Free Web NovelChapter 303: 303 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 14
After it was decided like that and two days passed, a request came in from Wakako. I decided to let David handle the relatively simple requests whenever possible. Because it seemed necessary for them to become independent, I had to train them.
"Um... so, Taejin takes the left entrance, and I and Rebecca will take the opposite side. And we’ll have Pilar block any enemies that slip through. Lucy backs up Taejin, and Kiwi supports us. Sasha watches the overall situation, checks for any escapees, and if enemies are concentrated on one side, she reinforces that side. We’ll extract the request data on the side where we reach the office with the server room."
As expected of David, perhaps because he was from the academy, he had some talent.
"Got it."
"Okay."
"Let’s have fun today too!"
Moreover, gradually showing the effects of his Gun Kata training, David was handling enemies quite skillfully. Even Rebecca was surprised.
Bang bang bang!!!
"Gah!" "Ugh!"
– Wow! You’ve improved a lot. As expected, learning from Jin is effective, huh?
– Of course. I’ve worked hard, you know.
– I guess it’s hard to call you a rookie now.
"Hey, focus! We’re still in combat, you know."
– Tch, so strict. When it comes to strictness, you’re even worse than Maine.
Rebecca grumbled as she carried out the operation.
"Good! We’ve extracted the target data. Let’s withdraw."
– Damn, we lost again. We were fast too.
"Kid, prioritize safety over competition."
– More nagging! I get it, I get it.
We finished the job and notified Wakako that the request was complete.
– Your work is fast as always. Honestly, when Maine asked me to temporarily look after his team members, I was quite worried, but it was an unnecessary worry.
"It’s unfortunate what happened to Maine, but these guys aren’t without skill either."
– So it seems. Anyway, good work. And there’s something I want to give you, so come by sometime when you have time.
After sending the request payment, Wakako told me to come by sometime. I knew what Wakako was going to give me. It was ’Byakko’.
’I can’t resist Byakko!’
Byakko is a sword displayed in Wakako’s office — a smooth design without a handguard, a somewhat long Japanese sword. In the original game, it was called the ’MaxTac Blender’ and boasted incredible rapid‑slashing performance, so it was a popular melee weapon used by many, from beginners to experts.
In reality, it probably wouldn’t be like in the game, but for a Cyberpunk fan, Byakko was one of those items you absolutely had to obtain. Actually, I could have just stolen it, but if I fell out with Wakako, a fixer, I would have to give up many requests. So I didn’t. So, accepting that it would take some time, I had set my course to obtaining it by maintaining a good relationship.
Moreover, when I visited Wakako for request business, I had made a point of complimenting the sword, saying ’It’s a good sword,’ and showing that I wanted it.
I finished the request like that and moved to the Turbo Bar, distributing the request payment to the team members. Then Sasha said, surprised.
"Eh... we earned this much? Our old team never used to give this much..."
"That’s because of what I’ve done over time."
"Can’t I just keep working with Jin?"
When Sasha said that, her eyes sparkling, Lucy frowned and said firmly.
"No."
"Aww~ that’s mean."
The team members laughed at Sasha’s disappointed expression. We bought drinks from a stall and had a drink each. Pilar juggled again, putting on a lively show. Seeing this, it seemed that Pilar had also been saved well.
"After Maine ended up like that, I really feel Maine’s absence. Dorio’s too. I don’t know if we can do well without those two." fгeewebnovёl.com
David seemed worried about the future of the team members.
"Don’t worry. You’ll do well. You’re gradually improving, and the team members’ skills are trustworthy too."
"I suppose so."
I comforted David well. There was also the option of me continuing to stay with them, but since Cyberpunk 2077 also existed, I couldn’t keep focusing only on them.
When the next day came, I went to David’s house for training. This time, not only David was there, but also Rebecca.
"Huh? Kid, what are you doing here?"
"Staying at David’s house and then going home at dawn is a bit much, so I figured I’d just train and go home at my leisure."
"Ah, so that’s what it was."
From Rebecca’s story, it seemed she had been going home at dawn every day to avoid our eyes. So that was why, even though they said she slept over every day, we had never seen Rebecca.
So we started our morning run, including Rebecca. But this time, Rebecca couldn’t keep up with us.
"Huff, huff, huff... you guys have been doing this every morning, all this time?"
"Yeah. Now that the running is done, it’s time to start strength training."
