Rebuild world volume 7, p.1
Rebuild World: Volume 7, page 1
Table of Contents
Cover
Illustrations
Chapter 191: More Visitors
Chapter 192: Cause and Effect
Chapter 193: Akira and Hikaru
Chapter 194: A Conversation at the Bar
Chapter 195: Monster Culling
Chapter 196: Another Unforeseen Development
Chapter 197: When Strength Is Obvious at a Glance
Chapter 198: The Unwelcome Hunter
Chapter 199: Hikaru’s Blunder
Chapter 200: Eastward
Chapter 201: The Swarm
Chapter 202: The High-Rankers
Chapter 203: Zegelt City
Chapter 204: Sakashita Heavy Industries
Chapter 205: Shirou
Chapter 206: A Perpetual State of Emergency
Chapter 207: A Four-Way Struggle
Chapter 208: Assailants
Chapter 209: Superhuman
Chapter 210: The Merit of Your Name
Chapter 211: To the Victor Go the Spoils
Bonus High Res Color Illustrations
About J-Novel Club
Copyright
Chapter 191: More Visitors
With their respective goals and desires on the line, Akira and Yumina had fought each other to the death, and Akira had won.
The boy had found killing necessary to survive the back alleys of the slums. And ever since escaping his old life and becoming a hunter, the number of those he had killed—whether monsters or humans—had continued to climb.
In his old slum days, he’d had nothing to speak of—now, among other things, he had a fit, muscular body, clean clothes, and a roof over his head. And he no longer had to worry about where his next meal was going to come from. He owned powerful gear and weaponry to protect himself and had earned an unimaginable sum of money. And he’d met someone he’d absolutely never wanted to see die—someone he’d certainly never wanted to kill.
Yet in the end, he’d slain her too and survived once more.
At first, he’d tried not to grieve for her. What right did he have to be sad, when he himself had ended her life? How arrogant would that be? But when he’d woken up in the hospital, Shizuka had embraced him and given him permission to cry, telling him it was okay to mourn.
So Akira had bawled in her arms, mourning the loss of his special someone from the bottom of his heart. It no longer mattered that he’d been the one to kill her—losing a loved one was tragic all the same. This firsthand experience and understanding was yet another thing Akira had gained from winning that fight.
Still, many more battles lay ahead. And Akira would continue to gain, learn, and experience even more that he hadn’t been able to in the slums—as long as he kept surviving.
◆
When he could cry no more, Akira sighed deeply in Shizuka’s arms. Noticing his tears had finally stopped, she gently released him and stepped away. Then she smiled—he looked calmer. He would probably be fine now.
“Um...” he began, embarrassed by his behavior. “Th-Thank you. I...feel a whole lot better, actually.”
“You’re very welcome. I can tell you’re in a much better mood now. Well then, I should probably be going. I’d like to stick around a little longer and chat some more, but visiting hours are almost over already, it looks like. Time really flew, huh?”
Then Akira realized he’d been clinging to Shizuka and crying for longer than he thought. He gave her a stiff, awkward smile to hide his bashfulness. Seeing right through him, she found his reaction amusing—but also reassuring. He wasn’t trying to cover up his sorrow or act tough. Most likely, he hadn’t completely recovered from Yumina’s death yet, but if he was able to smile like that, at least he was now looking forward instead of backward.
Thank goodness, Shizuka thought, glad that she had been able to play a part in helping him and grateful for the opportunity to do so.
“Now be sure to rest,” she instructed. “I mean it. When I see you back at my store, I want you to be in tip-top shape. Understand?”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am. You got it!”
Shizuka gave him one last smile and returned his nod before leaving the room. Once she was gone, Akira felt Alpha’s gaze on him.
What are you staring at me for?
Hm? Oh, one sec. Alpha wrapped Akira in her embrace. But Alpha only existed within his augmented vision, so he didn’t actually feel anything. As she pressed his face against her chest, the shape of her breasts changed as if they were real and soft, but the only effect they had on Akira was to obstruct his vision.
What’s this all about, Alpha? Akira muttered with a puzzled frown.
Alpha released him and gave him a teasing, melodramatic sigh. So hugging me doesn’t have the same effect unless you can feel me with your whole body? I guess touching me with just your hands isn’t the same as the embrace of a real woman, is it?
For a moment, Akira looked even more confused, but then he realized what Alpha was getting at. Since he’d lost the use of both hands during the battle in the Kuzusuhara Town Ruins, he was currently wearing prosthetics while undergoing treatment. Alpha had reprogrammed his prosthetic hands so that he could now “touch” her, or at least simulate the experience. As the memory surfaced, it reminded him of his reaction when he’d felt her breasts like pillows in his hands for the first time. In an effort to hide his embarrassment, he lay back down on the hospital bed, covering his head with the sheets. I’m tired, okay?! Night!
Very well. You do need your rest, after all, she said. Sweet dreams.
Akira hadn’t disliked Shizuka’s embrace at all—rather, he’d enjoyed it—and was glad that she’d let him cry in her arms. But Alpha’s words flustered him all the same.
