SWNOVELXO Chapter 18
“……? Why aren’t you coming in, sister?”
“Um… well, that’s…”
Mary looks at me anxiously as I stand in front of the ticket gate.
Considering the strong stance I’ve seen from Ms. Sylvia so far, I expected her to honestly tell Mary to say goodbye or explain the situation… but now she is looking at us with a hint of disappointment, and at this rate, she really might miss the train.
“Uh-oh…!!”
A stout arm suddenly lifts the anxious little girl.
In the end, Mr. Schneider took on the role of the villain.
“…Your dear old dad made a mistake with the ticket reservation, so Sister Anastasia will be coming on the next train. So… let’s go ahead and find a new house with both Mary’s room and sister’s room.”
“…!! Yes! But I’d prefer to share a room with sister!”
…It seems like he has gone beyond taking on the role of villain and has just self-destructed with that statement?
No, Mr. Schneider…? Are you not even afraid of the resentment your daughter will express later for making such a careless promise…?
– …If the lady really comes, then I’ll be safe. –
“……Huh?”
He smiled with an expression I’d never seen in the game. I was puzzled that he would even call me with such ridiculous words while I stood right in front of him.
I waved back at Mary, who was frantically urging me to hurry up.
Maybe the most stubborn family that would create the most harmonious household in Neo Haven was walking away inside the station. They worry about emotional attachments, yet it seems that they want to take the most active advantage of it.
…To be honest, I really don’t know? For now, I would know the ticket costs to Neo Haven, but… did we make a promise?
“Ugh…!!”
I stretched out and stepped outside the station.
With the exception of the fool who comfortably slept inside the tin can, I was truly alone now. It was scary, but on the other hand, it was incredibly exciting.
Luck had followed me enormously, and I barely managed to stop Mr. Schneider’s tragedy by killing a few foolish outlaws. …Then if I give my all and prepare well during the remaining time, safely gathering materials and returning wouldn’t be a far-fetched dream.
“Wow…! Pretty lady! Your face and skin. Where did you get those done??”
Moreover, for the first time since coming to this world, I felt truly connected to a proper massive network.
After passing through the gateway, it was quite fun to watch endless corporate product ads and malicious cyberware ads flying into the corner of my vision. It was time to block it out.
“I love how you pretend not to hear and act aloof…? Are you perhaps interested in a one-night stand? I’d be willing to pay 100… no, 200,000 credits for a lady like you.”
…Thinking about it, I realized that I couldn’t operate comfortably even here at Harvest Planet. I especially need to be careful not to make contact with Helena.
According to the dialogue, when the original story starts, she had already been in Neo Haven for half a year… so it means there will be an incident in which Helena Valentine will change her base of operations within no more than a year.
If I accidentally get associated with her and the main character’s journey deviates too much, my careful maneuvering will have been in vain. Plus… she’s quite harsh on people who don’t meet her standards, so it was clear she wouldn’t treat me well if I suddenly appeared with the same surname.
“Is 200,000 too little? …I’m getting more and more interested. How much would it take? Huh? 500,000? A million?? I’ll pay anything! In this city, ‘Daredevil Horatio’ is a mercenary that even the little kids recognize, right?”
“……?”
Slowly. I was organizing the tasks and precautions when something that looked disturbingly familiar like a cabbage was shoved into my face. …Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t a cabbage but a lunatic with a green mohawk, green tattoos, and green piercings.
“What do you say, are you agreeing to a million credits? Without the use of drugs or sex toys, we would just be doing it gently and fairly with just our bodies. Oh, I wouldn’t be able to send back the lady I’ve already hired, so it’ll be three of us!”
“…Hmph!!”
“……What the hell?”
In a world where promiscuous sexual standards aren’t considered a sin or abnormal, it looks like someone was hunting on the street… but it’s me they’re targeting?
Seeing the woman in the red evening dress leaning against the cabbage man glaring at me suggests that her fee must be considerably less than the amount offered here.
…That gives me no comfort at all.
The sun had just risen, but the mental energy I had just spent was already tempting me to search for train tickets.
No way… I had to find a place to stay alone, even if it meant extra expenses due to messed-up check-in times. I planned to walk around and see how much different it was from Neo Haven, and learn where the essential facilities were, but I had to replace that with web surfing instead.
“Wow…!! Hearing rough words from such a quiet and pretty mouth makes it even more exciting…? Is that kind of play possible?”
“…It’s not play; genuine swearing means a strong refusal. If you’re that hungry, just go enjoy yourself with the person next to you. Don’t flaunt your bank balance by grabbing innocent people.”
…Clank.
I slowly backed away while openly adjusting the rifle strapped to my back and the holster at my thigh… but if I were the kind of person to give up on such a thing, I wouldn’t have approached an armed person from the very start. Moreover, putting on a pathetic display of power in front of someone who confidently introduced themselves as a mercenary? That was a blatant mistake.
Our vegetable friend’s breathing became ragged.
“……Oh my. You’re turning down a million credits…? Damn. What a treasure…! They say real precious encounters can’t be bought with money…! …Miss, I’m sorry for my premature assumption! Huh? This Horatio will bow my head to apologize. So, please at least give me your contact information…”
“……!!”
