I have a question that I’ve been pondering while looking at various counterexamples.
If the characteristics or settings of Neo Haven aren’t always applied 100% as is, what becomes of the probabilistic encounter with the Tracker tied to my birth?
If I clean up traces completely, would that mean there’s no realistic connection left, and thus nothing would happen?
Or does it mean that even if I cut off the tail entirely, some coincidence will cause us to meet in some way?
For a few months after becoming part of this chaotic world, my dealings with MegaCorp had merely involved dabbling with Paradise, so I felt relieved… but it seems I was closer to the latter.
“…Damn.”
An automatic curse escaped my lips before I had a chance to filter it through my brain.
I wish they had communicated the details or the scale of their forces. The person outside finished a short self-introduction but didn’t say anything further.
As if… that alone would be enough explanation.
Thump… thump.
My chest felt heavy as if something was weighing on it, and soon the melted emotions within me fueled the pounding of my heart. It was loud enough that even Zero beside me might hear, let alone this uninvited guest.
Despite my strong desire to turn away from reality and ignore the problem, I also felt a sense of finally facing something inevitable.
I couldn’t avoid encountering it forever. If this game were easy enough that I could complete it without ever seeing one of the major factions, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble.
To be honest, I wasn’t even sure what expression I was wearing right now.
I might look pale, or perhaps completely expressionless.
But as the blood flow returned to my limbs and my narrowed vision returned to normal, I noticed the surrounding scenery more than my current state. And above all, the bewildered mother and daughter were approaching.
“Pull yourself together, you idiot. You’re going to get those people who’ve been helping you wrapped up in this too…?!”
“…Zero? I’m sorry, but I need you to bear some hardship. I’m going to break through head-on. It won’t be about escaping safely; it’s more like we’re relocating the battlefield.”
– That’s quite a peculiar thing to say. If you’re worried about damage, I can work harder to prevent such a thing from happening. –
“Your words are so smooth!”
How reassuring.
Although it was obvious they were trying to alleviate my anxiety, their blatant confidence made it seem like their lies could be believed as truth.
Click!
I swiftly drew the Peacemaker from its holster. I was a bit worried since it had been a while, but as my thumb instinctively flicked off the safety, I realized I had become acclimated to this place.
The weight I felt in my hand translated into a sense of stability under my feet.
As my footing solidified, I unconsciously regained the calmness I had lost out of impatience.
…I can do this.
The enemy’s strength is unknown. It’s clear that we’re significantly outnumbered, and a struggle far beyond what we’ve faced so far is expected. However, it’s not just a matter of faith; what’s at stake is our lives, and with few burdens on our side, it’s clear we have the advantage of speed.
“Phew…!”
I fixed my gaze ahead, lowering my posture.
I tensed my body like a bowstring pulled tight, ready to follow Zero out the door. I had no confidence I could keep up with this agile robot, but… somehow, it should be fine.
Nevertheless, what stopped us from bursting out, even at the slightest trigger like the door opening, was Schneider’s seemingly indifferent admonition.
“…Don’t think about the area in front of your house. Quietly make your way out the back exit. Bloodstains will be hard to erase later.”
“Pardon?”
I flinched and asked back, but he simply said that Sylvia would guide me to the location while adjusting his clothes, casually combing his hair back with his remaining hand. As if preparing to welcome guests.
Setting aside the fact that it’s perfectly normal for a home to have hidden emergency exits, it’s absolutely not the case that they wouldn’t charge in just because we sneak away… I hadn’t expected to receive help this way.
Moreover, what exactly were we going to do with two non-combatants needing protection? …The answer was surprisingly simple.
“Fight? I have no idea what you mean. I’m merely cooperating as a good self-employed person in the corporate investigation. Asking about things I can’t really recall or where unknown individuals are… Well, if I tried to recall it forcibly, it could just slow us down.”
“……”
I stared blankly at the retired mercenary who was awkwardly coughing and muttering, “I’m getting older; my head isn’t as sharp as it used to be.”
I’m not the only one who tried to ram into a MegaCorp employee head-on, but perhaps because he’s a veteran, he’s quite adept at social skills.
Above all else, the coolness of finishing a conversation while I was contemplating how to express my gratitude is commendable.
“Ahem…! If you’re worried, come visit and have a drink later. …It’ll quiet down quite a bit.”
I genuinely think that any middle-aged man with such nonchalance should be someone everyone looks up to. After all, which spoiled players were calling such a noble figure an eccentric old man just because they had a low favorability rating…?!
‘…Thank you. In many ways.’
I gave a slight bow toward Schneider, who waved his hand as if it would become strange if we took too long.
Not liking the idea of abruptly parting ways, I waved a hand at Mary, who looked sulky and teary-eyed, and Zero and I hurried our steps.
I had become accustomed to an alert posture as soon as the guest arrived.
Although the situation was anything but ordinary, the sight of the little princess not throwing a tantrum and the housewife smiling calmly as she headed toward the storeroom reminded me once again that these people were also partially immersed in the underworld.
If we truly find ourselves on the wanted list or as escapees, it would be hard to guarantee a next meeting, so let’s just be grateful for the consideration and focus on safely getting out.
Splash…!
“Oh, right.”
We entered the storeroom that had various jelly-like substances scattered around.
I had momentarily forgotten why such foreign substances overflowed in a house managed thoroughly by two housewives… Was this the result of playing with Mei? Our princess must feel quite unjust.
“…Anastasia? You need to shoot the third handgun on the right. Got it?”
