Chapter 171


    Trantor: SFBaka


    Editor: Thor’s Stone


    The ck Lotus with Krishna stationed inside finally headed for the central system where the imperial capital was located together with Major Serena and her Independent Anti-Pirate Mobile Fleet . Of course, I continued my training under Mei in order to ensure I could survive even if I faced an attack by Drawn Sword faction-affiliated nobles .


    There were quite a few nights where I coughed up blood beforepletely passing out whenever I went to bed . And due to the torment I experienced constantly, I don’t even remember a single instance where I was able to get a good night’s sleep these past few days . I even had to continue wearing my VR gear in bed . It ended up messing my sense of time . And before I knew it, ten days had already passed .


    “Man, it really is gigantic huh . ”


    “It’s so big . ”


    “That sure is amazing . It’s our first time seeing it as well . ”


    “Un, it’s really huge . I think there’s still room to reduce its size withoutpromising its functions though . ”


    Although thestment from Whisker was a bit off-target, we continued to marvel at the gigantic gateway located in the Neeparc system . We supposedly passed through the Dexer system, which was Chris’s home system, but thanks to me constantly being beaten up by Mei, I didn’t realize it at all . But we just passed through anyway, so it’s not like we could stop over for a visit .


    “So we’re gonna warp straight to the imperial capital using the gateway, right?”


    “That’s right . Thanks to the gatewaywork, even the far-away imperial capital feels so near . ”


    “That’s only if you’re one of the people who can freely use the gateway, right?”


    “Well, yes, I guess . ”


    Elma shrugged her shoulders after I pointed that particr detail out .


    A gateway that allows you to jump several tens of thousands of lightyears in an instant truly was convenient, but it wasn’t freely avable to everyone . Even nobles would need some particr permits to pass through them, and ordinary citizens such as merchants or mercenaries rarely get the chance to make use of them on their own .


    Its use was also heavily restricted in SOL, and I hardly have any memories of using it to travel during my time ying the game . It’s said that you’d be able to gain more opportunities by cozying up to the space empires who manage their respective gatewayworks, but I was just your typical solo merc, and I didn’t have any meaningful connections in-game whatsoever .


    “In the first ce, not a lot of people are able to travel out of the colony they were born into . For them, the imperial capital is certainly a very distant ce . ”


    “That’s right . The people whomonly get to travel outside their home colonies are those working for intersterpanies like us or those in the trade business . ”


    “There’s also those from the military . I wonder how most people end up bing mercenaries though?”


    “Oh, uh, I think there’s something like a mercenary training school . I’m not really familiar with it though . ”


    I think I heard something like that when I applied to the Guild . Well, there’s probably not a lot of people who decide to be mercenaries just for the thrills . If I didn’t have Krishna, I would probably just find myself a nice colony to settle on as well .


    “How did you end up bing a mercenary anyway, Boss?”


    “……Um, I just sort of went with the flow, I guess . ”


    When I woke up after my unfortunate ‘ident’, I was already inside Krishna which was floating in outer space . I was then immediately attacked by pirates and killed them in retaliation…… After that, I just said whatever and decided to be a mercenary . That’s the story I told them . This cover story was all thanks to Elma .


    “Went with the flow…… Oh, right . Come to think of it, you said you have amnesia, right Boss? I’m sorry . ”


    “It’s not something to apologize for . I actually think I’m pretty lucky, all things considered . ”


    After all, I did end up meeting Mimi, Elma, Mei, Chris, Tina, Whisker, and Major Serena– No, not the major . Not the major! Anyway, I ended up meeting everyone when I came here . As for Doc Shouko…… Yeah, just remembering her makes my behind feel weirdly itchy . Ugh .


    “Oh, the line’s moving . It looks like it’s our turn . ”


    “I sure am looking forward to it . I wonder what going through a gateway feels like?”


    “It’s really exciting, isn’t it, big sis?”


    You might feel excited now, but you’ll feel sorry you didter guys . I nced at Mimi and found her sending a warm gaze toward the mechanic sisters as well . Hahaha, I remember Mimi was also this excited when we first came through a gate .


    The fleet moved forward and plunged into the distorted space that gave off a mysterious glow nestled between the huge metallic structures . The sight of the leading corvettes and destroyers getting engulfed in that mysterious light and disappearing was truly a surreal view .


    “O-Ooooh…… Here ites, Whisker . ”


    “B-Big sis……”


    The mechanic sisters held hands as they watched the distorted spacee nearer and nearer through the holo-disy .


    The cruisers also got engulfed and disappeared .


    And then–


    “Eh? It’s over?”


    “……That was too abrupt . ”


    Yep . There’s no booming sound you’d hear from activating the FTL Drive . There are no colorful and psychedelic sights like what you’d see when traveling through a hyperspace tunnel . To put it simply, it’s like the image on the holo-disy just changed .


