「エレナ。色無しの霧が大分濃くなってきたけど、大丈夫?」
エレナはその返答に、サラには気付かれないほどの僅かな沈黙を必要とした。
「......大丈夫よ。確かに情報収集機器に影響が出ているけれど、この程度ならまだ撤退するほどではないわ」
「そう? それなら良いけど」
「サラの方こそ大丈夫なの? もし色無しの霧がサラのナノマシンにまで悪影響を及ぼしているのなら、今すぐに撤退するわ。体調が悪化しているのなら隠さずに言って」
「大丈夫。全く影響無しとは言わないけど、この程度なら問題ないわ」
「それなら良いけど、無理はしないでね」
サラが自分を心配するエレナの不安を吹き飛ばすように少し
みながら軽口を返す。
「あら、私はそんなに重いって言いたいの?」
装備の重量の話よ。他意は無いわ。本当よ? 本当だって」
エレナとサラは笑って軽口を
い悪影響は出ていない。しかし色無しの霧の濃度がこれ以上増せば危険になる。そして現状ではその可能性が高いとも思っていた。本来ならば、その危険性を考慮して撤退の判断を下していた。
しかし収穫無しで撤退すれば金は手に入らない。自分達の資金難がより深刻になれば、サラは恐らく自身のナノマシンの補給を更に限界まで控える。それはサラの命を限界まで死に近付けるのと同じだ。それは避けなければならない。エレナはそう考えて、探索の時間を無意識に出来る限り延ばそうとしていた。
既にエレナ達は、かつての自分達なら止めたであろうその無理な賭けに出てしまっていた。
を聞き付けてクズスハラ街遺跡に来たハンター達はエレナ達以外にも大勢いたが、既に大半の者は早々に見切りを付けて帰っていた。色無しの霧も大分濃くなっている。まだ探索を続けている者も見切りを付ける頃合いだった。
エレナが判断の遅れを悔やみながら告げる。
「サラ。もう無理。撤退よ」
「分かったわ」
「ごめん。今、索敵範囲が結構狭くなってる。もっと早く撤退するべきだったわ」
「大丈夫。外周部はモンスターも少ないはず。慎重に戻れば良いだけよ」
自身の非を責めるような表情のエレナに、サラは非難の色など
う。サラは警戒しながら銃を握り、エレナは情報収集機器を操作して対象方向の索敵を強める。
「エレナ。何か分かった?」
「ちょっと待って......。銃声の方向に反応があるわ。恐らくハンターが8人とモンスターが1匹よ。こっちに向かってきているわ」
反応の方向ではハンター達が大型モンスターに追われていた。一応時折後ろを銃撃しながら走っているが、モンスターを倒せるような気配は無い。
「彼らの様子を見る限り、モンスターに遠距離攻撃能力は無いようね。あと、彼らの武装では倒しきれない程度には強い。放っておいたら私達まで巻き添えになるわ。走って逃げても追いつかれそうね。仕方が無いわ。代わりに倒しましょう」
サラがモンスターに向けて大型の銃を構える。エレナが向かってくるハンター達に向けて叫ぶ。
エレナの声を聞いたハンター達がサラに射線を譲るように動いた。そしてモンスターへの銃撃を一切止めてエレナ達の方へ走り続ける。
モンスターが色無しの霧の影響下でも目視でしっかり位置と姿を確認できるほどエレナ達に接近する。厚い毛皮の上からでも発達した筋肉を容易に確認できる大型肉食獣で、ハンター達を食い殺そうと
サラが疑問を後回しにして引き金を引く。大型の銃から撃ち出された弾丸はモンスターの頭部に見事に命中した。頭部から鮮血が飛び散り、その巨体が地面に転がった。その間もハンター達は背後のモンスターなど全く気にせずに走り続けていた。
エレナが彼らの表情に違和感を覚える。彼らは必死に逃げていたはずなのだ。しかしその表情には、死にたくないという必死さも、助けてくれそうな者に出会った喜びも、そのどちらも足りていなかった。
だがその違和感から回答を導き出す時間は残っていなかった。色無しの霧の
「もう一人のやつ! こいつを殺されたくなかったら武器を捨てて出てこい!」
「サラ! 私を無視して逃げるなり攻撃するなりしなさい!」
状況を把握したサラの表情が悲痛に染まった。エレナは男達に
東部では日々多くのハンターが価値ある遺物を求めて遺跡に向かっている。そして遺跡に生息しているモンスターと命懸けで戦っている。その結果、遺跡の中で息絶えるハンターも多い。当然ながら死んだハンター達の装備は遺跡の中に放置されることになる。
基本的にそれらの装備品はそれを見付けたハンターの物となる。時には死んだハンターが手紙などを残しており、自身の所持品を依頼料として自身の埋葬を頼んだり、縁者へ遺品の郵送を頼んだりすることもあるが、それ以外は慣例として発見者の物だ。
