武器に関するアレコレ
「ご、ごめんね。ちょっと騒がしかったね......」
ひとしきり作業が終わると、ようやく我に返ったセレーネさんが頭を下げた。
それだけ鍛冶が好きなんだなぁ......と感心してしまう。
別に俺もユーミルもあまり気にしていない。
「ふむ。セッちゃんはおとなしいから、たまに騒がしいくらいで丁度いいぞ」
「食う時と寝る時以外、常に騒がしいお前が言うと説得力があるな」
俺が皮肉を含んだ発言をすると、それを聞いたユーミルがこちらを向いて驚愕の表情を浮かべた。
「何......だと......?」
「自覚なかったのか!? 嘘だろお前!?」
「あ、あはは......じゃ、じゃあ帰ろっか、二人とも」
周辺にはもう、採取可能な光を放っているポイントは存在しない。
完全に取れるだけ取り尽くした形だ。
容量一杯になったインベントリと共に、俺達は再びラクダに乗り込んだ。
帰る道すがら、セレーネさんが武器防具に関する要望を聞いてくる。
「それで、戻ったら早速武器製作から始めようと思うんだけど。二人とも、どんな武器が良いかな? 今の内に方向性だけでも知っておきたいんだけど」
「むーん。ハインド、どう思う?」
「俺に訊くのかよ。じゃあ質問を返すけど、ユーミルは戦闘中の防御に関してどう思う?」
騎士は片手剣の場合、逆の手に『盾』を装備可能だ。
確か中学生三人組のリコリスちゃんが盾を装備していたな。
あの子はユーミルと違って防御型だったと思うけど。
ユーミルは上を向いて一瞬だけ考えるそぶりを見せたが、次に出た言葉は非常にらしいもので。
「面倒だ! 避けた方が早い!」
というものだった。
俺とセレーネさんは顔を見合わせて苦笑いだ。
となると、攻撃力に特化した剣で良いということになる。
「避けられるなら、だがな。じゃあもう一つ。今、お前が使っている武器に関してどう思う? 軽いとか重いとか、剣が長いとか短いとか」
「もう少し重くても大丈夫だぞ。あと、ラクダから攻撃が届くようにして欲しい! 今のやつよりも長めに作ってくれ!」
「......だそうです、セレーネさん。イメージ湧きましたか?」
セレーネさんは一つ頷くと、ユーミルに質問を重ねた。
まだイメージを固めきるには意見が足りないようだ。
「ユーミルさんって、武器を振る時は基本的に両手で持ってるよね? どうして?」
「そうだな。その方が力が入るだろう?」
そこまでの話を受けて、セレーネさんがうーんと唸る。
まとめると両手持ち、ブロードソードより刀身を長く、多少の重量増加は問題無し、というのが主な条件のようだが。
「じゃあツーハンデッドソード......だと、大き過ぎるか。バスタードソード......も、何だかしっくりこない。ハインド君はどう思う?」
「だったら無難にロングソードでどうでしょう? バスタードソードだと、セレーネさんの言う通りユーミルには些か扱いが難しいのではないかと」
「そうだね。それがいいかも」
バスタードソードは片手・両手の使い分けに加え、切るだけでなく突きにも使える玄人向けの武器だ。
現実での使用には専門の訓練が必要だったほどらしい。
これがゲームだということを考慮に入れても、大雑把なユーミルに合った武器かと言われると甚だ疑問である。
そのユーミルはというと、俺達の会話に大量の疑問符を頭の上に浮かべている様子。
「む? うん? 私にも分かるように話してくれ! 聞いたことがある名前がポンポン出てくるが、どれもピンとこないぞ!」
「ツーハンデッドソードは二メートル近い大剣。バスタードソードは一メートル超、ロングソードは一メートル前後の馬上剣だな。といっても、ただ長いだけの剣をロングソードと分類して呼ぶ場合もある」
「前に使ったグレートソードとは違うのか?」
「あんなに大きくて分厚いのは作らないよ。倉庫の売れ残りに幾つか参考になりそうなものがあるから、ギルドに帰ったら試しに装備してみてよ。ユーミルさん」
「うむ、ありがたい。そうさせてもらおう」
ギルドホームの機能として『倉庫』というものがあり、ギルド員は好きなアイテムを一定数、個別に保管しておくことが可能だ。
倉庫はいずれかのギルド員が『投資』を行うことで拡張可能で、現在の施設レベルは3。
