彼女達のやりたいこと
国境砦の様子は、俺達が過去に訪れた時とは様子が違っていた。
かつては行き交う人はほとんど誰もおらず、閑散としていたはずの往来。
今ではそこに、なんとそれなりの数のプレイヤー達が存在している。
「千客万来! ......とまではいかないが、以前よりも遥かに賑やかになっているな! 結構結構!」
「砦の兵士も増員されている気がする。で、肝心のリコリスちゃん達はどこだ......?」
降りた馬の手綱を引きながら、サーラ側の砦出入り口付近で三人を探して歩き回る。
しつこいようだがグラドタークはサイズが大きいので、非常に目立つ。
話しかけてくるプレイヤーこそ居ないが、俺達が連れている馬を二度見した後、こちらを見て納得したように通り過ぎていく......という姿がチラホラ。
なので、出来ればあちらの方からこっちを見つけてくれると楽なんだが。
暫く歩いた後、埒が明かずにマップで位置を確認するためにメニュー画面を開こうとすると――
「あ、ユーミルさん! ハインド先輩!」
元気の良い声が周囲に響き、リコリスちゃんが手を振りながら跳ねるようにして駆け寄ってくる。
その後に続いてサイネリアちゃんが綺麗な姿勢で、シエスタちゃんが背中を丸めてだらっと歩いてきた。
「こんばんは。今日は宜しくお願いします」
「先輩方、こんばんちゃー......目立ちますねぇ、その馬。みんな見てますよ」
良かった、スムーズに合流出来た。
シエスタちゃんの言う通り目立つ上に往来の邪魔なので、挨拶もそこそこに取り敢えず人気の少ない場所まで移動した。
国境砦の少し先、モンスターが出ない安全エリアの端っこ。
まだ俺達は彼女達がサーラに行きたいということしか聞いていないので、まずは具体的な目的地に関してユーミルが質問をする。
「それでお前達、サーラのどこに行きたいのだ?」
「もちろん王都のワーハです! というよりも、ギルド“渡り鳥”さんの近くに私達のホームを作りたいなぁって!」
「俺達のギルドの近くに?」
「あわよくば先輩達に寄生――もとい、私達三人に色々と教えてくれたら
「シー、全然本音を隠せてないよ......。あの、この子はこんなですけどリコの方は嘘偽りなく純粋な憧れですので! どうかお願いします!」
サイネリアちゃんがそう締めくくった。
リコリスちゃん、本当にユーミルのことが好きだなぁ。
その憧れの視線を向けられている側であるユーミルは、思案顔でこう言った。
「それは、お前達三人が私達のギルドに入るのではダメなのか?」
その言葉にリコリスちゃんが一瞬目を輝かせるが、直ぐにシュンとした顔になる。
どうしたのだろう? と俺達が疑問に思っていると......。
「その、お誘いは飛び上がるほど嬉しいのですけど、活動時間がですね......」
「今夜は週末なので時間に余裕がありますけど、私達の主なログイン時間は平日だと午後七時前後ですから......」
「加入したとしても、お手伝い出来なくてギルドに貢献出来ないのは心苦しいのだそうですぜー、この二人は。先輩達なら心が広いから、大丈夫だと思うって言ったのになぁ」
「確かにギルドへの貢献度なんて俺達は気にしないけど、シエスタちゃんがそれを言うのはおかしくないかね?」
そういうことなら無理に誘う必要もあるまい。
俺とユーミルは顔を見合わせると頷きあった。
ただ、俺の方からは彼女達に一つ提案が。
「それなら、君達でギルドを作って渡り鳥と同盟を組まないか? その形であれば、時間の合う時だけ交流すればいいだろうし」
「おお、それは良い! それは良い提案だぞハインド!」
ギルド同盟というのは、読んで字のごとく必要に応じて協力体制を取るギルド間の横の繋がりのことだ。
生産系ギルドと戦闘系ギルドが役割を分担してゲームを攻略したり、大型イベントの際に二つ以上のギルドから人数を募ったり......用途は様々だ。
ゲーム的には同盟を組んでいることで双方のギルドホームの施設を利用出来たり、戦闘や生産を行うことで蓄積されるギルドの経験値にボーナスがついたりする。
それを聞いたリコリスちゃん達は、俺からの突然の提案に驚いたような顔をしている。
その後「三人で相談して良いですか?」と訊いてきたので構わないと言うと、俺達から少し離れた場所で小さく円を作ってしゃがみ込んだ。
「悪い、ユーミル。越権行為だったな? ギルマスのお前を差し置いて言うことじゃなかったかも」
「私は一向に構わんっ! お前の言葉は私の言葉だ!」
「過剰な信頼に恐怖すら覚えるんだが......まあ、お前が良いって言うんならいいや」
この子達ならセレーネさんとも大会を通じて打ち解けつつあったし、ギルドを自由に出入りしても問題ないだろう。
恐らく他の三人も反対しないはず......と思うんだけど、今になってちょっと先走り過ぎている気がしてきた。
俺とユーミルの二人だけでこういう大事なことを決めてしまうのは、他のメンバーに対して余りにも不義理だろう。
なので急いでメールで連絡をすると、即座に三人とも肯定的な返事を寄越してきた。
他のメンバーが嫌って言うんでやっぱりなしで! とは今更言えないし、これにはホッと一安心。
次からは重々気を付けることにしよう......。
ともあれ、全員の了承は取り付けたので後は目の前のこの子達次第。
暫くしてから三人は立ち上がると、代表してリコリスちゃんがペコリと頭を下げてこう言った。
「結論、出しました! ――是非ともよろしくお願いします! 私達がこれから作るギルドと、同盟を組んで下さい!」
「よろしくお願いします!」
「うむ、承知した! こちらこそよろしくだ!」
「よろしく、三人とも」
同盟の約束をしたところで、これからいよいよワーハに向けて出発だ。
彼女達もPvP大会予選には出場していたので、レベルは40付近で問題なし。
王都に向けてサクサク進むべく、グラドタークに分乗することになったわけだが......。
「先輩。当ててんのよー、とかの定番のセリフは言った方が良いですか?」
「言わなくて良いです......」
気が付くと何一つ揉めることなく、自然とこの組み合わせで乗ることに決まっていた。
あちらはユーミルとリコリスちゃん、サイネリアちゃんの三人乗り。
そしてこちらはシエスタちゃんと俺の二人乗りだ。
グラドタークに跨った俺の背には、不必要なほどがっしりとシエスタちゃんが密着している。
更には大会に引き続き、二度目となる例の凶悪な感触に思わず体が硬直する。
珍しくユーミルが無言でこちらを睨んでいるように見えるのは、俺の気のせいだろうか?
......このままじゃ不味いと、俺の本能が告げている。
