に反応できなくなった。それを確認したアルファが今日の訓練の終わりを告げる。
『今日はこれぐらいにしましょう』
アキラは疲労を隠さずに大きく息を吐いた。そしてアルファの姿を今一度確認して、大きく
『一朝一夕でできるようなことではないわ。訓練が無駄になることもない。気長にやりましょう』
「......そうだな。分かった」
落ち込んでいても事態が改善されるわけではない。アキラが空元気を出す。取り繕えるだけの余裕があれば、後は時間がアキラをしっかり立ち直らせるだろう。
く休んだ後は、今日は部屋で勉強の続きをしましょうか。それとも今日は休む?』
「いや、勉強の続きを頼む。今はハンター稼業を休業中なんだ。それぐらいはしておきたい」
『分かったわ。今日は何を教えようかしらね......』
その後、部屋に戻ったアキラは十分休んだ後でアルファの授業を受けようとした。
『今日は数学にしましょう。ハンターたる者、報酬額の計算ぐらいできないとね』
「......その前に、いつまでその格好でいるつもりなんだ?」
アルファの格好は、訓練が終わった時の妖艶な姿のままだ。少なくとも勉強に適した格好ではない。アルファが
『着替えろと言われなかったから、この格好を気に入っているのかと思って、そのままにしておいたのだけれど』
「分かった。次から訓練が終わったらすぐに指摘するからな」
アルファが服を教師風のものに変える。少なくとも露出だけは大幅に減った。しかし胸元は大胆に開けられている上に、スカートの丈もかなり短くスリットまで入っていた。これはこれでいろいろと
そのアルファの格好を見たアキラの感想は、まあいいか、という程度のものだった。人間は慣れてしまうものなのだ。
アキラは今日もいろいろ常識とずれのある環境で、いつものように勉強を続けた。
アキラが家を借りてから5日
なさを嘆いていると、アルファが妙なことを話し始める。
『アキラ。変な依頼がアキラ
「変な依頼?」
『そう。変な依頼。確認してみて』
アルファが情報端末を指差す。情報端末の画面がアルファの操作で次々と切り替わり、ハンター用サイトのアキラの個人ページが表示される。アキラが情報端末を手にとって表示内容を確認すると、確かにアキラ
依頼の主はシオリだ。クズスハラ街遺跡の地下街で出会ったハンターで、遺物強奪犯のヤジマに主であるレイナを人質に取られ、アキラと交戦した相手である。依頼の件名には、各種相談の依頼、と書かれていた。
依頼の概要や詳細の部分には、一度会って話がしたいという旨が記載されており、場所と日時も記されている。依頼の報酬として食事代をシオリが支払う旨も記載されていた。
「......何だ、これ?」
アキラは不思議そうにしながら依頼の内容を再確認するが、内容に間違いはなかった。
『さあ? 依頼内容を相談するための前依頼なのかしら。本人に聞かないと分からないわ』
「俺には、食事代は持つから食事でもしながら話をしようと提案されているようにしか思えないけど」
『そうかもしれないわね』
「何を話すんだよ」
『私に聞かれても分からないわ』
アキラにもアルファにもシオリからの依頼の意図は分からない。
『それで、どうするの? 依頼を受けて会いに行く? 指定された場所が場所だから、行っても危険はないと思うけれど』
シオリから指定されている場所は、クガマヤマ都市の最大のハンターオフィスがあるビルの中のレストランだ。そこで騒ぎを起こすには、ハンターオフィスを敵に回す覚悟が必要だ。そのような場所を指定している以上、少なくともシオリにはアキラと事を起こす気はないのだろう。
『単純に断っても良いし、無視するって手もあるわ。アキラの好きにして』
アルファはアキラに一通りの提案を済ませた。シオリに会いに行けばアキラの気分転換になるかもしれないが、無理に勧める気もない。本当にアキラの好きにすれば良いと考えている。アキラの行動がアルファの目的と
く悩んだ後、アキラはシオリからの依頼を受けることにした。依頼の真意が気になったからだ。安全にそれを確認できるなら、依頼を受けても良いだろう。アキラはそう判断した。
付け加えれば、シオリに誘われた場所がそれなりに高級なレストランであり、しかも食事代は相手持ち、身銭を切らずに高額な料理を食べられることも、依頼を受けることにした理由だろう。判断材料の中で食事が占めた割合から、アキラは目をそらすことにした。
てに依頼の受諾を送信し、アキラは装備を調えて指定された場所に向かった。
ハンターオフィスのクガマヤマ都市支部がある巨大なビルは、都市の中位区画と下位区画を分ける防壁と一体化している。ビルの中にはハンター向けの商店も数多く営業している。中位区画に住居を持つような高ランクのハンターを顧客にする店が多い。中には一定のランク以上のハンターでなければ入店を断る店もある。基本的にアキラのような低ランクのハンターが足を踏み入れることはない。
シオリに指定されたレストランにはハンターランクでの入場制限はない。それでも高ランクのハンターを顧客にしている店であることは間違いない。
『......いや、入る。何も旧世界の遺跡に入る訳じゃないんだ。尻込みする必要はない』
