191話 盟友の参上
「かなり立派な都市だな......」
グラントール王国の首都、『雷炎を
リリィさんが頭上を仰ぎ見ながら、小神殿と小神殿の間を空中で往来する舟を凝視する。俺もそれに釣られながら周囲をじっくりと観察してゆく。
街と神殿の融合、とでも言ったらいいのだろうか、住民の生活区画には古い石質建築群も見受けられ、上空で舟が移動しているのもあって、都市全体がまるで水底に沈んでしまった遺跡のようだと錯覚してしまう。
「これのどの辺が......雷炎を
「早い話、水中都市って言った方がしっくりくるな」
もちろんここは水中であるはずないけれど、親友達が指摘する通り雷と炎の要素がこれっぽっちもない。
「とにかく、グラントール継承戦争のクエストを受けるにはどこに行けばいいんだろ?」
そこから停泊している小舟を管理する衛兵らしきNPCに掛け合ってもらい、都市中央部に見える城に乗り継いで行くそうだ。
「俺達以外にも、小舟を利用している
ちなみに倒しても倒しても、衛兵は詰め所からは無限にリポップしてくるそうだ。
つまり現在、この町にいれるのはイグニトール姫王家に敵対していない
「ただ、この町にいるってだけかもよ?」
「もちろん、観光って線もあるね」
「姫王家と反乱軍、どっちからクエ受注するか決めかねてるだけかもな」
そんな憶測を言い合いながら、一つの小舟に二人ずつ乗船していく。どうやら重量制限があるらしい。合計4隻で、都市での空中上船を楽しむ事になった。
舟の先端では案内役を買って出てくれたNPCが、オールを漕いで進めていくのだけど......どんな原理で小舟が浮いてるのか非常に気になった。
「どうやって、この船は浮いてるのですか?」
試しに漕ぎ手のNPCに聞けば、特別な機密事項でもないようですんなりと返答してくれる。
の間に電気の魔法結界が張り巡らされていてね。目には見えん力じゃが、わしらはこの結界を『電子の海』と呼んでいる。その魔法特性にやんわりと反発する素材を、舟やオールに使用しているだけじゃよ」
なるほど......磁石のN極とS極のような性質を利用して、こんな空飛ぶ舟を実現できたのか。
何か錬金術のヒントになりそうだな。
「ふぉっふぉ。傭兵さん、こんなゴンドラで驚いてたら、イグニトール王家が誇る『鋼鉄の玉座』なんか目にした日にゃ、腰を抜かすじゃろうなぁ......」
「『鋼鉄の玉座』?」
漕ぎ手の語りに興味を示すと、その初老は何かを崇拝するような、畏敬の念を浮かべた眼差しを空に向けて語り出す。
「わしが若い頃は、よく
『鋼鉄の玉座』とは、巨大な鋼鉄製の戦船でかなり頑丈であるようだ。しかも『電子の海』を必要とせず、どこへでも飛んで行ける代物で、先代の王様が率いた際には敵軍の上空から一方的に炎と雷の魔法を、王や騎士達が砲火していくという、とんでもない兵器だそうだ。
「王城が落ちれば、国は終わる。ならば強敵をも砕く最強の王城をもって、空へと君臨し、宿敵を薙ぎ払えば良い。守るぐらいなら攻め立てよ。そう豪語なさった王様が率いる、攻防一体を兼ね備えた戦船は、まさにこの地に......この地の空に君臨する『鋼鉄の玉座』じゃった」
『イグニトールの民は、あの黒き大船を
「先代の王様は、『鋼鉄の玉座』を使役できたんじゃが......今代の姫さまは使えんのじゃよ......」
そう言って少し背を丸めた漕ぎ手は、『ついたぞ、傭兵さん』と溜息をこぼしながら舟をとめた。
噂の『鋼鉄の玉座』とやらが見れるのかと内心でわくわくしていた俺だが、到着したのは普通のお城の門前だった。
屈強そうな門兵が8人ほどずらりと並び、武器を構えながら俺たちの停泊を出迎えてくる。
「ようこそ、傭兵殿。此度の訪問の目的を述べて欲しい」
「継承戦争に加勢すべく、参上しました」
代表として夕輝が口上に答えると、門兵たちは厳めしい顔で頷いた。
「此度の反乱軍鎮圧へのご助力、感謝する」
「反逆者に死の炎槍を!」「不忠者に死の雷刃を!」
一斉に武器や防具を打ち鳴らし、号令を叫び合う門兵たちの様子から城内の士気はかなり高いようだ。
「では、傭兵部隊の管轄はラインハルト伯爵が請け負っているので案内いたす」
隊長格らしきNPCに城内へ促されるが、ふと隊長格が俺を凝視しながら立ち止まった。
「月のごとき銀の長髪、天使のごとく幼子の容貌......そなたはもしや、姫殿下のお命を守られた......」
ぼそぼそと呟き、思案顔になった隊長格はすっと俺の目の前まで近付き、質問を浴びせて来た。
「そなた、姫殿下とは知己であるか?」
マモルくんやジュンヤくんと、ポーンセントまでイグニトール令嬢の護衛クエストをした時に、少しの面識はあったので肯定しておく。
「で、あるならば、証を見せて欲しい」
証......あかし。
あ、そういえば護衛クエストのクリア報酬でもらった装備があったじゃないか。性能は低いけれど、NPCの店で売ろうとしたら4万エソの値がついた高額な換金装備『
それを隊長さんに見せると、即座に片膝を突いて頭を垂れた。
「やはり姫殿下の恩人でありましたか! 国を代表して深くお礼申しあげます!」
唐突な隊長さんのお礼に、周囲の門兵たちも一斉に傅いて頭を下げ出す。
そんな熱い歓待を受けた俺たちのPT内が驚くのは当然だった。
「えっ? タロちゃん、何かしたの?」
「もしかしてータロちゃんって、お偉いさんなの?」
「いつの間に恩を売りつけておくだなんて、なかなかやりますわね」
「はらはら、さすがタロ氏でありんす」
「なんて言ったって、天士さまですから」
晃夜と夕輝は事情を知っていたので驚いてはいないが、ちょっとだけ肩をすくめているのが気になった。
「姫殿下の盟友殿を警護せよ! ささっ、姫殿下の元へご案内させていただきます」
兵舎から10人程の護衛兵がすぐさま招集され、俺達を挟むように物々しく城内を案内してくれる。
