Chapter 134
Chapter 134
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: How to Steal the Protagonist's Woman
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Armonia, who had been standing in my office facing me, spoke up.
"We'll improve the matter you mentioned starting today."
"Ooh, as expected, you're quick."
Armonia and I were holding a meeting in the COO's office—my office.
The improvement she had just mentioned concerned the uniforms of our ship's crew.
"Truth be told, it's been bothering me for a while, but since you never said anything, Su-ho, I assumed you liked Lena's outfit."
"No way I'd like those ragged clothes..."
Calling it a maid outfit was putting it kindly; what Lena wore wasn't the alluring attire I'd seen in the game.
The maid uniform and undergarments Lena had on were made from cheap, shoddy fabric.
They were the clothes of a servant who toiled day in and day out.
There wasn't even a hint of the charm a maid outfit should have.
"I'll send you a list of designs once the meeting wraps up. Please pick the ones you like."
"Okay~"
"Then, onto the second item. The Yggdrasil seed."
The Seed of Yggdrasil.
A reward from defeating the tutorial boss.
It replenished energy while in Yggdrasil and could block one dangerous attack once fully charged—a rare item.
And it wasn't consumable; it could be used permanently.
However, since we didn't know the exact charging efficiency or method yet, we'd been treating it as nonexistent for now.
But why bring it up all of a sudden?
As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, she explained right away.
"Do you remember the seed entering your body instead of your inventory?"
"Ah... Yeah, I do."
The seed had been absorbed into my body, not the inventory.
"That seed... I believe it can be used in other worlds as well."
"For real!?"
According to Armonia's explanation, the seed inside me was still reacting even after returning to the ship.
Though the accumulated energy was still at 0%, if it reached 100%, there was a high chance it could be used in other worlds too.
"Whoa... This is seriously awesome."
"Su-ho, the next time you go to Yggdrasil, this could be a huge opportunity."
"...Maybe I can keep getting more seeds?"
"Exactly."
Regression—though I couldn't choose the timing, we'd found a way to cope, and most importantly, my abilities carried over.
So, there was definitely a good chance I'd get the seed again.
"But if they notice you already have one, it might raise suspicions."
"...Even if we gloss over it, the rewards might change."
And having two seeds didn't guarantee it'd be better...
For now, bringing the seed back to the ship had no restrictions.
Info on the seed was still sorely lacking, but just knowing it worked in other worlds was satisfying enough.
"Next item. We've received 500,000 Enel."
"...Huh? What? Why?"
"From Zodiac."
Honestly, if Enel appeared out of nowhere, Zodiac was the only reason that made sense.
Unless the gods were investing in our delisted company...
But why send it so suddenly?
Armonia cleared up my doubts immediately.
"Thanks to Han Yeo-reum's regression. They couldn't figure out the cause until we provided the info, which let them understand the anomaly."
"Aha..."
I'd been summoned alongside Han Yeo-reum by chance, witnessed the regression up close, and Armonia detected it, allowing us to analyze it.
But Zodiac had been baffled by the inexplicable time reversal.
It must've felt like a game bug.
And in exchange for that info, we'd gotten 500,000 Enel.
"Along with the 500,000 Enel, our success fee has increased. If you surpass Han Yeo-reum's regression and climb the upper floors, they'll pay triple the original 10 million—30 million Enel."
"Huh? Triple out of nowhere?"
"They're viewing regression as that much of a threat."
Armonia continued her explanation.
"The Enel spent on the regression blessing was a massive loss for the Holy Order too. If the climb fails, the damage would be huge, so Zodiac sees this commission as an opportunity."
"Damn... Regression really was a total pain in the ass..."
Though thanks to Han Yeo reum's regression, I'd landed in an insanely great situation!
Watching Min Ha-yeon work hard to help me was heartwarming every time.
As I thought about the 500,000 Enel, a key fact flashed in my mind.
"Ooh! Then we can make the living quarters!"
"Yes. But rather than making them arbitrarily, it might be better to discuss placement together."
"Okay!"
With that, we wrapped up the meeting and called in the three women.
"You sure this is okay?"
"I like it!"
"Me too, nyang! First time living with a friend, nyang!"
Beatrice and Viola wanted a two-person room together from the start.
They already spent time giggling over comics in Viola's quarters anyway, so they were thrilled.
And we decided to give the room Viola had been using to Lena.
Armonia suggested building one facility: a cafeteria.
"Well, we've been eating in the corridors fine so far."
"It's not hygienic."
Currently, we ate at tables and chairs set up in the middle of the ship's corridor during mealtimes.
But Armonia quietly disliked it, and I naturally approved her suggestion.
The facility was built right away, and the five of us went inside to look around.
The cafeteria interior was more luxurious than expected.
Given the ship image, I'd worried when she first suggested it.
I had imagined a prison-like atmosphere, eating at drab metal tables with chairs bolted to a steel floor.
But stepping in, I regretted my bias.
Gorgeous tables, chairs, and neatly arranged cutlery.
The walls weren't drab gray metal but appetizing white-and-green wallpaper.
The two facilities cost a total of 250,000 Enel.
Half our funds used.
But...
"Not regretting a bit."
Everyone beamed with satisfaction at my words.
The day to return to the embassy finally arrived.
