295 ある少女
シロウにB28貨物室の扉を開けてもらうように頼んだアキラは、シロウの実力ならば扉はすぐに開くと思っていた。しかし少し待っても扉は開かない。シロウからの反応も無い。
『......? シロウ。どうした。結構掛かるのか?』
『えっ? あ、ああ、大丈夫だ。今開ける』
く最前線向けの装備が手に入ると喜んだアキラはそちらに気を取られ、シロウが自分に呼び掛けられて我に返ったことに気付かなかった。
B28貨物室の中には多数のコンテナが並んでいる。ただでさえ頑丈な貨物室の中にあるのだが、これらのコンテナも非常に頑丈だ。貴重な物資をしっかり守る
貨物室の中を進むと、シロウから念話が入る。
『アキラ。ちょっと聞きたいんだけど、どういう流れでレベッカと一緒にいるんだ?』
アキラはレベッカと同行している経緯をシロウに説明した。事情を聞いたシロウが短い言葉を返す。
『......そうか』
その短いシロウの返事は、他者の機微に疎いところのあるアキラにも分かるほど複雑な感情に満ちていた。
『アキラ。とにかく今はお前の装備だ。そのお前の用事が済んだら、俺の用事を優先してもらう。そういう約束だぞ? 早く装備を手に入れてくれ』
アキラもごまかされたことぐらいは分かったが、言われたことには同意できた。最前線向けの装備を手に入れるまであと少しだ。これ以上何かが起こる前に手に入れようと、先を急ぐ。
く手に入ったとアキラが顔を綻ばせる。そして中身を見てみようとケースを開けようとした。
開かなかった。
普通に開けられると思っていたアキラが慌て出す。ケースの開封に認証等が必要とは聞かされていなかった。
情報収集機器を介してアキラの様子を見ていたシロウが不思議がる。
『アキラ。どうした?』
『いや、装備のケースが開かないんだ』
ての坂下重工の荷物なんだ。輸送の代行の権限しかないアキラに、荷物の開封の権限までは無いよ』
『............そういうことか』
アキラはキバヤシとの話を思い返して、そういう意味だったのかと顔を
『安心しろ。こっちまで持ってくれば俺が開けてやる』
『そうか。助かる。でもここじゃ駄目なのか? ここの扉も開けられただろ?』
『技術的には可能だけどやりたくない。面倒事が増えかねないからな』
都市間輸送車両の車内は基本的に都市の防壁内と同等の管理態勢が敷かれている。それはこのアトラスD2771も同じだ。全域が最低でも中位区画と同等であり、キューブの輸送の兼ね合いで上位区画と同等の部分もある。そのような治安維持が敷かれている場所に、あのアキラの立ち入りを許すなど本来は有り得ない。
それを可能にしたのは恐らく坂下重工の圧力だ。この最前線向けの装備は、以前にアキラが建国主義者の部隊を撃退したことへの、坂下重工からアキラへの報酬だ。事情が何であれ報酬をいつまで
アキラもそう言われると納得するしかなかった。そして、あのアキラ、の意味を改めて理解した。
『正直に言うと、俺はアキラをアトラスD2771に入れる許可が出てる時点で驚いてる。その
自走機能付きのケースを操作して、自動で同行するように設定する。するとケース下部の4脚が動き出し、足先のタイヤを回転させながら整列、隊列を組んでアキラの後に続くようになった。アキラはその様子を少し面白く思いながら、レベッカが待つ貨物室の扉の所まで戻った。
アキラの後ろに並ぶ4箱のケースに、レベッカが興味深そうな視線を向ける。
「それがアキラの荷物ね? 何が入ってるの? まさかキューブが入ってるとか言わないわよね?」
軽い冗談のように笑ってそう言ったレベッカに、アキラも軽く笑って答える。
「そんなんじゃないよ。中身は俺の装備だ」
「悪いな。事情があって、ここじゃ開けられないんだ」
「あ、そうなんだ。ふーん。残念。まあ良いわ。じゃあ、早く行きましょう」
は無いと判断すると、話を軽く流した。
そのレベッカの態度に、アキラは僅かに引っ掛かるものを感じた。だが
め息を吐いてシロウに呼び掛ける。
『分かった。ちょっと待ってろ。............これは認証エラーじゃないな。隣接部の危険度上昇による緊急ロックだ』
『どういうことだ?』
『扉の向こう側は、戦闘中だ』
アキラは思わず扉の方に視線を向けた。
攻防の結果はゼロスの優勢で終わった。ゼロスはほぼ無傷。襲撃犯達は片方が銃撃により腕を千切られて片腕を失った。それでも致命傷には程遠い。襲撃犯達は通路の角の向こうに姿を消した。
ゼロスが思わず顔を
(......また逃げられた。もう仲間と大分離されている。まずいな。もしかして釣り出されてるのか?)
