アルベルトはフィリアが戦闘不能になったことで動揺を見せたが、即座に冷静さを取り戻してユーミルから離れていく。
まだ視力が完全に回復していないか......?
「ユーミル、突っ掛けろ!」
「分かった!」
あちらには回復手段が無いんだ。
削れる内に少しでも削って、こちらの優位を!
フィリアちゃんを倒した勢いのままに、ユーミルが攻め立てる。
しかし浅い、浅い、どの攻撃も超人的な反応でもってアルベルトが最小のダメージで切り抜けていく。
化け物かよ......いや、ユーミルを信じて俺もやるべきことをやらねば。
バフを全て使用、属性付加も使った後に自分とユーミルのHPをフルにして反撃に備える。
後はその場で静止してMPをチャージだ。
「やってくれたな......!」
ゾッとするような声と共に、グレートソードが考えられないような速度で一閃された。
ユーミルが大ダメージを受けて俺の方へと吹き飛ばされてくる。
すぐさま追撃が行われ、振り下ろされた剣が発した破砕音が舞台に鳴り響く。
ユーミルは横っ飛びで回避、俺は巻き込まれないようにユーミルがダメージを受けた時点で既に退避済みだ。
というかこの舞台、破壊可能オブジェクトだったのか......壊れているところを始めて見た。
動きが通常通りに戻ったことから、もうアルベルトの視力は戻ったようだ。
に急所を避けるとは、良い反応だ。だが!」
「ハインド! 回復頼むっ!」
「もうやってる!」
再度の交戦開始直前、『ヒーリングプラス』が発動。
ユーミルのHPを大きく回復させ、更に足りない分を『ヒーリング』で補ってフル回復。
直後に長剣と大剣が交錯する。
一合、二合、剣を打ち合う度に周囲の空気が震える。
そして、二対一の状況になってから凡そ五分。
アルベルトの『フェイタルスラッシュ』とユーミルの『ヘビースラッシュ』が同時に放たれる。
雄叫びと共に放たれた一撃は、火花を散らしつつユーミルの剣ごとアルベルトが力で押し切る。
そのまま肩口からバッサリと斬り裂かれ......。
結果アルベルトはノーダメージ、ユーミルは今のでフルからHP5割減となった。
「苦しいか......」
俺達の得意な形である持久戦には持ち込めている。
しかし、このままでは『リヴァイブ』のWTが回らずに敗北する羽目になってしまう。
蘇生は戦闘不能直後のものを既に四度行い、二度目と三度目の間にある長いWTはユーミルがどうにか耐え切ってくれたのだが......
「捉えたっ!」
「!」
アルベルト側のユーミルの動きへの慣れによって、徐々に被弾する頻度が増えてきた。
衰えを知らない集中力によってユーミル自身の動きはどんどん鋭さを増しているのだが、それ以上にあちらの基礎スペックが異常に高い。追いつけない。
『バーストエッジ』も二度放ったが、残念ながらどちらも当たらず。
再度の『シャイニング』も当然ながら、目を狙っても避けるか腕で防がれてしまう。
それでも小ヒットを重ねてアルベルトのHPを半分まで減らすことには成功したのだが、今はその状態から全く減らせない時間がずっと続いている。
何か打開策はないものか......。
いや、その前にまずは回復だ。今のダメージでユーミルのHPは残り三割しかない。
『ヒーリングプラス』はWT中なので、『エリアヒール』の範囲指定を慎重に行う。
「くそっ、どっちも重武装な癖に素早く動き回りやがって――そこっ!」
詠唱終了までにどうにか的を絞ることができ、戦いを続けているユーミルのHPはフル回復。
だがあいつ、もしかして足元の魔法陣に気付いていないほど集中しているんじゃないのか?
アルベルトから全く視線を逸らさない。
会場内もやけに静かだ......二人の戦いを固唾を飲んで見守っている。
どうにか勝たせてやりたいが――
「負けないっ......! 負けるものか! 私達が勝つ! 勝つんだ!」
ユーミルの絞り出すような心底からの叫びに、俺は思わずハッとした。
――勝たせてやりたい? それは違うだろう。
何をいつまでも、他人事のように冷めた目で戦いを見ているのか。
これがゲームだからとか、負けても失うものはないだとか、そんなものは全て言い訳だ。
勝ちたいのだ、俺も。二人の力で、目の前の男に。
「なら、やることは一つだな」
俺は気合を入れるためにそう呟くと、客席のリィズへと視線を送った。
このスキルは前に使わないでくれと以前に強く懇願されていたからな。
ここからでも、不思議と遠くに居る妹の表情は良く読み取れる。
意図を察してか、その瞳は悲し気に揺れていたが......やがて微かに、微かに頷いてみせた。
許可は得た。後は――
「ユーミル、二十秒!」
「――!! 分かった、やってやる!」
二十秒回復なしで耐えろ、という指示にユーミルが応える。
あのスキルのバフは通常のバフとは別扱いだ。
やるからには、物理系のバフもしっかりと掛け直す!
