192 遺跡探索の誘い
アキラが荒野を荒野仕様の大型車で当てもなく進んでいる。具体的な目的も目的地もない。一応汎用討伐依頼を受けているが、それで稼ごうとは思っていない。誰かに外出の理由を尋ねられたら、大型車両の運転や新装備の使い勝手に慣れる
リオンズテイル社の端末設置場所の情報から未発見の遺跡を探すのも良いかと思ったが、その情報の取得元である旧領域接続装置を手に入れた企業も同じ情報を手に入れた可能性もある。場合によっては該当の場所に派遣された企業の調査部隊と鉢合わせ続けるという状況になり、そこから余計なことを探られる可能性があると考えて、今は止めておくことにした。
家で考え続けていても仕方ない。取りあえず荒野に出てから考えれば良い案も浮かぶかもしれない。そう思って荒野に繰り出したのだが、今のところ良い案は浮かんでいなかった。アキラの行き当たりばったりの悪い面が露骨に表れていた。
アキラは運転しながら今後の予定を考え続けて
「どうしようかなー」
『アキラ。それ、15回目よ?』
「一々数えているのかよ」
『数えているわけではないわ。特に理由なく記録している情報に残っているだけよ。アキラだって10秒前の行動ぐらい覚えているでしょうけれど、それは何か特別な理由があって覚えている訳ではないでしょう?』
「そういうことか?」
納得できるようなできないようなアキラの微妙な思いは、車の索敵機器に現れたモンスターの反応で
「結構大きいな。あの大型連中の生き残りか、単に大きいだけか」
『遠距離武装が潰されているわね。体表面にも被弾の跡があるわ。傷から流れ出た体液の乾き具合から判断して、近くで交戦して逃げてきた個体の可能性があるわね』
「俺が倒すと横取りになるか? ......まあ、良いか」
大型モンスターの生き残りが特別報酬付きの優先討伐目標に設定されており、血気盛んなハンター達がそれらを狩っている。アキラはそれを思い出して少し迷ったが、気にせずに倒すことにした。仮にこの個体を苦労して仕留めようとしてぎりぎりのところで逃げられたハンターがいたとしても、自分に向かってきているモンスターの討伐を、そのハンターを気遣って取りやめる理由はない。第一そのハンター達が生きている保証もないのだ。
アキラが右手に持つSSB複合銃の銃口をモンスターに向ける。そして顔を逆方向に向けてから引き金を引いた。弾丸が宙を駆け、モンスターの頭部に命中した。続けて撃ち出された銃弾も同じように着弾した。
アキラは今までの実戦と訓練の成果により、銃をしっかり構えてしっかり狙えば、よほどの事態でもない限り目標にしっかり命中するようになっていた。それによりアキラの射撃訓練は次の段階に進んでいた。
銃の照準器の映像を視界の一部に表示して、目標を直接見ないで照準を合わせる。情報収集機器の反応から敵の位置を予測して射撃する。両手に銃を持ち、視界の外にいる別の目標をそれぞれ狙って精密射撃を行う。今まではアルファのサポートで実現していたそれらを、自力で可能にする訓練だ。
今のところその訓練の成果は悪くないという程度でしかない。つまり、ある程度はできていた。
いずれは自力でできるようになってもらう。アキラは以前にアルファにそう言われていた。
アルファがそう言うのならばいつかは可能になるのかもしれない。アキラはそう思いながらも、その時は実現までの道程に途方もない隔たりを感じていた。しかし装備の性能に助けられているとはいえ、それがある程度実現できていることに、今は成長の実感を、確かな手応えを覚えていた。
「通常弾でも何とかなるもんだな。大分近付かれたし、あれ一体に大型弾倉の中身を使い切ったけど」
『弾薬費が自費に戻ったのだから、弾薬費で破産しない
交戦していた特別報酬付きの大型モンスターに逃げられてしまったハンター達が車で目標を追いかけていた。助手席に座っているレイナが運転席のトガミに声を荒らげている。
「敵の武装を潰すのに手間取ったんだ! 仕方ないだろう!」
「遠距離攻撃の無力化が先だ! こうやって敵の攻撃を気にせずにスピードを出せるのも相手の武装を潰したからだ!」
「安全第一の指示を出せって言ったのはお前だろうが!」
「それでも逃げられずに倒せるって言ったのはあんたでしょう!?」
レイナとトガミは激しく言い争っているが、そこには
「......とにかく、急いで」
「分かってる。もう少しだ」
その反応では大して変わらない。カナエはそう思って楽しげに笑っていた。
同じく後部座席に座っているシオリは少し不服そうな表情を浮かべていた。シオリの基準ではトガミの態度は少々粗暴であり礼儀に欠けすぎているからだ。そしてそれに引き
