「早かったですね。五分も掛からなかったのではありませんか?」
ユーミルに作った革装備に比べて、俺達の装備は布装備なので格段に作業が楽だった。
材料は周辺のモンスター全てが落とす『木綿の布』、それとキャタピラーが落とす『キャタピラーの糸』。
俺は『上質な司祭服+9』、リィズは職業を魔導士にするとのことで『上質な魔導士の服+10』を作製して装備させた。
やはりというか、『極上の』という品質の物はあれ以降は出来ていない。
レザークラフトよりも自信あったのに......どうやら俺が見落としている基準が何かあるらしい。
ユーミルは暇そうだったので、取引掲示板に他の極上装備がないか確認しに行ってもらった。
それとリィズ用の武器の調達。
武器に関してはレベルが追い付くまでは間に合わせという事で、取り敢えずは店売りの『ウッドロッド』を頼んでおいた。
リィズは残って俺の手伝いだ。
「......ユーミルさん、遅いですね。もう戻ってこなくてもいいですけど」
「さらっと酷いことを言うなよ。ま、でも確かに遅いな。折角だから、もう一つ装備を作るか? リィズ用に」
「私のですか?」
「ここは定番の三角帽子でも。設計図には無いから、これが俺の初のアレンジ防具ってことになるな」
実はちょっとやってみたかったんだよな。
一通り装備も充実した事だし、暫くは素材の心配をする必要がなくなった。
もし作製に失敗したとしても、今ならそれほどのリスクを背負うことにはならない。
全身の防具を作るのと違って、帽子だけならそこまで難しくなさそうだしな。
「兄さんの......初めて......」
「そうだけど? って、兄さんって呼ぶなよ。周りに誰も居ないからいいものの」
「――是非お願いします。兄さんの初めては、私がいただきますね?」
「そ、そうか。何か言い回しが変な気がするんだが?」
「気のせいです。さあ、邪魔も――ユーミルさんが帰ってくる前に」
言い直しても、それだともう邪魔者って言ってるのと変わらないと思うが。
あーっと......材料は『羊毛のフェルト』『キャタピラーの糸』『
まずは『羊毛のフェルト』に『紫根の粉末』をふりかける。
魔女の帽子といえばこの色、黒でしょう。
魔導士の服も黒だしな、合わせないと。
「粉をふっただけで、どうして生地が綺麗に黒くなるんですか?」
「ゲームだから、としか言えない。ユーミルもそう言ってただろ? そもそも現実とそっくり同じだったら、ゲームの意味が無いじゃないか」
「それはそうですけど......」
「じゃあこう言えばどうだ? 遊べる時間の少ないプレイヤーの為に、利便性を追求したが故の簡略化だ」
「すごく納得しました」
「お前も大概、俺に似て理屈っぽいよな......」
実際、ガチガチに現実と同じ作業量を要求されたら他の事が出来なくなってしまう。
楽しくないだろ? そんなの。
あくまで、生産もTBというゲームの一要素に過ぎないということで。
それに簡略化された部分が魔法を使っているみたいで、これはこれで気持ちいいしな。
「ほら、ちょっと頭を貸してくれ。これで三角形を作って縫う。で――」
三角帽子はそれほど難しくない。
縫う部分も少ないので、さっと形を作り上げて細かい部分に手を入れていく。
麻布を細く切り、『
そして何よりも――
「やっぱり先は折れ曲がってないとな! ここは譲れん!」
「さすがだ、ハインド。魔法使いと言えば、先端がへにゃっと折れたとんがり帽子。これぞ鉄板! これぞ王道! リィズ、貴様そんな事も分からんとは......」
「!?」
「おー、ユーミル。遅かったじゃねえの」
「うむ、武器屋が混んでいて手間取った。それはハインドのオリジナルか? プレイヤーで装備している者は見た事がないが」
リィズの背後から現れたユーミルは、『ウッドロッド』をリィズに向かって放り投げながら俺の前に腰掛けた。
乱雑な所作にリィズの顔が渋いものになる。
また喧嘩が始まる前に、俺は少し大きめの声で会話を繋いだ。
「そうなんだよ。割と序盤にありがちな装備だろうに、何故か設計図が無くてな......お前が戻ってくるのが遅いから作ってみた。で、そっちはどうだった?」
「ああ、取引掲示板の方か? やはり、極上という冠詞が付いている防具は無かったぞ。それどころか、上質な+5~10でもかなりの希少品のようだ」
「そうか......まあ、全体の攻略が進めばもっと判断材料も集まってくるだろう。この謎は暫く放置だな」
「ハインドさん、この帽子はもう被っても......?」
「ああ、ちょっと待ってくれ。アレンジ装備は名前を付けてからシステムで性能判定、その後で使用可能になるんだ。ええと......三、角、帽、子......で、判定と」
メニューのコンソールで名前を入力、判定ボタンを押す。
アルミラージアーマーと同じ様に光に包まれた後、帽子が落ちる。
その帽子に触れて性能をチェック。
「......出たよ極上。放置って言ったばっかなのに。あー、混乱してきた!」
「出たのか!? 今回の物は、どれくらいの精度で作ったのだ?」
「そりゃあ、作るのが難しくないといっても極力丁寧にやったさ。というか、手を抜いた物は一個もないんだけだどな......」
「謎が深まったな」
「そうですね。私が見ていた限りでも、ハインドさんの裁縫の精度はほぼ一定でした。ということは、やはり見落としている何らかの要因が結果に関わっていると見て間違いないかと」
「......ふぅ、やめやめ。考えても分からんこともあるさ。それよりも、ゲームを先に進めようぜ? 今日はクラリスさんにクエストの内容を聞きに行かにゃならんし」
もうすぐ日付が変わってしまうしな。
俺は完成した『極上の三角帽子+1』をリィズの頭に乗っけてやった。
扱いは二つ装備枠があるアクセサリーのカテゴリのようだった。
防御力は+7、更に魔力にも+5のおまけが付いている。
比較対象が無いので、これが良いものかどうかも分からない。
が、リィズが嬉しそうに礼を言ってきたので、もう何でもいいか。
魔女っ娘らしい格好になってて可愛いしな。
裁縫セットをしまい、立ち上がって大きく伸びをする。
あー、VR内なのに肩が凝ったような気がする......戦闘が恋しい。
「ところでハインドさん。クラリスさんというのはどちら様ですか?」
「あー、クラリスさんは――って、何でリィズは杖を素振りしてんだ? 戦闘のイメトレ?」
「お気になさらず」
思いの外、非力なはずのリィズの手元から良い音がしている。
この分なら敵をきっちりと撲殺できそうだ。
妙に無表情でちょっと怖いが。
「道具屋のNPCらしいぞ。こいつが最初に村で引っ掛けた女だ」
「......ギルティ」
