Unchanged daily routine

"Shinnosuke! Let's go mining!"

Glen's group showed up at the dock again, as usual without a prior appointment.

Their casual way of inviting a friend to the Space Bowl had become routine.

"…Glen, I've told you many times already, but I can't take on work just because you show up directly. Go straight to the union."

ShinNosuke had completely given up, and didn't bother with pointless arguments.

By the time the Grents arrived, sending the mining escort was already a fait accompli.

After completing the request acceptance procedures with the union, ShinNosuke moved forward with departure preparations.

This time, the escort for the Grents would be carried out by ShinNosuke and Marks, piloting the Fubuki.

Yatagarasu was currently conducting data collection and inspections at Psychoj Industry, and Seira and Milena were staying behind to become proficient with Yatagarasu's systems.

Andi and the others from Tsukikage were busy with transportation jobs nearby.

All of this was just another ordinary day, as usual.

Seira and Milena headed toward Psychoj Industry after watching the Fubuki depart the dock and head toward their rendezvous point.

"......Huh?"

Milena suddenly felt an inexplicable anxiety and stopped in her tracks.

"Is something wrong, Milena-san?"

"I don't know... But suddenly, I've been overwhelmed by anxiety... Could this be a premonition?"

Her ability had activated, but Fubuki had already set sail, Tsukikage was out on duty, and Yatagarasu was undergoing inspection.

There was no way to pursue them now, and even if a ship were available, she couldn't just follow based on a vague sense of dread.

Even if it were due to Milena's awakening ability.

"Well, Shinnosuke-sama and Marks should be fine... right?"

With Shinnosuke, Marks, and Fubuki, most space pirates shouldn't be a problem.

Milena pushed her anxiety deep into the back of her mind.

This mining site was also one of Glen's secret locations, an area she'd previously guarded before.

Deep within an asteroid belt so remote that even space pirates couldn't reach it—let alone enter.

This mining operation was scheduled to last three days, and without any issues arising, they had now reached the final day.

"Alright, it's the final day. We've met our target output, so let's wrap up early and head back."

At Glen's command, the final day's mining operations began.

Alyssa and Merry's Seeker Eyes marked the asteroid containing rare metals, which were then collected by the mining shuttle.

This should have been just another ordinary day.

The anomaly occurred about two hours after work began.

"Detected faint modulation waves. Requires vigilance."

Marks, who had been on alert in the surrounding area, noticed something unusual.

"Could it be jamming?"

"No, it's not interference. It's a distortion in space—an abnormal phenomenon caused by outer space."

Various phenomena occur in outer space.

Events such as black hole formation or spatial distortions can cause forced spatial jumps or even be pulled into hyperspace.

Many unexplained disappearances of spacecraft can be attributed to these phenomena.

Shin nosuke immediately made his judgment.

"Big Bear, this is Fukubuki. We've detected faint spatial distortions. Proceed with caution— I judge we should evacuate this area immediately."

"Big Bear acknowledges. We've made enough profit— it's about time to call it quits."

"Emergency! Spatial distortions are intensifying! A rift into hyperspace is forming! Evacuate this sector immediately!"

Markus issues the warning.

When a rift forms from spatial distortion leading to hyperspace, all matter surrounding it is dragged into hyperspace.

Understood! What's the orientation in hyperspace?

"Direction 10, the seeker eye is in danger! Seeker eye, evacuate immediately!"

This is Seeker Eye, understood... Thrust is insufficient, unable to detach!

The Seeker Eye had already penetrated into the range of hyperspace gravitational waves.

The small boat's thrust isn't enough to break free.

"Big Bear, this is Seeker Eye! Hold on, I'll retrieve you right away!"

Glen tries to push Big Bear forward, but Fubuki blocks his path.

"Shin nosuke, don't stop! If we keep going, both of us will get sucked in!"

"That gravity wave can't be escaped even by Big Bear! Seeker Eye will rescue the main ship."

Big Bear may be a large vessel, but its engine thrust isn't particularly strong.

If we get too close, we'll be dragged into hyperspace along with Seeker Eye.

"But, Shinnosuke! Even your Fubuki is in danger!"

"There's no time to hesitate! Fubuki, to Seeker Eye—immediately to rescue!"

"Y-Yes, understood! Please don't push yourself too hard!"

Shinnosuke turned Fubuki around and slowly retreated while approaching Seeker Eye.

Fubuki was quickly caught by the gravity wave and began being pulled into the rift of hyperspace.

"Maintain output at 60 percent. Approach while being pulled by the gravity wave. Jettison the internal craft!"

The internal craft was released to secure the Seeker Eye.

The discarded internal craft immediately fell into hyperspace.

"50 seconds until Seeker Eye contact. Report: mission success rate is 27.5 percent."

Shin nosuke muttered in frustration at Marks' report.

"Damn it, what kind of half-baked success rate is that! In situations like this, it's usually around 0.1 percent, or at most 8 percent—single digits are the norm! 27.5 percent feels weirdly realistic and makes me uneasy."

"There's nothing I can do. My calculations are flawless!"

"Hey, don't go breaking military regulations on me!"

As he spoke, Shinosuke adjusted the ship's hull to cover the Seeker Eye, preparing to stow it within the lower forward internal asteroid hangar.

"Seeker Eye stowage in 7, 6, 5—asteroid approaching! Evade the Seeker Eye!"

"Understood... rudder unresponsive, unable to evade!"

A small asteroid, pulled by gravitational waves, brushed past the Seeker Eye, causing it to lose balance.

"Seeker Eye, falling into hyperspace! Containment is impossible!"

"Seeker Eye, this is Fukubi! We're done for. Just abandon us and get out!"

"Shin nosuke! Don't be reckless—get out now! You'll be pulled in too!"

Listening to Meriisa and Alisa's resigned voices and Glenn's desperate cries, Shin nosuke smirked.

"Markus, you heard that. What's it gonna be? Give up and retreat?"

"Quick U-turn! 80% thrust, jump into hyperspace and intercept the Seeker Eye three seconds later!"

"Got it! Then let's do it!"

"You call this a reckless plan, even though you proposed it yourself. The Seeker Eye can be contained, but the chance of exiting hyperspace is only 6%!"

"From a theoretical standpoint, our success rate has improved."

"No, it's actually dropped by 21.5 points."

"Markus, you know exactly what you're saying, don't you? Well, this is just another ordinary day for us, isn't it? Markus, I'm counting on you to come along!"

Understood. I'll accompany you.

Shinnosuke pushed the throttle lever forward after turning Fujki around.

Hey, wait! Stop, Shinosuke!

Fubuki plunged into the hyperspace, chasing the Seeker Eye.