293 あのアキラ
クガマヤマ都市の上位区画にある一室で、スガドメが目の前の男に坂下重工の重役として少し難しい表情を向けている。
「良く来てくれた......、と言いたいところなのだが、調査員は君一人なのかね?」
坂下重工の重役を前にしても、その男、マルオには緊張した様子は全く無かった。
まりました。ああ、一応確認しておきます。資料にあったシロウ君ですが、必要ならこちらで処理してしまって構いませんね?」
スガドメが鋭い視線をマルオに向ける。
だ。但し、その必要性が十分にある場合に限ってだ。不必要に処理した場合、君は我が社を明確に敵に回すことになる。警告はしておこう」
五大企業から警告を受ける。それがどれだけ恐ろしいことなのかは、東部に住む者ならば容易に理解できる。比喩でなく、そして消極的でもなく、東部の経済圏の5分の1と敵対する恐れがあるからだ。
しかしそれでもマルオの態度には
「御心配無く。では早速調査を始めます。私はこれで」
マルオは軽く頭を下げて退室していった。それを見送ったスガドメが息を吐く。
有能で安全な人間などいない。その危険性を理解した上で、適切に運用するしかない。坂下重工の重役としてその思想で人を動かすスガドメは、仕方が無いとはいえ運用に難のある人物が増えたことに軽く頭を抱えた。
スガドメの部屋を出たマルオが廊下でヤナギサワと擦れ違う。
(彼があのヤナギサワか......。まあ、今はシロウ君の調査を優先。彼は後回しだな)
「別についていっても良いだろう。装備が手に入ったら、すぐに俺と一緒に目的地に向かう。そういう約束だ。俺が同行していれば、都市に戻らずにそのまま向かえるからな」
「そりゃそうだけどさ。そんなに急ぐのか?」
アキラにも最前線向けの装備が届いたらやることがある。それを知っているシロウは、アキラにそちらを優先させない
も急いでいるのも事実だ。スガドメから提示された1ヶ月の期限は後3日しかない。もうシロウは1秒たりとも無駄に出来なかった。
現状を再確認したシロウが
吐け! じゃあその反応は何だ!」
「以前にツバキと交渉したことがあるだけだ。でも決裂した。だから交渉ルートなんか無い」
「決裂? じゃあアキラは何で生きてるんだ? 前に坂下がツバキとの交渉を試みたけど、交渉内容を伝えただけで護衛は全滅、交渉役は首から下を消し飛ばされたんだぞ?」
それを聞いたアキラは、あの時の自分は本当に危ないところだったのだと改めて理解して、僅かに顔色を悪くした。
「交渉に失敗したとはいえ、交渉自体は可能で、交渉に失敗しても無事だったのなら、交渉ルートがあるのも同然だろう。頼む! ツバキとの交渉ルート構築に力を貸してくれ!」
「こっちにもいろいろあるんだよ。その話は後にしろ。都市間輸送車両が見えてきたからな」
実際に巨大な都市間輸送車両の姿が遠方に現れたことで、シロウもこの場は引き下がった。
『アルファ。シロウはああ言ってるけど、どうなんだ? 俺達にツバキとの交渉ルートなんて作れるのか?』
『その交渉ルートが、実際にどの程度の意味を指しているのかによるわ。命の保証無しで一度会って話したいという程度であれば可能よ。でも私達が彼にそこまでしてあげる義理も義務も無いと思うわ』
『それもそうだな』
そのまま都市間輸送車両に近付いていくと、汎用通信でアキラ達に連絡が入った。
「こちらは民間軍事会社ブリュンケルだ。クガマヤマ都市、ミルカケワ都市、タルケーン都市の合意の下、諸事情でこの先の地域を封鎖している。封鎖範囲を送るので、すまないが
「こちらはアキラ。ハンターだ。その封鎖の中で停止中のアトラスD2771に用がある。クガマヤマ都市の承諾は取った。識別情報を送るので確認してくれ」
アキラが識別情報を送信すると、それを確認した相手から意外そうな声が返ってくる。
「確認した。お前があのアキラか。説明することがあるから、指定した場所で一度止まってくれ」
そこらの貨物船の大きさなど軽く超える巨大な都市間輸送車両の近く、その全長を視界の中に何とか収めることが出来るほどの距離で、アキラは車を停止させた。
周囲には都市間輸送車両の周辺を封鎖しているブリュンケルの部隊が展開している。その様子を見たアキラが不思議に思う。
かもしれないけどさ、周囲の部隊、封鎖の外側よりも内側を警戒してないか?』
『確かにそのようね』
キバヤシが
ブリュンケルの者達が現れたのでアキラも車から降りる。その者達はアキラに興味深そうな視線を向けていた。
「君がアキラだな。アトラスD2771のマップ情報を渡す。君の荷物の場所も記載されているから、自分でそこまで取りに行ってくれ。当たり前だが、他人の荷物には手を出さないこと。無関係な場所に不要に立ち入っただけで窃盗を疑われるので、開いてたからって無闇に入らないでくれ」
そこまではアキラも余り不思議に思わなかった。そのまま都市間輸送車両のマップ情報を受け取る。しかしそこで説明の内容が急に不穏になる。
「敵との交戦はそちらの判断、責任で行って構わないが、
「......なあ、車内で何が起こってるんだ? そもそもあの都市間輸送車両は何でこんな場所で立ち往生してるんだ?」
「クガマヤマ都市から聞いてないのか?」
「ああ。俺は長い間待たされてる自分の荷物の輸送が近くで止まってるって聞いて、また長期間待たされそうだから自分で取りに行って良いって言われただけだ」
「そうか。悪いが、それなら俺からは何も言えない。その権限が無いからな」
「......分かった。じゃあ言える範囲でヤバそうなことがあったら教えてくれ」
「......貴重な情報どうも」
「どう致しまして」
どことなく楽しそうな男に見送られて、アキラは自分の車に戻っていった。
都市間輸送車両に向けて進んでいくアキラの車を見ながら、男達がアキラを間近で見た感想を口々に話し始める。
