Company Tour
The day of the company tour finally arrived.
With the headhunter guiding us, Vera and I checked out the morning operations at Wells Delivery Service.
...Huh?
The couriers are just starting their shifts now?
By now, all the good delivery jobs must be taken...
Our company has a contract with the Courier Guild to secure our own delivery jobs.
The company handles all the minor logistics, so our couriers can focus solely on the deliveries themselves.
Just get the cargo to its destination as quickly as possible—that's all they have to worry about.
O-oh, I see...
Rows of heavily armored vehicles lined the area, bristling with weapons.
*Gasp* Th-those are...!
Land Fortress models. I heard you used to drive one, Vera.
Yes, that's right!
...Well, technically, it was my mentor's.
Ehehe, it feels good to see it again...
With our international delivery expansion, we've acquired quite a few of these.
If you join us, that Land Fortress could be your first ride.
Not some flimsy second-hand junker.
My own Land Fortress...
The tour ended and we stepped outside.
How was it, Vera?
...Hmm...
I have a lot of thoughts...
...Oh?
Vera suddenly fixed her gaze on something down the street.
That person's bike over there... it has the Wells Delivery Service logo on it.
He stopped.
Maybe he's delivering to that house.
But he's not getting off his bike?
The front door is still a bit away. How is he going to deliver the package...?
...?
Whaaaat?!
He threw it!
In the next moment, Vera ran toward the thrown package.
She caught it airborne and landed smoothly.
Y-you can't just throw deliveries like that!
It says "fragile" right here!
What if it was glass or something?!
What's your deal? Are you the recipient or what?
No? Then why do you care so much?
If you've got a problem, take it up with customer service.
Man, what a waste of time. I still gotta hit my quota!
W-wait a second!
...He's gone.
Looks like this is the customer service office.
Wow, there are so many people...
Huh?
I ordered these peaches a year ago! Why are you delivering them now?!
Well, the important thing is that it was delivered, right?
No matter how long it takes, fate will always bring what's meant for you.
What kind of cheap romance novel line is that?!
Get over to my house right now and take it back!
Oh, would you look at that! Your one-minute consultation time is up.
Next, please.
...
I just... don't understand...
E-excuse me, sir!
Hmm?
Isn't your vehicle a bit... overloaded?
If you take off like that, both the cargo and the vehicle are going to get wrecked...
Yeah, and if I run into trouble, evasive maneuvers will be impossible, and cargo safety will be compromised.
The top boxes will probably fall off and get damaged, too.
You know that, and you still...?!
"A courier's cargo is their life"—that's the first rule of hazard couriers, isn't it?
Huh. Who would've thought such a naive-looking girl was a hazard courier?
I know that, but what can I do?
If I don't overfill my load, I can't keep up with the payments.
Payments...?
All the equipment from Wells Delivery Service is... well, basically a lease.
They take a set percentage out of our earnings every month.
And if you leave before ten years, you owe them the remaining balance and a penalty fee.
But hey, that's the only downside.
Once you pay it off, all the profits are yours.
Compared to the struggles of self-employment, it's not that bad.
...
You look lost in thought, Vera.
Yes...
Ehehe, from a courier's perspective, it all sounds so convenient.
Fancy equipment, all the amenities...
But... something about it just doesn't sit right with me.
...Am I being too naive?
Like that man said, am I getting too caught up in little things and missing the bigger picture?
Ngh...
It really was a tough call...
While Vera and I were thinking, a question suddenly came to mind.
Now that I think about it, why did you become a city courier, Vera?
Hazard and city courier work are pretty different.
Huh? Well, because delivering was what I was already doing...
...Are you saying I could've done something else?
R-really? I never even thought about that...
Hmm...
Maybe... I guess it's just because it's what I know best?
...Is that really all there is to it?
I had a feeling the answer might lie in that.
Let's think about it a little more.
Okay...
I walked back to the quarters with Vera.