Akira returned to the ruins of Katsubara City once again. He faithfully obeyed Alpha's every command and moved deeper into the ruins. This time, they tried not to take yesterday's route. Although I was shot not long ago, I still have to do a lot of physical work such as climbing ruins just like last time. But oddly enough, he did not find any difficulties at all.

Alpha vs. Aki

A behaves and walks around satisfied, to Aki

a smile.

"Look at you, it looks like you're in good shape."

"yes, I don't really understand why, but I was in really good shape today. Although I only had a day off, somehow I felt much better than I did before I was shot. Honestly, it's a little scary. ”

Strangely, Akira is in unusually good shape. There was not a trace of tiredness on his face, and his mind was sharper than usual. Right down to his fingertips, he could feel the power flowing through his body.

Akira begins to realize her physical condition and feels unnatural and even a little creepy. Alpha spoke to him as if there was nothing strange about it.

"That could be the effect of the medicine you took yesterday."

"Drugs? I'm indeed amazed at how quickly my wounds heal, but does that have anything to do with the fact that I feel better than I did before I was shot? ”

"I told you to take a lot of pills to be on the safe side. It seems that it healed not only your gunshot wounds, but also your other wounds. ”

"But I shouldn't have any other wounds, except for gunshot wounds......"

Compared to Akira, who is getting more and more confused, Alpha's smiling face has not changed in any way.

"I've asked you a lot about your daily life since we were free yesterday, remember? This is just an assumption based on that information. I think the hard life you've been through so far has put a lot of stress on your body. So, your body is in a state of non-fatal injury. ”

"Well, I agree that my life in the back alleys is really tough, but aren't you exaggerating? After all, I can move around, you know......"

"What you think is normal living conditions is actually terrible. For example, if you live in this state of malnutrition for a long time, then your body will deteriorate considerably. After all, it's as if you've accumulated countless non-fatal minimally invasive wounds at the cellular level. The extra medication I told you to take yesterday with caution has cured those minimally invasive ones that have accumulated in your body. I bet that's why you feel healthier than before. ”

“…… Anyway, does that mean I'm dying until now? ”

Akira gave Alpha an ambivalent and surprised expression, and she just smiled back at Akira's eyes.

"Well, it's true. Are you not happy that you are saved now? ”

Akira's face furrowed slightly, and he realized how hard his life in the back alley was. However, ending all the difficulties he went through with just "I'm happy" didn't suit him.

Although they kept moving deeper into the ruins, they didn't encounter any monsters. Alpha's instructions are normal, Aki

A didn't even feel like he was traversing a place full of monsters. Obeying Alpha's orders made him feel safe and made him more relaxed. In this way, although he walks among the dangerous ruins, he can also focus on other things besides being alert to his surroundings.

He was rather uneasy about his leeway, so he started the conversation, even though they were exploring the ruins.

"Alpha, can I ask you one thing?"

"Of course, you ask."

"Why are you doing that?"

Alpha wears a plain white dress with a lot of frills on both sleeves and a lot of shiny jewelry on the lower body.

"Oops, don't I look good in it? Or do you want me to change to something else? Is this dress not to your taste? ”

Then Alpha turned around playfully, revealing a beautiful teaser. The hem of her skirt fluttered, and her long, shiny hair was in a circle. Then, a naked back appeared in front of Akira, revealing her bold chest.

Akira is asking about Alpha's clothes, which don't meet the current conditions no matter how you look at them. But he was so frightened by what Alpha was doing now that he forgot the question he asked. Instead, he just answered Alpha normally.

“…… Well, I do think you're well dressed. However, if I want to talk about my taste, I actually like the dress you wore when you first met. ”

First of all, it was an old-world unique outfit that you can't see every day, not to mention that their encounter left a lasting impression on Akira. So, he fell in love with the dress. Alpha smiled happily because she knew that very well.

"The dress you wore when we first met...... In short, it's a birthday set!! ”

In the next moment, Alpha's skirt disappeared. Then, Aki

A once again saw the beautiful body that was hidden under the glittering dress just now. Akira said in a panic.

"That's not what I intended!! I mean the clothes after that! Never wipe off your clothes like that!! Now turn it back on! Why do you always show me your naked body like that??!! ”

Alpha gave her the skirt back and giggled.

"Think that you are not interested in this body, which is the result of highly complex calculations to make a man's imagination run wild. Akira, you're such a child, you're old enough to eat more than a girl? ”

Akira became stubborn and said in a tough tone.

"Yes, I am, no doubt I am just a little child. If I don't have enough money to buy food, then I'm going to die. yes, I like food more than girls...... So, what's going on with that dress?!! ”

Alpha was naked when he first met him for a valid reason. Therefore, he thinks that there may also be a valid reason why Alpha is wearing inappropriate clothes in the middle of the ruins. But he was in no hurry to know the answer. So, if Alpha doesn't agree with him, then he's going to drop the topic.

But then Alpha abruptly stopped teasing Akira. Although she was still smiling, she began to speak in a more serious way.

"Do you remember what I said to you at the time? Didn't I say I needed a dress that would increase people's chances of noticing me and elicit a reaction from them? Even now, I'm actively sending signals to your brain so that you can perceive me. But you know, there's something that interests me during that signaling process. ”

"Is there anything wrong there?"

"Actually, the management system in Katsubara City is still running, and I am hijacking that system to spread my image on a large scale. That's why my image can also be seen through the equipment used by the Katsubara City management system. That's why the mechanical monster was able to see me the other day. So, people with similar devices will also be able to see me. ”

Knowing what Alpha wanted to say, Akira's face froze.

「…… All in all, someone can see you now, right? Or there's someone nearby who has such a device, right? ”

Akira said this, and Alpha's smile vanished.

"Yes. Don't look back anyway. That person is stalking you. He's been keeping his distance from you, he's watching you, even in the here and now. ”

Akira's face turned grim. Alpha's explanation was simple and made him understand the terrible situation he was in.

A little further away from Akira, two hunters watched Akira's every move. A man named Cahimo was looking at Akira through his binoculars. Another man named Hayya is looking at Aki through the artificial eye on his cyborg's head

a。 With such a distant line of sight, both of them were tailgating and shaking in the distance. They are very sure like Aki

A Such amateurs will not notice them. Looking at the equipment they used, and how familiar it looked, it was clear that neither of them was a new hunter who would only wreak havoc around the ruins of Katsubara City.

