「よっしゃあ、勝ったでござるよ! 拙者の活躍、見ていたでござるか? ハインド殿、ユーミル殿!」
おお、甘い、甘過ぎる......が、香りも食感も良いし美味いなこの菓子。
バクラヴァというパイ生地を使った料理を作って持ってきたのだが、これはイケる。
沢山の生地の層の中にナッツを練り込んであり、外側はシロップでコーティングしてあるというものだ。
ゲームで色々と料理を試して現実にレシピを持ち込む、というのが最近のマイブーム。
この場でも味は実感を伴うけれど、やっぱり腹は膨れないからな。
四人でモグモグと夢中になって口を動かす。
いでる!? 拙者の試合の感想は!?」
「もごごーご! もごもごごごごご、ももーっ!」
「ユーミル殿、何言ってるか分からないでござるよ......」
「中々やるな! 次は私達の戦いぶりを見ているがいい! と言っている」
「ハインド殿は何で分かるの!? ユーミル殿、めっちゃ頷いてるから正解っぽいし!」
何となくだが、少なくともバジリスクの時に放った謎言語よりは分かる。
トビとコンビであるミツヨシさんの二人は、舞台から降りて直ぐに俺達の近くに寄ってきた。
セレーネさんは初見のミツヨシさんが居るので、リィズの陰に隠れ気味だ。
「愉快な連中だな、トビ君のギルメン」
「ミツヨシ殿......愉快過ぎて、
人のことは言えないと思うんだがなぁ。トビだって酷い時は似たようなもんだ。
俺はトビと並んで立っているミツヨシさんにもバクラヴァを勧めた。
先程から俺達ではなく、手元のこれを見ていたような気がしたのだが......どうだろう?
「あ、物欲しげに見えちゃったかい? 実は甘党なんだよ。ありがとう」
彼は嬉しそうに礼を言うと、受け取ってバクラヴァに大口で齧りついた。
これだけ美味しそうに食べてくれると、調理者としては結構嬉しいものだ。
トビにも一切れ渡し、近くで見ていた女性集団にも余りそうだったのでお裾分けしておく。
味に関しては好評で、同じ物を食べたことで付近に謎の一体感が生まれる。
瞬く間にその一画は甘い香りが包む空間へ......あ、良かったらハーブティーもどうぞ。
食べ終わったトビとミツヨシさんは一度ログアウトすると言って去り、暫くは淡々と試合観戦。
「この闘技場で食べ物を売り歩いたら、結構儲かるんじゃないのか......?」
「ハインドさん、既に同じ考えのプレイヤーが行動に移しているようですよ?」
のんびりと戦いを見ながら呟くと、リィズが対面の観客席を指差す。
同じ様な衣装を着た、ギルドを組んでいるらしい複数のプレイヤー達が食べ物を売り歩いていた。
なるほど......そりゃあ俺が考えつく程度のことは他の人も考えるよな。
禁止されていたのは個人で開く賭博だけだったし、ああいうのも大会の利用法としては正しいと思う。
そんなまったりとした観戦時間も終わりに差し掛かり、いよいよ次が俺達の試合となった。
「ようやく出番か!」
「気合を入れているところ残念ですけど、相手が来ていませんよ? ユーミルさん」
「あ? それはどういうことだ?」
ユーミルの困惑に、セレーネさんがリィズの開いているメニュー画面を横から覗き込む。
それから納得したように頷くと、一言補足を入れた。
「本当だ。事前に運営にきちんと連絡を入れたみたいで、トーナメント表では棄権になってるね」
「ということは......」
次の俺達の相手は、NPCということになるようだ。
場内が騒めいている。
NPCの参戦者にプレイヤー達も興味津々なようで、その登場を今か今かと待ち侘びている。
グループHはここまで誰も欠場者が居なかったからな。
闘技場内の約半分はNPC用の席となっているのだが、今の所はそちらに目立った変化が見られない。
俺達は既に舞台の上でスタンバイ済みな訳だが。
どこから来るのか......そう思って周囲を見回していると、舞台の上に転移の光が溢れる。
中から現れたのは――
「陛下、この試合で本日は最後です。終了後は約束通り――」
「くどい! 公務でも何でも、城に戻ってやってやると言っている!」
「結構なことです。明日も闘技場に赴かれるのですから、前以って片付けておかねばならぬ案件は消化して頂きませんと」
余だ、と叫んだその人の頭の上にはグラド・アルディ・サージェスという表示があった。
凍りつく場内、しかしネームの前には『皇帝』の文字がしっかりと刻まれている。幻覚ではない。
真っ赤な鎧に黒地に金刺繍のマント、赤髪と太い眉に彫りの深い顔立ち、パッチリとした二重まぶたの目......第一印象としては「濃ゆい」の一言。
体格は普通なのだが、その顔立ちのせいか非常に迫力があるように感じる。
「どうやら待たせてしまったようだな――さあ、構えよ来訪者! 余自らが貴様等の相手とならん!」
その言葉に、我に返った観客達が急激に沸いた。
一緒に来た政務官らしき青年は、その様子に深く嘆息すると下がって舞台から降りて行く。
まさかとは思うが......皇帝一人で戦う気なのか?
