I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary Chapter 44 – Obvious Landmine

Translator: SFBaka

“Well then, now that we’re done with the business talk… I’d like to take this opportunity to ask a few questions now that you’ve personally managed to pay a visit to our ship. May I?”

“Well…… as long as I can answer them.”

Major Serena thought for a bit and then nodded.

“Pardon then. It’s not really a big deal- is what I’d wanted to say. But there’s just a matter I’m concerned about. You rember the incident of a rcenary ship crashing against a military vessel during the pirate subjugation operation on the Termaine system, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course, I rember. It’s the matter regarding the military imposing a large fine regardless of the fact that I’ve already specified not to pursue the matter too harshly, correct? I think Elma-san over there is the one involved in the incident.”

“If you know of it, then it’ll make things easier. I’m just putting this out just in case, but didn’t you guys make a mistake regarding that imposed penalty?”

“Yes. I’ve already confird things with the relevant departnts, so there’s no denying it. There was indeed a mishap regarding the specified deadline, but that and the compensation amount is a different matter altogether. We won’t be able to and the amount now that it’s co to this point, nor will we be able to make so sort of refund. I do feel sorry about it, but the person involved in causing the mishap has already been dealt with. To be honest, that incident was probably a form of harassnt aid towards . It sounds awkward for to say this, considering what I’ve put you through, but the incident did end up helping deal with a troubleso insect, so I’m grateful to you in a sense.”

Major Serena nonchalantly declared with a straight face.

“You don’t seem all that sorry for almost ruining a person’s entire life huh.”

“Well, yes. It’s not like I made a mistake in ordering a fine to be implented. There’s no denying that it’s her fault that she crashed into a military vessel after all. Honestly speaking, there was a good chance she would have been pinned with a harsher cri you know? Even if it was an unintended accident, she did end up crashing into and damaging an imperial military starship, rendering it mostly inoperable. She also injured quite a number of imperial soldiers.”

‘Mm…… I see.”

“I do feel sorry that the deadline that was given was too short due to one of our people’s mistakes. In truth, the space forces have the right to determine how long the deadline would be. The shortest would be several months, and the longest would be up to a year. But that ti fra isn’t fixed. If the incident is of a high enough magnitude, the deadline may end up shorter than normal, like in this case. It’s a case by case basis, and I actually ordered them to prolong the deadline as much as possible. However, soone interfered and the incident was escalated. My prior orders were ignored. But, as I said, the ones responsible have already been dealt with, so I believe we’ve shown enough good faith regarding this matter.”

Hmm…… There are so parts I find hard to accept, but I guess we unfortunately just got caught up in the dog-eat-dog social system of the military and the nobility.

“It’s fine already, Hiro. I accept that it was my stupid mistake that caused the accident. And it did lead to getting together with you Hiro, so…… I don’t really think it’s all that bad.”

Elma softly pulled my sleeve and gave a faint smile. Un…… Well, the one directly involved says it’s okay, so I guess it won’t do any good to keep dwelling on the matter.

“Fufu, you sure care a lot for your comrades, don’t you Captain Hiro? I actually have so good news for you.”

Major Serena flashed a sweet smile. I have a bad feeling about this.

“Once you’ve completed my request, I also plan on officially designating you as my personal contracted rcenary.”

“……”

“This is my first ti being gazed at with a look of such utter contempt you know.”

Major Serena’s cheeks twitched as she gave a bitter smile. My expression must have looked really unpleasant. Well, you understand, right? It screams nothing but trouble.

“I’m gonna ask just in case, but what rits do we gain from that?”

“That’s a good question. First, if you beco a contracted rcenary under , it would make it so it would be unlikely for you to be involved in trouble with both the Graccan empire’s military and noble circle. I’m a major of the imperial space forces as well as the daughter of the house of Marquis Holz after all. ssing with you as my contracted rcenary would an ssing with and House Holz.”

“I see. But it’ll also make the ones who already consider you as an enemy target as well, right?”

“I can’t say there isn’t a chance of that happening, but I believe such incidents would be rare at best. If you do get into so sort of trouble, imdiately inform and I’ll swiftly deal with it for you. I promise I will do all that I can to aid you.”

“All that you can huh.”

“Yes. Is there sothing you are dissatisfied with.”

“Nah. So let’s hear about the derits.”

I tried my best to make a neutral smile. It’ll be over if I step back here.

Major Serena smiled back at . We were both smiling ‘pleasantly’ towards each other. Just like the best of friends. I noticed Mimi shivering beside . You don’t have to be all that scared you know?

“There’s no such thing.”

“Hahaha! Great joke, Major. I’m gonna say this upfront. I don’t have the slightest desire to be made use of. In fact, you already owe us one. Haven’t you heard of the saying it’s not good to increase your debts before paying off your previous one?”

“Really now. Wouldn’t I be able to pay that debt once you agree to be my official contracted rcenary?”

“That’s just one of the thods for you to get within your grasp, right? Saying that would make us even isn’t even funny. The reason we’re accepting this request of yours this ti is due to you making certain concessions for us, so we want to properly pay you back and avoid any further trouble. Just like what Elma said earlier, the remuneration isn’t nearly enough for the work we’ll be doing. Normally, we would just refuse such a request. That’s why I said you owe us.”

Major Serena gritted her teeth in frustration.

