Chapter 84
Chapter 84
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Secretary Sia
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Her face was so delicately pretty that it bordered on being a flaw, yet her serene demeanor perfectly offset it.
“...The situation isn't easy.”
“I'm still not fully recovered, so I won't be able to offer much help right away. But if you give me a chance, I'll do my absolute best.”
“If you join my retinue, you'll have to follow me everywhere with almost no personal time.”
“This is a life that should have ended anyway. I'll devote whatever's left of it to you, Sir Leonard—that's my resolve.”
What was she, some magpie who'd received a huge favor?
It was true I'd saved her life.
But in this day and age, dragging one's entire life into it felt over the top.
“As long as it doesn't involve fighting or selling my body, I'm confident I can handle anything. But if you order it...”
“I'll never ask you to do anything like that.”
“That's a relief. Still, if you're ever interested, just let me know anytime. With you, Sir Leonard...”
“Ah, I mean, that's not going to happen!”
I ended up yelling.
Sia Lachesis just smiled at my outburst.
I realized I'd been had and sighed inwardly.
*She's a sly one.*
I'd fallen for her words and basically promised to take her on.
I couldn't trust her.
What was she thinking, asking me to use her?
I hoped she wasn't pushing some third-rate romantic plot where she'd fallen for her savior.
On top of that, she knew the secret about the “healing,” so she might be approaching me for that reason.
*No, don't overthink it.*
I was being too extreme.
I shook off the complicated thoughts and evaluated Sia Lachesis as she was.
From a purely professional standpoint, she was definitely a solid asset.
Her current attitude was proof, and as a noble's daughter, she'd pick things up quickly.
Factoring in her influence in the Triple Link region, the merits were clear.
*Normally, I wouldn't even bother.*
In the original story, the Triple Link region didn't hold out for long.
As pointed out in my conversation with Darmosa, the refugee issue snowballed with other events, leading to collapse much faster than expected.
But the current situation differed from the original.
The outlook was definitely brighter.
*Still unsettling.*
My initial plan had assumed we'd cede all the way to the third defensive line.
But as things stood now...
If I could pull in the Lachesis family's power through her, maybe it was worth reconsidering.
I nodded in the end.
“Alright.”
“You'll take me on?”
“Yes. Not as part of the retinue, but as a secretary. That work for you?”
“Of course. And if I do well, I could join the retinue later, right?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you. I'll do my best.”
“Yeah, looking forward to working with you.”
I stood from my chair and offered Sia a handshake.
A deep smile lingered on her lips.
*
At any rate, a goal was set.
Defend the Triple Link region.
Plenty of hurdles lay ahead to achieve it.
Fortunately, Sia's addition would help.
Not just as a secretary, but as a “public face” to calm the refugees—she was perfect for it.
*Honestly didn't expect this much.*
Usually, the faces used in propaganda were almost always superhumans.
Local figures stepped up occasionally, but it was rare, and they could hardly surpass the iconic image of superhumans as idols and guardians.
But Sia Lachesis was different.
“It's Sia!”
“I heard she was sick—are you okay?”
“Sia, please just one look here!”
I felt her popularity firsthand upon arriving at the colony.
The way people idolized Sia in the military was no different.
A few recognized her face at first, then word spread, and soon the passageway was swarmed with people surrounding us.
“Whoa...”
It hit different from reading about it.
“Sir Leonard?”
“...Yeah?”
“Didn't you say you had business here?”
Sia acted oblivious to the reactions around her.
Just like over the past week, she stuck faithfully to her role as secretary.
“Hmm...”
“You have the commander's briefing as tactical advisor in 2 hours and 17 minutes. Factoring in travel time, we need to wrap up within 2 hours.”
“...I know that.”
I glanced at Sia.
Then turned to the gathered civilians.
The way they looked at me, Leonard's attendant, screamed “Who the hell's this guy?”
“I'll just pop over real quick.”
“But we have to discuss things with the admins...”
“That can wait. Sia, handle this instead. Give them a wave.”
“Huh? Oh...!”
I grabbed her arm and waved it big, drawing a roar from the civilians.
I slipped away while she was flustered.
Thankfully, the crowd uninterested in me parted.
“Whew...”
Guess I really had zero popularity.
All those eyes on me made my heart squeeze for no reason.
I glanced back.
Her initial fluster was gone; she'd already slipped into her familiar poise, handling the crowd.
The civilians were like lambs before her.
And these were the same people generating thousands of incidents and complaints daily.
*This way?*
The control room was right there.
Technically, this space colony was mine.
I'd rented it with my money and was operating it with support staff from Monarch.
The Humanity Alliance had welcomed the aid with open arms, fast-tracking the permits.
Thanks to that, I'd secured a spot near the Drive Gate in just two weeks of pushing.
The colony served multiple purposes now.
