第四十五話 作戦会議
「今の状態でここの〈夢の主〉と戦うなんて無茶だ! ナイトボーンは【Lv:70】だぞ! 戦うのは無謀だ! 合流が絶望的なら、逃げるしか......!」
そこまで言って、ケルトは表情を歪めた。
気が付いたようだ。
「......逃げられないんだよ。地図の道筋が不規則な上に、間違ったルートが記載されているせいでな。来たときの回り道だらけのルートで、なんて悠長なことをやっていたら絶対に追い付かれる。おまけに〈
これも黒幕が仕組んだことだとすれば、なんと準備のいいことか。
「ぐっ! ギルドめ......生きて戻ったら、たっぷり報酬金をせしめてやるからな!」
ケルトが頭を抱えた。
「もう一つ懸念点がある。ケルトが聞いたのは速い足音だと言ったが、ナイトボーンの移動速度はそこまで速くないはずだ。攻撃力が売りの、巨大骸骨だからな」
「あ......? た、確かに、俺の聞いた足音じゃ、まるで四足獣みてぇだ。しかし、じゃあこれは、なんだって......」
「恐らくナイトボーンは存在進化している。こうなると、俺にも敵の情報はわからん」
「はぁっ!?」
ケルトが悲鳴とも驚きともつかぬ声を上げた。
デスアームドのときと同じだ。
存在進化はさせないのが最適解なのだ。
「た、ただでさえ【Lv:70】の〈夢の主〉が存在進化なんて起こしてたら、とてもじゃないけどウチらのどうにかできる相手じゃないんよ!」
......恐らく【Lv:85】になっているはずだ。
俺でようやく【Lv:66】だ。
普通に考えればどうにかなる相手ではない。
だが、俺には〈不惜身命〉と〈死線の暴竜〉がある。
「幸いにもケルトのお陰で、早期に奴の存在を知ることができた。俺とルーチェの手の内を全て明かす。だから、ケルトとメアベルも〈ステータス〉を開示してくれ。その上で作戦を立てて〈夢の主〉との戦いを指揮させてくれ」
ルーチェへ目で合図を送る。
ルーチェはこくりと頷いてくれた。
「なっ......! 冒険者にとって〈ステータス〉は生命線だぞ! 何がどこまでできて、何ができねぇのか、それが詳細に筒抜けになったら、パーティーなんざまともに組めなくなっちまう! いいようにこき使われて終わりだ! パーティーメンバーは仲良しごっこであって、仲間じゃねぇんだよ! んなもん、ラコリナじゃ常識......!」
中途半端な情報共有はむしろ誤解を生みかねない。
それにデスペナルティが死そのものであるため、負けるかもしれない戦いへ挑むというのがそもそもタブーなのだ。
綺麗ごとが通用しない。
最悪の場面が訪れれば、自分一人でも必ず生き残ることが優先される。
「そ、そもそも、勝てるわけがない! パッチワークとは次元が違うぞ! ダメージだって絶対にまともに与えられねぇ!」
「俺にダメージを与えられるスキルがある。隙さえ作ってくれれば、俺が必ず〈夢の主〉を倒してみせる」
重騎士は遥かに格上相手にも大ダメージを与えることができる。
だからこそ〈マジックワールド〉最強のクラスだといわれていたのだから。
「それに、ケルト。お前は借りを返すためだとは言っていたが、それでも命懸けでルーチェを庇ってくれたんだ。俺はお前を仲間だと思っていたが、俺の思い上がりか?」
「......チッ、とんだ甘ちゃんだな。だが......わかったよ。お前の甘さと......そんで強さに関しては、信じてやってもいい。腹括るぜ、エルマ、お前の指揮に従ってやる」
ついにケルトが折れてくれた。
「ウチは当然、ケルトの馬鹿みたいに駄々捏ねるつもりはないんよ!」
メアベルの了承もあり、全員の〈ステータス〉を見せ合い、情報共有を行った。
互いの戦い方、使い方についても簡単に説明し合う。
「スキルでHPをコントロールして、攻撃力実質六倍って......滅茶苦茶だな。んなスキル構成、初めて聞いたぜ」
「幸運系統のスキルツリーの存在は知ってたけど、そこまで活かしてるのは初めて聞いたんよ......。そっちにポイントを割いたら、攻撃方面が弱くなって、結局まともにレベルを上げられないから伸びしろがなくなるっていうのは聞いたことあるけど」
俺とルーチェの所有スキルを聞いて、二人共驚いているようだった。
「有名な落とし穴なんですね......アタシ、見事に一回陥り掛けてました」
ルーチェがぺろりと舌を出す。
「それで......エルマ、勝てる見込みはありそうなのかよ?」
俺は〈ステータス〉を開いた。
[残りスキルポイント:16]
〈重鎧の誓い〉[34/100]
〈燻り狂う牙〉[15/70]
ケルトとメアベルの〈ステータス〉を確認したところで、取得するべきスキルが決まったのだ。
[残りスキルポイント:9]
〈重鎧の誓い〉[41/100]【+7】
【〈重鎧の誓い〉が[41/100]になったため、通常スキル〈プロテクト〉を取得しました。】
〈プロテクト〉【通常スキル】
対象に一定時間の間、次のダメージを30%減少させるバリアを生じさせる。
一定時間と記載されているスキルの効果持続は基本的に三分間であり、このスキルも例外ではない。
頼り甲斐があるようで、発動時に隙を晒す上にMPも消耗し、おまけに気が付いたら切れているため、考えなしに使っても足を引っ張られることの方が多い。
