MV – Chapter 174: Interlude – A Day in Mira’s Life

Mira is a support character from the Space Library. With thinking speeds that surpass the speed of light, she can read all phenomena, predict billions of possible futures, and take appropriate actions with the precision of a machine.

That said, she’s not a robot devoid of emotions. Mira possesses emotions similar to those of humans, offering thoughtful consideration and kind support that can empathize with others.

However, she is also strict and uncompromising. When it comes to work, she is reliable and thorough. To maintain her trustworthiness as a hunter, Mira is stringent with herself and others in her daily tasks.

━That’s right. If this introduction seems oddly repetitive, blame the pudding. Pudding being delicious is at fault here.

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The soft sensation of the bedding still beckoning her to sleep, Mira slowly emerged from her dreams and opened her eyes to gaze at the ceiling.

“Is it morning already? It feels a bit too quiet for that.” (Mira)

In her private quarters within the colony, Mira sat up in her plush bed and immediately assessed the colony’s situation. A routine developed over her long life. Living in a world of constant readiness, like a battlefield combined with an all-you-can-eat BBQ platter, extra of rice, and kimchi soup, Mira always made it a habit to check on the colony upon waking.

The colony map displayed zero active lifeforms.

Recently, there have been more people -or rather, rabbits- awake in the mornings, which has been a pleasant change. But now, the quiet felt reminiscent of the earlier, lonelier days, making her feel a tinge of sadness.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and yawned while glancing around the sparsely furnished room. It was as barren as ever.

The room contained only the lone bed. Mira didn’t even have that until recently, sleeping instead in a capsule in sleep mode. The Space Library would wake her only as necessary.

Now, because of her first and most likely last major operation that required her to be awake constantly, the bed has been installed. She would have liked a refrigerator or a cabinet to store snacks, but as an Artificial Spirit staff member, such luxuries were deemed unnecessary. 

Mira and others like her were not allowed to possess anything they desired, as they were tools maintained only for their functionality. A bed, let alone a single piece of candy, was considered a luxury. She at most could misconstrue the words of Pla-san to get a few facilities she wanted. 

The time was 6:30 a.m. Deciding it was a good hour to start the day, she changed out of her pajamas and teleported within the colony. Typically, the terminal would be bustling with rabbits dusting off surfaces, arranging merchandise, and preparing for incoming tourists.

However, the terminal was eerily quiet, devoid of any rabbits. That said, Mira knew that it wasn’t due to an enemy attack.

Checking the security cameras she had set up in the Lanpeach Complex, she saw familiar rabbits gathered in the cafeteria. They were lined up amicably at the counter, receiving trays of breakfast from the cafeteria lady.

“What’s for breakfast today-usa?”

“Boiled spinach, grilled salmon, tamagoyaki, and roasted seaweed. How much rice do you want?”

“Yay, the perfect breakfast combo! Manga-style serving for me-usa!”

“You little guys eat so much for your size. Coming right up, a manga-style heap.”

The cafeteria lady chuckled as she piled a mound of steaming white rice onto a tray. This was pure, unadulterated, freshly cooked rice -no trace of synthetic food.

Pla-san sold natural ingredients like rice at ultra-affordable prices within the Lanpeach Complex. These were delicacies so expensive that only the wealthiest humans in the Surface District could afford them.

Recently, outsiders have begun entering the complex, prompting the issuance of ID cards to verify residency in the city. It wasn’t surprising that people would flock to a place offering natural food for half a coin after all.

“So this is real rice? It’s sweet and has such a unique aroma.”

“True. And this is salmon? What’s its alcohol content, I wonder?”

“Hey, hey, Dad, does this fish swim around? Like, floating?”

“Yeah… The real fishes don’t have eyes or anything, huh. Fish are more peculiar than monsters.”

The family’s curious remarks as they inspected the salmon fillets suggested they were unfamiliar with actual fish. It was clear they were first-time diners at the cafeteria, likely borrowing an ID card from a resident.

The cafeteria lady and the residents, many of whom were once slum dwellers saved by Pla-san, turned a blind eye to such card sharing. If the people were exploiting the system for profit, they would all get sniffed out by the rabbits.

Breakfast service alone ensured the cafeteria remained packed. This lively atmosphere continued through lunch and dinner, making the cafeteria a bustling hub throughout the day.

Pla-san often looked at the bustling cafeteria with a mix of pride and satisfaction. But for Mira, something else was more important.

While the rabbits enjoyed breakfast in the cafeteria, the “Breakfast Meister” Mira had a different plan.

“Fufufu, a true Breakfast Meister has their meal elsewhere.” (Mira)

She teleported from her plain room to a bustling living room. The cozy room, with a simple rug and a modest table, exuded a homely charm. Inside, young girls, a self-proclaimed girlfriend, and a beastfolk were chatting away. Udo was sprawled out on the floor, so I use it as a convenient substitute for a seat cushion. Although a muffled groan could be heard, Mira dismissed it as a figment of her imagination since Udo can’t scream.

