翌日、アキラは準備を終えて再びクズスハラ街遺跡の地下街に向かった。早速本部がアキラに仕事を割り当てた。それは地下街に新しい照明を設置することだった。
新しい照明は簡易的な中継器と情報収集機器を兼ねていた。照明の近くなら地下街でも通信端末で本部や他のハンターと連絡を取ることができる。さらには簡易的な
既に地下街に設置されている照明の大部分は普通の照明だ。そのため本部の近くに設置している照明から順に、高機能の照明に取り替えていくのだそうだ。
地下街は都市側の想定以上に広く、生息するモンスターの量も多かった。そのため都市側は本格的に地下街の攻略、制圧に乗り出したのだ。当初の予定では都市側はヤラタサソリの巣を潰して地上に出てくるヤラタサソリがいなくなった時点で切り上げるつもりだったらしい。
アキラは他のハンター達と一緒に台車で高機能な照明を運び、設置済みの古い照明と交換していく。台車が古い照明だけになったら、本部に帰還して新しい高機能の照明に積み替える。そして再び照明の設置に向かう。その繰り返しだ。
アキラが照明を設置しながらふと思った疑問をアルファに話す。
『初めからこっちの高機能な照明を設置しておけば良かったんじゃないか?』
アルファがアキラの疑問内容を精査する。そしてそれに対する返答内容を精査する。アルファは返事の内容が事実である可能性よりもアキラの納得を得やすいことを重視する。アキラの思考パターンを把握するために。アルファの返事を聞いたアキラの反応から、把握の度合いを確認するために。
『安く済ませようとして結局高くついた。それだけよ。地下街がもっと狭ければ、モンスターの量がもっと少なければ、普通の照明で問題なかったのでしょうね』
『なるほど』
アキラはアルファの答えに普通に納得した。アキラの思考はじわじわとアルファに把握されつつあった。
アキラ達は、台車を運ぶ者、照明を設置する者、周囲を警戒する者、それらを複数名のハンターで交代しながら作業を続けていく。
照明を交換する場所は一度制圧済みと判定された場所なので基本的にモンスターはいない。しかし絶対にいない保証はない。以前のようにヤラタサソリが壁に穴を開けている可能性もある。通路を塞ぐ
く作業を続けていると、アキラ以外のハンターの交代時間となった。アキラも一度本部に戻ろうかと考えたが、念のため本部に連絡を取ると、追加の人員をすぐに送るからそのまま作業を続けろと指示された。仕方なくアキラは一人その場で追加のハンターを待っていた。
照明に照らされた地下街の通路でアキラが追加のハンターを待っている。しかしなかなか到着しない。
『遅いな』
『ゆっくり待ちましょう。索敵は私がやっているからモンスターに奇襲される心配はないわ。黙って立っているだけで最低経過時間を減らせると思いなさい』
アルファは何の危険も無いことをアキラに示すために微笑んでそう答えた。アキラもアルファの態度を見て、暇であること以外の不満を抑えていた。
しかし、そのアルファの表情が僅かに険しくなる。
『アキラ。念のため警戒して』
『どうかしたのか?』
アルファの変化にアキラも警戒を高める。遠距離にいるヤラタサソリを見つけた時もアルファはこのような態度は取らなかったからだ。つまり、少なくともそれ以上の脅威の可能性があるのだ。
アルファが通路の先を指差す。通路の少し先、広間になっている場所に誰かがいた。
『武装した人間が向こうにいるわ』
アキラが不思議そうに答える。
『いや、それは別に不思議じゃないだろ?』
アキラも含めて地下街にいるハンターは全員武装している。そこまでなら不審な点はない。
『地下街にいるハンターで支給された端末の通信範囲内なら、万一の同士討ちを避けるためにお互いの位置が分かるようになっているのは知っているわね? その反応がないのよ。理由は、端末の電源を切っているか、端末が故障しているか、端末を持っていないか、のいずれかになるわ』
