199 旧世界の物達
アキラが真っ白な世界に立っている。
「言われなくても分かっているわ。過去の試行で、それで駄目にしたパターンがあるからね。そもそも端末で良いのなら、私達がそこらの自動人形でも乗っ取って向かえば済む話よ。だから仕方がないとはいえ、面倒よね」
「物理アクセスの正当性を担保する
アルファ達は皮肉を感じさせる苦笑を浮かべていた。
「それで、そっちの進捗は?」
「方針を切り替えた結果、ローカルネットワークの構築が急激に進んでいる。戦力増強という意味では申し分ないが、余りに規模が拡大すると手に負えなくなる可能性が出てきた。一度何らかの契機で戦力を試算し直した後、その結果次第ではすぐに司令室に向かわせる」
「それ、大丈夫なの? 急がないと個が分散してローカルネットワーク全体で個と
アルファが少し残念そうな顔を浮かべると、別のアルファが少し顔を険しくさせた。
「そちらの個体はローカルネットワーク形成の前兆などは見られないのか?」
「ないわ。元々孤立傾向の強い個体で他者との
「どうかしたの? 何か問題?」
「先ほど説明した通り、ローカルネットワークの構築が急激に進んでいる。そのため、若干ではあるが、こちらの手に負えなくなる可能性が生まれている。場合によっては、そちらに対処を願いたい」
「そちらの個体とは異なり、こちらは個体との契約も個体の許可もない。よって難しい」
「これも試行だ。結果を問わず、次の判断に役立つだろう」
「まあ、そうなのだけれどね。あ、そうそう。ツバキの件は......」
アルファ達の会話が続く中、突然アキラの視界がぼやけた。
アキラが目を覚ました。突然全く違う場所に移動したような奇妙な感覚が軽い混乱を引き起こし、慌てて周囲を確認する。
シオリがアキラに気付いて声を掛ける。
「目を覚まされましたか。大丈夫ですか? 外傷はない様子でしたが、一応回復薬の投与はしておきました。痛むようでしたら追加を持ってきますが」
「アキラ様の車の中です。車の屋根で気を失っていましたので、車内に運んで寝かせておきました。......大丈夫ですか?」
アキラは自分でもよく分からない戸惑いの中にいた。冷静さを欠いている自覚はあるが、妙な現実感の欠如が意識の覚醒を妨げていた。
そこにアルファが姿を現す。
『アキラ。おはよう』
『......アルファ?』
『随分と慌てているように見えるけれど、まずは深呼吸でもしたら? 落ち着くと思うわよ?』
アルファはいつものように優しく
みを見て刷り込まれたようにそう理解すると、促されるままに深呼吸を繰り返した。ある種の儀式のように染みこんだ所作がアキラにすぐに落ち着きを取り戻させていく。だが精神状態が平静に戻るのと同時に、夢の残骸の記憶が生んだ淡い僅かな何かも一緒に消えていった。
『アルファ。取りあえず状況を説明してくれ』
『アキラは車の屋根の上で2体の自動人形と戦った後に気絶したのよ。覚えていないの?』
戦闘後に気絶した所為で変な高揚が残っていたのかもしれない。アキラはそう結論付けて先ほどの妙な感覚に
「あ、大丈夫だ。......気絶してたってことは、落ちるところだったのか。助かった。ありがとう」
「アキラ様も御無事で何よりです。目を覚まされた直後で恐縮ですが、いろいろと聞きたいことが御座います。
アキラとシオリ達はお互いの情報を交換して事態の把握に入った。
シオリ達はアキラが眠っていた間にモンスターの群れを引き剥がし終えていた。モンスターの群れは車両がイイダ商業区画遺跡の圏内を抜けて地面から緑がなくなった辺りで、それ以上アキラ達を追うのを止めて引き返していった。遺跡を縄張りにするモンスターにはよくあることで、本能に刻まれた生息圏の外に出られないのだ。遺跡を警備する生体兵器の名残だとも言われている。
車はクガマヤマ都市を目指して荒野を進んでいる。運転席のトガミの横では、レイナがぐったりとした状態で助手席に座っていた。
あの後シオリ達はレイナを本当に手伝わなかった。念の
