Chapter 15 : Noisy Luma

“Filming… drone?”

What’s filming? And a drone?

“Oh my, you don’t know?”
“Nope.”
“Not just a classical look, huh? Even so, everyone knows this… Are you some ancient?”

That classical nonsense again.

“Just explain.”
“Oh, fine. Never thought I’d explain this. Hm… it’s like, a video—”
“Video?”
“What, videos too?”

Luma, genuinely shocked, covered her mouth, blinking.
Kang Rimun mentioned no footage was recorded, but is that the same thing?

Rubbing my chin, Luma stared at me like I was a curiosity.

“An Outlander among Outlanders? Outlanders live outside the city but handle machines well, yet you’re completely detached from even them? Nothing else explains it.”
“…”
“Oh, sorry. Bit shocked. Anyway… filming drones. See these scenes?” She gestured around. “Mind if I sit? Been standing forever.”
“Go ahead.”

Nodding, I let her in. She sat, pointing around.

“Me on this chair, the chair itself, the floor, the walls rising to the ceiling, and that window.”

Following her words and gestures, my gaze drifted to the window’s dazzling, sky-blocked view.

“Capturing these scenes exactly as they are is filming. Still images are photos; moving ones are videos. If a machine can move autonomously, it’s a drone. So…”

Pausing, she pulled a small device from somewhere.

“This cute little thing that records your cool moves? That’s a filming drone.”
Whirr—

She held it out proudly, then released it. The drone hovered on its own, a translucent orb floating like magic.

This tiny thing captures lifelike images and moving pictures? Probably for replaying.

“I see.”
“Exactly. So, my job is for you to handle a Crashed while this cutie records.”

She wants a video of me fighting a Crashed.

“Come to think of it… you don’t know my strength, yet you’re quick to hire me?”

Watching the drone zip annoyingly around me, Freesia reached out.

“Well, you’re Kang Rimun’s mercenary, right? He only picks flawless people, so an outsider mercenary from him? Your skill’s practically proven. Plus, kicking me out so casually with that hacking skill… Oh, little one, you can’t just—”
Grab—
“Caught… huh?”

The drone froze, caught gently by Freesia.

“Oh my, oh my! Hacking? No, there’s no trace…”

Luma touched her ear device, her metallic gray eyes flashing with lime circuits.

“How’d you catch it? Wait, could it be…”

Her gaze swept the room, then locked in certainty.

“My intrusion attempt left traces, but no sign of blocking it…?”

Luma stared at Freesia, stunned, while the girl tilted her head, scampered to my leg, and offered me the drone.

“Oh, for me?”
“…Yup.”
“Haha, thanks.”

Luma looked near-dumbfounded, but Freesia’s calm offering was hilarious.

“It’d follow to film anyway, but, uh, you’ll give it back, right? I’m fond of it. I even added defenses, yet it was caught without a trace…”
“Of course.”
“…Don’t, have to.”

Sulking at my agreement, Freesia puffed her cheeks.

Pat—
“Freesia, you can’t take others’ things.”
“…She tried, sneaking.”
“Oh, right. Still, though.”
“…Okay, got it.”

Patting her, I released the drone. It wobbled, then resumed circling me.

“For a kid to outskill me like that… I’m dying to know who you are. So, Roland, how do you fight? Hacking too? Or…”

Luma’s eyes flicked to the sword sheath at my waist.

“That sword? Not many fight with swords anymore. They’re either dead or crazy skilled. Kang Rimun’s mercenary? Gotta be the latter. Oh, a sword fight would look stunning. Facing a barely-human Crashed with just a blade—classical looks, name, and character!”

She’s loud.

“Kang Rimun sent such prime material instead of—”
“Enough. Tone it down.”
“Oh, don’t like it? Fine—”

Rubbing my furrowed brow, I sighed and spoke.

“So, why film? What’s the plan for photos and videos of me?”
“Well, if your character’s good, we edit it into a flashy PV announcing Luma’s new mercenary.”
“What?”
“Then, when requests come for you specifically, I pass them to you. Oh, my jobs always include a filming drone. Sometimes, per the client, it’s live. Then the drone projects a chat and donations as holograms. Fun, right?”
“…What?”
“…Noisy.”

Character, PV, live, chat, donations—what’s all this?

“Oh, the kid’s Freesia, right? She’s got character, but if she crushes Crashed too easily, it’s boring. Maybe assist instead—”
“Hold on. Freesia’s not involved. Film only me.”

My appearance is fine, but ORRYX knows Freesia’s look.
If her image spreads, they’ll know.
They pressured Cheongdo hard over one escaped experiment there. Glimmer Garden’s not as closed-off, so they’d come fast.
I’m not scared, but there’s a big difference between exposed and hidden.

Luma’s eyes widened, and Freesia, surprised, tilted her head up at me.

“Huh? Why? Not good at real combat? Or… too brutal? In this world, sparing a kid from violence—you really love her.”
“Let’s say that. …Oh, I’ll wear a helmet too.”

My usual helm’s too distinctive, so a local helmet should do.

“What? Hide that face? Seriously? Such a waste—why?”
“Reasons.”
“Oh, you won’t tell. Shame. A sword alone makes a strong character, but that handsome face would flood you with requests.”
“You said the character’s enough. And skill alone will draw jobs.”

Mercenaries are mercenaries, after all.

“Hm, confident with that sword, huh? How skilled are you? Now I’m excited—”
“Stop. Tell me about the Crashed. Keep listening, and it’ll be dawn.”
“Oh my, I am chatty. The Crashed—details are sparse. Seems it was an artist before turning, holed up in Lighthall Lodge, tweaking lights for some performance. Typical Crashed—everyone there’s dead or fled. A mercenary happened to be there but couldn’t stop it, barely escaping alive.”
“…Can’t you summarize?”
“Oh, I’ll try.”

Sounds like she won’t.

“That’s it?”
“Hm… Oh, since it’s just sitting there, no rush. You can sleep and go tomorrow.”
“That works.”

Glancing down, Freesia clung tightly to my leg.

Tilt—
“…?”

Even if I tried leaving her, she’d stick to me.
I’m fine, but she’s had a rough day. Resting and going tomorrow’s perfect.

“So, Kang Rimun’s job’s done, new one’s accepted. We good?”
“Pretty much. Oh my, look at the time. I came to pitch a debut, but somehow burned hours. My messages must be piling up.”
“…Less talking would’ve sped this up.”
“Oh? How do I talk with my mouth shut? Gotta open it.”
“…I meant summarize. Forget it, this’ll never end.”

I pulled Luma up, nudging her out.
Below, Freesia was adorably pushing her too, making me chuckle.

“Uh, Roland?”
“Time to go.”
“Oh? So cold. It’s late, sending me out alone without even an escort—”
Bang—

Slamming the door, her loud yet melodic voice vanished, leaving silence.
She yammered outside, but whatever Freesia did made it quieter than our earlier door-between-chat.

“…… ……!”

I could hear if I focused, but I’d had enough, so I dulled my senses, ignoring her.

“Phew… Freesia, good work.”
Shake, shake—
“…Roland, worked more.”
“…It was rough.”

Closing my eyes briefly, I lifted Freesia and headed to bed.
Unlike Cheongdo, no need to lay out bedding here, but… fixer difference? Cheongdo felt more restful.

“Night, Freesia.”
“…Night.”
Rustle—

Laying her down, she burrowed into my chest as blankets and clothes shifted.

Nuzzle, nuzzle—
“…Hee.”

She rubbed her face against me, drifting off.