ッの錬金術士、リッチィィィィイ! デイッモンッッッッド!」
まるで自分が、大舞台に突如としてその姿を現した大スターか何かのように振舞う骸骨を前に、俺達の警戒度は頂点を容易く振り切った。
口調こそはふざけた道化に過ぎないけど、奴が身に
聞き覚えのある人物名を聞き、俺は思わず眉をひそめてしまう。
ここでもニューエイジ・サンジェルマンか......。
ミソラの森でこの名を初めて聞き、次に耳にした時は幽霊少年にして奴隷王ルクセルの口から出た名前。評判を判断する限り、かなりの凄腕錬金術士と予想はしていたけど......まさか、目の前の
デイモンドが声高らかに自己紹介を終えると、俺達の背後で硬く閉ざされていたはずの神殿の門扉が『ゴゴゴゴ......』と地鳴りを響かせるようにして、ゆっくりと開け放たれていく。
見れば、先程まで神殿の外部で同士討ちに興じていた、完全武装の巨人たちが押し開けてくるではないか。
扉から神殿内部へと侵入を果たした彼らは、俺達を取り囲むように整列し、一様に膝を折り|忠誠の意を示すかのように
傅
ッなる下僕にして奴隷のッ諸君ッッ! 今宵もいい月夜だッ」
圧巻としかいいようのない巨人達の隷属は、リッチー・デイモンドに向けられたものである。この途方もなく迫力のある現象を、全くもって意に介さないのは本人だけだ。さらにプレッシャーを感じる事に、この場の中心でもある彼は巨人達などには目もくれず、ただひたすらに俺達を注視しているのだ。
「師の名、『創
そして、聞き捨てならない文言を吐きだしたのも、また事実だった。
「リッチーと......融合?」
思わず、聞き返してしまった。
「いかにもッッ。そうだ、その驚きだッッ! 生意気にして、愚かなノアはワタシの研究を鼻で笑うだけだったが、本来はその反応こそがッッ! 真の錬金術士たる共通の認識なのだッッ!」
アンデッドの王、リッチーと融合したことも驚きだが、ノアという名前が出てきた事にも関心をそそられる......ノア・ワールドの事だろうか。
たしか今代の『創世の錬金術士』にあたる人物がノア・ワールド。ミソラさんはそう語っていたはず。
色々と尋ねたい事は山ほどあった。だが、相手は俺達を一ひねりで握りつぶせそうな巨人たちを
安易な質問は避けるべきだろう。
「アンデッドの王をどうやって......? 倒すのも一苦労なはずなのに......」
だからこそ、ケタケタと喋るリッチー・デイモンドが語った台詞を十分に考慮した結果、出した疑問がこれだ。どうやらノア・ワールドに良い感情を持っていない彼に、ノアに関する話題は禁物だと判断する。
「そうだそうだッッ当然の疑問ッッ! いや、ツィツィツィ
骸骨だから表情は読めないけど、なんだか決め顔で言い切った気がする。
なので俺は無反応はマズイと判断し、おずおずと口を開く。
たちからしてみれば......アンデッドの王を倒し、融合したなんて凄い事ですよ」
内心では、いつ戦闘が始まるのかヒヤヒヤしながらも、心からの畏敬を送る。巨人達をこの地に魂ごと縛り付けている所業を称賛することはできないけど、アンデッドの王と一つになったのは紛れもない偉業だ。
「ンーッンーッンーッ! キミはッすんばらツィ考えの持ち主だッッ!」
どうやら正解を踏んだようだ。
だが、事態は予測を遥か斜め上をいく。
俺はリッチー・デイモンドの頭蓋、眼孔の奥で光る暗い灯に見つめられ、答えに窮した。
これは......一体、どういう意が含まれた問い掛けなのだろうか。
チラリと横にいる仲間に視線を動かせば、みんなもこの状態が非常に危うい均衡で保たれている事を察しているのか、下手な発言は死を招くといった雰囲気で無言を貫き通している。
そもそも、モンスターだったらエンカウント後、即戦闘に入るのがクラン・クランのゲーム仕様だ。ならば、リッチー・デイモンドは安全だ、などと言い切れるわけがない。彼がNPC扱いされるのか、と言えば疑問符が浮かばざるを得ないのだ。なぜなら状況的にどう考えても、このダンジョンのボスキャラという立ち位置にいるのは明らかだから。元はNPCかもしれないけど、今では半分は確実に、いや、それ以上にモンスターである事が、何よりも見た目が物語っている。
そんなリッチー・デイモンドと相対して、ミナやアンノウンさんは、リッチーとの対話で力になれないのを面目なさそうにしている。
とにかく、質問を浴びたのは俺だ。
俺が答えるしかないし、それ以外ありえない。
さらに、この場で錬金術の話がわかるのは俺しかいないわけで、そもそも自分の錬金術の限界にぶち当たってしまったからこそ、突破口を求めてココまで来たのだ。
ならば、言うしかない。
「ほ、滅びと再生の錬金術士リッチー・デイモンドさん。あなたに、あなたのしてきた事に興味があります。非常に」
つまり、リッチー・デイモンドは『創世』の名を継いだノアの兄弟子にあたるわけか......。
「の、ノア・ワールドにも関心がないと言えばウソになりますが......今は、リッチー・デイモンドさんが、どうやってリッチーと融合を果たしたのかとか、どんな方法で巨人たちを蘇らせ、使役するのに成功したとか、いかにして
きない好奇心は身を滅ぼすッ。とだけ、ツィートしておこうッッ」
どこかで聞いたような台詞を吐きつつも、嬉々としてリッチー・デイモンドは両手を広げ、黄金の杖をカツンと床に叩いた。
「だがッッ、その好奇心なくして。不可能を可能にせしめることも、また成し得る事もできないッッ」
またも杖を床に突く。
俺達はその高い音が鳴る度にビクリとするが、彼はそんなの気にも留めない様子でのたまった。
「よかろうッッ。一つだけ、質問を許すとツィートしておこうッ」
そして、リッチー・デイモンドは再び、俺に匙を投げたのだ。
この一つだけの質問がいかに重要か......。
生唾を飲み込みながら必死に考える。
俺の質問一つで、俺達の命運は決まる可能性だってある。
アンデッドを使役する魔法?
