ヤジマはアキラがCWH対物突撃銃に少しずつ近付いていることに気が付いた。シオリと格闘戦を続けているアキラにそれを拾うことはできない。しかしその後は別だ。
シオリを倒せば、アキラはすぐにそれを拾ってヤジマを攻撃するだろう。既にアキラとシオリは交戦状態だ。レイナとシオリの身を案じて、アキラがヤジマへの攻撃を
にすればどれだけ気分爽快になるだろう。ヤジマはその光景を想像してしまった。それはヤジマの思考に偏りを持たせた。
(......あの銃は俺の仲間にも脅威だ。俺の右腕を簡単に吹っ飛ばしやがったんだ。装填されている弾丸は専用弾か? 今のうちに奪っておかないと、俺のものにしておかないと、厄介なことになるかもな。あいつが俺に気を配っている余裕がないうちに、俺があの銃を確保しておけば、より優位に戦える......)
ヤジマの思考の偏りは、アキラよりも早く自分がCWH対物突撃銃を取りに行く理由を無意識に補完し続けた。ヤジマはレイナを
レイナにはもう抵抗するだけの気力が残っていない。多少強引に動いてもレイナに移動の邪魔をされることはないだろう。ヤジマはそう判断して移動速度を速めた。既にアキラよりヤジマの方がCWH対物突撃銃に近くなっていた。
(落ち着け。まだ遠い。俺が急いであいつの銃を拾おうとすれば、あいつも後方の警戒を捨ててでも俺に向かってくる。気付かれるな。もう少しだ)
(もう遅い! 俺の方が速い!)
ヤジマはレイナから手を離し、床に転がっているCWH対物突撃銃を
弾は発射されなかった。
ヤジマは無意識に自身の内心を完全に表した端的な声を発した。予想外の事態にヤジマが
驚愕
ヤジマはアキラに攻撃されたことで我に返り思考力を取り戻した。ヤジマが宙を舞いながら思考する。
(なぜ弾が出ない!? 弾丸は装填されていたはずだ! 弾倉交換の直後だぞ!? あの銃は罠だったのか!? 俺に拾わせるために
にひびが入るほど強く衝突していた。その衝撃がヤジマの義体に与えた影響は僅かだ。しかし、ヤジマの命運を手遅れにするのには十分だった。
アキラはまだ空中にあるCWH対物突撃銃を素早く
『今度こそ邪魔が入る前に済ませましょう』
ヤジマの視界に銃口を向けるアキラの姿が映る。せめて答え合わせがしたい。自分の推察が正しかったかどうか知りたい。ヤジマは最後にそう思い、それをアキラに聞くために口を開いた。
意味のある言葉がヤジマの口から出る前に、CWH対物突撃銃の専用弾がヤジマの頭部に直撃し、ヤジマの脳髄を粉砕した。最後の願いを伝える間もなくヤジマは絶命した。
アキラは念のためにヤジマの胴体と残った手足にも専用弾を打ち込んだ。これで仮にヤジマの頭部に脳がなかったとしても、ヤジマが遠隔操作の機械人形だったとしても、戦闘不能は確実だ。
「お嬢様! 御無事ですか!?」
「......た、助かったの?」
シオリがアキラと殺し合う理由は消えた。しかしシオリがアキラと殺し合った事実までは消えない。アキラが臨戦態勢を解かない理由。それが自分との戦闘を続行するためだとしてもアキラの気性なら不思議はない。シオリはそう考えた。
シオリにはもうアキラと戦う気はない。レイナを助けてもらった恩もある。アキラがシオリを殺して、それでアキラの気が済むならそれで構わない。しかしアキラの気がそれで済む保証はないのだ。
アキラがシオリを確実に殺す方法は、レイナを狙ってシオリに
シオリがゆっくりとレイナの前に移動する。アキラがシオリの動きに合わせて照準を移動させる。シオリとレイナのそれぞれに向けられていた銃口が、両方ともシオリに固定される。
アキラは険しい表情で銃を構えながら深い呼吸を繰り返していた。先ほどの
『俺の方の効き目はそろそろ切れる気がするんだけど』
『そうね。アキラは残りの回復効果を可能な限り高めるためにそのまま動かないで。何かあれば戦闘再開よ』
『......戦う理由はなくなったんだし、俺が銃を下ろしたら戦闘終了ってことにはならないかな?』
く恨まれているであろうあの子の安全を確実なものにするために、体調最悪のアキラを刺し違える覚悟で殺しに来る......と言うことはないって信じられるなら、銃を下ろしても良いわよ?』