Caimo looked at Akira through binoculars, the expression on his face puzzled.

"That boy, he's walking deeper into the ruins. Venturing into the depths with so much gear is the same as committing suicide. What the hell is this kid thinking? ”

Haya just smiled and shrugged at Cahimo's question.

"He didn't even think, he was just a stupid boy. Isn't that why he found those ruins without the limitations of common sense? There is nothing of value left on the outskirts of this place, that's common sense for ordinary hunters. I said it would be quicker if we just attacked him and had him tell him about where he found those relics. ”

Cahimo replied in an exasperated tone.

"Hey!! Aren't you the one stopping me from doing that?!! You stopped me from saying it would be terrible if we accidentally killed him before he could tell us anything. ”

Hayya simply laughed off the rather tense exchange and tried to calm the situation down.

"Don't say that. I never thought a little boy like him would be able to go deep into the ruins, you see. Even you think that kid found those relics in a building somewhere in the suburbs, right? ”

"Well, it's true. No one in their right mind would have thought that a boy from the slums could walk so deep alone, you know. This place is dangerous in itself, and further down is dangerous for us. ”

"You can say it again, so don't be angry."

Both of them follow Akira, not because they are interested in befriending him. Rather, they heard that a poorly equipped boy from a slum had come to the exchange center with an expensive relic. They are interested in finding the place where Akira found his relics.

Hunters know that there is nothing of value left on the outskirts of the ruins of Katsubara City. But the suburbs are not completely devoid of something of value. It is still quite possible to find a large number of relics in the depths of the ruins.

There have been many reports in the past of people discovering entrances to certain places that should have been difficult to find. As an example, there have been recent reports of passages like being blocked from entering warehouses that were accidentally opened due to monster attacks. But of course, it's not worth the risk of deliberately looking for something like this. Therefore, such encounters are really rare.

But when it does happen, many hunters will flood the abandoned ruins again. If the first person to discover the site can't take all the artifacts with them at once, then the rest of the artifacts will of course have to compete. Therefore, for the sake of this goal, someone will prick up their ears to listen to such rumors appear; Kahimo and Hayya are among them.

Rumor has it that a kid from the slum brought an expensive relic to the exchange center and got involved in a shootout with other children for the money he received. Kahimo heard about the rumor, checked it and confirmed it. It also led them to believe that there was a place accessible to slum kids, filled with expensive artifacts. They believe that this place is located on the outskirts of the ruins of Katsubara City. After all, there is no other place around Kumayama City than a place where children can safely explore.

They thought that if the place where this kid found had a lot of such ruins, then the kid would definitely go back to that place to explore. So, they decided to stand by near the ruins, looking for a child who matched the rumored description in order to get detailed information about the place from him. So they finally found Akira.

Cahemo was actually planning to catch Akira and make him cough up the location of that place. But Hayya stopped him, saying that it would be bad if it turned into a fight, and they accidentally killed him. So, they changed to follow Aki

a plan that the latter hopes to bring them to the location of the ruins. But now they are beginning to doubt their plans.

"Haya, I think, we should force him to cough out the position. After all, he was just a poorly equipped little boy. We should be careful not to accidentally kill him. You want to do it the fastest way possible, don't you? ”

Haya didn't answer at all. Therefore, Caimo was visibly angry.

"Hey, what's wrong??"

Haya finally spoke, muttering to herself.

“…… The boy ...... He's supposed to be alone, right? ”

"yes, he must be alone, he doesn't seem to have any friends hiding around here."

Puzzled, Casimo picked up his beloved telescope and glanced at Akira again.

The binoculars he uses are quite powerful binoculars that can see great distances. It also has night vision, allowing him to see clearly at night as well as during the day. In addition, it can detect invisible light or see through simple optical camouflage. And then most importantly, it has the function of highlighting monsters and characters.

In addition to this high-tech binocular, there are many other devices that use network access, which makes it possible to retrieve augmented reality information broadcast from the ruins. But this binoculars do not have this feature. After all, there was a time when mechanical monsters instead took advantage of this feature. At that time, they could not see the enemy visible to the naked eye and were almost killed. As a result of that experience, they set the binoculars to be used only for local functions.

"He's alone. I didn't see any monsters, only him. ”

Haya's face changed slightly, and she replied in a way that was difficult to say.

"Uh-huh. Let me start by saying that I am not under the influence of any drugs, I am not drunk, and I am not trying to tease you or anything......"

"Okay, okay, and then what? You're weird, you know? ”

“…… I could see that there was a girl next to the boy. ”

"A girl?"

Gahimo decided to check again, and looked back at Ming again, puzzled.

"No, nothing. It's just him, it's just him. I didn't see any girls, you know. ”

“…… I see, you can't see her, right? But I could see her clearly. A beautiful girl is instructing the boy. ”

"If so, then tell me what she looks like, including all the details."

“…… She wears a white ruffled dress that looks super expensive. ”

"Ruffled dress?? Are you crazy?? Where do you think we are? We're in the middle of the damn ruins, you know!! ”

"It's true!! I'm not lying!! And I'm not drunk either!! This is definitely not a delusion!! I know it's best not to drink alcohol and don't take drugs before going to the ruins, you know!! ”

Judging by his reaction, Cahimo knew that Haya was not lying. But it's also true that he can't see the girl. He looked confused, confused about what was happening, but then he realized something.

"Haya. Both of your eyes are connected to the network, right? ”

"Yes, it comes with high-quality parts, and of course I pay a huge amount of money for it. While it has a network connection that I'm proud of, it's easy to get off in the ruins. It's a high-tech eye with a lot of features, but its only drawback is that it sometimes receives broadcast transmissions on its own. ”

"That's because you got the parts through illegal means. After all, I'm willing to bet you got it from plundering dead bodies from the ruins. I'm sure the reason those people died was because their eyesight suddenly failed. ”

"Shut up. It's cheaper to retrofit it. So it doesn't matter, doesn't it? It can be helpful when you explore the ruins. But since its controls were blown up along with the head of its former owner, it was not easy to switch from one function to another. On the other hand, it takes quite a bit of money to make a new control device, so I put it in the back. But why are you asking me this all of a sudden? ”

Casimo's expression turned serious.

"I think the girl might be some kind of guide to the ruins feature of a webcast. Since you can see her and I can't, then that means she's not a hologram, but augmented reality. There may also be an active system in the ruins that is broadcasting her image, which is why your eye part picks up those strange messages. So in short, she's a ghost from the Old World. ”

Haya looked back at Alpha in some surprise to confirm what he was seeing.

