第十九話 〈夢の穴〉
俺とルーチェは二人で都市ロンダルムを出て、この世界では初となる〈
〉とは、眠れる神アルザロスの見る悪夢なのだ。
元々アルザロスは、想像を現実のものにする創造の神であった。
人間には到底理解できないような長い年月を掛けて、無の世界に神々を生み出し、世界を造った。
だが、永遠にも等しい時間の中で、絶対の神であったアルザロスは正気を失い、自身の生み出した神々によって封印されることになったのだ。
しかし、今なおアルザロスの悪夢は現実へと影響を及ぼす。
アルザロスの悪夢は、異形の化け物......魔物を生み出す門を現実世界に造り出す。
魔物は不安定な存在であるため、消滅すればその肉体は溶けて崩れ落ちる。
そして魔物の核である魔石や、アルザロスのマナの片鱗が変質化したアイテムだけが後に残るのだ。
長く放置していれば、この世界へと魔物達を送り出し続けることになる。
ただ、都市近辺に発生した〈
俺の知っている〈マジックワールド〉の国や情勢とは異なっていたが、どうやら神々は共通のようだった。
もしかしたら時代や場所が違うのかもしれないが、調べてもゲーム時代の国々はまるで出てこないため、現状それ以上のことはわからない。
まあ、こんな世界だ。文明が滅ぶのも、さして珍しいことだとは思えない。
痛ましい話ではあるが。
「既に説明してあるが、今回潜るのは〈天使の玩具箱〉だ」
「......あのぅ、疑ってるわけじゃないんですが、本当に大丈夫なんでしょうか? 推奨は【Lv:50】以上でしたよね」
ルーチェが不安げに俺へと尋ねた。
「問題ない、それは攻略推奨レベルだ。〈天使の玩具箱〉に出てくる魔物の各情報は頭に入っている」
軽く調べた限り、その辺りの仕様もこの世界では共有している。
「俺達はあくまで、低階層でレベル上げに丁度いい魔物を狩るだけだ。敵は俺が引き付けるから、ルーチェはそのナイフ......〈鉄石通し〉で敵を倒してくれ」
「そそっ......そうですね。こんな高価なもの買ってもらっちゃったんだから、頑張らないと......! 弱気になってちゃダメですよね!」
ルーチェはばんばんと自分の頬を張って、気合を入れていた。
ルーチェの今持っている武器......〈鉄石通し〉は、俺が
〈鉄石通し〉《推奨装備Lv:18》
このナイフは堅い相手にも攻撃を通しやすい。
攻撃成功時、相手の防御力の値を【15%】軽減してダメージ計算を行う。
〈鉄石通し〉は防御力の高い相手にダメージを通しやすい。
そのためレベル上の魔物を討伐してレベル上げを行うのに最適なのだ。
ただ、普通に使えば同ランク帯の武器より大分劣る。
おまけにそもそも格上相手は攻撃を通すことより凌ぐことの方が遥かに難しいので、優れた効果ではあるが、あまり〈マジックワールド〉でも採用されないタイプの武器ではある。
しかし、ルーチェのスキルと俺のスキル......そして〈天使の玩具箱〉でのレベル上げには、これが最適の装備だと俺は判断した。
最初ルーチェは『こんな高価なものは受け取れません!』と言っていたのだが、正直これを装備してもらえないと俺が困るので頼み込んだ。
今回のターゲットを狩るには、ルーチェが〈鉄石通し〉を装備する必要があったのだ。
〈鉄石通し〉の特殊能力は、彼女のあるスキルとシナジーを発揮する。
仮に俺が装備しても、今回のターゲットを討伐することはできない。
どうにか頼み込んで受け取ってもらった。
「あの! お借りした八十万ゴルドの分......命を懸けて戦いますんで! 仮にあのっ! アタシが死んでも、この〈鉄石通し〉は守りますから!」
ルーチェは両手で〈鉄石通し〉をがっしりと掴み、俺へとそう豪語した。
「......大切にしてもらえるのは嬉しいんだが、〈鉄石通し〉はいくらでも替えが効くから、自分の身を大事にしてくれよ」
「でで、でもまさか......五十万ゴルドの取り分で揉めて追い出されたところだったのに、ぽんと八十万ゴルドの武器を買っていただけるなんて思ってもいなかったというか......」
勿論ゴルドなんかより人命が大切だというのもあるが、八十万ゴルドなんて幸運ピエロがいればあっという間に稼げる額である。
正直、〈破れた魔導書堂〉の婆さんが本当に俺のために〈
俺が〈燻り狂う牙〉を手に入れるには、ルーチェを頼るしかないのだ。
もしルーチェに逃げられたら、〈豪運〉持ちと組める機会なんてまず訪れないだろう。
序盤を超えると、重騎士の低火力では格上殺しはほぼ不可能になっていく。
ソロ重騎士で金銭を溜めることは難しいし、レベル上げもままならなくなっていく。
パーティーを組めば人数に応じて対価は減る上に、俺の方針ばかりで動くことも難しくなっていく。
ルーチェのように対人関係のトラブルも発生するだろう。
おまけに〈燻り狂う牙〉はあの高額であるし、あれが売れれば次に店に並ぶのがいつになるかはわかったものではない。
この機を逃せば、〈燻り狂う牙〉の獲得は下手したら数年後になってもおかしくはないのだ。
「頼むぞ、ルーチェ。俺にはお前しかいないんだ」
「えっ、エルマさん、それどどっ、どういうことです!? あのぅ......アタシ、そっ、そういうの疎いんで、も、もうちょっと直接的に言ってもらえないとわからないっていうかぁ......あの、えっと......! あ、でで、でも、こういう言い方、よくないですね? 卑怯ですかね?」
ルーチェは顔を赤くして、淡い水色の毛先を指で落ち着かなさげにいじくる。
「何を言ってるんだ?」
......もう少し緊張感を持ってほしいところだが、大丈夫だろうか?
俺は地図へと落としていた顔を上げ、道の先へと目を向けた。
「〈天使の玩具箱〉の入口が見えてきたな」
森奥に、虹色の渦が巻いているのが見える。
Ch 19
Luce and I left Rondalm and headed for the Dungeon that will be the first I visit in this world.
