568: Anonymous Combatant
For a minor to understand a company’s management, is that really necessary…?
569: Hakase
It’s like training wheels. Once the leader gets used to it, the leader’ll know which parts of the report to look at.
I plan to eventually make the leader the president anyway, so the leader needs to get familiar with the reports little by little.
570: Anonymous Combatant
Is that lenient or strict?
571: Anonymous Combatant
I want a secretary who does stuff like that for me.
572: Anonymous Combatant
Hey! For a cat person, you’re acting like a CEO!
573: Anonymous Combatant
What!? Sacrifice him in a blood ritual!
574: Anonymous Combatant
That’s way too intense, man.
575: Hakase
Even I’m just an deputy chief of staff though… (shaking)
So anyway, I spent time like that getting work done.
At one point, Gori Macho invited me “Dude! I got a video of classic pro wrestlers’ deadly 10-match series! Wanna watch together!?” but I asked him to come back another day.
I may have violent combat abilities, but Gori Macho just loves pro wrestling.
576: Anonymous Combatant
A pair of delinquent buddies, huh.
577: Anonymous Combatant
Hey Hakase, you’re smart, so teaching them would raise your favor rating more than cooking, right?
578: Hakase
Hmm, but I’m a researcher who values prototyping, not just being a genius.
I think trial-and-error is important for the young girls like Fiona.
Of course if they ask me to teach them I’ll accept, but I don’t want to butt in from the start.
The main reason is “Studying together is a good opportunity for Cat Ears, so I don’t want to take that away from her.”
579: Anonymous Combatant
What is prototyping?
580: Anonymous Combatant
It’s a method where you make a prototype (trial product) early, identify issues by actually using it, make revisions, and gradually approach the finished product. It seems Hakase’s view is that it’s more important for you to learn how to overcome failures yourself, rather than just being told efficient methods.
Yeah, I agree with that too.
581: Anonymous Combatant
Thanks for the explanation.
582: Anonymous Combatant
Didn’t expect you to be such a serious researcher.
By the way, the the cat-ear Kunoichi setting is a middle schooler, but can she understand this level of study?
583: Hakase
We executives studied a decent amount during the preparation period before the invasion.
Anyway, back to the story. It was getting to be a good time for dinner preparations, when Lost fairies girls came out from the the cat-ear Kunoichi’s room.
Eres, Fiona, and Lurun. For some reason, they were all smiling at me.
Me: “Hey the cat-ear Kunoichi, did you say something weird about me again?”
the cat-ear Kunoichi: “I just talked about how you normally interact with me.”
Interact…? I don’t recall doing anything special, so why are they smiling?
the cat-ear Kunoichi: “Anyway, I’ll help with dinner.”
Me: “Eh, but I was going to do it?”
the cat-ear Kunoichi: “I want us to do it together sometimes, nya.”
When she says it like that, I can’t refuse. Seeing this, Lurun chimed in:
Lurun: “Ah, I know about this! This is what they call being a siscon, right?”
Lurun, where did you learn that kind of word!?
584: Anonymous Combatant
Sometimes innocence can hurt more than malice.
585: Anonymous Combatant
If your 15-year-old sister asks you to read her a picture book, being called a siscon is inevitable.
586: Anonymous Combatant
Yeah, that’s definitely being a siscon huh?
587: Hakase
Well, the the cat-ear Kunoichi is like family to me, so I do cherish her.
Fiona: “You two really are close.” (Smiling)
Me: “If that’s how it seems, I’m glad, but it’s a bit embarrassing…” (Blushing)
And so what was supposed to be my chance to show off turned into the puzzling situation of Fiona and the others watching me and the the cat-ear Kunoichi cooking together with amused looks.
Well, it didn’t feel bad or anything. By the way, dinner was big bro’s homemade ratatouille pasta.
It’s simple but full of veggies and delicious. Perfect for me since I lack vegetables.
588: Anonymous Combatant
big bro is too good a person.
589: Anonymous Combatant
That’s the true consideration of a man who can attract women.
590: Anonymous Combatant
Hakase, you should learn from him.
591: Hakase
Yeah, as expected of bro. I want to be able to use these subtle techniques too.
The girls were overjoyed that I could actually make it pretty easily.
Eres in particular looked like she was really enjoying it.
It feels good when this happens. Even though my goal of making a good impression mostly failed,
it was a good day off overall.
…And that’s when the embarrassing, happy last event happened!
