「せっかく来たのだから、ここのモンスターと戦ってみよう!」
ユーミルがそんなアホな事を言い出したのは、息が整って俺が森に戻ろうと提案した後の事だ。
......何言ってんだこいつは。
「いやいや、さっきのPK野郎を見ただろ? 大群だったとはいえ、レベル5で数体しか倒せてなかったじゃないか。俺達はまだ3だぞ」
「一体ずつでも無理か!?」
「......PKと違って回復しないだろうから、倒せなくもないだろうけど。時間効率が――いや、まあ、やってみろよ。ちゃんとサポートはするから」
「フフフ、実は秘密兵器があるのだ」
「ん?」
ユーミルがメニュー画面を開き、ポンポンと操作する。
それが終わると腰に差した木の棒が消え、代わりにまともな見た目の剣がどこからともなく現れた。
「蜂がドロップしたのを拾っておいた! どうだ、まともな騎士らしくなったろう!」
「あー、そうだな。後は馬に乗って、鎧を装備して、何処かの国に所属したら立派な騎士だな」
「そうだろうそうだろう! では、いざ行かん! 突撃ー!」
「聞いちゃいねえ......」
その後、念のために剣のデータを見せて貰い、初期装備に戻す様に
ちなみにユーミルが装備した剣は『粗雑なブロードソード』という名で、攻撃力が棒と同じたったの10、そして何よりも耐久力は――3しかなかった。
そして時間は冒頭の出来事へと
一応は倒せるだろうという俺の予想を大きく下回り、剣が破損して見事に敗北。
ユーミルがあっさりと戦闘不能になったので、聖水で蘇生させて一緒に『ドンデリーの森』に戻って来た所だ。
「よっし、到着。こうして移動すると、結構な距離を追われて逃げたのが分かるな」
「うむ、確かに。それで、まずは何をするのだ? 検証と言っていたが」
「最初にパーティでの経験値の配分を調べよう。それから、もうすぐレベルが上がるだろ? 敵とのレベル差によって経験値に補正が掛かるかどうかも知りたい」
「むむ......? 良く分からんから、指示を出せ!」
ユーミルが俺の指示を受けて剣を抜く。
もう見慣れた『キラービー』が実験台だ。
恐らくこのゲームで最弱のモンスター......なのだが、最初に俺達が素手で挑んで負けたのもこいつだったりする。
これって結構恥ずかしいことなんじゃないだろうか? 誰にも言わないようにしておこう......。
森に出るモンスターは二種類で、もう一種類は芋虫のような見た目の『キャタピラー』という魔物。
こちらは動きが遅い分、キラービーよりも耐久力も攻撃力も高かった。
総合的な強さはどっこいどっこいだが。
その後、パーティを解いたり組み直したり、レベルアップの前後で経験値の量を調べたりで色々と検証を行った結果......。
「やっぱり適正な狩り場で戦うのが一番みたいだな。雑魚を大量に狩っても、レベルが上がるにつれてゴミみたいな経験値になってく......それと、パーティだと経験値に微量のボーナスが掛かった上での等分だから、仮にソロでパーティと同じ速さで狩れるならそっちの方が効率は上になる。でも、それが現実的に可能かは甚だ疑問だから基本的にはパーティプレイの方が上だろう。つまり――」
「さっぱり分からん!」
「......。丁度いい強さの敵を、パーティ組んで素早く狩ると効率良いってこと」
「おお、分かり易い!」
「で、物凄く強いソロプレイヤーならパーティを越えられるかもってだけ。経験値を一人で総取りだから」
「最初からそう言え! 言っておくが、時間が合う時はソロ禁止だからな!」
良い狩り場を探せっていうのは、普通のRPGと一緒だと思う。
効率ばかり追ってもつまらないだろうけど、スタートダッシュと言い出したのはユーミルだからな......暫くは効率重視でいくべきだろう。
TBというゲームの基本事項として、ステータスは非常にシンプル。
HP・MP・攻撃・防御・魔力・魔法抵抗の六つの項目で全てだ。
VRでは現実以上の体の動きをさせると意識が戻った時に肉体に多大な負荷が掛かるという制約があるので、ゲーム内の身体能力はどんなにレベルが上がっても据え置きである。
そのため素早さなどの数値は存在せず、レベルに従ったステータスによって与ダメージが上昇、被ダメージが減少することで力が増しているという表現が為されているようだ。
なので、運動神経がイマイチな俺が後衛という判断は正しいのではないだろうか。
それと、武器を装備していない状態の攻撃力が上がるとシステム側で「装備する武器の重量そのもの」が軽くなるのも大きな特徴だ。
これによってプレイヤーの筋力を増加させなくとも力が増しているという錯覚を与えることが可能であり、現実の体に影響を及ぼすこともないという仕組みだそうな。
つまり、高レベルの火力職ほど大型で高重量の武器を扱えるということになる。
防具の場合も同様に、素の防御力に依存して軽くなるとのこと。
これらの事から、素の攻撃・防御が伸びる職は現実以上の重装備が可能ということになる。
この辺りの知識は、ユーミルが豪快に読み飛ばしたチュートリアルに存在した項目である。
実際にレベルアップ後に木の枝が軽くなった実感があったので、恐らく間違いないと思われる。
といっても枝では元々が軽いので、単に勘違いという可能性もあるだろうけれども。
さて、そうしたら次は当面の装備をどうするかだな。
序盤というのも考慮して決めた方が良さそうだ。
......何か指標が欲しいので、ここはゲーマーの知恵を拝借するとしますか。