容量に関しては今の所、特に不満の声を聞かないので暫くはこのままだろう。
俺も料理の食材、生産の素材などの細々とした物を倉庫に大量に預けてある。
インベントリの容量には限りがあるので、非常にありがたい機能だ。
今回も、必要のないアイテムは全て倉庫にしまってから採掘に出てきた次第である。
「それで、ハインド君の武器はどうする? 攻撃の手数を増やす為に、杖からメイスにでも持ち替えてみる?」
「あー......俺の運動神経の微妙さは、セレーネさんもご存知ですよね?」
「ま、まあね、うん。前に二人で戦った時に、後ろから見てたよ」
「筋力などは普通なのにな。昔から微妙に鈍いのが不思議でならん」
「陸上競技とかはそれなりだけど、球技とかになるとやばいよな......。なので、このまま魔力特化の杖で良いかと」
「ドッジボールで逃げるのは得意だったろう?」
「あれは良く見れば相手がどこに投げるか大体分かるから。でも結局、最後の方まで残っても瞬殺だったじゃん。てか懐かしいな、ドッジボール」
そういう位置取りの問題と、瞬間的な反応・動きを一緒にされても困る。
結論として、俺がメイスなんか持っても上手く使える感じがしない。
攻撃の為に自分から近付いた時点で、焦って平常心を失うのが目に見えているからな。
神官は魔導士と違ってメイスを持つとそれなりの攻撃力にはなるが、やはり防御の低さが変わる訳ではないので。
相手との交戦距離が近い前衛神官ならメイス一択と言ってもいいだろうけれど、やはり純粋な前衛と比べると対した攻撃力ではない。
「うん、そういうことなら杖で了解。そうしたら武器は今日の内に、防具は明日中に作るよ。自分の武器もついでに作るつもりだけど、リィズちゃんの武器も作っておこうか? タートル系のままじゃ辛いでしょ?」
「あ、リィズの武器は俺が作りますよ。ちょっと考えがあるんです」
「何を作る気なのだ?」
「それは完成品を見てのお楽しみかな」
そのまま武器に関しての細かな相談をしながら、俺達はギルドホームへと戻った。
帰るなり、セレーネさんはホームの倉庫から沢山の剣を抱えて鍛冶場へと戻ってくる。
売れ残りとは言いつつも、どれも一級品の武器が並んでいるのが何とも。
それをユーミルが触ったり、実際に振り回したりしてはセレーネさんと感触について話し合っている。
「もう少し、柄の握りに余裕が......」
「じゃあ、こっちはどう? さっきのよりも......」
俺はその横で、牛の皮と羊の皮をあれこれ加工しているわけで。
こういうチマチマした作業を無心でやるのも楽しいものだ。
面倒な部分は簡略化してあるし、作り応えが足りないと言えばそうだが。
引き換えにサクサク出来上がるという別の意味での気持ち良さがあるため、現実とはまた違った充実感がある。
――よしよし、こんなもんか。ページ数もこんなもので充分だろう。
表紙の色は良く見る赤茶でいいか。リィズの属性を考えて暗めの色使い。
更にレザーカービングで模様を作り、閉じるための金具などを付けてそれらしく飾り立てていく。
後は、中身を書けばそれで完成なのだが......。
と、鍛冶場の入り口をノックする音がした。
「ただいま戻りました」
「おかえりなさい、リィズちゃん」
「無事に戻ったのか..................残念だ」
「......今、何か仰りましたか? ユーミルさん」
「気のせいだ。何も言っていないぞ?」
ちょうどいいところに帰ってきたな。
そうしたら、こいつの中身は本人に書いて貰うとしようか。
「おかえり、リィズ。帰って早々で悪いんだが、こっちに来て座ってくれるか?」
「はい?」
困惑するリィズを座らせると、俺はインベントリから赤黒い液体を取り出して作業台の上に置いた。
Chapter 66 - This And That Regarding The Weapons
[S-Sorry. I got quite noisy right...?]  (Selene)
A while after we finished working, Selene-san finally came back to us and lowered her head.
