Chapter 147 – I Shall Roll Up My Sleeves for Seldia Too!

The dock attached to the Seldia Administration Bureau.

"Hm... an outfit like this is not half bad, either."

Before a holographic full-length mirror, Letaria let her hem flutter lightly. Her usual dreamlike dark-purple hair had been dyed a gleaming gold, and even the stubborn curl of its ends had been smoothed into beautiful straightness. The clothes she wore were elegantly tailored to her own taste, but at a glance she looked like nothing more than a well-dressed traveler touring the wealthy sectors of space. It was the most elaborate disguise she had ever worn, and she gazed at her reflection with curiosity.

"Wow, you look really cute!"

Adelina, who had walked up from behind, let out a cry of admiration and looked Letaria's outfit over from head to toe. -- And then, without warning, she lightly pinched Letaria's side.

"Eek--?! W-what do you think you are doing?!"

Adelina giggled happily at Letaria, who leapt up in protest.

"Ahaha, sorry! But we can't tell what kind of mishaps might happen once we're in there, so you mustn't let your guard down and show your 'true self,' okay?"

She lined up a perfectly plausible-sounding reason, but from that mischievous expression, Letaria was certain she had simply been teased.

In the middle of the lively exchange, Milea came walking over from deeper in the dock.

"...Are you really sure about this? You don't have to go yourself, you know. We could leave it to someone else."

Milea spoke with a worried look, seeming somehow unsettled. Seeing that expression, Letaria recalled the exchange in the conference room a few days earlier.

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"Go in...? You mean infiltrate Coroshe?!"

Right after Letaria said, "We should simply go in directly and seize the evidence," Milea had raised her voice, nearly leaping out of her seat.

"Yes! I shall slip in quickly with my ma-- no, well, that is... I shall find the evidence!"

At Letaria's proud, puffed-out chest, Milea could not hide her alarm.

"No, it's too dangerous!"

"What has come over you, Milea? That is not like you."

Milea, showing unusual agitation. Unable to watch any longer, Grain stepped quietly between them.

"Easy, Milea. I know how special Letaria is to you."

At Grain's words, Milea was at a loss for words for a moment. Priscilla, sitting beside them, murmured "Oh my..." and colored slightly at the cheeks.

"You both know how important this girl is to Seldia -- Grain, Lieutenant Priscilla, don't you?!"

"Yes, I do. ...But we can't sit on our hands and wait for things to get worse. Besides, her 'intuition' in a pinch is the thing we rely on most, too."

At Grain's persuasion, Milea knit her brows in frustration.

"That is right, Milea. I am sincerely grateful that you worry for my safety, but I shall roll up my sleeves for Seldia too!"

At Letaria's resolute declaration, Milea's momentum gradually drained away.

"Miss Milea, we of the homeland's special-forces unit will accompany them this time as well and infiltrate Coroshe. We are well aware of the risks, but... what do you say?"

With that push from Priscilla, Milea finally had no choice but to let out a deep sigh and give in.

◆◆◆

"Milea truly is a worrier, is she not?"

Returning from her recollection, Letaria smiled softly at Milea standing before her.

"Of course I worry... We can't let them notice us over there, so even the bracelet comm I gave you can't be used casually... To think all I can do is leave it to Grain and Lieutenant Priscilla and the others..."

Muttering this in a small voice, Milea placed a small, cute package into Letaria's hand.

"This is just a little portable ration. It lets you get a lot of nutrition with no fuss. You get hungry a lot, don't you?"

It had no special function, just an ordinary ration. Yet Letaria could tell that it was Milea's own kind of "good-luck charm."

"...I shall treasure it. Thank you, Milea."

As Letaria put the package into her bag, footsteps approached from deeper in the dock.

"Letaria, it's about time to depart. Let's go. ...And Milea, don't worry so much -- I'll bring back good results, I promise."

Called by Grain, who had his travel gear all ready, Letaria nodded firmly.

"Then I shall be off~!"

Letaria waved to Milea.

"Come back safe..."

Milea kept watching Letaria and the others' backs as they quietly receded, her face full of unease.