アキラが表情を変えずに答える。
「どうかな。こっそり少しだけ弾を残しているかもしれない」
「何でそんな曖昧な言い方なんだ? 本当に弾が残っているのなら、ないって答えて俺を油断させれば良いだろう? 実は俺の強化服の防弾性能だと、強装弾の直撃には耐えられないんだ。だから2人を盾にしたんだ」
「それなら何でその盾を捨てたんだ?」
、持ったままだと重くて攻撃を避けられないからだ。盾は穴だらけで、もう盾としての性能は期待できないしな。それなら素早く動くために身軽な方が良いだろう?」
ザルモがアキラとの距離をじわじわと詰めていく。アキラがじわじわと後方へ下がっていく。
っているんだよ。引き金を引くタイミングを読まれて避けられたら大変だ。乱射できるほど弾は残っていないからな。きっちり仕留めないと」
ザルモが少しずつ前進し、アキラが少しずつ後退する。2人が少しずつ部屋の中央に進んでいく。
今度はアキラがザルモに尋ねる。
「そっちこそ銃を使わないのか? まだ盾が機能している内に、素早く通路に隠れて銃を構えれば良かったんじゃないか?」
「実はさっきのそっちの攻撃で壊れたんだ。被弾の跡があるだろう? 俺が通路に逃げると、その間にお前は弾倉の交換を済ませてから俺を追って後ろから俺を撃つだろ? 通路だと逃げ場がない。悪手だな」
「銃が壊れたことを黙っていれば良かったんじゃないか? 銃撃戦になると思えば、俺もそう簡単には追えないと思うぞ?」
「そっちが俺の銃の状態を確認していることぐらいバレてるんだよ。強装弾の被弾の跡は目立つしな。俺との距離を離したいんだろうが、その手は食わねえよ」
2人の間に漂っている緊張が高まっていく。アキラとザルモは互いの僅かな動きも見逃すまいと意識を集中させている。臨界点は近い。
再びアキラが尋ねる。
「そっちはかなり強そうだし、俺も死にたくない。見逃してやるから帰ってくれって言ったら、どうする?」
「俺も死にたくないし、有り難くその提案を受けて帰るよ。俺が安心してこの場から離れるために、銃を捨ててくれないか?」
「空の銃を捨てるだけだ。捨てても大して違いはないだろう?」
「......残ってるって」
ザルモが前進を止める。アキラが後退を止める。互いに次の瞬間が勝負だと理解した。
ザルモがアキラに向けて一気に飛び込んでいく。左右への回避行動を捨てた動きだった。アキラは照準をザルモにしっかり合わせている。残弾があるならば、ザルモに回避はできない、
アキラが両手の銃の引き金を引く。ザルモに狙いを定めている両方の銃口から銃弾が発射された。全て撃ち尽くしたように見せかけて、アルファが途中で引き金を戻して弾を残しておいたのだ。
アキラの言っていたことは、はったりではなかったのだ。ザルモの予想通りに。
ザルモは両方の弾道を完全に見切っていた。発砲の瞬間もほぼ狂いなく見極めていた。そしてその弾道を塞ぐように自分の両手を前に出していた。
次の瞬間、場に
「油断できる余裕なんか俺にはないって言ったばかりだろう。忘れたのか?」
ザルモは忌ま忌ましそうな表情でアキラを見ていたが、急に嘲笑めいた余裕の笑みを浮かべて話す。
「......まあ良いか。そろそろ本格的に効いてくる頃だ」
ザルモは体内に加速剤を仕込んでいた。加速剤はザルモの意思でいつでも使用可能な状態になっている。遅効性だが強力な効力の加速剤で、使用すれば感覚の鋭敏化や集中力の上昇に加え、体感時間を圧縮させた状態で平静を保ったまま意識を加速できる。ザルモは既にそれを使用していた。アキラとの会話は効果が完全に現れるまでの時間稼ぎも兼ねていた。
アキラとザルモが常人を超えた身体能力を駆使して格闘戦を続けている。互いの手足が相手の命を脅かす威力で互いの体に襲いかかる。
ザルモは加速剤の効能による超反応と意識の濃縮で、アキラは集中による体感時間の圧縮とアルファのサポートによる強化服の補助で、常人の意識ではとても追いつけない高速戦闘を続けている。
直撃すれば死は免れない一撃を、互いに連続して繰り出し
(速すぎる! 俺はアルファの強化服の操作に自分の動きを合わせるだけでも限界なのに、向こうはしっかり反応してくる! 何かを使ったようなことを言っていたけど、加速剤ってやつか!? 加速剤の効果はいつまで保つんだ!? それまで俺が保つか!?)
