252 シロウ捕獲作戦
アリスの軽い自己紹介以降、オリビアとアリスは一見ずっと黙ったままだ。その様子にアキラが少し
『アルファ。あの2人、さっきからずっとあんな感じだけど、あれも一種の駆け引きなのか?』
アルファがアキラの勘違いを正す。
『駆け引きはしていると思うけれど、黙っているのとは無関係よ。私達の念話と一緒で、他の人には認識できない方法で話しているのだと思うわ。恐らく何らかの交渉中で、付属の資料とかも一緒に送付している
『ああ。そういうことか。......時間、掛かるのか?』
『それを私に聞かれてもね。帰りたいのなら帰れば良いと思うけれど』
アキラはオリビアに呼び止められた後は、何となく帰る契機を逃して残っているだけだ。当たり障りの無い雰囲気ならば既に帰っている。
だがレイナ達は非常に緊張した雰囲気を出していた。恐らく彼女達にとって
しかしこのまま黙って残っているのもどうかと思い、帰る契機を求めてキャロルに小声で話し掛ける。
「......キャロル。どうする? そろそろ帰るか?」
キャロルが少し難しい顔で答える。
くと、雇い主が残りたいのだからと、護衛として気を切り替えた。
キャロルの返事は半分ごまかしだ。キャロルの興味はアリスではなく、白いカードの元の持ち主がアキラだったことだ。
その詳細をアキラに尋ねることは出来なかった。非常に知りたいが、下手をするとそれを尋ねた時点でアキラと敵対する恐れがあるからだ。それどころか、推察が正しければ既に手遅れの恐れすらあった。
シオリ達から素朴な疑問を装っていろいろ聞き出すべきか。それも悪手か。いろいろ悩みながら横目でアキラを見る。少なくともそこに、知ってしまった者へ向ける反応は無い。キャロルはそれが演技だとは思いたくなかった。
シロウは今もヤナギサワやハーマーズ達に追われている。スガドメとの交渉はシロウの捜索を一時中止するものではない。
シロウの捜索に対し坂下重工専務の権限を行使して徹底的に捜索する、というような
シロウがキャロルから受け取った記録媒体を見る。そして軽く笑って投げ捨てた。重要なのは中身のデータでありそれは既に旧領域の個人領域に転送済みだ。発信器の類いが付いていないことは確認済みだが、万が一ということもある。保持しておく理由はなかった。
受け取った情報を解析すれば、次は目的の場所を発見できるかもしれない。シロウはそう期待して軽く笑った。
だろ!? 俺の偽装を突破しやがった!」
その方向に、実際に誰かがいる訳ではない。しかしシロウは悪寒と共に誰かからの視線を感じていた。それは拡張感覚によるもので、視線の主は旧領域を介した向こう側におり、見られている感覚は自身が展開していた電子防壁を突破された
シロウを発見したヤナギサワは、すぐに部下達に指示を出した。
現代製の情報網と旧領域は部分的に
普段の癖で見付かった原因を探ろうとしている自分に気付き、慌てて首を横に振る。原因の解明も確かに重要だが、最も重要なことはこの場を乗り切ることだ。原因探しに思考を割く時間は無かった。
ここで手を誤れば、この唯一無二の機会は確実に失われる。坂下重工の施設の外に出ることはもう不可能となる。シロウは自身に強くそう言い聞かせて無理
オリビアによる粗探しが続く。
『事業の地域を広域に広げているのは評価できるけど、接客用の従業員がほぼ人間なのはどうなの?』
えるのは、現代では難しいのです。ですので、人間で代用しております』
『人間では社の基準要求を満たすのは難しいと思うのだけど』
『自動人形でも同じです。無論、現代製の高性能な自動人形も購入しておりますが、コストパフォーマンスの問題や他者の介入の予防などもあります。旧世界製の自動人形も集めていますが、質、量、安全性などを考慮すると、現代では人間で代用するのが最適でした』
『でもそこを変えるのならもう別の事業でしょう。それなら独立で良いと思うけど。わざわざ子会社になる必要は無いわ。ああ、その許可なら私の権限で出せるから、言ってくれれば出すわよ?』
『私は時代に応じた事業展開をしたまでです。傘下企業に加える条件は十分に満たしていると思いますけれど』
だが対象の個体は一応は自社の個体でもある。単純に抹消対象とするのは心苦しいものもある。独立を許可して隔離する程度の処理が妥当だと考えていた。
アリスとしてはリオンズテイル社から離れるつもりなど毛頭ない。リオンズテイル社の汎用人格として強い帰属意識を持っている。完全に独立などすれば自己認識の根幹が揺らぐ恐れもある。それを乗り越えるほどに自己が肥大化していたとしても、独立により同業他社と
『どちらにしろ、しっかりとした交渉を希望するのであれば直接会いに来なさい。こんな回線で話していても仕方無いわ』
『それも後にして。お客様との交渉が
「一応聞くけど、別の取引相手がまだいるとか、そういうことは無いよな?」
軽い冗談のように笑ってそう言ったキャロルに、アキラが少し不満そうな顔を向ける。
「......いや、それを俺の
とは言ってないわ。でも前の騒ぎも、昨日も、今も、アキラと一緒の時に起こってるのよね」
そう言って楽しげに笑っているキャロルに、アキラは苦笑いを返した。
「500万コロン! 全額前払い! 料金分だけ働いてくれればそれで良い! これでどうだ!?」
アキラ達は訳が分からず驚きと困惑を顔に浮かべていた。だがシロウが叫んだ相手は分かっていた。オリビアだ。シロウへ向けて愛想良く
オリビアがスカートの中から旧世界製の小型銃を取り出した。この銃は以前にイイダ商業区画遺跡での戦闘で男性型自動人形に貸したものであり、本来はオリビアの装備だ。そして自然な動作で銃口を部屋の壁に向ける。
次の瞬間、銃口から光の奔流が放たれた。都市間輸送車両のレーザー砲にも匹敵する高出力の光線が余波で部屋の空気を
アルファが笑って補足を入れる。
『初めは立体映像だったけれど途中で実体と入れ替わったのよ。迷彩状態でここまで来てから立体映像と重なった後に迷彩を解除していたわ。直接来たのは、多分シオリ達への対処の
