465 – “You’ll Wholeheartedly Devote Yourself, Right?” / “Yes……”
After spending quite a lot of time talking with the girls, Tina and Wiska’s mother Sheila-san eventually seemed to have become satisfied.
“I’m looking forward to seeing my grandchildren. You’ll wholeheartedly devote yourself, right?”
“Uh, yes…… Um, as long as we’re prepared enough.”
“You’re planning on buying land and a house on some planet somewhere, correct? Something like that’s like a faraway dream for most folks born and raised in colonies, but I’m sure you’ll be able to do it. I’ll be expecting good results then, alright?”
“Yes……”
Seemingly satisfied with my answers, Sheila-san nodded and left with a smile.
“Once you’re set, please get in touch with us again, nephew-in-law.”
“Right, you have to. And thanks for the souvenirs. I’m gonna make them our family heirlooms.”
Bargan-san and Gatram-san each brought several liquor bottles that I’ve autographed with them as souvenirs. Said liquors were all looted from pirates. All of them were naturally unbranded. They were brewed by the pirates themselves and stuffed inside poor-quality bottles. In other words, they were moonshine. But the two dwarven uncles actually found that appealing.
They each got one bottle for safekeeping and another one for display. I then gave them an additional four bottles each for actual consumption, for a total of six bottles for each uncle. Six bottles was quite a bit of luggage, but it’s dwarves we’re talking about here. Although they were small in stature, they had really strong bodies, so carrying a large amount of liquor bottles on their backs didn’t seem to bother them at all.
By the way, Sheila-san received high-quality liquors manufactured by a proper brewery from her daughters and Elma as souvenirs. She was also a dwarf after all.
After Sheila-san and the others left, we all gathered inside the break area and spaced out for a while.
“……I’m exhausted.”
“……Me too.”
“……Me three.”
Mimi and the others displayed bitter smiles when they saw me, Tina, and Wiska act all exhausted. Those guys really came and went like a storm. Seriously.
Our planetary descent application was finally approved, so we proceeded to descend to the capital in the Black Lotus and Antlion, whose weapons had been sealed. Naturally, Krishna, which was parked inside the Lotus, also had its weapons sealed. Since our accomplishments in the recent conflict at the border will be part of the topics to be discussed this time around, it was decided that all three ships that participated in that conflict should make their way to the capital together.
Normally, the Antlion would dock with the Lotus whenever we moved around as a group, but since we were gonna descend onto the imperial capital, that wasn’t allowed. And so, the Antlion undocked itself from the Lotus and descended separately.
“So, you’re coming with us huh, Chris?”
As I gazed at the imperial capital that gradually revealed its majesty, I called out to Chris who was quietly sitting beside me. Most of us were currently gathered within the break space of the Lotus and were looking at the footage of the imperial capital projected on the holo-display as we made our descent.
Naturally, Elma was making her descent alone in the Antlion, and Mei was on the bridge of the Black Lotus. Dr. Shouko and Neve, who was formerly known as Unit 104, were both in the med bay, so not all of us were present in the break space.
“Although Elma-san is technically a noble, she has long left aristocratic society after all. That’s why I believe it would be better if I was present when you engage in talks with the members of House Holz.”
“I suppose it must be true if you say so, Chris. I’ll be counting on you then.”
Chris smiled happily when she heard my reply. Before, I would have regarded relying on Chris for situations like this to be far too risky. That’s because she hadn’t given up on trying to get into a relationship with me for some reason.
However, there’s no longer any need to be so wary of that now. I’ve made up my mind after all. And besides, it looked like Chris would respect my way of life as a mercenary even if we do get into a relationship. I’m not sure if Earl Dareinwald was of the same mind regarding that matter, but at least that’s what Chris thought, and since he approved of her coming to the capital, I suppose he’s given her his blessing.
So, that’s how it is. Chris was now completely on my side. Chris’s goal was to welcome me as her spouse, and in order to achieve said goal, she would want to minimize any interference and attempts to influence me by House Holz. Since that’s the case, there should be no reason for her to take the side of House Holz during our meeting. In other words, she was someone I could completely trust to have my back.
“In any case, we still need to visit the imperial castle first.”
“The formal inquiry, right? Unfortunately, I won’t be able to accompany you during it……”
Chris displayed a disappointed look.