アキラは体感時間の操作を覚えたことで、アルファが操作している強化服の動きにかなり追いつけるようになっていた。高速戦闘に意識を追いつかせて、アルファの操作に動きを合わせることで、身体の負荷をかなり軽減できるようになっていた。
しかしその体感時間の操作も長くは続かない。過剰な情報処理により脳に過度な負荷を掛けているからだ。その負荷が限界を超えた時、アキラはその場で
(クソッ! 何でこんな強いやつがスラム街のこんな店を襲いに来るんだ!? それだけ強いならもっと警備の厳重な金の有る店を襲いにいけよ! 俺の運の悪さの所為か!? 本当についてないな!)
ザルモがアキラの胴体へ蹴りを入れようとする。アキラがそこに好機を見る。この蹴りの後に自分との距離を詰めるのは難しい。そう判断したのだ。
アキラがザルモとの距離を取れば、AAH突撃銃の弾倉を取り替える余裕ができるだろう。重量のために相手を狙うのに時間が掛かるCWH対物突撃銃を使用する余裕もできるかもしれない。
きながら空中でCWH対物突撃銃をザルモへ向けようとする。アキラの視界には体勢の崩れたザルモの姿が映っている。そのアキラの表情が驚きに染まる。
ザルモは体勢を崩したまま、アキラの攻撃で壊れたと言っていた銃をアキラに向けていた。
アキラの強化服が勝手に動き、CWH対物突撃銃の使用を中断して近くの防弾性のシーツを
「銃は壊れたんじゃなかったのか?」
「ああ。勘違いだった。悪いな」
ザルモの銃は壊れてなどいなかった。銃が被弾していたのは事実だが、使用できなくなるほどの損傷ではなかったのだ。
ザルモがアキラの周辺を乱射する。陳列棚のシーツも防弾性だがそこまで高い耐久があるわけでもない。アキラは床を転がりながら別の陳列棚に移動し続けて何とかザルモの銃撃を回避した。
追い込まれている。アキラがそう自覚して表情をゆがめる。
『アルファ。何とかならないか? このままだと
ザルモは逃げるアキラに余裕の表情で銃撃を続けていたが、内心では相手に疑問を抱き、警戒を強めていた。
(あいつ、またきっちり対処しやがった。あいつがあの蹴りを飛び
ザルモが銃の弾倉を交換しようとする。その瞬間、CWH対物突撃銃を構えたアキラが物陰から飛び出してザルモを銃撃する。
だがその射線はザルモに見抜かれていた。ザルモが片手を前に出して射線を塞ぎ、発砲の瞬間も見切った上で
すぐにザルモが反撃する。アキラは何とか別の物陰に飛び込んでザルモの攻撃から逃れた。ザルモが声を上げる。
「その銃があれば何とかなると思ったのか? 残念だったな」
ザルモは余裕の笑みを浮かべながら、内心では念入りに警戒を続けていた。
アキラはアルファの指示通りに動いたがザルモを倒すことはできなかった。険しい表情で尋ねる。
『アルファ。駄目だったぞ?』
『大丈夫よ。さっきのでいろいろ確認を済ませたわ。次で大体終わりよ。アキラにちょっと
再びザルモが銃の弾倉を交換しようとする。すると再びアキラが飛び出してくる。
やはり何らかの手段で自分の動きを見られている。ザルモはそう判断しながら前回と同じようにアキラからの銃撃を防ごうとする。
ぎ払う直前のように、CWH対物突撃銃を片手で持った体勢を取っている。
次の瞬間、アキラがCWH対物突撃銃を勢いよく横に振る。同時に発砲音が響き、
無理な体勢に加えて片手でCWH対物突撃銃を撃った反動がアキラの右腕に襲いかかる。反動でアキラの右腕の骨が砕けた上に、強化服の右腕に掛かった負荷が該当部分の機能を停止させた。少なくともこの戦闘中でもう右腕が動くことはない。アキラは片腕を失った。