「なあ、ユーミル。このゲームって生産要素あり? 鍛冶とか、アイテム作成とか」
「モチロンあるぞ!」
「あー。そういう場合、NPCが店で売ってる武器とか防具は......」
「大抵、プレイヤーが作成したものより性能が下だ! お約束だな!」
やっぱりそうなのか。
だったら追々、そっちも俺がやらないとな......こいつは細かい作業が苦手だし。
そうなると初期投資として資金とか材料も必要になりそうなので、直ぐに使わなくなりそうな店売りを買うのも微妙だ。
うーむ......よし、決めた。
「レベル10までは初期装備で行こう」
俺がそう言うと、ユーミルが死刑宣告でも受けたかのような顔になった。
そんなに!? そんなに初期装備が嫌か!?
「何故だ! こんなダサい木の棒、私は嫌だぞ!」
また見た目の話か......。
しかしユーミル――お前はこの初期装備の素晴らしさをちっっっとも分かっちゃいない! 今からそれを教えてやる!
俺は拳を振るって力説した。
「馬鹿野郎、お前、初期装備はタダなんだぞ! 耐久値が設定されているってことは、砥石だったり店での修理だったりと色々と必要経費があるだろう!? それが耐久無限ってことは、維持費も全部0だ! この棒と枝を振り回して戦うだけでひたすら黒字になるんだぞ! スタートダッシュを切りたかったらレベル10までは我慢しろ、ドロップ品も使わずに全部取っとけ!」
タダ、無料、0円、サービス品、セール、割引......なんと甘美な響きだろうか。
あれ、後半は何か違うな。
俺の剣幕にユーミルが一歩下がる。
「ぐぬっ......この倹約家め......。だが、本当にこれで10まで行けるのか?」
「ステータスの上昇幅と敵の能力の上がり具合から考えて、行けるように設計されていると思う。平原で戦ったゴブリンも、そこまで倒せない敵って感じじゃなかったろ? 剣が折れさえしなければ」
「む......確かに、ダメージはしっかり入っていたな。あの剣、攻撃力は木の棒とほとんど一緒だったし......」
運営が散々提示しているように、レベル10まではゲーム的にも初心者ゾーン。
敵の強さの幅もほどほどでしかないと思う。
初期装備でも充分にクリア可能に設計されていると俺は踏んだ。
なので、PK野郎が装備していたような半端な物は不要だ。
「それでも平原で俺が戻ろうって言ったのは、一体を倒すのに掛かる時間が長そうだったからだ。あそこで戦っても、今の――レベル5か。ここまで来るのにもっと時間が掛かったと思うぞ」
「敵を倒す速さも大事という事か......今のレベルでゴブリンと戦えば、充分に効率が良いと?」
「そういうこと。装備も、プレイヤーが生産した武器が直ぐに手に入るなら変えた方が良いだろうが......現実問題、無理だろ?」
「無理だな。覚えるにしてもそういったものは習得するのに時間が掛かるのが普通だろうから。それに、まだゲーム内に生産専門の知り合いも居ないからな」
「それと、お前忘れてないか? インベントリ内に――」
「あっ! 経験値アップか!」
「そうそう。そんな諸々を考えた結果、初日の今日は初期装備で突っ走った方が良いと思った訳だ。どうだ?」
ユーミルが俺の言葉にうんうんうんうんと過剰なまでに
いや、そんなキラキラした目で見なくても、大した考察してないから。
むしろ恥ずかしいからやめてくれ。
それらの簡易な検証が終わり、レベルが5になった事もあって俺達は再び『ホーマ平原』へと向かった。
その途上、ユーミルがメニュー画面を開いて何かを気にし始める。
「ハインド、時間はまだ大丈夫か?」
「うん? 今、何時だ?」
「午後三時だな」
「あー、五時までなら大丈夫だぞ。そっからは夕飯の準備と
「む? 夕食の準備は分かるのだが......理世の出迎えとは何だ? 家の鍵くらいは持たせているのだろう?」
理世というのは俺の妹のことだ。
今日は学習塾に行っているので、午後から家を留守にしているのだが......。
「ちっ、あのブラコンめ......」
「ん? 今、ブラコ――」
「何でもない! お前の聞き間違いだ!」
「そ、そうか。お前ら仲悪いよな......」
未祐は竹を割ったような性格なので、余り人を嫌ったりはしないのだが......。
理世とは反りが合わないのか、会うと険悪な状態になることが多い。
但し大喧嘩にはならず、憎まれ口の応酬に留まっているので何とも言い難いところだ。
時間が解決してくれるのを祈ろう......と、ここは空気を変えたいな。
せっかくゲームをやっているのだし、楽しく行こう。
「とにかく、五時で一区切りだ。でも、折角だから五時までにレベル10を目指そうぜ!」
「おお、やる気だなハインド!」
「ああ。このゲーム、結構細かい所まで作り込んでありそうで楽しくなってきた。そういえば、気が付いてたか? キラービーは胴の細い所を叩くと、他の場所を攻撃した時よりもダメージが増えるぞ」
「弱点部位が設定されているのか!? 気付かなかった......」
このゲームはVRということもあってか、ノンターゲティング方式を採用している。
自由に狙いをつけられるので、敵のどの部位を攻撃するかもプレイヤーの判断で選択できるという訳だ。
弱点部位があることで戦略の幅が広がるので、俺としてはかなり好ましいシステムであるといえる。
って名前だったと思う。ハチから進化したアリにも共通する構造だな」
「何だお前! 虫博士か!?」
「小さい頃は昆虫図鑑が好きだったし、
