クガマヤマ都市の下位区画の外れにドランカムの拠点がある。広い敷地内に大型の倉庫や建物が建ち並び、屋内射撃場まで備えているかなり大規模な施設だ。ここにはハンターオフィスの派出所まで存在しており、その巨大徒党の勢力を内外に示していた。
その屋内射撃場でカツヤが真剣な表情で射撃訓練を続けている。その顔には自身の実力不足を悔やむ心情が
「カツヤ。そろそろ休んだ方が良いわ」
「もう休んだ方が良い。それでは疲れるだけで訓練にならない」
それでもカツヤは続けようとする。ユミナはカツヤの
「俺が......もっと強ければ......!」
「......カツヤの
「最善を尽くした結果だった。カツヤがそうであるように、皆覚悟していた。カツヤは悪くない」
ユミナ達は先日の出来事よりも、今のカツヤの姿に胸を痛めていた。
先日の大襲撃にはドランカムも多数のハンターを派遣した。
シカラベのような実力者達は負傷や地理的な理由がない限りほぼ強制参加だ。しかし大成果を稼ぐ機会だと捉えて嫌がる者は
カツヤ達のような若手は任意参加だ。ドランカムとしては都市の防衛隊が出撃するほどの戦場に実力不足の若手を送り込むのは避けたい。だが都市側は戦力の増強を歓迎している。更に統企連を依頼元とする緊急依頼でもある。それらの理由でハンター徒党としては体面上は若手に参加するなとは指示できない。そこで任意参加として体裁を整えた結果だ。
しかし年齢を理由に軽んじられていると考えている若手達は、自分達の実力を認めさせる良い機会だと捉えてその多くが参加を希望した。カツヤも一番に声を上げ、それに続いた多くの若手達が戦場に向かった。
若手達は10人1組の部隊構築で、都市の防衛隊が敵の主戦力と戦っている激戦区から大分離れた場所に配置された。
カツヤ達はそこで一帯に散開しているモンスターの群れを相手に奮闘した。その戦果を
自分がもっと強ければ仲間は助かったかもしれない。カツヤはその自責の念に駆られていた。
ユミナがカツヤを後ろから優しく抱き締める。
「......もっと強くなりましょう。次は皆を守れるように。私も手伝うわ。だから今は休んで。ね?」
アイリも端的に自分の意思をカツヤに伝える。
「協力する」
それでカツヤも空元気を出せるぐらいには立ち直った。そしてユミナ達への感謝を込めて何とか頑張って笑った。
「......そうだな。ごめん。心配かけた。少なくとも俺達3人は一緒に生きて帰ってこれたんだ。俺、これからも2人を守れるように頑張るよ」
「期待しているわ」
立ち直ったカツヤを見て、ユミナとアイリも
め事の借りは前線での貢献で返したはずだ。また説教は御免だぞ」
モンスターの大襲撃の主力を相手にした都市の防衛隊は、戦車や人型兵器、重装備のサイボーグや装甲強化兵などで構成されている明確な私設軍だ。つまり、それほどの戦力を必要とするほどに、モンスターも強力な個体ばかりだった。
先日の大襲撃の際、シカラベの部隊はその主戦場の近くに配置された。危険な分、多大な成果を稼げることもあり、シカラベもそれ自体は歓迎していた。しかし配置の理由が気に入らなかった。後で知ったのだが、その危険な場所に配置された理由に、巡回依頼でカツヤと
「ああ。子守の引き継ぎの件でカツヤ達の話を少し聞きたいだけだ。あいつら、そこらの新人では結構厳しい場所に配置されたんだが、そこでかなり活躍したらしいぞ。子守無しの10人班で、死者は3人。稼いできた戦果を考えれば悪くない。死線を潜って帰ってきたんだ。口だけの新人は卒業したんじゃないか?」
カツヤ達の活躍を認めるような発言をしたアラベに対して、シカラベが手厳しい返事を返す。
に、3人も犠牲が必要だったとも言える。一人前扱いするのは早計だと思うがな。あいつのことだ。どうせ、俺がもっと強ければ、なんて考えているんだろうな。馬鹿が。仮にあいつが今の10倍強くなったとしても、10倍危険な場所に行って、また連れを死なせるだけだ。あいつには身の程を知る能力が欠けてるんだよ」
「じゃあ、あいつらにハンターの才能はなさそうか?」
その問いに、シカラベが
アラベが意外そうな様子を見せる。
「俺は私情で評価を
「まあな。そうでなければシカラベを子守には付けないさ。それでお前に鍛えてもらおうと思っていたんだが、相性が悪かったみたいだな。もう少し我慢できなかったのか? 今の内に恩を売っといて損はない相手だろう?」
シカラベが嫌そうに表情を険しくする。
「嫌だね。第一、それはあいつらが大成できればの話だ。磨けば光ると言ったが、あいつの才能を磨く研磨剤になるのは御免だ。俺はあいつの輝かしい未来の礎になる気はない。既に3人死んでるだろう? あいつが
く話をして落ち着かせれば、冷却期間を置いた後にまたカツヤ達の面倒を見てもらえないだろうか。アラベはそう考えていた。しかしシカラベのカツヤに対する予想以上の嫌悪感を見て、その可能性を完全に捨てると、方針を切り替える。
「引き受けてくれそうなやつに心当たりとかないか?」
