40: The view of the city as seen by Vilijaniira ※

This chapter is told from Vee's perspective.

"Well, now that we've finished the tour, shall we head back to the hotel while enjoying the view of the city?"

"Yes, that's the plan."

Today's factory tour was extremely informative.

We've confirmed that Tea Friesu Corporation is indeed a legitimate company, and we've further reaffirmed just how far removed the general public's understanding is from the actual facts about Satu's mod.

Let us report to the intelligence unit that no overt issues were observed with Teefriizu Corporation at a later stage.

Regarding Satu's mod expertise... it certainly reflects Satu's personal aptitude, but also gives insight into Seiryō Corporation's technical prowess and educational capabilities.

That said, Seiryō Corporation's audits are only possible when the opportunity arises, given their positioning.

"Just so you know, I'm getting a bit hungry. Why don't we stray a little from the main road and look for a local eatery that only locals would know about?"

"Understood. I'll keep my guard up."

"Miss Vee, please don't let your guard down."

Also, today's errand isn't a factory tour.

The Tifliz Company's module manufacturing factory is located within the residential area of the First Primar Colony, where ordinary citizens live. If traveling from the hotel 'Edible Crescendum,' you naturally pass through this residential zone.

Using this route, observing the daily lives of citizens and the atmosphere of local shops on foot has become part of my duties.

Therefore, I take a different route on my way back in order to gather more information.

"Both of you are being overly cautious. There's no sign that the threat has passed, but there's also no sense of immediate danger."

"Actually, that's exactly when it's most dangerous—so I've noted that down, just as Lord Vee said."

There's a spot a little off the main road, a back alley even locals don't pass through— I've been there myself. Whether it's a threat or not, caution is still necessary, for both of us.

Sata walks just ahead of me, while the memo follows just behind.

Seems like the matter of foresight has put me on edge.

That foresight feels safe enough based on my past experiences, though... it's a sensation only I can perceive, so I suppose it's unavoidable that I can't share it with anyone.

Besides, I do have a sense of what the memo is saying, and Sata's experience confirms it completely. So I'll keep a close watch within my own limits.

"Hmm, restaurants. Restaurants..."

As we walk through the town, all sorts of things catch my eye.

I'll leave the restaurants to Sata and Memo, and focus on what I should be observing myself.

For example, the brief moment of caution in passersby as they glance my way, only to return a bow when I nod, their tension easing immediately.

Even within the colony, absolute safety isn't guaranteed, so this reaction to unfamiliar faces is perfectly normal.

If it were a sign of carelessness, hostility, or something even more ambiguous, we'd have to respond appropriately to the actions taken—but it's reassuring that this doesn't seem to be the case.

Indeed, it seems the area still maintains good order.

For example, at a bookstore.

On display at the storefront are book covers labeled with prices, allowing instant downloads to information terminals upon payment.

Inside the store, books are similarly arranged under categories such as genre, publisher, author name, and title, all available for immediate download.

Pay attention here to the content of best-selling titles.

At this shop, you'll find the latest issues of popular manga across the empire, recent magazine editions commonly seen everywhere, and also books on agriculture and recipes using vegetables and fruits—something unique to the Glogrobeta Star System, one might say.

Oh, there are also books that go into detail about the ecology of Rocket Corn.

But I don't see any particularly suspicious ones.

"Hmm? Could there be a banned book among them?"

"Sat, I don't think such books would even be handled in data form to begin with."

"Those kinds of books probably wouldn't have anything like that written on the cover or title."

"Yeah, you're right about that."

Moreover, in the empire, nearly all ideologies are tolerated, and if an ideology that isn't permitted isn't actually put into practice, it is effectively ignored.

Ideas that are considered unacceptable can still be tolerated if they are merely written in a book.

After all, freedom of expression exists.

Therefore, when we refer to banned books here, we mean materials such as instructions for creating mods, or maps of local government headquarters—items that, from a security and safety standpoint, cannot be allowed unrestricted access to.

That said, considering that certain space pirates, like the Gigarok Space Pirates, possess illegal mod technology, it's possible such data or physical copies are circulating somewhere.

Regardless, since we're at it, let's go ahead and purchase the women's magazine published by the Imperial Intelligence Corps' front company.

If I buy it here, it'll serve as a record of my presence should anything happen later.

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong, Satu?"

"It smells good. This is… ramen. And it's the kind with plenty of vegetables."

"Ramen... just perfect. Then, let's head over there for lunch."

With that, Satu spotted what appeared to be a locally popular ramen shop, and they headed in that direction.

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about ramen, but apparently this is a soy sauce ramen with a broth made primarily from vegetables. The noodles are made from wheat grown in the Grogro Beta star system, the ingredients are vegetables prepared using appropriate methods for each type, and even the meat-like item is actually a soy-based imitation meat.

Yet, the flavor achieved without using a single mod was incredibly delicious. Each bite released waves of umami from the vegetables, soup, and noodles, leaving me with more than enough satisfaction and a deep sense of fullness.

Truly, she's Sata.

Sata is silently savoring it, clearly enjoying every moment, so I'll focus on relishing the taste for now, but I must definitely praise her properly later.

I was truly satisfied.