シェリルが拠点の自室で仕事を続けている。かなり機嫌の悪そうな表情で机に向かい、自分の仕事を何かから目を背けているような熱心さで続けている。
最近のシェリルは不機嫌な様子を続けていた。そのためシェリルの部下達は、彼女の機嫌を損ねないように注意しながら仕事をしていた。
シェリルの徒党の者達なら誰でも彼女が機嫌が悪い理由を知っている。最近アキラが拠点に顔を出していないからだ。それは単純だが、深刻な理由だ。
アキラはスラム街でシェリル達の後ろ盾として扱われている。シェリル達も多少は武装しているが、装備は対人用の拳銃程度だ。戦闘に秀でた者がいるわけでもない。シジマの徒党のように自衛できるような戦力を保持しているわけではない。
そのシェリル達がスラム街で比較的安全に活動することができるのは、他の徒党がアキラを警戒している
しきっている。現状は彼女の機嫌をかなり悪くする程度のことであると誤認させている。しかしシェリル本人に対しての効果はそろそろ限界だった。
シェリルがそこまで焦り、不安に思い、恐怖に震えている理由は単純だ。アキラと連絡が取れないからだ。
この情報端末で自分と連絡が取れない場合、既に死亡している可能性がある。以前シェリルはアキラにそのようなことを言われたことがある。そして今、正にその状況になっているのだ。
シェリルはアキラにかなり深い所まで依存している。シェリルの一見強固な精神は、アキラに助けてもらえることを軸にしている。シェリルはアキラが自分を助けると言った言葉を根拠にして、精神的にアキラに寄り掛かることで、徒党のボスとしての態度と能力を維持していた。
シェリルは自身の精神の軸が嫌な音を立てて折れ始めていることに気付いていた。それが折れた途端、シェリルは悲痛な声で泣き叫ぶだろう。
シェリルの中の冷静な部分が、
らし続けている。シェリルの目つきが非常に厳しいものになっている理由だ。それを直視する余力など彼女にはもう残っていなかった。
エリオがシェリルの私室にノックをせずに入ってくる。
「入る前に、ノックをしろと、言っているでしょう?」
エリオがシェリルの静かな迫力に
「アキラさんが来たぞ。ここに通した方が良いか?」
エリオのその言葉で、シェリルから放たれていた
しいです。アキラも忙しいとは思いますが、できればもっと頻繁に会いに来てほしいです。忙しかったのですか? 何があったのか聞いても良いですか?」
「ああ。ちょっと死にかけてたんだ」
なことを話すような口調で答えた。そのためシェリルには下らない冗談か質の悪い比喩を言っているようにしか聞こえなかった。
シェリルにとってアキラの生死に関わる事項は、それがたとえ冗談であっても聞き流せるようなことではない。シェリルの徒党の繁栄の
「......その冗談、前にも聞きましたけど、面白くないです。冗談でもそんなことを言うのは止めてください」
シェリルが浮かべる表情は半ば意図的なものだ。声色も表情に合わせて調整している。
シェリルは日々の生活の中で相手に与える印象を操作する術を少しずつ磨いていた。シェリルが同じことを部下の子供達にすれば、シェリルの美貌がその術の威力を増幅させ、下らない冗談で相手を悲しませた罪悪感と、シェリルのような美少女に強く心配されているという強い喜びを与えるだろう。
発言自体はシェリルの偽りなき本心だ。シェリルの表情も声色も、彼女の意見を通しやすくするための強めの装飾にすぎない。
しかしアキラは平然と答える。
アキラの言葉が事実であることはシェリルにも分かった。アキラの表情からも声色からも事を大げさに話しているような虚飾の雰囲気は全く感じられない。
アキラが本当に2度も死にかけていたことを知ったシェリルが
シェリルがアキラの後ろに回していた手をアキラの肩に移動させて、そのまま両手を伸ばしてアキラの顔を見る。
「だ、大丈夫なんですか!?」
「見ての通りピンピンしてるよ。傷が痛むなら抱きつかせたりしない」
「それは無理だ。ハンター稼業に危険は付きものだからな」
「それは、そうですけど......。でも......」
悲痛な様子すら感じられるシェリルの表情を見て、アキラがその理由を考える。
だと考えている。アキラにも納得できる理由であり、事実だ。アキラもスラム街の生活の大変さは知っている。シェリルが必死になる理由も十分理解できる。
アキラが押しつけた立場とはいえ、シェリルが徒党のボスであり続けるにはアキラという後ろ盾が必要だ。だからシェリルがアキラとの
「......徒党の強化はするつもりです。アキラに助けてもらって、いろいろ頼っている自覚もあります。でもアキラが死んだ時のことなんかを話すのは止めてください」
