After an emergency was announced in the afternoon
The Hex informed everyone on the artificial island that there was an outbreak of a new strain of influenza, and they asked everyone to return to their homes and cancel classes indefinitely.
Umi and I weren't too surprised by this news. and returned to our home after lunch.
Not long after The Hex's announcement, there was breaking news on television and announcements throughout the city. The airline has been suspended. Ships and trains traveling across districts have also been suspended from traveling across districts.
Normally, every region has its own powers, but when central government officials from the United Nations take urgent action, it shows that the situation is serious on a national level.
Many people after hearing the breaking news panicked and rushed to stock up on various items needed for daily life. They may not be aware or have no choice. Because shopping malls will become more crowded and places where influenza can spread more easily.
I went shopping when Umi was sick, so I had the necessary items already prepared so there was no need to travel anywhere.
.
The sound of rubbing against some hard object.
I'm cleaning the solar panels on the roof of my house because they haven't been used in a while. Therefore there is a lot of dust covering it.
Sigh, it's been a day already. But Umi seems to still be upset with me. I'm pretty sure it wasn't because of something that tasted like Vegemite in my previous world. Aussies may like it and eat it with bread for breakfast. To be honest, similar foods, which some people like and some people hate, are available in many districts. For example, Japan has natto, wasabi, or raw fish called sashimi. In Southeast Asia, there are durian and fish sauce. In Europe there is blue cheese. Escargot also called snail. or marinated anchovies
Different districts have different preferences.
"So, what is Umi still upset with me about?"
I mumbled as I continued cleaning.
Due to the indefinite suspension of classes, both Umi and I stayed at home and couldn't go anywhere. So we agreed that today would be a big cleaning day.
"Nate!! What are you doing up there?!" Umi's voice shouted in shock from below.
"Maybe I look like I'm doing laundry?" I playfully replied.
"Tsk, whatever you do is up to you. But lunch is ready!!"
Umi said in a slightly annoyed tone and walked away.
"yes! hehe"
Lunch is a simple menu with relatively simple ingredients. Because we stock up on food and need to save on cooking ingredients such as meat and eggs, I have limited supplies. Although I didn't stock up on food earlier, there was still food in the basement so prepared that I didn't have to worry about food for a long time.
After lunch I was the one who washed the dishes.
Well, after living with her in the same house To be honest, I myself feel comfortable in many things. But I also felt a little awkward and nervous. Overall, there are more advantages than disadvantages. Our house rules are simple because we both know each other's likes and dislikes, but we still have a lot to learn from each other.
"Uh, Umi."
Flip!
Umi sat quietly reading a book without replying to me.
Umi has been ignoring me lately, which has made me a bit uncomfortable. After pondering the reason why Umi was like this, There's probably only one thing.
sigh
"If there's anything I can help with...just tell me."
After seeing Umi, she nodded slightly. I went back to doing the unfinished business.
Cleaning the solar panels on the roof is not a problem at all. The problem is that the temperature and weather conditions are so cold that they remind me of the hot weather in the previous district.
'Eh, the previous district was too hot, but this district is cold. There's really nothing in the middle.'
The high mana fluctuations in the air that had previously affected Northeast Asia were now affecting the Australian continent. This is a variable that cannot really be controlled.
The mana mist had an effect that made the gate more likely to open.
"I hope there won't be any gates opening in the district anytime soon."
While I was enjoying cleaning, Umi's voice interrupted me.
"Nate, come look at this!!"
***
Today I don't have to get up early to go to school. When I think back to the past, similar events happened, right? For example, there was a sudden opening of the gate or a severe weather change caused by the mana mist.
It is now about nine o'clock in the morning.
'Strange, why did my mother and Yuki-san take the day off and not go to work at the company?'
Because the two of them usually traveled together for work, but now they were sitting in the living room sipping tea together and chatting comfortably. Even though the central government has announced various news and regulations,
But the pharmaceutical company the two of them were working for should be exempt from certain things. Moreover, the company is affiliated with a state enterprise.
'I have to tell my brother about this!'
Mothers who love their work but stop going to work No matter what I think, it's strange!!
After sending the message to my brother, I felt a little bored because from now on I have to stay at home and can't travel anywhere.
When I was a child, well, as I remember, my mother started working at a pharmaceutical company and my father worked as an engineer, which took a long time to come home. But around me, there are always older brothers and sisters by my side. Because of them, I'm not lonely. But after they moved to study in another district Even though I don't want to admit it But I miss my lazy brother and my loving sister.
Maybe I'm a bit biased.
Hm, my brother is really lazy? Since seeing my brother's latest exam results, I've changed my mind about him a little. I know Nate isn't stupid in his studies and that there's more to it than meets the eye.
He always complains and doesn't like me going into his room. Maybe it's because when I was a kid, I always made things in his room a mess.
'My brother isn't here, who can stop me?'
I walked to my brother's room with a chuckle.
After Iris walked away and heard the sound of a door closing.
Irene and Yuki's atmosphere changed from relaxed and casual. it immediately became more serious.