"What? There’s still more???"
"Yeah. After that, it’s Gun Kata training."
"Ugh! No! I’m going home!"
Rebecca, tired of the training, tried to go home. But David persuaded her, and in the end, even Rebecca finished everything.
"Munch munch... still, the lunchbox is really delicious."
"Right? I fell for Jin’s cooking too."
Although Rebecca grumbled throughout the training, her expression was bright when eating the lunchbox. Since Rebecca was with us today, Lucy and I decided to eat at home, and we gave them all three lunchboxes. Rebecca and David devoured them all.
"Then I’ll go home now — see you online."
"Got it."
After David had mastered all the movements, we continued combat training online through a dedicated program. Now, after finishing exercise and eating, returning home and watching his training online had become a daily routine.
Lucy and I returned home and logged into the net after eating. Today, Rebecca, saying she was bored, logged in as well. Rebecca, perhaps because of her animal instincts and extensive real‑combat experience, was very skilled even though she hadn’t learned Gun Kata. David was very surprised.
– Hehe! How is it? I’m doing well for a first try, right?
– Amazing! Rebecca would learn Gun Kata quickly too.
"No, that’s not it. Rebecca is like that because she has her own experience from before. She already has ingrained habits for how to handle situations, so if she learns Gun Kata now, it might actually disrupt everything. It’s too much for Rebecca to learn. It’s better for her to just refine her own style as it is."
– Is that what it was?
"Yeah."
Rebecca found this training very fun and enjoyed it as if she were playing a game. Thanks to that, we also got caught up in the atmosphere, and we ended up enjoying the training as if four people were playing a game together. It felt like playing a more intense, realistic Battlegrounds, perhaps?
– Wow~ that was fun! It really relieves stress. You do this training every day, right?
"Yeah."
– Good, then let’s have fun together again tomorrow!
After finishing the training like that, while Lucy was resting, I took a melon and went to Wakako’s. The melon was a gift. Because I had heard that they were still being cultivated in Hokkaido, Japan, I was able to gift it. Of course, in this world, it’s an enormous price, but I was just giving it by duplicating an item in my inventory with [Material Copy], so naturally, it cost me nothing.
’If she’s giving me Byakko, I should at least give this much as a gift.’
As expected, when I handed the melon to Wakako, she was extremely surprised.
"Oh~ Jin, this is a melon. To give me such a gift. I thought it would be impossible to eat one now."
"It’s nothing. I managed to get it from an illegal shipment during a request last time. We already ate one, you see."
"I see. This brings back old memories. When I was young, fruit wasn’t this expensive... we used to have it on birthdays. Now I can’t even see a shadow of one. I’ve received a good gift."
Wakako was very old. I had heard that she had been in mainland Japan and then came to Night City with big dreams. But contrary to her expectations, after coming to Night City, she lived a very harsh life — she apparently had as many as five husbands. Unfortunately, they are all dead now.
Because they were all high‑ranking members of the Tyger Claws gang, she had a close relationship with the Tyger Claws. She had survived even as her husbands died out, and had continued to work as a fixer, so her influence within the district was very large, and even the Tyger Claws don’t mess with Wakako lightly.
"It’s best to eat it quickly. It’s very ripe. If you wait any longer, it’ll go bad."
"Okay. Anyway, thank you."
Wakako handed me Byakko, which had been displayed behind her.
"Jin, I knew you were coveting this sword. And you’ve helped me out, so I’ll give it to you. I hope we maintain a good relationship in the future."
"Oh~ I’ve received a good gift too. Thank you, I’ll use it well."
I finished talking with Wakako and returned home, then checked Byakko. From my perspective, it wasn’t that good a sword. But to be able to actually own a weapon I had used often in a game I enjoyed — that had its own meaning.
So I stored the original in my inventory, duplicated it into two with [Material Copy], changed the material of one to adamantium with [Material Manipulation], and changed the Tyger Claw mark engraved on the sword to ’進’ (Jin). The other one I just made into an alloy sword with evenly well‑arranged atoms. I planned to use this one here.
After that, several days passed. Now, Rebecca had also gotten used to the running, it seemed, and was following along well.
"Are you two completely a couple now?"
When I asked that, Rebecca answered.
"That day, my idiot brother vomited all over the place, so David, who had come with me, offered to let me sleep at his place. But, you see, David was too much of a softie. So I ate him up. After that, David came looking for me more. I think you could call us a couple now."