ゼロス達のチームが襲撃犯と遭遇したのは新たな区画の制圧作業中だった。単純な強さではチームの主力以外では手に余る相手であり、しかもその主力以外が襲われたことで、当初は多少の苦戦を強いられた。それでも制圧作業中に設置した簡易防壁などのお陰で防衛に徹すれば優位を崩すこともなく、主力部隊の到着も間に合い、一気に優勢となって撃退に成功。以降は逃げる襲撃者達を主力チームが追っていた。
しかしゼロス達の優勢も襲撃犯達が別の区画まで逃げた時点で消える。完全に未制圧の区画では敵がどこに潜んでいるか分からない。そして斥候や威力偵察目的だったと思われる多脚機とは異なり、襲撃犯は十分に強い。奇襲を受けない
ゼロスが床を見る。そこに転がる襲撃犯の千切れた腕からは緑色の液体が流れていた。
(この血は......、回復薬か? 血液を回復薬に置換すると、治療効果が劇的に上がって戦闘能力も向上するのは確かだ。だが体の方は血を作るように回復薬を生成なんて出来ないから、日常生活を送るのに致命的な支障が出るはず。随分気合いの入ったことをしてるな。まあ、キューブを狙って都市間輸送車両を襲う連中なんだ。それぐらいイカれたことをしていても不思議は無いか......)
そこに仲間から通信が入る。
『悪い。また逃げられたところだ』
『いや、そっちは退路の確保に専念してくれ。制圧作業なんて全く済んでない区画に、俺の判断で長いルートを作っちまったんだ。大変だとは思うが、ヤバくなった時に俺が逃げ込む場所が近くに無いと困る。頼んだぞ?』
ゼロスの頭に高性能な凡人という不可解な言葉が浮かぶ。そしてその言葉を奇妙に思いながらも、妙な納得も感じていた。それはそれとして通路を駆けて、角の先にいる襲撃犯達を強襲しようとする。
その時、角の先から板状の物体が十数枚飛び出してきた。ガラスと鏡の中間のような光沢を放つその板を見て、ゼロスが即座に対応する。それらの板を銃撃しながら、発煙筒を角の先に向けて投げ付けた。
僅かに遅れて襲撃犯達が無数のレーザー砲を撃ち放つ。直進するレーザーを通路の角の先から撃っても本来ならばゼロスに当たることはない。だが光線は先に射出された反射板により折れ曲がり、角を曲がってゼロスに襲い掛かる。
それを読んでいたゼロスは、破壊が間に合った反射板により生まれたレーザーの嵐の隙間に潜り込んで敵の攻撃を回避した。更に踏み込み、通路の角を曲がり、襲撃犯達を強襲する。当然ながら襲撃犯達の銃口がゼロスを迎えるが、通路の壁に
かれながら角を曲がって襲撃犯達の近くに先に到達していた発煙筒が、そこで一気に煙を噴出した。
相手が遠距離にいる時にこの煙幕を使用しても、相手は後ろに下がって距離を取れば良いだけなので、今までは使っても意味が無かった。だが間合いさえ縮めれば効果は絶大だ。効果は煙が充満している僅かな間、ほんの数秒だが、勝負を決めるには十分な時間。ゼロスが勝ちを確信する。
ゼロスと襲撃犯達が、お互いに相手の攻撃を絶対に避けられない状態で激しく撃ち合う。その結果には圧倒的な差が生まれた。ゼロスは
(弱い! 見かけ倒し? あの大きさは何だ!? あそこまで大きな反応じゃなかったはず! どうなって......)
