And honestly, that’s what I want too. But Ileana… she’s dreaming of something else entirely. From what I understand, she’s hoping for a quiet assignment on a low-tech world—somewhere she can offer medical care, live simply.
Could I really see myself living that kind of life? What would I even do? I’ve got all the knowledge I was raised with on Asgarne, plus everything I’ve learned since joining the Confederation. But I’m not a farmer. I’m not a villager.
‘“For the Coalition, you’re still just a low-tier smuggler—second or third-rate at best. Unless, of course, you want to be more than that.”
“But Noviosk was their leader! He’s dead now. And Vagantu’s been dismantled. Most of the traffickers have been arrested. So why do you still need Pherebos?” Ileana asks, clearly puzzled.
“My dear, you and Pherebos struck a major blow to the trafficking of tech and living beings in this part of the galaxy. But there are other networks. Many others. Noviosk was just one piece of the puzzle. The galaxy’s a big place, you know.”
“So… you’re thinking Pherebos should go back to the mission?”
“He’d be a huge asset to the Confederation. He knows the job. He knows how to stay under the radar. He’s incredibly valuable to us,” my mentor says, wrapping it up.
“Gnuffgnuff!”
“And Wingo too, of course!” he adds quickly.
“That’s flattering. Thank you,”I say to Akifumi.“But things are different now. I have to consider what my partner wants. Ileana’s spent most of her life sacrificing for others. From now on, it’s my turn to take care of her. Even if that means walking away from this job.”
There. I’ve said it. And the moment the words leave my mouth, it feels obvious. Ileana deserves to come first now.
“Well said! Our Human’s happiness comes first!”Wingo declares in my head.
“My Human, not yours!”I grumble.
“Oh, don’t be so picky. I’m the one who came to find you on that ugly little island. I’m the one who saved your lives. I’m your Wingo, you’re my Asgarnian, and she’s my Human!”
“Fine,”I sigh, giving in.
Ileana frowns—she’s clearly picked up on the telepathic exchange between Wingo and me.
“It’s nothing,”I reassure her quickly.“Wingo was just confirming he agrees that your happiness should come first.”
She raises an eyebrow, her voice laced with irony. “Funny you say that. Because, as far as I can tell, neither of you actually asked whatIwant to do.”
Ouch. By the Currents, she’s right. Once again, I’m reminded how far I still have to go to be the partner she truly deserves.
“Whatdoyou want to do?” Akifumi asks her gently.
“Thank you for asking,” she replies, her tone calm but firm.
She clears her throat, takes a breath, and then dives in.
“Ever since I was a kid, I had a pretty unusual upbringing. I lived with my sister, who was disabled. We were kept apart from the other children, but we had our own rhythm. Mornings were for study, afternoons for rest and play—well, the kind of play that worked with her condition. We both got into medicine early on. I was a little more obsessed with it than she was.”
“I saw your evaluations,” Akifumi says, almost apologetically. “They’re in your file.”
“So you know I’ve completed all the training, passed every level to become a doctor. I know what I’m doing—even if I’ve never actually performed surgery.”
“Then you want me to find you a spot on a medical ship? Like theRenaissance?”
“Nope, not at all!” she says, laughing. “I can already picture Pherebos and my Wingo pacing in circles after five days…”
“I give it five days before Pherebos andmyWingo start pacing in circles,” Ileana says, smirking.
“Ah-ha! See? She said my Wingo!”
“I don’t get it,” Akifumi says, shaking his head slightly.
