という訳で木曜午前九時~午後三時のメンテナンス明けに、運営の公式ページに終了の演出を行う旨が発表された。
予定では前回と同じ十時半からだそうだ。
この情報を受けて、掲示板の「魔王ちゃんを応援するスレ」は大盛り上がりだったと秀平が話していた。
イベントで張り切り過ぎた俺達は、この日はその終了演出だけ見たらログアウトする予定だ。
但し、今日も長くプレイするというトビを除いてだが。
ヒースローの街の酒場に集まって、アップデートで実装された満腹度を試しながら終了演出までの時間を待つ。
TBで俺達が最初に注文した料理は、ライ麦パンにハムとチーズを挟んだサンドイッチ、それにミルクの三品である。
「うーん......私は普通だと思うが」
「そうでござるか? マスタードがピリリと効いていて、悪くない味だと思うのでござるが」
「この人は、舌が肥えている自覚が無いんですよ。忌々(いまいま)しくも毎日ハインドさんの料理を食べているんですから」
「普通って言ってる割には食べるの早いしな。ほら、こぼれてるって」
「ん!」
を拾い、空いた皿の上へ。
これを作ったここのマスターは......あの渋くて細身のナイスミドルか。
昨日まではカウンターの中に立って会話しているだけだったのに、今日になって急に忙しく調理を行っている。
未成年でなければ飲酒も可能だそうで、疑似的に酔うことも出来るのだとか。
ちなみにTB内での食事だが、現実での満腹中枢を刺激しないのだそうで。
ゲーム内で食べ過ぎた
「店ごとに味に差はあるんだろうか? TBのAIの性能を考えると、味に個性があったとしても驚かないが」
「あるとしたら、お気に入りの店を探す楽しみというのも発生しますね。ハインドさんはTB内でも料理をなさるんですか?」
「ああ、するよ。どうも自分で作った方が、買うよりも安く済みそうだからな」
「ゲームの中でも倹約でござるか......」
「こいつは徹頭徹尾こうだぞ? ゲーム開始直後からこの調子だ」
そう俺を評してくるユーミルの頭上には、プレイヤーネームが表示されていない。
ダメージランキングで桁違いの数字を出してしまった為、不正を疑うプレイヤーに絡まれない様に――というか、既にユーミルがログイン直後に絡まれた。
かなりソフトな表現で要約するとこんな感じで。
「騎士が一位なんて
「それとも運営とグルなのか? あ?」
実際はもっと口汚い言葉を大量に使って
TBのGMはプレイヤーに混じって巡回している場合も多いらしく、運が良ければ通報から直ぐに駆けつけてくれるそうだ。
俺達の通報にも髭のオジサンが即座に駆けつけ、暴言を吐いて来たプレイヤーに厳重注意して去って行った。
暴言の場合は二回目でアカウント凍結、一定期間ゲームができなくなるのだそうだ。
そんな訳で、そのGMさんの助言もあってランキングに名前が載っているユーミルだけ非表示にしておくということに。
ネームの非表示設定はPK行為等をしていない青いネームのプレイヤーだけがオプションで変更可能な機能で、PK及びNPCへの犯罪行為を行った履歴があるプレイヤーは非表示にはできない。
ネームを非表示にしているプレイヤーは少なくないので、特にユーミルだけが悪目立ちなどするということもないだろう。
ついでに俺達全員がメールの受付設定を「フレンドのみ」に変更。
これでプレイヤーネームを知られるだけで、脅迫状紛いのメールを送られる心配が無くなった。
ついさっき、運営からメールでパーティ全員に動画を公開するか否かの確認がされたが、絡まれたこともあって全員一致で怒りの承認。
疑われたままでは、今後TBで何をやっても楽しくないだろうからな。
リプレイ動画はイベント終了演出の後にアップロードされる予定とのこと。
「おっ、字幕が来たでござるよ皆の衆! いざ、魔王ちゃんに会いに!」
「トビ、お前ああいうのが好きなの?」