頭の混乱した部分が状況への疑問を次々に並べ立てる中、ハンターとしての冷静な部分がゼロスを
「状況は!?」
ゼロスも仲間達も戸惑い困惑していた。
「......いや、ちょっと待て。......ってことは、だ」
仲間達は無事だった。そもそも巨獣との戦闘自体発生していない。その事実を理解したゼロスが、それを満たす要素にも同時に気付いたことで顔を一気に険しくする。
「全員に通達。前線をA7貨物室の区画まで下げるぞ」
「えっ? そこまで下げると、制圧済みの区画を捨てることになるぞ? 制圧作業も
「それで良い。区画の制圧作業を済ませたことは忘れろ。未制圧の区画を通る前提で戻れ。説明は後でする。始めろ!」
ゼロスの仲間達がその表情を一様に真剣なものに変える。指示の理由は不明だが、その指示を出さなければならない何かはあった。ゼロスへの信頼からそう認識して動き出す。
そしてゼロスは仲間達と共に通路を戻っていった。
開かない扉の前でアキラが頭を抱える。
倉庫の扉は周囲が戦闘中の
『そう言われてもな。そのロックは単純な認証とは別なんだよ』
シロウでも無理だと聞かされたアキラはますます頭を抱えた。下手をするとこの倉庫に長時間閉じ込められることになるからだ。
そこでレベッカが口を開く。
「いや、それは無理なんじゃないか?」
「あー、無理? オペレーターの人もそう言ってるの?」
予想外のことを言われたアキラが驚いた顔を見せる。するとレベッカはどこかばつが悪そうな表情を浮かべた。
「あー、ほら、戦闘中だと開かないらしいとか、誰かに教えてもらったようなことを言ってたから、オペレーターと連絡を取ってるのかなって思って。扉の開閉もその人に頼んでるのかなって。......ごめん。隠してたの?」
アキラはレベッカの態度から、レベッカは自分が誰かと連絡を取っていることに気付いただけで、別に自分が旧領域接続者だと気付いた訳ではないと判断した。旧領域経由の通信に対応した情報端末も存在し、最前線付近のハンターならば持っていても不思議はないと聞いていたこともあり、そういう物を使っているのだろうと思われていると考えて、落ち着きを取り戻す。
「あー、ちょっとあってな。黙っててくれ」
「うん。分かったわ。それで、その、車両の外に出るのは無理そう?」
アキラは試しに聞いてみた。だがシロウは返事を返さない。
『............、そうだな。分かった。やってみよう』
『シロウ。こっちは扉の前まで来たぞ』
外壁の扉が開いていく。扉は大きなコンテナなどの搬入用ではなく人の出入り用なので小さいが、それでもアキラの荷物ぐらいなら何とか通れる大きさだ。前に倒れるように開いた扉は、そのまま外壁の足場となった。
アキラが足場の先に立って両手を前に出す。アキラの後に続いていた多脚付きのケースが跳躍してアキラの手に飛び移り、積み上がっていく。後はケースを持って飛び降りるだけだ。下手なビルを超える高さだが、今のアキラにとっては何の問題も無い。地上を見ると、シロウがアキラの車を既にこの下まで移動させており、地上からこちらを見上げていた。
「レベッカ。一応聞いておくけど自力で降りられるか? 無理なら一緒に運ぶけど」
「そうか。それじゃあお先に」
アキラはそう言い残して飛び降りた。そして落下中に、シロウと擦れ違う。
地面に着いたアキラが思わず見上げる。シロウは強化服の力で、先程アキラが飛び降りた足場まで飛び上がっていた。
「......シロウ?」
アキラにはレベッカと名乗った少女に向けて、シロウはとても
間に合った。その思いがシロウを破顔させる。一方ハルカは困惑し、戸惑っていた。
「シロウ。どうしてこんな場所にいるの? 坂下の研究所にいるはずじゃ......」
「ああ、抜け出してきた」
その意味を理解しているハルカが
何やって......!」
「助けに来たんだ」
「ハルカこそ何でこんな所にいるんだ? どうやってあそこから抜け出したんだ? いや、そんなことどうでも良い! ここまで来れたなら、後は俺が何とかする。行こう!」
シロウがハルカに手を差し出す。ハルカは思わず喜びを顔に出してその手を
そう言って、ハルカはシロウを足場から蹴り落とした。
全てを懸けてでも助けようとした友達に拒絶されたシロウが、悲痛に染まった顔で落下していく。
飛び降りたのではなく落とされて、更に自分で着地する様子も見せないシロウを見て、地上のアキラが落下してきたシロウを慌てて受け止める。
「シロウ。何やってんだ?」
「アキラ! 彼女の所に戻ってくれ!」
「戻れって......、よく分からないけど、あいつはこれから下りてくるだろう」
そう言ってアキラがハルカの方を見る。ハルカは外壁の足場からシロウを見ていた。だが車内に戻り、更に扉を閉めた。アキラがそれを
困惑するアキラの肩をシロウが揺さぶる。
「アキラ! 良いから早く行ってくれ! ハルカが行っちまう!」
「ハルカ? あいつはレベッカじゃ......」
「良いから行けって言ってるだろ!? そんなこと説明する時間なんか無いんだよ!」
余りに必死なシロウの様子にアキラが流されそうになる。だがそこでアルファが真面目な顔で口を挟む。
「シロウ。まずは装備のケースを開けてくれ。その
「装備が、先だ」
「お前の用事が済んだら、俺の用事を優先する。そういう約束だぞ?」
「あとな、幾らお前の用事を優先するっていっても、俺も何も知らされずに何でもするって訳じゃない。ちゃんとやってほしいのなら、ちゃんと説明しろ」
アキラ達はすぐに車に飛び乗った。
都市間輸送車両の中に戻ったハルカは、シロウを拒絶してしまった罪悪感に
「......予定変更。回収部隊の到着は待たない。出発よ」
その指示で、今まで停車していた都市間輸送車両が動き出す。それは車両の制御が既にハルカ達に掌握されている証拠だった。
(シロウはどうやって私がここにいることを知ったの? 坂下重工の調査? シロウがそれを入手して駆け付けてきたのなら、
Ch 295
