意識を取り戻して理解したのは、自分がエントランスのような場所に居るのだということ。
そのままぼんやりしていると突然、空中に画面が出現して個人情報を入力する様に求められる。
最初に出て来たのはログイン画面のようだった。
さっき作ったIDとパスワードをキーボードで入力し、次へと進める。
『身体情報のスキャンを開始します』
どこからともなく電子音声が流れ、暫くその場で待つように指示された。
――不意に、現実感が無くふわふわしていた感覚が鮮明になっていく。
夢の中に居る様な状態から、現実に限りなく近い状態へ――。
......おお......これは何とも、言葉にならない感動がある。
ガイドに従って腕や足を動かし、設問に順番に答えていく。
実際に体を動かしているのと変わらない感覚だ。
最終確認にイエスと答えると、僅かに長い処理が入る。
『アジャスト完了しました。続けてアバターの設定を行います』
再び目の前に画面が表示される。
見ると、次はアバターのエディット画面の様だ。
中肉中背、黒髪で前髪が少し目にかかる半端な長さの髪型。
画面内の折り畳んである枠をクリックして開封。
すると、変更可能な項目が並んでいく。
といっても、変えられるのは本人の姿をベースに肌の色・髪の色・タトゥーの有無の三つだけだった。
「項目すくねぇ......いや、楽でいいけどさ」
現実のものと感覚を一致させる仕様上、体格や骨格は
自分とかけ離れた体格をVR内で動かした後は、感覚に差があり過ぎて現実で上手く歩けなくなったという例もあるとか。
他にも実験中、VR内で人間に不可能な動きをさせた被験者の腕の筋線維が、実験終了後にパーン! と破裂したらしいし......怖い怖い。
製品版にはそれらに厳重なリミッターが付いているそうだけど。
つまりプレイするならアバターは現実の容姿とほぼ一緒、運動能力も現実で可能な範囲内である。
......昔だったら身バレがどうとかで大変だったろうな。
髪色やらで多少は印象を変えられるにしても。
今はネット関連の法案が整備され、警察による犯罪の摘発率も大きく上昇した。
ネットを経由した犯罪は却って足が付き易い、などと言われるほどである。
匿名掲示板などは現在も活発だが、犯罪予告やら名誉棄損に近い暴言などは大分少なくなったように思える。
SNS等で自ら顔を晒すものも増えた為か、それに抵抗の無い者も随分と増えた。
未祐によると「それでもどうしても!」という人用に顔を隠せる初期装備があるのも、昨今のVRゲームのお約束だとか。
「うーん......」
色々と弄れるならマッチョなオッサンにしてみても良かったのだが、そういうのはVR以外のゲームでないと不可能だ。
それと、別に髪色や肌の色を変えたいと思った事はないな......。
姿を隠す全身ローブ、顔を隠すマスク等々......一応、貰えるものは貰っておこうか。
全て使用にチェック、と。
最後に名前入力だけど......あー......これでいいか。
『以上で初期設定は終了です。トレイルブレイザーへようこそ!』
その電子音声を最後に、再び目の前が光に包まれた。
な農村の景色が目に飛び込んでくる。
周囲を見回すと、俺と同じ様な境遇らしきプレイヤー達がぎこちない動きで状況を確認している。
サービス開始初日だけあってか、農村に似合わない量の人、人、人......。
邪魔なローブやマスクを脱ぎ捨て、全てアイテムを収納できるインベントリに放り込む。
さて、未祐は何処かな?
「きゃっ! もう、どうしてこんなに沢山――」
人混みから弾かれるようにして、栗色の髪の女性が倒れ込んでいる。
どうして誰も助けないんだ?