「ロリコンなのか?」
「変態なんですか?」
「無情なお言葉の数々に涙! って、違うでござるよ! ロリとか関係なくて、こう......思わず守ってあげたくなるというか、そういう可愛らしさが拙者の琴線に――」
「よーし、外に出るかー」
「待って! 置いていかないで!」
会計を済ませ、頭を下げてくるマスターに背を向けて外に出る。
今回は事前に公式から告知があったので、前回よりも大勢のプレイヤーが外に集まっていた。
空間が軋みを上げて歪む。
不安定な像は徐々にその輪郭を結んでいき、やがて空へとその姿が投影された。
ただし皆が期待していた可愛い魔王ちゃんの姿はなく――そこには魔王軍No2である、口元を歪めてニヤリと笑うサマエルの姿が。
『ハッハッハッハッ! 一週間ぶりであるな、愚民共よ! ――待て待て、石を投げるな、魔法を撃つな、矢を射るな! まずは私の話を聞けぇ! その後で魔王様が貴様らに御言葉を下さる!』
もう苦笑いしか出ない。
ちなみにトビは皆に混じって石を投げまくっていた。
魔王ちゃんも出ると聞かされると、ようやく周囲が静かになる。
......良く聞くとうっすらと、サマエルの声の後ろで舌っ足らずな様子で発声練習をしている声が混じっている。
あいうえおあお、みたいな......俺の気のせいか?
『ウオッホン! 貴様らの戦いぶり、遠く魔王城からしかと見せて貰った。その結果を踏まえ、特に我等の敵として見込みありと認められる者には、我等から戦いに役立つ品を贈ることとしよう!』
サマエルが言っているのはランキング報酬の話だろう。
まだ『勇者のオーラ』はユーミルの手元には届いていないので、この終了演出が終わると同時に渡されるという流れのようだ。
『それらを用いて更に血に
『さ、し、す、せ、そ、さ、そ――えっ、もう!? 待って待って!』
ガタガタ、バサバサという物音が暫く続き、焦った様子の魔王ちゃんが空へと映り込んだ。
プレイヤー達――特に男性プレイヤーは大盛り上がりだ。
「「「魔王ちゃーん!!!」」」
俺とリィズはトビの様子にドン引きだ。
こいつ、こんな一面があったのか......知らなかった。
ユーミルは報酬が楽しみで仕方ないのか、無視してじっと魔王ちゃんの方を凝視している。
『ま、まず、もっともタートルの急所を抉った非情な者の名は、盗賊エドワード! ......である! きちゃ――貴様には、星の首飾りをくれてやろう! ありがたく受け取るがいい! 続いて――』
つっかえながら噛みながら、たどたどしく魔王ちゃんが各ランキング一位のプレイヤーの名を順番に読み上げていく。
その健気な様子に、プレイヤー達は更に盛り上がった。
野太い声援って、圧迫感が凄いよね......リィズが少し嫌そうな顔をしている。
今呼ばれたクリティカルランキング一位のプレイヤーはこの近くに居たらしく、報酬アイテムよりも魔王ちゃんに名前を呼ばれたことを大喜びしている様子だ。
頭上に光を放つアイテムが出現し、手を差し出すとその上に首飾りがポトリと落ちた。
なるほど、そういう......って、オーラなんて実体の無いものはどうやって受け取るんだ?
ログインしていないプレイヤーも居るだろうし、直接インベントリに入れられる?
その後もランキングの結果が次々と発表され、遂にアタックランキングの番が回ってきた。
『最後に! 今回我が最も注視していた、天に轟く一撃をエルダータートルに叩き込んだ者。その者を、我は好敵手である勇者として認めようではないか! 但し、貴様には我から何も贈らん! 既に貴様の身には、
『み、水! 誰か魔王様に水をっ! 大丈夫ですか魔王様! ――は、話は以上である! 暫しの別れだ、愚民共よ!』
石を投げられる前に、むせた魔王ちゃんを庇いながらさっさとサマエルが投影を終了した。
あの......オーラは?
