Rebuild World: Volume 5 (eBook)

Nahuse (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
250 Seiten
J-Novel Club (Verlag)
9781718391123 (ISBN)

Infos

With his adventures in the Mihazono Town Ruins behind him, Akira returns home to find that Sheryl is joining forces with Katsuragi to start a relic shop in the slums. When the years-long war between the two largest gangs-the Ezent Family and Harlias-comes to a head, Sheryl and her business get caught in the cross fire! With Sheryl in both gangs' crosshairs, it's up to Akira to save her! But with Viola scheming behind the scenes and Akira having another unexpected encounter with Carol, it won't be easy. Will a brand-new set of gear and weapons be enough to go up against two gangs at once and rescue Sheryl from a grisly fate?

Textauszug

Chapter 125: A Continuous Gamble

After parting with Sheryl, Akira headed straight for Shizuka’s shop. A notification had come through from Druncam—they’d deposited six hundred million aurum in his account, and he was thrilled. I know they said they’d pay right away, but that really was fast!

Alpha also smiled cheerfully. That’s probably because Druncam wanted you and the others out of the picture as soon as possible. But it helps us all the same.

You said it! I wonder what all I’ll be able to buy with six hundred mil?

He entered Shizuka’s shop brimming with anticipation. As always, Shizuka greeted him with a polite smile, but when Akira explained in the course of their chatting that he was here to replace his equipment yet again, her face clouded over.

“Elena and Sara already told me what happened, but you really had it rough, didn’t you?” she said.

“Yeah,” he replied. “It was super dangerous.” This time he couldn’t cover up or dodge how much he’d had to overexert himself in the face of peril, and in any case she could tell just from the weariness in his voice. “I feel like I finally get just how much of a difference having the right gear can make. Not simply the Old World items our enemy was wearing, but the anti-force melee weapons and ammo my teammates had as well. If it wasn’t for those, I probably wouldn’t have made it out alive. Thanks to this experience, I now know just how important equipment is to my survival.” Telling Shizuka his honest feelings felt like removing a weight from his shoulders, and with a smile, he moved away from small talk and on to business. “So with that said, if you wouldn’t mind, I was wondering if you could recommend some options?”

Even though he’d said “if you wouldn’t mind,” he didn’t actually think Shizuka would turn him down. But when her expression remained troubled, he began to look unsure. “Er, or not?”

“Akira, what’s your budget this time?” Shizuka asked.

“Ah, r-right. Around six hundred million.”

“And is that everything you earned in Mihazono?”

“No, that’s just my share from Monica’s bounty. I also got a cut from the rescue mission with Elena and the others.”

“I see.” But she still looked conflicted.

“Um, Shizuka?” he ventured.

But just as he was getting anxious, she broke into her usual polite smile. “All right! Six hundred million aurum, you said? I felt hesitant because I’m not sure if a humble shop like mine is up to that task, but I’ll try my best!”

Akira looked relieved. “Thank you, I really appreciate it!”

“Also, it’s true that gear’s important, but don’t forget your own health comes first. I’m sure you’re exhausted after all that happened in Mihazono, correct?”

“Yeah, for real,” he replied.

“Then take a good long rest to rejuvenate your mind and body,” she said with a gentle smile, “since they’re just as important to your survival. Think of them as another piece of equipment to be serviced. If they aren’t well-rested and at their sharpest, you won’t be able to move like you want to when it counts. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now then, can you tell me what kind of equipment you’re looking for this time around? With six hundred mil, you’ve basically got the pick of the lot, so no need to hold back.”

Realizing that Shizuka had only been concerned for him, he broke into a grin and told her what he had in mind.

Shizuka had indeed been worried for him, but not quite in the way Akira had guessed. She was feeling nervous about how he spent his money.

When gamblers won money from a successful wager, they put their winnings on a larger bet for an even bigger payout. But most could not keep coming out on top in their continuous gambles, and ended up mired in debt or with their lives in ruins.

As a hunter, Akira was doing the same thing. Perhaps Shizuka wouldn’t have fretted so much if he were buying high-quality gear for the sole purpose of avoiding danger. But she’d known ever since they’d first met that he was only upgrading his equipment in order to take greater risks. Over and over, he’d risk his life, receive a huge reward, and then turn around and invest it all into even better gear for his next roll of the dice.