In [Magic World] Dungeons were called Dream Pits, since they were nightmares seen by the sleeping god Alzaros.
Originally, Alzaros was the God of Imagination, with the power to make his imagination real.
In a span of time unimaginable by mere humans, he created the world by filling the emptiness with various gods.
However, during that nigh eternity, the omnipotent god Alzaros went mad and was ultimately sealed by the gods of his own creation.
Yet, even now, the nightmares seen by Alzaros have an effect on the real world.
These nightmares of Alzaros create gates in the real world that bring forth strange phantasms, better known as monsters.
Monsters are unstable existences, so when they die their bodies fall apart into particles.
That process leaves behind the magic stone that serves as the core of the monster, and sometimes an item changed by a small fragment of Alzaros's mana.
The longer you leave it be, the longer it keeps sending out monsters into the world.
However, Dungeons that emerge near a town usually get conquered by adventurers right away.
The countries and general state of affairs were different from what I knew from [Magic World], but it seems the gods were the same.
I thought that maybe this was just a different place or era, but even after searching for information, there were no signs of the countries I knew from the game, so I was unable to find out anything more.
Well, that's just how this world is, civilizations falling into ruin aren't that unheard of.
Even if it's tragic.
"As I explained before, the Dungeon we will be exploring this time is called the Angel's Toy Box."
"....it's not like I don't believe you, but will we be really alright? Wasn't the recommended level [(Lv:50)]  or above for this?"
Luce asked me, looking anxious.
"No problem, that's the recommended level for conquering the Dungeon. I know everything there is to know about the monsters that appear in Angel's Toy Box."
Just a short investigation and I can still use the information I have on these Dungeons too.
"We will be keeping this to hunting monsters that are best for increasing our levels on the first few floors. I will keep the enemies' attention on me, while you take them out with that knife....the Iron Piercer."
"T-t-that's right. You even bought me an expensive item like that, I need to do my best....! It's no time to be scared!"
Luce slapped her cheeks, trying to psyche herself up.
The weapon Luce has on her right now.... the Iron Piercer, is something I bought by spending the entire 800 000 gold I got for the Raid Quest.