「あー、遅かったか。すまん。間に合わなかった」
「仕方ないわ。確実な撃破に固執して安全を軽んじていたら、結果はもっと悪くなっていたかもしれない。そう考えて、ここは甘んじて受け入れましょう」
「......どうする? 先にあれと戦っていたのは俺達なんだし、俺達の成果も主張してみるか? 合同での撃破扱いぐらいにはなるかもしれない」
「今日の指揮はトガミだから、その判断はトガミに任せるわ。ただし交渉もトガミがやってよね」
「分かった。......うーん。物は試しだ。言うだけ言ってみるか。......ん?」
トガミが交渉対象のハンターを注視したことにより、情報収集機器が拡大表示処理を実施する。そしてそのハンターが知人であることに気付いた。アキラだった。
アキラはトガミの申し出をあっさり受け入れた。そこに交渉と呼べるものは全くなかった。それでレイナ達は逆に戸惑っていた。
「えっと、本当に良いの?」
「うーん。でも......」
レイナ達は随分と物わかりの良いアキラの態度に逆に納得がいかず、その理由を探るように話を続けようとしていた。しかしシオリはアキラの返事に、どうでもいいから好きにしてくれ、という
「アキラ様。御厚意に甘えさせていただきます。お嬢様。トガミ様。これ以上アキラ様のお手を煩わせないように手続きを始めてください。時間が掛かっては御迷惑になります」
レイナとトガミが手分けして撃破報告の手続きを進める。特別報酬付きモンスターの討伐報告だ。賞金首討伐報告の手続きほど面倒ではないが、単純な汎用討伐と違って手間が掛かるのだ。
ハンター証やハンターコードでの討伐参加者を明示する。索敵機器や情報収集機器から収集した戦闘記録や、撃破した個体を識別する
「ところでアキラ少年。ハンターランクは今、幾つっすか?」
「答える義理はないな」
「けちっすねー。まあ、アキラ少年のハンターコードは分かってるっすから、ハンターオフィスのサイトで調べればすぐに分かるっすけどねー」
カナエが情報端末を取り出してハンターオフィスのサイトに
「へー。ほー。ふーん。なるほど。アキラ少年はそうっすかー。はぁー」
アキラは反応したら負けだという湧き出た感情に従って、カナエの意味深な
作業を終えたトガミ達が戻ってくると、カナエが待っていたとばかりに笑って全員に話を持ち出した。
「アキラ少年。暇そうだし、良かったらこの後一緒にどうっすか? トガミ少年。良いっすよね?」
「良い悪いの前に、今日のリーダーは俺のはずだぞ? 勝手に話を進めないでくれ」
「まあまあまあまあ、そう堅いことを言わずに。アキラ少年が同行するのなら、あの自動人形探しの許可を出すっす。更に私も戦闘要員として換算して良いっすよ」
「えっ? ......本当か!」
好感触を示すトガミに代わって、今度はシオリが難色を示す。
「ちょっとカナエ。どういうつもり?」
「まあ、良いじゃないっすか。これも何かの縁っすよ。私が基本的に突っ立っているだけで戦力にならない以上、お嬢とトガミ少年だけの戦力じゃ許可を出せないってのは、私も同感っす。でも私とアキラ少年を戦力に加えられたのなら、許可を出しても良いと思うっすよ?」
「急にそんなことを言い出した理由を聞いているのよ」
「取りあえず、俺にも分かるように説明してくれ。説明がないなら俺は帰るからな」
「さあトガミ少年! 交渉の時間っすよ! アキラ少年の興味を引くように事情を説明して、アキラ少年から同行の同意を得るっす! それが駄目ならこの話は無しっすよ!」
シオリはレイナがリーダーの場合に限って部隊行動の指揮下に入る。リーダーがトガミの場合はカナエと同様に距離を取っての護衛要員だ。今日はトガミがリーダーなので、主な戦闘要員はトガミとレイナの2人だけだ。
レイナ達はある伝で旧世界製の自動人形が保管されているという遺跡の情報を手に入れていた。しかしシオリ達から戦力不足を理由に該当の遺跡の探索を禁止されていた。
シオリ達を含めた4人で向かうのならば問題ない難易度だが、レイナ達2人では戦力が足りない。そしてレイナ達が組んで行動しているのは2人の訓練の
の域を出ない精度だ。そして他のハンター達にも同様の情報が出回っている。情報が間違っている可能性も、既に先を越されてしまっている可能性も考えられる。それをトガミがアキラに伝えたところでカナエが口を挟む。
「交渉相手のハンターにその辺を
アキラが少し意外そうにしている。アキラの基準ではカナエの判断が普通だ。その倫理基準で誠意的な交渉をしようとするトガミへの評価がアキラの中で少し上がる。
