165 ヴィオラとの交渉
朝日が昇り始めた頃、エゾントファミリーの拠点に新たな一団が到着する。ドランカムの者達だ。昨晩の騒ぎはクガマヤマ都市も下位区画のスラム街に近い場所での出来事とはいえ
またドランカムにも別の理由でこの場に来る用事があった。ドランカム保有の車両がここで破壊されたからだ。車の制御装置がドランカムに破壊時の記録を送信していたのだ。都市から今回の騒ぎとドランカムの関係性を下手に疑われる前に、ドランカムとしても独自の調査を進めたかったのだ。
現場に到着したシカラベが庭の状況を見て顔を
の中の状況次第では4桁いくか? モンスターらしき死体やら残骸やらは見当たらない。純粋に対人戦か。荒野にモンスターがうじゃうじゃしているこの東部で、わざわざ人間同士で殺し合わなくても良いだろうに」
パルガが庭に散らばっている戦闘車両や人型兵器の残骸を見て
シカラベがその装置の破損状態を確認する。
「まあ、多分大丈夫だろう。駄目でも俺らの所為じゃねえ」
パルガが両断された車体の破損状況を見ている。
「デカい刃物で一刀両断か? 人型兵器の近接装備にでも斬られたのか? こいつに乗ってたやつは一体何をやってたんだ? シカラベ、何か知らないか?」
「さあな。正確な状況はこの記録装置の中を調べないと分からん。これに誰が乗っていたのかも不明だ。事前申請無しで使ったらしいからな。まあ、ここまでぶっ壊したんだ。保険にも限度がある。徒党から幾ら請求されるか知らんが、使ったやつが生きていれば、御愁傷様ってとこだな」
パルガもユミナ達に気付いて注目する。そして別のことに気付いた。
「あれは......ネルゴか? あいつらに混ざって何をやってるんだ?」
「知るか。放っておけよ。俺達には関係ねえ」
ヤマノベ達がカツヤという単語が出た時点で機嫌を悪くしたシカラベを見て苦笑した。この話題を続けてシカラベの機嫌を悪くする必要もないので、話を打ち切って全員でその場から立ち去った。
カツヤが1人でここに乗り込んだ可能性がある。ユミナ達はミズハからその話を聞いてカツヤの捜索を進めていた。
ネルゴは四本の腕にそれぞれ銃を持ち、ユミナ達の前に立って安全確認をしている。ユミナは少し申し訳なさそうな表情を浮かべていた。
「すみません。ミズハさんからの頼みとはいえ、こんな危険なことを手伝っていただいて......」
ネルゴが明るい声を返す。
「なに、構わない。カツヤ君には前に助けてもらった恩もある。私で良ければ喜んで協力させてもらうよ」
そう答えながらネルゴが皆の様子を見た。感謝の意を示す者、その程度は当然のことだと態度で示す者、そもそも反応を示さない者、それらの様子をしっかり観察していた。
「ところで、君達にこんなことを言うのも何だが、私一人で探索しても良いのだよ? ハンターとはいえ、年端もいかない君達にこの光景は酷だ。何かあれば連絡する。君達は
「......そうか。君は強いな」
(対象が生存していれば問題ない。だが既に死亡していた場合は遺体を我々で確保しておきたいのだが......。ドランカムでの立場もある。この場での短慮独断専行は控えるべきだな)
ユミナはそれを見てある程度事情を把握した。カツヤはアルナを助けに来て、そして失敗した。それがカツヤの心に強い影を落としているのだと。
ユミナがカツヤを囲んでいる少女達に割って入る。そしてカツヤの前で
いたまま返事を返さなかった。
「アルナを連れて帰ってあげないと。ね?」
カツヤが顔を上げた。しかし返事は返さなかった。ユミナはそれが今のカツヤの精一杯だと理解して、カツヤに肩を貸して無理
「連れ帰る。手伝って」
アルナの遺体は血
「なに、前にも言った通り、気にすることはない」
ハンターが死体袋を常備していること自体は別に不自然なことではない。そのためアイリはネルゴが事前に死体袋を用意していたことを不思議には思わなかった。
カツヤがユミナに支えられながら部屋から出て行く。アイリがアルナの遺体を両手で丁寧に運びながら後に続く。少女達がその後に続く。
(これは恐らく彼の仕業。一人でこの戦闘力か。彼の高評価はあの影響によるものだと判断していたが、これは修正するべきか? ......まあいい。そうだとしても大まかな予定は変わらない。同志に確認を取る必要もあるのだ。保留で良いだろう)
ネルゴはそう判断し直して部屋から出て行った。