Akira, who asked Shirou to help him open the door, believed in Shirou's skills. Akira expected him to open the door with ease. But strangely enough, the door was still locked even after a few minutes and Shirou did not say anything.
"...? Shirou, what's wrong? Is it giving you trouble?"
"Eh? Ah, no, it's fine. I'm opening it now."
The door started to slide open. Akira was so happy that with this, he would finally be able to get his front-line equipment. Because of his jovial state, he was not able to notice Shirou's surprise when he called out to him.
There were several containers inside the cargo sector B28. The sector was well-made to defend against attacks. The containers were also strong and robust. To guarantee the security of whatever was inside those containers, different containers were only able to be opened by certain people with specific authorization. Moreover, the authorization to open one of these containers was completely separate from the authorization of the transport vehicle.
As Akira was walking through the room, Shirou spoke to him through telepathy.
"Akira, just a question. How did you end up with that Rebecca girl?"
Akira then explained how he met Rebecca to Shirou. At the end of his explanation, Shirou just muttered.
"...I see."
That short answer was somehow strongly laced with conflicting emotions. So much so that even the usually emotionally inept Akira was able to notice.
"Akira, just focus on getting your new equipment for now. Once you're done with that, I will have you do my request first, you did promise me that after all, right? So go and quickly get your stuff."
Even Akira knew that Shirou was simply avoiding the subject. Nonetheless, he completely agreed with what Shirou just said. It was only a few more steps before he could finally get his frontline equipment. Therefore, Akira thought that he should hurry up and just do that before anything bad happens.
Akira tried to open the case.
But it did not open.
Akira was flustered. He thought the case should open normally. He never heard that the cases needed some kind of identification code to open.
Of course, Shirou, who was looking at him through Akira's information-gathering device, noticed Akira's reaction and found it to be weird.
"Akira, what's wrong?"
"The case won't open."
"Well, that's normal. Although they are your new equipment, to be more precise, they are still Sakashita Heavy Industry's cargo, set to be delivered to you. Since your authorization is limited to just transporting the cargo in place of the transport company, you don't have the permission to open it."
"...So that's why, huh?"
