鍛冶場の受付NPCに300Gを払い、俺は早速、鍛冶を始めようと――する前に、周囲のプレイヤーの様子を観察することにした。
材料が少ないからな......あまり失敗したくない。
曰く、VRの特徴を活かして鉄のどの部分を叩いたか、どれくらいの強さで叩いたか、叩いた際の温度はどうかまで判別できるので、完全に現実での器用・不器用の差が出るのだとか。
ゲームらしく省略されている部分はあるが、つまりは......現実の鍛冶に近い体験と結果が待っているということに。
この辺りは賛否両論だ。
TBは後者で、スキルによる補助が無いタイプである。
では、不器用な場合はどうなるかというと――
「ひぃっ、何ですのこれはっ!? あつっ、熱い! ほんのりだけど、やっぱり熱いわ!」
「お、お、落ち着いて下さいお嬢様!」
......何だあれは!?
縦ロール! 金髪縦ロールじゃないか! あんなの初めて見た!
しかもしっかりドレス着た上で、男装執事までセットとは恐れ入る......。
何だろう? ロールプレイか何かか?
まだ二日目だっていうのに二人共、服装がバッチリと決まってやがる。
しかし、縦ロールの方が真っ赤になった鉄の塊を持ってアタフタしているので、周囲は非常にデンジャラスな状態だ。
「お嬢様! 一度、手をお放しに――」
「あ! か、髪に火が! ああああ、
「ひぃぃぃぃ! 水、誰か水をぉぉ!」
――あっと、縦ロールに引火した。
火傷状態でHPがじわじわ減っていく......リアルだなー。
髪が燃えているわりには、見た目の上では全く焦げて行かないが。
仕方ないので、俺はバレないようにこっそりと、状態異常を回復する『リカバー』の魔法を縦ロールに向けて飛ばした。
どうせMPは歩いているだけで回復するしな......無駄使いってほどでもない。
さてと、こういうのは放っておくとして。
まずは手本になってくれそうなプレイヤーを見つけないと。
「あ、あら? 火が消えたわ......」
「どうしてでしょう......あっ、お嬢様! 魔法のエフェクトが残っていますよ!」
やべっ!
慌てて移動を開始しようとするが、お嬢様と呼ばれている方が俺を碧い瞳でロックオンしてくる。
どうすっかな......。
こういう人種は見ている分には楽しいが、余り関わりたくはねえなぁ......。
「あなた!」
「はい......」
案の定、キツイ口調で何かを言おうとしてくる。
プライドが高い人間なら「余計な事をするな!」とかが定番の台詞だが......。
「れ、礼を言うわ......あのままだと、無駄に回復アイテムを使わなければなりませんでしたもの......」
意外と素直な礼の言葉に、俺は目を丸くした。
見た目で人を判断するもんじゃないな......ちょっと反省した。
「気にしないでくれ。偶々居合わせただけだし、見て見ぬふりをするのが気持ち悪かっただけだから」
「そ、そう......どんな理由であれ、恩人には礼を尽くすのが我が家のしきたりなの。あなた、フレンドコードを教えなさい! この礼は、百倍にしてそのうち返して差し上げるわ!」
「ええ......別にいいよ......」
「お・し・え・な・さい!!」
前言撤回。
仕方なく、俺はコードを交換してフレンド登録することにした。
プレイヤーネームは『ヘルシャフト』......なんとも、らしい名前をしてらっしゃる。
確かヘルシャフトはドイツ語で支配者という意味だったと思う。
ちょっと中二病が入っている気がするな、服装も含めて。
「名前が少し長いし、ヘルシャって略してもいいか?」
「構わなくってよ、ハインド」
「うぃ。そっちの執事さんも、ついでにフレンド登録どうだ? 無理にとは言わないけど」
俺は気弱そうな執事服の方にも声を掛けた。
彼女はショートの前髪を弄って、おどおどもじもじとしていたが......。
「早くなさいワルター! おどおどしない、背筋を伸ばす!」
ヘルシャにせっつかれて、結局は俺とフレンド登録を完了した。
なんだかな......。
達はこれで失礼するわ。次に呼び出すときは、受けた恩をお返しすることをお約束しますわ! 行くわよ、ワルター!」
