296 シロウの目的
都市間輸送車両に並走するように走るキャンピングカーの中で、シロウがアキラの装備のケースの解錠作業を始める。
「先に言っておくけど、すぐには開かない。中身は最前線向けの装備だからな。そういう危険物の収納ケースにはしっかりロックが掛かってる」
シロウがケースに片手を置く。
アキラはまた
「......今の内に軽く説明しておく。今から話すことは全部俺の推察だ。合ってる保証は無い。でも俺なりに調査した結果から推察したことだ。多分合ってる。......それでだ。彼女の名前はハルカだ。レベッカってのはただの偽名だろう。まあ、ハルカってのも偽名かもしれないけどさ。俺の目的は、ハルカの救出だ」
シロウはそこで一度説明を止めた。アキラが続きを待っていると、シロウが難しい表情を浮かべる。
「......アキラ。説明はこれじゃ駄目か?」
アキラは少し顔を険しくした。
「いや、それだけじゃ全然分からねえよ。レベッカ......、いやハルカか。ハルカを助けるって、向こうはそんな感じじゃなかったぞ? シロウはハルカに蹴飛ばされてなかったか?」
シロウが顔を険しくする。
をしたのかは、俺にも正確には分からない。俺のことを信じられなかったかもしれない。俺は本気でハルカを助けるつもりだし、相手が五大企業でも交渉の余地はあると思ってる。それが駄目でもハルカを連れて逃げ回るぐらいは出来る。でも信じてもらえなかったんだろう」
「それじゃあ俺がアトラスに戻ったところでどうするんだよ。力尽くで
「説明はこれで良いよな?」
アキラは少し考えてから首を横に振った。
にもうちょっと説明してくれ。そもそもハルカを助けるってどういうことなんだ? 五大企業を相手に逃げ回るって、彼女はどういう立場のやつなんだ。シロウはハルカをどういう状況から助けようとしてるんだ?」
「......真面目に言う。知らない方が良いと思うぞ? 知ったら、知らなかったとは言えなくなる」
「聞き返すけどさ、それ、俺は何も知らなかった、が通用する話なのか?」
されたことには出来なくなる。そりゃアキラを雇ってる時点で巻き込んでるさ。でも何も知らなければ、アキラには全部坂下重工の工作員の仕業っていう逃げ道があるんだ。これ以上聞くと、その逃げ道が無くなるぞ? 良いのか?」
そう言われるとアキラにも迷いが生まれる。だがすぐに結論を出した。真面目に答える。
「良いから聞かせろ」
何も聞かずに、何も知らされずに、覚えた疑問から目を
それでシロウも観念する。
「......分かった。ただし二つ約束しろ。これから聞くことを
には報告しない。そっちは約束する。でも協力の方は約束できない。何をやらせる気なのかは知らないけど、それが何であれ手伝えるのは義理と義務の分だけだ。約束したんだから死んでこいと言われても困るからな」
シロウが悩む。これを話した後でもアキラは自分に協力してくれるのか。シロウは確証を持てなかった。
その上でこうも考える。話さなければ協力は得られない。話しても、アキラならば、最悪でも、協力を得られないだけで済むだろう。恐らくだが、知った後で保身の
アキラとは別に長い付き合いではないが、それでも短い付き合いの中で、シロウはアキラのことをそう捉えていた。それで決断する。
「分かった。それで良い。アキラ。聞いて後悔しても知らないからな。念は押しとくぞ」
シロウの気迫に相当なことを話すのだろうと思い、アキラも思わず身構えて
ハルカは常識に疎いところがあったが、厳重な警備が敷かれている隔離された施設の中で育ったシロウにも、その頃には東部の常識に疎いところがあった。お互いに旧領域接続者だ。相手も同じ境遇なのだろうと思い、深く気にすることは無かった。忙しい日々の中、時間を作って仮想空間で会い、旧領域接続者としての技術を自慢したり、教え合ったり、褒め合ったりして交流を深めていく。
仲を深めれば相手のことを知りたくなる。しかし自分から身元を明かせる立場でもない。そこでシロウ達は旧領域接続者の技術でお互いに相手のことを調べ合うことにした。それは相手の正体が分かった上でも付き合いを続けたいと思うかどうかという意味も含まれていた。
ハルカのことを知りたいという気持ちは、シロウのやる気を大きく刺激した。日々の訓練にも身が入り、坂下重工の役員達にも驚かれるほどの卓越した技術を身に付けていく。坂下重工から特別扱いを受けるほどに。
それでも先に身元が割れたのはシロウの方だった。
「......お互いに調べ合うことを提案したのはハルカだった。今思えば、自分の身元は絶対に分からないって思ってたんだろうな。実際にそれぐらい大変だったよ。俺がハルカの情報を
オーラムでも雇えそうな者を探したら、アキラがいたって訳だ」
一通り話し終えたシロウが、どこまでも真剣にアキラに告げる。
「俺の事情は話した。ここまで聞いたんだ。やってもらうぞ」