“Regarding the trouble with imperial nobles and the military, we can just easily choose to escape once things aren’t looking too good. Considering that, the thing about shielding us from trouble doesn’t seem to be all that useful, honestly. And if I do beco your personal contracted rcenary, those against both you and the Holz house would most probably put under their radar, so that’s already a big enough derit in my book.

And also, becoming your contracted rcenary will limit how much freedom we and our ship have. That’s another huge derit. As you already know, my thods are kinda unorthodox. Wouldn’t it be bad for you if I did sothing reckless while being your contracted rcenary? Are you just gonna cut off if that happens? If you plan on cutting off just like that, there’s practically no rit for , is there? In other words, there’s little to no rit in becoming your contracted rcenary. Conversely, there’s a ton of derits attached to it. Do you have any objections to this conclusion, milady?”

Major Serena’s face turned bright red in frustration after hearing my tirade. Did I make her angry? Well, I’ve bottled up a lot of frustration myself. Apart from sending spam recruitnt mail, she pushed an unprofitable request on my face for no good reason. It’s just reaping what she’d sown.

“H-Hey, isn’t that going a little overboard—”

“Fufufu…… This is the first ti soone dared to scold a daughter of House Holz like .”

With her face still red from anger, Major Serena moved her gaze towards with the corners of her mouth slightly twitching. I just wanted to get back at her a little. Did I really go too far?

“However, it’s fine. I shall forgive you. It’s not like I cannot understand where you’re coming from. There are things in this world that would break if you use too much force. There’s a big difference between a pet cat and a stray one after all.”

“Just who the hell is a cat!?”

You want to scratch you, lady?

“It’s not possible to ta and feed one without first putting on a collar you see. So I shall feed and thoroughly ta it once I’ve successfully put a collar on it.”

“So you’re still aiming at collaring soday?”

“Yes. As I said, I’m not the type who lets the prey I already aid at to escape my grasp.”

Major Serena put one finger on top of her luscious lips and gave a flirtatious gaze. The feeling of cold sweat running down my spine is just my imagination, right? Please make it so.

Mimi and Elma felt so sort of danger after seeing Major Serena like that and the two of them grabbed both my arms again. Major Serena giggled in amusent after seeing their actions.

“For now, let’s just be satisfied with you agreeing to my request. I shall make an official request to the Guild. We will be in your care then. I shall also send the relevant data to the Guild as well.”

“Yeah, okay. I’ll try to be as polite as I can when addressing you during work hours, so please pardon if I ever slip up sohow.”

“Yes, please do so. I don’t mind if you talk to in a more casual way when we’re alone in private you know.”

“Hahaha, alright.”

I have no intention of eting up in private with you though.

“You got so nerve talking down to a senior imperial military officer and a lady of a marquis house like that…… I was sweating buckets the whole ti.”

Elma suddenly opened while we were having lunch after Major Serena left the ship. Elma’s lunch this ti consisted of sothing resembling Japanese-style pasta and a salad with chicken at cooked with Szechuan-style sauce.

“If she threw a fit and gave up after that level of provocation, then it ant she wasn’t all that serious about the deal. But since she didn’t, and even laughed it off while claiming to forgive , I guess she really is pretty set on roping in. If I let my guard down even a little bit, there’s a good chance she’ll spring a trap on , so I can’t relax against her at all and can’t make any hasty promises either.”

The al I’m having consists of a hamburger, french fries and so sort of shake. The shake has a faint grassy aftertaste but is still tasty. Just what kind of shake is this anyway?

“That person won’t do. She’s dangerous.”

Mimi was unusually wary of Major Serena. She gave a hard stare as she kept chowing down on her olet rice slathered with plenty of ketchup.

No, no. Major Serena’s certainly a bombshell beauty with a nice body and large breasts, but I’m not the kind of guy who’ll be swayed by a woman like that who seems like the living embodint of a destructive landmine. There’s no need to worry, girls.

“Well, let’s get in so training for now. I’ll focus on the request. I want Mimi to continue with your Operator training. Please support both of us as you see fit, Elma.”

“Alright. That’s all we can do for now. Well, we rcenaries don’t always have to spend days living dangerously anyway. There are tis like this as well. But be sure to train regularly so your skills don’t get rusty, okay Hiro.”

“I’ll do my best. Well, it’s not like I don’t have a plan.”

Teaching only through oral discussion would just lead to my charges learning re armchair tactics. They should also experience so actual combat along the way. I could play the role of the aggressor if need be and face off against the military folks in a mock battle. We should make ample use of the simulators.

“Well, since I took the job, I need to do it properly. I won’t be risking my life, plus I also get to have that noble lady officer owe one in addition to earning a bit of cash. Since Mimi can also get so training in, it’s not all that bad.”

“Hiro-sama.”

“Hm?”

“Please be careful, okay?”

“Yeah.”

I don’t know if Mimi was just particularly wary of Major Serena or she actually doesn’t trust much when it cos to things like this…… It’s the forr, right? Please tell it’s the forr.

“Don’t get yourself ensnared by that noble lady, okay.”

“Can’t you trust for once!?”

“Well, you’re guilty of previous offenses after all.”

“Can’t really deny that, yeah.”

I’m weak to this sort of guilt-tripping. And so, I spent the latter part of the day trying to butter up Elma and the strangely sulky Mimi. The three of us didn’t take a single step out of Krishna and spent the entire ti holed up inside the ship. It’s nice to have days like this from ti to ti. Things are gonna get busy in the following days after all.