ケースの中にはハザワが売却したトランプが収められている。しっかりとしたケースに収められたトランプは、不思議とそれだけで非常に高額な雰囲気を漂わせていた。
店員がケースを部屋のテーブルの上に置いて、コルベ達に鑑定内容の説明を始める。
「それでは、鑑定内容の詳細を御説明させていただきます。説明のために現物を用意いたしましたが、この遺物の所有権は既に当店に移っております。ケースにお手を触れないようにお願いいたします」
コルベ達は店員の向かいに座っている。一番余裕を保っているコルベが答える。
「分かった。始めてくれ」
レビンが一字一句聞き逃すまいとする真剣な表情を浮かべた。ハザワは興味深そうに店員の説明を待っていた。
黒銀屋に旧世界の遺物を持ち込む者の中には鑑定結果に文句を付ける者も多い。店員はその手の客への対応にも慣れているため、どこか鬼気迫る表情のレビンにも平静を乱すことはなかった。落ち着いた口調で説明を始める。
「我々は様々な要素を基に総合的に判断して鑑定額を決定します。このトランプの評価額の基準となった要素は大きく分けて2つ有ります。エンガザン大会の開催が近付いていること。そして、このトランプが未開封の旧世界製品であること。この2点です。この要素を基準に鑑定額を算出いたしました」
店員が説明を続けていく。コルベ達は黙ってそれを聞いていた。
東部にあるエンガザン都市では、大規模な賭け事の催しが定期的に開かれている。大勢の人間が大金を夢見て集い、己の運と技量で夢を
コルベが素朴な疑問を店員に尋ねる。
「あー、要はその大会の賭けでこのトランプが使われるんだな? 未開封品であることが重要なのもそのためだ。でもそれだけのために150万オーラムなんて値を付けるのか? 幾ら何でも高すぎないか?」
黒銀屋の店員が軽く
「通常の企業通貨で行われる程度の賭けであるならば確かにその通りです。ですが、エンガザン大会では常識を越える個人や組織が、その命運を賭けて行う賭けもあるのです。賭け金の下限が1億コロンの賭けもあれば、巨大企業が旧世界の遺跡の所有権を賭けることもあります」
巨大企業が旧世界の遺跡を奪い合うことは珍しくない。だが武力行使で奪い合うと費用が
「ああ、それで旧世界の遺物として持ち込まれたトランプが必要になるのか。確かに5大企業の権力でも旧世界の企業に細工はできない。なるほど。高値が付くわけだ。と、すると、このトランプがそんな大勝負で使われる可能性があるのか?」
「可能性の有り無しなら、有りますね。夢のある話です」
ハザワは想像を膨らませて尋ね、店員もどこか感慨深げに答えた。
ハザワは納得したが、レビンは逆に疑問を抱く。
「まて、そんな勝負で使用される可能性があるのなら、逆に150万オーラムは安すぎないか?」
「実際にそのような勝負で使用されるほどの品質であるとの検証が済んだ場合は、確かにその通りです。企業通貨なら最低でも億、あるいはコロンでの値が付くでしょう」
「しかしそのためには、十分な検証が必要です。本当に旧世界製の製品であるのか。本当に開封されていないのか。同一の製品が発掘されていた場合、その製品に問題はなかったのか。多額の費用を費やして厳密な十分な検証を済ませた上で、5大企業並みの組織の命運を賭けるに値する品質であると認められた場合にのみ、そのような大勝負で使用されることになります。お客様は最短の鑑定時間での査定を求められました。当然、その程度の時間では十分な検証など不可能です。当社はお客様のご要望に応じて最短時間での鑑定を実施致しました。その鑑定時間でエンガザン大会の大勝負でこの品が使用される可能性を考慮した結果の鑑定額となります。150万オーラムとは、その可能性の金額であると御理解ください」
レビンが納得して深く
店員が説明の締めに入る。
「他に質問等は御座いませんか? ないようでしたら、説明を終了させていただきます。終了後はこの件に関する質問を基本的に受け付けません。再度どうしても質問をする必要が生じた場合は、ヴィオラ様の本人の同意と、同額の情報料が必要となります。質問を打ち切っても