ユーミルも魔王の言葉の意味が分からなかったのか、俺と一緒に首を傾げるのだった。
In order to do that, the servers went on maintenance from 9am-3pm on Thursday, and the developers announced that there would be an act to end the event on the official page.
Seems like it's slated to be at the same time as last time, at 10:30pm.
Having obtained this information, Shuuhei told us there was a surge of [Threads to cheer for Maou-chan]  in the BBS.
Since we had been too enthusiastic during the event, we decided to just watch the event and log out today.
However, that's excluding Tobi, who was going to play for long.
We gathered in Heathrow town's pub, we waited for the closing event while trying out the newly implemented hunger system.
The first meal we ordered in TB was...a sandwich made of rye bread, ham and cheese accompanied with some milk.
[Hmm...I think it's pretty normal?]  (Yumir)
[Really? I believe the mustard gives it that kick it needs and it doesn't taste half bad though?]  (Tobi)
[This person just doesn't realize that her tongue has grown refined. It annoys me, but she's been eating Hind-san's cooking every day after all]  (Riizu)
[She says that it tastes normal but she's eating it really fast. Look, they are falling all over the place]  (Hind)
[Hmm!]  (Yumir)
I picked up all the breadcrumbs and placed them on the empty plate on the table.
The owner who had made these sandwiches...was that refined and slender middle aged man.
Even though until yesterday he was only talking with people from the other side of the counter, today he was suddenly busy cooking.
It seems that you can buy alcohol as long as you are not a minor and there's even a system that simulates being drunk.
By the way, regarding the food in TB...it seems that you won't ever feel like you are full.
So, I'm glad that something like...you ate too much inside the game so you won't feel hungry in real life won't happen.
[I wonder if there will be any difference in taste depending on the shop? Considering the performance of the AI in TB, I wouldn't be surprised if each shop had its own taste]  (Hind)
[If that's the case, it would be fun to search for a shop that you like, right? Hind-san, will you cook inside TB too?]  (Riizu)
[Yeah I will. It seems that making your own food is cheaper than buying it after all]  (Hind)
[You are going to be frugal even inside the game...?]  (Tobi)
[He's through and through like that, you know? He's been like that since we started playing the game]  (Yumir)
Oh right, currently, Yumir's name is not being displayed above her head.
Because she got such a score in the damage rankings, in order to not get involved with players that thought she cheated...though, she did get involved with them as soon as she logged in.
To summarize it in a gentle way...it went like this.
[For a knight to get 1st place, she obviously cheated! That kind of damage is suspicious!] 
[Or, maybe she knows someone in the developer staff?] 
The reality was that the words they used were far more abusive, so after calling a GM I asked him to take care of it.
Seems like the GMs go around TB disguised as normal players, so if you are lucky, they'll answer your call right away.
Once we notified them, an old man with a mustache immediately came over and left after warning the players.
When it comes to abusive language, your account will be temporarily suspended after your 2nd warning.
That being said, per that GM's suggestion, it was made so that only Yumir's name would appear in the rankings.
Name display settings can only be changed by those players that haven't done PK activities and their names are blue, PKs and people that have done criminal acts against NPCs are unable to hide their names.
There are quite a few players that hide their player names, so it shouldn't be that odd for Yumir to do so.
For the record, we all changed our email settings to [Friends only] .
This way, if they only know the player name, we don't have to worry about receiving threatening emails.
A short while ago, the developers emailed us asking if we wanted to release the replay to the public or not, since we were angry that the players doubted us, we all agreed to it.
If they kept doubting us, we wouldn't be able to have fun in TB from now on after all.
It's been decided that the replay video will be uploaded shortly after the event's final act.
