273 ちょっとした体裁
シロウはすぐにキャロルの承諾を
「......返事を聞きたいんだけど」
そう促してもキャロルは口を閉ざしたままだ。硬い表情で胸中の迷いを
「......何が不満なんだ? それとも何かの駆け引きか? 何にしろ、何か言ってくれないと譲歩も出来ないぞ?」
それでもキャロルは黙っていた。
黙り続けるキャロルの焦りと緊張がいつの間にかシロウにまで伝わる。二人分の焦りと緊張が空気に溶け出し、場には緊迫感が漂い始めていた。
キャロルが返答を迷っているのは、アキラが旧領域接続者であると知ってしまったからだ。以前からその可能性を疑ってはいたのだが、今回の出来事で確定となった。
旧領域接続者同士、取引をしたい。そうシロウが告げた相手は自分ではなくアキラだ。あの時のキャロルは過剰に反応してしまった
それが本来どれだけ知られたくないことであるかは身に染みている。それを自分に知られていることをアキラは許容するだろうか。それに気付いて一度疑ってしまえば、振り払えなかった。
(もしかして、この承諾の話、アキラに試されてるの?)
アキラは自分を置いて車外に出た。その時に迷彩機能を使うようなことを言っていたが、少なくとも車内では使っていなかった。念を入れるのであれば、車内にいる時から使うのが正しい。
の方便だった? 考えすぎ?)
アキラはシロウを普通に車内に入れた。既にアキラとシロウの間で自分の知らない交渉が終わっているのは確実だ。少なくとも、金額面の調整は済んでいると考える。
(アキラにとっても500億オーラムは
事前に話を合わせているのであれば、シロウの話にもアキラの作為が含まれている恐れがある。
(旧領域接続者であることを隠したい人の隣で、その探し方や見極め方を
シロウには目的達成の
にどうしても戦力が必要だ。現状でアキラ以外の戦力を探す余裕は無い。何よりも、依頼を断るのであれば自分を捕まえて坂下に渡す恐れがある。そうさせない
シロウとキャロルが思考を巡らせ焦りと緊張を募らせる中、アキラが口を挟む。
「なあシロウ。その旧領域接続者の情報なんだけどさ、キャロルの報酬なんだろうけど、俺も聞いて良いか? 俺も旧領域接続者だから興味があるんだ」
「......良いけど、興味って、お前がか? 知らないのか?」
「他所の会社の判断や考え方までは知らない」
「似たり寄ったりだと思うけどな。おっと、話しても良いが、それはキャロルさんが承諾した後だ」
アキラとシロウの視線がキャロルに集まる。
キャロルは少し意外そうな顔をした後、笑顔を浮かべた。
「良いわ。承諾する。それじゃあ、アキラ。一緒に聞きましょうか」
「......ったく、何を悩んでたんだよ」
「よし。取引は成立だな。......すぐに話せって言うなら、飲み物ぐらい出してくれ。喉が渇いた」
アキラがそう言い残して飲み物を取りにいく。キャロルに手伝うと言われたが、断って一人でリビングルームから出ていった。
残されたシロウとキャロルは、強い焦りと緊張から解放されたこともあり、疲れと
キャロルの懸念はアキラが自分から自分が旧領域接続者だと教えたことで消え去った。シロウの懸念はその後のキャロルの態度で消え去った。懸念が消えた二人は自身のつい先程までの懸念を思い返し、馬鹿な考えをしていたと苦笑していた。
一方、アキラは冷蔵庫から飲み物を取り出しながらアルファに不満そうな顔を向けていた。
アルファが真面目な顔で答える。
昨日シロウがアキラ達に話した旧領域接続者に関する情報は、旧領域接続者の扱いに関するキャロルの認識を大幅に書き換えた。大企業が大軍を率いて旧領域接続者を武力で確保するなど、今はもう無いという話が含まれていたのだ。
確かにかつてはキャロルが恐れていたような事態もあった。旧領域接続者にはそれだけの価値があった。しかし技術の進歩はその価値を相対的に低下させていた。
昔は余りに費用が掛かりすぎて都市間通信基幹網ぐらいでなければ使用できなかった旧領域経由の通信回線機能も、今ではまだまだ高額ではあるが情報端末の最上位製品程度の物にも搭載されるぐらいに安価になっている。情報収集機器の拡張現実対応機能にも、遺跡の拡張現実を使用できる機器が増えている。