「人聞きの悪い事を言うな! 転んでた所を助けただけだっての!」
「そうですよね。ハインドさんがご自分から女性を誘う筈がありませんから......きっとその毒婦が......」
「こらこら。彼女にそういう意図はないと思うぞ? どっちかって言うと、人としてどうかっていう品定めをされている感じはしたけどな」
「どういう意味だ、ハインド? NPCがそんな高度な判断を実行可能なのか?」
「まあ会えば分かるさ。俺の予想が外れていなければ、だけど」
俺は頭に疑問符を浮かべた二人を連れて、村の道具屋へと向かった。
Riizu [That was fast. Didn't that take you less than five minutes?] 
Compared to Yumir's leather equipment, ours was made of cloth so it was far easier to make.
The materials used for it were the common drop from the monsters in this area [Cotton cloth]  and the drop from caterpillars [Caterpillar's thread] .
Mine was a [Good quality priest clothes +9] , and since Riizu's job was mage, I made her a [Good quality mage clothes +10] .
As expected, since that one, there were no more [First-rate]  items.
Even though I had more confidence in this than in leather crafting...it seems like there might be a criteria I'm overlooking.
Since Yumir looked like she had time to spare, I made her look for other first-rate gear in the trading BBS.
Then, procuring a weapon for Riizu.
Since the weapon is just for until she catches up in level, I made her buy a normal [Wooden rod]  from the shop.
Riizu stayed behind to help me out.
Riizu [...Yumir-san is late. Though it'd be fine if she didn't come back] 
Hind [Don't say something so cruel without any hesitation. Well, it's true that she's late though. Since we are already here, should I make another piece of gear? For you] 
Riizu [For me?] 
Hind [It'll be a standard tricorne. Since I don't have a blueprint for it, it'll be my first time making a personally arranged defensive gear] 
Actually, I had been wanting to give it a try.
For the time being, we have finished making our gear so we won't have to worry about materials for a while.
Even if I fail here, there won't be any risks put on ourselves.
Unlike crafting full-body equipment, I doubt just making a hat will prove to be that difficult.
Riizu [Nii-san...first...] 
Hind [That's right? Wait, don't call me nii-san. Even though it's fine since there's no one around us] 
Riizu[...Please do so. I'll be taking nii-san's first time then] 
Hind [I-I see. Though I think the way you worded that was weird?] 
Riizu [It must be your imagination. Well then, before that hindrance...I mean, Yumir-san comes back] 
Even if you try to correct yourself, it doesn't really change the fact that you already said she was a hindrance.
As for the materials...[Wool felt] ,[Caterpillar thread]  and [Gromwell root fine powder] , these three.
First off, I'll sprinkle the [Gromwell root fine powder]  onto the [Wool felt] .
If we are talking about the color of a witch's hat, it has to be black.
The mage clothes are black after all, I have to make them match.
Riizu [Just by sprinkling some powder on it, why did the cloth turn into such a fine dark color?] 
