Chapter 49
Chapter 49
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Fighter Monopoly
-----------------------------------------------------------------
It's a single-item supply of combat machines, but it's a monopoly.
At this rate, the company would eventually stand shoulder to shoulder with the Major Docks—the biggest players among military suppliers.
We also discussed the important agenda items.
Not everything was going smoothly.
As the scale grew, we were starting to attract attention, and interferences were emerging from quarters we couldn't easily handle with our current backing.
'No need to worry about that just yet. More than that...'
The immediate crisis was weighing on my mind.
"Anyway, please handle the rest as you've been doing."
-Got it.
"And for this outing, I'll be joining the search myself, so get things ready?"
"You personally?"
Fontana's reply came with a look of genuine shock.
"Yeah. I'll move with some decently skilled mercs."
"There's no need for the boss to handle something like that personally..."
"You know that's not true. I need to."
"I get that, but..."
Opportunities to utilize my abilities were progressing more slowly than expected.
It wasn't the principal's fault.
Capturing aliens alive and bringing them back to the academy was inherently difficult.
Even practical exams only used a very limited selection of Grade 2 threats.
But I couldn't settle for that.
I needed to make contact with as many different species of aliens as possible and extract their traits.
That was the only path to survival in the desperate situations I'd face going forward.
-Got it. By the way, did you hear the news?
"What news?"
-About Alpha Pixile Planet.
I hadn't heard a thing.
I knew where Alpha Pixile Planet was.
It was one of the foremost battlegrounds beyond the defense line.
The site of the highest casualties, and where the strongest alien specimens rampaged.
-"Red" has vanished.
"Really?"
-Yeah. Things have improved there somewhat, but the military's on high alert since they don't know why.
"That's intriguing. For that old fixture to up and move."
'Red'
A named alien entity.
This specimen had been active for 36 years, slaughtering countless superhumans and serving as the primary culprit behind humanity's inability to reclaim the Gamma Centauri system.
Still, it always held the same position and never strayed from its territory, so strategies exploiting that had managed to hold the front line.
'But it's gone?'
For what purpose?
The military had no idea why.
Neither did I.
'Was there something like this?'
Nothing came to mind.
"...Well, the military will handle it."
-Of course. I just mentioned it since it's the hot topic lately. Thought you might know something?
"How would I know? Probably just wanted some fresh air after all this time."
Even a named entity couldn't achieve much on its own.
If we tracked the overall alien movements, we could prepare in advance even if it slipped away.
The front lines weren't some pushover where a named entity's ambush could instantly turn the tide.
-Got it. Let me know the outing schedule in advance.
"Already?"
-The boss is heading into danger, right? Gotta get some insurance lined up.
Fontana said that while pressing down firmly on R3D3's head with feeling.
-Beep! Bzzt!
-It's doing its best.
-Current specs cannot perfectly execute master protection protocols. Requires 100% resource augmentation.
-I told you that's impossible right now. It's not just about the money.
-Incompetent.
R3D3 shook off Fontana's hand and took a few steps back.
Then it flashed its lights blindingly.
-That thing...!
To Fontana, R3D3 was a kind of idealized form in the making.
The perfect combat machine he dreamed of completing someday.
Right now, shortages in tech and resources prevented perfection.
He upgraded it piece by piece as preparations allowed, but R3D3's AI had an intense drive for "improvement" built in, leading to these scenes every time.
"Pffft!"
-Stop laughing and do something about it. It's getting more disobedient by the day.
"You're its creator. Handle it yourself."
-Ugh...
I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
I couldn't even remember the last time I'd laughed this much.
*
There was some good news.
No practical exams this semester.
They'd use our real-combat sparring scores instead.
"So you guys are getting perfect marks?"
Merdi, who had already finished eating and was sipping tea, looked satisfied.
'No surprise, after all the hardship.'
Merdi had tough times in both practical exams during her first year.
Things her pride couldn't tolerate.
And I'd gotten involved both times, putting her through hell.
'Still, it seems like she's picking fewer fights with me now.'
Even lately, her gaze still sent chills down my spine.
Maybe implanting those Blue Demon horns wasn't enough to tempt her into trying.
For some reason, she'd been pouring even more time into training lately, and her abilities were now powerful enough to worry about wrecking the sparring room.
Then, sensing my stare, Merdi spoke up.
"What're you looking at?"
"Oh, nothing. Just thought you changed accessories. Suits you well."
I quickly averted my eyes.
My words came out all wrong in the panic.
'Idiot!'
Couldn't I come up with a smoother excuse?
I resented my mouth.
I could already picture her snapping, "Who are you to judge me?"
One cadet who'd approached her using my method last time had pissed himself from her ability and now wouldn't even glance her way.
"You know this? It's the latest from Abangche Jur."
But Merdi's reaction was different from what I'd expected.
While I sat stunned, Barton smoothly picked up the conversation.
