都市の下位区画の治安は基本的に防壁に近いほど良く、荒野に近いほど悪い。特に荒野との境にあるスラム街の治安は非常に悪い。
面倒事を避けたいハンターは少々
アキラは気にせずにスラム街を通っていた。買取所へはスラム街を通り抜けた方が早く、スラム街育ちなこともあってその治安の悪さへの慣れもあり、ハンターになってからも何度も通ったが何も起こらなかったからだ。
だが今回は事情が異なっていた。アルファがアキラに警戒を促す。
『アキラ。囲まれているわ』
アキラが立ち止まって周囲を確認する。しかし囲まれているようには見えなかった。普段より周囲に少し人が多い。その程度だ。だがアルファの索敵能力に疑いはなく警戒を強める。
『......勝てそうか?』
包囲が事実であっても、その原因や目的はいろいろ考えられる。軽い因縁を付けるだけ。ちょっとした脅し。周辺にいる別の誰かが対象の包囲であって、それに巻き込まれただけ。だがアキラは既に自分の襲撃が目的だと決め付けており、積極的な応戦を前提とした思考を進めていた。
アルファがアキラのクズスハラ街遺跡での言動、エレナ達を助けた時に男達を
『戦う気なの? 今度はどこまでやるつもり?』
『勝てそうにないなら逃げる。そこから先は相手次第だ』
えて囲んで脅して、それでもその脅しに屈さなければ、割に合わないと大人しく引き上げる。それならアキラもそれで良かった。ただしその際の交渉で相手に遺物を渡すつもりは、それがたとえ少量であっても全く無かった。
自分はもうハンターになったのだ。以前のように、ありふれたスラム街の子供のように、必死に集めた金を投げ捨てて、差し出して、その
わらず、今回自分を襲う者には交渉の余地があるような態度を見せている。それを不可解だと判断しながらも、勝率に問題はないと判断する。
『それがアキラの考えなら止めないわ。でも私が危ないと判断した時は、ちゃんと指示に従ってね』
アキラが警戒しながら立ち止まっている間に包囲が完了する。背後や近くの横道などの逃げ場も、スラム街の住人で塞がれている。
くなよ。背中にたっぷり背負ってるだろう? どこから持って来たのか知らねえが、そこに行けばもっとあるんじゃねえか?」
アキラが更に警戒を増し、それが表情に出る。それを見たシベアは予想通りだと更に
シベアがアキラを狙ったのは半分偶然ではなかった。獲物の情報を集めて以前から網を張っていたのだ。
スラム街にはその住人で構成される徒党が無数に存在する。その中には
シベアもその類いの者で、そこまで大規模ではないがスラム街にそこそこの拠点を持つ程度には勢力のある徒党を率いていた。そしてその手下に張らせていた網にアキラが引っかかったのだ。
シベアが獲物の中身、アキラのリュックサックの中身を想像して
「お前もスラム街の人間だろう? じゃあ助け合わないとな。ほら、俺の徒党は結構な人数を抱えていてさ。生活が苦しいんだよ」
シベアは視線で周囲の者達は自分の配下だとアキラに伝えて、暗に逃げ場はないと脅していた。
「大丈夫だって。有り金全部と、所持品全部と、知ってることを洗い
アキラが少し険しい表情をシベア達に向ける。
「......嫌だって言ったら殺すのか? 俺を殺したら情報は手に入らないぞ?」
シベア達にアキラの命を気遣う意思は全く無い。アキラにもそれぐらいは分かった。
アキラはシベア達に僅かに弱気を装う表情を向けると、その裏で覚悟を決める。
「......分かったよ。俺だって死にたくない」
アキラの言葉にシベア達の意識が更に緩む。無意識に銃の引き金から指を離し、銃口を下げてしまう。
『アルファ』
『いつでも良いわ』
その短い念話で、シベア達の末路が確定した。
アキラが急に横を向く。シベア達がその動きに釣られて視線をアキラから外してしまう。次の瞬間、アキラは相手が釣られたかどうかも確認せずにAAH突撃銃をシベア達に向けると、
辺りには怒号と悲鳴が飛び交っていた。シベア達の多くは子供を脅せば済む程度の話だと考えており、銃撃戦になるとは思ってもいなかった。威圧用の数合わせとして連れてこられた者達が死の恐怖を覚えて逃げ出し始めていた。
