アキラは今日もエリオ達の訓練に付き合っていた。
訓練の頻度は週に2、3回ほどで主にアキラの都合で決まる。疲れている。用事がある。面倒。気が乗らない。その程度の都合で実施するかどうか決められる。逆にアキラがその気なら毎日実施される。これはシェリルの意向でもあった。
シェリルは遺物販売店をいずれ再開するつもりだ。その場合当然だがアキラがいない時にも店を開ける必要がある。アキラがハンター稼業を再開すれば、今までのようにシェリルの店に常駐することはなくなるのだ。
そのため店の再開にはシェリルの徒党の独自戦力が必要だ。装備はカツラギから購入すれば補える。だが人員はそうはいかない。
アキラもまた必死に訓練を続けていた。アルファから駄目出しを受けながら、アルファの指揮下にある訓練相手を倒し続ける。訓練場にしている荒野にはアキラの死体の幻影が幾つも転がっている。
戦力差を調整するために、敵の銃はアキラの強化服の防御力を突破する火力がある扱いだ。そのためアキラの死体の大半は見るも無残な姿を
注意された少年は慌てて地面に伏せた。伏せながら少しだけ顔を上げて、自分から離れていくアキラの姿を見る。その表情は驚きに染まっていた。
「......あの距離から撃っても、ちゃんと当たってるって分かるんだ」
命中判定を受けるとゴーグルが赤く染まって表示されるが、それがすぐに分かるのはゴーグルを着用している本人だけだ。撃破判定が他の者に送信されたりはしない。しかしアキラは命中したと確信して声を掛けていた。そして少年は実際に命中判定を受けていた。これだけでも十分驚くべきことだ。
少年が苦笑して立ち上がる。シェリルの応援はこういうところでも地味に戦意高揚の役に立っていた。
アキラが何度目かの模擬戦の途中で少しだけ
『アルファ。勘違いかもしれないが、俺の勝率がかなり上がってないか? さっきから俺の連勝が続いているんだけど......』
『勘違いではないわ。確かに上がっているわ』
『別に俺が急に強くなったわけじゃないよな?』
『アキラの実力が少しずつ上がっているのは事実だけれど、そこまで急に強くなったりはしないわ。アキラの連勝の原因は、主に彼らの実力不足の所為ね』
『実力不足? あいつらだって訓練を続けているんだ。そこまで勝率に影響するほど急に実力が下がったりはしないだろう。疲労が原因ならまだ分かるけど、それだって交代で休んでいるんだから、俺が苦戦していた時より改善しているはずだ。アルファがあいつらの指揮の手を抜いているのか?』
『それ、元に戻すわけにはいかないのか?』
『これ以上続けると彼らの戦い方が私のサポートを前提としたものになってしまうの。便利な道具が彼らの訓練を阻害する要因となり始めたのなら、使用の制限を始めないといけないのよ。下手をすると、訓練以外では素人よりましという程度の動きしかできなくなってしまうわ。長期的に考えると、アキラの訓練相手にもならなくなってしまうのよ』
『その便利な道具に頼り切っている身としては耳が痛いな』
アルファが得意げに
『仕方がないわ。それならアキラの方に制限を掛けることにしましょう』
アキラの視界に変化が生じる。少し離れた場所の景色が鮮明さを失い始めていき、周囲の静寂が増していく。情報収集機器の索敵範囲も大幅に縮まっている。
『アルファ。これって......、色無しの霧か?』
『そうよ。色無しの霧の濃度が上がった状態を再現してみたわ。再現であって実際にはそうなったわけではないから安心して』
自分の勝率を下げるための制限であり、色無しの霧が実際に濃くなった訳ではない。それを知ってアキラが
『それでは、気を取り直して頑張ってね。これでもアキラの勝率が下がらなかったら、アキラの勝率が下がるまでもっと色無しの霧の濃度を上げることにするわ。......その必要はなさそうだけれどね』
次の瞬間、アキラの視界が赤く染まった。命中判定を受けたのだ。
