I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary Chapter 225 – Naughty Girl

Translator: SFBaka

Our employnt contract with Earl Dareinwald this ti stipulates that we would work for him for at least one month. And after that period, depending on the circumstances, we could be re-contracted for a maximum period of three months.

In this past month, we’ve defeated a great number of pirates, crushed their main base, and fought off enemies supposedly related to the Ixthermal House that’s suspected of funding the pirates in order to ss with the Dareinwald House. It was a pretty hectic month.

As a result, the pirates have lain low during the last ten days, and the overall public security within the entire system has improved by quite a bit, if only temporarily. At least, that’s what the recent data indicated.

“And so, that ans your contract with the Dareinwald House is now officially over. Then… Hiro-sama will soon fly away to sowhere out of my reach again, right?”

“Uh… Yeah, I guess.”

I nodded honestly in reply.

I was currently paying a visit to Chris’ office on the Comatt Pri colony. The ti right now was almost evening. Chris was sitting behind her large office desk, and the large window behind her showed a magnificent night view of Comatt Pri in all its glory. On Comatt Pri, the artificial sunlight within the colony gets turned off between 6 in the evening until 5 A.M. the next day, simulating nightti.

“My feelings for you haven’t changed, you know.”

“……Uh.”

I could barely mouth a reply to Chris who just confessed to again while looking at straight in the eye. If I was the type to say sothing witty in a situation like this, then I would probably be a qualified lady killer, but unfortunately, that just ain’t .

“When will I be able to see you again, Hiro-sama?”

“That’s…… I’m not sure.”

“So that’s how it is. Hiro-sama wouldn’t want to et with a troubleso girl like if it’s not for work.”

“That’s not true, okay! That’s a bit too much, even for !”

While entering into a relationship between a man and a woman with Chris was an absolute no-go due to the difference in age and status, that doesn’t an I’d totally distance myself from her. There are various issues, but I think most guys would feel good if a beautiful girl like Chris said she loved them. That includes , of course.

“So does that an you don’t actually hate , Hiro-sama?”

“……I’m still not staying, okay.”

Sohow, I felt like Chris’ shining onyx pupils took on a strange hue and I stepped back involuntarily. I wonder what that was? It kinda feels like warning bells are going off inside my head for so reason.

“By the way, you went out alone today, right?”

“Uh, yeah. Mimi and Elma stayed behind on the ship today… And i seems busy performing final checks on the recording data sent to her by the dia companies.”

“I see. I’m feeling really worried, Hiro-sama.”

“Worried?”

Chris touched her cheek with one hand as she tilted her head and displayed a troubled expression. I ended up tilting my head as well. Her weird state from earlier was gone, and she seed genuinely worried for this ti.

“I think Hiro-sama will have more opportunities to be in contact with nobles from now on. So of them could possibly covet Hiro-sama’s prowess and your powerful starship, and would do everything to obtain them.”

“I see. I’ll make sure to be careful.”

I nodded obediently to Chris’ words. There certainly was a good chance of us attracting the attention of such individuals. As I resolved myself to be more careful and raised my head to face Chris once more, I found her smiling widely as she put her hands on her clothes for so reason.

“What are you-?”

“Kyaaa-!”

Chris suddenly raised her voice. Uh, she’s practically screaming, ain’t she? But the volu and pitch of her scream were oddly in monotone.

“Y-You can’t, Hiro-sama-”

“Eh? Eeh!?”

Chris’ hands slowly moved as she undid the buttons and clasps of her dress one after the other. She loosened her dress and slightly revealed a glimpse of her bra and her neck, which turned a faint cherry pink in hue. Whoah! Now hold on! Hold it right there, girl!

“Ahn, that’s no good, Hiro-sama. You’re too rough-”

“Wai-!? Wha-!? The heck are you doing?”

“And finally, I just need to press this button to call in security.”

“STAAAAAHP!?”

As Chris began to reach for a small egg-shaped object on top of her desk, I rushed toward her and held her wrist tightly to prevent her reckless move.

“Ufufu. If soone were to see us right now, you wouldn’t be able to make excuses, you know.”

Chris giggled mischievously as she looked up at my face with a provocative glint in her eyes. Her flushed cheeks, moist lips, and white neck made her seem strangely alluring for so reason and I couldn’t help but turn my head away.

“Chris, a prank like this isn’t funny, okay. No matter how close we are, sothing like this still isn’t good.”

“Yes. I’m sorry. But I truly ant it when I said you need to be careful, okay?”

“……About what?”

The instant I turned back toward Chris, she raised her free left hand and hooked it over my neck. And then, she pulled over to plant a kiss on my lips.

