I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary Chapter 235 – I Didn’t Do Anything Wrong!!!

Translator: SFBaka

Refill IV’s local cuisines weren’t served like Earth’s Western course al where they’d bring out the appetizer, soup, and so on individually. Instead, all dishes were lined up on the table from the start, and each person could take a portion of whichever dish they preferred.

“They look gorgeous. It’s fun just looking at them like this.”

“Yeah, they sure are sothing alright.”

There were all sorts of dishes in front of us. There was sothing resembling regular and wild vegetable tempura, so kind of at steak, and a piping hot pot of soup served in a small pot. The colors of each ingredient used were rich and vibrant, and just like Mimi said, just seeing the dishes lined up in front of you is already enjoyable. They gave the impression of the dishes served at a high-class traditional Japanese inn.

“These are banquet dishes served to entertain guests even on Theta. They are more luxurious compared to our regular dishes.”

“I see. Judging from how ticulous each al was prepared, I don’t think you’d be able to achieve such results if you didn’t employ at least three specialized chefs to cook and plate them.”

There were two kinds of tempura and stews, a soup dish, and even pickled vegetables and sweets. Moreover, the vegetables used in the stews were each cut into decorative shapes, and the color arrangent was also carefully considered. These dishes were definitely works of expert craftsn.

“It seems you are quite knowledgeable regarding cooking, aren’t you, Hiro-sama……?”

Tinia tilted her head curiously. Since she lived on a residential planet, she probably eats real at and vegetables on the regular. But most people born in space ate dishes made from food cartridges from childhood. As a result, most people living in space aren’t knowledgeable when it cos to cooking and food preparation in general. So she must have found it curious that I was actually familiar with cooking.

“Hiro-sama knows how to cook dishes using raw ingredients.”

“That’s right. The dishes Hiro cooked for us back then were really delicious.”

“I see…… Although I’m only a novice myself, I’ve also been learning how to cook as well. If there’s an opportunity, I would like it if we could sample each other’s dishes.”

Tinia turned to and gave a gentle smile once again.

“Well, the ones I cook are all sloppy ‘man-als’ so…… uh, don’t expect a lot from them.”

“On the contrary, I think you’re already quite skilled from the fact that you managed to recognize that these dishes were the work of expert chefs.”

“Yeah, Boss. You’re really great.”

“Big brother is really knowledgeable, isn’t he?”

Now it wasn’t just Tinia. Even Tina and Whisker began praising . What? What’s with the excessive praise? Nothing will co out of it even if you praise that much you know.

“Anyway, it seems all your crew mbers are won, Hiro-sama.”

“It just sort of happened…… I was solo at first, but Mimi ended up boarding Krishna, and Elma followed soon after. After a while, i joined us. Then Tina and Whisker were sent to us by the ship-making company we purchased our mothership from as part of a deal.”

“I see…… If you don’t mind, can you all tell how you ca to board Hiro-sama’s ship? I’m very interested.”

Tinia turned her gaze toward Mimi. After receiving Tinia’s curious gaze, Mimi turned to to ask if it was alright, so I nodded in agreent.

“I don’t mind. I’ll leave it to you, Mimi.”

“Um…… Alright then.”

And so, Mimi started talking about herself and her circumstances. After Mimi, Elma also started talking about how she ca to board my ship…… They told their stories to Tinia as we had our al. Maybe it was rare for them to hear stories from people who lived outside their ho planet, so the three elves showed plenty of curiosity.

“I’m sorry. It seems we’ve only been asking you to share your stories without talking about ourselves.”

“No, no. We’re enjoying talking to you as well since you’re showing such curiosity and enthusiasm. Right, guys?”

“Yeah. You go out of your way to tease us every chance you get though, Hiro.”

“C’mon. Don’t put it that way. It sounds like I’m bullying you. I’m just providing my own input from ti to ti, yeah?”

Tinia stared at Elma and as we bantered playfully like usual.

“……I’m sorry, but have the two of you exchanged vows as a couple already?”

“Uh, what do you an?”

