セランタルビルの1階はクガマヤマ都市が派遣した部隊、正確にはその依頼を請け負ったハンター連合の部隊が占拠した。その上で、地下や上階に続く全ての通路を封鎖していた。
ビル内の通信障害は継続中だ。その対処として大出力の中継機を1階出入口付近の広間に設置し、有線で外の中継機と接続して外部との通信を可能にしていた。
セランタルビルの1階は仮設基地のような厳重な警備体制が敷かれていた。
そこにヤナギサワが部下達と一緒に現れる。お偉いさんが来たという空気が場に流れる。ヤナギサワは気にせずに広間を通ってビルの受付、厳密には受付があった場所に行く。戦闘の余波で受付カウンターなどが完全に破壊されており、外観的としての受付の機能は失われている。
ヤナギサワが誰もいない場所に向かって話す。
「入館手続きを頼みたい」
何も起こらない。部下達がヤナギサワを不思議そうに見ている。ヤナギサワが同じように話す。
「入館手続きを頼みたい。休館中でも来訪申請を受け付けた場合は入館できる規則のはずだ。そちらが手続きを放棄するのであれば、こちらも手続きを放棄せざるを得ない。こちらは手続きに
するとヤナギサワの前にセランタルが現れる。セランタルが深々と礼をして答える。
「お客様。当ビルは現在休館中でして、関係者以外立入禁止となっております。お引き取りください」
「私はヤナギサワだ。諸事情で非接続状態だが、60階への来訪申請を出した者だ。確認してくれ」
「申し訳御座いません。当ビルはお客様の来訪申請を認識していません」
ヤナギサワの笑顔が曇る。
「......本当に? こちらは申請の受理を確認したのだが」
「当ビルへの休館時来訪申請の履歴に該当の申請が存在していません。誠に申し訳御座いませんが、再手続きを御願い致します」
(......手続きを間違えたか? それとも非接続状態で手続きを強行するのは無理があったか? ......仕方ない。試してみるか)
ヤナギサワが懐から黒いカードを取り出して、セランタルだけに見えるように提示する。
「諸事情で60階に用がある。通してくれ」
セランタルはそのカードを見ると、
まりました。御案内いたします。こちらへ」
セランタルがビルのエレベーターまでヤナギサワを案内するために歩き出す。ヤナギサワ達がセランタルの後に続く。
エレベーターに続いている通路は、強固な簡易防壁で完全に封鎖されていた。立体映像で実体のないセランタルがその簡易防壁を通り抜けていく。
ヤナギサワが近くにいた警備の男に笑って話す。
「悪いんだけどさ、開けてくんない?」
警備の男が緊張気味の様子で答える。
「申し訳御座いません。開閉が可能な種類のものではなく、設置式で移動できませんので、無理です」
「あ、そうなの? じゃあ、しょうがないな。ネリア。斬ってくれ」
ヤナギサワの部下達の中から義体の女性が出てくる。いろいろと露出の多いボディースーツを着ている。整った顔立ちと魅力的な体型の持ち主だが、首から下の皮膚らしきものが金属やゴムの光沢を放っていて、明らかに生身ではない。女性はクズスハラ街遺跡でアキラと戦った遺物強奪犯のネリアだった。
ネリアは不機嫌そうな表情で簡易防壁の前に立つと、身に着けていたブレードを素早く振るった。戦車砲すら防ぐ簡易防壁が一瞬でばらばらに切り刻まれ、破片が崩れ落ちて床に散らばった。
「お見事。大したもんだ。今度一緒に食事でもどう?」
「つれないな。良い店を用意するって。非常に評判の良い、
ネリアが非常に冷たい視線をヤナギサワに向ける。ネリアの義体に食事の機能は搭載されていない。
ヤナギサワが笑って部下達に指示を出す。
「ネリアは一緒に来てくれ。他は戻ってくるまで待機だ」
ネリアが
「どうして全員で行かないの?」
「えっ? 知りたい?」
ヤナギサワの笑顔を見たネリアが発言を覆す。
「俺がボタンをポチッと押すと、頭が吹っ飛ぶかどうかの差だ」
ネリアの頭の中には爆弾が埋め込まれている。刑期と言い換えてもよい負債を払い終えるまで、
エレナはアキラと別れた後、非常に面倒な交渉を済ませた。いろいろと難航したがキャロルの助けもあって満足できる報酬額を認めさせることに成功した。
エレナはキャロルを高く評価している。ハンターとしての戦闘技量も申し分なく、交渉人としての実力も十分だ。そこまでなら、今回の件を縁にしてそれなりの付き合いをしても良いと判断するところだ。
サラが少し考えて答える。