トガミは運転をしながら今後の方針をレイナと相談している。目を覚ましたアキラと報酬の分配方法や遺物の売却手段などの話を付けるために、事前に問題点の洗い出しなどをしていた。今回のハンター稼業も基本的にはトガミとレイナのチームの仕事であり、アキラやシオリ達は部外者だ。トガミはチームのリーダーとして、レイナはチームの一員として、アキラという外部の人間との交渉を控えて真面目に議論をしていた。
それらの話を聞いて状況の簡単な把握を終えたアキラが
いは、その迷彩機能で隠れていたのかもしれない。でもそうすると、そいつは何で俺を襲わなかったんだって話になるのか。いや、それは迷彩とは関係ないか?」
「それについては心当たりがあります。料金分は働いた。その自動人形はそう言っていました。恐らくですが、遺跡の施設に雇われていたのでしょう。侵入者の排除か、強盗の撃退か、その詳細までは分かりませんが、アキラ様があの2体を倒した時点で、その料金分だったのだと思います」
「......料金分、か。真面目なのか不真面目なのか分からないな。まあ、助かったのならどっちでも良いか」
アキラはその理由に、機械的なものよりも人間的なものを感じて何となく面白く思った。
シオリが白いカードをアキラに渡す。
「その自動人形が残していったものです。何か分かりますか?」
気絶していたアキラにはカードが残された経緯など分からない。更にシオリは入手方法の説明を意図的に省いた。加えてアルファもそれをアキラに意図的に教えなかった。その所為でアキラはそのカードを、知りもしない自動人形が戦闘の余波などで落としていったもの、ぐらいにしか思っていなかった。
アキラはカードを受け取ると、回したり裏返したりして一応確認してみた。だが何も分からなかった。
『アルファ。これが何か分かるか?』
『アキラ。それ以上の情報を私から聞いて何か分かったとして、それをシオリに話して、どうして分かったのか聞かれたらどうするの?』
められたアキラは、軽く首を横に振ってカードをシオリに返そうとした。だがシオリはカードを受け取ろうとしない。それをアキラが不思議に思っていると、シオリが追加の情報を出してくる。
「恐らくですが、その自動人形はリオンズテイル社と関わりがあります。それでも、何か分かりませんか?」
「リオンズテイル社?」
「......先に言っておくけど、全部推測だ。恐らくリオンズテイル社は旧世界の企業のはずだ。セランタルビルのフロア案内に載っていた気がする。そのカードがそれと関係があるのなら、例えばそのカードが通行証とかになるのなら、関係者以外立入禁止だったフロアに入れるようになるかもしれないな」
「興味深い話ですね」
「まあ、俺はもう一回あそこに行こうとは思わないから、関係ないと言えば関係ないな」
シオリがアキラの態度を深読みした上で続ける。
「えっと、このカードをか?」
アキラが少し悩む。
『アルファ。どう思う? 俺は別に欲しいとは思わないけど、すんなり渡すのも
「確かに受け取りました。取引成立ですね」
オリビアがアキラに残したカードは、アキラも納得した取引を経てシオリの物となった。その所有権が付随する様々なものと一緒にシオリに移行したのだ。その取引の様子を、カナエが珍しく真面目な顔で見ていた。
シオリ達がレイナ達の所へいろいろな説明のために向かう。座って休憩を取っていたアキラがアルファに少し
『なあアルファ。上で戦ってた時だけどさ、何かやってたよな?』
『ええ。アキラを手助けして体感時間の操作とかを後押ししたの。前から試みてはいたのだけれど、
『それは単位時間に処理した情報量の桁が上がった結果よ。同じ場所を写したぼやけた画像と鮮明な画像の違いのようなものよ』
『アキラ。一応注意しておくわ。あれの多用は厳禁よ。負荷が大きすぎるからね。高濃度の加速剤を大量に使用した場合の副作用と同じで、最悪の場合、死ぬわ』
アキラが顔を軽く
『慣れれば負荷も減るし効率も上がるから慣れるしかないわね。いずれは自力でも、私のサポートがない状態でも、同じことを出来るようになるかもしれないわ。でも十分に注意しなさい。これは切り札や奥の手の類いであって常用するものではないの』