れると、視線の先の地面に、今の撃破判定の分の死体が増えていた。どことなく恨めしそうな視線を向ける自分の死体に、アキラは苦笑を返した。
アキラ達は模擬戦を10戦終えるごとに一度集まって軽い質疑応答を行っている。何もなければすぐに次の模擬戦に入るのだが、今回は質問が出てきた。
「あの、急にアキラさんの動きが悪くなったような気がするんですけど、何かあったんですか?」
「俺の勝ちが続いていたから少し調整しただけだ。気にするな」
調整とは何なのか。エリオ達の頭に同じ疑問が浮かんだが、アキラに気にするなと言われた以上、それ以上聞くことはできなかった。一気に勝率を落として少し不機嫌そうなアキラを見て、
「強化服ってやつのおかげだろう? 良いな。俺も欲しいな。ボスがカツラギさんから装備を調達するって言っていたし、俺達にも買ってくれないかな」
近くにいたエリオが軽く首を横に振る。
く高いらしいからな。少なくとも全員に配るなんて絶対無理だ。それに......」
エリオはアキラに命を助けられた時のことを思い出す。アキラは強化服を着ていない時でも、銃器に加えて大量の遺物をリュックサックに詰め込んで運んでいた。あの時点であの重量を背負って戦闘が可能なのだ。多分単純に強化服があれば良いというものでもないのだろう。エリオはそう答えようとして、余計なことを話すなと
「......それに、買ったとしても良くて数着。しかもアキラさんの強化服のような高性能なものは無理だ。高いからな」
「それもそうだな。でも1着ぐらいなら良いやつを......、ああ、その場合はエリオが着るのか。一応ボスの護衛をやったりもしてるしな。良いなー、役得だなー」
少年が羨ましそうにエリオを見る。
「お前、アキラさんに殴りかかった割には結構
「馬鹿なことをしたやつと言えば......、最近だとティオルか。ボスとアキラさんとの仲を疑ってボスを怒らせた上に、あの連中を連れてきちまったんだからな。そういえば、最近あいつを見てないような気が......、逃げたのか?」
「いや、確かアリシアが仕事を割り振っていたから一応まだ徒党に所属しているはずだ」
「時間の問題のような気もするけどな。逃げ出さないのなら相当なことをしないと失態を取り消せないだろう。例えば、そう、例のスリを捕まえるとかさ」
エリオが少し考えてから首を横に振る。
「無理だな。アキラさんより強いハンターが後ろ盾になっているって話だ。それに下手に成功したら、今度はその後ろ盾の連中に目を付けられる。そいつらが拠点に押し掛けてきたらどうするんだよ。それはそれでボスを怒らせるだろう。だからボスも見掛けた日時と場所の報告だけにして、それ以上下手に手を出すなって言っているんだろ?」
雑談を続けている間に模擬戦が終わった。エリオが立ち上がって休憩側の者達に声を掛ける。
「よし! 次は俺達だ! いくぞ!」
「随分元気だな。何でそんなやる気なんだ?」
「こいつ、真顔で言いやがった。これが彼女持ちか。なんてやつだ」
エリオは軽く笑って開き直った。少年が
「なんてやつだ。あー、俺も彼女が欲しい。アキラさんみたいにボスみたいな彼女が欲しい」
「アキラさんみたいに強くなればできるんじゃないか?」
ティオルがスラム街を険しい表情でうろうろしている。本人は隠しているつもりだが、誰かを探しているのは少し注意して見ればすぐに分かる。募る焦りが自身の行動を下手に隠そうとする不自然さを際立たせていた。
(......クソッ! いねえじゃねえか! 本当にこの辺なのか? また適当な情報なんじゃないか?)
ティオルはアルナの隠れ家の近くを重点的に探していた。その辺りを探せば見つかる可能性が高いと教えられたからだ。だが見つからない。
(また聞いてみるか? でも何度も聞くと情報を疑っていると思われて機嫌を損ねるからな。あいつからの情報が頼みの綱なんだ。でもこのまま見つからないのも......)