「大丈夫ですか?」
「あ、ありがとうございます......貴方は、他の来訪者の人とは違うんですね」
その言葉にピンと来るものがあった。
女性の頭の上を見ると、白色の文字でクラリスと表示されている。
他のプレイヤーはというと、青色の文字で名前があった。
やっぱり......この人、NPCだ。
しかし、そうと分かっても助け起こす際にしっかりと体温を感じるのが、不思議といえば不思議だ。
「門から現れた人を、私達はそう呼んでいるんです。伝承にも記述がありますからね」
「はあ......質問ばかりすみませんが、伝承というのは?」
「――南の空が朱に染まりし時、異界の門が開かれる。その者達、閉塞せし世界に大いなる変革を与えん――そんな伝承が、この国にはあるんです。まさかこんな
どうやらプレイヤーは異世界からやって来たという扱いのようだ。
背後を見ると、空中に不思議な朱い輝きを放つ門が浮かんでいる。
ここから出てきたのか......そういう設定なら、確かに予想外だろうな。
この大人数だもの。
クラリスさんは門を見物に来て、人混みから脱出できなくなったという所だろうか?
その後、一言二言の言葉を交わしてからクラリスさんと別れる。
この村は『アルトロワの村』というらしく、彼女は村内で道具屋を経営しているらしい。
お礼にサービスするから後で店に寄って欲しいと、彼女はしっかり宣伝と営業スマイルを残して去って行った。
それにしても、普通に人と話しているみたいだったな......すげえな、最近のAI。
ボーっとしていると、見慣れない銀髪褐色の女性が手を振って近付いて来る。
誰だ、呼ばれているのは。
ちらっと見ただけだが、美人っぽい雰囲気だし相手が男だったら羨ましいことで。
「おい、亘! どうして無視するんだ!」
手を伸ばして腕を掴まれた相手は――俺か!?
覚えのない相手に、顔をまじまじと見返す。
お? この顔、そしてこの声は――!
「って、お前未祐か!? 何だその髪と肌の色! 遠目だと誰か分からなかったぞ!」
「うむ。折角だから、色を反転させてみた! どうだ、似合うか!?」
「似合うっていうか......」
元の未祐は色白、黒髪ロングで日本人にしてはくっきりとした目鼻立ちと体型をした美少女だった。
色を反転させたという今の姿は......そう、アレだ。
ファンタジー作品に出てくる、とある種族。
「何か、ダークエルフっぽい」
「私もそう思った。装飾品でエルフのような長い付け耳があったら、装備してみようと思っている」
「ああ......そうだね......」
純日本人的な顔立ちだったら似合わないだろうに......美人は得だぁね。
俺なんて、初期装備の洋風の軽装が余り合っていないのに。
凄く農民っぽくて弱そうだ。
「で、未祐――」
「待った。それは駄目だ」
「うん?」
「ゲーム内では本名呼びは厳禁だ! 大事な没入感が減ってしまう!」
さっきお前も俺の名前を呼んでたじゃないか......居場所を探す為とはいえ。
まあでも、それがマナーなんだろうな、きっと。
「そーかい。なら、キャラクターネームは何にしたんだ?」
「ユーミルだ!」
「名前をひっくり返して、伸ばして、
「何故分かった!?」
だって単純なんだもんよ......思考が。
北欧神話の巨人と名前が被っているのは、こいつの事だから別に狙ってないんだろうな......。
綺麗な響きなので、おかしくはないと思う。
「はいんど? ロシアの戦闘――」
「ヘリじゃねえよ。何でそんなの知ってんだ、お互いに。単純に後ろのって意味のハインド」
「おい、まさか」
「俺、お前の後ろでチマチマやるから」
しかしリネームは不可とのことで未――ユーミルは、渋々だが納得した。
門の近くは人が多過ぎるので、俺達はそのまま移動を開始することにした。
ユーミルはその途中で気を取り直すと、村の出口らしい場所へ俺を引っ張って行こうとする。
「こっちだ、ハインド!」
「待て待て。何処に行くんだ?」
「何処って......とにかく外に出よう! 魔物と戦ってみたい!」
「そういうもんなのか......? それでいいのか......?」
何の準備もしていないのだが。
数分後。
ドンデリーの森という場所で、何も分からない俺達は速攻で力尽きた。
相手はこういったゲームにありがちなデカい蜂のモンスターだった。
