295話 孤独を滅する錬金術士
「ボク、学校でさ......友達が少ないんだ」
近衛彩閣は目の前の【宝石猫】、つまりは俺に躊躇なく自身の内情を語り始めてしまった。
「代わりにキミがボクの友達になってくれないかな......? そう、キミはねこっぴ君だ」
どうやら俺の名前は『ねこっぴ』と決定したようだ。
うーん。あの気難しそうな近衛くんにしてはネーミングセンスにギャップがありすぎるな。
「学校じゃクラスの人達と歳が少し離れてて、何を話していいのかわからないんだ。本当は仲良くしたいんだけど......ボクは近衛神宮家の者として、優秀であると周囲に知らしめなきゃいけなくて......」
「うにゃにゃ」
「ボク自身の態度がとても、その、硬くなってしまってるのは認めるよ」
確かになぁ。
舌打ちはよくないと思うよ。
「コミュニケーションを取るのが苦手で、その逃げ道として参考書とにらめっこしてしまっているんだ」
夢中になって勉学に励んでいるわけではなかったと。
クラス内で話すのが気まずい時って、スマホいじったり本を読んだり、寝たフリして突っ伏すアレと同じようなやつか。俺にも何度かそういった手段に逃げた覚えはある。
「ゲーム内でも友達が少ないのは変わらない......猫を飼えるって聞いて、二日前からこのゲームを始めたんだけどね......すごいリアルだって聞いたからさ......」
「う......にゃ!?」
そこではたと気づく。彼は現実と容姿が同じリアルモジュール勢だ。
もし近衛くんと仲良くできれば、貴重な現実改変を認知できる仲間になりえるんじゃ!? おそらく彼はまだゲームを始めたばかりで、世界変革とこのゲームが関係していると気付けてはいない。
しかし、何かしらの変化が起きれば、必ず悟るはずだ。
「にゃ」
さっきちょこっと耳に入って来た『一匹狼』という単語が脳裏をかすめる。
「でも......ボクが猫を飼いたいから、クラン・クランを始めたって言ったらみんな笑うんだ。そんな事よりレベル上げしようぜって......誘ってくれるのは嬉しいんだけど、ボクが本当にしたいのはそういう事じゃないんだ......」
「にゃんにゃん」
「じゃあ現実で猫を飼えばいいんだけどね。今いる寮では、ペットの類を飼うのは禁止されているんだ」
「うにゃぁ......」
あーそういえばそうだったな。俺もあと三日も経てば入寮手続きが完了して、『日本皇立学園』の女子寮にぶちこまれるわけで。
俺にペットを飼いたい願望はないけれど、他人事のようには思えなかった。
「別に不満があるわけじゃないんだ。日本一の教育機関に入れてもらって、父様や母様を尊敬しているし......期待にも答えたくて、近衛神宮家の長男として将来は皇太子殿下をお傍で支えたい」
「いやー、うにゃぁー」
いやー、天才で努力家で、御家柄も良く、まさに意識高い系主人公やん。飛び級という結果も出せてて、なおかつ将来を捧げる
めっちゃいい子だなぁ。俺が小学4年生ぐらいの頃は『ゲームしたい、マンガ読みたい、遊びたい、お菓子食べたい』ぐらいしか考えてなかったのに、近衛くんは立派だ。
「でも、やっぱり......寂しいんだよ......」
「ゴロゴロうにゃー」
両親の期待に応えようと邁進しながらも、やっぱりこの年頃の少年が両親と離れ離れっていうのは寂しいだろうなぁ......。そして友達も作り辛いと。
なんとか力になれないか、そんな気持ちがむくむくと湧きあがって来る。
「みんなどう強くなるとか、新しいダンジョンのドロップ品が美味しいとかで......ボクは猫をどうやって飼えるかもわからないんだ......友達がいない......」
友達が傍にいない寂しさ......。
それは誰よりもわかる。
いつも一緒だと思っていたはずの
その漠然とした孤独感、そして心細さは痛いほどに共感できる。
少しでも近衛くんの寂しさが紛れるようにと、彼の脚にスリスリと頭をこすりつける。
彼は友達を欲しがっている。そしてあわよくばクラン・クランに詳しい人材も。
......いるじゃないか、目の前に、この俺が!