「あ、あれ? お嬢様、鍛冶はもう宜しいのですか?」
「黙らっしゃい! 人には向き不向きがあるのよ!」
「あー、ちょっと待った。見た所、二人とも回復魔法がある
「? え、ええ。それが何か?」
俺はヘルシャに向けて回復魔法である『ヒーリング』を飛ばした。
やけどで減ったダメージが、魔法を受けて全快になる。
MPと違って、HPは歩いているだけでは回復しない。
満腹度の実装が予告されてはいたが、現段階では回復職以外は薬草・ポーションの類が手放せないだろう。
序盤は誰でもカツカツだろうし、節約するに越したことはない。
という考えで回復しておいたのだが――ヘルシャが固まってしまった。
おーい! どうした? ......駄目だ、目の前で手を振っても反応が無い。
今ので百倍返しの礼とやらの計算が狂って、思考がショートしちゃったのか......? サービスだって言ったのに。
「まあいいや。俺はこれで行くから。ワルターも、またな」
「は、はい! お、お疲れ様です、ハインドさん!」
......何だか変な二人だったなあ。
そんな訳で、俺のフレンドリストに新たに名前が二つ追加されることとなった。
さて、周囲の観察に戻ろう。
鍛冶は当然ながらやったことがないので、最初は上手い人に直接教わるか、見てやり方を盗むかしかないんだよな。
しかし、みんな自分の作業に集中しているな......話し掛けたとしても、無視される可能性の方が高いだろう。
うーむ......あ、あそこの人。
凄く淡々と鉄を打っているけど、他と比べて無駄な動きが一切ない。
悪いけれど、あの人の後ろの方から少しやり方を見せて貰おう。
作業場もまだ多数のプレイヤーで混み合っているし。
俺が目を付けたのはボサボサ髪の眼鏡を掛けた女性で、既に沢山の武器を完成させて傍らに立て掛けている。
生産専門の職人か? 余り見ない形の武器が多いな......。
そのまま暫く鍛冶の流れを見ていたのだが、都合よくその人の隣の作業場が空いたので移動を開始。
一通りの流れは確認できたので、取り敢えずはやってみることにしよう。
インベントリから鉄を取り出し、既に温まっている炉に投げ込もうと――おっ!? あれは!
「ショーテル――じゃなくて、クノペシュだと!? 随分と珍しい武器を作るなあ......昔は色んなゲームをやったけど、これは初めて見た気がする」
「!?」
......ん? お隣さんと目が合って――しまった!
感動のあまり、声に出ていたか!?
集中して作業している様子だったから、邪魔をする気はなかったのに。
今日は何だか、注意力が落ちているかもしれない。
気を付けなければ......。
お隣さんは暫くの間、動揺したように作業の手を止めていたが......意を決した様に、俺に対して疑問の声を投げ掛けてきた。
「......そ、その......クノペシュを、知っているんですか......?」
「えー、あー......はい。エジプトの武器ですよね? ショーテルよりも刀身に幅があって、湾曲の仕方も違いますから。相手の武器や盾を奪う為の構造だったと記憶しています」
「じゃっ、じゃあ! ......こ、これは......?」
眼鏡の奥の目が期待に輝いている......。
次に彼女が俺に取り出して見せたのは、片刃の曲剣。
それは一見、カトラスにそっくりな形をしているが......。
「ええと、刀身が長いんでハンガリアンサーベルですかね?」
「! こ、こっちは!?」
「これは分かり易い。フンガ・ムンガでしょ? もしくはピンガ。日本だと、アフリカ投げナイフとか呼ばれている奴ですよね。こういうのは、TBでの武器の分類は何になるんですか?」
いいよね、マイナー武器。
ユーミルもこういうのを挙げてくれれば、話が広がったものを......。
フンガ・ムンガは卍に近い変わった形をしたナイフで、そのまま斬る事も可能だが、投げるとブーメランのように回転しながら飛んで行き、相手を攻撃する。
前の二つは剣の分類だとして、フンガ・ムンガはシステム的には何になるんだ?