めていた装甲兵員輸送車に乗ってドランカムの拠点まで戻っていった。
カツヤが車両内部の長椅子にユミナとアイリに挟まれて座っている。その表情は暗いままだが、戦地から離れたことで僅かに気力を取り戻していた。だがその気力が思考の余裕を生み出し、カツヤの脳裏にある言葉を繰り返させた。その言葉を振り払おうとしても、脳裏にこびり付いてしまっており、より強く意識してしまうだけだった。カツヤが
(......ちくしょう)
その約束は守れない。そのアキラの言葉が、カツヤの頭からどうしても離れなかった。
そのアキラが目を覚ました。部屋の中は真っ暗だ。寝ている間にまた日が沈んだのだ。ただしアルファの姿だけははっきりと見えていた。
『おはよう。アキラ。と言っても、もう夜だけどね』
アキラはぼんやりとした頭で二度寝を検討していた。
『また寝るのは構わないけれど、アキラが寝ている間にエリオとキャロルから通話要求があったわ。テキストメッセージを残しているから、気になるなら確認してね』
エリオから連絡が来るとは珍しい。アキラはそう意外に思い、軽い興味を覚えて眠気を散らした。身を起こして軽く伸びをしてから情報端末を手に取り、メッセージを確認する。
アキラが不思議そうな表情を浮かべる。エリオからの連絡はシェリルの消息を尋ねるものだった。しかもメッセージを残した時間を確認すると、アキラがキャロルにシェリルを託した後だ。
「......拠点に戻ってないのか?」
続けてキャロルのメッセージを確認する。まだキャロルがシェリルを預かっているという説明に加えて、なるべく早く連絡が欲しい旨が書かれていた。
アキラはそのまま情報端末を操作してキャロルに通話要求を投げる。すぐに
「やっと連絡してくれたのね? ちょっと遅いわよ?」
「悪い。あれからいろいろあったんだ。それで、シェリルは一緒なのか?」
「ええ。まだ預かっているわ」
「拠点に帰さなかったのか?」
「それも少し考えたけど、アキラから受けた依頼はシェリルの安全の
アキラがキャロルの楽しげな声を聞いて苦笑する。
「分かったよ。今からいく。どこに行けば良いんだ?」
「場所を今から送るわね。待ってるわ」
キャロルの誘うような声を残して通話が切れた。
「......キャロルへの報酬、幾らぐらいになるんだ?」
『アキラはどの程度が妥当だと思っているの?』
「相場なんか分からないけど、俺なら5000万オーラムであそこに行くのはお断りだな」
キャロルに支払う報酬は要相談となっているが、経費込みで5000万オーラムが上限だと事前に決めている。つまり、既にアキラの感覚では報酬を上限一杯支払ったとしても、キャロルは割に合わない仕事を引き受けたことになる。
『頼まれもしないのに好き好んで行った人の言葉とは思えないわね。でもまあ、考えなしに突っ込んで、終わった後で割に合わなかったと嘆く人の言葉としては妥当かしら? 報酬に上限を決めておいて良かったわね?』
うように楽しげに笑うアルファに、アキラは苦笑を返した。
アキラがキャロルに指定された場所は、都市の下位区画にある少々寂れ気味の雑居ビルだった。前にミハゾノ街遺跡に行った時にキャロルと合流した辺りとはかなり離れた場所だ。
『格納棚に搭載されている修復機能よ。正確には私がそれを少々改造した機能だけれどね。強化服の方も細かいメンテナンスを済ませているわ』
「アルファはそんなことまでしたのか。便利だな」
『その代わり、初期に付属していた修復用資材カートリッジを大分使用したから補給が必要よ。後で買っておかないと駄目ね』
「そうか。幾らぐらいするんだ?」
『1000万オーラムぐらいよ』
『弾薬、回復薬、エネルギーパックに加えて、これからはそれも消耗品の購入費に加わるわ。忘れないでね』
アキラはキャロルが強化服を高性能なものとそうではないもので使い分けていたことを思い出した。少々運用費用が
アキラが出発する準備を終える。AAH突撃銃とA2D突撃銃、それにCWH対物突撃銃を装備して、一応しっかり弾倉を装填する。
向かう先は都市の下位区画だ。CWH対物突撃銃は不要かもしれない。アキラは一度そう判断したが、ある懸念を覚えて一応装備する。DVTSミニガンとA4WM自動擲弾銃は置いていくことにした。その懸念の確率を無駄に上げないために。
『強化服の制御装置の書き換えは終わっているから、私のサポートを存分に受けられる状態よ。まあ、最悪の場合は走って逃げましょう』
