必殺の一矢
唸りを上げて威嚇するオーガを前に、俺はセレーネさんを庇う様に立つ。
二人パーティで採れる選択肢はそれほど多くない。
セレーネさんの職業を考慮し、俺は迷わず前に出ることに決めた。
「セレーネさん! 俺が前衛......もどきをやるので、後はお願いします。奴の弱点は頭部です!」
「え、大丈夫なの? ハインド君は神官でしょ!?」
「お任せあれ。後衛職とは言え、こちらのレベルは30オーバー。耐えきってみせますよ!」
自分の三倍は背丈がある巨鬼に向かって飛び込んでいく。
......うわ、序盤のボスなのに近付くとかなり怖いな。
VRならではの実感を伴った威圧感と殺意に、思わず足が
こうして対峙してみるとユーミルやトビ、前衛連中の度胸は大したものだと今更ながらに思い知らされる。
後衛のままでは決して分からなかったであろう感覚だ。
「来いよオーガ! 棍棒なんて捨ててかかってこい!」
「ガアッ!」
まあ、捨てる訳がないんですがね! 凶暴な鬼には、人間の言葉なんて通じやしないのだ。
どうにか力のこもった一撃を躱すと同時に、自分に向けて『ガードアップ』を詠唱。
目の前で発動しても次の攻撃にはギリギリ――よし、間に合った!
続けざまの攻撃を避ける。
いつ攻撃を食らうか分からないが、これで数発までなら耐えられるだろう。
続けて『アタックアップ』の補助魔法を、矢を装填しているセレーネさんに向けて発動。
「ありがとう、ハインド君!」
その際に一瞬とはいえ、後ろを向いたのがまずかったのだろう。
背中に鋭い痛みが走り、気が付くと自分のHPが三割ほど減っているのが見えた。
吹き飛ばされなかっただけマシだとは思うが......
「――ッ! いってえなこの野郎!」
怒りに任せ、杖で連続で突きを繰り出す。
「でああああああっ!」
28、33、27、29、31、30。
オーガの腹部に計六発の刺突を入れたが、悲しいかな一発当たりのダメージは約30。
総ダメージは180に届かない程度、そしてオーガの総HPはおおよそ3000。
うん、無理だ。俺に百回以上攻撃しろとでもいうのか?
神官にもっと攻撃力を下さい、運営さん。
「あだっ!」
いかん、HPが!
残りHPが半分以下になり、俺は慌てて『ヒーリング』の呪文を詠唱した。
下級魔法特有の詠唱時間の短さによって、即座にHPが2割ほど回復。
が、慌てていたことで敵の攻撃タイミングを見誤り、オーガの動き出しに反応が遅れた。
棍棒が目前に迫り、再度攻撃を受けそうになったその時――
「ゴ......ガッ......!?」
オーガの胸部に、深々と太いクロスボウの矢――ボルトが突き刺さる。
それによるヒットストップにより、間一髪、俺は敵の攻撃を避けることに成功。
表示ダメージは708、スキルなしでこの威力は破格だろう。
「ゴメン、外した! 次で決めるから、十秒だけ待って!」
「了解!」
セレーネさんが次矢の装填に入る。
考えてみればトップクラスの鍛冶職人が作った一点物の武器だ、弱い訳がない。
外したという言葉も「急所から外した」という意味だろうから、射手として非常に頼もしい発言だということが分かる。
大ダメージを与えてきたセレーネさんの方に攻撃しようとするオーガの進路を塞ぎ、ヘイトを稼ぐ。
自分に『アタックアップ』そして通常攻撃と『シャイニング』で......よし、なんとかこっちを向いた。
オーガが俺に対して攻撃を再開。
二発目、三発目、四発目の攻撃が僅かに腕を
スキルの気配を察した俺は、オーガの五発目の攻撃を敢えてガードして受け止めた。
両手で持った杖の上から衝撃が伝わり、自分のHPが削れる。
俺のHPは残り少ないが――これで動きが止まったはずだ! 撃てぇっ!
