228話 夢見る将校姫の軍駒
「盟友タロよ! よくぞ参ったな」
豪奢な炎髪をなでおろし、その頂には金色の王冠をつけた美人。
威風堂々とした佇まいで国の要人たちを従える彼女こそが、イグニトール王国を治める第十六代イグニトール女王、イグニミア・トールン・フィア・イグニス本人だ。
「お元気そうでなによりです、陛下」
そんな大物NPCが謁見の間ではなく、単なる道端まで出迎えてくれたのだから周辺にいた
そんな危険を冒してまで俺を出迎えてくれた事に、相手がNPCだろうと少しの嬉しさが沸き上がってしまう。
「ふっ。盟友殿のためならば、退屈な王城を抜けだしてしまうのも悪くないというものだ」
「ありがたき幸せでございます」
「実はお願いしたき儀がありまして......」
「ちょうど良かった。我の方でも盟友殿には頼みがあったのだ」
むむ。
ミソラさんの依頼に続き、これは特殊クエストが発生しそうな予感だ。
「詳しい話は城内でしたいのだが、盟友殿の都合はいかがだろうか」
「俺のほうは元々、陛下に用事があったので構いません」
ちらりとイグニトール王女が俺の背後を見る。
きっとトワさんやヒロキさんたちを一瞥したのだろう。
「あの......私達はどうすれば......」
「俺達も女王様とお近づきになれるのか......?」
さっきから女王自らの御出迎えに対し、呆気にとられていたPTメンバーとトワさん達が小さな声で俺に尋ねてくる。俺としては無事にトワさんを首都イグニストラに送り届ける事ができたので、この辺で解散かなと思っていた。
「その者らは......そちらのみが盟友殿のご友人殿か......」
陛下はトワさんを凝視したあと、すぐにヒロキさんたちへと視線を移す。
の方らは存分に我らが都市を観光していかれるがよろしい。友人殿のみ登城する事を許可しよう」
どうやらNPC的な判断として、俺とフレンド登録してあるトワさんのみが登城の許可が認められたようだ。
さて、これからどうしようか。
一旦はみんなと相談して城に向かうとするか。
「『雷炎を仰ぐ都イグニストラ』に辿り着く、っていう目的は達成できたわけだし。ここらでログアウトしようかな」
「俺は観光でもしようかなー」
と、こんな感じで男性陣は女王への謁見は遠慮ぎみだった。
「私は面白そうだからタロ君についていきたい!」
唯一、トワさんのみが俺についてくるといった結果になった。
ちなみに彼ら三人からフレンド申請を送られたので、俺は快く受諾しておいた。トワさんの知り合いなら、変な事にはならなそうだし。
「前は足手まといだったかもしれないけど! 今日はたーっくさん役に立つよ~!」
どうやらトワさんは『空狐の社』での戦闘から、自分がPT戦であまり役に立てなかった事を気にしていたようだ。あれからひたすらレベル上げに邁進したらしい。道理で俺とのレベル差も1だけになっていたわけで、さっきの戦闘でもなかなかいい動きをしていた。
今回は俺と肩を並べてPvPができた事を嬉しく思っているようで、さらに気合いを入れている様子。
「まだまだタロ君には追いついてなさそうだけど、精一杯がんばるからね!」
元気よくはにかむトワさん。
そんなところが可愛らしいなぁと内心で思いながらも、都市内を移動してゆく。
「タロくん! 見てみて! 下の街が綺麗に見える!」
イグニストラの名物である空飛ぶゴンドラに乗り、王城へと向かう。トワさんのはしゃぎようがこれまた可愛らしくて、好々爺になった気分で彼女とロマンス飛行だ。
「水の上じゃなくて、小舟がお空に浮かぶってすごい! 私たち、今お空を飛んでるって事だよね!?」
きゃっきゃと俺の肩を叩いてくるトワさんからの振動が俺の全身へと響く。その感覚が妙に心地よい。今思えば、これは湖上のボートデートに近い状況なのでは?