『分かってる。......あー、何か分かったら疲れてきた気がする。頭痛もしてきた気がする』
『横になって休んでいなさい。十分働いたのだから文句も言われないでしょう』
アキラは眠気はないが再び横になった。ぼんやりと天井を眺めていると天井に隙間を発見した。
(......あれは斬られた跡か。バイクはいきなり廃車になったし、車も修理に出さないと駄目だな。銃も修理か買換えだ。......どうしようかな)
シズカに注文する時にどうするか。
オリビアが自動車並みの速度で荒野を走っている。
収納装置に格納されていたオリビアを起動させるには本来様々な手順を踏まなければならない。だが未起動状態での経過年数や、受付端末からの通信内容など、様々な理由で起動条件が緩んでおり、その結果ロディンの適当な操作でも起動してしまった。不正な手段で自身の起動を試みる者への対処が起動した主な理由だった。
起動後は関係者以外立入禁止の場所にいる武装した侵入者に対するありふれた処理を実施した。そして遺跡の通信網を経由して施設側に不審者の情報を渡すと、施設の管理システムは形式的で場当たり的な対処をオリビアに有料で求めてきた。施設側の備品でもないオリビアは支払分だけ働く条件でそれを引き受けた。
その後、他社製品の自動人形を見付けてその状態を確認すると、破壊されるか不正利用されるかのどちらかの末路を
だがアキラ達はそのモンスターの群れから逃げ延びようとしていた。仕方がないので端末化した自動人形を投げ飛ばして対処した。そしてそれもアキラに倒されたので、仕方なく自分で対処しようとしたのだ。
オリビアが倒れた自動人形達から武器を回収してアキラに止めを刺そうとした時、施設側から振り込まれた報酬額ではそろそろ働きすぎかと思い始めた時、気絶していたアキラが気絶したまま立ち上がった。そしてその口から人には聞き取れない声を出した後、再び倒れ込んだ。シオリ達が来たのはその後だった。
「私は人に雇われたいの。金払いが良くてもあんなのに雇われるのは御免だわ。自力で窓口にアクセスした記録があったからカードを渡しておいたけど、あんなのと付き合いがある人なら止めておいた方が良かったかもね。......どこかに良い雇い主がいてほしいわ」
オリビアは少し不満げな表情を見せた後、気を切り替えたように笑った。今日、現在の荒野に旧世界の自動人形がまた1体解き放たれた。
「遅えぞ」
シカラベが軽く笑ってその愚痴をいなす。
「死者はゼロだ。重傷者もまあ死にはしねえ」
「いつも通りじゃねえか」
「お前らがもっと早く来ていれば余計な苦労も減ったし、稼ぎの桁も上がったんだよ。完品状態の旧世界製自動人形4体が、大破状態の2体になったんだぞ? 久々のデカい稼ぎだと思ったのによ」
「そりゃ御愁傷様だ」
事のように笑い、クロサワが舌打ちをする。その軽く気安い雰囲気は増援により場の安全が保たれたことを意味していた。
クロサワは場の安全管理を派遣部隊に引き渡したことにより既にハンター達のリーダーの立ち位置から降りていた。よって派遣部隊との交渉もハンター達に任せていた。
派遣部隊の中にいた背広の男がロディン達から話を聞いている。
「我々に引き渡していだだける自動人形が、完品4体から大破2体にまで下がったのは我々としても非常に残念です。ですが、我々も商売です。多大な費用を支払ってここにまで来ています。途中でモンスターの群れとも交戦しました。契約上、そちらから追加の費用を請求することはありませんが、破損した自動人形やその収納装置などを我々に引き渡した後、その代金を得られるとは思わないでいただきたい。派遣費用と全額相殺になるでしょう。そこは、御理解いただきたい」
「ただ、その5体目の自動人形は少々興味深い。いろいろ聞かせていただければ、いろいろ考慮できるかもしれません。お話を、聞かせていただきたいですね」
「話って言われても、知ってるのはロディンだしな。おい、ロディン。どうなってるんだ?」
「いや、そう言われても」