「......ん? 分かった」
シェリルの態度、悲しげな声と少し強まった腕の力から、アキラは発言を間違えたことに何となく気付いた。しかし何をどう間違えたかまでは分からなかった。
正しい回答が分からないアキラはそれで黙り、シェリルもアキラに抱きついたまま黙った。
シェリルがアキラに泣いて助けを求めて、アキラがそれに応えた時から、シェリルが
既にシェリルはアキラに体を差し出している。正確にはそれをアキラに突っ返されている。
シェリルは十分に美少女と呼べる美貌の持ち主だ。スラム街の住人としては身体の発育も良く服装も小奇麗で、シェリルの総合的な容姿は都市の下位区画の平均を大きく超えている。シェリルがシベアの
今のシェリルにはアキラから受ける恩恵の見返りとして差し出せるものが何もない。そしてアキラがシェリルに与えている恩恵、つまり借りは、今も積もり続けている。
徒党の規模を拡大させ、その力でアキラに利益を返さなければ、自分を助けておいて良かったと思わせなければ、いずれアキラは自分をあっさり見捨てるだろう。シェリルはそう考えていた。
シェリルが思うほどアキラにはシェリルを見捨てる気はなく、アキラが思うほどシェリルにはアキラを切り捨てる気はない。お互いに相手があっさり自分との縁を切るだろうと考えている。そのすれ違いが、シェリルのアキラに対する執着を強めさせていた。
先ほどの会話の後の妙な沈黙を何とかしようと、シェリルが別の話題をアキラに振る。
かしてポケットから小型の情報端末を取り出す。シェリルも机に置いたままの情報端末を取って戻ってくる。
シェリルはアキラの隣に座り、アキラと一緒に情報端末を操作して連絡先の交換を済ませた。そして情報端末を近くのテーブルに置くと、再びアキラの上に
「ちょっと待て。まだ続ける気か?」
「はい。連絡先の交換は済みましたから、また抱きついても大丈夫ですよね?」
「一度離れたんだからもう良いじゃないか」
「誰も見てないなら、余り意味はないんじゃないか?」
「誰か呼びましょうか?」
シェリルがアキラと仲が良いことを知らしめるのは、徒党での地位を維持するために重要なことだ。アキラにもそれは理解できるが、誰かに抱きつかれている光景を進んで見せたいとは思わない。アキラもそこまで吹っ切れてはいないのだ。
再びシェリルがアキラに抱き付く。誰かに見られたらいろいろと誤解される光景であることに間違いはない。
エリオが今度はノックをしてから部屋に入ってきた。
「......エリオ。確かに部屋に入る前にノックをしろと言ったけど、それは部屋の中の人間の許可を得てから入れってことなのよ?」
エリオがたじろぎながら答える。
「わ、悪かった」
「カツラギさんが来た。シェリルに用があるってさ。一応応接間に通した。......今は忙しいって伝えた方が良いか?」
アキラほどではないがカツラギもシェリル達の活動に重要な人物だ。徒党の主な収入はカツラギの伝に
拠点の応接間のソファーにカツラギが座っている。テーブルを挟んで向かいにシェリルとアキラが座っている。その後ろにエリオとアリシアが立っている。
エリオとアリシアは徒党の他の人間の
シェリルの部下が3人分の飲物をテーブルに置いて部屋から出て行った。このような場に慣れていないエリオとアリシアが、部屋から出て行ったシェリルの部下を少し羨ましそうに見ている。
シェリルは和やかに微笑みながらカツラギに話す。
カツラギが軽く笑って答える。
「いや、ちょっと近くに来たから寄っただけだ。悪かったな」
カツラギがアキラをチラッと見てから答える。
「最近アキラの姿を見かけなかったから、シェリルが居場所でも知らないかと思ってな。本人がここにいたんで、もう用は済んだようなもんだ」
カツラギはシェリルの部下の態度から、シェリルとアキラの縁が切れた可能性があると判断していた。カツラギが事前の連絡無しにシェリルに会いに来たのは、シェリル達の反応からそれを推し量るためだ。
カツラギにとってシェリル達はまだアキラとの関係無しに付き合う相手ではない。アキラが既に死亡していた場合、
カツラギが事前にシェリルに連絡すれば、シェリルはアキラと連絡が取れていない状況を隠そうとするだろう。シェリルの部下に対してもシェリルは何らかの手を打つだろう。それを防止、又は軽減させるために、カツラギは意図的に連絡無しにシェリルの拠点に訪れたのだ。
そのカツラギの内心をシェリルは正しく理解している。カツラギはそれを口には出さないものの、特に注意深く隠しているわけではない。カツラギの態度を少し推察すれば、シェリルがそれを知ることは
