木の枝で鞭のように敵をはたく。
すると生々しい感触が手に返り、体液を散らしながら蜂の胴体が二つに別れた。
キモイ! 無駄にリアル!
「おお、ハインド! レベルが上がったぞ!」
「ん、本当だ。レベル3になったな」
はしゃいだようなユーミルの声に下を見ると、足元から光の輪が上に昇り、レベルアップした事が告げられる。
例の木の枝と棒を装備した後は順調だ。
初心者用ポーションの使用回数に制限が無い事もあって、俺達は村に戻らずにひたすらモンスターと戦っていた。
フィールドには沢山のプレイヤーが居るので場所を移動する必要も多いが、特にトラブルも無くレベルを上げる事が出来ている。
初日で判断するのもどうかと思うけど、みんな結構マナーが良いんじゃないだろうか。
敵を倒して一区切りがついた所で、木の棒を弄びながらユーミルが話し掛けてくる。
「そろそろ次のエリアに行くか? 私はそろそろ蜂の相手に飽きてきたぞ」
「いや、もう少しここで戦おうぜ。表示される敵のレベル、ここは5まであるみたいだし」
「そこまでが適正レベル、という奴か?」
「だと思う......って、ゲーマーのお前がどうして俺に聞くんだよ。他のオンラインゲームではどうなんだ?」
「知らん! 私は常に勢いで進んでいるからな!」
に、胸を張れる要素があったよ......?」
それと、目のやり場に困るから実際に胸を張るのはやめろ。
......敵の情報に関しては、プレイやーと同じ様に上部にレベルと名前が表示される。
先程の蜂のモンスターはキラービーという名前らしい。
レベルは幅があって、この森で見た限りは1~5の間だったと思う。
レベルが高い個体ほどサイズも大きいという芸の細かさで、耐久力も僅かだがレベルに応じて上がっている様子だった。
そんなこんなで、相談の結果レベル5までここ『ドンデリーの森』で粘ることにしたのだが......。
「ひぃーやっはぁ! 死ねやぁ!」
「おわっ、何だ!?」
「ハインドッ!」
突如、目出し帽を身に着けたプレイヤーが俺に向かって棍棒で殴りかかってきた。
しきれずにまともに当たり、体力が三割ほど持っていかれる。
体格と声からして男だが......どうしてプレイヤーが攻撃してくるんだ!?
「どういうつもりだ、貴様!」
「問答無用! リア充に死を!」
「リア――え?」
男の続けての攻撃を、ユーミルが木の棒で
がだよ! いや、マスクで表情は見えないけども! 見えないけどもさ!
レベルが5、そしてネームが......黄色!?
ユーミルもそれに気付いたのか、俺に向けて警告を発してくる。
「ハインド、こいつPKだ! オレンジまでは行っていないが、悪質プレイヤーだ!」
「何だそれ――あぶねっ!」
「避けるんじゃねぇぇぇっ!」
「プレイヤーキラーの略! ゲームによってはアイテム狙いだったり、ただの愉快犯だったり――ええい、今はそんな事はどうでもいい! どうする!?」
どうするったってな......話を聞いてくれそうもないし。
このゲームはプレイヤー同士の攻撃がありなのか。
回復しながらひたすら男の攻撃に対して防御を続け、ユーミルと早口で言葉を交わす。
「あいつを俺達が倒した場合はどうなるんだ!?」
「ネームの色が青以外のプレイヤーを倒しても、ペナルティは無い! やるか!?」
「よっしゃ、ぶん殴れユーミル!」
「応!」
「ぶへっ!?」
ユーミルの攻撃が横っ面を捉え、男が景気よく吹っ飛ぶ。
しかし初期装備には見えない皮の鎧を装備している為か、見た目の割にダメージが入らない。
すぐさま立ち上がって再びこちらに対峙してくる。
「効かぬっ! 世界中のカップルを撲殺するまで、私は
「意味が分からない......」
「同意だが、まずいぜユーミル。装備もレベルも差が大きい!」
再度ユーミルと仮面の男が打ち合う。
運動能力ではユーミルが勝っているようだが、キャラの能力に差がある
細かなダメージを受ける度にポーションに加えて俺が回復魔法を掛けるが、ダメージに対して回復量が追いついていない!
対して、こちらが小さいダメージを重ねても相手は回復アイテム一つで全快だから勝機が見えない!
