土を撒き終わった後は固い部分を耕し、盛り上がった部分を均してと続けている内にあっと言う間に時間が過ぎていく。
途中からは自分達の分の作業を終えたセレーネさんとリコリスちゃん達が合流。
「へあああああっ! 秘技、分身耕作! はっはっは、これで二倍の効率ぅ!」
「トビさんが増えたっ!? わ、私も負けません!」
「ならば私に続けリコリスぅぅぅ!」
ユーミルとトビ、加えてリコリスちゃんは終始とてもうるさい。
とはいえうるさいだけでなく最も働いているのも事実で、三人の居る区域は雑ながらもハイペースで耕作が進んでいく。
土に空気が含まれるから、高く巻き上げているのが一概に無駄とは言い切れないのが何とも。
「ハインドさん、三人の後ろに付いて丁寧に均しているセッちゃんが不憫なんですが......」
「そう思うんならリィズ、手伝ってきて――あ、サイネリアちゃんが気付いた」
そして仕事が丁寧な二人が勢いよく進む三人の後ろを追従するという、機能的な分業が成立した。
サイネリアちゃんは気が回る良い子だなぁ......。
「サイが居なかったらとっくに私達三人はバラバラですし、渡り鳥における先輩みたいなもんですよ?」
「......シエスタちゃん、気配を消して背後に立たないでおくれよ。あと、前にも言ったけどサラッと読心するのやめて」
「悪霊退散ッ!」
突如リィズが俺の背後へと向けて、握った土を飛ばして攻撃した。
しかしリィズの行動をシエスタちゃんは予想していたかのように、ヌルッとしたスローながらも滑らかな動きで綺麗に躱した。
「当たりませんよー、そんなもの」
「ちっ......! 逃がしませんっ!」
まあ、農業区はどうせ安全エリアなので当たってもダメージ自体は無効になるのだけど。
スキルや攻撃そのものは可能なのだが、それらがプレイヤーにヒットしてもダメージは一切入らない。
安全エリア導入前は、リィズがユーミルに膝カックンをしたら微量のダメージが入っていたんだよな......今となっては懐かしい仕様だ。
そのまま二人は土の投げ合いをしながら俺から遠ざかって行ったので、関わらずに放っておくことにした。
どうせどっちも体力ないから直ぐにバテるだろう......ああやって投げていれば土も混ざるし、別にそれでいいや。
自分の担当エリアを丁寧に丁寧に、単純作業は根気が大事。
それから暫く鍬を何度も振り下ろすこと小一時間、ようやくこちら側の土も完成に至る。
暑さにどこまで耐えられるのかは分からないのだが、取り敢えず一般的な薬草関連を植えてみた。
ゲームなので同じ物を植え続けても連作障害は起きないし、生育も物凄い速度で進むらしい。
現実のように余り細かいことを考えなくても、ある程度さえ出来ていればそれで上手く行く筈だ。
全体に適量の水を撒き、今夜の作業はここまでとなる。
「はい、終了ー。みんなお疲れさん」
「「「お疲れさまー......」」」
泥だらけの姿で皆が返事をしてくる。
ゲームのアバターに付いた汚れに関しては、一定時間経過するかステータス画面のクリーニングというボタンを押下することで元の状態に戻すことが可能だ。
が、疲れたのかどのメンバーも泥汚れをそのままにして座り込んでしまった。
重労働だったしな、仕方ない。
現実にはゲーム内の肉体的な疲労は持ち越さないけど......あ、そうだ。
「昨日の内にプリンを作っておいたんだけど、食べる?」
「「「食べるぅーっ!!」」」
「あ、あの、えと......た、食べるー......?」
セレーネさんだけ乗り遅れたものの、満場一致でおやつにすることに決定。
まぁ、このプリンだって食べたからといって現実でのお腹が膨れるわけではないけれど。
精神的な疲労は癒されるということで、俺達は休憩のため農業区を出てホームへと戻ることにした。
ホームの門が見えてきたところで、俺達は異変に気付いた。
誰かがギルドホームの門の前に立っている?
