一方アルファは白いワンピースという荒野にまるで適していない格好をしている。白い布地が一目で生地の上質さを理解させる光沢を放ち、布地を透過した光がその下の裸体を想像させる陰影を生み出していた。
もう少し場に適した格好があるのではないか。アキラはそう思いながらも、余計な口出しは控えた。以前純白のドレスを着ていたように、初めて会った時に全裸だったように、その格好にも何らかの意味があるのだろうと勝手に判断する。何よりも、余計なことを言った
アルファが笑顔で訓練の開始を告げる。
『アキラ。今から強化服の訓練を始めるわ』
「それで、まずは何をすれば良いんだ?」
アルファが100メートル先の荒野を指差す。
『まずはあの場所まで歩いて』
アキラが視線をそちらに移すと、何もない荒野に目標地点を示す矢印が浮かんでいた。アルファによる視界の拡張表示だ。もうこの類いのことには驚かなくなっているので、そのまま指示された場所まで歩いていく。何事もなく
「アルファ。もしかして、もっと周囲を警戒しながら歩くとか、銃を構えて進むとか、そういうことをしないと駄目だったりするのか? それとも今はまだ強化服の動作確認をしているだけで、本格的な訓練はその後にやるのか?」
『いいえ。訓練はもう始まっているわ。関連するデータ収集もね』
「歩いているだけなのに?」
『確かに私のサポート無しの状態を一度体感しないと、サポートのありがたさを実感するのは難しいわね』
「サポート? 普通に歩いているだけだろう。もう何かしているのか?」
アルファが浮かべている
アキラが転ばないようにゆっくりとした動きでアルファを見る。アルファは楽しげに笑っていた。
『これで分かったでしょう? 強化された身体能力に対応できないと、普通に歩くのも難しいのよ。普段のアキラが転ばないのは、通常の体重と筋力に合わせて歩き方を無意識に調整しているからなの。強化服を着用した状態で普通に歩けるようになるのも大切な訓練なのよ。私のサポートを戻したから、もう普通に歩いても大丈夫よ』
アキラが恐る恐る歩き出す。今度は普通に歩けるのを実感して、表情を苦笑気味な険しいものに変えた。
「アルファのサポートが無いと歩くのも難しいのか。強化服を使っている人は、全員初めの内はこんな感じなのか? こんな
アキラは驚きの表情を浮かべながら素直に称賛した。強化服に対するアルファのサポート。その有り無しで生じる雲泥の差を実感した感想だった。
アルファがアキラの反応に満足そうに
使用している強化服の性能ならば、通常は長期間の訓練を必要とする動きも混ざり始める。アキラはそうとは気付かずに普通に動いていた。それを実現させたアルファの異常なまでに高水準な動作補正を疑問に思うことすら出来なかった。
午前中の訓練を終えたアキラが軽い食事を取っている。
りながら、無意識にその味に不満を覚えていた。そして不意に不満を覚えている自身に気付くと、少し驚きながら苦笑する。
(今までは食えるだけでも十分ありがたかったっていうのに、俺も随分
「アルファ。午後はどうするんだ? 運動の続きか?」
『午後は射撃訓練をしてから、その後に近接戦闘術の訓練の予定よ』
「近接戦闘術? えっと、近くの敵を蹴ったり殴ったりの訓練か?』
『銃撃も含めた総合的な近距離戦闘の訓練よ。まずは人間相手の格闘技術から学んでもらうわ。私を相手にした実戦形式でね』
『その時になれば分かるわ。期待して待っていなさい』
アキラは少し気になったが、アルファに今は話す気はなさそうだと判断して、表情に軽い疑問を残したまま携帯食を
が良い結果に、アキラが顔を僅かにほころばせる。次の標的にも慎重に狙って引き金を引く。今度もしっかり命中した。その次にも、次の次にも、1発で目標に命中し続けた。
「おっ! 今日は
『それなら今度は目標までの距離を少しずつ伸ばしていきましょうか』
アキラは少し遠くなった標的に、今まで以上に慎重に照準を合わせて引き金を引いた。弾丸は狂いなく標的に着弾した。
その後もアキラは命中するたびに遠くなる標的に対して、次々に正確に着弾させ続けた。だがその途中で、今まで上機嫌だったアキラの表情に困惑が浮かぶ。
強化服の身体能力で銃の反動をしっかり押さえ込んだおかげで、発砲時の振動が抑えられて命中率が向上したのかもしれない。そうごまかしながら狙撃を続けていたが、既に標的の位置はそれでは説明が付かないほどに遠くなっている。それでも弾丸は不自然なまでの命中精度で吸い込まれるように標的に飛び込んでいった
そして500メートル先の小石に弾丸を命中させた時、アキラは確信に近い懐疑の顔をアルファに向けた。
「アルファ。何かやってるよな?」
『しっかりサポートしているわ』
自分の射撃の腕が突如劇的に向上した訳ではない。予想はしていたが、アキラは僅かに苦笑した。
『アキラが大まかな狙いを付けた後に、私が強化服を介して照準の微調整をしたの。更に発砲時の体勢や重心の調整も行っているわ。強化服の可動部を繊細な力加減で動かして、銃の反動をほぼ完全に吸収したりもしているわ』
いな。......ん? と言うことは、俺はもう射撃訓練をしなくても良くなるのか?」
『駄目よ。アキラが正確に狙いを付けるほど、私のサポートによる命中補正も少なくて済むわ。それにこれから先、強化服を使えない状態や、私のサポートの効率が落ちる環境で交戦する恐れもあるの。だから訓練はしっかり続けるからね』
