"Budget untuk belanja hari ini. Pakailah sesukamu.""Baik, Master."
Saat tiba di gedung itu, aku langsung beralih ke mode istirahat. Setelah menyerahkan uang ke Mei, kujadwalkan segala-galanya pada dirinya. Sebab, tujuan utama kunjungan hari ini adalah beli pakaian untuk Dr. Shouko—termasuk lingerie. Aku sengaja tidak ikut campur urusan para wanita, soalnya akan cukup nyelicilkanku bila kudapet peran."Jangan kamu berkelana ke mana-mana ya?""Aku bukan lagi kanak-kanak. Aku pasti baik-baik saja."
"Tapi kamu lah yang kud bicarakan, Boss……"
Meskipun menyedihkan, tak tertarik untuk membantah—catatan terdahuluaku memang tak pernah melewatkan kesempatan untuk menghadirkan masalah, walau tak disengaja. Benar juga, jadi sulit dilawan. Kudengar apa sih yang pernah kud lakukan dulu untuk layak dapat nasib begini……
"Kita berada di ruang tertutup tanpa jendela, dan selama pihak lawal tidak memilih untuk meledakkan dinding, sebaiknya kulihatkan kamu yang pertama mengamankan mereka."
"Mengerti."
Kujadukan ditempat ngopi yang ada mesin vending di sekitarnya. Saat kukumandangkan, tak ada seorang pun di sampingku, namun responsnya datang cepat. Aku tak bisa melihatnya sama sekali, namun terasa tenang dengan pandangan waspada yang mengarah padaku. Mereka pakai camouflase optik atau sesuatu yang serupa?"Adakah info baru?""
Sayangnya, kami masih belum menemukan jejak apapun…… Namun, kelihatannya orang-orang dari Kouga sedang menggangguupayaan kami melakukan serangan balik."
"……Mereka bukan tipe orang yang akan mengganggu pekerjaan kita sekedar karena kompetisisi, kan?""
Benar. Mereka mungkin direkrut oleh musuh."
"Itu sudah cukup berharga."
Artinya, benar ada pihak misterius yang memantau kami—dan mereka mengetahui kuberlakukan Igasek. Di atas itu, mereka memiliki cukup kekuatan finansial untuk merekrut pesaing Igasek, yakni Kouga Service. Tidaklah sembarangan jumlahnya, mengingat seberapa mahal menyewa mereka.
Lebih jauh lagi, dapat disimpulkan bahwa alasan merekrut Kouga Service adalah untuk menetralkan Igasek, dan mereka tak bersengaja menimbulkan kerusakan dalam koloni.
Atau, mungkinkah bukan itu kasusnya? Soalnya tak ada jaminan Igasek dan Kouga Service tidak akan bertindak hingga menyelam."
"Apakah mereka membatasi gangguannya hanya pada tingkat wajar, atau sampai bertindih darah?""
Belum sampai ke situ."
"Berarti, kujarani tidak jauh off… huh?"
Kata-kata kudengkurku pasti tak masuk akal buat para staf Igasek yang mendengarku.
"Apakah mungkin bisa menghubungi orang Kouga Service?"
"Eh?"
Aku dengar suara heran yang tajam seperti tusuk. Tentu saja mereka heran—tiba-tiba klien mereka mengusulkan hal seperti ini. Aku mungkin akan reaksinya sama."Jika tujuan orang Kouga itu adalah nyawaku dan anggota kruku, tidak ada ruang untuk negosiasi. Tapi jika tidak demikian, mungkin kita bisa menghindari konflik seluruhnya, kan? Dan setidaknya ada peluang untuk menghubungi pihak misterius yang mereka pekerjakan. Jika demikian, mengapa usulanku tidak layak dicoba?""
"Banyak kemungkinan kamu hanya akan terjebak dalam perangkap mereka."
"Kita tangani saat itu terjadi. Setidaknya ada peluang untuk menyelesaikan ini tanpa tembak-menembak langsung. Cukup beri tahukan niatku secara sepihak. Jika mereka bersedia merespons, biar mereka menginisiasi kontak denganmu…… Oh iya, aku tetap akan membayar penuh atas missi ini meskipun selesai lebih cepat, jadi jangan risau."
