Chapter 109
So, infiltrating City Hall was all well and good, but how should I proceed?
As I watched the man called Fujita-san walking ahead of me, I pondered the situation.
(...I need to find an opening where I can act alone somehow.)
It may differ in nature from Ichinose-san's 'Recognition Interference,' but my own Stealth Skill is precisely the sort of thing that can show its true value in a situation like this.
Besides, it would be easier to move around alone.
(Should I lock myself in the bathroom...? Rikka-chan will probably cover for me, and if I leave Aka's clone there with a tape recorder containing a recording of my voice, I should be able to buy quite a bit of time.)
It's a classic approach, but it might not be bad.
Aka (clone) could press something as simple as a button, and considering what Ichinose-san was originally like, it shouldn't seem unnatural... probably.
"By the way, Ichinose-chan, where did you get that gun?"
"..."
"...Ichinose-chan?"
"Huh? Ah, yes? W-what is it?"
Damn, I completely ignored him.
That's right. Right now, I was Ichinose-san.
This really is difficult. I have to act properly.
"Ahahaha, Nattsun, you were way too startled. You don't have to jump like that just because someone called your name."
"Ah, ahahaha..."
"Sorry, mister. She's really shy around people, you see. She must be nervous."
Nice save, Rikka-chan.
She's surprisingly considerate, unlike me.
"Ah, is that so? Sorry. I was being too familiar with you."
Apparently satisfied, Fujita-san looked apologetic.
"Ah, no... I'm sorry, too."
"It's fine, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Anyway, getting back to what we were talking about, where did you get that gun?"
Fujita-san seemed terribly interested in the gun I was holding—Aka.
Well, I suppose that's only natural.
A rifle wasn't something an ordinary person could acquire, or even expect to see in person.
"...Um, I got it through a Skill."
Fujita-san's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh? So it's a Skill that lets you get guns—or maybe weapons in general?"
His tone of voice had dropped a little, too.
I could pretty much guess what he was thinking.
"Ah, yes, exactly. Something like that."
"That's incredible. Then—can we use that weapon, too?"
As expected, he asked exactly what I thought he would.
A powerful weapon.
In the world as it was now, everyone would be dying to get one.
(But that's impossible.)
The items Ichinose-san obtained through her 'Gacha' basically belonged to her.
I couldn't even put them in the Item Box, and although I had never tried it, perhaps their actual use was restricted as well.
There was also the issue of ammunition.
Even if someone could use it, they'd run out of bullets after one or two shots.
But that concern didn't apply when Ichinose-san used it.
(I think it was called... 'Ammo Creation'?)
I had asked Ichinose-san about it before, and the 'Sniper Set' had given her four Skills in all.
'Long-Range Shooting,' 'Accuracy Enhancement,' 'Penetration Enhancement,' and 'Ammo Creation.'
'Long-Range Sniping' was a Skill that increased the attack-power bonus the farther away the enemy was. Its current maximum range was about 800 meters.
'Accuracy Enhancement' did exactly what its name suggested: it increased the chance of hitting an enemy while sniping.
'Penetration Enhancement' was a Skill that provided an attack bonus when sniping.
And 'Ammo Creation' was a Skill that consumed her MP to create bullets.
It consumed very little MP and was highly efficient.
That was also why Ichinose-san had been able to hunt such a large number of monsters.
"...Um, this gun is for my exclusive use. So... other people can't use it."
As I said that, I held the gun out to Fujita-san.
With things like this, it was easier to make someone believe me if I let them touch it and confirm it for themselves.
(Aka, I'm counting on you.)
(...) Aka shook from side to side.
"Try using it. Ah, there aren't any bullets loaded right now. Pull the trigger."
"...Are you sure?"
I nodded, and Fujita-san examined the gun.
"...You're right. The trigger won't move at all, and I can't fiddle with any of the other parts, either..."
That's because Aka was doing its best to resist.
Fujita-san checked the gun from every angle for a while, but eventually his shoulders slumped.
He must have held out a faint hope that it might work.
He handed the gun back to me.
The moment I took it, I felt Aka's thoughts come through: "Eek, that tickled!"
Sorry, Aka. But you did great. Thanks.
"Sorry I couldn't be of any help..."
"No, it's fine."
Fujita-san puffed on his cigarette and said,
"Ah, but if you don't mind, could you tell me what kind of Skill it is, just for reference?"
"Sure."
I explained 'Gacha' and the Job 'Shut-In' to Fujita-san.
I had gotten Ichinose-san's permission beforehand, and unlike the Item Box, there was no particular reason to keep it secret.
It was a joke Job, but there were probably still a few people eccentric enough to choose it. Like Ichinose-san.
"I see. The Job 'Shut-In'... So that's what it was. Come to think of it, a few people said that Job had been among their choices. I thought they were joking, but who knew it could give you such an incredible Skill..."
So there were City Hall employees with an aptitude for 'Shut-In,' too...
Well, it had been among the Jobs I could choose as well.
"One SP point per Gacha pull... The risk is huge, but depending on your luck, you can get even more powerful Skills and weapons... I see. That was very informative. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Still, young people really have guts. Choosing a joke Job like that..."
I could only respond with an ambiguous smile.
Ichinose-san, apparently you're very brave.
"By the way, what Job did you choose, mister?"
Rikka-chan asked casually as she walked beside us.
"Me? I chose 'Axe User.' I thought it was the strongest of the Jobs available to me."
Axe User, huh.
So Jobs like that existed, too.
Apparently, except when going outside or patrolling around the barricade, they gathered all their weapons together and stored them in one place.
"Isn't that inefficient?"
Rikka-chan asked.
"...There was a major disturbance before. Ever since then, we only keep the minimum necessary weapons inside City Hall."
"Huh. Sounds like a lot happened."
"Yeah, a lot happened."
A lot, huh...
It had probably been an internal dispute.
And likely a pretty nasty one...
My sense of smell, sharpened by 'Enhanced Five Senses,' easily told me what had happened here.
Well, that sort of thing was probably common in the world as it was now.
After that, we walked through the hallway while making small talk.
After a while, we came upon a room marked "Nap Room."
"Here it is."
Nishino-kun and the others must be resting in there.
I could sense people inside. Three in all...
We knocked and entered.
Beds for taking naps were lined up inside.
A few were empty, while exactly three were occupied.
He was in one of them.
"...Rikka?"
He turned toward us and muttered that.
He looked surprised, his mouth hanging open.
"Ah, Nissy! It's been a day!"
Beside me, Rikka-chan waved at him with a relaxed smile.
"Ah..."
Nishino-kun slowly leaned out of bed and approached us.
Then he stood directly in front of Rikka-chan and stared intently at her face.
"...Don't disappear on your own... idiot."
Rikka-chan gave a wry smile at the words he squeezed out.
"Ahaha... I'm really, really sorry about that."
"I was... really worried about you."
"Yeah."
"You ignored my instructions, disappeared on your own, and made things incredibly difficult."
"Yeah, I'm really sorry."
"What was with that emoticon? It was way too carefree. Use your head a little more."
"...Yeah."
"Seriously... you're really... honestly... what an idiot."
"...Yeah."
"...I'm just glad you're safe."
"Yeah. Thank you."
With that, Nishino-kun gently embraced Rikka-chan.
...Huh. Unexpected.
When it came to his companions, he had this side to him, too.
I revised my opinion of Nishino-kun a little.
Well, the touching reunion was all well and good, but I needed to find an opportunity to slip away somehow.
Should I throw up, after all? In a way that would be more like Ichinose-san?
No. For now, I'll just wait and see.
I'll get my chance to be alone eventually.