「ん? ああ」
だがアキラの反応は、シロウの話に納得しながらも、どこか軽いものだった。その
「......ちょっと待て!? 今の話を聞いてその反応か!? 俺の話、ちゃんと聞いてたよな!?」
そのシロウの気迫の籠もった慌て振りに、アキラも少したじろいだ。
「だ、大丈夫だ。聞いてた。要は友達がヤバい施設に捕まってるから助けに行くってことだろう?」
「そうだけど、そうだけどさ、その反応か!? どういう度胸をしてんだよ......。そりゃリオンズテイル社を平気で敵に回す訳だな......」
め息を吐いた。それで落ち着きも取り戻したところで、一つ目のケースが開いた。中身は強化服だった。それを見るアキラに、シロウが真面目に告げる。
「一つ開けたぞ。アキラ。悪いが全部開けるまで待つのは勘弁してくれ。アトラスに離されるとハルカの所に行けなくなる。頼む」
そう言ってシロウはアキラに頭を下げた。アキラが軽く笑って答える。
「分かった。戻ってくるまでに他のも開けておいてくれよ?」
「ああ。分かってる。アキラ。ありがとう。頼んだぞ」
シロウはしっかりと礼を言った。ハルカに拒絶されたことで一度は慌てふためき平静を欠いたシロウだったが、もう大丈夫だった。
アトラスはその巨大さの
アキラがキャンピングカーの屋根から跳躍してアトラスの外壁に着地する。そして外壁を垂直に歩いて屋根に向かう。
『アルファ。確かに急いでたけどさ、あの強化服だけでも着ておかなくて良かったのか?』
『良いのよ。急いで着たところで、私があの強化服を掌握する時間は無いからね。それに彼女との話し合いが目的なら、過剰な装備は彼女を警戒させるだけよ』
アトラスの屋上に上がったアキラが、周囲を見渡して車両の入口を探す。しかしそれらしいものは見当たらない。
『シロウ。車内のハルカを探すのは良いんだけど、入口が見当たらない。どこかにないか?』
『ちょっと待ってろ。あの外壁のやつは......、駄目だ。制御パターンが変更されてる。別の入口は......』
『駄目って、あれを開けたのはシロウなんだろ?』
『その辺はいろいろあるんだよ。急いでるんだから説明はしないぞ』
『あ、そういえばシロウもハルカも旧領域接続者なんだから、念話で話したり出来ないのか?』
『出来ない。その辺もいろいろあるんだ。出来るならやってる』
『......300メートル先にハッチがある。まずはそこに行ってくれ。そこも駄目なら別の場所を探す』
アキラが指示通りに屋上を進む。そしてこれ以上シロウを
『探さなくても、彼女がアキラを見付ければ、彼女の方から来ると思うわ。追い出したはずの危険人物が戻ってきた訳だからね』
『追い出した? どういう意味だ? 俺はハルカに車外に追い出されたのか?』
『ええ。恐らくあの外壁の扉も、外部の者でも開きやすいように、彼女が手を加えていたはずよ』
『ちょっと待て。あいつ、キューブの襲撃犯だったのか?』
『ええ。恐らくね。それもただの一員ではなくてリーダー格のはずよ』
『......何でそれをもっと早く言わなかったんだ?』
アキラはその説明に一応納得しながらも、少し難しい顔をする。
『いや、でも、襲撃犯なんだよな?』
『そうよ。でも敵ではないわ。アキラはここに荷物を取りに来ただけ。キューブ襲撃犯の討伐依頼は受けていない。だから
「深追いするな! 退却を優先! A7貨物室まで下がるぞ!」
敵は武装した少女達だ。退却前にゼロスが倒した少女達と酷似しており、装備も強さも、緑色の血を流すところも同じだ。ゼロスの時は逃げながら戦っていたが、今は積極的にゼロス達に襲い掛かっている。その少女達の表情は平静そのもので、仲間が倒されようと、吹き飛ばされようと、粉
そのある意味で気味の悪い表情のまま戦う少女達の顔は全員同じだった。そして、ハルカにとても良く似ていた。
通路が少女達から放たれたレーザーで埋め尽くされる。それをゼロス達は区画の制圧時に設置した簡易防壁で防いで下がる。更に
それでもゼロス達は劣勢を強いられている。倒しても倒しても、少女達はまるで無限に湧き出てくるかのように、その数を一向に減らさないのだ。
「状況は?」
「重傷者3。死者0。A7貨物室への退路は確保した。重傷者は優先して下げてる」
その報告を聞いてゼロスは表情を和らげた。
「よーし。このまま下がるぞ。今は残弾なんか気にせずに撃ちまくれ。A7貨物室に戻るまでは、必ず通路にいろ。ヤバそうだからって、そこらの部屋に立て籠もろうなんてさせるなよ。そこは徹底させろ」
「ああ。こいつら一体どこから現れたのかと思えば、確認済みの部屋からも出て来たからな。一体どうやって......」
「いや、だから制圧時に確認はしたんだよ」
「確認したのは、誰もいないかどうかだけだろ? 俺、見たんだよ。ロッカーがこいつらになったのを。ロッカーの中から出てきたんじゃない。ロッカーが、中身ごと、こいつらになったんだよ」
