もう残された手はこれしかない!
トビが離脱を始める前から最悪の事態を想定して詠唱は開始していたので、恐らく間に合うはず......!
というか間に合ってくれ、間に合わないとここで俺達の大会は終わる!
ユーミルが焦った様子で叫ぶ。
「ハインドォ!」
「急所判定のある頭を腕で覆って、一歩も動くな! 矢はランダムにばらけるから、動いた方が却って危険だ!」
「他に手は無いのかっ!?」
「無い! 祈れ!」
杖に取り付けられた宝石が輝きを増す。
ミツヨシさんが引き絞った赤い矢を天上に放つと――数え切れないほどの矢が直上から降り注いでくる。
そして最初の矢が着弾する寸前、杖の光が弾け、地面に落ちた。
「ぬああああああっ!!」
「あだだだだだだっ!? いってええええ!」
視界が明滅する。
矢のエフェクトは激しく、ドスドスという効果音は耳鳴りがするほど途切れなく耳朶を叩いてくる。
何度受けても慣れねえ!
こちらを応援してくれていた観客の何人かが顔を覆っているのが視界の端に入るが、それも無理からぬことだ。
基本的に今のバランスだと、装備の整った重戦士以外の職はアローレインを受けたら戦闘不能になるのが普通である。
――だが、俺達はまだ死んでいなかった。
どうにか間に合ってくれたか......。
足元からは柔らかな白い癒しの光が、アローレインとは逆に上に向かって煌々と放たれている。
この『エリアヒール』の光が、今の俺達の命を辛うじて繋ぎ止めてくれている。
発動タイミングがギリギリなら消費MPも本当にギリギリだった。
回復とダメージによって激しくHPが上下しているが、どうにか回復量が上回っているらしい。
瀕死状態を表す赤いHP表示がチラチラ見える度に、寿命が縮む思いではあるのだが。
「――――、――――! ――――――!!」
そして俺はアローレインが終わるまでの数秒の間に、ユーミルに向かって早口で指示を出しておく。
矢の効果音が騒がしく内容が正しく伝わったか不明だが、ユーミルは戦意に燃える瞳でしっかりと頷いた。
そして『エリアヒール』の効果時間を僅かに残したまま、『アローレイン』が先に終了する。
次の瞬間――
「やはりかっ!」
ユーミルが飛来した矢をガントレットで弾き飛ばす。
この『エリアヒール』は計算外だったはずだが、それでもミツヨシさんは動揺を見せずに追撃を放ってきた。
さすがに落ち着いている。
だがそのコンビであるトビは『アローレイン』で俺達が生き残ったことに唖然としている。
その隙、悪いが見逃せない。
「走れっ!」
「――おおおおおおっ!」
『エリアヒール』が切れた直後、ユーミルがオーラをスパークさせながら走る。
今の『アローレイン』による被弾でユーミルのMPは全快、『エリアヒール』による回復でHPは六割。
そしてそのまま二人の元に辿り着くと、トビではなく――ミツヨシさんに向かって、ユーミルは『スラッシュ』を放った。
惜しくも躱されるが、表情を歪ませて大きくバックステップを踏んだミツヨシさんをそのまま追い立てていく。
それに慌ててフォローに入ろうとするトビの横っ面を、ユーミルに続いて肉薄した俺は杖で思い切り殴りつけた。
「――っ!?」
細身の体が横転するが、転がった勢いを利用して舞台上に手を着いて立ち上がる。
まるで曲芸師だな......。
だが、俺はそのまま走られないようにしっかりと進路を塞いで杖を構えた。
「さあ、構えろトビ。俺が相手だ」
「は、ハインド殿っ......!」
まだ動揺を残しつつも、トビはフォローに走るのを諦めて二刀を構え直した。
前衛神官を除く神官の物理攻撃力は低い。
ランク的には魔導士に次いで下から二番目の値だ。とても実戦で使えたもんじゃない。
しかし同じ様に、軽戦士の物理防御は前衛職の中ではワースト。
なんと後衛である弓術士に毛が生えた程度の耐久力しかない。
故に、俺の杖による攻撃でも確実にダメージが通る。
ただし当たれば、の話ではあるが。
「くっ! 何故、何故躱し切れんのでござるか!? こちらの攻撃は当たらないのに!」
「分からないのか?」
俺はフルだったトビのHPを六割まで減らしていた。
別に特殊なスキルを使ったわけでも、突然俺の反応速度が覚醒したわけでもなんでも無い。
これは......