シベア達3人は着用していた防護服のおかげで軽い負傷で済んだ。少々被弾したが戦闘に支障はない。だが被弾の痛みは相当なもので、その顔には
『アルファ。あと何人ぐらいだ?』
『取り囲んでいた連中は少しずつ逃げ始めているから、リーダーとその取り巻きを殺せば終わりよ。だから最低あと3人。あっちに隠れて』
恐らくアキラは近くにはいない。そう判断した男が角から大きく身を乗り出す。その途端、アキラに眉間を銃撃された。
『あと2人よ。今のうちに弾倉を交換して』
「......お前ら! そっちはどうなった?」
無線で取り巻きの男達と連絡を取ろうとするが、全く
「......クソッ!」
離れた場所で銃声が響いていたがそれも聞こえなくなっていく。この状況から推測できることは2つだ。アキラを殺し終えて戦闘が終わった。又はその逆だ。
しかし確信は崩れ去った。シベアがついに足を止める。このまま進むと死ぬ気がして、先に進めなくなっていた。
(......逃げた方が良いか? 他のやつがガキを殺せていたなら、後で適当なことでも言ってごまかせば......)
まり判断に迷う。それが最大の失策だった。交戦であれ逃走であれ速やかに選択していれば、交戦ならば迎え撃つ時間を生み出し、逃走ならば逃げる時間を稼いでいたからだ。時間の浪費がシベアの運命を決定付けた。
銃声が連続して響く。無数の銃弾がシベアに直撃する。防護服の高い防弾性能が致命傷を防いだが、衝撃で銃を落として地面に倒れ込んだ。そこに更なる銃弾が襲いかかる。落とした銃を破壊され、負傷と痛みの
「俺を狙った理由は?」
「た、大して強くもないのに、大金持ってるガキがいるって話を聞いたからだ! 間違いだった! お前は強い! 見逃してくれ! 見逃してくれたらお前の部下にだってなってやる! 俺の代わりに徒党のボスにしてやる! 俺は他の徒党にも結構顔が利くんだ! 俺を生かしておいた方が絶対に得だ! スラム街の情報とか何かといろいろ役に立つ! お前が生き延びる役に立つ! またこうやって襲われるのはお前だって嫌だろう!? お前が他の徒党に襲われないように、俺がいろいろ話を付けてやる! だから、な!?」
アキラは命乞いをするシベアをじっと見ていた。アルファはそのアキラを
「分かったよ。俺だって死にたくない......」
そのアキラの言葉を聞いたシベアの表情に死地を脱した喜びが浮かぶ。だがすぐに顔を青ざめさせる。
「......まで言ったんだっけ? 続きだ。だからお前が死ね」
アキラが引き金を引く。シベアは至近距離から放たれた銃弾を頭部に食らって即死した。
『アルファ。他の連中は?』
『......なんか、ハンターに成ったのに人しか殺してない気がする。ハンターってのは、もっとこう、モンスターと戦うものだと思ってたんだけどな』
『大した理由もなくアキラを殺そうとしている点では、モンスターと
『別にモンスターと戦いたい訳じゃない。こいつらだってそうだろう。モンスターと戦うより俺と戦った方が良い。そう考えたから襲ってきたんだ。今の俺は、こいつらにとって地面に落ちている財布みたいなもんだ。早くその扱いから脱却しないと、ずっとこんな感じか......。面倒だな』
『買取所で遺物を売れば、その財布の中身が増える訳だから、気を付けましょうね』
「これからどうしよう......」
スラム街で子供が生き延びるのは大変だ。不可能ではない。ただしそれなりの術に
やがて日が落ち、夜になる。その間もずっと考え続けていたのだが、良い考えは浮かばなかった。焦りと眠気と焦燥が混ざり合い、思考がおかしくなっていく。
普通なら考え付かないことを、頭に浮かんでもすぐに否定してそれ以上は考えない思い付きを、疲労と睡眠不足の鈍った頭で考え続ける。少しおかしくなった思考のまま、ひたすら考え続け、いつの間にか眠っていた。
翌朝、シェリルはスラム街の路地の片隅で目を覚ました。しっかり睡眠を取ってすっきりした頭が昨日の思い付きを思い出す。馬鹿げた思い付きは、眠るまでそれなりに考え続けていたおかげで、一応の計画性を持つまでに
になるわ。成功する可能性も高くない。失敗すれば最悪殺される。仮に成功したとしても、私はどこまで無事でいられる?)
