Those Burdened with Bad Luck

We've managed to make enough money anyway, so it won't be a problem

for us if we headed to a new star system right away. However, it would be a

pity not to take advantage of the increasing flow of prey in the area, so it

was decided that we would hunt for pirates for a bit more. All three of us

were of one mind in the matter.

"That's strange."

"Yep, really strange."

"Is it truly strange?"

Elma muttered with a serious expression. I expressed my agreement. Mimi

tilted her head in puzzlement as she looked at the two of us.

We've come to hunt some more big, fat prey prowling the area again today

but we detected guys who were making some strange moves and seemingly

stalking the prey as well. We detected a total of three small crafts.

They were navigating inside the asteroid belt with the express intention of

hiding themselves and obviously didn't come here to mine resources. We

were mostly sure these guys weren't pirates either. Their maneuvers were

too organized and calculated. They were obviously gunning for prey as

well. They were trying their best not to get in contact with other ships in the

area.

"What do you think?"

"They're really suspicious."

"Yeah, thought so too."

"???"

It looks like Mimi still hasn't understood, but I already have an idea

regarding the identity of these guys. They were most likely a recon or

covert ops unit from the Vereverem Federation. I don't have an exact grasp

on what their goals are, but it's likely along the lines of keeping an eye and

grasping the troop deployment of the Graccan Imperial Fleet; in other

words, the system military.

"Well, this is troublesome. They'll surely detect us the moment we make a

move."

"You're right. They'll probably find us right away."

"What's going to happen once they find us?"

"They're probably going to try and 'silence' us."

"Yeah, guess so. Man, this is really troublesome."

"So they're dangerous people?"

"Very dangerous. And armed too. They're probably from the Vereverem

military."

"Eh!?"

Mimi suddenly made an aghast expression as she gazed at the radar screen.

Mimi probably wouldn't be able to make such a connection by herself just

by observing the blinking icons on the radar.

"Ah."

"Tch. They found us."

The three unidentified craft shown on the radar screen changed their

movement patterns. They were apparently maneuvering to outflank and

surround us. They were in the middle of covert operations, so it would

make sense that they would want to get rid of any witnesses.

Un, should we cut the generator output, initiate the cooling system and

enter thermal stealth mode?

"Nah. That won't do any good. Can't be helped then. Let's take them on."

"You really have an acute case of bad luck, you know that?"

"Oh that's rich. Especially coming from you, Elma."

"Ugh… But it's not like Mimi's any better, right?"

"Eh!? Me!?"

Elma reeled from my retort, but immediately deflected the issue toward

Mimi.

Elma, who got saved by me after causing an accident and getting slapped

with massive debt, certainly had really bad luck. But I, who got suddenly

transported to this world without a clue, was probably worse off. But Mimi,

who we first met in the 3rd Block when she was about to be assaulted after

falling into debt following her parents' deaths, wasn't spared from

misfortune either, was she?

"Let's just stop with this topic. We're just poking open each other's wounds

y'know."

"Y- Yeah."

"You're right…"

"Maximum generator output. We'll intercept them. Go ask for their

affiliation just in case, Mimi."

"Understood."

We came out from the asteroid we were hiding behind and started

maneuvering so we didn't get surrounded by the unidentified ships.

"This is the ship of Captain Hiro, Silver Rank mercenary affiliated with the

Mercenary Guild. Callsign, Krishna. I'm the ship operator, Mimi.

Unidentified ships, please state your affiliation."

Mimi opened a comm channel and contacted them, but there was no

response. Mimi, who confirmed there was no response, tried again. But it

was useless. The other guys really didn't have any intention of talking it

out, it seems.

Oh yeah, by the way, my mercenary rank went up from Bronze to Silver a

few days ago. The receptionist uncle said that it wouldn't be possible for me

to stay as a Bronze Rank after delivering such results at the subjugation

operation and hunting loads of prey in the asteroid belt area.

But it isn't like a lot's changed after ranking up to Silver. It's just that my

colleagues looked at me with a little bit more respect, that's all.

"Unidentified ships have deployed their weapons!"

"Just as expected. We'll follow suit. Deploy weapon systems."

"Roger. Deploying weapons. Leave the chaff, flare and generator output

controls to me as usual."

"I'm counting on you. Let's go!"

We headed for the closest unknown ship as we maneuvered between the

asteroid cluster.