どうするべきか。その迷いがティオルの表情をより一層
カツヤ、ユミナ、アイリ、アルナの4人がスラム街を歩いている。
アルナはアキラに見つからないように頭部まで覆えるハンター用のコートを被っていた。コートはドランカムの備品でカツヤ達から借りたものだ。申し訳なさそうな表情をコートのフード部分で少し隠しながら、機嫌を
「私に付き合ってくれてありがとう。でも、良かったの? カツヤも忙しいんじゃ......」
カツヤ達はアルナの隠れ家に向かっていた。スラム街に幾つかあるアルナの隠れ家には、少額の金や日用品などがまだ置かれたままだ。それらを取りに向かっているのだ。
「気にしないでくれ。アルナだけで行かせるのも危ないし、それに俺達の用事のついでだしな」
「大丈夫だって。用事って言っても、ハンター稼業の息抜きにスラム街にあるっていう遺物屋を探してみようってだけだよ。基本的に店を探してうろうろするだけだから、アルナは気にしないで大丈夫だ。それにほら、もしかしたらアルナの親友に会えるかもしれないんだろう?」
「うん。偶然出会えたらって話だけど。もし会えたらカツヤ達に助けてもらえたことを話せば、安心してくれると思う。私のことを最後まで心配してくれたから。できれば私は大丈夫だって説明したい」
「そうか。優しい人なんだな」
「うん。自慢の親友。......私は彼女に迷惑ばっかり掛けていたわ」
ティオルが情報端末で連絡を取っている。
「......ああ、そうだ。アルナってやつを見つけた。多分だけど」
を見せたら、俺がアルナを殺しても良いか?」
アルナを殺してアキラとシェリルに報告すれば、拠点に自分が襲撃者達を連れてきてしまった失態をかなり拭えるはずだ。ティオルはそう思っていた。
「それは構わないけど、
挑発的というよりは馬鹿にしたような声を聞いて、ティオルは舌打ちして通話を切った。
カツヤ達はアルナの私物の回収を済ませた後、当初の予定通りスラム街にあるという遺物屋を探して
「アルナは店の場所とかに心当たりとかはないか? 最近までこの辺にいたんだろう?」
「ごめん。私もスラム街にそういう店があるってことは知っているけど、店の場所までは。ほら、旧世界の遺物って高いでしょ? 私みたいな金の無い子供には縁のない場所なの。縄張りの元締めとかと付き合いがある子ならまた別なんだけどね。それに、一見さんお断りとか誰かの紹介がないと入れない店も多いって聞くから、店の場所だけ知っていてもあんまり意味はないと思う」
カツヤが焦りと照れの混じった固い笑みを浮かべる。
「そ、そうだな」
ユミナが
ユミナは本気の目をしていた。カツヤが慌てて答える。
「ない! 関係ない! ミズハさんからも変なところに行くなって注意されたしな!」
「......それは、注意される前は行っていたってこと?」
カツヤがユミナの気迫にたじろいでいると、アイリが険しい表情で口を挟んでくる。
「つけられている」
「......いつからだ?」
「少なくとも30分前から」
ユミナも真面目な表情でアイリに尋ねる。
「勘違いとかじゃないのね?」
「偶然同じ方向を進んでいるだけなら、特に明確な目的地がない私達と30分間も同じ方向に進んだりはしない」
カツヤ達を尾行していたのはティオルだ。アイリはティオルが本当に自分達を尾行しているのかどうかを確認する
だ? どうして俺達をつけるんだ?」
「な、何の話だ?」
「悪いが、こっちにもいろいろ事情があるんだ。多少痛めつけないと口が軽くならないって言うのなら、お望み通りにしても良いんだぞ?」
ティオルが途端に慌て出す。
「わ、分かった! 話す! 話すよ! 頼まれたんだ! 悪かった! 勘弁してくれ!」
ティオルはそう言ってカツヤ達の背後を指差した。それはカツヤ達の意識を
Akira was training Erio and the other children again that day.