「......お手柔らかに頼む」
少し怖いことを笑って告げたアルファに、アキラは少したじろいでいた。
『さて、強化服のおかげでこれからは射撃の方もサポートできるようになったわ。強化服の操作を介したサポートの有効性を理解してもらったところで、私からアキラに聞いておくことがあるわ』
「何だ?」
『私は今のところ、強化服の操作を介したサポートでは、アキラの動きの微調整ぐらいしかしていないの。つまりアキラが自分の意思で行った行動に対する補助であって、アキラの意思を無視したり、阻害したりするものではないわ。でもアキラが希望すれば、強化服の動作を私が完全に制御することも出来るの。つまり私が強化服をアキラの意思を無視して操作することで、アキラの体を私の意思で動かすことも可能になるわ。
アキラはアルファの真面目な様子から、以前に面倒な規則の許可を自分に求めていた時のことを思い出していた。相応に重要なことなのだろうと判断して、気を切り替えてしっかりと答える。
「分かった。じゃあ長所から教えてくれ」
『私が強化服を完全に制御すれば、その性能を限界まで引き出せるわ。ちょっとした超人のような挙動も出来るようになるはずよ。例えば目を閉じてビルの屋上の縁を走りながら、左右から迫りくるモンスターを両手に持つ銃で正確に銃撃したりも出来るわ。格闘戦でも熟練者の動きで戦ったりすることも可能よ。アキラが死角から敵の奇襲を受けても、私がアキラよりも早く敵の奇襲に気付いて、すぐに的確な反撃や回避行動に移ることも可能になるわ』
「良いことだらけな気がするな。それで、短所は?」
『まず、体が勝手に動くことへの嫌悪感ね。次に、強化服がアキラの体を強引に動かすことになるから、体の負荷が大きいの。私がアキラの動きに合わせるのではなく、アキラが私の動きに合わせることになるから、アキラが反射的に強化服の動きに逆らったりすると、動きも鈍るし体への負担も高くなるわ。場合によっては骨が折れたりもするわ』
アキラが真面目な表情で思案する。
「じゃあちょっと試してみてくれ」
『分かったわ。今から私が強化服を動かすわね。初めは歩いて、それから少しずつ速く走っていくから、
している間に、次第に走る速さが増していく。そして更に加速していく。それに気付いて慌てている間に、既にアキラの両脚は自身の意思では不可能なほど速く交差を繰り返していた。
両脚が交差するたびに、強化服の動きに追いつけなくなった両脚が強化服に圧迫される。両脚の痛みが徐々に激痛に近づいていく。脚が地面に
走る速さがアキラの負担を抑えるように減速していく。十分に減速した辺りで、強化服の制御がアキラに戻った。アキラは立ち止まり、膝を突いて荒い呼吸を繰り返した。
『もう少し速く走れば、またモンスターの群れに襲われても走って逃げ出せるわね。苦しいかもしれないけれど、総合的には非常に有益よ。どうする?』
アルファからよく考えろと言われた意味を、アキラはよく理解した。
「......必要な時だけ頼む。動かす時は、可能なら先に伝えてくれ」
「......許可って、あれだよな。あのいろいろ面倒な許可のやつ」
『そうよ。着用者の意思を逸脱した操作には相応の許可が要るのよ。変なことはしないから安心して。次は近接戦闘術の訓練よ。アキラが動けるようになったら始めるから、少し休んでいて』
アキラが地面に寝転ぶ。強化服で体を無理
それでも新たな力を得たのは間違いない。アルファのサポートも格段に向上した。確かに強くなったのだ。アキラはそう自身に言い聞かせて痛みに耐えていた。そのまま
く荒野に横たわった後、大分痛みが退いてきた辺りで何とか身を起こす。
『もう休憩は良いの?』
横たわっていても強くは成れない。ハンターとして成り上がるには更なる力が必要だ。望むものを
近接戦闘術の訓練が始まる。しかしすぐに格闘戦とはならなかった。
『この格好だと駄目ね。変えましょう』
「......その格好は?」
『旧世界製の戦闘服の一種よ』
『ええ。どこかの遺跡を探せば見付かると思うわ』
アキラは旧世界に対する誤解を少し深めた後、それを取り
「その格好じゃないと駄目なのか?」
『リクエストがあるのなら要望に応えても良いけれど、私の動きをより正確に視認できる方向でお願いね。アキラの実力だと、私の動きを可能な限り正確に捉えないと効率的な訓練にならないわ。動きの予測の精度とかを僅かでも悪化させる格好は却下よ』
相手の四肢の僅かな動きから次の行動を予測する者もいる。服でそれを隠す者もいる。それを突き詰めれば、動きを最も把握しやすい相手の格好は全裸となる。アキラは何となくそれに気付いて、余計なことを言うのを止めた。
「分かった。始めよう。それで、どうすれば良いんだ? 俺がアルファを攻撃しても擦り抜けるだけだろう?」
しみながらも言われた通りに殴りかかろうとする。アルファがアキラの拳を右手で遮る。すると、本来ならアルファを擦り抜けるだけの拳が、何かにぶつかったように止まった。
「......えっ!? ぶつかった? いや違う。なんだこれ?」
アキラが予想外のことに驚いていると、アルファが笑って種明かしをする。
『衝突判定に引っかかった場合に、アキラの強化服の関節部を固定したりして、攻撃が当たった時の感覚をある程度再現したのよ。これで多少は感覚が
アルファは誘うような余裕の笑みを浮かべて、挑発するように人差し指を動かした。アキラは気を取り直してアルファに挑んだ。
