魔導書の試用と新防具作製
ホームの地下にある訓練所。
ここでは破壊不能な壁・天井・床が設置され、様々な戦闘訓練を行うことができる。
相手となるプレイヤーが居れば、勝敗が数字として残らない演習も可能である。
その他にもHPが無限の的を複数配置したりで、スキルの範囲把握などにも使う機会があるだろう。
俺達は一度生産作業を切り上げると、この地下訓練所に来ていた。
ユーミルもセレーネさんも魔導書に興味津々だったので、全員で訓練所へ。
俺は歩きながらトビへメールの返信をしつつ、最後尾で階段を降りた。
メールの内容は先程流れたテロップを見たことに関してだったので、適当にあしらって詳しくは学校で、と返しておいた。
それを終えると、リィズが脇に抱えるようにして持った魔導書の金具をパチンと外すところだった。
「ええと、ハインドさん?」
そして使い方が分からないといった様子でこちらを見てくる。
俺は訓練所入り口にあるメニューを開いてリィズの前に
「触ったか? もう戦闘状態に入った?」
「はい。案山子のHPが表示されました」
「そしたら、魔導書から手を放してみ? 目の前にひょいと放る感じで」
「こ、こうですか?」
リィズが両手で、適当なページを開いた状態の魔導書からそっと手を放す。
すると......
「――本が......浮いた?」
「おおー! 何だそれは! 何だそれは!」
「フワフワ浮いてる......確かにこれなら重さとか関係ないね」
リィズの前に浮かんだ魔導書は、不可思議な力によって空中を浮遊している。
試しにリィズに走って貰うと、僅かに遅れてだが魔導書が追従してくる。
基本の定位置は胸の高さ、体の中心で手を軽く伸ばした辺りが基準となっているようだ。
ただしその位置からの移動も可能なようで、リィズは視界の邪魔になるのを嫌って差し出した左手の上に魔導書を浮遊させた。
これも念じるだけで動かすことができるということで、マイナー武器なのが勿体ないほどに高水準の技術が使用されていることが分かる。
「これは素晴らしいです。浮かべておけば移動時に両手がフリーになるので、とても動きやすいです」
「それは結構。じゃあ、お次は魔法を使ってみようか」
「まだ何かあるのか?」
「あるんだな、これが。リィズ、なるべく詠唱が長い奴で頼む。その方が杖との違いが色々と分かり易いからな」
「分かりました」
リィズが魔法スキルの詠唱を開始。
足元に魔法陣が浮かぶと、連動して魔導書が光を放ち......。
バラバラと高速でページが勝手に捲られていく。
「こ、これは格好いい......イカす!」
ユーミルが目を輝かせる。
全くもって同感で、これだけで苦労した甲斐があったというものだ。
「だろう! そうだろう!?」
「しかも似合うね、リィズちゃんに」
演出面に関しては間違いなく上位に入る武器だろう。
杖だと魔法を使っても先端に付いた宝石類が光る程度で、ここまで凝った反応はしない。
詠唱が完了したと同時に、とあるページで魔導書の動きがぴたりと止まる。
魔法を補助する様に、魔導書からも一瞬だけ小さな魔法陣が宙にパッと表示され――リィズの手からスキルが放たれた。
空気が震え、命中したスキルによって案山子型の的がミシミシと音を立てて潰れていく。
訓練用の案山子に継続ダメージを与えているものの正体は、闇属性魔法『グラビトンウェーブ』だ。
重力を強めて相手を押し潰す、範囲型の大魔法である。
ダメージは程々だが妨害魔法『スロウ』と併用すると『影縫い』ほどピタッと止まりはしないが敵を強力に足止めすることが可能だ。
「ぐおおおおっ! 体が重いいいい!」
「――って、なに巻き込まれてんの!? 手ぇ出せ、ほら!」
「ゆ、ユーミルさんしっかり! こっちこっち、範囲に入らないで!」
セレーネさんと一緒に範囲外にユーミルを引っ張り出した。
潰されたユーミルはぐったりとしている。
リィズが呆れた顔をしているので、わざとでなく恐らくユーミルが魔導書を良く見ようと身を乗り出した結果だろう。
俺は『ヒーリング』を溜息交じりにユーミルに向けて使用した。
しかし範囲の広いスキルだな......パーティだとちと運用が難しいかもしれぬ。
スキルの効果時間が終了すると、パタンと本が閉じてリィズの手元に戻る。
それを左手でキャッチすると、リィズが一息つく。
「......ふう。ありがとうございます、ハインドさん。とても気に入りました」
「うん。良かったな」
リィズが蕩けるような笑みを浮かべる。
身内の贔屓目なしで、見る人が好感を抱かずにはいられない実に愛らしい笑顔だ。
だが、それを快く思わない女が一人ここに。
「ぐぬぬ......私も新しい武器を早く使いたい! さっさと鍛冶場に戻るぞ! ハインド、セッちゃん!」
「あ、ユーミルさん! 待ってよ!」
対抗心を燃やしたユーミルが、セレーネさんを伴って足音も荒く階段を昇っていく。
俺とリィズも苦笑を交わすと、続けて訓練場を後にすることにした。
とはいえ、ユーミルの剣には派手なギミック等を付けることはないだろう。
『勇者のオーラ』だけでも結構目立つので、剣はシンプルで良いと思う。
翌日、ギルドホーム内にはほとんど会話がなかった。
といっても誰かが喧嘩などをしたわけではなく、全員が作業に没頭しているためである。
さほど技術の要らない雑用をユーミルとリィズが受け持ち、それ以外の部分は俺とセレーネさんが黙々とこなしていく。
武器はセレーネさんと俺の共作で昨夜の内に完成。
ユーミルの防具はセレーネさんが担当、俺の防具は自身の裁縫にて作製する。
俺の防具が金属製でないのは、単に神官の素防御だと重くて動けなくなるからだ。
それでもこの国の特産品である『サーラの布』という防刃能力がある魔法の布を使用しているので、以前よりは防御力が上がるだろう。
手が空けば、セレーネさんとリィズの防具もこいつで作る予定だ。
基本的にTBの後衛は重い防具を装備する事が難しくなっている。
「......。何だろう、ユーミルさん用のこの胸当て部分とか......腰の辺りの加工をしてると、ひしひしと敗北感が......」
突然、作業音以外は静かだった鍛冶場にセレーネさんの呟きが漏れる。
ユーミルは頭の上に疑問符を浮かべたが、リィズは「......分かります」と反応を返す。
......いや、そこで二人揃って俺の方を見ないでくれ。
この状況で、男の俺に何を言えというんだ。
「......ハインド君は、大きい方が好き......?」
セレーネさんが金属で出来た胸当てを掲げながら質問してくる。
その意図が普通に分かってしまう自分が嫌だ。
あー、えっと......。
「ノーコメントで」
「「ええー」」
そこで堂々と大きいのが良い! とか小さいのが良い! と言える度胸は俺には存在していない。
そんな曖昧な答えに対して、不満そうにセレーネさんとリィズが同時にむくれる。
息ぴったり......短期間で随分と仲良くなったね、君達......。
「お前達、一体何の話をしているのだ? 大きいだのなんだのと。何か、私に関係する話なのだろう?」
「ごめんね、ちょっと教えられないかも」
「......ハインドー! こいつらが私を仲間外れにする! 何故だぁ! 何故なんだぁ!」