I stiffened up for a bit after being briefly assaulted with a soft sensation on my lips. Chris looked at my flushed face with upturned eyes.

“A sneaky and vile noblewoman might attempt to forcibly establish a relationship with you like this you know. So you can’t et with any other noble ladies alone aside from , okay?”

“……Yes.”

What the heck? I crossed swords with nobles and won, survived battles with ferocious Twisteds and that stupidly huge Grappler, and dealt with that four-ard monster, but I actually ended up being caught by Chris like this huh.

Perhaps she was satisfied with my obedient reply. Chris quickly separated herself from while sporting an expression akin to a mischievous cat. She then buttoned up her dress again, but made sure to flaunt her actions in front of . She was obviously provoking , but I didn’t move an inch. It would be a disaster if I get turned into a lolicon!

“……I don’t mind making our relationship an established fact here and now, you know?”

“Stop tempting …… Sheesh. It’s only been a short while since we parted ways, and before I knew it, you’ve beco quite a naughty girl, haven’t you?”

“A girl grows up really fast you know.”

Oh, I know. Especially girls in love, I guess.

I couldn’t do anything but shut my mouth as Chris continued to smile at .

“Girls are scary.”

“Is this an acute onset of gynophobia?”

i made a comnt that was kinda off the mark as she tilted her head.

Uh, it’s really not all that serious y’know. It’s just that before I left, that girl gave these parting words: Please co see again soon, alright. If you take too long, I might just tell my dear grandfather various things hidden in my heart because of loneliness. Who knows what would happen after? See? I couldn’t help but get the shivers after hearing that. Well, it’s Chris, so she’s probably just joking. She’s joking, right?

“No, I’m okay. Probably. Yep, there’s definitely no problem.”

“Is that so? That’s for the best.”

i nodded as she proceeded to display several videos on the main screen of Black Lotus’ cockpit. The videos were of Krishna destroying an enemy pirate ship, an imperial military battleship performing a barrage, Krishna and other starships annihilating Grapplers and Bulls through close air support, and Lt. Col. Serena and my figures brandishing swords in the middle of a raging sandstorm.

“I have finished checking all the video data sent for review by all four dia companies. I have deleted everything that might compromise our ship’s security.”

“Thank you. It must have been hard on you?”

“It took so ti, but it wasn’t hard at all.”

“Maybe so, but I still want to thank you. I’d even like to give you a reward, but what sort of reward do you actually want, i?”

Basically, i didn’t seem to have any materialistic desires, and she didn’t want to get paid a salary either. So I don’t have any idea how I could even reward her.

“A reward?”

“Yep. A reward. Even if it’s in your nature to work for unconditionally as a maidroid, since you’re always doing your best, I’d still like to give you a reward, i.”

“I see. Well then-”

i spread her arms wide while sporting her usual deadpan expression. It’s like she was asking for a hug.

“Please embrace .”

“Hm?”

“A maidroid’s energy can be replenished by particles called masternium, which can be obtained whenever their masters embrace them. It also has the additional effect of improving their overall performance.”

“Hm? Well, if just a hug, then sure.”

“Please.”

Was that supposed to be a maidroid joke or sothing? I stood up, spread my arms, and wrapped them tightly around the expectant i. After I did so, i wrapped her arms around my body as well and hugged back. I wonder why i slls so good even though she’s supposed to be a machine? I think her body warmth cos from the residual heat given off by her power generator or sothing. Her muscle fibers and skeletal fra are supposed to be made out of special alloys, but her body was still as soft as that of a biological woman. In fact, I think that she might be the most mysterious existence I encountered in this dinsion. Yep. Even more so than Krishna or Black Lotus.

i and I hugged each other for a good while, and then naturally separated. And after our mysterious hugging session, i’s expression wasn’t as deadpan as usual. She actually seed happy and content. The corners of her mouth were ever so slightly raised to form a faint smile.

“Have you managed to get your fill of masternium?”

“Yes. My processing capacity has improved by 4%.”

“That’s great.”

It was probably just a maidroid joke, but it would be amazing if that hugging session really did manage to improve her processing capacity by 4%. That way, if I hugged i every day, i’s overall performance would probably increase by more than twofold.

Now then, we would finally bid goodbye to this star system after the dia guys complete their travel arrangents. I kinda feel like we’re forgetting sothing, but it shouldn’t be that big of a deal.

I’m a bit curious about what Earl Ixthermal will do next and whether or not that four-ard monstrosity was really Geritz, but it’s not like I really need to know. The risk that cos with getting a glimpse of the truth was too much, and the price was too high in exchange for simply satisfying my personal curiosity. If I do find out what’s really going on sohow, I’m sure I’ll be targeted by Earl Ixthermal. We better leave as soon as our preparations are finished then.