高額な機器であっても旧領域への接続を現代製の機械で代用できるのであれば、個人の資質に依存する旧領域接続者を介するよりも、企業も機械の活用を進めていく。一昔前の基準では
これは五大企業やそれに比類する大企業などでの話であり、中小企業はまだまだ旧領域接続者を求めている。武力での確保を続けているところもある。
しかし中小企業では用意する武力にも限度がある。仮にハンターランク50相当の戦闘力を持つ旧領域接続者がいて、その者を力尽くで捉えようとして成功したとしても、旧領域接続者としての実力が凡庸であれば、間違いなく割に合わない結果に終わる。よって武力での交渉ではなく、利益で釣る方向での交渉になる。この時点で、キャロルが今まで抱えていた不安の
しかしそれもシロウにあっさり説明される。
接続装置での騒ぎは、現在のリオンズテイル社が旧世界側のリオンズテイル社への接続手段として高額で購入したからであり、単なる旧領域への接続装置であれば同様の事態は発生しなかった。
酷
えて情報を制限している。キャロルの勘違いもその
「いえ、前にアキラが言った区切りまではこのまま護衛を頼むわ」
不思議そうな顔のアキラに向けて、キャロルがどこか吹っ切れたように笑う。
アキラも笑って返した。その様子を見て、シロウはやっぱり組んでるのかと疑い、アルファは懸念を高めていた。
シロウに雇われる形となったアキラ達だったが、当面仕事は無く待機を告げられていた。厳密には、シロウから口頭でそう告げられており、キャロルはそう思っていた。
だが実際には、シロウがアキラから提示された残りの条件を満たしていないので、仕事は始まってすらいなかった。アキラが依頼の前金として、シロウに貸しを要求したのだ。
シロウはアキラから依頼の条件として自身の目的や攻略するという遺跡に関する説明を求められたが、頑として拒んだ。本来ならば遺跡絡みの仕事と教えるだけでも危険であり、それ以上の詳細は話せないと拒絶した。
に、隠れ家に帰らずに車両に残っていた。近くにいた方が貸しを作りやすいと思ったのだ。
シロウがキャロルに聞かれないように念話でぼやく。
『なあアキラ。やっぱり前金じゃ駄目か? 100億、いや150億オーラムまでなら出すぞ?』
のエージェントとして何か調査とかしろよ。手伝うからさ。功績が要るんだろ? 働かないと手に入らないぞ? 俺が協力する今がチャンスだろ?』
『クガマヤマ都市からモンスター認定を受けて都市に戻れない上に、500億オーラムの賞金首になって狙われてる状況で、調査なんか出来る訳無いだろう。何ならお前が坂下に掛け合って、俺のモンスター認定と賞金を消してくれ。それだけで
五大企業ともなると確保した旧領域接続者が余るという状況にもなる。そして旧領域接続者にも才能や能力に個人差はある。シロウのような天才は専用の施設で高度な教育を受けてその技術を磨き、ハーマーズのような者が護衛に付くほどに優遇される。だが凡庸な者はそれなりの扱いとなり、大抵は最低限旧領域に接続できないと仕事に支障が出る職務に就くことになる。
そして凡庸未満、能力不足で旧領域に関わる仕事は無理だと判断された者は、時に壁の外の職務を割り振られる。他地域や他企業へ
シロウはアキラもその手の者だと考えていた。アキラは上からの指示で表向きハンターをしており、偶然その才能もあった。だが以前は防壁内の上位区画等で暮らしており、今もそこに戻りたいと思っている。そう推察していた。
坂下重工のエージェントにも似たような者はいる。防壁内の生活を知っているからこそ、そこに戻りたいという欲は強い。そのような者に、功績を挙げれば壁の内側に戻してやると言えば、意地でも功績を挙げようとする。シロウは自身の立場からその手の境遇の者をよく知っていた。アキラには自分を殺せないと踏んだのも、それを知っていたからだった。
に我慢してるだけか? だとしたら、俺も危ない橋を渡ってるな。もうあと1ヶ月しか無いってのに......)