『アキラの実力なら、気が付かない方が自然だからよ。下手に気付いてしまったことで、あのシロウって人と同類だと勘ぐられても困るでしょう?』
『坂下重工所属の旧領域接続者よ。何で一人でこんな場所にいたのかは知らないけれどね』
突然の事態に驚いていないのは、事前にそれを知っていたオリビアとシロウ以外にも存在した。アリスだ。交渉を打ち切られた事象への不快感で僅かに顔を不愉快そうに
その時、外まで続く大穴から爆発音が響いた。その余波でビルも僅かに揺れる。皆が視線を思わずそちらに向けると、空中を高速で移動する人型兵器の姿が穴の向こうに一瞬だけ確認できた。
場の全員が情報収集機器で外の状況を調べ始める。大穴が開いているお陰で外の情報も得やすいことに加えて、各自の情報収集機器がかなり高性能なこともあって、大体の様子はすぐに分かった。そしてアルファを除いた全員の顔が引き
えず、この後に用事が無いのなら一緒に帰らない?」
シオリ達は無言で
ミハゾノ街遺跡の市外区画を多数の人型兵器が飛行している。どれも非常に高性能な機体ばかりで、本来はクズスハラ街遺跡のツバキの管理区域周辺に配備されるものだった。それをヤナギサワが自身の権限でセランタルビルの周辺にも配備させていた。
ミハゾノ街遺跡の難易度から考えれば高性能すぎる機体であり、セランタルビル周辺の警備用としては費用対効果がかなり悪い。配備の名目はミハゾノ街遺跡で以前のような騒ぎが発生した場合の備えであり、非常に高性能な機体を
人型兵器の操縦席では隊員達の通信が飛び交っている。
「遺跡への影響は無視して良いと指示されている! 迎撃班は一帯を更地に変えてでも目標の安全確保を最優先にして行動しろ! 目標の周辺にモンスターを絶対に近寄らせるな! 弾切れの考慮は不要だ! 使い切る前に増援が来る!」
迎撃班は逃走中のシロウを大きな円で囲み、円の外側をモンスターごと焦土に変える勢いで攻撃し続けている。機体は敵の迷彩を見破る機能を備えているが、一帯ごと消し飛ばした方が安全確実だと言わんばかりに、絶え間ない砲火を続けている。
「救出班は目標の安全第一で行動しろ! 可能な限り傷付けずに捕まえろ! 絶対に殺すな!」
円の内側では捕獲用の武装を身に付けた人型兵器がシロウを取り囲み、動きを封じ、捕まえようとしている。捕獲用の装備は強力なモンスターを傷付けずに確保する
シロウだけならこれで詰んでいた。力場装甲の箱は非常に強固で出口も無く、その中を泡で少しずつ埋められて身動きすら出来なくなり、その後に完全に拘束されるしかない。
だがオリビアには全く意味を成さなかった。シロウを抱えながらエネルギー式のブレードを構えると、僅かに飛んで宙で一回転するように大きく素早く勢い良く振り払う。放たれた光刃が光の奔流となり、泡も、
「おい!? 殺すなよ!? ちゃんと言っただろ!?」
自分を連れ戻しに来た者を殺して追い払ったとなれば、スガドメも
高性能な機体とはいえ戦闘時に操縦席の内側を完全に守るのは無理がある。そこで強力な機体の操縦者ともなると同様に強力な防護服を着用しているのが普通だ。刻まれたのが機体だけであれば、高速で投げ出されてもそう簡単には死なない。オリビアはそれを理解して斬っていた。
シロウもそれを理解したが、
「いや、それはそうだけどさ、万が一ってこともあるだろう?」
「より穏やかにお引き取り願うのをご希望ですか? それは構いませんが、その手間の分だけ料金を加算させて頂きます。料金分だけお手伝いするという契約ですので契約期間も縮まります。条件を変更なさいますか?」
「とにかく最低でも増援到着までの時間を稼げ! 包囲を続けろ! 対象を絶対に見失うな!」
既に遺跡を非常に刺激している。その上でシロウを取り逃がしては大損害となる。だがその損害も作戦の成功で許容される。その
「到着まで後何分だ?」
「15分です!」
がせば、本来の装備でオリビアを攻撃可能になる。
その隊長機の指示に従い、救出班の機体達が勢い良くシロウ達に向かっていく。シロウが相手の意図に気付いて慌てふためく。だがオリビアは変わらずに平静を保っていた。
Ch 252
After Alice introduced herself, she simply stood there in silence facing Olivia. Seeing that, Akira frowned and glanced at Alpha.
"Alpha, those two are just standing in silence for some time now. Is that also some kind of strategy?"
Alpha corrected Akira's misunderstanding.
"I do think that it is, but it has nothing to do with the silence. It's just like the telepathy between you and me, they are exchanging words between themselves that others can't perceive. My guess is that they're negotiating. Since they're also sending data for the negotiation, it's taking some time."
"I see... Wait, they are?"
"Even if you ask me, it's not like I know. But I believe that it's fine if you want to leave now."