だが質の悪いハンターの中には、遺跡の中でハンターから強盗に
「とっとと撃ちなさい。それであんたらは終わりよ。サラ! 絶対に言うことを聞いちゃ駄目よ!」
「黙れって言ってんだよ!」
エレナの言う通りにエレナを見捨てれば、自分だけで男達を皆殺しに出来るかもしれない。しかしその代わり、エレナはほぼ確実に殺される。
男の言う通りに武器を捨てて出て行けば、この場はエレナの命は助かるかもしれない。しかし状況は確実に悪化する。男達に確実に慰み者にされ、その後の保証も全くない。
サラはどちらも選べなかった。
「もういい! その女は殺せ! 全員で残りの一人も殺すぞ!」
サラは思わず悲鳴のような声を上げた。そしてそれで決断する。武器を捨てて、両手を挙げて
エレナが首を横に強く振る。だがサラはエレナにどこか悲痛にも見える笑顔を向けた後、真面目な顔で相手を刺激しないようにゆっくりと男達に近付いていった。
男達は丸腰で近付いてくるサラを見て下卑た笑いを浮かべた。自分達の言う通りにしている様子を見て油断し、何人かはサラに向けていた銃口を下げる。しかしエレナの後頭部に突き付けられている銃はそのままだ。
サラが相手との距離を測りながらゆっくりと近付いていく。
(......大丈夫。あいつらは油断してる。......まだ遠い。......大丈夫。私の身体能力なら、距離さえ詰めれば素手で十分対処できる)
ナノマシンの消費量を無視して体の出力を最大まで引き上げれば、身体能力は劇的に上昇する。格闘戦に秀でている訳ではないサラでも、その身体能力だけで男達を十分に撃退できる。
だがナノマシンの消費量も劇的に増加する。最悪の場合、体に残っているナノマシンをこの場で使い切る。つまり、死ぬ。死なずに済んでも残された時間は激減する。
エレナの命を無視して銃火器で敵を制圧すれば、ナノマシンの消費量は最低限で済む。エレナはそれを望み、悲痛な表情でそれを伝えていた。だがサラにその選択は選べなかった。
サラが覚悟を決めて前に進んでいく。そして後数歩で勝機が見える距離まで男達に近付いた。
「そこで止まれ! そこで止まって強化服を脱げ!」
「銃無しでも強化服の身体能力で殴り殺されるのは御免だからな。お前らの装備品を駄目にしないように威力を下げていたとはいえ、気絶もせずにほぼ無傷で行動できるなんて随分良い装備じゃねえか。その装備は俺達が有効に活用してやるよ。良いか。ゆっくり脱げよ」
「......分かったわ」
サラが言われた通り、自身の服に、防護服に手を掛ける。油断を誘う
「そうか」
次の瞬間、サラは両
サラを銃撃したのは男達のリーダーであるブバハという男だった。ブバハは倒れたサラの様子を見て安全を確認してから、サラを指差しながら仲間達に言う。
「そいつはナノマシン系の拡張者だ。生身でも強化服を着た人間並みの身体能力はあるはずだ。脱いだのも強化服じゃなくて防護服だ。いろいろ
「何で分かるんだ?」
「動きとか装備の見た目とかで分かるだろう。そういうのが分からねえから、お前らはうだつが上がらねえんだよ。身体強化系のナノマシンは、大抵基本的に負傷時には
ブバハがエレナを指差す。男達の興味がエレナに集まった。
地面に倒れて苦しそうにもがいていたサラを、駆け寄ったエレナが抱き締めている。
サラが弱々しく笑う。体内のナノマシンは外傷の治療と生命維持を最優先にして活動している。とても戦える状態ではない。自力で現状を覆すのは不可能だ。
「......ごめん。しくじったわ」
「どうして逃げなかったのよ......」
そうすれば、サラだけは助かったのに。回答を求めない質問がエレナの口から漏れた。
「......ごめん」
「サラ! 歩ける!?」
「駄目! エレナ! 良いから逃げて!」
男達の一部はそのエレナ達を銃撃しようとしたが、それも誰かからの銃撃によって阻止された。
サラが引きずられながら先ほど捨てた銃を拾う。エレナはサラを引き
"Elena, the colourless mist is getting thicker. Is it okay to continue here?"
Elena answered Sara's question after an unnoticeable pause.
"...It's okay. Although it's started to affect the information gathering device. It's not so bad that we have to withdraw from our search."