"So you were the one who made the first move?!"
"Wow~! Bold!"
Even Lucy, surprised, said that. Then David, blushing behind her, quietly muttered.
"Rebecca was a first‑timer too, yet she talks well..."
From the story, contrary to my expectations, it seemed Rebecca had made the first move. It was a bit embarrassing that a girl would talk about this kind of thing so casually, but it’s Night City, and it’s Rebecca, so I just let it slide and moved on.
Just as we were finishing our exercise, David suddenly got a call. From David’s bright expression, it seemed to be good news.
"Really? That’s great!"
"What is it?"
"Mother contacted me — she said she can be discharged now. And she said she’s going to work as Viktor’s assistant."
"Really? That’s a relief." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Since Gloria had originally worked as an EMT, she had medical knowledge, so it seemed she would be able to adapt well even working at Viktor’s clinic. But Rebecca’s expression upon hearing that story was not good. Because she might not be able to go to David’s house anymore.
"Does she know that you dropped out of the academy?"
"Haa... I don’t know... She probably tried to contact me while she was hospitalized, so I think she has a rough idea... but saying it with my own mouth is a bit..."
At my question, David sighed and spoke.
"Don’t be like that — given the situation, it couldn’t be helped. I think it would be better to just tell her the truth. And take your cute girlfriend and introduce her too."
When I said that, Rebecca, uncharacteristically, looked a bit embarrassed.
Anyway, we decided to skip training that day, and David asked to borrow my car because he needed to move his mother, so I lent it to him and returned home. I trusted that David would do well on his own.
The next day, there was a request, so everyone gathered to plan, but David and Rebecca were unable to focus.
"Hey! What’s wrong with you two?"
"Ah, sorry. I’ll tell you after."
"Focus! If you make a mistake, the whole team could be in danger."
"Got it. I’ll focus."
It was a bit worrying, but we managed to complete the request safely, and at the Turbo Bar, I was able to hear why they had been like that.
"About yesterday. I heard a shocking story at Viktor’s clinic. That Viktor and Mother have become a good relationship... I don’t know how to take this."
At those words, I was also a bit surprised. So that was why Viktor was taking such good care of Gloria — it seemed that during her hospitalization, the two had developed that kind of relationship.
"That’s great. All this time, your mother hasn’t been able to live her own life because she was supporting you. So I think it would be good to congratulate them. And Viktor is skilled and a good person, so he’ll surely make your mother happy."
"Do you think so?"
"Yeah. And did you tell her your story?"
"No, not yet. Because yesterday’s thing was so shocking. I didn’t have a chance. Instead, I introduced Rebecca."
"I see. So are you going to be living with your mother again?"
"For now, yes. There are a lot of things I’m hiding, and Mother is worried that I might object to her relationship with Viktor, so things have become quite complicated. That’s why I couldn’t focus."
"And Rebecca was like that too because of that."
"Yeah..."
"I completely understand the reason. But when you’re carrying out a request, it’s better to focus. You know as well as I do that our work can cost us our lives if we mess up. Doing that kind of thinking after the work is done isn’t too late. And it’s not good to let problems like this fester, so I think it would be good to have a serious conversation with your mother."
"Got it."
"Oh, right. And from now on, you and Rebecca do the running and exercise on your own. With your mother home, it’s a bit awkward for us to come over. And always make sure to eat well."
"Okay."
And so, several more days passed. Suddenly, I received a call from Viktor.
– Long time no see, Jin. Doing well?
"Long time no see. I’m doing fine."
– Well, you see, I’m getting married this time. So I’m inviting people I know.
"I’m surprised — you and Gloria ended up like that."
– Haha, that’s how it turned out. We talked while she was hospitalized, and our hearts just clicked. Anyway, you’re coming, right?
"Of course, I have to go."
I was a bit surprised at Viktor’s sudden news of marriage, but I was glad that things with David and Gloria seemed to have worked out well. From what I heard from David later, he said that he told her the truth only up to dropping out of the academy, and couldn’t bring himself to reveal that he was working as a mercenary, so he said he was working for a security company.
Gloria also understood the situation where money was urgently needed after the accident, and accepted the circumstances that David had to give up his studies and work to make a living. In the end, she gave up on having David join Arasaka, and was reportedly grateful that he allowed her relationship with Viktor.
