The Man Who Received a Spaceship: It Turned Out to Be a Star!? - chapter 2
Chapter 2: Becoming a Spaceship Captain (Part 1)
Report from the construction ship SII-001:
— Current nanobot settlement rate: 3%
— Almost all settled and activated nanobots are concentrated on islands east of the largest continent.
…
— Inactive nanobots appear to have self-destructed.
— Deactivating activated nanobots in individuals below the threshold settlement rate.
— Four individuals exceed the settlement rate threshold. Three are young and excluded as candidates; their nanobots will be deactivated.
— Proceeding with investigation and contact of the candidate individual.
— Implementing perimeter protection due to single candidate.
— Awakening 12 bioroids from the Special Operations Department.
— Reconfiguring six bioroids for investigation and contact.
— Reconfiguring remaining six bioroids for perimeter protection with special combat specifications.
…
— Reconfiguration of investigation and contact bioroids complete. One designated as communications specialist.
…Complete.
— Reconfiguration of protection bioroids complete.
— Connecting communications specialist bioroid to Agiracana Core… Complete.
— Awakening all 12 target bioroids.
…
The captain, seated in the central command room, found it slightly suspicious that a communications specialist bioroid was connected to the Agiracana Core. However, assuming it was a direct order from Agiracana, he deleted this thought from his memory.
Ten days had passed since I quit my job.
During this time, I received pension-related documents and health insurance papers from the company’s HR department.
Sae Ichijo emailed me several times, but I was no longer part of the company. I replied casually. It seems my department became quite busy after I left.
Sorry, Ichijo. But there’s nothing I can do about it now. She didn’t bring up my promise to make it up to her in her emails, probably out of consideration for my unemployed status. I was impressed by her thoughtfulness, despite her usual insensitivity.
I’m currently living in a studio apartment just under 40 square meters. I bought it second-hand. The remaining loan was paid off with the inheritance I received when my father passed away three years ago. My mother died exactly ten years before my father. I’m an only child, and both my parents were only children. All four grandparents have passed away, and I’m unaware of any other relatives. As far as I know, I’m alone in this world, at least according to the family registry.
Thanks to what my parents left behind, I’m financially comfortable. I can take my time with job hunting. Although, that “taking my time” might stretch into years.
I stayed up late watching recorded TV shows, so I woke up after 8 AM. I took out yesterday’s leftover pizza from the fridge and reheated it in the microwave for breakfast. I added water to the electric kettle, turned it on, and put some instant coffee in a mug while waiting for the water to boil.
Until recently, I wore strong prescription glasses for severe myopia. But about three days ago, thinking my eyes were tired, I took off my glasses and found I could see more clearly without them.
It seems my eyesight improved after quitting my job. Maybe my work was really bad for my eyes. Not only my eyes, but my overall health seems better. I’m eating well, sleeping well, and my digestion is great. I think I’ve even lost a bit of weight around my waist. Hmm? The only thing I can think of that’s changed is quitting my job. I should weigh myself later.
The water boiled, so I poured it into the mug and carried it to the table along with the reheated pizza from yesterday’s delivery.
Ten consecutive days with no plans is quite long. As I was eating my pizza and wondering what to do today, the phone rang. While many young people these days don’t have one, I still have a landline.
“Hello, is this the Yamada residence?”
“Yes, this is Yamada speaking. Who is this?”
“My name is Agiracana. I’m calling because I have an important matter to discuss with you, Mr. Yamada.”
Agiracana? A foreigner perhaps? But their Japanese is perfect. I usually decline strange solicitations, but the unfamiliar name piqued my interest.
“Um, Agiracana-san? What kind of matter?”
“To put it simply, we’d like to headhunt you, Mr. Yamada.”
“Me? Really?”
“Yes, you, Mr. Yamada.”
Headhunt me? Is this some kind of joke? I hadn’t done anything noteworthy in my industry. I hope it’s not some dubious recruitment, but I’m free now, so I might as well listen. I’ll hear them out, even if it’s just out of curiosity.
When I suggested meeting at a nearby café, they said the circumstances were a bit complicated and asked to come directly to my apartment.
Normally, I wouldn’t let a stranger into my home, but for some reason, I agreed easily. Well, I’ve only interacted with shop staff for the past ten days, so maybe it’s a reaction to that.
While washing the dishes, I waited. The doorbell from the building entrance rang exactly five minutes before the time they specified.
The person I saw through the video intercom matched the voice I heard on the phone – a woman in her early twenties. She wore a navy business suit that was almost black, with a pencil skirt. Her short, slightly wavy black hair was neatly combed back and secured with what looked like hair pins. She had a beautiful face with sharp features, the very image of a businesswoman.
“I’ll open the entrance door. Please come up to room 504.”
It should take less than a minute to reach the fifth floor.
Ding dong!
Agiracana-san, now seated across from me at the dining table, stood up and handed me a business card. I also stood to receive it, explaining that I don’t have a business card as I’m currently unemployed.
The card simply read “Ein Agiracana.” No company name, contact information, or anything else – just a name card in the truest sense.
“Um?”
This person looks Japanese, but where are they from?
“Earlier on the phone, I mentioned headhunting, but to be more precise, it’s scouting.”
“Headhunting and scouting? They sound the same to me.”
“Yes, scouting. In other words, we’d like to scout you as the top executive of our organization.”
“Organization? Not a company? And as the top executive?”
I understand the words, but I don’t understand what she’s saying. What’s going on?
“Yes. Our organization is not a legal entity as defined in this country. Also, due to certain circumstances, we currently lack a top executive. Therefore, recognizing your qualities, we’d like you to become the top executive of our organization. I can’t prove it here, but our organization possesses vast assets and isn’t burdened with any bad assets you might be worried about.”
“I… see. So, what’s the name of this organization?”
“For now, we’re calling it Agiracana.”
“Which means?”
“Yes, I’m currently serving as the interim representative of the organization in this country.”
“Is that so?…”
“Mr. Yamada, if you have a bit more time, would you mind accompanying me? I think I can explain in more detail.”
“Being unemployed, I certainly have the time.”
“Then, please allow me to guide you. It’s a short walk, just nearby.”