。無断で取ってはダメだろう。しかし、【化石】というワードが俺の心を掴んで離さないのだ。しかも鬼神竜バハムートとか、壮大な匂いがぷんぷんするではないか。
後ろ髪を引かれる気分でガラスケースを見つめる俺。そんな内心を悟ったのか、レディは『でも』と言葉を続けてくれる。
「坑道地区や山頂にそんなのはたくさん見つかるから、後でいくといいニャ」
今すぐに行きたい。
そんな欲求に駆られそうになるが......今はみんなが集まってくれた手前、そうコロコロと目的を変えるべきではない。【
隣で目を輝かせ、期待の眼差しで俺を見つめるジュンヤくんもそこはわかっているのか『今すぐ行きましょう』なんて口には出してこない。
けれど俺が頷けば、彼もコクリと顔を縦に沈める。
言葉はなくとも、必ず後で一緒に行こうと示し合わす。
「天士さま。その時は私もご一緒します」
「うふんッ♪ あちきも化石は興味あるわぁん。骨や牙のアクセサリーなんかもバリっぽくて素敵じゃないんッ♪」
なぜか俺達の本心はミナとジョージに筒抜けだった。
◇
「いたニャ。ネコ・フェア・ダンディだニャ」
どうするニャ? 驚かすニャ? 飛びかかるニャ? なんて次々に質問を浴びせてくるネコ・フェア・レディ。彼女は小さな身体をさらに小さくし、背をまるめて飛びかかりたそうにウズウズしていた。
「ちょっと待って」
研究所】を通りすぎた後、いくつもの小さな島が宙に浮かびあがっている地点に来ていた。建築群とすぐ傍を浮遊する島々、その幻想的な光景に目を奪われるも悠長な時間はすぐに消えた。
それはレディが指摘する通り、目的の一つでもあるノトロ子爵一派を発見したからだ。
俺達がいる浮遊島から四メートルほど下に浮いている島、そこに20名前後の人間が集っていたのだ。
俺は仲間たちと頷き合い、敵の様子を窺う。
保護対象であるイグニトール王女の弟君は、まだ一歳の赤子だったはず。それらしき人物を探し、集団をつぶさに観察すると......いた。立派な口髭を生やした中年男性の横、乳母らしき人物が胸にかき抱いて不安そうに辺りを見回している。おそらく彼女に抱かれた赤ちゃんが弟君だろう。
乳母の傍には世話係の補佐なのか、メイドが一人侍っている。それ以外には、かなり立派なローブを着た魔法使いらしき人物が二人と、ノトロ子爵直属の騎士らしき人達が五人。残りは平兵士っぽいのが十数人という編成に、口髭の人物がノトロ子爵だろう。
平兵士や騎士たちの装用は薄汚れていて、装備も所々に傷みが目立つ。
きっとここまで来るのに苦労したのだろう。対してノトロ子爵や乳母、魔法使いの二人は身綺麗なもので、疲労は期待できそうにない。
「人数が多いわねぇん......」
ジョージの呟きに俺も同意する。
こちらは六人であっちは二十人以上。普通に仕掛けたら敗北は必至で、個々の技量差が上回っていたとしても被害は甚大だと予想できる。
「わたくしの弓とミナヅキさんの魔法、それとタロさんの花火......でしたかしら? 遠距離攻撃はこの三つで間違いありませんわね?」
リリィさんの問いにトワさんが素早く答える。
「ぼ、ボクも......と、投擲スキルをちょこっと上げました。だから、鉱石を投げ飛ばすぐらいならできます」
意外なことにジュンヤ君も戦闘スキルを磨いてたようだ。それぞれの出来ることを確認していくなか、ジョージだけは『何でもバッチ恋よん♪ 受けて
話し合いの結果、四メートルの高所から遠距離攻撃を放ち、地の利を活かすのは全員が賛成。その後は落下ダメージ覚悟でジョージと俺が飛び降り、近接戦での奇襲攻撃をジョージのみが敢行する。素早さが最も高い俺は、戦闘は回避しつつ弟君を奪取するという流れになった。
「それでも遠距離攻撃だけじゃ、相手を殲滅するのは無理そうです」
ミナの結論にみんなが深く頷く。ここは覚悟を決めねばならないと、仲間たちの表情が緊張で強張っていく。
敵の人数に対する火力不足の不安と、ジョージに大きな負担をかける作戦。
もっと確実な戦法はないか、そう思案して俺は一つ試したいことを口にする。
「遠距離攻撃の前に試したいアビリティがあるんだ。最近、習得した俺のスキルを加えれば、けっこうな打撃を与えられるかもしれない」
俺がスキルの内容と作戦を述べると、みんなは半信半疑な様子で手に持つ『
リリィさんが腕を組み、首を傾げる。
「でも、タロさんの錬金術にはこれまで何度も驚かせられましたから。今回もその恩恵に頼ってみようかしら」
みんなの気持ちを代弁するように、リリィさんは溜息混じりに呟いてくれる。
これで作戦は決まり。
あまり発動を長引かせると俺の経験値が減少し、レベルダウンの危険がある。
なるべく早めにチェックメイトといこうじゃないか。
スキルを発動すれば、ボードがやんわりと煌めく。
そして盤上の駒たちはちょこちょこと動き出した。
次いで四メートル眼下の浮き島には、配置した通りの地点に兵士や騎士たちが出現し始める。
ジョージの疑問が風になびき、戦場へと流れていく。
そちらに目を向ければ蹂躙劇が幕を開けたようだ。
236 233 Stories Princess Alchemy'S Ravages
"No [fossils] here. If you take it, the guard golems will kill you."