コルベ達が確認を取るように顔を見合わせる。コルベ達が何も言わないので、店員は終了の同意を取ったと見なした。店員がコルベ達に頭を下げて話す。
「では、説明を終了させていただきます。本日は黒銀屋を御利用いただき、誠にありがとう御座いました」
コルベ達は黒銀屋の外に出た。コルベがレビンとハザワに話す。
「よし。早速飲みに行こうぜ」
れと、気持ちは分かるという感情を半々に出して話す。
「だろうな。似たような遺物がすぐに見つかるとは思えないし、仮に見つけたとしても、その遺物を買う金も、黒銀屋に鑑定を頼む金もないだろう。どうする気なんだ?」
「さあな。黒銀屋の会員になるのにも入会料が掛かる。無料鑑定利用回数が付く会員になるには、ある程度の遺物を黒銀屋に持ち込む必要がある。あいつがそのことに気付いたら連絡でもするだろう。まあ、好きにさせておこう。......よし! 飲むぞ!」
コルベとハザワはそのまま機嫌良く繁華街に向かった。コルベ達はレビンを追いかけていろいろと教えてやる義理よりも、取りあえずこの大きな臨時収入で飲むことを優先させた。レビンは自分の意思で去っていったのだ。ハザワの金で
くの間シェリルに協力するために、昼間はシェリルの拠点に顔を出すことになっている。そこでのアキラの役割は主に2つだ。1つは遺物を販売するシェリルの護衛だ。もう一つはシェリルの縄張りで露店を開いているシェリルの部下達の対応だ。
シェリルが販売する遺物を購入可能な人物は、相応の財と武力も保持している。例えばレビン達のようなハンターだ。彼らがシェリルの拠点で武力を誇示した場合、シェリル達がそれに対抗することは難しい。
相手は荒野でモンスターと戦っているハンターであり、シェリル達のような子供が一応武装して数で威圧しても、どこまで効果があるかは分からない。侮られ、
シェリルが遺物売却用の部屋で客の応対をしている間は、アキラが万一の場合に備えて部屋のシーツの裏に隠れていることになった。
アキラはシェリル達と同じ子供だ。だが
い場所に初めから立っていないのはシェリルの指示だ。アキラがいない場合でも遺物の売却を安全に行うためである。一見部屋の中にシェリルしかいないように見えても、重装備のハンターが裏に隠れているかもしれない。そういう意識を広めて抑止力にするためだ。アキラもいつまでも四六時中シェリル達に付き合うわけにはいかないため、そういう手段が必要になるのだ。
シェリルの部下達が拠点の外の縄張りで開いている露店は、シェリル達の単純な資金源の他に、シェリルが拠点の中で行っている遺物売却用に
シェリルはアキラの様子を見て、何となく尋ねてみる。
「アキラ。随分熱心ですけど、何をしているんですか?」
「ああ。ちょっとしたゲーム......のようなものを、少しな」
「面白い......、まあ、熱心にやりたくなる内容ではあると思う」
「どんなゲームなんですか?」
「ん? 遺跡探索のゲームだ。ハンターのキャラクターを操作して、旧世界の遺跡から遺物を手に入れて帰還するんだ」
め事があった。またアキラさんに来てほしいんだけど......」
何かあればシェリル達はアキラに頼らざるを得ない。それはシェリルも理解している。だが余りに気軽に呼ばれても困る。シェリルは徒党のボスとして、徒党内でのアキラの価値が
シェリルがエリオに尋ねる。
「エリオ達の方で何とかならないの? エリオにはそこそこ良い装備を渡しているでしょう?」
「無茶を言うなよ。多少装備が良いぐらいで、俺にアキラさんの代わりができるわけないだろう。俺達だって気軽にアキラさんを呼んで何でもかんでも済ませようとしているわけじゃないんだ。俺達じゃ無理っぽいから呼びに来たんだ」
シェリルはエリオの態度から
頼りになるが高く付く。シェリル達にとってアキラはそういう存在でなければならない。シェリルはそう考えている。しかし現実にはシェリル達はアキラにほぼ何も支払っていない。シェリル達はアキラにひたすら甘えているのだ。
シェリルの部下達がその現状を理解した時、その理解がアキラへの恩と感謝を生み出すのならば構わない。だが実際には、軽視と傲慢がどうしても混ざることになるだろう。シェリルはそう判断していた。