当たり前だがアキラの近接戦闘術の練度は素人だ。基本的にアキラの攻撃がアルファに当たることはない。たとえアルファがその場に実在していても
アルファがアキラの行動の一つ一つに指摘を入れる。拳の握り方。蹴り足の伸ばし方。攻撃箇所。立ち位置。構え。踏み込み。注視点。体重移動。回避予備行動。防ぎ方。回避方法。その全てに念話で逐次素早く指摘し続ける。
アキラが正解に近い動きをするほど、強化服がより動きやすいように補整を入れる。誤った動きには逆の補整を入れる。そのおかげでアキラは正しい動きを感覚的に学んでいた。
衝突判定と強化服による戦闘の再現は、アキラの攻撃だけではなくアルファの攻撃にも適用されている。アキラは腹を殴られて後ろに吹っ飛ばされ、足を払われて体勢を崩して倒れ込んだ。攻撃を何とか防いでも、しっかり受け止めないと同じように吹き飛ばされた。
アルファの攻撃は種類も方向もタイミングも事前に念話でアキラに教えられている。それでもアキラにはアルファの攻撃を防ぐのは困難だ。回避しても正しく回避しないと正確に追撃される。防御しても正しく防御しないと体勢を崩されて追撃される。アキラが反撃できる機会はごく僅かだった。
アキラが攻撃を頭部に受けた場合は、死んだと
けになったアキラに、アルファは笑って片足を上げ、アキラの頭部を踏み潰すように踏み付けた。
アキラがアルファの足下から、胸で少し隠れたアルファの顔を見る。アルファはアキラを見下ろして
『またアキラの死体が1体増えたわね。本物のアキラがこれらに加わらないように頑張りましょう』
アキラは優しげに笑うアルファをやはり少し怖いと思いながら必死に訓練を続けた。
アキラは訓練を続ける内に少し奇妙な感覚を覚えていた。
「アルファ。ちょっと聞いて良いか?」
「えっと、どう言えば良いのかな。さっきから
『変な感覚? 私がしているのは強化服の操作でアキラの体に効率的な動きを教え込んでいることぐらいだけれど、そのことかしら?』
「いや、違う。何というか、動こうとしていたらもう動いていたっていうか、そういう感覚だ」
『アキラが体を意識して動かそうとするよりも早く、体の方が少し先に動いている。強化服で体を無理
「ああ。大体そんな感じだ」
『多分何かの錯覚よ。恐らく強化服の動きを無意識に肌で感じ取って、その動きに合わせて体を動かしているのよ。そしてその動きをアキラの意識が追認しているのよ。その認識の時間差が原因だと思うわ。私が何かをしている訳ではないわ』
『でもその錯覚は大切にしなさい。その感覚に合わせて体を動かせば負担はかなり減るはずよ。それに強化服の動きは非常に訓練された達人のものを基準にしているから、その感覚に従って動けば、いずれは私のサポート無しでも達人の動きが可能になるかもしれないわ』
えず、この感覚は良いことなんだな?」
『多分ね。心配することはないわ。さあ、訓練を続けるわよ?』
近接戦闘術の訓練は日が暮れる前まで続いた。訓練が終わった時、アキラは自力での歩行が難しいほどに疲労していたが、強化服の恩恵もあって問題なく宿まで戻れた。つまり、アルファの前言通り、強化服で無理
On the other hand, Alpha was donned in a white one-piece, not something that one would typically wear in the middle of the wasteland. The glossiness of the dress further accentuated that it was made of high-quality fabric, and as the light shone on it, it made a drop-shadow effect that traced her body line.
Although Akira wanted Alpha to change to something that better suited the wasteland, he decided to hold himself from saying anything. He recollected her n.a.k.e.d self during their first meeting in the ruins and her beautiful pure white dress that she wore during a previous trip to ruins when he was targeted by 2 Hunters. During both these occasions, she had a reason for wearing such a dress. Similarly, he thought that there must be some reason as to why she wore this dress now too. But more than that, he knew that she would only change her dress to something worse if he commented about it. It was quite a while since the last time he had the chance of going to the wasteland, thus he did not want to do anything that might bring him trouble.