「――ッ!」
セレーネさんが歯を食いしばり、『ブラストアロー』が発動する。
鮮烈な速度で大気を切り裂きながら飛来した矢が、オーガの頭部に直撃した。
――表示ダメージ、3834。
完全なるオーバーキルである。
頭部は綺麗に吹き飛ばされ、首からは赤々とした断面が僅かに見え――って、グロいなぁ!
それ以上見たくないので、そこで目を逸らした。
血しぶきを上げながら、力を失った巨体が倒れていく。
――ただし、俺の方に向かって。
「ちょ、まっ、嘘だろおい!」
気付いた時にはオーガの体重がしっかりとのしかかり、杖は押すも引くも出来ない状態に。
矢の行方をボーッと見てしまったのが
急いで杖を手放し、頭を抱えながらオーガの足の間に向かって飛び込んだ。
HP的に、これにのしかかられたら間違いなく死ぬ!
こんなのの下敷きになって死に戻りは嫌だぁ!
......祈りが通じたのか、オーガの体は地面に辿り着く前に爆散。
光の粒子へと変わり、俺はどうにか一命を取り留めるのだった......。
結果的に非情にダサい体勢になってしまったので、無言で杖を拾って立ち上がる。
そして何事もなかったようにセレーネさんの元に戻り――
「お疲れ様、ハインド君。その......余り、格好良かったとは言えないけど」
「分かってます、分かってますから......どうかそれ以上は......」
できれば触れないで欲しかったなぁ......とんだ
今回の経験を通じて、前に出ると冷静な思考を保てなくなるというのがよーく分かった。
慌て過ぎなんだ、基本的に。度胸も根性も全く足りていない。
知っていたけど、俺に前衛としての適性は皆無らしい。
「で、でも、オーガの攻撃を受け止めた時には背中から気迫が伝わってきたよ。今だ、撃て! って感じで。私も思わず力が入っちゃった」
セレーネさんも運動神経が悪いという点で俺の仲間かと思っていたのに、何気にハイスペック......。
いや、でも見る限り走ったり歩いたりは遅いから、狙撃に限った話か。
遠視というハンデを乗り越えて、非常に良い目をしていらっしゃるようで。
「!? どうしたの、急に!?」
「あ、すみません。メールが連続で着信したもので」
メールの着信音は本人にしか聞こえないのだ。
セレーネさんに断りを入れてから発信者を確認すると、五通とも全てユーミルからのものとなっている。
俺はそのまま内容を確認することなく、溜息をついてメニュー画面を閉じた。
「......いいの?」
「このパターンは、どうせ早く戻ってこいという催促です。もう着きますし、無視してさっさと行きましょう」
「う、うん。どうしよう、緊張してきた......」
「まあまあ。何とかなりますって」
ホーマ平原を抜ければ、ヒースローの街はもう目の前だ。
街の噴水前広場に集まっているユーミル達は、遠くから見ても一発で分かる存在感の強さだ。
奴ら、顔面偏差値が異常に高いからな......周囲のプレイヤーも遠慮がちに傍を通り過ぎていくか、チラチラ見ているかのどちらかが多い。
トビも戦闘中以外は覆面をしなくなったので、その場には美形しかいない空間が形成されている。
俺も知り合いじゃなかったら、この集団には気後れして近付かないだろうな......きっと。
そんなくだらないことを考えつつセレーネさんを伴って歩いて行くと、俺の姿に気付いたユーミルが手を上げる。
「おー、ハインド。やっと来たか! 待ちくたびれたぞ!」
「ん、今戻った。頼んでおいた買い物は済んだか?」
「食材、回復アイテムともに問題ありません。いつでも出発できますよ」
「ハインド殿の指示通りに、余裕を持って多めに買っておいたでござる。今、そちらの分も渡すので――」
「あ、ちょっと待った。その前にだな......って、あれ?」
セレーネさんを紹介しようと思ったら、俺の後ろにいたはずの彼女の姿が見当たらない。
視線を動かして姿を探すと――あ、居た居た!
