315話 屍と踊り狂う幸せ
「うわあ......すごい光景だ......」
顔の見えない情報屋は、NPCゾンビにたかられ......それはそれは無惨にも肉を喰い散らされていく。まるで屍と踊る舞踏会の主役ばりに狂った足取りで、色々な部位が削ぎ落されていくのだろう。
「あ、師匠、やりすぎないで。こいつは実験材料になるから」
『ほぅッ? 我が愛弟子が言うなら加減してやろうッッ』
リッチー師匠は絶妙な匙加減で、亡者となった兵士たちや動物霊を駆使して情報屋の肉体を削ってくれる。
:【陰謀論者の左手】を入手しました:
:【絶望論者の足首】を入手しました:
欠損値や切断値が満杯になった部位から素材がドロップされていく様を眺めつつ、HPが全損しては実験終了になってしまうので適度に『
「なんだッッ、このバッドステータスは......!? 【部位殺し】だとおお!?」
乱れ叫ぶ情報屋を完全にスルーし、できる限りの素材採集に勤しむ。
:【暴言を生む舌】を入手しました:
:【呪吐きの喉笛】を入手しました:
およそどれも手に入れたくない代物ばかりの素材名だけど、組み合わせ次第では【合成獣の羅針盤】で良い悪魔の類が作れるのではないだろうか?
「絞れるだけ絞りとって後はポイってね。日頃からお前らがやってそうな事を真似てみたけど、あんまり気分は良くないかな......」
「おまえええええッッ! おまえごときがッッ! 姫プごときがあああ!」
彼はなけなしの気力を振り絞り銃口をこちらに向ける。しかし叫んだ拍子に開いた大口へ、猫の幽霊体が入り込み、モゴモゴと苦しそうに呻めきながらうずくまってしまう。
最後の反撃の狼煙はすぐさま鎮火してしまったようだ。
:【加虐者の心臓】を入手しました:
うん。
これにて終わりかな?
】において【貴族示談】が3分間のみ行われます:
おや?
:傭兵『ぺドリズム』の財産145万エソ......いくらもらいますか?:
:ぺド男爵領の領地......どこまで割譲しますか?:
:爵位・男爵......どこまで降格させますか?:
俺はログを流し読みして、即座に【ぺド男爵領】の領地システムを眺める。
「へえ、あんまり人々の生活はよろしくないようだ。でも鉱山開発だけはやけに力を入れてるみたいだな」
街や村のインフラ、食糧関係の設備がまるで整ってない分、NPC達に鉱山労働を強いる形で領地の経済状況はそこまで悪くはなかった。おそらく他領への売買もしているのだろう。
そして最も気になるのは貧しい世帯を対象とした【子買い制度】だ。端的に言えば人身売買、奴隷商売を手広く営んでいるようで、犯罪者しか入れない【鉄と鎖の腐敗都市ギルティガリオン】なんて街もあるようだ。というか、ここが【ぺド男爵領】の首都らしいな......他にも気になる点はあったけど、3分という短い時間で精査するのはなかなか難しい。
「クッ......わかった。今後......き、君のために情報収集をすると誓う。有益な情報があればすぐさま知らせると約束する......だから、どうか穏便に頼む」
高いプライドを自らへし折り、今更ながらに頭を下げる情報屋あらためぺドリズムさん。
俺はそんな彼の態度を見て、時間が惜しいので順番に各項目をタップしてゆく。
財産は全額没収。
145万エソゲットだぜ!
「なっ! ちょ、ちょっと待ってくれ!」
領地は全領を併合。
これで俺の領地は1.4倍に膨れ上がる。
男爵領にしては広大な領地だったな。
「おれ、俺様の領地が!? 全部、ぜんぶなくなったあああ!?」
爵位はお家御取り壊し。
貴族位がなければ今後は偉そうにしないだろう。
「俺様の称号がああああ!? 貴族位があああああ!」
ぺドリズムさんが悲痛な声を上げるなか、俺は更なる項目に目を通していく。
正直に言うと、もっとちゃんと見ていたいところだけど残り時間は1分半を切っている。
:傭兵ぺドリズムの装備......何を奪いますか?:
:傭兵ぺドリズムのアイテムストレージ......何を奪いますか?:
この辺も全部にターっぷ!