Alpha smiled and told Akira to start the training.
"Akira, we'll start the training for using the augmented suit."
"So then, what should I do?"
Alpha pointed to a location in the wasteland that was 100 metres away from them.
"First of all, walk till you get there."
As Akira turned to the pointed direction, he could see an arrow pointing to the intended location. It was something that Alpha added to his vision. Akira was already used to it, so he was not surprised. He then started walking towards the location. He was able to get there without any problem. So Alpha gave him the next command.
"Alpha. Do I need to walk more carefully? Or maybe walk while carrying my gun? Or is it that I should not do any of those at all? Or are we still confirming the functionality of the augmented suit and we will only start the real training after that?"
"Nope, we're already in a training session and I've started gathering your data too."
"Just by walking?"
"Yep, after all, you would never realise the usefulness of my support until you try to move around without it."
"Support? But I'm just walking normally, right? Is there anything more than that?"
Alpha smiled mischievously.
As Alpha watched Akira trying to move so slowly and carefully, she smiled as if she was enjoying it.
"Now you get it, right? If you can't control your augmented strength, you can't even walk normally, you know. The reason why you don't usually fall down when you walk is because your body unconsciously adjusts your centre of gravity. It is a very crucial part of the training to be able to walk wearing your augmented suit, you know. I'll turn my support back on, so you can go ahead and walk without worry."
Akira started to walk carefully. But this time, he could walk normally, thus his face turned stern as he smiled bitterly.
"I can't even walk without your support, huh? Does everyone who uses an augmented suit for the first time go through this? Did all of them go through a lot of training to turn from not being able to move around to be good enough to use it for combat? Until I finish the whole training, I think it's better if I don't use this suit, you know?"