まないと言っているのだ。シカラベも意図的に相性の悪い人物を推薦したりはしないだろう。そう考えたアラベの判断通り、シカラベは少し真面目に考えた後、該当者の名を答える。
「エレナとサラ。あの2人は駄目か? 何かあいつらが
「訓練の依頼って形で押し付けろよ。今までも同行させたりしてたんだろう?」
「単純に同行させるのと、明確に訓練の
めたアラベを見て、シカラベが活動をハンター稼業から組織運営に移した友人に少し楽しげな笑みを向ける。
「分かってるよ。で、その2人、実力の方は大丈夫なのか?」
「教官としての実力は知らないが、ハンターとしての実力ならあいつらには
「まあ、いないと不便な連中でもある。組織がデカくなった弊害ってやつさ」
「何ならお前もこっち側に来て、その弊害を食い止める手伝いをしてくれても良いんだぜ?」
少し挑発的に笑うアラベに、シカラベが軽く笑って返す。
シカラベとアラベはその後
シズカの店に弾薬補充に来たエレナとサラが疲弊した様子を見せている。エレナはその疲労を特に表情に強く出していた。
「シズカ。いつもの補給品だけど3倍の量でお願い」
シズカの視線がエレナの顔からサラの顔を経由してサラの胸に移る。大襲撃の前、防護服に
「......大変だったみたいね」
火力担当のサラが重量も反動も火力も大きい銃を短期間に多用すれば、その分だけナノマシンの消費量も増える。胸部に保存している予備分まで使い切ってしまえばサラは死ぬ。それを理解しているエレナが、サラに消費を抑えるように指示を出した上での消費量であり、それほどの激戦だった。シズカはサラの胸の大きさからそれを把握した。
めてほしいんだけど。まあ、報酬自体は文句の付けようのない額だったわ。生還できたハンターに多めに報酬を出して、余計な文句が出るのを封じようとしている。そんな意図もあるのかもね」
エレナが愚痴を
シズカが愛想の良い苦笑を浮かべる。
「その文句を封じられるだけの報酬を受け取ったのなら、私の店の売り上げにも協力してほしいわ。そうね、今のエレナなら......」
お勧めの商品を思案しようとしたシズカが、エレナの装備を再度見て少し不思議そうにする。
「そういえば、エレナは強化服を着ていないのよね。最近ハンターに成ったばかりのアキラも買ったのに。買わないの?」
「......強化服か。あー、私は、うーん」
くは強化服無しでも大丈夫だと考えていたけど、確かに、潮時かもね」
東部の住人は基本的に身体能力の上限が意外なほどに高い。個人差や限度はあるものの、誰でも鍛えさえすれば結構な身体能力を身に付けられる。
だが時折その上限が飛び抜けて異常なほどに高い者がいる。身体強化拡張者でもなく強化服も着用せずに、鍛え続けることでそれらと同等以上の身体能力を得る者がいるのだ。彼らは超人と呼ばれ、時に素手で戦車すら破壊する。
そのような者が存在する理由は今も正確には分かっていない。西部にいるという素手や剣一本で山のように大きなモンスターに勝つ者が東部に流れ着いた。旧世界の技術で驚異的な身体能力を手に入れた身体拡張者の子孫でそれが先祖返りした。その手の様々な説が流れているだけだ。
エレナが今まで強化服無しに重量のある情報収集機器を装備できていたのは、その高い身体能力のおかげだ。だが超人ではない。強化服並みの身体能力を持つサラを基準にすれば、エレナは十分貧弱だ。
身体能力の上限を見極める方法は確立されていない。超人を目指す者は自身がそうであると信じて鍛え続けるしかない。そして強化服を着るようになると、もう身体能力は上がらなくなるとも言われている。鍛えなくなるからだ。
エレナはそれらの理由と金銭面の問題で今まで強化服に手を出さなかった。だが金銭面の問題、特にサラのナノマシン補充代は今回の報酬でほぼ完全に解消された。装備の充実の
「確かに良い機会かもね。シズカ。良いやつを選んでくれない?」
シズカが難色を示す。強化服は店の商品としても店員の知識としても専門外だ。
「駄目よ。ちゃんと専門店に行って、専門家に選んでもらって、自分で買いなさい。2人の稼ぎなら十分買えるでしょう?」
「良いじゃない。アキラの強化服はシズカが選んだって聞いたわ。仕入れの伝はあるんでしょう? 装備品の購入店は
くいっているからね。良いじゃない。常連客へのサービスよ。アキラにサービスしたのなら、もっと付き合いの長い私達にもそのサービスがあっても良いんじゃない?」
「仕方ないわね。無駄に高いのを買わせてやるから覚悟しなさい」
シズカがエレナから強化服の要望を聞きながら、ふと思ったことを尋ねる。
「強化服か。ちょっと聞くけど、強化服を着ると結構簡単に強くなれるものなの?」
「そんなことはないわ。強化服も装備の一つにすぎないし、訓練しないと駄目よ。急激に上昇した身体能力に振り回されて、逆に
らせる恐れもある。そう結論付けて、シズカはそれ以上考えるのを止めた。
雑談の途中でエレナが話題を変える。
「話は変わるけど、シズカは今回の襲撃の件をどう思う?」