Akira thought back upon his conversation with Kibayashi and finally understood what Kibayashi meant back then as the latter wryly smiled.
"Don't worry, if you bring them to me, I can open them for you."
"Really? Can't you open it from there? You were able to open the door remotely."
"I can, but I don't want to if it can be helped. It might cause trouble later, you see."
The inside of any inter-city transport vehicle was basically treated as a part of a city, and Atlast D2771 was no exception. The whole space inside the transport vehicle was treated like the lower district. Meanwhile, special locations, like where the cube was stored, were being treated like the upper district. Normally, someone like Akira would never be allowed to enter those areas.
The reason why Akira was able to get authorization this time was most likely because of Sakashita Heavy Industry's influence. That frontline equipment was Sakashita Heavy Industry's reward to Akira after repelling the Nationalists. Therefore, the longer those equipment could not be handed off to Akira, the greater the chance that it might damage Sakashita's reputation. This was the main driving force that eventually allowed Akira to be granted special authorization to enter this area.
After being told as much, Akira did not have any other choice but to step back. He finally understood why people recognized him as 'that Akira'.
"To be honest, I was surprised that you even got the authorization to enter Atlas D2771. The guy who provided you with that authorisation, Kibayashi, was it again? He must be one hell of a guy. He also somehow managed to get you ammo and medicine during your fight with Lion Steel."
Akira used the case's mobile function to set it to follow him. Four legs unfolded out from the case, which had wheels equipped on the end of each leg. The cases then formed a small group as they lined up behind Akira. He was a bit entertained when he saw them trailing behind him as he walked back to the door into the sector where Rebecca was waiting.
Rebecca squinted her eyes and stared at the four cases following Akira.
"Are those yours? What's inside them? Don't tell me it's the cube."
Rebecca said so in a light joking manner, so Akira replied with a light smile.
"Not even close, they're just my new equipment."
"Sorry, due to certain reasons, I can't open them here."
"Aah, I see. Hmmm, that's too bad. Well, let's put that aside for now and just get out of here."
During their casual exchange, Rebecca did not think Akira was lying and just let the matter slide.
Even so, Akira found Rebecca's reaction a bit strange. However, since it was just a faint feeling and Alpha did not say anything, he thought that there was no need to worry about it. He tried to open the door, but just like last time, the door would not open, which really surprised him.
Akira sighed and called Shirou.
"Sure, wait for a sec... You're not receiving an error from the identification code. It's an emergency lock. The danger level of the area around that place went up."
"What's going on?"
"Basically, there's an ongoing battle behind that door."
Akira inadvertently looked at the door.
Naturally, the battle ended in Zelos' victory. He was mostly unharmed as well. He had managed to tear off the enemy's arm, which was far from fatal. When they approached a turn along the hallway, they managed to escape and hide from him.
Zelos knitted his eyebrows.
[...They got away again, huh? I pursued them quite far from my main group. This is bad, did I get baited to come here alone?]
Zelos' team encountered these enemies when they were trying to secure a new cargo sector. However, those that faced them were not the main force. They were the team left behind to secure and reinforce the conquered sectors. With a wide gap in firepower, the team was able to barely hold their position thanks to the walls and other structures they had set up. It was only when the main force arrived, did they manage to quickly seize the upper hand and repelled the attackers. Afterwards, the main force went to pursue the attackers as they tried to flee.
However, Zelos' team quickly lost the upper hand the moment they pursued the attackers to a different cargo sector. This sector was not secured yet, which meant that they did not know where the attackers might try to ambush them. Unlike the multi-legged drones, which seemed to have been sent for reconnaissance, the attackers were pretty strong. To prevent an ambush and to secure an escape route, it was of great importance that they secured the hallway first. However, that meant dividing up their force.
Zelos looked down on the floor, the arm that he had shot off the attackers was oozing green liquid.
[This blood... Is it recovery medicine? Well, it's true that replacing blood with medicine would greatly increase fighting capability. But it's impossible to reconfigure the body to produce medicine instead of blood. It would cause a lot of trouble in everyday life. They really put everything they had into this attack, huh? Well, they are trying to get the cube by attacking an inter-city transport vehicle, so I guess it's not that surprising that they would go this far...]
