Chapter 10

Today… I woke up safely again.

I had tried my best within the limits of my thoughts, but I thought that at least one of the main shadows of Neo Haven, the Enema Corporation, would somehow catch up to me…. No matter how powerful Mega Cop is, it seems that if an Abyss Diver is determined to wipe out all the data of the independent research lab, there’s nothing to be done.

Thanks to that, my daily routine of waking up anxious while clutching a handgun has come to an end.

…One unexpected issue is that this relaxed body had no intention of waking up on time…? I definitely set the alarm for 7 o’clock, but when I woke up, it mysteriously changed to 9 o’clock… being too compatible with cyberware is also a problem.

The extreme of unconsciousness…! Falling asleep after turning off the alarm…!!

“Ugh…!”

I tried to head to the bathroom while keeping the noise down. However, in this narrow mixed-use housing, it was difficult to avoid the gaze of my housemate, who had already woken up.

“Heh heh… Looks like the young lady is really weak in the morning?”

“…I wasn’t like this originally. It just happened that way… Yes…”

“Don’t say such demoralizing things; only old folks like me say that! During the growth stage, it’s best to eat well and sleep soundly. You don’t need to be so embarrassed…”

“Yeah~ yeah…”

With a half-hearted response, I closed the bathroom door with a clatter.

Before closing the door, I caught a glimpse of the prepared artificial meat and synthetic drink set on the dining table, meant for me. Where did the iron-willed old man, who emphasized “We must never interfere with each other’s lives!” during the agreement, disappear to, and why is he now worrying about someone else’s growth…

‘……As if I, and Anastasia for that matter, could grow any bigger even though we are both adults…!’

Squeek…!

I took off the best suit that automatically shed contaminants and squeezed out some cleansing gel.

On my arms. On my legs. Over my underwear. …I carefully applied it even on the sensitive areas inside, then rinsed it off all at once with compressed air from the air cleaner. It’s insane that there are tens of thousands of types of drinks available, yet clean water for washing the body is considered a luxury…

“Ugh…!”

I understood with my head that I was clean now… but my body did not feel refreshed at all. In fact, it was horrific.

They say people feel the worst when something they enjoyed is taken away… and they weren’t wrong. This anger and sense of disconnection can only be subdued by thick credits. The desire to work is surging…!

Clatter!!

“Oh? Are you finally a little more alert?”

“…Yes. Let’s eat quickly and start the business…!”

The old man burst into laughter upon seeing my somber demeanor, like the protagonist of a shonen manga.

“…Puhahaha!! That pride of yours…! How can you resemble my granddaughter so much, I wonder…!”

…Hmph! Laugh as much as you want! Today, I will make sure to receive plenty of expensive service requests with all my might!

…

…

…….

[ Current Credit Change: +5,000 C ]

“……”

“Ahem…! Well… let’s call it a day for today….”

Feeling pity for me, who was staring blankly at the hologram displayed on my retina, he hurriedly locked the shop door and closed for business.

What good is it if the best hacker and architect offers cyberware services? The situation and location are not fitting, so my income is utterly hopeless.

The only guest who came to me all day was just one resident from the settlement.

Thinking back, it was a person who came on the first day to get checked; I can’t help but suspect that the mechanic grandfather secretly contacted them because he felt so sorry for me, the one with cobwebs in my shop…

Cyberware-related services that would have had queues in the metropolis are not at all popular in an external settlement where sand and dust are swirling about. …Well, if they cared that much about such things, they wouldn’t be living outside the walls in the first place.

Most of the guests who visited the machinery shop today had the purpose of repairing broken machines. That means they are customers for the mechanic. In the beginning of my opening, there were a few customers who came out of curiosity or truly needed their cyberware checked, but…

Now, it seems that aside from the rare external customer who comes by chance, there’s no one else…? I’m done for…? I’m scraping by, not even having enough for rent, let alone food…?

…It feels unfair to the point of dying.

“Hard work and sincerity, my foot…!!”