「な、なあハインド。私達って、運が良いのかこれは?」
「いや、登場時の皇帝様の台詞からして全部の試合の穴埋めをして回っているようだぞ。俺達だけじゃないだろう、この状況は」
「穴埋め......一人でか?」
「だろうな。当然のように単独で立ってるし」
つまりはこうなる。
穴埋めNPC=全部皇帝(主催者)という......何を考えてるんだ、運営のイベント担当は。
皇帝陛下が黄金の剣を抜いた直後、READYの文字が表示される。
予想外の事態に落ち着かない気分のまま、俺達は慌てて武器を構えた。
「安心せよ、手加減はする。が、そちらは二人纏めて掛かってくるといい......参るぞ!」
赤い塊が、こちらへ向かって真っ直ぐに突進してきた。
運営の言葉を信じた俺が馬鹿だった。
どの辺の強さがそれなりなのかと、問い合わせメールを五十通ほど送り付けてやりたい気分だ。
――皇帝グラドは恐ろしい能力を持っていた。
剣技に攻撃魔法、気功、果ては回復魔法に至るまでありとあらゆるスキルを駆使してこちらを圧倒してくる。
すなわち......
「「倒せねえええ!」」
ユーミルと声を揃えて叫ぶ。
どうやって倒せって言うんじゃ、こんなの!
HPは俺達の約十倍、MPも高速で溜まり回復もするし、良く見るとレベルも100と表示されている。
確かに即死させられていないだけ攻撃に関しては存分に手加減されているのだろうが......。
あちらのHPをじわじわと削っても直ぐに回復されるので、徒労感が半端ではない。
まだ一度も相手のHPを九割以下まで減らせていないので、それ以前の問題ではあるのだが。
「どうした、その程度であるか? このまま終わるようでは、今日戦った者達の中で最も期待外れということになるが......」
「私達が期待外れだと......? 許せええんっ!」
「待てユーミル! 挑発だ、乗るな!」
静止の声も虚しく、攻撃に動きが偏重したユーミルのHPは見る見る内にレッドゾーンへ。
俺はその様子を見て即座に『リヴァイブ』の詠唱を開始。
そのままあっさりと打ち負けると、倒れて戦闘不能に。
皇帝が天を仰いで肩に剣を担ぎ、非常にがっかりした顔をした。
「......これで終わりであるか。ならば、試合はここまでに――」
「――と思っていたのか?」
復活したユーミルが皇帝の胸を鎧もろともロングソードで貫く。
俺は『マジックアップ』をユーミルに使用、直後――
「食らうがいい!」
「ぬうっ!」
MPが八割ほど溜まった状態で『バーストエッジ』が発動。
剣を伝った魔力が皇帝の体内で爆発する。
弱点判定をしっかり得つつ、クリティカルまで発生した一撃だったが......。
「素晴らしい連携だ......!」
ユーミルの剣を力づくで抜いた皇帝のHPは、残り八割五分という表示だった。
酷い力の差だな、これは。
「その奮闘に敬意を表して、余も少しだけ本気を出すとしよう」
「「いえ、結構です」」
「そう遠慮するな」
聞く耳持たず。
剣を高速でしまった皇帝は、素早く呪文の詠唱を開始。
ユーミルが止めようと動き出すが、無情にも一瞬で詠唱は完了。
それを見て、俺はユーミルをフォローすべく前へと走り出す。
「焼き尽くせ! レイジングフレイムゥゥゥ!」
暑苦しい叫びと共に放たれたのは、人一人を簡単に飲み込めそうな巨大な火球。
火・風系魔導士のスキルで、レベル40までに習得可能な中で最大の攻撃力を持つ魔法だ。
避けきれないと見るや、俺は自分に『レジストアップ』を掛けつつユーミルとポジションを入れ替える。
火球が眼前に迫り、弾けた。
「ぬおおおおっ! あっちいいいいい!」
HPが一気に半分になるが、神官の魔法抵抗は伊達ではない!