トガミとレイナは自動人形探しに対して消極的賛成だ。旧世界製の自動人形が非常に高価な遺物だということもあり、シオリ達が反対しないのであればできれば探しに行きたいと思っていた。そしてカナエが積極的賛成に回ったことで、消極的反対の立場を取っていたシオリの圧力は揺らいでいた。
シオリが少し遠回しに反対意見を述べる。
「トガミ様は私達に同行する際に、シカラベ様から状況に自力で対処するよう指示されているはずです。
も遺跡探索の誘いなんだな? 俺が雇われるわけでも、そっちの指揮下に入るわけでもない。そっちが俺をどの程度の戦力として考えているのかは知らないが、俺は俺の感覚で戦う。そっちが想定している戦力になるとは保証しないし、文句も受け付けないぞ」
「構わない。その上で、戦力が足りなければ撤退する」
「報酬の分配方法は?」
「頭割りを基本にして、細かい調整は後だ。実際に自動人形が見付かったとしても、機体を分割して分配するわけにはいかないからな。売却ルートとかもそれぞれに伝があればその選定に
の遺跡を目指して荒野を進んでいる。トガミはアキラと今のうちにできる交渉を済ませておくためにアキラの車の助手席に座っていた。
その雑談を交えた交渉の中でアキラが情報の
『アルファ。今から行く遺跡って、前に手に入れたリオンズテイル社の端末設置場所の情報と被ってるか?』
『多分違うわ。恐らくコロン持ちの企業が代金を支払って、もっと詳細な情報を手に入れたのよ。リオンズテイル社は非実在形式で人格を派遣していたけれど、実体を欲しがる顧客向けに自動人形も提供していたのかもしれないわ』
『......あの旧領域接続装置って、使えるのは俺みたいな旧領域接続者だけじゃないのか?』
『別途接続機器を用意すれば旧領域接続者ではない人でも使用できるわ。それに企業が旧領域接続者を確保している可能性もあるわ』
『......そうか。じゃあ端末設置場所の情報も多分知ってるんだろうな。ヨノズカ駅遺跡を見付けたのは俺なんだけど、大丈夫かな。そこから俺の存在を探られたりしないかな』
『アキラがヨノズカ駅遺跡を見付けたという証拠が出回っている訳でもないから、そこからアキラの存在が露見する可能性は低いはずよ。未発見の遺跡を偶然見付けるハンターはそれなりに多いから、多分大丈夫よ』
『だと良いんだけど』
アキラがアルファとの会話で表情を微妙に変えてしまう。トガミがそれに気付く。
「俺もそう思ってシカラベに似たようなことを言ったら、もっと裏の事情を読んで行動するのがハンターだって笑われたよ」
不思議そうにしているアキラに、トガミが続けてシカラベから聞いたことを説明する。
その情報だけで旧世界製の自動人形が確実に手に入るのならば、そもそもその情報をトガミが手に入れている時点でいろいろとおかしい。情報は漏れるものとはいえ、企業側もそれほど貴重な情報をそう簡単には流出させない。
既に目的の自動人形は企業の部隊に奪取されており、その上で関係者が小遣い稼ぎに情報を流した。
該当の場所を軽く調査したらモンスターが予想外に強力だった。そのため自動人形が存在する可能性と自前の部隊を派遣した場合の損害を考慮した上で、自動人形の取得方法を買い取りに切り替えた。情報は自動人形を最終的に自分達に売りに来る可能性が高いハンターに限って意図的に流している。
遺跡に自動人形は確かに存在するが、企業の興味は自動人形よりもその遺跡そのもの、旧世界の研究施設やその設備などにある。遺跡を制圧する
ってくれ。荒野に出るたびにモンスターの群れに遭遇する可能性なんて考慮に入れていたら、採算は常に大赤字だ。俺が行動に出る機会は永遠になくなるんじゃないか?』
アルファが笑顔を苦笑に変える。適当なことを言った割には効果があったと思い、アキラはそれで満足した。
「あー、まあ、直接関わっている訳じゃないんだ。ただ、いろいろあってな。俺は今レイナと組んでいるんだが、それも俺の訓練の一環で、同時にレイナの訓練でもあって、シカラベとシオリさんがちょっと交渉とかしたらしくて、......まあ、いろいろあったんだ」
トガミは適当に濁しながら、そのいろいろの始まりを、シカラベとの交渉を思い出していた。
Ch 192
Akira was driving his APC aimlessly through the wasteland. Although he accepted a monster-hunting request, it was not like he was expecting to earn money from it. If someone asked him what he was doing, he would answer that he was just taking a casual drive through the wasteland to get himself used to his new vehicle and equipment.
He did consider continuing to look for the other Lion Steel Corporation facilities from the information that he had extracted from the corporation's terminal last time, but there was a chance for him to find an old-world communication device like the rumoured Hunter. In the worst-case scenario, some corporations might send people to investigate the place which might be traced back to Akira, thus he decided not to do that.
It would be a waste of time doing nothing but pondering on this back at home, so Akira decided to go out to the wasteland. After all, he might get some idea out there. But unfortunately, he still had no good idea even now. It showed just how haphazard Akira was.
Akira was driving while thinking where to go next. Alpha watched him from his side while sitting on the driver's assistant seat and smiled at him.
"What should I do now?"
"Akira, that would be the 15th time."
"Are you seriously counting?"
"Not really, it's just stored in my temporary record. It's just like how you remember what you did 10 seconds ago, it's not like you remember it because it has any special meaning to you, right?"
"Is that so?"
Akira did not seem to be fully convinced by that answer, but his focus immediately shifted to the monster signal that suddenly appeared on his radar. He stopped his APC and stepped off from the driver seat. He focused his information-gathering device to scan the direction of that monster.
"That's a huge monster. Is it the leftover after that day? It seems that nothing is special about it except its size."
"Its long-range weapon has already been destroyed. There are also leftovers from gunpowder on its body. Judging from the already dried liquid flowing out from its wounds, it might have run from a nearby battle."