他に手段は無いとはいえ、アキラの条件の
「......、アキラです」
「......、エレナよ」
アキラとエレナは互いにそれだけ言って言葉を止めてしまった。
エレナは既に自分が賞金首になっていることを知っている。秘匿回線への接続コードが送られてきたことからアキラはそれを察した。そしてそれが想像以上に堪えたことから、アキラは自分が意外に体裁を気にする方であり、単にそれを気にする相手が少ないだけだったのだと気付いて内心で自嘲していた。
何の用なのだろうか、何を話すべきなのだろうか、アキラがそう悩んで沈黙を続けていると、先にエレナが口を開く。
「何でしょうか?」
「私達はアキラの味方、少なくともそうありたいと思っているわ。そう言ったら信じてくれる?」
アキラは黙った。答えられない理由を、信じると答えたらエレナ達を巻き込むのではないかと
アキラの沈黙を否定と捉えたエレナが、口調を僅かに悲しげなものに変えて続ける。
「......少なくとも私達はアキラの敵ではないし、アキラを敵に回したいとも思っていない。これならどう? これでも駄目なら、この後で何を話しても意味は無いわ。そのまま切って」
んだ声を聞き、アキラが口を開く。
「いえ、大丈夫です」
味方。敵ではない。そのどちらに対する言葉なのか、アキラは明言を避けた。隠したのではなく、自分でも自信が無かった。
「ありがとう。助かるわ。で、話なんだけど、私達の雇い主がアキラと話をしたいんだって。近況を交えてちょっと世間話でもしたいところだけど、替わるわね」
「ヒカルよ。久しぶりね」
心を与えないように親しげに話したつもりだった。しかしアキラからは敵意とは呼べないまでもかなり不機嫌な声が返ってくる。
「エレナさん達を巻き込んだ理由を聞こうか」
ヒカルは内心で緊張を高めながらも、予想通りの問いに熟考済みの答えを返す。
確かに。アキラはそう思ってヒカルの言い分には理解は示したが、機嫌を完全に回復させるには至らなかった。
「それならキバヤシにでも仲介を頼めば良かったんじゃないか? 俺もキバヤシを通せば話ぐらいは聞くぞ?」
「その、キバヤシさんは今ハンターオフィスの職員として動いているってこともあって、クガマヤマ都市の職員として連絡を取るのは、ちょっとね。その辺はアキラも心当たりはあるでしょう? 無いなら説明するけど」
「あ、いや、大丈夫だ」
クガマヤマ都市の防壁を最前線の武装で吹っ飛ばせ。ヒカルも都市の職員として、この状況でそんなことを言うような者と接触するのは難しいのだろう。アキラはそう考えて納得した。そしてキバヤシのことが頭に浮かんだことで、キバヤシとの交渉よりは常識的な話なのだろうと思い、落ち着きを取り戻した。
「分かった。で、話って何だ?」
「今回の件を穏便に片付ける話がしたいの。一度会って話さない?」
「穏便に、か。そういうことは俺のモンスター認定ぐらい解除してから言ってくれ」
「......分かった。一度会おう」
「ありがとう。助かるわ。じゃあ落ち合う方法だけど......、あ、ちょっと替わるわね」
「サラよ。アキラ。久しぶりね」
「あ、はい。お久しぶりです」
いつも通りに振る舞おうとしたサラの様子に、アキラも出来るだけ応えようとした。しかしアキラの口調はどことなく堅いものになっていた。サラもそれを察したが、態度を変えずに話を続ける。
「変なこと言ってるかもしれないけど、元気だった?」
「あ、はい。元気でやってます」
「まあ、そこはちょっといろいろありまして......」
サラはアキラの近況を
「それにしても、アキラも大変ね。まあ、ヒカルもアキラが都市に戻れるように協力してくれるみたいだから、アキラも頑張って。私達に何か協力してほしいことがあったら言ってちょうだい。私達もハンター。報酬次第で、考えるぐらいはしてあげるわ」
「それはどうも。助かります。まあ、ちょうど装備を更新した後なんで、その金が無いんですけど」
サラは冗談のように話し、アキラも冗談のように答えた。だが、私達で何か助けになるのならば助けを求めてほしい、というサラの願いには、アキラは応えなかった。
その後、再びヒカルと替わる。そして交渉の日時と場所を決めて通信を終えた。
『どう致しまして』
アルファも笑って返した。
アキラとの通信が切れた後、サラは寂しそうな顔を浮かべていた。
「......これで、もう頼れる先輩じゃなくなっちゃったか。残念」
私達にもまだまだ力になれるところはあると思うから、出来れば頼ってちょうだい。以前サラはアキラにそう言った。本心だった。
しかし今日、それは無くなった。頼ってはもらえず、巻き込んでは迷惑になると気遣われるだけの者となった。その理解がサラを落ち込ませていた。
ヒカルに丁寧に頭を下げられたサラが意外そうな顔を浮かべる。すると長年の付き合いでサラの胸中に気付いたエレナが、サラを励ますように元気良く笑った。
「......、そうね。次も頑張りましょう!」
Ch 273
Shirou was waiting with a smile on his face, believing that Carol would immediately say yes to his offer.
