I Woke Up Piloting the Strongest Starship, so I Became a Space Mercenary - Chapter 428.2

“But I want to follow you guys.” (Linda)

Linda looked me straight in the eyes as she said so. Well, of course Linda would want to stay with us. I could understand why. If I were in Linda’s shoes, I would feel the same way. Considering Linda’s upbringing, it was only logical.

It was very difficult for a girl from an orphanage in a lower-class area, who did not know her parents’ faces and whose backers were the mafia and gangsters, to get a job. The lower section of the colony was a hopeless environment for a child with no education and no money to rise on her own.

Considering that environment, it would not be a surprise for her to risk her life or her chastity, [– A situation I would not wish her to be involved in–] but with everyone’s help, she would now be able to find a better future, than becoming an apprentice on a mercenary ship which was a dangerous job.

“As a matter of fact, it would be possible to take Linda with us. The cost of food and life support for someone like Linda would be a small price to pay, considering our income. But to put it bluntly, there is no advantage in taking Linda with us. There is none. In fact, our risk factors would likely increase.” (Hiro)

This was simply because Linda was still a child. Linda would soon enter puberty, an age when it would be difficult for her to control her emotions, and there would also be concerns about her physical abilities, simply because her body was not yet ready. She may have a rare talent in terms of resistance to the pathogen that caused the pandemic, but it remained to be seen whether it would be effective against other diseases as well.

In the first place, in terms of countermeasures against diseases, there existed vaccines for most of them, and we have all been immunized. That would mean that her value would relatively be reduced.

“I’m patient. I’m quick, and I’m good with my hands. I think I have the guts to do it if I say so myself. I’m not the smartest person, but both Tina and Whiskas tell me that I’m a fast learner. I’m not going to be able to do it right away, but I’m sure I’ll be useful soon.” (Linda)

“You’re pretty well-spoken, too. But no. I don’t want a bloodthirsty newbie on my ship.” (Hiro)

Mimi, who started out as an ordinary girl, had now become a full-fledged operator. If there was anyone I was concerned about, it would be Tina and her mental state that had been shaken up a lot from the recent events. She was usually a cheerful mood-maker. Usually…

Linda, however, was too young. I, myself, was not old enough to call other people young, but Linda was too young even from my point of view. To a point where it would be safe to call her a child. I didn’t want to have a crew member who might become a troublemaker, even though I was more likely to get into trouble.

“But, well, you three won’t be satisfied with just me outright declining, right? For now, I’ll give you an offer since I don’t want them to smuggle you again if I decline you outright.” (Hiro)

The three of them held their breath as I said this.

“Linda is now 12 years old, right? Then you should stay in this colony until you reach the age of fifteen. It would be best if you could acquire useful skills as a sailor by then, but for now, it’s enough just to keep yourself healthy and develop your mind and body in an age-appropriate manner. After three years, if you still feel the urge to join us on the ship, we’ll come and get you at that time.” (Hiro)

“Really?” (Linda)

“Of course, I’m not lying. However, remember, if you decide to join my crew voluntarily, it will be like you are saying that you want me to pick you up, you know? That would mean that you would be prepared to do those kinds of things. I’m not going to hesitate to take advantage of someone who came aboard voluntarily and knows this, okay?” (Hiro)

“Na…!?” (Linda)

Linda’s face turned red and her body trembled. She also backed away.

“Be a good woman at least, hahaha.” (Hiro)

“You dirty bastard…” (Linda)

“Well, don’t take it so seriously. I’ll try to create an environment where you can do what you want as much as possible. Take advantage of that environment and do your best to become the person you want to be. I won’t call you a traitor if you choose another path. I’m just giving you the opportunity to join our ship as an alternative. I’m warning you, mercenary work can be lucrative, but it can also be deadly. Even Tina and Wiska, who are engineers, have felt their lives were in danger more than once, right?” (Hiro)

I shrugged my shoulders at Linda, who was blushing as she glared at me, and then turned to the sisters.

“That’s true.” (Tina)

“We often have to fight against space pirates, and if we lose, we’ll die at best.” (Wiska)

“Die at best? What happens at worse?” (Linda)

“You’ll be captured and used as a toy until you die, or worse, you’ll be made into a ‘commodity’ object that can’t die and handed over to some pervert who likes that kind of thing.” (Tina)

“Ugh…” (Linda)

Linda was taken aback by what they said. The mafia and gangs in the colony may have no shortage of such brutal stories, but what the space pirates do goes way beyond that. They might even go so far as to make a living corpse and connect it to a life-support system and call it a work of art while singing a song. They were not afraid to do such things.

“Well, I don’t want to easily let space pirates take me down, but just remember that as a mercenary, you might end up in such a miserable situation. Think about that carefully and do your best in the next three years.” (Hiro)

“Yeah… I understand.” (Linda)

I nodded back to Linda, who earnestly nodded in agreement. With this, the matter with Linda was settled. Now I have to politely ask Heinz and the others, tell Hartmut to take care of rest, and talk to Aylia… It was a pain in the neck, but it was for Tina’s sake. Just a little more work to do.

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Also check out my other novels: A Demon Lord’s Tale: Dungeons, Monster Girls, and Heartwarming Bliss, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, and Reincarnated into a Game As the Hero’s Friend