It seems Kanata’s compatibility rate and Nenshin Strength have increased again.
“Combat Cell Compatibility Rate 83%, Nenshin Strength 1.15 million n. I’m at a loss for words.”
Dr. Hibiki sighed as she looked at the results of the pre-sortie ability test.
I, having finished training with Shion, came to the infirmary for my regular medical checkup…
“It increased again. It must be because the Grim Reaper gave me a brutal experience. While I’ve felt like I was going to die many times before, I’ve never felt death so close.”
It seems Bio-Metal soldiers become stronger each time they skirt death, and my repeated misfortunes have also been training me. That said, I can’t say I welcome misfortune just because it makes me stronger.
“With this, Kanata, you’ve joined the ranks of compatibility candidates. Should I congratulate you?”
“What do you mean, compatibility candidates?”
“Soldiers whose compatibility rate exceeds 80% are called compatibility candidates. If they grow further and exceed 90%, they are called semi-candidates.”
And then, reaching 100% will make them Complete Compatibles (Hundred), I see.
“It’s appreciated that I’m getting stronger, but it just means Dr. Shijima will be happy again. It’s a double-edged sword.”
I’ll try not to worry about it, as the Commander might just blow up the entire laboratory at this rate. Assassinating only the Doctor cleanly would also work, though.
“At this rate, you might become a semi-candidate by the time you return from the campaign.”
“If I manage to return alive. Well, I have a few other places to visit, so I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Be sure to come back alive, Kanata.”
I intend to. I’ll survive in this world, together with my precious comrades. That’s what I’ve decided.
After the medical checkup, it was just past noon. This operation is going to be long, and once we sortie, we won’t be able to return to the Garden for a while.
I should grab some food from Isokichi’s place in the cafeteria.
The cafeteria at lunchtime is packed with thugs. I’ll be saying goodbye to this commotion for a while…
With a twisted headband tied around my head, I called out to my comrade Isokichi, who was battling the stomachs of the thugs.
“Isokichi-san, what’s today’s special?”
“Yo, Chairman. Today’s special is a three-kind pork cutlet platter—loin, fillet, and chicken—with chestnut rice, to get you fired up before your sortie!”
“Pork cutlet to win, and chestnut for victory… Sounds auspicious. I’ll take that.”
“Coming right up! Kanata, you seem to be a bit unlucky, so getting fired up is important!”
I feel like it’s more than “a bit” unlucky.
According to the thugs of the Garden, I’m “walking trouble,” an “accident generator,” and “the man who carries all the misfortune in this world.”
…These are all my nicknames.
I’ll take a vacation after the “Storm of Destruction” operation ends. I should seriously have Mikoto-sama perform an exorcism.
The three kinds of pork cutlets on the plate: roast pork cutlet with grated daikon and ponzu, fillet cutlet with spicy sauce, and chicken cutlet with tartar sauce.
Comrade Isokichi is particular not only about the quality of the dishes themselves but also about the condiments.
Both the ponzu and the sauces are handmade delicacies.
But it’s surprising that tartar sauce exists in this world too. In my original world, its origin was the Tatar nomadic people, but…
Still, there’s a region called Champalme, which closely resembles Champagnepalace, the birthplace of Champagne. It’s probably something similar. There’s also Hampalurg City, which closely resembles the German city of Hamburg, the origin of the word “hamburger.” It’s truly a planet like a copy of Earth.
It’s helpful that I can live here without feeling out of place, though.
“Brother, having lunch too?”
Rick sat down in front of me, holding trays in both hands. As expected of a heavyweight, he eats two servings even with this volume.
“It’s lunch, obviously. Did I look like I was reciting a poem?”
“You’re good at spouting big talk on the battlefield, aren’t you?”
I am. Whisper tactics are one of my skills.
“Rick, you should learn it too. You fell for the whisper tactics, didn’t you? Guiding the opponent’s thoughts is an effective method.”
“I’ll pass on that. I’m not as cunning as you are, Brother. There’s a saying, ‘The foolish man’s thought is like resting,’ right?”
“That proverb was taught to me by Nozomi, wasn’t it? Spot on, right?”
“How did you know?”
“Process of elimination. Rick rarely reads books, and neither does Uslatonkachi. That leaves only Nozomi.”
“I see. Brother, changing the subject, is it true you’re bringing Beecham along?”
“It’s true. I understand your concern, Rick. Beecham hasn’t reached the Asura Unit’s level yet.”
“If you know that, then why are you bringing him?”
“It’s an advance investment. It’s like investing in a venture company.”
Rick, who had crunched and swallowed his pork cutlet, wore a thoughtful expression that didn’t quite suit him.
“Investing in venture companies involves risk, doesn’t it? We’re the investors, aren’t we?”
“That’s right. We’ve judged that he has the value to invest in. What Beecham needs is confidence. The fact that he achieved results in actual combat.”
“Isn’t it dangerous to give Beecham confidence now? I was thrashed by you because of my overconfidence, Brother.”
It seems he can now calmly reflect on his past self. That’s a good thing.
“Rick’s overconfidence was just trimmed down. Beecham needs his to be added.”
“I see, you might be right, Brother. You really know how to read people.”
“Not really. I didn’t even see myself clearly. I didn’t realize until the Grim Reaper broke my puffed-up pride.”
“I’m glad you and the others are alive. But there’s just one thing I want to say.”
“What is it?”