アキラは即答した。アキラに戦う気がないことと、それを相手が信じることは別の話だ。そしてそれは相手も同じなのだ。
「......銃を、下ろしていただけないでしょうか? 私達に交戦の意思は御座いません」
アキラは動かない。アキラの視線が少しシオリ寄りになっただけだ。
「......アキラ様のお怒りは御
アキラは動かない。シオリに向けられている銃口は僅かも動いていない。
「......アキラ様を害した責任は全て私に御座います。どうかお嬢様への責は慈悲を賜りたくお願いいたします」
アキラは動かない。表情にも変化がない。視線だけが僅かな動きを見せており、シオリの話が聞こえていることだけを伝えていた。
土下座して震える声で許しを請えばアキラの気も変わるかもしれない。シオリがそう考えて実行に移そうとする。
アキラが動きを見せた。動くなと言わんばかりに銃の照準がシオリに付け直される。それでシオリは動けなくなった。
シオリの加速剤には予備があった。その加速剤を短時間で連続使用した場合、その副作用でほぼ確実に死亡するが、それでもシオリは使用を
していた。そしてそのアキラと敵対していることに恐怖を覚えた。
今もシオリはそのアキラからレイナを
レイナも死にたくない。そしてシオリを死なせたくもない。だからシオリにできないのならばレイナがやらなければならない。
シオリの背に隠れていた状態のレイナがシオリの背から出てアキラの前に出る。その途端、アキラの銃口の片方が再びレイナに向けられた。それでレイナの動きも止まった。
レイナはアキラを説得するために何かを話そうとしていた。その内容をレイナ自身分かっていなかったが、それをアキラに話すためにレイナは1歩前に出たのだ。しかしアキラに止められたためにレイナはそれを口にできなかった。代わりにその言葉がレイナの頭の中に響いた。
シオリがアキラを殺そうとしたのは、私の命を心配してのことなの。だからシオリを許してあげて。
シオリが崩れ落ちる。加速剤の効果が切れて、その副作用と戦闘の疲労が一気にシオリを襲ったのだ。シオリは気絶こそしなかったが、床に倒れてすぐには起き上がれなかった。
これで加速剤の効果が切れたことは確実にアキラに気付かれた。後はアキラが無害になったシオリ達をゆっくり始末するだけだ。そう思ってしまったシオリの表情が絶望に染まる。
く慌てながらシオリの身を案じてシオリを支えようとする。
「シオリ!? 大丈夫!? しっかりして!」
レイナに身を起こされたシオリが震えながらアキラを見る。そのシオリが見たものは、銃口を下ろして通路の奥をじっと見ているアキラの姿だった。
シオリが崩れ落ちた時、アルファはアキラに指示を出していた。
『アキラ。もう銃を下ろしても大丈夫よ』
『そうなのか? 加速剤の追加がどうこうってのはどうなったんだ?』
『この状態で追加の加速剤を使用させるようなミスは私はしないわ。アキラが撃ちたいって言うなら撃っても良いわよ。今なら反撃の恐れもないわ』
『いや、それはちょっと』
『それなら次の事態に備えましょう。周囲に敵影は確認できないわ。ただし
の影響って、どの程度で消えるんだ? 少し待てば消えるのか? それとも数時間はこのままなのか?』
『それはちょっと分からないわ。使用量や種類、周辺の地形にも左右されるからね。開けた地上より効果時間が長くなるのは確かよ。密閉空間に近いからね。確認した方が早いわ。本部に
『そうだな。まずはそれを確認しないと』
地下街の奥を見ていたアキラがレイナ達の方に振り向く。レイナが大げさなほどビクッと反応した。
話を遮られたレイナが焦りと戸惑いを見せる。レイナの認識とアキラの態度にずれが生じていたため、レイナは動けずにいた。
シオリが先に結果を報告した。我に返ったシオリは何とか端末を操作して既に確認を済ませていた。
アキラが次の行動を
「シ、シオリ!?」
「だ、大丈夫です。さあ、お嬢様。急ぎましょう」
疲労はシオリの体を鉛のように重くし、全身を走る痛みがそれ以上動くなとシオリを脅迫し続けている。酷使した脳がシオリの思考を鈍らせ、意識を落とそうと必死になっている。
シオリは自身の忠義を原動力とする
