Chapter 41 : Is this for real?

…?

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the words of Bada.

Out of nowhere, she told me to run away. What in the world is that supposed to mean?

“Run away? What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“Th-there’s something… ugh… ugh…”

It seemed like both Commander Uncle and Nunu Unni were just as flustered as I was, tilting their heads in confusion.

“Anyway! It’s urgent, so hurry up! Nunu Unni and Commander Unni, please hurry too…!”

“Who’s the commander?”

The words of Bada, who was urgently holding my hand and pulling me along, were interrupted by a voice that came from nearby.

“Hey, Bada. Long time no see.”

“Commander Unni!”

A bald uncle with a bright smile was looking down at us. He was with a silver-haired unni who had a chic vibe.

Wait a second, isn’t that the bald uncle who was cursing and playing a shooting game earlier?

If so, does that mean he’s the commander of Bada’s command?

Oh my goodness.

“When did you arrive? I don’t think I told you the destination!”

“Ahaha, there’s always a way.”

Bada, who seemed happy to meet her commander after a long time, spread her arms wide and ran toward Commander Uncle.

If that’s the case, then why did she tell me to run away?

…Anyway, since they both call him Commander Unni, it’s a bit confusing.

Ah, right. I’ll just call that uncle, Bald Uncle.

Silver-haired Uncle and Bald Uncle. That makes it easier to distinguish. Great.

“We’ve pinpointed the location with the lost child tracking app installed on Bada’s phone.”

“Ah, Lulu, that’s a secret!”

“Anyway, it’s not really important information.”

While looking at Bada, who was tightly hugging Bald Uncle, the silver-haired unni spoke in a calm tone.

From the way she was standing with her hands clasped behind her back, it seemed like she had a secretary-like vibe. Quite romantic.

She seemed very pretty, probably because her name was Lulu.

Lulu Unni, Lulu Unni. It sounds nice.

Marururu.

Oops, that’s not it.

“It’s really been a while. I see you’ve been taking good care of your soft tail.”

“Ah, ayayay, it hurts! Commander Unni!”

The Bald Uncle, with a face full of stubble, was ruthlessly rubbing Bada’s soft cheek with his chin.

Even though Bada looked disgusted, she didn’t push him away too hard. It looked like a dad and daughter moment.

“Hmm, hmm. Anyway.”

After setting Bada down from his arms, Bald Uncle cleared his throat a few times and tried to regain the mood.

Looking at the situation, it seemed like they had rushed here right after finishing a monster hunt. Was it really that urgent?

“Now, sinner Bada, confess your sins.”

With a serious expression, as if he were a judge in front of a criminal, Bald Uncle raised his chin.

The light reflecting from the ceiling hurt my eyes.

My eyes!

He already heard everything over the phone, so why is he pretending not to know? What a guy!

“Ah, it hurts! Hweee!”

As Bada tilted her head and made a face that said “I really don’t know,” Bald Uncle exaggeratedly stretched her cheek.

He pulled it mercilessly.

Still, her cheek didn’t stretch as much as mine did.

“Are you still going to make excuses? Look at this payment record!”

“U, uh…”

Bald Uncle pulled out his phone from his pocket.

On the screen of his phone, there was no payment record but instead a weird site called the “Commander Gallery.”

The contents were even more absurd.

“Hey guys, I’m here to post more pictures of Maru today. 3rd time.”

“You don’t have Maru, right? You don’t have Maru? You don’t have Maru?”

[Picture of Maru happily eating cotton candy]
[Picture of Maru being held in someone’s arms]
[Picture of Maru seriously discussing with a raccoon anthropomorphic animal]

“Recommend 5” – “Not recommend 1” –
Comments:

• “So which command is this from? If I do a gacha, can I get Maru too?”

• “Maru’s stats are bad though, why try to get her?”

• “She’s cute, though.”

• “That’s true.”

• “Will I get a Maru-like child too?”
• “No.”
• “Who are you? Go away.”

• “As expected, Gallery Master. Trustworthy as always.”
• “Super cute.”
• “Thanks.”
• “Leave.”
[Writing a comment]

• “Ahh… If I only had Maru, I’d have no more wishes. Ah… Hah… Spit…”

“…Oops, I showed the wrong one.”

Bald Uncle scratched the back of his head awkwardly and started fiddling with his phone again.

But more importantly, what was that just now?

Why is my picture floating around in the “Commander Gallery”? And what’s with the comments underneath it?

What does “Gallery Master” even mean? Am I the Gallery Master?

“Hmm.”

When I shot a suspicious glance at Bald Uncle, he avoided my eyes and scratched his cheek.

There’s definitely something going on here.

I’ll find out later by grilling him about what exactly he’s been up to.

“Hmm, anyway. Look at this payment record.”