端末を所持していない場合、あるいは端末の電源を切っている場合は不審者ということになる。つまり3分の2の確率で、銃撃戦が可能な位置に武装した不審者がいることだ。アキラも事態を理解して警戒を高めた。
アキラが対象の人物を見る。アキラの視界が拡張され、その人物がいる辺りが拡大表示される。対象は一人で地下街を歩いていた。アキラがいる位置とは距離がある
「こちら27番。本部。応答を求む」
「こちら本部。そちらに送る追加要員は既に派遣済みだ。もうちょっと待ってろ。以上だ」
追加要員の催促だと勘違いした本部の職員が、そう言って通信を切ろうとした。
「違う。切るな。位置情報を共有できないハンターらしき人物を1名発見した。指示をくれ。指示がないなら放置で良いと判断するからな」
「本当か?」
「そうか。端末の故障かもしれない。一応確認してきてくれ。誤って電源を切ってしまっただけなら、端末の電源を入れさせた後に本部に連絡させてくれ」
「そのどちらでもなかった場合は?」
「可能ならそいつを本部まで連れてきてくれ。抵抗する場合は相応の手段の使用を、その結果を含めて許可する。追加要員とともに事態の収拾に努めてくれ。状況が進展したら連絡をくれ。以上だ」
「......了解。以上」
アキラは本部との通信を切った。そして大きく
アルファがアキラに前もって忠告する。
『殺して良い。許可は出たのだから、必要な場合は
つまり、本部がその許可を出すだけの厄介ごとの可能性があるということだ。
アキラは周辺の
『アルファ。何かあったらサポートを頼む』
『了解よ。任せなさい』
アルファの返事を聞いて気を落ち着かせた後、アキラは覚悟を決めて叫ぶ。
「おーい! 端末の電源が切れているぞ!」
アキラの声が地下街に反響した。アキラの視線の先にいた男が驚いて辺りを見渡し始める。
男は笑ってアキラに向かって大きく手を振る。そして男が装備している端末を何度も指差した後、アキラに向かって手招きした。
男の身振り手振りは、自分の端末は壊れている、連絡を取りたいからこちらに来てほしい、そう解釈できるものだった。しかし、男はアキラに一歩も近付こうとしない。
アキラはその場に立って男の出方を見る。
(......考えすぎか)
アキラは男が近付いてこないのを、自分を誘い込もうとしているためではないかと考えていた。しかし男が困惑の表情でこっちに向かってくるのを見て、アキラはその考えを取り消した。
更に数歩、アキラが男の方に近付いた。男は再び自分の端末を指差した。警戒をほぼ解いたアキラが銃を持つ右手をだらりと下げる。念のため握っていたAAH突撃銃の銃口が真下に向いた。
次の瞬間、男は素早く拳銃を抜き、アキラに向けて引き金を引いた。
地下街に銃声が響いた。向けられた銃口、発射された弾丸にアキラは全く反応できなかった。1発目の弾丸がアキラの頬を
アルファがアキラの右腕を操作して、AAH突撃銃で男に反撃する。無数の強装弾が地下街を飛び交う。しかし男は既に柱の陰に隠れており、AAH突撃銃の射線上から退避済みだった。硬質の床や壁に着弾した弾丸が跳弾して周囲に飛び散った。
AAH突撃銃に装着されている照準器は情報端末と連携している。アルファは情報端末経由で照準器越しの映像を取得しており、弾丸が1発も男に命中していないことを把握していた。
アルファがそれを把握した上でそれでも銃撃を続けたのは、男からの更なる反撃を封じるためだ。そしてアキラが我に返るまでの時間を稼ぐ
にアキラの身体にはかなりの負荷が掛かっていた。それでも眉間に穴を開けられるよりは大分ましだろう。男の銃の腕前は確かなもので、アルファがアキラに回避行動を取らせなかった場合は、今の攻撃でアキラは殺されていた。
アキラが激痛に耐えながらアルファに質問する。
『......アルファ、状況を教えてくれ』
に端末を盾にしたから、端末は多分壊れたわ。相手の早撃ちの腕前は、私に反撃の余裕を与えないほどよ。銃口を向ける速度から、何らかの手段で身体能力は強化済みと考えて良いわ。軽い拳銃で攻撃してきたのも、早撃ちの速度を上げるためね。恐らく装備も技術も対人特化。殺人用ね。対モンスターと対人の違いを理解した上で、必要最低限の殺傷力と最大の速度を出すために意図的に拳銃を使用したと考えられるわ』
