「ちわー......あれ? セレーネさんだけですか?」
「――あっ、は、ハインド君! ここ、こんばんは!」
談話室に入ると、セレーネさんがメニュー画面を開いてオークションの商品を眺めていた。
こちらを見るなり、今度は落ち着かない様子で視線を彷徨わせているが。
俺はそれを見て定番となったハーブティーを二人分淹れると、テーブルに置きつつセレーネさんの向かいに座る。
セレーネさんは俺が目の前に座ると、ビクッと肩を震わせて下を向く。
これ、後になって自分がしたことが恥ずかしくなっているパターン......か?
「あ、あり、ありがとう!」
「セレーネさん、固いですよ。原因になってる俺が言うのもなんですけど――」
「う、うん」
「身が持ちませんから、もうちょっとリラックスしましょう。深呼吸深呼吸」
すーはー、すーはーと、俺の言葉に素直に従うセレーネさん。
それからハーブティーを一口飲んだら少しは落ち着いたようだったのだが、今度は少し拗ねたような悲しそうな目で俺を見てくる。
不覚にも、そのふくれっ面が可愛らしくてときめいた。ただし顔には出さない。
「......ハインド君の方は、あまり態度が変わらないんだね」
「はい? ......ああ、そういう」
つまり彼女はこう言いたいわけだ。
自分はこんなにも動揺しているのに、貴方にとっては一昨日のことは取るに足らない出来事だったのか? という......。
言わなきゃ駄目かな? 恥ずかしいんだけどな。
しかしセレーネさんは、こうして痛く傷ついたような悲しそうな顔をしているし......仕方ない。
「ええとですね、これは照れ隠しです。俺なりの」
「......どういうこと?」
「表面上、平静を装っているだけです。内心はセレーネさんとそう変わらないと思います。顔は熱いですし、今にも心臓が飛び出そうですよ」
「......そうは見えないけど......」
嘘は一切言っていないのだが。
もっと内心を晒していかないと信じてもらえそうもないな......。
俺は頭を掻くと、昨夜の自分の恥ずかしい状態を打ち明けることにした。
「本当です。一昨日はログアウトした後はにやけっぱなしでしたし、好きだって言われたあの場面が何度も繰り返し脳内で再生されて、目が冴えて中々眠れませんでした。前に頬に、その......された時と同じです。お陰様で昨日はバイトに遅刻しそうになりました」
「あ、うぅぅ......」
もはや中途からは半ばヤケである。
言わなくても良いことまで言っている気がしたが、熱を伴って勢いのついた思考は止まらない止まれない。
「大体なんですか!? 野暮ったい眼鏡とボサボサ髪なんかじゃ隠しきれてないんですよ! 目はクリッとしているし小顔だし、肌は綺麗だし近付くと良い香りがするし! 知識も広いし、つまんない話でもちゃんと聞いてくれるし優しいし! 今日のログイン前にもですね、かなりの時間を心の準備に費やして――」
「は、ハインド君、分かった......分かったから、もう......ぐすっ......」
「――はっ!?」
気が付くとセレーネさんは全身から湯気が出そうなほど赤くなり、潤んだ目でこちらを見つめていた。
かっ......完全にやらかした......。
「疑ってごめんなさい......嬉しかったけど、びっくりしちゃって涙が」
「出来れば俺の痩せ我慢に関しても、もっと早い段階で気付いて欲しかったです」
「うん、ごめん......」
不幸な行き違いがあったが、どうにか納得してもらえた。
決してセレーネさんの告白を軽く受け止めていたのではなく、極力普段通りにふるまった方が今後のために良いかと思っただけなのだ。
結果、このような事態を招いてしまったわけだが。
何を言ったかほとんど覚えていないが、今さっきの自分、かなり気色悪いことになっていたのでは......?
