What Do You Mean I'm The Captain Of A Yandere Mercenary Company? Chapter 825: We’re Gonna Do Some Pest Control

I pulled the lever to fire up the lights, briefly bracing myself for a sudden ambush, but the room remained perfectly still. I scanned the area for any sign of alien life, and finding the coast clear, allowed myself to breathe a bit easier.

With the illumination restored, I tucked away the deceased man’s personal terminal—just in case I needed to contact the captain again—and led Yumiko out of the generator room.

The corridor was bathed in light now, saving us the trouble of relying on our flashlights. Both of us paused to ensure the path was secure before we proceeded with our sweep of the vessel.

Even with visibility restored, our vigilance didn't waver; we were, after all, navigating a ship haunted by an unknown threat.

The captain’s vague description—a quadruped with blade-like spikes for hands—left plenty to the imagination. I had envisioned a four-legged rodent with large shards of bone protruding from its head, using them to swing through the ducts, though I highly doubted that was a realistic depiction of the beast.

Since our targets’ locations remained a mystery, we were essentially forced to search the entire ship. The question remained: where to begin?

As if attuned to my thoughts, Yumiko suggested, "Mistress, perhaps we should locate the security room and access the camera feeds. That should allow us to track their movements rather than wandering blindly."

That seemed like a logical starting point. I retrieved the dead crewman's terminal, realized it required an unlock, and returned to his body to bypass the security before dialing the freighter captain once more.

The comms channel pinged once before he picked up. His face appeared on the screen, eyes wide with apprehension. "Are you two safe?"

It dawned on me that he assumed we’d been attacked the moment the lights flickered to life and were now signaling for rescue.

"We’re unharmed," I replied. "I’m calling to locate the security room so we can tap into the surveillance system. It’ll be far more efficient than roaming the halls and hoping to run into the creatures."

"You... you intend to hunt them down?"

I frowned. "Was that not the objective?"

"I thought it would be the other way around—them hunting you! You know, perhaps it would be better if you just doused the lights, joined us as an escort, and we could simply destroy the ship from a safe distance. Wouldn't that be superior?"

"And you're perfectly fine with sacrificing your vessel for that plan?"

"Blast it... if the choice is between my life and the ship, I’ll choose my life every single time!"

I glanced at Yumiko, mulling over the captain's shift in strategy. She contemplated it briefly before giving a slight shrug. "Perhaps we should stick to the original plan and try to spot one first? Afterward, we can decide whether to engage or evacuate the crew."

I offered a nod. "That sounds sensible. It’s safer if we confirm their positions so we don’t inadvertently run into a swarm while trying to exit."

The captain seemed relieved. "I agree! That sounds like a sound strategy. Ah, that’s right—you’re using my crewman's terminal, aren’t you? There should be navigational data stored on it. Actually, why not add me as a contact on your own Codex? I can transmit the layout directly to you."

I winced mentally, questioning the wisdom of adding a smuggler to my official contact list. Then, I remembered my crew: two Psionics wanted by major organizations and a former Pirate Lord. A smuggler was the least of my concerns.

I shrugged and registered him in my Codex, promptly downloading the ship's floor plan to facilitate better movement. As I finalized the data transfer, a soft, rhythmic thumping echoed from the doorway. Both Yumiko and I pivoted instantly.

The captain must have heard it through the open comm link, as visible panic crossed his features. "Quick! Hide! Before it locates you!"

I couldn't suppress a scoff. "And where exactly do you propose we hide?" There was nowhere in the confines of the generator room to take cover.

The door slid aside, revealing a brown, hulking monstrosity stepping into the chamber. Once I laid eyes on it, I was willing to forgive the captain’s poor descriptive skills. It looked like a hairless, oversized rat, but with elongated front legs and two spindly, scythe-like appendages sprouting above them. Its head was a grotesque hybridization—the snout of a vermin paired with bulbous, protruding eyes reminiscent of a mantis.

I briefly wondered if this was the result of a botched bioweapon experiment. Catching sight of us, the creature let out a feral roar and lunged, its scythes whistling through the air.

My firearm was already leveled, and I pulled the trigger without hesitation, the buckshot hammering into the creature's chest and face. It recoiled from the impact, but a sharp hiss informed me that the pellets had only grazed its hide—hardly a lethal blow.

Fortunately, I had anticipated that ordinary ballistics might struggle against its skin. I cycled the action of my weapon, chambering a slug round. The heavy projectile pierced the creature’s hide, burrowing deep, accompanied by a gout of black ichor.

The beast emitted a frustrated, pained growl and prepared to charge again. That was its final mistake. Yumiko blurred into motion, her blade flashing twice in a perfect arc, neatly severing the scythes from its limbs.

The creature faltered, staring at its amputated appendages in confused silence. Before it could regain its footing, I took steady aim and fired a slug directly into its head, obliterating it instantly.

The headless carcass stumbled backward before collapsing with a wet thud. I kept my weapon trained on the pile of flesh for an extra minute, waiting for any sign of movement. When none came, I finally lowered my firearm.

"It seems they aren't invulnerable," I remarked, ensuring the captain was still listening on the other end.

Yumiko examined her blade. "Their flesh offers little resistance to my steel. I anticipate no further issues, Mistress."

I turned back to the comms. "Alright, we’re proceeding with the pest control. You mentioned eight of them, correct?"

The captain blinked, dumbfounded and clearly still processing the swift execution. Honestly, what was so shocking about a slug round doing its job? "Right... yes. That’s correct."

"Splendid. We’re heading to the security room now to track the rest. You stay put and make sure your Credits are ready for this extermination fee, understood?"

"I... understood," he stammered.

I had been joking about the payment, but I certainly wouldn't refuse if he were offering. Even so, I couldn't understand his anxiety; these creatures were hardly the invincible terrors he had made them out to be.