10: Grade Ex ※

This story is told from Vilijaniira's perspective.

Today's update is scheduled for the fifth chapter.

This is the first chapter.

"Um, delicious."

The dinner menu consisted of sautéed chicken with a variety of vegetables as side dishes, a stew presumably based on dairy and eggs, generously packed with meat and vegetables. For those who still felt hungry, there were breads baked firm enough to pair well with the stew, each person to take according to their own needs.

The man across from me—whom I later learned was named Satu Seeteks—was eating it all with evident delight.

His smile was so full of joy that it made me feel happy just watching him.

As I watched his smile, I brought a bite of food to my mouth.

Yes, compared to the lunchtime roasted chicken, I might think it's a bit... but that's not because the food itself is bad—it's still very delicious.

With a little more effort, I could serve it at my family's home without feeling embarrassed.

"Yeah, tastes just like the usual."

"Midday meals have been the biggest hit around here for the past year..."

"Having something this delicious is just right. If our palates get too refined, it'll just cause problems."

From the reactions of the crew members around me, it seems the midday meal was truly a special dish—this level of taste appears to be the norm.

...

I ponder for a moment.

The *Tsumebakei* seems to be of a fairly decent grade as a passenger and cargo ship.

Memo confirmed that the *Tsumebakei* was performing its duties as a passenger and cargo ship quite properly.

That the commoners living and working aboard the *Tsumebakei* could enjoy such a meal was undoubtedly a good sign.

At the very least, it was certain that they and the personnel of the companies and colonies around them were likely fulfilling their duties in a healthy and stable manner.

"Memo"

"Yes, Lord Vee."

"Shall we return to your room, Miss Vilijanila?"

"Yes, I'll escort you back. Thank you for a wonderful day. Please look forward to tomorrow as well, everyone."

I asked Memo to take away the tray after our meal, bid farewell to Satā-san and the crew members, and then returned to the room assigned to me as my private quarters.

"Shall I report now, Lord Vee?"

"Please do. Memo."

As I returned to my room, I wrote an article for alibi creation while receiving the memo report.

The crew of the 'Tsumebakei No. 1' is completely clean. There's no unusual communication with the outside, and no abnormalities in the cargo hold. The crew members are exactly as described in the prior investigation. If forced to point out any misconduct, there were minor incidents resembling sexual harassment and gambling on games, but nothing serious enough to warrant intervention.

"Yes, I agree. If that's the case..."

"As for Satō Sekteks, he's mostly clean. As he claims, he booked the 'Tsumebakei' about two weeks ago, and we've confirmed his activities as a journalist. There were no suspicious behaviors observed from him aboard the ship."

"Then, at least we should be able to stay calm until the day after tomorrow at noon... mostly, right?"

I tilted my head at his words in the note.

Note... Memoquis Ai Chōha is a maid-type Gai Noid also known as mechanical intelligence, an entity that has been with me since my birth.

Though Memo's investigative capabilities aren't particularly high, given our position, it's easy for her to uncover the entire life history of an ordinary citizen within a day, and even more so for someone like Sata-san—an artificial human, a manufactured being.

Yet, in general? What on earth is going on here?

"Sata Sekteks. Full name: Sata Common Sekteks L. Seiryō. He is an artificial human manufactured and owned by Seiryō Corporation. After his five-year employment contract expired, he now works as a freelance writer, as he himself has stated."

"Is that all?"

"Yes. Information about him was sent from Seiryō Corporation to the Imperial Household, designated as Grade Ex classified information."

"!?!"

Grade Ex classified information.

That meant information so sensitive that even imperial household officials couldn't access it unless they left a record of having viewed it… Could such a thing possibly be connected to him?

To someone who was clearly a good person?

Someone who seemed no different from an ordinary individual?

And yet Seiryō Corporation had let go of such a person—simply because their employment period had ended? Without hesitation?

It made no sense.

Grade Ex classified information was the kind that, depending on how it was handled, could shake the entire empire to its core.

It's hard to believe, but if the memo's words are true...

"Considering his place of origin, there should be a record of his arrival in the Hilartra Tugumi star system's guide colony. However, no such record was found during the memo's verification. Instead, an exchange confirming the approval of special measures by Lord Flat Tiger and Seiryō Corporation was discovered."

"The Flat Tiger family... they're the ones who govern the Hiratraburu Tsurugi system, aren't they? If they approve it, then entering without permission wouldn't be considered illegal... but it's still unusual."

"Also, this is new information just received. While tracking his activities within the Hiratraburu Tsurugi system... we've occasionally received reports about the destruction of illegal organizations on-site, or accounts of people who were killed but didn't die."

"... I see. So this is someone whose information is classified as Grade Ex, huh."

Details remain unclear.

But it's clear that Satā Sētekusu isn't an ordinary human.

"Shall we search using Lady Vee's name?"

"No, let's refrain. Searching for classified Grade Ex information under my current position would be far too dangerous, and the long-term drawbacks would outweigh any benefit. As long as we know he's a good-hearted human, that's sufficient for us."

"Understood. We shall proceed accordingly."

Still, it remains a fact that he is indeed a good-hearted individual worthy of being recognized as a citizen of the Empire.

If that's the case... then I should close my eyes and pretend I never knew anything about it.

My duty is to identify and deal with wrongdoing that must not be overlooked, not to find fault with good-hearted people.

"Approaching the landing zone of today's destination, the Guided Colony. Transitioning from sublight travel to standard navigation for entry into the landing zone. At the Guided Colony..."

"...I'll be getting some sleep. Once we've safely arrived at the Guided Colony, nothing should happen until we transition back to faster-than-light travel."

"Understood."

Hearing the announcement that the *Tsumebakei* would soon arrive at the Guided Colony, I lay down on the bed.

...

Honestly, the bed quality isn't that great.

The pillow and bedding are rather firm.

No, I shouldn't complain—such luxury is unwarranted.

It's nothing out of the ordinary by commoner standards, after all.

My consciousness slowly, yet steadily, sank downward.

10/01 Typo corrected