「あれがあのアキラ、元500億オーラムの賞金首か。そこまで強そうには見えなかったが、実際どれぐらい強いんだろうな」
「確かあいつ、その賞金を狙ったハンターチームを一人で潰したって話だ。実際の実力は賞金500億オーラム相当じゃ足りないはずだぞ?」
「だろうな。何しろリオンズテイル社を支店とはいえ敵に回して生き延びたんだ。間違いねえよ」
でだぞ? 最前線に行けるハンターってのは、ああいうやつなんだろうな」
そこらのハンター達より
「シロウ。一応聞いておくけど、車内で何が起こってるか知らないか?」
シロウがかなり意外そうな顔をする。
「お前、それを知らずにここまで来たのか? ......いや、坂下が情報封鎖を実施して、
「......確定情報じゃないんだが、どうもアトラスD2771はキューブの輸送中で、そのキューブを狙った襲撃を受けたらしい。撃退には失敗したが、車両に閉じ込めるのには成功。キューブも奪われていない。襲撃犯達は今も車内に閉じ込められているそうだ」
キューブ、またはシードと呼ばれる物がある。見付かった物の多くが立方体の形状だったこと。地中に埋まっていたこと。そして起動すると種が発芽し開花するように、旧世界の何かを生み出すこと。それらの理由でそう呼ばれるようになった。
その正体は自己修復再生機能を備えたナノマシンの塊で、旧世界の技術で製造された何らかの総合製造装置であると考えられている。それらが再生させる物は多岐に
キューブはそれらの理由により、無秩序に開花されれば厄介極まりないが、開花後に再生される物を予想して万全の状態を整えた上で開花させれば、桁違いの利益を見込める貴重な遺物として扱われていた。
アキラはシロウからその話を聞きながら、アルファからも補足を入れてもらって大体の状況を把握した。どこか嫌そうに顔を
にない。車両側に被害は出ても、基本的に自殺と変わらないからな」
「俺に言われてもな。クガマヤマ都市周辺ってちょっとおかしいんじゃないか? ここ最近だけでもデカい騒ぎが何度も起こってるだろ? 普通じゃねえよ」
の工作員ではないアキラは、そう言って雑にごまかした。
シロウもそれ以上の追及はしない。仮に一連の騒ぎがアキラの仕業であっても、今はそれに関わる余裕は無いからだ。
「じゃあ、俺は装備を取りに行ってくる」
「気を付けろよ。本当にキューブを狙った襲撃なら敵の強さも相応だ。まあ、都市間輸送車両を襲う連中の時点で分かり切ってることだけどさ」
「ああ。別にそいつらの撃退が目的じゃないんだ。俺の装備を手に入れたらさっさと戻るよ」
アキラは都市間輸送車両に入る準備を済ませてキャンピングカーから出た。
長いタラップの先、都市間輸送車両の貨物部では、封鎖部隊が車両内部の他の部分との結合点を封鎖していた。貨物部に入ったアキラが通路に
情報収集機器がそのアキラの動作を読み取り、視線の場所の解析を優先するように処理を変更した。これにより局所的な精度が著しく上昇する。普通の壁であれば向こう側の様子を透視するように把握することが可能だ。
自分の情報収集機器の解析能力では無理なだけで、アルファならば大丈夫だろう。そう思ったアキラはアルファにサポートを頼んだ。訓練として自力で装備を取りに行った方が良いのかもしれないが、その
いつも通りの自信たっぷりの笑顔を向けてきたアルファに、アキラも気合いを入れて笑って返した。
区画を遮断する隔壁を兼ねている扉だが、解錠の許可は
く、アルファから認められるほど強くなっていたことに満足感にも似た喜びを感じていた。
アキラ自身の強さ。そして最前線向けの装備。アルファの依頼を達成する
『でもアキラ、幾ら手応えが無いからって、もっと強い敵と戦いたいなんて思っては駄目よ?』
『分かってるって。俺だって敵は弱い方が良いよ。強い敵と戦ってばかりなんだ。
み込み始めた。更に一箇所に集まっていく。そして全ての残骸を消化するように吸収した金属片混じりの液体は固形化しながら変形し、人型の形状へ変わり、明確に人の姿を形作った。
機械部品も液体も無くなった通路に、それらを材料に生み出された少女が立つ。旧世界風の強化服を身に
Ch 293
Inside a certain room in the upper district of Kugamayama city, Sugadome, an officer from Sakashita Heavy Industry, was looking solemnly at the person in front of him
"Welcome... Or so I want to say, but is this everyone from the investigation team? Just you? Alone?"
Even in the face of a high-ranking officer from Sakashita Heavy Industry, that man, Maruo, was still completely calm.
"Very well. Ah, by the way, just to make sure, this Shirou-kun, who is mentioned in the documents, do you have any objection if we deal with him ourselves?"
Sugadome squinted his eyes.
"Of course, but please only do so when there are no other alternatives. If you kill him unnecessarily, we will see that as a hostile act toward our company."