She loves blacksmithing to that point...I was quite impressed.
It's not like me and Yumir minded it that much.
[Fumu. Since Secchan is docile, it's just right for her to be a bit noisy from time to time.]  (Yumir)
[That coming from a person like you, who is normally noisy unless you are eating or sleeping, doesn't have much persuasiveness.]  (Hind)
Once I made that sarcastic remark, having heard that, Yumir looked at me with a surprised expression.
[What...did you just say...?]  (Yumir)
[You weren't self-aware!? You are kidding right!?]  (Hind)
[A-Ahahaha...well then, shall we go back?]  (Selene)
In our surroundings, there weren't any lights we could mine from anymore.
It was a sign that we had mined the place completely.
With our inventories full, we got on top of our camels again.
On our way back, Selene-san asked us about our demands in regards to the weapons and defensive gear.
[So, I was thinking about starting to make the weapons right away as soon as we got back. What kind of weapon do you want? I would like to know about our course of action right now.]  (Selene)
[Hmm. Hind, what do you think?]  (Yumir)
[You are asking me? Then, let me return that question Yumir, what do you think about defending in the middle of the match?]  (Hind)
When a knight uses a sword on one hand, it can equip a {Shield}  on the other hand.
If I remember correctly, Lycoris-chan from the middle school trio had a shield equipped.
I believe unlike Yumir, that girl is a defensive type though.
When I looked at Yumir, she showed that she was thinking about it for a second but...the following reply was quite expected coming from her.
[It's a pain! It's faster to just dodge them!]  (Yumir)
Is what she said.
Me and Selene-san exchanged glances and smiled wryly.
That being the case, making a sword specialized in offensive power would be better.
[What do you think about the weapon you are currently using? Things like if it's light or heavy, or the fact that it's long or short.]  (Hind)
[I think it'd be fine if it was a bit heavier. Other than that, I want to make it so that I can reach the enemies when riding on top of the camel! Make it longer than it is right now!]  (Yumir)
[...Or so she says, Selene-san. Did you get an image?]  (Hind)
Selene-san gave me a nod and continued asking questions to Yumir.
Seems like she didn't have enough opinions to solidify the image yet.
[Yumir-san, you usually swing your weapon with both hands right? Why is that the case?]  (Selene)
[Let's see. Aren't you able to put more strength into it that way?]  (Yumir)
Having been told that, Selene-san let out a "Hmm".
Summarizing, it has to be held with both hands and the blade should be longer than an arming sword, increasing the weight a little is no problem, those are the main requirements.
[In that case a Zweihander...would be too big huh? A bastard sword...too, I can't seem to get a clear image. Hind-kun, what do you think?]  (Selene)
[In that case, what about a longsword since it's a safe choice? If it was a bastard sword, just as you have said, it might be a bit difficult for Yumir to handle.]  (Hind)
[You are right. That might be a good choice.]  (Selene)
Adding to the fact that they can be used with either one hand or two hands, the bastard sword can't only be used to cut but it's a weapon that can also be used to thrust.
In order to use them in real life, it seems like you needed to do special training.
Even if we took into consideration the fact that this is a game, I really doubt that it's a weapon that fits Yumir, who is very rough. (TL note: as in not precise)
That same Yumir was listening to our conversation and a large amount of question marks floated over her head.
[Nuh? Hmm? Talk in a way I can understand you! I keep hearing names that sound familiar but they don't come to mind!]  (Yumir)
[A Zweihander is a big sword that's close to 2 meters. A bastard sword is over 1 meter, a long sword is around 1 meter and is a sword that's used in horse riding.