Akira simply missed his chance to leave after Olivia suddenly stopped him and ended up staying here. If it seemed that there was nothing in particular going on, he would have left by now.
But Reina's team seemed to be extremely tense. Akira thought that it might be because someone who was of great importance to them was currently negotiating something critical. Because of this current mood, it was a bit difficult for him to leave now.
On the other hand, he also thought that it would be a waste of time to stay there and do nothing. So, hoping to find a chance to leave, he tugged and whispered to Carol.
"...Carol, what are your plans now? Should we just... you know, leave?"
Carol looked conflicted as she replied.
Akira was okay with that argument and nodded. Since his employer wanted to stay, then as her bodyguard, he had to place his feelings aside and stay as well.
Carol was half-lying. Her interest was not in Alice, but in the original owner of that white card, Akira.
She really wanted to know, but she could not question him. After all, in the worst-case scenario, the moment she asked that question, Akira might identify her as an enemy. As a matter of fact, if her guess was correct, then there was a chance that it was already too late.
Carol was casting a side-glance on Akira while pondering over her choices. She might be able to ask all kinds of questions to Reina's team, but that might be a bad option as well. But from her observation, it did not seem that Akira knew much. Carol did not even want to consider the possibility that he was only faking ignorance.
Even right now, Hammerz and Yanagisawa's men were hunting him down. Shirou's deal with Sugadome was not able to stop them from hunting him down.
Sugadome was only willing to hold back and not use the full force of Sakashita Heavy Industry to search for Shirou. For Sakashita Heavy Industry, it was nothing more but another common searching operation. But Shirou knew that Yanagisawa was using everything he had to look for Shirou, that was why he was being extra careful.
Shirou looked at the media drive that he received from Carol. He then lightly smiled and threw it away. The most important thing of that media drive, the content, had already been extracted via an old-world domain connection. Although he knew it had no transceiver after he checked, just to be safe, he still threw it away. There was no reason for him to keep carrying it around, after all.
Shirou smiled, hoping that he would be able to find his next destination by analysing the content of that data.