あんな木の陰に......手を取って連れてこようとすると、顔を横にぶんぶんと振った。
そのままゴニョゴニョと小声で何かを俺に告げてくる。
「え、何ですか? ――恥ずかしい? このままじゃまともに話せないかも? ......分かりました。なら俺が間に入りますんで、心配しないで――え? 別に良いですよ」
よもや、ここまで酷い人見知りだとは思わなかった。
ちょっと気遣いが足りなかったな......。
それと、あいつらの見た目がいかんのか。
無駄にキラッキラしてるもんね。
美形が相手だとより緊張すると言っていたので、それを考慮に入れたらこうなってしまうのかもしれない。
「む? 誰だ、ハインド。その女は」
「......誰でもいいです、何処の誰かなんて今は関係ない。それよりも、どうして貴女はハインドさんの背中に張り付いているんですか? 貴女の出方によっては、私、とても許せそうにないのですが......」
でちょっと涙目になったセレーネさんが何か言いたそうだったので、俺は口元に耳を近付ける。
うん、うん......まあ、徐々に慣れるしかないっすなぁ......悪い奴ではないんですよ、ええ。
取り敢えず、ここは三人にセレーネさんを紹介せねば。
「この人はセレーネさんだ。俺の鍛冶の師であり、イベントの時にメテオグレートソードを一緒に作ってくれた恩人でもあるんだぞ。感謝しろよ、特にユーミル」
ユーミルがにこやかに握手を求める。
俺の背後からおずおずと手を出し、セレーネさんは怖々とだが握手に応じた。
こういう時には、ユーミルの空気の読めなさと強引さが素直にありがたい。
その行動で少しだけ緊張が解けたのか、セレーネさんが再び俺に耳打ちをしてくる。
「あー......はい。セレーネさんはこう言ってる。私の極度の人見知りが原因で、失礼な態度を取ってしまい申し訳ありません。私のプレイヤーネームはセレーネです。どうぞよろしくおねがいします......だそうだ」
「これはまた、変わったお人を連れてきたでござるな......あっと、失礼。拙者はトビでござる」
「リィズです。しかしハインドさん、どうしてこのタイミングでこの方を連れてきたんですか? 別に、ギルドホームの建設が落ち着いてからでも......」
「いや、彼女は単に鍛冶職人として紹介したかったわけじゃなくてだな......」
俺はそこで一呼吸置いた。
リィズがやけに不機嫌な以外は、ユーミルもトビもセレーネさんの存在を受け入れつつある。
「――実は、セレーネさんにも俺達のギルド立ち上げに参加して貰おうと思ってな」
「え......? それって、どういう意味ですかハインドさん?」
俺の言葉に、ユーミル、リィズ、トビの表情が固まる。
なんて顔してるんだよ、三人とも。
そんなに驚くことか!?
三人が同時に上げた大声に、背中のセレーネさんがびくりと肩を震わせた。
Chapter 43 - Deadly Bolt
Facing the ogre in front of us with it's menacing roar, I stood in front of Selene-san as if to protect her.
There weren't many options for a party of two.
Taking into account Selene-san's job, I didn't hesitate to go to the front.
[Selene-san! I'll act as a...pseudo-vanguard, so I'll leave my back to you. His weak point is his head!]  (Hind)
[Eh, is it going to be fine? Isn't your job Shinto priest?]  (Selene)
[Leave it to me. Even though I'm a rearguard, I'm over level 30. I'll show you that I can endure his strikes!]  (Hind)
I plunged into the gigantic ogre that was three times my height.
...Uwah, even though it's the first boss, he's quite scary when you get close.
Even in VR you can feel its intimidation aura and killing intent, so my legs were unconsciously trembling in fear.
Since Tobi and Yumir face this kind of thing, it made me realize just how much courage the people that act as vanguards have.
If I stayed as a rearguard, I'd have never known how it felt.
[Come, ogre! Throw away that club and come at me!]  (Hind)
[Gaaah!!] 
Well, there was no way he would throw it away, right!? There's no way a barbarous ogre would understand what a person is saying.
I somehow dodged the strike and at the same time I did, I cast [Guard up]  on myself.
Once I cast it, in front of me the next attack was coming and I barely...alright, I made it!
I dodged his successive strikes.
I don't know when I'll eat a hit, but this should probably make it so I can endure a couple strikes.
This time I cast the support spell [Attack up]  on Selene-san, who was loading a bolt.
[Thanks, Hind-kun!]  (Selene)
In doing so, even though it was just for a split second, it probably had been a bad idea to show my back to the ogre.