時に大き過ぎる力の差は、人に絶望と悪意を生むのだ。
それを理解出来ない内は、ユーミルが二人と完全に分かり合うことはないだろう。
......。
というか、一人だけ異性の俺には非常に居心地の悪い話題と空間だ。
可能ならば、今直ぐにこの場にトビを召喚してお茶を濁したい。
早く完成してくれ、と願いながら俺はひたすらに針を持つ手を動かした。
Chapter 68 - Testing The Grimoire And Crafting The New Defensive Gear
In the training area that was in the home's basement.
The walls, ceiling and floor here were set to being indestructible, a place where you could perform various battle drills.
If you had players to face against, you could also practice without it leaving a mark in your fight history.
There are also multiple settings like for example setting the HP to be infinite, it also gives a chance to test out the range of skills.
We stopped our crafting for the time being and came to the training area.
Yumir and Selene-san had also taken an interest in the grimoire, so we all headed towards the training area.
While walking, I replied to Tobi's email, at the end we descended through some stairs.
Since the content of the email was about the previous announcement, I replied telling him that I'd explain in detail at school.
After finishing doing that, Riizu released the metal fittings from the grimoire she had been carrying under her arm.
[Eh, Hind-san?]  (Riizu)
Then she looked at me as in implying she didn't know how to use it.
I opened the menu that was situated at the entrance of the training area and installed a dummy in front of Riizu, and I indicated to her that she should touch it with her hand.
[Did you touch it? Have you entered into a battle state?]  (Hind)
[Yes. The dummy's HP is now displayed.]  (Riizu)
[In that case, try letting go of the grimoire? As if you were lightly throwing it in front of you.]  (Hind)
[L-Like this?]  (Riizu)
With both hands, Riizu let go of the grimoire which was opened at a random page.
When she did so...
[-The book...is floating?]  (Riizu)
[Ooh!! What is that!? What is that!?]  (Yumir)
[It's softly floating...it's true that if it's like this, weight doesn't matter.]  (Riizu)
The grimoire that was floating in front of Riizu was staying afloat because of some unknown power.
As a test, I had Riizu run around, it was a bit delayed but the grimoire followed after her.
Fundamentally, it'll stay at a height around the area of the chest, at a distance where you could reach it if you extended your arm a bit.
However, it seems like you can adjust it and move it from there, Riizu hated how it would obstruct her field of view so she moved it to above her left hand.
It seems like you could move it around with your mind, so it made me understand that it was using high level technology that felt like a waste on such a minor weapon.
[This is wonderful. If it floats both my hands will be free when I move around, it makes it really easy to move around.]  (Riizu)
[That's nice. Well then, shall we have you try using magic next?]  (Hind)
[Is there something else?]  (Riizu)
[Yeah there is. Riizu, use a spell with a long chant. That will make it easier to see what's different compared to the staff.]  (Hind)
[Understood.]  (Riizu)
Riizu started chanting a magic skill.