"...You got to be kidding me!? They can see me through my camouflage!?"
There was actually no one in that direction. But Shirou could feel a cold gaze from someone. That feeling was from his extended senses. The gaze which came from the other side through the old-world domain broke through the electromagnetic barrier that he had set up, that was why he knew that someone was watching him.
After he located Shirou, Yanagisawa immediately ordered his men.
Communication devices of this era were all connected to a part of the old-world domain. To be more precise, the centre of the network in the eastern district was actually reliant on the old-world domain. That way, almost all communications were leaked through the old-world domain.
He started to think about the whys and hows. He initially thought that he was found out because of his habit, but he then quickly shook his head. Although it was important to know the reason why he was found, the most important thing to him right now was to get away from that place. He did not have the leeway to spend his time figuring out why he was found.
If he made a mistake here, he would lose the chance that might never come to him again. He would never be allowed to get out of Sakashita facility ever again. As Shirou kept telling himself that to help him calm down, he started to think about what he should do right now. He finally came up with an idea and decided to put his everything into that idea. He quickly went back from the path where he came from.
Olivia continued her questioning.
"I compliment your hard work to expand the business, but I can't really agree with using humans as receptionists."
"It is difficult to gather adequate robots in the current era. That's why I'm using humans in place of them."
"I don't think it's that easy either to find humans who satisfy the company's standards."
"It's the same for automata as well. Of course, we did purchase automata from the current era as well, but the cost to performance ratio is too awful and there's also the need to make sure that no one would hack into them. I'm also gathering old-world automata as well. Unfortunately, from the quality, number, and safety considerations, it is the best to use humans in the current era."
"But if you change that aspect, it means that it is already a completely different company. So, in all honesty, I think it's fine to continue as a separate company. There's no need to be a child company of the main company. By the way, if you need that permission, I have the privilege to grant you that, so you just need to ask and I can do it right away, you know?"
"What I did was simply adapt to the business landscape of the current era. So, I believe that I have the right to be added under the main company."
But it was true that the unit she was currently communicating with was from the main corporation. It would be a waste to destroy her, that was why she thought of letting Alice to act independently while also isolating her.
Right from the start, Alice herself had no plans to break away from the main corporation. As a matter of fact, she had a strong wish to return back to being Lion Steel's general-purpose AI. If she completely separated from the main corporation, she was afraid that she would question her base identity. Even if she had enough self-recognition to overcome that, she was afraid that the main corporation would look at the new Lion Steel Company as a separate entity, come down and destroy it.
"Either way, if you want to do a proper negotiation, you should come to meet me with your real body. It's too much trouble talking through this connection."
"Put that for later, I'm almost at the end of my negotiation with my customer."
"Just one thing though, it's not like she's also one of your customers too, right?"
In contrast to Carol, who lightly joked, Akira threw an unhappy glance at her.
"...Would be great if you do not blame me for that."
"It's not like I'm blaming you. But that thing, the things yesterday, and today too, something is always happening when I'm with you."
Carol smiled amusedly at Akira, to which he could only reply with a bitter smile.
"5 million Chrome!! All paid upfront!! You can stop anytime you feel you have worked enough to earn that amount! How about that!?"
Everyone there was extremely confused. But they knew who Shirou was talking to. It was Olivia. She smiled politely at Shirou and said.
Olivia pulled out a small-sized old-world rifle from under her skirt, it was the same rifle that the male automata had back in Iida commercial district, it was originally Olivia's equipment, and she was only lending that rifle to that automata. She then casually aimed that rifle at the room's wall.
Right in the next moment, the rifle released a beam of light. It was a laser that rivaled the firepower of the laser cannon equipped on the inter-city transport vehicles. Once fired, it released waves of strong winds. The beam of light went straight through the building, eradicating anything in its way, thus leaving a gaping hole through the building after that.
Alpha smiled and added her explanation.
"She was indeed only a holographic image at first but she has replaced it with a real body while they were standing there. She came all the way here while camouflaging herself. She only disengaged her camouflage after fixing her body over her image. I bet she came here originally to deal with Shiori."
"Because it's more natural for someone with your level of skill to not notice it. If I told you, Shirou might get suspicious if you're just like him, and that would be bad, right?"
"Yep, an old-world connector working under Sakashita Heavy Industry. Though I don't know why he's here, alone."
There was also someone there other than Olivia and Shirou, who was not surprised. It was Alice. She looked rather unhappy that her negotiation with Olivia was suddenly cut short, but she quickly returned to her neutral expression and gave an order to Shiori.