ロディンは仲間の勘違いを正さずに、それ以外のことは全部話した。その後、背広の男をオリビアが保存されていた部屋まで案内した。
「この部屋も、部屋の備品を含めて我々に引き渡していただきます。そうすれば、査定が必要ですが、多少はお支払いできるようになるでしょう。
「ありがとう御座います」
男の部下がロディン達を部屋から追い出して封鎖する。部屋に残った男はオリビアが格納されていた収納装置を真剣な顔で調べた後、強力な秘匿回線で連絡を取り始めた。
『私です。......いえ、恐らくですが、事前に連絡を受けた4体は外れですね。ですが、該当のものと思われる機体が格納されていたと思われる収納装置を発見しました。......いえ、確保はできていません。空の収納装置だけです。稼働後に対象を発見したハンターを襲ってから立ち去ったようです。その後の消息は不明です。......カード、ですか? いえ、それらしい物は見当たりません。......分かりました。周囲を捜索し、ハンターが持っていないかも含めてそれとなく探します。......はい。失礼します』
男は通信を切ると、空の収納装置に視線を移した。
「リオンズテイル社の自動人形か......。ここならもっと早く見付かっても不思議はないが、今までは起動後に発見者を殺して収納装置に戻るのを繰り返していたのか? 何らかの理由でその防衛設定が緩んだのか? そうすると、多少は物分かりが良い機体ってことになる。......あの
昔、旧世界製の自動人形を手に入れたハンターが起業した。その企業は瞬く間に成長して統企連の上部に食い込むまでになった。その企業は旧世界の企業が現代で事業再開を試みた結果であり、今では富裕層にメイドを派遣して上位層の支援を得ている。ハンターはお飾りで実際の経営指揮はその自動人形が行っている。メイドを派遣しているのも旧世界時代の企業活動の模倣で、現在では旧世界並みに高性能な自動人形の入手が困難なため、優秀な人間で代用している。
その自動人形はリオンズテイル社の製品だった。東部ではそんな
都市に戻ったアキラ達はそこで解散した。遺物は売却手段を含めた報酬の分配方法を決める交渉が終わるまでシオリ達が預かることになった。車をシオリに貸したアキラはついでに整備場への運搬と修理等も頼んでからシズカの店に向かった。トガミとレイナは今回の報告書作成などを済ませるためにドランカムの拠点に向かった。
運転席のシオリに、助手席のカナエが珍しく少し真面目な声を出す。
は言っていなかっただけで、詐欺に片足突っ込んでるどころじゃないっすよ? バレたらどうするつもりっすか?」
「......その時は、私がお嬢様から失望されて、アキラ様から恨まれる。それだけよ」
レイナに失望される。シオリにとってその意味は大きい。カナエが大きな
カナエがいつもの調子に戻して笑う。
「まあ、バレてアキラ少年と殺し合う羽目になった時は、一声掛けて下さいっす。手伝うっすよ」
「その前に、可能な限り交渉で済ませるわ。事情を話して、謝罪して、金銭的な補填をして、いろいろ交渉を試して、それでも駄目だったら......」
「駄目だったら?」
「えー。そりゃないっすよ」
シオリが笑って冗談を言い、カナエも笑って不満そうな声を返した。
その時にどちらかが残るのならば、レイナを逃がすのはカナエの方だ。黙って殺されてアキラの憎悪を下げるにしろ、逆に返り討ちにするにしろ、場に残るのはシオリの方だ。カナエが交代を提案してもシオリは受け入れない。それはどちらも分かっていた。
Ch 199
Akira was standing in a white space. As he looked around in his hazy consciousness, he saw two Alpha and a young boy that seemed somehow familiar to him. He could see shadows of countless people standing beside that young boy.
