247 よくある事態
ミハゾノ街遺跡は以前に大騒動が発生した影響で多くのハンターが一時的に遺跡探索を見合わせていた。しかし今では騒ぎから大分
それでも騒動以前の状態に戻った訳ではない。セランタルビルの周辺には現在でもクガマヤマ都市の部隊が配備されている。ハンターオフィスの出張所からセランタルビルに続く大通りも後方連絡線として確保されている。そして、セランタルビル周辺はクガマヤマ都市の管理区域となり立入禁止となっていた。
アキラはキャロルと一緒にそのミハゾノ街遺跡を再び訪れた。目的はキャロルのハンター稼業で、地図作製用のデータ収集だ。アキラは護衛として同行している。遺跡の中を進みながら軽く雑談を挟む。
「それにしても、遺跡探索の
キャロルが少し得意げに笑って答える。
「まあ、それなりにね。当面は短時間でも遺跡に毎日入る予定なの。そうすると、毎日クガマヤマ都市まで戻るよりはキャンピングカーに泊まった方が都合が良いのよ。ハンターオフィスの出張所近くの安宿だと、私の美容には適さないからね」
ハンターには遺跡内で寝泊まりしてでも長期間遺物収集を続ける者も多い。大規模なハンター徒党などならば補給が難しい遠方の遺跡の攻略時には、キャンピングカーの準備どころか簡易宿泊施設を
「アキラも大分成長して、背も伸びて体付きもしっかりしてきたのに、まだ色気より食い気なの?」
アキラが軽く笑って返すと、キャロルも楽しげな苦笑を返した。
「全く、自信無くすわ。これでも副業の方では結構荒稼ぎしてるんだけどね」
アキラ達がそのような雑談を続けながら遺跡の中を進んでいくと、こちらに向かって進んでくる他のハンター達と遭遇する。そのハンター達の装備はミハゾノ街遺跡の市街区画の難易度に適した代わり映えのないものだ。そして互いの格好を目視できる距離まで近付いたところで、ハンター達がアキラ達に道を譲るように大きく横に移動した。
そのまま距離を取って擦れ違う。その最中、ハンター達がアキラ達に向けていた視線は、比較的低難度の遺跡を
キャロルがそのアキラの視線に気付いて楽しげに笑う。
「どうしたの? やっぱりこの体に興味が湧いてきた?」
「いや、そうじゃない。その強化服だけど、やっぱり結構高性能なやつだよな?」
キャロルは体型の凹凸をしっかりと確認できる薄手のインナーの上に、細めのベルトを加工して作成した露出過多の水着のようにも見えるものを身に付けている。その上に体の両端側しか覆っていない強化服を着用している。その強化服は胸や
ったデザインの強化服は、感性も実力も旧世界側に近い高ランクのハンターでなければ普通は着用できない類いのものだ。アキラはキャロルが着ている強化服に、以前にアルファやメルシアが着ていた高性能な強化服と似たような雰囲気を感じていた。
キャロルが少し得意げに笑う。
「そうよ。銃とかと一緒に一式新調したの。アキラの装備もなかなか高性能に見えるけど、多分私の装備の方が高性能だと思うわ」
「そうなのか? ......こんなことを言うのも何だけど、そこまで高性能な装備だとキャロルには買えないんじゃないか?」
「あら、言ってくれるわね。これでも私は結構稼いでるのよ? まあ、ハンター稼業の方の稼ぎじゃないのは事実だけど」
キャロルが本心では別に下がってなどいない機嫌を戻したように笑う。
「ああ、そっち? 確かに普通に買おうとすると無理なんだけど、その辺は抜け道があるのよ」
「抜け道?」
な顔を浮かべたアキラに、キャロルがその手段を少し得意げに説明する。
非常に高性能な装備を購入する際に掛かるハンターランクによる制限は、大抵は販売企業による自粛だ。最前線向けの武装でもなければ統企連による強制までは掛からない。
加えて、制限時に基準とするハンターランクも厳密に決まっている訳ではない。チームや徒党単位で装備を購入する場合、所属している者のハンターランクの最大値、最小値、平均値、中央値のどれを購入制限の基準にするかは、販売企業の裁量である程度調整できる。
キャロルはそこをある意味で悪用した。最近クガマヤマ都市が高ランクのハンターを集めていることを利用して、その高ランクハンターのチームに一時的に加入することで購入制限を突破したのだ。これにはキャロルの副業が大いに役立った。
既にキャロルはそのチームから抜けている。だがそれで購入時に基準となるハンターランクが下がったからといって、既に買った装備を回収される訳ではない。男女の有機的な問題で解散するチームも多い。販売元もそこまで細かく管理するのは不可能だ。
この抜け道により、キャロルは自身のハンターランクを