"Wait, does that mean that I'll be snatching someone else's prey if I kill it? Well, it doesn't really matter, huh."
Larger sized monsters were assigned with a special reward, so there were many Hunters who were focused on hunting these big monsters. Akira remembered about that and hesitated, but he then decided to just kill it anyway. Even if there were Hunters who were chasing that monster after injuring it that far, it was not enough of a reason to just leave it alone when it was coming towards him. After all, being a Hunter was a dangerous job and no one could guarantee their survival.
Akira aimed his SSB rifle in his right hand at the monster. He then looked away and pulled the trigger, the first bullet ripped through the air and landed straight at the monster's head. The same thing also happened for the rest of the bullets that he shot.
Thanks to all the training and all the battles that he had gone through, as long as he properly aimed his rifle and there was nothing disrupting him, Akira could accurately shoot his target. So his training moved on to the next stage.
The view from the rifle's scope was displayed into a small window in his sight, Akira was to accurately aim at his target without directly looking at it. He had to accurately shoot his target using the signal from his information-gathering device. Up until now, he did that with the help of Alpha, but this time he was training to do that on his own.
The result until now was not that bad. So in short, Akira was able to do that on some occasions, this gave him a glimpse of hope that he would be able to accomplish things that he had originally thought to be impossible.
Alpha did once say to him that she would eventually have him do the things, which he could only do with her help, on his own.
If Alpha said so, it meant that it was possible for him to do it. But at the same time, Akira also thought that he was still very far away from that point. And then, although it was thanks to his new equipment, he was able to reach that point. Akira could feel that he had truly become stronger.
"Didn't expect that I would be able to do that using normal bullets. Well, I did that at a rather close range and emptied one huge magazine though."
"You're paying for your ammo again now, so it's better to use normal bullets when you can. It's not like your high-rank Hunter discount can get you free bullets after all."
That vehicle was actually chasing the huge monster that it fought not too long ago in order to deliver the final killing blow. Reina was sitting on the driver's assistant seat next to Togami, who was driving the vehicle.
"It wasn't easy destroying its weapon!! It can't be helped, you know?!"
"No! Destroying its weapon comes first! It is thanks to that we can drive straight at it safely like this!!"
"But you're the one who said to prioritize safety first!!"
"And you said that it won't get away and we would be able to kill it!!"
Reina and Togami were bickering, but it was not intense, it was more like a friendly exchange kind of bickering.
"...Putting that aside, we need to hurry up."
"I know, we're almost there."
Kanae smiled amusedly and thought that although they gave a different response this time, it still showed that they were close to each other.
In contrast to that, Shiori, who was also sitting in the back seat, looked rather displeased. From her point of view, Togami was a bit too rude toward Reina and it seemed that Reina was influenced by those words and replied in a rather unladylike manner.
"Aaah, we were too late. Sorry, I didn't make it in time."
"It can't be helped. If we had prioritized more on killing that monster instead of our own safety, the result might have been worse than this. So let's just take this positively."
"...So, what do you want to do? It was originally our target and we did fight it first, so if we point that out, the other party might at least share the achievement."
"You're the leader for today, so I leave that to your decision. But if you want to talk with them, you do the negotiation too, okay?"
"Alright alright... Hmmm, I guess I'll at least give it a try... Hm?"
Since Togami focused his vision on the Hunter in front of him, his information-gathering device automatically analyzed the data and identified the other Hunter, and it was a Hunter whom he knew. It was Akira.
Akira accepted Togami's proposal without much negotiation at all, or more like, it was not even a negotiation. Reina's party was surprised thanks to that.
"Uhhh, is that really okay with you?"
"Uhhh, but..."
Akira was so cooperative this time that Reina and Togami did not know how to react to it. But when they were about to pursue the reason, Shiori noticed that Akira really did not care about that monster at all. So pursuing that subject would be a bad decision, thus she interjected before Reina and Togami could prolong the negotiation.