そしてアキラが放った銃弾により、ザルモの右腕が吹き飛ばされていた。周囲に飛び散った機械部品が、ザルモが義体であったことを示していた。
互いに片腕を失った状態で、アキラとザルモが
「どういう意味だ?」
ザルモがはっきりと答える。
「お前の強化服を操作しているのは、お前じゃないな?」
「......それが正しいとして、それでお前に勝ち目が増えるのか?」
「種が割れれば、対処法なんて幾らでもあるんだよ。例えば、こうやってな!」
そう答えたザルモがアキラから一気に離れる。アキラが射線から逃れるザルモを狙おうとするが、ザルモの足下から
弾のようなものから一帯に短時間で大量の気体が放出される。アルファがアキラに説明する。
『アキラ。これは
を使用したことから、何をどう判断してどう対処しようとしたのかは分かったわ。そしてその対処方法は誤りよ。後は誤った対処をした彼を始末するだけ。さっきので大体終わり。次で完全に終わりよ。来たわ』
アルファがザルモの接近を告げる。アキラが確認すると、一度距離を取ったザルモが再び勢いよく向かってきていた。
アキラが左手のCWH対物突撃銃で素早くザルモを狙う。ザルモが左手の
ザルモはその判断の誤りを自身の敗北で支払った。アキラが引き金を引く直前に、アルファが射線を僅かに変更していた。それは僅かな動きだが、アキラの左腕にかなりの負荷を掛けるほどの速度で行われていた。ザルモはそれに対応できなかったのだ。
(全ては演技だったのか!? 俺にそう誤解させるための!?)
ザルモの視界には自分の頭部をCWH対物突撃銃で狙っているアキラが映っている。避けられないと理解したが、ザルモに恐怖はない。だが焦りはあった。見た目の印象とその強さが余りにも一致していないこの人物を、その危険性を仲間に伝える必要がある。だが通信障害の所為で連絡は不可能だ。
(こいつは我々の活動の支障に成り兼ねない! この情報を同志に伝えなくては! 調査の結果を同志達に......)
緊張の切れたアキラが大きく息を吐く。
『殺してしまったから本人には聞けないわね。後でアキラが頑張って生かしておいた人に聞いてみましょう。何か知っているかもしれないわ』
している襲撃者達の生き残りを見る。皆殺しを、手っ取り早い手段を選ばなかった結果がこの苦戦だ。
選択の後悔とその戒めを抱きながらも、アキラには確かに割り切れない思いもあった。
手っ取り早い手段しか選べないのならば、それは弱さだ。善悪に拘わらず、助けるにしろ虐げるにしろ、強者はそれを選ぶ側だ。助けられる側も、虐げられる側も、それを選ぶ側ではないのだ。そしてアキラはずっと虐げられる側であり、選べない側だった。
アキラは選択を得ようとして、選ぶ側に立とうとして、その対価の大きさを改めて思い知った。
アルファがアキラを力付けるように笑って話す。
『それなら慢心ではなく余裕と思えるほどに強くなりなさい。必要な時に、望む選択肢を選べるようにね。先の4人は余裕と言ってよかったと思うわよ? 後の4人は残念ながら慢心だったわね』
アキラが苦笑して答える。
『そうか。それならまあ、俺も少しは成長しているってことだな』
アキラはまだ選択を得られない。その力もない。だが4人殺さずにこの戦闘を終えた。8人皆殺しよりは少しだけその選択に近づけたのだ。身を守るために死体の山を積み上げる。それ以外の選択肢へ。
Akira's expression did not change at all.
"I wonder now, I might have left some ammo inside."
