202 立食会の参加者達
シェリルは再び立食会に参加していた。イナベが失脚を免れて野心を
イナベがシェリルとヴィオラに向けて上機嫌に、そしてどこか意味深に笑っている。
「いや、またこの場で出会えて何よりだ。先日は世話に成った。実に助かった」
シェリルも愛想良くどこか意味深に
「よく分かりませんが、私達の助力でイナベ様のお役に立てたのでしたら何よりです」
ヴィオラも不敵に笑う。
「特に何かした覚えはないのだけれど、そこまで言ってもらえるのなら、見返りを期待したいところね」
は整えてある。その内容については後で話そう」
シェリルはイナベが裏取引でアキラから旧世界製の情報端末を多数手に入れたことを知っていた。その仲介に関わったからだ。イナベはその裏取引で
(......それだけの単純な話ではなさそうだけど、好意的な誤解なら解く必要はないわ。このままの態度でいきましょう)
ヴィオラはイナベとの裏取引を進める一方で、ウダジマにも適度に情報を流していた。2人が対立していることを知っており、その勝者に自分の情報のおかげだと売り込む予定だった。ウダジマがイナベの隠蔽を見破れたのもヴィオラが流した情報が鍵となっていた。
無能と取り引きをしても仕方がない。この程度で失脚する地位だけの無能ならば、別の取引先を確保する餌となってもらう。ヴィオラはそう考えており、ウダジマが統企連総合遺物鑑定局まで持ち出して賭けに出た時点で、イナベの失脚を予想していた。だがその予想はヴィオラの知らない要因で覆された。
(......スラム街での抗争の時もそうだったけど、私の計画にアキラを絡めると結果が狂うのはどうしてなのかしらね。まあ、イナベはそれも含めて私の仕業だと思っているようだから、ここはそれらしい態度を取っておきましょう。
イナベはあの失脚騒ぎを保険が効いた結果だと考えていた。
イナベが担当区画の価値を引き上げる
だが結果として失脚したのはウダジマだった。しかも自滅という形でだ。その後イナベの勢力は対抗馬の失脚により勢いを増していた。
ヴィオラがシェリルの顔を立てて自分に有益な方向に情報を操作した可能性は否定できない。イナベはそう考えていた。それは同時に、シェリルがその気になればイナベをいつでも失脚させられる可能性も示唆していた。ウダジマの失脚は自分への賄賂であると同時に警告だったのかもしれない。イナベはそこまで深読みしていた。
(......シェリルはアキラとヴィオラの両方を
シェリル達は短い会話の中で互いに探り合い誤解を深め合っていた。互いに愛想良く笑い、裏を探り合う。それはある意味で、立食会参加者としての正しい行動だった。
そこにカツヤが少し早足でやって来る。
「カツヤ。またお目にかかりましたね。えっと......」
「やあ。また会ったな。先日は申し訳なかった」
カツヤがイナベの予想外の態度に少したじろぎながら
カツヤの少し勝ち誇ったような態度を見ても、イナベは余裕を崩さず受け流すように笑っていた。
「確かに君の活躍を知って君への評価を改めたことは認めよう。だがその程度で一介のハンターという評価を取り消すつもりはないな」
カツヤの態度が再び不満げなものに変わる。だが続く言葉を聞いて慌て出す。
「しかしだ。シェリルと親密な仲となれば話は別だ。私もシェリルの機嫌を損ねたくはない。前に会った時は
「そうなのか? 前回の様子とシェリルの話からそう判断したのだがね。付き合いは長いのかね?」
「な、長いっていうか、数回会っただけで、今回を含めて、......4回目?」
その少ない回数にイナベが意外そうな表情を浮かべる。自分で口にしたカツヤ自身も驚いていた。
「......まあ、付き合いの長さと親密さは必ずしも比例する訳ではないがね」
「そ、そうだよな!」
カツヤは深く
イナベが場の全員を軽く見渡してから、気を切り替えるように告げる。
「まあなんだ、次世代を担う若人の親睦を邪魔するのも悪い。ここは席を外すべきかな?」
くカツヤの横で、ミズハが少し慌てて口を挟む。
「いえ、世代間の交流も大切です。それに後から押し掛けたのは私どもですからお気遣いなく。是非我々とも交流を御願い致します」
「そうか。では、お言葉に甘えるとしよう」
くすると、話題の方向性もあって自然に大人と若手に分かれて話すようになった。大人達が今後の遺跡攻略の展望などを話す横で、若手達は身近なハンター稼業の話題に花を咲かせていた。
カツヤが自分達の活躍を楽しげに語り、シェリルがそれを
ユミナ達の様子は若手特有の初々しい姿であり、評価を損ねるものではない。だがその場にいる一段上の雰囲気を纏う者と見比べると、見劣りしてしまうのは確かだった。
ユミナは無鉄砲なところがあるカツヤを支えると誓って
ユミナが湧いた感情に押し流されてシェリルに尋ねる。
「そういえば、シェリルはどんな経緯で立食会に参加しているの? 私はドランカムの伝っていうか、カツヤのおまけなんだけどね」
偶然話を聞いていたイナベが口を挟む。
カツヤ達が驚く。立食会に参加する際の勉強の一環として、参加経路による立場の重要性を教えられており、都市幹部からの招待はなかなかに上位の立場だと知っていたのだ。
「シェリルもいずれは招待される
