Chapter 44 : Just a return!

“Alright, then let’s do the mission’s accounting.”

“We’re fine with it, but is there no problem even though the senior isn’t here?”

“Of course. Even though I may not look it, I am the ‘deputy’, so I have some authority within the command structure.”

Lulu smiled confidently with a grin on her face.

By the way… what mission did we even have? There were so many things that happened, I can’t even remember.

“Although they weren’t part of the mission, the extermination of the three ants that were threatening the surroundings. This was something our commander ordered an additional reward for.”

“Oh.”

My eyes naturally widened at the mention of the extra reward.

An additional reward means money. Money equals pudding. And pudding means my happiness.

It seems like a miracle logic, but surely the commander wouldn’t not buy me pudding, right?

“Huh? Maru, why are you looking like that?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

“Eh, no way.”

“And… the extermination of the ‘ant spirit’ creatures. The original goal of the mission was to drive them away after threatening them, but you managed to exterminate them successfully.”

“Everything is thanks to me.”

I gave a confident smile toward Lulu, who was calmly explaining as she read the report.

Since I, as the tank, successfully drew the aggro, we were able to complete the extermination.

…Wait, was that really the case?

“…Alright, I’ll accept that.”

The report doesn’t lie. Still, you earned quite a bit of credit, so I’ll pat you on the head.”

“Hehe.”

Lulu gently patted my head with the hand that was holding the report.

The subtle peach scent and Lulu’s soft touch made me feel good.

“Hehe, seems like Lulu really likes Maru, huh?”

“…That’s a misunderstanding.”

Her smile seemed like it could reach the sky. Is it really just a misunderstanding?

As soon as I heard Nunu’s words, Lulu quietly muttered, “Excuse me,” and covered her mouth with her hand.

If she had ears and a tail like Nunu or Bada, they probably would’ve been fluttering. Her mouth was so wide that it seemed like it could fly off.

“Ahem, back to the topic. The total compensation for everything is…”

Lulu glanced at the report, tapped the calculator, and seemed to finish the calculation in an instant.

She raised her head, a small smile on her lips. It was the kind of smile that reminded me of a “sales smile.”

“It’s exactly… one thousand jewels.”

“…Huh? Really?”

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes at Lulu’s words.

I thought it would be just a few hundred at most, but this was way more than I expected.

One thousand jewels… That’s so many. How many puddings can I get with that?

“Since one caramel pudding costs five jewels…”

“How many puddings can I buy with that?”

I immediately spread my palm and started counting the puddings. One, two…

“…Wait, why am I counting with my fingers like an idiot?”

I shook my head.

Anyway, since it’s a lot of pudding, I’m happy.

“Wait, this reward seems too much for a first mission. Did the senior…?”

“Ah, our commander is currently ‘cleaning’. I’m the only one involved, so don’t worry too much.”

“…I see. So this was all agreed upon beforehand?”

Lulu smiled at the commander’s words, replying with a “sales smile.”

“The senior didn’t have to do this, though…”

“You don’t have to think too hard about it. It’s an investment, you see. As our commander puts it, we’re buying possibilities.”

“…That cheesy tone is still the same, huh? Anyway, in that case, I’ll gratefully accept it.”

“Not at all.”

Lulu then shifted her attention back to the report in her hand.

Silence.

A sudden awkward silence settled in the reception room.

Well, there was nothing else to say. Also, since the mercenaries in the command room, including Bada, had all gone out to clean, there was nothing to do.

…But, it’s kind of boring.

Eventually, I started idly kicking my legs and shifting my gaze here and there.

Seeing my legs still far from touching the ground, I was about to puff up my cheeks, but I managed to hold back.

I’ll get much bigger. Bigger than the commander, or the bald guy, definitely.

“Maru, are you bored? Should I go help with cleaning?”

“Eh? No, I’m fine.”

Anyway, I was swinging my legs aimlessly and poking the commander’s knee when Nunu, who had been silently watching me from the side, spoke up.

I quickly shook my head. Sure, I was bored, but cleaning didn’t seem like something I wanted to do.