Sharp pain ran through my back, when I realized, I saw how my HP had decreased by 1/3.
I think it's far better than being blown away but...
[-Tsk! That hurts you bastard!]  (Hind)
I stabbed him continuously with my staff in an act of anger.
[Daaaaaaaaaaah!!]  (Hind)
28, 33, 27, 29, 31, 30.
I thrust at the ogre six consecutive times, but each successful hit only dealt a sad amount of about 30 damage.
The damage I dealt didn't even amount to 180 and the Ogre's HP is roughly 3000.
Yup, it's impossible. Are they telling me to hit it over a 100 times?
Developers, please give Shinto priest more damage.
[Adah!]  (Hind)
No good, my HP!
My HP went under 50% and I started to cast [Healing]  in a panic.
The advantages of lower tier spells is that their cast time is short so I immediately recovered around 20% of my HP.
However, since I did it in a panic I misjudged the timing of the ogre's attack and was too late to react to his movements.
His club appeared in front of my eyes and the moment it looked like I was going to hit by the second strike-
[Goh...Gah...!?] 
A thick crossbow bolt...had pierced the Ogre's chest very deeply.
The hit staggered the ogre and I successfully avoided the strike by a hair's breadth.
The damage displayed was 708, it was extraordinary when there was no skill used.
[Sorry, I missed! I'll finish him off with the next one, so endure for 10 seconds!]  (Selene)
[Understood!]  (Hind)
Selene-san started loading the next bolt.
Thinking about it, it's a one of a kind weapon made by a top class blacksmith, there's no way it would be weak.
Since the [I missed]  she just said right now probably meant [I failed to hit its weak point] , I knew they were reassuring words coming from an archer.
The ogre tried to attack Selene-san because she dealt a big amount of damage to him so I blocked his path and tried to get aggro from him.
I cast [Attack up]  on myself and attacked the ogre with basic attacks and [Shining] ...alright, I was able to somehow make it look this way.
The ogre started attacking me again.
A second strike, a third one and when the fourth one managed to graze my arm, dry wind blew violently on my back.
When I sensed that a skill was being used, I guarded against the ogre's fifth attack on purpose to stop him.
The impact was transmitted to both of my arms that were holding the staff and my HP was shaved.
I don't have much HP left...but I should have stopped his movements with this! Shoot!
[-Tsk!]  (Selene)
Selene-san clenched her teeth and activated [Blast arrow] .
With striking speed, the bolt cut through the air and it hit the ogre straight in the cranium.
...The damage displayed was 3834.
It was completely overkill.
His head was splendidly blown away and I could see a bit of a bright re-...wait, that's gross!
I didn't want to see more so I turned my eyes away from there.
While spraying blood, the gigantic body fell over after having lost its strength.
...However, it was in my direction.
[Wa-Wait, you got to be kidding me!]  (Hind)
When I realized, the ogre's body weight was already leaning on me and I was unable to push it away with my staff.
This only happened because I was absent mindedly looking at where the bolt went.
I hurriedly let go of my staff and jumped towards the ogre's legs while holding my head.
With my HP, if I get crushed by it I'll definitely die!
I don't want to die and resurrect in that way!
...As if my prayers were heard, the ogre's body scattered before reaching the ground.
It turned into particles of light and I was able to narrowly escape death...
As a result, I ended up in a very uncool posture, so I hurriedly picked up my staff and stood up.
Then I returned to where Selene-san was acting as if nothing had happened-
[Good work, Hind-kun. Eh...I can't say that it was very cool but-]  (Selene)
[I know, I already know...please don't say anything...]  (Hind)
I wished she didn't touch on that topic...it was quite the disgraceful sight.
Thanks to this experience, I know very well that I lack the ability to keep calm when going to the front.
Basically, I get too flustered. I don't have enough guts or courage.
I knew that already, but it seems like I lack the aptitude to be a vanguard.
[H-However, when you stopped that attack, your fighting spirit was transmitted to me. Shoot now! Kinda like that.
I thought Selene-san was a companion with bad motor skills like me, but she's unexpectedly high spec...
No, now that I think about it, her running and walking speed is not that fast so I guess it's just limited to shooting.