シェリルは迷っていた。表現を変えれば、昨晩の馬鹿げた思い付きは実行を迷う程度には有効な選択肢になっていた。賭けるに足る程度には、現実味を帯びた選択肢に。
そしてその賭けに出ない場合は、徐々に不利になる現在の状況を継続するしかない。いずれ死に
「......やるしかないわ」
シェリルは覚悟を決めた。そして真剣な表情で立ち上がり、賭けの対象を探す
シズカに声を掛けようとしたアキラが見覚えのある顔に気付いて僅かに動きを止める。その2人はエレナとサラだった。
エレナは防護服の上に情報収集機器固定用のベルトを装着している。細身ではあるが女性的な肉感の起伏を見て取れる体に、それなりに重量のあるものを支えるベルトが巻き付き、装備品をしっかりと固定する
サラは黒を基調とした防護服を身に着けている。防護服はかなり伸縮性の強いもので、消費型ナノマシン系身体強化拡張者の影響で体格の変化幅が大きい体に合わせて防護服を選んだ結果だ。そしてナノマシンの補充を済ませた体が防護服を内側から伸ばした結果、起伏に富んだ造形を取り戻した体の線が強く出ている状態になっていた。それはその下の魅力的な肢体を容易に想像させるものだった。
シズカがサラに、客向けの愛想も友人への愛想も崩しながら、ややげんなりした様子で話している。
「......その話はよく知っているわ。その謎の人物に助けられたことも。
「あ、お客さんが来たからその話はまた今度ね。いらっしゃい。アキラ」
アキラがカウンターまで来てシズカに頭を下げる。
「こんにちは。シズカさん。また弾薬をお願いします」
「いつもので良いのよね?」
「いいのよ。消耗品の売り上げだって、積もり積もれば結構な金額になるんだから。下手に稼ごうとせずに、まずは生きて帰ってきなさい」
シズカがエレナ達にアキラを紹介する。
「彼はアキラ。エレナ達と同じハンターよ。ハンターの先輩として何か教えてあげたら?」
「初めまして。アキラと言います。一応ハンターをやっています」
アキラは初対面を装ってエレナ達に軽く頭を下げた。
エレナが苦笑して言葉を止め、サラが苦笑しながら続ける。
「......最近ドジって死にかけたばかりなのよね。運良く助かったけど。
「分かりました。気を付けます」
エレナはアキラの素直な返事にどこか満足げに軽く
「お客も来たようだし、私達はそろそろ帰るわ。シズカにいつまでもサラの話に付き合わせるのも心苦しいしね」
「そう言うのなら、エレナがサラの話をしっかりたっぷり聞いてあげなさい。常連客へのサービスにも限度があるのよ?」
シズカの冗談を兼ねた苦情に、エレナも冗談を兼ねた態度で答える。
「多分サラは当事者に話しても面白くないのよ。それに普段は私が聞いているのよ? 店の売り上げに貢献してるんだから、
その冗談にサラも加わる。
「あら、それなら戻ったらエレナに話を聞いてもらおうかしら」
するとエレナは冗談の成分を大分下げた少し怖い笑顔をサラに返した。
「シズカ。それじゃあね」
サラはごまかすように笑って一足早く立ち去った。シズカが苦笑する。
「そういうこと。道理でサラが私に話を聞いてもらいたい訳だわ」
シズカは帰っていくエレナ達に軽く手を振って見送ると、気を切り替えてアキラの接客に移った。
「お待たせ。弾薬だったわね。すぐに用意するわ。ちょっと待っていてね」
シズカが店の奥から注文の弾薬類を運んでくる。アキラがそれをリュックサックに
「......あの、何か」
シズカはアキラの問いに
「ねえアキラ。どうしてエレナ達を助けたことを黙っているの?」
アキラは吹き出しそうになるのを何とか堪えた。そして可能な限り平静を装った。
「......いや、あの」
「アキラにも何か事情があるのよね? でもその事情が、相手の信用とかそういう類いのものなら、エレナ達が信用できる人物であることは私が保証するわ」
シズカは完全に自分がエレナ達を助けた前提で話している。でも自分が口を割らなければ物証も無いしごまかせるはずだ。アキラはそう考えて黙っていたのだが、シズカが更に続ける。
「エレナ達から話を聞いたけど、アキラは弾丸を1発エレナに渡しているわよね? 私の店で販売している弾薬には、
「......すみません。黙っていてもらえませんか」
「ああ。やっぱりアキラだったのね。確証が無かったから、鎌をかけてみたの。ごめんなさいね」
に製造番号が記されているのは本当よ。でもそれだけでは証拠にはならないわね」
シズカは笑ってそう答えた後、軽い衝撃を受けているアキラに少し申し訳なさそうな表情を向ける。
「ごめんなさい。アキラにも話せない事情があるのでしょうね。このことを黙っているのは約束するわ。でもね、さっきも話したけど、信頼できるハンターと縁を持つのは大切なことなの。強盗を兼業しているような
しかったのか、その話を私に何度もするのよ。その時の表情が......恋する乙女になっているというか......」
黙って続きを聞いているアキラも、話が変な方向に進んでおり、不穏な気配を漂わせて始めていることを察し始める。
The safety of the slum city normally got better closer to the wall and worse closer to the wasteland, especially for the slum area that was bordering the wasteland. The safety in the slum area was really bad.
Hunters who wanted to avoid any troubles would take a detour and enter the lower district without passing through the slum city. After all, there were people who were blinded by their greed for relics and immediately turned violent. Most of them ended up as a new addition to countless dead bodies in a particular area in the slum city. It showed the inhabitants of the slum city the difference between those people who regularly fought against monsters and those who did not.