それを見たセレーネさんがオロオロし出した。
なのでヒナ鳥達と後ろに下がってもらい、俺達は人影の正体を探りに先行して進む。
近付くに従って、徐々にその姿に見覚えがあることに気が付いた。
「ハインド、なんか大きいのと小さいのの背中が見えるんだが?」
「ああ。しかも二人とも馬鹿でかい武器を背に担いでいるな......大剣と大斧」
「何でしょうか......とても既視感のある背中ですね」
トビが叫んで走り出した。やっぱりそうだよな。
しかし、何でアルベルトとフィリアが
取り敢えず簡単な挨拶を済ませた俺達は、ホームの客間へとアルベルト親子を通した。
『ヒナ鳥』の三人はプリンを食べたらそろそろログアウトするということで、お礼を言ってプリンを渡したら喜んでいた。
リコリスちゃん曰く、夜に甘い物を食べても太らないとか最高ですよね! だそうだ。
三人が自分達のホームに向かった後で、今度はアルベルト達への対応だ。
マームールというクルミとイチジクの入ったクッキーと、ハーブティを用意して出す。
するとフィリアちゃんが皿に乗ったマームールを次々と咀嚼して飲み込んだ。
......もしかして、気に入ったのか?
「おいしい」
物足りなさそうな雰囲気だったのでおかわりを出すと、それも一瞬で愛想のない口の中へと瞬時に消えていった。
うん、アルベルトの言う通りその内、背は伸びそうだね......良く食べる。
そんな客間には渡り鳥のメンバーが全員揃っている。
「立派なギルドホームを持っているな。ハインド、ユーミル」
「だろう!? 当然だがな!」
ハーブティを一口飲んだアルベルトは、建物の内装を見回しながら俺達に向かってこう言った。
ユーミルはともかく、俺は彼の飾りのない率直な賛辞に少々面食らう。
「あ、はい。周りのメンバーがみんな優秀なので......で、何の御用で?」
「兄貴、何か用があるなら拙者に連絡を入れて欲しかったでござるよ」
「すまんな、トビ。ハインドや他のメンバーの方々もすまない、突然押し掛けて。折良くサーラで傭兵仕事があったものでな、気が急いてしまった。......実は、今日はお前達に依頼があってきたんだ」
「依頼?」
この人が俺達に何かを言い出すときは頼みごとが多いな......と思っていると、インベントリから金貨を両手一杯に取り出してテーブルの上にドサッと置いた。
山になった金貨のいくつかが床にチャリチャリと落ちる。
俺達が呆気に取られていると、続けて今度は鉄とは違った質感のインゴットを取り出し、机の上は金属類で一杯に。
何だ何だ? 何がしたいんだ?
の新しい武器を作って欲しい。ハインドと......そこに居る、セレーネ嬢に」
遠巻きにこちらの様子を窺っていたセレーネさんが、アルベルトの視線にびくりと肩を跳ねさせた。
Once the soil we had scattered around solidified, we started plowing it, while we kept leveling the uneven portions of the land, time passed by in a flash.
While we were at it, once we finished with our part, we proceeded to go and help Selene-san and Lycoris and co.
[Aaaaaaaaaah! Secret technique, other self farming! Hahaha, with this, I'm twice as efficient!] (Tobi)
[Tobi-san multiplied!? I-I can't lose!] (Lycoris)
[In that case, follow me, Lycoriiiiiiis!] (Yumir)
Yumir and Tobi, Lycoris-chan too, were so loud from beginning to end.
That being said, even though they were noisy, it was true that they were the ones doing the most work. The areas they worked on were done at a high pace, although quite messily.
Since we need to mix oxygen into the soil, I can't really go and tell them that there's no point in plowing the soil so high.
[Hind-san, poor Secchan, she's politely following after them and leveling the plot...] (Riizu)
[If you really think that, Riizu, go help her...ah, Cineraria-chan noticed.] (Hind)
Thus, those two that did their work thoroughly followed behind those three, and they somehow split their work properly.
Cineraria-chan is a good girl that has her act together...
[If Sai-chan wasn't there, us three would be all over the place so...she's something akin to senpai in Migratory Bird you know?] (Siesta)
[...Siesta-chan, don't go hiding your presence and stand up behind us. Furthermore, I know I said this before but...don't go reading what other people are thinking either.] (Hind)
[Evil spirit, begone!] (Riizu)
Riizu suddenly placed herself behind me and threw the soil she had on her hands at her.
However, as if she had expected that action from Riizu, Siesta-chan dodged it beautifully with languid and smooth movements.
[You won't hit me with those.] (Siesta)
[Tsk...! I won't let you escape!] (Riizu)
Well, the agricultural area is a safe area, so even if she were to hit her with it, the damage would be nullified.
It's also possible to use skills and attack, but if those hit players, there won't be any damage dealt.
Before the introduction of safe areas, there was that time where Riizu kicked Yumir in the knee and it dealt a small amount of damage right?...That's sort of nostalgic.