"...Uhhh, it would be great if you can give me an answer..."
Even after Shirou spoke, Carol still did not give a response. Her shocked expression showed how confused she was.
"...Is there anything you don't like about my offer? Or do you think it's too risky? Either way, I can't do anything unless you say something, you know?"
Even so, Carol still did not respond.
Carol's silent anxiety slowly infected Shirou as well. As both of them sat there, anxiously, the mood slowly grew tenser and stiffer with time.
Carol went silent because she realized that Akira was an old-world connector. She always had her suspicion, but this time, it had more or less been confirmed.
When Shirou said that he wanted to talk with a fellow old-world connector, he was referring to Akira, not her. Carol was too shocked to notice, but now that she had calmed down, it all made sense.
Carol understood why an old-world connector would not want anyone else to know of their identity. Thus, she started to worry. She questioned if Akira would have told her of this, willingly. That worry started to fester in her mind and she asked herself.
[Wait, don't tell me that this is a test?]
Akira did leave Carol alone in the camping vehicle and went out alone. Although he said that he would be using camouflage, he did not activate it when he was still inside the camping vehicle. If he was being cautious, he would have done so while he was still inside.
[Was that only an excuse so that I won't follow him out? Or am I just overthinking?]
Akira then casually allowed Shirou in. It was obvious that they already had a discussion without her. At the very least, they must have already agreed on the reward for that job offer beforehand.
[For Akira, 50 billion Aurum is a huge amount of money. Even so, he told me not to worry about it. Was it so that I don't use it as an excuse to refuse the offer? In the first place, did Shirou really offer 50 billion Aurum? Or is this a fake setting that they had agreed on beforehand?]
If it was indeed a fake setting, then Shirou might be lying about Akira.
[If I ask 'how to find an old-world connector', right next to him, will he think of me as an enemy? He is hiding it after all. Is that what he's trying to confirm? That I know? Is that why Shirou is including that kind of information as payment?]
Shirou tensed up, similarly, unsure of what he should do next.
In order to accomplish his goal, Shirou needed extra firepower. At the moment, his only option was Akira. If Akira refuses, the situation might take a turn for the worse. They might capture him and gift him to Sakashita. In order to prevent that, he was willing to pay 50 billion Aurum. Failure was not an option for him.
While Shirou and Carol sat there, diving deeper into their own anxieties, the mood grew tense. Akira suddenly interjected.
"Say, Shirou. About that information regarding old-world connectors. Although it's payment for Carol, is it okay for me to listen in too? As an old-world connector, I'm also interested."
"...Sure, but you're interested too? You don't know all the details?"
"I don't know how the other companies treat old-world connectors."
"Although there might be differences, I think they're more or less the same. Ah, I don't mind telling you, but Carol-san's approval comes first."
Akira and Shirou looked at Carol.
Carol's eyes widened and she smiled.
"Sure, we'll accept. So, Akira, let's hear about it, together."
"...Good grief, what took you so long..."
"Alright then. We have a deal... If you want me to explain everything to you now, can you at least give me something to drink? My throat is all dried up."
Akira said and quickly left to bring drinks. Carol stood up and said that she would help too. However, since Akira refused her offer, he left the living room alone.
With Shirou and Carol left alone in the living room. With the tense mood getting dispelled just a moment ago, they sighed in relief. They reflected and concluded that they were just overthinking things earlier.
Carol's worries were erased after Akira declared he was an old-world connector and Shirou's worries were erased after seeing Carol's reaction. After they had confirmed that there was actually nothing to worry about, they wryly smiled.
As Akira was preparing drinks from the refrigerator, he gave a curt glance at Alpha.
Alpha replied with a solemn expression.
The information from Shirou about how companies treated old-world connectors could not be any further from what Carol had expected. One of them being how large corporations no longer used force to capture old-world connectors.
It was true that they did that in the past. That was just how valuable the old-world connectors were. But as knowledge grew and technology advanced, that worth slowly diminished.
In the past, using the old-world line was extremely expensive. People only used them for connection lines between cities. But now, although it was still not that cheap, anyone could access the old-world domain using top-class, still highly expensive, information-gathering devices. With the advent of information-gathering devices coupled with augmented reality, they were able to access the augmented reality system of old-world ruins.