「たのむ! たのむうううう! 後生だから!」
としてこの辺を取ってしまったら致命的な気もするし......錬金術士の俺としてはアイテムや素材は命の次に大事なものだ。
大目に見て奪わずにしておくか。
「ぐぅうう......俺の装備ぃ、集めるのに苦労したんだ......よかった、よかったああ......」
なぜか泣き寝入りに入るぺドリズムさん。
これでなかなかの情けをかけたと思う。
:傭兵ぺドリズムの所有スキルを一つだけ選択できます:
:選択したスキルを簒奪できます:
:簒奪された傭兵はスキルLvに問わず、そのスキルが消失します:
【傭兵ぺドリズム Lv17】
【隠密 Lv45】
【擬態 Lv31】
【短剣 Lv24】
【影魔法 Lv12】
俺は優しいと思う。だって一番、熟練度の低いスキルを選択してあげるのだから。
満面の笑みでそう宣言すれば、ぺドリズムさんは顔面蒼白になる。
「まってくれ! それは俺様がようやく手に入れて強化し始めたばかりのッッッ魔法弾のためにはそのスキルがッッ!」
うんうん、そんな事を言われたら余計に手に入れたくなるよね。
おそらく魔法弾っていうのは彼が先程まで使ってた銃器と関係するだろうし。
喚き散らす彼に向って、俺は釘を刺すためにゆっくりと近付き、さらに口元の笑みを深める。
「な、なにがだ!?」
「俺達に刃向かうと根こそぎ奪われるってこと。次に何かしたら、何度でも装備を奪いにキルしに行くね」
残してあげた装備まで奪われるのは彼も不本意だろう。
彼は観念したように黙って下を向く。そうして数秒後には時間制限がやってきて、ようやくキルエフェクトをまき散らしながら消えていった。
「て、天士さま! ......ご、ごめんなさい、です......」
決闘領域が解除されると一番に傍に駆け寄って来たのはミナだ。
唇を噛み締め、深い悔恨を顔に刻んでいる。
「タロさんへの事後報告に賛同したのは
リリィさんも粛々と頭を下げてくる。
「そ、その......タロさん......」
コノエくんも何か言いたげに暗い顔つきで歩み寄って来る。
たちがリッチー師匠や悪魔群に遠慮して近付くのを躊躇うなか、俺のフレンドだけは何の警戒もなく距離を縮めてくれるのが少しだけ嬉しい。
だけどフレンドたちの申し訳なさそうな顔を見て、チクリと胸が痛む。きっと猫を失った悲しみから、ひどく後悔しているのがひりひりと伝わってくるのだ。
せっかく嫌な敵も倒したのだから、このお通夜ムードをどうにかしたい一心でリッチー師匠へと目を向ける。
『動物霊は幽体として自我を残しているためッッ、愛弟子の
「師匠! 大好きだぜッッ!」
俺の師匠はナイスすぎる存在だった。
感極まって漆黒たゆたう師匠へとジャンピングハグをかませば、『クカカカッッこの不滅王リッチィィィーデイモンドにッッ不可能などありはしッッ......ま、愛弟子よッ? 首の骨はももももろいから、我は物理耐性皆無であるわけでッッその、
おっと。
師匠の首にぶら下がるなんて、弟子として無礼な行いだったかも?
俺はそれからリッチー師匠の言う通り、
「......ト、トラ!? 本当にトラなのか!?」
「ももちゃん!? ごめん、なさい......。もう二度と怖い思いはさせないのです......!」
「はぁぁぁうう......私のゴールディさんが世界一ですわ!」
みんなが破顔し、猫達へと歓喜の声を上げながら駆け寄るまでそう時間はかからなかった。
俺はそんな友達の笑顔を眺めてやっぱり思うのだ。
幸せだなって。
情報屋騒動から数日後、
「ふぅ......これで一件落着かな......」
ゲームからログアウトした俺は、自室のテレビを何気なくつける。
そして自然とニュースを流しつつ、少しだけ汗ばんだ首筋を備えつけの真っ白なタオルで軽く拭く。
現実改変を目の当たりにし、もうすっかり習慣になってしまったニュースチェック。
『速報です。さきほど秘密裏に少年少女を組織的に拉致・誘拐し、人身売買事業を行っていたと疑いのある株式会社プアーモレット代表取締役員数名が逮捕されました。本件は昨年より断続的に続いた誘拐事件の解決の糸口として摘発され――』
モニターに流れた悲惨な内容に息を呑む。
「うわ......やってる事がぺドリズムさんに似てるな......」
顔の見えない情報屋。
彼も『子供は食いつぶすだけの道具』としか見てなかった節がある。
「ぺドリズムさんみたいな人ってやっぱり
反吐が出そうな内容に心は急激に沈む。
世の中は悪いことをして利益を得ている人が不特定多数いて......それで回ってる部分も少なからずあるのかもしれない。
世間の闇を垣間見た俺は心中に暗雲が立ち込める。
そんな鬱々とした気分を晴らしてくれたのは、スマホの通知音だ。
タップして画面を見れば、最近は連絡が途絶えがちだった親友たちからのメッセージだった。
『訊太郎、久しぶりだな。元気か?』
『最近は本当に忙しくて、なかなか連絡できなくてごめんね』
ゲームではいつでも会える。
現実でだって必ず会うって言ってたくせに......最近の2人は全くと言っていいほど、絡みが薄くなってしまった。
そんな不満が胸中からあふれてくるけど、やっぱりに勝ってしまうのは喜びの方だ。
『まったく、晃夜と夕輝はゲームには全然インしてこないし! こっちは色々と大変だったんだから!』
嬉しい気持ちを押し隠し、俺は親友たちへ愚痴をぶつけるのだった。
319 315 Stories Dancing With Corpses Mad Happiness
"Wow... that's an amazing sight..."