シェリルとの用件は済ませたので、カツラギはアキラとの用件を話し始める。
「それでアキラ。旧世界の遺跡の探索の方はどうなってるんだ? 俺に売却する遺物を集める予定はちゃんと立てているのか? それともまだ仮設基地関連の依頼を続けてるのか?」
「それは良かった。今後は遺跡探索に戻るんだな?」
「その予定だ。と言っても新調した装備が届くまでハンター稼業は休業中なんだ。装備が届くのに2週間ほど。その後に遺跡探索で1週間程度。売りに行くのはその後だな。もう少し待ってくれ」
「装備を新調? おいおい、それなら俺から買えよ。俺の商売を知ってるだろうが」
アキラがそれをあっさり断る。
「装備品の類いを買うことに決めている店はもう別にあるんだ。悪いな」
カツラギがより不満げに話す。シェリルがアキラの隣にいるので、いろいろと臭わせるように少し
もだ、と思いながらも、アキラはシズカの店以外で装備品を買う気はなかった。しかし何か買わないと、少なくとも購入を検討しないと、カツラギの不満は収まらないだろう。アキラはそう判断して、カツラギから買えそうなものを、試しに口に出してみる。
「分かった。それなら回復薬を売ってくれ」
「そんな安い物をちまちま買われてもな......」
カツラギはその程度では大いに不満だと言いたげの態度をあからさまに取っていた。だがアキラがその態度を吹き飛ばすことを話す。
「1000万オーラム出す」
アキラから提示された金額を聞いて、カツラギは思わず
「俺も効果があるんだかないんだかよく分からない安値の回復薬が欲しい訳じゃない。骨折程度すぐにその場で完治するような、旧世界の遺物並みに高性能な回復薬が欲しいんだ。最前線で商品を仕入れてきたんだろう? そういう回復薬は仕入れていないのか?」
カツラギが商売人の表情を浮かべて聞き返す。
「支払は?」
「口座払いで良いならこの場で払う。品は?」
「1箱200万オーラムの回復薬がある。店の在庫にあるから取り寄せ期間とかはない。取ってくるだけだ」
「5箱くれ」
アキラが口座払いが可能なハンター証を出す。カツラギはそれを受け取って、自身のハンター証対応端末にかざして支払い処理を済ませた。
カツラギは支払処理が正しく完了するまで本当にアキラに支払えるのか疑問だった。だが支払が正常に完了したことを確認すると笑みを浮かべた。
稼ぎの良いハンターとの
カツラギが立ち上がってアキラが買った回復薬を取りに戻ろうとする。
「良し。取りに戻るからここで待っていてくれ。ここにいるよな?」
カツラギが部屋から出る前に、一度振り返ってアキラに尋ねる。
「......やけにあっさり支払ったが、俺がこのまま金を持って逃げたり、質の悪いものを持ってきたりしたらどうする気なんだ?」
アキラがカツラギの疑問に平然と正直に答える。
「逃げたら追って殺すし、変なものを持ってきたら付き合いを考える」
「なるほど。今後も良い付き合いができそうだな」
カツラギはアキラの返事に満足げに笑って部屋から出て行った。
エリオとアリシアは、目の前で行われた1000万オーラムの取引を
からは平静を装いつつも、内心はかなりの焦りを覚えていた。シェリルの予想以上にアキラが稼いでいるからだ。
1000万オーラムを平然と支払うほどに稼ぐハンターの実力が、そこらの凡庸なハンターの実力とかけ離れていることは明白だ。シェリル達はその
シェリル達が十分な見返りをアキラに返さなければ、いずれアキラはシェリル達を切り捨てる。シェリルはそう考えている。その十分な見返りは、ハンターの実力に比例して大きくなるだろう。
最低でも1000万オーラム稼ぐハンターに対する十分な見返りは一体どれほどか。シェリルには想像できなかった。
くしてカツラギがアキラが買った回復薬を持って戻ってくる。
「待たせたな。これが1箱200万オーラムの回復薬だ」
カツラギはそう言って回復薬の箱をテーブルに置く。箱はどれも片手で持てる大きさで、内容量はそう多く見えない。
アキラがテーブルの回復薬を見て顔を
「......5箱買ったはずだぞ?」
テーブルの上の回復薬の数は4箱だ。アキラの購入数には1箱足りない。
「在庫を確認したら4箱しかなかったんだ。それでだ」
カツラギはそう言って更に別の回復薬の箱を3箱テーブルの上に置く。
びに1箱100万オーラムの回復薬を3箱付けようじゃないか。合計1100万オーラムの回復薬を1000万オーラムで提供しよう。これで手を打たないか?」