It acted as a transit station for refugees while also equipped to treat urgent cases needing medical support.
Being modular, the Alliance was even moving in extra blocks to use it as a provisional supply base.
Of course, nothing happened without my say-so, but since it wasn't my dime, no reason to refuse.
If issues cropped up on return, I'd raise them then.
“Fresh oppa!”
The moment I entered the control room, someone came running.
Jenny, clutching her rabbit doll.
A whole month since I'd seen her, and she remembered me perfectly.
*Doesn't seem slow at all.*
Developmental disorder?
Her childish behavior for her age might stem from something else.
Or her parents' influence.
“...Jenny! You can't just hug anyone... Oh? Ah, hello, sir.”
A man with a scar on his neck stopped her, spotted me, and greeted.
“You're Mr. Tunie, right?”
“Yes, superhuman sir. I'm Tunie.”
“Second time meeting. Or just for me?”
“I vaguely remember too. I wasn't completely out back then. But more importantly! I haven't thanked you properly. You saved me and my family—truly grateful. Salute!”
Tunie raised his right hand at a 90-degree angle and tapped his heart twice—the standard Humanity Alliance military salute.
Ex-military, and his form was still sharp.
“Not only did you save us, but you gave us a place here. Forgive me for just a salute.”
“No need.”
“Oppa, hug me! Hug, hug!”
Then Jenny grabbed my pants, pleading.
I glanced at Tunie; he nodded it was fine.
“Alright? Wanna hug? Up you go!”
I scooped her up, supporting her bottom with my forearm.
She gripped my shoulder with one arm, steadying herself, and grinned.
*Good thing I'm tall.*
Jenny was 10.
She was growing fast for her age, pretty big already.
If I were my original barely-over-170cm self, it'd look awkward.
“Heehee!”
“She likes you. Jenny's super shy—folks from the same village could never even hug her once...”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Force it, and she wails like crazy. Once bitten, twice shy.”
Hardship etched Tunie's face.
Seizing the moment, I probed further.
“She's different from other kids, huh?”
“Apart from the shyness, not really. Just obsessed with that rabbit doll—won't let it go.”
“Hm, how's her compulsory education going?”
“Great. Haha, our girl's top of her age group in progress. Her teacher's calling her a genius. Spoiled, sure, but sharp as a tack.”
“Impressive.”
I looked at Jenny in surprise.
Staring right at my face from my arms, she grinned when our eyes met.
“Jenny studies good.”
“Our Jenny's awesome.”
“Hehe, Raviel helped.”
“...This one?”
“Yeah!”
I pointed at the rabbit doll; she hugged it tight, rubbing her cheek.
Just in case, I inspected it closely.
But nothing stood out.
“How's work? Suited to it?”
“...Not great. They won't listen. Too many incidents. Grateful for your help, and we're screwing up—sorry.”
“They're anxious; just soothe them. And you're from the same planet, Mr. Tunie. Things we or the admins miss, you'll catch.”
“Yes, true. Sorry for complaining amid the hardship.”
“No. Sia's here today too—should help. Saw the crowd go nuts.”
“Sia...?”
“My secretary, Sia Lachesis. Told you she was coming?”
“That was Sia!?”
Tunie’s eyes bulged.
His reaction threw me.
“...Y-yeah.”
“Then we can't dawdle. Gotta tell the wife?”
“Uh...?”
“Ah, sorry! Got too excited hearing Sia was here. Haha.”
“It's fine. Just... intense reaction.”
“Intense? To us, she's like a little matron.”
Spit flying, Tunie rambled on.
Early migration days.
Most settlers to Triple Link were broke, starting anew.
The “matron”—Sia's mother, wife of the Lachesis head—had helped immensely.
After Sia was born, she took over naturally, inheriting the image as “little matron.”
Lately, feelings intensified.
Sia's mom had met misfortune aiding refugees.
Sia, hurt in the same incident but clinging to life, reappearing was huge for them.
*Didn't factor that in.*
Anyway, explained the weird fervor.
“We'll talk one-on-one later. No rush.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You're a colony head, right? Sia'll handle ops in my stead—plenty to discuss.”
“...Ooh.”
“And your wife...?”
“Ah, helping with meals now.”
“Tough work. My sympathies.”
“Haha, having jobs makes us happy.”
Tunie beamed.
I nodded.
I'd come to the colony today for Jenny.
I looked at her again.
Still in my arms, she met my eyes and grinned innocently, delighted.
*This kid's the ‘Raviel’?*
No way.
Had I overreacted to the name Raviel?
With Humanity Alliance population over 100 billion, coincidences like this were plausible.
I set Jenny down.
“Eeeeng...”
“Next time. I'll visit again.”
Her disappointed pout got a head pat.
She lit up and clung again.
I felt troubled.
*Can't get attached.*
This encounter was veering from my original purpose.