Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison Chapter 98

Chapter 98

Unless Kait's ears had gone bad, Derenidene definitely said it—space tuna teor swarm. What the hell is that? He was sure he hadn't nad it himself, so maybe so Earthling at the Corporation slapped that na on so creature.

Still, Derenidene had called it an astronomical phenonon. So, does that an the space tuna isn't a creature but a phenonon? The questions just kept coming.

"Why that na of all things!?"

"Please ask Branch Director Nezasuriwe for the details. I had no particular involvent in the naming."

"W-Well, I guess I'll do that then."

Kait had let his emotions get the better of him, but Derenidene calmly countered. True, Derenidene wasn't the one to ask. He took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"How rare to see you lose your composure, Captain."

"Is that so? I don't think it's that rare, though."

"Is that so?"

"Imagine it—so unknown astronomical phenonon suddenly nad 'space tuna teor swarm' without your knowledge. Space. Tuna. teor swarm. You've got to be kidding ."

"It must be a very recent na. That term isn't even registered in my database. Well, it's a bit odd, but I see no issue with it."

Emotion didn't seem particularly interested. Her indifference to strange naming might stem from the fact that she didn't think much of Kait's naming sense either.

And then, Emotion pressed the attack on the unusually emotional Kait. That, too, was rare.

"It's not like you have an especially refined naming sense, Captain. I don't think you have the right to complain about soone else's."

"......Got it, Emotion."

If she was going to talk like that, Kait had a thought of his own.

He grinned and looked at Emotion's composed face.

"Then once this is all over, maybe I'll propose to the Federation Congress that we call a supernova explosion the 'Emotion ga Rage.' Just imagine it—reports of Emotion ga Rage erupting all across the galaxy."

"......Kyurukyurukyurukyurukyuru."

Emotion twisted her mouth and let out a series of kyuru sounds.

She must have been quite displeased. After a while of making those noises, she slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"I see. So this is what that emotion feels like. I take back what I said, Captain."

"Right?"

Emotion looked completely defeated. Understandable. If Kait actually submitted the proposal, it might really beco official.

It seed the reason for her delay was that she had tried to co up with an astronomical phenonon to na after Kait in retaliation, but couldn't think of a good one.

"Like calling a black hole formation 'Emotion's Devouring' or sothing."

"Tch, if only I had thought of a good one too...!"

See? Called it.

***

Traveling through space aboard a Corporation ship was, as expected, perfectly suited to classic sci-fi fan Kait's tastes. That said, he had no ntal energy to enjoy the scenery or Derenidene's explanations.

He resolved to savor it later and focused now on how to interrogate Branch Director Nezasuriwe.

Then, sothing that looked like a structure appeared on a section of the monitor. It was emitting light in places, so it was probably Eanipol.

"Sadly, our journey under my guidance is about to end."

"Yes. I hope there will be another opportunity."

He ant that sincerely. Honestly, Derenidene's explanations were quite engaging. Without the whole space tuna teor swarm incident, he could've focused more on them.

Internally sighing, Kait returned a smile to Derenidene. It wasn't her fault, after all.

The outline of Eanipol gradually ca into view. Kait, unusually sharp-eyed, stared at it intently.

***

"Hey, Captain Kait! Long ti no see. I heard you were interested in food, so I had so prepared."

"Wonderful! Captain, Captain! Isn't this wonderful!"

"Thank you very much, Branch Director. Go ahead, Emotion. Help yourself."

Internally sighing at how quickly his partner had been bribed, Kait first thanked Branch Director Nezasuriwe. After watching Emotion dash to the table with a mix of amusent and exasperation, he turned his gaze to the massive, unicorn-like Branch Director.

Apparently unaware of Kait's bad mood, Branch Director Nezasuriwe asked if he wasn't going to eat, his round eyes now irritating.

"Space tuna teor swarm... was it? I heard you wanted my cooperation in resolving it."

"Getting straight to business, huh, Captain? That's right. I'd like to borrow your expertise on the astronomical phenonon known as the 'space tuna teor swarm.'"

That's not a phrase you say with a straight face.

Aware that his cheek was twitching slightly, Kait forced himself to stay calm as he listened.

"So, um... about that na—space tuna teor swarm..."

"Yes. It's a good na, isn't it? The Federation and the Corporation recently agreed to make it the official na. The Earthling language is becoming sothing of a quiet trend among us, you see."

"A... trend?"

"Oh? Surprised? It's the language of the planet you were born on, Captain Kait. Space jellyfish, space eel... A proposal was recently passed to use Earth terms for new discoveries, and suitable words from Earth's ecosystem were selected."

"I... see."

Kait dropped to his knees. To think his own words had caused such a bizarre trend in the Federation and Corporation. He had indeed called it a space eel. Who would've thought that misdeed (?) would co back to haunt him now?

But he was pretty sure he'd never publicly said space jellyfish. Wait, had he thought that before getting used to psychic power? Even if they'd read his mind, that wasn't when they started calling themselves space jellyfish.

Kait suddenly felt overwhelmingly drained, but slowly pushed himself back up. The worried look from Branch Director Nezasuriwe annoyed him.

"A-Are you okay? Maybe you're just tired."

"No... Don't mind . I was just a little shocked at how unexpected the origin of the term 'space tuna teor swarm' was."

"?"

Seeing Branch Director Nezasuriwe's complete lack of understanding of his inner turmoil, Kait sighed deeply—very deeply.

"Could we possibly reconsider the na 'space tuna teor swarm'?"

"Why? Well, it's not impossible, but it would incur so cost. It's already been adopted as the official na in academic circles."

That was enough to make him dizzy. So the scholars were seriously using that term with straight faces? Space tuna teor swarm this, space tuna teor swarm that?

While he was busy rescuing Earthlings, this nonsense had taken root. Branch Director Nezasuriwe, misunderstanding sothing, pointed at the table. Seeing Emotion sitting and devouring her al with full focus only made Kait feel worse.

"Well, eat up. You won't co up with good ideas on an empty stomach, and your mood will only get worse."

Kait's mood was already worse—because of the term space tuna teor swarm.

Nodding slowly, he dragged his heavy feet toward the table. Watching him with concern, Branch Director Nezasuriwe suddenly let out a surprised sound.

"Either way, changing the na might be impossible."

"Huh?"

"I've heard the folks from Terapolapaneshio strongly pushed for that na. Unless you can convince them, it probably won't change."

He'd had a hunch, but of course—it was your fault, space jellyfish.

Kait held his head and sighed deeply, deeply, deeply.