They did the training session about 2-3 times per week depending on Akira's schedule. They would take a break if Akira was tired, or busy, or not in the mood, or just simply if he did not want to do it. While on the other hand, if Akira wanted to do it, they would do it all day. It was Sheryl's idea to treat Akira like that.
Sheryl was planning to eventually reopen the relic shop and it was obvious that she would be opening the shop even if Akira was not around. Once Akira started doing his Hunter job again, he would not be able to frequent the base as much as he does now.
Because of that, Sheryl needed her gang to be able to protect itself when she reopened the shop. She could get all the equipment that she needed from Katsuragi, but that was not the case for the human resource. She needed people who could fight properly.
Akira was having a hard time in his training too. He had Alpha criticizing him while he was fighting against the group that Alpha was commanding. The training ground was already filled with images of his corpses.
In order to make up for their fighting power, the bullets from the training rifles were assumed to have enough firepower to break through Akira's augmented suit. Because of that, most of the images of his corpses were very gory. His current goal was to make his death count drop to zero during the training. If he was able to achieve that, it would mean that his fighting skill has been considerably increased to the point that he had no problem fighting amateurs without Alpha's support.
The boy whom Akira just warned flusteredly laid down on the ground, he then glanced upward and saw Akira leaving him. He mumbled while still looking completely surprised.
"...He can even tell if his shot hit or not from that distance, huh."
It was true that the goggles would be dyed in red when they got shot, but that was only the goggles of the one who got shot. There was no notice sent to the other people when someone got shot. But even so, Akira came to that boy and said to him as if Akira was 100% sure. In reality, that boy had indeed received a notice that he got shot, so it really surprised him.
That boy smiled wryly as he pushed himself back up. It seemed that Sheryl's praises still had some effect on their fighting spirit even in that place.
After Akira did a few rounds, he noticed something was bothering him.
"Alpha, it might be just my imagination, but don't you think that I've been winning a lot lately? I've been winning for a few consecutive rounds now..."
"It's not just your imagination, you're really getting better."
"But it's not like I suddenly got better in this, right?"
"It's true that your fighting skill has been slowly but surely getting better, but it doesn't make you super strong all of a sudden. So the reason for your consecutive wins, in this case, would be because they are lacking in their fighting skill."
"Lacking in their fighting skill? But they've been training just like me, right? So I bet it should not have that much of an effect on my winning rate. Well, if the reason is because they are tired, I can understand that. But they've been taking a rest in turns now, so it should be better than before. Alpha, have you been pulling your punches on me?"
"Can you return them back to their original state?"
"If I continue giving them those kinds of support, their fighting skill would rely heavily on my support. Once their equipment and my supports start getting in the way of the training, I would need to limit their usage. In the worst-case scenario, they might get even less useful than complete amateurs outside the training session. So considering the long term benefit, I need to lower my support and that's the reason why they can't even hold a proper fight against you right now."
"That does hurt since I've been relying on your support."
But Alpha smiled smugly and said.
"It can't be helped then, in that case, how about we put some handicap on you."
Akira's vision suddenly changed. He could no longer see too far ahead and the sound around him was moderately damped, the sensitivity of his information terminal also significantly dropped.
"Alpha, is this... The effect from the colourless mist?"
"Yes. I'm trying to imitate the effect when you're in the middle of a colourless mist. It's just an imitation, so don't worry, it's not like you're really inside a colourless mist."
Akira seemed relieved, it was just simply a handicap to reduce his winning chance and it was not like he was really inside a colourless mist. He then smiled bitterly and scanned his surroundings, he checked all the places that he had already checked in turns.
"Well then, let's get back on your training and give it your best. This way, your winning chance should be reduced, and if it doesn't change much, I'll increase the thickness of the colourless mist until it reduces your winning chance... Though, it seems that I don't need to do that."
Right at the next moment, Akira's goggles were dyed in red. He got shot.
Akira sighed and looked down on the ground, that shot just now increased the number of the corpse images in that place by one. He smiled bitterly at the image of his dead corpse lying by his feet.
Akira and the other children would group up after 10 rounds for a quick Q&A session, and if there was no question, they would immediately move on to the next round. But that was not the case this time.