That was when suddenly a call from his men reached him.
"Not good. They just got away from me again."
"No. Make sure that we have an escape route. We ended up over-extending, creating a rather long route through sectors that have not been secured yet due to my command. I'm sure that it's not easy, but it would be bad if we don't have a safe place to retreat to in case something bad happens. I'm seriously counting on you, alright?"
Zelos' mind wandered to one vague term - high-functioning people. Zelos did find that term strange, but for some reason, it was compellingly convincing. He shook that off his mind and ran through the hallway to face the enemies not too far away from the corner.
Suddenly, a few dozen flat objects flew out from behind the corner. These boards were able to reflect images as if it was made of glass. Zelos quickly reacted by shooting at them as he quickly threw a smoke grenade at the corner.
A moment later, the attackers shot lasers from behind the corner. Normally, these lasers would not be able to make a turn and hit Zelos, but that was where these plates came in. Reflecting off the plates' surface, they could make a turn and head towards Zelos.
Zelos, who had already expected this attack, destroyed some of the plates before the laser beam was shot. Using the gaps he created, he avoided the incoming beams. He then pushed forward, past the corner, and shot at the enemies.
They quickly reacted to aim their cannons at him. However, the smoke grenade that Zelos had thrown beforehand, already bounced off the corner, landed close to their feet and finally started releasing smoke.
Since the smoke only affected a limited area, normally, enemies could just step back out of the affected area while keeping their distance. Thus, it was meaningless to use such smoke grenades from afar. However, in an enclosed space like this where they were in close range, the smoke was highly effective. Although the effects would only linger for a few seconds, it was enough to decide the battle. Zelos was certain that he had already won.
Zelos stood still and released a relentless assault. He stood with a stance that prevented him from evading as they exchanged an intense barrage. The result for both parties greatly differed. Zelos got a slight burn on his cheek, while the enemies did not even retain their original shape. Zelos knew that the medicine inside their blood could bring them back from death, that was why he executed such a risky move. It was to ensure that his enemies were completely obliterated.
[That was too weak! So, its frightening appearance is just for show, huh? But what the heck with its size!? The signal was not that huge! Just what in the world...]
As questions regarding the current situation ran in his head, the calm Hunter part of him urged him to hurry up.
"How is the situation!?"
Zelo and his men exchanged a confused look.
"...Wait for a sec... So, what exactly was that?"
His men were fine. They did not even encounter that huge monster in the first place. Zelos, who finally understood that, immediately turned solemn. He realized how bad the situation was.
"Everyone, retreat back to sector A7!"
"What? We're pulling that far back? Are we going to just abandon the sector that we have secured? We will have to redo them again, you know?"
"That's fine. Just forget about the sectors that we have secured. Think of them as unsecured sectors. I will tell you the reason later. Just get moving! Now!"
With that one order, everyone's expression immediately turned serious. Although they still did not understand why Zelos would give out such an order, they knew that something must have happened. In other words, he had no other choice but to give such an order. They placed their trust in Zelos and they immediately started retreating.
With that, Zelos took his men and pulled out of the area.
Akira was rubbing his head in front of the locked door.
Due to the ongoing battle nearby, the warehouse was put on emergency lockdown. Akira thought that it might be the security team fighting against the attackers, which was understandable. He did not mind joining the fight, but in order to do so, he would have to open the door in front of him first. However, because of that battle, the door could not be opened.
"Even if you ask, this lock is no longer a simple identification lock."
Akira frowned after hearing what he had said. It seems like Shirou could not help him this time. In the worst-case scenario, he would be locked inside this sector for some time. Akira sighed and mumbled.
That was when Rebecca suddenly asked.
"Is that even possible?"
"Is it not? Did the operator say so?"
Akira raised his eyebrows. He did not expect her to say something like that. Seeing how he reacted, Rebecca frowned and apologetically said.
"Ah, you just said that the door won't open because there is a battle nearby, so I just concluded there must be someone who told you that. So, that means, you must be in contact with an operator or something to open the doors... Sorry, were you trying to hide it?"