「......。そうだな」
都市の下位区画の雑居ビルにあるヴィオラの事務所に、キャロルとシェリル、そしてヴィオラがいた。
ヴィオラの事務所は他にも複数存在している。スラム街にも、防壁の近くにも、分かり
ヴィオラは客用の椅子に座っているシェリルから少し離れた場所にある仕事用の机に肘をついて座っている。アキラが来るという話を聞いても、その前から浮かべている楽しげな表情のままだ。
キャロルがヴィオラの近くまで行って意味深に問う。
「ヴィオラはここにいてもいいの?」
ヴィオラは問いの意味も聞かずにいつも通りの笑顔で簡素に答えた。
キャロルはアキラにヴィオラもここにいることを意図的に伝えなかった。ヴィオラはそれに気付いており、その意味にも気付いており、その上でこの場にいる。キャロルはそう判断して、それならば自分が口を出す問題ではないとも判断して、それ以上口を出すのを止めた。
アキラが事務所の前に到着する。雑居ビルやその周辺の様子を軽く観察して、まあ大丈夫だろうと判断し、そのままビルの中に入った。
事務所の中に入ったアキラをキャロルとシェリルが出迎える。キャロルは
「キャロル。悪い。報酬の交渉の前にちょっと別の用事を済ませて良いか?」
「それは構わないけど、何かあるの?」
シェリルは自分を置いて事務所の奥に進むアキラを見て少し不思議そうにしていた。だがヴィオラの方に進んでいるのを見て、軽い苦笑を浮かべながらも僅かな喜びを覚えた。
自分もロゲルト達に捕まっていろいろ大変だったのだ。アキラもその原因となったヴィオラに文句の一つも言いたくなるだろう。自分もここにいる間に一応皮肉を交えて文句を言ったのだが、ヴィオラは浅い謝罪の言葉を軽く笑いながら言って流しただけだった。アキラから文句を言われれば、
シェリルの考えの方向性に誤りはない。だが程度の方には大幅な誤りがあった。そしてキャロルはより正確に事態を把握しており、その違いがキャロルとシェリルの表情の差に強く表れていた。キャロルは笑みを全く浮かべていない。
アキラがヴィオラの前まで来る。ヴィオラはいつも通りの笑みを浮かべている。
「えっと、ヴィオラさん......だったっけ?」
「そうか。あのスリとシェリルの居場所の情報は助かった。それは礼を言っておく」
「どういたしまして。私の情報がお役にたったのなら幸いよ」
笑顔のヴィオラと、少し真顔のアキラ。2人の間に僅かに沈黙が流れる。
「......それで、だ。聞きたいことがある。今回の件で、その今回の件ってのがどれぐらい前から続いているのかは俺にも分からないけど、邪推かもしれないけど、俺はヴィオラの都合の良いようにずっと動かされていた気がする」
「うーん。それは誤解よ。アキラがどんなことからそう誤解したのかは分からないけど、教えてくれればちゃんと答えるわ。聞きたいのはそのこと?」
「ヴィオラが俺の立場だったら、ヴィオラを殺した方が良いと思うか?」
突然の事態にシェリルが驚きを見せる。キャロルは表情を変えていない。
そしてヴィオラは突然銃を突きつけられても全く動じていなかった。笑顔を崩さずに、軽い質問に答えるように返答する。
「その理由は?」
「それなら話が早いわ。私を殺すと、私を殺した個人や組織に賞金が懸かるようになっているの。私の全財産でね。これでも結構小金持ちなの。賞金額が10億や20億オーラム程度の小銭で済むとは思わないでね? 加えて言えば、その手の依頼の
の恋人の隣に、私の友人が立っている......ってのはどう?」
銃声が響いた。ヴィオラの胸に背中まで続く穴が開く。ヴィオラは驚きの表情を浮かべたまま、椅子からゆっくり転げ落ちた。床に倒れた体から血が広がっていく。
アキラは銃を下ろすと振り向いてキャロルを見る。
「それで、俺は今からキャロルと殺し合わないといけないのか?」
アキラの表情は平然としたものだ。敵意など強い感情は全く見られない。だがそこにこの後の殺し合いを否定する要素がないことも事実だった。突然の事態に驚き慌てているシェリルの横で、キャロルは軽い笑みを浮かべるほどに余裕を保っていた。
「確かに私はヴィオラの護衛も請け負っているわ。だから黙って見過ごすわけにはいかないのよね」
アキラはそれだけ答えて体勢をしっかりキャロル側に向け直した。アキラの意識が臨戦から戦闘に切り替わる前にキャロルが口を挟む。
