episode_0040

It was when the sun was high in the sky that I finished my passionate lovemaking in Haruka’s room.

That is to say, it was lunchtime.

Hmm. For such intense lovemaking, it was a short time (I had arrived at 9 AM).

Anyway, I went outside to get food for Haruka, who had fainted midway through our lovemaking.

And there.

“…Did you conclude your business with my daughter well?”

There was Ms. Miharu, looking at me with a somehow cold expression.

No. To be precise, I did know why she had such a cold expression.

‘Haruka’s moans were quite loud. They were bound to be heard by everyone.’

As I realized that fact, I felt how utterly screwed I was, but only for a moment.

“Sigh… Just eat your meal quickly.”

Perhaps Ms. Miharu also realized that the relationship between Haruka and me was unavoidable, for she simply heaved a deep sigh and said nothing more.

Of course, unlike before, she wasn’t using honorifics but informal speech, and her gaze subtly seemed to view me as trash…

Anyway, after eating the meal Ms. Miharu prepared, I showed them the contract and explained what I intended to do.

“Yawn… Mom, are you already here?”

“I was worried about you… Haruka! What kind of outfit is that?!”

Haruka burst out in a reverse bunny girl outfit, causing a commotion that interrupted my explanation for a moment.

After somehow calming the commotion, I explained it again to Haruka and Ms. Miharu.

As I roughly explained what I intended to have Haruka do, her answer came immediately.

“I’ll do it.”

“Haruka. You should consider such things carefully…”

“I don’t want to make Mom suffer either.”

At Haruka’s words, Ms. Miharu seemed to think this couldn’t be overturned, so she put her hand on her forehead and nodded.

“Alright… If that’s what you wish…”

Thanks to that, I quickly had Haruka sign the contract.

As I put the contract with Haruka’s signature into my bag, I asked.

“Oh. First, tell me if you need any items or personnel before we start working. I’ll try to get them for you before the work begins.”

While I’ve seen a supercomputer, I don’t know exactly what’s needed. That’s an expert’s domain.

That’s why I was asking Haruka, who I knew was the most expert.

At my question, Haruka thought for a moment, then asked for exactly one thing.

“A programmer.”

A programmer?

Haruka’s words were too different from the answer I had expected, making me question it for a moment, but I soon understood why she needed a programmer from her explanation.

Although she said a lot, the core was this one sentence.

“I’m good at handling computer parts and settings, but I’m not good at detailed programming.”

It was an unavoidable aspect. Because programming and handling parts are completely different areas.

You might ask what the difference is, but honestly, I don’t know either.

I only knew they were different because I had asked a guy who programmed in my previous life a similar question once and received about two hours of lecturing.

‘His eyes back then were terrifying…’

Anyway, after nodding at Haruka’s words, I wondered where to find talent for programming.

However, this concern was also quickly resolved…

“By any chance, if it’s alright, I know someone. Shall I introduce them?”

Because Ms. Miharu completely unexpectedly offered to introduce someone.

No. How?

Though it might be a bit harsh to say, honestly, I didn’t think Ms. Miharu would know anyone in this industry at all.

“Well…”

In response to my question, Ms. Miharu said there was a kid at the house where she works as a housekeeper who knew something about programming? Or something similar.

At her words, I told her that even so, I couldn’t just use anyone.

“They said their skills were so good that even foreign companies commissioned work from them.”

When she put it like that, it gave me some trust.

The word ‘foreign-affiliated’ always subtly conveyed a sense of reliability.

I thought for a moment, then decided it would be good to meet them once, so I asked Ms. Miharu if I could meet them next time, and then I heard another unexpected thing.

“Would a phone conversation be okay, by any chance? That kid has androphobia.”

No. What in the…

“They experienced something bad, so it’s hard for them to face men.”

“Hmm…”

If that’s the reason, it’s not incomprehensible, but…

I thought for a moment, then first told Ms. Miharu.

“I need to confirm their skills anyway. So please tell them to send any portfolios or similar materials here.”

I said that as I handed over my email address and phone number.

For reference, that phone number was my dedicated one.

I had received a phone as a gift from Miyuki, who said she wanted to hear my voice every day.

Anyway, even after conveying all the messages, we had various conversations before I left Haruka’s house.

***

A few days later.

After checking the portfolio of the person Ms. Miharu mentioned, I could tell they were a definite expert.

To be precise, I got advice from an expert (Miyuki’s husband’s friend).

Oh. How did I get the advice?

Well, I hypnotized Miyuki’s husband, then had him coax his friend into a meal, and as soon as the friend arrived, I hypnotized him immediately.