「どう思うって言われても、報道以上のことは知らないわ。報道内容、何か変わったかしら?」
シズカの店には大型の壁掛けディスプレイが設置してある。基本的に統企連や都市やハンターオフィスなどが主にハンター向けに流す情報を表示する設定になっている。シズカがそれを
「先日のモンスターの群れによるクガマヤマ都市の襲撃未遂について、統企連はこれを建国主義者によるテロであると断定しております。既に複数のテロ組織から犯行声明が上がっており、統企連から受けた理不尽な扱いに対する制裁であり、東部を不当に支配する統企連に対しての聖戦であると発表しております。統企連は直ちに報復処置を実施するとともに、東部の平和を乱すテロ組織に対して一層の......」
サラがニュースを聞いた感想を何となく口にする。
「建国主義者か。依頼の依頼主が統企連になっていたのは、多分その
東部において統企連が依頼元であることの意味は非常に強く、報酬も相応に高額になることが多い。報酬が安値では統企連の威信にも関わるからだ。そして建国主義者が関係する依頼ならば、統企連はいつも以上に威信を気にしなければならない。
建国主義者は東部で国家建設を
エレナは報道内容に納得していなかった。
「私にはここが建国主義者のテロの目標に成るような強い影響力を持つ都市だとは思えないけどね。クズスハラ街遺跡の奥からモンスターを引っ張ってくるなんて、建国主義者側にも相当の犠牲者が出ているはず。他の建国主義者に対する影響も大きいし、どこまで本当なのか疑問だわ。シズカはどう思う?」
もちゃんとあっている。ただ、ちょっと引っかかる部分があってすっきりしない。そんなところね。まあ、私達が気にしても仕方無いんじゃない?」
仮に裏にどんな事情があろうとも、自分達を害するようなものではない。シズカの勘はそう告げていた。
エレナもシズカの話で気を切り替える。
った訳だし、一介のハンターが気にすることじゃないか。私達は報酬のより良い使い方を模索するとしましょう。シズカ。そういう訳だから、強化服、頼んだわよ?」
「分かったわ。私に選ばせると決めたのはエレナなんだから、私がどんな強化服を選んでも文句を言わずに着てもらうわ。後悔してももう遅いわよ?」
シズカはそう言ってエレナを少し脅かすように楽しげに不敵に笑った。
武装した集団がクズスハラ街遺跡の奥部を進んでいる。装備の性能はクガマヤマ都市周辺のハンターの基準から掛け離れており、統一された動きは高度な訓練を思わせる高い練度を示していた。
部隊はヤナギサワと呼ばれる男の指示に従って、遺跡の更に奥を目指していた。
「ヤナギサワ主任。今更ですけど、本当に良かったんですかね」
ヤナギサワが機嫌良く笑いながら答える。
「だからといって都市にモンスターの群れをぶつけるなんて。しかも報道だと建国主義者の仕業になっているじゃないですか。下手をすると俺達まで建国主義者にされますよ?」
になって死んだやつは実際に建国主義者だよ。アルフォト団の構成員だ。だから建国主義者の仕業であってる。命と引き替えに目的が果たせて、あいつらも満足だろう」
「あいつら、アルフォト団の構成員だったんですか。主任がどっから連れてきたと思えば、建国主義者にまで伝があるんですか」
「まあね。世の中情報だ。伝を見つけるぐらい、ちょっと調べれば簡単だ」
「無事に防衛できたとはいえ、モンスターの群れに都市を襲わせたのは本当に大丈夫なのか? 本来は極刑レベルの重罪だ。主任が何を
なら死んでも良いって言ってたからな。俺は死にたくないから、彼らに頑張ってもらった。まあ、説明不足だったと指摘されれば、その通りと言うしかないが、元々敵対しているんだ。聞かれなかったことを説明する義理はないな」
「ハンター達にもそれなりに被害が出ただろう。黒幕が主任だって知ったら、死んだハンターが化けて出てくるんじゃないか?」
彼はハンターとしての実力を認められて、スカウトされて部隊に加わった者だった。ハンター達に仲間意識があるのか、彼の表情は険しい。
を実現したやつも多いだろうさ。まあ、少々死人も出ただろうが、命の危険を承知の上でハンターをやってるんだ。運と実力が無いやつは、今回のことがなかったとしても、別の理由で死んでたって。ハンター稼業は命賭け。賭に負けて死んだやつの愚痴にまで、一々取り合う気はないな」
「......まあ、ハンター稼業はそういった面もあるけどな」
とらしく不敵に笑う。
「内緒だ。強いて言えば、人類の進歩と発展だよ。安心しろって。悪いようにはしないよ。単なる遺跡探索だとしても、十分
この部隊の装備品は普段でもかなり高性能だ。更に今回は格段に高性能な装備が支給されていた。その手配をしたのもヤナギサワだ。
「無駄口は終わりだ。行くぞ」
部隊はそのままクズスハラ街遺跡の奥を目指して進み続けた。