キャロルは笑ってそう答えると、そのままヴィオラの近くまで行き、近くの棚を開けて何かを探し始めた。
キャロルは棚から半球に近い形の機械のような物を複数取り出すと、横たわっているヴィオラの近くにそれを持ってしゃがんだ。そしてヴィオラの服を軽く脱がして銃弾による負傷箇所を
アキラがキャロルに近付いて興味深そうにそれを見ている。
「何をやってるんだ?」
「応急処置よ。自動治療キットを取り付けているの。ハンターとかが体をもう義体に換装するしかないぐらいの大
キャロルは更にヴィオラの首筋に同様の機械を取り付ける。機械の平面部から細い管のようなものが延びて首に刺さり体の中に入っていく。そして10秒ほどすると、ヴィオラが盛大に吐血しながら大きく目を見開いた。
アキラは殺したと思った相手があっさり目を覚ましたことにかなり驚いていた。
アルファが笑って補足する。
『ああ、そんなこともあったな。ハンターの軽傷と一般人の軽傷を同じように考えるなとも言われたけど』
人間死ぬ時は死ぬ。しかし手遅れの程度には大幅な差が存在する。アキラはそれを目の辺りにして少し複雑な気持ちになった。
き込んでいた状態から回復すると、周囲を軽く見渡して状況の把握を済ませた。
「......キャロル。もうちょっと何とかならなかったの?」
ヴィオラは敵の排除済みを期待していたことを匂わせる発言をしながら、少し非難気味の視線をキャロルに向けた。
キャロルが気にした様子もなく素っ気なく答える。
アキラが再びヴィオラに銃を向ける。今度はしっかり頭に向けて、再度尋ねる。
「質問は省略する。他には?」
ヴィオラが引きつり気味の笑みを浮かべる。多分に焦りの色が含まれている表情だ。何かを思案するような間を少し空けてから、余裕のようにも虚勢のようにも見える笑みを浮かべる。
ぎ込んでいるのかは知らないけど、その投資、回収の見込みは全く立っていないでしょう。それを私が何とかしてあげるわ。徒党の顧問として口を出したり、資金やコネを出したりしてね。シェリル達が十分稼げる徒党になればアキラの利益にもなるでしょう。......これでどう?」
アキラがヴィオラの顔をじっと見る。
「質問を追加だ。今回の件で、ヴィオラは俺を殺そうとしたか? 誰かにそう依頼や指示を出す。
を吐いていないだけかもしれないけれど』
アキラがヴィオラとアルファの返答から再度思案する。そしてヴィオラに銃を突きつけたまま答える。
「......良いだろう。ヴィオラを生かしておいて良かった。俺にそう思わせてくれ。殺しておけば良かった。そう判断し直した時点で殺しに行く。また俺に余計なことをしても同じだ。分かったな?」
「それじゃあ私はヴィオラを病院に連れて行くわ。アキラ。またね」
キャロルは軽く笑ってそれだけ言うと、ヴィオラに肩を貸して強引に立たせた。そしてヴィオラを軽く引きずりながら事務所を出て行こうとする。
いた種でしょう? これからシェリル達に協力するって話だし、御機嫌取りも兼ねてそれぐらいは払っておきなさい」
アキラがキャロル達の随分と軽い様子にまた軽い戸惑いを見せる。
「えっと、それで良いのか?」
キャロルは誘うような口調と笑みでそう言い残すと、ヴィオラと一緒に事務所から出て行った。
それはシェリルも同じだった。いろいろと急変した事態に戸惑いを隠せていなかった。
少し場の流れに取り残されていたアキラとシェリルの視線が合う。妙な気まずさがそこにあった。
「......えっと、取りあえず、帰るか。拠点まで送るよ」
「え、あ、はい。ありがとう御座います」
アキラとシェリルも戸惑いを残しながら事務所から出て行く。ヴィオラの
Ch 165
When morning came, another group arrived at the Ezont family's base. They were the people from Drankam. Although the battle last night happened in the area between the slum and the wasteland, Kugamayama city could not just ignore it. So they dispatched Drankam there in the morning to check on the situation.
