Chapter 14 : Roland Thoughts

“…Full.”

Freesia eyed the cake greedily, but already stuffed, she managed only one small slice.
The remaining two portions—two cake slices—were mine.

“My mouth’s drowning in sweetness…”
“…Not, tasty?”
“Too sweet for my taste. Not bad, though.”

Easing my sugar-shocked mouth with water, I lifted Freesia from her chair into my lap, patting her head.

Pat, pat—
“…Feels, nice.”
“Same here.”

Compared to my world’s food, it’s lackluster, but it has its charm.
The problem is this passes for gourmet here…
I’d love to feed Freesia only natural ingredients, but that’s unrealistic now—maybe later.

“…Roland, thinking, what? …Food?”

Her slow voice pulled my gaze down. Freesia, leaning against my chest, pushed my hand away, looking up.

“…!”

She flinched at my words, then, oddly glum, turned to hug me, staring into my eyes.

“…Wanna, go back?”
“Hm?”

Go back.
I’m investigating ORRYX, likely tied to how I ended up here, with plans to return.

Now that I think about it, the Empire must be in chaos.
I defeated my master—its symbol of power—in swordsmanship, then, as if enlightened, closed my eyes, stood still, and vanished.

How did I disappear?
I woke up in ORRYX’s Megacorp building, but what did others see?

“Hm…”
“…Roland?”
“Oh, got lost in thought. Gimme a sec?”
Pat, pat—
“…Okay.”

Honestly… do I need to go back?

My memories of the Empire? Vague recollections of being torn from my parents, my master’s pitying eyes.
That pity vanished, replaced by relentless training, training, training under his strict guidance.
As my skills soared, only then came lessons in knowledge and etiquette.

My memories are a hazy childhood, a few small moments with my master—stern but occasionally soft—and endless training and education.
Nothing else.
Would I desperately want to return to that?

“…Roland.”

Meeting Freesia’s anxious eyes, I patted her.

If I’d stayed in the Empire, I’d have lived obediently, following its will.
Oh, there was that time they tried pairing me with some noble girl I didn’t even know.
I refused, hating a loveless match, and it fell apart instantly.
Maybe I could’ve chosen my wife.

I was barely shy of twenty, so that might’ve been why.
If I’d aged without producing an heir, they might’ve forced a marriage to pass on my talent.
They even taught me about s*x, after all.

“…Ro, Roland.”
“Hm?”

Freesia’s voice, slower and more hesitant than usual, made me look down. Her face was faintly flushed.

“…What, thinking…?”
“Uh… stuff you don’t need to know.”
Pat, pat—

No clue how old she is, but by her size, maybe eight or nine.
Too young for this, though she might understand later.

“…Curious. Tell, me.”
“Haha, when you’re older.”
“…Okay.”

Her lips pouted slightly.
Sulking? Hard to tell, but it’s cute.

Fluff, pat, pat—
“…Hee.”

Messing her hair, her pout melted quickly.

After a while, Freesia’s head snapped up, her golden pupils glowing sharply.

“Something wrong?”
“…”
“Freesia?”

No answer, just staring into space, even as I stopped patting.

Pop, fizzle—

The lights flickered off, then on, and she spoke.

“…Someone, accessed, this room.”
“Accessed…?”

Someone’s here?

“…Now, chased, out.”
“Really?”

Someone infiltrated, and this tiny girl expelled them?
I don’t think Freesia’s lying, but…

Wait, her glowing pupils often coincide with interfering with this world’s tech.
Maybe it’s something beyond physical presence.

“Oh my.”

In a dark room, a monitor crackled.

“I got kicked out?”

Barely reacted, either.

A feminine silhouette rose from a chair, faintly lit by the monitor.

“They don’t seem to know hacking, so I just peeked…”

To be booted so easily?
Totally unexpected.

The man did it, right?
That face and such skill? Now I’m really intrigued.