先程、色々と検証しようと提案した時の様にユーミルが目を見開く。
またか? と思ったが、今度は反応がより劇的なものだった。
「アハハハハッ! ハインド! ハインドー!!」
「な、なんだよ。背中を叩くな! 痛い、痛いって!」
急に笑い出すから発狂したのかと思ったぞ。
俺の背を叩くユーミルの顔は、何を考えているのか分からないが実に良い笑顔だった。
「私は今、色々とゲームをやってきた中で一番楽しい! 楽しいぞハインドー!」
「うむ! 最高だ!」
その後もユーミルはえらく上機嫌だった。
そして体調まで絶好調になったのか、平原に着くと目を見張る速度で次々とモンスターを撃破。
気が付くと、俺達は一時間ほどでレベルを10まで上げる事に成功していた。
[Since we are already here, let's try fighting the monsters that are here!] 
When Yumir said such a stupid thing, I let out a sigh and prepared to suggest going back to the forest.
...What is this girl even saying?
[No no, you just saw that PK guy, right? Even though we had more people on our side, we couldn't even beat someone at level 5. We are still level 3, you know?] 
[It's impossible even if it's only one!?] 
[...unlike that PK they probably won't heal themselves, so it's not like we won't be able to defeat them. If we are talking about efficiency...no, let's give it a try. I'll try to support you properly] 
[Fufufu, I actually have a secret weapon!] 
[Hmm?] 
Yumir opened her menu and started to operate it.
After she was done, the wooden stick on her back disappeared and in its place, something that looked more like a sword appeared.
[I picked it up after a bee dropped it! How is it? I look like a knight now, right!?] 
[You are right. Now you need to mount on a horse, wear some armor and you'd look like a splendid knight from some country] 
[Right, right!? Well then, let's go! Charge!] 
[She's not even listening to me...] 
After that, I wanted her to show me the data of the sword just in case, but Yumir didn't listen when I urged her to switch back to the beginner gear...
For the record, the sword she had equipped was called [Crude Broadsword]  and it had the same attack as the stick. Aside from that its endurance was only...3 points.
During that time, we returned to the place we were at the beginning of the incident.
I initially expected we would be able to beat them but I was completely wrong, the sword was damaged and we were utterly defeated.
Since Yumir was easily defeated, I used the holy water to revive her and we decided to return to [Dondery Forest]  for the time being.
[Alright, we arrived. Walking this much, I can see just how far we were chased] 
[Umu, you are right. Then, what should we do first? You said you wanted to verify something?] 
