る気持ちを抑えながら店に入ったアキラを、シズカが笑って出迎える。
「いらっしゃい。御希望の商品が届いているわ。案内するからこっちに来て」
アキラはそのまま店の倉庫に案内された。多数の商品が雑多に積まれている倉庫の中を見ると、ハンガーラックに掛けられている強化服がすぐに目に
強化服は黒に近い灰色の柔らかそうな素材で作られている。表面には金属製の骨組みが付いていて、背中の背骨のように見える支柱から、骨格に沿って四肢の末端まで伸びている。ヘルメットなどの頭部装備は付属していない。
アキラがその周囲を回りながら強化服を興味深そうに見ている。その普段よりも子供っぽいアキラの様子を、シズカは
続けて強化服の金属骨格部分を触る。予想以上に柔らかく、金属を触る感覚で力を入れた途端にゴムのように曲がってしまい、慌てて手を離した。
「シ、シズカさん、なんか予想以上にグニャッとしてるんですけど、こういうものなんですか?」
シズカが笑ってアキラを安心させる。その笑顔にはアキラの反応を楽しんでいる部分も含まれていた。
「大丈夫よ。簡単に着脱できるように、起動していない時は柔らかくなっているの。じゃあ、いつまでも眺めていないで、早速着てみましょうか。強化服の初期設定の
シズカが以前のようにアキラの身体データをスキャナで計測する。そして強化服の背中側へ移動すると、手元の端末を操作して身体データを強化服の制御装置に送信した。
強化服が入力された身体データを基に自動でサイズ調整を始める。袖や股下、胴体部などが少しずつ縮んでいき、アキラの身体に適したサイズに全体的に変わっていく。アキラはその様子を見て軽く驚きの声を上げた。その後、サイズ調整の済んだ強化服をシズカに手伝ってもらいながら着用した。
金属骨格はゴムのような柔らかさで、着ている時も、その後に体を軽く動かした時も、アキラの動きをその固さで阻害するようなことはなかった。しかし重量は別だ。サイズ調整を済ませて、その重量を体型に沿って分散させているのにも
「うん。なかなか格好良いじゃない」
「ありがとう御座います」
『格好良いわ! 素敵よ!』
『何で私にはそんな辛辣なのよ』
しているようにしか聞こえないからだよ』
アルファは不満そうな様子を見せていたが、アキラはそれを無視した。
アキラがしっかりと頷く。
「分かりました。十分気を付けます」
「付属品はあっちの箱に入っているわ。エネルギーパックの予備と整備キット、それに簡単な紙の説明書ね。情報端末で閲覧できる説明書のダウンロード先も書いてあったはずよ。使用方法はちゃんと目を通しておくこと。......それぐらいかしら? アキラから私に何か聞いておきたいことはある?」
アキラは少し考えてから、何となく頭に浮かんだことを尋ねてみる。
「そういえば、強化服にはヘルメットみたいなものは付かないんですか?」
「強化服や防護服の頭部装備は基本的にオプション品なのよ。アキラはヘルメットとかを着ける方だったの? ごめんなさい。確認しておくべきだったわね」
シズカは少し申し訳なさそうに謝った。アキラが慌てて補足する。
「いえ、あっても不思議はないかなって思っただけです。不満を言った訳ではありません。俺も必要ならシズカさんに強化服の相談をした時にちゃんと言っています。気にしないでください」
「そう? それなら良かったわ」
「さっきシズカさんは俺のことを、ヘルメットを着ける方かって聞きましたけど、着けない方の人もいるんですか?」
「ええ。結構いるわよ。頭部装着型の情報収集機器を使うから、基本セットの頭部装備は邪魔だって思う人もいるし、そんなこととは無関係に頭部を覆うものは出来る限り何も着けたくないって人もいるわ。だから強化服の頭部装備は基本的にオプション品なのよ」
「そんな人もいるんですか? ヘルメットを着けた方が安全だと思うんですけど......」
「いるわよ。例えばエレナとサラも、フルフェイスのヘルメットとかを被ったりはしていないでしょう?」
アキラはエレナ達の姿を思い浮かべて、確かにそうだと思った。ついでに、遺跡でエレナ達を襲った男達もそうだったと思い出す。しかしだからと言って納得は出来なかった。逆に疑問が深まり、
「確かにそうですね。......何でなんですかね?」
「一応理由はあるのだけど、その理由がちょっとオカルトなのよね」
「オカルト、ですか?」
「そう。オカルト。どんな話か聞きたい?」
「お願いします」
シズカが興味深そうな表情をしているアキラを少し楽しげに見ながら話し始める。