Akira did not even bat an eyelash and just went straight to the slum city, after all, it was faster for him to go to the Exchange Centre through the slum city. Not to mention that since he grew up in the slum city, he was already used with the public order here. After all, nothing happened so far when he passed through the slum city so many times since he became a Hunter.
But something was not normal today, Alpha suddenly told Akira to keep his guard up.
"Akira, we're surrounded."
Akira stopped and confirmed his surroundings. It did not look like he was surrounded. There were more people around him than usual and that was all. But Akira did not question Alpha's detection ability and kept his guard up.
"...Is it possible for me to win?"
Even if it was true that he was surrounded, there were many possibilities as to why he was surrounded. It might be just a form of greeting or just light intimidation or maybe he just got caught himself when they were aiming for someone else. But then, Akira immediately understood that he was the target, as such, he immediately took a pose by which he could quickly shoot back if he was suddenly attacked.
Alpha remembered the time when Akira decided to kill everyone when he was saving Elena and her friend in the Kuzusuhara City ruins, as such, she asked Akira.
"Are you thinking of fighting them? How far do you want to go this time?"
"If it doesn't seem like I can win, then I'll just run and think about the next course of action depending on the enemies."
They surrounded Akira and intimidated him. But if the intimidation did not work and it was not worth it, they would just withdraw. Akira did not mind if that happened. But if they tried to extort relics from him, Akira had no wish to give them any.
He had become a real Hunter. He was no longer a small boy from the slum who would just throw his money that he had desperately collected so that they would spare him. That was the last thing he would do.
Alpha then gave a suggestion. It was true that he did kill those Hunters down to the last man at that time, although they were not even attacking him. But their enemies this time seemed to be willing to talk with him. It was rather strange considering the situation, but it did not affect his winning chance.
"If you want to do that, then I won't stop you. But if I decide that it's getting dangerous, then obey my order and run away, okay?"
As Akira was standing still and was watching his surroundings, the encirclement was completed. All the alleys and escape routes around him were blocked by the slum people. Then 3 men came out from among the people surrounding him. Those 3 men looked different from the other people around him. They were wearing armour that was a bit dirty and damaged and they were carrying an anti-monster gun rather than a simple handgun. Basically, they were Hunters who fell from grace.
"Stop lying. You're carrying a lot of relics on your back, aren't you? I don't know where you got them but I'm sure I can find more from where you found them, right?"