「良いじゃない。アキラとしても、護衛対象が強い方が楽で良いでしょう?」
「まあ、そうだな」
アキラも別にそこに細かな公平さを求めている訳ではない。キャロルがそこまで高性能な装備をどうやって手に入れたのかという疑問は解決したので、それ以上は気にしなかった。
機領の営業の男はキャロルにあっさり籠絡された。契約上の購入先であり、キャロルの副業の代金として装備代を実際に支払う男も同様に籠絡されていたので、装備購入時の審査は素通りとなった。事が露見しても、質の悪い女に貢いでしまったという経歴が男達に付くだけだ。本来なら購入時に審査で確実に落とされるほど高性能な装備を低ランクのハンター相手に販売するという結構際どいことをやってしまうほど、男達はキャロルに落とされていた。
付け加えれば、これはキャロルも本当は気の進まないことだった。だがそれは、自身の懸念が現実となった時のことを、それだけ恐れているということでもあった。
地図屋として遺跡の情報収集を徒歩で続けるキャロルと一緒に、アキラも徒歩で遺跡の中を進んでいた。バイクはキャロルのキャンピングカーの
設置場所まで足を運んでデータを回収するんだ? 定期的に長距離通信か何かで送信すれば済むと思うんだけど」
「そっちの形式のやつも設置してるわ。でも遺跡の機械系モンスターがその発信から端末の設置場所を探して壊すのよ。だからデータ収集も含めてほぼ純粋に受信のみの情報収集機器も必要なの。今データを回収して回っているやつは、特定の暗号データを受信しないと一切送信しないタイプのやつだから、比較的見付けられずに済むのよ」
「あー、成る程」
「まあ、設置していた端末が破壊されたという情報も、警備機械の巡回ルートを探る
それらにより以前の地図が無価値となった遺跡では、新たに作成した地図の価値が跳ね上がる。
に、付加価値として記載されている警備機械の配置場所や巡回ルートの調査方法なども求めてくる。有能な地図屋にはその要望にしっかりと応える技量も求められていた。
キャロルはヴィオラとの付き合いもあり、借金持ちの末路の具体例をアキラよりも多く詳しく知っている。
統企連は東部の企業に健全な企業活動を求めている。そこには人権の尊重等も含まれている。そしてそれをどの程度尊重するかには解釈の余地がある。東部の秩序構築の
キャロルのキャンピングカーには風呂も付いている。キャロルの護衛として一緒に寝泊まりすることになったアキラは、本日のハンター稼業を終えてその風呂を借りていた。
風呂は車両の設備としては十分に広い。1人用ではあるが手足を伸ばしてゆったりと入浴できる。そもそも浴槽の大きさを除けば自宅の風呂より高性能で、湯の成分からして違いがある。アキラは以前にキャロルから自分が随分安っぽい風呂に入っていると言われたことを思い出し、その意味を実感しながら湯に
『良いんだ。護衛を続けても訓練にならないから早めに切り上げろとか言われると思ったのに』
『その辺は大丈夫よ。心配してないわ』
『......キャロルの護衛って、そんなに大変なのか?』
アキラは苦笑を浮かべて反論を諦めた。
アキラが風呂に入っている間、キャロルは車両搭載の情報端末で地図の作成作業を続ける傍ら、ネットでの情報収集も行っていた。そしてその結果を見て軽く
に丁寧に洗い磨き上げる体を、今は強化された身体操作の訓練を兼ねて真剣に丁寧に洗っていく。普段の異性を誘う仕草ではなく、戦闘にも通じるナノマシンの消費を抑えた動きで、ゆっくりと慎重に心身を研ぎ澄ませた。
入浴を終えて部屋に戻るとアキラの姿が無かった。それを不思議に思っていると、ヴィオラから連絡が入る。通信音が至急を示していたので、
「ちょっと考えさせて。ありがと。じゃあね」
「アキラー! どこ行ったのー!」
キャロルが軽く驚きながら車載の索敵機器の反応を確認する。警戒範囲外ではあるが、確かにそれらしい反応が近付いてきていた。反応の動き方から判断して恐らく車両であり、同時にミハゾノ街遺跡に用事がある者の動きではない。荒野側から近付いているが、ミハゾノ街遺跡に用があるハンターならば大抵はハンターオフィスの出張所がある場所に向かって進む。その周辺にある駐車場から大分離れた場所に
Ch 247
Not too long ago, Mihazono ruin was filled with Hunters after the ruckus that happened recently. However, at the moment, it had calmed down considerably and returned to its usual state.