[Are they different from that greatsword I used before?]  (Yumir)
[I won't be making one so big and bulky. I've got quite a few unsold ones in the storage that we could try out as a reference, so let's test them out after we go back to the guild, Yumir-san.]  (Selene)
[I see, that would help. Let's do just that.]  (Yumir)
Among the features of the guild home there's something called a {Storage} , the guild members can deposit a fixed amount of the items they want in it.
It is possible to extend the facility by {Investing}  at some point in the future, its current level is 3.
Given its current capacity, there weren't any complaints voiced about it so it'll probably stay that way for now.
I also left ingredients for cooking and things like crafting materials in large quantities in the storage.
Since there's a limit to the amount of stuff you can store in your inventory, it's a feature that I'm quite grateful for.
This time too, we headed out to mine after placing the items we didn't need in it.
[So, what will you do about your weapon, Hind-kun? In order to increase the ways you can attack, will you try switching from a staff to a mace?]  (Selene)
[Ah...Selene-san, you are aware that my reflexes are not that good right?]  (Hind)
[W-Well yeah, yup. Last time we both fought together, I saw it from the rear.]  (Selene)
[His physical strength is also ordinary. Since we were little, it wasn't unusual for him to react slowly to things.]  (Yumir)
[It wasn't so bad in track and field events, but it was really bad when it came to ball sports...
[You were good at dodging in dodgeball right?]  (Yumir)
[Because you can understand where the opponent is going to throw if you look carefully. In the end, even if I was the last one standing, it would be my instant defeat. Dodgeball...that sure brings back memories.]  (Hind)
The problem is that if I try to react instantly and move at the same time, it'll be hard for me.
As a result, even if I had a mace, I don't feel like I'd be able to use it well.
In order to attack there's the fact that I have to get closer to them myself, they'd notice me getting flustered right away.
Unlike mages, Shinto priests can use maces and have considerable offensive power, but that doesn't really change the fact that their defense is low.
In the case of the vanguard Shinto priest that fights closer to the opponent, it might be a choice, but as expected, a pure rearguard won't have that much offensive power.
[Given the circumstances I'll make the weapons today, defensive gear will be left for tomorrow. I plan to make my own weapon while at it, but should I make Riizu-chan's weapon too? It'd be bad for her to keep using the turtle type right?]  (Selene)
[Ah, I'll make Riizu's weapon. I've got an idea.]  (Hind)
[What do you plan to make?]  (Selene)
[I'd say you'll have to look forward to seeing the completed product.]  (Hind)
Like that, we kept discussing about the small details regarding the weapons and returned to our guild home.
As soon as we were back, Selene-san carried in her arms a lot of swords from the storage and came back to the blacksmith's workshop.
Even though she said they were the unsold products, each one of them were first class weapons.
Yumir did things like touching the weapons and practice using them and she discussed her thoughts with Selene-san.
[I'd like for there to be a bit more of margin to hold the weapon...]  (Yumir)
[In that case, how about this one? It's more...]  (Selene)
I was next to them, crafting this and that with cowhide and sheepskin.
Making these kind of small things without anyone bothering you is also quite fun.
The problematic bits are simplified, so if you said that it doesn't give you the feeling that you are making them you'd be right.
In exchange, being able to do something skillfully felt good, it was another sense of accomplishment different from reality.
...Alright, something like this? The number of pages should also be enough.
I guess a reddish brown that is easy to see will work for the cover. I used a darker color taken into account Riizu's element.
Furthermore, I made a pattern with leather carving and added some metal fittings to close it overdecorating it.
Next up, by writing inside it should be completed but...
Oh, someone knocked on the door to the blacksmith's workshop.
[I have returned.]  (Riizu)
[Welcome back, Riizu-chan.]  (Selene)
[So you came back safely...such a shame.]  (Yumir)
[...Did you say something just now, Yumir-san?]  (Riizu)
[You are imagining it. I didn't say anything you know?]  (Yumir)
She came back just in time.
In that case, shall we have the person herself write inside?
[Welcome back, Riizu. Sorry for saying this right after you came back, can you take a seat here?]  (Hind)
[Yes?]  (Riizu)
Once the bewildered Riizu sat down, I took out a reddish brown liquid from my inventory and placed it on top of the work table.
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