Akira tensed up and it was visible from his expression. Looking at that, Sibea just laughed as if he expected that would happen.
Sibea aiming for Akira was half coincidence. He was spreading his net since he started gathering information about his next prey.
There were countless gangs in the slum city and many of them were led by fallen Hunters. These were Hunters who did not have the skill and equipment to earn money in the wasteland but enough to use in the narrow space of the slum city and a touch of violence to earn money there. These Hunters would gather minions and form a gang.
Sibea was one of those Hunters. Although he was not one of the big fish here, his gang was pretty powerful and they had a base in the slum city. Akira was caught in the net that they were spreading.
Sibea imagined just how much Akira had in his rucksack and mocked him.
"You're a boy from the slum too, right? Then we should help each other, right? I have a lot of people under me so we're having a hard time surviving here, you see."
Sibea looked around to the people who were surrounding Akira as if to say that they were his minions and threaten Akira that he could not escape.
"Don't worry. As long as you give me all your money, belongings and all the information you have, we won't kill you."
Akira looked at Sibea with a grim face.
"...If I refuse, are you going to kill me? If you kill me, you won't get any information, you know."
Akira knew that Sibea and his friends had no plans on letting him live.
Behind the weakness that he was showing to those people, Akira actually already made up his mind.
"...Alright alright, I don't want to die anyway."
Hearing those words, they lowered their guard further as they unconsciously took off their finger from the trigger and lowered their guns.
"Alpha."
"Ready when you are."
With that short telepathic conversation, Sibea and his friends' fate were sealed.
Akira suddenly turned to his side. Sibea and the other men were baited by that and looked to the direction where Akira was looking. The next moment, Akira pulled out his AAH assault gun and started shooting while running as fast as he could toward the direction that Alpha instructed.
Shouts and screams echoed in the area. Majority of Sibea's minions thought that Akira was only a small boy who would give away everything with a little intimidation. They did not even imagine that it would turn into a shootout. The people who were coerced to come with Sibea started to fear for their own lives and ran away.
Sibea and his two friends were only lightly wounded, thanks to their armour. Sibea was shot but it did not hinder him in the fight, but even so, the pain from the hit was immense as it was visible from his expression. He screamed in anger because of the pain he suffered.
"Alpha, how many people left?"
"Most of the people that surrounded you already started running away. So you just need to kill the leader and his aides which means at least 3 more people left. Hide there."
The guy who stepped into the alley thought that Akira was not there and stood there exposing his whole body. The moment he did that, Akira's bullet went through his forehead.
"2 more left. Refill your magazine while you have the chance."
"...Guys?! What's going on over there?"
He tried to contact his subordinates through wireless communication, but there was no connection at all. He was getting irritated, but he tried to fake courage to replace the anxiety in his heart.
"...Dammit!!"
The gunshot that echoed from the distance had already stopped. Sibea could only think of 2 possibilities, either his minions had a shootout with Akira and finished him, or the exact opposite of that.
But he had lost his confidence now. He thought that he would get killed if he stepped forward, so he was just frozen in place and could not step forward.
[...Is it better if I just run away? If that boy really killed my men, I can just come up with some kind of excuse later and...]
Sibea could not decide what to do and it became a fatal mistake. Whether he would run away or fight back, he should have made the decision faster. After all, if he decided to fight back, then he would have more time to prepare himself, and if he decided to run, then he would have more time to escape. The time was of the essence for his survivability.
Gunshots suddenly echoed in the air. Sibea was hit by several bullets. The high-quality armour that he was wearing saved his life. But the impact from the shots made him drop his gun. Then another round of shots echoed, the gun that he dropped was destroyed and he was incapacitated by his injuries, he lost all his ability to fight back and could only lie on the ground. He could see Akira coming out from an alley near him while looking disappointed.
"Why are you aiming for me?"
"I-It's because I heard that there's a boy who is not that strong but has a lot of money! But I was mistaken! You're strong! So please spare me! If you spare me, I'll even be your minion!! I'll let you replace my position as the gang leader! I have influence even on the other gangs too, you know! You'll definitely get more profit if you let me live!! I have a lot of useful information about the slum city too!! It'll be useful for your survival! I can help you too, you don't want to get attacked like this again in the future, right? I can talk to other gangs so they won't attack you ever again! So spare me, okay?!"