When I checked after hypnotizing him, they said he was definitely a master.

‘If someone in the relevant industry says that much, they must be a considerable expert.’

So I told Ms. Miharu I wanted to talk to that programmer, and Ms. Miharu kept her word.

Moreover, instead of talking over the phone as first mentioned, she suggested talking face-to-face.

[I told that kid to try and overcome their androphobia by meeting men in a business context. Oh. Still, I think I’ll be there with them during the face-to-face meeting.]

It seems Ms. Miharu put in a lot of effort during the persuasion process.

‘If the contract with that person goes well and the results are good, I’ll definitely have to reward her.’

Thinking that inwardly, I ended the call with words of thanks.

While I was finishing that call.

There was someone watching that scene.

“Is it a married woman again this time? Pout…”

It was Miyuki, who was driving right next to me.

To Miyuki, who was feigning a pout, puffing out her cheeks, and looking displeased, I offered an explanation that wasn’t quite an explanation.

“No. This time, it’s really for work.”

Perhaps because there had been a few similar incidents before, thanks to the girlfriends I created through hypnosis, Miyuki’s vigilance was considerable.

Oh. For reference, most of those girlfriends were dealt with as the hypnosis wore off.

Except for one person, the hypnosis didn’t last more than a week.

Anyway, if you ask why I was with Miyuki, the answer is simple.

“Stop with the strange misunderstandings, and you’ve set up the appointment with the power plant manager, right?”

“Yes. I’ve definitely set it up.”

It was precisely for preparations for Bitcoin mining.

You might ask why I’m meeting the power plant manager for mining preparations.

Well, there’s no need to overthink it.

A lot of electricity is needed for mining. So, I need to buy electricity cheaply.

And the simplest way to buy electricity cheaply is.

‘Hypnosis and bribes.’

What I realized while practicing hypnosis these past few days was that if a plausible situation related to hypnosis is created, the effect becomes better.

For example, in a situation like this, if I say I’m buying electricity cheaply in exchange for a bribe while under hypnosis, and then actually give the bribe, the hypnosis duration becomes longer, and the acceptance becomes more natural.

No. Or perhaps, it wouldn’t even be hypnosis midway, but they might just willingly accept the bribe.

Anyway, for these reasons, I was planning to build a factory near the power plant.

Well, actually, the cheapest way to use electricity is to simply set up a base overseas where electricity is cheap, but…

‘It’s troublesome because my body isn’t free to move around, and there are things that need to be processed quickly.’

While a proper middle management isn’t yet established to manage this, it was more convenient for me to manage it directly, and also.

‘If I can solve the cooling, which accounts for a significant portion of electricity costs, with Yuki Onna, then mining in Japan would be sufficiently profitable.’

Of course, I’ll only do it this way initially. Once it reaches a certain scale, I’ll have to mine in Chinese provinces or countries with cheap electricity.

Miyuki, upon hearing my plans, said as if it were fascinating.

“Listening to Master-nim’s words, it feels like I’m talking to my husband’s friend, not my son’s friend.”

“You mean I’m smart, right?”

“Hehe. Yes. You’re smart, and it seems you have a firm conviction that this will definitely rise in the future.”

At Miyuki’s words, I felt a slight pang inwardly.

Because in reality, I knew this would rise in the future.

Of course, I didn’t show any signs of being flustered like a novice.

Instead, I just heaved a deep sigh and mumbled.

“I wish I knew the future a bit.”

This was my true feeling.

What if my past self had known the future?

Would I have envisioned a slightly brighter future in a place where death and screams echoed daily? Or would I have participated more actively in the bigger picture drawn by the higher-ups?

Well, these are all meaningless assumptions.

I had already come too far for that.

As I was thinking this, Miyuki, hearing my words, briefly pulled the car over to the shoulder.

“Oh, we just need to go a little further─Gasp?!”

Then she suddenly unfastened her seatbelt, took my face in her slender hand, and kissed my lips.

I looked at Miyuki, who was suddenly kissing my lips, with a bewildered gaze for a moment.

But soon, I roughly realized why Miyuki had done such a thing.

‘Is it comfort, or rather, pity?’

I must have had those dead, listless eyes that I often had in my previous life.

Indeed, with those eyes, it wouldn’t be strange for Miyuki to react this way.

Just looking at those eyes, it wouldn’t be strange to give up on life immediately.

Well, perhaps in my previous life. But now I have no such intention whatsoever, and there’s no need to explain it.

Thinking that inwardly, I enjoyed the kiss with Miyuki.

-Knock knock.

[Are you there?]

Unfortunately, what came next had to be postponed until later due to a sudden police stop.