「あいたぁっ! 脛! すねぇ!」
「これは......単なる先読みだ!」
だからこの場面では、そこまで優秀な運動神経は必要ない。
次にどう動くかが分かっていれば、トビがどれだけ速く動こうが瞬間的な反応に任せずに充分に付いて行くことが可能だ。
後ろから見ていたトビの癖、スキルの選択、回避方向に攻防切り替えのタイミング......それらを思い出しながら杖を振り回す。
右は牽制、直後に左から掬い上げるように斬り上げ、その二刀を躱しつつ僅かな隙に杖で抉り込むように突く!
「ぬあっ!? ――てか、そういえば剣道の授業で一回も勝てなかったのを忘れてたぁっ! VRゲームなんだから気付けよ俺ぇ!」
「今頃思い出しても遅いわ、たわけが!」
相手が良く知っているトビだからこそ取れる戦法だ。
そうでなければ、俺はとっくに戦闘不能になっているだろう。
「......くぅ、ならば仕方なし! 最後の勝負に出るでござるよ!」
体が光り、トビのHPが一気に目減りする。
同時に体が二つに別れ、その片方がミツヨシさんを追い詰めつつあるユーミルへ向かって行く。
「馬鹿野郎が......」
俺は勝利を確信しつつも、トビの行動に一抹の寂しさのようなものを覚えた。
これでは、自分から負けに行っているようなものだ。
そしてあいつがこんな死んだ目をして戦っていたことは一度もないので、どれだけ上手く動かそうと目の前に残して行った「コレ」が偽物であることが丸分かりだ。
俺は攻撃を躱して杖で分身体の腹部を殴りつけると、あっさりと霧散させた。
それを見届けたトビは悔しそうにこちらをちらりと見たが、頭を振って全力疾走に移行。
「そっちに行ったぞ、ユーミル!」
直後に本体はユーミルに追いついたが、俺が叫んだことで奇襲は失敗。
振り向いたユーミルの剣と走り込んで斬りつけたトビの刀が火花を散らす。
「ぬおっ!? 邪魔をするな、トビ!」
「ミツヨシ殿はやらせんでござるよ! まだだ、まだ負けぬっ!」
「トビ君、何故来た!? 戻れ、こっちはいい!」
俺の残りHPは四割、後衛は被弾・攻撃命中でMPを得られず自然回復しか作用しなかったので、現在のMPもカツカツ。
トビとの対峙では幸運にも一度も被弾しなかったが、これは冷や汗を掻きながら必死に足止めをしていた結果に過ぎない。
それほどに神官は殴り合いに不向きだ。
仮にもっとしつこくトビが攻めてくれば、もしくはスキルを絡めて積極的に潰しにきたら......俺は対応出来ずに簡単に崩れた可能性もあったのだろう。
一番可能性があったのは、分身を含めた左右からの同時攻撃だろうか?
そういった飽和攻撃をされたら、俺の場合は間違いなく慌てる自信がある。
しかし、焦ってそうなるよう仕向けたとはいえトビの判断ミスは致命的だった。
俺を無視して最初から合流を狙うか、逃げるミツヨシさんを信じてなるべく早く俺を倒すか......どちらかに徹するべきだったと思う。
中途半端なことをして自分と味方のHPを無駄に減らしたトビに、もう勝ち目はない。
ノーマークになった俺は必要分だけMPをチャージし、ユーミルに『ヒーリング・プラス』を発動。
「おおっ、HPが! よおおおし、これで終わりだぁ!」
「はっ、やっぱ本体の方......あの時ハインド君を倒し切れなかった時点で、俺達は――がはっ!」
「し、しまった! ミツヨシ殿ぉ!」
HPに余裕ができたユーミルがトビを強引に突破、ミツヨシさんに『ヘビースラッシュ』で止めを刺した。
良く持ちこたえたとは思うが、接近戦で弓術士が騎士に勝てる要素は何一つ無い。
観客が沸き、トビの二刀が力無く舞台の上に取り落とされた。
I don't have any other options than this one at this point!