しかし、欲張り過ぎてはダメだ。
警告は既にされ、条件も提示されたのだ。
でも、じゃあ一体どれに、俺の錬金術を一歩進化させる要素が含まれているのか、なんてのは皆目見当もつかない。
ならば、できるだけ得られる情報量が大きくなりそうな質問を浴びせればいい。
だけど、たった一つの質問で、どうやってより多くの情報を引き出せる?
曲がりなりにも錬金術士を名乗るのなら、これぐらい組み立てられないと。
短い絡みだったとはいえ、彼の言動から人柄を推測し、最も有効な台詞を発見するんだ。
リッチー・デイモンドのこれまでの喋りを、言葉を、性格を、分析し何が最適解なのか。
脳内で火花が走る程、俺はぐるぐると思考を高速回転させていく。
そして、その〈創世〉を継いだ弟弟子に対し『生意気で愚かな』と、敵愾心をむき出しだった。
の事を聞くこと。
錬金術の技術を直接問うのは悪手。
ならば、これしかない。
こんなことをしたのですか?」
俺は周囲を見回し、滅びと再生の錬金術士と同じポーズをとるように、大仰に両手を広げみせた。
「どうして、リッチー・デイモンドさんは......リッチーと融合し、巨人族の亡骸を復活させ、彼らの従属を成し、
歓喜に打ち震えたかのように、カタカタカタと全身を鳴らしながら笑うリッチー・デイモンド。
彼の背後で膝を屈しながら、幽霊のように存在感を消した巨人族の王と比べ、すごい温度差を放っていた。
「この偉大なる滅ビィッと再
"The eagle is the one that's doomed. Play (say) heh! Richie, the immortal alchemist! Dammond!"
Our alertness swung through the apex as easily as a skeleton that behaved like a big star or something that suddenly appeared on the big stage.
The tone is just a joke, but the red and black aura he wrapped around him boasted enough beauty to constrict this one just to be here now.
I hear a familiar person's name, and I unwittingly frown.
New Age Saint Germain here again......
The first time I heard this name in the forest of Mithola, the next time I heard it, I made it a ghost boy and the name came out of the mouth of Luxel the Slave King. As far as reputation goes, I was expecting quite a few amazing alchemists... but I didn't know the skeleton in front of me would name the most disciple of the alchemist surrounded by that mystery. Will the identity of the alchemist that I will pursue naturally finally be revealed when I come here?
When Damon finishes his vocal introduction, he slowly opens the door to the temple, which should have been rigidly closed behind us, so that it sounds' gobbly... '
If you look at it, the heavily armed giants who were interested in talking to each other outside the temple until earlier will push it open.
They broke into the temple from the door, aligned to surround us, and uniformly broke their knees | Fu "did not do" as if to show loyalty.
Of course, we are not the fu.
"Hey hey hey! My loyal servants, slaves! It's a good moon night tonight."
The slaves of the giants, which can only be described as rolling, were directed at Richie Damond. He is the only one who does not intend to intervene in this uninterrupted and powerful phenomenon at all. Even more pressuring, he is not blind to the giants or anything, but is just watching over us.
"It was the eagle who attacked the master's name, Genesis! That's right! I deserve the name of my master and the name of death," Rich "Wow, a king who can follow the undead. It's the eagle who has seikon to merge with this body! Even the world will change, the world will change, and the future means" Genesis. "You deserve to have an alchemist!
And it was also true that he spat out wording that would not be listened to.
"Richie and... fusion?
Unexpectedly, I asked back.
"Whatever. Yeah, that's a surprise! Be busy, stupid Noah just laughed at the eagle research with his nose, but it was supposed to be the reaction! A true alchemist. A common perception.