レイナがアキラを見る。レイナはアキラにできれば休憩を提案したかったのだが、アキラの表情を見てそれを取り下げた。その提案は通らない。レイナにもそれが分かった。
アキラ達は急いでその場を後にした。
アキラ達が本部に向かってから
ケインはかなり大型の重装甲強化服を着用していた。地下街の通路はかなり広い作りになっているが、ケインの強化服はその通路幅を限界まで占有していた。
腕が両脇に2本ずつ、計4本の腕が着いていて、全ての手に重火器を装備している。鋼の両脚は逆関節になっている。分類上は強化服だが、戦闘用サイボーグの拡張パーツに近い。
ケインは四肢を折りたたんで全身を強化服の胴体部分に格納している。外見を人に似せている義体とは違い、明確に機械化されていることが分かるサイボーグ用の強化服だ。
本来ケイン達は遺物を地上に運び出した後に輸送車を警備するための要員だ。
にケイン達の格好で地下街を
ケイン達は遺物を運び出すために開けた出入口の穴を通って地下街に降りてきた。事前の計画では遺物を指定の場所に運び終えてから穴を開ける予定だった。計画を前倒しにしたため、既に運べる遺物は地上に運び出している最中だ。
「ヤジマの死体......っていうか、粉砕された義体を発見。頭を吹っ飛ばされているから、まあ死んでるな。脳だけ持って行かれたって事はないだろう」
ネリアが軽く答える。
「そう。結構使える男だったけど、死人に用はないわ。帰りましょう」
「ここの遺物はどうするんだ?」
「ヤジマ以外の死体とか見つかった?」
「いや、ないな」
「それならヤジマを殺したやつはもうここを立ち去ったのよ。最低でもここで戦闘があったことは本部にバレたわ。
を討とうとか思わないのか? 恋人だろう?」
ネリアはあっさりそう答えた。
その時、別のハンター達がその場に現れた。アキラ達がなかなか連絡を返さないことを不審に思った本部が他のハンター達を派遣していたのだ。
位置情報の共有もなく重装強化服を着た人間は
「まったく、もっと静かに殺せないの?」
「見れば分かるだろ? 細かい作業は苦手なんだ」
生き残りのハンター達が素早く反撃する。ケインは複数のハンターから集中的に銃撃されるが、強固な装甲が全ての銃弾をはじき返し、跳弾を周囲に飛び散らせた。跳弾の数発がネリアにも当たったがそれも似たように跳ね返された。
傘を振ったら雨粒が飛んできた。その程度の感覚でネリアが話す。
ケインもネリアに似たように答えた後、ハンター達に反撃する。ケインの四本の腕が持つ全ての重火器の大火力がハンター達に襲いかかる。無数の
Yajima noticed that Akira was slowly but surely getting closer to that CWH anti-material rifle. Although he could not pick up that rifle because he had his hands full with Shiori, it was only a matter of time before he could pick up that rifle.
If Akira defeated Shiori, he would be able to quickly pick up that rifle and shoot Yajima. Since he was already fighting her at this point, Yajima thought that there was no reason for Akira to hesitate to shoot at him the moment he picked up that rifle even if that would hurt Reina too.
Yajima imagined how satisfying it would be if he could kill Akira with his own rifle, his mind started to focus on thinking how he could do that.