相手は明確に格上で、しかもアキラのような子供相手に対しても
『当然よ。あの奇襲でアキラを殺せなかった時点で相手の命運は尽きたわ』
アルファが笑って答えた。心強い返事を聞いてアキラも軽く笑う。
『それは良かった。全身が
『アキラの腕や脚がもげても良いって言うのなら、そっちでも構わないわ』
『高い方にしておくよ』
クズスハラ街遺跡で手に入れた回復薬はもう残り僅かだ。しかし使用を控えて死んでは元も子もない。アキラは腰の小物入れから回復薬を取り出して飲み込んだ。そして口にも少し含んでおいた。
反撃の準備を終えたアキラにアルファが告げる。
『良し。それでは反撃開始ね。アキラ。覚悟を決めなさい』
『ああ。それは俺の役割だからな』
覚悟を決めるのはアキラの仕事だ。アキラの覚悟は決まった。相手を殺して生き残る。既に経験済みのことを繰り返すだけだ。これまでも、これからも。アキラはそう考えて、軽く笑った。
アキラを銃撃した男であるヤジマは、予想外の事態に
また東部には脳機能拡張者と呼ばれる者がいる。自身の脳の処理能力を高めるために、脳改造に手を出した者達だ。専用のナノマシンを脳に注入したり、機械部品を脳に埋め込んだりなど手段は様々だ。生身の脳を超える処理能力を手に入れたり、便利な機能を追加したりと、その目的は様々だ。
しかし脳に手を加える以上、当然ながら危険も大きい。改造費用は当然として、それ以外にも肉体的、精神的に様々な代償を支払うことになる。支払った代償に見合う能力を手に入れられたかどうかは、当人以外分からないだろう。
アキラは旧領域接続者であり、広義の脳機能拡張者とも言える。アルファのサポートはアキラが旧領域接続者でなければ享受できないものなので、アキラを脳機能拡張者だと考えたヤジマの判断はある意味では正しい。
(この辺りにいるのは、照明の設置作業中のハンターぐらいだ。地下街の奥の探索を任されるような実力者はいないはずだ。何であんなやつがここにいるんだ? ......まさか、こっちの計画が都市側にバレているのか? あいつは都市のエージェントか? 少年型の義体者で、中身は熟練の工作員の可能性もあるな。いずれにしても厄介だ。急いだ方が良いな)
ヤジマはそう判断して仲間と連絡を取る。頭部内部の通信機を介したもので外部に音は出ない。
『俺だ。そっちの状況はどうなっている? もう地上との穴は開けたか?』
ヤジマの仲間が答える。
『まだ開通作業にも入ってねえよ。全ての遺物が到着するギリギリまで待てって言ったのはテメエだろうが』
ヤジマが舌打ちする。
『予定変更だ。今すぐ開通させろ。遺物の運搬も急がせろ。あと、ケインとネリアをこっちに寄こせ』
『おい、そっちで何があった?』
『都市に嗅ぎつけられたかもしれん。こんな場所に俺の早撃ちを
『......都市のエージェント!? ふざけるな! 都市を敵に回せるかよ! お前、大丈夫だって言ってたじゃねえか!』
『うるせえな。都市に所有権がある旧世界の遺物を
ヤジマはそれだけ言って通信を切った。
ヤジマ達の目的は地下街で発見された大量の遺物を
しかし本部がある出入口を通って大量の遺物を運び出すのは不可能だ。ヤジマ達は集めた大量の遺物を地下街のある場所に隠し、遺物を外に持ち運ぶ計画を練っていた。
ヤジマ達は探索チームとして地下街を探索しながら遺物を集めていた。ヤジマ達が驚くほど大量の遺物を集めることができた。計画は順調に進んでいた。
しかしその計画を揺るがす事態が起きた。地下街に設置する照明を、多機能照明に交換することになったのだ。
監視カメラや動体探査機能が附属している照明が地下街に設置されれば、旧世界の遺物を
