アキラは訓練と遺跡探索の日々を送っていた。
子供でも行ける遺跡に遺物の詰まった未調査部分が存在するという
めていた。高価な遺物を持ち込んでも不自然に思われない実力を身に付ければ、すぐに風呂付きの生活に戻れる。そう発破を掛けていた。
変わらぬ笑顔の裏で、アキラの全てを観察しながら、いつものように笑っていた。
訓練と遺跡探索の日々に変化が起きたのは、アキラが買取所で累計10回目の買取手続きを済ませた時だった。いつものように代金を受け取って帰ろうとすると、ノジマに呼び止められる。
「ちょっと待て。今日はこれを持っていけ」
ノジマが紙の地図とプラスチック製のカードをアキラに渡す。地図は都市の防壁周辺のもので、目的地の印が付いていた。
「そこでちょっとした手続きがある。そのカードを職員に見せれば良い。じゃあ頑張りな。アジラ」
「......俺の名前はアキラだ」
アジラは誤って登録されたアキラの名前だ。ノジマが少し不機嫌そうなアキラを見て軽く吹き出す。
「データベースにはそう登録されているんだがな。間違って登録されたのか。誰が登録処理をしたのか知らんが適当な仕事をしやがって。手続きで直せるからとっとと行ってこい」
ノジマはそれだけ言って、どことなく上機嫌でアキラを見送った。
アキラがそのクガマビルを見上げてたじろいでいる。そこに存在する権力、財力、武力を容易に想像させるビルの外観は、スラム街育ちの子供には畏怖が強すぎた。
『ここ、だよな?』
『そうよ。入りましょう』
されて立ち止まる。身の丈を超える銃を背負っている者。高性能な強化服を着用している者。一目でサイボーグだと分かる鋼の肌をした者。全員、アキラのような単にハンター登録を済ませただけの者とは異なる隔絶した実力者達だ。
『アキラ。彼らは別に敵ではないし、襲われる訳でもないのだから落ち着きなさい』
『黙って立っていても仕方無いし、早く手続きを済ませてしまいましょう。手続きの進め方とか、分かる?』
スラム街育ちで基本的な受付手続きの方法も知らないアキラだったが、アルファのサポートのおかげで事無きを得た。発券機を兼ねた無人の受付端末に向かい、ノジマから受け取ったカードを使用して順番待ちの登録を済ませ、邪魔にならない場所で静かに順番を待ち、その後に対応窓口に向かう。そして窓口の女性職員に整理券とカードを見せた。
「これを見せろって言われたんですけど......」
事務的な愛想笑いを浮かべていた女性職員は、そのカードを見ると驚きで表情を軽く崩した。だがすぐに己の職務を思い出して愛想の良い表情に戻す。そして受け取ったカードを手元の端末に読み取らせた。
「確認いたしました。アジラ様御本人で間違い御座いませんか?」
アキラが緊張しながら答える。
「あ、はい。いや、違います。俺はアキラで、その、登録した時に間違って登録されたんです」
職員が恭しく頭を下げて非礼を
「大変失礼いたしました。では改めまして、アキラ様、ハンターランク10への御昇格、おめでとうございます。ハンター証の再発行及び登録情報の確認を致します。ハンター証再発行手続、及び関連事項についての説明は必要でしょうか?」
「え、あ、はい。お願いします」
ハンターオフィスはハンターにハンターランクと呼ばれる評価基準を設定している。最低値はランク1であり、基本的に高ランクのハンターほど優秀なハンターとして扱われる。
ハンターランクを上げるには、遺物をハンターオフィスの買取所やその提携店に売却する、ハンターオフィス及びその提携企業等からの依頼を受ける、などの様々な方法が存在する。基本的には東部統治企業連盟、通称統企連への貢献度が高いほど評価され、その評価に応じてランクが上昇する。
また、大企業等が実質的に専有している立ち入り制限遺跡の調査、遺物収集なども、高ランクハンターであれば特別に許可が下りる。順番待ち等の優先順位などもハンターランクが高いほど優先される。
高性能な装備の入手にも影響する。値段や数量、そして威力などから、低ランクハンターには販売を自粛、もしくは禁止している銃なども存在する。
ハンターオフィス及びその提携企業などが出す依頼には、ハンターランクによる制限を設けているものもある。機密性の高い依頼などは高ランクのハンターしか受けられず、そもそも低ランクのハンターでは依頼の存在を知ることすら出来ない。