「うーん。まあ、好き好んであんな格好をする人だからいろいろあるとは思うけど。気になるならシカラベに聞いてみたら? 話の続きが聞きたかったら依頼が終わった後にしろとも言っていたしね。今なら大丈夫でしょう」
エレナは少し考える。人の悪評を好んで探そうとは思わない。問題のある人物なら付き合いを控えれば済むだけだ。だが、キャロルはアキラの関係者だ。アキラの周りに非常に
「シカラベだ。エレナか。依頼の件で何かあったのか?」
「違うわ。別件よ。ちょっと聞きたいことを思い出しただけよ。前に言っていたキャロルの話。詳しい話は後にしろって言っていたでしょう? 今回の交渉ではキャロルに随分助けられたから、縁を
「ああ。そういうことか」
シカラベが何からの思案をしているであろう間を置いてから続ける。
「まあ、何だ。あんな格好をしているやつだ。いろいろと察せるだろう。同類扱いされたくなかったら、距離を取っておけって話だ。金にもならねえ話ならこんなもんだ。値の付く話が聞きたいのなら、そうだな、50万オーラムぐらい払ってもらおうか」
「......払うのかよ」
シカラベとしては、キャロルについて詳しい話をするのは気が進まないという意味と、その程度の情報料が絡む程度の質の悪さと厄介事を抱えた女であることを伝えるための返事だった。まさか払うとは思っていなかった。
エレナもキャロルを連れてきたのがアキラではなかったら支払わなかっただろう。
る。あいつはその程度に多々問題があるんだよ。具体的には、その絡みで最低でも12人死んでいる」
エレナの表情が少し険しいものになる。シカラベが続ける。
問題の深刻さに応じて、エレナの表情がまた少し険しくなる。
「以前ドランカムが都市絡みの依頼を引き受けたことがあった。その時に仕事の都合で旧世界の遺跡に関する秘匿情報を提供してもらったんだが、その情報が外部に漏れたんだ。その調査でキャロルにその情報を漏らした人間がいたことが発覚した」
「その情報を漏らしたのが、ドランカム所属の古参だった」
「正確にはその可能性があるってことだ。キャロルへの支払いに金ではなくて情報を渡したらしい。そいつも都市の情報を漏らしたらどうなるかぐらい分かっていたはずだが、その判断を狂わせるぐらい入れ込んでいたらしいな。キャロルがその情報を別の誰かに売ったのかは不明だ。口を滑らせた場所が安宿で、盗聴器でも仕込んであったのかもしれない」
「そのハンター、どうなったの?」
「逆恨みしてキャロルを殺しに行って、返り討ちにあって死んだよ。
エレナもサラもかなり険しい表情でシカラベの話を聞いている。話を聞く限りは、キャロルは予想以上に問題のある人物だ。
「12って死体の数も、調査の過程で判明した数ってだけだ。多分もっと死んでる。まあ、あいつに関わって破滅した野郎は多いってことだ。そういった
「こんなところか。代金の分の話はしたぞ? 文句があっても受け付けねえけどな」
「......いえ、十分よ」
「そうか。また金になりそうな依頼でもあったら誘ってくれ。じゃあな」
シカラベとの通話が切れた。エレナとサラが顔を見合わせる。誰かを心配しているような、少し険しい表情をお互いに浮かべていた。
「そういえば、シカラベが助けた連中の件って、結局どうなったんだ?」
「さあな。今は幹部連中がああだこうだと交渉でもしてるんだろう」
「聞いたぞ? お前が連れていたメイドの一人がドランカムを脅したんだってな」
シカラベが少し意外そうな嫌そうな表情で話す。
「お前にまで漏れてんのかよ......」
シカラベがセランタルビルで入手したドランカム幹部
そこにはレイナ達が生存していることを前提にした即時の救援を依頼するものであり、ドランカムが依頼を無視した場合、あるいは救援に失敗した場合の報復処置が事細かに記載されていた。更にシオリがその報復処置を既に関係者へ指示しており、レイナが生還しなければそれを取り消せない旨まで記載されていた。
シカラベはドランカムの幹部であるアラベ達との付き合いで得た知識から、それがレイナを助けさせる
「そうだよ。その所為でそいつらをわざわざ助けに行く羽目になったんだ。元々そいつらをセランタルビルに送り込んだのもドランカムだ。それが一番の皮肉だ」
しかもどちらかと言えばレイナ達は若手側で、その尻拭いをしたのは古参側のシカラベだ。確実に紛糾する会議という名の責任の
