Felice left without the slightest hesitation or lingering attachnt to this place.
So, Hoshigaki Sora decided he might as well fully savor the hot springs here.
With his special identification, Sora could wander anywhere he pleased.
He sampled the delicacies unique to this planet and admired its scenic beauty.
After enjoying all this, Sora couldn't help but sigh appreciatively, "Now, this is a vacation!"
No need to overthink, sleeping whenever he wanted, eating whatever he desired, going wherever he pleased.
And wherever he walked, it felt as though soone was gently massaging his scalp.
Such a sensation was truly addictive—this was precisely the vacation he'd dread about!
Of course, since he'd arrived on a brand-new planet, his other ability naturally activated once again.
[Planetary Library connecting. Connection progress: 10%...]
This progress bar rose astonishingly fast, without the sluggishness he'd experienced on Zieltworth.
At this pace, he'd fully connect to the [Planetary Library] within two days.
The speed was undeniably astonishing.
Back on Zieltworth, after all, it had taken him nearly an entire week.
"Is this the speed when there's no interference?" Sora remarked thoughtfully.
He had seen what he needed, tasted what he wanted, and rested plenty.
Now it was ti to try the one thing absolutely essential to experiencing this planet:
Deep imrsion in moria.
Since this practice had so inherent dangers, the phone guidance specifically recomnded several safe imrsion locations.
These spots were completely safe because the company had installed specialized equipnt to isolate the moria, preventing harmful after-effects from excessive exposure.
Given that, Sora naturally brought his companions to one of the designated safe zones.
Safety first when on vacation. If sothing minor went wrong, wouldn't it ruin everything?
Plus, considering he possessed top-tier identification, it would be a sha not to use it fully.
With a decisive wave, he declared, "Arrange everything at the highest level!"
The staff then guided him to a special chamber designed for deep imrsion.
Inside the room was a pool—not filled with liquid, but with moria, swirling like a visible void.
"Please enjoy at your leisure. I'll return to wake you once the ti is up," the attendant said.
Once alone, Sora cautiously stepped into the moria.
At the mont of entry, it felt like plunging into ice-cold water, causing an instant shiver.
Imdiately afterward, a sensation of supre relaxation spread throughout his entire body.
It was as if every trace of exhaustion stored deep in his bones was being gently extracted.
He forgot everything, as if returning to a primal state.
The muscle mories etched into his body faded entirely, leaving him utterly relaxed, suspended in moria.
"No wonder people get hooked on this..." Sora sighed appreciatively.
If he could soak like this after work each day, wiping away all his fatigue…
Maybe he'd even grow fond of working.
No, no, no!
Sora snapped out of his trance, sudden panic jolting him awake so sharply that even the moria couldn't engulf his alarm.
How could I possibly enjoy working?!
That was terrifying, truly terrifying!
He'd been bewitched by the moria, nearly becoming soone who willingly worked. From today onwards, he would quit work altogether!
That's right—eliminate the source of fatigue entirely, and everything would be solved!
No work ant no exhaustion. No exhaustion ant no temptation to imrse himself here again.
"I really am a genius!" Sora praised himself enthusiastically.
Knock, knock, knock.
At that very mont, soone knocked at his door.
"The moria pool doesn't appear active. Mr. Hoshigaki, are you awake?"
Hearing the voice outside, Sora frowned slightly.
Judging by the voice, the visitor didn't seem to know him.
Yet, the only people he knew on this planet were the companions he'd brought along.
Could it be my fa has already reached this far?
His curiosity piqued, Sora opened the door.
Standing outside was a person he'd never seen before.
Dressed in the uniform of an Interastral Peace Corporation employee, the visitor appeared sowhat anxious.
Upon seeing Sora, the visitor showed clear surprise before respectfully speaking, "It's an honor to et you, Mr. Hoshigaki. Apologies for disturbing you."
"You are…?" Sora searched his mory and confird he definitely didn't recognize this man.
"Ah, my identity isn't important, but I'm here to invite you."
"I don't know anyone here. Who could possibly invite ?"
"Director Jobs," the visitor calmly replied.