"Yeah, I know that even without you telling me. There was a case in the past when that happened and it did not work. In the first place, if a remote terminal was fine then we would have used one of those automata and gone there ourselves. That's why we have no other choice but to go through this painful process."
"It's to ensure that the one accessing is a real person. We can't do anything about it, that's just how the security works and it applies to us too."
The two Alpha smiled bitterly at each other.
"So then, how about yours?"
"After the change of plan, the local network's nodes spread incredibly fast. Although I have no complaint about the number since the more nodes we get, the more fighting power we will have. But there might be a problem if the number goes beyond what I can control. I'm planning to evaluate the total strength by doing something soon. After that, depending on the result, I might decide to bring the subject to the commander's room."
"Are you sure you're going to be fine? If you let the local network node spread wider and wider at this rate, the system might see the network as one entity and you'll have to bring all the nodes to that place when that happens, you know."
Alpha seemed a bit disappointed, the other Alpha then frowned and asked.
"Does your subject not show any sign of forming a local network?"
"Nope, none at all. After all, he was originally a loner and the thought of forming relations with others never crossed his mind, that's why I can't use that method. But I'll be the one managing him after the connection, so don't worry about it."
"What's wrong? Is there any problem?"
"As I explained, the local network spread out way faster than I expected. As such, I sometimes can't take control of the network. So I might need your help if things get bad."
"Unlike the subject under you, I still haven't even received the consent for the contract from my subject. So it might be not that easy"
"This is also an experiment. Regardless of the result, it'll be useful for our future trials."
"Well, that's true, but still. Ah, by the way, about Tsubaki..."
While the two Alphas were still talking to each other, Akira's vision blurred.
Akira finally woke up. He felt that weird feeling as he realized that he was no longer in the same place as where he last remembered and immediately scanned his surroundings.
Shiori noticed Akira waking up and spoke to him.
"You've woken up, are you alright? It doesn't seem that you sustained any injuries from the outside, but, just to be safe, I gave you some medicines. I'll bring some more if you're still in pain."
"We're inside Akira-sama's APC. Since we found you fainted on top of the APC, we brought you in and let you lie down until you woke up... Are you alright?"
Akira's consciousness was still hazy, although there was a slight trace of calmness in his mind, the haziness prevented him from being fully awake.
That was when suddenly Alpha appeared.
"Akira, good morning."
"...Alpha?"
"It seems that you're a bit flustered there, how about you take some deep breaths first? It'll calm you down, you know?"
Alpha was smiling gently at him, just like usual.
Judging from how Alpha was smiling at him, Akira understood that he was in a safe place for now as he took a deep breath. It was a short ritual that helped Akira reset his state of mind. But as he regained his calmness, the hazy memories of what he saw when he was unconscious was lost in the exchange.
"Alpha, give me the status report for now."
"You fainted after fighting two automata on top of the APC. You don't remember that?"
Akira thought that the weird feeling that he felt was the leftover adrenaline rush that was cut short when he suddenly fainted in the middle of that fight. He then noticed Shiori who was looking worriedly at him.
"Ah, right, I'm fine... I fainted up there so it means that you must have saved me from falling over. Thank you."
"It's great that you're alright. I'm sorry to ask you this just right after you woke up, but there are some questions that I want to ask, is it okay?"
Shiori and Akira then exchanged information to understand the situation that they were in.
While Akira was unconscious, they were able to successfully get away from the swarm. Right around the boundary when the green plants that covered Lida commercial district stopped growing, the monsters also stopped chasing the APC. It was a common trait that monsters could not leave the ruin. That was why people used to call them biological security drones guarding the ruins.