それら数多くの優遇処置に加えて、ハンターとしての格や名誉を求めて、ハンターランクの上昇に血道を上げる者は多かった。
アキラの現在のハンターランクは10だ。これは社員証や市民証など有効な身分証を持つ者が、それなりの装備でハンター登録を行った場合の初期値でもある。つまり、一般的なハンターとしては素人のランクだ。
スラム街の住人など身分証を持たない者がハンター登録を行うと、ランク1のハンターとして登録される。この時点では紙切れに名前が記載されているだけの存在だ。
ノジマに買取所で渡されたカードは、アキラがランク1から
這
「アキラ様。登録内容の名前の修正を御希望とのことですので、修正登録するお名前を再度お聞かせください」
「アキラです」
アキラが少し不思議そうにそう答えると、職員の女性が真面目な表情で確認を求める。
「アキラ様。今回の登録処理は仮登録から本登録への更新の意味合いが強く、登録情報は基本的に不足情報の追記となります。その上で、今回は私どもの不手際によりお名前を誤って登録されているという状態を考慮しまして、変更登録を受け付けております。以降、登録内容の変更には審査を必須とする変更理由が不可欠となり、理由の
アキラはその問いに即答できなかった。
アキラはどこにも属していない。家族はいない。その記憶も無い。気が付いたらクガマヤマ都市のスラム街にいただけであり、スラム街に愛着など持っていない。そこから抜け出す力が無かったからそこにいただけで、そこに所属しているなどと
僅かな沈黙の後、アキラが真面目な表情を浮かべる。
「アキラ。俺の名前はアキラです。それで登録してください。もし変えたくなったらその時に変えます。その時に変えられないのなら、
職員は手元の端末を操作した後、アキラに新しいハンター証を手渡した。
アキラが受け取ったハンター証をじっと見る。今までの安っぽい紙切れとは違う硬質プラスチック製のカードだ。そこには紙切れから硬質プラスチックに変わった以上の大きな意味が存在していた。
「紛失にはくれぐれも御注意ください。再発行には費用と審査が必要になります。最悪、これまでの実績を全て失い新規登録と同様の扱いになる場合が御座います」
「登録処理は以上になります。アキラ様の御活躍を心からお祈り申し上げます」
悪く言えば事務的に、良く言えば1人のハンターとして応対する価値がある人物だと認められて、アキラは職員に
くハンターになれたわね。おめでとう』
『ありがとう。......今まで俺はハンターじゃなかったのか?』
アキラが新しいハンター証をしみじみと見ながら感慨深い様子を見せる。
『必需品? 何を買うんだ?』
『情報端末よ』
ハンター達は遺跡の位置や内部構造、生息するモンスターの詳細など、多種多様な有益な情報をネットを介して交換、共有、売買している。それらはハンター稼業の効率化を推し進め、遺跡から多くの遺物を企業に
し、東部全体の活性化に
情報端末がハンター達の生活に溶け込むのに従って、企業やハンターオフィスからの依頼を情報端末経由で受ける者も増えた。そして今ではハンターの必需品と呼ばれるまでになったのだ。
アキラはハンターオフィスの近くにある情報端末の専門店で、アルファに勧められるままに情報端末を購入した。情報端末の代金はアキラの有り金ほぼ全てだ。ついでに店で情報端末のハンター向けの簡単な初期設定を済ませた。アキラにはその設定内容も設定手順も全く分からなかったが、店員が手慣れた操作で設定を済ませた。
その設定作業の途中で、店員からハンター向けの設定にはハンター証が必要だと説明された。アキラは早速ハンター証を使う機会が出来たことに少し喜んでいた。
狭い宿に戻ってきたアキラが少々険しい顔を浮かべている。ハンター証と情報端末を手に入れた高揚はもう落ち着いている。そして
アルファにも何か考えがあるのだろうと、浮かんだ懸念を解消する言葉を期待していたアキラに、アルファが笑って言い切る。
『大丈夫ではないから明日も遺跡に行くわ』
『弾薬は買い置きがあるから、そっちの方は大丈夫ね』
「......そうだな」
『明日からは遺跡探索に情報端末を活用するわ。今から情報端末の設定をするから手伝って』
「ん? それはもう店で済ませただろう?」