「あのレイナとシオリってやつ、訳ありでドランカムに所属しているとは聞いていたが、あそこまで面倒臭い連中だったとはな。ハンター志望の金持ちのガキと、そのガキのお守り役程度に考えていたんだが......」
クロサワが軽く笑って尋ねる。
「護衛付きでハンター稼業なんてやってるやつらだ。その辺の面倒臭さは予想できたんじゃないか?」
「訳ありとは思っていたが、ドランカムを脅せるほどのやつらとは思ってなかったんだよ。普通、そんなヤバいやつを荒野に出すと思うか?」
クロサワがビルから出てきたシカラベ達の光景を思い出して話す。
「美人のメイドってだけなら、目の保養になるんだがな」
「そういう趣味があるのなら3階のやつに服を贈って着てもらえよ」
少し酔いが回ってきているのか、クロサワが妙なことを言い始める。
「お前、分かってないな。本職の人間から漂う雰囲気とか、そういうのが重要なんだろうが。着てりゃ良いってものじゃねえんだよ」
「機械系モンスターをぶった切ったりぶっ飛ばしたりするやつらに、お前はどんな雰囲気を求めてるんだ?」
に近いクロサワが酔いの回ってきたシカラベの様子を確認する。そして頃合いと見て話し出す。
「そうそう、お前が前に話していた例のガキ、あのカツヤってやつだが......」
「そう言うなって。あいつが戦うのを見たが、確かに強かった。あれだけ強ければ増長するのも当然だ。お前が才能だけは凄えと言ったのも納得だ。だが指揮能力は正直微妙というか、才能がないとは言わないが、お前が絶賛するほどとは思えなかったな」
「俺はあいつのハンターとしての才能を認めはしたが、指揮能力とかの才能を認めた覚えはねえよ。
「そうだろ? 確かにカツヤには才能がある。それは俺も認める。だがそれは個人技能での話だ。あいつは一騎当千には成れても、同数の兵の指揮官には成れねえよ」
「じゃあ、何であいつが部隊の指揮とかやってるんだ?」
酒を飲みながら、シカラベが自身の推測を含めて話し始める。
元々ドランカムは所属するハンター達の雑務を請け負う程度のものでしかなかった。しかし組織が成長するに従って営利企業としての性質が徐々に強くなり、今では組織の活動指針の一部にまで成っていた。
組織がハンターを雇用して、ハンター稼業で利益を出して給料を支払う。それは悪いことではない。だが組織の変化を好ましく思う者ばかりではない。
組織の成長と効率化のためという名目で自由なハンター稼業が制限され始める。管理側の権限が強くなり、お願いが、上司からの命令として強制力を持つようになる。そうすると反感を覚える者も増えてくる。様々な名目で報酬から引かれる金も増えていく。その金は組織の
が優勢になりつつある。ミズハがカツヤを広告塔として進めている計画は防壁内の人間に受けが良いらしく、都市からの支援も大きくなっていた。
シカラベはそれらの事情を、いろいろな対象への愚痴を
クロサワが苦笑しながら話す。
「過渡期で済まされたら
「それで、本題は?」
「本題?」
「ドランカムの内情でも探りに来たと思ったから、俺の愚痴を聞いてもらう代金の代わりに少し口を滑らしてみたが、お前の様子を見る限り違ったみたいだからな。何を聞きたい?」
クロサワは自分の意図を読まれていたことに苦笑した後、少し真面目な表情で話し始める。
「いや、心当たりはないな。何で俺に聞くんだ?」
「お前はカツヤの世話係だったんだろう? 似たような経験とか、ないか?」
シカラベが記憶を探る。しかしそれらしい経験はなかった。軽く首を横に振って答える。
結構落胆しているクロサワを見て、シカラベが不思議そうに尋ねる。
「そんなに気になることだったのか?」
にそういう冷静な判断の訓練をしている。お前が自分の勘を大事にしているのと一緒だ。結構自信が有る方だったんだが、それが今回の件で少し揺らいでな。勘の良いシカラベなら何か原因に心当たりがないかと思っだんだよ」
今度はシカラベが少し気落ちするように話す。
シカラベとクロサワはその後も酒を交えて話を続けた。
セランタルビルの60階は単一のフロアで構成されていた。床も壁も天井も真っ白だ。そのフロアの中央にヤナギサワが立っていた。
ネリアはフロアの端、エレベーターの扉の前に立ってヤナギサワを見ている。そこで待つように指示された上に、首から下が動かない状態でだ。ネリアの義体の最上位権限はヤナギサワが握っている。許可がなければ指一本動かせないのだ。
ネリアは周囲を見渡したりヤナギサワの様子を見たりしながら、この場の考察をして暇を潰していた。