Drankam's base was located near Kugamayama city's lower district. It was a huge complex sitting on a wide ground, complete with huge warehouses and buildings lined inside. It even had a large shooting ground inside it. The Hunter Office also built a branch in the complex. This displayed the power and influence of the gang.
Katsuya was undergoing his shooting training inside the indoor shooting ground while making a serious face. His face was clearly showing the frustration he was feeling due to his lack of strength.
"Katsuya. You should take a rest."
"It's better if you take a rest, continuing this way will only make you more tired instead of making you better."
But even so, Katsuya kept on persisting in his training. Yumina then walked over to Katsuya and placed her hand on his gun, as Katsuya turned and met her eyes, she shook her head.
"If only... If only I was stronger...!!"
"...It's not your fault."
"We did the best we could. Just like you, everyone else was also prepared for it, it was not your fault."
For Airi and Yumina, watching the current Katsuya was much more painful than the incident that happened yesterday.
Drankam dispatched a lot of its Hunters during yesterday's big battle.
It was a compulsory request for veterans like Shikarabe unless they were injured, or had any other reasons that made it impossible for them to accept the request. But most of these Hunters thought that it was a nice chance to earn a lot of money, thus they took the request voluntarily. Even Shikarabe was excited as he prepared himself and left for the request together with the other Hunters.
Young Hunters like Katsuya may join the battle, but it was not compulsory for them. As for Drankam itself, the gang wanted to avoid sending inexperienced young Hunters to a battle against a swarm of monsters that even warrant the city to send its defense squad. But of course, the city welcomed any extra firepower, and it was also an emergency request coming from the Corporate Government. But, because of that, the Hunter gangs could prohibit the young Hunters from taking the request. In the end, they took a stance where young Hunters were allowed but not forced to join the battle.