The vehicle was on the way heading back to Kugamayama city at the moment. Togami was driving the APC while Reina was sitting and resting on the driver's assistant seat.
After carrying Akira in, Shiori and Kanae really did not help Reina at all. Although Kanae was standing next to her, she was only there to guard Reina while sometimes making idle talk. To put it in a better light, it might have helped Reina not get too tense, but it might be just Kanae having nothing else to do to waste time. It was also to give Shiori time to think as well as to help lighten the side-effects of the trump card that both of them had used.
Togami was driving the vehicle while talking with Reina about their next plan. They were trying to flush any other potential issues including the distribution of rewards and where to sell the relics before Akira woke up. Today's ruin exploration was basically registered under Togami's party which only included Togami and Reina. Kanae, Shiori and Akira were basically considered outsiders this time. As the leader of the team and as the only other member in the team, Togami and Reina were seriously discussing what to do about their negotiations with Akira.
After hearing a short explanation from Shiori, Akira more or less got the gist of what had happened. But he then confusedly said.
"Hmm, I have no recollection of that automaton at all. Either it came in between after I fainted and before you got there, or it was there all along and was using a camouflaging device. But if that was the case, then why did it not attack me? Wait, that one has nothing to do with camouflage, huh."
"I might have a guess regarding that matter. It said that it had worked for what it was paid for already. So I bet that automaton was hired by the ruin's system. Although, I don't know the details whether it's only to repel intruders or to fight back against armed robbers. But it seems that it had judged that it had worked enough after Akira-sama defeated those two automata."
"...I see. I don't know if it's being earnest or not by doing so, but either way, I was saved by that. So it doesn't really matter, huh."
Akira found that interesting since it was more of a human-like emotion that a robot would not normally have.
Shiori then handed a white card to Akira.
"That automaton left this for you. Do you know what this is?"
Since it had happened when Akira was unconscious, he had no idea the reason why that automaton left him that white card. Shiori also deliberately did not tell Akira how she got that card. Alpha also deliberately kept herself from telling anything to him. Because of that, he thought nothing of that card other than something that one of the automata might have dropped during that intense battle.
Akira took that card, flipped over, and took a closer look at it. But as expected, he had no idea at all.
"Alpha, do you have any idea what it is?"
"Akira, even if I tell you what I know, what will you do if Shiori asks how you knew about it?"
Alpha indirectly scolded Akira for his carelessness. He then shook his head and extended that card back to Shiori. But Shiori did not take it back and Akira found that really strange. Shiori then added.
"This is just a guess, but that automaton might belong to the Lion Steel Corporation. Does that give you any hints?"
"Lion Steel Corporation?"
"...As I said, this is nothing but my guess. That Lion Steel Corporation is probably an old-world company. If I'm not mistaken, that name was also there in the Seranthal building's guide map. If this card has something to do with that and if it's a card to give special permission to pass through, it might be useful to go to some floors that are originally closed off to outsiders."
"That is indeed interesting."
"Well, I have no plans to go there ever again anyway, so I basically have nothing to do with this card."
Shiori tried to read what was behind Akira's words and said.
"Uhh, you mean the card, right?"
Akira hesitated for a bit.
"Alpha, what do you think? To be honest, it's not like I really want that card anyway, but is it something that I shouldn't just give away willy-nilly?"
"Indeed, we have a deal."
The card that Olivia left for Akira now had turned into Shiori's possession based on a deal that Akira had accepted. That meant Akira had transferred all the rights coming from that card to her. During that negotiation, Kanae was looking at them with a rare serious face.
Shiori and Kanae then went to Togami and Reina to tell them about the deal. Akira, who was left behind, sat down and looked at Alpha.
"Say, Alpha. Did you do something to me during that fight on top of the APC?"
"Yes. I boosted your time compression. I always wanted to do that and finally, I was able to."
