The top… For some cause, I could not assist however really feel like the tip was in sight. The top of what although, precisely? Was it for this journey? For this life? Who is aware of? All I knew was that there was an air of finality lingering all through the [Empire’s Wrath], and I actually did not like the place this was all going.

Then once more, perhaps it was simply the truth that Port Sendoff was already visibly from the bridge.

“Nicely, not less than nothing occurred this time?” I chuckled as I sat behind the primary console. “Final time we have been right here, we obtained attacked nearly instantly.”

“You’ll be able to say that once more,” Shade chuckled from his regular spot in entrance of the comms kiosk. “Though, Vestyge appears to have gone quiet ever since we fought off that one detachment they despatched right here.”

“And Marquee additionally hasn’t made any strikes since our final debacle with them,” Steering chimed in beside me. “However I am fairly positive they’re nonetheless reeling from the injury we brought about. If something, it will not be for some time until one thing occurred that may necessitate a response.”

I let loose a sigh as I took in all the things that had occurred. The voyage from Marquee all the best way again to Kattleyna was fortunately fairly quiet and uneventful. Then once more, uneventful was a fairly tame time period in comparison with the numerous good points and developments that occurred mid-voyage.

For one, the Vestygian household had taken a liking to hanging round on the bridge with us. In reality, they have been at present lounging round on the closest sofa even now, with Gem and Shizu taking part in on the mattress that truthfully ought to’ve been thrown out after Shizu, Steering, and I have been executed with it. Then once more, the dev mentioned that it was nice, so it stayed as a everlasting fixture on the bridge. Not that I did not prefer it although. It was enjoyable to really feel like I am doing nothing simply laying on the sheets although I used to be technically nonetheless steering the [Rig].

Additionally, each Carbuncle and Alcian had began chipping in on the day by day maintenance of the [Rig] itself. The blue-haired girl was fairly pointed as she all however commandeered management of the comms kiosk, however not earlier than Shade shortly asserted himself because the one man answerable for the entire thing. As such, the girl was compelled to only play babysitter and take care of her daughter. Oh, she would sometimes take cost of the comms kiosk, however that was solely when Shade wasn’t current to cease her.

Likewise, Alcian did his finest on the weapons kiosk of your complete [Rig]. Not that he was even wanted since no one even bothered to assault us all through our complete journey. Nonetheless, it was a welcome sight to see that the kiosks have been all manned and prepared in case we obtained attacked by one thing or somebody.

As for the engine kiosk, Nicole has taken a really pointed liking to it. Granted, she took a liking on all the things she noticed on the primary bridge, even the primary console as she all however demanded that I let her improve it into one thing extra ‘usable’ as she put it. Nonetheless, even with all of her consideration gripped by the [Rig]’s inside mechanisms, her place was nonetheless proper under the hull within the engine room. She and Shen have been arduous at work upgrading our engines, and the fixed stuttering on our lights in the course of the evening was greater than a transparent signal that they have been doing one thing to the [Rig]. Whether or not it was good or unhealthy, nonetheless, we actually did not know. The 2 refused to speak about it even below orders, saying that it was a shock to be introduced as soon as they have been lastly completed.

“Haha! There it’s, Gem!~”

“Look forward to me, Shizu!”

After which there was Shizu. The princess had numerous pondering to do even after Steering and I despatched her to heaven and again a number of instances over the course of the week. Certain, she was nonetheless dedicated to serving us utilizing her physique, however a few of her tasks as a princess have been beginning to come again to her after it lastly sank in that we would all however declared open conflict on Marquee by full accident. Additionally, her character disaster was nonetheless in full swing. Granted, she had clearly put it on the again of her thoughts, however I am positive it’s going to come again to chew her when she least anticipated it. Nicely, not less than she seemed completely happy together with her regular smile adorning her face.

“Stare a bit longer and I would simply get jealous,” Steering scoffed beside me, her arm snaked round mine as she leaned on my seat. “I get that she’s extra lovely than me, however not less than restrict your self, you recognize?”