たちが、何事かと目を見開いてこちらを観察してくるが、護衛兵たちの圧力に気圧されてか近付いてこようとはしない。
「タロちゃん......国のお姫様と知り合いって......」
「しかも顔パスでお姫様に会えるなんて......タロちゃん、何者」
ゆらちーとシズクちゃんの小さな疑問に、『タロはタロだよ』『俺らの錬金術士殿、だろ』と親友たちが軽い口調で答える。
その後、『普通人のくせに、ちっとも普通じゃない』と二人に笑われた。
193 191 Stories Alliance Ascendancy
"That's a pretty fine city..."
We admire the arrival of Ignistra, the capital of the Kingdom of Grant Thor, the Thunderflame.
As Mr. Lily looks over her head, she gazes at the boat that travels between the small temple and the small temple in the air. I keep a close eye on my surroundings while they catch me.
The fusion of the city and the temple, but should I say, the inhabitants' living quarters also see an old group of stone architecture, with boats moving over them, illusory that the entire city is like a ruin that has sunk under the water.
"I wonder what part of this... sounds like thunder."
"Quick story, don't be so tight when you say underwater city."
Of course it can't be underwater here, but as my best friends point out, there's no such thing as lightning and flaming elements.
"Anyway, where am I supposed to go to get my quest for the Grantor Inheritance War?
From there, they asked the guard-like NPC, who manages the berthed boat, to hang on and take over to the castle, which is visible in the city centre.
"Besides us, there are other mercenaries (players) using the boat."
By the way, whether you knock it down or not, the guards are going to lipop infinitely from the stuffing.
In other words, it is likely that currently only mercenaries (players) who are not hostile to the Princess Ignitore family can be in this town.
"Maybe he's just in this town, huh?
Of course, there's a line to sightseeing.
"The Princess or the Rebels, they just can't decide which one to order the Queer from."
With such speculation, two people board one boat at a time. Apparently, there's a weight limit. In total, four ships were to enjoy boarding in the city by air.
At the tip of the boat, NPC, who bought me a guide and got out, rowed the oar and proceeded... I was very curious about what principle the boat was floating on.
"How is this ship floating?
Ask the rower NPC to give it a try and they will reply with no special confidentiality.
"The magic of electricity is stretched between the cylinder (pillar) and the cylinder (pillar). Although invisible, we call this junction the 'Sea of Electronics'. We don't just use material that easily rebels against its magical properties on boats and oars."