The faceless informant comes from the NPC zombie... it eats meat miserably and is scattered. It's like a crazy foothold to all the protagonists of a dance with a corpse, and I guess the various parts will be shredded off.
"Ah, master, don't overdo it. 'Cause this guy's gonna be experimental material."
"Ho? If my beloved apprentice says so, let's add and subtract him."
In an exquisite addition and subtraction, Master Richie uses the soldiers and animal spirits who have become deceased to shred the flesh of the informant.
: [Conspiracy theorist's left hand] Got:
: [Despairist's Ankle] Got:
While watching as the material drops from the area where the missing value or cutting value is full, I will not forget to throw "Emerald (Emerald) Tears" at him in moderation because the experiment will be over if the HP loses all.
"What the heck is this Bad Status......!? [Site Killing] Oh!?
Work through disturbed screaming informants completely and gather as much material as you can.
: [Language-generating tongue] Got:
: [Cursed Throat Whistle] Got:
Roughly all of them are material names full of substitutes you don't want to get, but depending on the combination, can you make a good kind of demon with [Synthetic Beast Compass]?
"Squeeze it as much as you can and say" Poy "later. I've tried to imitate what you guys do from day to day, but I don't think I feel very good..."
"You, yeah, yeah! You have a good time! Princess P., it's time. Aah!
He squeezes his temper and points the muzzle this way. But to the big mouth that opened to the clap that screamed, the ghost body of the cat enters, moaning and groaning bitterly.
The last counterattack wolf smoke seems to have quenched the fire immediately.
: [Heart of the abuser] has been obtained:
Yeah.
Is this the end of it?
: In the [noble resolution (duel) area of struggle (dam)] [noble discourse] takes place only for 3 minutes:
Oh?
: 1.45 million eso of mercenary 'pedrism' property...... how much do you get?
: Territorial of Baron Pedo...... how far do you assign it?
: Title/Baron...... How far do you want to demote me?
I read the logs and immediately view the [Baron Pedo's] territorial system.
"Heh, it doesn't seem very good about people's lives. But only mine development seems to be working very hard."
The economic situation in the Territory was not that bad in the form of strong mining labor for the NPCs, as the infrastructure and food related facilities in the city and villages were not in place. Probably buying and selling to other territories as well.
And most concerned is the [child buying system], which is aimed at poor households. In short, it seems that they operate extensively in the human trafficking, slave trade, and what a city only criminals can get in [the corrupt city of iron and chains, Giltigallion]. I mean, it sounds like this is the capital of [Baron Pedo's]... there were other things that bothered me, but it's hard to scrutinize in the short time of three minutes.
"Kuh...... ok. In the future... I swear I will gather information for you. I promise I'll let you know as soon as I have any useful information... so please do me a favor"
Mr. Pedrism, an informer who breaks his own high pride and now bows his head.
I look at his attitude like that, and it's a waste of time, so I tap each item in turn.
Property is forfeited in full.
That's 1.45 million eso!
"Behold! Hey, wait a minute!
Territories merge all territories.
This will swell my territory 1.4x.
That was a huge territory for the Baron Territory.
"Me, my territory!? All of it, it's gone. Aah!?
The title is demolished in your house.
I wouldn't look great in the future without the aristocracy.
"My title is Ahhh!? The aristocracy. Ahhhh!
As Mr. Pedrism raises his sad voice, I turn to further items.
To be honest, I just want to see it more properly, but I'm out of a minute and a half left.
: Mercenary Pedrism Gear...... take away what?
: Mercenary Pedrism Item Storage...... take away what?
Tarp all around here too!
"Tamu! Tamu! Because it's the afterlife!
I'd love to, but I'd also feel deadly if I just took it around here as a mercenary (player)... and as an alchemist, items and materials are the next most important thing in my life.
Don't you dare take it away from me?
"Guuuuu... my gear no, I had a hard time collecting it... good, good oh..."
For some reason, Mr. Pedrism goes into crying sleep.
I think this put a lot of pity on me.
