Dialogue/Sub Story Sekhmet

Translated by Khosen

A Novice Mother

- She is a clumsy one, but it’s all about how she cares about you that matters.

Commander:

I have a lot of mothers.

It may sound crazy, but it’s simply the truth.

I can’t figure out why, but amongst the bioroids, some see their master or a person of command as an individual to express their maternal love… and of course, some of them are also onboard Orca.

And they express their affection towards me through expressing their maternal love.

I mean, I do feel relaxed when I’m in their arms, and all my worries do go away...wait, that’s not the important part.

The important thing is, I now have a new mother in town.

A mother with a very...unique personality.

Sekhmet:

Your Majesty, it seems like you are losing focus.

Please, focus on your work.

Commander:

Will do… (Choice)

Sekhmet:

We still have a lot of time before supper. Until then, you must complete your mission plan for the first half of this year, identify

our current ration distribution status, and look into responses towards different welfare requests.

Here, The Mother has them all summarized for you.

Commander:

… (Choice)

Thanks to Cerestia, it was good that we could restore Sekhmet as she will be an important asset to us.

After her restoration, I didn’t think I should pay attention to her and Cerestia bickering over things.

I realized something was odd only when she began thoroughly investigating the files I created as a part of my work over the past month…

Guess it’s too late now...(Choice)

Sekhmet:

Your Majesty, and where do you think you’re going?

You still have duties to complete.

Commander:

I’m going to the bathroom - Ma’am... (Choice)

Sekhmet:

Oh.

P,pardon me, Your Majesty, please take your time.

Commander:

I left my room like a thief on the run and headed to the Men’s Washroom.

I did manage to escape...(Choice)

It’s definitely not wrong to have one of my crews stay beside me or have them help me out, but this is kinda...

She kinda feels like a “Real Mom”? (Choice)

A helicopter one to a certain degree…

As I sighed and entered the washroom, a familiar face welcomed me with a smile.

Cerestia:

Oh, hello~

Commander:

Hey. (Choice)

Cerestia:

…

Commander:

… (Choice)

Cerestia:

…

Commander:

… (Choice)

Cerestia:

… May I help you with that ~ ?

Commander:

What do you mean help!? (Choice)

I had to quarrel with her to make her leave and managed to take care of my business alone. But soon after, I bumped into her again.

Cerestia:

How are things between you and Sekhmet ~?

Commander:

Don’t you already know the answer to that question? (Choice)

Cerestia:

*Shrug*, I suppose so ~

Commander:

Cerestia smiled back at me and softly stroked a flower growing on the side of the hallway.

I don’t know how she did it, but it soon bloomed to become a strong, lively set of flowers attached to a metal wall.

Cerestia:

… I think obsession comes from privation.

Commander:

Privation? (Choice)

Cerestia:

See, how would you feel when life is the thing you love the most, and yet all you can do is bring death…?

Commander:

Ah… (Choice)

I soon recalled how I read about her ability to vaporize any living organism within seconds.

Cerestia:

*Chuckles*, Please don’t take her as annoying, but think of it as her way of showing affection~

Commander:

I didn’t say she was annoying… Ah, right (Choice)

When I asked her why Sekmet refers to me as “Your Majesty”, Cerestia seemed puzzled.

Cerestia:

Uhmm...wait...it’s on the tip of my tongue…

Ah, Sekmet and I were supposed to refer to our masters as a King...I suppose ~?

Commander:

Well, but you don’t call me like that - Mmmmph. (Choice)

Cerestia:

Would you like to refer to you as My King, from now on ~?

Or Your Majesty~? “Chuckles*, here come to Mother ~

Oh, and it’s a secret I’m telling you this but… once you return to your room why don’t you say~

Commander:

The conversation between Cerestia took longer than I thought. When I got back, I could tell Sekhmet did not appreciate how long it took me to return.

Sorry. I kept you waiting. (Choice)

Sekhmet:

I was just about to head out in search of you, I was very worried.

May I know why it took you so long?

Commander:

Well...I, I got hungry so went to see if there’s a snack I could have… (Choice)

Sekhmet:

…! Oh you were starving. The Mother had not thought of that.

I’ll quickly gather some ingredients and cook something for you. So please wait a little longer.

Commander:

We should have what you need in the kitchen. (Choice)

Sekhmet:

I did run through the kitchen, but it seemed like we didn’t have everything.

