A service robot, basically a tray mounted on an industrial arm, rolled in on treads and thrusters.
No matter how you looked at it, it was not originally meant for serving food.
[This is originally a robot for this unit’s maintenance, repairs, and ammunition production. Since there was no body suitable for the name ‘Tsubame,’ I am directing this unit to serve the food.]
“O-Oh… True, it would be a bit creepy to hear Tsubame’s voice coming out of a rugged machine like that…”
[Shall I attach an artificial vocal cord later? I can even tune it to your preferred voice.]
“No, you don’t have to go that far. More importantly, this food is incredible.”
Before my eyes sat a spread of luxurious dishes that I couldn’t believe came from rations and canned goods. Steam rose from the plates, and an aroma that made my mouth water stimulated my nostrils.
For a low-wage worker like me, these were the kinds of dishes I had only ever seen on the other side of a monitor.
[Beef fillet-style steak rations with non-oil-style wasabi soy sauce dressing-style rations, organic vegetable-style grilled rations, and ration bisque.]
“…Come again?”
[As I said, they are all rations. I have rewritten the molecular structure, so the quality should be indistinguishable from the real thing.]
If I believed Tsubame’s explanation, it was the same as the real thing, but mentally, I felt like I was being served fakes. Since I had been secretly getting excited for my first-ever luxury meal, I felt somewhat betrayed.
“…It’s decided. Once I’ve saved up enough money, I’m going to eat my way through all the delicacies in the universe. Natural vegetables, fish, brand-name meat. Everything delicious.”
[Rations have a much better nutritional balance than such things.]
“Meals are about taste, not nutrition!”
Despite my complaints, the moment I put the food in my mouth, flavors I had never experienced flooded in. The texture was tender yet bouncy, and every time I chewed, meat juices and sweet fat created a flood in my mouth. It wasn’t overly salty, but the way it brought out the natural flavor and aroma of the ingredients left nothing to be desired.
It’s so delicious, yet the ingredients are just rations…
The word ‘rations’ brought back a flash of memories of me quietly gnawing on them in a corner of a transport ship before payday. To wipe away those miserable feelings, I’ll become a person who can spend money on food.
As I made that quiet resolution, Nia, sitting across from me, was eating with a massive smile on her face. I wished I could innocently enjoy the taste too. I wish she hadn’t told me the ingredients, or at least waited until after I finished eating.
[For dessert, we have vanilla ice cream-style chilled rations.]
“…Before we get to the delicacies, let’s start by sourcing some normal ingredients.”
Just how do you make beef and ice cream out of rations anyway…?
By the way, the ice cream was also delicious. The taste, at least.
Once our stomachs were full, I assigned one of the empty guest rooms to Nia.
…I hadn’t even decided on my own quarters yet, but she looked a bit sleepy and she’s just a kid, so it couldn’t be helped.
[I will properly customize Master’s quarters later. Not just the furniture, but the wall color, door size, and even the ceiling height can be adjusted freely, so please ask for anything.]
“Thanks, Tsubame.”
[…! No! For this Tsubame, being useful to Master is my reason for existence and my supreme command!]
Even though it was a flat synthetic voice, for some reason I could almost see a dog wagging its tail furiously. She was quite the expressive AI.
“By the way, how long will it take to reach our destination, Gemini?”
[It depends on the method of travel. Via Super-Gravity Navigation, it would take about five minutes.]
“…Excuse me?”
[As I said, about five minutes. Precisely four minutes and forty-three seconds.]
When I asked for details, it was, as expected, prehistoric super-technology.
Black holes that were flung into a galaxy we didn’t know. By intentionally creating something similar and navigating while warping space, the distance… etc. Honestly, I didn’t understand the principle at all.
I wanted to try it, but considering it would likely make us stand out immensely and Nia’s grandfather probably wouldn’t have arrived yet anyway, we decided against Super-Gravity Navigation.
[I scanned the enemy ships while wiping out the pirates, so I can infer the general methods of travel used today.]
The realistic option became Hyperspace Navigation.
It’s a method of traveling through a space with zero obstacles using gates installed between star systems.
Incidentally, the gates were maintained versions of prehistoric relics.