“…… That girl looks real, you know? The girl even cast a shadow. Except for her clothes, there was nothing unusual about her. Broadcast images tend to have some differences compared to reality, such as no shadows, or strange proportions, or the ability to pass through walls. Basically they always have strange features. But the girl, except for the skirt, looked completely normal...... The dress itself was strange, though. ”

If it weren't for Casimo's serious expression, Haya would have taken this as a joke a long time ago. That's how realistic Alpha's body is. Casimo said with a serious face.

"If the girl is really a guide in the ruins, it means that her image is spread using old-world technology. I wonder what kind of advanced technology they use to play such realistic images. ”

“… I get it. This is the ghost of the old world, hehe. It's the first time I've seen it and it's really important. ”

Haya looked at Alpha curiously. Since his partner not only believes in girls that only he can see, his partner even comes up with a reasonable explanation for this. Therefore, he could not stop himself from becoming more and more interested in her.

As if to match their conversation, and as if remembering something, Cahimo opened his mouth again.

「…… Now that I think about it, there is a ghost story in the ruins of Katsubara City. If I'm not mistaken...... Devil. ”

"I've heard of it too. It's about a ghost who uses relics as bait and lures hunters deep into the ruins before killing them, right? I heard that many hunters followed her into the depths of the ruins and never returned. The oni will then lure the still alive hunters with their dead companions. Recently heard that it does not use human appearance and even disguises itself as a cat or dog. ”

After nodding slightly in agreement with Haya's words, Cahemo continued to liven up the story with tone and expression.

"Being killed while searching for a relic in the ruins is normal for us hunters. The real question is why is there such a ghost story that no one came back alive? ”

“…… Since you mentioned it, I don't know why? ”

The answer is because some people don't follow it. Demons attract only those who can see, not those who cannot see. Not everybody can see it, you know. So it has to be a story, shared by the visible to the unseen. And since everyone tells a different story, it's impossible to really confirm. That's why it turned into a ghost story. ”

Haya shuddered slightly. He realizes that following Akira means that they are also following the ghosts.

"Wait a minute, that means we're going to die if we follow that girl any longer, right?"

To Haya's question, Casimo just smiled.

“…… You can think of it the same way. Why do you think the boy was able to find an expensive relic? That's because the boy can see the girl just like you do. Well, if that girl was part of the guidance function of the old world and is somehow still functioning now, then she is guiding the person who can still see her. The boy must have asked the girl for a place where the ruins could be found, so the girl must have guided the boy to such a place without any monster encounters. So what do you think? That's a good assumption, isn't it? ”

"I see!! …… Wait a minute, if you can get the relic by following her, then why create that ghost story? ”

"Following her guidance will only reduce the chance of encountering monsters, but it is still possible to encounter them. Moreover, hunters who know her channeling function may spread rumors and keep her to themselves. Coming here again and again, following her guide, will soon exhaust the ruins on the periphery, and will have to go to more dangerous places deep in the ruins. While venturing deep into the ruins, one day they unfortunately encountered a powerful monster and were killed themselves. So, only the part of the rumor that "if you go with her, then you will be killed" remained. Basically, it's a ghost story that has been going on for a long time. ”

Haya was persuaded by Kahimo's explanation and laughed.

"So that's why, huh?! That means it's okay to follow her?!! Don't say that the kid can come back alive, as long as we act carefully, we won't be killed. ”

"There is no guarantee that this assumption is correct. But if it's true, it will greatly increase our chances of finding the ruins. However, it is rumored that it may kill us, so it is still a dangerous thing. ”

Kahimo tried to calm Hayya down. But Haya couldn't contain the excitement in his heart. He found something that could easily find safe ways for him to explore the ruins and find expensive artifacts. No hunter does not know its value.

"It's okay, isn't it? You're worried too much!! I won't let go of this opportunity! ”

"Calm down, let's watch him a little longer."

Cahemo looked at Haya with a calm expression and thought for a moment.

[...... People have to kill their teammates to monopolize it. And the survivor will tell others that his friend was killed by ghosts from the Old World. Of course, the one who can see the ghost is the one who killed them. There's a good chance this guy will do the same. However, this guy is just too stupid. If only I could come up with a reason for him to get ahead of me......]

Looking back at Akira, Cahimo was so careful that Kusaya wouldn't notice his plan.

—

Akira asked Alpha with a hideous expression.

"Do you know who is chasing me?"

"2 people. Judging by their equipment, they must be hunters. They are well equipped. ”

「…… Is it possible that it was just a coincidence? I mean, maybe they weren't really following me, but they saw a little boy alone in the ruins and decided to follow him out of curiosity. Or maybe it's just a coincidence, they're going in the same direction as me......"

"No, it's highly unlikely. I've been watching them for a while, hoping for such a possibility, but there doesn't seem to be a misunderstanding that they're following us. They kept our distance from us when we stopped earlier to observe our surroundings. So obviously, they're stalking us. ”

Akira asked, with a hint of hope on her face.

“…… But why did they follow me? Even if they attack me, I don't have any money on me, you know. They should be able to see it clearly, right? ”

The wording of the question is like Aki

A hopes that Alpha's assumption is wrong. When she told the truth in Akira's face, she had already thought of his reaction.

"My guess is that they want to know how a kid like you brings a lot of relics to the trading center. The real reason why they're tailgating you is that they want you to lead them to a place full of ruins. And when they do, they might as well simply kill you and take the relics away. I think they had someone standing near the trading center looking for hunters who seemed to be easy targets, easy to kill, while also bringing expensive relics to the trading center. Or they can also buy that information from someone inside the exchange. They have many reasons to see you as an enemy. In fact, they have more reasons to be your enemy than your friend. So Akira, if you don't take them as your enemies, you might be killed yourself, you know? ”

Akira finally gave up her childish thoughts and took a deep breath. Hearing Alpha's explanation, he was even more uneasy.

“…… Damn it!! It's a hunter this time, right?! ”

Two days ago, he had a shootout with a slum kid with a gun. But even then, he almost killed himself and barely survived. This time, he's going to fight a heavily armed hunter. Aki

a Headache from this sudden increase in difficulty.