Akira looked genuinely amazed. The difference when he had Alpha's support and when he did not have it while using his augmented suit was crystal clear to him.
Naturally, Alpha was satisfied with Akira's reaction.
ally, one would need a long time worth of training with such a low functionality augmented suit before they could do any of those manoeuvres. But Akira did not realize that as he kept moving around normally. He could not even grasp the fact that he was able to do that only because of Alpha's superior support.
After finishing his morning training, Akira went to have a light meal. He was eating Hunter's ration that he packed in his rucksack. It was cheap and nutritious, although it had no taste, it was enough to at least fill his empty stomach.
As he was chewing on the hard-to-chew tasteless fried dango-like thing, he unconsciously complained about its taste. And when he realized that he was complaining about how bad it was, he just laughed bitterly.
[Although I've always been thankful to even have something to eat until today, now I'm complaining about the taste, huh. It seems that I've become too used to living in luxury.]
"Alpha, what to do for the afternoon? Are we going to continue with the training?"
"We'll have shooting training in the afternoon and then melee training after that."
"Melee training? Uhhm, do you mean like training how to kick and punch the enemy in close range?"
"It's just standard training including how to use your rifle in short range. First of all, I'll have to teach you martial arts and train you to use it against humans. You'll also have a mock fight against me."
"You'll understand when we do that. So just look forward to it, okay?"
Although Akira wanted to know badly, it did not seem like Alpha would tell him now. Thus he continued eating his ration while making a questioning look.
Akira smiled as he knew that he did well. He then moved to the next target, aimed carefully and pulled the trigger. This time also it was a bullseye, and the next one too, and the next one too. All of his shots were accurate.
"Oh! You're doing really well today!!"
"In that case, I'll increase the distance of the target gradually."
Akira then aimed at his next target more carefully than before and pulled the trigger. Then the bullet flew straight and hit that target.
Since then, his consecutive targets became further and further away from him every time he hit the previous target, and he did not miss even a single shot. But suddenly, his good mood vanished.
Akira realized that his targets had become so far from him that it would normally be impossible to hit them accurately. But even so, weirdly enough, all of his shots still accurately hit those targets. He assumed that it might be because the augmented suit absorbed the kickback from his rifle, so his accuracy had increased.
And after he accurately shot a target that was 500 metres away from him, he turned to Alpha and asked her a question.
"Alpha, you're doing something here, aren't you?"
"I'm giving you my complete support."
Although he already guessed that it was not because his shooting skill suddenly went up, it was still frustrating when he heard it. He could only smile bitterly after realising the fact.
"After you moved your aim around the target, I controlled the augmented suit to make some fine adjustments. And when you pulled the trigger, I also adjusted your stance and centre of gravity. I also make a small adjustment to your augmented suit to completely absorb the kickback too."
"So you can even do that too, huh.? That's amazing... Hm? Doesn't that mean that I don't even need to do shooting training at all?"
"Nope. The better you can aim, the less adjustment that I need to do to make an accurate shot. Moreover, there may be occasions in the future, where you will have to fight without your augmented suit or when I can't give you my full support. That's why you still need to train."
"...Be gentle, please."
Seeing Alpha say something so scary with a smile, Akira winced a bit. Alpha then turned serious and said.
"Now then, since you know that I can give you my support when you shoot thanks to the augmented suit, I have something that I need you to know."
"What is it?"
"At the moment, I cannot do anything more than giving support by adjusting your movement through your augmented suit. Which means that I can help you do what you want to do, but I can't ignore your wish and make you do something that you don't want to do. But if you agree, I can configure your augmented suit so that it can give me full control over your body. Thus I would be able to move your body without your will. Of course, I promise that I will not do anything that will bring you harm. But even so, there are pros and cons in doing so, so listen to me closely and think carefully before making any decision."
Looking at Alpha who was making a serious face, Akira remembered the time when she asked him for permission due to some annoying rules. As he realised that it must be something that she needed in order to give him her full support, he firmly replied back.
"I understand, tell me the pros first."
"If I can completely control your augmented suit, I can unleash its full power. So you'll be able to do some superhuman feats. For example, you'll be able to run along the edge of the rooftop and shoot monsters with guns on both hands with your eyes closed. You'll be able to fight people who are expert in martial arts. You'll be able to evade attacks or even counter-attacks from your dead angle as long as I notice it."