In other words, he’d recovered enough from Yumina’s death to feel something besides grief.
◆
About the time the swelling around his eyes had gone down and his mortified blush had faded, the doctor came in to explain his medical condition.
Aside from his hands, Akira had made a full recovery. He could technically be discharged right now, but since Inabe currently had him under lockdown, it was up to the city executive to decide when Akira could actually leave the hospital.
Then the doctor asked Akira what kind of treatment he wanted for his hands. Ultimately, he had three options: keep his ruined hands as they were, replace them with upgraded prosthetic versions, or have his original hands restored. The artificial hands he wore at present, aside from the fact that they were white and had a texture like rubber or plastic, were so high-tech that they felt as natural as his real hands when he moved them. They wouldn’t prove an obstacle to any part of his daily life. Even in combat, the powered suit would compensate for any consequent loss in functionality by receiving and processing the signals from his nerves just as his regular hands would have. So at least until he decided he wanted upgraded, prosthetic hands or his old hands back, he could choose to keep the artificial hands if he wanted.
If he chose the upgraded prosthetics and had his current prosthetics swapped out for mechanical versions, the doctor told him, he’d obtain a host of new perks not available to a fully human body. On the surface, they’d look exactly like normal hands, yet they would instantly grant him levels of strength that only a superhuman could typically achieve. He could deviate from—or even transcend—the possibilities available to normal humans: for instance, additional joints might allow him to rotate his hands more than 360 degrees, while other modifications could let him transform his hands into guns or blades at will. Plus, if his hands ever got broken or damaged again, he could simply repair them or replace them with brand-new ones, allowing for a swifter, more effective, and much cheaper recovery than that afforded by the large doses of medicine to which he was accustomed.
The doctor nonchalantly pressed him to consider the prosthetics, although not so aggressively as to make the boy feel like he didn’t have a choice in the matter. “So, how about it? If I were you, I wouldn’t pass up this opportunity. Many active high-ranking hunters these days have at least one artificial limb, but hardly anyone would lop off a perfectly intact appendage just to replace it with a cyborg version. Nearly all of them lost their limbs in battle, like you.”
“R-Right,” Akira said, sounding hesitant.
“And by the way, the city will be paying for your treatment in full this time. That means if you decide to go for the prosthetics, you can get the city to cover them, and you won’t have to pay a dime. In other words, depending on your answer, you could turn your misfortune into a blessing. What do you say? Ready for a new you?”
Despite feeling pressured, Akira managed to say, “Um... I think I just want my old hands back, thanks.”
“I see,” the doctor said. He looked ever so slightly disappointed but didn’t let his smile falter. “Very well. Then there are two ways we can go about restoring your hands.”
He told Akira that the boy could either have new human hands generated from his stumps, or he could have the hands grown independently, then surgically reattached. There were advantages and disadvantages to each method, but because the first approach would mean he couldn’t use the artificial hands while waiting for his hands to regenerate and would therefore be impaired during his entire recovery, he chose the latter option in the end.
The procedure began without delay. First, both of his limbs were severed at the forearm to serve as bases for the growth process. Then two devices that read nerve transmission information—the same kind used when ex
The initial procedure was so simple that it was completed in around ten minutes and was performed while Akira was still conscious. He was given anesthetics so he wouldn’t feel any pain, but he still couldn’t bring himself to watch and averted his eyes the whole time.
“It’ll take about a week for your new hands to grow,” the doctor explained afterward. “In the meantime, get those artificial hands moving and touch as many different surfaces as you can. The more data you provide, the more likely the growth procedure will be successful. It’ll also reduce the chances of complications after surgery. And if you ever feel any sense of discomfort with those artificial hands in the meantime, please call us right away. It’s been a pleasure.”
The doctor placed Akira’s severed limbs in a storage receptacle and was about to leave when he turned back once more. “Oh, and by the way, I can always replace those temporary hands with combat prosthetics, so you can test them out while you wait! If you ever change your mind, just let me know. I’ve even got hands that’ll let you shoot lasers out of them! Doesn’t that sound cool?”
“I-I’ll think about it,” Akira said stiffly.
This wasn’t a complete refusal, so the doctor looked satisfied and nodded as he left the room.
Akira looked down at his hands. “Nah, lasers would be a little much, I think,” he muttered.
Are you sure? Perhaps you’d find them so convenient you wouldn’t want to go without them. Here, try raising your arm out in front of you.
Akira did as he was told—and a powerful beam erupted from it. The torrent of energy vaporized everything in its path, boring a gigantic hole through the wall of the hospital room and continuing beyond. Of course, all of this destruction only occurred within Akira’s vision; in reality, the hospital remained unharmed. Even so, Akira had just experienced exactly what it would feel like to use such a weapon.
That’s a pretty accurate simulation, I’d say. So, what’d you think? Alpha pressed him.
Well... I think that if I ever feel like I want to shoot a laser, I’ll just buy a laser cannon. I don’t really need it to shoot from my hand, right? Besides, what if I end up firing it without meaning to?
I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen, so don’t worry.