<Iron Piercer> <<Recommended Level: 18>> 
With this knife it's easier to pierce through heavily armored opponents.
On a successful attack, the damage dealt is calculated as if the opponent's Defense value is [(15%)]  less.
The Iron Piercer can more easily damage opponents with a high Defense stat.
That's why it's perfect for killing higher level monsters, and therefore grinding levels.
However, when used in a normal way it greatly falls behind similarly ranked weapons.
Also, when fighting higher level opponents, it's much harder to survive their attacks than hitting them with your own, so although it's a powerful effect, not many people used that type of weapon even in [Magic World].
And yet, I judged it to be the most fitting equipment to complement our Skills in grinding levels in the Angel's Toy Box.
At first Luce was like 'I can't accept something this expensive!', but honestly I would've been the one inconvenienced by that, so I managed to persuade her to take it somehow.
To properly hunt our targets this time, Luce needed to have Iron Piercer in hand.
The Iron Piercer's special effect has a good synergy with one of her Skills.
Even if I were to use it, I couldn't kill our current target with it.
So I managed to convince her to take it.
"Um! For that 850 000 gold you lent me... I will risk my life as much as I need to! Even if I were to die, I will make sure to protect this Iron Piercer!"
Luce was gripping Iron Piercer with both of her hands and confidently declared.
"....I'm happy that you value it so much, but that Iron Piercer can ultimately be replaced, so try to look after yourself first."
"B-b-but, I never would've thought that after getting thrown out over a 500 000 gold share, someone would buy me a weapon that cost 850 000 gold just like that....."
Human life being more important than gold was of course still true in this case, but there was also the fact that earning 850 000 gold would not take long at all with a Lucky Pierrot in the party.
To be honest, I'm less than certain that the old lady from Broken Grimoire Company would hold that Skill Book for me.
I can do nothing else but rely on Luce to be able to obtain [Smoldering Fang of Madness].
If Luce were to run away, then it's all but certain that I won't have the chance to team up with another that has the [Great Fortune] Skill Tree again.
After the early game, the Heavy Knight's low firepower makes it virtually impossible to kill higher level opponents.
As a solo Heavy Knight it would be difficult to save up money and leveling up would also become a serious chore.
If we teamed up with others then our shares would be split that many more ways, and with our party members increasing, it would get progressively harder for us to move according to my plans.
Problems like what Luce had to deal with would most likely also come up.
In addition to that, the [Smoldering Fang of Madness] costs a lot and if it gets sold, who knows when it will be available for sale again.
If I miss this chance, then it might be another few years before I would be able to get my hands on [Smoldering Fang of Madness].
"Please, Luce. You are the only one for me."
"Eh, Elma-san, w-w-what do you mean by that!? Umm.... I'm a bit dense about things like that, s-s-so I won't understand if you don't say it more directly.....um, o-o-or.... I shouldn't be saying it like that? Is that unfair of me?"
Luce had a blush on her face and kept restlessly fiddling with her light aqua colored tufts of hair.
"What are you talking about?"
....I would like her to be a bit more mindful of the situation. Will she be fine like this?
I raised my head from the map I was examining, then looked forward.
"There is the entrance for the Angel's Toy Box."
Deep within the forest a rainbow colored whirlpool could be seen.
The Reincarnated Heavy Knight Who Was Exiled After A Supposed Big Miss Is Unparalleled With His Game Knowledge
大ハズレだと追放された転生重騎士はゲーム知識で無双する
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-reincarnated-heavy-knight-who-was-exiled-after-a-supposed-big-miss-is-unparalleled-with-his-game-knowledge/
Action Adventure Fantasy Romance Shounen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alchemy Arrogant Characters Artifacts Blacksmith Calm Protagonist Clever Protagonist Determined Protagonist Dungeons Fallen Nobility Fantasy World Game Elements Guilds Hot-blooded Protagonist Level System Love Interest Falls in Love First Lucky Protagonist Male Protagonist Mystery Solving Naive Protagonist Nobles Poor to Rich Previous Life Talent Reincarnated in a Game World Romantic Subplot Skill Books Strategic Battles Strong Love Interests Strong to Stronger Sword Wielder Underestimated Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n8465gx/
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