"All of those things sound amazing, so then, what are the cons?"
"First of all, you'll feel uncomfortable since your body will move on its own. Then since the augmented suit moves your body with it, it'll cause bigger stress on your body. And because it'll change our role from me adjusting my movement with you, to you adjusting your movement with me, so when you try to make a different move than mine, it'll disrupt the fluidity of your movements and it'll cause bigger stress on your body. In the worst-case scenario, it might even break your bones."
Akira then thought while making a serious face.
"In that case, I'll try it out first."
"Alright, I'll be controlling your augmented suit then. We'll start by walking slowly, then I'll increase the speed until you are running. If you feel it is very uncomfortable, you can stop me immediately."
As Akira looked relieved, he started to run faster and faster. Before he realized it, he was already running faster than he ever could on his own without her support.
Every time his legs swung forward, he could not catch up with its movement and his legs were forced to swing forward against his will. So his legs started to scream in pain. And every time he kicked the ground, he could feel the impact through his bones which shook his whole body.
His running speed then slowed down to compensate for the burden that it had caused. And when it was slow enough, Akira was back in control of his augmented suit. When he finally stopped running, Akira was on his knees and breathing roughly.
"If you are able to run a bit faster than this, you would be able to outrun a group of monsters if they come chasing you. It might be hard for you, but it's a good solution for such a situation. So what do you think?"
Akira understood well as to why Alpha told him to think it through.
"...I'll only give my permission when it's necessary. And also, do tell me next time when you want to control my body."
"...Permission, huh? It's about that, right? Those annoying rules about permission."
"That's right, I need your permission when I want to take any action that is beyond your wish. But don't worry, I won't do anything bad. That aside, we'll do melee training next, we'll start once you can move around again, so just take a rest for now."
Akira just laid flat on the ground. The stress subjected to his body when it moved without his will by the augmented suit was too much to handle. He always thought that things would be easier since he had his augmented suit now, but that line of thinking was destroyed by the pain that was assaulting him.
But even so, there was no doubt that he had acquired a new power and Alpha's support had also gotten more effective. And it was obvious that he got stronger, that was what he told himself as he was enduring his pain. He was just lying there in the middle of the wasteland for a while, and when his pain had mostly subsided, he was back on his feet.
"Yeah, it's not like I can safely sleep in the middle of the wasteland. I'll take a good sleep when I get back to my room."
"Are you finished resting?"
Akira knew that he would not grow stronger if he stayed lying down. He needed to become stronger in order to rise up as a Hunter. He wanted the power to reach for what he wished. Thus, he got back on his feet.
The melee training started, but they did not go straight to martial arts training.
"This dress is no good, I guess. So let me change it."
"...What is with that suit?"
"It's one of the fighting suits from the old world, you know."
"Yep. You can find one if you look for it in the ruins."
Akira's misunderstanding about the old world deepened. He thought that even though it was a high-quality suit that was produced using the advanced technology of the old world, since Alpha had no corporeal body, it could not show its full functionality. He asked Alpha another question.
"Should you really wear that suit?"
"If you have any request, I can change it to anything you want. But please pick something that can show my movements clearly. With your current ability, this won't be good training unless you can see my moves clearly. So anything that reduces the prediction of my movements is rejected."
There were people who could predict their opponent's next move from a small shift in their limbs. Thus there were people who used clothes to hide their movements. If they really went down that line of thinking, then the best dress that allowed such a prediction would be the birthday suit. Akira realized that and he changed the topic.
"Alright, let's start. Now then, what should I do? Even if I attack you, my attack would just go through you, right?"
Although Akira was still not sure about it, he just stepped forward to attack Alpha like he was told to. She blocked his fist with her right hand, and strangely enough, when his fist should have just passed through her, he could feel his fist bumping on something.
"...Eh!? It was stopped? No, wait, what is this?"
Akira was surprised at that unexpected turn of events. Alpha saw that and smiled as she started explaining.
"Every time you hit me, I'll harden your augmented suit on the part where it makes contact with me. It would give you a little feedback as if you really hit something. With this, you can at least get the feel, right? Now then, let's start for real now, come at me."
