If You Can't Avoid It (2)
If You Can't Avoid It (2)
《Neon City Bulletin Board》
[lol hey anyone hear about a terrorist at that café in North Houston?]
Title says it all
— No way, for real? Where'd you hear that?
└ A journalist friend tipped me off (OP)
— Yeah~~ it's the lower layer, so mid-layer and up could not care less~
— lol lol lol lol lol lol Another win for me, not leaving the house today lol
└ You should go outside once in a while
[What kind of terrorist name is Eco Warriors lol lol lol lol Ecko lol lol]
What do they even do? lol lol lol
In all my years, I have never seen anyone slap a name together that carelessly
— This one's "Eco," that one's the old man's "Co."
— Whoa! You actually know the Eco Warriors!
— You really shouldn't write them off like that ;; no, seriously, they're a hardcore radical group with an environmentalist agenda, just like the name says.
└ You think anyone actually cares?
[Let's take a look at the currently trending Eco Warriors.]
(Image of a polar bear holding a gun)
First of all, they're the most well-known among the eco-fascist circles.
Quite literally a group built on the ideology of protecting animals and nature.
They've scored major gains through radical action, so they get a ton of backing from affiliated groups, from what I hear.
There's talk that some city council member is quietly bankrolling them, which really tells you everything.
Most recently, they sent a threat claiming they'd launch a missile if all the Cloud Park factories weren't shut down, so judge for yourselves.
For the record, the members aren't just Orcs; there are plenty of Elves and Humans too, so let's keep the baseless accusations in check.
— What are you, an Orc? Why are you running around shielding them? You want a shield to the face?
— I was gonna drop a "just your average member of that race lol" comment, but after seeing that last line, I'm gonna pass on writing it.
└ Didn't you basically just write it anyway?
— So my electricity bill is never going down because of these bastards. How the hell are you supposed to shut down the factories, you absolute pricks
└ If you're jealous, you know the drill. Just move to Platinum. It's tax-free.
└ Yeah;; guess I won't be making it there in this lifetime.
[Verifying the scene]
(Photo of Orcs holding guns)
I'm currently captured so I can't take questions
— lol lol lol lol lol you're actually at the scene lol lol
— lol lol lol lol lol what an absolute madman lol lol lol who takes a photo in a situation like this?
— Looking at the photo, it's all just "that race" hehe, if you catch my drift?
— Everyone, this is the end result of a net-space addict. Please log off the net and live in reality.
After checking the board's reactions, I smiled contentedly.
[I question what on earth you are doing right now.]
"Just taking a photo."
How could I possibly pass up a top-post opportunity.
2. If You Can't Avoid It (2)
There wasn't anything drastically different just because it was a cyberpunk-world café.
Of course, it was true that the place was packed with people of distinctly unique personalities.
There were people with goggles strapped over their eyes, fully immersed in games, and plenty of others stood out handling their work through hologram interfaces.
Some had gathered in small groups to chat, and a few were grabbing a late meal to fill their stomachs.
After scanning the room for a long while, the only person doing absolutely nothing but sipping a drink was me.
Heh heh. True leisure is born from solitude....
I pitied the Neon City citizens who were incapable of enjoying life's simple pleasures.
[I question why the human 'Lee Si-woon' is doing nothing.]
"My data storage is full, so I can't install any games...."
[.......]
The taste of forced leisure was profoundly bitter.
This was all because of the AI I 'owned'—Eve.
The capacity taken up by her personality program was absurdly heavy.
Heavy enough that even my top-spec data-capacity cyberware couldn't handle it.
And thanks to that, a 'person who comes to a café and does nothing' was born.
I took a sip of the cheap coffee.
Hmm.
"The aroma of cheap coffee beans is exquisite."
[Information. I explain that 'molecular coffee' does not contain coffee beans.]
"......Really?"
If not, never mind.
...Ugh. Seriously.
Just sitting around doing nothing left my whole body feeling languid.
If only I could play a game like everyone else.
I was terribly bored because I had nothing to do.
'Let's just flip on the net and kill some time.'
That was the very moment I had that thought.
"Everyone stop what you're doing right now!!"
- Bang! Bangbang!!
Sharp gunshots tore through the café's background music.
"Everyone hands above your heads and get your heads down!!"
A group of large green figures burst into the café.
Some people hadn't grasped the situation and were simply staring at them blankly.
Others urgently shoved their heads and bodies under the tables and lay prone.
Being an 'I-type', I preferred corner seats even in cafés, so I could assess the situation more calmly than most.
I first lowered my voice and quietly ducked under the table.
At a glance, they were estimated to be either terrorists or armed robbers.
They had their faces covered with thick masks, but the masks couldn't conceal their race.
Anyone could see they were Orcs.
The Orcs kicked citizens who hadn't grasped the situation and shouted at them to get facedown on the floor.
It was a weekday afternoon, but the café had plenty of people like me killing time.
It was going to take a little longer for them to fully bring the café under control.
"We are the environmental protection group 'Eco Warriors'! If you simply follow orders, no one will get hurt!"