Basically, our main priority was to reveal the full details of what went down in the Creon star system to prove that my and Serena’s subsequent actions were justified. Depending on how one viewed the events, it might seem that I assassinated Vincent Ixamal after being invited for dinner by his father, and I staged a diversion by going on a rampage against House Ixamal’s private troops. Afterward, Serena took the opportunity to kill Daybit Ixamal. As a result, we succeeded in usurping control of the entire Creon system supply base and the position of the base commander, then stole Daybit Ixamal’s merits…… Anyway, something like that wouldn’t be that farfetched of an idea.
Even so, we held evidence that House Ixamal drugged us during the dinner party with the intention of sending us to the Vereverem Federation as gifts to pave the way for their defection and that Serena was administered with space pirate-manufactured illegal drugs. All that paired with Daybit Ixamal’s own recorded confession formed a solid evidence chain. Even if Daybit denies the confession later, it would be useless as long as his head gets probed at the imperial castle. Hence, the fall of House Ixamal was all but guaranteed.
And with that, recognition of our merits would also be guaranteed. In any case, the situation needed to be clarified to the higher-ups first. We needed to go through the so-called formalities first.
After finally arriving at the imperial capital, we parted ways with Chris and her retinue (three maids and a female knight) and then headed toward the imperial castle. We were greeted with a grand reception by members of the Imperial Space Force military police.
Naturally, Neve was also accompanying us. However, she still wasn’t strong enough to move around outside the med pod, so she was quickly transferred to a transport pod.
Her current position was quite tricky after all. She was currently being treated as a Vereverem Federation POW, but she apparently wasn’t a formal member of the Federation military.
She had no dog tag–apparently, it was something akin to an IC chip implanted under one’s skin in this world–and consequently, no military ID number. She actually wasn’t registered as a Federation citizen to begin with. Well, she didn’t even have a proper name, so I suppose this wasn’t all that surprising.
In other words, she’s now a rootless and nameless nobody. Therefore, the Imperial Space Force found handling her case a bit troublesome. However, judging from her testimony, the coordinates from where she was recovered, and the parts of the tin can-looking pod she previously occupied, it was evident that she was from the Federation. As for the question of whether or not the Federation would admit to that fact; they likely wouldn’t. They would instead claim that everything was fabricated by the Graccan Empire to slander them.
If the Vereverem Federation made such a claim, it would be difficult for the Graccan Empire to prepare sufficient evidence to refute it. That’s because of the lack of solid, irrefutable evidence.
“Just leave her to me. I have nothing to do with Earl Ixamal’s case, and I’m also that girl’s attending physician after all.”
“I’ll leave it to you then, Doc. As for what’s gonna happen to Neve–”
“Basically, we’ll go with whatever she wants to do, right? I get it. As far as I’m concerned, it would be best for us to take her in ourselves.”
It wouldn’t be impossible for a government agency or the Imperial Space Force to take custody of her, but that might lead to the Federation engaging in a smear campaign against the Graccan Empire using Neve’s complicated identity…… If a government agency took up the task of looking after her, the Federation might claim that she’s truly a fake employed by the Empire to ruin the Federation’s reputation, or something to that effect.
However, it would also be troublesome to leave her to her own devices without any support, leading to her eventual death. In that case, it would be more convenient for the Empire to have me–a supposedly neutral mercenary who just happened to pick Neve up from the battlefield–take care of her.
A kind-hearted mercenary picked up an unfortunate girl who was created as a weapon of war by the Vereverem Federation and decided to look after her. Depending on how it was packaged, it would become a rather heartwarming tale. The Empire would increase its positive reputation a fair bit if it provided at least some support to the said mercenary. Events would most likely move in that direction.
“We’ll be counting on you. We’ll also do our best on our end.”
“Yeah. Good luck. Though I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I sure hope so.”
It was a bit of a hassle, but it would be best if this all led to a ‘good ending’.
Ah well. Ryuto took off a month and a half to work on a manuscript and just came back to post the raw of chapter 510. And here we sit without a new chapter… I looked on the SFBaka Patreon and the last they posted was May 28. Said they owed this site chapters for this series and another that they work on. (Got an advance apparently.) So I guess we’re just stuck until they get back to it.