ヤジマは遺物の隠し場所の見張りをしていた。端末の電源を切っていたのは、本部にヤジマの位置を知られないためだ。端末の電源を切ってしまえば、多少疑われようとも本部がヤジマの居場所をすぐに確認することはない。そのことをヤジマは知っていた。
また、ヤジマ自身も他のハンターに発見されないように注意していた。他のハンターに見つかってしまえば、本部に勝手に持ち場を離れていることが知られてしまい、そこから計画が
それでもヤジマがアキラに見つかってしまったのは、計画を実行に移したヤジマの緊張と焦り、そしてアルファの索敵能力の高さのためだ。
ヤジマの目には、アキラはどこにでもいる若手ハンターに見えた。ドランカムのような徒党に所属していて、徒党の力でヤラタサソリの巣の討伐依頼に紛れ込んだのだろう。ならばアキラに見つかったとしても、殺して死体を隠せば済む。ヤジマは即断した。
そのヤジマの判断の誤りが現状を導いた。
から右腕だけ出してAAH突撃銃を構える。情報端末と連携済みのAAH突撃銃の照準器が、ヤジマが隠れている柱の映像を映し出し、アキラの拡張視界に表示させていた。当然、ヤジマが柱から出た瞬間蜂の巣にするためだ。柱の後ろにいるヤジマの姿も、アルファの索敵能力によってしっかり表示されている。そのためヤジマの動きを察するのはそう困難ではない。
お互いに遮蔽物に身を隠しているため、相手を射線に捉えるには移動する必要がある。アキラは銃口を柱に向けながら周辺の
アキラはアルファとの念話の訓練で、アルファにイメージの送信もできるようになっている。アキラが思い浮かべるアルファの服装のイメージを送信する所から始まった訓練だ。アキラは今ではかなり正確な情報をアルファに送信することができるようになっていた。
アキラの提案はアルファにしっかり伝わった。しかしアルファが答える。
『いえ、まずは装備の優位を生かしましょう。CWH対物突撃銃を使うわ』
アキラがCWH対物突撃銃に持ち替える。CWH対物突撃銃には専用弾がしっかり装填済みだ。
は旧世界の遺跡だ』
『どんどん行きましょう』
アキラが連続して引き金を引き、前の銃撃の着弾位置、柱の同一箇所に狂いなく次弾を命中させる。専用弾が柱を貫通すればヤジマを殺せる。ヤジマが慌てて柱から飛び出しても、ヤジマの動きを把握できるアキラはその瞬間に殺せる。ヤジマが巧みに柱の陰に隠れ続けても、そのまま柱を破壊すれば問題なく殺すことができる。アキラの勝利は目前に見えた。
(......問答無用で攻撃してきた。恐らく何らかの対物弾頭。この柱は保たないな。しかしあいつは本部に連絡を取らなかった。この状況を伝えようとしなかった。つまり俺が奇襲した時にあいつの端末を破壊できた可能性は高い。あるいは俺が本部に連絡を取るように言ったので本部を疑っているのか? どちらにしろ好都合だ。この場であいつを殺しさえすれば、バレずに済むって事だからな)
う。状況はそう悪くない。そのヤジマの判断が、彼の浮かべる表情を形作らせる。現状を楽しんでいる彼の歪んだ感覚を表情に含めて。
アキラは柱の影から何かが投げられたのを見た。爆発物ではないかと判断したアキラが、すぐさまそれを打ち落とした。その瞬間、投げられた何かの内容物が煙となって爆発的に一帯に拡散した。間髪容れずにヤジマが柱の陰から飛び出して、アキラに銃口を向けつつ別の
さのおかげで、モンスターだらけの東部でも人類は生き残っている。ただでさえモンスターと戦っているのに、その上で同じ人間同士で殺し合う余裕を生み出すほどに。
その余裕を費やして、人は今日も殺し合っている。恐らくそれは人がモンスターを駆逐したとしても変わらないのだろう。
On the next day, Akira quickly packed his equipment and headed to the Kuzusuhara ruin's underground city again, the HQ assigned him the job of installing illuminations in the underground city.