アキラとしては支払額以上の回復薬を手に入れることができたので何の問題ない。カツラギも200万オーラムの回復薬4箱分の取引よりは利益が上なので妥協できる範囲だ。
わらず、注文通りの品を提供できなかったという失態を取り消せた方が重要だ。商売人にとってそれは金を返せば済む問題ではないのだ。
「ところで、今後も同価格帯の回復薬を買う予定があるなら仕入れておくが、どうする?」
「それを買える金がある時に、カツラギの所に在庫があれば多分買う。金があって在庫がなければ、別の店を探すんじゃないか? その金があるかどうかは、ハンター稼業なんだ、予想はできないな。在庫の調整はそっちでやってくれ。本職だろ?」
アキラがカツラギに仕入れを頼めば、カツラギはそれを盾に売れ残りの購入をアキラに迫るだろう。アキラもそれぐらいは理解できる。アキラは適当に濁して確約を避けた。カツラギは内心で軽く舌打ちして、営業用の笑顔を返した。
「ああ、そうだ。ハンター稼業を再開したらまた旧世界の遺跡に行くんだろ? 旧世界の遺物以外にも、俺が買い取れるものはいろいろある。一般に出回っていない旧世界の遺跡の場所とか、その遺跡の内部マップとかだな。アキラにそれ系の買取り先がまだないなら俺に売ってくれ。俺が他のハンターへの販売を代行しても良い。価格交渉等の面倒事を引き受ける分、仲介手数料とか分け前とかはしっかり
「遺跡の内部情報を売るとしても、地形データの形式とかはどうするんだ?」
「情報収集機器の収集データを解析したりする専門家への伝があるんだよ。よほど特殊な機器で収集したデータでない限り大丈夫だろう。旧世界の遺跡の内部を頑張って捜索したけど
「分かった。気が向いたらな。しかしいろいろやってるんだな」
「統治企業に成り上がるには、金以外にもいろいろ必要なんだよ。金も要るがな。融資も随時受け付けているぜ?」
「悪いが、そんな金はない」
その後、カツラギはアキラと新しい連絡先を交換してから帰っていった。
アキラが購入した回復薬をリュックサックに詰めていく。最後に残った1箱100万オーラムの回復薬の箱を手に取り、それをリュックサックに入れようとして手を止めた。
アキラは少し考えた後、その回復薬をシェリルに向かって放り投げた。シェリルは放物線を描いて飛んできた回復薬の箱を両手で受け止めた。
「やる。適当に使ってくれ」
「あ、ありがとう御座います」
シェリルは頑張ってアキラに笑顔を返した。つまり、シェリルは笑顔を浮かべるのにかなり努力した。シェリルの笑顔は僅かに固く、比較的シェリルと親しい者なら少々無理をしていることが分かる表情だった。少なくともシェリルが普段アキラに向けている笑顔ではない。
アキラもシェリルの微妙な表情に気づき、自分がまた何かを間違えたことに気付く。しかしアキラには何をどう間違えたかまでは分からない。
『アルファ。俺はまた何かやらかしたか? シェリル達がスラム街で
『私には問題がある行動には思えないけれど。そうね。アキラとシェリルは対外的に恋人とか愛人とか、そんな扱いを装っているでしょう? そういう相手へのプレゼントが何の色気もない回復薬ってのは、情緒に欠けるかもしれないわね。又は、半額セールの品を相手にプレゼントして感謝や愛情も半額になるなら、実質10割引きのおまけの品は感謝や愛情も10割引き? いや、これは考えすぎね』
『対外的に、恋人や愛人の証拠の品として見せる物として、指輪やネックレス等のアクセサリー類と、回復薬の箱のどちらが良いかと言われたら、回復薬の箱を証拠品にするのは見栄え的にちょっと無理があるかもね』
『......ああ、確かそんなことになってたんだっけ。助けるって言ったし、何か適当にそれっぽい物を後で贈るか』
アキラとアルファは微妙にずれたことを話し合っていた。当然だが、シェリルが表情を僅かに
Sheryl was busy with her work inside her room. She was making a rather scary face while working on her desk. She was being way too focused on her job as if she was trying to avert her attention from something else.
She was in such a bad mood for the last few days. Because of that, her underlings were being very careful not to worsen her mood.