This time, he’d earned six hundred million aurum—wasn’t that enough for now? She’d been debating whether to tell Akira that he ought to take a break (the real reason she’d looked so conflicted). But she’d had a hunch that doing so would be a waste of breath, so in the end she’d decided against it and instead tried to get him to think of his well-being as one more tool he needed to maintain for his work. Since he’d recently realized the importance of equipment, she hoped he would now think twice before endangering himself once more in his continuous gamble.

Of course, she knew deep down he wouldn’t stop. He was a hunter—eventually he’d be forced into his next wager and would undoubtedly risk his life yet again. But perhaps her advice would at least convince him to take a good long rest beforehand, so that he’d be in peak condition when the chips were down once more.

Meanwhile, as he and Shizuka talked, Alpha observed Akira’s behavior intently.

◆

Once all of Akira’s relics had been inventoried, Katsuragi, Sheryl, and the businessmen moved to another room in the warehouse to discuss business plans in private. The merchants still wondered how Akira had ended up with such a haul, but there were enough valuable relics to pique their interest regardless of their doubts. Now that they’d seen the goods for themselves and knew Katsuragi hadn’t been just blowing smoke, they were eager to get the ball rolling.

“Katsuragi, are you really planning to set the shop up in the slums?” one man said. “I understand that it’s the most convenient place for you to sell relics acquired under unusual circumstances, but will they really be safe there?”

“Don’t worry, Sheryl here’s going to strike a deal with the gang that owns the territory in the area.”

The men all turned their attention to Sheryl, who smiled calmly as if to say, “Leave it to me.”

“I’ve also got a few hunters in mind to hire for security,” Katsuragi added. “And if that isn’t enough, feel free to pitch in and hire some hunters of your own for extra security. That should cover it, no?”

“Well, in that case—” the man began.

“Oh, actually...” Katsuragi cut him off, as though he’d just remembered. “Sorry, Tomejima, but you’re going to have to sit this one out.”

“Huh?! Why?! You invited me here! What are you trying to pull?” The man—who was indeed Tomejima, someone Akira had met when Shikarabe had invited him to participate in the bounty hunts—looked furious.

Katsuragi frowned, as though it pained him to deliver this news. “I just remembered—you got into a conflict with Akira before, didn’t you? I heard it was so bad that if he saw you again, he’d probably kill you on sight.”

Tomejima went rigid. “Th-That wasn’t...” He’d encountered Akira while negotiating with Shikarabe’s group at the bar. Kadol, a hunter Tomejima had invited along, had picked a fight with Akira—and nearly ended up dead as a result. So technically, Akira had beef with Kadol, not Tomejima.

But Katsuragi already knew this and shook his head anyway. “Do you really think Akira cares who started it? He may not have recognized you when he was here a little while ago, but what if he remembers down the line? I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not upset him. Don’t want to take any chances.”

None of the other businessmen said a word. They couldn’t defend Tomejima either—if Akira became angry, he might take his relics back, and the entire operation would fall through.

“Look, Tomejima,” Katsuragi went on, sounding sympathetic, “I really wanted you to be a part of this too, so I’m just as disappointed. You gather up hunters in debt and get them to collect relics, right? I invited you here thinking your line of work would be helpful for acquiring more inventory, or even for extra personnel to guard the store or warehouse.” He looked apologetic. “But if you’re currently at odds with Akira, that’s a no go. Sorry, but you’ll have to pass on this one.”

Tomejima looked around at the others, but none of them seemed inclined to take his side.

“Although,” Katsuragi continued, “I’d reconsider if you were to strike a deal with Akira so that there’s no more bad blood. But I won’t be your mediator—you’re on your own. Like I said, I don’t want to piss that guy off. No thank you!”

With that, Katsuragi fell silent as though that was the last word on the subject. Tomejima, sensing that saying anything further would be pointless, left the warehouse with a dark look on his face.

Once he was gone, Katsuragi tried to lighten things up with a big grin. “Now then, I know I said all that to Tomejima just now, but the rest of you don’t have to worry. Even if you get on Akira’s bad side a little, he and I go way back, and we’ve been through a lot together. I should be able to smooth things over, provided you don’t tick Akira off as much as that...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 30.8.2024
• Reihe/Serie: Rebuild World
• Illustrationen: Nahuse
• Übersetzer: Nahuse
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction
• Schlagworte: Cyberpunk • Guns • Light Novel • male protagonist • post-apocalyptic • Survival
• ISBN-13: 9781718391123 / 9781718391123