カツヤがミズハからその旨を伝えられて残念そうな名残惜しそうな様子を見せる。そしてあることを思い出すと、懐からアクセサリーを取り出して、少し照れながらシェリルに渡そうとする。
「あ、忘れてた。これ、遺跡探索で見付けたやつなんだけど、お土産っていうか、前に話を聞いてもらったお礼ってことで、良かったら受け取ってくれ」
女性向けのアクセサリーは、旧世界製の高度な技術により年月を感じさせない輝きを見せている。似たようなデザインの物は現在の技術でも作成可能で、単純なアクセサリーとしては珍しい物でもない。だが一応旧世界の遺物だ。そこを加味すればそれなりに高価な代物だ。
シェリルはそのアクセサリーをじっと見た後、首を横に振った。
「......あ、えっと、気に入らなかった?」
みながらも少し真面目な態度を見せた。
「その頑張りは無事に戻ってくる努力に振り分けてください。無事に戻ってきて、無事な姿を見せてください。そしていろいろお話を聞かせてください。私にとってはそれが一番のお土産です」
身近な女性は自分のプレゼントを快く受け取ってくれる者ばかりなこともあって、カツヤはシェリルの対応に少し衝撃を覚えていた。その印象深い様子に答えるようにしっかりと力強く笑う。
カツヤ達はそれを別れの挨拶として離れていった。だがミズハだけはカツヤ達を先に行かせて残ると、シェリルに少し言い
「ビジネス上の付き合い。それだけです」
シェリルが端的に答えると、ヴィオラが絡んでくる。
「あら、それだけ? もうちょっと何かあっても良いんじゃない?」
みながらヴィオラへの視線を冷たくする。
「あら怖い。用済みにならないように精々頑張らせていただきますわ。ボス」
ミズハがシェリルの態度にもヴィオラの言葉にも
ミズハがイナベ達に軽く頭を下げて去っていく。シェリルという有能だが有益か有害か判断の付かない者を、これ以上カツヤに関わらせないべきか、それとも積極的に関わらせるべきか。ミズハの頭はその悩みで一杯になっていた。
去っていくミズハに、イナベが気持ちは分かると言わんばかりの視線を向けている。
いていませんよ。あの程度の遺物より、彼が持ち帰る情報の方が価値があり、私にとっても喜ばしい。事実です。彼との話で、あの旧世界製情報端末の発見者が彼になったという裏も取れましたしね。良かったのですか?」
自身の工作の不手際を指摘されたと思ったイナベが苦笑を深める。
「手厳しいな。私もまさかヤナギサワの管理下にあるハンターが見付けた遺物にまでケチを付ける者がいるとは思わなかったのだ。私の不手際であり、想定が甘いと言われればそれまでだが、まあ、結果的には上出来に終わったのだ。問題ない。そうだろう?」
「そうですね。問題ありません」
イナベが裏取引で高額で購入した遺物を、自分の都合とはいえ他のハンターの功績にしてしまって良かったのか。シェリルはその程度の認識で尋ねただけだった。イナベの返答から知らなかった追加の情報を得て、いろいろ深読みされたことも分かったが、そこはしらばっくれた。
ヴィオラはシェリルとイナベの両方の思考を何となく理解しており、少し笑いを堪えていた。
「そういえば、あの取り引きの場に来たハンター、アキラ、だったか。そっちの後ろ盾もやっているそうだな。あの
Ch 202
Sheryl once again joined the feast. It had been a few days since Inabe barely got out fine from that incident. Viola was there too, but unlike last time, she received a separate invitation, so she was not there as Sheryl's companion.
Inabe looked at Sheryl and Viola and smiled meaningfully.
"Well, I'm really glad we are able to meet again. I'm sorry to have troubled you last time and would like to thank you for your help."
Sheryl smiled as if she was hiding something.
"I don't really understand what you are talking about, but I'm really glad that we can be of use to you, Inabe-sama."
Viola smiled confidently and joined in.
"I don't really remember we did anything, but since you said so, it means that we can look forward to some kind of gratitude, right?"
"Of course. I've finished all the preparations, we can talk about it later."
