「そうらしい。どうもレベル25以降からは結構時間が掛かるらしいんだけど」
「......ですが、それが判明しているということは......」
「うん。既に廃プレイして到達した奴が居るってことだな。どれだけの時間をTBに捧げたのか、知りたいような知りたくないような」
ヒースローの街に戻り、ユーミル、リィズと合流。
有益な情報を大量に持ち帰った俺に対し、二人の態度は何故か冷たかった。
何でだ、そもそもユーミルの為の情報収集なのに。
セレーネさんに会いに行くって言った時からこうなんだよな......納得がいかん。
今の俺達は、教えてもらったとある狩場へと向かっている。
なだらかな丘陵を三人で早足で昇っていく。
かすじゃないかハインド。何か時間が関係しているのか?」
「ああ、狩りたいモンスターが夜時間しか出ないんだよ。実質十一時からの一時間しか無いから、こうして急いで街を出た訳だ」
「ということは、それを逃すと......次は夜中の三時ですか。無理ですね」
「無理だな。ということで、急いで狩り場に向かっている次第だが」
「話は全て聞かせて貰った! で、ござる!」
「!?」
突如、一人のプレイヤーが俺達の行く手に立ち塞がった。
何処から見ても忍者であると全身で主張している男を前に、俺達は――。
無視して通り過ぎることにした。
だって時間が無いんだもの。
「無視しないで!? わっち、俺だよ俺俺!」
「オレオレ詐欺かな? 俺にはそんな、忍者みたいな格好をした秀平なんて知り合いは居ないです」
「思いっきり秀平って言ってるじゃん! 未祐っちも何とか言ってやって!」
「え!? 何の話!?」
それ以前にユーミルはパーティの盾役として機能してないけどな、死に過ぎで。
わざわざ頭巾まで取って秀平がアピールしてくるのがちょっと鬱陶しい。
見えた素顔からしてアバターの変更なし、中身は現実そのままの姿だ。
「あら、誰かと思えば兄さんのお友達の秀平さんではありませんか」
「良かった、理世ちゃんはまともな対応を――」
「中学一年のバレンタインで女子から二桁以上のチョコを贈られたのに、三年の時には0になっていた残念イケメンの秀平さんではありませんか」
「一番ひでえよおおおお! わっちぃぃぃ!」
「あー、はいはい。よく俺達を見つけられたな、秀平」
「ぐすっ......わっちはともかく二人は目立つから......聞き込みしたら割と簡単だった......」
秀平の職は軽戦士、タイプは回避型だった。
スキルで変わり身とかを出せる、実際に忍者に近い戦い方が出来るタイプだ。
俺としては重戦士の防御型だと嬉しかったんだけど......こればっかりは当人の選択だからな。
それに安定感で劣るとはいえ、別に回避盾でもありがたいことには変わりない。
プレイヤーネームは『トビ』だそうだ。
武器は二刀流の短刀。
「トビって普通の鳥の鳶じゃないよな。忍者だし、飛び加藤か? 加藤段蔵?」
「さっすがわっち、物知り。味方にまで警戒される技術を持ってるってカッコよくない?」
「そして最後には
「そこは触れなくていいから!」
「それにしてもお前の装備、なーんか物足りない気がするんだが」
「え、何で!? 何処からどう見ても完璧に忍者じゃない!?」
同じ気持ちだったのか、ユーミルが大きく頷く。
「やはりここは、無駄に長い針金入りのマフラーが必要だろう? ハインド」
「何でそんな目立つもんを着けなきゃならんのさ! 俺がやりたいのはニンジャじゃなくて忍者なの!」
そうは言っても、秀平がイメージしている忍者だって実像とは違うはずだ。
実際の忍者は基本的に戦闘をしない。
情報を持ち帰るのが主任務なのだから、まずは逃げる事を考えるのが――
「ハインドさん、時間が......」
「おっと、そうだった」
リィズが俺の服の袖を引き、脇道に逸れた思考が戻ってくる。
そもそもゲームとかの創作上の忍者と実際の忍者を比べるのも野暮な話で。
俺はどっちの忍者もそれぞれ好きだ。
それに秀平――もとい、トビを弄っている場合でもない。
「つまらんって......ゆっち酷くない?」
「そしてお前の呼び方に違和感。未祐っちを縮めた感じが何とも」
「ええ......じゃあちゃんとユーミルちゃんって呼ぶよ......」
「それはそれで気持ち悪い」
「どうしろって言うのさ!?」
「おーい、そろそろ出発するぞー」
周囲の景色を夕日が照らし始めた。
話している内に結構時間が経ってしまっている。
「あ、なら俺が先導するよ。星降りの丘でしょ? 行った事あるから」
「28だけど」
「高っ。ちなみに総プレイ時間は?」
「今日までで......四十時間は超えてるかなあ」
その発言に、ユーミルが嫌そうな顔でトビから距離を取った。
VRは体臭まで再現出来るらしいからな......。
風呂にも入っていないのでは? という疑念からの行動だろう。
しかし四十時間って......学校から帰宅して、ほとんど毎日ゲームしかしていない計算になるんだが。
それも夜遅く、深夜まで。
初日は休日だったから長くやったにしても......正直、ちょっと引く数字だ。
リィズが完全に呆れたような目をしている。
どうにも心配になって来たので、俺はもう一つ質問を追加することに。
「......トビ、今の連続プレイ時間は?」
「えーっと......夕飯食べてからずっとだから......四時間ちょい?」
長い、長過ぎる。
馬鹿なんじゃないのか? こいつは。
「悪い事は言わんから今直ぐにログアウトして水を飲め、トイレに行け、ストレッチをしろ」
「待っててやるから! つーか、体を壊すぞ! 聞き分けないならフレンド登録はしないし一緒にプレイもせん! そんな状態で来られても気になってしょうがないっての! 分かったらさっさと行く!」
「お、おおう。優しいなぁ、わっちは......なら五分だけ待ってて」
「ちゃんとやれよ! 五分超えても良いから、しっかり体を
トビがその場でログアウトしていく。
姿が完全に見えなくなった瞬間、俺はがっくりと肩を落とした。
「結局、急いでたのに時間をロスしているんだが......」
「置いていきませんか? ハインドさん」
「珍しいことに、私も同意見だ。必要なのか? あいつ」
「あれでも高レベルプレイヤーだからな......戻ってきたらしっかり働いてもらうさ。それよかユーミル。あいつのプレイスタイルによっては、ユーミルは攻撃に専念出来るぞ」
「おお、それはいいな。後衛とのバランスを考えた位置取り? とかヘイト管理? とか面倒だと思っていたのだ」
「それがちゃんと出来ていたとも思えませんけどね......位置に気を使っていたのは主にハインドさんですし」