"Uhmm, I feel like your movements have gotten worse suddenly, did something happen?"
"I've been winning a lot lately so I did a little adjustment, there's no need to worry about it."
All the children thought of the same thing, they were questioning what kind of adjustment was Akira talking about. But since Akira told them not to worry about it, they could not ask that question to him. Not to mention, Akira himself did not look that happy since he had been losing a lot lately. It would be not wise to ask that question to Akira right now, so they just kept their mouth shut.
"I bet it's because of his augmented suit. It must be nice, I want one too. Boss said that she's taking care of the equipment with Katsuragi-san's help. I wonder if she'll buy us some."
Erio, who was also there, shook his head and said.
"Nah, I doubt that would happen. I heard that it's really expensive. So at least, I'm sure it's impossible to buy one for everyone, moreover..."
Erio remembered when Akira saved his life back in the wasteland. At that time, Akira was able to shoot while carrying a heavy rucksack filled with relics even though he was not using an augmented suit. Akira was able to fight even when he was carrying something that heavy, so Erio thought that it was not simply because of his augmented suit. But when he was about to say that, Erio also remembered that Akira told him not to say anything unnecessary.
"...Moreover, even if she buys us several augmented suits, it would be still far away from Akira-san's advanced augmented suit. After all, an augmented suit like that would cost a lot."
"You're right about that. But we should still be able to get a decent augmented suit if it's only one, right...? Ahhh, but in that case, you'll be the one using it, huh. You're the boss' bodyguard after all. It must be nice, I'm really jealous."
That boy looked enviously at Erio.
"For someone who tried to punch Akira, you're doing pretty well. You and Alicia are even assigned as the officers in the gang after all."
"Talking about doing something stupid... That would be Tiol, huh. Not only did he question Boss' relationship with Akira and got the boss angry at him, he even brought in those robbers the other day. Now that I think about it, I feel like I don't see him around lately... Did he run away somewhere?"
"No, Alicia is still assigning him jobs, so he should be still in the gang."
"I feel like it's really only a matter of time though. If he doesn't run away, as long as he doesn't do anything big to make up for it, those mistakes would still weigh him down. For example... That's right, maybe like capturing that pickpocket."
Erio thought for a bit before shaking his head.
"Nah, that won't happen. Akira-san did say that the pickpocket has a Hunter stronger than him covering for her, remember? So, if he does that, in the worst-case scenario, that Hunter might be coming for him this time. Just think what would happen if that Hunter came to our base. So I'm sure it would only anger the boss if he does that. That's exactly why the boss also said that if we spot that pickpocket, we just need to report it later and there's no need to do anything more than that, remember?"
The mock battle ended while they were having a silly talk. Erio stood up, looked at the other children who were resting there, and said to them.
"Alright then! It's our turn next! Let's go!!"
"You sound pretty energetic, why are you that motivated?"
"This guy just went and said it with a straight face. So this is the power of people with a lover, huh. Good grief!"
Erio lightly laughed. The other children also laughed at that and some of them half-jokingly said.
"Good grief! Ahhh! I want a girlfriend too. I want someone like our boss. Just like Akira-san's girlfriend."
"You won't get someone like our boss unless you're as strong as Akira-san, you know?"
Tiol was lurking in the slum city with a stern face. He was trying to hide, but anyone could spot him just fine with little effort. He was so nervous to the point that he was obviously looking suspicious.
[...Dammit!! She's not here either! Is the information saying that she's around here really true? I bet it's just another random information with almost zero accuracy.]
Tiol was looking around the slum city focused on the area near Alna's secret hideout since he was told that there was a good chance he could find her around that area. But he just could not find her at all.
[Should I ask her again? But I'm sure it'll only worsen her mood if I ask her too many times. That information is my lifeline so she'll still help me. But at this rate, if this continues and I still can't find that pickpocket...]
Tiol looked obviously unsure what to do and that confusion slowed down his decision-making skill, that was when he spotted the person he was looking for.
Katsuya, Yumina, Airi and Alna were walking through the slum city.