Everyone in her gang knew the reason why Sheryl was in such a bad mood. It was nothing other than Akira who had not visited the base for the last few days. Although it was a simple reason, it was also a serious one at the same time.
Sheryl's gang was able to exist because of Akira's support. Although they were armed, they only had anti-human weapons such as handguns. And it was not like any of its members was familiar to fighting. Unlike Shijima's gang, Sheryl's gang did not have the ability to secure its position on its own.
The only reason why they could stay relatively safe in the slum city was because the other gangs were being wary of Akira. The incident between Shijima and Akira had already spread among the gangs in the slum city.
Up until now, she was able to fool her underlings. Everyone thought that she was only in a bad mood. But its effect on herself was running close to its limit.
The reason why Sheryl was in such a panic, the reason why she was so worried, the reason why she was trembling in fear were all caused by one simple reason. It was because she could not contact Akira.
Akira did say to Sheryl once in the past that if she could not contact his information terminal, then she should assume that he was dead. And that was exactly what she was facing right now.
Sheryl actually depended on Akira on a deeper level. Her psyche was anchored at the fact that Akira was willing to help her. To support her spirit as she maintained her position and acted as the boss of her gang, she relied on Akira's words when he said that he would help her.
She noticed the ominous sound inside her which signalled a crack on the anchor that supported her spirit. She would instantly scream and cry the moment that anchor fully broke.
The calm side of Sheryl was counting the number of days before her core broke down as if it had nothing to do with her. At best, it would be a few weeks, and at worst, it would just be a few days. If anything bad happened, it might even be a few hours. As the voice inside her head was silently counting down that number, Sheryl could feel her spirit being shaved bit by bit.
Sheryl kept trying to distract herself as much as possible from what was actually in front of her. That was why her eyes were making such a scary gaze. But she would not last much longer.
Erio suddenly entered her room without knocking at the door.
"Didn't I tell you to knock first before entering my room?"
Erio was scared by that silent pressure from Sheryl as he answered.
"Akira-san is here. Should I just bring him to this room?"
The intense pressure that Sheryl was oozing out completely vanished in an instant when she heard what Erio just said.
"I'm happy to get to see you. I'm sure that you're busy, but if it's possible, I hope you would come here more often. So, were you too busy? Is it okay if I ask you what happened?"
"Well, I almost got killed."
Akira answered back with a low voice as if he was whispering. Because of that, for some reason, Sheryl caught it as a bad joke.
To Sheryl, Akira's survival was crucial. Thus, she could not just ignore such a statement even if it was only a joke. Both for the well-being of her gang and her psychical health, it would be problematic if he died.
"...Uhmmm, if it was a joke, I've heard about it before too. I'm sorry but it's not funny. So please don't say such a thing even as a joke."
Sheryl's expression was half intentional. She deliberately adjusted her expression to suit her voice.
From doing her usual everyday business, she had trained her ability to control the impression that she would give to other people. If she did that to the other children in her gang, her beauty would amplify its effect and cause that person to be ridden with guilt for saying such a bad joke while also giving the sense of happiness from having such a beautiful girl worry about him or her.
But what she said now was also her real feeling. Her voice and her expressions were nothing but high-quality tools to help her convey her message.
But then Akira answered back calmly.
Sheryl understood from the way he said it that Akira was serious. His voice did not sound as if he was exaggerating or boasting over a lie.
She was so panicked now that she understood Akira really almost got killed twice and her mask immediately crumbled down.
Sheryl moved her hands from Akira's back to his shoulders as she pushed herself away so she could sit face to face with him.
"A-are you alright?"
"Just like you can see, I'm super healthy right now. I don't feel any pain and I'm not wounded at all."
"That would be impossible. Facing danger is our occupational hazard as a Hunter."
"That's true... But still..."
Looking at how Sheryl looked to be in so much pain, Akira tried to think of the reason behind it. But as expected, since he had a twisted personality, he could only come up with twisted answers.
Akira thought that the reason why Sheryl was fawning over him was for the sake of maintaining her gang. And he could accept that reason. After all, he, who had spent his life in the slum city, knew well just how scary living in the slum city could be, thus he could understand why Sheryl would be so desperate.
Although Sheryl only did it because Akira pushed that job to her, she was also maintaining her position as the head of her gang with his support. That was why Akira thought that it was not strange for her to be so desperate in trying to stay on his good side.
"...I'm trying my best to strengthen the gang. I understand very well that we're always relying on you. But please stop talking about your death."
"...Hm? Alright."