ただ、格上の攻撃を一撃凌げるようになるのは大きい。
そうした面ではこのスキルも〈燻り狂う牙〉と相性がいい。
様子見を安全に熟したり、〈死線の暴竜〉の発動条件を整えるのに活用することができる。
「先にHP回復させておいてあげたいけど、残りMP的に全員は厳しいんよ。エルマさん、ルーチェさんの二人に一回ずつ掛けておこうと思うんよ」
「いや、俺はむしろ、今のHPが丁度いい。ルーチェと......それから、ケルトを〈ヒール〉してやってくれ」
「お、俺を......?」
ケルトが訝し気に俺を見た。
この戦い、ケルトにかなり前に出て戦ってもらう必要がある。
Volume 2 - Ch 45
"It would be absurd to expect us to fight the Dream Lord in this situation! The Knight Bone is [(Lv:70)] ! Fighting it would be too reckless! If we can't meet up with others, then all we can do is run away....!"
After saying that, Celt's expression twisted.
It seems he realized it too.
"....we can't run away. Not only is the map frequently inaccurate, but even the marked route is unfit for us right now. If we keep to that easygoing route with a bunch of detours, then it will be able to catch up to us for sure. Also, a Wandering Lord is able to track the mana of humans and go after them. And since it's getting closer, that means it has its eyes on us already."
If this is also something that the culprit managed to set up, then they really prepared well.
"Guh! That damn Guild....if I live through this, then I will squeeze as much reward money out of them as I can!"
Celt was holding his head.
"There is another concerning point. Celt said that he heard fast footsteps coming closer, but the Knight Bone should not be that fast. It's a giant skeleton with high attack power as its advantage."
"Ah....? N-now that you mention it, the footsteps I heard seemed like it belonged to some kind of four legged monster. But then, just what...."
"The Knight Bone most likely underwent an Evolution. That means that even I don't know what we could be up against."
"Haah!?"
Celt let out a strange amalgam of a scream and a sound of surprise.
It's the same that happened with the Death Armed.
The best course of action is to avoid Evolutions.
"I-If a Dream Lord that was already [(Lv:70)]  to begin with underwent an Evolution, then it's impossible for us to do something about it!"
....it should be around [(Lv:85)]  at this point.
I just finally became [(Lv:66)] .
Normally, it's not an opponent we could take on.
However, I have [Relentless Vigor] and [Half-Dead Savage Dragon].