『あれは一般的なハンター用の設定よ。今からやるのはアキラ用の設定。私のサポートを受けやすいように、思いっきり中身を書き換えるわ。でも情報端末の操作は今の私には出来ないから、代わりにアキラにやってもらうのよ』
『最短でも夜中まで掛かるから、頑張ってね』
アキラが驚いてアルファを見る。そしていつも通りの
「......やっと終わったのか」
既に日付が変わっていた。それに気付いたアキラがより一層の疲労感を覚える。倒れ込むように床に横になると、情報端末を近くの床に適当に置く。そして眠気に抵抗せずにそのまま眠りに就いた。
アキラが寝ている間も情報端末は独りでに一晩中動き続けていた。
翌朝、アキラはいつものようにアルファの声で目を覚ました。だが視線を声の方に向けてもアルファの姿は見当たらなかった。
「......アルファ?」
「......え、あ、うん」
アキラの寝起きを考慮しても随分と薄い反応に、アルファが不満げな顔を見せる。
「反応が薄いわね。もっと驚かないの?」
「見えるけど触れない女性が
アキラが少し考えた後に、素っ気ない様子を装って答える。
「今まで通りにしてくれ。いちいち情報端末を見る方が面倒だ」
アルファが情報端末の中から姿を消して、いつものようにアキラの
「よし。行こう」
『ちょっと待って』
がれたアキラが不満げな顔をアルファに向ける。ある意味で余裕の表れとも取れる表情だ。だがそれも次の話を聞くまでだった。
『銃の腕はそこそこ上達してきたから、今日から訓練内容の比重を変えるわね。具体的に言うと、私の索敵が無い状態でもある程度は動けるようになってもらうわ。これから遺跡に入るけれど、私の索敵は無いと思って行動して』
アキラの表情が大きく揺らいだ。アルファの索敵はアキラの生命線だ。それが無くなればどうなるかなど、考えるまでもない。
『大丈夫ではないから訓練が必要なのよ』
「そ、それはそうだけどさ......」
食い下がろうとしたアキラが驚いて言葉を止める。アルファが急に真面目な顔になったのだ。
『アキラがハンターとして成長すれば、他の遺跡にハンター稼業に行く機会も増えるわ。クズスハラ街遺跡だけで稼ぐのでは限界があるからね。でも残念だけれど、私の索敵はクズスハラ街遺跡以外だと精度が格段に下がるのよ』
「......具体的には、どれぐらい下がるんだ?」
『最悪の場合、私の索敵そのものが不可能になるわ』
アキラは思わず顔を
よ。ただしアキラはそれを忘れて緊張感を持って行動してね。訓練にならないから』
『基本的にはアキラの好きなように動いて。それで危険な行動をしたり、しておいた方が良い行動をしなかったりしたら、私がそのたびに指摘するわ。それでは、始めて』
アキラが緊張を抑えようと深呼吸をする。訓練であり実際にはアルファの索敵は生きているとはいえ、それが無い状態を意識し想像して遺跡を見ると、遺跡が急に非常に危険な場所に見え始める。
そして実際に遺跡はその想像以上に危険な場所だ。アルファという存在が遺跡の危険への感覚を鈍らせていただけだ。アキラは自分が抱いていた感覚は慣れではなく甘えだったことを自覚して、それでも遺跡へ覚悟を決めて歩き出す。
そしてその1歩目で、早速指摘を受けた。
『まずはここから双眼鏡で遺跡の様子を確認すること。モンスターがいるかどうか。いた場合はそれがアキラでも勝てそうな相手かどうか。より安全な他のルートは存在するか。引き返すべきか。よく考えて決めなさい』
もだと納得し、その程度のこともせずに進もうとした自分の未熟さに苦笑する。そして双眼鏡を取り出して遺跡の様子を確認する。モンスターの姿は見えない。隠れているかもしれないが、その確認すらしなかった時よりは大分安全になった。
『進む前に情報端末を見て』
アキラが腕に装着している情報端末を見る。ハンター向け製品の付属品である頑丈なベルトを使用して、見
『それはクズスハラ街遺跡の地図よ。単純に遺物収集に励むにしても、当てもなく適当に探すのではなく、事前に探索場所やその移動ルートを決めておきなさい。遺物が有りそうな場所を探すのも重要。でもそれ以上に、モンスターと遭遇や交戦した時の退路も考えて移動ルートを決める方が重要よ。それらをよく考えて、状況に応じて適宜修正を加えながら進みなさい』
「よく考えろって言われても、どういうふうに考えれば良いんだ?」
『それを考えるのも訓練の内よ』