"Is that so? Well, I guess it's fine if you say so."
"How about you? Are you okay? If the colourless mist starts negatively affecting your nanomachines, we'll withdraw immediately. So do tell me if it does and don't hide it, okay?"
"I'm fine. Although I can't say that it doesn't affect me at all, I'm still alright for now."
"Well, if you say so. But don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Sara laughed mischievously at Elena to make her stop worrying.
Elena then replied back while smiling teasingly.
"Oh my, are you trying to say that I'm fat?"
"NO! I was talking about your equipment. There's no other deeper meaning than that. That's really all. I'm telling you that's all."
Elena and Sara were laughing as they were teasing each other. At least they were able to confirm that they were really okay.
Elena did not lie. Although the mist affected the information gathering device, the effect was not that bad. But it would be unfavourable if the mist got any thicker, and by the looks of it, the possibility was very high.
If it were any other day, Elena would have decided to withdraw due to the danger. But she couldn't do that today. They would not get any money if they went back empty-handed. And if their financial situation got any worse, there was a good chance that Sara would postpone replenishing her nanomachines, which would be life-threatening for Sara in her present condition. Elena wanted to avoid such a situation no matter what and she unconsciously pushed their search longer.
Normally, they would have stopped here, but Elena and Sara were already committed in their bet that they forgot to be wary of their surroundings.
There were a lot of Hunters other than Elena and Sara who came to Kuzusuhara City ruins chasing after the rumour. But most of them already abandoned the search and returned back. While most of them who stayed also decided to return back due to the thickening colourless mist.
Then Elena said to Sara while regretting her poor decision to continue their search.
"Sara, we can't go further, we should head back now."
"I understand."
"Sorry, the detection range is already very small, we should've returned sooner."
"It's alright. There shouldn't be that many monsters in the outskirts. It'll be alright as long as we head back carefully."
Seeing Elena blaming herself, Sara just returned a smile that showed no trace of blame. Elena smiled in return and changed her mood since she understood that there was no meaning in regretting now.
Suddenly, a gunshot echoed as Elena and Sara were moving inside the mist. Considering the sound distortion factor due to the mist, they knew that the source of that gunshot was pretty close to them, behind a crumbled ruin. Sara readied her gun while Elena operated her information gathering device and put all its resources on enemy detection.
"Elena, did you find anything?"
"Wait for a sec... I got some signals from where the gunshot was fired. It seems that 8 Hunters are fighting against 1 monster and they are headed our way."
They could see Hunters running from the source of the gunshot and these Hunters were chased by a giant monster. Although they did shoot back while running away, there was no sign of the monster getting killed anytime soon.
"Looking at them, it seems that these Hunters have no close-range firepower. And also, the monster seems to be pretty strong that those Hunters won't be able to defeat it with their equipment. We'll get involved if we leave it be and it seems that it will be able to catch up with us even if we run away. There's no helping it, we should defeat it in their place instead."
Sara aimed her huge gun towards the monster, then Elena shouted at the hunters who were approaching her.
The hunters who heard her words acknowledged and stopped shooting back at the monster and kept running toward her.
The monster was so huge that Elena could see it easily even under the thick mist. It was a big carnivorous monster, its muscle line was visible even when it was covered by its thick fur. It opened his big mouth showing its huge fangs as it was trying to devour those Hunters.
Sara just pushed the question aside and pulled the trigger. The huge bullet that shot out from her big gun hit the monster right on its head. Fresh blood splattered from its head and it fell down to the ground. While that happened, the Hunters kept running while ignoring what happened to the monster behind them.
Elena saw something strange about these hunters. They should be showing desperation trying to run away from their certain death situation. But instead, they were lacking any expressions showing their fear of death or happiness that they found someone who would help them.
But she did not have the time to think about the reason. Due to the thick colourless mist, she had allowed a monster and a group of hunters approached them. And because she prioritized in taking out the monster, she was late in reacting to these Hunters.
"That other girl!! Throw down your weapon if you don't want your friend to die."
"Sara!! Don't mind me!! You can freely run away or shoot these bastards!!"
Sara was showing a pained face when she understood how bad the situation was, Elena was captured by those guys.
A lot of Hunters went to the ruins daily looking for valuable relics and then they would fight against the monsters living in the ruins. As such, many hunters were killed in the ruins and left their equipment scattered around the ruins.
Normally, the next person who found these equipments would be their new owner. Although sometimes the dead Hunter would leave a letter asking to accept their equipment as a payment to take care of his or her burial or to send a certain belonging to his or her family, no one would follow through. The finder would keep all the equipment left behind.