(この場所は恐らく拡張現実用のフロア。旧世界のネットワークに接続できる人ならいろいろなものが見えるんでしょうね。私を連れてきたのは近接戦闘が必要になる場所での護衛のため。つまり、彼はこの部屋の状態を知らなかった。ここは旧世界の何らかの施設で、彼はここに何らかの用がある。セランタルビルに部隊を派遣したのも、彼がここに来るため......。分からないわ。ああ、調べたい)
ならない現状を嘆きながら考察を続けていた。
ヤナギサワは旧世界のネットワークに接続できる機器を身に着けていた。そのヤナギサワの視界には、非現実的な美女の姿が映っていた。当然ながらこの場には実在しない人物だ。そしてその女性の服は、アキラがアルファと初めて会った日にアルファが着ていた服によく似ていた。
『ネットワークへの接続を確認できません。ネットワークへの接続は個人識別のために必須となっております。接続設定を御確認後に再手続きを御願い致します』
ヤナギサワが黒いカードを提示してもう一度頼む。
『諸事情でネットワークへの接続が難しい状態なんです。今使用している接続機器で代用できませんか? このカードの権限でも無理ですか?』
ヤナギサワはいろいろと頼み方を変えて頼んでみたが、全て同じ文言で断られてしまった。
ヤナギサワは諦めて身に着けていた接続機器を外した。ヤナギサワの視界から拡張現実の女性の姿が消えた。
(......どうする? 俺の治療を優先させるか? それとも他の旧領域接続者を連れてきて認証させるか? 俺が旧領域接続者に戻ったら、俺の存在があいつらに露見する可能性がある。だが他の人間を認証して、そいつが俺を裏切ったらどうする?)
ヤナギサワが険しい表情でネリアのところへ戻っていく。
(来訪申請が消されたのはセランタルビル側だけだった。出張所側の申請はしっかり通っていた。なぜだ? ミハゾノ街の状況が変化した際にセランタルビル側の機能がリセットされて、それで消えただけか? あいつらの仕業だとしたら、なぜ両方消さない? 権限が違うからか?)
ヤナギサワが険しい表情でエレベーターに入る。動けるようになったネリアも一緒に入る。扉が閉まり、エレベーターが1階に戻っていく。
(ミハゾノ街の防衛準備状態が変化したのはなぜだ? 俺の警護のために多数の人型兵器や戦車を配備したからか? それにミハゾノ街の防衛機構が反応したのか? その程度ならもっと早く移行してもいいんじゃないか? それとも、あいつらが俺の存在に気付いて、停止状態だった防衛機構を外部から強制的に起動させたのか?)
「笑顔が消えているわね」
ミハゾノ街遺跡の状態を変えた原因は複合的なものだ。その要素の一つはアキラ達だ。
アキラがミハゾノ街遺跡に来た初日にセランタルビルの外と中で行った戦闘の情報は、セランタルビルにしっかり記録されていた。アルファのサポートにより機械系モンスター達に対して余りにも効果的効率的に戦った戦闘記録だ。セランタルが応援要請を出した時、その情報も一緒に送信された。
遺跡の防衛機構はその情報を解析して、遺跡にいるハンター達の脅威度を変更した。少々武装した素人に近い強盗から、明確な戦闘訓練を受けた兵士の脅威度に。その脅威度が設定された状態で、多数のハンターがセランタルビルに向かって組織的に行動した。
後は流れだ。その組織的な行動を街への本格的な侵攻と判断した防衛機構が防衛兵器を投入し、それに対応するために人型兵器や戦車が遺跡に投入され、それに対応するためにより強力な防衛兵器が投入され、それに対応するために新たな部隊が投入され、その繰り返しで、気が付けばミハゾノ街遺跡は大きな異変を迎えたのだ。
ありふれた事象が組み合わさり予想外の結果を引き起こした。それだけの話だった。
The first floor of the Seranthal building was filled by the Hunters that were sent by Kugamayama city, to be more precise, they were a group of Hunters who accepted the request from Kugamayama city. They also sealed the way to go to the upper floors and to the basement.