It was a firm warning from one of the five biggest corporations. Everyone in the eastern district knew just how frightening crossing them was. It was not an exaggeration, nor an overstatement. It literally meant picking a fight against one-fifth of the whole eastern district's economic zones.
Even so, Maruo was completely calm.
"No need to worry about that. Well then, we will start the investigation right away. Please let me excuse myself."
Maruo slightly lowered his head and left the room. Sugadome saw him off and sighed.
Acting based on caution did not always go along with being effective. As a high-ranking officer of Sakashita Heavy Industry, Sugadome always reminded himself of that fact. He understood that he had no other choice but to use such people with great caution. Nonetheless, Sugadome still had a migraine whenever he saw how these kinds of people around him continued to increase.
Maruo left Sugadome's room and walked past Yanagisawa in the hallway.
[That must be Yanagisawa, huh... Well, my priority right now is to investigate Shirou-kun. Let's put matters related to him for later.]
"It's fine, isn't it? As per our agreement, I will have you complete my request first after you obtain your new equipment. So, coming with you would mean there will be no need for you to return back to the city first."
"Yeah. You're right, but why are you in such a hurry?"
Akira also had something else to do once he got his frontline equipment. Thus, he understood why Shirou would insist on coming along, to make sure Akira would prioritize his request first.
Moreover, it was true that Shirou was in a hurry. He only had 3 days out of the 1 month grace time that Sugadome had granted him. Thus, he could not afford to waste even a single second.
As Shirou re-evaluated his current situation, he heaved a sigh.
"That's a lie! Then what is with that reaction!?"
"I negotiated with Tsubaki before, that's all. But that has already been concluded. So, it's not a lie. I have no negotiation route to Tsubaki."
"Concluded? Then how are you still alive? Sakashita tried to negotiate with Tsubaki before. After conveying the contents of our offer and its demands, she killed everyone there. This included the negotiator and his escorts. The negotiator even got his whole body sliced into minced meat you know? Well, except for their head."
Hearing that, Akira was once again reminded of how precarious the situation was back then. His face turned slightly pale.