怪奇現象に近いことを言い出した仲間に、男が思わず
だがゼロスは納得した。
「そういうことか。こいつら車両の設備に擬態してたのか」
「......冗談だろ?」
ゼロスが仲間達と一緒に後退していく。少女達は一向に減る気配が無い。次々に撃たれ、斬られ、床に広がる緑色の血の池に沈んでいくが、新手がそれらを乗り越えて襲い掛かってくる。
ゼロスが部隊に前線を下げるように指示したのは、車両内の隠し通路の存在を疑ったからだった。
突如出現した大型モンスターに襲われた時、ゼロスはまずは退路を確保している仲間の安否を心配した。その仲間達を突破して襲ってきたと考えたからだ。
そこから考えを発展させる。今戦っている相手は少女を模した生物系モンスターであり、しかも体内に強力な回復薬を大量に保持している。少女達を倒し続けても湧き出るように新たに出現するのは、生物系モンスターの驚異的な生命力と強力な回復薬の相乗効果で、殺したはずの個体が再生し続けているから。
更にこうも考える。自分達が車両に入った時、先行部隊と襲撃犯達の死体が車内に転がっていなかったのは、その生物系モンスターに全て食われたからではないか。全ては仮定に過ぎないが、ゼロスには自身の推察が正しいように思えていた。
(通路をよく見れば、俺達が倒した多脚機の残骸も消えてる。あの多脚機の武装はレーザー砲だった。そして今戦ってる連中の武装もレーザー砲だ。偶然か? それとも多脚機の残骸を食って再生したのか? もし後者だとしたら、こいつらの正体は恐らく人型の合食再構築類。しかも食って増えるタイプ。道理で殺しまくっても減らねえ訳だ。仲間の死体を食って増えてやがるな?)
その手のモンスターの殺し方はゼロスも知っている。再生と増殖に必要なエネルギーが枯渇するまで徹底的に破壊するのだ。
「......全部隊に通達! 敵を過剰に攻撃しろ! 緑の血は恐らく強力な回復薬だ! 木っ端
少女型の生物兵器の群れを指揮していたハルカが、ゼロス達の動きを見て顔を険しくする。
「対応が早い......。そんなすぐに対応できるものなの? ......まあクガマヤマ都市で似たようなことをしたのだし、その
「......用事は済んだはずでしょ? 何で戻ってきてるのよ」
ハルカの拡張視界には、都市間輸送車両の屋根を歩くアキラの姿が映っていた。
そしてそこからハルカが飛び出てくる。車両の屋根に着地したハルカは、アキラと
「何しに来たの? もうここに用は無いでしょう?」
アキラの情報端末からシロウの声が響く。
「ハルカ! 話を聞いてくれ! どうして俺と一緒に来られないんだ? 逃げた後のことなら大丈夫だ。坂下重工にも見付からない隠れ家は用意してあるし、ハルカが
「出来ないわ。帰って。私もシロウの友達を傷付けたくないの。でも、何を言っても駄目なら、力尽くになるわ」
ハルカの雰囲気が臨戦に近付いていく。もう弱い演技をする必要は無い。
「言っておくわ。私、強いのよ?」
その言葉自体はただの脅しだ。しかし相手がアキラだと分かった上で、その力尽くが可能である根拠に満ちていた。
「......シロウ。どうする? 帰るか? 戦うか? 戦うなら、ハルカの無事は保証しないからな」
場合によってはハルカを殺す。そう言われたシロウが思わず声を荒らげる。
「シロウ。俺はキューブの襲撃犯を相手に、相手の命を気遣って戦えるほど強くないんだよ。努力はするが、保証は出来ない。幾らシロウに雇われてるからって、そこまでする義理も義務も無い。どうする?」
そう言われるとシロウも言い返せなかった。そこでハルカが口を挟む。
「それなら帰ってよ。シロウに幾らで雇われたのか知らないけど、金なら返せば良いじゃない。絶対割に合ってないわよ?」
「そうもいかないんだ。仕事は仕事だ。金を返せば済むって話じゃない。まあそれが通って金の分の義務は消えたとしても、シロウにいろいろ助けてもらった借りまでは消えない。その義理の分はシロウに付き合うつもりだ」
統企連の支配下では金が全て。そう聞かされていたハルカは意外そうな顔を浮かべた。
「それなりにな。シロウ。それで、どうするんだ? 言っておくけど、そっちと距離が離れすぎても俺は帰るからな。俺の装備はそっちにあるんだ」
都市間輸送車両とアキラの車では速度に差がありすぎる。既に大分離されていた。シロウはアキラに戻れとも戦えとも言えずにいる。
「シロウ。聞こえてるわね?」
「一つだけ教えてあげる。シロウは私があそこから抜け出したと思ってるけど、それは勘違いよ。私はあそこから抜け出せてなんていないの」
「......どういう意味だ?」
「そこまでは言えない。でも、それを知らないシロウに私を助けるなんて無理よ。だから、もう、帰って」
どこか重苦しい沈黙を開けてから、シロウが言う。
「............、アキラ。戻ってくれ」