But the young Hunters thought that it was a nice chance to make other Hunters recognize their ability since they were often despised due to their young age. So a lot of young Hunters opted to take the request. Katsuya was the first one to raise his voice and so did a lot of young Hunters, who were sent to the battleground.
The young Hunters were sent in groups of 10. They were stationed a bit further away from the main battleground where the city's defense squad clashed fiercely against the main monster swarm.
Katsuya and the other Hunters had a hard fight against the smaller groups of monsters that detached from the main swarm. They were able to test their ability in that battle. As a result, 7 of them were able to return home with the glory and money that they earned from that fierce battle, while the other 3 were claimed forever by the wasteland.
Katsuya blamed himself and drove into a corner, thinking that he could have saved them if only he was stronger.
Yumina gently hugged Katsuya from behind.
"...Let's grow stronger so that we can protect everyone next time. I'll also help, so let's take a rest now, okay?"
Airi also conveyed her will to help Katsuya.
"I'll help too."
Because of that, Katsuya was finally able to cheer up a bit, although he was still in remorse. He then tried his best to put up a smile as a gesture of gratitude towards Yumina and Airi.
"...You're right. Sorry to make you worry. The three of us were at least able to return alive. I'll give my best so I can protect you two next time."
"I'll be looking forward to that."
Seeing how Katsuya was finally cheering up, Airi and Yumina were finally able to smile again.
"It's kinda rare for you to call me like this, do you need anything? If it's about that debt from the battle, I should've repaid that with my contribution in the Frontline. Or is it that I'm here for another lecture?"
The defense squad that clashed with the main monster swarm consisted of a private army equipped with tanks, humanoid weapons, heavy-armed cyborgs and Hunters with a powerful augmented suit. In short, each of the monsters in the swarm was so powerful that only soldiers with those kinds of equipment could stand a chance against them.
In the last battle, Shikarabe's squad was positioned near the main battleground. Despite the danger, he was able to earn quite a lot of money. So it was not like it was a bad thing for him, but he did not like the reason why he was positioned there. Although he only got to know it later, he was actually positioned in such a dangerous place as punishment after making that ruckus arguing with Katsuya during the patrol job.
"Ahhh, well, it's about those children that you don't have to watch over anymore. Those guys were assigned in a group of 10 and sent into a quite dangerous place, but then I heard they did very well, you know. Even without someone to watch over them, only 3 of them were killed. Looking at their achievements, they are pretty competent. Not to mention that they already had some brushes with death and returned back alive. Don't you think they've graduated from being conceited young Hunters?"
As Shikarabe heard those words that sounded as if Arabe recognized their abilities, he replied back with strict critiques.
"Well, I'm not really sure. Looking from the other perspective, it can also be said that they had to sacrifice 3 people to be able to get back alive. I think it's too fast to approve their abilities. I'm sure Katsuya's thinking that he would have been able to protect everyone if only he was stronger. That's just stupid. Even if he gets 1,000,000,000 times stronger, he'll just get sent to a place that's 1,000,000,000 times more dangerous and he'll lose some of his friends there again. What he really needs is the ability to know his own capability."
"So, does that mean that he has no talent for being a Hunter?"
Shikarabe went silent for a moment after hearing that before he answered the question with a serious face.
Arabe looked very surprised.
"I'm not a fool that I would let my personal feelings cloud my evaluation. Even you know just how talented he is, right? Isn't that why you're prioritizing him? Am I wrong?"
"Well. I wouldn't assign you to watch over him otherwise, you know. I originally thought of having you to train him, but it seems that you can't get along with him. Can you at least endure it for a bit more? It's worth making him indebted to you while you can, you know?"
Shikarabe looked annoyed as he lashed back.
"No thanks. First of all, that's only true if he's really going to be a great Hunter in the future. I did say that he would be one if we keep training him, but there's no way I would be his grinding stone. I have no plans of becoming a stepping stone for his bright future. Not to mention that there are already 3 people that died because of him, you know? If he did not stir them up, those young Hunters would not even think of going to that battle in the first place, right? Having people close to him dead would make him more disciplined and make him grow up as a man. But it is all over for the people who died. So what I'm saying here is that I have no wish to die just to make him grow as a Hunter."
