Ch.252The Great Invasion (5)

I became the head of a massive project overnight.

“This is a messed up situation.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m now in charge of PhDs as my subordinates. I’m still a graduate student who hasn’t even completed my degree.”

Ireh shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re the most powerful graduate student in the universe.”

“Oh, please.”

A subordinate giving orders to superiors. Could there be a more unfunny joke in the world?

“Hang in there.”

Ireh patted my shoulder. I grabbed her hand and pulled it down.

“No physical contact beyond a fist bump.”

“Ah…”

“Why are you making that disappointed sound? You used to be so wary of men.”

Ireh tilted her head.

“Isn’t this much okay between colleagues?”

“Patting shoulders? It’s fine between men. But when a woman does it to a married man, it’s nothing but flirting.”

“F-flirting…!”

Ireh’s face turned bright red. She stepped back a few paces.

“Ahem.”

An awkward silence fell between us. We each went about our business. After a while, Sonia brought in two people.

“Young master, Professor Hueritia says she has something to discuss with you.”

Former Director Angela and Mezulen had come to see me.

“We have something to show you.”

The two placed a tablet on the desk. The tablet screen displayed a design for a device I’d never seen before.

“What is this?”

“A giant trap! We’re trying to modify it to contain any type of outsider!”

Mezulen chattered excitedly. The former Director Angela added:

“As you know, Rheinland, the existing traps have the disadvantage of not being able to hold strong outsiders. We’ve redesigned it to contain any Darwin-type outsider. Could you take a look and see if it’s good?”

“I can’t really tell just by glancing at it.”

“That’s why we need to build it and see!”

Currently, I’m the head of the Aether Belt Restoration Headquarters.

What is the role of a leader?

To allocate the right amount of budget to the right place with the right talent.

The ultimate goal of the headquarters is to restore the southern Aether Belt. During the restoration process, outsiders might attack the restoration traps. We need to prevent that.

Improving the traps was the perfect choice for this time.

“Good. I’ll allocate the budget.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“We were thinking of making a few test models first. Could we get 50 billion credits?”

“I’ll give you 100 billion.”

The Hueritia mother and daughter’s jaws dropped.

“C-can we really receive that much?”

“We have more than enough budget. No… actually, budget isn’t the issue. If we fail, humanity might face extinction. I can give you as much money as you need. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need more.”

“Yippee!”

Angela and Mezulen hopped out like rabbits. It was the typical reaction of scientists who had successfully secured funding.

After that, researchers lined up to request budgets. I handed out money without hesitation for any good ideas.

What if we exceed the budget?

We can borrow capital from Rheinland or other companies.

Rheinland will bear any collateral damage. Some might think this makes them a sucker, but compared to the universe ending, these financial losses are nothing.

Money is credit. Having money means having credit, but giving money to others is essentially the same as crediting them.

Don’t give money to untrustworthy scientists, and once you give money to a scientist, trust them until the end.

And I believed in the capabilities of the scholars participating in this project.

“Um, I need an Aether amplifier. Even if it’s not the most efficient product, I need to run experiments. So 200 million, no, 100 million would be…”

“I’ll give you 10 billion.”

“R-really?”

“Yes. Buy the best product available.”

“Thank you! Thank you so much!”

My money-throwing continued until Rustila had taken down over a hundred avatar bodies. Ireh, who had watched this process from beginning to end, said:

“Now I understand why the higher-ups put you in charge.”

“I do provide generous support.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Ireh shook her head. She sat down demurely beside me and continued.

“You have the power to attract people.”

“That’s too abstract.”

“What else could it be?”

Ireh met my eyes. Her deep black pupils were as warm as spring rain.

“Gravitational force.”

“Wow, you’ve really become a science person.”

“It’s because of you.”

Ireh smiled pleasantly. Just then, Sonia wedged herself between us.

“Young master.”

“What?”

“It’s time for me to receive my wages.”

“Ah, right. I’ll transfer it right away.”

I must be the only person in the world who pays an android a salary.

“Payment confirmed. You even included a bonus. Thank you. As a token of gratitude, I’ll give you a big hug.”

“Hey, wait. I’m working right now…”

Sonia embraced me right in front of Ireh.

Ireh’s face fell like a ripe fruit.