"Who would give such a vague answer? If they still have some ammo in, you could have just told me so. To be honest, my augmented suit is not strong enough to defend myself from armour piercing ammo, that's why I used those two men as shields."
"Then why did you throw them away?"
"Of course, it's so that they won't slow me down when I try to evade the bullets. They're all already riddled with holes, there's no meaning in using them as shields anymore. That's why it's better to keep my feet light, no?"
Zalmo slowly but surely walked toward Akira, who walked backwards with Zalmo's every step.
"I'm still looking for an opening. If you can predict when I pull the trigger, you'll be able to evade. I don't have much ammo left so I can't do indiscriminate shooting, I have to make sure to kill you with my shot."
Zalmo was still approaching Akira slowly and Akira was also walking backwards equally slowly. Both of them eventually reached the middle of the room.
This time it was Akira who threw a question to Zalmo.
"How about you? You're not going to use your rifle? You could've run away, hid somewhere, and readied your rifle when you still had your shields, no?"
"Actually, you destroyed my rifle during that barrage just now. There was some leftover destroyed rifle back then, right? If I had tried to run away back then, you would have reloaded a new magazine in your rifle and used it to shoot at me. There's nowhere for me to hide in the middle of the hallway, so that would have been a very bad decision."
"Shouldn't you keep it a secret about your broken rifle? If I thought that you would shoot back, I wouldn't immediately choose to chase you, right?"
"You could have noticed that only by looking at my destroyed rifle. It's easy to notice that on the ground after all. I know that you want to keep your distance from me, but just so you, that won't work."
The tension between them heightened. Both of them kept their eyes on each other as not to miss even the slightest move. The critical point was close.
Akira once again threw a question.
"You look pretty strong, honestly, I don't want to die. If I tell you that I don't mind letting you go, what are you going to do?"
"Well, I don't want to die either, so I'll thankfully take that offer. So, can you put down your rifle so I can feel safe leaving this place?"
"They're just empty rifles anyway, right? There won't be much difference even if you put them down."
"...Like I said, they're not empty."
Zalmo stopped pressing forward, so Akira also stopped walking backwards. Both of them understood that the fight would start soon.
Zalmo suddenly dashed toward Akira, he decided not to run to his left nor right, but straight at Akira. Akira fixed his aim at Zalmo, if his rifles were really not empty, Zalmo would not be able to evade his shots.
Akira pulled the trigger on both of his rifles, bullets flew straight out from both barrels. Back then during the barrage, Alpha stopped Akira mid-way to leave some bullets in the magazine when it looked like he had used up all of his ammo.
Akira was not bluffing, just like what Zalmo thought.
Zalmo fully predicted that both of Akira's rifles still had some bullets left. When bullets flew out from their muzzles, Zalmo had accurately predicted their trajectories, he quickly raised both of his hands as if to block those bullets.
Then, at the next moment, a bright light flashed, the force field armour changed the kinetic energy of the bullets into photons.
"Didn't I tell you that I have no leeway for something like that? Or did you already forget about it?"
Zalmo was still looking mockingly at Akira, but it quickly changed to a relaxed smile as if he was looking down at Akira.
"...Well, that doesn't really matter, it should take effect anytime soon."
Zalmo had an accelerator drug ready inside his body, it was set so that he could use accelerator drug anytime only by sending the command using his mind. It was a slow-reacting accelerator drug that had a strong effect. Once it was in effect, the drug would significantly boost his focus and perception, thus slowing down the passage of time from his point of view while keeping his disposition calm. Zalmo already activated the accelerator drug, the silly talk with Akira was only to buy some time until the drug took effect.
Akira and Zalmo used the full force of their enhanced strength to fight each other, releasing a flurry of attacks with their arms and legs to the vital points of their respective opponent.
Zalmo had superb reaction time thanks to the accelerator drug while Akira had his time compression from his sheer willpower as well as Alpha's support to move his augmented suit. They were fighting at a speed that no normal human could follow.
