LightReader

Chapter 180 - - Peony + Moutan Peony + Lily + Incarnation of Venus = ?

Akeboshi Himari. The self-proclaimed Super Genius Frail Pretty Girl Hacker and one of only three students in Millennium's history to earn the 'Omniscience' degree.

In reality, she was a patient suffering from a severe case of princess syndrome narcissism.

Ako, who had initially tried to participate in the conversation, eventually ran out of patience. Citing the need to strengthen the Prefect Team's forces, she started asking Noa about drones, and the two of them slipped away.

Which meant I was the only one left to entertain Himari's princess act.

Since I was the one who needed something from her, I suppose I should have been grateful.

"So, Mika-chan, you require assistance in the field of cracking, is that it? If you were looking for a cracker capable of breaching the security of a massive conglomerate like the Kaiser Corporation, whose main branch is in the arms industry, then you have come to the right place. Yes, as Millennium's prettiest hacker, I do not confine myself to any one field… but even I have what you might call a specialty. Of course, I pride myself on being the best even outside of my specialty".

is the core of this operation. Yes, and the piece of the puzzle that can make that happen… is only you, Veritas".

However, I was also hoping that Veritas's skills would allow them to provide additional support by hacking some of Kaiser's external security.

Then again, I didn't know much about hacking, so maybe I was expecting too much.

"Well, as for whether I'm confident—".

"There is no need to even ask. For a super-pretty-girl hacker such as myself, nothing is impossible. Even if the opponent is a corporation on the level of Kaiser… if you provide direct access to their network, hacking it will be easier than eating cake for Veritas".

"Ah, right. I was about to say there's no need to even ask if you're confident or not. Sorry…".

"…Oh? I-is that so. It seems I got a little ahead of myself….

Would you be so kind as to overlook it as the cute charm of a frail pretty girl?".

How was I supposed to say no to that? Honestly, this is why girls who know they're pretty are a problem.

They really do use their faces as a weapon to get whatever they want.

"I'm sure Chi-chan will understand this matter. Yes, an unprecedented situation where a private corporation has directly targeted the life of a student.

Exposing the secrets of such a company is something to be proud of. Fufu…".

"Somehow, even as you say that, I get the feeling you just think it sounds fun. Am I imagining things?".

"Such words are rude, Mika-chan. Of course, I won't say there's none of that.

Even a pure pretty girl who looks like she would only drink water from a deep mountain spring sometimes wants to seek out this kind of fun, right?

As a pretty girl who can stand on my level, I'm sure you can understand, Mika-chan".

"…Well, I suppose I can understand… but are you sure it's only sometimes?".

"Did you know that the greatest virtue of a pitiful pretty girl is to never speak a lie?".

Hey, that's just dodging the question, isn't it?.

…Of course, I knew. How could I not?.

"Oh, and I should tell you this in advance, but collaborating with me will not be looked upon favorably by Big Sister.

Unlike me, whose heart is as beautiful and round as my appearance, her heart is like a jagged stone".

"…Wait, did I tell you I had a connection with Rio-chan?".

"Fufu, Mika-chan, you need to remember who you're talking to".

"…A pitiful single flower blooming on a sheer cliff, who is told she is a peony when she stands, a moutan peony when she sits, and a lily with but a gesture, the very incarnation of Venus that makes even the proud Venus shining at dawn jealous, and the North Star itself would pale in comparison to…

the greatest Super Genius Frail Pretty Girl Hacker in Kivotos, Miss Akeboshi Himari?".

"Th-that… is that right…? Yes, well that statement… as much as… yes, I don't think I've ever heard a better description of myself…".

Whoa, it actually worked. I was a little surprised. Even Himari, who had been professing her own greatness nonstop, felt burdened when someone else praised her to that extent?.

How strange.

"Rio-chan and Seminar may have controlled the truth about what happened at Millennium before.

but there's no way Veritas wouldn't find that out. Well, you wanted to say something like that, right?".