"Irene, you really won't tell them. What did we just go through?"
"I don't want the house to lose its good atmosphere. And I don't want the children to be stressed out by the problems of adults."
"Well, to be honest, I've never been this upset before," Yuki said softly.
"What should I say? I feel the same way as you, and others probably feel the same way," Irene said calmly.
***
"Hmm, what?"
"There will be a B-Rank gate open in the New South Wales area. And there is an order for people in the radius of the gate to evacuate urgently."
Umi answered me after listening to the news that had just been announced.
'Ah, maybe I should shut up about this jinx.'
"But our house is very far from the evacuation zone, and even though it's within evacuation distance, this house is still a safe house, so it's definitely safe," I said as I gently rubbed Umi's head.
Even though Umi was still annoyed at me, she didn't push my hand away. She seemed to be in a better mood now.
"I still don't allow..you...my head."
Umi turned her cheek away from me and mumbled softly.
"Then will you let me?" I said playfully as I gently rubbed her head.
"..Hmph"
After teasing Umi, I received a message from Iris. I immediately looked out the window.
'Is the sun rising in the west today?'
The message was simple: Mom wasn't going to work.
I have a few interpretations in my head. On the positive side, she might just take a day off from work. But if on the negative side, with the situation that is happening right now, pharmaceutical companies should need a lot of people to work.
'Don't tell me that Mom got fired from the company because of me. Yuki-san might be in the same situation.'
sigh
"Nate"
"What?"
"Do you have any problems?"
"..Uh..Did you look at my message?""
"So what? Is it something I shouldn't know?" Umi said softly.
"Fine, as you wish," I handed the phone to Umi.
But Umi only looked into my eyes before taking my phone away.
"...Um, what's the PIN code?"
"..0-"
There was a soft vibrating sound of the phone screen unlocking.
"No, your password is really easy to guess."
'You know me too much!'
"Iris-chan sent a message like this. I understand why you're acting strangely. My mother is the type who breaks the rules so it's not surprising," Umi said calmly after reading the message.
"Uh, I mean..Umi, aren't you worried about them losing their jobs?"
"No, they have always worked hard so even if they retire earlier it will not affect them at all. I have discussed with them that they should work less and have more rest."
"Is that so?"
"That's right. Let me guess, right now they're sipping tea or coffee while chatting like normal," Umi answered confidently.
I nodded in agreement with what Umi said.
Thinking back, that was really the case. They worked very hard and had everything in place, but it still went on like this for many years. It should be a good thing for them to have time to rest, right?
NO! I'm too kind. WHO DARED TO FIRE MY MOTHER? That person must receive the results of his actions.
Umi only looked at Nate with strange eyes because he was now wearing a terrifying aura.
'Did he really understand what I was saying?'
before retreating to the basement
-
inside the basement
Umi was checking and exploring the basement more closely. Due to the past week, I only stopped by the top floor where the fitness center was, and after moving some of the things I needed, I didn't go down to the basement very often.
- The bulb has no problem.
-Backup power system no problem
-The hydroponic vegetable growing system operates without any problems.
Mark the ones that are checked.
'If I can grow vegetables and herbs without any problems. Nate and I no longer need to worry about income. The savings and reserve money I received came from helping Irene-san and Mom take care of the medicinal plants and recording some research results.'
"That's enough for today, hehe."
Umi hummed a soft song in a good mood.
Well, it's definitely not child labor. Because there are some laws that provide exemptions. Just imagine a child being affected by gate or something bad. If a parent disappears or dies, how will that child live? If we were to wait to receive only relief or help, it would be too late. Applying for a job is difficult. No one dares to accept the job because they are still young, right? When people or children are left with no choice, there are few options and the worst way is to steal and commit crimes.
***
Cleaning the whole house was a lot more tiring than I thought it would be. People who have big dreams of owning a big house or mansion should think carefully. In addition to beauty and size, there are many expenses that increase and the budget increases more than you think. For example, a normal house still needs furniture and maintenance costs. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
As I was about to change the covers on the sofa I discovered a hidden mechanism.
Crack!
There is a slide-out shelf with storage under the sofa cushion.
'Oh my... Dad hides things like at home.'
The things that had just been revealed could be called an armory. There are many of the most modern assault rifles available and a wide variety of guns and a large number of bullets, body armor and bulletproof suits. If I didn't strengthen my strength with mana, I wouldn't be able to move the slide so easily.
The sofa I slept on earlier was a hiding place for enough weapons for a special forces unit to carry out a mission.
'This is probably the reason why I jumped up and lay down and heard a strange sound coming from the sofa.'
I quickly packed up my things before Umi came back.
'I just have to wait'
There was no way I could live in a comfortable and warm safe house without a worthy trade-off. I still haven't forgotten the messages from the red wax letter. It's my father's handwriting.
-Wait for mission orders from me.
-Oh, don't forget to use protection.
"Maybe Dad meant bulletproof armor."
Nate didn't notice that as he was moving the sofa back to its original position, something fell from the pillows that Nate had just changed the sheets on.
.
.