"……Baik. Aku akan laporkan ke atasan."
Dengan suara lembut, seorang wanita yang tampak mengenakan celana ketat penuh muncul di hadapanku. Tak heran, mereka pakai camouflase optik atau sejenisnya…… Fumu. Aku sudah mencurigai ini sejak dulu, mengingat intonasinya—tapi emang benar, yang menjawab akhirnya adalah seorang wanita. Fumu…… Celana ketat rapisme ini sungguh sesuatu. Tak akan kujelaskan lebaga."
Tapi, yah…… Aku belum pernah melihat Mimi dan teman-temannya pakai jenis pakaian ini. Seragam jumpsuit Tina dan Wiska mungkin mirip, tapi kekakinian materinya dan ketatnya berbeda. Pakaian jenis ini sering muncul di manga/anime SF. Tapi gambar anime dan manga emang berbeda dari kenyataan, ya?
"……Maaf, tapi pandangannmu agak berlebihan, pak."
Setelah mengakhiri transmisi dengan atasan, Ms. Kunoichi berbalik kekuku dan protes. Tentu saja kuduga ekspresinya tak terlihat jelas karena wajahnya ditutup helm full-face."
Aku hanya memuji teknologi panduan pandangan yang luar biasa."
"Seperti yang diharapkan, kamu tak tersenak pun untuk menoleh meskipun sudah diomongi. Itu lho, ekspresimu tak tergoyahkan.
Kemungkinan diserang tiba-tiba oleh kunoichi dengan camouflase optik ini tak nol. Aku sudah pengalaman, tak akan membuat kesalahan pemula seperti mengabaikan ancaman. Umu. Itu benang perdebatan yang logis."
"Baiklah, kukembalikan keamananmu."
Aku dengar suara lembut lagi, dan Ms. Kunoichi menghilang secepatnya muncul. Hmm. Berbeda dengan permainan di Bumi, efek camouflase optik ini tak sedikitpun terlihat distorsif. Praktis sempurna—aku tak bisa melihatnya sama sekali. Tapi, aku tetap bisa merasakan kehadirannya secara kasat.
"……Aku masih bisa melihatmu, kan?"
"Tentu saja tidak."
Saat kureganggu pandanganku mengikuti gerakannya, suara kebingungan muncul dari kekosongan. Namun, kuduga kini kudapat mendeteksi aura dan kehadiran seseorang dengan camouflase optik sempurna. Aku semakin tidak manusiawi. Apakah ini buruk atau baik, ya……? Aku tetap merasa ini berguna.
"Itulah yang terjadi."
"Kubilang, kamu tampak sangat tersentuh oleh ous seksi itu, Hiro-kun."
"Aku tak bisa membantah hanya karena tertarik, tapi itu saja yang kamu ambil dari seluruhnya????"
Aku ceritakan seluruh interakasiku dengan Ms. Kunoichi yang mirip camouflase optik itu pada Dr. Shouko (yang matanya sudah keriput dari kepenat, pastinya), namun ia justru fokus pada hal aneh. Itu bukan inti masalah, Dok.
"Tapi bukankah kamu seharusnya bisa mencoba pakai pakaian pakai fitur preview di terminal toko setelah discan datamu fisik? Kenapa kamu seperti ini kelelahan?""
"Kamu tak bisa pakai itu untuk lingerie. Tentu saja scanmemberi ukuran yang akurat, tapi kamu juga harus pastikan benar-benar pas dan nyaman pakai… Aku kelelahan karena mencoba lingerie."
"Aku tidak berani memasuki toko lingerie sebelum malu-malasan menyerang, tapi aku benar-benar ingin melihat acara berpakaian itu……"
"Nanti kamu akan lihat semuanya. Nikmati saja nanti, Hiro-kun."
Dr. Shouko berkata sambil tersenyum membanggakan. Uumu. Baiklah. Mungkin itu menarik. Aku akan menantikannya dengan penuh harap."
"Jadi, sisanya masih dalam perburuanan?"