「とにかく、俺が言いたいのはですね――」
「大丈夫......今はもう、ちゃんと分かってる。相手の想いに応えられないから......ううん、違うね。応えることを私達が封じてるから、なるべく表面に出さないのはハインド君なりの誠意なんだね」
「......」
俺はその言葉に対して、肯定も否定もしなかった。
これに関しては、とても誠意と呼んでいい行為とは思えなかったから。
だがセレーネさんは何かに納得したような微笑みを浮かべ、俺に向かって頷いてみせた。
その後は以前までと同じような――しかし少しだけ近付いた距離感で、他のメンバーが来るまでオークションに関する雑談を行った。
それから10分ほど経ったころ、扉が無遠慮かつ勢いよく開かれる。
「私、参上!」
「おー、来たか。これで今日は全員かな」
「こんばんは、ユーミルさん」
不可解なポーズを決めつつ、ユーミルが部屋に入った位置で静止していた。
これでこの場にはセレーネさんと俺、今来たユーミルの三人だ。
「む? ヒナ鳥どもは?」
「明日遠足なんだってよ。朝早いから今日は来ないって」
「リィズは?」
「この前の模試の結果が戻ってきて、一問だけ外してたらしくてさ......おっかない顔で部屋にこもって復習中」
「復讐......ではなく復習か、なるほど。一問だけということは、他の部分は?」
「満点」
「けっ」
訊くのではなかった、と言わんばかりのユーミルの態度である。
そしてキョロキョロと部屋を見回すと、まだ訊いていない最後の一人について口にした。
「では、トビは?」
「ああ、あいつなら......」
ユーミルの言葉に、俺は天井に向かって拳を構えて飛び上がった。
すると拳が当たった天井部分がめくれ上がり、そのままクルリと一回転して黒い物体を吐き出して元に戻る。
俺が着地した直ぐ後に、殺虫剤をかけられた虫のような姿勢でそいつは「ぐえっ!」と呻きつつ床に落ちた。
「ここに居るぞ!」
「気付いてたんなら普通に呼びかけてよ!」
「天井からアイコンが飛び出してたもんね......あれは駄目だよ」
「セレーネ殿も気付いてたの!? そして意外な欠点!」
「そんなもの、オプションで非表示にすればいいではないか。馬鹿め」
「ユーミル殿にまで!? ぐおお......」
自分と同レベルの知能だと思っていたユーミルの言葉に、トビは撃沈した。
こいつが天井で待機し始めたのは、大体ユーミルが来る3分ほど前だろうか?
気付いたのは直ぐだったのだが、余りにもお粗末な隠れ方に意図を読み切れずに放っておいた。
まさか真面目に隠れているつもりだったとは。
こんなんじゃ、とても忍者とは呼べないな......。
そしていよいよオークション入札締め切り間近。
苦無セットに関しては開始価格1万G、即決価格を70万Gに設定していたのだが......。
昨日の内に即決価格で売れていたらしく、落札者は驚くことに『マサムネ』となっていた。
コンテスト武器部門で2位になった和風鍛冶師である。
「トビ、良い機会だから連絡取れそうなら取ってみろよ。もしかしたら反応があるかもしれないぜ」
「メールの受付設定次第でござろうが......やってみるでござるよ」
「やっぱり、和風の物には目がないんだね」
「あの刀も大層な業物だったし、どんなプレイヤーなのだろうな?」
セレーネさんは和風の物はやや苦手だそうなので、トビの装備は未だに取引掲示板から買っている形だ。
俺も交えて練習中ではあるが、セレーネさん作の他の装備に比べればやはり劣る。
ギルドの戦力アップのことを考えると、トビの装備をマサムネに依頼することができれば最高だろう。
それからは各々自分が興味のある物に適当に入札。
今居るメンバーで出品しているのは唯一、俺の『エイシカドレス』だけだったのだが......。
オークション終了直前、俺達はその入札画面に釘付けになっていた。
「け、桁がおかしくないか? ハインド......」
「七桁だな。入札者数も三桁......マジかよ」
「魔導士と神官に大人気でござるな。確か強力な魔力上昇効果があるのでござるよな?」
「10%だったよね? 防具の補助効果としては破格だもんね」
「どっちかっていうと生地が凄いんだけどな。エイシカクロスが。その素材が高いらしいんで、即決無しの開始価格50万にしたんだけど......」
既に10倍の500万を超え、尚も上昇中である。
ちなみにプレイヤーの平均所持金額だが、噂では100万~200万の間だと言われている。
つまりここで落札を争っている魔導士・神官連中は、少しでも高い魔力を求める上位プレイヤーということになるだろう。
慌てて名前を確認するとそこには『ヘルシャフト』と表示されており――
「「「お前が買うんかい!?」」」
セレーネさんを除いた俺達三人が叫ぶのだった。
当然ながら、直前まで600万付近で繰り返されていた入札は止まり......そのままヘルシャが圧倒的な財力をもってエイシカドレスを落札していった。
[Evening...eh? Only Selene-san is here?] (Hind)
[...Ah, H-Hind-kun! G-G-Good evening!] (Selene)
Once I entered the lounge, I saw Selene-san with her menu window open looking at the items in the auction.