The illuminations also doubled as an information-gathering device and communication relay. It allowed the Hunters to contact the HQ as long as they were close to it. Some of them were also equipped with a camera and motion tracker to watch out for the monsters around the area.
Most of the illuminations installed in the underground were just normal illuminations, so Akira's job was to replace those illuminations with these new hi-tech illuminations starting from the area around the HQ.
The underground city was way larger than what the people from Kugamayama city had predicted and the number of the monsters inhabiting it was also more than expected. At first, the city only planned to destroy Yarata Scorpion nests underground until none of these monsters could venture to the surface, before pulling out from there. But now the city had decided to change its stance and fully explore the underground city in order to get full control of the area.
Akira and the other Hunters were carrying hand-carts full of high-tech illuminations and replacing the old illuminations. Once their hand cart was filled with the old illuminations, they would return back to the HQ to get a new batch of high-tech illuminations before heading out again.
As Akira was replacing the illuminations, something came up in his mind.
"I wonder why they did not use this high-tech illumination from the start."
Alpha thought carefully about his question before answering. Rather than telling Akira the truth, she prioritized on telling him an answer that could convince him. She wanted to observe how he would react to her answer in order to confirm how much she understood how his mind worked.
"The whole operation cost them more money than originally thought, that is all. If the underground city was not this large and if there were not this many monsters here, I bet they would have kept the old illuminations."
"I see."
Akira was convinced by her answer, Alpha was slowly but surely getting closer to fully understanding his mind.
There were other Hunters around Akira, some of them were also working on replacing the old illuminations, some of them were pushing the carts, some of them were watching out for monsters. From time to time, some Hunters left after completing their shift and were replaced by new Hunters.
Since the areas where they needed to replace the old illuminations were considered as fully controlled areas, they were in a relatively safe area. But there was no guarantee that nothing would happen, Yarata scorpions might burst out from a new hole anytime. The wreckages that were scattered around the narrow hallway might also be Yarata scorpions. These were the reasons why the HQ sent many Hunters just to replace the old illuminations.
Akira continued working for some more time. Since some of the other Hunters were about to finish their shift, he was thinking of returning back to the HQ with them. So he contacted the HQ, but instead, the HQ told him to continue working and stay there until the new Hunters dispatched from HQ met up with him. And so he did not have any other choice but to wait there.
In the hallway illuminated by the lightings that he just installed, Akira was waiting for the new Hunters dispatched by the HQ. But no one came even after some time had passed.
"No one is coming..."
"Let's wait for a bit more, I'll handle the enemy detection, so there's no need to worry about getting ambushed by monsters. Just count it as your luck since you only need to stand here without doing anything while waiting for your shift to end."
Alpha smiled at Akira to reassure him that there was no danger around him. Looking at that, Akira held back all his displeasures, but he was still bored since he had nothing to do.
Alpha's face suddenly turned stern.
"Akira, just to be safe, get your weapon ready."
"What's wrong?"
Aware of her sudden change, Akira quickly put his guard up. Alpha never made such an expression when she detected Yarata Scorpions that were far away from him. So in short, it must be something more dangerous than that.
Alpha pointed her finger toward the hallway. There was a small opening not too far from where Akira was standing and there was a shadow of someone in that opening.
"There's someone armed over there."
Akira looked puzzled as he asked Alpha.
"Wait, it's not anything strange, isn't it?"
Including Akira, all the other Hunters in the underground city were armed. Thus, there was nothing strange with carrying a weapon in this area.
"You do know that the terminal lent to the Hunters here are sending signals to ascertain their position so that the Hunters won't mistakenly shoot at each other, right? But nothing as such is coming from that person. There are only a few reasons for it, either his terminal ran out of battery or it has been destroyed, or maybe he doesn't have one in the first place."
If it was because their terminal ran out of battery or because that person was not carrying a terminal in the first place, it would make that person suspicious. In short, there was a 66% chance that the person was suspicious and he was armed too. Akira quickly understood the situation and readied his rifle.