Alpha then smiled as if to invite Akira and made a 'come-on' taunt with her fingers. Akira then changed his stance and launched an attack at her.
It was obvious that he was a complete amateur in close combat. Most of his attacks did not even hit Alpha. So even if she had a corporeal body here, she would end up with only some light bruises.
Alpha kept guiding him on how to execute his moves. From how to clench his fist, how to kick, where to attack, how to position himself, what was the correct fighting stance, how to step in, things he needed to be careful, how to adjust his body's weight, how to prepare himself to evade, how to evade and how to block. She kept firing instructions to Akira through telepathy.
The more accurate Akira's movement was, the easier he moved due to the support from his augmented suit. And whenever he made a wrong move, the augmented suit would push him in the right direction. Thanks to that, Akira could learn by remembering the feeling and the sensation when he made the correct moves.
The hitting feeling during the fight coming from his augmented suit also recreated the sensation from Alpha's attack. When he got punched on his abdomen, he would be pushed back. And when he got his legs swept, he would lose his balance and fall down. Even when he blocked an attack, he would feel as if he really did receive that attack.
Before she attacked, Alpha always told him where she aimed, how she would attack and when she would attack. But even so, Akira had a hard time blocking her attacks. Even if he tried to dodge, he would only get hit if he did not evade correctly. And if he tried to block, he would lose balance and get hit unless he blocked correctly. He almost had no chance to counterattack.
Every time Akira got hit on his head, it would be considered as a killing blow and they would restart the fight. If he got attacked on his head by someone using an augmented suit, there was no doubt that his head would be blown away. Depending on the situation, it might even blow his head to pieces. There was no way of predicting how good his block would work against that kind of attack. So Akira was taught to prioritize evading when faced with such an attack.
As Akira was lying on the ground on his back, Alpha just smiled, raised her leg and stomped his head wanting to crush it.
Akira tried to look at Alpha's face that was hidden behind her b.r.e.a.s.ts as he was still lying on the ground. With a little adjustment, he could see her looking down at him while still smiling. He could sense that her smile now was a bit scary than her usual smile.
"There you go, another image of your corpse. Let's work hard so that the real Akira won't be added among these images, okay?"
Akira could again sense something scary hidden within her beautiful smile as he continued his training.
In the middle of his training, Akira realized that something felt strange.
"Alpha, can I ask you something?"
"Uhmmm, how should I put this out? I've been feeling something weird, did you do something to me?"
"Something weird? I'm just operating the augmented suit so I can efficiently teach you how to move, do you mean that?"
"No, not that one. It's like, I always find my body already moving when I want to do something."
"Do you mean that your body moved first even before you intentionally tried to move your body and it was not the augmented suit that made you do that?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"Maybe it's just your imagination. My guess is that your augmented suit received the information of what you were going to do from its sensors, so it moved to match your movement. And what you noticed was that move. I think the reason for your strange sensation is because of the time gap between that movement and your sensation. It's not like I did anything there, you know."
"But remember that sensation well. If you try to match your body to that movement, it should greatly reduce the burden on your body. Moreover, the augmented suit is set using the movement of someone well trained as the basis, thus if you follow that movement, you might be able to fight well even without my support."
"I understand, so in short, that sensation was a good thing, right?"
"I think so. It's not something for you to worry about. Now then, let's continue the training."
They kept training until sunset. After he finished his training, Akira was so tired that he could not even walk on his own, thus it was thanks to his augmented suit that he was able to return to his room. So in short, it was just like Alpha said, he was able to return back by making him walk using his augmented suit.
Rebuild World (WN)
リビルドワールド
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/rebuild-world/
Action Adventure Drama Harem Mecha Mystery Sci-fi Seinen
Abandoned Children Adapted to Manga Adventurers Alternate World Anti-social Protagonist Apocalypse Artificial Intelligence Beautiful Female Lead Cautious Protagonist Child Protagonist Dense Protagonist Determined Protagonist Distrustful Protagonist Futuristic Setting Gangs Gunfighters Harsh Training Lack of Common Sense Male Protagonist Manipulative Characters Monsters Near-Death Experience Older Love Interests Poor Protagonist Poor to Rich Ruthless Protagonist Shota Sudden Strength Gain Survival Twisted Personality Unlucky Protagonist Weak to Strong
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n9736dt/
非公開