Akira just stood there staring at Sibea who was pleading for his life. Alpha just kept observing Akira while smiling.
"I understand that, after all, I don't want to die too..."
Sibea smiled after hearing those words. But suddenly his face turned pale.
"...Or so I said back then, right? But you didn't stop, that's why, you're going to die here."
Akira pulled the trigger and shot Sibea's head from a close distance which instantly killed him.
"Alpha. How about the others?"
"...For some reason, I feel like I've been killing only people lately since I became a Hunter. And here I thought I would start fighting against monsters more often."
"Well, if you look from your perspective, they were trying to kill you without any good reason. So I don't think they're any different from those monsters. If you want to start fighting monsters, you should work harder to get stronger. I can't exactly recommend fighting monsters with your current ability."
"It's not like I want to fight monsters. It's the same with these guys, they thought that it's better to fight me rather than fighting against those monsters. That's why they decided to attack me. In their eyes, I look like a lost wallet that they found lying on the ground. I have to make them stop looking at me like that, otherwise, this kind of thing will just happen again and again, huh... Good grief."
"And remember that wallet gets thicker every time you sell relics to the Exchange Centre, so let's be more careful now onwards."
"What should I do from now on..."
It was really hard for a child to survive in the slum. It was not impossible, but it needed a certain level of skills.
Eventually, the sun had set and the day turned to night. She spent all her time thinking, but no good idea came up in her mind. The desperation that mixed with sleepiness drove her mad.
All the ideas that she would not normally consider started to pop up inside her mind, but she immediately rejected them and tried not to think of those ideas ever again. This cycle kept happening inside her mind which had been dulled by fatigue and sleepiness.
The next morning, Sheryl woke up on the side of an alley inside the slum city. Her mind was clear after having a good night's sleep and so she remembered what had happened the previous day. Since she kept thinking of stupid ideas right until she fell asleep, she already had some kind of plan in her mind.
[...I'll be lying if I say that I'm not pushing this too far and the chance for success is not that high either. If I fail, I might even get killed. And even if it is a success, I don't know how long I can stay safe.]
Sheryl was hesitating. To be more precise, she was lost as to why the stupid things that she thought last night looked like a valid choice to her now. It had become a choice that she was willing to do and put her bet on.
But if she did not gamble with her fate. She would be forced to stay in her current situation which was worsening each day, waiting for her death.
"...I have no choice but to do this."
Sheryl made up her mind and stood up with a serious look. She then set off to find the person that she put her bet on, the person who destroyed the gang to which she was affiliated with, Akira.
Akira was about to talk to Shizuka, but he stopped when he saw that the 2 customers talking to her were someone that he knew. They were Elena and Sara.
Elena was adjusting the armour that she was using and tightening the belt that locked her information terminal in its place. Although she was a bit skinny, she had a pretty good body contour that was unique only for girls. She was tightening the belts that wrapped her good figure to kept the heavy equipment she was carrying in place which made the contour of her figure more prominent and displayed the beauty of her figure.
As for Sara, she was using a black armour made of an elastic material. She chose that armour since her body would frequently change depending on her nanomachine consumption used for her physical strengthening. It really highlighted her body that had already returned to its glorious state. Her armour tempted anyone who saw to imagine what lies underneath that armour.
Shizuka was smiling at Sara, it was both a formal smile to a customer and a friendly smile to a friend. Then she said in a voice as if she was somehow already fed up.
"...I already heard that story multiple times. About that mysterious person that saved you girls and how that person just left the equipment of the people that attacked you lying on the ground so that you girls were able to collect all of them and bring them back. Then you girls sold them and earned a lot of money, that you girls are still left with even after using it to replenish Sara's nanomachine. After all, this is the fifth time you are telling me that story!!"
"Ah, a customer just came. Let's continue some other time, okay? Welcome, Akira."
Akira then walked to the counter and gave Shizuka a bow.
"Hello there, Shizuka-san. Can you sell me some ammo again?"
"The usual one is okay with you, right?"
"It's fine. You'll be able to gather a lot of money bit by bit if you keep selling small goods consistently. Better be sure to come back alive rather than carelessly trying to earn a lot of money at once."