「ハンターの中にはどんなに高性能なヘルメットでも着用を嫌がる人がいるのよ。フルフェイスだけど、砲弾の直撃に耐えるほどの防御力があって、内部の全方向ディスプレイのおかげでヘルメットを着けていない時と同じ視界を維持できて、音も同じように聞こえて、被っても圧迫感など全く感じられなくて、強化服との連携で重量も全く感じられない。そんな
アキラは少し考えてみたが、それらしい理由は全く思い付けなかった。難問を解くのを諦めたような表情を浮かべて降参する。
「何でも、そういうヘルメットを着けると勘が鈍るんですって」
「勘......ですか?」
アキラは予想外の答えに困惑した様子を見せている。シズカは予想通りの反応を楽しむように
「そう。勘。高性能なヘルメットの防御力や機能性を捨ててでも、勘を鈍らせるのを防ぎたいそうよ。私も勘は良い方だと思っているから、そういう気持ちは分からない訳でもないわ」
「うーん。分かるような、分からないような......」
「まあ確かに、その辺の感覚は個人的なものだからね。懐疑的な人も多いけど、同時に自分のことなんだから自分の勘に従って好きにすれば良いと思っている人も多いから、個人が各自で判断する分には問題ないのよ。問題は民間軍事会社とかが部隊の武装を
わらず、部隊全体の死傷率が上がったそうよ」
シズカは驚きの表情を浮かべたアキラの反応を見て、少し満足そうに
「納得できる明確な根拠なんかない。頭部装備を着けたくない理由は本人の勘というあやふやなもの。でも死傷率という数字は結果を出している。だから、オカルトって言われているのよ」
「......えっと、俺もヘルメットを着けない方が良いんでしょうか?」
「下手に悩むより、その方が良いかもしれないわね。オプション品だけの取り寄せも出来るから、気が変わったら言ってちょうだい」
シズカが話を切り替える。
はしないこと。何かあったら連絡して。初期不良が有った場合は修理に出すけど、その場合は最短でも1か月は修理から戻ってこないと思ってね。おっと、危ないから店を出るまでは強化服の身体強化機能を切るか、動作を日常生活補助モードにしておいてね」
アキラは言われた通りに強化服の機能を一度切った。すると強化服の重量が体に戻ってくる。この状態では宿まで戻るのも難しいと感じて、機能を日常生活補助モードに切り替える。動きに僅かに重さを感じるものの、普通の動作に支障はなくなった。
アキラ達は取りあえず店の方まで戻った。シズカがカウンター越しに普段の接客を始める。
「一応可能な限りアキラの要望を満たした強化服を選んだつもりよ。実際に使ってみるといろいろ気になる点が出てくると思うけど、今はアキラに満足してもらえることを祈っておくわ。文句を思い付いたら遠慮無く言ってちょうだい。私に何とか出来るものなら何とかするから」
「多分大丈夫だと思いますけど、何かあればその時はまた相談させてください」
「気にしないで。これでアキラに強化服でもないと重くて使えない銃も勧められるようになった訳だからね。今後の御購入を期待して待っているわ」
「期待に応えられるように稼ぎたいところですけど、無理はしないようにしておきます。気長に待っていてください」
アキラも冗談交じりの苦笑を返した。そして軽く頭を下げてから帰っていった。
「それにしても、ちょっと前に初めてAAH突撃銃を買ったばかりなのに、もう強化服を手に入れたのか。早いわね。危ない時にエレナ達に助けられた運もある。この調子なら将来有望なハンターに成りそうね。......多分ね」
大成への道をより速く進むほど、その速度が速ければ速いほど、狭まった周辺視野の
うっかり口に出した言葉が現実にならないように、シズカは心に浮かんだことを口に出す前に、別の言葉に切り替えていた。
宿に戻ったアキラがハンガーラックに掛けられている強化服を見て機嫌良く笑っている。
「えっ? いや、でも、強化服を手に入れたから、もう荒野に出ても大丈夫なんじゃないのか?」
『荒野には出るけれど、遺跡には行かないわ。危険だからね。私はもう少しアキラを過保護にすることに決めたの。アキラの不運に対抗する
自分の不幸はそこまで断固たる決意がなければ立ち向かえないものなのか。アキラはそう思って若干たじろいだ。
「そ、そうか。アルファがそう言うなら仕方無いけど、これからどうするんだ? この安部屋の宿代もそろそろ尽きる頃だぞ?」
くの間はハンターオフィスから依頼を受けて日銭を稼ぐわ。依頼を達成して、アキラのハンターランクを上昇させて、荒野仕様の車を借りられる身分になること。それが当面の目標よ』