やモンスターの返り血などで多少汚れたままの姿で入っても問題とならない下位区画の酒場と同じ感覚で入ろうとすれば、問答無用で追い返されそうだ。アキラは少し緊張気味な様子でそう思った。
実際には店員から体の汚れを落とし、着替えるように促されるだけで済む。店にはそのためのシャワー等の設備が備え付けられており、清潔な服の貸出しや、服の洗濯等を頼むこともできる。ハンター向けの高級店では珍しくないサービスだ。
店員は店の中に入ったアキラをすぐに見つけると丁寧に接客を始める。
「本日は当店に御来店いただき、誠にありがとう御座います。御予約のお客様でしょうか?」
和やかに接客する店員に、アキラが若干慌てながら答える。
「え? あ? えーと、シオリって人がいるはずなんだ......ですけど」
「お客様のお名前をお聞かせいただいても
まりました。ではアキラ様。武器をお預かりいたします」
アキラは少し迷ったが、装備していた銃を店員に渡した。店員はアキラから渡された銃を恭しく受け取り、近くのテーブルの上に置く。
「御協力ありがとう御座います。席へ御案内いたします。こちらへ」
アキラは歩きながら周りの様子を見ていた。多種多様な客が見るからに高そうな食事を取っている。店の客の中にはどう見ても飲食には適していないサイボーグまでいる。その人物の前には多彩な料理が並べられていた。
『アルファ。あの人はどうやって飯を食べる気なんだと思う?』
『あの見た目で、実はちゃんと食べられる機体なのかもしれないわ。
『人の考えはいろいろよ。当事者でないと分からないことも多いわ』
アキラは真相がかなり気になったが、その場で立ち止まって見ているわけにもいかない。真相を諦めてそのまま店員の後に続いた。
アキラがシオリが待つテーブルに案内される。店員が椅子を引き、アキラがたじろぎながら椅子に座る。店員はシオリとアキラの前にメニューを置く。シオリが店員に話す。
「決まりましたら呼びます」
まりました」
店員が一礼して去っていった。慣れている者同士の自然な流れの中に、アキラだけが取り残されていた。
だけに存在しているわけではない。敵対しているハンター同士が武力衝突を避けて示談する場所などとしても利用されている。都市とハンターオフィスを背景にして、一触即発の状態でも可能な限り冷静に、最悪殺し合いを避けて話し合える場所として機能している。
シオリの服装は清潔感のある
アキラはシオリの服装を見て彼女に対する警戒を格段に下げたが、逆にシオリはアキラの格好を見て警戒を上げた。アキラが話合いの場に荒野へ向かう時のような戦闘服を着てきたからだ。
この店の客層から考えて不自然とは言えない格好ではあるのだが、シオリにはそれがアキラの意思表示に感じられた。もっともアキラにそのような意思はなく、単純に他に着ていく服がないだけだ。
シオリが凜とした表情でアキラを見る。覚悟を決めてこの場にいるシオリの表情には、一種の美しさがあった。
「アキラ様。私からの依頼を受けていただきありがとう御座います。約束通り代金はこちらが持ちますので、好きな物を注文してください」
そう言われてアキラは一度メニューに視線を落としたが、気を引き締めて再びシオリに視線を戻す。
「先に話を済ませよう。報酬を受け取れる結果になるかどうかは分からないからな」
「......分かりました。では本題に入りましょう」
シオリはアキラに深々と頭を下げる。
びきれないほどの御迷惑をお掛けし、大変申し訳ございません。そしてお嬢様を助けていただき誠にありがとう御座います。アキラ様が私とお嬢様に思うことは多々有りましょうが、全ての責は私に有ります。アキラ様が望まれるならば、私の財産でも体でも命でも差し出させていただきます。ですから、どうか、レイナお嬢様に責を問うことは、止めていただきたく、お願いいたします」
シオリは誠心誠意アキラに懇願する。シオリの言葉が口先だけのものではないことはアキラにも分かった。
な行動により、アキラは一度確定したはずの勝利をひっくり返された。更にヤジマがレイナを人質に取ってシオリを脅し、結果アキラはシオリと殺し合う羽目になった。幸運にもアキラもレイナもシオリも死なずに済んだが、アキラがそのことを恨んでいても不思議はないのだ。従者の責が主に有るのならば、シオリの責はレイナに有ると判断される可能性もある。
アキラの恨みの矛先をレイナに向けさせないために、シオリは差し出せるものを全てアキラに差し出してレイナを救おうとしている。
真摯で真剣なシオリの態度に、アキラは僅かに押されていた。
「答える前に一つ質問だ。何で
「依頼を受けた上でのことであれば、アキラ様に誠実に対応していただけると判断いたしました」
シオリは地下街で一度アキラを雇っていた。アキラはその時にレイナを非難しシオリを怒らせるようなことを言ったのだが、それはアキラが依頼に対して誠実に対応した結果だった。口先だけで場を
シオリはアキラの本心を聞く必要がある。アキラがシオリ達を敵視しているとしても、その程を把握しなければならない。表面上だけ気にしていない素振りをして、裏でレイナを殺そうと暗躍する。それは阻止しなければならない。