猫をペットにするなら『猫飼い』ってスキルが必要で、それを習得するには野良ネコにエサを与え続けると習得するんだ。この場でそう伝えてあげたいが、不可抗力とはいえ彼の内面を無断で聞いてしまった。
それを近衛くんが知れば、きっといい思いをしないだろう。
なら先輩として、ここは落ち着いて対処すべきだ。
まずは一度、学校でそれとなく俺もクラン・クランをしていると匂わせて――
「それにっ、それにっ......転入してきた隣のアイツだ......」
んん?
それはもしや、俺の事では......?
「あんなっ、天使みたいな子は......反則すぎるんだ。殿下もさすがのご慧眼......じゃなくて、ボクとあいつは同い年で、中等部の国際科にいるわけで、ライバルなんだ!」
「なのにッッ、あいつの顔を見る度に、動揺してしまう自分が情けないんだ......」
ふぅむ。その原因は何かな?
「なぁ、ねこっぴ。ボクはあいつを見ると顔が熱くなっちゃうんだ。どうすればいい?」
「うっ......にゃぁー」
いや、俺にそんな事を聞かれても......。
「お前みたいにとびきり可愛いんだ」
ぽそりと呟いては俺の頭をなでる近衛くん。
あー......なるほどなぁ。
ふむ。任せておくのだ少年。
俺はああ見えても男だ。
だから男の友情には詳しいし、むしろ先輩としてかっこよく振る舞って、所詮は外見だけの
「愚痴ばっかりでごめんよ。ねこっぴは、こんなどうしようもないボクと友達になってくれるかい?」
「うにゃにゃ!」
「あはは、ありがとう」
キミの悩みは全て網羅したぞ。
この仏訊太郎が、近衛くんの悩みを華麗に完璧に迅速にッッ、解決してみせる!
友達が欲しいなら、まずは手初めに俺だ!
それから俺は近衛くんとしばらく猫のまま散歩を楽しみ、『宝石猫の白銀しっぽ』による変身時間が解ける前に茂みの奥へと姿をくらませた。
「あれ、ねこっぴ? どこかにいっちゃった?」
寂しそうな声を背後に置いてゆき、俺は駆けた。
そんな思いを胸に、今日のところはひとまずログアウトした。
「ふぅ。明日の学校は気合いを入れていくぞ」
そのための準備は万全にしておかないとな。
俺はそそくさと、『近衛くんの悩み攻略』となるキーアイテムの選別へと取りかかった。
298 295 Stories Alchemist To Destroy Loneliness
"I don't have many friends at school."
Konbe Cai Kau began to talk about his inner feelings to me without hesitation, the [jewelry cat] in front of him.
"Would you be my friend instead...? Yes, you are, Kopi."
Apparently, I've decided my name is' Nekopi '.
Mm-hmm. Don't have too many gaps in your naming sense for that hard-looking Kingsguard.
"I'm a little too old for class people at school to know what to talk about. I'd really like to get along... As a Kingsguard, I have to let my surroundings know I'm good..."
"Uh-oh."
"I admit my own attitude is getting very, very stiff."
Sure.
I don't think it's a good tongue strike.
"I'm not good at communicating, and I'm glittering with reference books as a way out of it."
He said he wasn't obsessed and encouraged to study.
When it's awkward to talk in class, is it the same thing you do when you mess with a smartphone, read a book, pretend you slept and stick around? I remember running away to those means a few times, too.
"It doesn't change that I don't have many friends in the game... I started this game two days ago when I heard I could have a cat... because I heard it was awesome real..."
"Ugh... ha!?
That's when I realize. He is a real module momentum with the same reality and appearance.
If you can get along with Kingdom-kun, you can become one of those people who can recognize valuable reality alterations!? Perhaps he's just started the game and hasn't realized that this game has anything to do with world change.