With that being said, it was not like it had completely returned back to before that ruckus. The area around the Seranthal building was guarded by soldiers dispatched by Kugamayama city. They were securing a road which connect the Hunter Office and Seranthal building. After that, they placed the Seranthal building under lockdown, controlled by Kugamayama city management.
Akira went to that Mihazono ruin once again with Carol. They were there to do Carol's Hunter job, which was about collecting data for a map. Akira was accompanying her as her bodyguard. They were spending time talking to each other while exploring the ruin.
"But still, I didn't expect you would even prepare a large camping car like that just to explore a ruin, are you really that invested in this job?"
Carol smiled smugly and replied.
"Well, yep, pretty much. Although it's only for a short time, I'm planning on going to the ruin regularly every day. So, it's better to have a camping car nearby instead of having to go back and forth from the city every day. The inn in the Hunter Office is not suitable for a beauty like me after all."
There were many Hunters who went to explore the ruins for many days. In case they were challenging a ruin which would take a huge group of Hunters and a long time to explore, forget a camping car, they would even build temporary housing. Of course, Akira, who always worked alone, never experienced something like that.
"You've really grown up, you're taller now and your body is much more pronounced. But even so, you still prefer food over women, huh?"
Akira lightly smiled and said so, Carol responded with a bitter smile.
"Good grief, this is depressing. Especially when I'm actually doing very well with my side job."
Akira and Carol kept having such a conversation while they were exploring the ruin. They then noticed another group of Hunters coming in their direction. Their equipment matched the difficulty level of Mihazono ruin and they got close enough to each other to scan the other's equipment. That was also when the other group drove away to the side of the road as if to avoid Akira and Carol.
Just like that, they passed each other. The Hunters looked at Akira and Carol with concerned looks as they were carrying equipment that did not match the difficulty level of Mihazono ruin. As a matter of fact, their equipment was way too powerful. Some of them looked scared, shocked, or even distrustful and envious of Akira and Carol.
Carol noticed Akira's gaze and teasingly called him out.
"Oh, what is it? Are you interested in me after all?"
"Nope, that's not it. It's just that augmented suit, that is one of those powerful augmented suits, right?"
On top of her body-tight inner suit, Carol was using a suit that looked like a simple combination of thin belts and an exposing swimsuit. To top it off, she had an augmented suit that only covered certain parts of her body. That augmented suit had openings on her chest and thighs, which were held together by belts.
That augmented suit including its inner suit were old-world items that only high-ranking Hunters could get. Their performance and sense of design were of the old-world's. Akira could feel that Carol's augmented suit gave the same feeling as Melshia's augmented suit and the augmented suit that Alpha once used.
Carol smiled smugly.
"Yup. I renewed all my equipment including my guns. Your equipment looks pretty powerful too, but I think mine are still better."
"Oh? Is that so? I don't mean to offend you, but you don't have the money to buy equipment of that calibre, no?"
"Oh my, let me at least tell you this. I'm pretty rich although I look like this, you know? Although, it's not money from my Hunter job."
Carol's expression returned back to normal. Though, it was not like she was actually offended in the first place.
"Ohh, that, huh? Well, it's true that I can't buy them, but there are other routes where I can procure them."
"Other routes?"
Akira tilted his head in confusion, seeing that, Carol happily explained to him.
The Hunter Rank restriction on powerful equipment was mostly applied by the manufacturers. As long as it was not equipment for the front-line, normally, the Corporate Government would not put any rank restriction on them.
Moreover, it was not like there was an exact ruling on how to decide the equipment's restriction. In the end, that restriction could be adjusted by the discretion of the manufacturer. For example, when a group of Hunters wanted to buy them, it was up to the manufacturer to decide whether to judge based on the groups' highest Hunter Rank, or lowest one, or the middle one, or by taking the average.
Carol used that to slip through the restriction rule. Since there were many high-ranking Hunters coming to Kugamayama city lately, she temporarily joined a high ranking team to cheat that Hunter Rank restriction. This was where her side job came in handy.
Carol had already left that team. But just because she was no longer in the team, it was not like they could reclaim the equipment that she bought. There were many teams that broke up because of matters between men and women. So, it was impossible for the manufacturer to manage their products to that extent.