"Although the negotiation ended in failure, you were able to still negotiate. Heck, you're still alive, which means, you do have a route to contact Tsubaki. Please! Help me make a negotiation route to Tsubaki!!"
"It's not that simple, alright? Let's just put this matter for later, the inter-city transport vehicle is coming into view."
Since the gigantic inter-city transport vehicle was visible from afar, Shirou decided to acquiesce to Akira's demand and give up for now.
"Alpha, Shirou is asking for that... So, what's the actual situation? Can you find a way to make a communication route to Tsubaki?"
"That will depend on how they define this route. If it's only a single opportunity to negotiate with Tsubaki without any guarantee for their safety, then yes. But to be honest, I don't see why we have to do such a thing for him."
"That's true."
As the inter-city transport vehicle was getting closer. Suddenly, a call through the general-purpose communication line reached Akira.
"I am a representative of the private military contractor, Brunkel. Under the agreement with Kugamayama City, Mirukakewa city, and Tarkein city, the area ahead is closed off due to various reasons. I'll send you the exact area that is closed off. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please take another route."
"This is Akira, a Hunter. I have some business with the Atlas D2771 inside that enclosed area. I already have permission from Kugamayama city. I will send you the documents, so please check them."
Akira forwarded the documents. The guy on the other side checked them and exclaimed in surprise.
"I've confirmed the documents. So, you're that Akira, huh? I have things that I need to explain first, so stop your vehicle at the designated location."
Akira stopped the camping vehicle pretty close to one of the inter-transport vehicles. Its large size was barely able to fit into his view.
Around him, soldiers from Brunkel were patrolling around the closed-off area to secure the inter-city transport vehicle. Akira, for some reason, found them to be strange.
"Alpha, it might be just my imagination, but aren't they posting more soldiers within the enclosed area instead of around its outskirts?"
"That seems to be indeed the case."
Akira frowned, considering that Kibayashi sent him there with such a huge smile, some kind of incident was bound to happen.
Seeing some men from Brunkel approaching the camping vehicle, Akira stepped out. Those men looked at Akira with interest.
"So, you must be Akira, right? I'll give you the map information for Atlas D2771. Your stuff should be in there, so you can go to pick them up yourself. I'm sure there's no need for me to warn you, don't take others' cargo, alright? We might suspect you of trying to steal something if you go outside the indicated areas. So, don't go around entering places. Just only go through the doors that are open."
Up until that point, that warning was pretty reasonable. After Akira received the map information, the explanation took a strange turn.
"I don't mind if you decide to fight against enemies, but as expected, it would be great if you can avoid using annihilator warheads. The damage to the vehicle will be too big and it might damage the other cargo as well."
"...What exactly is going on inside the vehicle? Or more like, why did an inter-city transport vehicle get stuck in the middle of the wasteland like this?"
"You didn't hear anything from Kugamayama city?"
"Yeah, I only heard that the cargo I've been waiting for quite a long time got stuck in the middle of transport. I was advised that since it might take a long time to arrive, I should go pick it up myself."
"I see. In that case, I'm sorry. I can't tell you anything, I don't have the permission to do it."
"It's fine... in that case, if the situation is really that awful, just tell me what you can tell me."
"...Thank you for the valuable information."
"You're welcome."
Akira returned back to the camping vehicle. The guy saw Akira off with an amused smile.
As they watched Akira drive his camping vehicle toward Atlas D2771, the men from Brunkel talked about their impressions of him after seeing 'that Akira' up close.
"So that was Akira, huh? The Hunter who had a 50 billion Aurum bounty on his head. He doesn't look that strong so I wonder just how strong he really is?"
"Yeah, that was Akira. I heard that he obliterated a group of Hunters that tried to kill him all by himself. I bet the right amount for his bounty should be way above 50 billion Aurum."
"I would bet on that as well. You have to consider the fact that he dared to pick a fight against a branch of the Lion Steel company and survived. So, there's no doubt his bounty should be way more."
"Also, he's still young, you know? I bet Hunters who eventually manage to go to the frontlines are just like him."
The Hunters from Brunkel were much stronger than any Hunters around the area, and they showed a deep interest in Akira.
"Shirou, by any chance, can you tell what is going on inside this transport vehicle?"
Shirou raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"You... Don't tell me you came here without knowing anything? Wait, the information about the lockdown by Sakshita might not have reached Tsukisada yet, huh... I don't mind telling you but be careful with what I'm going to say. It's basically secret information. I'm sure you know what will happen if they discover their secret information got leaked outside of the big five corporations of the eastern district."
