[52nd Chapter]
Blue and I looked at houses, confirming the one she currently finds most ideal. It was a bit large for just her, but it would be a significant step for her to live independently, and I wanted to help with that.
Financially aiding her wasn’t difficult. Though it’s hard to say out loud, I’m not materialistic, so I could use my money to assist her right away.
However, providing help in such a manner didn’t seem like it would benefit her much. Even if I helped her without her knowing, Blue would likely have refused it outright.
Then, an ingenious idea came to mind. I could provide financial support, but in a form that isn’t entirely my own money. I would give it to her temporarily, with the condition of getting it back when she leaves the house someday.
This method would also stabilize Blue’s life, which is tough because finding a place to live immediately makes it hard to secure living expenses.
The next day after looking at houses, I went to work at the Spacystro Seoul Headquarters. Without knocking, I opened the door to Luche’s office.
“Kyaa!!”
Regardless of what she was doing, Luche cried out loudly and quickly hid what she was holding when she saw me.
“My ears!”
“You don’t even knock when you come in?”
“I was in a hurry. In a hurry.”
I immediately sat on the sofa in her office, and Luche, who seemed curious about what was happening, sat opposite me.
“What’s going on? Your behavior is unusual today.”
“Can you find out about the moving support fund I mentioned before?”
The method I recalled was the support fund provided by Spacystro. Compared to the Earth Defense Union and other companies, Spacystro has excellent working conditions.
High-ranking officials handle most of the tasks, while soldiers, who are essentially regular employees, only do necessary work. Despite this, their salaries are quite good due to the intensity of the required tasks.
In addition, various types of support funds are well distributed, and since many people live alone and are scattered across different areas, housing-related support funds are quite favorable.
“Are you planning to move?”
“No, I want to look into real estate options, and I wondered if support funds would be available.”
There aren’t many solutions. It’s unrealistic to think I can receive moving support funds without actually moving. But if support funds become available or related funds are disbursed, that alone would mean half of my plan has succeeded.
“There will be other support funds available besides the moving support. You have considerable work experience. But why suddenly ask about this?”
It’s not strange for Luche to be curious. Generally, I don’t like to take initiative or meet people often. I’m not the type to create opportunities to increase my capital either.
I prefer to do what I can and earn my share. Luche understands this well.
“That is, I found something I want to try. Will support funds be available?”
“They will be. Can you check them thoroughly?”
“I’d be grateful.”
Luche went to her computer to confirm immediate information, and as I tried to approach to see her screen, she stopped me with her hand.
“Don’t come closer.”
“People might think I’ve committed a big mistake.”
Luche coughed awkwardly, realizing she had been too forceful.
“Just stay there. I’ll check it.”
As mentioned before, Spacystro servers allow personal data storage, so some people store private files.
I sat back on the sofa, waiting for Luche to check information on her computer.
“There are business-related support funds. Are you planning to start a business?”
“I wouldn’t get involved in anything like that.”
I lack confidence in management, so starting a business never crossed my mind. However, to receive support funds, I needed a formal way to package my actions to help Blue.
“I’ve done surveillance missions and created programs using cosmic technology before.”
“Before?”
Even if it was “before,” Luche wouldn’t remember. I knew her name was famous even when I was in space, but we had no prior connection.
“You know, during the time I was really temperamental.”
I turned towards the voice from the office door, where Siera stood without knocking.
“Did you make a deal to enter my room without knocking?”
Though she complained about entering without knocking, Siera ignored Luche’s words and approached her, handing over some documents.
“Team Leader A asked me to give these to you.”
“What are they?”
Luche frowned after examining the documents Siera gave her.
“What is it?”
Curious about why Luche was frowning, I slightly tilted my head to peek. The documents were our team’s performance approval forms, which Siera probably got from 1st Team Leader Esmeralda after meeting her on the first floor.
“You should handle the delivery yourself.”
“Alright.”
Siera, who had been approaching Luche, glanced at her monitor.
“Support funds? Is there still any support fund left for your team?”
Since our team lacked performance, the support funds we received were significantly less compared to other teams. However, this didn’t affect individual salaries; it only meant we lacked additional support for team operations.
“It’s not for our team. A asked me to check, so I was investigating.”
“You? What does that have to do with support funds and your temper tantrums back then?”
She always speaks like this. Indeed, there was a period during my time in space when my personality was a bit off.
“Would it be better to say I was sensitive rather than having a tantrum?”