「は、ハインド! 何とかしてくれ!」
「と、取り敢えず逃げるぞ! 目潰しを喰らえ!」
「うおっ! 目が! 目がぁ! に、逃がさんぞリア充どもめ!」
咄嗟に引っ掴んだ砂を投げつけると、俺達は方向も考えずにとにかく走った。
結果、ドンデリーの森を抜け、ホーマ平原というエリアにまで来てしまった。
しつこいな、あの男! 何を勘違いしているのか知らないが、俺達はカップルじゃねえ!
「しぃぃぃねぇぇぇぇっ!」
「は!? はぁぁぁぁ!? 二人だけの時間が何だって!? あ ゙あ ゙!? 益々(ますます)許せぇぇぇん!」
「どういう耳をしてるんだ!? ええい、ハインド!」
「今、考えてる!」
追い詰められて助けてくれそうな他のプレイヤーを探すが、運悪く周囲には見当たらない。
PKを嫌う健全なプレイヤーが居れば撃退を手伝ってくれるかと思ったのだが......。
何か他の手は――おっ!
「ユーミル、一分間耐えてくれ!」
「む! 分かった!」
の呼吸ですね分かりません! 仲良く死んでその後で喧嘩しろおおお!」
俺が見つけたのは、プレイやー以外でアイツを倒してくれそうな存在。
回復魔法とアイテムをユーミルに使用し、その場から俺は離脱する。
そして走り回って杖で適当に「それ」にダメージを与えていき、離れすぎないように慎重に「数を増やして」いく。
油断するとそいつらの攻撃が当たりそうにな――痛っ!
怖っ、このレベルだと数発で体力が蒸発する!
体力の三分の一が軽い一発で消し飛んだのを見て、背筋が緊張で寒くなってくる。
それと臭い! だから、どうしてここの開発はこんな無駄に細かい所ばっかり
いつしか多数の足音に追われ、俺は全力疾走することを強いられていた。
しんどい!
「どけええええ、ユーミル! 左、左だ!」
「!? は、ハインド、お前!」
「隙あり!! もらっ――!?」
俺は平原を回って集めてきたレベル6のモンスター......ゴブリンを多数引き連れ、マスクの男にぶつかるように集団を誘導した。
ユーミルと戦うのに夢中だった男は、俺の突き飛ばす腕を躱しきれずに転倒。
俺はその上を
「ぎゃああああ! ぐへっ! ごはっ!?」
思い切りモンスターの集団の足に
あれほど苦労して削っていた男の体力ゲージが、見る見る内にゴブリン達の攻撃によって減少していく。
「うわぁ......むごい。ハインド、どこでMPKの事なんて知ったんだ?」
「MPKはその上にモンスターが付くだけだぞ。別名トレイン、とも言われるな」
「ああ、確かにあの引き連れて走る感じはそうかもな」
「本当にそうと知らずにやったのか!? 恐ろしい奴......」
確かに、ここまでする必要があったかは疑問だ。
俺達が死んでもまた村に戻されるだけだろうしな......。
どちらかというと、単に気持ちの問題だ。
「そう言うなよ。ゲームとはいえ、俺はあんなのにやられるのは絶対に嫌だからな。なんか納得がいかん」
「私だってそうだ! そ、その......ありが――」
「ラブコメの波動を感じるぅぅぅ! 許さ――ぎゃあああ!」
最後の抵抗も虚しく、マスク男の体力が0になる。
それを見届けた俺達は、次の標的にされないようゴブリン達から大きく距離を取った。
男が灰色の表示になり、その場で動かなくなる。
暫くして範囲内に敵が居なくなったゴブリン達が去り、男の死体も光の粒子になって消えていった。
最初の街に戻ったんだな。
俺達は緊張を解くと、平原の上に二人でどっかりと腰を降ろした。
「ふぅー、疲れた......」
「私もだ......無駄に走らされた」
「初日から攻略そっちのけでPKとは......筋金入りだな」
PKにもレベル10の制限を掛けておけよと思わなくもないが......。
それとも、考えようによってはゲーム内の資産を持つ前に「そういう奴」も居ると知れて良かったと思うべきだろうか?