Once the option to use expensive equipment opened up, large corporations preferred to use them over old-world connectors. After all, the connection qualities differed from one old-world connector to another. Devices which helped to connect people to the old-world domain had made enough progress to turn those who were considered to be ordinary into mid-level old-world connectors.
Of course, this option was only open to large corporations. Some middle-sized corporations still sought old-world connectors and still resorted to force to capture them.
But given that they were only small to medium-sized corporations, they were not that threatening. Even if they were able to somehow capture a Rank 50 old-world connector Hunter using force, it might still not be worth it. After all, that Hunter might turn out to just be a mid-level old-world connector. As such, rather than capturing with force, they preferred to cajole them with benefits. Therefore, Carol's worries were mostly unnecessary.
However, Shirou casually refuted her points.
The commotion regarding that connection device originated from the Lion Steel company. It was the huge sum of money they put up for it that caused the commotion. If the device only helped to connect to the old-world domain, the commotion would not have been that big.
As such, those two incidents could not serve as counter-arguments.
That was why such rumors were kept rampant, and why Carol was mistaken.
"No. I want you to keep working as my bodyguard until we find a good time to call it quits. Just like we've agreed on beforehand."
Akira frowned and looked at Carol. She then smiled back, as if she had already completely placed this matter behind her.
Akira smiled back. Seeing them act in such a manner, Shirou once again got suspicious. And questioned if Akira and Carol were actually conspiring together. Meanwhile, Alpha looked over that exchange with caution.
Although Akira and Carol were basically working for Shirou right now, they had nothing to do at the moment. To be more precise, Shirou was the one who stated they had nothing to do and Carol believed him.
But in reality, it was simply because Shirou had still not satisfied all the conditions that Akira had placed. Therefore, he could not tell them to start working on his goal just yet. Akira had asked Shirou for one thing as advance payment.
Akira made it a requirement for Shirou to explain his goal and the ruin that he wanted them to go to. Naturally, Shirou adamantly refused to do so. However, from Akira's point of view, a ruin exploration request without any details was just too dangerous.
Therefore, with that deal in place, Shirou stayed in the camping vehicle instead of returning back to his hideout. He was looking for an opportunity to get Akira indebted to him. After all, it was easier to find that opportunity if the target was nearby.
As to not allow Carol to eavesdrop on their conversation, Shirou asked Akria through telepathy.
"Akira, can't I just pay you more money instead? 10 billion Aurum, no, make it 15 billion! I'm willing to pay you that much in advance, you know?"
"In that case, you can go do some investigations as an agent from Tsukisada. I will help you out. You do need to add something to your achievement list, right? You won't get any if you don't do any work, you know? This is a great opportunity for you. I'm willing to help you right now."
"With my 50 billion Aurum bounty and monster designation, I can't return back to Kugamayama city. Like hell I can do any investigation in this situation. Or more like, you should work with Sakashita to get rid of my bounty and monster designation. I will think of that as huge debt, you know?"
The 5 largest corporations had more old-world connectors than they needed. Each old-world connector had differences in relation to their skills and capabilities. A genius old-world connector like Shirou would be assigned to a special facility, received special training to hone their skill, and get assigned a powerful bodyguard like Hammerz. However, common old-world connectors did not receive such privileges. If their connection to the old-world domain did not reach a certain threshold, they would be assigned to do clerical jobs.
Those whose connections were even worse than that, could not even do any job related to the old-world domain. Thus, some of them got assigned to do jobs outside the inner wall, while some were sent as agents to various places or companies.
Shirou thought that Akira belonged to that category. He thought that Akira was ordered by his superior to disguise himself as a Hunter. Fortunately, Akira had a knack for being a Hunter. He also presumed that Akira had lived inside the inner wall before and wished to return.
There were agents from Sakashita Heavy Industry who were in the same situation as Akira. They were familiar with the lifestyle inside the inner wall and had a strong desire to return. These types of agents could only do so once they piled enough achievements. Shirou knew many agents who acted in such a manner. That was why he was so certain Akira could not afford to kill him.
[No, is he actually excited for the opportunity but just cannot trust me? Tsukisada could win some favours from Sakashita if he just handed me over to Sakashita. That should be a huge achievement for him. Or is he just holding back? If that is the case, this is a rather dangerous situation for me. I only have one month to do this...]
Although he did not have any other choice, Shirou felt Akira's conditions only served to make him waste what precious time he had left. Thus, his face turned grim.
"...It's Akira."
"...Elena over here."
Akira and Elena only stated their names, and the conversation came to halt.