Alna was using a Hunter coat with a hood to cover herself so that Akira would not find her. That Hunter coat was originally Drankam's coat, Katsuya lent it to her. She looked apologetic as she glanced at Katsuya's back from behind the coat's hood.
"Thank you very much for accompanying me, but are you sure you're okay with this? I'm sure you're busy with your own stuff too, so..."
They were heading to Alna's hideout. Alna had multiple hideouts spread across the slum city. She had left some of her own belongings and a small amount of money in her hideouts. That day, they were retrieving Alna's belongings in one of her hideouts.
"Don't worry about it. It's too dangerous to let you go alone, moreover, I have something to do in the slum city too."
"It's fine. Although I said it's something that I need to do, it's just an easy job to look for a certain relic shop rumoured to be somewhere in the slum city. It also doubles as a break from my usual Hunter jobs. Basically, I just need to walk around and look for that shop, so there's nothing to worry. Not to mention, you might be able to meet your friend, right?"
"Yes, but it's not like we had promised to see each other, so it would be a pure coincidence if we do meet her. But if we meet her, I'll tell her that I got some help from Katsuya-san, I'm sure that'll lessen her worry. She's been worrying about me up to the very end after all. So if it's possible, I want to let her know that I'm okay."
"I see, she must be a kind person."
"Yes, I'm really proud to be able to call her my friend... And I always only bring her trouble."
Tiol took out his information terminal and made a call.
"...Yes, that's correct. I found Alna, well, it is most likely her."
"Okay... By the way, if I have the chance, is it okay if I just go and kill that Alna."
Tiol thought if he killed Alna and reported it back to Sheryl and Akira, it might compensate for his mistake in bringing those robbers to the base.
"Sure, I'm okay with that, but won't that be impossible for you?"
Viola sounded more like she was mocking him than challenging him, Tiol then clicked his tongue and cut the call there.
After Katsuya and his group finished retrieving Alna's belongings, they then roamed around the slum city, looking for that particular relic shop just like they originally planned. A certain rumour was spreading in the slum city about a particular relic shop that was selling relics that could be sold at a high price in another place, that rumour had also reached Hunters inside Drankam.
"By the way, Alna, do you have any guess where that shop might be? You've been living around this area until now, right?"
"I'm sorry, I did know there was that kind of shop in the slum city, but I don't know where it might be. Old-world relics are expensive after all, so it's not a place for me who doesn't have money. Of course, it's a different story if you can find someone who has some relation with the people who manage territory. Moreover, most of them don't accept first-time customers, I heard that you'll need someone to introduce you to the place before you can get in. So I think it would be meaningless even if you know the location of that shop."
Katsuya blushed and flusteredly replied.
"O-Of course!"
Yumina smiled menacingly at Katsuya and said to him.
Yumina was being serious, so Katsuya flusteredly said.
"Of course!! I have nothing to do with that!! Mizuha-san also warns me not to go to that kind of place, you know!!"
"Does that mean... That you've gone there before Mizuha-san warned you?"
Katsuya was wincing back from Yumina's intimidating aura, Airi suddenly interjected with a stern face.
"We're being followed."
"...Since when?"
"At least for the last 30 minutes."
Yumina also had a serious look as she asked Airi.
"Are you sure you're not mistaking it?"
"I highly doubt anyone would be going in the same direction as us for 30 minutes unless they're tailing us."
The one who was following them was Tiol. Airi actually noticed him long back, but she was letting it slide for some time to make sure he was really tailing them. But Tiol thought that it was simply because they had not noticed him yet.
"What is it? Why are you tailing us?"
"W-what are you talking about?"
"Sorry but I already gathered some information beforehand. If you won't tell me anything unless I hurt you first, I don't mind doing that, you know?"
Tiol immediately confessed.
"A-alright! I'll tell you everything!! I was asked to follow you!! I'm really sorry! Please just let me go!"
Tiol pointed behind Katsuya as he said that. In truth, he was actually just pointing in a random direction to divert their attention. He was planning to run away the moment they looked away.
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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