592: Anonymous Combatant
Ooh, the thing you mentioned earlier!
593: Anonymous Combatant
Finally Fiona’s chance has come.
594: Hakase
After finishing the dishes, I was evening breezing on the balcony.
I figured it was about time for me to leave, so the girls could chat noisily by themselves.
In one hand was a beer. Wouldn’t want to look too unsightly, but I’ve been keeping it to three a day max recently. I have designated non-drinking days too.
595: Anonymous Combatant
A health-conscious evil scientist, huh?
596: Anonymous Combatant
That’s still drinking a fair bit though.
597: Hakase
As I was drinking my beer with the scenery as my appetizer, Fiona came out to the balcony alone.
Me: “Hmm…what’s up, Fiona?”
Fiona: “I came to say my farewells, since you took care of us today.”
Me: “No, I had fun too.”
Not just lip service. The the cat-ear Kunoichi seemed to enjoy interacting with her peers as well.
Fiona: “I had fun too. And I got to see your usual self, Hakase.”
Me: “Uh oh…”
I felt like I just showed my embarrassing side all day, but Fiona giggles.
Wait, did I actually make a good impression?
Fiona: “…Can I come play again sometime?”
??: “Nya.” (Peeking out from behind a wall)
Me: “Ah, of course. You’re all welcome anytime.”
After promising they could come play again, Fiona and the others left looking satisfied…
Ha! See, we’ve gotten pretty friendly now, right!?
598: Anonymous Combatant
No, I don’t think you’ve gone beyond being the kind older brother figure to the the cat-ear Kunoichi.
Saying “come play” implies it’s centered around her as the little sister.
599: Anonymous Combatant
Plus there’s that mysterious peeking nya over there.
600: Anonymous Combatant
Doesn’t seem like the best atmosphere for that…
601: Hakase
You guys…I’ll be sure to invite you all to my wedding.
At that time, I’ll give you the honor of spraying celebratory champagne on me, the acting president, and Fiona.
602: Anonymous Combatant
This guy wants to have a double life as a Delnkeim executive and an ordinary Japanese citizen…!
603: Anonymous Combatant
And he’s super ambitious too. How can he be so confident?
604: Anonymous Combatant
Well ability-wise, it’s not impossible for him.
605: Hakase
Anyway, that’s what happened yesterday. The issue is what came after.
After Fiona and the others left, I ended up staying another night in Japan with the the cat-ear Kunoichi.
The Leader found out about this, and as punishment I had to join an anime viewing session in the Leader’s personal room.
It was a robot anime, but the focus was more on special abilities and strategy. It was pretty interesting. But the Leader really got into it, gushing especially about how cool the main character was.
As a result, there are now plans to restyle my uniform into that edgy black cloak + half-mask look like the main character. What do you think I should do?
606: Anonymous Combatant
How should I know?
607: Anonymous Combatant
Typical Hakase, can never make up his mind.
608: Hakase
So if I show up to the next mission wearing a mysterious mask or with a dramatic tall collar, just don’t mention it, alright?
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
The day was drawing to a close and it was about time to head home.
Sayuki went looking for Haruhiko to say goodbye before leaving. She found him evening-breezing on the balcony, a beer can in one hand.
As she approached to call out to him, Haruhiko turned around. The gaze he fixed on Sayuki seemed gentler than usual.
“Hmm…what’s up, Sayuki?”
“I came to say my farewells, since you took care of us today.”
“No, I had fun too. Miina seemed happy to interact with friends around her age.”
The siscon evaluation didn’t seem entirely off the mark. Sayuki let out a slight giggle.
“I had fun too. And I got to see your usual self, Haruhiko san.”
“Uh oh…”
Not the confident adult demeanor, nor the overly polite hosting persona. Just the casual, family-only side of him.
Putting in an effort to welcome his little sister’s friends, cooking together with Miina. Glimpsing these mundane scenes made him feel somehow closer.
…She had also learned about how he took in the abused Miina and showered her with affection without reserve.
Gazing at that profile which betrayed nothing of that past, Sayuki’s heart thumped for reasons she couldn’t quite identify. Her impression of Haruhiko had somehow become more than just a likable older man.
“…Can I come play again sometime?”
“Ah, of course. You’re all welcome anytime.”
A flush crept across her face at his warm smile in return.
Not wanting him to notice, Sayuki swiftly excused herself from the balcony.
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