不意打ちのデート気分に浸りつつ、俺の顔はにやけっぱなしだ。
んんーー、至福の時。
それから程なくして、俺とトワさんは女王と会見をしたのだが......謁見の間でなく女王の私室で行われた。
てっきり兵士NPCの口から聞いていた『義姉妹』の契りとやらを結ぶお誘いかと懸念していたのだが、女王の口から出た話の内容は意外なものだった。
の捜索をして欲しい......」
純粋にこの言葉には疑問が浮んだ。
イグニトール女王の実弟といえば、まだ年端もいかない子供だったはず。そして継承戦争の際は、敵方であるグランゼ侯爵やハーディ伯爵が女王の弟君を旗頭に据えて反乱を起こしている。
つまりは政争相手であるはず。
そんな政敵とも言える人物を捜索するとなると事情は複雑そうだ。
「一体どのような状況なのですか?」
そう問えば、女王は陰りの帯びた顔で事情を説明し出す。
争いの火種となってしまった弟君は、継承戦争敗北後の所在がつかめずにいたそうだ。しかし最近になってその居場所を突き止める事ができた......というよりは自らその姿を現したそうだ。
「盟友殿の実力を信頼して、我が弟を救出してやって欲しい」
女王の言葉の端々から弟の安否を気にかけているのが伝わってくる。察するに姉弟仲は悪くなく、むしろ良好だったのだろう。弟君はただ周囲の思惑と政争に利用された、というのが真実だったようだ。
女王はハーディ伯爵一派を継承戦争後、一族郎党全て処刑したらしい。もちろんグランゼ侯爵家も取り潰しとなった。しかしハーディ伯爵家の腰巾着、ノトロ子爵一派の数人を捕える事ができなかったそうだ。彼らは継承戦争のどさくさに紛れて、女王の弟君を拉致し、そして最近になって彼らは王城に侵入した。
何が目的だったかと思えば、王族だけが入れるという『王の間』という施設に弟君の存在を利用して潜りこんだのだ。
「『王の間』には我が先祖たちの故郷......
転送装置......どうやらミソラさんが言っていた魔導装置の事だろう。
聞けば、イグニトール王家が誇る最強にして最大の魔導具、『鋼鉄の玉座』は『
滅んだ無人の古都と、失われた技術で以って遺産が一人歩きするフィールドか。
俺としては渡りに船という話で、ミソラさんの依頼内容と目的地が被っているから嬉しいのだけれど......ミソラさん、けっこう難易度の高いお題を出していたのか。
「すまないが私の代わりに弟を救ってはくれないだろうか? またあの子が争いの種にされるのはこりごりなのだ」
それに、万が一にでも兵器を手にされては......また争いが起きる。そう静かに語る彼女は、国の未来を真剣に憂う統治者の横顔だった。そして、そんな女王の眉間にわずかな
「万が一の時は......盟友殿に弟の命を、ノトロ子爵もろとも......頼んだ」
どうしようもない状況であれば、もし敵に兵器が渡ってしまうのではあれば、自らの弟を殺してもいいと。そう遠回しに語る女王の顔は苦痛に満ちていた。
「もちろん報酬は用意してある。というのも、弟救出のためにもぜひとも使って欲しいので報酬は前払いとする」
女王がおもむろに取りだしたのは二つ折りの板。一切のくすみがない黒鉄の板は、重厚な光を伴っており一級品のアイテムだと窺える。
「幼少期、私はよくこれで祖父と遊んでいたのだがな......ついぞ私にはこのボードの真なる力を目覚めさせる事はできなかったのだ。しかし盟友殿ならば使いこなせるやもしれぬと、そう感じてな」
前報酬は
俺は即座に『鑑定眼』を発動して見る。
【盤上で踊る戦場遊戯】
【装備条件:知力300】
【MP +10】
』の遺物だ。曾祖父の言い伝えによれば、幼き天外の錬金術師ノア・ワールドによる創作物だと聞いている」
ノア・ワールドって......強大なるNPC、『天滅の十氏』が一柱にして創世の錬金術師の名を冠する、リッチー師匠のライバルじゃないか!
目指すべき人物の名が唐突に女王の口から出て、俺は内心で胸が躍ってしまう。
「もちろん、成功報酬は別に用意してある。爵位と領地をそなたに授けたいと思っている」
231 228 Stories Dreaming Officer Princess'S Army Pawn
"It's my ally Taro! Well done."