シオリがアキラに金も体も命も差し出して、それでアキラの怒りが収まるならそれで良い。一応だが、アキラはレイナを救っているのだ。シオリも仕方がないと納得できる。しかしそうではないのなら、シオリはもう一度覚悟を決めなければならないのだ。アキラと差し違えてでもレイナを
「そうか。ならそっちが納得するかどうかは別にして、誠実に返答する。顔を上げて聞いてくれ」
シオリが頭を上げる。そして真剣な表情でアキラの返答を待つ。
「何もなかったことに関して、どうこうすることも思うこともない。以上だ」
「......は?」
「あ、うん。そうだよな。ちゃんと説明しないと駄目だよな。分かった。今から説明する。だから取りあえず疑問とかは一度棚上げして、俺の説明を聞いてくれ。ハンターオフィス経由で俺に依頼できるってことは、俺のハンターコードは知ってるな? ハンターオフィスのサイトの俺のページで、この前の依頼、地下街での俺の戦歴を確認してくれ。できるか? できないなら俺の情報端末を貸すけど」
「......これは!?」
3日間防衛地点の警備を行い、目立った戦闘などはなく、3日目にモンスターとの交戦で負傷して病院に運ばれた。それがアキラの地下街での戦歴だ。少なくともハンターオフィスが公開するアキラの戦歴にはそう記述されていた。
困惑しているシオリにアキラが説明する。
キバヤシとの取引により、アキラの地下街での戦歴はごくありふれたものに書き換えられている。そしてアキラがそのことを口外することはない。アキラは書き換えられた戦歴を事実として行動するつもりでいる。
そのためアキラの中でシオリ達との確執などは全てなかったことになっている。少なくともアキラがそのことを蒸し返すことはない。思うことが何もないと言えば
『アルファ。このアランドュースのグリエ新パリエス風エリアネス添えって、どんな料理なんだ?』
『分からないわ。何らかの肉料理なんでしょうけど......』
『まあ、肉料理のページに書かれているからそうなんだろうけどな......。分からん』
アキラは何とかそう答え、食事を再開した。体験済みのことなので、アキラは騒ぎ立てることもなく食事を続けることができた。
アルファは食事を続けているアキラを黙って見ていた。下手にアキラに話しかけると、アキラがまたボロを出しそうだからだ。
う。アキラは満面の笑みで食事を続けている。そのアキラの姿は、切り札である加速剤を多用してまで戦ったシオリと互角に渡り合った人間には到底見えなかった。どこにでもいる子供の姿、少し幼いようにも見える少年の姿がそこにある。
そのアキラの姿を見たからといって、シオリはアキラへの警戒心を下げなかった。
アキラの地下街での戦歴は書き換えられている。実際のアキラの戦歴と比べ、無様と呼べるほどに悪く戦歴を書き換えられている。そのことに関してアキラは全く不満を抱いていない。つまりアキラが都市と何らかの取引をしたことは明白だ。都市との取引でその不満を覆す利益を得たのだ。シオリはそう判断した。
(こんな少年が都市と取引をして十分な見返りを得ている。つまり彼はそれほどまでに有能なハンターであると都市側も判断したということ。そのような人間がいれば多少
シオリは食事を取りつつ目の前にいる人間に対する思案を続けている。そのシオリをアルファがじっと見ていた。
アキラはシオリとアルファの様子などに全く気付かずに、身に余る至福を感じながら食事を続けていた。
Eventually, Akira was too tired to even react to Alpha's attacks. Alpha noticed that and decided to end the training.
"Let's end it here today."
Akira did not try to hide his tiredness as he let out a big sigh. He then looked at Alpha one more time and sighed again.
"It's not something that you can learn in one night. Today's training was not fruitless. Let's keep on training patiently."
"...I guess you're right."
It was not like Akira had completely recovered, he was just putting a brave front. If he was given enough time, Akira would get back on his feet by himself.
"Let's take a short break before continuing with studying in your room. Or do you want to just take a rest for the remainder of the day?"