"…You knew all along and you were just teasing me. You're so mischievous, Mika-chan. I know that's a privilege reserved for pretty girls, but being on the receiving end for the first time is a little frustrating".

"Ahaha, that wasn't it. At first, I was genuinely confused. It was a question with an obvious answer if I just thought about it, but I'm not that quick on the uptake. Yes, I'm closer to a fool, if anything".

"A beautiful angel who wields humility as a weapon, what a powerful attribute….

but I think a more confident demeanor would suit someone like you, Mika-chan. Yes, being cute and pretty is justice, is it not?".

"Senior Himari, would you please refrain from instilling any more confidence in Mika-ssi?

This is someone who already has two lovers, one person who is practically a lover, and countless others who are dying to be her lover. If she were to gain any more confidence, I believe it would spell a crisis for all of Kivotos".

"…Two lovers? Huh? W-wait a minute. Come to think of it, I'm sure… Eek! M-Mika-chan. No, Miss Philanderer. I'm sorry, but would you mind maintaining a distance of five meters from me from now on? I won't blame you for your desire to possess a cute and lovely frail pretty girl like myself.

However, the tragedy of a promising genius like me getting ensnared by a playboy and having her life ruined must not be allowed to happen.

That would be a loss not only for Millennium, but for all of Kivotos".

"…"

Thanks to Noa, who had finished her conversation and casually dropped a few words, I was now being branded a philanderer and a playboy.

and even being told to keep my distance by Himari.

This was… a little miserable….

"Of course, I'm only joking. Fufu. Returning to our previous conversation, Miss Philanderer… no, that's not it. Mika-chan, I'm not sure how much you know about Big Sister, but she and I are, so to speak, like opposite poles of a magnet".

"To be precise, it's more that Senior Rio one-sidedly views Senior Himari as a thorn in her side".

"Noa, if you put it that way, doesn't it make Rio sound like a very difficult person? Though it is true.

In any case, simply for associating with me, Rio will not look upon you kindly, Mika-chan.

I can guarantee that this meeting alone will hinder whatever you two are currently discussing".

So, in extremely simplified terms, their relationship was similar to that of Makoto and Hina.

The only difference was that Rio was competent enough that comparing her to Makoto was an insult.

and while she disliked Himari, she was flexible enough to use her when necessary.

Furthermore, unlike Makoto, who hated Hina for no reason, these two were rivals whose conflict stemmed from a firm difference in ideology.

"And it will be difficult to keep our collaboration a secret. While she is no match for me, Rio is quite capable in her own right, so she will likely have already confirmed that this meeting took place.

As for monitoring, well, as long as the super-frail-pretty-girl hacker is here, that will be impossible for Rio. Fufu".

"Ahaha, thank you for the concern, but I can handle things with Rio-chan myself.

so you don't have to worry so much☆".

As long as I could provide a rational reason, persuading Rio wasn't that difficult.

And what could be more rational than the work I was currently undertaking?.

"Fufu. If you're that confident, then it would be rude of me to worry… In that case, shall we hear how much you've budgeted for this?".

"…Huh?".

"Oh my… was that really so surprising? Just last month, Rio's pockets suddenly became quite full, and recently, the Engineering Department's pockets have become quite full as well…

I was secretly hoping that this time, Veritas would be able to benefit from a collaboration with you, Mika-chan".

Come to think of it, they funded their club themselves. I wasn't such a gangster that I'd try to use such high-level talent for free.

I was just a little flustered by the sudden talk of payment.

"The, uh, the payment. I was thinking something around this much….

What do you think, will that be enough?".

Suddenly, Himari operated her wheelchair, came right up to me, and reached out.

She took my hand and, with a strangely materialistic smile, said.

"You will never regret hiring Veritas.

the best hacker club in Kivotos, led by its genius, frail, pretty-girl president. Fufu".

"Ah, uh-huh…".

Yes, money makes people move.

And Trinity, goddammit, has a lot of money.

Long live capitalism.

More Chapters