: You can select only one Mercenary Pedrism ownership skill:
: You can snatch selected skills:
: The usurped mercenary, regardless of skill LV, that skill disappears:
[Mercenary Pedrism LV17]
[Hidden LV45]
Virtual LV31
[Dagger LV24]
[Shadow Magic LV12]
I think I'm sweet. Because best of all, I'm going to give you a choice of skills that are less proficient.
If you declare that with a full grin, Mr. Pedrism turns pale in the face.
"Marry me! That's just what I finally got and started strengthening. That skill is for magic bullets!
Yeah, yeah, you'd want to get extra if they told you that.
Probably a magic bullet has something to do with the firearm he used earlier.
Turning to him to arouse, I approach slowly to stab the nail, deepening my mouth grin even more.
"Hey, what the fuck!?
"When they turn to us, they take away their roots. Next time you do something, I'll kill you to take your gear as many times as I can."
He wouldn't even want to be deprived of the gear I left him with.
He looks down in silence, as he perceived. So a few seconds later, the time limit came and finally disappeared, scattering Kill Effects.
"Oh, Heavenly Lord!... Oh, I'm sorry, it's..."
When the dueling realm is lifted, it is Mina who rushes to the side the most.
He is biting his lips and carving deep remorse into his face.
"I (I) agree with the ex-post report to Mr. Taro. If we don't make a mistake... I'm sorry."
Mr. Lilli also comes with a solemn bow of his head.
"Oh, that... Mr. Tallo..."
Konoe also walks over with a dark face every time she says something.
As the surrounding mercenaries (players) hesitate to approach Master Richie and the demons, only my friends are a little happy to shrink their distance without any alarm.
But when I saw the sorry faces of my friends, my chest ached. I'm sure the sorrow of losing my cat tells me that I'm sorely regretting it.
Because he also defeated an unwanted enemy, he turns to Master Richie with all his heart who wants to do something about this overnight mood.
"Because animal spirits leave themselves as ghosts, they can be revived with the power of their beloved disciples (Tsikara)! Let's just tweet!
"Master! I love you, dude!
My master was too nice.
I was so impressed that I put a jumping hug on my master, "Kukakakakaku, this immortal king Richie Damon can't do anything about it... my dear apprentice? Because the neck bones are thick, I have no physical resistance, so let's just tweet away.
Oops.
Could it have been a disrespectful act as a disciple to hang around the master's neck?
I then, as Master Richie put it, sprinkle the revival item "Red Water of Unstrayed Salvation" for mercenaries (players) onto three cat-shaped animal spirits.
"... t, tiger!? Are you sure it's a tiger!?
"Momochan!? Sorry, do...... I won't make you feel scared again......!
"Hahhh...... my Mr. Goldie is the best in the world!
It didn't take that long for everyone to break their faces and rush over with joy to the cats.
I look at the smile of such a friend and think.
You're happy.
A few days after the informant riots, the mercenary regiment (Klan) [killer and ruler's ear (Black List)] was more thoroughly warned by [Sadie Stick], led by George, and was defeated in abruptly harsh conditions of obedience, he said.
"Phew... I guess this settles one thing..."
Logged out of the game, I casually turn on my own TV.
And wipe gently with a bright white towel equipped with a slightly sweaty neck muscle while spreading nature and news.
A news check that has seen a real alteration and has become completely habitual already.
'Breaking news. Several CEOs of Poor Morette, Inc., who were suspected of organizing the abduction and kidnapping of boys and girls in secret earlier and engaging in the human trafficking business, were arrested. This case was picked as a thread for resolving kidnapping cases that have continued intermittently since last year -'
Breathtaking about the tragic content that flowed onto the monitor.
"Wow... what you're doing looks like Mr. Pedrism..."
A faceless informant.
He also has a verse that he only saw as' Kids are just tools to eat up '.
"I knew someone like Mr. Pedrism would be in real life..."
My mind sinks rapidly into the content that is likely to cause revulsion.
There are an unspecified number of people in the world who are profiting from doing bad things... and maybe not many of them are turning around with it.
I caught a glimpse of the world's darkness, and I can get a dark cloud in my heart.
It was the notification sound of the smartphone that cleared my mood of such depression.
Tap and look at the screen, it was a message from my best friends who have been tending to lose touch with me lately.
"It's been a long time, Shintaro. How are you? '
"I'm really busy these days and I'm sorry I can't get in touch with you"
I can see you at any time in the game.
Even in real life, you said you'd always see him... the tangles have diminished to the point that the two of us can say at all these days.
Such discontent comes from all over my chest, but it's still the joy of winning.
"At all, Shaking Night and Evening Fai don't come in the game at all! We had a lot of trouble over here!
Hiding the joy, I hit my best friends with stupidity.
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