Sheryl knew that Inabe had received a number of old-world terminals from a secret deal with Akira since she was directly involved in that deal. After all, Inabe made that request to Viola through Sheryl. So basically, Inabe asked Sheryl, Sheryl then asked Viola, Viola asked Akira. From this connection, finally, Akira went to meet Inabe. It was a deal that was made through multiple indirect contacts. So she thought that Inabe was being discreet here.
[...It doesn't seem to be that simple. But if that misunderstanding is a good thing for us, there is no need to go out of my own way just to fix it. I guess I'll go along with this flow.]
While Viola was handling the deal with Inabe, she also sent incomplete information to Udajima. She knew that Udajima and Inabe were not on good terms, so she was selling information to both of them, making them believe that they were the winner. The reason why Udajima saw through Inabe's trickery back then was mostly thanks to the information that he had received from Viola.
There was nothing to be gained from dealing with a fool. And if he was that incompetent, then Viola might as well use him to get another customer. She thought so and when Udajima brought those relics to the appraisal companies union for an investigation, she thought that would be the end for Inabe. That was when something completely unexpected happened.
[...Not only this time but also that time with the incident in the slum city too. I wonder why Akira always throws a wrench in my perfect plan. Well, it seems that Inabe thought that it was all according to my plan so I guess I'll act as if that is really the case. And judging from his attitude, it seems that he's not doing it as a grudge for giving that information to Udajima either. So I guess this should be fine.]
Inabe believed that what happened back then with Udajima was the result of his 'insurance' working as intended.
It was true that Inabe brought relics from somewhere in order to increase the value of the area that he was assigned to. If Udajima, who had such a piece of information, used another route to prove it instead of taking it to the appraisal companies union, there was a good chance that Inabe would have lost during their argument.
But result-wise, Udajima was the one who lost. Moreover, it looked like he had lost the argument by his own mistake. That had given Inabe a good momentum to go forward now that one of his competitors just basically self-destructed.
Inabe could not discard the possibility that Viola deliberately manipulated the information in order to make Sheryl look good, which might allow the girl to earn more profits. While at the same time, Sheryl was also indirectly telling him that if she wanted to, she could cut off Inabe anytime. That incident with the Udajima might actually be a bribe as well as a warning for him, or at least, that was what Inabe thought.
[...Sheryl basically has Akira and Viola with her. According to some of the reports that I've received. She has enough power to rule over the slum city. I always thought that all of her actions are from Viola, but there's a good chance that it is not the case and that it actually comes from Sheryl herself. Her relic shop is doing well and the profit from it is well enough to increase my own profit margin. There's nothing to lose by forming a connection with her... Although, I need to be careful.]
During that short exchange, the misunderstanding only got worse. Both of them were talking in a friendly manner while trying to extract information from each other. From that point of view, they were doing just what the other participants in that feast were doing.
That was when Katsuya suddenly came to them in a bit of a rush.
"Katsuya, we meet again, uhh..."
"Ohh, we meet again. Sorry for what happened last time."
Katsuya was a bit surprised since he did not expect that from Inabe at all.
Katsuya smiled triumphantly, Inabe was not bothered by it at all as he laughed it off and replied.
"Well, it's true that I see you now in a different light after knowing your skill. But from my point of view, you're still one of those common Hunters."
Katsuya curled his lips, but before he could say anything, Inabe then continued to say something that made Katsuya fluster.
"But even so, if you're actually close to Sheryl, then it's a different story. I don't want to get on Sheryl's bad side either. So I apologize for accusing you of trying to hit on Sheryl last time. It's just that, I heard rumours of how much of a womanizer you are, you know. So it would have been great if you could have explained that to me back then, or am I wrong?"
"Is that so? I thought that was the case from our talk last time. Have you known her for a long time?"
"N-Not exactly, it's just that, we have met a few times... Including this time, it'll make... it four times?"
Inabe did not expect the number to be that low. Even Katsuya, who said so himself, seemed a bit surprised.
"...Well, it's not like you can measure your relationship simply by how many times you have met, right?"
"T-that's right!"
Katsuya nodded deeply.
Inabe lightly glanced over everyone there before he spoke up.
"Well, what can I say. It's not right to get in the way between the next generation of leaders. Should I leave you guys alone then?"
Katsuya unconsciously nodded, but Mizuha, who was next to him, flusteredly interjected.
"No, exchange between generations is also equally important. Moreover, we are the ones barging into your conversation, so please don't mind us. We would be more than happy to join if we're allowed to."
"I see, I shall take on that offer then."
As they continued their conversation, the flow of the conversation naturally separated them into two groups, the younglings and the adults. The adults were talking about their future prospects regarding ruin expeditions, while the younglings were talking about their recent experience working as Hunters.