From how Sheryl was acting, her painful voice, and her arm that tightened around him, Akira at least understood that he should not say what he had said back then. But he did not understand just how many times he had made that mistake up until now.
Akira did not know what he should say and stayed quiet. Sheryl also did not say anything while still hugging Akira.
Since the time when Sheryl begged at Akira while crying and he answered her pleas, since the time when she was looking for someone to lean onto and Akira gave her a place, since the day when her spirit was broken by the truth of her situation and was constructed back up by the sense of security that Akira provided, although she seemed to be doing the same thing on the surface, the reason behind her actions were completely changed compared to before.
Sheryl had offered her body to Akira once, but he rejected that offer.
She was a very beautiful girl according to the standard in that place. For a slum city girl, she grew up very healthy and her attire was neat and beautiful, her overall appearance was even better than most of the people in the lower district of the Kugamayama city. Since she was living in a relatively blessed condition when she was under Sibea's protection, the beauty that she acquired was not tainted by the living situation in the slum city.
At the moment, she had nothing of value that she could use to repay Akira's kindness. But even so, he was still helping her out, thus piling the favour that she wished to repay one day.
Sheryl thought that if she did not expand the gang's influence and somehow earned some profits that she could give back to Akira, and if she did not make him think that he was glad he helped her out, Akira might one day just abandon her.
In truth, Akira was not that eager to abandon Sheryl as much as she thought. While at the same time, she was also not eager to cut her relationship with him as much as he thought. But both of them thought that eventually the other person would end their relationship and that misunderstanding caused her to cling onto Akira even more.
Sheryl thought that she had to do something about the strange silence after that small exchange. So she came up with another subject to talk about.
Akira lifted her aside and pulled out a small information terminal. Sheryl also went and picked up her information terminal that was on her desk.
She then sat beside Akira and operated her terminal to exchange their contact number. After completing the task, she put her information terminal on the table near her and was about to return back to sitting on Akira's lap facing him.
"Wait, are you going to continue doing that?"
"Yes. Since we've exchanged contact numbers, it's okay if I continue hugging you, right?"
"Since you already got off once, shouldn't that be enough?"
"No one is looking though, so isn't it pointless doing something like that here?"
"Should I call someone then?"
Akira also understood well that it was important to show the others of their good relationship in order to maintain Sheryl's position in the gang. But he was not that brazen as to show off to others as he was being hugged by a girl.
Sheryl once again sat on Akira's lap while hugging him. People would definitely misunderstand if they saw them now.
Sometime later, Erio entered the room after knocking.
"...Erio, it's true that I did say to knock first before entering the room, but you can't enter the room until the person inside gives you permission, you know?"
Erio looked scared as he answered back.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Katsuragi-san is here. He said he has something to discuss with you. I made him wait in the reception room for now... Should I... tell him that you're busy right now?"
Although he was not as important as Akira, Katsuragi was also an important person for the well-being of the gang. After all, most of the income of the gang came from Katsuragi. Thus they could not afford to be rude to him.
Katsuragi was sitting on the sofa inside the reception room. On the other side of the table, Akira and Sheryl were sitting on another sofa with Erio and Alicia standing behind them.
Erio and Alicia were sorts of officers within the gang since their main duty was to organize the members of the gang. Every time Sheryl had a meeting with people outside the gang like Shijima or Katsuragi, Erio and Alicia were always there to attend the meeting too. Eventually, both of them would be given the duty of resolving problems both outside and inside the gang, but for now, standing behind Sheryl was hard enough of a job for both of them.
One of Sheryl's underlings came and placed 3 portions of meal on the table before quickly leaving the room. Erio and Alicia, who were not used to being in the room, looked enviously at that kid who just left.
Sheryl was smiling brightly as she said to Katsuragi.
Katsuragi smiled in return as he said.
"Nah, it's just that I had a business to take care near this area, so I decided to pay a visit. Sorry that I came without notice."
Katsuragi glanced at Akira before answering back.
"It's just that I haven't seen Akira's face lately. So I was planning to ask you if you know where he is. But since he's here, I guess there's no need to do that anymore."
Judging from how her underlings were behaving, Katsuragi thought that Akira might have cut his connection with Sheryl. The reason why he came without notice was to see Sheryl's reaction.
To Katsuragi, there was still no worth partnering with Sheryl's gang if it was not because of its connection with Akira. If Akira was dead or had cut his connection with Sheryl's gang, Katsuragi had no wish to continue working with her gang.
If Katsuragi told her beforehand that he would come visiting, it would give Sheryl time to come up with a plan to hide the fact that she could not contact Akira in case if Akira did abandon her. Sheryl would also warn her underlings to hide that fact too. So in order to prevent her from doing something like that, Katsuragi deliberately came to her base without notice.