Drankam had another reason why they had to come there. It was because one of their vehicles was destroyed around that area. When that vehicle was destroyed, its control device sent its last record back to Drankam. Before the City Management got suspicious that last night's battle had something to do with them, Drankam decided to investigate the incident prior to the request from the City Management.
When Shikarabe arrived there, he looked around the courtyard and frowned.
"Whoah, this here... I'm pretty sure the body count can easily reach a few hundred. Depending on how many bodies we can find inside the mansion, it might even go up to thousands. And I don't see any dead monsters at all, it's entirely a fight between humans. Geez, honestly though, we have more than enough monsters to kill in the wasteland, there's no need for them to kill each other, right?"
Velga checked the wreckages of powered suits in the courtyard and hummed.
Shikarabe checked the damage on that device.
"Well, it seems that it's still intact. But even if it wasn't, it's not our fault."
Velga looked at the sliced vehicle and said.
"Was it sliced with a huge blade or something? I guess one of those powered suits must have had that, huh? So where's the guy who was inside it? Shikarabe, did you find anything?"
"Nothing. I can't say anything about the user unless we check the record inside this device first, I don't even know who might have been inside. I heard that whoever took this out, used it without asking for permission after all. Well, since it's basically turned into a pile of metal, the insurance won't be able to fully cover it. I don't know how much the gang would have to pay for it, but the guy who used it would not be able to get out of it unscathed, that is if that guy is still alive."
Velga also noticed them, but he noticed something else too.
"Hmmm...? Isn't that Nergo? What is he doing there with that group?"
"Don't know, and don't care. Just leave them be, we have nothing to do with them."
Seeing how Shikarabe's mood turned worse the moment Katsuya's name came up, Yamanobe and Velga smiled wryly. There was no need to keep souring Shikarabe's mood by talking about that subject. So they decided to just move on and leave that place.
Yumina and her friends heard from Mizuha that there was a good chance Katsuya went to that place alone, that was why they came there to look for him.
Nergo had rifles in all of his 4 arms, he was leading the team in front of Yumina while checking the safety of the surrounding area. Yumina then apologetically said to him.
"I'm sorry for making you do this. Although it was a request from Mizuha-san, I feel bad for making you help us in doing something this dangerous..."
But Nergo replied in a bright tone.
"Nah, don't worry about it. Katsuya-kun did save me back then, so I still owe him some. I'm more than happy to help."
Nergo looked at how the other guys were doing while he said so. Some of them seemed thankful, some others had no particular reaction, while some were simply people who did not express much of their feelings through their faces. Nergo closely observed every single one of them.
"By the way, although it might be weird to hear this from me, but if you want, I can search this place alone, you know? I know that you girls are Hunters, but I'm sure this scene is too much for you girls since you're still young. If I find something, I'll contact you, so you girls can just wait outside the mansion."
"...I see, you're pretty brave."
[It would be fine if we find him alive. But to be honest, if he's already dead, I want to secure his body though... Well, I have my own reputation to hold in Drankam, so it's better if I act for the sake of our long term goal.]
After seeing that, Yumina understood what was going on. Katsuya came to rescue Alna and failed. It must be the reason why he was so depressed.
Yumina cut through all the girls that surrounded Katsuya, she then crouched in front of him and said to him.
Katsuya still looked down without replying back.
"We need to bring Alna back."
Katsuya raised his face. But he still did not reply. Yumina understood that it was all he could do at the moment, so she grabbed Katsuya's shoulder and got him on his feet. Katsuya did not resist.
"We'll take her too, help me."
Alna's body was soaked with blood. Her face was wiped clean of blood, but her body was soaked with her blood as well as the other people's blood who were killed near her. The girls frowned seeing that body. Airi's gaze turned sharp, the girls there winced back. That was when Nergo suddenly said.
"Don't worry about it. Like I said before, I'm fine with it."