Shizuka then introduced Akira to Elena and Sara.
"This is Akira. He's a Hunter just like you girls. Don't you have something to teach him as a senior Hunter?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Akira. I'm working as a Hunter."
Akira pretended that it was their first meeting and bowed his head. Well, it was not like they had actually met before, so it was technically their first time meeting.
Elena made a bitter smile and just stopped midway. Sara also made a bitter smile and continued.
"...We were so close to getting killed recently, but we somehow got lucky and came out alive. You should be careful out there, being a Hunter you may get killed anytime after all."
"I understand, I'll be careful out there."
Elena looked somehow satisfied with how honest Akira was and replied back with a nod. She then turned to Shizuka and spoke in a tone as if she was teasing Shizuka.
"It seems that you have a customer, so we'll head back. After all, I feel bad making you hear Sara's story all the time."
"Well, if you're going to say that, then you should listen to all her story instead of me. There's a limit of how much special service I can give to a frequent customer, you know?"
Shizuka replied back with a joke that was mixed with a complaint, to which Elena returned back with a joke too.
"Maybe Sara won't have much fun talking with someone who was there too. And also, I'm always listening to her story, you know? Not to mention that we also contribute to your shop's sales, so can you just listen to her story in my place from time to time."
Then Sara joined in their conversation.
"Oh my, in that case then, I'll have you listen to my story when we get back."
Elena returned back with another joke while making a scared face.
"Shizuka, See you later."
Sara smiled and immediately ran away from there, Shizuka made a bitter laugh.
"So that's it, huh. That explains why Sara would rather talk to me instead."
Shizuka waved at Elena and Sara as they were left the shop. After that, she immediately turned to Akira.
"Sorry for the wait. Ammos, right? I'll bring them right away, just wait for a bit."
Shizuka went to the back room and brought back the ordered ammo. After Akira put it inside his rucksack, he realized that Shizuka was looking closely at him.
"Uhm... Anything wrong?"
Shizuka did not answer Akira immediately. She kept looking Akira as if she was confirming something. She then unexpectedly asked.
"Say, Akira. Why are you keeping secret that you were the one who saved Elena and Sara?"
Akira was about to cough but he was able to hold it in. He then tried to regain his composure as much as possible and said.
"...Uhh, well."
"You have some kind of circ.u.mstance, right? If you're not sure whether you can trust them or not, don't worry, I can guarantee you that they're trustworthy."
Akira thought that Shizuka was talking under the assumption that he was the one who saved Elena and Sara. But she had no real proof. So as long as he did not say anything, he might have a chance to dodge it. That was why Akira kept quiet. But then Shizuka continued.
"I heard it from Elena and Sara, Akira, you threw a bullet to Elena, right? That bullet, it was among the batch that I sold to you, right? Bullets from my shop have a manufacturing number carved on their shells. It's for the purpose of tracing back the selling route or returning it back to the manufacturer if a defective product is found."
"...I'm sorry, can you please keep it a secret?"
"Aah. So it was really you, huh. I had no real proof, that's why I was actually asking leading questions, sorry."
"They do have manufacturing numbers carved on their shells, but it's not enough as proof."
After Shizuka answered back while laughing. She looked at Akira with an expression that said she was sorry.
"I'm sorry. I know you must have a circ.u.mstance that you can just talk to others. So I promise I'll keep it a secret. But still, about the thing that I said, it's still important for you to find fellow Hunters that you can trust. After all, there're many bad Hunters out there who are also working as bandits. You'll also have a better chance of survival by working together with people that you can trust... You, Elena, Sara and other Hunters. You guys look like rushing toward your death in my eyes. It's not like I want to criticize other people's way of life. But I at least want to give some advice to my friends so that they can survive longer. I know I've been saying this again and again, but you can trust those girls, you know. I can guarantee it. If you ever change your mind and want to contact Elena and Sara, you can just tell me anytime, okay?"
"...It seems that they're so happy that they were saved, so they keep telling me about that story, you know. And looking from their faces when they talk about that story... Those are the faces of girls in love..."
Although Akira was listening silently to Shizuka, he felt that their conversation was heading in a weird direction. But then it turned into a more disturbing 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/
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