“The third gun on the right…? Huh?”
What kind of code was that? A metaphoric expression? Or perhaps… an unexpected riddle?
As I unconsciously repeated her serious tone aloud, I asked a question, but she shut her mouth as if that was the end of the secret talk. To begin with, I couldn’t speak loudly because of the faint sounds starting to trickle in from the entrance.
“What’s happening…? If it’s a request for store rental, you could have done that online….”
“…There should have been a female mercenary staying here. The description is….”
As a hand timidly wriggled through the gap in the shelf toward her, the side wall slid open without any sound.
What was revealed was… a sort of weapon vault.
All kinds of firearms, bladed weapons, bulletproof and stab-proof vests, as well as a credibly outdated credit smart watch too; this secret room was undoubtedly a space likely found in the home of a seasoned mercenary.
But why was that? Didn’t we decide not to fight?
“……”
Sylvia waved her hand, urging me to move quickly. That gesture… does it mean to go inside?
Not wanting to yield easily to Enema’s persistence, I complied and entered, following her lead.
Swoosh… Click.
The door closed naturally behind us, leaving only Zero and me inside.
It was probably not the intention to leave us hiding here until they return. Schneider’s farewell was also there, and the messy storeroom being cleaned would surely raise suspicion.
If so, then it means there’s an action I need to take here….
– Ahsa, would it be okay to borrow some equipment? I need to enhance my inadequate long-range weaponry. –
“…No stealing, damn it!”
I held back the fool who was showing more interest in the scrap than in the situation and scanned the fantasies of a man’s display.
The bladed weapons alone included a tactical fixed knife, a karambit, and a curved kukri, pleasing to the eye. Firearms were well-stocked, from small revolvers and automatic pistols to large caliber heavy weaponry.
Hmm… No matter how I strained my sight to observe, all I could see was a paranoid looking hidden armory.
“I’m sure it was the third handgun on the right…?”
In the world, there are things you can decide on your own and things you must follow those who guide you, but this seemed to fall into the latter category.
I picked up the handgun and turned it around curiously.
From the information sent by the cyberware, it appeared to be a standard model of the Hey Long 9mm.
It was hard to believe this was a means to resolve the situation.
“…Hey. When you say to shoot the handgun, does that mean to pull the trigger? You’re not telling me to blindly shoot and break things, right?”
– …Miss Sylvia’s expression was somewhat ambiguous, but I don’t think the instruction was to cause destruction. –
I was relieved to receive a serious response to my serious pondering. Honestly, I wasn’t sure which was the right choice, firing in this confined space risking ricochet or smashing it.
So, I aimed as far away as possible at a corner and pulled the trigger.
Tick!
Whirring—…!
“Oh…?!”
I experienced the rotating secret room I had only ever seen in old spy or superhero movies.
Wow, this isn’t a real gun but a remote control made in the shape of a firearm. The trigger is that button.
As the sound of small gears activated, the room spun 180 degrees, revealing a staircase leading down instead of an entrance blocked by walls. Such a gimmick is always welcomed.
– This is quite a well-crafted object. To scan the internal structure roughly would be difficult to distinguish. –
I admired the dual structure that concealed a makeshift weapon vault behind a believable facade and hid additional devices inside to secure an escape route, entering the dark corridor.
With Zero’s light to guide us, we walked for about a minute, I suppose?
Since it would have been difficult to conduct major renovations in the residential area, the exit of the underground road appeared quite quickly.
Clunk! Considering the sound of cars passing by near my head, just when I thought we were escaping a residential complex in the shortest distance, we lifted a ceiling door and emerged.
The first thing that caught my eye was the plastic bag rolling across the floor with the wind and other small pieces of trash.
Of course. The end of a secret passage leads to an alley devoid of life, overflowing with the atmosphere. Though the foul odor is somewhat problematic.
“Ugh!”
Confirming I was fully out, Zero flipped back the door that looked like a manhole cover.
…Step.
Well, unfortunately, from now on, I’m back to being a wanderer.
As they say, it’s darkest underneath the lamp, maybe hiding out in Neo Haven is one way to go? Or perhaps moving my base to an entirely different city is also an option….
Step, creak…!
“Damn, I didn’t want any part of this to feel like a movie.”
I muttered a low curse. In fact, I had a gut feeling when the door-closing Zero didn’t flinch and was staring at the end of the alley. If it were a Tracker sent after me, it would be hard to shake them off like this.
And when the laboratory was attacked, four Trackers had initially come rushing. With time passing, I didn’t think they’d only send out more incompetent forces.
“…The footsteps were too loud for me to ignore on purpose.”
Damn it. It seemed that Schneider’s lie was not caught; it was simply that they followed the sound of movement.
The name and classification of the illness didn’t lie; once combat ensued, no matter how far the characters were, they would follow like pests.
“So, what important matter do you have that you abandon your promise and bring along a housekeeper robot dressed in an apron…? Looks like you might have some orders to follow.”
“Um….”
Our gazes intersected slightly due to the rude remark from the foe.
I hadn’t realized until now, but he was still wearing a cleaning uniform decorated with floral patterns. Really… how cunning.
– Oh dear, I apologize. I omitted the return process to follow the outdoor command. –
“Hmph, be a bit careful.”
The mechanical arm reached for his waist as if he had made a big mistake. Clumsily, he started to untie the knot he had tied.
FLAP!
The fabric piece hurled toward the Tracker’s face.
A bullet and a blade viciously tore the apron apart while aiming for the enemy’s neck behind it.