Akira focused his gaze on that person, his vision was enhanced to see the area around that person. It seemed that the person was alone. Since he was quite far away, he did not seem to notice Akira yet.
"This is number 27. HQ, can you hear me?"
"This is HQ. We've dispatched some Hunters and sent them your way. Just wait for a bit more."
The staff thought that Akira was calling the HQ to ask about the Hunters, so he just said that and was about to disconnect the call.
"That's not it. Don't disconnect the call. I found someone who doesn't give off a Hunter signal. Tell me what to do. If you don't, I'll just leave that man alone."
"Seriously?"
"I see. It might be because of some kind of error in the terminal. Can you check on that man? If he turned off his terminal by mistake, tell him to turn it on again and immediately contact the HQ."
"What should I do if that's not the case?"
"Bring that man to the HQ if it's possible. In case if he retaliates, you're allowed to use violence to deal with him. Work with the other Hunters around you and report to me on the progress later."
"...Roger that."
Akira disconnected his call and let out a big sigh.
Alpha floated in front of Akira and warned him.
"You already got permission from HQ, so you can kill him if you need to. Don't hesitate when you really have to kill him, okay?"
In short, the situation might really turn into something troublesome to even make the HQ give him that permission.
Akira looked around and made a mental note of the positions of the rubbles and wreckages around him. It was so that he could quickly jump behind them to hide in case that person suddenly started shooting at him. Akira then moved and positioned himself better before taking a deep breath.
"Alpha, I'll be counting on you if things go bad."
"Don't worry, just leave it to me."
After hearing her reply, Akira calmed himself down and made his resolve.
"You there!! Your terminal is off, you know!!"
Akira's voice echoed through the hallway. The person ahead of him started looking around confusedly, but it did not take long for him to notice Akira.
That man smiled and waved at Akira, he then pointed his finger at his terminal a few times before waving at Akira, urging him to come closer.
That man was signalling that his terminal was broken, so he was telling Akira to come closer since he wanted to contact the HQ. But that man did not take even a single step toward Akira.
Akira just stood there and was watching how that man was acting. That man's face suddenly changed from smiling to puzzled and started walking toward Akira.
[...I guess I worry too much.]
Akira thought that the reason why that man did not approach him was because he was trying to lure him. But now that the man had started walking toward him with a puzzled face, Akira stopped suspecting him.
After a few steps, that man pointed at his terminal again. Akira lowered his guard as he slowly lowered his rifle that he was gripping, the muzzle of the AAH rifle in his right hand shifted from pointing at that man to the ground.
The very next moment, that man pulled out a handgun and released a few shots toward Akira.
Gunshots reverberated through the hallway. Akira could not react in time to that handgun which was suddenly pointed toward him nor the bullets that were released from that gun. The first bullet grazed his cheek, the second bullet hit the information terminal on his left hand, and the third bullet hit the closest wreckage from Akira.
Alpha controlled Akira's right hand through his augmented suit to quickly grab his AAH rifle and started shooting back at that man. Piercing bullets flew straight from the rifle's muzzle, but that man was already hiding behind a cover and removed himself from the bullets' trajectories. Thus the bullets only ended up hitting the walls and the floors and ricocheted.
The aiming device of Akira's AAH rifle was connected to his terminal. Alpha used that to capture images and analyze the data from it, she then confirmed that none of the bullets hit that man.
Even after knowing that, Alpha made Akira shoot at him, it was to prevent that man from shooting back. It was also to buy more time until Akira returned back to his senses.
Because Alpha was moving Akira's body forcefully, his body was put under immense stress. But even so, that was still a thousand times better than having holes in his body. That man's skill was a real thing, if Alpha had not moved Akira out of the way, he would have been immediately killed right there.
Akira asked Alpha while enduring pain.
"...Alpha, what's going on here?"