[...That rifle is also a threat to my friends, it was able to blow my right arm easily. Is it loaded with special ammo? If I don't take it for myself soon, it might cause a problem later. While his attention is preoccupied with something else, I might be able to take that rifle and get the upper hand...]
Yajima's mind was already unconsciously urging him to take that rifle before Akira could. He started sneaking closer and closer to Akira's CWH anti-material rifle while still firmly gripping Reina.
Reina already had no more power to fight back, even if she squeezed all her leftover power, she would only slightly disrupt Yajima's movement. Aware of her situation, he started to sneak faster and faster. He was already closer to that rifle than Akira.
[Calm down, it's still too far away. If I rush myself to pick up that rifle, there's no mistaking it that he'll charge at me even though he's not watching his back at the moment. Carefully and quietly, don't let him notice me, just a little more...]
"Too late!! It's my win!!"
Yajima threw Reina aside and picked the CWH anti-material rifle from the floor. With his cyborg body, he was able to use CWH anti-material rifle with only one arm as he quickly pointed the rifle's muzzle at Akira who was running toward him.
But no bullet flew out from its muzzle.
Yajima could not help but to leak out what he was thinking. This unexpected scenario caught him completely off guard and erased the smile from his face.
He was stunned with what just happened. The shocking turn of events froze his expression as well as his brain.
After he was sent flying, Yajima was back to his senses and thought while still flying in the air.
[It didn't shoot any bullets?! Shouldn't it be loaded with special ammo?! That rifle was just loaded with a new magazine, right?!! Wait, was that rifle a trap?! Did he throw it away from him in order to lure me?! So rather than changing rifles back then, he chose to load a new magazine although he knew how dangerous it was, just in order to trick me?!! So that's why he made that gesture and intentionally showed me when he loaded a new magazine that was actually empty?! And he also shot once in order to use the last bullet that was already loaded in that rifle before throwing the empty rifle away, so that he could catch me off-guard!!]
He crashed into the rubble so hard, hard enough to even crack open the rubble. Although it only inflicted a small amount of damage thanks to his cyborg body, it was enough to create a fatal opening.
Akira quickly leapt and grabbed the CWH anti-material rifle that was still spinning in the air. In one fluid sweep, he grabbed a new magazine and loaded it into the rifle, this time, it was not an empty magazine. The special ammo was automatically loaded the moment Akira stuck in the new magazine.
"Let's finish him before we get any more hindrances."
When he was back to his senses, Yajima saw Akira and found CWH anti-material rifle's muzzle pointing at him. He at least wanted to know if his guess was correct as he opened his mouth.
But before Yajima could say anything, a CWH special ammo blew his head and scattered his brain all over the place. He was dead before he could even utter his last words.
Just to be safe, Akira also shot and destroyed Yajima's limbs. With this, even if Yajima was a remote mechanical body that could move without a brain, he would not be able to pose any threat now.
"Milady!! Are you alright?"
"...A-are we saved?"
Although Shiori no longer had any reason to fight Akira, it did not erase the fact that they did fight each other just a few seconds ago. She thought that it was fully understandable considering his disposition that he would still put his guard up expecting that they would continue their fight.
Shiori already had no wish to fight Akira, after all, he was the one who saved Reina. She did not mind getting killed by Akira if it would satisfy him. But there was no guarantee that was the case.
Shiori understood that Akira knew the easiest way to kill her, which was to shoot Reina and make her cover Reina.
She slowly moved to the front of Reina. Akira's aim followed her. Eventually, both of Akira's rifles that were pointed at Shiori and Reina were pointed only at Shiori.
Akira was breathing roughly while supporting the rifles in his both hands. Because of his crazy moves not too long ago, his body had hit its limit. Although the medicines that were still active in his body were desperately healing his micro-wounds, it would run out of its effect eventually. At the moment, even pulling the trigger would be a difficult task for him.
"I feel like my medicines would run out of its effect soon though."
"You're right. Akira, just stay like this and don't move so that the medicines can have the optimum effect. Depending on what happens next, you might have to start the fight again."