仲良く死んで最初の村へとリスポーンさせられる。
「だから素手じゃ無理だって言ったろ!」
「そ、そうだな。普通は武器を持つよな......」
分かってるならどうして突っ込んだよ。
......あ、なんか目の前に表示が出た。
初心者期間の為、デスペナルティはありません――ああ、良かった。
でも、後々は何かあると......まあ、何もないと緊張感が無くなっちゃうからな。
比較的、人の少ない村の広場で腰を落ち着けて情報を整理する。
色々と確認した所、まずはステータス画面を開くとチュートリアルが始まる仕様らしかった。
普通はそうするってことだよな......いきなり外に出る馬鹿は俺達くらいのもんだろう。
それによると最初は職業が設定されておらず、いずれかを選択することでインベントリに職業に合わせた初期武器がプレゼントされるそうだ。
レベル10までは自由に職を変える事が可能で、10になった時点で最終決定を行うという方式を採用していると説明が流れる。
チュートリアルが終了し、ずらっと並んだ職業を見ながら二人で唸る。
「......よし、私は騎士にする!」
「なになに、えーと......攻守両面にバランスが良く、成長すると魔法剣・カウンターを行使することが出来ます。あー、昔のゲームで言う勇者とか魔法剣士か。オフゲのRPGを思い出すな」
「かっこいいだろ!」
「ま、いいんじゃねーの?」
ダークエルフだと、闇の力の方がそれらしいけど。
派手で見栄えがするものが大好きだからな、こいつは。
その辺の趣味は俺とは合わん。
予想通りっちゃそうなんだが......そうなると、自然と俺の役割も決まってくる。
「じゃ、俺は後衛やるから。神官? これな」
「何だと!? 私と肩を並べて戦ってくれないのか!? それでも男か!」
「いや、どういう理屈だよ......男は後衛やっちゃいかんのか? それに言ったろ、ハインドだって」
「そうではなく――私は合体剣技! とか協力技! とか撃ってみたかったのだ、お前と二人で!」
「俺がそういうタイプじゃないの知ってるでしょーが。諦めろ」
ぐぬっても変えない。
俺は自慢じゃないが、余り運動神経がよろしくないのだ。
VRゲームの性質を考えるに、前衛は反射神経が良くないと満足に働けないんじゃないかと俺は睨んでいる。
現に、さっきも未祐より先に俺は蜂にブスブスと刺されて力尽きた。
ステータスに差が無くとも、回避や防御に大きく差が出た形である。
なので前に出るユーミルをサポートできる後衛の神官で決定、と。
「ほらほら、さっさと武器を装備してもう一回行ってみようぜ。装備と一緒にアイテムも配られたみたいだし」
く初心者用という冠詞が付きまくっているがな......」
「これも全部レベル10までか......それまでにゲームの基本を覚えろって感じだな」
それと1日限定で経験値アップか。
インベントリから初心者用の木の杖を取り出して装備する。
......うわ、だっせえ!?
これ、杖じゃなくてその辺に落ちてる普通の木の枝じゃないのか?
はっきり言ってかなり見た目がショボい。
枝分かれした先に葉っぱが付いているし......。
この見た目で超性能だとしたら、それは世界樹の枝くらいのものだろう。
「ハインドー......」
「何だ? って、お前も木の棒か......」
「こんなの騎士じゃない......ただのチャンバラ小僧だよ......」
ユーミルの方は剣と同じくらいの長さと太さがある木の棒だが、それでもやっぱり見た目がみずぼらしい。
......これで耐久力無限だって言うんだから、この木は木の見た目をした謎の物質で出来ているらしい。
攻撃力は杖が5、剣が10。
ただし杖は魔力も5上がる。
確認したらレベル1の素手が攻撃力1なので、こんなのでも無いよりはずっとマシだろう。
早く進めてまともな装備を取れ、と運営に急かされている気分だ。
まあ、最初から豪華な装備を持たされるよりはずっとやる気が湧いてくるので結構な事だが。
「ま、まあいい。準備は済んだな? ではハインド、行くぞ!」
「野良パーティとか組まねえの?」
「知らん! 二人でゴーだ!」
「あ、ちょっと待てってば!」
ユーミルが全速力で駆けていく。
持久力だけは自信があるが、速いので追いかけるのも大変だ......!
