Chapter 33

After receiving our reward on the planet Galife, we disbanded and each went our separate ways.

Why don't we take round-trip jobs?

The reason is simple: the client only requests a one-way trip.

While round-trip requests do exist, waiting fees are incurred until the return trip begins.

Since the waiting period can be quite long and expensive, most jobs are one-way.

After we disbanded:

Levin went to fight pirates.

Bernard the old man went on vacation.

Molise took on another escort job.

Arthur and Seira were invited to a military reception as the key figures in solving the case.

I decided to head back to Planet Itz immediately since the gate to Itz was nearby.

Incidentally, the invitation to the reception was sent to everyone except me and Bernard the old man.

Even if I had received it, I would have declined, so it wasn't a problem.

By the way, the section chief, who had recklessly steered the ship and repeatedly put the crew's lives at risk, was demoted to a regular employee.

While it's a criminal offense for an unlicensed person to steer a ship outside of emergencies, he was spared arrest because his actions ultimately saved lives. The situation was deemed an emergency.

Although he was temperamental and selfish, he didn't steal his subordinates' credit or push his failures onto them. His willingness to admit his mistakes also contributed to his lenient treatment.

When I returned to our base on Planet Itz at a leisurely pace, I ran into Loanz the old man in the lobby instead of at the usual counter.

He was in his usual suit but seemed unusually cheerful.

"It's rare to see you here. Going somewhere?"

"It's a vacation. I'm finally going to see my wife and daughter! ♪"

Loanz the old man happily adjusted his tie.

"Then I'll take a break for a while too."

"I've arranged for the handover."

"If it's a woman, I'll definitely have a rough time."

"It's a man, so you'll be fine."

Previously, when Loanz the old man took a vacation, a female staff member handled the handover.

Of course, I didn't treat her rudely and was careful with my words and appearance.

I would have been treated normally by female staff in various shops in the city.

Incidentally, the first female staff member I spoke to when I became a mercenary said,

"Damn... Sorry, but I'm swamped. Please go to another window."

She was clearly in a bad mood.

Fortunately, this time, she introduced me to a job and processed the paperwork without any issues.

However, one of the mercenaries watching said,

"Hey, you! Can't you see she's annoyed? Get lost!"

He even pointed a heat ray gun at me.

The female staff protested, but he ignored her,

"No problem! I'll get rid of this ugly guy right away!"

He was drunk on his own words and trying to impress the female staff.

I could have retaliated, but a heat ray gun is dangerous, so I fled quickly.

His friends laughed at me from behind.

Later, I found out that he was the son of a famous noble, now a queen-ranked noble who wields power in the capital. He might have a successor.

Moreover, there's also Hero-kun.

In any case, I never want to deal with such people again, and I don't want to cause trouble for the normal receptionists.

Incidentally, I received my reward from a male staff member on Planet Galife.

"I'll take a break, too."

I originally planned to take a vacation, so I decided to extend it until the old man returns.

Then, Loanz the old man brought up some news.

"By the way, I heard you declined the reception."

"Yeah, it's just too much trouble."

Actually, it's different, but it's too much trouble to deny.

For the military, it's better to say they invited you and you declined rather than not inviting you at all.

Eventually, it was time for Loanz the old man to leave the guild to board a plane and meet his family.

I decided to go home and sleep.

The next day, after finishing my room cleaning, I headed to "Anime Member."

The long-awaited anime shop is always relaxing.

This building is a treasure trove of anime, manga, games, doujinshi, trading cards, and hobbies.

Most of the otaku living on Planet Itz come here.

The staff includes cosplayers and even androids that have been modified to look like anime characters.

Unlike some receptionists at the mercenary guild, they don't change their attitude based on the customer.

Well, there are female staff and customers who get excited when they see a pair of male customers.

Oh, a new volume of my favorite manga is out.

The light novel I like has been adapted into a manga. I'll buy it.

While enjoying "Anime Member," I was suddenly called out.

"It's been a while, Uzus-san!"

It was my friend since high school, Crus Arnoyd.

"Hey, Arnoyd! Still the same?"

"Whether it's 2D or 3D, cute girls are sacred. I'm pursuing that sacredness!"

Crus Arnoyd is a friend of mine and Gonzales, with his face and both arms up to the elbows covered by reinforced exoskeletons.

Incidentally, we go to different schools.

We met at a comic market.

He suffered severe burns to his face and arms in a fire accident just before entering middle school. After undergoing clone regeneration treatment, his cells failed to regenerate, and at one point, he considered a full-body prosthetic like Gonzales. However, he decided to contribute to research to help others with similar conditions.

Now, the research has advanced significantly. His arms have mostly recovered from the elbow to the wrist, and about 60% of his face has recovered.

Incidentally, he has a very attractive voice, and his game streaming is quite popular.

Incidentally, his first reaction when he found out I was a mercenary was,

"Have you met any cute girl mercenaries? Lolis would be the best!?"

Despite this, he works for the government.

Incidentally, there are many people with similar hobbies in the government.

It's because they have regular holidays and no overtime, making it easy to attend events.

Since it had been a while, we went to a casual fast-food restaurant and enjoyed a long-overdue otaku conversation.

We wanted to stay up all night, but both Crus and I had plans in the afternoon, so we wrapped up around lunchtime.

A new friend has appeared.

Thank you for your comments, feedback, and any typo reports.