The natural response by Lady squished me and Junya your exalted feelings.
If you think calmly, valuables enough to be deliberately displayed. You can't take it without permission. But the word "fossil" grabs my heart and doesn't let go. Besides, isn't there a magnificent smell of the god dragon Bahamut or something?
Me staring at the glass case in the back of my hair. You've learned such an insight, Lady keeps saying 'But'.
"You'll find a lot of them in the pit district and on top of the mountain, so I hope you'll come back later."
I want to go now.
I'm going to be driven by that desire... but now in front of everyone gathered, yes it's corny and I shouldn't change my purpose. Even though we haven't finished exploring [Gear's Old Nest (Harold Gear)], we should avoid taking wasteful risks.
Junya-kun, who shines his eyes next door and stares at me with the gaze of anticipation, also knows there. 'Let's go now' doesn't come out to his mouth.
But if I snort, he sinks his face vertically too.
Even if there are no words, we will definitely show them that we will go with them later.
"Heavenly Master. I'll be with you then."
"Ugh.  Fossils are of interest everywhere. Wow. Bones and fang accessories don't look too bald."
For some reason, our true intentions were with Mina and George.
*
"There he is. Cat Fair Dundee."
What are we gonna do? Surprise? Fly? What a cat fair lady who gets one question after another. She had made her little body even smaller and was wuss like she had jumped her back all round.
"Wait a minute."
After we passed the [Myth of the Creation (Opalous) Institute], we came to a point where a number of small islands were rising in space. A long time soon disappeared, even blinded by the architectural group and the islands floating right beside it, by its fantastic sights.
That's because, as the lady points out, she discovered a group of Viscounts of Notro, which is also one of her aims.
It's about four meters down from the floating island we're on, and there were about 20 people there.
I snort with my people and watch my enemies.
The younger brother of Princess Ignitol, who is the subject of protection, should have been only a one-year-old baby. Looking for someone like that and observing the group crumbling...... was there. Next to a middle-aged man with a fine moustache, a nanny-like figure looks around anxiously holding him in his chest. Perhaps the baby held by her is your brother.
Beside the nanny is a caregiver's assistant, or one maid is serving. Other than that, there are two wizard-like figures in a pretty fine robe and five knight-like people directly from Viscount Notro. For the rest, the bearded figure would be Viscount Notro to the formation that more than a dozen people look like Hei soldiers.
The fitting of the Ping soldiers and knights is thinly dirty, and the equipment is noticeably damaged everywhere.
I'm sure you had a hard time getting here. In contrast, Viscount Notro, Nanny and the Wizard are beautiful things, and fatigue is unlikely to be expected.
"That's a lot of people..."
I agree with George's whining.
There are six of us and over twenty of us over there. Normally, defeat is imperative, and even if individual skill differences were exceeded, the damage can be expected to be enormous.
"Was it my bow and Mr. Minazuki's magic, and Mr. Taro's fireworks...? There's no doubt about these three ranged attacks, is there?
Twa answers Lily's question quickly.
"Me, me too... and I raised my throwing skills a little bit. So you can just throw the ore away."
Unsurprisingly, Junya, you seem to have sharpened your combat skills, too. As we make sure we can do each one, only George shows "anything batch love.  Take it and get up. Wow." and omnipotence.
As a result of the discussion, we are all in favour of releasing a ranged attack from a height of four metres and exploiting the interests of the land. After that, George and I jump ready for drop damage, and only George dares to ambush in melee. The quickest I could get, the battle turned out to be about getting rid of my brother.
"Still, a long-range attack is unlikely to destroy the target."
Everyone snorts deeply at Mina's conclusion. When we have to be prepared here, the look on our people's faces tenses and strengthens.
Anxiety of lack of firepower over the number of enemies and manoeuvres that place a heavy burden on George.
Is there a more definite method of warfare, I think so and I say one thing I want to try.
"I have abilities I'd like to try before a ranged attack. If you add my skills I've acquired recently, I might be able to hit you like this."
When I described the skill and the operation, everyone stared at Rudy Athens Board, a battlefield play dancing on a board that was half-hearted.
Mr. Lily arms up and tilts his neck.
"But I've been surprised by Mr. Taro's alchemy so many times before. Let's rely on that benefit this time."
As I speak for everyone's feelings, Mr. Lily squeaks at me in a sigh of breath.
Now the operation is settled.
If I prolong the activation too much, my experience will decrease and I risk a level down.
Why don't we check with our mates as soon as possible?
Activate your skills and the board will glow with ease.
And the pawns on the board made a little move.
Soldiers and knights then begin to appear at the point of the placed street on the floating island four metres below.
George's questions soar into the wind and flow to the battlefield.
Looks like the ravages have opened if you turn your eyes to them.
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん