176話 距離
「ジュンヤ君、おまたせ!」
純白の雪が舞い、陽光に反射してキラキラと輝く。
それはまるで、大気中の全ての水分を昇華して発生したダイヤモンドダストのようで。
突然の大きな衝撃で舞った雪達は、彼女によって美しく踊らされる。そう、彼女は強大な存在を
「本当は! もうクエストなんてどうでもいい!」
雪、白とは正反対の黒、
時に、その白銀の髪をさして、彼女は月のようだと。
時に、あの見目麗しい容姿をさして、彼女は女神のようだと。
今なら痛いぐらいに、そう言われる理由がわかるよ。
ボクの全神経が......いや、この場の誰もが彼女から目が離せるわけがない。
「ただ、ジュンヤ君と話がしたいだけ!」
何が何だか理解が追いつかない。
顔が熱くなって、頭も熱くなって、おまけに視界もぼんやりしてきてしまう。
彼女――タロくんは、実は鉱石を巧みに扱う天使さんで。
ボクが勝手にライバル視し、勝手にいつかは超えてみせる、なんて意気込んではみた相手で......それは結局、劣等感を隠すために自分を鼓舞していたにすぎなくて。
それでも錬金術に精通している、タロ君という心強い味方がいるって思っていたのに......まさか、タロくんの正体が、ボクの劣等感の原因だったなんて。
しかも、そんな相手から『話がしたい』だなんて告白じみた台詞を吐かれ、ボクはもう心も頭もパンクしそうだ。
あぁ、誰かこの状況を正確に説明してくれないだろうか。
いやいや、そんな悲嘆に暮れる物語のヒロインみたいな感情を抱いている場合でもなくて、タロ君が、天使さんが、必死に敵兵のNPCからボクらを守ろうとしてるんだ。
「おい、ジュンヤ! ボーっと突っ立てるヒマはないんだけども!」
「タロちゃんとの話はあとあと! 恋路は障害が多い方が燃えるって感じ?」
マモルとケイの
ボクは胸の高鳴りを抑える事ができず。
ただ、ただ、彼女を見つめてしまう。
、ソレコソガ人族最大ノ強ミ」
巨人のナハクさんが荒々しく
人間と比べ、圧倒的なまでの体格差を誇る巨人族のナハクさんにそう言わしめす程、ハーディ伯爵の検問兵......軍隊は手強かった。
最初の一撃こそ、相手の不意を突く形で大成し、強烈な打撃を与える事ができたのは確かだ。しかし、こちらが敵を蹴散らしていく度に敵の反撃も険しく、的確になってきている。もう60人は
「フゥ、おねがい!」
数十本の火矢が俺達めがけ、敵の指揮官らしき人物の号令に合わせて一斉に放たれる。何度目かになるその一斉射撃に、フゥの風壁をぶちあてていくのも限界があった。
その理由は、数が多過ぎるのだ。
「グ、ムゥ......」
ナハクさんの被ダメージが多そうな箇所や、俺に当たりそうな軌道を描く矢を防ぐので手いっぱいで、既にナハクさんの身体には見るのも
「グヌ、小賢シイ......」
それでもナハクさんは戦神の如き豪胆さで、敵を叩き、払い、砕いていく。
だけど敵も一筋縄ではいかない。近接戦闘では、付かず離れずの距離を保って長槍を持った兵をメインにちょこちょこ突き刺してくる。ナハクさんが近付けば、決して密集しすぎる事ない数で散開しつつ、大盾を持った兵達が前に出る連携を見せ、なかなか大きな被害を出す事ができていない。
「ナハクさん、ジュンヤくんたちが!」
しかも相手はこちらの弱点を正確に突いてくる。ナハクさんが強引に敵兵の密集地へ接近しようものなら、保護対象であるイグニトール令嬢とジュンヤ君一行を狙って、少人数ではあるけども果敢に突進を仕掛けてくるのだ。
このままでは、結果は目に見えている。
良くて相討ち、悪くてこちらの消耗負けだ。
敵は未だ300人以上が健在で、士気も上々と見える。
巨人の手を借りてもこれだ。錬金術の師匠、リッチー師匠が築き上げてきたモノを利用し、転用してソレらしい成果を出しても......