アキラが険しい表情で地図を凝視する。地図には様々な情報が記載されている。だがそれらの情報を分析して適切な移動ルートを決定するなどアキラでなくとも難しい。それでも自分なりに必死に考えた上で遺跡に向かっていった。
クズスハラ街遺跡の外周部は廃ビルと
それらの結果として、アキラは普通に歩けば数分の距離を進むのに1時間掛かった。モンスターとの遭遇は無かったが、それでも過度の緊張の連続はアキラを相応に疲弊させていた。
アキラの疲労状態を本人以上に正確に把握しているアルファが、これ以上は危険だと判断して訓練を切り上げる。
『今日はこれぐらいにしましょう。近くに敵はいないから気を抜いても大丈夫よ』
緊張から解き放たれたアキラが疲れから大きく息を吐く。そして振り返り、自分が進んだ距離を確認する。少し先に遺跡と荒野の境目が見えた。自身への落胆で
「......これだけしか進んでないのか。先は遠そうだな」
『経験を積めばもっと早く進めるようになるわ。それに情報収集機器とかの高性能な装備を
アキラを気遣うように優しく明るく自信たっぷりに笑うアルファを見て、アキラも落ちかけていた意気を取り戻した。
「......。そうだな。焦っても仕方無いか」
『そうよ。それではここからは遺物収集に切り替えて、いつものように私の索敵で進みましょうか。行きましょう』
アキラは索敵を完全にアルファに任せて遺跡の奥へ進んでいく。先ほど進むのに1時間掛かった距離など数分で追い抜いた。
再度遺跡の中を進んでいく。元々は機能的に設計されていた街の通りもビルの倒壊などで道を塞がれてしまった
「アルファ。この地図なんだけど、結構間違ってないか?」
アルファが至極あっさりとそれを認めたことに、アキラが少し驚きながら聞き返す。
「間違ってるのか。しかも当然なのか」
『その地図はネットで無料で手に入るものだからね。かなり低い精度のものよ。もっと高精度の地図が必要なら、信頼できる筋から相応の金額を出して購入しないと駄目よ。その地図でさえ、結局は作製時の情報であって、現地の内容と完全に一致する保証は無いわ。強力なモンスターが遺跡内でその地形を変えてしまうほど暴れることもあるし、ハンターとかが遺物収集の都合で施設の壁とかを爆破しようとして、加減を誤って施設ごと倒壊させることもあるわ。他にも地図と実際の地形の差を大きく変える事態は幾らでもあるの。それを踏まえて地図をどこまで信用するか。そこを考えて行動するのも訓練の内よ』
ハンターの中には地図屋と呼ばれる者がいる。多種多様な手段で遺跡の詳細な地図を作製し、その売買で生計を立てる者達だ。危険な遺跡の内部構造、内部に生息するモンスターの種類や数、過去に発掘された遺物の内容など、有益な情報が多数記載されている地図は、時にその遺跡で見付かる遺物より高値で売買される。
アキラはその話を興味深く聞いていた。ハンターとは遺跡から遺物を探し出したりモンスターを倒したりして、何だかんだと金を稼ぐもの。その程度の狭く薄く浅い認識しか持っていなかったアキラにとって、その地図屋という稼ぎ方は結構な衝撃だった。
「そういう稼ぎ方もあるのか。商売に成るほど売れるのか」
アキラがアルファと出会った時のことを思い出して苦笑する。
「まあな。確かにあの時にアルファと会えなかったら俺は間違いなく死んでいたと思う。あの時は本当に危なかった。感謝してる」
「まあ、気長に待っていてくれ」
『期待しているわ』
アキラは軽い口調で返したが、その言葉と意思に偽りはない。そのアキラに
Akira spent his days by training and exploring the ruins.
The rumour of the unexplored territory filled with priceless relics where even a small kid could go, had already died down. After all, Alpha analyzed the market price of the relics and adjusted the quality and quantity of the relics that Akira brought to the Exchange Centre.