"That man is proficient with a handgun and he just shot a few shots at you. I controlled your body through your augmented suit to evade the bullets and made you shoot back at him, but nothing hit him. I also used the terminal to shield your body, so it might be broken now. That man is so fast that I did not have much leeway. Looking at how fast he moved, it seems that he's a physically enhanced human. That's why he could execute such accurate quick-draw. I believe that his skill and equipment are tailored to kill other humans, basically, a skill set for a murderer. I bet he used a handgun to maximize speed in place of firepower since he understands well about the differences between fighting a monster and fighting another human."
From Alpha's explanation, he understood that his opponent was someone above him, and it was someone who would not lower his guard even when fighting against a boy like Akira.
"Of course! The moment he wasn't able to finish you off with that surprise attack, that man had run out of luck."
Alpha smiled when she said that. Hearing her confident answer, Akira lightly smiled.
"That's great news. My whole body is hurting like crazy though, this isn't anything bad, right?"
"Sure, if you don't mind getting your arm or leg torn off."
"I'll take the expensive one."
Akira only had a small amount left of the medicines that he found in Kuzusuhara ruin, but it would be stupid to get himself killed here just because he did not want to use it. He pulled out the medicines from inside a small pouch hanging on his hip and swallowed them. He also put some in his mouth and held them there.
After Akira had finished all his preparations, Alpha said to him.
"Alright then. Akira, let's start fighting back. Ready your resolve."
"Yeah, that's my responsibility, after all."
Resolve was Akira's responsibility. He had resolved himself that he would kill in order to survive, it was something that he had always done until now. He lightly smiled thinking that he might have to keep doing that from now on.
Yajima, the person who shot Akira, was shocked by what just happened, but he calmly looked around for Akira.
Moreover, there were a group of people in the eastern district who were dubbed as the brain enhanced people. These people put modifications inside their brain to accelerate their brain functions. Some of them used nanomachines to do that, while some of them stuffed a mechanical processing unit into their brain. They did that in order to accelerate their cognitive processing ability or to add new functions into their brain and gain a better brain than a normal one.
But of course, it was very dangerous to mess with the brain. Not only with money, but they also had to pay for such enhancement with their flesh or even psyche. Each and every person had different opinions whether such an enhancement was worth the sacrifice or not.
Since Akira could connect to the old-world domain, it could be said that he already belonged to that group. Without his ability to connect to the old-world domain, Akira would not be able to enjoy all of the support that he was receiving from Alpha. So Yajima's guess that Akira had an enhanced brain, in a sense, was actually correct.
[There should only be Hunters assigned to replace the old illuminations around this area, there's no way someone who could explore the inner part of the underground city is assigned to this place. So why would someone like him be here...? Don't tell me that he's a secret agent from Kugamayama city? Did the city discover our plan?! He might be a child-type cyborg with someone actually skilled controlling his body. Whichever it is, this is not good. I have to take care of him as soon as possible.]
Yajima decided to contact his friends. Since he was using the communication device installed inside his brain, he did not make any sounds at all.
"It's me. How is it going over there? Did you already open a hole to the surface?"
Yajima's friend replied.
"We haven't even started yet, aren't you the one who told us to wait until all the relics are gathered?"
Yajima clicked his tongue.
"We have a change of plan. Start digging a hole now and tell the truck to hurry up. Also, send Kain and Nelia here."
"Wha-?! what's going on there?"
"The city might have noticed our plan. There's someone who could evade my quick draw loitering in this place. It's suspicious that someone like him is even here. In the worst-case scenario, that person might be an agent sent by the city."
"...An agent from the city?! Are you kidding me? I have no plans on picking a fight against the city, you know?!! Didn't you say that it's going to be alright?!!"
"Just shut up. We're already picking a fight with the city the moment we decided to snatch the old-world relics owned by them. This won't be a problem if I can kill him and escape this place, just hurry up with the hole."
Yajima then disconnected the call.
Yajima and his friends were planning to smuggle the old-world relics from inside the underground ruin to the surface. They were working in the exploration team before and had explored the underground city. During that period, they found an impressive amount of expensive old-world relics. They knew that they could definitely earn a huge load of money if they sold those relics.
But it was almost impossible to bring all of those relics through the entrance that was located in the HQ. So, they hid all of those relics in a certain place in the underground city and hatched a plot to carry them out.