「車か。うーん。そっちを優先させる理由は?」
アキラはその理由に納得しながらも、再度モンスターの群れと遭遇する前提でこれからの予定を組まれたことに、少し複雑な気持ちを抱いて微妙な表情を浮かべた。
『遺物収集を目的にした遺跡探索はその後になるわ。依頼は私が選ぶから安心して』
『今日はもうこのまま部屋で休んで。私はその間に強化服の調整を済ませるわ。明日は一日中強化服の訓練よ。それで最低限戦えるぐらいには強化服に慣れてもらうわ。実際に依頼を受けて動くのは
「強化服の調整って、それはシズカさんが済ませただろう?」
『あれは本当に最小の基本設定を終わらせただけよ。私の高度なサポートを受けられるアキラ専用のカスタマイズは、私がこれから念入りに作成するの。情報端末との連結だけはお願いするわ。その後は私だけでやるから安心して』
アキラがアルファの指示通りに情報端末と強化服を整備キットの中にあった接続端子ケーブルで接続する。すると情報端末にアキラには意味不明な文字列、画像、紋様等が浮かび上がる。情報端末の設定の時に似たようなものを見た記憶があるので、気にせずに後はアルファに任せて休憩に入った。
情報端末は使用中で、アルファも強化服の設定で忙しい。アキラはノートと筆記用具で自習しながら、何となくシズカの話を思い出した。
確実に存在していて疑う方が不自然だ。そう言わんばかりの態度での返事にアキラが少し驚く。
「随分はっきり言うんだな。シズカさんはオカルトだって言っていたのに」
『あれは事象の認識に必要な情報精度の低下や、それに起因する誤認や判断の誤り、自覚できない知覚の遮断、無意識下の通信障害などが複合した結果よ。それらを現在の科学技術で解析することが不可能だから、オカルトって呼ばれているだけよ』
い説明にならないか?」
『良いわよ。アキラが解像度の低い画像を見たとするわね。ぼやけているけれど、映っているのがクズスハラ街遺跡だってことは分かる。その程度の画像よ。その画像の撮影場所でクズスハラ街遺跡を見れば、大体同じものを見ることはできる。でも
『背後から視線を感じて振り返ったら本当に誰かがいた。そういう感覚に優れている人もいるわ。でもその視線を知覚しているのは視覚、聴覚、触覚、味覚、嗅覚のいずれでもないわ。視線は見えないし聞こえないし触れないし味わえないし嗅げないからね。そういう人には、自覚はできないけれど、視線を知覚できる感覚器が存在している可能性があるわ。旧世界の技術で気配を探知するような感覚器を追加した人の子孫かもしれないし、同様の効果がある遺物を知らずに使用して似たような能力を得た可能性もあるわ。頭部を覆うことでそれらの感覚器が鈍る場合もあるわね』
『アキラは私と念話をしているけれど、これは私とアキラの間で行われている通信の上で行われているわ。前にもちょっと話したけれど、これはアキラの脳にある機能のおかげね。でも別にその機能に限った話ではなくて、他の何らかの存在と何らかの情報を通信する機能は結構あるのよ。双子には不思議なテレパシーがあるとか、身近な人の危険を何となく察したりとかね。意思の疎通は無理でも何らかの送受信が行われていて、近くにいる何かの情報を無意識に認識していることもあるわ。この通信も頭部を覆うことで遮断されるかもしれないわね』
『勘が鋭いというのは、それらの無意識下で行われる多種多様な何かを総合して得た情報と、その情報を基にした判断のことよ。命懸けのハンター稼業でそれらの技術を自覚せずに研ぎ澄ませた人間が急にそれを失った場合、つまり勘が鈍った場合、それは目を
アルファはそこで説明を一度止めた。そして笑ってアキラに話の理解度を尋ねる。
『分かった?』
アキラは困惑に困惑を重ねた頭の中で何とか答えを生み出した。
「......つまり、俺が変なものを被ると、普通は気が付かないものをもっと気が付かなくなったり、アルファと話せなくなったりする恐れが高くなるってことか?」
『その認識で構わないわ。だから私のサポートを妨げたり低下させたりする装備品は、どんなに高性能なものでもアキラに使わせる訳にはいかないわ』
「でもそれってどうやって調べるんだ?」
アキラは変な装備の
「いや、今はあれで十分だ。もっと細かい説明はその内にその手の授業の中で教えてくれ」
アキラが断ったのは下手に詳しく聞くと更に難解な話が延々と続きそうな予感がしたからだ。そしてそれはアルファに見抜かれていた。
