Chapter 45
When I explained to the space eel about having killed members of its kind in the past, it was deeply moved.
I don't get it.
—Wonderful. Kait and the others killed my kind, did they?
"Uh, yes. Though I honestly don't see what's so wonderful about that."
—We are countless possibilities born from imperfect individuals. We wander this void, consuming the rocky spheres you call planets to grow, in order to one day become a truly perfect individual.
This incomprehensibility reminded Kait of when he met the space jellyfish. Come to think of it, they too couldn't be understood by his common sense. Kait decided to temporarily set aside his own logic and try to follow the space eel's reasoning.
"A perfect individual, you say?"
—Yes. To become the one and only perfect being.
The one and only perfect being. So their guiding principle is to kill every other member of their kind and become the sole remaining space eel.
"If you meet another of your kind, you would..."
—We would fight to the death with everything we have. The victor will devour everything of the defeated and become closer to perfection.
"I see... so that's how it is."
In short, to the space eels, having a metallic outer shell or recognizing their kind as enemies is natural. No wonder they attack no matter how much light you shine on them or what you do.
So, Kait was seen as non-hostile by the space eel because he was outside the Queen Bee operating the ship. Yeah, like anyone could've figured that out.
That brings up another issue. Kait now had to make the space eel understand the organization he belonged to.
"Um. We are a group called the Federation. May I assume you're willing to form a friendly relationship with us?"
—Of course, Kait. I like the wavelength of your heart. I promise not to be hostile to the group acting with you.
"Not every organic lifeform is acting with me. Also, it would help to have a way to distinguish you from your kind."
—A way to distinguish me from my kind? I see. For you, it's as difficult as distinguishing Kait from other members of Kait's species, isn't it?
Oh, surprisingly understanding. Kait realized the space eel probably saw the staff who came from Radia and himself as all the same. Now then, what to do?
"Yeah, this is too much for me alone."
Kait decided to return to the Queen Bee for now to consider a follow-up plan.
When a problem gets too big, the only solution is to drag in as many people as possible.
***
"So, this proposal is acceptable?"
'Of course. We didn't know what to do with it either. We retrieved it thinking it would be bad to leave it unattended, but if it serves as a sign of friendship, we have no reason to refuse.'
"Thank you very much."
'We should be the ones thanking you, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif). Not only did you erase our past failures, but you also established friendly relations with the space eels. This will surely boost our standing in the Federation Congress. As your friends, we're delighted.'
"Haha, go easy on me."
Without even trying to hide his twitching cheeks, Kait ended the call with the congressman Terapolapaneshio. All of Kait's requests had been granted. The trust of the space jellyfish weighed heavy.
At any rate, the general handling of the space eel had been decided. It wouldn't be right to keep it waiting forever, so he stepped outside the Queen Bee for now.
"Soon, other staff capable of communication will arrive here besides me. Now then—"
—Yes?
"Regarding the remains of your kind that we killed, my team recovered and preserved them for research. Would you like us to offer them to you?"
—Would that be alright!?
Whoa, that was an enthusiastic reaction.
Kait nodded, but didn't forget to confirm first.
"It seems some parts were destroyed for research, but most of it remains. As for the high-density spheres found inside the bodies, we left them untouched except for one, since they're hard to damage or interfere with. You want them, right?"
—Yes, exactly! One was destroyed?
"Yes, apparently it belonged to the first individual we killed. If you're okay with damaged goods, we can still offer it."
—No problem, if it was completely destroyed. Some foolish individuals probably tried to eat that burning orb and got incinerated. As long as we keep eating rocky spheres, it's not an issue.
"I see. That's good to hear."
Kait decided not to question it further. That's just the kind of creature the space eel was. He reminded himself of that.
He was curious what exactly they meant by perfection, but asking would probably take too long, so he held back.
If he were going to hear such important information, he'd need someone else to share the burden with him.
Wanting to shift the conversation, Kait brought up a simple question that had been bothering him.
"By the way, you don't seem interested in eating us?"
—Yes, because there's no need. You're beings capable of killing my kind. At the same time, you're so small that even if I ate you, it wouldn't help me grow much. I have no reason to eat you. Besides—
"Besides?"
—You wouldn't try to eat me to become perfect, would you?
"No, not at all."
—Exactly. That's the same for me. I have no intention of eating you, a different form of life. However, others of my kind might think differently. Precisely because you're different, they might eat you in pursuit of a different kind of growth.
Even now, it didn't forget to subtly insult the rest of its kind.
Either way, forming a friendly relationship with this space eel naturally meant becoming enemies with the others.
If an organization outside the Federation formed a friendly bond with another space eel, it would probably drag them into conflict. No, forming a friendly bond with a space eel was probably the highest difficulty mission there was.
Yeah, this is way too heavy to bear alone. Hurry up and get here, space jellyfish.
***
The capable space jellyfish showed the utmost consideration by towing the space eel's remains with its own ship.
Before starting the conversation, it didn't forget to hand them over to the space eel with a 'Here, help yourself for now.' Given how visibly restless the space eel had been, anyone would've made the same choice.
Kait gave it some space so as not to interrupt the meal.
He quietly looked away from the overwhelmingly intense eating scene and returned to the Queen Bee.
'Kait, Third-Rank Citizen.'
"Ah, you really saved me this time."
'No, no, don't mention it. Why don't you take a break on Radia? With that quantity, the space eel's meal won't be over for a while.'
True. Even though some were damaged, there were several space eels. Considering the effort it took to devour a planet, he probably had time for a nap.
"Then I'll take you up on that. I need to rest my head a bit."
'Very well. We'll stay near Radia too. We'll call you when the meal's almost over.'
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
Kait thought about calling out to the space eel, but stopped. Seeing it so single-mindedly devouring its food, it probably wouldn't hear him anyway.
Leaving things to the space jellyfish, he returned to Radia at a relaxed pace. The pilot seat's backrest felt strangely comforting now.
He muttered with quiet reflection.
"To think exposing myself outside the Queen Bee was the first condition for communication. No wonder no one else tried it."
'That's what surprised me the most. I was planning to make you stop one day.'
"Guess it's a victory for romance, huh?"
'Kyurukyurukyurukyurukyuru...'
Emotion's dissatisfied noises echoed throughout the ship without pause.
It was the longest expression of discontent since Kait had met Emotion.