何しろシェリル達は何も支払っていないのだ。たとえ正当な手段ではないとしても、
は、現状に対する慣れを遅らせるだろう。甘えが軽視に変わるのをある程度防ぐだろう。しかしその効果は永続ではないのだ。
シェリルはアキラのために、シェリルのために、徒党の者達のために、アキラの価値を維持し続けなければならないのだ。
シェリルがエリオとアキラに話す。
「なら仕方ないわね。アキラ。お手数をお掛けしますが、またお願いします」
アキラは情報端末をテーブルの上に置いて出かける準備を始めた。
アキラが部屋の隅に置いていた装備品を身に着ける。AAH突撃銃、A2D突撃銃、CWH対物突撃銃、DVTSミニガン、A4WM自動擲弾銃を全て身に着けると、スラム街を
なおアキラが装備品で威嚇する手段を思いつく前に、4人のごろつきと2人のハンター崩れがスラム街の路地裏に転がることになった。彼らが生きていればシェリルの縄張りの露店で騒ぎを起こすのは得策ではないと周囲に話を広めてくれるだろう。
シェリルがアキラを見送るために席を立ってアキラの
準備を終えたアキラが自分の情報端末を見ているシェリルに気付いた。アキラは先ほどシェリルがゲームの内容に興味を示していたことを思い出して軽く話す。
「えっ? あ、はい。ありがとう御座います」
シェリルは別にゲームにそこまで興味はなかったのだが、一応そう礼を言った。
後でアキラにゲームの感想を聞かれるかもしれない。そう考えたシェリルは、試しに少し遊んでみることにした。
アキラが遊んでいたゲームは、ハンターが旧世界の遺跡を探索する内容をゲーム化したものだった。見下ろし型のかなり簡略表示されている遺跡の中を、プレイヤーがハンターを操作して探索するのだ。
シェリルは3頭身ほどに簡略表示されているハンターの姿を見て、それがアキラにとてもよく似ていることに気付いた。表示されているハンターの名前もアキラとなっている。装備品も実際のアキラの装備に近い。
(......随分アキラに似ているわね。名前もアキラだし。まあ、アキラが遊んでいたのだから、自分に似たように設定しただけでしょうけど)
シェリルはゲームの操作説明など受けていないので、取りあえず適当に操作をしてみることにした。画面の中では、適当に操作されたアキラに似たハンターがうろうろしている。そしてそのハンターはすぐに旧世界の遺跡の中にいたモンスターに見つかり殺されてしまった。
シェリルはいろいろと操作を試して、ある程度ゲームの操作方法を把握した。
視点のシミュレーションのようなもので、旧世界の遺跡の中をハンターを操作して遊ぶものだ。遺跡内を探索し、高値の旧世界の遺物を手に入れて、生きて旧世界の遺跡から帰還するのが目的である。
シェリルは気を取り直してゲームを再開する。しかし操作方法が分かっていても、ゲームのルールを把握していても、やはり操作をしているハンターはあっさり死んでしまう。
シェリルが顔を
(ちょっと難しすぎないかしら? こういうゲームの難易度って、これぐらいが普通なの?)
シェリルが操作をしていない間は、ゲーム内の時間が進むことはない。そのためシェリルはゆっくり時間を掛けてハンターの行動を選択することができる。しかしそれでもハンターはすぐに死んでしまう。モンスターに襲われ、別のハンターに襲われ、あっさり命を落としてしまう。
ゲームなので、アキラに似たハンターは何度でも遺跡に向かうことができる。何度でも試みることができる。しかし現実ならば一度死ねば終わりだ。
(ゲームで良かった......と言いたいところだけど、何か腹が立ってきたわね)
アキラが死ねば、アキラという後ろ盾を失ったシェリル達はあっさり瓦解するだろう。そのアキラが、ゲームの中ではあるが、旧世界の遺跡から一度も生還できずに何度も死に続けている。
お前達の後ろ盾などその程度だ。そう言われているような気がして、シェリルは意地になってきた。
(アキラが熱心に遊んでいた理由も分かる気がするわね。......絶対にクリアしてやるわ!)