「威張らないで下さい」
ものやり取りを聞きつつ、俺は近くの岩に腰を降ろした。
その後、トビが戻って来たのはログアウトから十分後の事だった。
[That seems to be the case. Though apparently, after you reach level 25, it takes quite a while to level up]  (Hind)
[...However, if they have already confirmed it that means...]  (Riizu)
[Yup. It means that there are already players that have reached it. How much time have they devoted to TB? I kind of want and don't want to know]  (Hind)
I meet up with Yumir and Riizu after returning to Heathrow town.
Even though I had brought lots of valuable information, their attitude was somehow cold.
Why? Even though it was information I got to help Yumir.
They've been like this since I told them I was going to meet up with Selene-san...I don't get it.
Right now, we were heading towards the hunting grounds she had told me.
We were ascending the smooth hill at a quick pace.
[However, aren't you going too fast Hind? Does it have to do something with the time?]  (Yumir)
[Yeah, the monsters we are planning to farm only appear at night. They only appear for 1 hour after 11pm, that's the reason we left town in a hurry]  (Hind)
[Which means that if we let this chance slip by...the next time it'll be during 3am. That would be impossible for us]  (Riizu)
[That it would. That being said, I want to hurry up and get to the hunting grounds]  (Hind)
[I have heard all you've said! D-Degozaru!]  (?)
[!?] 
Suddenly, there was a player standing in our way.
In reaction to this man who was wearing all that to look like a ninja, we...
Ignored him and just went past him.
I mean, we have no time to waste.
[Don't ignore me! Wacchi, it's me, me!]  (?)
[Is this one of those [It's me!]  scams? I don't know of any Shuuheis that go around trying to look like a ninja]  (Hind)
[You just called me Shuuhei! Say something Miyucchi!]  (Shuuhei)
[Eh!? What do you even mean!?]  (Shuuhei)
I don't really want Yumir to act as tank anymore though, she dies too often.
I found Shuuhei, who went as far as to remove his hood to plead to us, quite annoying.
From his avatar I could see that he hadn't changed his face, he was the same as in the real world.
[Oh my, just when I was wondering who you were, aren't you nii-san's friend?]  (Riizu)
[I'm so glad that Rise-chan is giving an honest reactio-]  (Shuuhei)
[Aren't you the good looking Shuuhei that in the first year of middle school received double digits of chocolate during Valentine, but by the time he was in his third year, that amount was reduced to 0?]  (Riizu)
[You are the worst one!! Wacchi!!]  (Shuuhei)
[Ah...right right. You did well to find us, Shuuhei]  (Hind)
[Sniff...leaving Wacchin aside, those 2 do stand out after all...once I asked around it was pretty easy...]  (Shuuhei)
Shuuhei's job was that of a light warrior, his type was the evasive one.
