They finally managed to send off Elysia and Prometheus Unit 1, and although it was done by resorting to a trick, the two of them were speechless about the fact.
However, after this incident, Lin intuition told him that the events likely to follow would only become stranger, so he decided to end today's marriage seeking...
"Tap."
A red-haired woman reeking of alcohol crashed into Lin, who was about to leave.
"..."
Before Lin could say anything, the red-haired woman, her eyes blurred, opened her mouth...
"Blegh—"
Lin silently watched Himeko vomit all over him. She was swaying and completely incoherent. After a long moment, he sighed.
...
"Hehehe, I heard this place is a matchmaker's office..."
Himeko held up an empty liquor can. Lin had to strain to hear what she was saying.
Lin had already changed his clothes. Elysia, Prometheus Unit 1, and Unit 3 had temporarily left, and Vil-V seemed to have new work to attend to, though before leaving, she left behind a camera, apparently wanting to record Lin entire marriage-seeking process.
"...No, it's just me seeking marriage," Lin explained with a shrug.
"Oh..." Himeko brain processed this for a few seconds. "Isn't that the same thing?"
"Himeko, if you want to seek marriage, you can post a thread on the intranet. You don't need to come here."
"Huh? Who said I want to get married?"
"..."
"Even though I'm among the oldest batch of soldiers in the Fire Moth, even though I haven't dated since birth, and even though new recruits are starting to call me Auntie, I don't care at all! I just came to watch the fun of these matchmakers working so hard only to end up with the same result as me!"
"..."
With that, Himeko started cackling, and Lin was already shocked by the overwhelming... resentment in her words.
To be honest, Himeko was not bad looking. She had the charm of a mature woman, at least more mature than Mobius, and her figure was comparable to a top model. She could be considered a beauty who would turn heads on the street.
But perhaps every story needs a character like the brawny big sister, whose "brawn" is emphasized to the point of a complete deficit in other areas.
Himeko belonged to the type who looked aloof to strangers, but those familiar with her knew she was a boisterous drunkard who could accidentally suffocate people with her chest when passed out.
It turned out she cared about this aspect even more than she let on.
Lin actually wanted to talk to Himeko, and if possible, help her relieve her worries in this area. After all, they used to work together in the same squad, and her morale had plummeted after suffering continuous setbacks. It would be great if she could find some relief through this.
However, given Himeko current state, where she was practically sticking her head into the alcohol jar, he estimated that even if he spoke, she would likely forget everything once she sobered up.
"What's with that look, Little Lin?"
Lin suspiciously touched the visual display on his face, confirming he was wearing his helmet. How did Himeko see his expression?
"Are you thinking about why I'm not drinking alone in my room, cultivating sentiment, but instead in this bustling, noisy world... blegh..."
This wasn't a "bustling, noisy world" anymore; you were just spewing vomit.
"Drinking alone is so boring. Even if you get drunk, no one cares about you. You're just by yourself in the room, shivering in the cold wind... Gulp..." Himeko let out a burp. Her blurry eyes looked across the table at the motionless Lin. "Lin, what about you? Are you also feeling too lonely, so you want to... Gulp... get married..."
The azure visual display was like a one-way mirror, preventing others from seeing inside, yet the person inside could clearly see everything outside.
"No."
"Oh... then it's just purely wanting to do lewd things?"
Lin thought deeply for a few seconds. He recalled that his current purpose for marriage was to have descendants. In a sense, Himeko wasn't wrong?
So he nodded: "I suppose so."
"Oh~ Lin, Lin, I didn't expect that stubborn rock at the bottom of the sea to finally be moved one day." Himeko showed an even stranger smile when she heard this. She leaned across the table and vigorously patted Lin shoulder. "Well, then let me teach you?"
"No need."
"...Why are even you refusing so decisively?"
"I have requirements for seeking marriage."
"What requirements? Do I not meet them?"
"Yes, you stepped through the door with your right foot first, so you don't meet the requirements."
"..."
Even though Lin expression was hidden by his helmet, Himeko felt certain that he was wearing an innocent look right now.
Perhaps feeling that Himeko might misunderstand, Lin thought for a moment and explained: "Captain, you are very much in line with popular aesthetics, but I respect you, so I feel it wouldn't work."
"Then do you respect Mobius?"
"Yes, I do."
"Can she be the one?"
"She probably can."
"..."
"..."
Himeko stared at Lin blankly, unable to say a word. The vividness of her expression made one wonder if she had sobered up instantly, otherwise how could she wear such profound "numbness."
"You little Lin, take off that helmet right now." After a long moment, she stood up straight with a determined look and commanded him coldly.
"..."
Just as Lin was about to think of another excuse to escape, Himeko strong hands "Pah!" simultaneously pressed against the sides of his helmet, gripping his head like unshakeable iron clamps.
The mild ringing in his ears made Lin silent.
Lin tried to back away to break free from Himeko restraint, but Himeko took a large step forward, and by pushing her elbow into his chest, she forced Lin to steady his center of gravity to avoid being knocked down. Himeko then logically removed the helmet from Lin head.
Lin eyes narrowed. His right fist swiftly struck the joint of Himeko arm holding the helmet with appropriate force, and he reached out, ready to retrieve the helmet.
However, the pained Himeko not only didn't let go but sneered, sidestepped Lin lunge, and slapped him on the back.
This heavy, forceful palm strike directly caused Lin to pitch forward, heading straight for the Spiral Contraption's door, and he was undoubtedly going to fall.
Lin hadn't anticipated Himeko sudden attack, but it was just a fall. He could calculate the subsequent attack route and snatch back the helmet before he hit the ground. This time, he...
Lin, who was focused entirely on the helmet, suddenly realized there was a person in the direction he was falling. It wasn't difficult for him, with his excellent information gathering and processing abilities, to sense that someone had entered, but sensing it and stopping his uncontrolled body were two different things.
"Lin, are you here..."
Sakura was looking around the entrance of the Spiral Contraption, secretly marveling at Vil-V exquisite craftsmanship, when she happened to shift her gaze elsewhere. After hearing the sound of rushing wind, she subconsciously turned her head...
Just in time for her eyes to meet a pair of pitch-black ones.
The soft sensation on her lips appeared and vanished in a flash of lightning.