騎士の魔法抵抗も前衛ではトップだが、復活直後でHPが減っているユーミルでは恐らく受けきれなかっただろう。
火が収まった直後に『エリアヒール』を発動して、ユーミルごと自分を回復させた。
何故かそれを皇帝は黙って見ている。詠唱妨害も追撃も、一切の行動をしてこない。
不思議に思っていると......
「ハッハッハッハッハ! そうかそうか!」
大声で高らかに笑うと、今度は先程までと打って変わって満足そうな表情を見せた。
良く分からないが、何かに納得した様子ではあるが......。
その後、舞台の下に控えていた青年を呼び寄せるなりこう言った。
「帰るぞ、スキア」
「もう宜しいので?」
「満足だ。ともすれば、今日一番の手応えかもしれぬ」
「ほう......それはそれは」
「期待外れ、という前言は撤回するぞ! ユーミル、ハインド。明日も会えることを楽しみにしている。勝ち抜けよ!」
一方的に宣言すると、スキアと呼ばれた青年が呪文を唱えて皇帝と共にあっさりと目の前から消えた。
静まり返った場内で、俺達の名前が勝者としてコールされる。
視界にもWINNER! の文字が踊った。
パチパチという、聞こえてくるまばらな拍手が観客の心情を全て表していると思う。
俺達はその場で立ち竦み、ただただ唖然とすることしか出来なかった。
「......は? はあ!? さっぱり勝った気がしないのだが!? 何だこれはぁぁぁ!」
「――全くだよ! ああ、スッキリしねえなあああ!」
ユーミルと共に叫ぶも、その声は虚しく闘技場内に響くのみである。
[Alright, we won! Did you see my performance, Hind-dono, Yumir-dono!?]  (Tobi)
Oh, sweet, it's so sweet...this confectionery tastes good and it has a nice fragrance and texture.
It was something I made and brought here called Baklava that used pie dough, this is good.
There are nuts within the many layers of dough, and the exterior is coated in syrup.
Recently, I've become obsessed with trying to cook various things in the game by bringing in real life recipes.
You can actually get a real taste of the food here, but as expected, your stomach doesn't really fill up.
The four of us were absorbed in chewing the food.
[Wait, they are relaxing over there!? What about the impressions of my match!?]  (Tobi)
[Mogogogo! Mogomogogogogo, momoh!]  (Yumir)
[Yumir-dono, I don't get what you are trying to say...]  (Tobi)
[Not bad! You should just witness our next fight! Is what she said.]  (Hind)
[Hind-dono, how did you understand her!? Yumir-dono is nodding like crazy so what you said was right too!]  (Tobi)
Somehow, at the very least they were easier to understand than those puzzling words she said during the Basilisk fight.
Tobi and his partner Mitsuyoshi, descended from the arena and immediately got closer to where we were.
It was the first time Selene-san met Mitsuyoshi, so she used Riizu to conceal herself.
[They sure are a cheerful bunch, Tobi-kun's guild members.]  (Mitsuyoshi)
[Mitsuyoshi-dono...they are too cheerful, though there are times where I can't keep up with them...]  (Tobi)
Though I believe he shouldn't be the one to talk. There are times when Tobi gets pretty bad too.
I offered Mitsuyoshi-san, who was next to Tobi a Baklava.
Since quite a while ago, I get the feeling he wasn't really looking at us but at what I was holding...I wonder if that's the case?
[Ah, did my desires show up on my face? The truth is, I have quite the sweet-tooth, thank you.]  (Mitsuyoshi)
He expressed his thanks with delight, and took a big mouthful of the Baklava.