Something was still blocking the Hunters from making connections from inside the building. As such, they installed a huge relay device near the entrance to connect them to another relay device outside.
The first floor of the Seranthal building was reinforced so much that it looked like a forward base.
That was where Yanagisawa and his men made an appearance. The mood on the first floor immediately changed, it was obvious that someone of high ranking was present. Yanagisawa just ignored that mood and proceeded through the first-floor atrium to one of the receptionist desks. Due to the fighting before, the receptionist desks were completely destroyed to the point that they were unrecognizable.
Yanagisawa started speaking while facing empty space.
"I want to ask for permission to enter the facility."
Nothing happened. Yanagisawa's men tilted their heads while checking up Yanagisawa's expression. Yanagisawa then once again said.
"I want to ask for permission to enter the facility. The rule states that even when it's inactive, I should still be able to apply for a visitor permit. If you won't follow it, then I have no other choice but to take another alternative. With this, at least you know that I tried to follow the proper procedure, right?"
When he said that, Seranthal suddenly appeared in front of Yanagisawa. Seranthal then gave a very formal introduction before answering Yanagisawa's query.
"Dear customer, the building is not open at the moment, anyone with no business in this building is not allowed to enter. So please leave the building."
"I'm Yanagisawa. I can't make a proper connection because of some reasons, but I'm the one who made the application to visit the 60th floor. Can you check it?"
"My apologies, but there's no such visitation application to this building."
Yanagisawa's smile slightly clouded.
"...Is that so? I confirmed that the application was properly received though."
"There is no such visitation application during the closing of this building in our record. We're really sorry, please try sending the application again."
[...Did I make a mistake when I sent the application? Or is it that I can't send an application when I properly make a connection? It can't be helped, I guess I'll try using that.]
Yanagisawa pulled out a black card from his pocket and showed it to Seranthal.
"I have some business on the 60th floor. Just let me pass."
When Seranthal saw that card, she smiled and lightly bowed.
"Understood, I will guide you, over here please."
Seranthal walked and guided Yanagisawa and his men to one of the elevators.
The way past the elevator was sealed with a strong barricade. Seranthal, who did not have a corporeal body walked through that barricade.
Yanagisawa smiled at a guard near that barricade.
"Sorry, but can you open the barricade."
That guard nervously replied.
"I'm really sorry, it's a type that once set up, it can't be opened or moved. I'm really sorry."
"Aaah, I see. Well, it can't be helped then. Nelia, cut it down."
A girl with cyborg body stepped out from Yanagisawa's men. She was wearing a rather exposing bodysuit. Although she had a nice figure and beautiful face, the bodysuit from her neck down seemed to be made of a mix of metal and rubber. It was obvious that it was not a fleshy body. She was one of the relics thieves that Akira fought back in Kuzusuhara ruin, Nelia.
Nelia stood in front of that blockade and frowned, she then swiftly cut the blockade down with her blade. The blockade wall that was even strong enough to withstand tank warhead was cut into small pieces in a blink of an eye and crumbled down to the ground.
"Well done. Want to go grab some food together next time?"
"That's so cold. I'll take you to a good restaurant. It's a restaurant with high reviews and delicious foods, you know?"
Nelia looked at Yanagisawa with very cold eyes. Her cyborg body was not equipped with devices to digest food.
Yanagisawa just smiled and gave an order to his men.
"Nelia will accompany me, the rest of you stay here until we return."
Nelia looked surprised.
"Why won't you take everyone?"
"Eh? You want to know?"
Nelia, who saw his smile decided to not ask further.
"The biggest factor is because I know I can blow your head off with one push of a button."
A bomb was planted inside Nelia's head. As long as she had not paid enough contribution to overweight a death sentence or as long as she could not escape the position that she was in, that bomb would stay.
After Akira left, Elena had to finish up an extremely troublesome negotiation. Thanks to the help from Carol, both of them were able to secure a good amount of reward.
Elena had nothing to complain about Carol, who was good at fighting as well as negotiating. Normally, she would have used this chance to form a connection with Carol. But there was still one thing that was bothering her, it was something that Shikarabe had told her about Carol.
Sara thought for a bit before replying.
"Hmmm, well, she is someone who would use that augmented suit out of her own volition after all, if it still bothers you, how about asking Shikarabe? He did say to ask him after that request if it still bothers us, remember? So I'm sure it's okay if you ask him now."