A magic square floated at her feet and the operating grimoire released light...
The pages turned over on their own accord at high speeds.
[T-That is cool...so stylish!]  (Yumir)
Yumir's eyes were sparkling.
I agreed wholeheartedly, just this made it worth going through the trouble.
[Right!? It's cool right!?]  (Hind)
[It also really suits Riizu-chan.]  (Selene)
Given that display, there was no doubt that it was a superior weapon.
When you use magic with a staff, it would only end up with the gem at the tip shining, it wouldn't give such an elaborate reaction.
At the same time she finished chanting, the grimoire stopped at a certain page simultaneously.
As if it was supporting the magic, for a moment, the grimoire displayed a magic circle.
The atmosphere trembled, the dummy that was her target made creaking noises and started getting crushed.
The origin of what was dealing continuous damage to the training dummy was the dark element magic {Graviton Wave} .
An AoE big spell that strengthens gravity and crushes its targets.
The damage was moderate at best, but if you used it in combination with the disruptive magic {Slow} , it could forcefully ground a target that {Shadow weaving}  is unable to stop at all.
[Guoooo!! My body feels heavy!!]  (Yumir)
[-Wait, why are you getting yourself dragged into it!? Come on, give me your hand!]  (Hind)
[H-Hang on Yumir-san! This way, don't enter the area!]  (Selene)
Selene-san and I pulled Yumir out of the area together.
The crushed Yumir was lying limply on the ground.
Riizu had an exasperated expression on her, so I believe it wasn't on purpose and it was just the result of Yumir wanting to get a closer look at the grimoire.
Along with a sigh, I cast {Healing}  towards Yumir.
However, this skill sure covers a wide area...this might be a bit hard to use while in a party.
Once the effective time of the skill ended, the book closed with a bang and returned to Riizu's hand.
After catching it with her left hand, Riizu took a breath.
[...Fuh. Thank you very much, Hind-san. I really like it.]  (Riizu)
[Yeah. Good for you.]  (Hind)
Riizu gave a charming smile.
It was a charming smile that would make it impossible for someone to see it and not get a favorable impression of her, if I I didn't look at her as a relative.
However, there was a girl that wasn't affected by it here.
[Gununu...I want to use a new weapon already too!! Let's return to blacksmithing right now! Hind, Secchan!!]  (Yumir)
[Ah, Yumir-san! Wait!]  (Selene)
Selene-san's followed after Yumir, who was burning with competitiveness, and they climbed the rough stairs.
Me and Riizu exchanged wry smiles and left the training area right after.
That being said, Yumir's sword probably won't have any flashy gimmicks.
She already stands out with only her {Hero's aura} , I believe a simple sword would be fine.
The next day, there wasn't much conversation within the guild home.
That being said, it wasn't because there had been a fight, everyone was just absorbed in their work.
Riizu and Yumir were in charge of chores that didn't need much skill, Selene-san and I took care of the rest silently.
Selene-san and I worked together and finished the weapons yesterday night.
Selene-san was in charge of Yumir's defensive gear, and I was crafting my own via sewing.
The reason mine wasn't made of metal was because with just the defense of a Shinto Priest it would be too heavy and I'd be unable to move.
Even then, I'm using the special product of this country {Sala's cloth}  that is a magical cloth which has stab-proof properties, so it'll probably have more defense than my last one.
Once I'm free, I plan to make Selene-san's and Riizu's defensive gear with this too.
Fundamentally, it's hard for rearguards to equip heavy defensive gear.
[I wonder why, this breastplate section that Yumir-san uses...or when I make this waist side, I get this severe sense of defeat...]  (Selene)
Suddenly, in the blacksmith's workshop that was silent apart from the sound of us working, Selene-san muttered that.
A question mark appeared above Yumir's head, but Riizu replied with a [...I get what you mean] .
...No, don't go looking at me with that timing, both of you.
In this situation, what should I say as a guy?
[...Hind-kun, do you prefer them big...?]  (Selene)
Selene-san asked me that while holding up the breastplate made of metal.
I hate myself for understanding what she meant.
Ah, eh...
[No comment.]  (Hind)
[[Eeeh-] ]  (Riizu and Selene)
Bigger are better!! Smaller are better!! I don't have the guts to say something bold like that in that kind of situation.
Against such a vague answer, Selene-san and Riizu became sullen while looking dissatisfied at the same time.
They are perfectly in sync...in such a short amount of time, you girls sure have become friendly...
[What are you guys talking about? Something about bigger...
[Sorry, I might not be able to tell you.]  (Selene)
[...Hind! These two are leaving me out! Why!? Whyyyyy!?]  (Yumir)
Sometimes, people give birth to despair and malice when facing a force that is too strong for them.
While she can't understand that, Yumir will never be able to fully comprehend those two.
...
I mean, this was a very uncomfortable topic and atmosphere for the only person that was from the opposite sex.
If it was possible, I would like to summon Tobi right now and make some tea.
While praying that this ended soon, I focused on the needle in my hand and started working.
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/
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二階堂風都