[Confirmed. I inform that they are a group called 'Eco Warriors'.]
"......."
I observed them carefully.
Every last one of them was heavily armed with firearms.
Then, in turn, I looked at the regular citizens lying prone around them.
There wasn't a single person who looked like a mercenary or a wealthy corporate type, nor anyone equipped with even basic armament like a handgun.
In other words, I judged that there was no one inside capable of fighting back against the terrorists.
I also assumed there was no external armed group—bodyguards or corporate ninja squads—that could attempt an immediate rescue.
Having read the situation that far, I lowered my posture even further.
By now I was simply lying facedown on the floor.
Eve asked me.
[I question whether you are not preparing for combat.]
"How did I leave the house today?"
[......?]
That's right.
Today I had practically been kicked out of the house and had to leave in a hurry.
I wasn't chased out by gun-wielding thugs, but I had fled from my crazy neighbors and my next-door friend.
If I had prepared like I usually do, the situation would have been different.
But regrettably, not this time.
I had no equipment whatsoever.
What did I have on me right now?
At best, just a smart mask—a bare necessity for going outside.
How could I fight in this state?
Even a mage dies if they get shot, same as anyone else.
It's not that I can't block bullets.
But I saw no need to force a fight here.
"Anyway, the police will be here soon and rescue us. What's the point?"
If this had been the lower layer, I might have been a bit more worried.
But fortunately, this was a café in the middle layer—the business district.
It was also a location where the NCPD or a Cyber Force strike team could respond quickly.
I wasn't too worried.
I just knew that if I kept my head down and stayed still, the city's public force would show up on its own.
* * *
However, the terrorists turned out to be more serious than I had expected.
At some point, reinforced steel panels had been installed over the café's glass walls.
A sidelong glance told me they were military-grade.
...Those would be incredibly sturdy.
They also seemed to have hacked the airwaves.
They appeared to be continuously broadcasting the voices and appearances of the living citizens inside the café.
That meant the police couldn't force their way in while ignoring the public's gaze.
On top of that, things that looked like professional equipment I didn't recognize were positioned here and there.
"Our demands are clear! Withdraw the demolition order for the Red Wood green zone immediately!!"
No matter how common terrorists were in Neon City, seeing it firsthand like this—as a hostage—felt entirely different.
When would I be able to get out of here....
I checked the time, and an hour had already slipped by without me noticing.
I quietly used magic to eavesdrop on the noise outside.
Outside was just as chaotic.
Listening in, the NCPD had already been on the scene for a while.
I could make out the voices of several NCB24 reporters who had already arrived and were filming.
How much longer do I have to wait.
Police, dammit. Hurry up and rescue us already.
Of course, even as I thought that.
The reality was that it looked quite difficult.
I couldn't even guess who their backer was.
The Orc terrorists' equipment was that professional.
Even to my untrained eye, I figured they were equipped somewhere in the top 5%.
"Sigh."
If I'd known it would turn out like this, I would've just stayed home and played with Catherine instead.
I briefly regretted it.
"An hour has passed since we stated our demands! As we said, we will now execute one hostage at a time, and know that this is all on Neon City!!"
"......Huh?"
For the record, I remember clearly.
Those bastards never said anything like that.
Judging by the other hostages' bewildered, dumbfounded expressions, I wasn't the only one questioning it.
...This is exactly why Orcs get cursed at.
Even I, who had plenty of Orc friends, thought that race was a bit stupid.
At the terrorists' sudden declaration, the mood outside also turned tense.
As merciless a city as Neon City was.
If footage of citizens dying in real-time went on air, the damage to the city's image would be severe.
"You there! Come out!"
Who would be the unlucky first one to get caught?
I ought to offer my condolences in advance.
.......
"Get over here!"
It was me.
The icy chill of the gun barrel pressed against my temple.
I was dragged by the scruff of my neck to the front of the camera.
[Shall I execute the protection protocol?]
Where would you even have something like that....
No, but still.
Out of everyone here, how did I get singled out?
This was truly absurd.
I was simply dumbfounded.
Anyway, now that things had come to this.
I had to move fast.
First, the number of Orcs I confirmed was ten.
All were wearing bulletproof vests, and even the parts not covered by vests were packed with thick muscle.
I decided to focus more on control and aim exclusively for vital points.
The firearms were all RKM series models made by Blue Rapid.
Since they were chambered in 7.62 rounds, I had to devote more attention to defense.
Just in case, I should prioritize blocking the head area.
And it would be wise to first neutralize the equipment I couldn't identify.
I'll start by launching this bastard holding my scruff straight into the equipment.
In a very short time, I assessed the situation and finished preparing to move.
- Kwaang!!
...Huh?
I hadn't done anything yet.
The entire wall—reinforced with steel panels—shattered in an instant.
Billowing dust and screams.
A situation where you couldn't see an inch ahead.
Because visibility was momentarily obliterated, the terrorists couldn't act either.
And then,
a familiar voice echoed through the chaos.
"Who the hell are you bastards! The ones who laid hands on my friend!!"
It was my next-door protagonist (nuna), who I had no idea how she managed to find her way here.