"No, let's study. I'm on a break from Hunter work, so I at least want to keep improving myself during my break."
"Alright then, I wonder what should I teach you today..."
Akira returned to his room and started taking lessons after he had enough rest.
"Let's work on your math today. As a Hunter, you should at least be able to properly calculate your reward."
"...Before that, how long are you planning to stay like that?"
Alpha was still wearing what was left of her dress from the previous training. It was not least bit suitable for teaching. She just smiled teasingly as she said.
"Since you hadn't told me to change it, I thought that you liked it. That's why I'm keeping it like this."
"Alright alright. Next time, I'll tell you to change your clothes right away after the training."
Alpha's dress then changed to the suit that she usually wore when she was teaching Akira. Although it was far less exposing than her previous dress, it had a big opening on her chest and her skirt was very short with a decorated slit on it. It was s.e.xy in its own style.
Akira's reaction to this s.e.xy suit was only 'well, whatever'. Humans really could get used to anything.
Akira then spent the day studying in such a weird situation, but for him, it was nothing out of ordinary.
It had been 5 days since Akira rented the house. He did the same training every day to compress his time perception. But the result of his training did not change much compared to the first day of his training.
As Akira was fraught with frustration, Alpha suddenly said something weird to him.
"Akira, a strange request just arrived for you."
"A strange request?"
"Yep, a strange request, you should check it yourself."
Alpha pointed her finger at Akira's information terminal. The monitor on his information terminal quickly went through a series of screens as Alpha was operating it. It eventually stopped when it was on the page showing Akira's information on the website that could only be accessed by Hunters. Akira reached for his information terminal and checked the notification, it was true that there was a request designated for him.