As I regained consciousness, I found myself in a placed the looked like an entrance.
While I was absentmindedly standing there, a window suddenly popped up in front of me asking me to input my personal data.
Seems like the first thing that showed up was the login window.
I entered the ID and password that I made a while ago and proceeded to the next step.
[Proceeding to scan body data] 
A digital voice that came from somewhere instructed me to wait where I was.
...Suddenly, the sense of reality started to come back to me.
Going from a state that was close to having a dream to something closer to reality.
...Ooh...There are no words to describe this kind of feeling.
I started to move my hands and legs like the guide was telling me to and it also answered the questions I had.
It doesn't feel any different from moving a real body.
After saying [ Yes ] at the last verification window, it entered a slightly long procedure.
[Adjustments completed. We'll proceed to perform the avatar's settings.] 
A window appeared in front of me again.
It seems like next was the customization window.
Medium build and black hair with a hairstyle where the bangs partially covered the eyes.
In the window, there were options you could click on.
Doing so would bring up the modifiable data.
Though, the only things that you could change were the skin color, hair color and the existence of tattoos.
[There's not many options...oh well, it just makes things easier.] 
It seems that in order to bring a sense of comfort and realism they don't tamper with the player's physique and bone structure.
For example, if you were to play with a physique that's far from your real self, once you went back to reality you would have issues moving your body properly.
Another example would be that during an experiment, the subject was doing movements that would be physically impossible for a human being and after the experiment, the muscle fibers in his arm went [BAM!]  and got ruptured...that's so scary.
Though it does seem like the retail version has some limiters set on them.
Basically, if you want to play, your avatar should be close or identical to your physical appearance in order to move properly.
...In the old days it must have been really problematic if your personal information got out.
Even if just by changing your hair color would change the impression one person gives.
With the net bills currently passed these days, the percentage of criminals caught by the police has been rising.
You could say that it's gotten easier to retrace the steps performed by said criminals.
Anonymous bulletin boards are still rather active, but I believe the cases where people slander and flame others have become scarce.
That's why people that reveal who they are in social networks have been increasing and the people that are opposed to the idea has been decreasing.
Even someone like Miyu who used to say things like [Even then!]  and hid her face, has made a promise with me to play a VR game these days.
[Hmm...] 
If there were more options, it would be nice to go as a muscular middle-aged man, but that's no longer possible unless you play non-VR games.
I also don't think I want to change my hair color or the color of my skin...tattoos won't look good on me either, like that, I kept proceeding without making changes.
A robe that will conceal my figure, a mask that will hide my face and so on...for now, I'll just take what I can get.
With that, I finished checking everything.
In the end, I had to enter a name...OK, guess this should be good enough.
[With this, you have completed all the initial settings. Welcome to Trailblazer!] 
With those last words from the electronic voice, my eyes were enveloped by the light again.
Just as I was thinking that...a rural village appeared before my eyes.
When I looked around me, I saw people that looked like players doing the same thing as me and moving around awkwardly while confirming their surroundings.
It might be because it's launch day, there was a number of people that didn't fit the rural scenery.
I took off the robe and mask because they were in the way and placed them in the inventory, which was attached to the waist in the form of a pouch. The robe and mask turned into light and were absorbed by it.
But, where is Miyu?
[Kya! Geez, why are there so many people!] 
From the crowd of people, a chestnut colored hair woman came out and fell down.
Why isn't anyone helping her?
[Are you OK?] 
[Th-Thank you...you are different from the other visitors] 
Hearing her words I noticed something.
Above the woman's head, the name Claris was shown in white letters.
While the names of the other players were displayed in blue letters.