Sheryl knew very well that was the reason Katsuragi visited out of the blue. The reason why Katsuragi did not say anything about it was not because he was being careful. But it was because he knew Sheryl would be able to easily guess it from his action.
Since his business with Sheryl was finished, Katsuragi turned to Akira.
"So then, Akira. How's your ruin exploration going? Are you collecting relics to sell at my place? Or are you still working on the temporary HQ construction request?"
"That's good to hear, so you're back to exploring ruins then, right?"
"That's the plan. But at the moment, I'm planning to take a break until I get my new equipment which will take about 2 weeks from today. I'll then go back to exploring ruins for about a week before selling my relics to you. So just wait for a bit more."
"New equipment? Wait there, you should've bought them from me then. You do know what I'm selling, right?"
But Akira immediately refused that offer.
"I'm sorry, I have a regular shop where I get my equipment."
Katsuragi looked even more displeased now. Sheryl who was beside Akira interjected, trying to give Akira a hint.
Although Akira thought that Sheryl was indeed correct, he had no plans in buying equipment outside Shizuka's shop. But if he did not buy anything, or at least contributed to Katsuragi's profit, he would not be able to abate Katsuragi's displeasure. Thus Akira tried mentioning something that he might buy from Katsuragi.
"I see, in that case, sell me some medicines."
"It's pointless if you're only buying cheap stuff..."
Katsuragi said it in a fashion which was obviously showing his displeasure that Akira only bought such cheap things from him. But Akira's next words quickly cleared his displeasure.
"I'm planning to spend 10,000,000 Aurum."
Katsuragi could not help but express his surprise the moment he heard how much Akira was planning to spend.
"I don't want cheap medicines that barely has any effect at all. I'm looking for medicines that can even heal broken bones in no time like those powerful old-world relic medicines. You used to sell stuff in the frontline, right? So I bet you have at least that kind of medicine in your stock, right?"
Katsuragi quickly turned to business mode as he asked Akira.
"How are you going to pay for it?"
"If you're okay with it, I'll do a bank transfer. So, do you have the medicines?"
"I have 2,000,000 Aurum per box medicine. Since I have them in my trailer, I just need to go grab it and you can have it today."
"Give me 5 boxes then."
Akira then handed over his Hunter ID to take care of the payment. Katsuragi received the ID, held it on his Hunter ID reader terminal and completed the payment process.
Katsuragi was doubting if the terminal would show the usual payment completion notice. But once he confirmed that the payment was indeed completed, he smiled.
For the people who were doing business with Hunters, having a connection with a Hunter who was earning a healthy amount of money was something that was more important than selling their goods. Katsuragi glanced at Sheryl as he thought.
Katsuragi stood up and was about to go fetch the medicines for which Akira just paid.
"Alright then, I'll go grab the goods, just wait for a bit. You have no plans of going anywhere, right?"
As Katsuragi was about to leave the room, he turned back to Akira and threw a question at him.
"...Well, you just gave me that much money so easily. But what will you do if I just run away with your money or bring you bad goods instead?"
Akira swiftly but calmly answered Katsuragi's question.
"If you run away with my money, I'll just chase you down and kill you. And if you bring me bad goods, I'll just cut my connection with you."
"I see. It seems that we'll get along very well in the future."
Katsuragi smiled in satisfaction after hearing Akira's answer, he then left the room.
Erio and Alicia were dumbfounded as they saw a 10,000,000 Aurum deal was done right in front of their eyes. For Erio and the other children, they could rarely get 1,000 Aurum even after spending their whole day collecting wreckages and selling them to Katsuragi. Moreover, the gang's cut would be subtracted before the balance was divided equally among all the children that did the work. So in the end, every single child would get less than that. They felt conflicted as they watched Akira finish that deal, which involved a huge amount of money that was outside their reach, like it was nothing.
Although from the outside Sheryl looked completely calm, she was actually pretty shocked inside. It was because Akira was actually earning way lot more money than she imagined.
Being able to pay 10,000,000 Aurum so easily showed that Akira was on a different level compared to those average Hunters. And that would mean Sheryl was using such a great Hunter for her benefit although she had nothing that she could give to pay him back.
Sheryl thought that if she could not somehow give something back to Akira, he might eventually abandon her gang. But since Akira was a good Hunter, then it would mean that she should give him something of worth for such a good Hunter.
But she could not imagine what could be of worth for someone who could regularly earn at least 10,000,000 Aurum.
Not too long after that, Katsuragi came back with the medicines.