Though, once she looked at me, her eyes were wandering around and she looked as if couldn't calm down.
Seeing that, I went to make herbal tea for both of us and sat down after placing the cups on the table.
Once I sat down in front of her, Selene-san's shoulders trembled and she looked downwards.
This, this seems like the pattern of someone feeling embarrassed after realizing what she had done...or something like that?
[T-Th-Thank you!] (Selene)
[Selene-san, you are too stiff. Though I guess I shouldn't be saying that since I'm the source of the issue...] (Hind)
[Y-Yeah.] (Selene)
[It'll be hard on your body if you are so tense, so let's try to relax a bit. Deep breaths, deep breaths.] (Hind)
*breath in* *breath out* Selene-san obeyed my words and did what I told her.
After that, she drank all the herbal tea in one go and looked as if she had calmed down, but this time she looked at me as if she was sad and sulking.
Unconsciously, I found her sullen look quite cute and my heart started beating faster. However, it didn't show in my face.
[...Hind-kun, you don't really act any differently from before.] (Selene)
[What? ...Ah, you mean that.] (Hind)
So this is what she's trying to say.
Even though I'm this nervous, what happened the day before yesterday meant so little to you? Or something like that...
Don't I have any other choice but to say it? Even though it's embarrassing.
However, Selene-san looks so sad and hurt...I guess there's no choice.
[You see...this is just me hiding my embarrassment. In my own way.] (Hind)
[...What do you mean?] (Selene)
[I'm just looking calm on the surface. I don't think I'm feeling much different from what you are feeling deep inside. My face is all hot and my heart looks as if it's going to jump out.] (Hind)
[...I can't see that at all though...] (Selene)
I haven't said a single lie though.
If I don't reveal more of my inner thoughts it doesn't seem like she'll believe me...
While scratching my face, I revealed the embarrassed state I was in last night.
[I'm serious. The day before yesterday, I didn't know what to do after that happened and I repeated that scene where you told me you liked me over and over in my head, I was wide awake and couldn't get any sleep.
[Ah, uuuu....] (Selene)
Halfway through I was just becoming rather desperate.
I get the feeling that I said some things that didn't need to have been said though, my thoughts that were accompanied by heat and vigor couldn't be stopped anymore.
[I haven't said enough!? You don't need to hide behind unfashionable glasses or unkept hair! You have nice eyes and a small but attractive face, your skin is lovely and there's a nice fragrance whenever I come close to you! You are very knowledgeable and even if I talk about boring stuff you properly listen to me and you are kind! Even today before I logged in, I took a long time to calm myself down and prepar-] (Hind)
[H-Hind-kun, I get it...I get it so...no more...gusu...] (Selene)
[...Huh!?] (Hind)
When I came to, Selene-san's whole body was so red that steam was pouring from it and she was looking at me with moist eyes.
I...I went too far...
[Sorry for not believing you...I was happy, but I was too surprised that tears...] (Selene)
[If possible, I kinda wish you noticed how much I was enduring it a bit sooner.] (Hind)
[Yeah, sorry...] (Selene)
It didn't really go the way I wanted it to, but we somehow reached an understanding.
I definitely wasn't making light of Selene-san's confession, I just thought that moving forward it was best to try to act as normal as possible.
As a result, it brought up this kind of situation.
I can't remember most of the things I said but...the me from a moment ago, wasn't I being kinda disgusting...?
[Anyway, what I wanted to say was-] (Hind)
[It's fine...I already get it. Since you can't reply to the other person's feelings...no, that's not it. Since we are preventing ourselves from responding to them, trying to not show it on the surface is proof of Hind-san's sincerity right?] (Selene)
[...] (Hind)
Hearing those words coming from her, I could neither agree to or deny them.
Regarding this topic, I couldn't really call what I was doing sincere after all.
However, Selene-san reached an understanding and was smiling, then she looked at me and nodded.
After that, the same way as before...or rather, with a slightly closer distance than before, we started to talk about the auction while waiting for the other members.
Around ten minutes later, the door was opened in a rude and vigorous manner.