Judging from what she said, Rebecca noticed that he was talking to someone. However, it seemed like she was still unaware of him being an old-world connector. After all, there were information-gathering devices that could access the old-world domain and Akira had heard Hunters near the frontline had these kinds of information-gathering devices. Thus, he believed Rebecca must have assumed that he had one and calmed down.
"Ahh, right, just keep it a secret."
"Okay. So then, is it not possible to get outside the transport vehicle?"
Akira threw that question just to at least hear Shirou's opinion, but there was no reply.
"...Alright, let's try that."
"Shirou, I'm already in front of the door"
The door to the outside slowly slid open. That door was for human use and not to transport cargo, thus, it was a relatively small door. Still, it was big enough for Akira and his cases to pass through. The door that opened up by falling forward, turned into a pathway to the outside.
Akira stood on that door and extended both of his arms forward. The multi-legged cases that were following behind him up until now leapt forward and stacked themselves on top of his arms. What Akira needed to do now was just to jump off with his cases. Although it was from a height that might even be taller than that of a building, it was not a problem at all for the current Akira. When he peeked down, Shirou already moved the camping vehicle there as he was looking up, waiting for him.
"Rebecca, just to be safe, you can jump on your own, right? If not, we can jump together."
"Alright, I'll be going first then."
Akira jumped off, but on his way down, he passed by Shirou, who was travelling up.
As soon as Akira landed, he immediately looked up. Shirou jumped up to where Akira was a moment ago using the power of his augmented suit.
"...Shirou?"
Shirou smiled happily toward the girl who named herself 'Rebecca' in front of Akira.
The thought that he had finally made it was fully expressed on his face. Meanwhile, Haruka's expression was one mixed with surprise and struggle.
"Shirou, why are you here? You should be in Sakashita's research facility..."
"Yeah, I slipped out."
Haruka, who understood what such an act meant, was aghast.
"What do you think you are do-!?"
"I'm here to rescue you."
"And I can say the same thing to you too, why are you here? How did you get out of that place? Ah, no, that doesn't matter now! Since you're already here, I'll take care of the rest! So, let's go."
Shirou extended his hand to Haruka. Her expression was filled with happiness as she extended her hand to reach out for his. But she suddenly stopped as her expression started to turn dark.
Haruka then kicked Shirou off the platform.
Shirou had waged everything to come here to rescue her. The rejection hit him hard. His face turned sorrowful as he fell.
Seeing Shirou get kicked off the platform and show no signs of preparing to land, Akira flusteredly caught him.
"Shirou, what are you doing?"
"Akira! Get back to her! Please!"
"Get back? I don't know what's going on here, but she's going to jump down, no?"
Akira said so and looked at Haruka. She was standing on top of the door, gazing down at Shirou. She then turned around, went back into the transport vehicle, and closed the door. Akira tilted his head in confusion. That was when the ground suddenly started to tremble. It was from the transport vehicle revving up its engine.
Akira was still confused by the rapid sudden change of events; Shirou suddenly grabbed Akira's shoulder and shook him.
"Akira! Just go and get back to her! Otherwise, Haruka will be gone!!"
"Haruka? Isn't that girl, Rebecca-"
"That doesn't matter! Just go!? I don't have the time to explain everything right now!!"
Akira was about to be spurred to action as Shirou kept hurrying him up like that, but Alpha stopped him with a solemn expression.
"Shirou, open the cases first. I'm here to get them in the first place. And, make sure to tell me the rest later."
"My equipment first."
"You'll do my request first once your business here is done, right? That's the promise."
"And also, although I will prioritize your request, it's not like I'm willing to do just about anything without any information. If you want me to properly fulfill your request, you should properly explain everything to me first."
Akira and Shirou immediately jumped into the camping vehicle.
After Haruka returned back inside the transport vehicle, her expression was dark. It was deeply clouded by the feeling of guilt for rejecting Shirou. She reminded herself of her duty and gave an order to the rest of her men.
"...Change of plans. We're not going to wait until the retrieval team is here. We're going, now!"
With that order, the transport vehicle that was stopped up until now, started to move. It was the proof that Haruka had seized complete control of the Atlast D2771.
[Shirou, how did he know that I was here? Was he sent by Sakashita Heavy Industry? If he came here because he received information from Sakashita Heavy Industry, Sakashita would send their army here too...]
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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