"Ah, Mimi sudah bawa mereka ke toko lain yang sangat dia rekomendasikan. Entah kenapa, dia punya senyum mencurigakan."
"Toko rekomendasi….? Aku mengerti."
Mereka pasti dibawa ke toko dengan banyak barang mode gaya Lolita. Toko ini punya banyak pilihan. Aku yakin para penjual yang fasih akan membantu dengan baik."
『Elma dan Tina mungkin akan kabur, jadi pastikan mereka terhenti.』
『Baik, Master.』
Aku mengirim pesan ke Mei pakai terminal data portabel. Sudah terbiasa dengan responsnya yang hampir instan. Mei bahkan tak butuh terminal untuk membalas—"
"Setelah kamu selesai istirahat, kita pergi ke sana juga, Dok? Aku pernah ke sana sebelumnya."
"Kamu pernah ke sana, Hiro-kun?"
"Ya. Aku pernah ke sana bersama Mimi waktu kita mengunjungi koloni ini dulu. Mungkin karena itulah tercantum di daftar rekomendasi Mimi."
"Hmmm……? Kalau kamu bilang begitu, Hiro-kun. Kenapa tidak?"
Dr. Shouko mulai curiga, tapi akhirnya setuju. Tentu saja dia tak akan tahu apa pun. Jika dia bisa melihat sebenarnya, berarti dia espenser. Kecuali ia membuktikan kemampuan telepati melebihi Kugi, ia takkan tahu kebenaran yang kusembunyikan.
Meski begitu, kudanao hatinya penasaran—bagaimana Dr. Shouko yang tinggi dan mempesona tampil pakai pakaian seksi itu? Tak boleh jadi, pasti ada yang cocok. Moda justru cukup kompleks. Mungkin gaya klasik Mimi yang kadang dia pakai juga cocockan padanya.
"Kamu sedang memikirkan hal serong, kan?"
"Tentu saja tidak. Atau, begitu kamu melihatku, Dok Shouko? Seorang pria tak terhormar?"
"Kamu sendiri yang begitu."
"Aku…… tak bisa membantah itu."
"Itu bagus. Jujurlah. Lucu."
Dr. Shouko tertawa kecil. Aku pun tak percaya diri jika aku membantah. Akibatnya harus diterima, ya. Sejatinya, kita harus menanggung akibat perbuatanku. Sayang sekali."
"Bagaimanapapun, ada kemajuan dalam situasi kita. Menghadapi lawan yang sama sekali tidak kita mengerti—tujuan hingga—sungguh menakutkan. Tapi tak lagi setelah kita mengerti mereka. Pada akhirnya, ketakutan tertinggi manusia adalah terhadap yang tidak diketahui."
"Itu benar."
"Memang benar, hal-hal yang tak kita mengerti sebenarnya menakutkan. Ini juga berlaku dalam pertempuran luar angkasa, karena menghadapi musuh yang tak terduga adalah hal yang sangat menakutkan. Musuh seperti ini harus dicegah sebelum bertindak dan dikalahkan secepatnya. Meskipun tak selalu berhasil, apalagi kalau lawan cukup mahir.
"Baiklah, kita pergi dan bertemu mereka. Aku sudah pulih cukup."
"Roger that."
Apakah mereka akan menerima undanganku atau malah menyiapkan perangkap? Apa pun yang terjadi, proses sudah berjalan. Mari lanjutkan dengan hati-hati, ya?
“This is the budget for today’s shopping. Go ahead and use it as you like.”
“Yes, Master.”
When we arrived at the building, I immediately switched to rest-mode. After handing the money to Mei, I left everything up to her. As for why, it’s because the main goal for today’s outing is to buy clothes for Dr. Shouko, including lingerie. I refrained from joining the ladies because there will definitely be many times when it would feel quite awkward for me if I tagged along.
“Don’t you go wandering around, okay?”
“I’m not a kid y’know. I’ll be fine.”
“It’s you we’re talkin’ about, after all, Boss……”
Though regrettable, judging from my record until now, I’ve never failed to attract trouble even if I didn’t mean to. It was true, so it was hard to refute the girls. Just what did I do in the past to deserve this……?
