Elite Employees of Penguin Logistics

"It can wait."

With no salary involved, the boss's request was naturally pushed to the back of the line. Croissant asked about what concerned her most—the scene she had just witnessed.

"Besides, I'd also like to learn how to live a life where people give you money without you having to do anything."

"That was all you saw?"

Hoshino was not at all surprised, nor did she show any disdain for such a money-minded person. She took another sip of cherry blossom tea, considering how to refute Croissant and justify her own behavior of getting paid for doing nothing.

"Escaping fear and seeking reassurance are human instincts. When ordinary people encounter something beyond their expectations, they become anxious about change and seek help from something that can resolve the issue. That something may be a real person, or it may be an intangible god."

Hoshino explained:

"It may look like free money, but I'm actually selling a product. The people give me money and gain reassurance. Everyone profits."

"Reassurance?"

Croissant looked puzzled. Hoshino continued, "It's normal that you don't understand. The theory of reassurance only appeals to those seeking a place to belong—the concept of a warm harbor. It does not apply to adventurers. For some people, the driving force that keeps them alive is satisfying their curiosity. Many who devote their lives to the unknown are like that."

Hoshino paused.

"You are an adventurer, Miss Croissant."

Croissant pondered the shrine maiden's words. It felt as though Hoshino was telling her she had no chance, yet at the same time, she seemed to be praising her.

What a fraud. Such a fraud.

She spoke so tactfully, yet her rejection was perfectly clear. Mixed together, it carried an air of merciless hypocrisy and kept people at a distance—yet somehow, it was impossible to get angry at her. Her attitude was not exactly bad, but Croissant did not like it.

Better talk business.

"The boss heard that every time you swing your sword, sharp cherry blossoms appear. He wants you to come over so he can have a taste of the cherry blossoms."

"?"

If she had not liked the Penguin Logistics operators so much, Hoshino would have wanted to stand up and slash Croissant right then, letting her taste what those so-called falling cherry blossoms were like.

A shrine was not a convenience store.

Falling cherry blossoms were not some drink one could buy anywhere. Drinking them would kill you.

Just as she was about to raise her hand, a "beep—" suddenly sounded beside her ear. Her long ears twitched slightly, and she closed her eyes right in front of Croissant.

[New mission issued]

[Mind the Penguin, Save the Rap]

[Mission Description: Emperor, who has lost his creative inspiration, is merely a puppet sitting upon the throne. Your sword skill can bring forth sharp cherry blossoms, and their piercing pain can bridge the divide between the mortal world and heaven, bringing forth creative inspiration like a gushing spring. So go help him!]

Hoshino's brow twitched as she muttered to herself:

"That's pretty weird."

Bridging the divide between the mortal world and heaven—put bluntly, did that not mean kicking the bucket and going straight to heaven after eating it?

Hoshino did not even have time to check the mission reward. She just wanted to hurry up and complain about it.

Outside, Croissant witnessed an unimaginable sight. The previously calm and gentle shrine maiden suddenly began making all sorts of wild faces. With her eyes closed, her expression changed unpredictably, one spectacle after another.

Was she holding back laughter?

Croissant also found the whole thing rather funny.

For the first time, she casually scratched her head, feeling that the shrine maiden who had seemed so incredibly fraudulent just moments ago had suddenly become much more approachable.

This abrupt change had invisibly narrowed the distance between them.

The mission reward was [Alien: Bow of Hel].

It was exactly what Hoshino currently needed. Since she was not the one eating the cherry blossoms anyway, it would not hurt to make a trip, build a relationship with Penguin Logistics, and meet those legendary characters. Hoshino had once been an Exusiai fan herself; because of Exusiai's short hair and the title "righteous person," she had even mistaken her for a boy for a time.

She imagined Emperor eating the flowers.

Though it's not the same time, it is the same bar. Today, I, Emperor, will take on the challenge...

She did not dare imagine it further.

She gladly accepted Croissant's invitation. Before leaving, she hung a Do Not Disturb sign on the shrine, then counted through the Lungmen Dollars in the offering box and put them away. Her movements were so practiced that it was obvious this was not her first time doing this.

Hoshino asked, "From what I understand, Penguin Logistics is full of talented people. May I ask whether Miss Exusiai and Miss Texas are there as well?"

"They went out on a mission. They should be back in about two or three hours."

They said three hours, but there were many uncertainties.

Especially with Texas and Exusiai—if they encountered an emergency, they could not help getting excited. And once excited, they tended to lose track of time.

"My mission is only to bring you to the boss. It has nothing to do with them."

Croissant was surprised by the shrine maiden's enthusiasm.

While they were walking along the road, a car was traveling across an elevated intercity highway. The two girls did not look back; only Texas, who was driving, occasionally glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Did you bring weapons?"

"We were only delivering a letter, so I brought my gun, but no bullets."

The answer was no surprise. Texas looked into the rearview mirror again, preparing to shake off whoever was following them.

There was a car behind them.

Strictly speaking, the other party had done nothing out of line. They were merely following quietly behind them. Even so, it was enough to make anyone uncomfortable. Texas had tried to lose them with her driving skills, but ultimately failed.

They needed another approach.

She took out a bottle of cola from the glove compartment and handed it to Exusiai beside her.

"Thanks."

Exusiai took the cola and instinctively tried to twist off the cap.

"It's not for drinking. Shake it up, open the window, and throw it onto the rear windshield of the car behind us. Before that, fasten your seatbelt. I'll control the car and perform a midair flip from level ground, then land in the wheat field below."

"Okay."

Exusiai was not flustered in the slightest. She trusted Texas's driving skills.

She rolled down the window. The angelic halo above her head gave off a warm glow, yet she acted like a complete and utter devil.

Black bubbles churned inside the sealed bottle. Exusiai lightly tossed it backward before quickly withdrawing into the car. With a crash, a black flower bloomed across the rear window. Taking advantage of the other driver's obscured vision, Texas slammed on the brakes and spun the steering wheel with both hands. The car roared as it leapt over the elevated highway's guardrail and plummeted toward the wheat field below.

"Report to the boss. Tell him we've shaken the tail."

Texas drove through the wheat field, the undercarriage colliding with the muddy path as the two girls were tossed around inside the car, seemingly enjoying themselves.

Exusiai glanced behind them.

Stretching lazily, she said, "This kind of experience somehow feels like it's become part of everyday life."