アキラはそのまま屋根の端まで行く。そして何となく振り返ってハルカを見た。ハルカは打ちのめされているかのように立っていた。
め息を吐いて、車両から飛び降りた。
その後、ハルカも車内に戻っていく。その場に残った感情を、加速する都市間輸送車両により生まれる風が吹き飛ばした。
「アキラ。装備のケースは全部開けておいたぞ」
「あ、ああ。助かった。それで、これからどうするんだ?」
「予定通りハルカを助けに行く。目的地は
シロウの遠隔操縦でキャンピングカーが勢い良く走り出す。
「......なあシロウ。ハルカは、それは無理だ、みたいなことを言ってなかったか?」
「言ってない。ハルカが言ったのは、ハルカはまだ
「じゃあどういうことなんだよ」
「......それは俺にも分からない。でも、何らかの理由で今も施設に
技研の施設まで行くのにどれぐらい掛かるんだ?」
「ここからだと5時間ぐらいだ」
『アルファ。その時間で新しい装備の掌握は間に合うか?』
「隠し施設か」
「ああ、見付けるのに苦労したよ。ヴィオラから手に入れたデータを基にして探したんだけど、自前の機材しか使えなかったから、本当に大変だった」
シロウですら見付けるのに苦労するほどに秘匿された
シェリルは突如現れた来客に戦々恐々としていた。
「あ、あの、ヴィオラに用があるとのことでしたが、ヴィ、ヴィオラが、何か......?」
「いえ、ヴィオラさんの取引相手と取引内容について幾つか伺いたいことがありまして、少々御協力頂ければと」
来客はマルオだった。クガマヤマ都市の重役であるイナベから、相手は統企連所属の人物であり、絶対に非礼を働くなと念押しされたこともあって、シェリルは死ぬ気で応対していた。
「それで、ヴィオラさんは?」
「い、今連れてきております。も、もう少々お待ちください」
アキラの後ろ盾もあってクガマヤマ都市でさえ容易に手を出せない存在となったシェリル達だったが、それでも統企連にとっては吹けば飛ぶ存在でしかない。シェリルの緊張は限界に達しようとしていた。
そこにヴィオラがシェリルの部下達に連れられてやってくる。マルオの向かいに座らされたヴィオラは、出来る限りいつも通りに
「私に聞きたいことがあるらしいけど、何かしら?」
「君がミハゾノ街遺跡でゴロウと名乗った者とした取引について詳しく聞きたい。こちらの調べでは、君は彼に何らかのデータを提供したはずだ。何かな?」
「その情報を買いたいってこと? それなら......」
に、ヴィオラはいつも通りの交渉を始めようとした。しかしそれをマルオに止められる。
「謝礼は渡す。でもその交渉は後にしよう。今は私の話が先だ。話を
Ch 296
The camping vehicle was moving as fast as the transport vehicle. Inside it, Akira and Shirou immediately started working on opening the cases.
"I'll tell you this beforehand, they won't open right away. They are cases used to secure frontline equipment after all. It's obvious that they're locked extremely securely to protect the dangerous objects inside them."
Shirou put his hand on one of the cases.
Akira nodded again.
"...I'll give you a light explanation while I have the chance. Everything that I'm going to say from here on out is all just my guess. There's no guarantee that they are correct. But my thoughts are based on my own investigation. So, I believe it is accurate... That girl is Haruka, 'Rebecca' is just a fake name. Well, 'Haruka' might also be a fake name, but, basically, my objective is to rescue her."
Shirou then stopped. Akira waited for him to continue. Seeing that, Shirou slowly knitted his eyebrows.