Siera was part of my team back then, so she knew me very well. During that period, she was a combat soldier piloting fighters, and I was a mechanic, so we met frequently.
“Why? Did Luche…”
“Hmm!!”
Just as Siera was about to speak, Luche interrupted with a cough, cutting her off. Puzzled, Siera alternated her gaze between Luche and me. Not knowing why Luche coughed to stop Siera, I could only look at both of them.
“It’s fine. She won’t remember.”
Forget? Had I ever met Luche before?
“Really? You don’t remember? Impossible.”
Surprisingly, Siera widened her eyes and looked at me after hearing Luche say she couldn’t remember. Confused, I just sat there, and seeing this, Siera muttered, “Really?”
“Have I met Luchelady before?”
“You saw her?”
“Wow.”
“What is it? Tell me already.”
The two of them stopped sharing their knowledge with me, leaving me to face their cold stares over a memory I didn’t recall.
“So you’re working and looking for a workspace?”
Siera, who didn’t fully understand the situation, interpreted it based on what she heard when she entered. Her suggestion that I was looking for a workspace for work-related reasons seemed plausible.
“Yes. Why?”
“You’re better off doing nothing.”
Hearing this unwelcome comment, I naturally frowned. This was the phrase that triggered my reluctance to take initiatives. Since my Academy days, she had been saying this, and even after years of living together in the same unit, I had to hear it repeatedly.
After coming to Earth, even after working on the Pacific Spaceship and moving to Seoul, I thought I wouldn’t hear this from Siera anymore. But after being pointed out by Luche, whom I only knew by name, and coming to Seoul, I still had to hear it from Siera whenever I encountered her over the 20 years on Earth.
“Why? Even A does a good job.”
Some wind must have blown, as Luche sided with me, making Siera turn to look at her. There was a spark between them. Feeling awkward, I wanted to leave, but since I had asked Luche for information, I couldn’t.
“You wouldn’t understand, but doing nothing is best for A.”
“Have you never considered how A would feel hearing this?”
“Can you judge how A feels just by what you say?”
Although it’s true that it makes me feel bad, I realized that saying this now wouldn’t change anything, nor would leaving them alone solve anything. It felt worse than standing on a thin layer of ice in winter.
“Stop fighting. We’re not planning anything big. Don’t worry too much, 4th Team Leader.”
Despite feeling uncomfortable hearing honorifics, Siera frowned again at my words.
“So what if I do something? Does 4th Team Leader have the right to criticize? A is still under my direct command.”
“What?”
My plan to check the support fund status and leave was unraveling. As Luche paused her typing, I couldn’t help but sigh deeply, feeling trapped.
“Enough. I’ve given what I could. You two should figure it out.”
Sighing, Siera left the office with a bang. Watching the door close, Luche returned to her computer to search for support fund information, while I watched her cautiously.
“Hey, Luchelady. Don’t worry too much. 4th Team Leader isn’t a bad person.”
While it hurts to hear I shouldn’t do anything, Siera is my oldest friend in the universe. I don’t want to see her and Luchelady argue, especially since Luchelady is a positive supervisor.
“I know. But the words are different, and it’s possible to soften them a little.”
“Her way of speaking has always been like this. Just let it go.”
Luche’s eyes shifted to me as she typed.
“What? Are you taking sides with 4th Team Leader because you’re childhood friends?”
I could tell from her tone, which mixed annoyance, injustice, and a touch of petulance, that if I didn’t side with her, she’d get angry and possibly cry.
“How could I? If I take sides, I’d naturally side with Luchelady.”
Since becoming Luchelady’s subordinate, I’ve learned how to manage her moods. At this moment, the only thing I can do is align my words with her mood. She’s not stupid, so she understands that I’m trying to ease her mood.
But even if she understands, it seems her mood improves instantly when I say it.
“How did you learn to control her?”
?
When Luchelady silently turned her attention back to the computer, I felt something fleeting cross my mind, but it vanished like dust.
“Luchelady, have we met before coming to Seoul Branch?”
“…Think hard with your limited brain.”
Just as I thought I had calmed her down, did my words trigger her? Luchelady, completely upset, didn’t look at me and just stared at the computer.
It was frustrating. I wanted to apologize, but without knowing the reason, I didn’t know what to say.
Honestly, even if I had met before, forgetting it wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Still, considering Luchelady’s perspective, it might be disappointing, so I thought about it. But no matter how hard I tried to recall, I had no memory of meeting Luchelady during my time in space.
…
I just sat back on the sofa, waiting for her to check the support funds related information.