Elena thought for a bit. It was not like she wanted to look for Carol's bad sides. She just wanted to check if Carol was a problematic person or not and if she should stop trying to associate with Carol. But, Carol had some connections to Akira. For someone labelled as a 'bad girl' to be around Akira, Elena could not help but wonder.
"It's Shikarabe. Elena, huh. Did something happen with the request?"
"Nope, it's not about the request. I just remembered that there's something I wanted to ask you. It's about what you said about Carol back then. You did say that you'll tell me the details later, right? Carol really helped me during the negotiation, so I was thinking if it's a good idea to get along with her, but then I remembered what you said back then."
"Oooh, about that, huh."
Shikarabe paused as if he was thinking about what to say.
"Well, uhh, you saw it for yourself that she was using that attire. So I'm sure you can make some guesses yourself. If you don't want to be seen under the same light as her, you might want to refrain from associating with her. I guess that's the gist of it when money is not involved. If you want to know more about the details... Well, I guess I'll need to have you pay me 500,000 Aurum."
"...The heck? You really paid the money?"
Honestly speaking, Shikarabe only said that to let Elena and Sara know that he actually did not want to talk much about Carol. After all, Carol was such a notorious woman, who caused so much trouble, that you would normally need money to know more details about her. He did not think that Elena would really pay him.
Elena, herself, would not have paid if the one who brought Carol to the team was not Akira.
"It depends on each case, but she basically has caused so much trouble that asking for more detail about it will cost you that much money. To be more precise, 12 people already dead because of her."
Elena's expression turned stern. Shikarabe then continued.
Elena's expression turned even sterner, she understood the severity of the subject.
"In the past, Drankam took a special request from the City Management. At that time, they were given secret information about old-world relics for the request, but that information got leaked out. And after an investigation, it was found that someone leaked that information to Carol."
"And the one who leaked that was a veteran Hunter from Drankam, huh?"
"To be more precise, there's a good chance that was the case. From what I heard, the Hunter paid Carol with that information instead of money. That Hunter should have known what would happen to him if he leaked secret information from the City Management, but even so, it seemed that his mind got so messed up that he did not care about consequences. It's still unclear whether Carol sold that information to someone else. That Hunter told Carol in a cheap inn where she might have set some audio recorders or something."
"So then, what happened to that Hunter next?"
"He was furious and went to kill Carol, but he ended up getting killed instead. By the way, I was the one who killed him. At that time, I accepted a request from Carol to be her bodyguard. I don't know if Carol had known that Hunter was coming to kill her beforehand or not. But one thing for sure, Drankam did not leak that information to the public. Nonetheless, Drankam still took the responsibility for the information leak."
Elena and Sara were listening to Shikarabe with stern faces. From what they heard, it seemed that Carol was far more problematic than both of them had thought.
"The 12 dead people are also the number that came up after an investigation. In reality, there might be even more people who got killed. Well, basically, a lot of people get killed just by associating with her. So with all of this info, I have no other choice but to see her as a problematic girl. But putting that aside, Carol is indeed a skilled Hunter. I heard that she's making profits out of information that she received from the other Hunters in place of money. Depending on the subject, she can also gather information about old-world ruins through negotiations. So depending on how you get along with her, it might be really profitable. But if you slip-up, you might get yourself in big trouble."
"I guess that's the gist of it. I believe that I gave you enough information for what you paid for. I won't take any complaints, okay?"
"...Don't worry, that's good enough."
"I see. Do invite me again if you get any profitable requests, okay? Later then."
Shikarabe then ended the call. Elena and Sara looked at each other, both of them had an expression saying that they were worrying for someone.
"By the way, what happened to the Hunters whom you rescued back there?"
"No idea. I bet they're negotiating with the Drankam's upper echelons even now."
"I heard that one of the maids that you rescued even threatened Drankam."
Shikarabe looked slightly surprised. He looked a bit annoyed as he said.
"Even you have heard about that too, huh..."
The secret message for Drankam officers that Shikarabe deciphered inside the Seranthal building was basically a rescue request from Shiori that sounded closer to a threat message.
It was basically a request to send a rescue squad as soon as possible under the assumption that Reina was still alive. And if Drankam ignored it or failed in rescuing Reina, it was written in detail what would happen to Drankam. As a matter of fact, Shiori had already made a reservation with the related party to carry on the aftermath and that reservation was impossible to take back unless Reina returned back alive.