"...It's not confirmed yet, but it seems like Atlas D2771 is transporting the cube and it got attacked by people who are aiming for it. Although they were unable to repel the attack, they somehow managed to lock the attackers inside the vehicle. The cube itself is still safe while the attackers are still locked inside, even now."
The cube, some people might also call it the seed. It was a device with parts resembling cubes. It was found underground, and if activated, it would bloom like a flower and create something from the old world. These were the reasons why it was called the cube or the seed.
It was thought to be a nanomachine cluster with regenerative capabilities, originally an old-world production device. Rumours say it could create all kinds of things using its supplies from where it was activated. It could create humans, biological living beings, machines, houses, factories, or even old-world cities complete with its own denizens.
Thus, it became widely known that if it bloomed uncontrollably, it would turn into a huge problem. Though, if the ones using it were able to accurately predict what it might produce and prepare accordingly, it might turn a problem into a blessing; netting them a huge amount. This was why it was still considered to be a highly valuable relic.
Akira was listening to Shirou's explanation while also listening to extra information from Alpha. This greatly helped him in understanding what he was facing. However, that did not change how dire the situation was as he knitted his eyebrows.
"Well, it would be a biased opinion since I used the opening left behind when the inter-city transport vehicle got attacked to escape. It is actually a very rare occurrence. Rather, it almost never happens. Even if the attackers are capable of damaging the inter-city transport vehicles, it would still be suicidal."
"There's no way I would know the answer to that. Isn't it simply just because the area under Kugamayama is not normal? I heard that recently, many huge incidents have occurred around Kugamayama city, you know? That is not normal at all."
Since him being an agent from Tsukisada construction was a misunderstanding he wanted to keep, Akira curtly replied.
Shirou did not pursue it any further. Even if all those incidents were related to Akira, he did not have the leeway to care about it at the moment.
"Well then, I'll go pick up my stuff then."
"Alright, be careful. If the attackers are really aiming for the cube, they must be strong. Though, it's kind of redundant to state that since only those with sufficient might would attempt to attack an inter-city transport vehicle."
"Yeah, it's not like my aim is to fight them anyway. I will just quickly leave once I get my new equipment."
Akira prepared himself to go inside the inter-city transport and left the camping vehicle.
Up the ramp, it led into the cargo compartment of Atlas D2771. The squad sent to secure the transport vehicle were securing the junctions that connected to multiple compartments. Akira walked through the cargo sector A7 and eventually stopped in front of a door. He gazed at it as if he was trying to peek through it.
Akira's information-gathering device noticed what he was trying to do and prioritized its computational power to analyze the information coming from in front of him. Though it reduced the area under its watch, it greatly increased its accuracy. It was to the point that a normal wall would seem transparent to him.
Though he was not able to do it using the power of his information-gathering device, it might be possible with Alpha's help. That was why he asked for her support. Though it would serve as excellent training if he relied solely on his own ability, it would be meaningless if he lost his equipment in the process. Thus, Akira was planning not to hold back. He was willing to rely on Alpha's support whenever necessary.
Seeing Alpha's usual smile filled with confidence, Akira pulled himself together and smiled back at her.
The locked door between the sectors prevented him from going any further. However, Akira already received permission to unlock them. Once he informed the guards nearby that he was going to open the door, a vehicle-wide announcement was made. It warned everyone in the area that the door was about to be opened.
Akira smiled, he seemed happy. He felt both a sense of accomplishment and happiness since before he realized it, he had become strong enough for Alpha to recognize his strength.
His personal strength and his frontline equipment, Akira had satisfied one of the two requirements to go and do Alpha's request. Furthermore, it would not be long before he satisfied the other requirement.
"But Akira, no matter how weak your enemies are, you should not hope to fight strong enemies, right?"
"I know. I also prefer weak enemies. I've been fighting so many strong enemies up until now... It's great to have an easy battle like this from time to time. Alright. Let's go."
This green liquid spread along the floor, consuming any other pieces it made contact with. A large green puddle gathered in one place and started to solidify, as if it was using the metals that it had consumed as materials, eventually, forming a humanoid object.
Once no more liquid was left on the floor, all the wreckage around already got consumed by it. The only thing that remained was a girl formed out of that liquid. It was a young girl clad in an old-world augmented suit. She glanced in the direction where Akira went, and then a moment later, she started running in the opposite direction.
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