He can dodge attacks with his skills, a type that fights in a way close to that of a ninja.
I would have liked him to be a defense type heavy warrior though...but this is a choice that is up to the player.
It's not like our balance is getting worse, it doesn't change the fact that I welcome an evasive tank.
His player name seems to be [Tobi] .
His weapon of choice seems to be dual Tantos.
[By Tobi you probably don't mean that bird right? Since you are a ninja, is it from Tobi Katou? Kato Danzou?]  (Hind)
[As expected of Wacchi, you sure are well informed. I even have a skill to guard allies, cool right?]  (Tobi)
[And in the end, you'll end up assassinated in a toilet...]  (Hind)
[You don't have to get into those details!]  (Tobi)
[However, your current gear...it seems somehow lacking]  (Hind)
[Eh, why!? Don't I look like a perfect ninja no matter where you look!?]  (Tobi)
She probably felt the same way, Yumir gave me a big nod.
[As expected, here he should be wearing a lengthy muffler, right? Hind]  (Yumir)
[Why would I wear something that makes me stand out so much! What I want to play as is a ninja not a "ninja"!]  (Tobi) *1 "Ninja" written in katakana
Even if he says that, the image Shuuhei has of a ninja should be different from a real one.
Real ninjas usually wouldn't fight.
Since their job is to mainly bring back information, the first thing they should think about is running awa-
[Hind-san, look at the time...]  (Riizu)
[Whoops, that's right]  (Hind)
Riizu pulled me by my sleeves, we had kind went off-topic here.
To begin with, comparing a ninja inside the game to a real life one would be boorish.
I like both types after all.
Besides, it's not the time to be playing around with Shuuhei...or rather, Tobi.
[Boring you say...Yucchi aren't you being too cruel?]  (Tobi)
[And the way you call me makes me uncomfortable. The way you call me Miyucchi does too]  (Yumir)
[Eh...in that case, I'll add chan and call you Yumir-chan...]  (Tobi)
[That's disgusting in its own way]  (Yumir)
[What do you want me to do!?]  (Tobi)
[Hey, we should get going...]  (Hind)
The sun was setting at the moment.
Quite a bit of time had passed while we were talking.
[Ah, in that case, I'll guide you. You are going to Seikori hill right? I've been there]  (Tobi)
[28, why?]  (Tobi)
[So high! By the way, what's your total playtime?]  (Hind)
[Counting today...I probably passed the 40 hour mark]  (Tobi)
When he said that, Yumir made an unpleasant face and started to step away from him.
It seems like VR is able to reproduce body odor too after all...
Did he even take a bath? It was an action made with that thought in mind.
But to think he has played 40 hours...it basically means that he has spent all his time playing the game after returning home.
Until late at night at that, probably until midnight.
Even if launch day was a holiday and he could have played for a longer time...honestly, it's a pretty high number.
Riizu eyes looked completely shocked.
I was quite concerned about it, so I added one last question.
[...Tobi, for how long have you been playing right now?]  (Hind)
[Uhm...since I ate dinner...so around 4 hours?]  (Tobi)
Long, that's too long.
Is he an idiot? This guy.
[I won't say anything bad so go and log out right now, drink some water, go to the toilet and do some stretching]  (Hind)
[We'll wait for you! You are going to destroy your body at this rate! If you won't listen to me, I won't add you to my friend list nor play with you! I'll get worried if you come with us in that state! If you get it, hurry up and go!]  (Hind)
[O-Ok. Wacchi, you are so kind...in that case, wait here for five minutes]  (Tobi)
[Do it properly! It's fine if you take longer than five minutes, come once your body is rested! You hear me!?]  (Hind)
Tobi logged out right there.
The moment his body completely disappeared, my shoulders dropped dejectedly.
[In the end, even though we were in a hurry, we ended up losing time...]  (Hind)
[Won't you leave him behind? Hind-san]  (Riizu)
[It's unusual but I'm thinking the same thing. Do we even need him?]  (Yumir)
[Even though he's like that, he's that high leveled after all...once he comes back I'll have him work properly. Other than that, Yumir. With his playstyle, he can take attacks away from Yumir]  (Hind)
[Oh, that would be nice. Things like having to think about the balance with the rear-guard? Hate management? I think having to think about that kind of thing is annoying]  (Yumir)
[I don't believe you do that type of stuff properly though...the one that takes care of that kind of thing is Hind-san after all]  (Riizu)
[Don't start putting on airs please]  (Riizu)
While listening to their usual exchange, I sat down on a boulder close-by.
After that, Tobi returned around 10 minutes after having logged out.
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