A single clean hit was all it needed to kill their opponent, they were continuously throwing attacks at each other while evading the attacks coming at them. It was as if both of them had made prearrangement beforehand, both of them prioritized evading and did not even try to block the attacks. After all, it was hard to judge how powerful an attack with the enhanced strength of the augmented suit was. If they made a blunder trying to block an attack, it might easily tear their limbs, that was why they had no other choice but to evade.
[Too fast!! Although it already took all of me to match the movement of my augmented suit that Alpha is controlling, he is still able to properly react to it! He did say something taking effect though, is it an accelerator drug!? How long before his accelerator drug loses its effect!? Can I survive until then?!]
Thanks to Akira's time compression, he managed to follow the movement of his augmented suit. By following the movement of his augmented suit during a high-speed fight, he was able to significantly reduce the burden on his body.
But he could not maintain his time compression for long, prolonged use of time compression would assault his brain with information and render his brain fatigued. The moment that happened, his body would be paralyzed. Moreover, there was a limit on how fast he could move his body, the faster the movement, the bigger the burden on his body.
[Dammit!! Why is someone this strong aiming for this shop!? If he's this strong, he could have aimed for a better shop with better guards!! Is it because of my bad luck!? Goddammit, I'm really unlucky, right?!]
Zalmo drove a straight kick on Akira's body. Akira saw it as a good chance, it would be hard for Zalmo to keep his distance close after releasing that kick.
If Akira could open some distance, he should be able to grab his AAH rifle and reload a new magazine. He might even be able to use his CWH anti-material rifle which needed him more time to take aim due to its weight.
Akira thought that he already had that fight in his bag. So he jumped back, opened a space between them, and tried to aim his CWH anti-material rifle at Zalmo. Akira saw Zalmo still with his balance off, but he noticed something and his eyes went wide.
Zalmo still had not recovered his balance, but he had his rifle that he said got destroyed aimed at Akira.
Akira's augmented suit moved on its own. He stopped trying to aim his CWH anti-material rifle and grabbed the anti-bullet sheet next to him. He then pulled it to block Zalmo's line of fire.
"Didn't you say your rifle got destroyed!?"
"Ahh, sorry, my mistake."
Zalmo's rifle was not destroyed yet, although it was damaged, it was still functional.
Zalmo shot randomly in Akira's direction. The displays were covered with a defensive sheet, but they were not that durable. Akira rolled on the ground from one cover to another, avoiding Zalmo's barrage.
Akira's expression was grim, he understood that he was getting cornered.
"Alpha, can we do something about it? It would be bad if this continues. I'm hitting my limit soon."
Zalmo kept on shooting at Akira who was moving around, he looked like he was having an easy time there. But he found something suspicious, so he heightened his guard.
[That guy adapts perfectly again. I know he thought that he already won this fight when he jumped back from my kick. That expression was not a lie, he did not expect me to shoot back. There's no mistaking it that he was lured into my trap... So how? Is it because he has a good reflex?]
Zalmo reloaded a new magazine. Right when he did that, Akira used his CWH anti-material rifle from behind a cover and hit Zalmo.
But Zalmo had expected that to happen, he raised one of his arms to block the bullet, Zalmo knew that Akira released a shot from the sound so he immediately activated his forcefield armour. The bullet hit his palm and a flash of blinding light filled the room.
He immediately shot back at Akira but Akira already relocated himself behind another cover. Zalmo then shouted.
"Do you really think that it'll work with that rifle? Unfortunately, that wasn't good enough."
Zalmo smiled full of confidence, but deep inside, he was becoming warier of Akira.
Akira had moved according to Alpha's instruction, but he still was not able to defeat Zalmo. He then asked Alpha with a grim face.
"Alpha, that one didn't work."
"Don't worry, I was able to gather a lot of data from that shot. The next one will end this fight. Akira, you'll have to do something pretty dangerous, are you ready?"
Zalmo reloaded his rifle again, and just like last time, Akira jumped out from behind the cover.
It seemed that Akira really knew what Zalmo was doing. Zalmo thought so as he put up his arm to block the incoming bullets.
