After the hexarappid extermination that didn’t earn us much, we hunted eels, but the money we made from that went straight into the high grade food printer. And since they thought I needed to be strengthened, I traded my eyes for artificial ones.
In this space age, there’s this thing we call hyperspace, although its real name is fairy paths. We enter hyperspace, and then make use of hyperspace lanes to travel between star systems by offering magic energy from hyperspace engines.
And now I can see magic energy.
I was wondering what that would mean for hyperspace, so I activated the function in my artificial eyes to see magic energy. And a flood of magic energy far beyond the understanding of my implant enhanced brain was all displayed on the cockpit window. I’m glad all I got was motion sickness.
“It might be the first time we used a medipod for anything other than a hangover.”
“No, you do regular check ups too, right? Are you okay? Want me to carry you?”
“I’m okay, I really got carried away.”
Being able to see magic energy means that, amusingly, I can see the ripples of magic energy from cleaning magic spreading as they clean. It feels and looks nice.
Also, I’ve noticed that being able to see magic energy also means I can touch it, and more importantly, I can use daily life magic without relying on magic items. I guess I do have a magic organ.
And this is what happened when I got carried away.
“Someone suddenly being able to use magic energy is something to consider. Hand.”
“Sorry… Isn’t this the kind of thing Suzuri is pretty interested in?”
“Kind of seriously too. She’s been checking catalogs of magic energy seeing artificial eyes.”
“I see…”
“Ones that only let you see magic energy go for about fifty thousand puni.”
“Do you want them too?”
“I can already use magic… Maybe I’ll consider it when we have a bit more leeway… But anyway you should turn off the function to see magic energy.”
“I did it before entering the medipod. I really don’t want to see it…”
Yes, the financial situation of the crew of Tortilla Double took a turn when we spent three million puni on the high grade food printer and my artificial eyes. We’re fine, and we still have assets like a military shield generator, but spending three million so quickly is a little scary.
Saratha helps me get out of the simple medipod, and I enter sleep mode in the living room. I need to rest first.
▽▽▽
On our tenth day in hyperspace, we finally reach the Zadar colony. I was thinking about this before, but aren’t all star systems around here pretty far from To Akul Prime?
“Two in the afternoon, Alliance time… I’ll go visit the Mercenary Guild, you can all take it easy. See if you can dig up news from around the Zadar colony, or Mishun Prime.”
“Got it. Take Iris with you.”
“As for something to bring for us… I cannot think of anything in the Zadar colony.”
“They sell sweets~. They might be tastier!”
Even though we have a high grade food printer? I think, but these places use special food printers for sweets, and can set very detailed parameters for maximum tastiness. I actually brought something back from a place like that before.
And so, I bring Iris along as we get on a footpath to the Mercenary Guild in Zadar. This month’s motto is, ‘hang on a second, did you stock up on fuel, food, and ammo?’.
I did in Akul, so no problem there. Suzuri, Iris, and I checked too.
Inside, I see mercenaries dotting a wide space, and few of them not busy, compared to Akul. Well, there aren’t profitable set quests like eel hunting here… Hey, it’s the old man that handled my mercenary registration, let’s go there.
“Hn, what is your business here?”
“I’ve been away for a few months, so I want to know the latest news.”
“News… There aren’t really any. Just a small rise in people going missing.”
“Isn’t that common for mercenaries?”
“Not just mercenaries, there are rumors of people such as shop owners not coming back either.”
“Phun… In the colony? Wait, rumors?”
Shouldn’t you be telling the police… Or I guess that’s a job for mercenaries?
“It’s not like anyone requested the Mercenary Guild to do a search, and they’re probably outside… But that’s about it. There usually aren’t big uproars around here… Ah? You’re Genma. What happened to the laflotty?”
“She’s back on the ship. This is Iris, my mechanical intelligence.”
“I am master’s servant, Iris. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”
“Ahh… You’ve gone up to Grassland one already?”
“I got dragged into all sorts of things.”
I think he’s looking up stuff in the information device that looks like a computer.
“Well, there’s not much money to be made here. The safest choice is transporting cargo to metalworking stations. So what brings you here?”
“Some stuff. Stuff.”
After saying hello, I think about leaving, since I don’t think I’m getting anything interesting here. I see some people I recognize and wave at them, and leave the guild.
▽▽▽
I bought a lot of sweets, and returned to Tortilla Double. I’m here in the living room proudly decorated with the ham leg, and as we eat the yellow berry jam muffins that smell of butter, we share what we’ve learned. These are nice.
“Eh? Used goods dealers are going missing?”
“Apparently. Remember the Peacitt company from when we bought used torpedoes? Their president went missing, along with a ship.”
“I don’t know if anyone put out a search request~. But apparently the local social network service talked about people going missing.”
“We heard of people missing in the Mercenary Guild as well.”
“Is this rare in the Zadar colony? Or a common occurrence’”
I ask Saratha and Kori, since they grew up here, but I don’t know what to make of their faces.
“It’s not a dangerous place, and it’s not like there are space monsters in Mishun Prime. And they would’ve sent out a distress signal if there was an accident.”
“What we need to watch out for are the rampant space pirates~~~. If you’re left without a ship~~…”
“There weren’t any quests to hunt them in Mishun Prime… Just guarding and escort duty.”
“Then it can be assumed there are space pirates. Did a big one perhaps appear in the last few months?”
“I think it’s more likely that space pirates who were building up their strength started making moves. We’re here to salvage, but we should probably assume there are uncertain elements here.”
I feel like something’s going on, I’m just not sure what. Hm, what a pain.
“Anyway, tomorrow, let’s fly to the scrap belt while I get used to my eyes.”
We’re all in agreement, so salvaging will be our main objective.
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