I see...... could you use the properties like the N and S poles of magnets to achieve such a flying boat?
Sounds like some sort of alchemy tip.
"Whoops. Mercenaries, if you're surprised at a gondola like this, you'll lose your hips the day you see the 'Iron Throne' that the Royal Ignitol boasts..."
"" The Throne of Steel "?
When interested in the story of a rower, the old man speaks to the sky with an awe-inspiring glance, like worshipping something.
"When I was younger, I used to see it in battle... and it was a stormy ship that sent down flaming thunder into enemy forces like heavy rain..."
"The Throne of Steel" seems to be quite sturdy on a giant steel battleship. Moreover, it is a substitute that does not require an 'Electronic Sea' and can fly anywhere, and it is a hell of a weapon that the kings and knights unilaterally fire the magic of flames and thunder from above enemy forces when the previous kings led it.
"If the royal castle falls, the country will end. Then reign in the sky with the mightiest royal castle that will crush your mighty enemies, and destroy your enemies. If it's enough to protect you, attack. A battleship that combines defensive unity, led by a king who has spoken so loudly, is in this land... the" Iron Throne "that reigns in the sky of this land."
"The people of Ignithol rejoiced in victory when they looked up at the big black ship, and they often cheered," and the rowers' eyes, remembering the distant past, had a strong vision for the king.
"The previous kings were able to use the" Iron Throne "... but not the modern princess..."
The rower, who said so and rounded his back slightly, closed the boat with a sigh of 'Here we go, mercenary'.
It was me who was heartily excited to see the rumored "Throne of Steel", but it was in front of a regular castle gate that I arrived.
There are about eight tenacious gatekeepers lined up to greet us at our berth with weapons.
"Welcome, mercenary lord. I would like you to state the purpose of this visit"
"To join the war of inheritance, I came up."
As a delegate, Evening Fai answered his mouth, and the gate soldiers nodded with a stern face.
"Thank you for your help in this rebel crackdown."
"Give the traitor the flaming spear of death!" "Give the infidel the thunderblade of death!
Morale in the castle seems to be quite high from the looks of the gate soldiers who simultaneously sound weapons and protective gear and scream at each other for ordinances.
"I will now guide you as the jurisdiction of the mercenary forces is contracted by Count Reinhardt"
The captain-like NPC prompted me into the castle, but the captain-like stopped staring at me.
"Long silver hair by the moon, the appearance of a toddler by an angel... the princess's life was preserved..."
He shrugged, and the captainship that turned out to be his ideological face slowly approached me and asked me questions.
"Oh no, do you know His Highness the Princess?
I affirm that Mamor-kun and Junya-kun and I had a little familiarity when we made an escort quest for Miss Ignitol up to Pawn St.
"So, if there is, I want you to show me the proof"
Testimony...... testimony.
Oh, speaking of which, you had the gear you got for clearing the escort quest. It's an expensive redemption gear, the Flame Saint (Ignis) dagger, which has a value of 40,000 eso when trying to sell it in NPC stores, although it has low performance.
Showing that to the captain, he instantly poked one knee and drooled his head.
"Were you still the benefactor of His Highness the Princess! I would like to thank you deeply on behalf of my country!
In gratitude of the abrupt captain, the surrounding gate soldiers simultaneously bow their heads.
It was only natural to be surprised within our PT that we received such a hot welcome.
"What? Talo, did you do something?
"Maybe Tallo is a great lady?
"I can't believe you're selling me a favor at some point."
"Hara, that's Mr. Taro."
"I don't know, I'm a Heavenly Man."
Shaking Night and Evening Fai weren't surprised because they knew the circumstances, but I was concerned that they were shrugging their shoulders just a little bit.
"Protect His Highness's allies! Let me show you to Her Highness."
Ten or so escorts are immediately gathered from the barracks to guide us through the castle in a way that pinches us.
Occasionally, different mercenaries (players) open their eyes and observe this, but they don't want to be pressured or approached by the pressure of the escorts.
"Talo... you know the princess of the country..."
"And I can't believe I'm seeing a princess on a facepath... Tallo, who"
To Yuichi and Sizku's little question, "Talo is Talo," and "Our alchemist, you know," my best friends answer in a mild tone.
Then they laughed at me when I said, 'It's not normal for you to be a normal person.'
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