"...Akira, is that not enough?"
Akira's face turned stern.
"That doesn't explain anything to me. So, you want to save Rebecca... Well, it's Haruka, right? But it doesn't seem like she wants to be saved though? Didn't she kick you down back there?"
Shirou's face also turned stern.
"I don't understand why she did that. She might not believe me. But I am absolutely serious. I just want to rescue her, and I have prepared myself to be able to negotiate even against the big five. Even if that doesn't work, I can at least take her with me and go on the run. Though, looks like she still does not trust me."
"I see, so then, what should I do after I get back inside Atlas? Should I take her here by force?"
"Is that good enough?"
Akira thought for a bit before shaking his head.
"No, as I thought, you should explain to me more. What exactly do you mean by rescuing her? And you did say something about going on the run from the big five companies, so who exactly is she? And you want to save her from what exactly?"
"...I'll be honest, it's better if you don't know. Once you know, you won't be able to claim you were acting unaware of the situation."
"Let me ask you this question instead, is it going to be a situation where people would accept it if I said, 'I don't know'?"
"At least, it's easier for you to say 'you don't know' when you really don't. At the very least, you would be able to claim that you got tricked by me. I know that I'm roping you into my own issues when I hired you, but if you don't know, you can at least make an excuse. You can even claim that you did it because I am an agent from Sakashita Heavy Industry. But once I tell you this, you won't be able to use that excuse anymore. Are you sure you're fine with that?"
As expected, Akira hesitated. But he immediately made his decision and said with a serious tone.
"Just tell me already."
Akira did not feel like he owed Shirou that much, At least, not enough to warrant him to do anything Shirou asked without knowing anything. Likewise, to engage in a fight while ignoring the doubts festering in him which came from that lack of information. Alpha was the only one that Akira would go that far for. So, with that resolve, he told Shirou to just tell him.
With that, Shirou finally gave up.
"...Alright, but promise me two things. First, don't tell Tsukisada about what I'm going to tell you, and second, you will still help me no matter what you're going to hear from here on out."
"I won't tell Tsukisada, I can promise you that. But I can't promise you that I will still help you no matter what. I don't know what exactly you want me to do, and I don't have the obligation to do whatever you ask me to. After all, I will not kill myself even if you ask me to."
Shirou hesitated. There was no guarantee that Akira would still help him after he revealed everything to Akira.
However, Shirou knew that Akira would not help him unless he explained. Likewise, even if he told Akira, the worst that would happen was for Akira to not help him. He did not believe Akira would turn hostile against him.
Even though they had not worked together for long, from the time Shirou had spent with him, he knew him well enough to know Akira would not cross that line. Thus, he finally made his decision.
"Alright, that's good enough. Akira, I won't take responsibility even if you say that it's better for you not to know afterwards, okay? I did warn you, after all."
As the mood suddenly turned heavy, Akira thought that Shirou would say something very important and inadvertently nodded. And so, Shirou went to the main subject.
Haruka's common sense was slightly abnormal as was Shirou's. He had spent all his life inside a strictly secured facility that was isolated from the outside world. Thus, it was normal for his common sense to be abnormal compared to someone from the eastern district. Both of them were old-world connectors, so Shirou thought that Haruka was also in a similar situation as he was. In the middle of their jam-packed schedule, they made sure that they would have the time to meet up in that virtual space. There, they discussed about their skills as old-world connectors, taught each other, and praised each other. As time flew by, their relationship deepened.
The closer they got, the more they wanted to know about each other. But it was not like they could simply confess their personal information to each other. Thus, what they did was use their skills as old-world connectors to investigate each other. It could also be interpreted as them wanting to know the other person's real identity before they considered whether to continue their relationship or not.
The desire to know Haruka more greatly fuelled Shirou's motivation. He put more effort into his training and became so skilled that it even surprised the staff of Sakashita Heavy Industry. This eventually led to the preferential treatment that he had been receiving.
Even so, Shirou was the first one to crack as he was the first to open up about his personal information to Haruka.
"...The first one who suggested trying to investigate each other was Haruka. Now that I think about it, I bet she thought that there was no way I would be able to gather any information about her. Well, it was indeed not easy. The reason why I was able to get her personal information was mostly because of luck... Haruka was connecting to that virtual space from a rebuild research laboratory. I bet it was from a renovated facility in the middle of some ruin."
"But well, in the end... I had no other choice but to use all my  Chrome to get away from Hammerz. After that, when I was looking for someone that I might be able to hire to accomplish my goal with my emergency Aurum, I found you, Akira."
After he finished his story, Shirou then stated to Akira in a serious tone.
"There, I've told you everything. Now that you know everything, I will have you help me."