Akira looked excited as he entered the shop. Shizuka saw him and gave him a welcoming smile.
"Welcome, the item that you ordered has arrived. I'll take you there, so just follow me."
Shizuka took Akira to the shop's warehouse. He saw many items and goods lined up inside the warehouse, then his eyes caught the augmented suit that was on the hanger rack.
The greyish black augmented suit hanging there was made of something that looked elastic. There was a metallic part that formed a skeletal frame extending from the backbone of the suit to all the 4 limbs. And it did not come with a helmet or any head equipment.
Akira circled it, his eyes locked to the augmented suit. Shizuka giggled as she watched Akira who was behaving more childish than usual.
Akira continued to feel the metallic part. The metallic part was way softer than he thought, and as he pressed it a bit, the metallic part deformed as if it was made of gum. Akira pulled his finger back in panic.
"S-Shizuka-san. It's softer than I thought though, is this normal?"
Shizuka laughed which made Akira relieved. But a part of that laugh was Shizuka enjoying Akira's comical reaction.
"It's alright. That part is elastic and soft when the suit is OFF in order to make it easy for the user to equip it. So then, don't just stand there, let's try putting it on. I'll need your body measurement for the first time setting. So take off your clothes just like when I took your body measurement."
Shizuka then took Akira's body measurement like last time. After she finished, she went behind the augmented suit and operated her information terminal to send the data to the suit.
Once the data was received, the augmented suit automatically adjusted itself as it started to wriggle. The sleeves, inseam and body part of the suit readjusted itself to mimic Akira's body. Akira gasped in surprise when he saw that. After the adjustment finished, Akira put on the suit with some assistance from Shizuka.