Alpha only smiled like usual trying to soothe Akira. She also told Akira that once he got enough skill and position, no one would doubt him if he brought expensive relics to the Exchange Centre. Then he would be able to quickly return back to the lifestyle where he could take a bath in a bathtub every day.
Behind her ever-present smiling face, Alpha kept a close watch on Akira.
Akira's daily chores of training and exploring the ruins changed after Akira brought relics to the Exchange Centre for the 10th time. After he finished the transaction as usual and was about to go back home, Nojima suddenly called him.
"Wait for a second. Take this with you."
Nojima gave Akira a map drawn on a piece of paper and a plastic card. It was a map of the city boundary and there was a marker on it.
"There's just a little bit of something that you need to do, but you only need to show this card to whoever is there. Well then, good luck out there, Ajira."
"...My name is Akira."
Ajira was the name that was mistakenly written on his Hunter ID. Nojima laughed when he saw Akira was annoyed.
"Your name was submitted as such in the database, you know. Did you mistakenly submit the wrong name? Who the heck is the guy who did your application, that damn guy! Anyway, you can correct your name there, so get going."
After saying that, Nojima just cheerfully sent Akira off.
Akira looked at the building, its intimidating appearance showcased the authority, financial power and military power that it held. It was just simply too much for a small kid from the slum.
"This is the place, right?"
"Yep, let's go in."
Akira was frozen in awe by the appearance of the huge hall filled with decorations and the Hunters who were present there. Some of them were carrying a gun bigger than their own body, some of them were using high grade enhancing clothes and some of them even had metallic skin, a common trait of cyborgs. All of them looked so much different compared to Akira, a small boy who just finished his Hunter application.
"Akira, they're not your enemies. It's not like they're going to attack you, so calm down."
"There's nothing you can get from just standing there, let's finish what we came here for. You do know what you should do, right?"
Akira who grew up in the slum had no idea what he should do here, it was thanks to Alpha's support that he was able to proceed without any trouble. The reception counters of the Hunter Office were located on the first floor. He headed to an unmanned reception machine that functioned as a ticket printer, he used the card that he received from Nojima to registered his name on the waiting list. He then moved to a corner to wait for his turn so as to not bother anyone else. When his name was called, he moved to the counter and showed his ticket and card to the girl who was working behind that counter.
"I was told to show this, but..."
The girl showed a formal smile. Her expression and fake smile were suddenly shaken when she saw the card that Akira was showing. But she immediately remembered her position as an office worker and regained her composure. She then took the card and used her terminal to read the card.
"Please let me confirm it, are you Ajira-sama?"
Akira answered back nervously.
"Ah, yes. Wait, no. My name is Akira, the name submitted into the database was a wrong name."
The girl then bowed and apologized.
"I apologize. Well then, Akira-sama, congratulations on your promotion to a Rank-10 Hunter. Please allow me to reconfirm the registered information and reprint the card. Shall I give you a guide for the reissuance of your Hunter ID and the steps to correct the wrong information?"
"Eh, ah, yes, please."
The Hunter Office sorted the Hunters by their ranks. The lowest was Rank-1. People would regard Hunters with a high rank in high regard.
In order to climb the rank, you would need to do business in the Exchange Centre affiliated with the Hunter office or accept quests from the Hunter office or the companies affiliated with it. In short, the more contributions you offer to the Eastern district Corporate government, the higher your rank would be.
If you climbed to a high enough rank, you would be able to access and gather relics from ruins that were restricted under the authority of the Corporate government. The higher your rank, the more priority you will be given in the waiting list.
You would also be able to get your hands on high tech weapons, those that normally would not be offered for sale to low-rank Hunters due to its cost, size and firepower. You might even be allowed to handle forbidden guns.
There were some quests issued by the Hunter office and the companies affiliated to it also had a rank restriction. Only high ranking Hunters were able to take quests with a high level of privacy and restriction, after all, lower rank Hunters would not even know the existence of these quests.
Other than these benefits, many Hunters were climbing the rank for popularity and honour.
Akira was at Rank-10. It was the starter rank for those Hunters who registered their name with their company employee ID or citizenship ID. In short, it was an amateur rank for commoners.