Rick grinned, looking genuinely amused.
“Serves you right. *Cough cough cough*.”
“…You’ve become quite ill-natured, Rick.”
“Your bad nature has been contagious, Brother. It’s your own fault.”
Oh, well. At least being foul-mouthed is a common ailment among Garden thugs, so it can’t be helped.
“Nozomi, who has similar combat experience to Beecham, will be fine, right?”
“I think Nozomi is the most balanced in Comma Two. She’s only experienced combat once, but conversely, she only lacks experience. Both Usla and I are specialized soldiers. For now, we still need to support her, but eventually, I think Nozomi will be the one supporting our peak performances, don’t you think?”
Rick, who used to be noticeably rough, seems to be shedding his carelessness since he started looking after the new recruit Nozomi, which is for the best.
He’s the son of Hinkley, the “Indomitable” who rose to general with just himself, despite not graduating from officer school. He seems to have the aptitude of a commander.
The Brigadier General trusted me and entrusted Rick to me. I must live up to that expectation.
Even though he’s a year younger, it’s arrogant to think this about Rick, who has more combat experience than I do… But we’ll all raise him to be a man who can meet the Brigadier General’s expectations.
…I won’t have him become an unfilial son like myself.
After finishing lunch, I headed to “Kenju Komachi” in the shopping district. The item I ordered should have arrived.
At the shop’s counter, Omachi-san was busy with business, dealing with the thugs.
Omachi-san, a seasoned merchant with a plump face, welcomed me with a jingle of her abacus-equipped calculator.
“Welcome, Kanata-chan.”
“Omachi-san, has the item I ordered arrived?”
“Of course, dear.”
Omachi-san placed a parcel on the counter and began to unwrap it.
“A new model drone from Ares Heavy Industries, the ‘Wasp Σ’. You have discerning taste, Kanata-chan, desiring the highest grade Insect User. As befitting the finest model, the price is also top-tier, but we’re friends, aren’t we?”
Omachi-san’s round, short fingers moved with surprising smoothness as she tallied on the abacus.
This master craftsmanship is impressive…
“Omachi-san, I don’t know how to read an abacus.”
“That’s right. For old folks like me, calculators just don’t have the same charm. Alright then…”
Omachi-san and I reached an agreement after she tapped the calculator three times, and we sealed the deal with a handshake.
Then, I just needed to buy a few more consumables, and my shopping would be complete.
As I paid and turned to head back to the medical district to install tactical apps for the drone, Omachi-san whispered from behind me.
“Kanata-chan, Kanata-chan. I have some interesting news for you…”
“Interesting news?”
“Yes. Just between us, just between us, mind you?”
Here we go! “Just between us”! Omachi-san’s “just between us” is never really just between us.
“Regarding that thing… it sold, you know.”
“That thing?”
“The service for preserving the contents of one’s ‘balls,’ you know.”
“Huh! Seriously?”
“Seriously. And it’s quite popular. After all, ‘balls’ are targeted in actual combat, aren’t they? I thought there must be some rough-looking thugs who dream of a happy family, and I was spot on. My judgment was correct. The biggest customer was Commander’s No. 0 Unit, but… people of status are certainly afraid of their family lines being severed.”
Omachi-san, you’re wearing a very wicked smile. It’s the smile of a shrewd, no, a corrupt merchant.
“Omachi-san, you targeted the No. 0 Unit from the very beginning with this service, didn’t you?”
The Commander’s No. 0 Unit is composed of the sons of well-established families with solid backgrounds.
I believe most of the unit members were single due to the Commander’s wishes, who didn’t want to incur the wrath of their wives or families.
Single, sons of prestigious families… The perfect targets for someone who can pay well. Omachi-san wouldn’t miss such an opportunity.
“Hehehe, what are you talking about? Anyway, here’s the real story: someone bought it. An unexpected person.”
“An unexpected person? Like Rasen-san?”
“No, no. The buyer was, believe it or not, Shuri-chan!”
Shuri bought it!? Seriously! Ah, right, that time…!
“Omachi-san! You didn’t force her to buy it, did you, by restraining her that time!”
“As a merchant, I don’t engage in hard selling. Shuri-chan came to buy that service later. My guess is she intends to use it as a tool for seduction.”
“A tool for seduction?”
“Shuri-chan finally got her wish and became lovey-dovey with Hotaru-chan. That means, to freeze the contents of one’s ‘balls,’ you have to… well, get them out of the ‘balls,’ right?”
…Ah!
“Given Shuri-chan’s rigid personality, a direct approach might be difficult, but for that reason, it might be easier to bring it up, right? Come on, what do you think? What do you think, Kanata-chan?”
“…Omachi-san, have you told anyone else about this?”
“Nope, you’re the first, Kanata-chan.”
“That’s good. Please, keep this strictly between us. Absolutely don’t tell anyone else, alright?”
“…Alright. I’ll keep it strictly between us, then.”
“On your merchant’s honor?”
“On this abacus!”
Having her swear on the abacus puts my mind at ease. This way, the story will end as “truly” just between us.
I don’t want to disturb the two of them as they try to overcome their past.
…Still, that shuri guy came up with a clever idea. He probably hasn’t expressed it to Hotaru yet, but it’s only a matter of time.
Cheh, he makes a girlfriend and then breaks his Virginity Alliance? What a traitor, Shuri!
…I don’t mind if the alliance is broken, though.