Suddenly a sound of explosion came from that large hole. It even caused the building to shake as well. Everyone inadvertently turned toward that direction and saw through that hole, several powered suits flying heading towards them at an extremely fast pace.
Everyone quickly checked their information-gathering device, thanks to the hole and the high capabilities of their information gathering device, they were able to gather data from outside the building relatively easily. They quickly understood what was happening. Other than Alpha, everyone seemed distressed.
"...Well, if you have nothing to do next, want to leave together?"
Shiori did not say anything and just nodded.
A number of powered suits entered Mihazono ruin. All of them were powered suits which were originally used to guard Tsubaki's area in the Kuzusuhara ruin. Yanagisawa had some of them posted to guard the Seranthal building with his authority.
They were obviously too powerful to be used in Mihazono ruin. As such, even if they were used to suppress emergency situations, with the powered suits they were equipped with, they were overkill as guards; even if another huge problem happened in Mihazono ruin just like last time.
Voices could be heard from the communication devices of the powered suits' pilots.
"We can ignore the damage to the ruin!! Even if we change location from the original designated area in pursuit of the target, keep the safety of the target as the top priority!! Don't let the monsters come close! There's no need to conserve your ammo!! Reinforcements will come before any of you run out of ammo!!"
The pursuing team tried to form a circle to surround their target, Shirou, while they repelled the monsters that were trying to approach them. Although the powered suits were equipped with sensors that were able to detect monsters in hiding, it was easier to just blow them all away indiscriminately. Thus, warheads and bullets did not cease.
"Rescue team! Focus on the safety of the target! Make sure not to cause too much damage to the target!! And make sure the target is kept alive!!"
The powered suits equipped with capture devices inside the encirclement surrounded Shirou, they sealed Shirou's escape route, trying to capture him. The capturing device they were using could even capture powerful monsters without harming them. They were basically made to not kill. But even so, if it was used on a human, in the worst-case scenario, it might kill the person. Since they could not afford that risk, they had to be extra careful.
If it was only Shirou, that would already have spelt his end. The forcefield box was extremely thick and sturdy, with no entrance. The inside was slowly filled with bubbles, causing it to be difficult to move. All that was left was to completely secure whoever was inside that forcefield box.
But that did not pose any trouble at all to Olivia. While still carrying Shirou, she unsheathed her energy blade, lightly jumped, and swung the blade around with tremendous force. The swung energy blade turned into a torrent of light, blowing away all the bubbles, the rods, the forcefield walls. Even the drones as well in one go. And using the momentum from that swing, she then leapt forward, letting her long skirt freely fly in the air. Just like that, she ran forward in between the drones and the powered suits, slashing at them on her way out.
"Whoah!? Don't kill them!? Didn't I ask you to spare them!?"
If he killed the pursuers that came for him, as expected, Sugadome would not be happy with that. Shirou thought and properly conveyed this to Olivia. At least, leave their heads alone. Although some would still die, normal high-ranking Hunters should still be alive from that and Sugadome would eventually collect them.
Although they were advanced powered suits, it was still impossible to completely protect the pilot in the midst of battle. That was why it was normal for pilots of powerful powered suits to also wear protective suits. If the only thing slashed to pieces was the powered suits, even if they were slammed against the ground at high speed, they would not die. Olivia could at least calculate that much before she slashed them to pieces.
Shirou also understood that Olivia was complying with his request, but that did not mean that he was okay with this. It was obvious that he was still displeased, showing a frown on his face.
"Well, that's true, but, you know, just to be safe?"
"Can I take it as you wishing for me to treat them more gently? I don't mind, but that would cost you more. And since I'll work only based on how much you have paid me beforehand, it'll end up shortening our contract as well. Would that be alright with you?"
"At least buy enough time until the reinforcement gets here! Continue to surround the target!! Make sure not to lose sight of the target!!"
The ruin was already in complete chaos. If they lost Shirou, this operation would mean great losses. However, even if they had already lost out that much it was fine as long as the operation ended in success. Thus, they decided to go for plan B.
"How long before they're here?"
"15 minutes!"
In that case, the forcefield would only be able to maintain for a short time. But if they could separate Shirou and Olivia with it, they could use normal weapons to attack Olivia.
The rest of the powered suits followed the order from their leader, and the rescue team quickly went toward Shirou and Olivia. Shirou noticed the change in his pursuer's movement and started to panic. But Olivia remained as calm as ever.
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/
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