"Akira, enter that building now. Do it as naturally as possible and try to be careful so that you don't get noticed by them. ”

“… I understand. ”

Aki

a move cautiously, as if he had been commanded. But he dragged his heavy feet into the building, still a little annoyed in his heart. Then he arrived at the room where Alpha was directing and sat down with his back against the wall.

"There are no monsters in this building, you can rest assured."

“… Yes..."

Akira's answer was gloomy. He's thinking about how to fight the hunters who are stalking him, but he can't come up with any good ideas. He thought of a number of options, but they all ended in him being killed.

"Akira!"

Akira lifted her face in response to the rather strong voice. He suddenly saw that Alpha's face was really close, right in front of him, and he let out a small exclamation, jumped backwards in shock, and hit his head against the wall. That pain and surprise woke him up from all the bad scenarios in his mind.

Only when the pain and surprise subsided did Akira come to her senses and calm down. With a nonchalant gaze, he looked at Alpha. Seeing that he had calmed down, Alpha smiled a strong and gentle smile.

"Calm down. It's not as bad as you think. While I provide support, I will never let you be killed. ”

Akira was surprised to hear this, but it made him more hopeful.

"Can we run away from them?"

But Alpha's answer to this question took Akira completely unexpected.

"We're not going to run. We will fight back. We'll take its place. ”

Akira's hopeful expression was instantly crushed, and he was surprised by this answer.

"Is it really possible?!! It's 2-on-1, you know? Not to mention that they are fully equipped hunters!! It's different when we fight with kids with guns. ”

Alpha replied in a confident tone.

"The two situations are no different. You've got me by your side, you know? I'm the only one, and your total combat strength far surpasses theirs. And, you can take down that giant weapon dog monster with just your pistol, remember? As long as you follow my instructions, everything will be fine. So don't worry. It's going to be fine. ”

At this, she smiled. Although she did want to dispel Akira's concerns, it felt like they had a lot of leeway here.

"I—Is that so?"

Watching Alpha behave as usual, Akira was somewhat convinced. But that wasn't enough to completely dispel his doubts when faced with an overwhelming enemy. It was evident that Akira was skeptical.

「…… However, there are many differences between monsters and humans. If you're that confident, we should be able to run away from them, right? I really think it's probably a good idea to run away......"

Alpha looked sternly at the docile Akira.

"It's a big no-no, they can shoot at you with their weapons, and you can't fire at them, and it's even worse if we go to the open field. And, how long are you going to run away? Even if you run away from them today, what about tomorrow? How about the day after tomorrow? And even if you can run back into town, do you think they'll suddenly get better and stop attacking you? When this happens, are you going to run away again? Will you really be able to escape from them? Are you going to run until you get killed? ”

Alpha locked his gaze on Akira, who didn't look away, looking back at Alpha. The two looked at each other for a few seconds, not saying a word. Finally, Akira's expression relaxed, as if realizing something, and it was clear that he had made up his mind.

「…… I'm going to kill myself if I run away from here, huh. Well, I see, let's fight them. ”

Akira made up her mind and stood up. There was not a trace of doubt, just now, he had been. Then Alpha smiled at him as if he wanted to give him more courage.

"Akira, you can figure it out yourself. If you can't overcome something like this, you won't be able to achieve your dream of becoming a great hunter, you know? ”

Akira smiled wryly, but there was a hint of anticipation and joy on her face.

"You're right. We also agree that will, drive and determination are my responsibility. ”

Last time Aki

A When he was about to commit suicide for disobeying Alpha's instructions, he did say that will, drive, and determination were his responsibility. He now realizes that he must prove that those words are not lies. If he can't do this, then a person like him, who has neither money nor technology, has nothing to show Alpha. Otherwise, all his words about piling up trust and accomplishments will also become meaningless. This thought alone strengthened Akira's determination.

Show his willpower, muster his ambition, and strengthen his resolve. Akira repeats these words over and over again to make herself stronger. Alpha just smiled confidently and said.

"And things other than those three things are my responsibility. Looks like it's time to show you my excellent support abilities. So leave this to me. ”

"Yes, I will count on you."

Alpha seemed pleased with Akira's reaction and smiled. After all, they won't even have room to laugh until this situation is resolved.

“…… Other than that, I never thought this would happen so quickly. It seems that when you met me, it really took a lifetime of good luck. ”

“… I think so too. ”

Akira responded with a smile from Alpha, who said in a soothing tone, still smiling fearlessly.

"Don't worry. Now that I've taken all your luck, I'll have to take good care of you. ”

"Well, thanks, that's really helpful."

Akira chuckled and gave Alpha an understated answer.

"Yes, I'm really helpful."

Alpha replied with a smile. The smile that Alpha produces with high-tech calculations is enough to calm and encourage Akira. Thus restoring his fighting spirit. Everything went according to Alpha's plan.

Kahimo sees Aki

a Feeling strange when walking into a building. It's a feeling when he knows something suspicious has happened. And now that he knew that there was an invisible person accompanying Akira, it only made him more cautious.

The boy began to move again. Haya, what about the girl? Does it look like you're guiding him there? ”

"Yes. The girl pointed to the building and led the boy in, and she went into the building with the boy. The artifact may be in that building, so what now? Let's go in too, shall we? ”

“…… No, we'll wait outside for a while. ”

"Are you sure? We might not see that boy, you know? ”

"We know the boy's face. Even if we lose him now, we can still find him if we look in the slums. So, no problem. In addition to this, we must move carefully so as not to be detected by them. And, if the boy comes out of the building, it means the building is safe. ”

"Hey, you're really too careful, you know."

Since only Haya could see the alpha, he was watching them closely. He really didn't want to miss this opportunity, so he urged Casimo to follow them. But when Caimo replied without motivation, he began to show his displeasure.

Then Cahimo issued an ultimatum.

"If you don't want to wait, you can go by yourself. After all, only you can see ghosts, and if the ghost stories are true, then you can also die. ”

"D. Don't say that. Well, well, I know I was in too much of a hurry. ”

Haya was sweating a little and smiled and dodged the suggestion.

Kahimo and Hayya stayed there for a while while observing the building. If it's just a quick search, then Aki

A should now be ready to come out of the building. But after waiting for a long time, I still didn't see Akira come out of the building. Therefore, Caimo began to get angry.

"He didn't come out. Is the boy dead or what's wrong? Or was he so preoccupied with finding the relics that he didn't pay attention to the time? ”

As for Haya, who has always been dissatisfied, he is also approaching the limit.