Suddenly, my shoulder was grabbed.
The violent action surprised me lightly, and the lustful glimmer in the man’s eyes disappeared, but contact was still contact. Now, this is perfectly justified defense.
I tried to release electricity through the shoulder he grabbed, but this combat suit seems to have excellent insulation as well.
Resigned, I stretched out my arm. Due to the height difference, my fingertips only brushed against his chin… but that was enough.
“…Huh? Uwahhh—!?!?”
“Ahhh?!”
“……You’ll handle it however you see fit.”
Horatio fell flat in the middle of the street, and the woman backed away in shock. In the meantime, I quickly searched for the closest accommodation and hid my body in the crowd.
What did I do? I simply filtered out from the advertisements that had been popping up since earlier those promoting adult sites or establishments and blasted them into his cyberware—around a thousand times. He must have been startled when his view was suddenly blocked, but there was practically no damage, and the situation was amusing, so he wouldn’t rush to the police to report it.
…Please don’t ask me why the advertisement link I had closed earlier was still there.
I would sincerely argue that it was pure curiosity. In the game, I could just see it, but I never actually accessed it…!
“What’s that? Isn’t that the Daredevil guy? Why’s he like that?”
“Hey, damn… don’t approach recklessly! What if it’s a virus attack?”
“……”
I deliberately ignored the gathering crowd behind me, gathering around to check on the shriveled cabbage.
I shouldn’t say this, but I should apologize for having treated Horatio simply as a madman based on his appearance if the opportunity arises.
In a future world, appearance is individuality. Following the trend where it’s the easiest and most certain way to express oneself, most passersby were covered in wild fashion senses and cosmetic results, and to dismiss him just for coordinating with green would be unfounded.
…Unless one says his brain was dominated by his lower half.
~♬ ~~♪… ♬! ♩~
I turned away from the foolish ones who don’t know that the end of tuning is originality. Focusing instead on the synthwave music echoing through the streets, I felt a little better. My heart raced at the melody I had never heard in Neo Haven.
Almost there. According to the navigation, it’s the closest, highly-rated, and secure accommodation from Harvest Planet station. If I just stay comfortably for a day…
“…Ah. I’m screwed.”
As I turned the corner, a luxurious hotel appeared…. A sigh escaped my lips at the sight of its exterior.
If it’s well-placed, customer satisfaction is high, and security is tight, then of course it would be an expensive luxury hotel, duh… Oh no….
‘Hora Dorada.’
With golden pillars and arches as ornate as its name, I walked toward the grand entrance. Even if I wouldn’t check in here, I thought that our Daredevil mercenary might chase after me in anger, so I figured I should at least inquire about the prices before leaving.
Ziiiing…!
“?!”
The light emitted from the hotel guards standing beside the door scanned me without warning. How long had it been since I entered the city that I would meet such kids with expensive scanners embedded in their actual eyeballs…
Identity verification…? It was unlikely that an employee affiliated with a business would care about such things. It seemed more convincing to interpret it as them confirming whether I had the financial capability to stay here.
I didn’t know what the evaluation criteria were, but it seemed I passed, as the two guards politely greeted me and held the door open.
“…Welcome to Hora Dorada, Miss. May you have the best time during your stay.”
“…If you keep inspecting other people’s equipment without permission, I doubt I’ll ever stay here.”
“I apologize. We will take special care in the future for you, Miss.”
“……”
Ah, seriously… Anastasia, you genius! Did you have to add that one more comment and make me remember you?!
Why didn’t I use my researcher status when I entered…!
“Haaah…”
As I stepped into the hotel with an indescribable sense of self-loathing, the street music that had lingered in my ears was completely blocked out, and the noise of my heavy boots hitting the floor was absorbed into the plush carpet.
At least the absence of other guests in the lobby was comforting, but looking at the colorful crystal chandelier and the changing colors of flowerpots in full bloom, the estimated lodging costs were already evident. If I would stay long-term, I should at least inform Mr. Schneider that I would be following along soon. Damn!
I heavy-heartedly moved my feet toward the reception desk positioned directly in front of the lobby.
The mocking laughter of the guards who had watched me talk big and then immediately bounce back was already ringing in my ears.
…If it were a reasonable price, I would only stay for a day. When would I have another chance to experience this kind of thing?
“Welcome…. Thank you for visiting the illustrious landmark of Harvest Planet, Hora Dorada. If you could let us know what service you desire, we will assist you sincerely….”
From behind the ivory reception desk, a neatly dressed androgynous staff member with an unidentifiable gender spoke in a soothing voice.
The elongated tail of their words had a charm that attracted people’s interest, but my goal was clear.
“Regular room. How much for one night?”
“For a standard room, we offer it at a low price of 149,900 credits for every 24 hours from check-in….”
“Is that so…? Yes. Thank you.”
With just a week’s stay, one citizenship would be revoked. Truly outrageous prices.
This time, I decided to use specific search terms like capsule motel, and I turned on my heels to walk out when an unavoidable remark flew in from behind me.
“……As a customer, if it’s from a lady’s perspective… I assure you that you wouldn’t want to stay at any accommodation cheaper than this.”