“We’re in a windowless enclosed space, and things will probably be fine as long as the other party doesn’t resort to blowing up the walls, so please prioritize guarding them.”
“Understood.”
I took a seat at the break corner where some vending machines for snacks and drinks were installed. There was no one beside me when I called out, but I still received a prompt response. I couldn’t see them at all, but I felt the presence of a cautious gaze being directed at me. Were they using optical camouflage or something like that?
“By the way, is there any new info?”
“Unfortunately, we still haven’t found any leads…… However, it seems like guys from Kouga are interfering with our efforts to conduct a counterattack.”
“……They aren’t the kind of people who’d get in the way of your job just because they’re your rivals, right?”
“Yes. They were probably hired by the enemy.”
“That’s already pretty good info.”
In other words, there definitely was a mysterious party that was keeping an eye on us, and they even found out that I hired Igasek. On top of that, they had more than enough financial strength to hire Igasek’s rival company, Kouga Service, to work for them. It shouldn’t have been an insignificant amount, since hiring these guys was quite expensive.
Furthermore, it can be surmised that the reason they hired Kouga Service was primarily to neutralize Igasek, and that they had no intention of going at it without regard for collateral damage within the colony.
No, is that really the case? After all, there’s no guarantee that Igasek and Kouga Service won’t resort to going at it with the intent to kill.
“Are they keeping their interference within a reasonable range, or do they go as far as drawing blood?”
“They haven’t gone that far yet.”
“I see. So I’m not necessarily off the mark huh……?”
My mutterings probably didn’t make sense to the Igasek personnel who were listening.
“Hey, is it possible to get in contact with the guys from Kouga Service?”
“Huh?”
I heard a surprised voice that seemed to pierce through the void. Well, of course, they’d get surprised if their client suddenly proposes something like that. I might react the same way if I was in their position.
“If the aim of those Kouga guys is my and my crew’s lives, then there’s no room for negotiation. But if that’s not the case, then maybe it’s possible for us to avoid fighting entirely, right? And at least, there would also be a chance to get in touch with the mysterious party that hired them. If that’s the case, then don’t you think my proposal is worth a try?”
“There’s a high chance of getting caught in the other party’s trap.”
“We’ll deal with it when it happens. At least, there’s a chance to work something out without resorting to a direct clash. Just inform them of my intentions one-sidedly. If they’re willing to respond, then they’d take the initiative to get in contact with you…… Oh, and I’m still gonna pay you guys the full amount for the request even if it gets resolved early, so don’t worry about that.”
“……Understood. I will inform my superiors.”
With a soft poof sound, a person who was wearing what seemed to be full-body tights suddenly appeared before me. As expected, they were using optical camo or something to that effect…… Fumu. I already suspected it earlier because of her tone of voice, but the one responding to me was a woman after all. Fumu…… That skintight suit of hers sure is something. I won’t elaborate though.
But, well…… I haven’t seen Mimi and the others wear this type of suit yet. The jumpsuits Tina and Wiska wear might seem similar, but the thinness of the material and the overall tightness of the suit were different. This kind of suit comes up often in SF manga and anime. But anime and manga images really are different from the real thing huh?
“……I’m sorry, but your gaze is a bit too blatant, sir.”
After ending the transmission with her superior, Ms. Kunoichi turned to me and protested. Well, I couldn’t exactly tell what kind of expression she was making because her head was covered with a full-face helmet.
“I’m simply marveling at the wonderful line-of-sight guidance technology.”
“As expected, you didn’t even flinch and attempt to look away even after being reprimanded. That’s an impressive poker face.”
The possibility of suddenly getting attacked by this optical camo-using kunoichi wasn’t zero after all. I’m an experienced guy, so I won’t make an amateur mistake like taking my eyes off a possible threat. Umu. What a perfectly reasonable argument.
“Well then, I shall return to guarding you.”
I heard another soft poof, and Ms. Kunoichi vanished just as suddenly as she appeared. Hmm. Unlike certain games back on Earth, the optical camo effect didn’t look slightly distorted. It was practically perfect, and I couldn’t see her at all. Well, I can still somehow feel her presence though.
“……Can you actually still see me?”
“No, of course not.”