Katsuya was talking enthusiastically about his experience, Sheryl listened closely to his story with her usual smile. Yumina joined in their conversation from time to time as she felt something bothering her about the relationship between Sheryl and Katsuya.
Yumina and the other girls' awkwardness was the unique trait of new younglings. Others' opinions about them would not change just because of that. But there was no denying that the aura exuded by the veterans there was completely different from theirs.
Yumina swore that she would stay beside Katsuya to protect him from his tendency to jump the gun. But Katsuya was able to solve his problems with his talent as a Hunter as he continued climbing the ranks. Skill-wise, even as fellow Hunters, Yumina was hard-pressed to keep her place beside Katsuya. She was able to attend this feast not because people recognized her skill, but because Mizuha had listened to Katsuya's selfish request.
Yumina was pulled by her emotion and asked Sheryl a question.
"By the way, is there any particular reason you are attending this feast? We're here because of Drankam's connection... Or more like, we came here as Katsuya's companions."
Inabe, who heard that, immediately interjected.
Katsuya and his group were surprised. According to what they had learned before attending the feast, the position of the participants in that feast was decided by who invited them. And an invitation from someone in the City Management signified a rather high position.
"Sheryl might one day join this side, to be the one sending out invitations, you know. But a Hunter can only be a Hunter. A Hunter will never be the one sending out invitations. That's the reason why I call you a mere Hunter. I didn't do that to discredit you or anything. If you wish to change your profession from scouring for relics and selling them to us, to becoming a Hunter who is more actively involved in this kind of thing, you can call me anytime."
Katsuya understood Mizuha's signal as he smiled regretfully. But then, he remembered something as he took out an accessory from his pocket and bashfully gave it to Sheryl.
"Ah, right, this accessory, I found it during a ruin expedition. It's like a souvenir, so if you're okay with it, will you please accept it? It's also my thanks for listening to my problem last time."
The old-world relics accessory still retained its shine as if the long years did not wither it at all. But making such an accessory was actually possible with the current era's technology, as a matter of fact, such an accessory was not that rare. So judging from that point of view, it was not that expensive of a relic.
Sheryl stared at that accessory and shook her head.
"...Ah, uhhh, do you find it unpleasant perhaps?"
Sheryl's serious face relaxed for a bit, in contrast to that, her smile grew fonder as she continued.
"You should put that effort into your own safety. To make sure that you can return back alive. For me, the best souvenir will be for you to return back alive, bringing back more stories with you."
Since all the girls around him simply accepted any gifts that he gave, the fact that Sheryl refused his gift left an impression on him. In order to match that strong impression, Katsuya smiled and said firmly.
They then said their goodbyes before leaving. But Mizuha stayed behind for a bit after Katsuya and the girls left. She then nervously asked Sheryl a question.
"We are business partners, nothing more, nothing less."
Sheryl replied back almost in an instant, Viola immediately interjected.
"Oh, is that so? And here I thought there's more to it than that, you know?"
Sheryl still had her smile as she looked at Viola with a gaze that was a few degrees colder than before.
"Yikes, that's so scary. I'll do my best to make sure that I'll always be of use for you, boss."
Mizuha was surprised by Sheryl's attitude toward Viola and Viola's reply there.
Mizuha lightly bowed before leaving. Although it was obvious that Sheryl was skilled, she was still not sure whether it was more dangerous than profitable to deal with Sheryl. She was at a loss whether to warn Katsuya to stay away from Sheryl or to encourage him instead.
Inabe looked at Mizuha, who was leaving their area, with a look that was saying he understood what she was thinking.
"I didn't lie. Rather than a relic, I'm happier to receive stories and information instead. So it's the truth. By the way, judging from what he said, it seems that all the credits for bringing the old-world terminals were given to him, huh. Are you really okay with that, Inabe-sama?"
Inabe smiled wryly as he felt Sheryl reproached his decision.
"Oof, that's pretty strict of you. I'm sure no one would dare to question the relics that were brought back by a Hunter who even Yanagisawa is interested in. If you say that it was not a good choice, I have no argument to deny it. But result-wise, we are getting better results without causing any problems. Or am I wrong?"
"Well, it's true that we didn't face any troubles at all."
To be honest, Sheryl was only asking if Inabe was okay giving that credit to someone else when he was the one who bought those expensive relics with his own money through a secret deal. But from Inabe's reply, she was able to gain more information which she did not know and it allowed her to notice that Inabe was misunderstanding something. So she had no reason to straighten that up.
Viola more or less understood what was going on in Sheryl and Inabe's minds as she smiled.
"By the way, about the Hunter who came to the meeting place, Akira, was it again? I heard that you have him as your support too. For a young Hunter like him, he's more or less as strong as Katsuya, you know. So what is your relationship with that Akira?"
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