Viola and Beatrice finished their goodbyes and headed out of the warp room.
Leaving two women here.
The first was Armonia, dressed in her captain's uniform, giving a brief briefing.
"No special anomalies detected at the Hero Academy while you were away, Su-ho. Still, stay cautious just in case."
"Yeah, got it."
And beside her, Lena standing primly in a crisp crew uniform.
"Master, please take care of yourself."
"Yeah, I will."
Earlier in our meeting with Armonia, we'd discussed uniforms, and since Lena was joining us, I suggested making her a crew outfit too.
Lena's stunning figure made anything look perfect on her.
Like Armonia's, it was black with white stripes.
Her long pink hair was neatly tied back, hat on.
Above all, her outfit suited the ship's atmosphere perfectly.
"Starting this mission, Lena will assist during your sleep hours, Su-ho. I'll leave once I confirm you're asleep."
"Eh, sleeping's just crashing out roughly..."
"Please be careful. You can't use Enel while I'm away."
"Huh? Can't Lena use it instead?"
I figured Armonia hadn't delegated that authority to her.
Enel was important, sure, but given Lena's trustworthiness, allowing moderate use seemed fine.
But it wasn't about permission.
"Enel is not something whose usage rights I can transfer to another person simply because I wish to."
"Ah... Right, it's a direct request to the gods, yeah?"
"Exactly. I can't transfer or delegate authority arbitrarily."
In other words, the point was that Enel usage was impossible while Armonia was absent.
"Lena, as I told you before, report to me immediately if anything happens—don't hesitate. Missing the timing out of unnecessary concern could put Su-ho's life at risk."
"Yes, I'll keep that firmly in mind."
Lena bowed sharply to Armonia in response.
Born with a soldier's aptitude, she adapted to situations like this effortlessly.
Good call bringing her along.
Though... would my life really be in danger while sleeping?
I felt dubious but didn't voice it.
Things don't always follow common sense.
I finished chatting with them appropriately and headed to the embassy.
Embassy main gate.
First impression upon seeing it?
'Haa... Don't wanna go to work.'
[Personally, compared to Yggdrasil, the risk level here is lower, so I feel more at ease.]
'Still work, though... Nothing I hate more than the office, except maybe a battlefield.'
[....]
As the morning sun rose, I went through entry procedures with the school guards.
Given the facility, it was a fairly involved process when a limo quietly pulled up to the gate.
From the stopped limo...
'Ooh... A cadet? She looks incredible.'
A woman with wavy black hair billowing and eyes full of melancholy stepped out.
She was clearly wearing a cadet's uniform, but her aura was that of a full-grown adult.
Her emotionless expression on that small face turned toward me.
'Whoa! Did she fall for me at first sight?'
[....]
Why? Why is there no response?
The driver stepped out of the limousine and approached the girl who was staring at me.
I couldn't hear what he was saying due to the distance, but he was attempting a conversation with a gentle expression.
The girl, who had been nearly expressionless until now, gave a faint smile at the driver's words and began to talk.
As I watched them, a guard spoke to me.
"Identity confirmed. You may enter."
"Yes."
I cleared my head of thoughts about them at the guard's words and entered the embassy.
Heading to the infirmary, I passed the cafeteria but didn't pay it much mind.
I have already eaten before coming.
Thinking about it now, I felt it was a good decision to put a cafeteria on the ship..
Eating together livened up the mood, it made the food taste way better.
I arrived at the infirmary staff room. My shoulders felt heavy the moment I stepped in.
Cho Seo-hyun—what nagging would she use to deflate me today?
'At least she's a heavy sleeper in the morning, that's something... Wait, she's awake?'
No privacy screen on Cho Seo-hyun's desk by the window, as always.
And she was tapping the desk with her dainty fingers, muttering.
"Argh... This is gonna mess up this week's practical completely..."
"...Good morning, Instructor Cho Seo-hyun."
"Ah... You're here?"
Unlike usual, Cho Seo-hyun greeted me restlessly.
But ignoring that, she went back to grumbling at the papers on her desk.
Sensing a class-related issue, I asked her.
"Something wrong?"
"Ah... Remember the VR class from last week?"
"Yes."
"Network's not restored yet, so it's postponed."
"Ah..."
Originally, VR combat sims were set for Monday this week.
It was a class where cadets faced and dealt with Beasts that are usually difficult to encounter..
This week was centered on that.
Without VR, we needed alternative practicals, but a sudden directive left even Cho Seo-hyun headache-inducing.
"Can't just teach the kids haphazardly..."
Until now, I had thought Cho Seo-hyeon pursued perfection because she was sensitive to mistakes.
But hearing her mutter alone, she felt real responsibility for her job.
Worry for the cadets seeped through her words.
Meanwhile, the other instructors' murmurs were all uniformly...
(Ugh, such a hassle... If only we had smartwatches for easy grading...)
(Right? I can't believe we came all this way just to suffer like this...)
(It's not even paying well.... Just babysitting kids....)
Even with embassy perks, they were forcibly summoned heroes at heart.
Watching diligently muttering Cho Seo-hyun, I thought.
'She's actually pretty decent.'
She noticed my gaze mid-mutter and whipped around.
Staring intently at me, Cho Seo-hyun asked.
"...What's your main weapon?"
Anxiety surged in my chest at her question.