    “Well, this is what you’d call a true warp . ”


    “Hee…… That’s kinda cool . ”


    “I’m not clear on the theory, but it truly is amazing . Un, I can’t afford to lose to just this though . ”


    Tina kept saying how cool it was, but ain’t Whisker’s thoughts flying off in apletely different direction? Sometimes, I found that I couldn’t really get what goes through Whisker’s head . Whisker goes into full engineer mode from time to time and says some pretty radical stuff .


    “Well, in any case, we’ve managed to arrive safely . Wee to the central system of the Gran Empire . My home town, the imperial capital Grakkis, is located over there . ”


    “Nn……?”


    When I saw the image on the holo-disy, I couldn’t help but wrinkle my brows .


    Judging from what I could see, the object in the distance was definitely shaped like a . However, its surface didn’t show the presence of seas, and furthermore, I couldn’t find anything that seemed even remotely natural . Manmade structurespletely covered the surface of the .


    “An ecumenopolis……? So they were able to realize such a thing here……?”


    “Ara, you sure know some really ancient terms . These days, it’s just simply called a-city . ”


    “I see…… So when you say imperial capital, you’re actually referring to that?”


    “That’s right . That-city is precisely the imperial capital, Grakkis . Wee everyone, to the center of the empire; the blossoming capital . ”


    Elma disyed a gentle smile and weed us with a flourish .


    Before descending onto the imperial-city, we decided to head over to the Grakkis Secundus colony first . It was one of severalrge colonies present in the system . There, our cargo would be checked and we would undergo several inspections and procedures before we could obtain permission tond on Grakkis .


    In other words, the Grakkis Secundus colony acts simr to a city gate that we need to go through before we are able to enter the imperial city . It’s said that the merchants who are responsible for the cirction of goods and materials in the system spent most of their dealings in colonies like it . Why? It’s becausending directly on the imperial-city required extensive procedures and checks, and the cost of staying was also apparently quite expensive . Well, it wasn’t as expensive as staying on a resort of course .


    “So what should we do now?”


    After we docked on the colony, we all came to the Lotus’s dining room with Mei . I proceeded to blurt out that question as soon as we plopped down on our seats .


    I know a ship captain should show initiative at times like this, but since I was semi-forced toe here by Major Serena and the power of the state backing her up, I didn’t really hold any initiative at all .


    I think it’s mostly Major Serena’s fault for bringing us here but not handing out any additional instructions afterward . Nah, maybe it’s not that Major Serena didn’t give us any instructions intentionally, but that she didn’t have any chance to give us any further instructions in the first ce . That’s probably it .


    “Major Serena said that all the procedures rted to the award ceremony would be entirely handled by the military, including ournding permits . My personal rmendation is to visit this colony’s Mercenary Guild branch first . ”


    “Mercenary Guild? Oh yeah . Major Serena did say I better rely on the Mercenary Guild more once we arrive at the imperial capital huh . Um, but I’m not exactly sure what I need to rely on them for . ”


    “You should be able to ask the details after you pay them a visit . The Mercenary Guild branches located in the central system should possess the appropriate know-how about how mercenaries should conduct themselves in the presence of nobles . ”


    “I see?”


    Well, it’s Mei’s rmendation after all . I’m sure it’ll be useful .


    “Okay then . I’ll pay them a visit . Do you want toe with me, guys?”


    “Alright . We have to buy some formal dresses anyway . Let’s ask the Mercenary Guild for shop rmendationster . ”


    “Uu, a formal dress huh……”


    Mimi, who was apparently no good with the fluttery and fancy formal dresses, had a bitter look on her face . She may not like it herself, but I still think they look perfect on her . Yeah .


    “We’reing too–”


    “Big sis, we still have to hand over our reports to thepany branch office . ”


    “Eh? Ain’t it fine to y around just for a little bit?”


    “I’m sorry, but I personally don’t have a hobby of listening to hateful sarcasm . ”


    “Uu…… The bunch in the imperial capital are super prudes after all . ”


    It looks like the mechanic sisters had some business with the Space Dwerg branch over here . However, judging from their tone, they seem to have a problem with their colleagues in the capital .


    Is it that? They were all dwarves, but they were actually part of differentpeting factions or something? It kinda felt like that . I better not ask .


    “What about you, Mei?”


    “I will be staying inside the ship . I will contact you right away in case something happens, so do not worry and feel free to go about on your business, Master . ”


    “Understood . I’m counting on you then . ”


    “Yes, please leave it to me . ”


    Mei disyed a subtle smile . Un . Mei’s expressions have be nicer recently . You’d fail to notice if you didn’t pay close attention though .


    “Okay then . Let’s go–”


    “Wait just a moment, buster . First, go to your room and wear your Silver Sword Wings Assault medal . ”


    “……Do I have to?”


    “You do . It would make exining our circumstances easierter on, so go and retrieve it already . Go on . Scoot . ”


    “Yeah……”


    “You look cooler if you have it on, Hiro-sama . ”


    “Ugh . ”


    In the end, Mimi and Elma pushed me into wearing that gaudy medal on my chest . We headed for the Mercenary Guild with my noble-issue swords strapped to my waist as well . Why? Isn’t aser gun more than enough?