"That's simply because the information that you received during that brief period of time was multiplied. The difference is similar to looking at a blurry picture and a sharp picture."
"Akira, let me at least warn you about this. You should not use it too frequently. It places too much burden on you after all. It has the same effect as taking a strong accelerator drug. In the worst-case scenario, it might even kill you."
Akira slightly frowned.
"It'll lessen the burden which makes it safer and increase its effectiveness the more you use it. So there's no other way but to get used to it. You might even get to the point where you can do that on your own without my support at all one day, you know. But make sure to be careful. It's something like a trump card that you should not use often."
"I know... Ahhh, now that I more or less understand what happened, I'm feeling super tired now and my head started hurting too."
"You can lie down and take a good rest. You've worked pretty hard this time, so I'm sure no one would complain."
Although he was not sleepy, Akira decided to lie down again. As he stared absentmindedly at the APC's ceiling, he noticed a small slit.
[...That cut must be from the fight, huh. My bike is now gone too and I have to get this vehicle repaired. Then there's also my rifles too, either I get them repaired or buy a new one... What should I do...?]
Akira was thinking about what to say to Shizuka when he placed that order. Either he will have to try and hide it or be honest and tell Shizuka everything. He was not sure which one to do.
Olivia was running through the wasteland, she was running as fast as a vehicle.
There were many conditions that needed to be satisfied in order to reactivate Olivia from its storage device. But those conditions were reduced due to the long years where it stayed inactive and the signal that the storage device's terminal was receiving at that time. Thanks to that, even a random button press from Rodin was enough to wake Olivia up. That was the reason why Olivia followed the security protocol in case it was activated through the wrong method.
The security protocol led Olivia to kill any intruders that got into restricted areas. And when the information of the unauthorized intruders was sent to Olivia by the system, the system also submitted a request with payment since Olivia was originally not a part of the system. It then decided to accept that request and to only work as much as it was paid.
After that, it found other automata from another company and checked their conditions. It then judged that those automata would be either destroyed or misused, thus it changed its view of the automata and decided to turn them into its own terminal in order to use them to take care of the intruders.
But the intruders were able to survive the swarm. So Olivia decided to throw the other two automata to that APC. And even those were defeated by Akira, thus it had no other choice but to go there itself.
Olivia took the weapon that the other automata dropped and was about to go and kill Akira. As it was thinking that it had already more or less worked hard enough for the compensation that it received, Akira suddenly stood up while still unconscious. He then said something that normal humans could not comprehend before falling limp again. Shiori and Kanae arrived at the scene right after that.
"I want to work for a human. Even if the payment is good, I have no plans to work for something like that. I just gave him that card since the record said that he had once accessed the counter on his own. But now that I think about it again, it might have been better if I had killed him considering that he's working with that thing... I wonder if I can find a good employer somewhere..."
Olivia looked rather disappointed, but she immediately smiled afterwards. That day, one more old-world automaton was released to the wasteland.
"You guys are damn late."
Shikarabe lightly scoffed and countered.
"Nah, it's zero like usual, though someone has been badly injured, he's not going to die."
"Then it's business as usual, isn't it?"
"If only you guys came sooner, we wouldn't have had to go through that and we might have been able to earn more money. Four undamaged old-world automata now turned into two broken old-world automata, you know? And here I thought I was about to bring back a lot of money."
"Well, you have my condolence."
Shikarabe laughed and said so as if it was not his fault. Kurosawa replied with a click of his tongue. Their casual exchange demonstrated that they were pretty much safe.
With the dispatched squad already there, Kurosawa finished his duty and relinquished the command to the new squad. So he also let the rest of the Hunters take care of the negotiation with the new squad.
Among the new squad, a guy with a broad back listened to the reports given by Rodin and the other Hunters.