The soft and elastic metallic part of the suit did not impede his movement when he equipped it and tried to move his limbs. But it was a different story for the weight. Although the weight of the suit was distributed across its humanoid shape, it was still quite heavy that Akira would get tired quickly if he tried to move around in it.
"Yep, you look cool."
"Thank you very much."
"Yep, you look really cool!! It's wonderful!"
"Why are you so mean to me?"
"Because it sounds like you were mocking me now."
Alpha looked offended, but Akira just ignored her. Shizuka then continued checking the augmented suit.
Akira nodded firmly.
"I understand. I'll be careful."
"The other items that came along with the augmented suit are inside the box over there. It should include extra energy packs for reserve, maintenance kit and a simple manual. You should be able to find the site where to download a more detailed manual inside the simple manual. So be sure to read the manual... I guess that's all, do you have any other questions?"
Akira took some time thinking before asking Shizuka.
"By the way, do people usually use a helmet with their augmented suit?"
"Armour, augmented suit and basically any other equipment are actually optional. Are you one of those people who prefer to use a helmet? I'm sorry, I should've clarified with you beforehand."
As Shizuka looked sorry and apologized to Akira, he replied while getting fl.u.s.tered.
"Ah no, I'm just wondering if it's weird if I use a helmet along with the augmented suit. I didn't mean to complain. I also did say that I'll tell you if I need anything when I consulted with you. So please don't be sorry."
"Is that so? I'm glad to hear that."
"Shizuka-san, you did ask me if I'm the type of person who uses a helmet, right? So there are people who prefer to not use a helmet, huh?"
"Yes. It's actually more common, you know. Some people prefer to use an information terminal on their head, so the helmet that comes as a set with the augmented suit would get in their way. There are also people who prefer not to put anything on their heads too. That's why head equipment is optional when you use an augmented suit."
"So there're people who do that too, huh? To be honest, I think it's safer to put on a helmet..."
"There really are people who do that, you know. For example, both Sara and Elena don't use a full-face helmet, right?"
Akira recollected his memory of Sara and Elena's augmented suit, it was indeed true. He also remembered that the Hunters who attacked Sara and Elena also did not use a helmet. But even so, it was not enough reason for him to not use one. On the contrary, it made him question it more. Thus he asked Shizuka again while looking puzzled.
"That's true... But why, though?"
"Well, there's a reason for it, but it's an occult thing, you know."
"Occult thing, huh?"
"Yep, you want to hear it?"
"Yes please."
Looking at how Akira was genuinely interested, Shizuka smiled as she began her story.
"There're people among the Hunters who don't want to put any helmet no matter how good the helmet is. For example, there's this helmet, although it's a full-face helmet, it is bulletproof, has a wide-angle display so the view with the helmet and without the helmet is exactly the same, can also transmit sounds without any obstruction as if there is no helmet. It fits perfectly and at the same time it does not exert any pressure on your head, and if used with the augmented suit, it's basically weightless too. But even so, there are people who would not use this helmet, do you know why? Of course, it's not because of money."
Akira stood silent for a brief moment trying to think of a reason, but he could not come up with anything. He then gave up and surrendered.
"For some reason, putting that helmet will reduce their intuition, or so they say."
"Intuition, huh?"
Akira looked puzzled after hearing an unexpected reason as the answer. Shizuka smiled as if she was enjoying his reaction which was exactly like she expected.
"Yep, intuition. It seems that those people would ditch powerful helmets or any other defensive equipment in order to keep their intuition sharp, you know. Since in my opinion, I'm also someone with good intuition, so it's not like I can't understand their reason."
"Hmmm... I don't think I understand it..."
"Well, it's true that it's very subjective. There are people who doubt it, but eventually, since it's about their own feelings, there are a lot of people who trust their own gut and do whatever they want. I don't think there's any problem as long as they decide that based on their own preference. But it causes some problems in certain situations, for example, when arming people who work in a private military company. There's a story where someone who was responsible for arming his squad did not believe in such occult and forced everyone in his squad to equip their helmet. You know what happened then?"
