Only when Asta reminded her did Bai Ming remember that the purpose of this trip was to alleviate the symptoms of her "kokomi addiction" that had flared up.
But in reality—
Walking along and chatting with Asta had covered quite a few topics.
So when Asta said that, Bai Ming quickly waved her hands.
"No need~"
"I'm pretty much all better now."
However, faced with Bai Ming's refusal, Asta became even more determined than before.
She looked at Bai Ming and shook her head.
"No, you must."
"This is a promise I made. What I say, I must do."
"Otherwise, as the station master of this space station, I would be disgracing this position!"
"Ah, well…"
Seeing the look in Asta's eyes, Bai Ming knew she wasn't joking.
Though she seemed a bit petite, she could be unexpectedly stubborn about certain things.
"Alright then!"
"I'll leave it to you, Asta!"
"Mmm, it's an honor." Asta smiled slightly.
"So, what should I say?"
"Well—"
Even though she hadn't wanted to do this initially, now that they were starting, Bai Ming's playful side suddenly emerged.
She pressed her chin thoughtfully, seriously considering what she should have Asta say.
After a long while, she cautiously suggested:
"Then try reciting this passage!"
"All creatures in the sea have their own ways of survival. When faced with a powerful individual, schools of fish scatter and evade; those with slightly worse luck get eaten."
"So, the weaker fish unite, becoming a surging school to protect each other's safety. This is… the so-called resistance of the weak!"
"Is that all?" Asta asked.
"Let's try it first!"
Bai Ming tidied her hair, then tapped the baseball bat in her hand with a tap.
That made her look just like a director.
"Actress Asta, please take your position! Repeat, actress Asta, please take your position!"
"Next, you will perform 'Moon Touched by a Thousand Waves'!"
"Moon Touched by a Thousand Waves?"
"It's that passage I just mentioned~"
"Oh, I see!"
Ahem. Asta cleared her throat and began to read the passage Bai Ming had given her, following her instructions.
As Bai Ming listened to the voice so similar to the one in her memory, her expression gradually grew excited.
"It's almost exactly the same!"
"It's just… seems like there's a tiny little difference."
"A tiny little difference?" Asta looked at Bai Ming, puzzled.
"Mhm!"
Bai Ming rested her chin on her hand, thoughtfully studying Asta. When her gaze reached Asta's chest, her eyes lit up.
"I've got it!"
"The truth is always one!"
"Uh…"
Asta looked at Bai Ming, bewildered.
She felt there was a thick barrier between them.
Bai Ming on the inside could perceive things that she herself couldn't.
Perhaps, as Arlan had said She was a very unique presence, capable of subtly making those around her act strangely too.
But how should she put it?
This kind of brash, unreserved personality wasn't all that unpleasant.
After all, she really could talk!
Chattering nonstop, she was practically like a human telegraph machine.
Thinking of this, Asta couldn't help but smile, and then she recalled something.
"By the way, you just said that 700,000 isn't enough to buy you to go back as a leg accessory, right?"
"Then how much do you think would be appropriate?"
"Well…"
Bai Ming scratched her head.
"If you're asking like that."
She slowly raised her hands, holding up four fingers on each side.
"This much, I think that would be about right?"
Of course, it's just another 100,000 on top!
Really!
How could I only be worth 700,000?
"I see." Asta took out her phone, as if searching for something.
"Could you let me try it out for a bit first?"
"T-try out?"
Bai Ming was a bit confused.
"You can't seriously expect me to hang from your leg, right?"
"Then…" Asta thought for a moment. "Just do your best to demonstrate your worth! Although it's not a major expense, I still need to see what it's about first."
800,000 isn't a major expense?
So she really is a wealthy lady...
"I'll massage your shoulders!" Bai Ming declared very seriously and started acting on it.
"How is it, how is it? Isn't it really comfortable?"
"Mmm—"
Asta frowned slightly, looking neither particularly pleased nor dissatisfied.
"Not bad. In astronomical terms, it's a galaxy worth observing."
"However, is there anything else?"
"A-anything else?"
Hearing this, Bai Ming began wracking her brains.
This is a wealthy lady!
If I can latch onto her—
An infinitely wonderful future is beckoning to me!
I could even help take care of March 7th!
"Then, how about this?!"
"What? Hey—!"
Before Asta could even respond, she soon found herself lifted off the ground.
And the one responsible was none other than Bai Ming!
"Look, I can even do a princess carry!"
"Princess carry?!"
Asta turned her head and saw Bai Ming's smiling face.
Asta felt her heart tremble.
She averted her gaze.
"Alright, put me down. Eight million, right? I'll buy it now."
However—
"Huh?!"
Hearing this, Bai Ming instead grew anxious.
She immediately set Asta down.
"No, no, no! Not eight million!"
"Is it eighty million?" Asta hesitated for a moment, then pursed her lips. "Fine, that's not much either."
"That's not it!" Bai Ming waved her hands. "I only want 800,000!"
"800,000?" Asta frowned slightly. "What can you even do with that little money?"
"Isn't that barely enough to buy a wheel for a planet-destroying battleship?"
"Ah?" Bai Ming was stunned. "Planet-destroying battleships use wheels…"
"Gears. Couldn't gears also be called wheels?" Asta replied.
"Oh, I see."
Bai Ming scratched her cheek.
"Anyway, I won't take these eight million."
"Why?"
Asta looked at Bai Ming, puzzled.
"Is it too little?"
"No, no!" Bai Ming waved her hands in refusal. "It's too much!"
"Too much?" Asta didn't understand.
"Wouldn't more be better? Could it be that you'd rather have 800,000 than eight million?"
"Of course, the more money the better. But…"
Bai Ming looked at Eileen.
"I feel like I might still have a chance to pay back 800,000, but even if you worked me to the bone, I could never pay back eight million!"
"You… plan to pay me back?"
Asta felt she had stumbled upon something astonishing.
"Of course!"
Bai Ming looked at Asta with a serious expression.
"I just don't want to be empty-handed while staying with March! It's not that I want your money!"
As soon as the words fell—
A new rewards interface appeared before Bai Ming!
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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