"Only seven sets made limited edition, right? Nice grab."
"Who else but me could snag it?"
"Carved from grinium? What's the price?"
Insane for jewelry.
Comparable to the 'Heart of Santinau' I'd gotten from Saim last time.
But more shocking than the price was...
"You remember the exact amount?"
"I bought it. So what, weird?"
Yeah, it was weird.
Merdi's wealth came not from her, but her home planet.
Tributes from the powers there trying to curry favor.
Normally, she'd splurge without a thought and let them foot the bill.
Remembering down to the small change was astonishing.
Seeing me silent, she seemed to misinterpret and spoke again.
"...I've decided not to use the money those fools offer anymore. So I need to know exactly how much leaves my account."
Her tone had cooled a bit.
She'd visited her home planet on an outing, and something had clearly happened.
"Wow! Merdi manages her own bank account?"
"......Yeah."
"You must make a ton!"
She clamped her mouth shut at Roze's question.
Her eyebrow twitched; something was holding her back from answering straightforwardly.
'Does she have another income source...?'
Unlikely.
Cadets faced restrictions on outside activities.
Side jobs eating up time were banned.
Without home planet support, she wouldn't have separate work, let alone income for such jewelry.
"...Just do."
"So cool! Next time we go out, let's hang somewhere. Can you help me pick clothes too? It's hard to dress as pretty as you, Merdi."
"Yeah. Merdi always looks so good in clothes. I'm jealous."
Merdi nodded awkwardly, looking a bit flustered.
She did dress well.
Probably top among second-years.
No one could match her in flashy outfits.
'Practically a celebrity.'
Same beauty as Roze, but different leagues.
Hard to imagine her dressed plainly.
If born in modern times, she'd be a celeb for sure.
'...Come to think of it, they said they needed a model.'
The cosmetics developed and in trials by the Monarch family were set for release in a few months.
With the family's full effort, they planned heavy advertising, and asked to recommend a model if I found one.
Truth be told, they didn't need to ask me.
I'd planned to tell them to handle it.
But Merdi—with her Cradle of Heroes Academy cred, top grades, looks, and aura—seemed perfect.
After a moment's thought, I asked her.
"Wanna shoot an ad?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah. Cosmetics ad."
"You're asking me to do an ad...?"
I hurried to continue before she got offended.
"It's a family project. It'll air union-wide, so they're hunting top models, but no luck. Pay'll be huge, of course."
She flinched at "pay" and pondered.
Roze was more shocked, eyes wide as she grabbed Merdi and shook her wildly.
"Model? Merdi as a model?"
"Let go."
"They're looking for top models. Isn't that amazing? And earning money too. So jealous!"
"Thinking about it."
She dodged Roze's envious gaze and replied like that.
Then, after a pause, asked me.
"You were looking for top models originally?"
"Yeah, but none caught their eye even among them."
"So you're asking me?"
I nodded.
The facts were a bit off, but minor detail.
Seeing her now, she really suited it.
'They're not picking just one model anyway.'
Preferences varied by residential zones.
Even with a main model, additions were essential.
That way, even if Merdi flopped somehow, we'd manage.
"...Hmm."
"Not interested?"
Merdi wasn't the type to shy from the public eye.
Quite the opposite.
She got mad if people didn't recognize her.
Along the lines of 'How dare you not know me.'
Superhumans were public figures anyway.
Their feats and interviews topped news daily, with magazines dedicated to famous ones.
'Might be good to start image-building with that face that'll sell itself.'
Having a Cradle of Heroes cadet as the main in a union-wide ad would get the union's attention too.
Benefits for the family and Merdi all around.
"...So what's the exact pay?"
"We'll negotiate. Usually settles around here, but factoring ad duration, it'll be at least this much?"
Her eyes widened slightly at the figure I wrote.
Top model rates were beyond imagination.
Sorry Merdi, but I was confident it'd beat her backwater planet's sponsorships.
Still, she didn't commit right away.
I waited, then asked again.
"Guess not then."
"...Not really."
"Then help me out. Can't put just anyone in a worldwide broadcast ad, right? I'd feel better if you did. Makes me uneasy as a stakeholder."
"...Fine."
She finally decided.
"Really?"
"Contract first. Need to check if the treatment fits me."
"Sure! I'll make sure they offer top-tier. Ad production won't be hard. On outing day, we can wrap in a day with buffer?"
Roze and Ji-hye chimed in with congratulations.
Merdi's reaction wasn't bad.
A bit confused, but leaning positive.
'Nothing loosens the heart like a full wallet.'
I hadn't proposed this expecting anything from her.
Just hoped it'd ease her stresses.
That's all.
As Merdi sipped her tea, she shot me sidelong glances now and then.
What was she thinking?
I tried ignoring it and switched topics.
"You're going on an adventure?"
We'd been chatting when Roze suddenly perked up at one part.