Slum citizens who did not even have a personal ID would start as Rank-1 Hunter when registering themselves as a Hunter. They usually registered their name using a piece of paper with their name written on it. Then after they brought relics to the Exchange Centre for a certain number of times and earned a certain amount of money from those relics, they would start getting recognized as someone who was motivated and had the skill to be a Hunter. Then eventually the Hunter office would recognize them as someone with potential and rank them up.
The card that Nojima gave to Akira in the Exchange Centre was a proof that Akira was already raised up from Rank-1. Not many people could get that since most of the people would just give up or get killed midway. Then among those who were ranked up, some were seen as very potential Hunters and got special treatment. One of them was a free first reissuance for their Hunter ID.
***
"Akira-sama. Since your request was to fix your registered name, can you please tell me your correct name again?"
"It's Akira."
Akira answered back with a puzzled look. The girl asked again with a serious face.
"Akira-sama, the registration today is different compared to the temporary registration that you did before, the information registered today will be forwarded as a full registration and basically added as a complement to the missing information. Moreover, we will accept today's change in the registered data taking into account the fact that we had mistakenly registered your name. From now on, any request for change will need a thorough inspection and depending on your reason, your request might even be rejected, so please remember it. The name registered in your Hunter ID will be the name used to identify you and anything related to you such as your family, land, country, class et cetera. With that in mind, are you sure you want to change your registered name to Akira?"
Akira could not immediately answer that question.
Akira had no relatives at all. He had no family and not even a record about his family. When he first began understanding the world around him, he already found himself in the slums of the Kugamayama city. He even had no love for the slums. He stayed there just because he had no ability to get out from the slum, so it was not like he felt any sense of belonging or anything.
After a short silence, Akira said with a serious look.
"Akira, my name is Akira. Please register me with this name. If I want to change it, I'll just change it later. But if my request is refused, then it might mean that I should not change my name after all."
After operating the terminal, the receptionist handed over a new Hunter ID to Akira.
Akira kept staring at his Hunter ID that he just received. It changed from a cheap-looking piece of paper into a card made of hard plastic. There was a deep meaning in the change of material.
"Please be careful not to lose it. Another reissuance would require more money and another inspection. And in the worst-case scenario, all of your past achievements might even get erased and your rank might be revoked back to Amateur."
"That will conclude your registration. I sincerely pray for your success ahead."
Her politeness was just a formality. But it also meant that he was finally regarded as a real Hunter. Akira smiled back and left the place.
"Akira, you finally became a Hunter. Congratulation!!"
"Thank you... So I wasn't a Hunter all this time, huh?"
As Akira was looking at his new Hunter ID, he made an expression as if he just realized something.
"A thing that I must have? What am I going to buy?"
"An information terminal."
Hunters usually bought, sold, shared and exchanged useful information such as the location of ruins, the map of ruins and the details about the monsters who live in the ruins on the internet. It helped them to effectively work as Hunters, bring back a lot of relics and make the eastern district prosper.
Moreover, the information terminal produced by Tatsumori Manufacturing is regarded as an important product in the eastern district because of its influence, as such, for the benefit of the eastern district, the information terminal was mass-produced and sold cheaply. So even someone like Akira is able to buy one for himself.
Since the information terminal had completely assimilated in the Hunters' life, companies and the Hunter office usually sent their request through the information terminal. Even now, they said that the information terminal was an absolute necessity for Hunters.
Akira then went to an information terminal specialist shop near the Hunter office and bought an information terminal by following Alpha's instructions. Akira spent almost all the money he earned for buying the information terminal. And also, the terminal was actually a simple information terminal made especially for amateurs. Akira had no idea to set up the terminal, so he had the shop clerk set it up for him.
While the shop clerk was setting up his information terminal, he said to Akira that he would need Hunter ID to finish the setup. Akira thought that a chance to use his new hunter ID had finally come and happily showed his Hunter ID.
After returning back to his narrow room, Akira started thinking seriously. He had calmed down after getting his new Hunter ID and information terminal. So, he started thinking that he would work hard in the future since he had become a common Hunter now, but then he suddenly realized something and got worried about his current condition.
Akira thought that Alpha must have thought of something and expected a reassuring answer from Alpha. But Alpha just smiled and said.
"Nope, we're not, that's why we'll go hunt for relics tomorrow."