Beauty with luxurious flaming hair and a golden crown on top.
She is the sixteenth Queen of Ignithol, Ignimia Torn Fir Ignis herself, who reigns over the Kingdom of Ignithol, able to follow the country's dignitaries in a prestigious setting.
"You look well, more importantly, Your Grace"
The mercenaries (players) in the vicinity couldn't help but bother because such a big NPC welcomed us not just to the side of the road.
A little joy boils down to the fact that the other person would be NPC for welcoming me at such a risk.
"Phew, for the sake of your allies, it's not bad to get through the boring royal castle."
"Thank you. I'm happy."
"Actually, I had a favor instrument..."
"It was just fine. Even I had a favor to ask of my ally."
Mmm.
Following Mr. Mithola's request, I have a feeling this is going to cause a special quest.
"I'd like to talk more about it in the castle, but how is it convenient for the Allies?"
"I don't mind if I had business with His Majesty."
Princess Ignitol looks behind my back.
I'm sure you had a glimpse of Mr. Twa and Mr. Hiroki.
"Um... what do we do..."
"Can we get close to the queen too...?
Earlier, in response to the Queen's own welcome, the distracted PT members and Mr. Twa asked me in a small voice. As far as I'm concerned, I was able to safely deliver Mr. Twa to the capital, Ignistra, so I thought it might be dissolved around here.
"They are... you are the only friends of the Allies..."
His Majesty stares at Mr. Twa and then immediately shifts his gaze to Mr. Hiroki and the others.
"They will be able to visit our city in full. Only my friend will be allowed to climb the castle."
Apparently, as an NPC decision, only me and my friend, Mr. Twa, were allowed to climb the castle.
Well, what do we do now?
Do you want to talk to everyone and head to the castle once?
"The goal of reaching Ignistra, the capital of thunder flames, could be achieved. I think I'll log out here."
"I think I'll go sightseeing."
And, like this, the men were reluctant to look at the queen.
"I want to follow you, Taro, because I look interesting!
The only result was that only Mr. Twa followed me.
By the way, the three of them sent me a friendship application, so I accepted it happily. If you know Mr. Twa, it's not going to be weird.
"I might have had a leg job before! Today - it helps a lot ~!"
Apparently, Mr. Twa was concerned that he had not been very helpful in the PT battle from the battle at "Empty Fox Company". They even stepped up to a level since then. Reasonably, my level difference with me was only 1, so I was making a pretty good move in the fight earlier.
Seems like he's happy to have PvP alongside me this time, and he's even more in the mood.
"Talo doesn't seem to catch up to you yet, but I'll do my best!
Cheerful, Mr. Twa.
Though I sincerely think that's a cute place to be, I travel around the city.
"Talo! Take a look! The city down there looks beautiful!
Ride the flying gondola, Ignistra's specialty, to the royal castle. Mr. Twa's handkerchief is about to be adorable again, and I'm in a favorable mood for a romance flight with her.
"It's amazing how the boat floats in the sky, not on the water! You mean we're flying in the sky right now!?
The vibration from Mr. Twa hitting me on the shoulder sounds all over my body. The feeling is strangely comfortable. Now that I think about it, isn't this close to a boat date on the lake?
My face remains sniveling as I immerse myself in the mood for an unintentional date.
Mm-hmm, during bliss.
After that, me and Mr. Twa had a meeting with the Queen... not between sights, but in the Queen's private room.
I was very concerned that the solicitation to enter into a deal with the 'sister-in-law' I had heard from the mouth of soldier NPC, but the content of the story that came out of the Queen's mouth was unexpected.
"I want you to do a search for my brother (...)..."
Purely this word raised questions.
Speaking of Queen Ignithol's real brother, he should have been a child who wasn't even old yet. And during the war of inheritance, the enemy, the Marquis of Granze and Count Hardy, are rebelling with the Queen's brother on their flag.
That means you should be a contender.
Things seem complicated when it comes to searching for someone who could be considered such a political opponent.
"What the hell is the situation?
That being said, the Queen explains the situation with a shady face.
My brother, who became the spark of contention, said he couldn't grasp his place after the defeat of the inheritance war. Recently, however, I was able to find out where it was... rather than revealing myself.