Thanks to this method, Carol was able to get equipment that was way outside her Hunter Rank.
"It's fine, isn't it? It's easier on you too when I'm this well-equipped, no?"
"Well, that's true, but still..."
It was not like Akira himself was a stickler when it came to rules. Since the mystery of how Carol got her equipment was solved, Akira was no longer interested in it now.
It did not take much work for Carol to make an officer from Kiryou to fall for her. She also did the same to the person written as the buyer in the contract. That man also paid for her equipment, which Carol offered her services in return. Thus, she did not have to go through Hunter Rank checks to obtain her equipment. Even if it came to light later, the seller would only take it as those men getting manipulated by a bad girl. They were already under Carol's charm. They no longer cared about the risk involved in selling and purchasing expensive equipment for a low-rank Hunter, who otherwise would have failed the Hunter Rank requirements.
However, Carol did not find this to be amusing at all. She considered what might happen to her if her fear turned to reality, and even resorted to this.
Carol and Akira walked carefully inside the ruin while gathering information about the area for map brokers. Akira left his bike behind next to Carol's camping car.
"Carol, why do we have to collect the data ourselves? Can't we just use some kind of long-range data transfer to regularly transfer the data or something?"
"I use that kind of device in some areas. Not all. For those, sometimes, monsters manage to catch its signal. They searched for the location of the terminal and destroyed it. That's why, including the collection of area data, Hunters mainly use devices that are mostly only for receiving signals. The ones I'm personally collecting from, are set to only send data when they receive a certain encrypted message first. Thanks to that, the monsters can't find them."
"Ohhh, I see."
"Well, information about where terminals get broken is actually quite important to those who are deciding on a safe route to take."
With all these changes in the ruin, its map, which was formerly free, had become highly valuable. Of course, the better the accuracy of the map, the more expensive it became. In order to decide whether a map was worth its price, people often asked how the map brokers gathered the information about the patrol time and the area. A good map broker would be able to answer that easily.
The fact that a certain Hunter with a certain skill level did not return alive could also be valuable information to map out the dangerous area of a ruin. Depending on the debt, these people might get sent to locations where there was not enough information regarding that area.
Carol had a long history with Viola, so she knew way more than Akira regarding what would happen to those in debt.
The Corporate Government wished people in the eastern district would do honest businesses. This included respecting their basic human rights. However, there was room on how to interpret what was entailed as human rights. After all, in order to push the development of the eastern district, there were many occasions where they had to infringe on human rights.
Carol's camping car was even equipped with a bath. Akira, who spent the night there as Carol's bodyguard, borrowed the bath after they were done with their Hunter job for the day.
For a bath inside a moving vehicle, it was a relatively big bath. Although it was only enough for one person, it was large enough for someone to extend their legs inside of it. Or more like, leaving the size aside, it was even a better bath than the one Akira had back at home. To be more precise, the warm water there was mixed with extra stuff. Akira remembered that Carol once said Akira was only using a cheap bath and he could understand that difference now as he was enjoying his bath.
"Oh? You're fine with that? And here I thought you would tell me to stop since I can't train while guarding Carol."
"If it's about that, there's no need for you to worry."
"...Is guarding Carol really that bad?"
Akira just laughed bitterly and did not deny that at all.
While Akira was in the bath, Carol was working on constructing a map from the information that they collected that day using a terminal fixed to the camping car. At the same time, she was also browsing the net. After seeing the result, she sighed.
In the past, she carefully washed her body for her side job. This time, she did the same but doubled for training to get used to her now powerfully enhanced body. She carefully moved her body not to practice how to entice men but to minimize the usage of her nanomachine, which was useful for fighting.
When she finished bathing and returned back, Akira was no longer inside the room. As she was puzzled as to what was going on, a call from Viola suddenly reached her. Since the notification indicated that it was an urgent call, she decided to pick it up while still buck naked. Although, she did find the timing of the call and Akira's disappearance to be equally strange,
"Let me think about it first. Thanks. I'll call you again."
"Akira~! Where are you~?"
Carol was a bit surprised, and she went to check the vehicle's radar. Although it was still outside the radius where it would send in an alert, there was indeed a signal headed in their direction. Judging from its speed, it seemed to be a vehicle that did not seem to be headed for the ruins. Although it was coming from the direction of the wasteland, if it was aiming for the ruin, it would have gone to the Hunter Office's direction instead, not Carol's camping car, which was parked rather far away from the Hunter Office.
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