"You still have some ammo left from before, so I think you're alright for the ammo."
"...You're right."
"Starting from tomorrow, you'll use the information terminal for exploring the ruin. So give me a hand in setting the terminal."
"Hm? Didn't we finish that in the shop before?"
"It's the setting frequently used by a common Hunter. Now we're going to set it to suit your need, Akira. We need to completely overwrite the setting so that it's easier for you to receive my support. But I can't operate the terminal, so you'll have to help me with it."
"It might take at least until midnight, so give your best, okay?"
Akira was surprised and looked at Alpha. He could see that Alpha just smiled as usual but she was not joking. As such, he suddenly felt so tired and his face loosened.
"...It's finally over, huh."
The date had already changed. Realizing that, Akira suddenly felt more tired. He just dove into his bed while leaving his information terminal lying on the floor. Then he let tiredness lead him to sleep.
The information terminal kept working on its own while Akira was sleeping.
The next morning. Akira woke up from Alpha's voice just like usual. But when he turned towards the source of the voice, he did not see Alpha.
"...Alpha?"
"...Eh, ah, yes."
Akira was still disoriented just after waking up, so his reaction was rather dull. Seeing his reaction Alpha looked rather dissatisfied.
"That was a weak reaction. Are you're not surprised?"
"Compared to the sudden appearance of a girl who I can see but not touch, which really gave me a paradigm shift, this is nothing. By the way, are we going to communicate with each other through this terminal from now on?"
After taking his time thinking for a bit, Akira answered back casually.
"Let's communicate like before. It's too much work if I have to take out my terminal every time I want to talk with you."
Alpha suddenly vanished from the terminal and appeared beside Akira just like usual. With the presence and voice which felt so real that they could not be compared to the one from the terminal, Alpha happily made a mischievous smile while coming closer to Akira's face and said in such a provocative voice.
"Alright then, let's go."
"Wait for a second."
Alpha was making a dissatisfied look at Akira who was brimming with excitement. It could be taken that he was able to make that expression since they had that leeway, but it was only until Alpha opened her mouth.
"Since you got better in using guns, we'll change the difficulty of your training starting from today. To be more precise, I want you to be able to move around without my enemy detection support. We will still keep diving into the ruin, but you should take actions assuming as if you have no enemy detection support from me."
Akira was visibly shocked, Alpha's enemy detection was Akira's lifeline. He could not even imagine what would happen to him if he did not have it.
"You're not going to be okay. That's why you have to train yourself."
"W-well, you're right, but..."
Akira was thinking of insisting, but he was in so much shock that he could not say anything. Alpha suddenly made a serious face.
"If you get better as a Hunter, you'll be able to explore other ruins too. After all, you can't expect to keep looking for relics in Kuzusuhara ruins only. Also, my enemy detection is significantly weakened outside Kuzusuhara ruins."
"...be more precise, how far it's weakened?"
"In the worst-case scenario, it won't even work at all."
Akira's face inadvertently puckered. For Akira, that would be simply lethal.
"Of course, but you should properly move around the ruins carefully. Otherwise, it won't be training."
"Basically, you just need to move around as you like. If you do anything dangerous or do something that you should not do, I'll give you a warning. So then, let's start."
Akira took a deep breath trying to calm down. Although it was only a training and Alpha's detection was still working, but he had to think he had no enemy detection support as he was going to explore the ruins. Now suddenly the ruins became a very dangerous place in Akira's mind.
Moreover, in reality, the ruins were more dangerous than he thought. It was just that Alpha's existence made it look safer before. It made Akira realize that he was actually spoiled up until now as he was not used to the feeling that he is feeling now. But even so, he steeled his resolve and stepped forward.
He got a warning right on his first step.
"You should confirm the safety of the ruins from here using your binoculars first. Confirm whether there are monsters or not. And if you spot a monster, think whether you can win against that monster or you should withdraw. Think carefully before you make any decisions."
It was ultimately correct. So Akira could only smile bitterly remembering that he was about to step into the ruins carelessly. So then he took out his binoculars and looked at the ruin. He did not spot any monster. They might be just hiding but it was way better than stepping forward without checking anything.
"Before moving forward, look at your information terminal."