"Say, Kahimo. Let's stop low-key and search inside the building. If the boy died, then there was no point in waiting for him here. We're just wasting time, you know? ”

“… You are right. However, there are dangerous monsters in this area, and since we may find expensive relics, let's not let our guard down, okay? ”

"I know, I know."

Seeing Haya's excited look, Cahimo looked serious. Despite all his warnings, Hayya was still not careful.

Cahemo stopped at the entrance to the abandoned building.

"Haya, I'll stay here so you don't mistake me for the boy. You continue to search for buildings. If you find a boy or girl, or if anything happens, please contact me immediately. Also, come back in an hour, whatever, okay? ”

"Okay. What should I do if I find the boy? Should I drag him here? ”

"If the situation allows, you can do this. If he fights back or you suspect him, kill him. If you find something wrong with him, then kill him. Don't let him fool you and kill him when he takes the opportunity. ”

Haya was amazed at all the orders given by Cahimo to "kill him".

"Kill him, you say? Are you sure we don't need to interrogate him? ”

"We can't say for sure if he'll surrender without a fight. So we can at least interrogate him only after shooting him in the leg or arm. And be careful not to be lured by that girl, maybe they've got a surprise attack in store for you. ”

"Why are you so careful with him? He's just a kid, you know? ”

Haya felt a little strange to see that Cahimo was so careful with the boy, so he smiled to ease the tension. But his laughter was gone, and Casimo continued to stare at him with a serious expression.

"We're talking about demons, right? It's possible that the boy was lured here just to be killed by the girl, just like that ghost story. I'm careful because I'm worried about you, you know? But I won't force you, you can do whatever you want. ”

"Wait, wait, if it's true, then are you really going to let me in alone?"

"You're the only one who can see that girl. So no one can do that. Now go. If you think you're in danger, get back here as soon as possible. I'll be waiting for you here. Maybe she did bring us here, so I have to make sure the entrance, or it's going to be bad, do you understand now? ”

"Y-yes, I see."

Hayya nervously walked into the building. Casimo looked at him and thought for a moment.

[I'm sorry, I still suspect that this is all that kid's trap, not to mention that if you can find a lot of relics inside, you may betray me. Moreover, there have been many dead victims in the past, which is why it is a ghost story. So it must be dangerous inside. Do your best there. As for me, I'll see what is going on before I go in. I hope it's just an unnecessary fear, though. ]

Cahimo snickered as he sent Haya away.

—

Akira waits inside, ready to meet Cahimo and Saya. His expression was serious, but the nervousness was clearly visible from above. He tried to calm himself down by taking deep breaths.

Alpha had already told him about the plan. With a confident smile, she assures him that he just needs to follow her plan to win.

Aki

a also believes this, and it is not just a blind faith. After all, in the past, he had also followed Alpha's instructions and was able to take down weapon dogs with just a pistol. Now he tries to believe in Alpha in his own words and build trust between them.

"Akira. They entered the building. One of them was on standby near the entrance, and the other was searching the building. They don't seem to be intending to interrogate you for the sake of the artifact, they are going to kill you. That's why we don't stop ourselves either. ”

“… Good. ”

Although he was intrigued by how Alpha got this information, he quickly dismissed it as an unnecessary idea. If he thinks of something unnecessary, then he will make the wrong move, which will cause him to not be able to follow the Alpha's instructions accurately, increasing his chances of being killed. That's why he executes Alpha's instructions and plans as quickly and accurately as possible. That's the only thing he should be thinking about. So he made up his mind and refocused.

To encourage Akira even more, Alpha showed an invincible smile.

"Let's start now, are you ready?"

"Yes."

Akira nodded firmly. There wasn't even a hint of doubt or fear on his face. All his fears and doubts were pushed aside by his determination.

Alpha smiled with satisfaction, and the next moment, she disappeared from Akira's sight, just as they had planned. After saying that, Akira took a deep breath, her face became serious, and she ran towards the position mentioned by Alpha.

—

Just as Haya was carefully searching the building, his face suddenly changed, and he saw the girl in white in the corridor, it was Alpha. He saw the girl slowly disappear into the depths of the hallway, and without thinking much about it, he ran in her direction. But he inexplicably remembered Caimo's warning, stopped himself, and immediately contacted Cahimo.

"Kahimo, I just saw that girl."

"Is she with that boy?"

"No, she's alone. She's deep in the hallway, and I'm going to chase her. ”

"That boy might be nearby, be careful."

"Okay, I'll do it."

Haya starts chasing Alpha, but he can't catch up with her because he moves slowly because he is careful of Akira. But at least, he didn't leave Alpha.

He moved slowly, confirming the safety around him, and then moved again. As he continued to do so, his expression began to relax. With that, his vigilance also relaxed. Every time he looked at Alpha, he admired her beautiful figure more and more, and as a result, he spent less time looking around.

From the large opening on the back of that gorgeous white dress, he could see Alpha's fair skin. Her silky hair grew so long that it almost touched the ground. With each turn, Haya caught a glimpse of her blessed chest and beautiful face. Her unique beauty combined with a flamboyant outfit soon eluded Hayya's heart. He really wanted to get close to her face and feel her soft skin.

Alpha's seductive back is right in front of you. Unable to suppress his desires, he let his guard down and quickened his pace. When his face contorted into a pervert face, he had already thrown the word caution out the window.

Following her for a while, Hayya finally catches up with Alpha. He grinned at Alpha, who had just stood at the end of the hallway. He saw Alpha open his mouth, as if to say something to him.

Hayya tries to hear what Alpha is saying, but he can't hear anything. He was a little confused about it, but Alpha just smiled and kept moving his lips.

Alpha suddenly looked to her side, as if she had noticed something, and Haya was tempted to follow suit, but through the glassless window, he did not see anything unusual. Just as his expression was even more confused, suddenly a gunshot came from behind him.

He heard 3 gunshots. The first bullet went through his armpit. The second bullet hit the floor where he was standing. A third bullet swept through his right ear, tearing off some of the flesh.

It was Akira who shot him. After being seduced by Alpha, Aki

a shot him from the hallway in the opposite direction to the direction he was facing.

What just happened, Haiya was stunned for a few seconds. But then he refocused because of the pain coming from his ear and began to fight back. The sound of gunfire kept echoing as he kept shooting. Countless bullets landed on the floor, ceiling, and walls. But when he was stunned, Aki

A has hidden herself. So his counterattack was just a waste of his bullets.