The requester was Shiori. She was one of the Hunters who he had met in Kuzusuhara ruin's underground city. He once fought her when the relic thief, Yajima, took Reina hostage. The request was simply titled 'for consultation'.
When Akira checked the description of the request, it only said that she wanted to meet and talk with him, and mentioned the location and time of the meeting. As for the reward, it said that Shiori would pay for the meal.
"...What the heck is this?"
Akira found it really strange and rechecked the request, but he had not misread anything.
"No idea. Maybe it's just a request to meet and talk about the real request. We won't know unless you go and ask Shiori yourself."
"As far as I can see, it says nothing other than she's inviting me for a talk while having a meal and she'll be paying for the meal."
"That is true."
"What exactly does she want to talk about with me?"
"Even if you ask me, I have no guesses at all."
Both Akira and Alpha had no idea what Shiori's intention was for inviting Akira for a meal.
"So then, what do you plan to do? Are you going to take the request and meet her? Judging from where she's planning to meet you, I don't think there'll be any danger though."
The meeting place mentioned in Shiori's request was the restaurant inside the biggest Hunter Office in Kugamayama city. Anyone who caused trouble in that place would be picking a fight against the Hunter Office at the same time. Since Shiori asked Akira to meet her there, he can rest assured that she would not try to pick a fight against him.
"It's okay if you want to just decline the request. You can also ignore it if you want. It's up to you, Akira."
Alpha finished giving all of her suggestions to Akira. Although it might be a good chance for a breather if Akira went to meet Shiori, there was no particular reason for Alpha to recommend it either. It was really up to Akira. As long as his actions would not interfere with her objective, Alpha would try to respect Akira's will.
After taking some time to think, Akira eventually decided to accept it. It was because he was curious why Shiori wanted to meet him. If he could confirm that safely through this request, then there should be no problem accepting it. Akira thought so as he decided to accept the request.
On top of that, the meeting place was in a high-class restaurant, so if Shiori would pay for the meal, then it would mean Akira would be able to eat expensive foods without having to pay for it at all. That was also why he decided to accept that request. But since getting free food was fixed as one of the factors in his decision, he tried his best to ignore it when he was considering what to do.
Akira sent a confirmation to Shiori that he accepted the request, he then finished his preparation and went to the appointed restaurant.
The Kugamayama city branch Hunter Office was located inside a huge building that was integrated with the city wall which separated the middle district and the lower district. Inside that building, there were many stores directed at Hunters. Most of the stores were frequented by high-level Hunters who had houses in the middle district. Among them, there were even stores that only accepted high ranked Hunters. Basically, it was not a place that a low-level Hunter like Akira could visit.
The restaurant that Shiori specified had no Hunter Rank restriction. But there was no mistaking that it catered to high ranked Hunters.
"...Nah, I'll go. It's not like I'm going into an old-world ruin anyway. There's no need to be afraid."
The interior of the restaurant looked luxurious, unlike most restaurants in the lower district. If he tried to enter this restaurant right after coming back from the wasteland with his dusty clothes or leftover blood from the monsters, he bet that he would be sent away immediately. While it would be alright if he did the same in one of the taverns or restaurants in the lower district. Akira thought so as he got nervous.
Although in reality, he could just clean off the dust on his body and change into new clothes inside the restaurant itself. It was not rare for a high-class restaurant to have showers installed inside their restrooms and provide a clean suit for rental for its customers. Even the restaurant staff would be willing to laundry the dirty clothes if asked.
The restaurant staff quickly noticed Akira, who just entered the store, and greeted him.
"Thank you for coming to our restaurant, do you have a reservation today?"
As the staff brightly greeted him, Akira answered back in a fl.u.s.ter.
"Eh? Ah? Uhmm, someone by the name of Shiori should be already inside... So..."
"May I ask your name?"
"Very well. Akira-sama, please leave your weapons with us."
Akira hesitated, but he eventually decided to hand over his rifles to that restaurant staff. That staff politely received Akira's rifles and put them on a table near him.
