Mob No. 103: “Moreover, I don’t recall ever permitting you to call me so familiarly by my name.”
Five days had passed since she, Shiora Dilopaz, greeted me…
But nothing particularly unusual had happened.
Since we shared the same shift and days off, I had expected her to come up with all sorts of creative ways to harass me. However, that wasn’t the case. The most that happened was a polite nod when we passed each other in the cafeteria or hallway.
To be honest, I felt a bit let down. What was all that pressure I sensed during her initial greeting?
If anything, I was terrified of what she might be plotting behind my back.
If this were a story with a clueless protagonist, I’d probably go investigate her actions, accidentally stumble into a “lucky pervert” situation, and end up becoming friends with her. But in my case, it would likely end with me being hauled off to the police. So, I decided it was best not to investigate.
I just hoped things would continue peacefully.
But that was wishful thinking.
Six days after her greeting,
as I finished my shift, had a meal, and was leaving the cafeteria, a young man—around the same age as Ms. Dilopaz and not a mercenary but seemingly a dismantling worker—blocked my path.
“Can I help you?”
“You… How dare you act so casually after what you did to her!”
The young man suddenly hurled insults at me.
At first, I was confused, but I quickly understood what he was talking about.
Still, I decided to play dumb.
“Who are you talking about?”
“Shiora! You’re the one who shot her down, aren’t you? I’ve seen her staring at your ship sometimes!”
Ah, I see where this is going…
It seems she told this guy a heavily embellished version of how I shot her down.
His loud voice drew the attention of the people around us, and soon a crowd had gathered.
At this rate, even if the mercenaries didn’t care, the workers would definitely see me as the villain.
“Um… For those who aren’t mercenaries or soldiers, there’s an unwritten rule in the battlefield: ‘No grudges are held after the battle.'”
“Does that matter? Someone like you trying to kill her is unforgivable!”
“Well, it would be a big deal if it happened in the city, but this was on the battlefield.”
“Then you should’ve been the one shot down!”
Oh no. This guy…
He seems like the same type as Yurii Priliera aka hero-kun—a hot-blooded justice seeker.
These types tend to listen to girls, pretty boys, or those who look like good people, but they rarely pay attention to men who look ugly or intimidating.
Talking it out probably won’t work. Anything I say will just fuel his anger.
I could silence him with my weakest laser blaster, but he’s unarmed, so I can’t just attack him. Besides, firing a weapon in the city or colony outside of an emergency would get me arrested, and it would leave a terrible impression on everyone around.
Still, I have to admire his guts for picking a fight with an armed mercenary.
He’s probably used to fighting, and he likely figured I’m weak in close combat based on my appearance. Well, he’s not wrong about that.
He probably thinks I shot her down using sneaky tactics or a surprise attack. But that’s just how it goes on the battlefield.
Either way, I have no reason to let him hit me, and if I run, I’ll just be chased around like a fly. What should I do…
“What’s going on here?”
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As I was pondering, Shiora Dilopaz appeared on the scene.
Had she come to check on the results of the harassment she’d orchestrated?
“Ah, Shiora! This is the guy who shot you down, right? I’ve seen you glaring at his ship! Now’s your chance for revenge since he’s not on his ship! I’ll help you!”
The young man flashed a bright smile and offered to join forces with her.
I expected her to thank him, either with a smile of delight or a look of anger, and then join him in attacking me.
But instead…
“I was part of the rebel forces in the previous war, so I was shot down by a mercenary hired by the Empire. But that’s only natural since we were on opposite sides of the battlefield.”
She responded with the same calm demeanor as before, giving a model soldier-mercenary reaction.
“But! One wrong move and you could’ve died! That makes you a victim! Let’s take care of this guy right now!”
In contrast, the young man was burning with passion.
Shiora coolly countered his argument.
“Exchanging lives is a given on the battlefield. I’ve shot down over a dozen enemy ships myself. To those who survived and hold a grudge against me, I’m the one who should be taken down.”
“Ah…”
The young man finally seemed to understand that just as she had shot down enemies, there were likely people who survived and held grudges against her.
“First of all, when did I ever say I held a grudge against that mercenary?”
Ms. Dilopaz pressed him with a calm yet anger-filled tone.
“Being shot down was frustrating, but it was only because I was inexperienced. I’m lucky to have survived at all. I don’t hold a grudge against the one who shot me down. When I told my story to you and a few others, I made that clear. I never mentioned a name or specific details. So why did you assume that person was the one who shot me down?”
She applied immense pressure, cornering the young man.
“But… but you were glaring at his ship!”
“I wasn’t glaring. I was just curious because it’s a type of ship I’ve never operated before.”
The young man tried to justify his assumption, but Shiora shut him down.
From the flow of the conversation, it seemed she had shared her story but never mentioned my name.
“Moreover, I don’t recall ever permitting you to call me so familiarly by my name.”
Her face clearly showed anger as she spoke to the young man.
Given her military training and battlefield experience, she was in a completely different league from this non-combatant who was only good at fighting.
Leaving the young man crushed by the fact that he wasn’t even considered a friend by her, I headed to my room.
For some reason, Ms. Dilopaz followed me.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Uzoss. This whole mess happened because I shared my story…”
She apologized for the commotion.
“Don’t worry about it. I was at a loss for what to do, so you really helped me out.”
Honestly, I was truly saved.
If things had continued, I’d either have been beaten up or ended up shooting him, and either way, someone would’ve gotten hurt.
It seems she doesn’t intend to seek revenge on me—at least not for now.
So, I decided to ask her something that had been on my mind.
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