When Tobi started retreating I had already assumed the worst and started casting the spell, so I should probably make it in time...!
Or rather, please let me make it in time, if I don't, it'll be over for us!
Yumir started shouting while flustered.
[Hind!]  (Yumir)
[Cover your head that is treated as a vital part of the body with your arms, then don't take a single step! The arrows will rain down randomly, so it's more dangerous if you move!]  (Hind)
[Isn't there any other option!?]  (Yumir)
[None! Pray!]  (Hind)
The gem on the staff increased in brightness.
When the crimson arrow that Mitsuyoshi-san nocked reached the heavens...countless arrows rained down on us.
Then, just before the first arrow hit, the light from the staff was released and dropped towards the ground.
[Nuaaaaaaaaaah!!]  (Yumir)
[Adadadada!!? It huuuuuuuuuurts!!]  (Hind)
My vision kept flickering.
The arrow effects were relentless and the sound effects buzzed incessantly in my earlobes.
I can't get used to this no matter how many times I've taken it!
A few people from the audience that were cheering for us covering their faces entered my field of view, but that's understandable.
With the current game balance, other than a heavy warrior with good equipment would usually get incapacitated by Arrow Rain.
...However, we still hadn't died.
Seems like I made it somehow...
From under our feet, a soft white light was being released upwards, in the opposite direction of the Arrow Rain.
This light that came from {Area Heal}  had made it so that we narrowly escaped death right now.
If I were to say that the timing in which I released was barely in time, the amount of MP needed to release it was also barely enough.
When it comes to the damage and healing, our HP had kept going up and down repeatedly, but it seems like the amount of HP healed was higher.
Though each time my HP turned red which meant that I was barely alive, I lost a couple years of my life span.
[--------, --------! ------------!!] 
Then, in the few seconds until Arrow Rain was over, I quickly gave Yumir some instructions.
I'm not sure if she got what I told her right with all the sound effects of the arrows, but Yumir's eyes were filled with fighting spirit and she nodded.
Just when there were only a few moments left on {Area Heal} , {Arrow Rain}  ended up finishing first.
The next moment-
[I saw it coming!]  (Yumir)
Yumir sent the incoming arrow flying with her gauntlet.
This {Area Heal}  shouldn't have been within their calculations, but Mitsuyoshi-san nocked another arrow without showing signs of agitation.
As expected, he's calm.
However, within their duo, Tobi who saw us survive the {Arrow Rain}  was left speechless.
Sorry but...I don't plan to let this chance get away.
[Run!]  (Hind)
[Oooooooooooooh!!]  (Yumir)
The moment after {Area Heal}  was gone, Yumir started running while releasing sparks from her aura.
After being bombarded by {Arrow Rain} , Yumir's MP was now full and her HP was recovered to around 60% due to {Area Heal} .
The moment she reached the place they were at, it wasn't Tobi...but Mitsuyoshi-san who she released a {Slash}  at.
Unfortunately he dodged it, but having his expression warped, Mitsuyoshi-san took a big back step and she followed after him.
I had followed after Yumir and hit Tobi, who tried to follow up in a panic, with all my strength on the side of his face with my staff.
[-Kh!?]  (Tobi)
His slender body fell over sideways, using the momentum created by him rolling over, he placed a hand on top of the stage and stood up.
He's like an acrobat...
However, I kept blocking his path and wielded my staff.
[Well then, take up your weapons Tobi. I'm your opponent.]  (Hind)
[H-Hind-dono...!]  (Tobi)
Even though he was still agitated, Tobi gave up on providing assistance to Mitsuyoshi-san and took up his dual blades.
The physical attack of Shinto priests other than the vanguard type is low.
In terms of rankings, they are second from below right after mages. Realistically speaking, it's not something you'd make use of.
However, at the same time, among the vanguards' physical defense, light warriors are the worst.
Their endurance is just slightly above that of archers which are rear guards.
Therefore, I can deal some damage even with attacks from my staff.
However, that's if I manage to land a hit.