ナイフか? それとも
「ど?」
「同志!」
眼鏡の女性が、興奮気味にがっしりと手を握ってくる。
うわ、どうしよう。
After paying 300G to the receptionist NPC in the blacksmith's workshop, I wanted to start crafting right away...but before that, I should observe the players around me.
It's not like I have that many materials after all...I don't really want to fail.
According to them, they make the best of use of the VR system and depending on where you strike the iron, how much power you put behind each strike and even the temperature of the iron when you strike has a different effect. It perfectly simulates reality and it makes a big difference whenever you are skillful or clumsy.
Of course, as a game, it does skip some parts of the procedure, to sum it up...it gives an experience that is pretty close to reality.
There have been mixed reviews about this part.
TB is the latter, the type that has no assistance for skills.
Having said that, what would those that are clumsy do...
[Hii, what is this!? H-hot! It's just a bit, but it's hot after all!] 
[C-calm down ojou-sama!] 
...What's that!?
Ringlets! Aren't those blonde ringlets!? It's the first time I've seen them.
Besides, she's even wearing a tight dress and it's amazing that she's even accompanied by someone dressed up as a butler...
What's this? Some kind of role-play?
It's still the second day, but both of them have already decided on their attire.
However, the one with the ringlets was holding a bright red mass of iron and getting agitated, she was in a situation where she was endangering her surroundings.
[Ojou-sama! For the time being, let go-] 
[Ah! M-my hair is on fire! Aaah! My HP is decreasing! Do something!] 
[Hiii! Water, can anyone bring some water!?] 
...Ah, her ringlets caught fire.
Being in a burned state, her HP was gradually decreasing...so realistic.
Even though her hair was burning, it was just visually and it's not like her skin was really burning.
Since it can't be helped, stealthily so they don't find out, I cast the spell to heal debuffs [Recover]  on the ringlets girl.
You recover MP just by walking after all...it's not like I'm wasting anything.
Well then, let's just leave that aside for now.
First off, I should search for a player I can copy from.
[O-oh? The fire is gone...] 
[I wonder why...ah, ojou-sama! There are some remains of a spell effect!] 
This is bad!
I wanted to start to move away in a hurry, but the ojou-sama had her azure eyes locked on me as if she was calling me over.
What should I do...
These kind of people are fun to to look at, but I don't really want to get involved with them...
[You!] 
[Yes...?] 
Sure enough, she talked in a harsh tone.
If she was a person with a high level of pride, she would usually say something like [Don't do something unnecessary!]  but...
[Y-you have my gratitude...if that had gone on, I would probably have had to waste a healing item...] 
Because she had honestly expressed her gratitude, my eyes were going in circles.
I shouldn't have judged her by her appearance...I'm reflecting on that now.
[Don't mind it. It was just a coincidence, I would have felt bad if I just watched after all] 
[I-I see...no matter the reason, offering gratitude to your benefactor is a practice within my family. Tell me your friend code! This favor, I'll return it a hundredfold!] 
[Eh...it's fine...] 
[Te*ll*Me!!] 
I take back what I just said.
Without being given much choice, we exchanged friend codes and I registered her as a friend.
Her player name was [Herrschaft] ...she had a name that suited her.
If I remember correctly, I think it means reign in German.
It gives a bit of a sense of chuunibyou, considering her attire too.
[Since the name is a bit long, can I just call you Herscha?] 
[I don't mind, Hind] 
[Alright. How about registering that butler over there as a friend while we are at it? Though I won't force her] 
I asked the timid person dressed as a butler.
Though, she was playing around with her short bangs and timidly fidgeting...
[Hurry up Walter! Don't be timid, grow a spine!] 