[I have arrived!] (Yumir)
[Oh, you are here. I guess with this everyone's here.] (Hind)
[Good evening, Yumir-san.] (Selene)
While ending in an incomprehensible pose, Yumir stood still at the spot after entering through the door.
With this, there's me, Selene-san and Yumir who just came through the door.
[Muh? What about the girls from Baby Bird?] (Yumir)
[Seems like they have a trip tomorrow. Since they have to go early in the morning they won't be coming today.] (Hind)
[What about Riizu?] (Yumir)
[The results from the practice test she took came back, she only got one question wrong but...she holed herself up in her room and is studying.] (Hind)
[Revenge...not that, so she's reviewing, I see. Since you said she got one question wrong that means that the rest...] (Yumir)
[Perfect score.] (Hind)
[Keh.] (Yumir)
"I guess I didn't even need to ask", Yumir's expression seemed to say that.
Then, she started to look around the room and opened her mouth to ask about the last member that hasn't been mentioned yet.
[Then, what about Tobi?] (Yumir)
[Ah, if it's that guy...] (Hind)
Reacting to Yumir's words, I made a fist and raised it towards the ceiling.
Once I did, the portion of the ceiling I hit with my fist flipped over, once it did a full rotation, it spit out  a black object.
Immediately after it landed, I took an insecticide and sprayed it as if it was a bug and said object groaned with a [Gueh!]  as it fell on the floor.
[He's here!] (Hind)
[If you noticed, just call out to me normally!] (Tobi)
[I mean, there was an icon coming from the ceiling...hiding wouldn't work.] (Selene)
[Selene-dono also noticed!? Furthermore, there's that unexpected weak point!] (Tobi)
[That kind of thing, it would be fixed if you made it so it doesn't display in your settings. You idiot.] (Yumir)
[Even Yumir-dono!? Guohhh...] (Tobi)
Hearing those words coming from Yumir, who he thought had the same level of intelligence as him, Tobi took a big hit.
This guy stayed there in the ceiling for around three minutes before Yumir arrived, right?
I noticed right away but he was so poorly hidden that I decided to just leave him be.
To think he was seriously trying to stay hidden.
Like this, it's kinda hard to call him a ninja...
Then, the deadline for the bidding period of the auction was approaching.
The kunai set's starting bidding price was 10k G, though the buyout price was 700k G...
Seems like it was bought yesterday, surprisingly the buyer was {Masamune} .
He was the Japanese-style blacksmith that placed 2nd in the weapon section.
[Tobi, since this is a good opportunity, try to contact him if the opportunity arises. If we are lucky, you might get a reply.] (Hind)
[Seems like he has it set so he can receive emails...I'll give it a try.] (Tobi)
[As expected, he seems to be really fond of Japanese style items.] (Hind)
[That katana was also extremely sharp, I wonder what kind of player he is?] (Selene)
Selene-san seems like she's really bad at making Japanese style things, so even to this day, Tobi buys his equipment in the trading BBS.
There are some items mixed among those that I made myself, but as you'd expect, compared to what people like Selene-san make they are inferior.
If we think about increasing our guild's fighting power, it would be best if we had Masamune make Tobi's equipment.
After that, each one of us started bidding on items that interested each other.
Though, among the members here right now, I'm the only one that's submitting something. My {Eishika Dress} ...
Just before the auction ended, we stared at the window where the biddings appeared.
[Geh, aren't these columns weird? Hind...] (Yumir)
The number of bidders is also about three...are you serious?] (Hind)
[It's really popular among Mages and Shinto Priests. If I remember correctly, it increases your magic power by a lot?] (Tobi)
[It was 10% right? If we are talking about support effects on defensive gear, it's rather extraordinary right?] (Selene)
[If I had to say, it's the cloth that's amazing. The Eishika cloth that is.
That amount is over ten times higher already surpassing 5 million G and it keeps going up.
By the way, regarding the average amount of money players have, I heard that it seems to be in the 1-2million range.
In  other words, if Mages and Shinto Priests are still bidding at this point, it has to be those high rank players that want to increase their strength even if it's only by a bit.
In a panic, I looked at the name of the bidder and the name {Herrschaft}  was displayed...
[[[You are the one buying it!?] ] ] 
Selene-san aside, all three of us shouted.
As you'd expect, the bidders that until now kept bidding and were bidding in the close to 6 million range stopped...like that, Herscha won the bid for the Eishika Dress with her overwhelming financial prowess.
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