Sometimes, when there’s no work in the office, you feel like you’re going to die from boredom, but when work actually comes, you don’t want to do it.

That’s kind of how I felt right now.

“Wait a second, Commander. How many days has it been since you left the command room?”

“Huh? Why do you ask?”

“Do you remember the fifth item on page 41 of the manual?”

“Umm… If the command room is left unmanned for more than two days without special business, an inspection team is sent to assess for abnormal situations. Wasn’t that the case?”

“Wait a minute…”

Suddenly, the commander jumped up from his seat and started clutching his head.

What’s wrong with him all of a sudden? Did he drink a cold glass of water or something?

“Maru, when did we leave the command room?”

“Huh?”

At the sudden question from the commander, I was taken aback for a moment.

I placed my little chin in my hand and tried to think.

I clearly left this morning, traveled by car, and arrived at the command room here…

Maybe I slept too much in between, so I can’t remember well. Every time I woke up, the position of the sun had changed, so it was probably more than a day.

Uh, I’m not really sure.

…I shook my head side to side, conveying that meaning.

At that, the commander’s face turned pale.

“Then, Nunu, do you remember?”

Oh my, I’m sorry. I lost track of time being inside the building…

“…This is a bit of a big deal. Shouldn’t you hurry and go?”

Lulu, who was sitting next to me, joined the conversation with a clearly worried expression.

“But it’ll take quite a while to get from this command center to our command center…”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll inform the commander. For now, let’s move quickly. I’ll activate the teleportation device.”

Both the commander and Lulu were so flustered that they even dropped their phones and reports without realizing it.

What’s going on? At this point, I can’t help but be curious.

Just what is this audit team that has them so panicked?

“Commander!”

“Sorry, Maru. I’ll explain once we arrive at the command center! I’m really sorry!”

Ah.

I hesitated, trying to grab the commander’s sleeve, but he was much faster at picking me up.

Before I knew it, I was in a princess carry, staring at him in shock.

“Teleportation ready! Commander, over here!”

What the heck is going on?! No, seriously, what is this audit team?!

“I’m really sorry, Maru!”

Still holding me, the commander started moving somewhere.

It felt like we were going downstairs, or maybe just rushing through the hallway.

More than that, I really wish someone would get rid of this newspaper or whatever that’s stuck in front of my face.

I can’t see anything! Where are we even going?!

“We’ve arrived!”

“Understood. Nunu, you’re here too, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then, activating now! Everyone, close your eyes!”

As the commander finally stopped running, the newspaper that had been blocking my view fluttered away.

But at the same time, my vision was completely engulfed by a blinding light.

“Ahhh!! My eyes!!”

“Maru, are you okay?”

I don’t even know how many times I’ve heard that question today.

“Yes, I’m fine, sis.”

Nunu was touching different parts of my body, repeatedly asking if I was okay.

Her hands felt a bit too thorough, but she was probably just genuinely worried, so I decided not to say anything.

I reassured her that I was really fine, that my eyes were just momentarily dazzled and that I wasn’t hurt at all.

“That’s a relief.”

Only then did she finally sigh in relief and let go of me.

“Whew. Luckily, it looks like the audit team hasn’t arrived. Let’s see the time… Wow, that was really close.”

The commander hurriedly operated the computer, then collapsed onto the sofa as the tension drained from his body.

But still, what even is this audit team? Why did we have to rush back so urgently?

“Commander?”

“Uh, huh? Oh, Maru. You’re looking at me like you need an explanation, right?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Alright. So, if a command center is left unattended for more than two days without a special reason, the audit team gets dispatched. You’ve heard this before, right?”

“Yes.”

“There’s nothing much to it. When the audit team is sent to an unattended command center, they occupy it until they determine the area is safe.”

“…Huh?”

Wait, that really doesn’t sound like a big deal.

Doesn’t that just mean they watch over the place until the owner returns? What’s the problem with that…?

“You look like you’re thinking, ‘What’s the problem with that?’”

Ah.

How did he know?

“Haha, I thought the same thing at first. But let me tell you now. The biggest reason the audit team is dangerous is…”

“The biggest reason is…?”