"...But like, we have no more reasons to fight, right? I wonder if it would end the fight if I just lower my gun."
"Although you've won that fight, they messed everything up since they did not believe what you said. The situation was even turned 180 degrees because of their mistake, then Shiori opted to attack you to make sure of Reina's safety. In this situation, there were no longer any reasons why she should kill you. So, if you lower your gun, she might quickly evacuate Reina to somewhere safe. But she would take more accelerator and come back to kill you in order to confirm Reina's safety thinking that you might be holding a grudge against her. With your current condition, this would be her perfect chance to kill you, you know? Well, if you believe that she would not do that no matter what, you can go ahead and lower your rifle."
Akira replied back instantly, although he had no will to continue the fight, it was not like he could trust them. And it was the same for Shiori and Reina too.
"...Akira-sama, could you please lower your gun? I have no wish to continue fighting with you."
Akira did not move at all. He only glanced briefly at Shiori.
"...Akira-sama, I can understand that you're angry. I'm really sorry. I'll do anything to make it up to you."
Akira remained motionless. His rifles that were pointing at Shiori also stayed still.
"...It's all my fault for everything that happened. So please let Milady go."
Akira still did not move. His expression also did not change at all. He only glanced at Shiori showing that he was listening.
Shiori thought that Akira might change his mind if she prostrated in front of him and begged him with a trembling voice. So she started to move in order to do that.
Akira finally showed a movement. His aim shifted straight at Shiori and stopped her from moving any further.
Shiori still had some accelerator drugs left with her. Although the backlash from using that drug continuously would definitely kill her, she would not hesitate to do that if she had the chance.
She was shocked when she saw Akira fought evenly against Shiori. As such, she was afraid of angering him.
And even now, Shiori was trying her hardest to protect Reina from Akira. But even Reina understood that it was not going well.
Reina did not want to die and she did not want Shiori to die too. If Shiori could not do anything, then she might be able to do something.
Reina, who was hiding behind Shiori's back, decided to step up. But the moment she stepped out from behind Shiori, Akira's aim swiftly shifted to her and stopped her midway.
She thought that she should say something to Akira to convince him. Although she still had no idea what to say, she already took a step out from behind Shiori. But since he stopped her from going any further, it also stopped her from saying anything. As such, she could only repeat what she wanted to say inside her head.
[Shiori only tried to kill you because she wanted to keep me alive. So please forgive her. I know it's my fault, I know that it's because we didn't believe your words that the table was turned and you almost got killed although you already won that fight. I'm really sorry, so please forgive us.]
Shiori suddenly collapsed, the accelerator already ran out of its effect. The backlash caused all the acc.u.mulated tiredness to assault her body at the same time. Although she was able to somehow stay conscious, she could not stand up from the ground.
With this, Akira knew for sure that Shiori's accelerator had worn off. Her face was filled with hopelessness since he could easily finish her and Reina off now.
Reina panicked and quickly ran to Shiori, she then tried helping her to stand.
"Shiori!? Are you okay?!! Hang in there!!"
Shiori was trembling meekly as she glanced at Akira, Reina was supporting her so that she could stand. She saw Akira lower his rifle while looking toward the hallway.
When Shiori collapsed, Alpha said to Akira.
"Akira, it's okay to lower your rifle now."
"Is that so? She still has spare accelerators, right?"
"I won't make that mistake of allowing her to take more accelerator in this situation. But of course, I also don't mind if you want to shoot her instead. I don't think she would fight back in this situation if you shoot her."
"Nah, that would be a little bit too cruel."
"In that case then, let's get ready to face the next problem. I still can't confirm the situation in this area since the effect from the jamming smoke has yet to completely disappear. So don't drop your guard."
"How long will it take before the jamming smoke is completely gone? Will it be gone if we just wait for a bit more? Or will it still stay here for a few hours?"
"I don't know for sure. It depends on the type and the composition of the smoke as well as the topology of the area. But one thing for sure is that it'll stay longer down here compared to when it's on the surface. We're in an enclosed space after all. It's faster if you try to confirm it yourself, let's try if you can contact the HQ or not."