We’ve got one now
and idk i havent seen anyone say it yet but cmon this is almost getting tenchi universe level harems going. thats not considering yamamda or kenshi levels yet but the holy empire arc might drag 5 more tot he mix. so who knows he might end up with one for every major system or some shit
welp off to google translate until we find out if SF’s alright. i mean i wanna finish whats out but ill come back and read a proper done version of it here regardless
I’d recommend chatgpt over Google translate.
Works way better.
OK so about the updates and everything, I just looked in the Discord Server and they don’t know the reason either but it looks like TL-San has some sh*t luck and sh*t internet (issue I know all too well) and he’ll probably just resume uploads when that works again.
This is just the Assumption of Discord bros tho and they don’t know anything exact either, so take it with a grain of salt.
Thanks for that. At least it’s something to at least have an idea of what’s going on. Not going to lie though, I still check every day.
Yeah, I’ve been looking forward to the next chapter for a while now. But seeing that SFBaka recently had a health scare (type 2 diabetes), and knowing what that can mean… lets just hope this is them setting up their patreon for early releases and not anything bad.
I don’t mind waiting a bit if I know I’ll get to read this soon enough. But health issues just suck and I hope if it’s that, they’ll take the time they need to get better.
The translations have been good, so far as I can tell, and I’d like to know this series has a proper ending before I decide to buy the official translations.
So deprived of updates… Please send help.
Ya. I’ve been wondering about our translators health too. I keep hoping that maybe they’re working on a big chapter drop that will lock a bunch away behind a time wall. (That makes them the most $$.) But it’s been over three weeks of silence. Hope they’re doing ok. This is the number one LN on the site. I can’t see them letting it rot. Crosses fingers.
You okay SFBaka?
Yeah I wanted to ask the same. it’s nearing a month of silence, I hope everything is alright on their side.
Man I want to catch up, I’m 30+ chapters behind, because I got lazy to read in the pc, and reading on phone/tablet (without ublock) is fucking cancer. there’s an ad every 5 lines of text lol. you have to wait for it to load and scroll like 30X more than just the text >_>
Boy oh boy something tells me this arc is going to be a crazy one with how much is being set up. A part of me can’t help but think things are somehow going to go south, but with how dodgy the flagship event was I don’t think my heart could take it if things do go bad.
At least it seems that everything is great with Chris and the Earls wishes, but at first I honestly thought she would have been a bit more forceful/controlling of him once she wanted him. It’s nice that she really just wants to be his support and ally.
But we know so little of Holz inner workings, they are a full enigma, I can’t help but feel that they ain’t going to accept him fully or will try and tie him down. Just hope that Serena will follow through with Hiro’s wishes to.
Thank you for the chapter and good work, found this absolute gem of a novel and can’t wait to read more!
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the treat.
Thanks for the chapter, cheers for the good work,
guys, beheading a boy is a state crime and also oh the crime of insubordination in the chain of command, etc.
, these chapters are to pave the way for the new arc of the Kugi Empire, That is to say, now they will resolve some loose ends and go to another nation for a while, they cannot leave without finishing trials, wedding plans, talking to the emperor, etc.
It is curious that this triple wedding of nobles and the date on which Linda is to decide whether to join the crew are 3 years away when at most Hiro has been in that dimension for a year and a half.
Thanks for the chapter! Awesome translation! May God bless you!
Thanks for the chapter
Thanks for chapters, I am sure emperor is gonna have blast laugh listen to Hiro story of what happen while predenting it wasn’t his fault
I can see him do that. About Neve anyway, not Serena case, but he will say it wasn’t his fault. Who gonna know Daybit and his son will be that suicidal or stoop that low? As I said last chapters, that set up new low for the noble of this empire.
About the hearing, I don’t think anyone will try and frame both Hiro and Serena for trying to usurp Daybit’s position. Though, I don’t know what they will try to do about Hiro’s Psionic power. Still put my bet on making him a real noble.
Thanks for the chapter and whoever paid to speed the unlock. Great Quality as always.
Too bad it isn’t going anywhere. All the small info is good, but it feel like filler chapter.
Yes, we do know that Neve was in a bit of tricky position. Yes, Hiro and crew need the inquiry for Daybit’s case. Author can summarized all this in like 2-3 paragraphs and move on a bit more than this. This book sure are too slow.
Well to be fair this is more of slice of life, so i can’t blame author or your, as I kinda agree but it’s is what it is