「何を企んでいるかは知らないが......既に動きは見切った。もうお前達に勝機は無い!」
「はっ、どうかな? あまり私達を舐めるなよ!」
MPは充分、まずは『アタックアップ』と『ガードアップ』でユーミルの能力を底上げ。
続けて『シャイニング』でアルベルトの意識を僅かに逸らして援護、『ヒーリング』で僅かに減っていた自分のHPを回復。
WT開けの『ヒーリングプラス』でユーミルのHPも全快。
仕上げに『エントラスト』でMPを全てユーミルに譲渡し......。
「後は任せたぞ」
「――!? ハインド、今なんと言ったのだ!? もう一度言ってくれ!」
それ以上は答えず、間を置かずに詠唱に入る。
MP消費は0、引き換えに使用するのは自身の全HP。
足元に通常スキルとは比較にならない巨大な魔法陣が精製され、眩い光が立ち昇った。
『サクリファイス』が発動、俺の体から放たれた光がユーミルの周囲に纏わりついて金色のオーラを発生させる。
「ば、馬鹿な......この光は、まさか!」
「振り返るな! 前だけ見てろ! ぐっ......」
こちらを向いている時間は無いのだ。
急速に己のHPが減り始め、体がバラバラになりそうな例の痛みに全身が支配される。
振り向きかけたユーミルの横顔が苦し気に歪み、けれども振り返ることなく前を向き直した。
......よし、それでいい。
「面白い......どの道この状態のお前達を超えなければ、前回の雪辱を果たした事にはならんな! 効果切れを狙うなどという姑息な手段は取らん! 全力で来いッ!」
「行くぞぉぉぉぉっ!」
勇者のオーラと金色のオーラが混じり合い、光の塊と化したユーミルが乱舞する。
これまでのものとは質が違う、壮絶な剣戟の音が闘技場内に響く。
「うっ、ぐっ......! ぬおおおおおっ!」
そしてその音も直ぐに違った様相を呈してくる。
圧倒的な防御力の差......アルベルトの剣の
ダメージ覚悟の突撃で、確実にアルベルトのHPを奪っていく。
決勝トーナメント以前の、ユーミル本来の攻め方だ。
凍りついていたアルベルトのHPバーがそこでようやく動き始める。
と、そこで劣勢と見たアルベルトもガードを捨てた。
『バーサーカーエッジ』を発動し、ユーミルのHPを削りに入る。
更には大剣に赤い光が集まり、重戦士の大技『ランペイジ』のチャージが始まっている。
「ユーミ――っ、体が......声も、出な――」
今の『サクリファイス』を受けたユーミルでも、あれを喰らったら戦闘不能は免れまい。
しかし警告の声は届かず、それどころか徐々に視界が霞んで状況を把握できなくなっていく。
アルベルトの動きに呼応するように、ユーミルが『捨て身』を使用し『バーストエッジ』狙いの突きの構えを取る。
それを視界に収めたのを最後に、俺の体は魔法陣の上へと崩れ落ちた。四肢から力が抜けていく。
――待て、待ってくれ。
まだ早い、あともう少しなんだ。せめて決着がつくその時までは......。
だがHPバーは無情にも減り続け、聞き慣れた爆発音と斬撃の音が同時に鳴ったのを知覚した直後――俺は周囲の音を含め、何も感じ取れなくなった。
起きた瞬間に感じたのは、後頭部と背中の温かさと誰かの息遣い。
薄っすらと目を開けてそこにあったのは、こちらをジッと見ながら今にも泣き出しそうなユーミルの顔で。
「なんて顔してるんだ......もしかして、負けちゃったのか?」
この耳をつんざくような大歓声の中、俺の声は届いているのだろうか?
果たしてユーミルは、俺の言葉に対してブンブンと子供のように無言で首を横に振ってみせた。
そうか、負けたわけではないのか。
負けを否定するってことは、つまり......!?