But if anything changes, you'll always understand.
"Nha."
The word 'lone wolf' that just came into my ear blurs the back of my brain.
"But... everyone laughs when I say I started Clan Clan because I want to have a cat. I'm glad you invited me to take a higher level than that, but that's not what I really want to do..."
"Nanny."
"Then I wish I had a cat in real life. It's forbidden to keep pets in dorms."
"Ugh......"
Uh, speaking of which, you did. In three days' time, I will complete the dormitory procedure and be hit by the girls' dormitory at the Royal Japanese Academy.
I don't have a desire to have a pet, but it didn't seem like another HR.
"I'm not dissatisfied with anything else. I respect my father and mother by being admitted to one of the best educational institutions in Japan... I also want to answer my expectations, and I want to support His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in the future as the eldest son of the Kingsguard Shrine family"
"No, uh-huh."
No, he's a genius, hard-working, well-behaved, and just a conscious protagonist. Yan. I am also able to achieve the result of flying class, and I am eating up to a place where I can learn on an equal footing with His Highness (one), who is dedicated to the future.
He's such a good kid. When I was in fourth grade or so, I only thought about 'I want to play games, I want to read cartoons, I want to play, I want to eat sweets', but Kimbai is fine.
"But I knew... I miss you..."
"Gobbling up."
I would still miss the fact that boys of these ages are separated from their parents, even as they move forward to meet their expectations...... And friends say it's hard to make.
Can't you manage to help me, when that feeling swells up, it springs up.
"Everyone gets stronger and new dungeon drops are delicious... I don't even know how I can keep a cat... I don't have any friends..."
Loneliness with friends not beside......
I know that better than anyone.
I always thought we'd be together. Shaking night (Koya) and Evening Fai (Yuki) are... not here now. Don't even log in, I haven't even seen you in the game.
Its vague solitude, and finesse, is painfully empathetic.
I scrub my head slyly on his legs so that Kingsguard's loneliness can be disputed at all.
He wants a friend. And people who are very familiar with the Clan Clan.
... there you are, right in front of you, this me!
If you want to pet a cat, you need a skill called 'cat keeping', and to master it, you learn to keep feeding wild cats. I want to tell you that on this occasion, but I've heard his insides unauthorized, albeit force majeure.
If Kingsguard finds out about that, he won't feel good about it.
Then as a senior, we should settle down here and deal with it.
Let's start by smelling like I'm clan clan clan once at school.
"Besides, he's next door to me..."
Hmm?
Is that about me...?
"Amen, a child like an angel... it's too irregular. Your Royal Highness is just the same wisdom...... not me and that guy are the same age, we are in the middle department of international science, we are rivals!
"Yet whenever I look at his face, I feel sorry for myself for being upset..."
Hmm. What caused that?
"Hey, Kopi. My face gets hot when I look at him. What am I supposed to do?
"Ugh... ha"
No, even if you ask me that...
"He's so cute like you."
Kingsguard is my head when I squirm.
Uh... I see.
Hmm. I'll take care of it, boy.
I'm a man, even if I can see him.
So I'm familiar with a man's friendship, and I'd rather act cool as a senior and kick his ass at how pathetic (me) he is just looking. And let's have a hot friendship!
"I'm sorry for all the stupidity. Kopi, there's nothing you can do. Will you be friends with me?
"Ugh!
"Haha, thanks"
I've covered all your concerns.
This Buddha Xintaro will try to solve Kimbai's problems magnificently and perfectly quickly!
If you want a friend, it's me first!
Then I enjoyed a walk with Kingsguard as a cat for a while and let him disappear into the back of the bush before his transformation time by "The Silver Tail of a Gem Cat" could be solved.
"That, Kopi? Has he gone somewhere?
I left my lonely voice behind me, and I ran.
With that in mind, I logged out for the first time for today.
"Phew. Tomorrow's school is gonna get you in the mood."
We need to be ready for that.
I went on to sort out the key items that would be Kingsguard's Troubleshooting Strategy.
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