Since Zalmo had predicted that Akira would shoot, he was taken aback when he noticed that Akira was not aiming at him. Akira had his CWH anti-material rifle pointing, he was holding it with one hand as if he was holding a sword straight forward.
Then at the next moment, Akira's CWH anti-material rifle suddenly turned. A loud bang echoed quickly followed by a flash of light.
Since Akira shot his CWH anti-material rifle without the proper support, the kickback destroyed the bone on his right arm, his augmented suit immediately stopped working on his broken arm. At least, for the length of this battle, Akira would not be able to use his right arm anymore. He had lost one of his arms.
But in exchange for that, Akira's shot blew Zalmo's right arm off. The mechanical parts that were scattered on the ground were all the leftover from Zalmo's right arm.
Both of them had lost one arm now, Akira and Zalmo stood facing each other. Akira had his CWH anti-material rifle on his left arm aimed at Zalmo. Zalmo extended his left hand to block Akira's line of fire. Both of them seemed to be desperate as they locked gazes, the first one to move was Zalmo.
"What do you mean?"
Zalmo casually replied.
"You have someone else controlling your augmented suit, right?"
"...Even if that's true, does that help you win this fight?"
"Once I know the trick, I can think of a way to fight back. For example, just like this."
When he said that, Zalmo immediately jumped back. Akira was about to shoot at the running Zalmo, but he noticed that Zalmo dropped something that looked like a hand grenade, so Akira immediately moved away from it.
The hand grenade looking object immediately filled the area with smoke. Alpha then explained to Akira.
"Akira, it's jamming smoke. It looks thin but it's pretty strong."
"It'll be fine. Since he used a jamming smoke, I can pretty much guess what he's thinking. One thing that I can tell you is that he made a wrong guess. We just need to end him off after he does whatever he has in mind. The fight has basically been decided from what happened just now. The next move will really be the last. Get ready, he's coming."
Alpha warned Akira about Zalmo. He saw Zalmo running in his direction.
Akira aimed his CWH anti-material rifle with his left arm, Zalmo raised his left arm in order to block it.
But that assumption was the very reason why Zalmo lost that fight. Before Akira pulled the trigger, Alpha slightly changed his aim. Although it was a slight aim change, it put Akira's left arm in immense burden and Zalmo could not react fast enough to that.
[It was all just acting then!? It was all to fool me!?]
Zalmo could see Akira standing in front of him holding CWH anti-material rifle that was already aimed at his head. He knew that he had zero chance of evading that, but that did not fill his heart with fear. At the least, it made him feel a bit cornered. The person who was in front of him was way stronger than he expected judging from Akira's outlook. Zalmo needed to warn his friends about that, but unfortunately, his communication device was already destroyed.
[This boy might get in our way!! I have to tell my brothers about this!! The result of this investigation...]
Akira released the tension in him and sighed.
"Well, you can't ask him now that he's dead. So let's just ask the people that you tried your best to leave alive. They might know something."
Akira looked at the people who were left alive through his hard work. The result of trying to spare them was that difficult battle.
There were a few things that Akira could not just shake off from what just happened, he regretted the choice that he made.
Being unable to make any other choice but the easiest one was proof of weakness. Whether it was of a good deed or a bad deed, helping or robbing, the one who had the freedom to decide was the stronger one. The one who was helped, and the one who was robbed, they had no choice in that matter. Up until now, Akira was always on the receiving end, the one who had no choice.
Akira tried to be the one who made the decision, he tried to go to the other side, and just now he was shown the price of it.
Alpha tried to cheer Akira up with a smile and said.
"If you really think so, then you need to grow strong enough so that it would be out of leeway rather than arrogance, that way you'll be able to make your choice when it really matters. To be honest, I think it's okay to think that it was out of leeway for the 4 people that you spared, you know? For the other 4, unfortunately, that would be arrogance."
Akira smiled wryly.
"I see, well, if you say so, then I guess it means I've grown stronger compared to before."
Akira still did not have the option to make his own choice, he was still not strong enough to do so. But he was able to keep 4 men alive, it was better than having all 8 of them dead. He was at least able to get closer to another choice other than killing everyone in order to protect himself.
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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