179: Greenhouse Disappearance Magic

"Welcome! How may I help you?"

The dwarf woman who greeted me upon entering the workshop appeared to be a shop attendant.

Due to her race's characteristic short stature, only her face and hands were visible from behind the counter.

"I've come to pick up the item I ordered. My name is Satu Seeteks. Here's the message confirming my order."

"Understood. Please keep the screen displayed and hold it up to this terminal. I will verify it for you."

"Got it."

I displayed the message on the information terminal, and the staff member scanned it to complete the verification.

In the meantime, I glanced sideways at the other customers and staff members inside the workshop... Hmm, nothing suspicious seems to be around.

Mostly humans, with a few elves, dwarves, orcs, and mermen scattered about—easy to spot at a glance.

"Yes, confirmed. Please head outside. Payment will be processed after confirmation and adjustment."

"Yes, understood."

Well then, since the order is just a single item, it seems I'll need to receive it outside the workshop.

With that in mind, I move outside the workshop.

A greenhouse moored beyond the colony slowly approaches us.

Inside, there are people... several of them, it looks like.

"Master, the customer has arrived."

"Understood. I'm coming now."

From inside the greenhouse emerged humans clad in suits suited for spacework, each carrying an array of tools.

The craftsmen from the workshop, I see.

"You're the one who ordered that greenhouse?"

"Yes, that's right. It's completed, isn't it?"

"Ah, yes it is. We built it exactly to the specifications. But I'll be checking it with you inside before handing it over. I can't just give a half-finished job to a customer."

"I understand."

The greenhouse is roughly spherical, about fifty meters in diameter, just as specified.

There's only one entrance.

"Then, Vee..."

"Shall we go together?"

"Oh, yes."

"Alright, then let's go."

Honestly, since I'm the only one using it, I could check it alone... but it seems like Vilegiani and the others are planning to come along too.

So we enter the greenhouse together.

"But you're asking for something unusual these days. Asking for a small colony-like module that can float in space without any mod-based airtightness or structural reinforcement?"

Yeah, I guess things have changed a bit.

"It's changed quite a bit. Plus, there are almost no living facilities like baths or toilets. Normally, I wouldn't even consider building something like this unless I was explicitly told to follow the specifications exactly—I'd have to double-check with you first to make sure it's okay."

"Ah... uh-huh."

"If you really need them, I can still add them now."

"No, I'm fine without them."

"Is that so?"

While casually glancing at Viridiana and the others roaming around inside the greenhouse, I checked alongside the craftsman whether the greenhouse had been built exactly as specified.

Hmm, it seems to be fine.

However, it looks like Memokshi has been busy with various arrangements.

I hadn’t heard from Memokshi about people suspecting the lack of a bath or toilet, nor did I know that inquiries about whether everything was okay had been coming in.

Back then, I was... well, pretty busy with everything.

I'm sure it was a relief, though.

"That's right, I'm sure you understand, but what we made here is just the shell. It doesn't contain water, and you'll need to bring your own power source. Of course, you'll also need to provide the plants you want to grow. There's also the matter of how you're going to bring it back home. Space is vast, but you can't just float things around however you like."

"I understand everything, so it's fine. How about we handle the payment now?"

"If you understand, then I won't say anything further. The payment will be made at the workshop. Due to the size, we can only handle installations that are fixed in place."

Confirmation complete.

We exited the greenhouse and returned to the workshop to settle the payment.

Of course, since the size is what it is, it's naturally an incredibly expensive purchase... but well, I'm getting funding in exchange for reports later from Seiryō Corporation, or sending back whatever we grow inside, so my wallet isn't hurt too much.

My stomach, however, is another matter.

"Thank you for your payment."

"So, how exactly are you going to bring it back? From the looks of it, you didn’t even bring a small towing boat or anything like that..."

Once the purchase was complete...

"Ah, yes. To be honest, I’m closely affiliated with the Imperial Army. I’ll be sending it via a rather special method."

"!?!"

He spread ink around the greenhouse, obscuring it from view.

Then, swiftly pulling it into the Ether Space and erasing the ink.

To the bewildered craftsmen staring in disbelief, the greenhouse must have vanished before their eyes, as if swallowed by a smoke screen.

"H…huh!? W-where… just now…?"

"Hahaha… hahaha…"

In front of the flustered craftsmen, I play dumb with deliberate clarity.

That way, they’ll surely realize I know how the greenhouse was erased—but that I’m in no position to explain.

Earlier, I said I'm affiliated with the Imperial Army—so much the more so now.

Yeah, since they haven't figured out the truth that I'm actually a space monster, there's no problem at all.

"I'll pretend not to hear anything. I've already been paid, after all. I didn't sell anything problematic, and I don't know where some dangerous item went. If the customer says it's fine, then there's no need for us to ask anything. Yeah, that's perfect."

"Smart decision, thank you. We'll be sure to come back next time, shall we?"

"No problem. You seem like a valued customer."

And so, I ended up acquiring the greenhouse needed to cultivate Hekyomōryu.

Additionally, within the Ether Space, I immediately began working using mannequins I normally don't use.

I just hope they grow successfully... Who knows how it'll turn out?