If what she ant by vows was the physical kind, then the answer was a resounding yes. But it would be improper to say sothing like that in this situation.

“We haven’t made our marriage official yet. But my family already acknowledges our relationship. I suppose you can say we’re already engaged.”

“……I see. Then what about Mimi-sama?”

“U-Um, err……”

Mimi’s gaze was swimming around the room.

It certainly did feel that I’ve already gained the acknowledgnt of Elma’s family, but it was a bit more complicated when it cos to Mimi. Well, Mimi did decline to join the imperial family and stayed with instead. And I also want to stay together with Mimi as well.

“Mimi-sama and Master are already legally married in accordance to imperial laws.”

“”……Eh!?””

I and Mimi yelped in surprise at the sa ti.

Eh? What the heck? The ones involved have no idea though? When I turned a questioning gaze toward Mimi, she also gave the sa confused look. You didn’t know, Mimi? Really? I see. Yeah, that makes sense. She wouldn’t have been surprised earlier otherwise. What about Elma? Huh? She’s making a face like she already knew about it?

“The two of them seem confused though.”

“It’s because we didn’t tell them about it.”

“Now just hold on a minute. That’s strange. Really strange. Rather, just when did that happen anyway? Why didn’t you tell ?”

“……”

Mimi’s completely frozen up in shock. Hey, you okay, girl? You look like you’d fall over straight away if soone lightly poked you.

“……That’s news to us too.”

“……Yes.”

Tina and Whisker’s gazes turned piercing. Well, uh, yeah. It’s your first ti hearing it too huh. too. So stop looking at like that.

“So what is all this about?”

“To put it simply, it’s a asure against the ddling of other nobles.”

“Um?”

“When we stayed in the imperial capital, you gained a lot of attention from various nobles due to the peculiar circumstances at the ti, Mimi-sama. Your civil status is an imperial commoner. And furthermore, you no longer have any known relatives. There was a possibility of a noble using their privilege to forcibly beco your guardian.”

“I see?”

“Therefore, we arranged for you and Hiro-sama to have a legal marital relationship to prevent that from happening.”

“I understand now. But why didn’t you guys tell Mimi and ?”

“It was my decision not to tell you. And it’s not like anything would change whether or not you did know, right?”

“Just why…… Well, I guess that’s true, but-”

Even if I’m now legally married to Mimi, it’s not like anything between us would change, and I don’t think it should. I want to stay together with Elma and i for as long as I live, and that goes for Mimi as well. And regarding Tina and Whisker……

“……”

“……”

The pressure oozing out of their gazes was amazing. But I won’t yield. Don’t think I’ll yield to pressure just like that. If I was so weak to pressure, I would have succumbed to Lt. Col. Serena and Chris already. I’m a guy who can say NO.

“I haven’t entered into that sort of relationship with these two for now.”

“For now, is it?”

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the future after all. And I don’t want to talk about things like that lightly. I know my limits.”

“I see.”

Tinia-san suddenly displayed a broad grin. It seed to say ‘So you’ve laid your hands on two won already, have you?’ or sothing to that effect, but I didn’t comnt on it. I’m a man of endurance after all. Even if things turned out like this, I’m soone who places importance on picking my partners. If my decisions solely depended on the urges of my lower body, I would probably already be an imperial soldier or knight working directly under Lt. Col. Serena or a vassal of Earl Dareinwald. Or maybe I’ve already beco Chris’s husband by now.

But before all that, I would probably be done in by Marquis Holz and Earl Dareinwald though.

“We’re also scheduled to enter such a relationship with Boss y’know.”

“A big family is nice, isn’t it, sis?”

“Did you guys even listen to a word I said?”

Tina and Whisker began saying they’ve taken inspiration from the fact that Mimi and I were already legally married. Just calm down, will you? Here. I got you so alcohol, so drink up first. Cool down a bit, okay? Tinia and her attendant’s sharp gazes hurt.

For the ti being, I’m just gonna keep my mouth shut.

I didn’t do anything wrong!!!