シェリルは自身の才気を十全に費やして、必死になってゲームの攻略を開始した。
アキラはエリオに案内されて問題が起きている露店に向かっていた。その途中でアルファに先ほどのゲームの内容について尋ねる。
『自分の実力を客観的に別の視点から把握したい。そう言ったのはアキラよ? 結果を受け入れて、今後の成長の糧としなさい。あれは現実を簡略化したゲームではあるけれど、広い視点からの状況を把握する訓練にもなるわ。頑張りなさい』
『それは分かってるんだけど、何もできずに殺される状態が続くと、ちょっとな』
アキラがしていたゲームは、現実のアキラを模した操作キャラクターと、現実の遺跡を模したステージで構成されている。様々な判定も簡略化されているとはいえ現実に近い判定が行われている。表向きはただのゲームだが、実際は高度なシミュレーターなのだ。
アキラの実力を反映した操作キャラクターをアキラの意思で操作している。つまり、シミュレーター内のキャラクターはアキラと大体同じなのだ。
現実のアキラと最も異なる箇所は、ゲーム内のアキラにはアルファのサポートがないことだ。シミュレーター内のアキラは、危険な旧世界の遺跡をアキラの本来の実力で攻略しなければならない。
シミュレーターはアキラの操作の結果をゲーム内のアキラに正しく反映させた。不用意な行動に対して、誤った選択に対して、現実と同じ結果をゲーム内のアキラに正しく反映させた。つまり、死だ。危険な旧世界の遺跡を訪れた未熟なハンターの末路である。
アキラはまだ一度もゲームのステージを攻略できていない。アルファはゲーム内のアキラの実力でも攻略が可能なようにゲームの難易度を落としているとアキラに説明している。つまり、現実のアキラの操作がゲーム内のアキラの足を引っ張っていることになる。
『やっぱり俺はまだまだ弱いってことなんだよな。セランタルビルでも、アルファのサポートがない時の俺の動きを見たシオリとキャロルが、俺の状態をあからさまに不審に思っていたしな。分かるものなんだな』
アルファがそう答えて自信満々の笑みをアキラに向けた。
アキラはそのアルファの笑顔を見て。内心に湧いていた暗い気持ちを吹き飛ばすように軽く笑った。
『そうだな。頼んだ。これからも
『任せなさい』
気を取り直したアキラを見て、アルファは満足げに
The trump card set that Hazawa just sold was kept inside that case, the case itself looked so secure to the point that the trump card set seemed like an expensive article.
That employee placed that case above the table and started explaining the details of the appraisal to Colbert, Revin and Hazawa.
"So then, please let me explain the details of the appraisal process. We've brought the relic in question here to help with the explanation, but please bear in mind that the ownership of this relic is already on us. So please don't touch the case."
The employee was sitting face to face against the other three Hunters. Colbert was the one who was the most relaxed among all of them, so he replied to that employee in place of his friends.
"Alright, go ahead."
Revin was listening very closely so as not to miss even a word from that explanation, while Hazawa was listening out of pure interest.
There were many Hunters who pawned their relics in Kurogin only to complain later. So the people who work for Kurogin were already used to facing those kinds of Hunters. Even if Revin was staring at him, or even glaring at him, that employee was able to keep his calm as he calmly explained.
"We have a lot of indicators that we use to decide the value of a relic. There are 2 big reasons why we value this trump highly. First is that the Engazan convention is close, and secondly, this trump card set is a still-sealed old-world relic. We used these 2 factors to decide the price of this trump card set."
That employee continued his explanation, Colbert and his friends were listening closely to it without saying anything.
The Engazan city in the Eastern district held a huge-scale gambling event regularly. A lot of people were swayed by the dream of winning the jackpot and decide to join that event to test their luck and skill.