Cahimo's voice came from the communicator.

"Haye!! What happened?!! ”

Haya shouted, breathing heavily.

"I—I'm that boy!! That boy just shot me!! That damn boy!! He almost caught me!! ”

"He almost caught you? Although you are careful, are you shot at close range? Tell me everything!! And continue to be aware of your surroundings!! ”

Hayya tried to calm herself down and began to explain what had happened. Hearing his explanation, Caimo got angry and began to scold him.

"You're saying you almost got killed for chasing that girl? Are you stupid or something? Didn't I remind you again and again to beware of her? ”

"Uh-huh, no way, that girl is really pretty, you know!"

"Well, so you're saying she's pretty enough to die for, right? No wonder it turns into a ghost story. ”

Hayya's hasty excuse was not enough to bring Kahimo back to his senses. Casimo also knew very well that now was not a good time to start talking about such inconsequential things, so he simply interrupted the topic and changed the subject.

"So, is that girl still alive?"

"Yes, she's just standing here. She seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't hear it. ”

"Well, that's to be expected. The only information your eyes can retrieve from the web is images. It can't retrieve any audio. To be on the safe side, check if you can touch her. Who knows, maybe it's actually a physical entity that I can't see. After all, I don't usually see active autonomous dolls with optical camouflage capabilities, but your eyes should be able to see them. So try to stroke her. ”

Haya reached for Alpha's chest. But his hand could not touch the blessed chest, but his hand passed through Alpha's chest and entered Alpha's image. Haya was visibly disappointed.

"I can't touch her. It's just an image. Not being able to feel the amazing chest in front of you is a kind of torture in itself...... Wait a minute, this is the image of such a beautiful girl. You can make a lot of money with this picture alone...... Since I can see her, I'll bypass the output of this image and ......"

"Now is not that time!! You'd better keep yourself!! ”

Kahimo cursed and locked Haya in jail.

"Next, try to get her to raise her right hand."

Haya asked Alpha to raise his hand, and Alpha stopped the movement of his mouth and raised his right hand.

"Oh? She just raised her right hand as I told her. ”

"Oh well. Tell her to point in the direction of someone other than you. Next is the direction of the boy near you. ”

"What the hell is this order?"

"Just do it!"

"Oh, okay."

Hayya did as he was told, and Alpha gestured to the floor,

"Haya, how's it going? Is that girl pointing at me? ”

"Wait a minute...... According to my automatic map, I'm here and you're there, so ...... Oh!! It's really pointing at you!! This girl is so talented!! ”

Haya was surprised and surprised. But then Caimo responded loudly.

"Holy!!"

"W-What's wrong?"

"It's a trap! That kid already knows where we are! He probably asked the girl to point out the other people around him and found out about us! That girl is just a bait!! The boy must have let her wander around the building and lead you to a place where he could easily sneak up! Now that girl has lured you to this kind of place!! ”

Haya suddenly shouted angrily.

"That, that kid!! How dare he look down on me!! I'm going to kill him!! ”

"That girl could be a guide or something from the ruins. Since it obeys your orders, I believe it will only obey anyone's orders. Let that girl take you to where the boy is and kill him, do you need my help too? ”

"It's okay! As long as he doesn't catch me off guard, I can kill a little boy like him alone! After all, he seems to be just an amateur with only a pistol on him! ”

"Be careful! If he was a master, you would have killed yourself in that raid a long time ago, you know? ”

"I know. You just have to watch out for the boy and make sure he doesn't run away. ”

Hayya then yelled at Alpha.

"Tell me where the boy is!!"

Haya walked behind Alpha again. But this time, instead of being captivated by the beautiful figure, he was so full of anger that her seductive figure did not divert his attention at all.

—

Akira, who hurried to the next predetermined location, heard Alpha's voice.

"Unfortunately, that was a failure. Although it would be great if you could finish him there. ”

He couldn't see the alpha, but he could hear her. The same was true when he launched a surprise attack on Haya. He listened carefully to Alpha's signal and made him jump into the hallway and shoot Haya .

The corners where he hid, the timing of his sneak attacks, the number of shots, the speed of his shots, all of this was done according to Alpha's instructions. Aki

a Do your best to follow every command of Alpha as accurately as possible.

But even then, he could not defeat the enemy. Akira's face became solemn, revealing a hint of regret.

“…… That's useless, huh. Maybe I should aim for something better. ”

He muttered this sentence, and couldn't help but think in his heart, as long as he took a little more risk and aimed a little better, the enemy would be dead. Akira had no suspicion of Alpha's instructions at all. After all, the fact is that he is able to shoot from behind the enemy's defenselessness. In short, it was the perfect surprise attack. But even then, it won't do the job. If he thought about the reason, there was nothing but bad goals.

But then Alpha responded with a rather harsh scolding.

"No, you shouldn't. If you spend more time aiming better, even if it's just a moment, your chances of getting killed by a counterattack will skyrocket. What you've done is already the best thing to do. ”

In preparation for Akira's surprise attack on Haya, Alpha considered their respective equipment, skills, and habits. As a result, if Akira takes more than he instructs, his chances of a successful sneak attack plummet. So, she issued a strong warning to Akira.

“… I get it. As I thought, I was really weak. ”

Although he has done his best, it is not enough. Once again, he remembered how weak he was, how oppressed he was. Alpha, who knew this, said to Akira in a strong and gentle voice.

"Everybody starts out as a weakling. Aki

A, you've done your best, and that's all that matters. I think it's remarkable that someone who is much stronger than me has just launched a surprise attack and was able to retreat safely. As for your current lack of skills, you can train as hard as you can in the future to improve. Even if you say you've had enough, I'll keep training you, so you don't have to worry. ”

Hearing what Alpha said that was so obvious to him, she acted as if she had survived the encounter, and Akira was able to pull herself together and squeeze out a forced smile.

“…… You're right, I'll count on you. ”

"Leave it to me. Moreover, from the raid just now, I also confirmed the enemy's equipment and thinking. I also thoroughly analyzed his habits. You should be able to kill him next time. ”

"Really? You're really good, you know. ”

"I told you before that I have a high level of ability in these areas, don't I? Now, in order to get him next time, you need to be very close to him, so be prepared. ”

"I see, don't worry, I'm ready."