"Hm? Sure."
Although Akira gave his affirmation, he said it too nonchalantly. Shirou, who did not expect such a response, was caught by surprise.
"...Wait, what?! What is with that reaction!? Were you even listening to my story!?"
Akira winced back from Shirou's sudden outburst, but it was not from fear. He was simply weirded out by that outburst.
"I-It's fine, I did properly listen to your story. Basically, you want to save your friend who is trapped inside a dangerous place, right?"
"Well, if you put it that way, that's true. But your reaction is just wrong, you know!? Do you have a heart made of steel or something...!? No wonder you have no problem picking a fight with the Lion Steel company..."
Shirou exasperatedly sighed. Nonetheless, Akira's bold response did help him to calm down. That was just as he managed to open the first case, inside it was an augmented suit. Shirou shot a serious gaze at Akira, who just saw what he did.
"I opened the first case. Akira, I'm sorry, but as expected it will take some time for me to open all the cases. Haruka will get away in that Atlas if you wait for me to finish opening all the cases. So please."
Shirou lowered his head to Akira, who gave a light smile and casually said.
"Alright, make sure to open the rest before I'm back, okay?"
"Of course! Akira, thank you, I'm counting on you!"
Shirou firmly thanked Akira. He was completely shocked and was thrown into disarray when Haruka rejected him, but he was fine now.
Although Atlast D2771 could not quickly gain speed due to its size, its maximum speed was still above the camping vehicle. Due to their conversation, they were a bit late in starting their pursuit. Currently, the camping vehicle was already running parallel to the very last section of the transport vehicle.
Akira leapt from the camping vehicle's rooftop and landed on the side of the transport vehicle. He then started walking up the wall to the rooftop of the transport vehicle.
"Alpha, I know that we're in a hurry, but isn't it better if I put on that augmented suit?"
"It's better like this. After all, we don't have the time for me to modify that augmented suit. Moreover, our objective is to get close enough to that girl so that Shirou can talk to her. Coming here with powerful equipment would only needlessly make her feel uneasy."
Akira eventually reached the rooftop, he then looked around for a door to get inside the transport vehicle. But for some reason, he could not find it anywhere.
"Shirou, I'm fine with searching for Haruka inside the transport vehicle, but I don't see any gates to get in. Can you find me a way in?"
"Sure, wait for a sec. That gate would be... No luck, the control pattern has been changed, I'll look for another way in..."
"Wait, didn't you open a similar door before?"
"It's not that simple. I'm in a hurry right now, so I don't have the time to explain it to you."
"Ah, now that I think about it, Haruka is also an old-world connector, right? Can't you contact her through telepathy too?"
"No, it's not that simple. If I can do that, I would have done that by now."
"...There's a hatch about 300 metres away from you. Try that hatch first, if that doesn't work, I will look for another door."
Akira followed Shirou's instructions as he walked on top of Atlas. Although he still had some questions, he thought that it would be bad to sour Shirou's mood even more. Thus, he threw his questions to Alpha instead.
"I'm sure that without trying to find her, once she notices that you're around, she'll come to you. After all, from her point of view, a dangerous person that she had just expelled from the transport vehicle had returned."
"Expelled? What do you mean? Was I expelled from the transport vehicle by Haruka?"
"Yes. My guess is that back then, she had done something to that door so that someone from the outside could easily open it."
"Wait for a sec, so she is the one that attacked the transport vehicle?"
"Yep, although, it's just my guess. She is not just one of the attackers, I am willing to bet she's actually the leader of the attackers."
"...Why didn't you tell me?"
Although Akira completely understood Alpha's point, he still could not help but to make a complicated expression.
"But still, she's one of the attackers, right?"
"Yes. But she is not your enemy. You are only here to pick up your equipment. You never accepted any request that needed you to fight the attackers. So, there is no reason for you to pick a fight with her. Though it's true that she is the one who sent those multi-legged drones to attack you, it would be strange if you don't get attacked there instead, right? Furthermore, she did help you fight too, afterwards. I thought that it was better to let her know that you're not worth the problem so she would let you finish your business there and get out of the transport vehicle as soon as possible. I believe you can at least understand that much, right?"
"Don't chase them too deep! Focus on pulling back! We're retreating to sector A7!"
Their enemies were small girls with weapons. These girls had the same faces and they looked exactly the same as the ones Zelos had killed before he called for a retreat. Everything from their fighting capability, equipment, and green blood, were all the same. At that time, Zelos was fighting them while they were running away from him. However, this time, they were the ones pressing an assault on his team. All of them had flat emotionless eyes. Even when their friends got killed or blasted to pieces, they did not show any reaction.
Their emotionless faces were ominous and creepy. All of these girls had this exact look, and all of them looked like Haruka.