"Thank you very much for your cooperation. Please let me guide you to your table."
Akira looked around while walking through the restaurant. He could see all kinds of people inside that restaurant, all of them were enjoying their expensive meals. While some of the people there such as the cyborgs looked out of place eating in such a luxurious restaurant, all kinds of expensive-looking foods were served in front of those people.
"Alpha, how do those people eat their food?"
"Looking from their appearance, they must have at least enough organs to process the food that they eat. Or maybe they mistook the capabilities of their cyborg body, thinking that their cyborg body will be able to digest food. Or maybe they're just sending the taste data to someone else remotely. Or maybe they are only here to enjoy the beautiful food although they can't eat them. There are many possibilities, you know."
"There are all kinds of people out there, you see. There are things that you can't understand unless you're the one doing it."
Akira was actually still curious about that subject, but it was not like he could just stand there observing them. So he just gave up on his curiosity and followed the staff in front of him.
Akira was guided to the table where Shiori was already waiting for him. The staff pulled the chair for him as he fl.u.s.teredly sat on that chair. The staff then placed the menu in front of Akira and Shiori.
"We'll call you again when we've decided what to order."
"Certainly."
The staff bowed and left. Both, the staff and Shiori, looked already accustomed to such an exchange, Akira was the only person there who could not follow it.
People were not only here to eat food, some Hunters picked this restaurant to negotiate with each other to avoid turning their negotiation into a fight. With the Kugamayama City Management and the Hunter Office watching this place, no matter how heated their talks went, they would be forced to act calmly. Thus avoiding the worst-case scenario where they tried to kill each other.
Shiori was looking prim in her stylish suit. Unlike Akira, who was wearing clothes that he could use to go to the wasteland anytime, Shiori's suit made her look like some kind of businesswoman. Or to be more precise, she looked like those people who lived in the middle district.
After seeing Shiori's attire, Akira lowered his guard. But on contrary to that, Shiori raised her guard when she saw Akira's attire, after all, he was wearing armour similar to the one that he used when he fought her.
Although Akira looked out of place inside the restaurant, Shiori could somehow guess Akira's intention from his outer appearance. But in reality, Akira had no plans to antagonize Shiori at all, the reason why he was in those clothes was simply because he had no other clothes to wear.
Shiori looked at Akira with a serious expression, she had resolved herself to be in this place. For some reason, her serious expression looked beautiful.
"Akira-sama, thank you very much for accepting my request. As I promised, I'll pay for the meal, please order anything you want."
When he heard that, Akira's gaze shifted down to the menu in front of him, but he then turned his gaze back to Shiori.
"Let's finish whatever you want to talk about first. After all, we wouldn't know if I can completely finish your request and deserve this reward."
"... I understand. Let's move to the main subject then."
Shiori bowed deeply to Akira.
"First of all, I apologize for causing you so much trouble the other day. And thank you very much for saving Milady. I'm sure you feel rather conflicted about me and Milady, but everything that happened back there was my fault. If you want to, I'll pay you back with anything I have--money, body, even my life. But in an exchange, please don't put any blame on Milady."
Shiori pleaded sincerely to Akira. Even Akira understood that Shiori really meant what she said.
Because of Reina's foolishness, the battle that Akira had already won was turned 180 degrees. Moreover, Yajima even took Reina hostage and made Shiori fight against him. Fortunately enough, they were able to get out of that situation alive, but it would not be strange if Akira harbored some grudge against Reina and Shiori because of their actions. Since the servants' fault was the master's fault, thus Akira might even be blaming Reina for what happened.
In order to make sure that Akira was not holding a grudge against Reina, Shiori was willing to do anything for him.
Akira was rather taken aback by Shiori's serious attitude.
"Before I give you my reply, there's one thing that I want to ask you. Why did you take the roundabout way of sending a request through the Hunter Office if you just want to talk with me?"
"If you accept the request, I'll at least know that you have a good intention."
Shiori employed Akira once when they were in the underground city. At that time, he criticized Reina and said something that angered Shiori, but Akira only did that thinking that it was a part of his duty. He did not try to do any lip service as he decided to say his honest opinion even though it might cause a fight.