"Akira-sama. We will take your kind offer. Milady, Togami-sama, let's not bother Akira-sama any further and process the kill registration."
Reina and Togami split the administration job to register the kill and started processing the report. It was a special target with a special reward, so it needed a special report. Although it was not as troublesome as the report for bounty monster, it was still more work than the usual report.
They used their Hunter ID and Hunter code to register the contributor in the report. They then sent the information from their radar and information-gathering device as well as the information of the defeated monster by scanning it. If there was a need to divide the reward, they would also send that together with the report. After they sent the report to the Hunter Office, a staff member would check the data before sending a confirmation, and that would be the end of the reporting process.
"By the way, Akira, what is your Hunter Rank right now?"
"I have no obligation to answer that question."
"That's so mean. Well, I know your Hunter code, so I can just look at it on the Hunter Office site."
Kanae pulled out her information terminal and opened the Hunter Office site and entered Akira's Hunter code. She then seemed rather surprised as she browsed Akira's information with an amused yet sly smile and sent meaningful glances at him from time to time.
"Ohhh, hmm, I see I see. You're that kind of Hunter, huh. Hmmm."
Akira did not show any reaction at all since he felt he would lose if he did and just ignored Kanae's mumbling.
Once Togami and Reina were done with the report and returned back, Kanae smiled and said to everyone.
"Akira, it doesn't seem like you're busy, so how about coming together with us? Togami, you're okay with that, right?"
"Putting aside whether it's a yes or no, I'm the leader today, you know? So don't make offers on your own without my permission like that."
"Well, there's no need to be that wary. If Akira is going to join us, I'll give you permission to hunt that automaton and I don't mind helping out too."
"Eh...? Really?!"
Togami suddenly seemed to take that suggestion positively. But this time, it was Shiori who looked troubled instead.
"Wait for a sec there, Kanae, what do you mean by that?"
"It's fine, isn't it? It must be some kind of fate that we meet here. I also agree that we can't give Togami and Milady permission to fight that monster if we're not allowed to help them. But if Akira is with them, I think it's fine to give them that permission, you know?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Can you explain it to me in a way that I can understand? If you can't, I'm leaving now."
"Now then, Togami!! It's time for negotiation!! Explain it to Akira in a way that would interest him and get an ok from him! If you can't do that here, I won't give you that permission!"
When Reina was the leader, Shiori would join the team under her. But when Togami was the leader, she would join Kanae as a mere observer. Today, Togami was the leader, so today's main fighting power was only Togami and Reina.
They actually received certain information from their connection about an old-world automaton roaming a certain area inside the ruin. But Shiori and Kanae prohibited them from going to that ruin since they lacked fighting power.
Although it would not pose any problem if the four of them went together, for the sake of training for Togami and Reina, it was a relatively dangerous place when they did not include Kanae and Shiori. Shiori warned Reina and Togami, but then Kanae said that she might change that under a certain condition.
The information about the automaton was rather credible, it at least had better credibility than a mere rumour. And right now, the same information had already circulated among the Hunters. Togami properly explained to Akira that they had also considered the possibility of that information being wrong. That was when Kanae intervened.
"I have no plans to do that to a Hunter that I'm making a deal with."
Akira seemed surprised there. He always thought that Kanae was the normal one. Because of that, Togami, who was earnestly trying to make an honest deal, looked rather upright from his point of view.
Both Togami and Reina had the same opinion about hunting the old-world automaton. After all, such a monster was highly valued, had Kanae and Shiori not stopped them, they would have gone hunting for that monster. But if Kanae changed her mind, Shiori, who was still against it would be in the minority.
Shiori then expressed her disagreement in a non-direct way.
"When Drankam allowed Togami-sama to join us, Shikarabe-sama told us to make you handle any trouble on your own. Thus, asking for Akira-sama's help here would be against that order."