The hallway was filled with the laser beams released from the girls' laser cannons. Zelos' team used the portable walls that they had installed, to secure each sector. to block the lasers as they were slowly pulling back. Whenever Zelos' team found even the smallest opening, with Zelos as the main firepower, they would quickly attack and decimate those that were open.
However, they were still feeling the heat from the assault. No matter how many they took out, the enemies kept coming without an end in sight. Their numbers were not reducing at all.
"How's the situation?"
"We have three badly injured, but everyone is still alive. We also have secured a route to retreat back to cargo sector A7. The badly injured are prioritized to retreat first."
Zelos' stern expression relaxed after he heard that report.
"Alright then, just continue retreating. No need to worry about your ammo. Make sure to stay in the hallway until we can regroup at cargo sector A7. Never try to set up a barricade inside a room even if the fight gets tough. Make sure that everyone understands it."
"Of course! After all, we've investigated where exactly these girls came from. It turns out that they were coming out from the rooms that we had secured beforehand. Just how exactly did they get in there..."
"But we made sure to sweep the sectors when we had secured, you know?"
"I bet we just checked if there's someone inside, right? I witnessed it myself, you know? The moment when they formed from a locker. I'm not saying that they came out from inside the locker, but the whole locker itself turned into one of these things."
Hearing that fantasy-like statement from his friend, the other guy knitted his eyebrows and exclaimed.
But Zelos looked convinced.
"I see, so that's why. They were disguised as a part of the transport vehicle!"
"...You gotta be joking with me!?"
Zelos and his men were slowly pulling back from the front. But the number of enemies did not go down at all. They were shot down and sliced to pieces, drowning the floor in a puddle of green liquid. However, the enemies behind just ignored the puddle and kept charging forward.
The reason why Zelos called for a retreat was because he was worried that there were secret routes inside the transport vehicle.
When Zelos was attacked by that large monster, he was worried whether his men had the route to retreat secured. After all, that monster attacked him from somewhere supposed to be secured.
His thoughts then reached the next conclusion. The opponents were biological monsters taking the form of a little girl. That they were pumped full of powerful medicine. The reason why they were so tenacious and powerful was because of the medicine. It was also the reason why they kept coming back up even after he had already killed several of them.
That was also the reason why they could not find corpses or any leftovers from the team that stormed the transport vehicle beforehand. It was because these monsters ate them. Although it was nothing but just a hunch, Zelos was convinced that he was right.
[Now that I take a good look at the hallway, I don't find any leftovers from the multi-legged drones that we had destroyed. Those drones were also equipped with laser cannons, just like these girls, is it just a coincidence? Or did these girls get their laser cannons from eating those drones? If it is the latter, it would mean that these girls are of a monster type that would devour and assimilate anything they can consume. In that case, they can increase their numbers by consuming materials. No wonder they just keep coming. They're eating their dead friends to produce copies!]
Fortunately, Zelos knew how to deal with these kinds of monsters. He simply had to completely obliterate them until they had no energy or material left to reconstruct themselves.
"...This is an order to everyone! Start the counterattack! The green liquid is probably an extremely powerful medicine! There's a good chance that they'll be able to heal themselves unless you completely destroy them!"
Haruka, who was commanding the biological weapons, seemed solemn as she saw the changes in Zelos' team.
"That was fast... Is it normal for them to be able to adapt this quickly? Well, it is basically the same thing that had happened in Kugamayama city, so I guess that's why they know how to deal with it."
"...Your business here is already done, right? So why are you coming back?"
In her enhanced vision, Haruka could see Akira walking on the rooftop of the transport vehicle.
Suddenly Haruka jumped out of that opening. The moment she landed on the rooftop, she stood face to face with Akira. The smile that had adorned her face when he was with her while they were inside the transport vehicle was nowhere to be seen.
"What are you doing here? You have no business anymore here, right?"
Shirou's voice immediately came out from Akira's information terminal.
"Haruka! Just listen to what I have to say! Why can't you come with me? If you're worried about what will happen after you run away, it'll be fine! I have a hideout that even Sakashita Heavy Industry cannot find. I've also prepared negotiation materials so that the Corporate Government won't arrest you even if you're someone from the rebuild research laboratory. So please..."
"No, Leave! I don't want to hurt Shirou's friend. But if you give me no choice, I will use force."
Haruka's presence started to show readiness to fight, she was no longer trying to pretend to be weak.
"Just to let you know, I'm pretty strong."
Although it was nothing but a bluff, her words sounded as if she had enough power to force even Akira to get serious.
"...Shirou, what's next? Should I just leave? Or fight? If it's the latter, I have no guarantee that she will come out alive, you know?"