デスペナルティの内容によっては、PKによって何か失う物も出てくるだろうからな......。
背中越しのユーミルが回復アイテムを使いながら、ふと何かを思い出したように動きを止めた。
「ハインド、しかもあいつギルドのメンバーだったぞ」
「え、そうなのか?」
「うむ。プレイヤーネームの下に、リア充撲滅委員会と表示されていた」
「何だよその名前......あんなのが他にも居るって事かい。どっちにしてもサービス開始初日にやるこっちゃねーだろ......」
「違いない。......し、しかしそれにしてもあれだな! こ、困るよなっ! 私とお前は、そ、その......こ、こ、恋人などでは――」
「なー。迷惑な話だよなー」
俺の言葉に急に振り返ったユーミルは、むくれた顔で俺の頬をむにっと引っ張ってきた。
何で!? PKを迷惑って言っただけなのに!
......ともあれ、PKを撃退した俺達はそのままレベル上げを続ける事にしたのだった。
I used the wooden stick as a cane to hit the enemy.
When I did, a very realistic sensation was transmitted to my hand. While scattering body fluids all over the place, the bee's body was split in half.
Gross! This is so pointlessly realistic!
[Oh, Hind! I leveled up!] 
[Yup, you are right. We have reached level 3] 
When I looked downwards while listening to Yumir's high spirited voice, a ring of light ascended from under my feet signaling that I had leveled up.
After equipping the wooden branch, everything went well.
There was no restriction to the number of times you could use the beginner potions, we earnestly kept fighting monsters without returning to the village.
Because there are many players in the field we had to keep moving, but we have been able to level up without much trouble.
I was wondering how launch day would be, but it seems like everyone is pretty well mannered.
We were taking a break after defeating the monster, while I was playing around with the wooden stick Yumir began talking to me.
[Shall we go to the next area? I'm getting tired of fighting these bees] 
[No, let's keep fighting here for a bit longer. Judging from the displayed levels, the monsters here are up to level 5] 
[So, you mean that's a reasonable level to move on?] 
[I think so...wait, why is a gamer like you listening to me? What about the other online games you've played?] 
[No idea! I usually just kept going in high spirits!] 
[Where have I heard those words before? I somehow feel a strange sensation...] 
Feeling that it was something trouble I stopped thinking about it.
...When it comes to monster information, their levels are displayed on top of them the same way player levels are displayed.
The monster from a while ago seems to be called [Killer bee] .
There are slight differences in levels, as far as I've seen in this forest, they seem to be in the range of level 1~5.
You could tell the level of a specimen was high because they were bigger than others and it seems like their HP increases accordingly to their level too.
Anyway, it's like that. After talking about it, we have decided to stick around in this place called [Dondery Forest]  but...
[Hyaha! Die!] 
[Uwah, what!?] 
[Hind!] 
Suddenly, a player wearing a ski mask attempted to hit me with a club.
I was unable to dodge it and it hit me, taking away a third of my HP.
Judging from his build and voice it seems like he's a guy...but why is a player attacking me!?
[What are you trying to do!?] 
[No need for talking! Normies should die!] 
[Nor-...eh?] 
The man continued to attack and Yumir defended herself with the wooden stick.
Where is the poker face! Wait, it's not like I can see his face because of the mask though! I can't see it but...!
He's level 5 and his player name...is yellow!?
Probably having noticed that,Yumir looked at me and gave me a warning.
[Hind, this guy is a PK! His name still hasn't turned orange, but he's an evil player!] 
[What's tha-...That was dangerous!] 
[Stop running awayyyyy!] 
[It's the abbreviation for player killers! They do stuff like stealing from others, or they just commit crimes for fun...geez, that doesn't matter right now! What do we do!?] 
Even if you ask me that...it doesn't look like he will listen to us.
So in this game players can attack other players?
While healing Yumir who was defending against the continuous attacks from the man, I exchanged words quickly with her.
[What happens if we defeat this guy!?] 
[There's no penalty if we defeat a player whose name color is other than blue! Are we going to do it!?] 
[Alright, beat him up, Yumir!] 
[Alright!] 
[Buheh!?] 
Having received Yumir's attack with the side of his face, the man was blown away energetically.
However, maybe it was because he was wearing a leather armor that wasn't part of the beginner equipment, he didn't seem to have taken much damage.
He stood up immediately and confronted us again.
[That was nothing! Until I beat all the couples around the world to death, I won't be defeated!] 
[I don't get what you are talking about...] 
[I don't either, this is bad Yumir. There's too much of a difference between our gear and levels!] 
Yumir started to exchange blows with the masked man again.
When it comes to physical ability Yumir had the upper hand, but because her character stats were inferior she's losing.