"I want you to trust your strength and rescue my brother."
It comes from the end of the queen's words that she cares about the safety of her brother. I guess my sister and brother weren't bad friends to investigate, but rather good. It seemed true that you, my brother, were just being used by the thoughts and politics around you.
Apparently, the Queen executed all the clan royalists after the war to inherit the Earl of Hardy clan. Of course, the Marquis de Granze family was destroyed. But they couldn't catch a few of Count Hardy's hipster wipes, a bunch of Viscount Notro. They were disputed by the war of inheritance, abducted the queen's brother, and more recently they broke into the royal castle.
I wonder what the purpose was, and I dived into an institution called "Between Kings" where only the royal family would be allowed to use your presence.
"'Between Kings' is the home of my ancestors... a transfer device leading to the ancient nest of gears (Harold Gear), a magic armor (Auken) city"
Transfer device... Apparently you mean the magic device that Mr. Misora said.
When asked, the Royal Ignitol's most powerful and greatest demonic prop, The Throne of Steel, came from the Gear's Old Nest (Harold Gear). Long ago, the alleged ancestors of the Ignitol royal family used absolute worship as a basis for the founding of the country against the backdrop of force by the "Throne of Steel". The Old Nest of Gears (Harold Gear) is a place with huge flying battleships, with supreme defense and aggression. If I were you, I could handle that weapon. With your brother, who draws the blood of the Ignitol royal family, it might still be possible to rewind, and it seems that a group of Viscounts of Notro fallen into the hands of thieves are on the brink of death.
A deserted ancient capital and a field where heritage walks alone because of lost technology?
As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad to hear about the boat on the crossing, because Misora's request and destination are covered... Misora, were you offering such a challenging topic?
"I'm sorry, but wouldn't you save my brother instead? It's the stirrups that make her a source of contention again."
Besides, just in case they have a weapon... there will be another fight. Speaking so quietly, she was the sideline of a ruler who was seriously worried about the country's future. And a slight wrinkle (wrinkle) stops between such a queen's eyebrows.
"In the unlikely event... I asked His Lordship my brother's life, Viscount Notro..."
If there's nothing I can do about it, he says if weapons are going to cross the enemy, he can kill his own brother. The queen's face, speaking so far away, was full of pain.
"Of course I have my reward. Because I want you to use it to rescue my brother, so I'll pay you in advance."
What the Queen took down was a bi-fold board. The black iron plate, free of any blemishes, has heavy light and can be seen as a first-class item.
"In my childhood, I used to play with my grandfather... but I couldn't awaken the true power of this board. But if you're an ally, you might be able to use it."
The previous reward was on-board play (board games). It doesn't even look like a chessboard at first glance.
I immediately activate the Appraisal Eye to see.
[Battlefield play dancing on board]
[Equipment Conditions: Intelligence 300]
[MP + 10]
"It is a relic of the ancient Gear Nest (Harold Gear), an Auken city. According to my great-grandfather's legend, I hear it's a creation by young heavenly alchemist Noah World."
Noah World... the mighty NPC, "Ten of Heavenly Extinction" takes the name of Genesis Alchemist as one pillar, isn't it Master Richie's rival!
The name of the person to aim for suddenly comes out of the queen's mouth, and my heart leaps.
"Of course, we have separate rewards for success. I want to give you the title and the territory."
I Became a Beautiful Girl, but I’m still an MMO Junkie
美少女になったけど、ネトゲ廃人やってます。
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-became-a-beautiful-girl-but-im-still-an-mmo-junkie/
Adventure Comedy Fantasy Gender Bender Mystery Psychological Shoujo Ai
Accelerated Growth Adapted to Manga Age Regression Alchemy Appearance Changes Appearance Different from Actual Age Beautiful Female Lead Chuunibyou Curious Protagonist Cute Protagonist Demi-Humans Disabilities Doting Older Siblings Fairies Famous Protagonist Fast Learner Friendship Loli Male to Female Misunderstandings MMORPG Multiple POV Mysterious Illness Older Love Interests Overprotective Siblings Past Plays a Big Role Past Trauma Pill Concocting Popular Love Interests Race Change Sword And Magic Virtual Reality Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n0170db/
星屑ぽんぽん