[First, I want to see how experience is distributed in a party. Then...we are going to level up soon, right? I want to know how much the experience differs because of our levels] 
[Hmmm...? I don't really get it, so give me the instructions!] 
Yumir followed my orders and drew her sword.
Let's start by experimenting on the [Killer bee]  we have gotten used to.
It's probably the weakest monster in this game...but at the start, we challenged it bare-handed and lost.
Isn't this quite embarrassing experience? Let's not tell anyone about this...
There are 2 types of monsters in this forest, the other type is a monster with the appearance of a caterpillar aptly named [Caterpillar] .
While its movements are slow, they are stronger and have more HP than the [Killer bees] .
When you think about it, they are about the same strength.
After that, we disbanded and remade the party multiple times and we verified the amount of experience we got before leveling up, as a result...
[As expected, it seems that hunting in a suitable area for our level is the best. Even if we kill a lot of small fries, the experience we get will be trash...and then, since there's a small bonus of experience and experience is shared properly, supposing we kill stuff solo and in a party at around the same speed, it will be more efficient to do it solo. However, since that's not really realistic, in the end, it's usually better to play as a party. To sum it up...] 
[I don't get it!] 
If we defeat monsters around our level while in a party, it's faster and more efficient] 
[Oh, that's easy to understand!] 
[So, incredibly strong solo players might be faster than parties. They receive all the experience for themselves after all] 
[Just say that from the beginning! I'll say this, even if you have free time, playing solo is prohibited!] 
I believe that finding a good hunting ground, is the most important thing in an RPG.
Always going for efficiency might be boring, but since Yumir said it was launch day...guess we should focus on being efficient for the time being.
When it comes to the fundamentals in the game called TB, the stats are extremely simple.
HP*MP*Attack*Defense*Magic attack*Magic resistance, these six.
If you move your body in a way that shouldn't be possible in reality, once your consciousness returns to your body it'll place a great burden on it, so they place limitations. That's why, no matter how much you level up, your physical ability will stay the same.
That's why there's no real value for speed, the damage you deal will increase accordingly with your level, the damage you receive will decrease too. This way it can present how your strength has increased.
In that case, lacking the reflexes, wasn't it the right choice for me to choose to be a rear guard?
Then, if you increase your offensive ability while you don't have your weapon equipped, there's a system that affects the weight of the equipment making it lighter.
This being the case, it's possible to give players the impression that they are getting stronger even if they don't increase their real-life physical strength, a method that won't affect your real life body.
To sum it up, when you level up your power will go up and you will be able to use heavier weapons.
When it comes to defensive equipment it's the same, depending on your base defensive stats it'll feel lighter too.
Because of this, if you have a job that will have high base attack and defense you will be able to use heavier gear than the ones we have currently.
All this information is information that existed in the tutorial and Yumir lightheartedly didn't bother reading it.
In reality, it's true that after leveling up I feel that this wooden branch has gotten lighter, so I believe this information is true.
That being said, the branch was light to begin with, there's also the possibility that I'm just imagining it.
Well then, what should we do about our current equipment?
We should probably decide taking into consideration that it's launch day.
...I wish I had some kind of indicator, in this case, let's try borrowing the knowledge of a gamer.
[Hey, Yumir. Does crafting exist in this game? Like blacksmithing or item crafting] 
[Of course!] 
[Ah. In that case, the weapons and armor that they sell in NPC stores...] 
[Usually, their performance is worse than the ones players craft! Though it's to be expected!] 
As I thought, it was like that.
In that case, I have to do that gradually...this girl is bad at attentive work after all.
If that's the case, materials and money are absolutely necessary as an initial investment. So we should sell everything that doesn't look like we'll use and be careful when buying things.
Hmm...alright, it's decided.
[Let's use the beginner gear until level 10] 
When I said that, Yumir made a face as if she had just received the death penalty.
That much!? Does she hate the beginner gear that much!?
[Why!? I hate this lame wooden stick!] 
She's still going on about appearances, huh....
However, Yumir...you don't get the wonderfulness of this beginner gear! I'll teach you about it right now!
I swung my fist to emphasize it.
[You are such an idiot, the beginner gear is free! If something has a set endurance, you'd have to go to a store and repair it with a whetstone, and that will incur various expenses, right!? Not having any endurance means that its maintenance costs are 0! If it's for fighting, this branch and that stick are more than enough! Since it's launch day, we'll be patient until level 10, not use any of the drops and pick everything up!] 