Each time she takes damage, I'm healing her with potions and healing magic, but the healing can't keep up with the damage!
In his case, even if we keep inflicting small damage onto him, he heals entirely with a single healing item, I can't see how we are going to win this!
[H-Hind! Do something please!] 
[L-let's run away for now! Take this, sand to the eyes!] 
[Uwoh! My eyes! My eyes! D-don't you dare run away, you normies!] 
I grabbed some sand and threw it at him, without deciding on a direction we just started to run away.
As a result, we exited Dondery Forest and came to an area called Homa Plains.
That guy is so persistent! I don't know what kind of misunderstanding he had, but we are not a couple!
[Dieeeeeeee!] 
[Hah!? Haaaah!? You said your time together!? A-ah!? That's even more unforgivable!] 
[What did you even hear!? Hind!] 
[I'm thinking!] 
I was searching for players that could save us from being pursued, but unfortunately, there was no one around.
I thought that if there were players that loathed PKs around they would help us but...
Is there any other way....oh!
[Yumir, endure for a minute!] 
[Nu! I got it!] 
[I don't know why you are getting along so well! Die peacefully and get into an argument later!] 
What I had found, was a being other than a player that could probably defeat that guy.
After using a healing item and healing magic on Yumir, I left that place.
Then I proceeded to deal some damage to [that]  while being careful to not get too far from them, I increased their numbers.
Because of my negligence, an attack hit me...that hurts!
So scary, if I take several blows at this level, my HP will just disappear!
Seeing a third of my HP go away in a single hit, I started to get nervous and my back felt cold.
Besides, they smell terrible! Why do the developers fuss over these pointless small details!
Before long, I was being chased by many of them and I forced myself to run at full speed.
This is so tiring!
[Move awayyy!, Yumir! Left, to the left!] 
[!? H-Hind, you!] 
[An opening! I got y-!?] 
The level 6 monsters I had gathered while running around the plains...the goblins were accompanying me, guided by me, the group collided with the masked man.
Because he was absorbed in his fight with Yumir, He was not able to avoid my arm and fell down.
I proceeded to jump over him.
[Gyaaaa! Guheh! Gohah!?] 
After he was run over by the group of monsters, they changed their target to the man and started to beat him to a pulp.
The HP we had so much trouble shaving off, decreased rapidly with the goblins' attacks.
[Uwah...incredible. Hind, where did you learn about MPK?] 
[MPK only has monster attached at the start. It can also be called train] 
[Ah, it's true that it gives the impression of being followed by someone] 
[You really did it without knowing about it!? You are quite the scary guy...] 
True, the question would be if it was really necessary for us to do this.
Even if we died, we would only have returned to the village after all...
If I had to say, it was just a matter of how we felt about it.
[Don't say that. Even if it's a game, being killed in that way is something I'd absolutely hate. There's no way I could accept it] 
[That goes for me too! Eh, uh...than-] 
[I sense a love comedy event! I won't allo-gyaaaa!] 
His last effort being in vain, the masked man's HP reached 0 points.
Having verified that, we took a great distance from the goblins since we would be their next targets.
The man turned gray and was unable to move from that spot.
Not having any enemies within their range, the goblins left. The man's dead body turned into particles of light and disappeared.
He probably returned to the starter village.
Being released from that feeling of tension, we fell on our backs.
[Phew, I'm so tired...] 
[Me too...I had to run for some pointless reason] 
[To PK on launch day while ignoring what people say...they are so hardcore] 
I don't believe that PKs don't share the same restrictions as us until level 10...
Or, should I think that it was good that I came to know about their existence before I amassed a fortune?
According to the details of the death penalty, it seems like you'll lose some items if you get PK'd after all...
Yumir who was using healing items while leaning on my back suddenly stopped moving as if she had remembered something.
[Hind, that guy was a member of a guild, you know?] 
[Eh, is that so?] 
[Umu. Under his player name, [Normie Extermination Committee]  was displayed] 
[What's with that name?...there are other people like that? At the very least, it's not something you'd do on launch day...] 
[You are completely right. ...H-however, that thing he said! I-it's troubling! You and me, eh, huh...t-that we are lov-] 
[Ah. That was so bothersome...] 
Yumir, who turned around quickly after hearing my words, started to pull my cheeks while looking really angry.
Why!? I've only said that PKs were bothersome!
...Anyway, having repelled the PK, we continued to raise our levels.
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