"You're piloting is crazy as usual...!"

"I'm already used to it."

Elma's face convulsed as we weaved through the asteroid clusters while

Mimi smiled. I don't think it's that crazy though. This is normal y'know.

We soon found ourselves outflanking the enemy ship.

I piloted Krishna so it seemingly slid on the surface of a large asteroid and

soon found myself staring at the defenseless gut of an enemy ship. You're

mine, sucker.

[What the-!?]

"That's one down."

I fired our two large-caliber live projectile cannons and the countless

destructive submunitions tore through the shields and armor of the

Federation's small attack craft [Sword Fish] and ripped its hull to shreds.

"Those shard cannons pack quite the punch as usual."

"It's great huh!"

"You're just about the only one I know who uses such absurd weapons…"

"But they're strong right?"

The range of the scattershot cannons really leave much to be desired, but

doesn't it feel awesome to tear through the shields and armor of small-sized

enemy ships like they're made of paper? It can also give considerable

damage to large ships, provided their shields were down.

[Hunter 2 was- ]

[Judging from those maneuvers, that's no mere Silver Rank. Be careful.

Take some distance and shoot it down!]

"They're too far out of effective shard cannon range…"

The other two remaining ships retreated from the asteroid field and turned

their bows toward us. Hou, so you want to finish us off with your longdistance firepower huh? And you're going against Krishna? Interesting.

Let's see what you got.

I hid the ship behind a large asteroid and deployed the four large-caliber

pulse laser cannons.

[What the-!? That ship just grew some arms!?]

[Those are high-output laser cannons...! I- It's no good! We can't

withstand that!]

The Federation craft immediately made evasive maneuvers and fired back.

But their laser cannons couldn't make a direct hit because we were using

the asteroid field as cover. Our laser cannons, however, packed enough

firepower to penetrate through and eventually scored direct hits on them.

These were literally attacks going at the speed of light. It's nearly

impossible to dodge them directly. Well, their evasion maneuvers were still

effective to some extent, but we were still able to get an 80% hit rate. And

Krishna's laser cannons packed enough firepower to greatly damage them

even with just an 80% hit rate.

[Tch! The difference in firepower is far too large!]

[Evasive action!]

The two Federation ships then tried to escape, but letting them go here

could spell trouble. I activated the thrusters and made the ship fly out of the

asteroid field as well. I then gave chase.

[Seeker! Fox 1! Fox 1!]

"Flares."

"Roger."

The two Fed ships fired heat-seeking missiles, but Elma immediately

deployed flares at my order and made the missiles miss us.

[You bastaaaards!]

I rained down laser cannon fire on the panicked Fed ships. Emerald-colored

light beams pelted the blueish energy shields of the Fed ships one after

another and eventually depleted them.

After this, it was all over. Even if they had military-grade armor plating as

well, after getting bombarded by high-output laser cannon fire, their hulls

soon grew red-hot and melted down.

[A- Abandon ship! Abandon- Uwaaaaa~!?]

The two Federation ships were overwhelmed by laser cannon fire and were

soon shot down. So they weren't able to escape huh. Maybe the militarygrade hull was warped too much from bathing in waves of laser cannon fire

so the escape pods couldn't launch out in the end. Sometimes it wasn't good

to be so tough.

"Alright then… Shall we recover their data caches and black boxes then

head on back?"

"We're going back to the colony?"

"Yes. I bet the military would pay us quite a bit for these."

"I see."

"Leave selling the data to me. I have some connections with the system

military."

"Connections, huh. I hope your so-called connections don't bring us any

trouble."

"Hahaha. That goes without saying. I'll just sell the data quickly then come

straight back."

* * *

"So, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"I'm so sorry girls."

"Hiro-sama..."

"Hah. Well, it can't be helped."

Two hours after coming back to the colony, I found myself kneeling seizastyle on the dining room's floor.

Uh, I did accomplish selling the data and all.

I left Krishna's maintenance and resupply to Mimi and Elma, then went

straight to the military base and got an appointment with Lieutenant Serena.

It looked like she was free, so Lieutenant Serena met up with me

immediately and guided me to her personal office. I then handed over the

data caches and black boxes in exchange for substantial rewards. So far, so

good, right?

But, before I knew it, I, Krishna, and the rest of the crew were enlisted as

cooperators in the coming conflict between the Empire and the Federation.