Colbert suddenly asked a question to that employee.
"Ahh, so basically, they'll use this trump card set for that gambling event, huh? That's also the reason why you need a still-sealed set of trump cards, right? But I still don't see how it's valued at 1,500,000 Aurum, isn't that just too high no matter how you think about it?"
That employee nodded and said.
"That's indeed true if it's only used for gambling with the corporation-issued currencies. But in Engazan gambling event, there are even important individuals and organizations partaking. In the past, some of them even made 100,000,000 Chrome as bet and the big companies even put their relics as bets too."
It was common for big companies to fight over old-world relics. But fighting over it using force would warrant them to spend more money on the war than what they could get from the relics they were fighting over, while on the other hand, it was not like they could give up just because of that either. So in that situation, in order to reach a conclusion that both sides could accept, they often fought over the ownership of the relics through gambling.
"I see, so that's why they need a trump card from the old-world, huh. It's true that even the 5 biggest companies in the eastern district can't reproduce the same old-world trump card. I see how it's highly valued now. But then, does that mean this trump card might be used for such gamble?"
"If asked whether it's possible or not, the answer is yes, it might be used for such a gamble. It's really something grand if you think about it."
Hazawa just asked a question that came up in his mind out of imagination, and then that employee replied back with an answer that filled Hazawa's mind with more imagination.
Although Hazawa was fully convinced by that explanation, that was not the case for Revin.
"Wait for a sec, if it might be used for that kind of gamble, doesn't that make 1,500,000 Aurum pretty low?"
"That is indeed true if this trump card is good enough to be used for that level of a gamble. Which in that case, it might even worth a few billion Aurum or maybe a few Chrome."
"But to ascertain it, we would need more investigations. We need to make sure if it's really an old-world relic, if it's really still sealed. We need to check if there's any problem with the article by comparing it in case someone excavated the same article in the past. Only after that long time-consuming and money-consuming process, and after it has been confirmed that it's good enough to be used for gamble between big companies and big people, only then, it'll be used for such a level of gambling. You asked us to do the investigation as fast as possible, as such, we can't do a full investigation. We've appraised the article in a short time per your request, and from that short investigation, we find that it might have the quality to be used in Engazan gambling events. The 1,500,000 Aurum is basically the price of that possibility."
Revin nodded deeply.
That employee then moved on to end his explanation.
"Are there any other questions? If not, I will end the explanation here. After we close this session, we will not accept any more questions regarding this subject. In case if you want to inquire again later, you'll need approval from Viola-sama as well as pay the information fee. So, if there's no more question, is it okay to end the session here?"
Colbert, Revin and Hazawa looked at each other to confirm what the others were thinking. Since it seemed that none of them had any more questions, the employee thought that it should be okay to end the session, so he then lightly bowed and said.
"Very well then, let me finish my explanation here. Thank you very much for using our service."
Colbert, Revin and Hazawa left that building. Colbert then said to Hazawa and Revin.
"Alright then, let's hit the pub."
Hazawa sighed exasperatedly, he could understand Revin's feeling as he spoke.
"I bet you're right. But it's not like you can easily find that kind of relic again. And even if he does, he doesn't have the money to buy it nor to get it appraised in Kurogin. I wonder what he's planning to do about that."
"No idea. You'll need extra money to be a member of Kurogin too. And you'll only get the free monthly quota after bringing enough relics to Kurogin. I'm sure that he'll call us when he realizes that. Well, let's just leave him be and go for a drink."
It was not like they had the duty to tell Revin the problems that he might have to face later, so instead, they chose to enjoy the sudden influx of cash that they got that day and headed to the entertainment district. Revin left on his own volition, and so, Hazawa did not give Revin a treat.
Over the last few days, in order to help Sheryl's gang, Akira always went to visit her base during the day. Akira basically had two roles there, first of all, was a bodyguard for Sheryl when she was selling relics, and secondly to help the gang to open stands somewhere inside the gang's territory.