「あのさ、シエスタちゃん俺の前側に来ない? 手綱は俺が握るけど、背もそんなに高くないんだし視界の妨げにはならないと思うんだけど」
「なるほど......先輩はお尻の方がお好みで? それとも髪......まさかうなじとか背中だったりします?」
「何がなるほどなのかな? 俺達今、ちゃんと同じ言語で喋っているよね? 段々と自信が無くなってきたよ......」
どうにかシエスタちゃんを説得し、俺の前に座らせることに成功。
動き出した直後は馬上の視点の高さに感心してキョロキョロしていたが、やがて飽きたのか俺に完全に背を預けて脱力。
後は任せたと言わんばかりにスースーと寝息を立て始めた。
「眠るの早いなぁ......」
シエスタちゃんの髪からはお菓子のような甘い香りがした。
Chapter 97 - What They Want To Do
The situation at the national border was different from when we passed by in the past.
Back then, it was pretty much deserted and hardly anyone passed through it.
Right now, there were quite a few players there.
["Business is booming!" ...I can't really say that, though there's far more people than before! Not bad, not bad!] (Yumir)
[I get the feeling that the number of soldiers has increased too. So, where are Lycoris-chan and the rest...?] (Hind)
We descended from our horses and took them by their reins and then we searched for the three of them on the Sala side of the border.
I know I'm repeating myself too much at this point but...the Grado Turk's size is huge, they really stand out.
It's not like players talked to us, but they did a double take once they saw the horses we brought with us and after looking at us...every now and then they would acknowledge us while passing through.
That being the case, it would be easier if they were able to find us instead.
After walking for a bit, just when we arrived at the gate, and I was about to check on their position on the map menu...
[Ah, Yumir-san! Hind-senpai!] (Lycoris)
A cheerful voice reverberated in the surroundings and Lycoris rushed over as if she was jumping around while waving her hand.
Following her were Cineraria with her beautiful posture and Sieta-chan who walked with her back hunched over.
[Good evening, we are counting on you today!] (Cineraria)
[Good evening senpa-...they sure stand out, those horses. Everyone is checking them out.] (Siesta)
I'm glad we were able to smoothly meet up.
Like Siesta-chan said, on top of them standing out, the people there were also in the way so after exchanging simple greetings we decided to move somewhere with less people.
Slightly ahead of the national border, in a safe area where there were no monsters.
We only knew about the fact that they wanted to go to Sala, so since we didn't know what their actual destination was, Yumir decided to ask them.
[So, which part of Sala do you want to go to?] (Yumir)
[Obviously the Royal Capital Waaha! Furthermore, we want to make our home close to the guild "Migratory Bird"!] (Lycoris)
[Close to our guild?] (Yumir)
[Or you could say that we want to become parasi-...eh, rather, it would be eas-...I mean, it would make us happy if you could teach us lots of things.] (Siesta)
Eh, this girl might be like this but Lyco's intentions are pure! So, Please!] (Cineraria)
Cineraria-chan finished it off with that.