He's eating it that delightfully, as the one who made it, it makes me really happy.
I also gave Tobi a slice, and it looked like there would be leftovers so I shared them among the female crowd that were looking at us close by.
It got a favorable reception when it came down to taste, and a mysterious sense of unity was born in the vicinity when everyone was eating the same thing.
In an instant, the air in the area was wrapped in a sweet fragrance...ah, feel free to have some herb tea too.
Once Tobi and Mitsuyoshi-san were done, they said that they would log out, and we watched the matches while not being very interested.
[If you walked around the arena selling food, wouldn't that be quite profitable...?]  (Hind)
[Hind-san, there are already players taking action who had the same idea, you know?]  (Riizu)
When I uttered that while watching the matches carefreely, Riizu pointed at the other side of the arena.
Wearing similar clothes, there was a multitude of players that looked to be part of the same guild walking around selling food.
I see...I mean, if it's something I'd be able to come up with, there would be other people that came up with the same idea.
The only thing that was banned was opening gambling of your own after all, I believe this kind of thing is honest business by using the arena.
While we were relaxing like that, the match we were watching was over and it was finally time for our match next.
[It's finally our turn!]  (Yumir)
[I'm sorry to say this when you are getting fired up, but the opponents haven't come you know, Yumir-san?]  (Riizu)
[Ah? What does that mean?]  (Yumir)
When Yumir showed bewilderment, Selene-san looked at Riizu's opened screen from the side.
After that, she nodded in agreement and said this.
[It's true. They seem to have contacted the developers in advance, they have withdrawn from the tournament.]  (Selene)
[Which means...]  (Hind)
Seems like our opponents will be NPCs.
The arena was getting noisier.
It seemed like the players were also interested in NPCs taking part, they were eagerly waiting for them to make their entrance.
There wasn't anyone absent until now from group H after all.
Half of the seats in the arena were for NPC use, but I haven't seen anything that stood out yet.
Though we were already in the arena waiting.
I wonder where they'll come from...when I looked around thinking that, a light shone from above the arena.
The ones that came out from it...
[Your majesty, this is the last match of today. After the end, as planned...] 
[Annoying! Official business or whatever, I'm telling you I'll take care of those after we return to the castle!] 
[Guess we can leave it at that. We'll come tomorrow to the arena again, so there are matters we have to attend in advance.] 
The one that shouted [It's me!] , had the name Grado*Ardi*Sajis displayed on top of his head.
The arena froze, however, before the name the word {Emperor}  was clearly attached. It was not an hallucination.
Armor that was bright red and a black mantle with gold embroidery, red hair and thick eyebrows...fine chiseled looks, eyes with double-edged eyelids...if I had to describe my first impressions on him in one word it would be [Passionate] .
His physique was ordinary, but maybe it was because of those features, he looked quite impressive.
[It seems like we have made you wait...well then, take up your weapons visitors! I'll personally be your opponent!]  (Sajis)
Due to those words, we came to our senses and the audience suddenly got really excited.
The one that came with him was a young man, seeing this situation, he gave a sigh and descended from the arena.
Could it be...that the emperor plans to fight alone?
[Hey, Hind. We, is this us being lucky?]  (Yumir)
[No, from what the emperor said when he entered the stage, it seems like he has been going around every match where there was an absence. We are probably not the only ones in this situation.]  (Hind)
[He was...filling the holes alone?]  (Yumir)
[Seems like it. I mean, he's standing there alone as if it were natural.]  (Hind)
Basically it means this.
The NPCs that are filling in = everyone is the emperor (sponsor)...I wonder what are they even thinking? The developers in charge of this event.
Once his majesty pulled out his golden sword, the word READY appeared.
Being unable to calm down because of the unexpected event, we readied our weapons in a hurry.
[Don't worry, I'll hold back. Though, you are free to come at me with everything you've got...here I come!]  (Sajis)
The red lump of mass, rushed towards us.
I was an idiot for believing the words of the developers.
They said they were going to be quite strong, but now I feel like sending them over 50 emails asking them about it.
...The emperor Grado had terrifying skills.
Sword skills and offensive magic, qiqong, on top of that he even had healing magic, he could freely use any type of skills and was overpowering us.
In other words...