Shirou could not help to raise his voice after hearing that depending on the situation, Akira would go ahead and kill Haruka.
"Shirou. The opponent is someone who came here to steal the cube, just so you know, I'm not that strong to be worried about not killing her. I will try, but I give you no promises. I know that I'm working for you right now, but I have no obligation to go that far for you. So, which one is it?"
Shirou could not find any words to rebuke Akira. That was when Haruka intervened.
"Then just leave. I don't know how much Shirou is paying you, but if it's money, you can just give it back. I can guarantee you, fighting me is not worth the trouble."
"Unfortunately, I can't just do that. A job is a job. It won't erase my responsibility just because I return the sum. Well, that might erase my obligation to Shirou tied to the reward but that doesn't help resolve my other debts to him. Debts that are not tied to money. I'm planning to properly repay all my debts to Shirou."
Haruka was taught that under the Corporate Government, everything that was done through money could be undone also through money. So, she was surprised to hear Akira respond in such a manner.
"I'm just doing my best. Shirou, what's your answer? Just to warn you, if the transport vehicle gets too far away from the camping vehicle, I will head back, my stuff is over there after all."
The transport vehicle was going too fast for the camping vehicle to keep up. It was already speeding away from where Shirou was. Even so, Shirou could not decide to tell Akira whether he should fight or leave.
"Shirou, can you hear me?"
"Let me tell you one thing. You might think that I've escaped that place, but that is not correct. I still have not escaped that place."
"...What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you more. But, as long as you don't know why, you won't be able to rescue me. So please, just leave."
A sad silence pervaded. It was Shirou who finally broke that silence.
"...Akira, return back."
Akira walked to one end of the rooftop. He then turned around and looked at Haruka. She was only standing there as if struck by helplessness.
Akira let out a sigh and jumped off the transport vehicle.
Haruka then headed back inside the transport vehicle. All the emotions she felt were left here. It was taken by the wind created by the speeding transport vehicle and carried away.
"Akira, I've opened all the cases."
"O-okay, thanks. So then, what's your plan after this?"
"Just as I planned, we will still go and rescue Haruka. Our target is the rebuild research laboratory. This is where things get serious, so let's get ready."
The camping vehicle accelerated even faster under Shirou's remote control.
"...Say, Shirou. Didn't Haruka say something along the lines of it being impossible for you?"
"She didn't say anything like that. What she said is that she still has not escaped from the rebuild research laboratory. Well, I still have not fully understood the meaning of her words there. Akira, what do you think she meant by that?"
"Then what did she mean by that?"
"...I don't know. But, if she's still under the control of the laboratory for any reason, then I will go and rescue her. We might be able to find the reason if we go to the laboratory, it's worth checking."
"So then, how long will it take before we reach that laboratory?"
"It's about 5 hours from here."
"Alpha, is that enough time for you to familiarize yourself with the new equipment?"
"A secret lab, huh?"
"Yeah. It wasn't easy to find it, you know? I've been trying to find it even using the information that I got from Viola, but that turned out to be useless, so it was really not easy."
The camping vehicle continued running through the wasteland and into the rebuild research laboratory that even Shirou had a hard time finding.
Back in Sheryl's base, Sheryl was fearfully receiving a visitor.
"U-Uhmmm, I heard that you have some business with Viola... U-uh, m-may I ask what it might be?"
"It's nothing serious, I just have a few questions for Viola-san regarding some of her past dealings. It would be great if you would cooperate."
The guest was Maruo. Inabe, as an officer from Kugamayama city, already told Sheryl beforehand that Maruo was someone from the Corporate Government and warned her not to do anything rude to him. That was why she was so nervous.
"So then, where is Viola-san?"
"S-she'll be here in a minute. S-so please wait for a bit."
Although she had Akira's support and her gang had become a rather untouchable organization in Kugamayama city, they were still nothing compared to the Corporate Government. Thus, it was not strange for everyone in the gang to be nervous with the current guest around.
A moment later, Sheryl's men came in with Viola. Viola sat in front of Maruo as she was trying her best to keep her usual smile.
"I heard that you have some questions for me, so, what might it be?"
"I want to know in detail about your deal with someone by the name of Gorou in Mihazono ruin. We have investigated and it seems like you gave him a certain piece of information, what did you give him?"
"I see, so you want to buy that information? In that case..."
In order to get into her usual rhythm, Viola tried to start negotiations in her usual fashion. But Maruo stopped her.
"I will give you the gratitude amount, but let's negotiate a later date. I want to know that answer first and foremost. I know you like to complicate the discussion. So, let me state this. I can actually just ask your brain directly, but that will require certain preparations first. So, to not have to go through such a troublesome thing, it would be of great help if you can just tell me honestly. Would that work for you?"
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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