"Thankfully, thanks to Celt, we were informed of its existence beforehand. I will tell you two about everything Luce and I can do. I hope you can do the same and reveal your Status to us. After that, let me think up a strategy with that in mind to take down the Dream Lord with my guidance."
I signal Luce with a glance.
Luce nodded back in confirmation.
"Wha-....! For an adventurer, their Status is their lifeline! If the details on everything you can and can't do gets leaked, then you won't be able to find a proper party anymore! They will just order you around as they please and you won't be able to do anything about it! A party is just playing at getting along and not a true team! That's common sense in La Colina.....!"
Any half-hearted information sharing could backfire instead by leading to misunderstandings.
And since the Death Penalty is death itself, it's a pretty big taboo to attempt a fight where you might lose.
There is no sugarcoating it.
When the worst comes to worst, everyone's first priority is for themselves to escape, even if they are the only ones that do.
"W-we can't win against something like that! It's on an entirely different level from a Patchwork! We won't even be able to put a scratch on it by ourselves!"
"I have a Skill that can deal damage to it. If you manage to create an opening for me, then I will be able to take down the Dream Lord for sure."
Heavy Knights can deal damage to opponents on a much higher level than themselves.
That's the reason why it was called the strongest Class in Magic World.
"Also, Celt. You said it was to return a favor, but you covered for Luce at the risk of your life. I already thought of you as a true teammate; was I wrong in that?"
"....tsk, what a naive brat. But....I understand. I can put my faith in that naivety.... and that strength of yours. I will resolve myself and listen to your orders, Elma."
Celt gave in finally.
"I will do the same of course, without throwing a stupid tantrum like Celt even!"
With Mabel's consent also in the bag, everyone showed our Statuses to each other and shared our information.
We also talked about our fighting styles and in which situations we would be the most useful for a short while.
"Being able to increase your Attack to six times its original value by adjusting your HP with a Skill.... that's simply absurd. This is the first time I've heard about a Skill composition like this."
"I knew about the existence of a Luck focused Skill Tree, but this is the first I've heard of someone making use of it to this extent.... Although what I did hear about it was that if you put too many points into its Luck aspect, then your attack power will inevitably suffer, which will make it all but impossible to raise your levels."
The two of them were apparently surprised by what Skills we had.
"So it's a fairly well known pitfall....I also almost fell victim to it before."
Luce stuck out her tongue.
"Then.....Elma, do you think we have a chance?"
I opened my Status.
[Remaining Skill points: 16]
<Vow of the Heavy Armor> [34/100]
<Smoldering Fang of Madness> [15/70]
After I managed to confirm the Statuses of Celt and Mabel, I was able to decide what Skill to get next.
[Remaining Skill points: 9]
<Vow of the Heavy Armor> [41/100][(+7)] 
[(With [Vow of the Heavy Armor] reaching [41/100], you have gained the Normal Skill [Protect].)] 
<Protect> [(Normal Skill)] 
It deploys a barrier that stays on the target for a certain period of time that will decrease the damage dealt by the next attack by 30%.
The exact time usually denoted by 'certain period of time' was generally three minutes when referring to how long a Skill effect persists, and this Skill was not an exception to that either.
Although it can be useful, it creates an opening when used and also takes up some MP, and since its effect can run out before you know it, it tends to create more problems than it solves if it's used without serious thought.
However, its ability to cut down the damage of an attack made by a higher leveled enemy to the point where you can survive a hit is very important.
From that point of view, it has good synergy with [Smoldering Fang of Madness] too.
It can allow you to safely gather information on the target, or you can use it to fulfill the activation conditions for the [Half-Dead Savage Dragon].
"I would like to heal everyone up first, but with my remaining MP it would be tricky. I was thinking of using one heal each on Luce-san and Elma-san."
"Nah, my HP is better like this. Please [Heal] Luce and....Celt for now."
"M-me.....?"
Celt looked at me doubtfully.
During this fight Celt will need to be in the front quite a bit.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
猫子