"To be honest, it's really unfortunate that the four undamaged old-world automata are now turned into two damaged automata. But, we're also here for the money. It was not free to come all the way here, not to mention that we encountered a swarm of monsters too. Although according to the contract, we won't charge you anything because of that, it's better if you do not expect to get paid even after handing those automata to us. I'm sure the money that we get will be mostly used to pay for the transportation fee to come here. I hope you guys can understand that."
"But well, the fifth automaton is indeed interesting. From what I heard so far, we might be able to be considerate. Please tell me in detail what you know about the last automaton."
"The detail, huh, the only one who knows about it is Rodin. Hey, Rodin, do you have anything to add here?"
"Well, even if you say so..."
Rodin explained everything that he knew while deliberately leaving the misunderstanding that the other Hunters had. After that, he took that man to the room where Olivia was sleeping.
"This room is ours too. Although we still need to do further investigation, I bet this might bring you some money. You're okay with that, right?"
"Thank you."
The guy pushed Rodin and the other Hunters out and locked the door. That guy was left alone with Olivia's empty container as he took a closer look at the container with a serious expression. He then called someone through an encrypted secret communication line.
"It's me... No, although it's only just a guess, I think the other four are not what we are looking for. But, I found a container that might be of the automaton that we are looking for... No, we couldn't secure the automaton. It's just its container. It seemed that it attacked the Hunters after it was activated and left the area and we have no idea of its whereabouts right now... A card, huh? No, we didn't find anything like that... Alright, we'll search the area assuming that it's not in the possession of the Hunters... Yes, please excuse me then."
The guy cut the call and turned towards the empty container.
"Lion Steel's automata, huh... It would be strange if we had found it way sooner. But up until now, it always killed the person who activated it before returning back to its container though. Is it because this one had looser restrictions? If that's true, it means that it should be easier to communicate with... If that rumour is true, this might turn into a small war."
A long time ago, a certain Hunter found an old-world automaton and opened a business based on that automaton. Then that Hunter climbed the ladder in no time until their company reached the upper echelon of the Corporate Government. It was the result of him trying to reopen a certain old-world company in the current era, and right now, that company was providing maids for the rich and received their support in exchange. The Hunters were nothing but decorations as the main functions were all run by automata. Even the maids were nothing more but an imitation of the old-world lifestyle, and since it was difficult to find good automata in the current era, they employed skilled people in their place.
The rumour had it that the said automaton was made by Lion Steel company. It was a common rumour in the eastern district that a huge corporation had some kind of connection with an old-world company. As it was nothing more but rumours, there was no concrete evidence regarding that matter. But it was indeed a profitable rumour.
After Akira and Togami's team arrived back in the city, they disbanded the team. Until they agreed on how to divide the loot, all the relics were handed over to Shiori to hold on to. Since Akira also decided to lend the APC to them, he asked them to take the APC to the repair shop in order to get it repaired. He then headed to Shizuka's shop while Togami and Reina went to Drankam to give their report.
As Shiori was driving the APC, Kanae suddenly asked her a serious question.
"Ane-san, was that really okay? Although we didn't tell a lie, we still tricked him, you know? What's your plan if the cat is out of the bag?"
"...When that happens, Milady would be disappointed in me and Akira-sama would hate me. That's all."
Having Reina disappointed in her carried a huge implication for Shiori. Kanae let out a big sigh and said.
Kanae then returned to her usual self and smiled.
"Well, if Ane-san gets found out and has to fight Akira, do tell me. I'll be more than happy to help."
"Before it comes to that, I'll do my best to solve it peacefully. I'll apologize after telling him everything and offer him peace money. And if nothing works..."
"If nothing works?"
"Eeeh, that's so cruel."
Shiori said so jokingly, Kanae laughed and replied with a grunt.
In reality, if either one of them had to stay behind in that situation, it would have been Shiori and Kanae would be the one taking Reina to safety. Whether it was to let Akira kill her in order to abate his anger or to kill Akira instead, Shiori would be the one staying behind. Even if Kanae tried to convince her otherwise, Shiori would still do so and both of them understood that very well.
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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