And since then, Yajima and his friends continued exploring the underground city while also filling up their hidden relics repository. They found way more relics than they expected and their plan was going well.
But then came a big threat to their plan, the HQ decided to replace the old illuminations with new ones.
The new advanced illuminations were equipped with a surveillance camera and motion detector, thus it would be almost impossible to carry all of those relics secretly once the new illuminations were installed. It was already difficult enough for them to move the relics from their hidden repository. And if their hidden repository was discovered, Yajima and his friends who were assigned to explore the area around it in the past would be the first ones to be suspected. Thus he decided to execute the plan sooner than they had originally planned.
Yajima was monitoring the area around their hidden relics repository. He turned off his terminal so that the HQ would not be able to track his position. Although it might make the HQ suspicious of him, it would at least prevent the HQ from pinpointing his location. He already knew about this when he turned off his terminal.
On top of that, Yajima was also being careful not to get discovered by other Hunters. Since if someone found him, the HQ would quickly notice that he had left his station without permission and it might jeopardize his plan.
The reason why Akira was able to spot him was because of Alpha's superior detection ability and Yajima who was in the middle of executing his plan was anxious and nervous.
In Yajima's eyes, Akira looked like just a common young Hunter. He bet that Akira was a Hunter from Drankam and that he was only able to join the Yarata Scorpion nest extermination request due to the gang's influence. Which meant that he just needed to kill Akira if Akira had noticed him.
Yajima's wrong guess led to the current situation.
Akira used his right hand holding an AAH rifle to peek out. The aiming device of his AAH rifle that was already connected to his information terminal sent the image of the pillar where Yajima was hiding to Akira's information terminal. Then that data was reflected onto his enhanced vision, it was so that he could put holes on Yajima's body the moment he jumped out from that pillar. Thanks to Alpha's superior detection ability, he could even clearly see what Yajima was doing behind that pillar through his enhanced vision.
Since both of them were hiding behind an object, they had to move if they wanted to be able to have a clear aim at the other person. Akira sent Alpha an image of him moving quickly from one wreckage to another while pointing his rifle at that pillar following a route that he planned.
Thanks to his telepathic training that started with Akira sending the image of Alpha's dress through telepathy, he was able to send accurate images now.
Akira's suggestion was perfectly sent to Alpha, but she shot it down.
"No, let's make good use of your equipment advantage first. Take out the CWH anti-material rifle."
Akira exchanged the AAH assault rifle in his hand with CWH anti-material rifle loaded with special ammo. Of course, he never thought that he would be using it against a human.
"That's one strong pillar, as expected of the old-world ruin."
"Let's keep shooting."
Akira kept shooting at the pillar and all the bullets that he shot hit the exact same point on it without even the slightest error. The special ammo would instantly kill Yajima once it was able to penetrate through the pillar. Even if Yajima jumped out from that pillar in panic, Akira who could completely see his image would immediately shoot and kill him. But if he stayed there, Akira would eventually destroy that pillar and kill him. It was checkmate.
[...He didn't say anything and started shooting. It seems like he's using some kind of anti-material weapon, which means that this pillar won't hold for long. But he didn't contact the HQ or try to tell the HQ what's going on here. In short, either his terminal is broken because of that surprise attack or he got suspicious of me because I told him to contact the HQ. Whichever the case, this is a good thing, I just need to kill him here to keep my plan hidden.]
Yajima laughed, he thought that his situation was not that bad. His face showed a twisted expression as if he was enjoying the situation that he was in.
Akira saw something fly out from behind the pillar, he thought that it was some kind of explosive and quickly shot it down. But rather than exploding, it spread some kind of smoke. Yajima quickly moved behind another wreckage the moment that happened while pointing his handgun at Akira.
Because of their tenacity and craftiness, humans were able to survive in the eastern district which was filled with monsters. Although they had to deal with all of those monsters, they still had the leeway to fight and attempt to kill each other.
Humans were still trying to kill each other even now. This might be one thing that would remain unchanged even after they exterminated all the monsters.
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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