“U, wow.”

Looking back at Bald Uncle’s phone, I saw a white screen with black numbers stretching across it.

The date was written very small at the top.

No way, this couldn’t all be money spent in one day, right?

“What did you do to spend 5,000 gems in just one day?”

“Did I really spend that much…?”

“Of course, I spent that much!”

That suspicion was correct.

5,000 gems? How many puddings is that? Oh my god.

The moment Bada realized something was off, she tried to sneak away, but the bald man moved much faster.

How is he that fast, yet he couldn’t play that shooting game earlier?

“Ah, let go, Commander! I want to run away!”

“Oh-ho. Where do you think you’re going?!”

“You said I could spend freely! Nyaaang!”

“That doesn’t mean you can blow through weeks’ worth of living expenses!”

While Bada and the bald man were busy going back and forth, I was scanning the payment history.

Phone installment payments, amusement park entrance fees… Surprisingly, the most money was spent at a retro arcade.

I spent a ridiculous amount, but I wasn’t even there that long… Did I really spend that much on claw machines?

“And the last one. What on earth did you do in the last hour to spend this much? Can’t you just confess? What did you do here?!”

“Nyaaahhh!”

Ugh, if only I had arrived a little sooner, I could’ve saved my emergency funds…

If only the Commander hadn’t insisted on searching for memories by playing that shooting game, he would’ve caught them much earlier.

“I already know that, so don’t say it, Lulu…”

Bada pouted as she kneaded her cheeks, making a pitiful expression.

…It’s kind of unsettling when the bald man does that. If it were Bada, I wouldn’t mind as much.

“Hey! Hey! Just spill the truth already! Where did all the money go?!”

“Nyaaang!!”

With her cheeks pinched, Bada could only make cat noises.

Still, seeing her faintly smiling, she seemed okay, but I should still help.

Bada is my best friend, after all!

“Hey, mister!”

“Huh? Who are you calling mister—oh?”

I stood firmly in front of the bald man.

Hands on my hips, chest puffed out, striking a confident pose.

Alright, you evil bald guy, release Bada now!

“This… No way. Maru? It’s Maru?!”

“It really is.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, my perspective shifted upwards.

My feet left the ground, and a strange sensation spread from my arms.

With nowhere to stand, my tiny legs automatically kicked in the air.

“These days, the Commander has been obsessed with—”

“Who said I was obsessed?!”

“Anyway, so it really is Maru.”

Turning around, I saw a pretty older girl looking at me.

She was the cool-looking woman standing behind the bald man earlier.

Now that I see her up close, she really gives off a sophisticated vibe.

Her expression was striking, naturally drawing my gaze.

…But despite her cold appearance, she was continuously squishing my arm fat.

She keeps touching me, and it’s making me feel weird. Stop that, lady.

“Oh, my bad.”

“Phew…”

As I flailed my arms, she finally made an “oops” expression and put me down.

She must really be a secretary or something. She’s quick to pick up on things.

“Maru, I really missed you.”

Ugh.

Oops. I must’ve made a disgusted face because the bald man suddenly looked super sad.

But seriously, if a buff, bald man spread his arms as if inviting a hug, who wouldn’t react like this?

He looks like he’d say, ‘Member… you need to work out…’ if I got closer.

Plus, the way his shiny head reflects the light is hurting my eyes.

Can’t he at least wear a hat or something?

Speaking of which, I remember an old joke. ‘You’re missing something, so here, have a hat.’

“Anyway, seeing Maru and Bada together, that must mean…”

“I expected it, but still, so it’s true.”

With me in the middle, the cool older girl and the bald man exchanged nods.

As their heads moved, the reflected light kept stabbing my eyes.

Ow.

“Oh, right, right! Our squad doesn’t have mercenaries my age, so I just wanted to spend more time with Maru, my first friend…”

“…I see. That must’ve been lonely. Sorry I haven’t been paying attention since I’ve been so busy lately.”

“Oh, no! It’s not your fault, Commander…!”

A moment ago, they were arguing, but now they were hugging tightly, almost to the point of tears.

They’re really close.

Well, listening to them, it seems like everything is resolved, so that’s good.

“…Wait, why is my senior here?”

“Huh? Oh-ho, my precious junior is here too? What an incredible coincidence!”

The Commander, who had been struggling to keep up with the conversation, suddenly focused on the bald man’s face.

After a moment, they threw their arms around each other’s shoulders.

…Unbelievable.

This isn’t some kind of ridiculous soap opera, so why does everyone here know each other?

At this rate, even that Lulu lady in the background might know everyone, too.

“I had a feeling when I heard ‘Lulu’… You’re the Lulu I know, aren’t you? It’s been so long! Did you leave the old squad to join this one?”

Wait, why is this actually happening?!

I’m going crazy!