When I involuntarily followed Ms. Kunoichi’s movements with my gaze, her bewildered voice resounded from the void. However, I’ve already become capable of using vague stuff like aura and presence to detect someone equipped with a perfect optical camo suit huh? I’m becoming more and more inhuman. Is that a good or bad thing, I wonder……? Well, it’s useful in any case.
“That’s what happened.”
“I see. It looks like you were deeply moved by that skintight suit, Hiro-kun.”
“I won’t deny that it captured my attention, but that’s the only thing you got from all of that???”
I talked to Dr. Shouko (whose eyes already turned glassy from all she was put through) about the entirety of my interaction with the optical camo-clad Ms. Kunoichi, but she seemed to have focused on something strange. That’s not the main point, Doc.
“But you should have been able to try the clothes on using the preview function on the store’s terminals after getting your physical data scanned, so why do you look so exhausted?”
“You can’t really do that when trying out underwear you know. Of course, the scan does take accurate size measurements, but you also have to make sure they really fit you and such…… I’m exhausted from trying out underwear.”
“I don’t have the courage to barge into a lingerie shop without getting assaulted by my sense of shame, but I sure wanted to see that underwear dress-up event dammit……”
“You’ll get to see them all sooner or later anyway. Look forward to them, Hiro-kun.”
Dr. Shouko declared with a teasing grin. Uumu. Very well. That does sound wonderful. I shall look forward to them with bated breath.
“So, are the rest still in the middle of shopping?”
“Ah, Mimi brought them to another shop she highly recommended. And for some reason, she had this really suspicious smile.”
“A recommended shop huh……? I see.”
She must have taken the rest to the shop that was well-stocked with Lolita-style fashion items and clothes. It had a very wide selection of Lolita-style clothes. I’m sure those skilled store clerks will do a very good job introducing them.
『Elma and Tina might try to run away, so make sure to stop them in their tracks.』
『Understood, Master.』
I sent a message to Mei using my portable data terminal. I was already used to her near-instantaneous response. After all, Mei didn’t even need to operate a terminal in order to reply.
“Then shall we go there as well after you’re done resting, Doc? I’ve visited that place once already.”
“You did, Hiro-kun?”
“Well, yeah. I came there with Mimi once when we visited this colony back then. I guess that’s why it ended up on Mimi’s recommended list.”
“Hmmm……? Well, if you say so, Hiro-kun. Why not?”
Dr. Shouko seemed to have noticed something was off, but she agreed in the end. Of course she won’t be able to find out what exactly was off. If she’s able to see through the matter, then she’d be an esper. Unless she awakens a telepathic ability greater than Kugi’s, she wouldn’t be able to see through my true intentions.
However, I do wonder what the tall and glamorous Dr. Shouko would look like if she wears those kinds of clothes. No, there must be something there that would really suit her. Fashion is pretty deep after all. Maybe that classic look Mimi wears from time to time would suit her.
“You’re not thinking of something perverted, are you?”
“Of course not. Or rather, is that how you see me, Doc Shouko? A shameless womanizer?”
“Aren’t you one though?”
“I…… actually can’t refute that.”
“It’s good to be honest. How cute.”
Dr. Shouko giggled in amusement. Even I wouldn’t believe myself if I denied it after all. I had no choice but to admit it. One always has to face the consequences of their actions after all. How unfortunate.
“Well, in any case, it’s good that there’s some progress regarding our predicament. Facing an opponent that you know nothing about, including their actual purpose, is pretty scary. But it’s no longer the case once you gain enough understanding of the other party. In the end, a person’s greatest fear is the unknown.”
“That’s true.”
It’s certainly true that stuff you don’t understand was pretty scary. This also applies to space combat, because facing an unpredictable enemy is always a terrifying prospect. Such opponents should always be prevented from making their moves and defeated as soon as possible. However, it wouldn’t go that well all the time, especially if the other party was quite skilled.
“Okay then. Let’s go and meet up with them. I’ve already recovered some of my energy anyway.”
“Roger that.”
Are they gonna accept my invitation or are they gonna set up a trap instead? Either way, things are already in progress. Let’s proceed with caution, shall we?
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