“Ah, good morning, Mira-san!”

“Good morning, Chihiro-san. What lovely weather today. Perfect for breakfast, wouldn’t you agree?”

The self-proclaimed girlfriend, unperturbed by Mira’s sudden appearance, greeted her casually, so she went for a talk about the weather first. Mira’s knack for engaging in small talk ensured she could transition from pleasantries to max affection.

“Y-Yes, I suppose so…?” (Chihiro)

The airheaded girl who reads the room well and gives half-hearted responses to my words appears cunning but is actually quite pure. She lacks the final touch needed for effective negotiation, so although Mira knows the merchants struggle because of her, she doesn’t really mind. Mira just greeted her and left it at that.

“Breakfast is spot on today as well. Just finished serving the rice.” (Dry)

“Of course it is. I can derive the perfect solution from a vast array of information. Ah, and make mine a large serving.” (Mira)

Mira sat beside Dry, the beastkin, who was serving rice from the rice container with a soft patting sound. Rather than sitting directly beside the container, she left a space for one person between them. That’s the proper and righteous choice. This position is optimal. It allows her to avoid serving others seconds while conveniently having hers served without issue! She could practically present this as the Law of Seconds at an academic conference.

“Today’s breakfast ish… bacon and eggs~, wieners~, and tofu misho shoup~. Jusht a little burnt~. The shalad has tomatoes…not a fan~.” (Koume)

“It’s super crispy-na no deshu~! I’m going to eat lots of Father’s breakfast-deshu deshu~. Get seconds too-deshu~!” (Mei)

The two little girls, brimming with energy, raised their hands and swayed their bodies in a lively dance. Glancing over excitedly at Pla-san in the kitchen, they looked ready to prance at his feet like eager puppies if he took any longer.

“Here we go! Breakfast is ready!”

“Ta-da! Today’s breakfast is space style!”

The ones entering leisurely from the kitchen were Pla-san, who carried a frying pan, accompanied by the “alien”. The pan was packed to the brim with bacon and eggs, sizzling away with an appetizing crackle.

“What part of this is space style?” (Chihiro)

The self-proclaimed girlfriend asked the alien curiously while watching the bacon and eggs being served onto plates.

“Huh? Old Man told me this is how bacon and eggs are cooked on a spaceship.” (Touka)

“If I didn’t call it space-themed, Touka wouldn’t have helped me. And it’s not entirely wrong. Though honestly, I can’t imagine cooking this in some shabby spaceship…” (Lanpeach)

“I’m not sure I entirely understand, but I see why you called it space style.” (Chihiro)

After watching them banter, Mira turned her attention to the bacon and eggs on her plate. The food was still piping hot, the oil popping and sizzling enticingly. It had a slightly charred, rough-and-tumble look. An honest-to-goodness “hearty meal” that was somehow more appealing than a carefully curated ryokan breakfast.

Pla-san’s bacon and eggs consisted of four slices of bacon layered with a fried egg on top. Mira’s mouth watered as she prepared to eat. She started by separating the bacon from the fried egg. Since they were perfectly stuck together, a bit of charred egg white came off with the bacon, but she didn’t mind and took a bite.

The sweet flavor of the cooked fat spread through her mouth. The bacon was crisp but also offered the rich smokiness of cured meat, which made her smile involuntarily. Then, she took a mouthful of freshly steamed rice. Alternating between a crunchy piece of bacon and the smooth white rice, she felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction as it slid down her throat.

“One bite, and you’re already asking for seconds?” (Lanpeach)

“It can’t be helped. The crispy bacon pairs so perfectly with the rice that they’re an unstoppable duo.” (Mira)

Mira dipped the bacon lightly into the runny yolk of the fried egg for a change in flavor. The richness of the yolk deepened the bacon’s taste, and she emptied her bowl in no time.

“Koume wants sheconds too! Koume won’t loshe to Mira-neechan!” (Koume)

Sniffing proudly, Koume raised her still mostly full bowl, prompting Pla-san to pat her gently on the head.

“Koume, you shouldn’t mimic this one. Thinking of strange flavor combinations like dipping bacon in yolk to get a change in flavor is like something out of a ramen shop. There’s a saying, ‘Hara hachibu’, which means you should stop eating when you’re 80% full. That’s the ideal stopping point.” (Lanpeach)

(Could it be that Pla-san has started reading my mind? He made a reasonable point, while giving a piece of bacon to Mimi, perched on his head, but that’s the words of a child. I am not the same.) (Mira)

“I am a challenger. A proud seeker always aiming for the highest peaks. Seconds, please.” (Mira)

(For some reason, they banned me from the dining hall when I did this, but my quest continues!) (Mira)

Hmm, this might seem like an excerpt from “Mira’s Morning Adventures” in a light novel or something.

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