Arabe was originally thinking of assigning Shikarabe back to Katsuya's group after letting him off for a while so that he could calm down. But seeing how much Shikarabe despised Katsuya, he completely scrapped that plan and changed to another.
"Do you know anyone that might happily watch over him?"
When he said that, Arabe meant for Shikarabe not to pick someone out of grudge. But with that being said, Arabe thought that Shikarabe would never intentionally pick someone bad anyway. And as expected, Shikarabe answered back seriously and even came up with some names.
"Elena and Sara, how about those two? It seems that he really likes them, if I'm not mistaken, Drankam is also trying to recruit those two, right?"
"Then just make them watch over him through training requests. They've been doing some requests together lately, right?"
"Having them accompanying him and actually training him are two completely different things. The amount of the reward will also be different. Not to mention that it's not that simple to employ someone from outside the gang, you know?"
Looking at how Arabe frowned while racking his brain, Shikarabe smiled teasingly since his friend had completely changed from doing Hunter work into running the gang.
"I know that. So, about those two, are they skilled enough?"
"I can't really say much about their teaching ability. But as Hunters, they are extremely skilled. I don't think there are many Hunters in Drankam who are on par with their skills. I saw them during yesterday's battle, they were able to completely annihilate the camouflaged monsters. Although they had some hard time, they were able to quickly regain the upper hand."
"Well, it'll be troublesome if they're not around too. It's just one of those disadvantages when the gang grows this big."
"In that case, how about you join the officers too? You can help me fix this problem, you know?"
Arabe smiled, challenging Shikarabe, but Shikarabe just smiled back and said.
After that, Shikarabe and Arabe laughed together at their displeasure with Drankam.
Elena and Sara were buying ammo and medicines from Shizuka's shop. They looked tired, but among those two, Elena looked especially tired.
"Shizuka. We're taking the usual, but triple the amount."
Shizuka shifted her gaze from Elena to Sara's face before sliding down to Sara's b.r.e.a.s.t. Sara's suit could not hold back her glorious b.r.e.a.s.ts the last time Shizuka met her, but this time, her suit was able to hold them in.
"...Yep, it seems that it was a hard fight, huh?"
As Sara was the main firepower among the two, she would spend quite a lot of nanomachines when she used the heavy and powerful gun which had a strong kickback even if it was used only for a short period of time. Not to mention, Sara would die if she depleted the nanomachines inside her b.r.e.a.s.ts. Elena understood that well, that was why she always strategized such that Sara would not use too much of her nanomachines. But, even so, Sara spent a huge portion of her nanomachine reserve in the last battle. It showed just how brutal and chaotic the battle was. Shizuka was able to understand that just by looking at Sara's b.r.e.a.s.t size.
"I really hope you would stop coming up with such a conclusion from my b.r.e.a.s.t size though. Well, the reward was worth all the hard work. I think they distributed extra rewards for the Hunters who came back alive in order to avoid any complaints."
Elena joined the conversation and grumbled.
Shizuka gently smiled.
"If they gave you enough reward to stop you from complaining, you should use it to buy some stuff from my shop. Let's see, if it's for you, Elena..."
Shizuka, who was about to recommend some of her goods to Elena, looked closely at Elena's equipment and found something weird.
"Now that I think about it, Elena, you don't use an augmented suit, right? Even Akira who just became a Hunter bought one not too long ago, you know? So how about you buy one too?"
"...Augmented suit, huh? Hmmm... Well..."
"...I thought that I can still go on for a while without an augmented suit though, but I guess it's better if I buy one soon, huh?"
Those from the eastern district had higher physical abilities than most of the common people. Although there were individual differences, they were able to attain superb physical ability with enough training.
But from time to time, some people with abnormally high physical ability would appear. There were also people who had gone through long and hard training in order to have a strength equal to the people with an augmented suit even without equipping an augmented suit themselves. These people were called super-human and they were able to destroy a tank with their bare hands.
Even right now, no one knew for sure why such a thing happened. There were many theories floating around like they were descendants of the people from the west who could slay numerous monsters with their bare hand or just a sword. Some even thought that they were descendants of physically enhanced humans using the technology of the old world.