As expected, this person...is a NPC.
But, the fact that she stood up when I offered help and I was able to feel her body temperature, makes this feel weird.
[We call people who came out from the gate that. They are also called that in the legends] 
[I see...sorry for asking so many questions, but what's this legend you speak of?] 
[When the southern skies turn crimson, the gate to the outer world will open. If those people are not stopped, the world will undergo great change...such a legend exists in this country. I never thought that the gate would appear in such a remote village though] 
It seems like players are treated as beings that came from another world.
When I looked behind me, I saw a gate emitting a mysterious crimson light in the air.
So we came out from there...if it was this kind of setting, it's true that it was an unexpected event.
We are these many people after all.
So basically, Claris-san came to check on the gate, but a crowd of people suddenly appeared and she couldn't get out, something like that?
After that, I exchanged some words with Claris-san and we split up.
It seems like this village is called [Altrowa Village] , seems like she manages a second-hand shop inside the village.
As thanks she wants to give me a discount so she told me to go to her shop later, after advertising her shop and providing me with a customer service smile, she left.
Now that I think about it, it felt like I was talking to a normal person...they are incredible, these day's AIs.
While I was in a daze, a female with long silver hair and dark skin that I had no recollection of, approached me while waving her hand.
Who is she greeting?
I only took a glance, but she gave the aura of a beautiful woman, if the person she was greeting was a man, I'd feel envious.
[Hey, Wataru! Why are you ignoring me!] 
The person whose arm she grabbed...was me!?
Not knowing who this person was, I stared at her for a while.
Oh? This face...and this voice...!
[Wait, you are Miyu!? What's with that hair and that skin color!? When I saw you from a distance I couldn't tell who it was!] 
[Umu. It was a good opportunity, so I went and reversed the colors! How is it? Does it suit me!?] 
[Rather than suiting you...] 
To begin with, Miyu was fair skinned and with long black hair. With her looks and body, you could say that among Japanese people she was distinctly beautiful.
Now that she had reversed those colors...right, she was like that.
That race that appears in fantasy works.
[You kind of look like a dark elf] 
[I thought so too. If there is an accessory that makes your ears long, I plan to use it] 
[Ah...I see...] 
Even though it shouldn't really suit her because of her Japanese features...I guess it's the advantage of being beautiful.
In my case, the beginner equipment looks like western style light clothes and they don't really suit me.
Makes me look like a peasant and weak at that.
[So, Miyu-] 
[Stop right there. That's no good] 
[Hmm?] 
[Calling me by my real game is prohibited. The great feeling of immersion will diminish if you do!] 
Didn't you just call me with my real name a moment ago...? Even though it was to search for me.
Though, I guess it's some kind of manners.
[I see. In that case, what's your character name?] 
[It's Yumir!] 
[So you basically reversed your name and since the length was not long enough, you added a "R" at the end, huh...] 
[How did you know!?] 
I mean, it was too simple...your way of thinking.
It's also similar to a name of a giant in Norse mythology, but since it's her, she probably wasn't aiming for that...
Since it sounds good, I don't think it's that weird for her to choose that name.
[Hind? You mean that Russian att-] 
[Not that helicopter! Why do we even know about that, both of us. The Hind with the simple meaning of being at the rear] 
[Hey, don't tell me...] 
[Because I'll just stay behind you] 
However, renaming is impossible so Mi-...Yumir reluctantly consented.
Since there were too many people near the gate, we started to move away from there.
On the way, Yumir regained her spirit and pulled me towards the place that looked like the exit of the village.
[This way, Hind!] 
[Wait wait. Where are we going?] 
[Where...anyway, let's just go outside! I want to try fighting against some monsters!] 
[Just like that...? Is that okay...?] 
We haven't really made any preparations though.
A few minutes later.
In a place called Dondery forest, the clueless us had our HP depleted after receiving successive strikes.
Our opponent was a common one in games like this, a monster with the appearance of a giant bee.
We died peacefully and respawned in the village.
[That's why I told you it was impossible bare handed!] 
