Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Listing the large-scale human trafficking cases, which number in the hundreds of thousands, still seems to require a lot of ti.

The modifications of Earthlings appear to be progressing daily, and sightings of Ritimiele in Zodogia have beco more frequent. Kait and Emotion also move around Zodogia and could be said to have beco relatively familiar with its internal structure.

That said, when the waiting ti drags on, it starts to feel unstimulating.

"......I'm starting to want to do sothing soon."

"So this is what boredom feels like. My stress levels are rising, Captain."

Although they had finished their al in the cafeteria, neither returning to the room nor exploring the interior of Zodogia felt appealing, so they just lazed about.

The artificial celestial body Zodogia is, as the na implies, quite large. However, being a man-made structure, its sections have a certain visual uniformity. At first, the design differences from Earth were intriguing, but now they've beco familiar and no longer stimulating.

Kait had a way to kill ti by enjoying classical art on his terminal, but the problem was Emotion. Having only recently acquired literal emotions and sentints through an update, this dull routine seed to be quite painful for her.

While pleased with his partner's emotional developnt, Kait had begun to feel that he needed to prepare sothing to help Emotion pass the ti. If the stress of boredom exploded during their journey, it would be dangerous for both of them.

"In that case, could I ask for your assistance with sothing?"

The one who spoke was one of the staff mbers they had grown close to during their stay in Zodogia. Apparently, their na was difficult for Earthlings to pronounce, and they had been told that calling them 'Ielke' was the closest approximation.

They were of a species called the Spherical Type, characterized by a body that constantly floats. Occasionally, chemical reactions from the gases circulating inside their body would cause their surface to glow, and when Kait first t them, he thought they looked sowhat like a will-o'-the-wisp.

Apparently, Ielke was one of the staff involved in the interrogation of the Divin people along with the representative. By manipulating their glow patterns, they could interfere with the target's brain activity and make it easier to guide their thoughts.

"Interrogating the Divin people? I'd rather not get involved with that......"

"Yes, I understand how you both feel. However, we're having a hard ti with the interrogation."

"Oh? Isn't the representative able to read minds? Are you saying even with you and the representative together, the interrogation isn't going well?"

Kait couldn't believe that sothing experts couldn't do was sothing he could manage.

At that, Ielke's body blinked with a troubled expression.

"No, the interrogation about the Earthlings is already complete. What we'd like to ask of you, Third-Class Citizen Kait of Enec Lagif, is sothing a bit different."

"?"

***

The representative's mind-reading technique could only read surface thoughts. In theory, combining it with Ielke's thought-guiding ability should make it possible to extract any information. However, for so reason, they hadn't been able to get the desired information from the Divin people.

There were no signs of interrogation counterasures or thought control, yet they couldn't lead their targets to the thoughts they were aiming for.

'We're quite troubled. I'm thinking of swallowing my pride and requesting reinforcents from the Federation's core territory, but I'd like to try everything we can before they arrive.'

"So you want us to attend the interrogation?"

"I apologize for the inconvenience, Third-Class Citizen Kait... but if possible."

"I see. I'm not too eager, but if there's anything we can do to help, we'll assist."

While he honestly didn't want to get involved, he also felt it was an issue he should be involved in. After all, it concerned Earthlings.

Besides, given how bored they were, he figured anything that could kill ti was welco.

***

The interrogation room was more ordinary than expected. The Divin people weren't tied to any equipnt, nor did they seem to be treated poorly. Seeing this made Kait think the Federation was indeed impressive.

The only one present was Ielke. The representative was apparently observing from outside the room.

"Y-You're...!?"

"Oh? Have we t before? Sorry, I can't match faces and nas of the Divin people very well."

Kait genuinely couldn't recall the face of the Divin person who had spoken to him. Unlike the biological data he had seen in Zodogia, they still looked like Earthlings, so it didn't seem they had dropped their disguise.

Their facial features resembled Earthlings, but the shape of their wings varied. Perhaps their species' individuality was expressed in that aspect.

"......You were on the ship that ramd us."

"Ah, one of the ones who shot at ?"

"Guh..."

When he applied pressure with his gaze, the Divin person's face twisted. Kait's words, his gaze, even just directing his attention—all of these now had the power to exert physical pressure on those around him.

But now wasn't the ti for revenge or retaliation. He eased the pressure, reminding himself he was only here to help the representative and Ielke, and sat in a nearby chair.

"Actually, I was asked to help with the interrogation."

"You...?"

"That's right. Well, I won't do anything that would particularly disadvantage you."

After all, all he had to do was guide their thoughts.

The rest was up to Ielke and the representative to handle skillfully.

"First, I'd like to ask about your origins."

"What?"

"Well, of course. I only know that you were exiled from the Federation, after all."

At Kait's question, the Divin people exchanged bewildered glances.

Ielke's floating body blinked in a strange pattern. Kait didn't know what kind of consensus had been reached among them, but one of them solemnly opened their mouth.

"We are a species that lost our ho planet."

***

It seems the Divin's entry into the Federation is considered relatively recent in its history. That said, by Earth's reckoning, it's been over a hundred million years, so one can only marvel at the Federation's longevity.

Their political system could be described as a monarchy. The royal bloodline has continued unbroken since joining the Federation, aning it has lasted over a hundred million years. Thanks to the Federation's modification technology, generational turnover has slowed significantly, but that's exactly why their values haven't changed much.

"The reason we lost our ho planet isn't particularly rare. Our star expanded and swallowed it whole. It's a common story."

When Kait looked at Ielke, they responded affirmatively. He had heard that the Federation itself was ford to avoid being caught in a dying star, so it really wasn't unusual in the universe.

Before their ho planet disappeared, the Divin left their stellar system. Betting on hope at the edge of the universe, they sent a rigorously selected group of survivors into space aboard a fleet. Because they were picked up by the Federation, even those left behind on the ho planet were able to survive.

"Our survival was thanks to the support of the Federation. Every Divin citizen has always been grateful for that."

"And yet you were exiled?"

The Divin people showed no sign of being stung by Kait's sarcasm. From the bottom of their hearts, they believed they were right. That much was clear from their attitude.

"Do you know what the wish of those who lost their ho planet is?"

"Hmm, what could it be?"

"Soday you'll understand... It's to reclaim a place of peace."

The Divin had planned to fundantally alter the ecosystems of several planets. And they were exiled. Could that be the reason?

"......Even if it ant destroying every life that should have been there?"

"Anyone would modify their environnt to make it more livable, right? It's the sa thing."

"Are you saying that we are the result of that?"

At that point, the Divin people shot him glares filled with anger and hatred.

Perhaps there was so jealousy too. As if to say, "Why are you the one in that place?"

"Without us Divin, you wouldn't even exist. It suits you better to revere and serve us. And yet—"

"Is that why you interfered with Earth's history and civilization?"

With a sharp retort that cut to the heart of the matter—

The malice and glares directed at Kait dissipated into mist.