𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝
Upon seeing the massive smoke rising in the distance and the delayed sound of a grand explosion, Otsuka hurriedly parked the armored car inside the Takakura’s Temporary Garage, and unloaded the Actanoid from the driver’s seat.
The smoke rising into the sky was captured by the main camera of the Actanoid that Otsuka was controlling. He zoomed in but couldn’t understand what was happening.
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“What’s the situation?”
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He contacted his allies via voice chat.
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“The damaged Actanoid has been recovered. The prefab hut is mostly intact.”
“The north side fence is intact. There’s a reasonable open space, so we can intercept the yenvers using the armored car as a shield.”
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Although the base capability is low, it seems possible to hold a temporary position against wild animals.
If they had a machine gun, they would not be bothered by the yenvers, but they couldn’t afford luxuries.
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“I will intercept the yenvers. There should be a large-caliber handgun in the prefab hut ―― huh?”
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Otsuka noticed a message notification at the edge of the screen and closed his mouth. If he wasn’t mistaken, he saw the title “Defeat Report.”
As he thought it was impossible, Otsuka opened the message.
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It was a message from the rookie actor who was sent out as a decoy earlier. It included a report of the yenver’s interception, an explanation of what happened, and even attached footage from the main camera of the All-Rounder.
After reading the text, Otsuka looked up at the dissipating smoke through the Actanoid.
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“Even if they couldn’t escape, would you normally kill them with such an explosion?”
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It’s logical. However, shooting through the chest, causing the battery to explode, and even igniting surrounding explosives to kill is insane.
All-Rounder, being one of the earliest created Actanoids, is cheap, but still costs around $20,900. Destroying such an expensive item feels irresponsible. Especially since it’s a borrowed unit.
And the explosives too. Regardless of lying at the bottom of the valley, they’re valuable, and the owner is unknown. Essentially, it’s embezzlement of found property.
Ownership in the New World is quite ambiguous. Unless it’s in a garage, asserting ownership is difficult. There are even scavengers making a living by collecting and selling wrecked Actanoids.
Embezzlement of found explosives probably won’t be an issue, but the rookie shouldn’t know that. More so, the nerve to send evidence of embezzlement, with video and confession, to a government employee of the New World Resources Agency is beyond comprehension.
Otsuka thought,
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“――Is he sane, this guy?”
“Ah, do you have a moment?”
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The leader of a four-person civilian actor group assigned to escort duty called out over voice chat.
Otsuka remembered the situation and apologized.
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“Sorry. It seems the yenvers has been defeated.”
“Ah, I figured. I sort of guessed from the words I overheard.”
“Let’s start with rebuilding the fence just in case. There may be more yenver.”
“Understood. And by the way, I don’t think he’s sane.”
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Hearing this, Otsuka grimaced. Such an indiscretion was unbecoming of a public servant.
But he was curious.
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“You think so too?”
“Isn’t he the one who blew them up? That’s what combatants or mercenaries do. Blasting away as a rookie shows a serious screw loose.”
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Combatants. They are actor’s slang, those who participate as mercenaries in battles without caring for damage to their own units, achieving combat successes. In mild cases, they hunt or exterminate dangerous creatures of the New World but often become troublesome actors.
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“It’s like player-killers or trolls in online games. Best not to get involved. We also don’t want to work with that guy, so if you’re calling reinforcements for this defense, please leave that rookie out.”
“Understood.”
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※
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“――It’s unconfirmed, but I believe it’s been taken down.”
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After sending a message explaining the situation and attaching camera footage from the All-Rounder, Chihaya takes a sigh of relief and sips some plain hot water.
Her throat was parched from the tension.
However, she couldn’t imagine that any creature could survive that magnitude of explosion. No matter how sturdy, it would be reduced to scattered bits of flesh.
She didn’t really want to imagine that, and Chihaya lets her gaze wander. Probably one of those four will go to confirm it.
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“S, Sorry about this, fu-he.”
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Since they used her, the newcomer, as a decoy, she figured they should handle this dirty work, but she doesn’t say it out loud, instead waiting for a reply.
After a while, a message came back from a staff member of the New World Resources Agency, the client for this request.
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“Uh, additional reward for taking down yenvers? Oh, wow. $1,398.”
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Despite the devastation, they appreciated that she eliminated the threat that attacked the temporary garage, so it seems they’re giving her an additional reward.
The transportation request itself is also considered a success, and the success reward will be transferred separately.
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“All-Rounder’s liability waived? Huh? . . . . . .Wait, didn’t you say there would be a subsidy?”
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It seems that the subsidy was only to cover repair costs, and total loss was a different story.
Chihaya felt cold sweat running down her back.
However, major damage was already assumed when she was being chased by two yenvers as a decoy, and since it was ordered by the staff of the New World Resources Agency, exemption was the expected course.
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“I, I have to be careful next time. . . . . .”
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Her tongue was tied from the tension, but nobody was listening anyway.
Chihaya, for now, looked positively at the completion of her first request and slumped down on the sofa bed.
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“Fu-hi, about $3,495 in half a day? The cost of ammunition is significant, but the income is well in the black, so that’s good.”
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Unaware of the reputation she had earned as a combatant, Chihaya giggled.
Feeling positive, she decided to take on another request and opened the app. Her reclusive nature meant she could only be proactive when intoxicated by success.
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“Ah, th, this looks good. . . . . . I like that it can be done alone.”
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A request placed by a private company 『New World Chemical Industry』. The task is to gather secandia apples, a plant gaining attention as a genetic resource from another world.
Apparently, these secandia apples contain sugars that are hard to gain weight from and are expected to be used as ingredients for sweets and such.
Chihaya pokes her own side with a finger.
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“. . . . . .I wonder if I can get a sample.”