[T-that's right. Usually you would have a weapon...] 
If you knew, why did you just charge in?
...Ah, it seems like an indicator has appeared in front of me.
During the time you are a beginner, there won't be any death penalties...Ah, I'm so glad.
However, this means there will be death penalties in the future...oh well, if there was nothing, the feeling of tension would be gone after all.
We sat down in the plaza that had comparatively fewer people than before and started to sort our information.
We confirmed various things, first off, it seems like when you open the status menu you can start the tutorial.
You'd normally do this...the only idiots that would just suddenly go outside were probably just us.
Doing so will let you decide on your beginner job, once you have made your choice, they'll give you a beginner weapon that fits the class you have chosen as a present.
Until level 10 you are free to change your job whenever you want, once you reach level 10 you'll have to make your final choice, the information provided went like that.
After having finished the tutorial, both of us were groaning at all the jobs that were lined up.
[...Alright, I'll become a knight!] 
[Let's see, hmm...balanced in terms of offense and defense, once leveled up it can use magic swords and counters. Ah, like those heroes or magic knights from old games. It reminds you of those offline RPGs.] 
[Isn't it cool!?] 
[Well, isn't it fine?] 
Being a dark elf, I'd think dark powers would be better though.
She always liked being flashy after all, this one.
That kind of thing doesn't suit me.
Since it's going as expected...if that's the case, naturally my role has already been decided.
[In that case, I'll be the rear guard. Shinto priest? This one] 
[What!? You are not going to fight next to me!? And you call yourself a man!?] 
[No, what's with that reasoning...men can't be rear guards? Besides, I've already said it, I'm Hind] 
[I didn't mean it that way...stuff like combination sword skills! or combo skills! I wanted to do stuff like that with you!] 
[Even though you already know I'm not that type of person. Just give up] 
Nothing will change even if you act like that.
It's not like I'm completely confident in saying this, but I believe my reflexes are not that good.
When thinking about VR games, if you wanted to be a vanguard, I judged that not having good reflexes would dull your movements.
Actually, when we were fighting that bee, I was the one that got stabbed and died before Miyu.
Even if there's no difference in our stats, it showed that there was a big difference in our evasion and defense.
In that case, I'll choose the rear guard class Shinto priest to support Yumir once she goes to the front.
[Come on, Let's equip the weapon already and go try one more time. It seems like they have given us some items along with the equipment] 
[Hmm, you are right. All of them have beginner attached to their names though...] 
[So all of this can only be used until level 10, huh...so it basically means that you should remember the basics of the game until then] 
Seems like the experience gain has been increased for one day too.
I took out the beginner wooden staff from my inventory and equipped it.
...Uwah, so lame!?
This, isn't this just a random branch that fell from a tree instead of a wooden staff?
If I were to speak honestly, it looked really dull.
At the end of the branch there's even a leaf attached to it...
If its performance is really good even while looking like this, it would make it something like a branch of Yggdrasil or the like.
[Hind...] 
[What is it? wait, so you also got a wooden stick...] 
[This is not being a knight...it's just as if I was a kid playing around...] 
In Yumir's case, it was a thick stick around the same length as a sword, but their appearances were deceiving.
...Because they say they have infinite endurance, this wood must be made from some mysterious material.
In terms of offensive stats, the staff gives 5 points and the sword 10.
However, the staff increases magic attack by 5 points.
When I checked, being bare-handed at level 1 your attack would be 1 point, this is definitely much better than not having anything.
Hurry up and acquire some proper equipment, it gives the feeling that the developers are pressuring us to do that.
Well, instead of receiving some wonderful equipment right from the bat, I believe this will motivate us more and is a good thing.
[W-whatever. You are done preparing, right? In that case, let's go Hind!] 
[Aren't we going join a random party?] 
[I don't care! We are going with just the both of us!] 
[Ah, wait just a moment!] 
Yumir started to run at full speed.
I only have confidence in my stamina, but she's so fast that I think it'll be hard to keep up...!
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