"Who?!" Sora exclaid, startled by what he'd just heard.
Did I hear wrong?
Jobs?!
"Yes, Director Jobs is awaiting you. Do you have ti to accept this invitation?"
"Oh, uh, sure," Sora nodded, agreeing to the request.
Just as he turned around to change his clothes, Sora suddenly paused and asked through the door:
"This Director Jobs... does he perhaps like eating apples?"
The question completely stunned the person waiting outside.
How did the topic suddenly jump to apples?
"Ahem. Never mind, never mind."
Sora coughed lightly, closed the door, and started changing his clothes.
...
Sunlight spilled down from the sky, illuminating a man below.
This man looked about forty or fifty years old, his short, golden hair shimring brilliantly under the afternoon sun, yet still revealing faint traces of fading years.
Dressed impeccably, he sat at a tea table, awaiting soone's arrival.
He leisurely stirred the steaming beverage before him, eyes wandering through the bustling crowd outside, lingering a bit longer upon families passing by.
Soon enough, the person he awaited arrived.
Led by an attendant, Hoshigaki Sora approached, and the man gestured gracefully, inviting Sora to sit opposite him.
"So, you're Jobs?" Sora studied the man in front of him, unable to suppress an inward sigh.
This guy's handsoness was already around 70% of his own level… Wait, perhaps he'd give him a bit more credit—let's say 80%!
"Indeed. It's a pleasure eting you, Hoshigaki-san." Jobs waved the attendants away, leaving just the two of them.
"What's the matter you called here for?" Sora couldn't hide his curiosity about Jobs' intentions.
After all, he'd never t this Director Jobs before—this was their very first formal encounter.
Unless this guy had secretly been investigating him behind the scenes…
But if there was soone quietly collecting his information…
Oh shit, don't tell I've attracted a stalker?!
Sora's wild inner speculations were unknown to Jobs, who simply handed over a nu and asked gently:
"I wonder if you enjoy black tea, Hoshigaki-san? The calming black tea here is considered a local delicacy."
Black tea? Calming tea—don't you an sleeping tea?!
"No thanks, just give so plain water."
"Very well."
After a short while, a cup of clear water was placed neatly before him.
Taking a sip, Sora looked straight at Jobs again, "Alright then, Mr. Jobs, what's your purpose for seeking out?"
"It's nothing too serious," Jobs explained calmly. "I simply wanted to see who Augreno had transferred his mbership privileges to."
When Sora heard this na, mories surfaced.
Felice had indeed ntioned before that this special mbership originally belonged to soone nad Augreno.
He had transferred the mbership here to Sora, enabling him to enjoy deep imrsion in moria.
"So, you're a friend of Mr. Augreno's?"
"Sothing like that. Among the directors of the company, you could say he and I share a similar predicant, so our relationship is sowhat closer than with others."
Company directors?! WTF!
This was the first ti Sora realized just who exactly this Augreno—who had gifted him this VIP status—truly was.
A director of the Interastral Peace Corporation?!
If Sora wasn't mistaken, the little rich lady at Herta Space Station had a similar background…
"What exactly brings you here, Hoshigaki-san?"
"Uhh… Enjoying the perks of my mbership?" Sora answered uncertainly.
He'd mainly co here to relax and unwind—but of course, saying that aloud would sound way too la, so he kept quiet.
After hearing Sora's response, Jobs' gaze softened sowhat.
"I see. It seems we're indeed in the sa boat, then."
This sudden, inexplicable empathy left Sora utterly puzzled. How exactly were they "in the sa boat"?
"Forgive my bluntness, but may I ask about the illness affecting your family mber?"
Jobs asked gently, "After all, certain illnesses can affect the stability of moria aggregation."
"Huh?! What's that supposed to an?!"
How did this conversation suddenly leap to this topic?
"You an you didn't know?"
Jobs then revealed sothing utterly shocking:
"The hidden benefit of supre-level mbership at this place is..."
"..Allowing your loved ones who are nearing the end of their lives to continue existing in the form of moria."
Upon hearing this, Sora's eyes widened dramatically.
Nani?!
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