“As for those who’re any higher,” I shortly fired again with a joking tone. “You have been gazing her simply so long as I’ve. If I did not know any higher, I would say that you just’re extra interested in ladies than you’re to me.”

Final however not least, Steering… Our dynamic has modified drastically after that debacle we had at Marquee. She was extra… heat and cuddly, and never as antagonistic as she as soon as was barring a number of exceptions to her regular model of talking. She was additionally extra clingy now in comparison with final time, nearly performing like a correct girlfriend versus simply merely us strolling facet by facet and having informal intercourse. There was love right here, much more so than final time.

“Nicely, I’m. I simply determined that you just’re an exception,” Steering chuckled. “We’re all we’ve got left of the outdated world, so we should always try to maintain some traditions alive between us.”

I raised an eyebrow at her phrases. “So that you’re all for the preservation of our tradition then. Cannot we try this even when we get different companions?”

“What do you imply? We have already got one other accomplice,” Steering smirked, a touch of lechery seeping into her tone. “Apart from, I am positive we’ll discover extra on the market so as to add to our rising harem.”

I could not assist however cough and sputter on the phrase she simply used. She actually did not care, did not she? “Did you actually have to make use of that phrase?”

“Why not?” she giggled. “That is my world, which suggests my guidelines nonetheless apply even when a few of them do not work as supposed. Polygamy is a factor right here, even when it is not broadly unfold.”

“That sounds prefer it’s nonetheless not regular right here to get a couple of accomplice,” I shortly identified.

“It’s although,” Steering retorted with a pout. “I programmed this world to my tastes, and my tastes in gaming are variety of-“

“Kinky?” I completed for her.

Steering shortly frowned. “And also you simply mentioned that I should not use ‘kinky’ as a phrase too.”

I chuckled at my girlfriend’s reactions as I subtly pulled her nearer to my facet. She shortly acquiesced, after all, melting into my embrace at the same time as she continuously scowled at me.

“This feels bizarre nonetheless. Having a accomplice to like and all that…” Steering mumbled. “I critically thought I used to be going to get outdated loveless and and not using a accomplice.”

“With you trying as lovely as you’re? I critically doubt it,” I scoffed, a lot to her chagrin.

“Seems do not make an individual, you recognize,” she shortly identified. “If something, you should not have even pinged at my radar for those who’re continuously like this.”

“And but I nonetheless did,” I smirked. “So absolutely you see one thing you want in me.”

“As a lot because it pains me to say it, you do have some redeeming qualities in you,” she chuckled as she snuggled up in opposition to me within the one chair we have been at present sitting on. “You are fast to be taught, for one, which is… Nicely, that is truly it, actually.”

“Nicely, that undoubtedly appears like one thing I’m,” I sweatdropped. “However to listen to that that is the one factor I’ve going for me is form of off-putting.”

“I did say that appears do not make the particular person, you recognize,” she smirked. “You have obtained seems to be, positive, however realizing that you may be taught is a large deal for me. It means you may modify and enhance. To be extra of a greater particular person than once I first met you.”

I could not assist however nod at her evaluation. It wasn’t like I could not disagree together with her phrases. In any case, I agree that attractiveness may solely carry an individual thus far earlier than their rotten character would simply override any and all attraction you may need in direction of an individual. If something, seems to be might be remedied with a ton of cash and energy, whereas character was extra set in stone and nearly unattainable to alter until one thing important occurred.

Chuckling, I turned to Steering and gave her a small kiss, to which she shortly replied with one in every of her personal earlier than she shortly pulled away. We have been nonetheless in a public area, in any case, and we would not wish to be seen doing stuff, particularly with a child round.

“Moriya, we’re nearly there.”

And naturally, there have been extra urgent issues to account for. For one, the inevitable discuss with the Emperor as to what precisely occurred at Marquee. I am positive Shizu might be hard-pressed to defend our actions there.

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