Like that, they kept getting further away from me while throwing soil at each other, so I ignored them.
They both lack physical strength anyway, so they'll get tired soon enough...the soil will mix properly even if they just throw it like that, so it's no problem.
I worked on my designated area thoroughly. When it comes to simple work, patience is the most important thing.
From that point, I kept swinging the hoe down for nearly an hour and that section was finally done.
I'm not sure how much of this heat they'll be able to take, but for the time being, I planted some common medicinal herbs.
Since it's a game, even if you were to plant the same thing over and over, continuous cropping won't occur and they'll grow at an exceptional speed.
If we keep doing things while not thinking too deeply about it, things should probably go well to a certain extent.
We should sprinkle an appropriate amount of water and with that, today's work should be over.
[Alright, it's done. Good work everyone.] (Hind)
[[[Good work] ] ] 
Everyone replied while covered in mud.
Regarding when your avatar is covered in filth in this game, after some time passes, a "Cleaning" button will appear in your status window, if you press it, it's possible for your avatar to return to its original state.
However, it might have been because they were tired, but everyone was sitting down while still covered in dirt.
It was hard work after all, can't be helped.
Though it's not as if your physical body inside the game builds fatigue but...ah, that's right.
[I made some pudding yesterday, want to eat some?] (Hind)
[[[I want some!!] ] ] 
[Ah, E-eh...I-I want some too...] (Selene)
With only Selene-san falling a bit behind, we all decided unanimously to have a snack.
Well, even then, it's not like by eating the pudding we'll get full in real life either.
It would be something like healing our emotional fatigue. In order to rest, we left the agricultural area and went back home.
Just as the door to our home came into view, we noticed something unusual.
Someone was standing in front of the door?
Once she saw that, Selene-san started getting flustered.
That being the case, we left her behind along with the members of Baby Bird and we kept going to ascertain the identity of the figures in front of the door.
As we got closer, we started to notice something about these figures.
[Hind, I think I'm seeing the backs of someone really tall and someone short?] (Yumir)
[Yeah. On top of that, both of them have these huge ass weapons...a greatsword and a big axe.] (Hind)
[What's this...I'm getting deja vu  when I look at those backs.] (Riizu)
Tobi shouted and started running towards them, it was just as I had thought.
However, why are Albert and Philia in Sala...?
For the time being, we exchanged simple greetings and led the parent and child duo into one of our guest rooms.
The members of {Baby Bird} said that it would be time to log out after they finished eating the pudding, and they gladly accepted it once I gave them my thanks while handing it over.
According to Lycoris-chan, "Eating something sweet at night and not being able to gain weight is the best!", or so she says.
After they returned to their own home, now it was time to focus on Albert and his daughter.
I prepared cookies called Ma'amoul that contained walnuts and figs and herbal tea.
Once I did, Philia-chan started wolfing down the Ma'amouls I placed on top of a plate one after another.
...Don't tell me, she took a liking to them?
[They are tasty.] (Philia)
Since it looked as if it wouldn't be enough, I took out a second serving, and that too did disappear into her mouth in an instant.
Yup, it's just like Albert said before, this girl is definitely going to grow tall...she sure eats well.
While I was serving the guests, all the members of Migratory Bird gathered.
[You have set up quite the splendid Guild Home, Hind, Yumir.] (Albert)
[Right!? Though that was to be expected!] (Yumir)
Having taken a sip of the herbal tea, Albert proceeded to say this after taking a look at the building.
Leaving aside Yumir, I'm a bit taken aback by how frankly he gave that compliment.
[Eh, yeah. All the members around us have outstanding after all...so, what's your business here?] (Hind)
[Aniki, if you needed something, I wish you would have contacted me beforehand.] (Tobi)
[I apologize, Tobi. I should apologize to Hind and the rest of the members too, for suddenly coming unexpected. I just so happened to have mercenary work in Sala, so I was in a hurry. ...The truth is, I came here with a request for you.] (Albert)
[Request?] (Hind)
This person sure asks for a lot of favors whenever she starts talking to us...just when I was thinking that, he took a huge amount of gold coins from the inventory and placed it on the table.
The mountain of gold eventually started falling to the floor.
We were dumbfounded. Following that, he took out ingots that had a different texture compared to iron, the table was full of different kinds of metal.
Wait, what? What is he trying to do?
[With these, can you make m-...no, I want you to make new weapons for both of us. Hind...and that person over there, miss Selene.] (Albert)
Selene-san, who was looking at the situation from a distance, jumped in surprise once Albert directed his gaze at her.
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