"Although they used a high-quality helmet in order to convince his squad, their fatality rate increased, you know."
Shizuka said that in a mysterious tone as she was watching Akira's reaction, she then smiled with satisfaction.
"It's not like there's any real proof and it's quite doubtful when you say you don't want to use a helmet because it impedes your intuition. But a tangible proof like fatality rate did come up. That's why it's called an occult thing..."
"...Uhmmm, so, is it better if I don't use a helmet?"
"That might be better than staying undecided. You can anyway buy an optional set later, just tell me when you change your mind."
Shizuka then changed the subject.
"Remember that just because you got yourself an augmented suit, doesn't mean that you can do anything dangerous, okay? Contact me if anything bad happens. Just come to me if you find anything faulty, but remember, it'll take at least one month to get it fixed. Ah, and also, be sure to turn off the suit or put it under daily life mode until you exit the shop else you might damage something unknowingly."
Akira then turned OFF the augmented suit, thus its weight suddenly returned. He thought it would be impossible to go back to the inn under this condition, thus he turned it back ON and set it to daily life mode. The weight of the suit reduced considerably. Although there's a slight weight, it would not impede his movements.
Akira and Shizuka then went back to the shop and they started conversing professionally like a customer and a shopkeeper.
"I tried my best in picking an augmented suit that would satisfy you. I'm sure you'll come up with a lot of things once you actually use it, but I hope you're satisfied with it for now. If you find anything that you want to complain about, there's no need to hold back. I'll help you if it's something within my boundaries."
"I think it'll be alright, but I'll come again for consultation if anything crops up."
"Don't mention it. And now that you have an augmented suit, you should be able to wield guns that you couldn't before, right? I'll be looking forward to when you order more guns."
"I want to meet your expectations, but I'll have to earn enough money before that. So please wait patiently."
Akira casually replied back with a smile. He then bowed his head and went back home.
"But that aside. He bought an AAH rifle not too long ago and he already bought an augmented suit now, huh. That's really fast. Not to mention that he was lucky enough to get rescued by Elena and Sara when he was in a pinch. He might become a great Hunter in the future... Just maybe though."
The faster a person is running on the road to success, the more focused he would be, the narrower his vision, and finally, the bigger the damage he would suffer when he meets bad luck.
Shizuka immediately changed the things in her mind before she unconsciously said what she thought and jinxed it.
Akira who already returned to his room smiled seeing the augmented suit that was hung on the hanger rack.
"Eh? But you said that I can go to the wasteland again once I get my augmented suit, right?"
"Of course you can go to the wasteland, but not to the ruins. It's dangerous and I've decided to keep you safe, you know. I'll do my best to find a solution against your bad luck."
From the way Alpha said it, it felt like she was exaggerating his situation. Akira winced a bit as he wondered if his bad luck was not something that he could fight back unless he had an equal amount of resolve.
"I-I see. If you say so, it can't be helped then. So, what should I do from now on? We're about to run out of money to even stay in this cheap room, you know?"
"It's alright. We'll take requests from the Hunter Office to earn money for the time being. Your aim, for now, is to complete requests from the Hunter Office and get your Hunter rank up until you can borrow a vehicle for exploring the wasteland."
"Vehicle, huh? Hmmm, is there any reason why I should prioritize that?"
Although Akira was convinced by that reasoning, he was making a conflicted face as he realized that the way Alpha worded it out was as if he was ought to encounter another group of monsters in the future.
"Exploring the ruins for collecting relics will come after that. And I'll be the one choosing the requests too."
"Just go and take rest for today. I'll finish the augmented suit's setting while you sleep. You'll have augmented suit training for the whole day tomorrow. I'll have you get used to it so that you'll at least be able to fight while using it. Then we'll start taking requests from the day after tomorrow."
"Augmented suit setting? But Shizuka already did that, right?"