But some of these Hunters who had bad personality would change from being a Hunter into being a robber inside the ruins. Rather than looting a dead Hunter, they would kill other Hunters, and take their belongings. Then a bounty would be put on their head and some of them would die as prey of some other Hunters.
"Just pull the trigger and you all will be dead!! Sara!! Don't listen to them!!"
"Didn't I tell you to shut up?!!"
If she followed Elena's order to just forget about her, she might be able to kill all the Hunters, but in exchange, Elena would definitely get killed.
But if she obeyed the Hunter's order and threw down her weapon. She might be able to save Elena. But on the other hand, it would worsen their situation. They would definitely r.a.p.e her and Elena, and there was no guarantee what they would do after that.
Sara could not pick either choice.
"Just kill her already!! Then we can just move on and kill the other girl afterwards!!"
Sara shouted back in reflex and made her decision, she threw down her weapon and stepped out from the ruin with both her hands up.
Elena shook his head. But Sara smiled at Elena, there was a slight trace of bitterness in that smile. Sara then moved slowly toward the Hunter while making a serious face as to not alert him.
Seeing Sara approaching them unarmed, the Hunters were making a nasty laugh. Since it seemed that Sara would listen to them obediently, some of them lowered their guns. But the gun behind Elena's back remained in its position.
Sara moved slowly while measuring the distance between them.
(...It's okay. They're off guard right now... It's still too far... But it's okay. If I can get close enough to them, I could beat them with bare hands.)
If she ignored the nanomachine consumption and raised her physical ability to its limit, she would be able to boost her physical ability and it would be enough to counter attack those Hunters despite the fact that Sara had no previous training in martial arts.
But on the other hand, the nanomachine consumption would also be enormous. In the worst case scenario, she would spend all her nanomachines and die. And even if she could take care of those Hunters without dying, she would only be left with a short time awaiting her death.
If Sara had ignored Elena's safety and shot back with her gun, it would cut her nanomachine consumption to a minimum. Elena's glare at Sara was saying that she wanted Sara to take that option. But Sara could not do that.
Sara had made her resolve and moved forward. It was only a few steps until a chance to retaliate would come to her.
"Stop there!! Stop there and take off your Augmented clothes and armour!"
"After all, even without a gun, I don't want to be beaten to death with the physical enhancement from that augmented clothes. We did lower the firepower of the grenade so that your equipment won't sustain any damage, but to think that you would be able to survive that unscathed and even didn't fall unconscious, it seems that you have quite a good equipment on you. Don't worry, we'll use them with care. So you hear me, right? Remove it slowly."
"...I understand."
Sara did like what she was told to. She removed her own clothes and armour. She was also glaring at them while trembling in order to make them lower their guard even more. Soon she was only left with her undergarments. Seeing this, the Hunters' laughter only got nastier.
"Is that so?"
Then suddenly bullets tore through Sara's both thighs and Sara fell down to the ground. Elena screamed and ran towards Sara forgetting the fact that she also had a gun pointed at her head.
The one who shot Sara was the leader of this Hunter group, Bubaha. Bubaha looked at Sara who was on the ground and confirmed their safety. He then looked at his subordinates and pointed at Sara while saying.
"This girl is a nanomachine enhanced girl. She should be a few times stronger than a normal human. The cloth that she removed is just a normal armour, not an augmented one. If you don't want to get twisted and torn apart, you might want to stay away from that girl."
"How do you know that?"
"You can tell that from her movements and equipment. It's because you can't recognize something like this, you guys are stuck as amateurs. When nanomachine enhanced person is severely wounded, the nanomachine will prioritize in healing the wound. As such, their movement would be affected during that time. But they're still stronger than a normal human. So if you guys want to toy with them, then just use the other girl."
Bubaha then pointed at Elena, so everyone's attention gathered at her.
Elena who ran to Sara hugged her close as she was writhing in pain on the ground.
Sara smiled meekly. The nanomachines inside her body prioritized in healing her wound and life support, thus she was in no condition for combat. She was in a condition where it was impossible to turn the situation around with her own power.
"...I'm sorry, I made a blunder."
"Why didn't you run away...?"
Elena's voice was trembling as she asked the question that she wasn't expecting an answer for. She thought that if Sara had ran away, then at least Sara would be safe.
"...Sorry."
"Sara! Can you walk!?"
"I can't !! Elena!! It's okay, just run from here!!"
Some of the Hunters noticed them and tried to shoot at Elena and Sara, but they were also stopped by the gunshots that came from nowhere.
Sara who was dragged by Elena picked up the gun that she dropped. While Elena who was dragging Sara together with her went towards a building. All the while, the echo from the gunshots did not stop.
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