"You're right, let's at least start from there."
Akira who was watching the hallway suddenly turned to Reina and Shiori. Reina flinched seeing that.
Reina was surprised when Akira suddenly said that. There was obviously a gap between his behaviour and what she was expecting, as such, she was so stunned that she froze.
Shiori reported the result to Akira before Reina could. She was already trying to contact the HQ when she was back to her senses.
Akira immediately told them what to do next.
"S-Shiori!?"
"I-I'm alright. Milady, we should hurry up and leave this place too."
Her tired body felt like it was as heavy as lead, the stinging pain that ran through her body was telling her to stop moving and her tired brain was trying hard to shut down.
Shiori used her sense of loyalty in order to maintain her consciousness. But she knew it was only a matter of time before she reached her limit.
Reina looked at Akira, she wanted to ask him if they could take a short rest. But she stopped when she saw his expression, she knew that he would just turn her suggestion down.
Akira, Reina and Shiori quickly left that area.
When Yajima's friends, Kain and Nelia, finally arrived there; Akira, Reina and Shiori had already left the place and were on their way back to HQ.
Kain was using a large-sized heavy-armour-type augmented suit, better known as a powered suit. Although the underground hallway was rather wide, his powered suit almost blocked the whole hallway.
It was equipped with 2 extra arms in each side and all of those 4 arms were carrying heavy weapons. The lower part of his powered suit formed reverse joints. Although it was a type of augmented suit, it was closer to a battle-oriented mechanical suit for a cyborg.
Kain folded all his mechanical limbs and stored them into the powered suit's torso. Unlike the augmented suit for cyborgs that made its user look like a normal human from the outside, it was obvious from the first glance that this was a mechanized augmented suit that only a cyborg could use.
Their original plan was to have Kain and Nelia guard the truck after the relics were carried to the surface. That was why they were heavily armed, but they could not wander around the underground city with such equipment. After all, the underground work was actually Yajima's job.
Kain looked over the area and said.
Kain and Nelia came into the underground city through the hole that was originally created for carrying out relics. At first, they planned to open that hole after the relics were transported into its position. But there was a change of plan and they had to open that hole sooner than they scheduled, they already carried as many relics as they could to the surface.
"I found Yajima's body... Or to be more precise, it's a pile of destroyed cyborg body that I believe belong to Yajima. Since his head is blown to smithereens, well, he's dead for good, no doubt about it. It's not like we can just carry his brain either."
Nelia replied back lightly.
"You're right. He was a pretty useful guy, but it's not like he can help us with anything now that he's dead. Let's just go back."
"What are we going to do with the relics in this area?"
"Did you find any other corpse other than Yajima's?"
"Nope, none at all."
"That means the person who killed Yajima is still alive and has already left this place. Which means that the HQ at least knows that there was a fight here. I'm sure they'll send some Hunters here to check this place. So, after knowing that, are you planning on carrying the relics from this area while fighting those Hunters?"
"Are you not thinking of revenging him or something? You guys are lovers, right?"
Nelia answered back casually.
Suddenly, some Hunters also arrived in that location. The HQ found it suspicious that Akira did not contact them again after that, as such, they decided to send some Hunters to check that area.
Of course, it was suspicious to find someone equipped with a powered suit and not showing his location through the shared network. So one of the Hunters shouted at them.
"Good grief, can you do that more quietly?"
"It's as you can see, I'm not good with details and minute things."
Some of the Hunters who survived that bombing started shooting back. All of their shots were focused on Kain, but those bullets just ricocheted when they hit his formidable powered suit. Some of the rebounded bullets hit Nelia too, but they also ricocheted just like when they had hit Kain.
Nelia said those words as if she got splashed by mere rainwater.
After that small and casual exchange, Kain started shooting back at those Hunters. The 4 heavy weapons Kain was carrying unleashed hell on those Hunters with its overwhelming firepower. He launched countless warheads toward those Hunters and blew them off together with the wreckages and the rubbles in the area.
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/
非公開