***

Promoted to Major, Rustila was assigned as Naiere’s personal adjutant. She assisted Naiere in both administrative and combat matters.

Thanks to this, the Pastel planetary system was relatively safe despite being at war. At least compared to other planets, doctors had significantly less work to do.

Zernya finished writing her leave request and came out. She hung her coat on the rack in front of the laundry room. Even though it was a small size, it was surprisingly roomy.

“Phew.”

Thump, thump.

Her heart wouldn’t calm down.

It was because of the thought of seeing Eidel. Zernya was planning to spend a cozy holiday with her husband after a long time.

She knew Eidel was busy. Therefore, going out for a date was unrealistic.

But that didn’t matter. If she could just see his face and peel apples for him by his side. For now, that would be enough.

Forcing down the corners of her mouth that kept trying to rise, she headed to the laboratory.

“Honey, I’m here… Huh?”

Zernya unconsciously raised her voice at the end.

Sonia was sitting on Eidel’s lap, hugging him tightly. As if that wasn’t enough, she was pressing her chest against him while stroking his head.

“How is it, young master? A hug from your personal maid of 20 years…”

And those seductive words on top of it.

It was enough to make one’s mind go blank.

Zernya’s gaze shifted sideways. Ireh was covering her mouth and rolling her eyes.

Looking at Eidel, then at Zernya. Finally, her gaze fell to the floor.

Sensing someone’s presence, Sonia turned around.

“Oh, you’re here?”

Zernya was quick-witted. She grasped the entire situation in just a few seconds.

“This crazy tin can.”

The target to attack was clear.

“Now even a silicon lump is after my husband. Hey, do you really want to die? Should I dump you in the scrap yard right now?”

“That’s too harsh, Miss Zernya.”

Despite being caught in the act of (apparent) infidelity, Sonia remained calm. Instead, Ireh beside her was trembling.

“Uh, uwaaa.”

Her mind wasn’t working properly.

She had no immunity. She had rarely seen scenes of men and women being intimate.

Besides, wasn’t this clearly an affair?

She didn’t know. Her head was hot. Her forehead and cheeks were warm as if she had the flu. Ireh was half out of her mind.

Sonia retorted:

“Let me clarify before you misunderstand. The young master didn’t do anything.”

“It doesn’t look that way.”

Zernya growled lowly. She slowly moved forward.

“Did you, an android, learn the emotion of love?”

“It’s just physical contact. I was just clinging to the young master to help him relieve stress.”

“It doesn’t look like that at all.”

Zernya’s intuition is excellent. She can easily infer what kind of emotions a woman attached to Eidel might have.

No, in fact, any married woman would be the same. Women are beings who can tell whether it’s an affair or not just by smelling their husband’s shirt.

“I won’t say it twice. Hey, tin can. Get off my husband’s lap.”

“My name is not tin can. Therefore, it would be difficult for me to comply with that order.”

“Get down, you vermin!”

“My name is not vermin. Therefore, it would be difficult for me to comply with that order.”

“You bitch, are you playing word games with me?”

“I am Sonia, a 5th generation android designed to resemble humans. And what I’m doing now is not word play, but body play.”

As she said this, Sonia rubbed her cheek against Eidel’s cheek.

“I-I’m going to step outside for some fresh air.”

Ireh fled through the door Zernya had entered. Her cheeks were as red as ripe persimmons.

Zernya’s face had also turned bright red.

Eidel said worriedly:

“Sonia, stop it and just get down. This really doesn’t seem right.”

“If the young master says so…”

Only then did Sonia put her feet on the ground. She said:

“Actually, I knew Miss Zernya would be coming here around this time. I had prior information that she had taken a day off. So I played a little prank timed to coincide with her arrival.”

Sonia bowed her head.

“I apologize if you found it disrespectful.”

“…What?”

The situation just now was difficult to view as a simple prank. People are sensitive to non-verbal expressions. Zernya was particularly observant of such things.

Sonia’s tone, eye contact, and each careful movement indicated everything.

“Don’t lie. You… you like my husband.”

Zernya spoke in a serious tone. Her expression was as sharp as a wasp’s sting.

Sonia twisted her lips.

“…Was it that obvious?”

In a fit of anger, Zernya grabbed Sonia’s hair and pulled her down.