ユーミルに抱えられた状態から慌てて起き上がると、俺は周囲をキョロキョロと見回した。
まず目に入ったのは舞台を叩き割らんばかりに深々と突き立ったグレートソード、そしてその向こうには......。
大の字で転がったままピクリとも動かない、傭兵アルベルトの姿があった。
Albert showed agitation once he saw Philia being knocked out, however, he calmed down immediately and took some distance from Yumir.
Has he still not recovered his vision completely...?
[Yumir, pressure him!]  (Hind)
[Got it!]  (Yumir)
He doesn't have any methods to heal himself.
If we can shave off some of his HP now, we'll be at an advantage!
With the same vigor she defeated Philia-chan with, Yumir attacked incessantly.
But the damage was too shallow, with his superhuman reflexes, Albert only received a bit of damage from each hit.
Is this guy a monster...? No, I should believe in Yumir and do what I have to do.
I used all my buffs. After having all our stats increased, I healed myself and Yumir and she went back on the offensive.
After that, I held my position and charged my MP up.
[Now you've done it...!]  (Albert)
Along with a voice that would make you shudder, the greatsword flashed at a speed that you wouldn't think was possible.
Yumir took great damage and was blown away towards me.
Immediately after, he gave chase and swung his sword down. The sound of something being crushed resounded throughout the stage.
Yumir dodged it by jumping sideways and I had already retreated the moment Yumit took damage in order to not get involved.
To begin with, this stage was a breakable object...? It's the first time I've seen it happening.
Since his movements are back to the usual, it seems like Albert has fully recovered his sight.
[For you to avoid a hit to your vitals, that was a nice reaction. However!!]  (Albert)
[Hind! Heal me please!]  (Yumir)
[I'm already on it!]  (Hind)
Just before they started fighting again, I cast {Healing Plus}  on her.
Yumir recovered a big chunk of her HP and the small portion needed to reach full HP was supplemented by {Healing} .
Right after, the longsword and greatsword clashed.
1 time, 2 times, each time they exchanged blows the surrounding air trembled.
Thus, about five minutes have passed since the fight turned into a two versus one.
Albert's {Fatal Slash}  and Yumir's {Heavy Slash}  were released at the same time.
The attacks were released along with a war cry and sparks flew as Yumir's sword was overcome by Albert's strength.
Following that, she was ruthlessly slashed from the shoulders down.
As a result, Albert took no damage and Yumir was down to 50% HP.
[Having trouble...?]  (Albert)
The fight had turned into a battle of attrition that we are good at.
However, if it keeps going like this, it'll end up with us being defeated because I'll be unable to cycle through {Revives} .
She's already been revived four times right after dying, Yumir has been able to somehow endure during the long CD for the 2nd and 3rd times but...
[Got you!]  (Albert)
[!!]  (Yumir)
Albert had gradually gotten used to Yumir's movements, so the times she's been getting hit has increased.
Even though Yumir's movements had grown even sharper due to her unrelenting concentration, the physical specs of Albert were out of this world.
She had already used {Burst Edge}  twice, but unfortunately, both of them had missed.
Obviously, the second {Shining}  had also missed, he avoided it by guarding his eyes with his arm.
Even then, we had managed to drop his HP to around half by piling up small hits, however, it hasn't decreased for a long time now.
Isn't there a way to deal with this situation...?
No, I should focus on healing before thinking of that. Yumir's remaining HP is at around 30% now.
Since {Healing Plus}  is on CD, let's place a {Area Heal}  carefully.
[Damn it, even though they are both wearing heavy equipment they are moving really fast...there!]  (Hind)
Being somehow able to endure until the casting finished, Yumir's HP was back to full while she continued fighting.
However, is this girl so focused that she hasn't noticed the magic circle at her feet?
She hasn't looked away from Albert at all.
The arena is also unusually silent...they are all holding their breaths while looking at both of them fighting.
I want to get her a win somehow but...
[We won't lose...! Like hell we are going to lose! We are winning! We are going to win!]  (Yumir)
The shout that seemed to come out from deep inside Yumir surprised me.
...I want to get her a win? That's wrong, right?
How long am I going to look at this fight with cold eyes as if it didn't concern me?
That this is just a game or the fact that we don't lose anything even if we lose...those are just excuses.
I also want to win. With both of our strength, against this man.
[In that case, guess there's only one thing for me to do.]  (Hind)
I muttered that to fire myself up and looked towards the seat where Riizu was sitting at.
I mean, she did plead to me quite strongly to never use this skill after all.
Strangely enough, even from this distance, I could clearly see the facial expression of my little sister.