"She only configured the most basic part. I'm going to configure the setting tailored for you to maximize my support capabilities. I only need you to connect your information terminal and I'll do the rest myself, so don't worry."
Akira took his information terminal and used the cable from the augmented suit maintenance kit to connect his information terminal with his augmented suit. Once it was connected, the information terminal showed an array of symbols, numbers, images and characters that he did not recognise, but he remembered that something similar had happened when Alpha configured his information terminal too. Thus he did not worry about it and went to take a rest.
As Alpha was busy configuring Akira's augmented suit through the information terminal, Akira was using the note and the stationeries to study by himself. But he then remembered what Shizuka said.
Akira was a bit surprised since Alpha said it as if it was a fact and it was idiotic to doubt that in the first place.
"You put that out pretty clearly, huh. Even Shizuka-san said it herself that it was occult belief, you know."
"It's a misjudgement and misinterpretation due to the inability to get the needed accurate information and knowledge. It's because a mix of inability to empirically translate individual sensation or inability to communicate with such a thing or so many other factors. It's exactly because it can't be analyzed with the current technology that it's called an occult thing."
"...Can you please explain it in words that are easier for me to understand?"
"Of course. Let's imagine, you are seeing a low-resolution picture of Kuzusuhara ruin. Although it's blurry, you can still recognize it. But there's a difference between the picture and the real scene even if the people who see the picture don't realize it. Since it is a blurry image you won't be able to make out all the details in it. It's the same reasoning with a full-face helmet equipped with a wide-angle display or a high quality binocular. There's always some information that gets lost. And if some of the information that is lost contains warning for an incoming danger, then you won't be able to notice it. And this is not limited only to information coming from vision. The same reasoning can also be used for any information received through any part of your head."
"Feeling someone behind you and really finding someone there when you look back. There are people who have such a level of intuition. But those people have such intuition, not because of their sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. They, of course, can't see what is behind them, nor hear, nor smell, nor touch. These people might not be able to directly see the person behind them, but they might have an organ that somehow makes them able to feel the gaze. They might be someone who got such an organ by using technology from the old world or they might be descendants of such people. There's also the possibility that they got their hands on a relic that allows them to do that and they've been using it without realizing as if they suddenly got a superpower. So using a helmet might impede that organ or relic."
"Although you're talking with me through telepathy, this is something that only happens between me and you. Like I said before, this is possible because of some peculiarities in your brain. But this is not only limited to our case. There are cases where other people could communicate and send information through telepathy with another person or thing too. As an example, some twins can communicate between them through telepathy or like when you somehow notice that there's danger nearby from the people around you. You might not be able to communicate directly with the people around you, but some information is unconsciously transferred. This kind of information transfer might be blocked by a helmet."
"Basically, people who have good intuition are those who for some reason are able to unconsciously receive information and make decisions based on that information. For the Hunters who regularly risk their lives in their job, they've always been polishing and relying on their intuition, so having it dulled is like making them fight monsters with their eyes blinded. The more they rely on their intuition, the easier they'll get killed without it."
Alpha then stopped her explanation temporarily.
"Did you understand anything?"
Akira was still confused, but he somehow blurted out an answer.
"...So in short, if I put something weird on my head, the things that are hard to notice normally will become impossible for me to notice. And there's even a chance that it'll block our telepathy ability, right?"
"Even though you didn't understand everything, I think it's good enough that you were able to understand this much. That's why, no matter how good the equipment is, you're not allowed to use it if it impedes my support."
"But how will I know if it'll impede your support?"
Akira was relieved since he knew that Alpha would warn him when he might try to equip anything strange that would hamper Alpha's support unknowingly.
"Nope, that was good enough. You can just tell me the rest of the details while teaching."
Akira rejected that offer since he had a feeling that she would continue with a long and difficult explanation if he said yes. But he did not know that Alpha had already guessed his answer.
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