Lycoris-chan sure loves Yumir.
While she was looking at Yumir with those eyes of admiration, Yumir said this pensively.
[So, this means that it would be impossible for you three to join our guild?] (Yumir)
Hearing that, Lycoris-chan's eyes sparkled for a split second but she immediately hanged her head.
I wonder what happened? Just as I was thinking that...
[You see, your invitation makes me so happy that I'd jump from joy but the time we can play at...] (Lycoris)
[Today is a weekend day so we have plenty of time to play this evening, but on weekdays we would only be able to log in at around 7pm or thereabouts so...] (Cineraria)
[Even if we joined, these two would feel bad if they couldn't help out and contribute to the guild. Even though I told them that senpai and the rest were kind and wouldn't mind it.] (Siesta)
[It's true that we wouldn't really care about their contributions to the guild, but isn't it a bit weird for Siesta-chan to say it?] (Hind)
If that's the case, there's no point in forcing them to join.
Yumir and I exchanged looks and nodded.
However, I had a proposition for them.
[In that case, how about you make a guild and form an alliance with Migratory Bird? If we did it like that, it would be fine if we interacted with each other when our times matched.] (Hind)
[Ooh, that's nice! That's a good suggestion, Hind!] (Yumir)
A guild alliance, as the name suggests, is where guilds form a relationship where they support each other when necessary.
For example, dividing yourselves in production guilds and fighting guilds to progress in the game, or something like taking members from two or more guilds to tackle large scale events...there are various ways to go about it.
In the game, if you form an alliance, it's possible to use both Guild Home's facilities, there's also an experience bonus for crafting and fighting.
Once they heard my explanation, they made really surprised faces due to my unexpected suggestion.
Right after, they said [Would it be OK for us to consult each other?] , and when I told them that I didn't mind, they went to a spot a bit further away and squatted down making a small circle.
[My bad, Yumir. Did I exceed my authority there? It might have appeared as if I was disregarding our guild master, which is you.] (Hind)
[I don't mind it at all! Your words are my words!] (Yumir)
[I can't but feel dread at the amount of trust you place in me...oh well, it's fine if you are OK with it.] (Hind)
If it's these girls, Selene-san should be able to open up even in meetings, there probably won't be any issues if they visit the guild regularly.
The other three probably won't oppose the idea...is what I think, but it might have been a bit impertinent on my part.
For Yumir and I to make such a big decision by ourselves, I feel as if it's too unfair to the other guild members.
That being the case, I quickly sent an email to them and they gave their confirmations right away.
Seems like no one is against the idea! It's not like I can go and just say that at this point, though I'm glad.
Next time, let's ask them what they think first...
Anyhow, since everyone else agreed, it all depends on the girls in front of me.
After a while, they stood up, Lycoris-chan acted as a representative and bowed her head to us.
[We arrived at a decision! ...We'll take on your offer! Please enter an alliance with the guild we are going to make!] (Lycoris)
[Looking forward to working with you!] (Cineraria)
[Umu, got it! We are also looking forward to it!] (Yumir)
[Looking forward to it, you three.] (Hind)
Since we already promised to make an alliance, it was finally time to depart towards Waaha.
Since they participated in the preliminaries of the PvP tournament, they were close to level 40 and there were no issues.
We decided to just quickly head towards the Royal Capital, so we were going to split into groups to ride on the Grado Turks but...
[Senpai. "They are touching you", would it be better if I said a standard line like that?] (Siesta)
[It would be better if you didn't...] (Hind)
By the time I noticed, no one disagreed and we naturally split into groups.
Over there, Yumir was riding with Lycoris-chan and Cineraria-chan.
That meant that I was riding along with Siesta-chan.
Mounting on top of the Grado Turk on my back was Siesta-chan, who was unnecessarily sticking too close to me.
Furthermore, my body stiffened because of this sensation I hadn't felt since before the tournament, this was the second time I had this sense of dread.
In an unusual act, Yumir was scowling while looking over here and being completely silent, or is that just my imagination?
...This is going to be bad if it keeps going like this, is what my body's instincts were telling me.
[Won't you move in front of me, Siesta-chan? I would be taking the reins but since you are not that tall I believe you won't obstruct my view.] (Hind)
[I see...senpai is more into asses? Or maybe hair...don't tell me that it's the nape or the back?] (Siesta)
[How did we reach this point? Are we talking about the same thing right now? I'm starting to lose confidence here...] (Hind)
I managed to persuade Siesta-chan somehow and succeeded in making her sit in front of me.
Right after we started moving, she started to look around at the view we got from the top of the horse with admiration, but eventually she seemed to lose interest and proceeded to completely relax and lean her back on me.
After saying that she was leaving the rest to me I started to hear the breathing sounds of someone sleeping.
[She sure falls asleep quickly...] (Hind)
From Siesta-chan's hair, I smelled a sweet fragrance akin to that of confections.
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