According to the information that Shikarabe received from Arabe, a Drankam officer that he got along with, it seemed that Shiori was not lying and it would be impossible to play dumb about it.
"That rumour is true. It's exactly because of it that I did not have any other choice but to rescue them. It was really ironic since Drankam was the one who sent them to the Seranthal building in the first place."
Moreover, Reina was one of the young Hunters, and the one who took care of her mess was Shikarabe, a veteran Hunter in Drankam. There was no mistaking it that people in Drankam were trying to blame each other in their meeting and Shikarabe basically ran away from participating in that meeting. Although it gave Arabe a headache, Shikarabe had no plans to help him out.
"I know that there must be a special reason why they are in Drankam. But I never thought that they're this troublesome. I always thought of them as a rich girl dreaming to be a Hunter and her bodyguard until now..."
Kurosawa lightly laughed.
"They even brought along a bodyguard in their Hunter job. So isn't it obvious from the first glance that they're troublesome people?"
"I did think that there must be a special reason for that. It's just that I never thought they have enough power to threaten Drankam, you know. Do you think that people who normally have that much influence would be frequenting the wasteland?"
Kurosawa remembered when Shikarabe escaped the Seranthal building with the other Hunters.
"Well, if they're just simple beautiful maids, I have no complaints at all though."
"If you're really that interested, you can just go to the third floor and asked one of the girls to wear that outfit though."
It might be because of the alcohol that Kurosawa replied back with something unexpected.
"No no no, you don't get it. It's also important to have the air around them saying that it's their real job. Just a simple costume won't be enough."
"What the heck are you expecting from them? They're even strong enough to kick and cut down mechanical monsters, you know."
Then Kurosawa, who was still more or less rather sober, checked how drunk Shikarabe was. And when the timing was right, he asked Shikarabe a question.
"By the way, about that boy who you told me, that Katsuya..."
"Come on, don't say that. I saw him back then, he is indeed a strong Hunter. It's no surprise that he got appointed to be the leader and I can understand why you told me that he at least has the talent. But his commanding skill is rather questionable. I won't say that the has no talent there, but at least, he's not as good as you said he was."
"I don't remember ever recognizing his commanding skill, although, I admit that he's a talented Hunter. Of course, a Hunter also needs to be able to work in a team. But in the end, it's usually just a motley crew of several Hunters. I don't consider the ability to command such a group of Hunters as an essential skill."
"Right? It's true that Katsuya is a talented Hunter, I admit that. But that's his individual skill as a Hunter. Even if he can be a powerful Hunter, that does not mean he can take command of a group of Hunters."
"Then, why was he the leader of that Drankam group?"
Shikarabe began talking about what was going on in Drankam as well as his own guesses while drinking the alcohol.
In the beginning, Drankam only dealt with stuff regarding its members' activities as Hunters. But as it grew bigger and bigger, it started to turn into a company seeking profit, even to the point that making profit was one of the main aims of the whole gang at the moment.
The gang started to pay wages to its Hunters. In exchange for bringing profit to the gang with their Hunter activities, the Hunters were paid back with money. That in itself was not a bad thing, but some veterans in Drankam did not like that change.
The Hunter activities that the Drankam Hunters could do were limited for the sake of the growth and profit for the whole gang. The officers started to amass more power to the point that their request could be taken as a compulsory order. As such, more and more Hunters started to have a problem with the changes. The gang also started taking a cut from the rewards that its members received for all kinds of reasons, that cut then would be used for the sake of the whole gang. Eventually, some people started to feel that they did not get enough benefit from the gang compared to the amount of money that they paid to the gang.
And at the moment, the new faction was more prominent within Drankam. Mizuha's renewal plan with Katsuya as its spearhead had a good reception from the people in the inner wall, thus they received a lot of support from the City Management side.
Shikarabe explained all kinds of things regarding that subject while complaining to Kurosawa.
Kurosawa smiled bitterly.
"If you just sweep everything under the rug saying that it's because the gang is in the process of change, it will never end, you know."
"So, what's your aim this time?"
"My aim?"
"I thought that you invited me here to gather up information about what's happening inside Drankam. And since you're willing to listen to me complaining, instead of paying it back with money, I gave you more information than I would usually do. But it doesn't seem that it's your aim, so, what exactly do you want to know?"
Kurosawa smiled wryly, it seemed that Shikarabe had completely read his intention. Then he also made a serious face and said.
"No, I have no guess at all, why do you ask me?"
