[Unit Counseling Log and Personal Records (Seo Serin)]
Counseling Record and Personal Evaluation Data – Laika
Recorder: Seo Serin (098817-03)
Subject: Laika (Angela TYPE-15, Unique ID: H-AGL15-F370918)
Record Management Procedure: Report to superiors and self-storage (pursuant to Military Law Article 37, Section 3, ‘Management and Records of Military Bio-Roids’)
Record 1.
Today, I met Laika, my first unit member, for the first time.
My first impression of Laika was… she’s tiny, blue, and cute.
She’s cute, and the way she tries to do her best makes her even cuter.
But her clumsiness makes her even, even cuter.
‘…She’s so cute, and since supplementary appointees can’t receive new recruits until their first year, I’ll have to somehow help Laika grow well and make good use of her.’
Since both Laika and I are beginners, I don’t know if we can manage properly.
First, I brought her to the base and we familiarized ourselves with the facilities together.
As for private conversations… I couldn’t really have one because Laika was too stiff.
Looking at the manual, there’s something called precision analysis, so I’ll try that and talk to her a bit. That’s decided.
Additionally, coincidentally, today is my birthday.
I didn’t specifically tell Laika.
‘It feels weird to tell someone I just met today, “It’s my birthday today!” What, do I want a gift on our first meeting?’
‘…Besides, I’ve already received a gift.’
‘Laika’s very existence is a gift to me!’
Record 2.
Today, I finished the precision analysis.
The device was so complicated that we both struggled immensely.
Honestly, even after seeing it, I don’t really understand what’s what… I get the stats like in a game, but the parts are beyond my knowledge.
‘If I were a more learned commander, I could have taught her well. Oh dear.’
I’ll just have to put in as much effort as I lack knowledge.
Oh, I couldn’t have a private conversation today either.
It was because of the precision analysis. It turned out that precision analysis involved inserting a catheter into a very awkward position.
Thanks to that, after performing the precision analysis, it felt like the atmosphere wasn’t conducive to conversation….
‘Sigh. I should have studied more.’
Record 3.
Today, I finally had a conversation.
The trigger was, absurdly enough, bungeoppang.
There was an old lady selling bungeoppang in front of the base, so I bought a bag, and Laika, after repeatedly saying ‘just one more,’ ended up eating them all herself.
‘On the first day, she acted like she wasn’t interested in food. It must have been a bluff after all.’
Anyway, from there, our guard broke down, and we had many private conversations.
Oh, tomorrow is base reconnaissance. It’s our first mission, so I need to do my best.
Record 4.
We successfully completed the base reconnaissance.
Starting tomorrow, we should be able to deploy for proper garrison area missions.
I heard the structure is to farm and level up here to advance to a high-level zone called the battle zone… I wonder if we can make it that far.
‘…Still, I have to try. Laika is following along so diligently.’
Just now, I was rambling, and Laika covered everything for me, I felt so terribly sorry.
As an apology, I bought her two bags of bungeoppang.
…….
…….
…….
Record 100.
This morning, a notification came down that we could proceed with the battle zone mission.
Laika wasn’t particularly happy.
‘…No, she was happy, but it was like… a joy that hid her true feelings.’
Since we’ve been together constantly for three months now, I could tell.
So when I asked why her reaction was so subtle, Laika hesitantly replied.
– Well, I looked into it, and it seems battle zone missions usually start around the two-month mark.
– I’m much later than that… so that means I’m worse than other bio-roids.
– I’m worried if someone like me can protect the commander well even in the battle zone….
‘Hehe.’
‘Laika is cute as expected~’
I briefly wondered what to say to prevent such a cute Laika from worrying.
Then, an idea I had recorded on the first day suddenly came to mind, and I told her.
That the day she was assigned to me happened to be my birthday.
So her existence itself was like a birthday gift to me.
Therefore, she didn’t need to be anxious about her abilities or performance… I said.
Laika seemed to have cheered up quite a bit.
I could tell by her promise, ‘I’ll definitely get you your next birthday present!’ It meant she intended to endure until that day, which was still more than eight months away.
Oh, I realized while recording that today is exactly the 100th record.
That means 100 days have passed since I’ve been with Laika.
In months, it’s a little over three months.
It might not be a long period.
But that short period consisted of the most intense days of my life.
It was probably the same for Laika.
So, let’s keep doing our best.
…….
…….
…….
Record 359.
Yesterday, an urgent mission was handed down from above.
The mission was to reconnoiter a colony called Ice Shell and retrieve its data pack.
It’s quite a demanding operation.
It’s a demanding operation, but since it was formed urgently, we don’t have a choice whether to accept it or not. It’s automatically assigned, and if we fail, severe disciplinary action will follow.
Nevertheless, I’m not worried. Because I have Laika.
Laika has already reached B+ rank in overall evaluation.
If we complete this mission well and return… surely she won’t become A rank? Well, maybe not.
And… ah, I only realized after planning out all the operation guidelines, but the return date seems to be the day before my birthday.
Actually, I didn’t realize it myself; Laika told me. ‘Isn’t the next day the commander’s birthday?’ she asked.
It turned out she had recorded it separately. She really wanted to get me a birthday present this time.
So, while we were on the topic, Laika kept asking what I wanted for my birthday… but I didn’t tell her.
‘Because telling her something like that would become a death flag.’
No, seriously. Just before embarking on the most dangerous mission ever, telling someone what birthday present you want after the mission is over… ← It’d be impossible to survive doing something like that. Even someone who wouldn’t die would get struck by lightning and die.
So I didn’t tell her.
‘I’ll tell you when we get back. You can give it to me then.’ That kind of arrangement.
Well, that’s what I said in front of Laika.
But I can write it here, right?
More than that, I feel like I *should* write it down. This mission is supposed to take three days and two nights, and I think I’ll forget by then.
It’s nothing big.
For a birthday present… I want flowers.
Beautiful blue flowers, like Laika’s eyes.
That much shouldn’t be too much for Laika’s meager salary.
So.
Please, Laika.
[ End of Document. ]
****
The next morning.
I called Laika.
Laika had forgotten about… or rather, was pretending not to know about the conversation on the rooftop yesterday. It seemed she herself thought it was an unreasonable request.
So, to Laika, who was casually smiling and talking about other things, I blurted out.