Having safely escaped the research lab, I thought I would soon enter the city and start preparing for the approaching future bit by bit. Yet here I am, already close to stagnating for nearly ten days.

“……Ugh!”

My body is acting up again. It’s definitely not my style for my eyes to get moist just because I’m a little angry or sad. If it were about biting the bullet to find a solution, that would be one thing. If I ever get credits, I need to get an implant that helps regulate my menstrual cycle.

“Are you really okay…?”

“……Yes.”

“Thank goodness then. Although it’s a bit early, let me go buy some dinner…”

Beep!

Hearing a girl, whose name I didn’t even know, sniffle, before the old man could finish his words, I quickly transferred all the credits I earned today, plus a rough estimate of the meals I’ve been treated to so far.

“……”

“Um…”

The silence was heavy.

I’m not sure how the old man interpreted my nervous behavior… but whatever circumstances he had, losing gender, losing strength, becoming shorter… I absolutely refuse any cheap sympathy.

In a world where it’s difficult to manage my own life, willingly taking on the responsibility of someone else’s guardian is akin to digging my own grave and lying down in it.

I may not accurately know what my existence is in this suspicious game called Neo Heaven Prime. I saved characters I liked, loved, and supported. I never intended to become a walking death flag myself.

…And I have zero intent to hurt a good-hearted benefactor.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to repay your kindness with malice. It’s just… I’m not used to it…”

…How pathetic. If I’m going to apologize, I should do it properly instead of attaching unnecessary excuses…?

This must also be due to my body. Anyway, it’s all about that wretched body. I’m not that petty…!

“Heh heh… To be flustered and apologize isn’t really like her.”

“…?”

Swoosh…

The rough, calloused hand gently stroked my head.

“…You silly old fool. Let me give you a piece of advice, young lady with a bright future. Regardless of who you truly are, those brutes will evaluate you however they wish. If there’s a weakness for the enemy, or an advantage for you, don’t hesitate to use it. And……”

BAM!!

“?!!??!?”

I was suddenly attacked. No, “attack” is too extravagant a term… it was simply a light smack on the head, but it hurt enough to cloud my vision and cause me to drop to the floor without realizing it…! Your hand is incredibly strong!

“Something an adult gives you! Should just be received with a simple ‘thank you’! You got that, kid…!!?”

“Yes… Yes! I understand…!”

Roll, roll. Having been struck, I barely escaped from the rough hand that was patting my head. It seemed that my dumbfounded expression pleased the old man, as he left with a hearty laugh, saying he would go pack our dinner.

“……Hah.”

Leadership in personal relationships can be taken away in an instant like this. Wisdom has increased. And this old man… I thought he was just a peculiar mechanic I happened to run into, but… maybe he’s more than that.

Upon deep contemplation, in this town where it’s difficult to predict even a step ahead, it’s quite rare to find a robust old man like him; he couldn’t be a powerless ordinary person without a hidden ace up his sleeve.

Therefore, even the vague advice he gives… I’ll etch it somewhere in my heart for now.

“……Ugh!”

First, I shook off the dirt and stood up.

I still dislike being treated like a granddaughter filled with questions, but my roommate went out to buy dinner, so I couldn’t be so inconsiderate as to not prepare a basic meal in the meantime.

Clatter…!

I took plates, forks, and knives from the cupboard and set them on the table. Uselessly sweeping the sand that rolled in every time the shop door opened and closed. I also carefully organized the scattered parts and tools again.

Then… I waited calmly.

The one who crossed the unspoken line first was on their side, so I’d naturally ask their name while having dinner… and perhaps offer help with anything I could assist with… Even if it’s just a short relationship until I obtain citizenship, I will at least try to establish a constructive win-win relationship to a greater extent than now.

So… how long did I wait for him to return from the few grocery stores in the settlement?

An incident suddenly occurred. The glaring ceiling lights, countless control panels, and lights from all kinds of electronics vanished in an instant, plunging the store into darkness.

“…Huh?”

[ Warning…! Normal power grid shutdown confirmed, emergency generator activated. ]

…It seems there are some nighttime visitors waiting for the owner to leave.