"You were the one who took care of him, right? Did you ever have the same feeling too?"
Shikarabe tried to dig through his memories. But he could not remember anything that resembled what Kurosawa was saying. So he lightly shook his head and said.
Kurosawa seemed a bit disappointed, it made Shikarabe even more curious.
"Are you really that bothered by it?"
"Yeah. I got myself excited when I saw it. For the sake of holding the command, I always train myself to stay calm and rational. It's just like how you train your intuition. Honestly speaking, I'm pretty confident in my skill to stay calm, but that confidence is wavering from what happened today, you see. So I was thinking if someone with a good intuition like you have some kind of guess why that happened."
This time, Shikarabe was the one who seemed dejected.
Shikarabe then continued talking with Kurosawa while sipping his drink.
The whole of the 60th floor of the Seranthal building was a single room. The wall, floor, and ceiling of that room were all white. Yanagisawa stood in the middle of that room.
Nelia was standing near the elevator door inside that room while looking at Yanagisawa. She was ordered to just stay there and she could not move anything below her neck. Yanagisawa held the highest command over her cyborg body, so without his command, she would not be able to even lift her finger.
Nelia looked around the white room while glancing at Yanagisawa from time to time, she was making a guess of what kind of room it was while killing time.
[This room might be a special room to be used for augmented reality. I bet those people who can connect to the old-world domain can see all kinds of things inside this room. The reason why he brought me along is to protect him during close-range combat, so basically, he didn't know what he was going to find in this room. This place is some kind of old-world facility and he has some kind of business to take care of here. He's also the reason why the City Management sent people to secure this building... Ahhh, I really have no idea what's going on here, but I really want to know.]
Nelia continued thinking about the situation that she was in while lamenting about it at the same time.
Yanagisawa brought with him a device to help him connect to the old-world domain. He could see a beautiful girl standing in front of him. Of course, that girl had no corporeal body and she was using a similar attire as Alpha when Akira met her for the first time.
"Unable to confirm the connection. The connection is important to verify individual identity. Please recheck your connection setting before trying again."
Yanagisawa showed his black card again and said to her.
"I can't connect to the old-world domain at the moment because of several reasons. Can't I use this device as a replacement? Is the right from this card not good enough?"
Yanagisawa tried all kinds of things to make contact with that girl. But that girl always returned the same reply.
Yanagisawa gave up and tore the connection device from his body. That girl immediately vanished from his views.
[...What to do now? Should I focus more on fixing my body first? Or should I bring someone else who can connect to the old-world domain to this place? If only I can connect myself to the old-world domain again, they should be able to recognize me. But if I bring someone else, that person might betray me down the road.]
Yanagisawa had a stern face when he returned to Nelia.
[My visitation application is only deleted from Seranthal's side. It properly got sent from the issuer side, why is that? Did Seranthal get reset when that abnormality occurred in Mihazono ruin? But if that's the case, why didn't they erase the record from the issuer too? Is it because that's not the cause?]
Yanagisawa still had a stern face as he entered the elevator. Nelia, who had already gotten her freedom to move around, was with him. The elevator's door then closed and they returned back to the first floor.
[In the first place, why did the security level in Mihazono ruin suddenly change? Is it because we dispatched several humanoid soldiers and tanks to ensure my safety? Did that trigger the security level in Mihazono ruin? If that's really the case, why didn't it happen sooner? Is it because they knew about me and someone forced the security level to change from the outside?]
"You've stopped smiling, you know?"
There were many reasons why the situation in Mihazono ruin suddenly changed, and one of those reasons was Akira.
On the first day Akira came to the Mihazono ruin, everything that happened inside and outside of the Seranthal building was properly recorded by Seranthal. During that time, Akira was able to fight back the monsters extremely effectively thanks to Alpha's support. This information was also sent when Seranthal sent an application for extra reinforcement.
The security of that ruin then analyzed that information and changed the threat level inside the ruin. It changed from simple thugs with weapons to organized trained soldiers. And when it was still in that state, some groups of Hunters came to Mihazono ruin.
The rest was just a domino effect. That group of Hunters who arrived in the Mihazono ruin was assumed to be invading the ruin, so the ruin security sent drones to drive them off. But in response to that, the Hunters sent tanks and humanoid soldiers. So the security sent stronger drones to fight them back, then this cycle continued and caused a large scale change inside Mihazono ruin.
So basically, it was a chain of events that brought about an unexpected result. That was all there was to it.
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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