そう、錬金術はあらゆるものに、可能性を示す事に他ならないのだ。
何か、何か、そう何か利用できるものは。
今、この場にあるものは、雪とナハクさんが眠っていた山、そして仲間だ。
「そうだ、雪山......」
でも、あれを活用できる物が手元にない。
ないのならば、それは創造するしかないだろう。俺には『魔導錬金』という、キューブを組み合せて形にする、即興製作スキルがあるじゃないか。
だけど、俺だけではここを乗り切るのは不可能に近い。
だから、俺は叫び、飛ぶ。
仲間の下へと。
「ジュンヤ君! キミに頼みがある!」
そう、フゥの風に乗りながら、地上で必死に敵の攻撃をかいくぐるジュンヤ君達の近くへと降りる。
もちろん、ナハクさんはそれを察して俺達を守るために、防御一択の動きへと変わる。
もう少しだけだから耐えてくれ、ナハクさん。
「天使、さん。こんな時にどうしてボクの所に!?」
「ジュンヤ君! キミしかいないんだ!」
「ええと、でも、ボクなんかがこの状況を良くすることなんて、できないよ!?」
全く自信がない、と言うかのように両肩を落とすジュンヤ君。
「俺とジュンヤ君ならできるかもしれない! だから、こっちに」
しかし俺は、そんな彼に構わず強引にジュンヤ君の手を取る。
そして急ぎナハクさんにお願いする。ジュンヤ君を
「わっ!? えっ!? ヒィッ!!!」
突然巨人に握られれば、それはビックリしてしまうだろうけど、今は説明している暇がない。ナハクさんの片手がジュンヤ君で塞がったと言う事は、それだけ攻防力が下がったという事なのだ。
「ジュンヤ君。落ち着いて聞いて」
ここなら少しの間は地上よりは安全だ、そうアピールする。俺達二人は、ナハクさんの右手の平に乗りながら向かい合った。
「俺はジュンヤ君の持つ、鉱石に対する情熱、知識には驚かされてる。実際『
蛍石
「だから、キミを信じてる」
一区切りし、まっすぐに彼の両眼を見据える。
すると彼の目は先程の所在なさげな陰りが消え、心なしか強い光を帯びた様な気がした。
「俺の錬金術と、キミの鉱石知識で、ここを乗り切れるかもしれないんだ」
「そんな......で、でもボクなんかが、力になれるか、わからないけど」
ジュンヤ君は意を決したように、コクンと頷いてくれる。
「爆発物、特に音を盛大に出すアイテムを作りたい。火力も高ければ高いほどいい」
「そんなもの、今すぐにって......できっこないよ」
その一心で、ジュンヤ君に可能性のありかを迫る。
「何でもいい、何か爆発に繋がる何かを! 俺に教えて欲しい」
「う、あ、タロくん、顔が近いって」
不意に慌てふためくジュンヤ君にそう指摘され......夕焼けよりも真っ赤に染まる彼の顔を見て、ううん? この感じはどこかで見覚えのある表情だと思った。
ううん、どうしてか物凄く照れくさい。何でだろう。
「あ、うん......ごめん」
俺は目を
逸らした視線の先でケイ君がキルされる姿が目に入り、恥ずかしがってる時じゃないと悟る。そう、何を同じ男同士で照れ合っているというんだ。
「えと、それで爆発物に繋がる鉱物なんかはない?」
178 176 Talk Distance
"Junya, you're welcome!
Pure white snow strikes, reflecting in the sunlight and sparkling.
That's like diamond dust generated by sublimating all the moisture in the atmosphere.
The snowmen danced in a sudden, huge shock, danced beautifully by her. Yes, she was accompanied by a mighty being, an angel who descended into the lower realm with a giant squire.
"The truth is! I don't care about quests anymore!
Snow, black opposite to white, her appearance to follow the wreckage of a troubled giant was so beautiful that she could breathe.
Sometimes, with that silver hair, she said she looked like the moon.
Sometimes, she looks like a goddess.
Now it hurts, you know why they say that.
My whole nerve... no, there's no way anyone on this scene can look away from her.
"I just want to talk to you, Junya!
I can't catch up on what is.
My face gets hot, my head gets hot, and besides, my vision gets blurred.
She - Taro, in fact, is an angel who handles ore skillfully.
I took it upon myself to rival him and let him go beyond one day on his own, what an intended opponent... it was in the end only inspiring himself to hide his inferiority.
Still familiar with alchemy, I thought you had a comforting ally... I can't believe Taro's identity was the cause of my inferiority.
Besides, they throw up a confessional dialogue about 'I want to talk' from someone like that, and I'm already going to flat my mind and head.
Oh, could someone explain this situation exactly?
No, no, not if you have feelings like the heroine of such a grieving story, but you, Taro, the angel, are desperately trying to protect us from the NPC of enemy soldiers.
"Hey, Junya! Bo, I don't have a hippo to stick around!
"Talk to Talo later! Feel like love roads burn better with more obstacles?
Mamor and Kay's scolding (more) but... even though I understand it with my head, I really don't follow my body and mind... Bo, do you want to talk to me?
I can't keep my chest down. [M]
It's just, I stare at her.
"Individual (co) No-Power (chicara) Deja Anti- (araga) Enu Nu No-Power (chicara), Solekosoga Maximum No-Jiang Mi"
Mr. Nahak, the giant, roared wildly.