Carrying dead bodies around was not a strange thing for Hunters. Because of that, Airi did not find it weird that Nergo was carrying a body bag with him.
Katsuya then left the room with Yumina's help. While Airi was carefully carrying Alna's body in her arms. The other girls followed behind her.
[All of these dead bodies are probably because of that boy, it's pretty impressive to do this all by himself. I thought that his reputation is actually because of that thing, but I guess I need to revise it, huh... Well, it doesn't really matter, even if that's true, it doesn't change my plan much. I need to confirm it with the others too, so I'll shelve this for the latter for now.]
Nergo left the room soon after.
Katsuya and his group left the mansion after that. They then boarded the armoured APC parked outside the mansion and went back to Drankam's base.
Katsuya was sitting on the long bench inside the APC in between Yumina and Airi. He still looked very depressed, but after leaving the battlefield, he regained some of his composure. But that gave him a leeway to think about something else and his head used that leeway to remember a certain sentence. Even when he tried to shake that sentence off his head, it still would not leave him alone. As a matter of fact, his efforts only made it ring louder in his brain. Katsuya inadvertently mumbled in resistance against that voice that was ringing inside his head.
[...Dammit!]
'Unfortunately, you won't be able to keep that promise' that one sentence from Akira kept on playing on replay inside Katsuya's mind.
Akira woke up in a dark room. It seemed that the sun had already set, he must have slept the whole day. But even inside that dark room, he could still see Alpha clearly.
"Morning, Akira, or more like, it's already evening though."
Akira's brain had not fully woken up yet as he was thinking of taking another snooze.
"I don't mind if you want to sleep again, but you had a call from Erio and Carol while you were sleeping, you know. They also left a text message, so you can check it out if you want."
It was rare for Erio to call him. As Akira thought so, the curiosity helped him wake up. He pushed himself up, reached for his information terminal, and checked the message.
Akira frowned when he read the message. Erio was asking about Sheryl's whereabouts in that message. And checking from the timestamp, that message was sent after Akira sent Carol to escort Sheryl.
"...She's not back in her base, huh?"
After that, he checked the message from Carol. It said that Carol still had Sheryl with her and for him to call her as soon as he could.
So then Akira tried to make a call to Carol, who immediately picked that up.
"Oh, you finally called me? Weren't you taking too long there?"
"Sorry, a lot of things happened after that. So then, is Sheryl still with you?"
"Yep, she's here with me."
"You didn't escort her back to her base?"
"I did consider that, but my request was to take Sheryl to a safe place, right? It's true that my request might as well be done once I escorted Sheryl out of that place, but I thought that if I took her back to her base while the slum was still engulfed in that battle, she might get injured or even killed if there were any following battles after that, and that would definitely cause trouble later. Personally speaking, I want to finish my request by handing her back to you, you see. That's why I still have Sheryl with me."
Akira smiled bitterly after hearing Carol's happy voice.
"Alright, I'm coming now, where should I come?"
"I'll send you my location later, I'll be waiting for you."
Carol left Akira with that rather inviting line before closing the call.
"...I wonder how much should I pay Carol this time."
"How much are you planning to pay her?"
"I don't know the market price, but I'm planning to limit it to 50 million Aurum."
Although he would have to negotiate with Carol about the reward, he had decided not to pay her more than 50 million Aurum. So in short, Akira would only pay that much money even if it made Carol think that she deserved more money for the work she did.
"I never thought that someone who likes to butt into other's business without being asked to would say something like that. But well, I guess that was the suitable word for someone who would do something just to regret it later though. Aren't you glad to have decided the upper limit of the reward beforehand?"
Alpha smiled mischievously at Akira, who replied with a bitter smile.
Akira thought that he would be meeting Carol near his house, or somewhere in a cheap inn, or maybe a tavern. So he was surprised when he checked the coordinates of the location sent to him by Carol. It was located far away from the location where he picked her up before going to Mihazono ruin last time. Although he did find it weird, started his preparation to head there.
"The cupboard is equipped with an automatic repair system. I also put in a little bit of medication there too. It should have done the maintenance for your augmented suit and coat."
"You can even do that too, huh? That's really convenient."
"But because of that, you'll need to replace the repair cartridge that you got when you bought that augmented suit. Make sure to buy a new one later."
"I see, how much it costs by the way?"
"About 10 million Aurum."
"Don't forget that there are still medicine, ammo, energy pack, and other consumables that you need to buy too."
