Chapter 64: Macross – Trapped Space
Monty Hill looked at the now-cheerful Lynn Minmay and couldn't help but laugh along with her.
Lynn Minmay pouted, pretending to be upset as she said,
"Brother, are you teasing me again?"
Monty Hill quickly shook his head, desperately denying it in a tone full of survival instinct.
"Minmay, absolutely not. I only laughed because I saw you happy, and that suddenly made me happy too.
I promise, I didn't have any bad thoughts at all!"
Lynn Minmay covered her mouth and laughed, saying,
"Heeheehee, brother, you're still the same as always—such a coward! The moment you're startled, you're no good."
Monty Hill rolled his eyes at her, then used his best skill—diverting the topic with Tai Chi finesse.
He pulled out a flashlight, pointing toward a pitch-black corner.
"Minmay, let's go over there together and see if we can find a way out."
Lynn Minmay clung tightly to his arm, leaning happily against him as she said, "Mm, alright, brother."
The two of them walked closely together, checking all around.
The space wasn't very big, just a few dead ends with no exit at all.
Normally, it looked like they'd be stuck here for at least ten days or more. That was fine for Monty Hill—he'd be able to return by tomorrow afternoon anyway.
But Lynn Minmay wouldn't be so fortunate. Unless he left her with a stockpile of water and food, she wouldn't be able to make it.
Even then, if he suddenly disappeared, she'd notice right away. Besides, leaving a girl here all alone for days on end was rather cruel.
The worst part was, the place was so small—after more than ten days, it would reek of filth and waste.
Letting Lynn Minmay endure that alone was unthinkable!
Did that mean he'd have to take her into the Gundam SEED world with him?
And there was also that Gundam SEED ID card from his first starter pack… The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it felt.
Damn it, could it be that the artifact system and the Macross world had teamed up to mess with him? They'd plotted this all along!
So many possibilities, and they'd forced him into this one setup with no choice at all. Too unfair! (tot)
Sigh. He'd think about it overnight. Take things one day at a time. Maybe something would turn up. He'd decide tomorrow before returning.
Monty Hill shook his head to calm himself, then turned to Lynn Minmay.
"Minmay, looks like we'll be stuck here alone for a while, waiting for rescue from outside."
Lynn Minmay didn't look as nonchalant as he'd imagined. Instead, she tapped her chin with her index finger and said thoughtfully,
"I don't mind being alone with you, brother, no matter how long. But what about food and water?
A person without food or drink can last at most three to five days. With water, maybe twenty to thirty days at most.
What should we do, brother?"
Monty Hill smiled and patted her hair.
"Heehee, Minmay, you don't need to worry about that. I've stored plenty of water and food in the VF-1SS Valkyrie.
If we ration it, it'll last for a while.
And besides, once they realize we're missing, they'll definitely try everything to find us. Don't worry."
With that, Monty Hill floated back into the cockpit. Just like before, he pulled out a dozen bottles of mineral water, a few kilos of compressed biscuits, some survival rations, and several cans of meat.
It wasn't that he didn't want to bring out more—it was just that too much would raise suspicion. How could such a small cockpit possibly store so much?
He placed everything in front of Lynn Minmay and smugly rubbed his nose.
"Minmay, look, this should be enough for the two of us for ten days or so, right?"
Lynn Minmay's face lit up instantly at the sight.
"Mm, it's enough, brother—enough for us to eat for a while. You're amazing!"
She leapt into his arms, planted a kiss on his cheek, and then leaned on his shoulder, saying,
"My brother Monty Hill is the most reliable. You treat me the best."
But then her tone grew a little downcast.
"Sigh, but Lynn Kai is terrible. That guy even abandoned me.
If it weren't for you, I would've already frozen into a popsicle. What a complete bastard."
Monty Hill patted her back, comforting her.
"Mm, Lynn Kai really is trash. To abandon you and run for his own life—unforgivable.
Don't worry, Minmay, when we get back, I'll beat him up for you!"
Lynn Minmay shook her head.
"No need, brother. It's better to stay away from people like that. He's not worth it.
Hurting yourself over scum like him isn't worth it, and besides, even if you beat him, we'd get dragged into the police station for questioning.
I don't want you to get in trouble over someone like that.
And he's no longer my manager anyway. When we go back, I'll fire him. I never want to see him again!"
Monty Hill gently patted her back.
"Alright, we'll do as you say. From now on, we'll ignore him, never see him again.
It'd be best if he were already dead—then there'd be no more trouble at all."
Lynn Minmay nodded.
"Mm, exactly. That bastard is better off dead!"
Monty Hill immediately contacted Nami.
"Nami, check if Lynn Kai is still alive. If he is, kill him. Make sure he dies under a collapsing building."
"As you command, Master. ~ Assimilation unit response: Lynn Kai is still alive. I'll take care of it right away…"
A few dozen seconds later, Nami replied,
"Master, the task is complete. Lynn Kai was crushed to death by a collapsing building.
I even left his head intact for identification."
"Mm, well done, Nami. You're amazing!"
"Heeheehee, if Master praises me like that, I'll get conceited. Everything of mine belongs to Master—I am Master's blade."
Monty Hill sighed. Nami's work efficiency was incredible, though her way with words left much to be desired. Too bad he couldn't reprogram her.
After comforting Lynn Minmay, Monty Hill had Nami check the nearby pipelines to see if, like in the anime, there was a supply of clean water.
Sure enough, they found a water line. Monty Hill immediately had Nami fabricate two quick-connect valves and secretly installed them, pretending he'd simply discovered a pipe with a valve.
He disconnected one section of the pipe and added in a parachute from the cockpit.
Just like in the movie version, he rigged up a simple makeshift bathroom, complete with intake and drainage.
That way, even if he left, Lynn Minmay could live safely and comfortably here for a long time.
When Lynn Minmay saw the makeshift bathroom, she happily gave Monty Hill another kiss.
Then, brimming with excitement, she ran in to try it out—taking a bath in zero gravity.
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslations.
3 new chapters are released daily—thank you for your support!
Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, 1 chapter will be unlocked.)