[Oh, the captions have appeared! Let us go and meet Maou-chan!]  (Tobi)
[Tobi, you like that sort of thing?]  (Hind)
[Are you a lolicon?]  (Yumir)
[Are you a pervert?]  (Riizu)
[These tears that are coming from your cruel words! Wait, wrong! It's not because she's a loli, it's just...you get this feeling you have to protect her, that kind of cuteness pulls at my heartstrings-]  (Tobi)
[Alright, let's go outside]  (Hind)
[Wait! Don't leave me behind!]  (Tobi)
After paying the bill, we left the pub while the owner bowed his head.
Since this time there had been a prior announcement, there were way more people gathered outside than last time.
Cracks started to appear in the air.
The unstable picture slowly formed a silhouette, eventually, the projection took form.
However, it wasn't the cute appearance of Maou-chan that everyone was expecting...but the Maou's army number 2, Samael, who was grinning.
[Hahahaha! It's been 1 week, you ignorant people! --Wait wait! Don't throw stones at me, don't cast magic, don't shoot arrows! Please, listen to what I have to say first! After that, Maou-sama will grace you with her words!]  (Samael)
I can only smile wrily at this point.
By the way, Tobi was throwing stones along with the other people.
Once they heard that Maou-chan would appear, the surroundings turned quiet.
...If you paid attention, you could hear someone doing vocal exercises behind Samael.
A I U E O, or something like that...am I imagining things?
[Ahem! We have witnessed your fights from the Maou's castle. As a result of that, we'll reward those that showed promise with items that'll come in handy in fights!]  (Samael)
Samael is probably referring to the rewards for the event rankings.
Since Yumir still hasn't received her [Hero's soul] , it seems like she'll receive it after this final act from the looks of it.
[By making use of them, cover yourselves further in blood, fight, fight! Become strong and stand before us! Maou-sama will proceed to name those she has deemed worthy. Be grateful! Come, Maou-sama. It's your turn!]  (Samael)
[Sa Shi Su Se-eh, already!? Wait wait!]  (Maou)
After some clattering and rustling sounds, the figure of a nervous Maou-chan appeared in the sky.
The cheers of the players...especially male ones, erupted.
[[[Maou-chan!!!] ] ] 
Me and Riizu started to back away after seeing Tobi like that.
This guy...so he had that side to him...I didn't know.
Yumir was really looking forward to receiving her reward from Maou-chan, so she was ignoring him and staring at Maou-chan.
[F-First off, the one who struck the most vital points of the turtles, Thief...Edward! I-I'll grant you a star necklace! Be grateful! Next one-]  (Maou)
While stumbling and biting her tongue, Maou-chan awkwardly kept naming the names of the players that placed 1st in the rankings.
Seeing her admirable efforts, the players cheered even louder.
Shouting until their throats were hoarse and because there was this feeling of oppression in the air...Riizu started to make a disgusted face.
The player that placed 1st in the critical rankings seemed to be close to us, he seems to be happier from having his name called by Maou-chan than from getting the reward.
A light appeared above his head and the item made its appearance, once he extended his hand towards it, the necklace fell down.
I see, it's like that...wait, since an aura doesn't really have a physical form, how are we going to receive it?
It seems that some players aren't logged in either, will it directly appear in your inventory?
After that, the ranking results were announced one after another, and it was finally the time for the attack ranking.
[As for the last one! The one I've watched over the most, the one whose blow on the elder turtle resounded throughout the heavens. Shouldn't I deem that person a hero worthy of opposing me!? However, you won't receive anything from me! A worthy power already dwells within your body! I await the day you stand before the Maou's castle, Hero Yumir! Hahahaha! -cough, cough!]  (Maou)
[W-Water! Someone bring some water! Are you OK, Maou-sama!?...T-That will be all! We'll have to say goodbye for the time being, you ignorant people!]  (Samael)
Before they could throw stones at him, the projection of Samael looking after Maou-chan who choked disappeared.
Eh...what about the aura?
It seems like Yumir also didn't understand what Maou-chan was trying to say, we both tilted our heads at the same time.
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