Akira remembered that Carol also changed her augmented suit depending on what she was doing. Up until now, Akira always thought that it was better and safer to keep using the better augmented suit all the time although it meant that he had to regularly pay more for the upkeep. But now he was not so sure if that was the best thing to do.
Akira finished his preparation. He brought along his AAH and A2D assault rifle as well as his CWH anti-material rifle, and of course, he also carried some spare magazines too.
He then headed to the Kugamayama city lower district. He did think that he might not need his CWH anti-material rifle, but he decided to bring it along anyway just to be safe while leaving his DVTS minigun and A4WM automatic grenade launcher behind as not to increase the chance of anything bad happening.
"I've completed rewriting the control software, so you have my full support this time. Well, in the worst-case scenario, let's just run away."
"...Of course."
Carol, Sheryl and Viola gathered inside Viola's office that was located in an office complex building in the lower district.
Viola had other offices too. She had one in the slum, one near the inner wall, one was open and easily recognizable in public, one was located in a rather secretive place. She kept changing one office to another depending on her situation. Carol met up with Viola while bringing along Sheryl with her and then Viola suggested they go to one of her offices.
Unlike Sheryl who was sitting on the guest chair, Viola was sitting not too far away from Sheryl on her own office desk. Even after she heard that Akira was coming, she still had her usual smile.
Carol came next to Viola and asked her a question.
"Viola, are you sure you want to be here too?"
Viola replied with a smile without asking Carol what she meant by that question.
Carol deliberately did not tell Akira that Viola was also there. Viola also noticed it as well as the meaning behind it. But even so, she still decided to stay there. Carol thought that if Viola decided so, then it was not her place to say anything to Viola.
Akira eventually arrived. He lightly scanned the area and felt that it seemed to be safe before entering the building.
When Akira entered the office, Carol and Sheryl immediately welcomed him. Carol had her business smile when she welcomed Akira, while Sheryl smiled happily for being able to reunite with him. But even before he was able to reply to both of them, he noticed Viola. His expression immediately turned slightly stern as he asked.
"Carol, sorry but can we talk about the reward a bit later?"
"Sure, but, is there any problem?"
Sheryl thought it was weird since Akira immediately left her behind and went inside the office room. But when she noticed that he went straight to Viola, she smiled bitterly although she also felt slightly happy at the same time.
Sheryl had gone through a lot of trouble after Rogelt detained her. It was nothing strange if Akira wanted to complain to Viola since she was the source of all of that trouble. Of course, she herself had also complained to Viola, but Viola just gave her a light smile and a cheap apology. If Akira was the one to do that, Viola should not be able to give the same reaction. As Sheryl thought so, she had a mischievous smile on her face which was rather rare for her.
Sheryl was not mistaken there. But Akira actually was planning to do more than just sending some complaints to Viola. In contrast to that, Carol understood well what he was about to do, the difference between her and Sheryl's understanding was shown in their faces. Carol was not smiling there.
Akira stood in front of Viola, who was still smiling like usual.
"Uhh, Viola-san... Right?"
"I see, thanks for the info about Sheryl and that pickpocket. I'll at least give you my thanks for that."
"You're welcome. I'm glad that my information was useful to you."
Viola was smiling like usual, while Akira had a stern and serious face. Both of them were looking at each other without saying anything for a few seconds.
"...So then, I have a question for you. About this incident, I have no idea how far this thing has been going on, and this is just my guess, but, I feel like you've been manipulating me."
"Hmmm, that would be a misunderstanding. I don't know where you got such a misunderstanding from. If you tell me, I would be able to give you an explanation. Is that the thing that you wanted to ask me?"
"If you're in my position, do you think it's better if I kill the person in front of me now?"
Sheryl was dumbstruck by what just happened. While Carol's expression did not change at all.
Even after pointing his rifle at her, Viola did not show any change in her expression. She was still smiling like usual as she calmly answered Akira's question.
"Why?"
"It's simple then. If you kill me, you'll get a bounty put on your head and it'll be as high as all of my current assets. Although I look like this, I'm pretty rich, you see. So don't think it'll be something as small as 1 or 2 billion Aurum, okay? If I have to add more, judging from the mediator company that will put that bounty under my request, not only common Hunters, even big organizations would be hunting you, you know?"
"Oh, that wasn't enough for you? Let's see then, how about the person next to your lover is my best friend?"