He knows very well that what he should do is to give it his all for the next move. He rushed to the next position. His determination could be seen in his face.

—

Hayya's attention wasn't distracted by Alpha, as he was angry. Keeping an eye on Akira, he walked deeper into the building. But as time went on, his vigilance began to relax again. Since nothing unusual happened, he began to calm down and relax. Moreover, as long as Alpha is guiding him, he has to look at Alpha's back. So, once again, he was attracted by the beautiful back. Even if he tried to look away, it only made him more and more obsessed by the stunning scenery. As a result, he is no longer alert to his surroundings. And, since he consciously tried not to look at the alpha, he didn't care about anything in front of him.

Even he himself began to feel that things were getting worse and worse. His attention is divided between the distractions in front of him and observing his surroundings. Other than these two things, he had no room to turn his attention to other things. This time, when he looked around and looked back at Alpha, she was already standing near an intersection in front of him, pointing in one direction.

[…… The boy was over there, huh! ]

Hayya guessed that Alpha was pointing at Aki

aHiding place. He ran and stopped in front of the intersection because he judged himself to be safe at that distance. He poked out half of his chest from the crossroads, pulled the trigger on his finger, and continued to shoot at Akira's possible location.

Gunshots echoed through the hallways. Most high-velocity bullets land on floors, walls, and ceilings. Countless pieces of shrapnel ricocheted out of the hallway, hitting all the blind spots in the hallway.

Just as Haya was about to replace the empty bullets, Alpha lowered his hand. Hayya noticed this and interpreted it as a sign that his goal had been eliminated.

"Well, he's dead, huh!?"

Relieved to think that she had won, Haya walked into the hallway without changing her bullets, trying to confirm that she had killed Akira. But all he could see was a corridor that had been destroyed by a missile. The face that was originally relieved suddenly became solemn.

"Hey, that boy isn't here, you know what?!!"

Haya yelled at Alpha as she walked back to Alpha. But Alpha just smiled and moved his lips. Unable to hear her, Haya yelled at her angrily again.

"Boy!! Show me that damn boy!! ”

Alpha pointed in the direction behind Hya again, and without thinking about it, he glanced back, but there was no one.

Suddenly, another gunshot rang out. Hayya knew he had been hit by a pain coming from his abdomen. He was stunned by the shock, which gave the attacker a chance, and then the attacker fired multiple rounds at him. Although he was only wearing cheap armor, it was enough for him not to be mortally wounded, and the bullets could not penetrate at all. But it was enough to disappoint him. He fell to the ground, screaming in rage.

Haya lay on the ground writhing in pain, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

[…… I got shot?! From where? Although I didn't see anyone!! Only that girl...... Wait, that girl shot me!? Impossible!! She's just an image!! There's no way she could shoot me......]

Hayya was perplexed by the impossible situation he was in. But when Aki

As A walked out of Alpha's interior, his confusion was quickly cleared.

[He's inside her, so I can't see him, huh!?] ]

Akira clenched her gun in both hands and approached Saya. He raised his gun and aimed it at Hayya's head.

Hayya gritted her teeth and endured the impending pain and pointed the gun at Aki

A and pulled the trigger. But nothing happened, and he remembered that the bullet in the gun was empty.

Before dying, Haya used all the brainpower he wouldn't normally use in order to survive. Then, just before he died, when everything was moving slowly, he realized something.

[…… So it was a trap from the start, right? ]

When Akira unleashes a surprise attack, Alpha asks him to take his eyes off Akira. She stopped in an unfamiliar spot and pointed her finger at him so that he could waste all his bullets. She no longer pointed her finger at him, lest he stop changing the cartridges. She looked at him and smiled at him to lower his vigilance.

Once he realizes that everything about her, her clothes, the hallways she lured him into, the speed of movement as she guided him, and all the other little things, were all about killing him. In the short time he's been alive, he's been thinking about all these useless things. He just wasted his precious time and brain power on these meaningless things before he died. In this way, Haya spent all the time he was away.

Haya muttered to herself and smiled wryly at fear.

“…… Evil ...... Ghost ......"

After that, Akira's bullet pierced his head and ended his life. The last thing he saw was Alpha as she approached and hugged Aki

A merciless smile.

Cahimo's voice came from the communicator of the grass night.

"Haya, what's wrong? You finished that boy? ”

But then Alpha warned Akira.

"You shouldn't answer that question. If you do, he will notice the situation. ”

Akira hurriedly stopped herself from making any noise and nodded.

"Let's get his gear off quickly. With this, we will have more weapons. ”

Aki

A took Hayya's gear. Although it doesn't suit him well, at least the equipment is better now than it was when there were only guns before.

"Next, throw his body out of that window."

Ming was taken aback by this unexpected order. But Alpha just smiled at him as usual.

—

Cahimo, who was standing on the first floor of the abandoned building, more or less understood what was going on, and his face became gloomy.

[Make no mistake, I hear gunshots.] After that, he stopped responding. This means that he is at least in a state where he cannot answer me, or that he may even be dead. Did you do something stupid and be caught off guard again? No, judging by the sound, at least there was a shootout between them, right? ]

Casimo didn't know whether to go and see the situation or continue to stand there.

[If I go to check on them.] Maybe with a bit of luck, you can monopolize the ruins. I can also sell his equipment to make money. However, there is a good chance that we were actually lured here, the question is, how far are we going to be lured? What if the legendary relic doesn't actually exist? What if the boy was actually luring hunters who could see the girl in order to kill them and then take their gear? What if the building was actually his hunting ground? If this is true, then it is dangerous to consider the boy as a newbie...... Wait, am I thinking too much here? ]

Legendary relics and his dead companions. Both of these factors made Cahimo even more skeptical. The thought told him to run away, and he couldn't help but look towards the exit of the building.

But at this moment, he saw Haiya's body fall. Hayya's body was stripped of its equipment. There was a loud bang when it landed. Taken aback, Cahemo approached Haya's body. But before he could walk out of the building, he stopped.

[The boy takes Haya's gear.] He was still alive and deliberately threw the body outside. He knows where I am......]

Cahimo looked up and looked up with a horrible expression. He could see that the boy who had killed Hayya was running towards him, his pistol aimed at him.

“…… That damn boy! ”

His opponent was just a small child, and the words patience and vigilance had disappeared from Casimo's mind. He changed his mind and set out to kill Akira. When he took out the information terminal to check Haiya's location, he saw Haiya's indicator light moving. This indicates Aki

aOwns Hayya's information terminal.

