The Academy's Hidden Arsenal
Heroines could be made, but there was no helping the generational gap. Compared to this era, I was an old relic from a bygone age. Even as I made my way here, I'd been rolling my eyes in secret awe at the dazzling, otherworldly sights—but Linda's merciless critique had my shoulders slumping.
Fuck no. Come on. If I think about it, she's basically the boss's daughter, right? Can't I just treat her like the boss's stand-in?
I'd gotten swept up in the atmosphere without realizing it, mumbling like some pathetic nerd. My mind snapped awake. That indecisive bullshit from breakfast onward must've rooted itself deep in my attitude. A surge of irritation and dissatisfaction bubbled up, and I switched up how I treated Linda completely.
"Hey, it's still better than being cooped up wringing rags in some mansion. What's with all the nagging?"
"W-Well, that's true, but..."
"I go out of my way to let Orange get some fresh air through his nostrils, and look what happens. What a golden opportunity you've squandered. Tch! This is why you shouldn't do nice things for people."
I shook my head with a displeased frown. Linda, probably thinking my weird mood today meant no more chances to slack off during work, plastered on a fawning smile and rubbed her hands together like a total sycophant.
"Heh heh. You just felt so buddy-buddy today, young master. Cut me some slack?"
"...Fly of a bitch."
"..."
At her pathetic hand-rubbing, I shot her a playful glare and backed away. Her eyes flashed like, How dare you call a lady a fly? But separate from plans to tear her a new one later, I'd teased her plenty. I chuckled softly, waved her off to drop the topic, and started walking.
"Fine, since I started it, I'll let this one slide... Anyway, for real though—why are you here? Even when the admiral told you to enroll, you skipped regular school, and you never even showed your face around his statue."
As I strolled along, Linda signaled the security team keeping their distance while scanning the area. She ordered them to just monitor the officer academy perimeter and trailed after me alone. Those hulking goons were already cramping my view and pissing me off...
Who's guarding who here...?
For a beauty like Linda, it felt less like personal protection and more like crotch-guarding. But it still made my gut churn with nausea not even five minutes in. I couldn't fathom what went through the minds of these muscle-head power freaks.
"Just curious, y'know? What my life would've been like if I'd listened to the old man and enrolled here. You don't need to actually attend to get a feel for the vibe."
"Heh... You're less scatterbrained than usual today. Not a bad vibe."
She nodded along, starting to scope out the officer academy herself. Considering she was a top-tier enhanced human, her military specialty wasn't elite pilot training like this place—it was infiltration, the kind where you could lose a life or two anytime, like the assault trooper gig she'd mentioned before. Her initial griping vanished as she rolled her eyes wildly, following my lead.
She's pretty well-seasoned, so time to head toward where the ships might be...
With Orange leisurely at my side, I played the relaxed visitor to onlookers. Inside, I suppressed the thrill from not knowing when shit might hit the fan, practically stomping in place as I scanned the academy grounds.
War. What's the biggest reason wars break out?
What else? Selfish greed from those assholes. Heh heh.
Peel back all the bullshit excuses—clashing ideologies, ethnic strife, religious faith—and wars boil down to simple gains and losses for one's group. Even those famous Crusades weren't just about reclaiming the Holy Land, right? Who even came up with "reclaim" anyway? If pilgrimage was tough, just set out a glass of water at home and pray. But no—they needed the pilgrimage, the ideology, and "fuck it, let's start a war!" mashed into that mess called the Crusades. My head shook side to side.
Anyway, wars were about personal gain on a massive scale. And here I was, scoping things out in this peaceful street to prepare—because in the original game story's big picture, this officer academy was ground zero for sparking the war.
Any world, any nation—weapons development breeds war.
This world had just two powers. One was the federation based on Earth, where I was now. The other? The cosmic lifeforms we'd first encountered traveling space: the Nova Alliance, basically the alien nation.
Federation, Alliance—diverse Earth races mixed with blue-skins, red-skins, even friendly greens... They all had personalities like fantasy folk, so why split hairs over Earthling or alien? They feigned truce while dumping resources into weapons that could ignite full-scale war...
Tch. A snort escaped me.
This is the sequel, so actual Aliens show up for real... DLC-style, maybe?
As I patrolled the academy, I recalled Park Jisu's compiled docs. Shaking my head to avoid geeking out like a lore nerd, I refocused and kept walking—
"Oh... This spot feels... kinda artificial...? Hmm... Maybe just my imagination."
Too many wonders around; my eyes couldn't pinpoint the protagonist's tutorial spawn or natural entry point. Anxiety building, I zeroed in on Linda's words, rescanning. There—the floor panels stuck out unnaturally, tree lines and planters sharply divided for street decor.
This the hangar exit for underground ships to launch in emergencies?
Following her lead, I pulsed mana lightly but widely, probing artificial spots. Waves pierced the ground, sensing voids below—empty caverns like entrances.
Jackpot, just like I'd figured.
She's sneakily useful... First-rate at best, but raw talent?
State-level projects like this had flawless, covert cover-ups. Yet she'd sniffed it out blending sharp eyes and enhanced senses... Watching her scratch her head sheepishly, thinking she'd imagined it, my eyes gleamed.
Pretty enough for lead or support in any game world, with solid personality and skills to boot.
Since she's tied to ships and military, I can repurpose her as a beauty adjutant or bodyguard. Use her up good. Heh heh.
Daytime office secretary turning bedroom mistress by night—I smirked involuntarily.
These women here all got genetically tuned looks... None just average.
The spot was a rest plaza like a meeting square, full of chatting women laughing hoho. Park Jisu had half-forced selective games on me; I'd half-assed into this one expecting otaku bait, but even randos like Linda passed with flying colors.
Wondering about the main heroines' designs ahead, a grin slipped out.
Duh, strategy games always got at least one hot operator... Heh. Let the otakus have the protag.