Free of charge, gratis, 0 yen, service articles, sales, discounts...such pleasant words.
Wait, I think about half of them have a different meaning.
Yumir took a step back because of my menacing look.
[Gunuh...this damn economist...
[Think about how our stats increase to match the increase in stats on the enemies, I believe it's designed to be doable. Even the goblin you fought in the plains, it didn't feel like an enemy you wouldn't be able to defeat, right? If your sword hadn't broken] 
[Nu...right, I believe he did take damage. Since that sword had the same offensive ability as this wooden stick...] 
As the developers had thoroughly displayed, until level 10 it's what you would call the game's beginner zone.
I believe the difference in enemy strength is moderate at best.
I guessed that the beginner gear would be enough to clear it.
That being the case, there's no need for things like that incomplete set the PK guy was wearing.
[When I said we should leave the plains, it was because beating a monster would have taken too long even if we fought there, let's see...we are level 5 now, huh. I believe now that we have reached this point it should be faster] 
[So you are saying that the speed at which you beat monsters is important, huh...if we fought goblins at our current level, you mean that it will be more efficient?] 
[That's right. When it comes to gear, it would be better to immediately obtain and change to gear that's crafted by players...but in reality, that's impossible right now?] 
[It would be impossible. Even if you learned it, it would normally take time to acquire that kind of skill. More importantly, we don't know any crafters within the game] 
[Besides, aren't you forgetting about something? Inside our inventory...] 
[Ah! The experience items!] 
[That's right. After taking various things into consideration, I thought that it would be better to just rush with the beginner gear today. What do you think?] 
When she heard my words, Yumir just kept nodding over and over.
You don't have to look at me with those glittering eyes, it's not like I thought of something that special.
It's embarrassing so please stop.
After finishing that simple verification, now that we had reached level 5, we headed towards [Homa plains] .
On the way, Yumir opened her menu and something started to bother her.
[Hind, are you still fine on time?] 
[Hmm? What time is it now?] 
[3pm] 
[Ah, I think I'll be fine until 5pm. Then I'll have to make preparations for dinner and wait for Rise.] 
[Hmm? I can understand having to make preparations for dinner...but why do you have to wait for Rise? She should have the keys to the house, right?] 
Rise is my little sister.
Since she went to cram school today, she was currently absent from home but...
[Tsk, that brocon...] 
[Hmm? Did you just say broco-] 
[It's nothing! You just misheard it!] 
[I-I see. Both of you don't get along after all...] 
Miyu has a pretty straightforward personality, so she doesn't tend to dislike many people but...
She seems unable to get along with Rise, the times it becomes dangerous after they meet are many.
However, they don't get into a fight, they just exchange some abusive language between them and stop, it's hard for me to say anything.
I pray for the day they are able to settle their differences...oh, I should change this atmosphere.
We are playing a game after all, let's have some fun.
[Anyway, we are taking a break at 5pm. However, since we are here, let's aim to get to level 10 before 5pm] 
[Ooh, you sure are motivated, Hind!] 
[Yeah. This game is pretty detailed so it's gotten fun. Right, have you noticed? If you hit a [Killer bee]  in the thin parts of its torso, it takes more damage] 
[So they have set weak points!? I didn't notice...] 
Because this is a VR game, it doesn't have a targeting system.
Since you can aim freely, each player has to choose what part they want to attack.
The existence of weak points broadens the strategic side of the game, I can say that I really like this system.
[I believe their abdomens are called scapes. Since ants and bees evolved from the same species their structures are similar] 
[What's with you! Are you an insect expert!?] 
[I liked insect picture books when I was small, it's information I remember from back then. Though it would be impossible for me to remember it all now...wait, that wasn't what I wanted to say. Let's return back to the previous topic, we should search for the weak point of the goblins once we reach the plains. That way we can have fun leveling up] 
When I gave a suggestion going by the information we had verified a while ago, Yumir opened her eyes wide.
Again? Is what I thought, but her reaction this time was more extreme.
[Ahahaha! Hind! Hind!] 
[W-what is it? Stop hitting my back! It hurts, it hurts!] 
She suddenly burst out laughing, I thought she had gone insane.
The face of Yumir, who was hitting my back, had a good smile, though I didn't know what she was really thinking.
[Right now, I'm having the most fun of all the games I've played! It's so fun, Hind!] 
[Umu! It's the best!] 
After that, Yumir was in a great mood.
Then, it might be because even her physical condition was in perfect form, she crushed all the monsters in front of us one by one once we reached the plains.
When I noticed, we had been able to reach level 10 in an hour.
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