"Sorry for the wait, this is the 200,000 Aurum per box medicine."
As Katsuragi said that, he put some boxes of medicine on top of the table. All of them were small enough to carry with one hand, they also did not look heavy.
Akira frowned as he looked at those medicine boxes.
"...I bought 5 boxes, right?"
There were only four boxes on the table, one box was missing.
"When I went to check my stock, it turned out that I only had 4 boxes left. So that's it."
After saying that, Katsuragi took out another 3 boxes and put them on the table.
"As my apology, I'll give you 3 boxes of this 1,000,000 Aurum per box medicine. So in total, you get 11,000,000 Aurum worth of goods for just 10,000,000 Aurum. Are you good with that?"
Akira had no qualms with getting more goods with what he paid. As for Katsuragi, although he ended up with less profit, he was willing to tolerate it.
But more than that, as a businessman, he wanted to make up for his blunder of not being able to provide what his customer requested although he had already accepted the payment. After all, it was not a problem that he could fix just by returning the money that he had received.
"By the way, I'm planning to restock that medicine soon, I can order more of that medicine if you want me to. So, what do you think?"
"I'll come to your trailer to buy them when I have the money. If I have the money but you don't have the stock, shouldn't you try to get some stock from a different store? As for the money, I can't really say for sure whether I can get them or not, after all, that's what it means to be a Hunter. But as for your stock, it's yours to take care to begin with, after all, that's what it means to be a merchant, right?"
If Akira told Katsuragi to put in more orders, Katsuragi might use that as an excuse to make him buy his leftover goods. But Akira was somehow able to avoid making such a mistake. Deep inside, Katsuragi clicked his tongue, but he was giving his businessman's smile on the outside.
"Ahh, by the way, you're planning to return back to exploring the ruins, right? Other than old-world relics, I actually buy and sell other things too. Things like information about relics location or the maps of the ruins that you can't normally find circulating in public. If you still have nowhere to sell them, you can bring them to me. You can even use me as a proxy to sell them. Of course, I'll take some commission out of it for taking care of all the troubles for you. But it'll be easier than selling them yourself, right?"
"Even if I want to sell the data about the inner parts of the ruins, what should I do about the data format?"
"I know someone who specializes in analyzing the data collected by information-gathering devices. As long as it's not a special information-gathering device, it should be okay. With this, you would not be coming back without any result even if you don't find any relics after exploring the ruins. Well, even if you bring back information of an area that has already freely circulated in the network, you can still get a small amount of money for bringing in a bit more detailed information of that area."
"Alright, I'll do that when I feel like it. But still, I see that you're handling all kinds of goods."
"To be successful under the Corporate Government, I need more than just money, you know. But of course, I still need money too, so I accept investment from time to time."
"I'm sorry but I don't have that much money to spare."
After that, Katsuragi exchanged his number with Akira and left the building.
Akira stuffed his newly bought medicines into his rucksack. But as he reached for the last 1,000,000 Aurum per box medicine and was about to put it inside his rucksack, he suddenly stopped.
He thought for a while before passing that medicine to Sheryl. She caught the medicine box, which flew at her in a parabola, with her both hands.
"You can have that, just use it when you need it."
"T-thank you very much."
Sheryl tried her best to return a smile at Akira, but she couldn't show her natural smile and looked rather stiff. Even someone who hardly knew her could tell that she was pushing herself to smile. At least, it was not a smile that she usually gave Akira.
Akira noticed that there was something strange with Sheryl's expression. He at least understood that he had done something wrong, but he could not tell what and where he went wrong.
"Alpha, did I do something wrong again? I just thought that these children might get injured during their job in the slum city, that's why I gave her that medicine... "
"I don't think you did anything wrong. But well, people see you and Sheryl as a couple, or maybe lovers? They might find it strange that you gave her something so-not-cute like that medicine box. Moreover, if you give a present from a discount, then it means that your love is also discounted. Basically, if you give a 10 per cent discount object as a present, then it means that your love and gratitude are also 10 per cent less or something like that? Nah, I guess I'm just reading too far into it."
"Well, as an object to show off to others that she's your lover, if someone asks you which one works better between accessories like a necklace or a ring and a box of medicine, I guess you know the obvious answer. After all, it's not like she can use a box of medicine as proof to other people."
"...Ahh, right, that was the case, huh. Well, I did say that I'll help her, I guess I'll give her something which she can use for such purpose later."
Akira and Alpha were talking to each other although they were somehow not talking about exactly the same thing. And of course, they did not even touch the subject about why Sheryl was making such an awkward expression.
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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