[[We can't beat him!!!] ]  (Yumir and Hind)
I shouted along with Yumir.
How do they want us to beat someone like him!?
He has about 10 times our HP, his MP recovers at really high speed, and now that I'm looking at it, it's displayed that his level is 100.
Though it's true that they restricted him quite a bit since he's not instantly killing us but...
Even if we slowly shave off his HP, he'll heal instantly, it feels completely useless.
His HP hasn't gone under 90% even once, so that brings us to my previous question.
[What's wrong, is that all you got? If we end up like this, this would make you guys the most disappointing ones among the people I've faced today...]  (Sajis)
[You said we were a disappointment...? I can't forgive that!]  (Yumir)
[Wait, Yumir! He's taunting you, don't fall for it!]  (Hind)
My voice failed to reach her, Yumir's HP, who put emphasis on offense went into the red zone very fast.
Looking at that situation, I started chanting {Revive} .
Like that, she took a hit and became incapacitated.
The emperor looked at the sky and placed his sword on his shoulders, and made a disappointed face.
[...So it ends like this? In that case, we'll stop the mat-]  (Sajis)
[...Is that what you were thinking?]  (Yumir)
The revived Yumir, pierced the emperor's armor in the chest area.
I used {Magic up}  on Yumir, and immediately after that...
[Eat this!]  (Yumir)
[Nuuh!]  (Sajis)
She used {Burst Edge}  when her MP was at around 80%.
The magic power that ran throughout the sword exploded from within the emperor's body.
It was judged as a weak point, and it was a blow that was a critical hit but...
[That was a splendid combo...!]  (Sajis)
The emperor forcibly removed Yumir's sword and his HP showed that he was at 85%.
This is quite the difference in strength.
[To honor your efforts, I'll get a little bit serious.]  (Sajis)
[[No, thanks.] ]  (Yumir and Hind)
[No need to be shy.]  (Sajis)
It fell on deaf ears.
The emperor quickly put away his sword and started chanting a spell really fast.
Yumir tried to stop him, but cruelly, the spell was done casting in an instant.
Seeing that, I began running towards Yumir as a follow up.
[Burn to ashes! Raging Flame!!]  (Sajis)
It was released along with that oppressive scream, a gigantic fireball that could easily engulf a whole person.
It was a fire*wind mage skill, among the skills you could acquire until level 40, it was the one with the highest offensive power.
Seeing that we wouldn't be able to avoid it, I cast {Resist up}  on myself and positioned myself in front of Yumir.
The fireball closed in in front of me and burst.
[Nuooooh!! It's hoooooooooot!!]  (Hind)
My HP was reduced to 50% in one go, but a Shinto priest's magic resistance is not for show!
A knight's magic resistance is also top class among vanguards, but Yumir probably won't have been able to endure it since her HP was low after she was revived.
I cast {Area Heal}  immediately after the fire settled down, and healed both our HP.
For some reason, the emperor was just standing there and watching us. He didn't try to disrupt my spell or chase after us, he wasn't moving at all.
Once I thought that it was weird...
[Hahahahaha! I see, I see!]  (Sajis)
He started laughing loudly, and this time he showed an expression that he was content with the exchange of blows until now.
I don't get it, but it looks like he understood something...
After that, he descended from the arena and said this to the young man after he called him.
[We are returning, Skia.]  (Sajis)
[Is it fine already?]  (Skia)
[I'm satisfied. If I had to say, they might be the strongest ones today.]  (Sajis)
[Oh?...That's quite something.]  (Skia)
[I take back what I said about you being a disappointment, Hind, Yumir! I look forward to meeting you tomorrow. Keep on winning!]  (Sajis)
After declaring that one-sidedly, the young man called Skia chanted a spell and they disappeared from our sight.
The arena fell silent, and it was called that we were the victors.
A WINNER! appeared and danced in front of our eyes.
We heard a few scattered applause from the audience, but I believe their heart wasn't in it.
We stood there unable to move from that spot, we could only stand there dumbfounded.
[...Ah? Hah!? I don't feel like we won at all though!? What's thiiiiissss!!?]  (Yumir)
[...You said it!! Ah, I don't feel satisfied at aaaall!!!]  (Hind)
I shouted along with Yumir, and that pointless scream resounded throughout the audience.
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