After Herscha pestered her, we ended up exchanging friend codes.
For some reason...
[Well then, we'll have to excuse ourselves here. Next time we meet, I'll definitely repay this favor! We are going, Walter!] 
[E-eh? Ojou-sama, what about the blacksmithing?] 
[Silence! There are things people are not suited for!] 
[Ah, wait a moment. From what I see, both of you don't have a job with healing spells, right?] 
[? Y-yes. What about it?] 
I pointed at Herscha and cast the healing spell [Healing] .
The HP she had lost while being burned was fully recovered.
Unlike MP, HP doesn't recover by walking.
There was a notice that they were going to implement hunger, but currently, other than healing jobs, you could only rely on medicinal herbs and potions.
Since the game has just launched, people shouldn't be that wealthy, so there's no harm in economizing.
That's why I healed her but...Herscha stiffened.
Hey! What's wrong? ...It's no use, I was waving my hand in front of her eyes but there was no reaction.
Did she just short circuit calculating how many times she'd have to repay this favor...? I even said it was a freebie.
[Oh well. I'll be going. See you, Walter] 
[Y-yes! Thank you, Hind-san!] 
...They were quite weird.
With that being said, two new names had been added to my friend list.
Well then, let's return to checking my surroundings.
I obviously haven't done any blacksmithing before, beginners are better taught by someone that is more skillful, there was no choice but to steal their methods after looking at them.
However, everyone is so focused on their own work...even if I tried talking to them, the chances that they would ignore me are high.
Hmm...ah, that person over there.
Striking the iron while being awfully unconcerned and compared to other people, there were no wasted movements at all.
I feel a bit bad, but let's get behind her and watch her methods.
The workshop is still crowded with players after all.
What was before my eyes was a girl with glasses and ruffled hair, besides her, were a large number of already finished weapons.
Was it a player that specialized in crafting? There were a lot of weapons that you wouldn't normally see...
Like that, I observed the blacksmithing flow for a while, after some time, the workshop next to her was freed up so I started to move over there.
For the time being, I've been able to confirm the flow of the process, so let's give it a try.
I took the iron from my inventory and I was going to throw it into the furnace that was already hot...oh!? That's!
[Shotel...wait, a Khopesh!? You are making quite the unusual weapon, huh...they appeared a lot in older games, but it feels like it's the first time I'm seeing one] 
[!?] 
....Hmm? My eyes met with my neighbour's...oh no!
Did I get too excited and say that out loud!?
Since she seemed so concentrated on her work, I didn't plan to bother her.
Seems like today, I'm not paying much attention.
I have to concentrate...
For a short while, she looked like she had stopped her trembling arm from fatigue but...as if she had made up her mind, she turned to face me and asked me a question.
[...E-eh...do you know what a Khopesh is?] 
[Eh...ah...yes. It's an Egyptian weapon, right? The blade is wider than the Shotel, so the way it's curved is different. If I remember correctly, it was shaped to snatch away the weapon or the shield of your opponent] 
[Then, then! ...H-how about this one...?] 
Her eyes were glittering full of expectations...
The next weapon she took out, was a single-edged blade.
When I took a glimpse, it said that it was a Cutlass but...
[Hmm, the blade is quite long so it's a Szablya, right?] 
[! H-how about this one!?] 
[This one is easy. It's a Hunga Munga, right? it can also be called Kpinga. In Japan, they are called African throwing names. What's this weapon classified as in TB?] 
They are so nice, minor weapons.
If Yumir was here, we would be able to talk about them more...
The Hunga Munga is a knife with a shape close to a [Wan ] , it can be used as a knife to kill a person, but it can also be thrown like a boomerang to attack your opponent.
The previous two could be classified as blades, but what does the system classify an Hunga Munga as?
A knife? or maybe a throwing weapon?
[A?] 
[A kindred soul!] 
The girl with glasses, while being somewhat agitated, grasped my hands tightly.
Whoa, what should I do?
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