The people who bought Sheryl's relics were those who had enough economical power to do so, and of course, a fighting power suitable for their economical power. Basically, they were Hunters like Revin and his friends. If they tried to use force to break into Sheryl's base, it would be hard for the gang to fight them back.
They were basically people who regularly fought monsters out in the wasteland, although the gang had more people and Sheryl could arm her gang with rifles, there was a limit on how far they could fight back. These Hunters might look down on the gang, thinking that the gang posed no threat at all against them, and use their position to threaten back. And of course, if it really ended up in a fight, Sheryl's gang would have zero chance to win it.
Because of that, when Sheryl was dealing with potential buyers, she asked Akira to hide behind one of the sheets in that room just in case anything bad happened.
Akira was just another small kid like Sheryl. But he was using an augmented suit and carrying heavy weapons that normal people would not be able to carry without an enhanced strength, so people would not just mindlessly pick a fight against him. There were indeed some difficult customers, but when Akira came out, they would obediently withdraw.
The reason why Akira was not showing himself was simply because Sheryl told him to do that. It was to make an impression that even if it seemed that Sheryl was all alone there, a heavily armed Hunter might be hiding somewhere, it was to make that kind of illusion just in case if Akira was not really present. It was an important precaution since it was not like Akira could be there all the time.
The small stands opened by her gang were basically serving as a filter to get suitable customers for the main shop in Sheryl's base as well as a source of spare money. They were looking for customers who seemed to carry enough money and would not cause harm to Sheryl before telling them about the main shop.
Sheryl glanced at Akira and threw a question.
"Akira, what are you doing there? It seems that you're so focused on it."
"Ahh, it's just game..."
"It is... Well, at least, I think it's an interesting game."
"What kind of game is that?"
? It's a relic hunting game. You basically control a Hunter character to safely carry old-world relics back home."
"Sorry, there's a problem in one of the stands. So if Akira-san can come with me for a bit..."
If something happened, they did not have any other choice but to ask for Akira's help. Sheryl herself knew that very well. But it would be bad if they asked for Akira's help for every little thing. As the boss of the gang, Sheryl wanted to make sure that her men did not have the wrong impression of Akira.
Sheryl then said to Erio.
"Can you not do something about it? You and some of your men have rifles with you, right?"
"That would be impossible. Just because we have some weapons that don't mean that we're as strong as Akira-san. It's not like we call for Akira-san for every little thing, it's exactly because we can't handle the situation ourselves that we ask for Akira-san's help."
Judging from the way Erio reacted, Sheryl knew that he was not lying.
Sheryl thought that she needed to keep Akira's impression as someone who was reliable but his help was not cheap. After all, in reality, her gang did not pay anything to Akira, they were just simply taking advantage of his kindness.
It would not be a problem if her gang members felt thankful and indebted to Akira's help when they realized it. But in reality, some of her gang members would look down on him instead.
In the end, the gang did not pay anything to Akira. So since Akira's help was something that they could get any time without paying anything, it would affect their impression of Akira sooner or later even if they only asked for Akira's help for trivial things. After all, humans could get used to anything, both for the better and for the worse.
It should be able to hold back Sheryl's men from looking down at Akira or getting too used to Akira's kindness. But that effect would not last forever.
So for the sake of Akira, of herself, and for her gang, Sheryl had to keep Akira's image in the gang.
Sheryl then said to Akira and Erio.
"It can't be helped then. Akira, I'm sorry to bother you again, but can you help me?"
Akira put his information terminal on the table and picked up his equipment.
He picked up his rifles that he left on the corner of the room. His AAH assault rifle, A2D assault rifle, CWH anti-material rifle, DVTS minigun, and A4WM automatic grenade launcher. With all of those rifles on him, he really stuck out like a sore thumb within the slum city. Akira did not have the imposing aura of a strong person, that was why giving that impression through his equipment was quicker and safer.
Even before Akira had the idea to scare his opponent with his equipment, he already killed 4 thugs and 2 former Hunters. If they were still alive now, they would have told anyone that it was a bad idea to cause a ruckus in Sheryl's gang's territory.