Yeah, but what about when I’m disconnected from you and have to manage it on my own? Or how could I possibly relax and enjoy my baths, knowing I have a weapon for a hand? It’s a no.
Very well then, Alpha said, and Akira’s vision returned to normal. The hole in the wall in front of him disappeared. Even knowing it had just been a simulation, he couldn’t help but feel relieved.
Then Alpha sidled up beside him. Now then, she said with a grin, since we only have a week until you get your new hands, feel free to enjoy touching me all you like in the meantime!
Yeah... I’ll pass.
Aw...! Don’t tell me you’re still shy around me after all we’ve been through together? she teased, pretending to pout.
Akira just averted his eyes, his face flushing slightly.
◆
Because the city was still keeping Akira confined to the hospital, he couldn’t leave right away. Moreover, he was allowed only a limited number of visitors, and their time together was limited too. The final visitors Akira had that day were Elena and Sara.
Upon seeing that he had made a full recovery, the two women first and foremost felt relieved. Elena approached his bedside and, sitting next to him, spoke first.
“We heard you were out cold for a whole week,” she said with a grin, “so it’s good to know you’re finally awake.”
“Sorry for making you worry,” Akira replied. “But I slept a lot, so I’m in perfect condition now. Oh, except for these,” he said nonchalantly, showing them his white, artificial hands. “Apparently, they’re gonna be like this until the treatment’s over. Other than that, though, I’m doing great.”
Sara peered at his hands with interest. “Those look pretty pricey. How do they feel?”
“Amazing,” he said. “I can move them just like my old hands, and I can feel things the same as before too. Honestly, they’re good enough that part of me thinks I could manage with just these from now on.”
“Oh yeah? Can I give them a feel?”
“Go ahead,” he said.
Sara reached over, took Akira’s hand in hers, and stroked it a few times, seemingly amused by the hand’s texture.
The sensation of her hands on his made Akira blush a little. “D-Don’t you think that’s enough already?” he said.
At that, Sara grabbed his hand and pressed it against her chest. For security reasons, visitors weren’t allowed to wear powered suits in the hospital, so she and Elena were wearing their everyday clothes. Through the thin fabric, Akira could keenly feel the softness of Sara’s breasts. Red-faced, he yanked his hand away.
Sara laughed. “So the sensors really do work well.”
“Wh-What was that for?!”
“C’mon, it’s not a big deal. After all, these are just as artificial as your hands.”
“W-Well, I guess, but still...!”
Sara’s body had been augmented, and her chest stored the nanomachines that her body consumed. The size of her chest reflected the amount of nanomachines inside, so indeed, one could say it was just as fake as Akira’s hands. However, as one might have gleaned from Akira’s reaction, her breasts looked and felt no different from real ones.
“Sara, quit teasing him,” Elena said, sighing dramatically. “The poor guy’s in the hospital, so we ought to cut him some slack.”
“All right, all right. Sorry, Akira. Do you forgive me?”
“Well... Y-Yeah, I suppose,” he said with a smile. Even though he was being made fun of, Akira could tell from the grin on her face that she was only joking, and so he kept his tone equally light. They continued talking about trivial things for a while longer until the mood suddenly turned somber, as a new topic surfaced.
Akira was actually the first to broach it. Straightening up, he regarded the women with a serious look. “Elena, Sara, I want to thank you for rescuing me. You two saved my life.” He bowed his head politely.
“You don’t have to thank us,” Elena said soberly. “More than anything, we were just glad we weren’t too late.”
“Well, to be honest, we did cut it a little close,” Sara said with a grin, “but we made it in the end—and more importantly, we managed to save face as your seniors.” Then she shot Elena a look that said, “Do you want me to tell him, or will you?”
As team negotiator, Elena had more experience navigating tough discussions, so she decided the duty ought to fall to her. “We heard about Yumina from Shizuka,” she said.
Akira went rigid.
Elena continued, “To be completely honest with you, I’m not really sure what I should say here. I don’t know the circumstances that led to her death, or whether we even ought to know. I only know it’s something we shouldn’t ask you about lightly or demand the answer to. So if you want us to know, we’ll listen, and if you don’t, we won’t ask.”
Akira said nothing.
“However, while we won’t ask, that doesn’t mean we have nothing to say about it. So I’ll just say this for both of us,” she said, glancing back at Sara. “We’re glad you made it back safe. That’s truly how we feel.”
“Right,” Akira said, after some hesitation. To his ears, it sounded like Elena had just said they were glad Yumina had died if that was the price of Akira’s survival, so he couldn’t just respond with a thank-you. Nevertheless, he was grateful that they cared about him so much, and he managed to show it.
The hunter profession was harsh and unforgiving, and it was common for hunters to lose people important to them. But while Akira had just experienced such a loss for the first time, Elena and Sara were much more familiar with it—a difference evident in their reactions to Yumina’s death.
With the air thus cleared, all three of them let out a sigh and felt better once more.
“Anyway,” said Elena, “if you ever feel like you need to cry, we’ll lend you our chests to sob into. Though from what I hear, you spent an awfully long time buried in Shizuka’s,” she added with a smirk.