Commander:

As I watched her get ready to head out… No, hold up, when did she make herself at home in my room like this? Anyways,

You look happy (Choice)

Like what Cerestia had told me earlier…

Cerestia:

Once you return to her what don’t you say ~

That you are hungry and if there’s anything to eat ~

Commander:

Mmmmmph. (Choice)

Cerestia:

I’m sure it’ll help with your relationship with her.

Although you may be...a little surprised~

Commander:

Her last words are very intriguing, but I guess I’ll find out what the surprise is.

But yeah, it seems like the ingredient is quite rare. You sure it’s okay for you to go alone? (Choice)

Sekhmet:

I appreciate your concern for This Mother, but it’s okay. I’m sure I can find them not far away from here.

Commander:

Really? What is it? (Choice)

Sekhmet:

A pigeon.

A Few Hours Later, Late Evening

Commander:

Sekmet came back all covered with branches and leaves and headed straight to the kitchen.

Well, the emergency bell that connects my room to the kitchen means nothing alarming is happening...

I am actually getting pretty hungry though...(Choice)

I finished all my tasks a long time ago, and as I was surfing through the Orca Database and messenger.

The door finally opened with the smell of food.

Sekhmet:

Forgive me for being late, Your Majesty. I have brought your supper.

Commander:

Oh wow, it smells...good…? (Choice)

Sekhmet:

Your Majesty?

Commander:

So...uhm...this...uh...kinda...(Choice)

Sekhmet:

Is something wrong? I can always cook something different…

Commander:

No that’s not the issue...(Choice)

A black metaphysical-looking bulk of meat was located at the center of the dish. And from it, some sort of red particles were fuming out like magma.

And around it, it was garnished with bright yellow things in a repeating, circle-like manner.

Is...this some sort of a ritual that I am not aware of…?(Choice)

Sekhmet:

…

Commander:

After hearing what I had to ask, she froze like a paused screen.

Sekhmet:

Forgive me, Your Majesty. It turns out This Mother was incompetent after all.

I will devote myself more to cooking, and in the meantime, I believe eating something Miss Sowan has made for you seems better for you.

Commander:

She reached out to the dish to take it away, and from that moment, I could sense that she’s been really bummed out by this whole situation.

...Hold up. (Choice)

I’m still trying to figure out her character, but at least I know how sincere her maternal love towards me is despite her being rather clumsy.

I’m sorry that was not a nice thing for me to say. I was just a little...i, intrigued. (Choice)

And I reached out with my shaking hands to what-it-looked-like-a-pigeon-wing-figure.

I kept telling myself that at least it smelled really good and placed it into my mouth.

It’s, good…? (Choice)

Sekhmet:

I, is that true, Your Majesty?

Commander:

Yes. For real. (Choice)

I never had a cuisine like this before. Well-seasoned meat with rich flavour that is enjoyable to chew danced atop of my taste buds.

Sekhmet:

Please, enjoy them with a bowl of rice. Here’s the spoon.

Commander:

Thanks. (Choice)

I took a huge scoop and began appreciating the exotic taste I had never experienced before. And at that moment, I made eye contact with her, who was looking at me proudly.

Hey, why don’t we share? (Choice)

Sekhmet:

This Mother’s not hungry.

Commander:

… (Choice)

...I don’t have a mom.

Well, to be precise, I don’t know if I ever had a real one or not.

I’m really thankful how some of the crews take a mother-like role for me… But I don’t have any memory of my childhood or my biological mother.

A mom huh...(Choice)

But as I saw how she was looking at me, I thought that if I did have a mom, this would be how I felt around her.

After our late supper, Sekmet called me after she brought out toiletries from the corner.

Sekhmet:

Your Majesty, you must cleanse yourself before bed.

This Mother will personally assist you.

Commander:

No, wait - (Choice)

From the conditioned response due to repeated experience, my body did resist her at first, but frankly, I didn’t want to.

I followed her lead into the shower, and after we got out, I laid down on the bed, feeling her soft, warm body.

Sekhmet:

Well then, good night to you, Your Majesty.

Commander:

You too Sekhmet. (Choice)

Besides some minor hiccups we faced here and there earlier, I managed to go to sleep feeling very heartful.

How she scrubbed me too hard, and now my skin is burning. Or how the shampoo went into my eyes and burned them.

Or besides how she wanted to make sure I was asleep every 10 minutes or so, consequently affecting its quality.