In order to send Akira off, Sheryl stood up and walked towards him. There she glanced at Akira's information terminal that he left on the table.
After Akira finished his preparation, he noticed Sheryl was looking at his information terminal. He then remembered that Sheryl asked him about what kind of game he was playing, so he casually said to Sheryl.
"Eh? Ah, yes, thank you."
Sheryl actually was not that interested in the game, but since Akira said so, she replied with gratitude.
Sheryl thought that Akira might ask about her impression of the game later, so she decided to try the game.
The game that Akira was playing was a game of a Hunter hunting old-world relics. The player controlled a Hunter in a simplified top-down view of a ruin to look for relics.
Sheryl saw a chibi form of a Hunter on the display of that information terminal, she noticed that it looked like Akira. Even the name displayed on that Hunter character was 'Akira' and its equipment were similar to Akira's.
[...The character really looks like Akira, even the name is Akira too. Well, Akira was the one playing this game, after all, I bet he set it so that it looks like him.]
Since Sheryl did not get any instruction on how to play the game, she decided to just give it a try for now. The character that looked like Akira inside the game moved around, encountered a monster, and immediately got killed.
Sheryl tried the game a few more rounds and eventually more or less understood the rules of the game.
The game was basically a top-down simulation game where the player controlled a Hunter inside an old-world ruin. The main goal was for the character to look for relics, gather expensive relics, and return back alive.
Sheryl renewed her resolve and restarted the game. But again, although she understood how to control the character and the rules of the game, her character immediately got killed again.
Sheryl then frowned.
[Isn't this game a little too hard? Or is it like this level of difficulty is normal?]
The time in the game stopped when Sheryl did not move the character. Thanks to that, she could take her time thinking of her next move. But even so, the Hunter that she controlled quickly got killed again attacked by either monsters or the other Hunters.
Since it was only a game, the character that looked like Akira could try again as many times as Sheryl wanted. But of course, in reality, you got only one chance.
[Thank goodness this is only a game... Or at least that's what I want to say, but this thing is still ticking me off.]
If Akira got killed, Sheryl and her gang would lose their support and the gang might as well get disbanded. Although it was only in the game, for 'Akira' to not be able to return back alive even after multiple tries made her upset.
Sheryl got a little obstinate since it felt like the game was saying that the Hunter supporting her gang was so weak.
[I can understand now why Akira got so invested in this game... I'll definitely clear this game.]
Sheryl then used all of her skill and brainpower to try clearing that game.
Erio guided Akira to the stand where there was trouble. On their way there, Akira asked Alpha a question about the game that he was playing until just now.
"You're the one who said that you want to know your skill from another point of view, remember? So, just accept the result and focus more on getting better. Although it's a simplified game of real ruin exploration, it's still good training for you to see the overall situation when you're in a ruin. So just focus on working hard."
"I know, it's just that it's not that fun when I keep getting myself killed without making any progress."
The game that he was playing had a character based on him and a stage that was made based on a real ruin. Although it had other modifications too, it was still pretty much close to a real situation. It looked like just a game from the outside, but it actually was an advanced simulation.
The character inside the game was based on him and he was the one controlling it, so it was more or less Akira himself.
The biggest difference between that character and the real Akira was that the real Akira had Alpha's support. The Akira in the simulation was exploring the dangerous ruin with the current Akira's real ability.
The simulator was showing how the real Akira would perform including the price that he must pay when he made a mistake or one wrong step, which was basically death, just like many other Hunters who met their ends inside the dangerous old-world ruin.
Akira was still not able to finish even a stage of that game. Alpha already explained to him that she reduced the difficulty of that game so that he should be able to clear it. So basically, the real Akira was pulling the Akira in the game down.
"As I thought, I'm still really weak. Even back then in the Seranthal building, Shiori and Carol got suspicious of me just from seeing my movements when I lost your support. So I guess it must have been obvious."
Alpha was smiling confidently as she said that.
Akira saw that smile and lightly smiled back, erasing the dark feeling welling inside him.
"You're right, I'll be counting on you."
"Just leave it to me."
Alpha smiled satisfied seeing that Akira completely cheered up.
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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