Compared to humans, Count Hardy's inquisitors were strong enough to say that to Nahak, a giant who boasted an overwhelming difference in stature until... the army was strong.
It is certain that the first blow was able to accomplish it in a way that punctuated the opponent's surprise and dealt a severe blow. But every time this one kicks his enemies in, the enemy's counterattack is also harsh and becoming accurate. Even though the other 60 are slaughtered, are the enemies well trained? If the opponent is a giant, he has no fear.
"Huh, please!
Dozens of fire arrows flare up against us and are unleashed simultaneously to coincide with the orders of enemy commander-like figures. There was also a limit to smashing the wind wall of Hu on that simultaneous firing several times.
The reason for this is that there are too many.
"G, muh......"
It is full because it prevents places where Mr. Nahak is likely to suffer a lot of damage and the arrows that draw an orbit that is likely to hit me. There are already a number of horrible arrows pierced in Mr. Nahak's body that can be seen.
"Gunu, Xiao Xianxii..."
Still, Mr. Nahak is as audacious as the god of war, beating, paying and crushing his enemies.
But enemies can't be a glimmer either. In melee combat, a soldier with a long spear sticks a little prick in the main, keeping his distance unattached. If Mr. Nahak gets close, he will scatter in numbers that are never too dense, while the soldiers with the big shield will show up in front of him. He hasn't been able to do much damage.
"Mr. Nahak, the Junyas!
Besides, the opponent is going to poke this one's weakness precisely. If Mr. Nahak is to forcibly approach a dense area of enemy soldiers, he will set up a small but resolute advance aimed at the protection of Miss Ignitor and Mr. Junya.
As it is, the results are visible.
It's good, it's good, it's bad, it's this drain loss.
More than 300 enemies are still alive and well regarded.
This is it, even with the help of a giant. Using the things that Master Alchemy, Master Richie, has built up, even converting and delivering sole-like results... is not far from the work accomplished by His (or) great Alchemist, which also amazes God.
Yes, alchemy is nothing short of showing possibilities for everything.
Something, something, yes. Anything available.
What we have here now is the snow and the mountain where Mr. Nahak slept, and his companions.
"Yes, Snow Mountain..."
But I don't have anything on hand to take advantage of that.
If not, it will have to be created. I have the improvisational skills to combine and shape a cube called Demon Alchemy.
But it's nearly impossible for me to make it through here alone.
So I scream, I fly.
Beneath my people.
"Mr. Junya! I need a favor from you!
Yes, while riding in the wind of Hu, we descend near you Junya, who desperately mock enemy attacks on the ground.
Of course, Mr. Nahak makes a defensive move to protect us.
Just a little more, so bear with me, Mr. Nahak.
"Angel,. How did you get to me at a time like this?
"Mr. Junya! You're all I've got!
"Uh, but I can't do anything to make this situation better!?
I'm not sure at all, Junya you drop your shoulders as if to say.
"Me and Junya, you might be able to! So, come here."
But I will take Junya's hand forcefully, regardless of him like that.
And hurry up and ask Mr. Nahak. Junya said to put you on the palm of his hand.
"Wow!? What!? HI!!!
If the giant suddenly grips me, that would surprise me, but I don't have time to explain now. Mr. Nahak's one-handed blockage with Junya means that his defense has dropped.
"Junya, sir. Just calm down and listen."
It would be safer here than on the ground for a little while, I appeal to that. The two of us turned to each other while riding Mr. Nahak's right palm.
"I'm Junya. I'm amazed at your passion, your knowledge of ore. In fact, I got some great tips from you for using Fluorescent Stone as a useful material."
"Uh, Fluorescent Stone's... it was"
"So I believe you."
Separate one and look straight into both his eyes.
Then his eyes disappeared in the shadow of his earlier position, and he felt like he had no heart or strong light.
"With my alchemy and your knowledge of ore, I might be able to get through this."
"No... but I don't know if I can help."
Junya snorts at me like you decided to.
"I want to make explosives, especially items that make the sound loud. The higher the firepower, the better."
"That's not going to happen right now."
At that heart, Junya presses you for a possibility. [M]
"Whatever, something that leads to an explosion! I want you to tell me."
"Ugh, Taro, he said his face was close."
Junya, who carelessly hesitates to point that out to you... look at his face dyed brighter than a sunset, yeah? I thought this feeling was a familiar look somewhere.
Yeah, it's awesome for some reason. I wonder why.
"Oh, yeah... sorry"
I shrugged all the way out of my sight.
Kay at the tip of a deviant gaze. I can see you getting killed, and I realize it's not the time to be shy. Yes, what is it that matches the same man to another?
"Uh, so there's no minerals that can lead to explosives?
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