Akira then looked at the information terminal that was attached to his arm. Since it was a product especially made for Hunters, it came with a strong belt that Akira used to fit the terminal in a place where he could easily look at. There was a chibi Alpha displayed on the terminal monitor and it was giving an instruction to Akira. After Akira followed that instruction, a map popped out in the monitor.
"This is the map of the Kuzusuhara ruins. Even if you are only going to hunt for relics, rather than searching aimlessly, you should decide where you want to search and which route you want to take. Although it is important to choose places where the probability of finding relics are more, it is even more important for you to think of an escape route in case you encounter a monster. So plan carefully and adjust your action according to the situation around you."
"Even if you tell me so much, I still don't know what exactly I should do."
"It's also a form of training for you to think about it."
Akira kept staring at the map with a grim face. There was a lot of information written on the map but for Akira or even for other people too, it was hard to analyze that information and plan on a route. But even so, Akira racked his brain and tried his best before moving towards the ruins.
The outskirts of the Kuzusuhara ruins were filled with abandoned buildings. Akira had some memories of calmly walking through this place, but the place was very different from what he remembered. As such, Akira was making a grim face as he walked through it.
Because of that, Akira took about an hour to pass through the place that usually took him just a few minutes. Although he did not encounter any monster, the strain that he got from surveying his surroundings greatly exhausted him.
Compared to Akira, Alpha knew better just how exhausted Akira was. So she decided that it would be dangerous if they continued and stopped the training there.
"Let's stop your training here today. There's no danger around so you can rest easy."
Akira loosened up a bit and let out a big sigh from the exhaustion. He then looked back to see just how far he had come. He could see that he just passed the border between the ruins and the wasteland, he then let out a sigh realizing just how incompetent he was.
"...So I only went this far huh? It seems that I have a lot of things to work on in the future."
"You'll be able to move faster with more experience. Moreover, once you get a better information terminal, it would be able to greatly help you in detecting enemies. Keep up with your training, get better equipment and let's become a capable Hunter. Don't worry, just leave everything to me."
Looking at how Alpha was smiling brightly and gently at him, Akira was able to reassure himself.
"...You're right, I just can't rush this kind of thing."
"That's right. Now then, we should go looking for relics. So let's continue forward with my enemy detection support. Let's go!"
Akira just left the enemy detection to Alpha as he delved deep into the ruins. He was able to traverse through the same distance that he took an hour alone, in just a few minutes.
As he moved deeper into the ruins. The road that was actually designed for easy access, turned into a labyrinth due to the wreckages from the buildings that were blocking the roads.
"Alpha, about this map though, isn't this map wrong in many places?"
Akira was surprised when he heard just how casually Alpha answered that.
"So it is indeed incorrect, huh. And it's to be expected, huh?!"
"That map is download for free from the internet after all. So it was an inaccurate map. As for a more accurate map, you would need to pay money and get it from a source that you can trust. Moreover, the map displayed is from the time when that terminal was produced, so there's no guarantee in its accuracy. There are cases when powerful monsters went on a rampage and completely changed the contours of the place, there are also cases where Hunters who were trying to destroy a wall for searching relics but ended up destroying the whole building too. There are many other things that happened and changed the condition of the ruins. So with that in mind, you should also train yourself so that you can use the map as much as possible despite all of this."
Among the Hunters, there were those who were known as map brokers. They used all kinds of methods to make a map of ruins and earned their living from selling those maps. Their maps were filled with useful information containing a detailed map of the inner part of a dangerous ruin, the type and number of monsters that roamed the ruin and the list of relics that were found in that ruin. Sometimes, the value of the map of ruin could even go beyond the value of the relics that you could find in that ruin.
Akira was listening closely to Alpha. He only had a shallow knowledge of Hunters. He had thought that Hunters were people who only explored the ruins, killed monsters and earned money from collecting relics. So he was a bit surprised when he heard that some Hunters earned money through selling maps.
"So you can earn money from doing such a thing, huh?! Is it really that profitable that you can make a business out of it?"
Akira smiled bitterly as he remembered the time when he hadn't met Alpha.
"Well, it's true that I would have died if I didn't meet you back then. So thank you once again!!"
"Ah, please be patient about that."
"I have a high expectation from you."
Akira replied back casually but there were no lies in his words. And it was the same for Alpha who was smiling at Akira. But it was a different problem as to how sincere it was deep inside their hearts.
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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