Elena already knew that he had turned into a bounty target. Akira noticed this from the fact that she had contacted him through an encrypted line. He endured the silence longer than he had imagined. He was quick to realize how much he cared about her perception of him. However, at the same time, he also realized that there were people who did not care about the labels imposed on him. This made his lips curve into a wry smile.
As he was wondering why Elena called him and what should he say, the silence continued. It was Elena who broke the silence.
"Alright, what is it?"
"We are your allies, or at least, we want to stay as your ally. Will you believe me if I say so?"
Akira did not reply. The reason was simply because if he said yes, he might rope Elena and Sara into his problems, and he was afraid of that.
As Elena interpreted that silence as a no, her tone turned forlorn as she continued.
"...At the very least, we are not your enemy. We don't want to be your enemy. Will that work? If not, then it'll be pointless for me to continue. In that case, you can end the call..."
Hearing her voice leave traces of insecurity, Akira finally opened his mouth.
"Yes, that will be fine."
Akira evaded having to make a clear statement. Whether he was fine with them being allies or not being enemies. He did not mean to make it vague. He simply could not make up his mind.
"Thank you. So then, actually, there are people who hired us in order to speak with you. Although I do want to talk to you about smaller and simpler topics, I will pass the call."
"It's Hikaru, long time no see."
Hikaru was trying to act friendly to sour Akira's mood. Although the plan was by no means wrong, it was obvious that Akira was displeased with hearing her talk.
"You can go ahead and tell me your excuse for roping Elena-san and Sara-san into this."
Hikaru immediately tensed up. However, she had already prepared an answer to this question beforehand.
Akira understood her reasoning, but that was not enough to completely overturn his soured mood.
"Wouldn't it be fine if you just ask for Kibayashi? If it's from him, I will at least listen to what you have to say, you know?"
"Kibayashi is working as a staff member of the Hunter Office at the moment. So, it would be improper for a city officer to ask him to do something. I'm sure that you can understand that too, right? If not, I don't mind explaining it to you."
"No, that is fine."
Kibayashi did advise Akira to blow the city open. Therefore, Akira concluded that for Hikaru, who was an officer from the City Management, it would be a bad move to contact such a person. As he was reminded of Kibayashi, he started to compare them. He believed that, at the very least, this conversation would not be as absurd as the conversation he had with Kibayashi. That thought alone helped him to calm down.
"Alright, so, what is it?"
"If it's possible, I want to solve the current situation peacefully. Would it be alright if we meet up somewhere and talk face to face?"
"Peacefully, huh? If you really want to do so, go and annul my monster designation first before calling me."
"...Fine then, let's meet up."
"Thank you. So then, how are we going to meet... Ah, I'll pass the call for a bit."
"Hello, it's Sara. Long time no see, Akira."
"Ah, yes, long time no see."
Sara was obviously trying to act like usual. So, Akira was trying his best to do the same. But in the end, he still sounded stiff. Sara noticed it but just ignored it.
"Although it might sound weird, are you doing okay?"
"Yeah, I'm doing okay."
"Well, about that, it's a long story..."
Sara was casually chatting with Akira about how he was doing. Judging from his tone of voice, it did not seem like his mental state had been gravely affected, which she had been worried about. Although she did not know all the details, she was relieved to hear Akira was still able to live in a relatively good condition considering his situation. It was to the point that he could maintain his calm.
"But still, it must be rough. Well, it seems like Hikaru is working hard so that you can return back to the city. So, I hope it goes well. If you need any help from us, feel free to ask. Don't hold back. We are also Hunters. Depending on the reward, we would at least consider it."
"Thank you for the offer. But unfortunately, I just bought new equipment, so I don't have much money left to offer."
Sara jokingly said so and Akira replied with another joke. At the very least, he understood that Sara wanted him to ask them for help when he needed them.
After that, the call returned back to Hikaru. They quickly decided on the time and the place before closing the call.
"You are welcome."
Alpha smiled back at him.
After they closed the call, Sara seemed forlorn as she said.
"...It seems like we're no longer senior Hunters that he can rely on anymore... It's rather disheartening..."
They thought that they could still do something to help Akira out. They wanted him to rely on them. That was why she stated 'If you need any help from us, feel free to ask. Don't hold back'.
But today, that was no longer the case. Akira no longer relied on them. He was even worried about causing them trouble. The realization hit Sara pretty hard.
Hikaru politely bowed. Sara was surprised by this. Elena, who had been together with Sara for such a long time, noticed her feelings and tried to cheer her up with a smile.
"...Yeah, you're right, let's do our best for the next step!"
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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