Hind [Because it's a game, that's the only thing I can say. Yumir already told you so, right? If it was the same as real life, it would lose the meaning of being a game right?] 
Riizu [That's also true but...] 
Hind [Then, how about this? They simplified it so it would be convenient for those players that don't have much time to play] 
Riizu [I can accept that reasoning] 
Hind [You are for the most part, as argumentative as me, huh...] 
In reality, if crafting was the same as real life, I'd be unable to make other things they request me to do.
That wouldn't be fun, right?
To begin with, crafting is just one small part of TB.
Besides, the simplified parts feel like you are using magic, and that feels good.
Hind [Look, let me your head for a moment. With this, I'll sew the tricorne and finish it...] 
A tricorne wasn't too difficult to make.
The portions that need sewing are not many, once you make the shape, the small details can be done by hand.
I cut a thin piece of linen, and sprinkled [Crimson flower fine powder]  to dye it into a red ribbon, then coiled it around the tricorne.
More importantly...
Hind [As expected the end won't bend! This is a part I can't give up on!] 
Yumir [As expected of you, Hind! If we are talking about mages, the pointy hats must bend. This is a must! This is the right way to do it! Riizu, to think you wouldn't even know this...] 
Riizu [!?] 
Hind [Oh, Yumir. Aren't you late?] 
Yumir [Fumu, the weapon shop was crowded so I got delayed. Is that an original made by you, Hind? I don't think I've seen any players wearing that] 
After appearing from behind Riizu, Yumir threw the [Wooden rod]  towards Riizu and proceeded to sit in front of me.
Being in disarray, Riizu's expression turned bitter.
Before it turns into another fight, I'll try to advance the conversation in a loud voice.
Hind [That's right. Even though it should have been something common at launch, there's not a blueprint for it...since you were late in coming back, I decided to make it. So, how was it on your end?] 
Yumir [Oh, you mean the trading BBS? As expected, there was no defensive gear with the first-rate name on them. Besides that, good quality +5~10 items are quite rare.] 
Hind [I see...well, once they make more progress on full walkthrough sites, more evidence should come up. Let's leave this mystery aside for now] 
Riizu [Hind-san, can I put on this hat already...?] 
Hind [Oh, wait for a bit. For original equipment, the system will asses its performance once you give them a name, they'll be available for use after that. Let's see...tri...cor...ne...and verification] 
I inputted the name in the menu console and pressed the verification button.
Like with the Al-Miraj armor, it was wrapped in light and then fell down.
Then I touched the hat and checked its performance.
Hind [...It appeared again, first-rate. Even though I just said we should leave it aside for now. Ah, I'm getting confused!] 
Yumir [It did!? How precise was your work this time?] 
Hind [Well, even though it wasn't really hard, I made it to the best of my own ability. That being said, there was nothing in the process that was skipped...] 
Yumir [The mystery deepens] 
Riizu [You are right. As far as I could see, Hind-san's sewing accuracy was pretty standard. That being said, there must be something that we are overlooking that has an effect on the end result] 
Hind [...Fuu, let's stop here. Even if we think about it, there's stuff we don't understand. More importantly, let's continue playing the game? I have to go and hear the content of Claris-san's quest today] 
The date is going to change soon after all.
I put my completed [First-rate tricorne +1]  on top of Riizu's head.
The way it's treated is as one of the 2 accessory slots.
Its defense was +7, luckily, as a bonus, it also increases magic attack by 5.
Since there's nothing I can compare it to, I don't know if this item is good or not.
However, since Riizu thanked me in a delighted way, that doesn't matter.
It's cute how she looks like a witch after all.
I closed the sewing set, stood up and started stretching.
Ah, even though it's inside a VR game, my shoulders are stiff...I want to fight.
Riizu [That being said, Hind-san. Who is this Claris-san you speak of?] 
Hind [Ah, Claris-san is...wait, why are you swinging your staff like that? Image training?] 
Riizu [Please, don't mind me] 
Unexpectedly, even though she shouldn't be that skilled at it, a good sound came from Riizu's swings.
At this rate, it wouldn't be so weird if she could beat her enemies to death.
Though, the fact that she had a strange blank look on her face was quite scary.
Yumir [Seems like she's the NPC of the second-hand shop. The first woman he hooked in the village] 
Riizu [...Guilty] 
Hind [Don't say things that will have a bad effect on someone's reputation! I only helped her when she fell down!] 
Riizu [That's right. There's no way that Hind-san would have asked a woman out on his own...that evil woman must have...] 
Hind [Hey, I don't think she was designed that way? If I had to say, it felt like I was talking with another human] 
Yumir [What do you mean, Hind? Are NPCs able to execute such advanced decisions?] 
Hind [Well, you'll see once you meet her. If it goes the same way as I expect it to] 
I headed to the second-hand shop while question marks appeared on top of their heads.
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