[Those gates were originally facilities for people who wanted to enjoy a long journey leisurely… I don’t really recommend them because if they are destroyed, escaping is a hassle.]
“It’ll be fine. Gates don’t break that easily, and more importantly, if you get trapped in hyperspace, you usually can’t come back. Nobody’s going to start a fight when they might get caught in it themselves.”
Tsubame seems like she could do it, but for a normal ship, it’s impossible. Currently, if you’re stranded in hyperspace, all you can do is pray the gate gets fixed before your food runs out.
Anyway.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
For now, we’ll spend the night in space and collect the bounty at the nearest spaceport tomorrow morning. After that, we’ll buy what we need and move via Hyperspace Navigation.
Since gates serving as exits are placed near each planet, we’ll be moving by entering and exiting hyperspace repeatedly.
“In the meantime, let’s call it ‘Pirate Hunting’ as we go.”
Cleaning up trash and making money at the same time is the best. I can never have too much money for the supplies Tsubame needs for development and for buying food.
“Oh, by the way, Tsubame, is there anything you want?”
[Something I want?]
“Yeah. Materials for development are fine, or decorations, or even weaponry. I don’t know if I can buy it immediately, but I’ll consider it.”
[Are you sure!?]
“Yeah. Ever since you picked me up, I’ve been constantly in your debt. I’m happy to have you look up to me as the leader, but I want to be able to give something back.”
[…This unit is the luckiest in the galaxy!]
“I’m the one being saved here. Don’t hesitate to tell me.”
A mercenary corps. A handyman. A transporter.
Whatever you want to call it, the current members are just me and Tsubame, but I want to be picky about employee benefits. I definitely don’t want to become like the ‘Black Company’ I used to work for.
…That’s right. Since we’re becoming a company, I should decide on things like that properly.
Though it’s not like I have anything specific I want to do. At most, ‘enjoying delicacies,’ and that doesn’t feel like a proper company goal.
“…Until now, I was always too busy just trying to survive the day.”
Remembering the times I was worked to the bone for a pittance while gasping for air, a cold sweat broke out on my back.
It’s total trauma.
“…For now, how about ‘The Extermination of Space Pirates’?”
It’s just a temporary goal until I find what I really want to do, but if we take the lead in cleaning up the trash of the universe while making money, the company’s reputation will go up—killing two birds with one stone.
For benefits, I’ll make it a ‘White’ company based on what I would have wanted as an employee.
And then—…
“The company name. I have no sense for naming things.”
[How about ‘The Raul System Federal National Provisional Government’?]
“Is that supposed to be a company name…? I don’t have the courage to call myself a government.”
[I see… Then, why not ask for advice?]
“Advice… from who?”
As if reacting to my words, there was a knock at the door. It was a metal automatic door, but since it was my room, it was set not to react to anyone but me.
“You can open it.”
Standing outside the door was, as expected, the Swallowtail’s only passenger, Nia.
“U-Um, well… you see…”
The girl, her cheeks flushed red, let her gaze wander restlessly as she entered the room.
“I-I, well, usually, I sleep with Grandfather… and, well, in an unfamiliar place, it’s a little lonely, and, well…”
[In other words, she is requesting Yotogi (night service). Master, this is a chance to increase the population.]
“Wh-!? Wait, Tsubame! You’re saying something outrageous!”
“Yo-to-gi…? What is that?”
[It means sleeping together… in a broad sense.]
“I see. In that case, I would like to request Yotogi…!”
She was still young… no, because she was young, the sight of her requesting ‘night service’ while blushing in embarrassment felt incredibly immoral.
If I were a lolicon, I would have been taken into custody by the Space Patrol or the Interstellar Army instantly. Moreover, Nia wasn’t just any girl; she was a beauty of the highest level. Even if one weren’t a lolicon, it wouldn’t be strange for a man to have a momentary lapse in judgment.
Fortunately, I am not a lolicon, and I have the mental strength to endure a ‘Black Company,’ so I will not resort to criminal acts.
Still, if this were a few years later, it would have been dangerous.
“…I almost became a piece of trash on par with a space pirate.”
Lolicons must die, no mercy.
It’s an important rule for being human.
“Should I put this in the company rules too…?”
“?”
“No, I’m talking to myself. Anyway, I’m fine with just sleeping beside you.”
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