"Why… why has it turned out like this?"
Asta stared blankly at Bai Ming, who was currently preparing to kick the door down, and began seriously questioning her life choices.
---
A few minutes earlier—
"Sis, you're really going to get that thing back?"
Wen Shiling's large, sparkling eyes were filled with anticipation as she looked up at Bai Ming.
"Yep!"
Bai Ming started stretching her legs like an athlete about to run a race.
"I'll go get that thing for you right now! Then you won't cry anymore, right?"
"Thank you, Sis!"
Asta, watching the two from the side, couldn't help thinking—She's actually quite nice when she wants to be.
But then Bai Ming turned around.
"Hey, Director! Where's the Analysis Room? Do you have a map?"
"Uh…"
Nice, Asta thought dryly, but still an airhead.
Agreeing to help without even knowing the way—typical Bai Ming.
Asta sighed and said, "Fine, I'll take you there myself."
"That's great!" Bai Ming clapped her hands. "As expected of the reliable Director!"
---
And then—
They got locked inside the Analysis Room.
To be fair, Asta had to admit it was partly her fault. She hadn't noticed the door was faulty before this.
Truly unforgivable.
"Station Head!" Bai Ming called from behind her.
"What is it?" Asta replied.
"Can I break the door down?"
"Oh, breaking the door down? Of course you can—"
Halfway through her sentence, Asta froze.
"W-wait, break the door down?!"
"Yep!" Bai Ming rolled her shoulders and stretched. "Two kicks should do it. Actually, no—one kick."
She patted her [Battlesuit: White Comet]. "This baby's got power. The walls can take it, so a door shouldn't be a problem."
"I see…" Asta looked at the door thoughtfully.
"Well, go ahead. Just be ready to reimburse me for part of the cost afterward."
"R-reimburse? How much are we talking about…?"
"Hmm, not much." Asta said with a calm smile. "About two or three hundred thousand Credits."
"T-t-two or three hundred thousand?!"
"Mm. Not including labor fees for repairs."
Bai Ming's confident stance crumbled instantly.
"Haha… maybe I won't kick it, then."
"Then just wait here with me." Asta moved to the side and gestured for Bai Ming to sit down. "I already contacted Himeko. She'll be here soon."
"…Alright."
Bai Ming sat beside her, holding her baseball bat like a bored child. Asta wanted to comfort her somehow, but before she could think of anything—
Bai Ming suddenly perked up again and leaned in close.
"Hey! Earlier you said something about inheriting the family business. What did you mean by that?"
"Uh…"
Seeing Bai Ming leaning so close made Asta instinctively scoot away. For some reason, she suddenly thought of March 7th.
If March walked in right now, she could already hear the teasing— "Asta~ what are you two doing in here alone?"
No thank you.
"It means exactly what it sounds like," Asta said carefully, keeping a safe distance. "If I don't manage the Space Station well, I'll have to go back and inherit my family's business."
"But…" Bai Ming blinked. "Didn't March 7th and the others say this Space Station belongs to someone named Herta?"
"It's Madam Herta," Asta corrected sharply.
Bai Ming flinched slightly. "Ah! Sorry, that was rude of me. Madam Herta."
"Good." Asta nodded approvingly.
"This is the Herta Space Station. As the name implies, its ownership belongs to Madam Herta herself. Originally, it was just a research storage facility, but Madam Herta allowed her followers to help manage it. Over time, it became a full-fledged research base."
"I even heard there's a private chamber belonging to Madam Herta somewhere in the station," Asta continued. "They say it contains her most valuable and dangerous collections—something about a 'core.' I've always wanted to see it someday."
"Oh…" Bai Ming nodded thoughtfully. "I'd like to see that too…"
Then she tilted her head. "But this still doesn't explain the 'family business' part. Does working for Madam Herta come with a special reward or something?"
Asta chuckled. "Not exactly. Madam Herta helps me keep certain old folks from dragging me back to inherit the family business. In exchange, I run the Space Station for her and make sure everything stays in order."
"Oh… so you're also mopping the decks."
"…What?" Asta blinked.
"N-nothing! Forget I said that!" Bai Ming waved her hands frantically. "Anyway, is that why you stay here?"
Asta smiled softly. "Also you can just call me Asta. 'Director and Station Director' sounds too formal."
"As for why I stay here—there's more to it." She gazed up at the ceiling. "Because this place… was built by me."
"Huh?" Bai Ming blinked. "You mean this Analysis Room?"
Asta shook her head. "Not just this room. The entire Herta Space Station."
Bai Ming froze. "Wait… you funded the whole thing?"
Asta tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… yes, I suppose I did. Though I don't remember the exact amount. Maybe half a month's allowance? Or a week's?"
"Half a—WHAT?!" Bai Ming's jaw dropped.
Then, suddenly, she grabbed Asta's hands, her golden eyes burning with sincerity.
"Sis, do you need a leg accessory? I can be that!"
"…A leg accessory?" Asta raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the garter on her thigh. "You mean, for seven hundred thousand Credits, I could buy you as a garter?"
"Add a bit more! I'm very useful!" Bai Ming said proudly, puffing her chest out.
Asta chuckled. "I'll think about it."
"Oh, right, Bai Ming."
"What is it, my rich lady?"
"About what you mentioned earlier," Asta said, smiling faintly. "You wanted me to practice saying a few phrases, right?"
"Yeah! Want to give it a try now?" Bai Ming leaned forward eagerly.
Asta nodded. "Sure. Let's see how much I've learned."
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober