42. Maria

One month after Zeno’s home star was destroyed through a noble sacrifice.

On board Agirakana, traveling through hyperspace toward the Sol system, the first generation of bio-noids born under the Agirakana Charter—replacing the Arsen Charter—reached the age of fifteen and came of age. Unlike previous bio-noids, these new ones, born under the new charter, had been granted reproductive capacity, previously forbidden under the Arsen Charter. They were, indeed, pure-blooded Agirakana.

Currently en route through hyperspace, the internet is unreachable, and with nothing particularly to do, I’m bored out of my mind—yet here I am, penning a novel despite never having debuted. It’s admittedly presumptuous for someone without a publisher to be writing fiction, but as usual, I’m hunched over my office desk, typing away. With nothing else to occupy me, the day dissolves into a loop of sleeping, eating, and repeating—until evening, when I’m usually hosting a banquet at my Private Residence with the senior staff. Despite this lifestyle, I’m not gaining weight, and my health remains impeccable.

Maria, my core avatar, keeps suggesting I appoint a new secretary, repeatedly urging me to assign one to Earth, where Ain and the others remain. But as a writer with no commercial prospects, I don’t really need a secretary—so I’m politely declining.

While Ain and the others were around, I always had instant coffee prepared for me. Still, I think it’d be healthier—more balanced, even—if I occasionally brewed my own in the water heater room next to the Office.

Into the usual mug, I added a spoonful of instant coffee and stirred it with a small amount of water. Apparently, this method dissolves the coffee better than pouring hot water directly and stirring. Indeed, dissolving instant coffee in water first before adding hot water results in a far stronger aroma and richer taste. Since I tried it this way, I’ve never prepared instant coffee any other method.

So, carrying my self-brewed coffee back to my seat, I gazed blankly at the vast expanse of the Office, blowing on the cup to cool it, when, unusually, Maria appeared.

“Ah, Captain, you look as idle as ever.”

“Ah, well, we’re all in the same boat.”

“Ah, you might not see it, but I’m always busy with shipboard matters.”

“Let’s go with that. My idleness, as you can see, is perfectly real.”

"So, I came here today because I’ve got some good news for Captain Yamada, who’s clearly idle enough to be bored out of his mind."

"Good news? What kind of good news is that?"

"Didn’t you hear? The first batch of bio-nooids born under the Agirakana Charter just reached adulthood. I thought it’d be a fine idea to bring one of the girls who completed ground combat training here as your secretary. What do you think? Pretty good offer, right?"

"Please, no. I’m already idle enough as it is—another secretary’s the last thing I need."

"Too late for that. I’ve already brought her. Sending her back now would be cruel. And the thought of all that effort I put into teaching her how to brew instant coffee properly? That would be even crueler."

"I see. Then please bring that girl in."

"Maria, come in."

A girl with short black hair, appearing about high school age, and standing with impeccable posture, entered my Office.

“Wait—this girl… is she named Maria, too?”

“Yes.

I’m a military auxiliary, not a soldier, so I don’t undergo the kind of physical strain that wears people down. That’s probably why I look younger than I am. I’ll be turning a hundred soon, and I’m planning to graduate from being Maria. It’s been wonderful meeting Captain Yamada and experiencing Earth culture firsthand. And before I graduate, I even managed to bring down Zeno.

Besides, you see, before Captain Yamada arrived, our kind—the bio-oids—found joy only in our work. That was our purpose. That was all there was. But now, while work remains our top priority, I’ve noticed something new—other joys, other purposes are beginning to emerge among us. All of it because of Captain Yamada. Thank you.”

This child will become my next core avatar, Maria—so please take good care of her. You can forget me if you must. …But still, it’s a little lonely to be forgotten, so please bury this handkerchief in the garden of my Private Residence. It would make me even happier if you planted a cherry sapling there.”

…Maria’s words, spoken with quiet detachment, slid through my mind like dust in sunlight. I listened, numb. I said nothing, merely accepting the white handkerchief made of lace and nodding.

I silently watched Maria leave the Office, leaving behind the fifteen-year-old girl who bore her name. Then I called the girl closer.

“Yamada, Captain of Agirakana. Pleasure.”

“Maria. Nice to meet you. Please just call me Maria.”

“Then, Maria, call me Captain.”

“Understood.”

It seemed cruel to leave a fifteen-year-old girl sitting alone in the Secretary's Office, so I had the operation board and a chair brought to my Office and had her seated there instead. Though to be honest, her current duties amounted to little more than brewing coffee for me.

Two days after Maria had entrusted me with her handkerchief, the girl seated across from my desk approached me and announced:

“Captain, Maria Core has ceased biological activity. From this moment forward, I am the official Maria Core.”

At fifteen, Maria became the avatar of Core—and automatically promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Though Maria had previously been a civilian officer, equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel, the fifteen-year-old now officially held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Agirakana Space Force. In naval terms, that would be equivalent to a light cruiser captain; in ground combat, a battalion commander.

That evening, I dug a hole in the middle of the garden at my Private Residence in the First Layer, placed the lace handkerchief entrusted to me by Maria at the bottom, planted the cherry sapling prepared in advance, then drank alone in my private quarters and fell asleep without changing clothes.

Please do try the instant coffee method—it’s quite the experience.

Side Story: *Agirakana Side Story: Reika Hōzōin — The Unbeatable Young Lady —*

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