[I know, he's upstairs.] It would be nice if he misunderstood that he was the only one who knew someone else's location. I could still outsmart him then. ]

Casimo chuckled and rushed into the building.

—

Akira received another instruction from Alpha to designate the next surprise location.

"Akira, take out the knife you didn't sell back then."

"This?"

The knife he took out was a relic of the old world that he first found in the ruins of Katsubara City. Its blade looks blunt and looks as if it can't cut anything.

"Yes, that's it. There's something poking at the bottom of that knife, right? Grab your gun and go straight through it. ”

Akira stuck her knife in the ground and prepared her gun. As he brought the gun closer to the knife, he asked Alpha.

「…… I'm sorry to ask this, it'll break if you shoot, right?"

"Yes, it's going to break."

"It feels like such a waste. This is also a relic of the old world, right? You should be able to make a lot of money selling this......"

"Treat it as a necessary expense and overcome it. Or, I have another way to overcome this situation that is triple dangerous, so which one would you choose? ”

Looking at Alpha's confident smile, Jing had no choice but to close her mouth and pull the trigger.

—

Kahimo checked his terminal again, looking for Hayya's location. Hayya's indicator stood in the same place for 10 minutes. Aki

A could be there waiting to jump on him, or it could be some kind of trap. Cahimo pondered both possibilities as he cautiously walked deeper into the building.

Kahimo discovers that Haya's information terminal is dropped in the middle of the hallway. Then he took it with a look of displeasure.

“…… Did he leave it here because he knew I could use this to track his location? ”

If he didn't realize that Cahimo could track his location through that information terminal, then Cahimo could still surprise him. But if Akira finds out that Kusaya didn't make a wrong turn and walks straight to his position, then he will leave the information terminal as a decoy and prepare for a surprise attack. If that's the case, Casimo was thinking about predicting Ming's surprise attack that caught him off guard. Under such circumstances, it was really unexpected that he could have such an idea.

Casimo's face darkened. He knew that it would not be easy to shoot him in this place. But even so, he couldn't clear his bad feelings. On the contrary, it will only get worse. The enemy must have launched a surprise attack. His instincts tell him he's right, and in fact, he's actually right.

in the next instance. Casimo's body splits in two. His armor was completely useless. As his upper and lower bodies rolled to the ground, he could see his blood and organs spilling. Cahemo was shocked by the pain. At the very moment of his last life, he noticed that a large incision appeared in the wall beside him. He understood that something had cut him in half through the wall. But before he could finish thinking about what had cut him, he took his last breath.

—

On the other side of the cutting wall, with a swing of the knife, Jing froze in place.

As Alpha had commanded, he immediately swung the knife sideways after breaking the bottom of the knife with his gun. And as he did so, a blue light shot out, slicing through Cahimo and the wall in front of him. The knife could not reach the wall where Akira was, but even so, it left a five-meter-wide cut mark on the wall. From the 1 centimeter-thick opening in the wall, he could barely see what was on the other side of the wall. Smoke came out of the incision and there was a burning smell. Immediately after, the blade shook and turned to dust.

Akira was startled and stood in place with the remains of the knife. Alpha beside him smiled and nodded.

"Well, you kill him. We're safe now. ”

“…… Uh, ah, yes, I see. ”

The Alpha acts as if they've just accomplished a small thing. Akira stood there blank, her mind unable to keep up. Then he looked back at the knife that had caused the situation, and all that was left was the hilt.

"Alpha, what the hell is this knife?"

"Well, even if you ask me, all I know is that it's just a knife from the old world. It was meant to be used by the common people, and it was sold for free. ”

"Do the civilians of the Old World need a knife that can cut through walls?"

"It's not like its primary use is to cut walls, you know. It's just that because they've been aiming for better sharpness and durability, they somehow end up with something that can even cut through walls. You won't be able to do something like this if you don't breach the safety device. You did destroy the main body of it, remember? In this way, you can gather the maximum killing power. By doing so, it will be able to ignore its limitations and increase its cutting capacity using the maximum storage power that should normally be used to maintain its durability. If we don't, then it won't be able to cut through the wall with the people behind it. ”

「…… But that's dangerous enough in itself, isn't it?"

"As long as you use it correctly, it's a safe tool. But since we use it for such a purpose, that's why it looks dangerous to you. But that's to be expected, right? ”

"Well, you're right, I understand now."

Although he thought that what Alpha said was indeed right, he couldn't help but think that the knife was a dangerous tool. And the thought of such a thing being freely distributed in the old world made him admire the old world even more.

Alpha giggled, as if teasing Akira.

"So now, are you happy with my support? Even though we had to destroy the relics of the old world, we managed to defeat 2 hunters who were far superior to you. You might really appreciate having me, right? ”

Contrary to Alpha, who said it like a joke, Jing nodded seriously.

"Yes, thanks to you, I was able to survive this situation. Thank you. I'm sorry I haven't fully trusted you until now. ”

Alpha returned to normal and smiled gently.

"There is no need to worry about that. I'm glad it's enough for you to trust me. So, what do you want to do now? Should we go back and look for the ruins as we originally planned? Or, should we go home? … Akira, are you tired? It's not efficient to keep pushing forward when you're tired. There's no need to push yourself too hard. ”

Akira looked embarrassed.

“…… Frankly. I'm really tired right now, so I want to go home. But we haven't gotten anything yet. If I want to take the rest of the money from the trading center, I should take something home......"

"In that case, we'll just search for this place to see how. If I help you, we should be able to at least find some relics that other hunters missed. ”

Then, Aki

A decides to follow Alpha's advice and only look around that place before going home. He could only find a few handkerchiefs. But these handkerchiefs are in such a bad condition that ordinary hunters will ignore them. Even Akira, if it weren't for Alpha telling him that they were relics of the old world, he would have ignored them. But even so, he decided to take them with him and ended the search. Then he took as much as he could from the bodies of Kahimo and Haya and returned to the city.

Except for the bodies of Kahimo and Hayya, the building was empty. Hunters fighting each other and not returning home are commonplace in the eastern regions.

After returning to the city safely, Akira went straight to the exchange center and formed a long line in front of one of the counters. Just like last time, that Nojima guy was the one standing behind the counter.

Nojima remembers Akira clearly. But instead of responding to Akira immediately, he acted as if Akira was just another stranger to him.