She probably guessed my intentions and her eyes were wavering with a hint of sadness...but eventually, she gave me a small nod.
I got her permission. All that's left is to...
[Yumir, give me twenty seconds!]  (Hind)
[...!! I got it, leave it to me!]  (Yumir)
When I gave her the instruction to endure for twenty seconds without healing, Yumir replied like that.
The buff from that skill is on another level from normal buffs.
If I'm going to use it, I'll cast all the physical buffs again!
[I have no idea what you are scheming but...I can already see through your movements. There's no way for you two to win anymore!]  (Albert)
[Hah, I wonder about that. Don't go looking down on us that much!]  (Yumir)
Got enough MP, first off I'll start with {Attack Up}  and {Guard Up}  to raise Yumir's stats.
Then I used {Shining}  to distract Albert a little bit while I used {Healing}  to recover my own HP a bit.
{Healing Plus}  just came off CD so I used it to completely recover Yumir's HP.
And to top it off, I used {Entrust}  to transfer all my MP to Yumir...
[I'm leaving the rest to you.]  (Hind)
[...!? Hind, what did you just say!? Say it again!]  (Yumir)
I didn't reply anymore and went onto casting without losing any time.
The MP cost is 0, instead, it will use all of my HP.
At my own feet, a magic circle bigger than the ones for normal skills appeared and a dazzling light was released from it.
{Sacrifice}  was activated and the light that came from my body coiled around Yumir's and enveloped her in a golden aura.
[N-No way...this light, don't tell me!?]  (Yumir)
[Don't look back! Look in front of you! Guh...]  (Hind)
She has no time to be looking at me.
My HP was being reduced at a rapid pace and the usual feeling of having my body being torn apart permeated my body.
Yumir's profile showed her bitterness but she didn't turn back and focused on what was in front of her.
...Yes, that's fine.
[Interesting...if I can't beat both of you in this state, I won't be able to say I have taken my revenge for last time's loss! I won't do anything underhanded like waiting for the effect to run out! Come at me with all you've got!!]  (Albert)
[Here I comeeee!!]  (Yumir)
The hero aura mixed in with the golden aura and the cluster of light danced around Yumir.
With an intensity on a completely different level from before, the fierce sound of their swords clashing resounded throughout the arena.
[Uuh, guh...! Nuooooooh!!]  (Albert)
That sound quickly turned into another form.
Due to the overwhelming difference in defensive power...after seeing the fact that she was taking below 10% damage even when she took a direct hit from Albert's sword, Yumir stopped being careful.
She rushed in while taking being damaged for granted and took some of Albert's HP.
It's Yumir's usual offensive style that she used before the finals.
Albert's HP bar, which had stayed frozen for quite a while, started to show signs of moving again.
Albert, who saw that he was at a disadvantage, also stopped defending.
He activated {Berserker Edge}  and took some of Yumir's HP.
Furthermore, red light enveloped his sword. He had started charging up {Rampage} , a powerful skill of the Heavy Warrior class.
[Yumi...my body...my voice too, it's not coming out...]  (Hind)
If Yumir takes that skill head on even in her current state with {Sacrifice} , she will definitely get knocked out.
However, my warning couldn't reach her. Rather than that, my view has turned blurry and I can't see what's going on properly anymore.
In order to reply to Albert's actions, Yumir used {Act of desperation}  and took a thrusting stance to use {Burst Edge} .
After seeing that last thing, my body crumbled on top of the magic circle. I can't put any strength into my limbs.
...Wait, please wait.
It's too soon, just a bit more. Let me hold out until the match is decided at least...
However, my HP bar heartlessly kept going down...and immediately after I heard the familiar sound of an explosion along with the sound of a slash...along with the sound of my surroundings, I was unable to feel anything anymore.
What I felt when I came to was warmth on the back of my head and back and someone's breathing.
What was there once I slightly opened my eyes was Yumir looking intently at me while looking as if she would cry.
[What's with that face...? Don't tell me, did we lose?]  (Hind)
I wonder if my voice is reaching her in the middle of cheers that feel like they would destroy your ears?
As a result, Yumir denied my question by shaking her head like a child.
I see, so it's not like we lost.
If she's denying the fact that we lost, doesn't that mean...!?
After standing up in a panic from my previous position of being hugged by Yumir, I started to look around me.
The first thing that came into view was a greatsword thrust deep into the stage with a multitude of cracks in it, and on the other side of it...
Was the body of the Mercenary Albert, lying face down with his arms and legs stretched out and showing no signs of moving.
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