The reason why Elena was able to carry all of the heavy information gathering devices without an augmented suit was because of her training and not because she was a super-human. For Sara who nearly had the same power as a person with an augmented suit, Elena was relatively weak.
There was no precise way to measure the physical strength of a person. Those who aimed to be superhuman had no other choice but to believe they were superhuman and keep on training. Not to mention, there was a rumor saying that using an augmented suit would stop your physical ability from improving because training would be meaningless at that point.
Because of that reason, plus they were in an economical problem until recently, Elena did not have the leeway of buying an augmented suit. But the money problem, or to be more precise, Sara's nanomachine reserve problem was already solved. Thus Elena thought that it might be a good chance to renew her equipment and give up increasing her physical ability through normal training.
"Well, it's true that this is a good chance to do that. Shizuka, can you pick something good for me?"
Shizuka looked troubled, both she and her shop were not specialized in an augmented suit, after all.
"Stop that, you should go to the right shop for it. Go ask an expert about it and buy an augmented suit from them. I'm sure you can buy one with the reward money that both of you received, right?"
"Well, it's fine, isn't it? I heard that you picked Akira's augmented suit, you know. So you're already experienced in choosing one, right? I want to buy all my equipment from the same shop. Not to mention, I don't like the measuring device in the speciality shop. I just don't feel comfortable with that measuring device which measures my body up to the tiniest detail. I can understand that if one wants to get a custom made augmented suit that fits perfectly on their body, but it's not like I'm planning to buy something that expensive."
"I'm asking you to choose one since you usually have a good intuition, you know. And not to mention that nothing you suggested has gone wrong up until now. So, won't you do that for me? Just think of it as a service for your frequent customers. Since you did that for Akira, you can at least do that for us who have been coming to this shop for a longer time, you know?"
"It can't be helped then. I'll make you buy a very expensive one, so you better be ready for it."
After hearing Elena wish to buy an augmented suit, Shizuka suddenly remembered something.
"Augmented suit, huh? Just a question though, but do you turn super strong just by equipping one?"
"Of course not. An augmented suit is nothing more than a piece of equipment, you can't be strong unless you train. It's not a rare occurrence for a Hunter to have difficulties in performing simple movements because of the sudden increase in strength, you know. But well, if we're talking about an augmented suit from the old world, I guess it's to be expected for you to suddenly become strong without any additional training. Although I'm enhancing my strength with nanomachines, I still had to go through hard training to be this strong, you know?"
Curiosity killed the cat. If she pried too deep, it might rub Akira the wrong way. As Shizuka thought of that, she decided to stop thinking about it.
In the middle of their silly talk, Elena suddenly asked.
"On another subject though, Shizuka, what do you think about the battle?"
"Even if you ask me, I don't know much outside what was reported. Is there anything strange in the report?"
There was a big wall display in Shizuka's shop. It was set to mainly show information about the Corporate Government, the City, the Hunter Office, or any other Hunter related information. As Shizuka turned the display on, it was showing the news about that attack. A woman from the Corporate Government was delivering the news.
"The Corporate Government had come into conclusion that yesterday's monster attack from the Kuzusuhara ruins was a terror attack instigated by the nationalists. There were already a number of confirmed statements from some terrorist groups. They were saying that this is a holy war against the eastern district ruled by the Corporate Government that's treating them unfairly. The Corporate Government immediately took action in response to this statement in order to protect the people from the terrorist group which disrupted the peace in the eastern district..."
Sara then worded out her opinion about the news.
"The nationalists, huh? I bet that's the reason why the request dispatcher was the Corporate Government. If they had that information before the incident happened, I really hope they would do something about it. Well, it's not like I have anything to complain about the reward though."
It was a big thing in the eastern district when the Corporate Government was the one issuing the request, not to mention that the reward would also be abnormally huge. After all, if the reward was too small, it would hurt the Corporate Government's reputation, and it was even more important when it came to requests regarding the nationalists.
The nationalists aimed to form a nation. There were a lot of them in the eastern district so the Corporate Government could not afford to just ignore them. They also received help from the Federation of Nations in the central district which worsened the situation in the eastern district. These nationalists often invaded and occupied a city and declared independence from the Corporate Government. When that happened, the situation often developed into a full-blown war. Because of that, a lot of cities had turned into a mountain of wreckages which ended up as a big expenditure for the Corporate Government.