And it was even settled through proper channels and approved by the

Mercenary Guild as an official request.

Just what the heck happened man? I have absolutely no idea. Was

Lieutenant Serena really that impressed with me? Nah, that can't be. I'm

just a single amateur mercenary, y'know. Eh? The Federation fleet? I'm not

that scared of them, honestly. Actively participating in the war is a different

issue though.

Eh? The Imperial military is looking for brave and talented mercenaries to

participate? No, no, I'm not really all that… I see. That's kinda

embarrassing, oi. Ahahaha. Well, if you say that much… Yeah, I guess. Eh?

You didn't really mean me… I probably won't do, you say...? I- I can

definitely do it, y'know!

"It went pretty much like that."

"You were completely at her mercy, huh."

"Hiro-sama..."

"I am truly sorry. It was all my fault."

Their critical gazes pierced my poor, little heart. I really have no excuse, so

I'll just honestly bow my head here and do a textbook dogeza 1 in shame.

"Oh well. What's done is done. You're the captain of this ship anyway.

You're the one calling the shots."

"That's right. Hiro-sama is this ship's captain after all."

"Thanks for forgiving me, girls!"

"But you still have to make it up to us, okay? How about giving us a

bonus?"

"Bonus, is it...? I still think the pay I'm receiving is more than I deserve

though."

"It's fine. You don't have to hold back at times like this y'know. You can do

this much at least, can't you captain?"

"I shall ponder a most appropriate amount that will satisfy you both, my

dear ladies."

"That's that, then."

"I- Is this really okay...?"

Mimi still wasn't comfortable with the idea yet, but I don't think it was

such a big deal to give out a bonus to make up for my blunder. Hm, will it

be fine if I gave them some high-quality alcohol and delicious food? I'll

browse Oishii Mart's online catalog later. I can pay them in cash as well.

"So now we have to stay on stand-by until the battle starts?"

"I guess so. I was told we have to be ready for an immediate sortie at all

times."

"You did manage to secure a reimbursement salary for the days we're on

stand-by, right?"

"I did negotiate for that. We're going to get a daily remuneration of 50,000

Enel until the formal sortie order comes."

"Wow. It's amazing that we're going to get fifty thousand daily even though

we're just on standby, isn't it...?"

"I think that's a reasonable amount though."

It's certainly a far cry from our previous average daily income of 200,000

Enel this past week. But, as we weren't risking our lives earning such an

amount, it wasn't all that bad a deal.

Anyway, we've ended up formally taking up the request of the system

military – or, more accurately, the Imperial military.

"Hold back on the alcohol though, Elma."

"I- I know, okay."

Elma made an ugly expression after being temporarily banned from binge

drinking. It's only proper, y'know. We could be ordered to sortie at any

time, so one can't be drunk on alcohol when that time comes.

"Not being able to drink alcohol is a small price to pay for a daily

remuneration of 150,000 Enel, Elma-san."

"...I guess you're right."

"In other words, as long as you sacrifice a bit and hold off on drinking,

we'll be able to receive 150,000 Enel daily to buy lots of alcohol when this

is all over."

"…That's right, isn't it!?"

Miss Disappointing Elf's ears perked up after hearing Mimi's explanation.

Her tension was now MAX level. Well, it was certainly a great deal to be

able to receive a daily 150,000 Enel alcohol fund, if you put it that way. If

you're a true-blue alcohol lover, that is.

"You're really smart, aren't you, Mimi."

"Ehehe."

Mimi may have a natural talent for cheering people up… Yeah, she sure

does. I mean, I get cheered up daily just by being around her after all.

"Well then, let's go ahead and make preparations."

"Preparations?"

Elma gave me a puzzled and worried look after I stood up. She's probably

thinking I was gonna do something crazy again. Well, she's right though.

"Yep, preparations. I'll go to the cargo bay for a bit… Uh, Mimi, where'd

we put that duct tape we bought a few days back again?"

"The military-grade one? I think I put it inside the toolbox."

"Gotcha. Thanks."

I'll just need to wrap around some tape on 'it' a bit so I can stick 'it' on.

Then I'll just launch 'it' from the lower weapons bay later on once we get

the perfect opportunity. I'll have to bring 'it' out from the secret cargo

compartment then. Man, talk about busy.