I'm also surprised that he merged with Richie, King of the Undead, but it also distracts me from the fact that the name Noah came up... Is this about Noah World?
Noah World is one of the most popular alchemists of our time. That's what Mr. Mithola should have said.
There were many things I wanted to ask. But the alchemist is powerful enough to get the giants who are going to crush us with one twist.
Cheap questions should be avoided.
"How do you make the King of the Undead...? It's supposed to be hard to defeat..."
That's why this is the question I put, after taking full account of the dialogue that Richie Damon spoke with Kettle. To him, who apparently has no good feelings for Noah World, decides that topics about Noah are forbidden.
"That's right. That's right. Naturally, I doubt it! No, no, no, no. There's no such thing as defeating Rich. Not there.
I can't read the expression because it's a skeleton, but I kind of think I said it out with my decision face.
So I decided that unresponsiveness was a mess, and I opened my mouth with a snack.
"I see. But that being said... from myself... it's amazing how we've defeated the King of the Undead and merged."
Inside, I send a heartfelt awe, even as I hiatus when the battle begins. I cannot praise the work that binds the Titans to this land with every soul, but it is an undisputed feat to be one with the King of the Undead.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
Apparently, you stepped on the right answer.
But things go far diagonally up the prediction.
I was stared at by Richie Damon's skull, a glowing dark light behind my eye hole, and I was stuck with the answer.
This is... what exactly is the meaning of the inquiry?
If we move our gaze to Chirali and his fellow lay men, does everyone also perceive that this state of affairs is maintained in a very dangerous equilibrium, and poor speech penetrates silence in an atmosphere that invites death?
In the first place, if it's a monster, it's Clan Clan's game specs that go into instant combat after the count. Then there's no way I can say Richie Damon is safe, etc. When it comes to whether he will be treated like an NPC, the question mark has to come to mind. Because no matter what you think in the circumstances, it's obvious that you're in the position of boss character in this dungeon. It may have been NPC, but now the fact that half of it is definitely, no, a monster more than that tells the story above all of its appearance.
In contrast to Richie Damon like that, Mina and Announ seem to be less serious about not being able to help in their dialogue with Richie.
Anyway, I'm the one who got the question.
I have no choice but to answer, and nothing else is possible.
Plus, I'm the only one who can tell the story of alchemy on this occasion, and it's because I hit my alchemy limits in the first place that I came all the way to Koko in search of a breakthrough.
Then I'll just have to say.
"Ho, Richie Damond, Alchemist of Doom and Regeneration. I'm interested in what you've done. Very"
In other words, does Richie Damond become Noah's brother who inherited the name of 'Genesis'...
"Of, it would be a lie to say that I don't even care about Noah World... Now I'm wondering how Richie Damond fused with Richie, how he succeeded in resurrecting and serving the Titans, how he created an artificial life form (homunculus)... and what I want to know about Richie Damond who made great alchemy happen"
"... the inexhaustible curiosity destroys itself. Only, let's tweet."
While throwing up a dialogue like he'd heard somewhere, Richie Damond was happy to spread his hands and slap the golden wand on the floor with a katsun.
"But heh, without that curiosity. You can't make it impossible, you can't make it happen again."
Also poke the cane on the floor.
We freaked out whenever that high noise sounded, but he didn't even care.
"Come on. Just one thing, if you'll allow me to ask you a question, let's tweet."
And once again, Richie Damon threw a spoon at me.
How important this only one question is......
Think desperately while swallowing raw spit.
One of my questions could determine our fate.
The magic of using the undead?
But don't be too greedy.
Warnings were already given and conditions were offered.
But then we can't all see what the hell contains elements that will evolve my alchemy one step at a time.
Then all you have to do is ask questions that are likely to generate as much information as possible.
But with just one question, how can we extract more information?
If you're going to name an alchemist by the bend, you have to assemble this much.
Even though it was a short entanglement, we deduce character from his words and actions and discover the most effective dialogue.
What is the best solution to Richie Damon's previous conversations, words, personalities?
The more sparks run in my brain, the faster I spin my thoughts.
And he was "busy and foolish" to the disciple who inherited the "Genesis".
Asking about him (...).
It is bad to directly question the alchemy technique.
Then this is the only way.
"How could Richie (...)... Mr. Damon (...) have (...) done this?
I looked around and let my hands spread wide wide open, just like the Alchemist of Doom and Regeneration.
"How did Mr. Richie Damond... merge with Richie, resurrect the remains of the Giants, form their subordination, and produce artificial life forms (homunculus)? What is its purpose and why? I'm interested in your (...) thoughts, not Noah"
Richie Damond laughs as if she trembled with joy, rattling all over her body.
Bending his knees behind him, he was releasing an awesome temperature difference compared to the King of the Giants, who had vanished his presence like a ghost.
"Richie the immortal (mezzi) alchemist of this great annihilation and regeneration! Damon's walking trajectory! Why don't you tell me?
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