“Hm… He should’ve contacted me by now, but nothing. Guess I’ll go myself.”

She must’ve been mad, blocking all communication.

Freesia’s pupils kept glowing, scanning something.
I wanted to help, but clueless, I just sat, holding her, patting her head.

Pat, pat—

I almost stopped, worried I’d distract her, but she grabbed my hand with her tiny fingers, placing it back on her head.
So, I kept patting, cheering her on.

She’s adorable when focused.

I stayed alert briefly, but after ten minutes with no threats on my senses, I trusted Freesia to handle it.

“…Coming, directly.”
“Directly? Someone entering the hotel?”

I sensed someone entering, moving toward the compartment we rode—unhindered by staff.

“…In, elevator.”
“Elevator?”
“…Moves, floors.”
“Oh.”

That’s what it’s called.
I don’t know what Freesia sees, but if they’re coming, I’m not scared.

Focusing on the presence she mentioned, I set her down and faced the door.
The person stepped off the elevator, approached, and knocked.

Knock, knock—
“Caught sneaking a peek, huh? I’m here officially now.”

A pleasant, feminine voice, but oddly artificial, like it wasn’t from vocal cords.

“Who’s there?”
“Someone who tried accessing your room uninvited… and got charmed, let’s say?”
“Cut the games.”
“…No, games.”
“Oh, touchy. I’m Luma, Glimmer Garden’s fixer.”

Luma…

“The fixer Kang Rimun mentioned?”
“Oh my! That missed talent’s name pops up here?”
“What?”
“Some say his eyes are narrow, but that’s its own charm. That vibe—cheap cosmetic mods can’t mimic it. So, I got greedy, made a move, and got shot down cold. Truly hurt.”

…This woman’s a whirlwind.

“Enough about that. We’re here for a reason.”

Approaching the door, I spoke, gripping the handle and cracking it open.

“Oh? Since that bad man’s name came up, he sent you, right? Wow, you’re even handsomer up close. And… you’re cute. Unique eyes, too. Wanna join me, kid? Or, if this guy joins, you’ll come along?”
“…No, won’t go. Roland, won’t either.”
“Kang Rimun, this guy, and even this cute kid—so firm…”

Wavy burgundy hair, fading to sky blue at the ends. Metallic gray eyes with lime-green veins—not veins, more like mana circuits from my world’s mages.
Her glossy skin shifted texture by angle, and silver devices covered her ears.

This world’s sense of appearance is… bold.
She’s less extreme than the street’s wild looks, but is this normal here?

“Oh my, fallen for me?”
“No.”
“…No.”

At Luma’s words, Freesia flinched, checked my reply, then glared at her.

“Such a serious face hurts my feelings.”
“…Kang Rimun’s request is to deliver this.”

Ignoring her, I pulled out the letter and held it out.

“So cold. No surprise, coming from that man.”
“Just take it.”
“Fine, fine. If you’re that serious.”

Grumbling, Luma took the letter, inspecting it.

“No instructions beyond delivering this?”
“That’s it.”
“Hm…”

Narrowing her eyes, she examined it closer, then nodded.

“Got a rough idea where it goes. So, your job’s done? Oh, I didn’t ask—Roland, right?”
“…One question at a time. Job’s done, name’s Roland.”
“Roland, Roland… nice. Fits your classical look perfectly.”
“Classical…?”

As Luma savored my name, nodding, Freesia clung to my leg.

“…”
“Those cute eyes glaring… scary.”

Freesia didn’t react, just tilted her head, staring at Luma.

“…Thinking, a lot. Outside, different.”
“Oh my.”

Luma froze at Freesia’s words, then laughed it off.

“Hm… spookier than I thought, little miss. So, you two up for a new job?”
“New job?”

To feed Freesia natural ingredients…

“What’s the job?”
“Oh, interested? There’s a Crashed nearby. Deal with it. But…”
“But?”
“We’ll attach a filming drone. And, of course, don’t let it get damaged.”