Shiori thought that there was a need to know Akira's real feelings. Even if Akira already completely regarded Reina and her as his enemies, it would still be better if she knew that. It was also to check whether Akira was only trying to look normal on the outside while thinking of killing Reina on the inside.
Shiori had offered her money, body, and even her life to Akira, she hoped that it would be enough to abate Akira's grudge. Although it was by pure coincidence, Akira was the one who saved Reina after all. Shiori could not deny that fact. But if that was not the case, she would have to resolve herself to protect Reina even if it meant that she would have to fight Akira again.
"I see. Leaving aside whether my answer can satisfy you or not, I'll give you my honest answer. So raise your head and listen well."
Shiori raised her head and waited for Akira's answer with a serious expression.
"Forget about that incident, you don't need to do anything about it. That's all."
"...Hah?"
"Ah, well, what can I say? I guess I have to give a proper explanation, huh. Alright then, I'll explain everything. So just put aside any questions that you have at the moment and listen well. Since you sent that request right to me through the Hunter Office, you know my Hunter Code, right? Use your information terminal to see my battle record in my Hunter profile page, you can do that, right? I can lend mine if you can't though."
"...What is this?!"
Akira's battle record said that he was monitoring various defense points in the underground city for 3 days, nothing big happened during his assignment, but on the third day, he got injured in a battle against monsters and was sent to the hospital. That was what was written in Akira's battle record, or at least, that was what the battle record publicly displayed.
Akira then explained to Shiori who was obviously confused.
Due to his deal with Kibayashi, Akira's battle record from the underground city was completely rewritten. Akira himself had no wish to talk about it, he was planning to behave as if whatever written in his battle record was the truth.
Because of that, Akira decided to completely forget about everything that had happened between him and Shiori. Or at least, he had no plans to bring that up again. Although it would be a lie to say that he did not feel anything about it, it was not enough of a reason to make him take any particular action. Akira had already completely moved on from that incident.
"Alpha. This Arandouse Grie New Palies Style with Elianes thingy, what kind of dish is this?"
"No idea, but it seems that it's some kind of meat dish..."
"Well, it's written under the meat section, so I'm sure it's a meat dish, but... I don't know what kind of dish it is."
Akira was somehow able to answer back before he started eating again. Since he had already experienced it before, Akira was not surprised anymore as he continued eating his meal.
Alpha did not say anything and just watched Akira eating. It was because she was worried if she said anything, he might make another mistake.
Shiori was enjoying her meal while keeping her eyes on Akira. Seeing how he was eating his meal with a big smile on his face, he did not look like someone who could force her to use her trump card accelerator drug and still fight evenly against her. He looked just like a common young boy that she could find in the city.
But even so, Shiori did not drop her guard against Akira. To be more precise, she became even more careful when dealing with Akira after knowing what she just heard today.
Akira's battle record was completely rewritten. Compared to his real battle record, his new shabby battle record was a big downgrade. But even so, it did not seem like Akira was bothered by that at all. Thus, it could be assumed that the City Management made some kind of deal with him, a deal that brought him enough benefit that he did not mind his new battle record at all.
[This boy is good enough to make the City Management give him a beneficial deal. It means that the City Management recognizes his ability as a Hunter. With someone like him around, there should be at least some rumours about him, but Drankam's information network has no information about him at all. Although Drankam is recruiting new young promising Hunters in order to increase its sphere of influence, it doesn't seem like it's trying to recruit him. I guess I need to investigate more whether it's just because the gang still hasn't discovered about him or if it's because the gang is deliberately keeping a secret about him. But that might be a dangerous thing to do. I have to avoid anything that might cause Milady any harm...]
Shiori's mind was preoccupied with the person in front of her as she was eating her meal. All this time, Alpha was paying her full attention at Shiori.
Akira did not notice Alpha, who was staring at Shiori, as all of his attention was focused on enjoying the meal in front of him.
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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