Elena could not agree with the news.
"To be honest, I don't think this city holds so much influence that the nationalists would aim for this city. Baiting monsters from the deeper part of the ruins like that would definitely need a lot of sacrifices from the nationalist's side. Not to mention that it would affect their current standing among the other nationalists. It's questionable how much of that news is the truth. What do you think, Shizuka?"
"They're not lying. The story fits the situation. But there's something that still bothers me. But again, about that part... It's not like we can do anything about it, right?"
No matter what was actually happening behind the scene, it was not like it would cause any loss to them. At least that was what Shizuka's intuition was telling her.
Elena and Shizuka changed the subject of their conversation.
"That's true. Since they gave us such a huge reward, I don't think it's something for us, the Hunters, to worry about. Rather than talking about that, let's focus more on how we are going to spend the reward money. Shizuka, with that being said, I'm counting on you for the augmented suit, okay?"
"Sure, remember that you're the one who told me to choose, okay? No matter what I pick, you'll have to use it, okay? Don't come running at me crying later, alright?"
Shizuka smiled fearlessly while teasing Elena.
An armed squad was marching to the deeper part of the Kuzusuhara ruins. Their guns were on a different level compared to the common Hunters around the Kugamayama city and their coordination showed that they were trained soldiers.
The squad was commanded by a guy who goes by the name, Yanagisawa. He was marching at the front of his squad, leading them deeper into the ruins.
"Captain Yanagisawa. Are you sure that this is alright?"
Yanagisawa laughed as he replied.
"But still, to bait a swarm of monsters to the city... Not to mention that the news blames the nationalists for the incident too. In the worst-case scenario, they might think that we're one of those nationalists, you know?"
"The one who really baited the monster to the city and died doing that was really a nationalist. He was a member of Alford's squad. So it's not wrong to say that the nationalist did it. That guy did fulfil his goal in exchange for his life, so I bet he has nothing to complain about anyway."
"That guy is one of the Alford's squad, huh? And here I was wondering where you got that guy from. I never thought that you had some connections with the nationalists."
"Well, information is crucial. If you have a lead, you would be able to find them in no time with a little digging."
"Although the defense went well, I still wonder if it was really alright. This kind of thing would normally warrant a death penalty, you know? I don't know what you are planning, Captain. But please don't abandon us, okay?"
"Yep, that's the reason. And luckily, that guy said that he would happily sacrifice his own life for something like that. And since I don't want to die, so everyone got what they wanted. Well, if they had asked for more explanations, I would have explained everything truthfully. But since we're originally enemies, I have no duty to tell them everything."
"But some Hunters were harmed and even killed, right? If they come to know that it was Captain who was responsible all along, the dead Hunters would come back and haunt you, wouldn't they?"
The man who asked Yanagisawa that question was originally a Hunter who was scouted into the squad. His face looked stern since he felt a kind of camaraderie with the other Hunters.
"The Hunters also earned a lot of money from that battle. I bet some of them just got rich in one go. But well, I don't deny that some of them also got killed in the battle, but those people decided to be Hunters even after knowing all the dangers. Not to mention that those Hunters who have no luck or skill would eventually die sooner or later anyway even if that battle didn't happen. Working as a Hunter means that they have to risk their lives for money. I don't have the time to listen to their complaints just because they lost their gamble and died."
"...Well, it's true that's what it means to be a Hunter."
Yanagisawa deliberately laughed invincibly.
"It's a secret. If I have to say it, it's to pave the way for the future of humanity. Don't worry. I won't do anything bad. We're simply going to search the ruins, it'll earn us quite a lot of money too. After all, if it doesn't, we won't be able to pay back for all the equipment that we borrowed. These are the latest equipment used in the Frontline, you know? I even went to get that Ragnarok too. It's also loaded with the annihilator warhead. Of course, I'm not saying that you can go trigger-happy with that, but it really kicks a punch, you know. It's exactly because we're on this occasion that I decided to get one. That's why I want you guys to understand that I'm serious here."
The normal equipment for this squad was advanced enough. But this time, they brought even better equipment than usual. And it was Yanagisawa who prepared all of the equipment.
"The silly talk stops here, let's go."
And with that, Yanagisawa's squad continued venturing deeper into the Kuzusuhara ruins.
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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