After surpassing the handicap that is hyperopia, it seems like she has extraordinarily good eyes after all.
[!? Why are you saying that so suddenly!?]  (Selene)
[Ah, I'm sorry. The mails just didn't stop coming.]  (Hind)
The ringtone of the mails can only be heard by the recipient after all.
After telling Selene-san I checked who the sender was, all five of them were from Yumir.
I didn't take a look at the contents and just closed the menu while sighing.
[...Are you sure?]  (Selene)
[With this pattern, she's probably urging me to come back already. Since we are about to get there, let's ignore them and go.]  (Hind)
[O-Ok. What do I do, I'm getting nervous...]  (Selene)
[Now now. You'll do just fine.]  (Hind)
After coming out of the Homa plains, Heathrow town was in front of our eyes.
Yumir and the others were gathered in a spacious space in front of the fountain and their presence was so strong you could immediately see them from far away.
The grade of their looks were high after all...the players surrounding them were passing by shyly and there were many that were taking glances at them.
Since Tobi stopped wearing his veil outside combat, that place was now full of beauties.
If I didn't know them, I would probably...feel awkward getting close to such a group.
While thinking such useless things, I kept walking with Selene-san and Yumir raised her hand when she noticed me.
[Oh, Hind. You are finally here! I was getting tired of waiting!]  (Yumir)
[Yup, I just came back. Were you able to buy what I asked for?]  (Hind)
[There were no issues buying food and healing items. We are ready to depart at any time.]  (Riizu)
[Just as Hind-dono instructed, we bought more than enough so there would be some surplus. I'll proceed to hand over your part of-]  (Tobi)
[Ah, wait a moment. Before that...eh, hmm?]  (Hind)
Just when I thought about introducing Selene-san, I couldn't see the girl that was supposed to be behind me.
When I moved my line of sight to look for her...ah, there she is!
She was hiding behind that tree...when I took her hand and tried to bring her along, she started shaking her head.
Like a whismur she tried to tell me something in a small voice.
[Eh, what did you just say?...It's embarrassing? You might not be able to speak properly?...I understand.
I didn't think she would be this bad with strangers.
I wasn't considerate enough...
Besides, I guess their looks are no good either.
They pointlessly shine after all.
She did say that she gets even more nervous when she talks with someone beautiful, so if I took that into consideration I could have seen this coming.
[Nu? Who is that, Hind? That girl.]  (Yumir)
[...That doesn't matter, it's not about who she is. More importantly, why are you sticking to Hind-san's back? Depending on what you say I might not be able to forgive you...]  (Riizu)
Because of Riizu's threat, it seems like the teary eyed Selene-san wanted to say something to her so I brought my ear closer to her mouth.
Hmm, I see...well, I guess there's no choice but to have her get used to it over time...they are not bad people after all.
First of all, I have to introduce Selene-san to these three.
[This person is Selene-san. My blacksmithing teacher, she's also the benefactor that made the meteo greatsword we used in the event with me.
Yumir wanted a handshake while giving a radiant smile.
Selene-san timidly took out her hand from behind me and while she was nervous, she managed to shake her hand.
At times like this, I'm thankful for Yumir's ability to read the atmosphere and her pushiness and honest attitude.
It might be because that action had dispeled a bit of her nervousness, Selene-san whispered in my ear again.
[My player name is Selene. Pleased to meet you...or so she says.]  (Hind)
[Well, you sure brought someone odd with you again...ah, I apologize. My name is Tobi.]  (Tobi)
[I'm Riizu. However Hind-san, why did you bring her here with this timing? I mean, you could have brought her once we had made the guild home and settled down...]  (Riizu)
[Well, I wasn't really introducing her as just a blacksmith...]  (Hind)
I paused there for just a second.
With the exception of Riizu who seemed to be quite sullen, Yumir and Tobi accepted Selene-san.
[...The truth is, I was thinking about having Selene-san set up the guild with us.]  (Hind)
[Eh...? What do you mean by that Hind-san?]  (Riizu)
When they heard my words, Yumir, Riizu and Tobi's faces stiffened.
What kind of faces are you guys even making?
Was it that surprising!?
Due to the three of them raising their voices, Selene-san, who was behind me, started trembling.
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