"...Let me confirm this first, this is just an invitation to explore a ruin together, right? It's not like you want to pay me to come with you and it's not like I will be placed under your command in the team, right? I have no idea how much fighting power you think I can provide, but I will only fight the way I want to. So I won't try to suit your expectation, just so you know, I won't take any complaint, okay?"
"I don't mind. If we're not strong enough, we can just retreat."
"Then how are you going to share the reward?"
"Basically everyone will get the same share, any further adjustment can be discussed later. After all, if we really get to find the automaton, it's not like we can break it down and divide it equally among us. Since each of us would sell the parts through different routes, I'm pretty sure that would cause some trouble later down the line. But if you have any complaint at that point, you can say that to me."
Akira together with Reina's party went to the rumoured ruin. In order to clear up the rest of the deal, Togami was sitting in the driver's assistant seat in Akira's vehicle.
In the middle of their discussion, Akira asked about the credibility of their information, to which Togami told Akira to keep it a secret before starting to explain it to him. After listening to his explanation, Akira frowned. There was a good chance the source of that information came from the old-world communication device discovered in the Higaraka Residence Ruin not too long ago.
"Alpha, are we going to the same ruin from that information that we got from Lion Steel's information terminal?"
"Maybe not exactly. My bet is that some corporation paid Chrome in exchange for that information. Although Lion Steel mainly dealt with dispatching holographic workers, it might have had some kind of service to dispatch humanoid robots for people who wanted to get workers with real bodies."
"So... Basically, that old-world communication device can be used by anyone, not only limited to people who can connect to the old-world domain like me, huh?"
"With the right connection device, anyone can connect to the old-world domain. Not to mention that there's a good chance that the aforementioned corporation has someone who can connect to the old-world domain with them."
"I see. Then it's safe to assume that other people already know about the location of the old-world terminal, huh? Although I was the one who found the Yonozuka station ruin, I wonder if it's going to be okay. I hope they won't look for me."
"It's not like they have evidence that you were the one who found that ruin, so there's a slim chance it would lead to you. It's also not that rare for Hunters to find undiscovered ruin, so it should be fine."
"I hope you're right."
Akira's expression was changing from one to another as he was talking with Alpha through telepathy and Togami noticed that.
"I actually thought so too and said the same to Shikarabe. He then laughed at me and said that it's our job as Hunters to read what might lie behind it."
Akira seemed to be a bit surprised by that. So Togami then continued and told Akira what Shikarabe said to him.
If that information was really enough to lead them to the old-world automaton, it would be strange that information even reached Togami. After all, even if that information leaked out, the corporation would have done something to prevent such important information from spreading.
In reality, the corporation might have secured the automata and a member of that corporation tried to earn some extra money from selling that information.
Or maybe the corporation found out that the automaton was located in a dangerous place, so after calculating the risk and return, instead of sending a unit to retrieve it, they chose to get someone to find it and buy it later. They might have intentionally shared the information with certain Hunters who were more likely to sell that automaton to them.
Or maybe instead of the automaton itself, the corporation was more interested in other things located in that ruin like the relics or maybe the old-world facilities that could be found there. And in order to retrieve those relics or old-world facilities, they had to clear up the monsters in that ruin, so they intentionally spread that information to use the automaton as bait and make Hunters do the heavy lifting and remove the monsters for them.
"You can go ahead and curse my bad luck for that one. If I consider the possibility of getting attacked by a swarm of monsters every time I go out in the wasteland, I would always end up in red no matter what. That would mean that it's better if I don't go out at all, you know?"
Alpha's smile turned bitter. Akira thought that his answer was actually effective to stop her from teasing him. Though he was just giving a random answer, he smiled, satisfied.
"Well, not directly, but, well, it's complicated. Although I'm working with Reina right now, it's actually training for me as well as for Reina. It seems like Shiakarabe had a deal with Shiori or something... So, yeah, it's complicated."
Togami started talking about his conversation with Shikarabe while sounding rather depressed.
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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