Gunshot echoed, a hole drilled through Viola's chest all the way to her back. Viola looked aghast as she slid down her seat and fell to the floor. A pool of blood started to form around her.
Akira lowered his rifle and looked back at Carol.
"So, I should fight you now, right?"
Akira's expression was completely casual. There was no hostility in his eyes at all. But there was also no sign of him trying to avoid the upcoming fight. Sheryl was shocked by that sudden turn of events, but Carol, who was next to her, just smiled and said calmly.
"Well, Viola indeed paid me to work as her bodyguard, so it's not like I can just let this slide without doing anything."
Akira only said so as he turned his whole body toward Carol. But before he shifted his state of mind to battle state, Carol suddenly said.
Carol smiled and said so. She then went to Viola, opened the drawer close to her, and seemed to be searching for something.
Carol took out a half-spherical mechanical device from inside the drawer, brought it to Viola, and crouched down. She then took off Viola's cloth to expose the bullet wound and placed that device on top of that wound both from the front and back. When Carol turned the device on, the hole in Viola's chest started to slowly close up.
Akira walked next to Carol and looked at it with interest.
"What are you doing?"
"An emergency treatment. This is an automatic treatment kit, it's usually used on a Hunter who's wounded so badly to the point that there's no other way but to replace the wounded area with a prosthetic. Originally, it's used to keep that Hunter alive until they finish installing the prosthetic. This thing is pretty expensive, you know?"
Carol placed a similar thing on Viola's neck. A thin tube came out from the flat part of the device and it went straight piercing into her neck. After about 10 seconds, Viola opened her eyes and coughed out blood.
Akira was stunned to see someone that he thought he had killed return back to life.
Alpha smiled and explained to Akira.
"Ahh, you're right. I remember that guy also told me not to treat an injury on a Hunter and on common people as the same thing though."
People died when their time came. But their survival chance changed greatly depending on how quickly their injury got treated. Akira had a rather conflicted feeling when he thought about that subject.
When Viola finally stopped coughing, she looked around and understood what just happened.
"...Carol, could you have done something more about this?"
Viola looked at Carol as if she was blaming Carol, expecting her to have eliminated the hostility there by now.
But Carol did not seem to be bothered by that at all, she just casually replied.
Akira pointed his rifle at Viola again. This time, he was properly aiming for her head.
"I'll get to the point, anything else?"
Viola smiled wryly. She was a bit scared, her face started to go pale. She went silent for a few seconds as she was thinking about what to say. She then smiled which could be interpreted as both bluff and no worry.
"...I don't know the reason why you spent so much money on Sheryl's gang, but I bet you didn't really calculate the return that you can get from that investment, right? I can help you with that part. I can give advice to the leader of the gang or lend them my connection or money. If Sheryl's gang can earn quite a lot of money, I'm sure that you'll get some benefit out from that too... So, what do you think?"
Akira stared back at Viola without saying anything.
"One more question then, were you trying to kill me in that incident? That includes asking someone to kill me, or provoking someone to kill me."
"She doesn't seem to be lying, but it may not be the complete truth."
After listening to Alpha's guess and Viola's answer, Akira thought about it one more time. He then said to Viola while still having his rifle pointed at her.
"...Very well. Work hard to make me not regret this decision. The moment I think that I should've killed you, I'll hunt for your head. The same thing would happen if you try to mess with me too. You get that?"
"Well now, I'll need to carry Viola to hospital. Akira, see you again next time."
Carol lightly smiled and said so. She then pulled Viola up and dragged her out of the office.
"It's your fault in the first place, isn't it? Not to mention, you said you'll be helping Sheryl's gang from now on. So just think of it as an apology for messing with them."
Akira looked a bit troubled by how Carol was taking it so lightly.
"Uhh, are you sure you're fine with it?"
Carol smiled provocatively and said so before she left the office.
That was also the case for Sheryl. She could not hide her surprise with how fast the situation changed there.
After both of them were left alone in that place, Akira and Sheryl looked at each other, the mood was a bit awkward.
"...Well, let's just head back for now, huh. I'll take you back to the base."
"Eh, ah, yes, thank you very much!"
Akira and Sheryl left that office while still feeling slightly awkward. Akira thought that Carol who was on Viola's side would do something after taking Sheryl hostage. Although his guess was incorrect, he did expect that Carol would do something that he did not expect there.
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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