[Kuh! Why, why am I unable to dodge!? Even though my attacks are not finding their mark!?]  (Tobi)
[You don't get it?]  (Hind)
I took down Tobi's HP, which was full to around 60%
It's not like I used a special skill and it's not like I actually awakened to some godly reaction speeds either.
This is...
[Ouch! My lower leg! My lower leg!!]  (Tobi)
[This...is just reading your opponent!]  (Hind)
That's why in this scenario, there's no need for superior reflexes.
If you know how your opponent is going to move next, no matter how fast Tobi is going to move, there's no need for instant reactions and it's possible to keep up with him.
The habits I saw Tobi have from behind, his choice of skills, the direction he dodges, the timing at which he switches from offense to defense...I wielded my staff while remembering those things.
The right one is a feint, immediately after that, he'll go for the kill with his left, while dodging those dual blades, I thrust my staff through a small gap!
[Nuah!? Wait, now that I think about it, I never managed to win against you during Kendo lessons! Why didn't I remember that since we are inside a VR game!]  (Tobi)
[It's too late even if you remember that now, you idiot!]  (Hind)
This is a strategy that only works because my opponent is Tobi, someone I know really well.
If that wasn't the case, I would have become incapacitated already.
[...Kuh, I have no other choice in that case! I'll make this the last bout!]  (Tobi)
His body started shining and Tobi's HP decreased in an instant.
At the same time it split into two, one of them headed towards Yumir, who was chasing Mitsuyoshi-san.
[That idiot...]  (Hind)
While confirming that this was our victory, I felt a tinge of loneliness because of Tobi's actions.
This is like going towards his own defeat.
Besides, this is the first time I've seen him fight with eyes so devoid of life, no matter how well he controls it, I know without a doubt that the [Thing]  in front of me, is nothing more than a fake.
While dodging its attack, I hit the body with my staff and it vanished easily.
Once he saw that happen, Tobi took a glance bitterly, shook his head and switched to running with all his might.
[He went your way, Yumir!]  (Hind)
Immediately after, the main body went after Yumir, but since I called it out, the surprise attack ended up in failure.
Yumir's sword, who turned around, and Tobi's blade clashed and sparks scattered.
[Nuoh!? Don't get in my way, Tobi!]  (Yumir)
[I won't let you defeat Mitsuyoshi-dono! Not yet, it's not over yet!]  (Tobi)
[Tobi-kun, why did you come!? Go back, I'm fine over here!]  (Mitsuyoshi)
I have around 40% HP remaining and since rear guards don't obtain MP while being attacked I didn't have any other choice but to regenerate it naturally, so my current MP was really low.
Luckily, I didn't get hit by Tobi even once, but that was the result of frantically dodging while cold sweat ran down my body.
That's just how much of a disadvantage Shinto priests have in a direct confrontation.
If Tobi had attacked me more persistently or I somehow ended up getting hit by a skill...there's the possibility that I would have been unable to deal with it and end up getting defeated.
The best chance might have been if he had attacked along with the copy from both sides at the same time?
If I were to be attacked like that, I can say with confidence that I'd had ended up flustered.
However, even if it didn't end up like that because he became flustered, Tobi's error of judgement proved to be fatal.
Whether to ignore me from the beginning and join up with his partner or believe in Mitsuyoshi-san and try to defeat me as soon as possible...I believe that he should have focused on any of those.
Doing things half bakedly and having his and his partner's HP decrease for nothing meant that there was no way for Tobi to win anymore.
No longer being targeted, I charged up just the minimum amount of MP needed and cast {Healing*Plus}  on Yumir.
[Ohh, my HP! Alriiiiight! This is the end!]  (Yumir)
[Ah, as I though, we should have aimed for the [True Self] ...since that point where we failed to kill Hind-kun, we were already...gahah!]  (Mitsuyoshi)
[D-Damn it! Mitsuyoshi-dono!!]  (Tobi)
Having replenished plenty of her HP, Yumir forcefully broke through Tobi and finished up Mitsuyoshi-san with a {Heavy Slash} .
I think he did well to last that long, but there is no way for an archer to win against a knight in close combat.
The audience heated up and Tobi's dual blades fell powerlessly from the stage.
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