Chapter 86
Just because it's a beam doesn't mean it's actually traveling at the speed of light.
The energy from the Psionic Launcher that Kait fired at full power was observed slowly moving through space, relatively speaking.
Also, in terms of its trajectory, it was confirmed that there were no unfortunate obstacles within the range observable from the artificial celestial body Traltan. It was also heading away from the Federation's sphere of influence, so unless something extraordinary happened, Amurajioru concluded it could be left alone.
"No, that would be a bit of a problem."
But from Kait's perspective, that wasn't something he could accept.
The destructive energy he had fired was drifting aimlessly through space. The possibility that some unfortunate soul unaware of the situation might be harmed couldn't be close to zero—it had to be zero. And that wasn't the only problem.
"You don't even know when it might start to decay or dissipate, right? Unless we verify that clearly, it's too dangerous to use."
"Then just don't use it?"
As usual, it was Emotion who came in with that blunt retort. Kait had anticipated that she, who didn't understand romance, would say that, so he had already prepared a rebuttal.
"If there's a more energy-efficient weapon than that, I'd consider it, okay?"
"...That's surprisingly reasonable."
What a thing to say. As he watched Emotion sulk with a blank expression, Kait selected a communication target on his terminal.
On one of Traltan's monitors, the figure of Terapolapaneshio appeared.
'Hello, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif). I've read your report.'
"...Jellyfish?"
Finally recovered from his exhaustion, George—who had been sitting near Kait—raised his voice in surprise.
"Let me introduce you. This is one of the individuals of Terapolapaneshio, a member of the Federation's Central Star Cluster Assembly. They work in various parts of the Federation."
"O-Oh..."
'Pleased to meet you, new friends of the Federation. We are Terapolapaneshio. In your language, I suppose it would be accurate to call us "space jellyfish."'
Kait nearly burst out laughing. They usually didn't call them space jellyfish in front of them. Maybe they identified their species that way because of their association with Tuna and the space eels.
While Kait was in inner turmoil, George, Liz, and Carlos widened their eyes in fear. This phenomenon, the space jellyfish reality shock, affected most Earthlings.
"Um. So, about that beam—I'd like to do something about it."
'Leave that to us. In fact, several of us are already en route. You can rest easy.'
"Eh?"
'We occasionally make mistakes too. Psionic weapons tend to create phenomena that defy existing laws. We've already measured the total energy. For a first try, it's an excellent output. Well done, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen.'
For some reason, he was being praised.
More than that, they were fast to act. Kait had been prepared to handle it himself if it came to that.
"Going forward, I'd like to be able to handle things like this myself."
'You don't need to worry about something this minor, you know?'
The space jellyfish congressmember let out a laugh-like sound, saying that helping Kait, Third-Rank Citizen, would spark competition rather than complaints.
While he appreciated it, relying on them felt like a lack of independence, which made him uncomfortable. When he said so, the congressmember let out another laugh-like sound.
'That kind of thinking is very admirable, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen. Of course, it's possible to handle things on your own. It just takes some practice.'
"Practice? Could you tell me what kind of practice I should do?"
'Of course. Then after we're done, I'll send you a video showing how we handled the light you fired.'
"Ah, in that case—"
Kait picked up on the fact that the procedure hadn't been completed yet from the congressmember's words. He raised one hand and made a suggestion.
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to observe."
***
Boarding the Queen Bee, Kait jumped through space toward Terapolapaneshio's signal.
Three ships with designs somewhat similar to the Queen Bee greeted Kait as he completed the transfer.
'Welcome, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen.'
'You're very responsible. It would've been fine to leave it to us, you know.'
'You're just observing this time, right? I'll answer any questions you have, so feel free to ask anything.'
Honestly, the space jellyfish were too indulgent.
Perhaps thinking the same thing, Emotion made a squeaky sound behind him.
'I think the Terapolapaneshio folks should stop being so lenient with the Captain.'
"I agree. Could you be the one to tell them, Emotion?"
'I'm not joking. I don't have the guts to make enemies of the Terapolapaneshio. That's something the Captain, as the person involved, should say.'
"Do you think they'd listen?"
'...No comment.'
In conclusion, the space jellyfish were still very indulgent toward Kait.
Sighing internally, he stepped outside the ship.
"Ah, there it is."
A mass of pure white light was coming toward them.
The impact that had obliterated Tarlmache's flagship was no longer visible within that light.
"Then here's my first question. Why hasn't that thing decayed?"
'Simple. That light is merely the phenomenon taken by the will to destroy.'
"The will to destroy, huh."
'Psionic weapons absorb our thoughts and are fired in forms resembling phenomena. That isn't strictly light. It's a mass of thought made to resemble light.'
"A mass of thought. So that's why it doesn't decay or dissipate?"
'Exactly. Now we're going to interfere with that light and rewrite its form.'
'We'll tell it that its purpose is fulfilled and that it can disappear now.'
Kait nodded at the space jellyfish's explanation. The cause of the current situation began to take shape in his mind.
"So basically, this happened because I fired it without a clear purpose?"
'That's right. If you had clearly defined the purpose—like ending with the destruction of Tarlmache's ship—it would've disappeared once that was accomplished.'
"...Hmm."
At that moment, Kait decided to try practicing.
With the space jellyfish here, it was the perfect environment for training.
"There's something I'd like to try."
'Oh?'
***
The approaching light was a will to destroy everything in its path.
Kait placed the Queen Bee in its path and readied four Psionic Launchers, just like before.
'Are you really going through with this, Captain?'
"Of course. I can't rest easy unless I take care of my own messes."
'Sigh.'
"Also, if I'm going to keep using this, I need to train whenever I can."
'You get so stubborn when you have a righteous cause.'
Ignoring Emotion's grumbling, Kait focused his mind.
Last time, he had gone all out. This time, he had to do the same—if not, he'd lose. Losing to the energy he himself had fired in the past would be too humiliating.
'Don't worry. If it goes wrong, we'll handle it.'
'Exactly. Failure is the seed of growth, after all.'
'Compared to our past blunders, this is nothing.'
Encouraged by the indescribable support of the space jellyfish, Kait fired the Psionic Launcher.
At full power—but with a clear purpose.
"Vanish, my anger from just a while ago!"
And once it's gone, disappear too!
'Oh. As expected, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen, has talent.'
The approaching light and the fired light collided.
The fired light shimmered in rainbow colors and swallowed the white light. The first mission was complete. It seemed the destructive will had been successfully erased.
Next, if the light just fired disappeared, it would be a success. The purpose had been fulfilled, so he hoped it would vanish cleanly.
'Yes, it's dissipating rapidly. It'll vanish soon.'
Kait felt a bit relieved at the observing space jellyfish's words, but kept his focus. The last time he wished it would disappear, it had grown stronger. He stared at it carefully, avoiding stray thoughts.
Like a thread unraveling, the light dissolved and vanished. Once it was completely gone, he let out a breath.
"...Thank goodness. Thank you for all your help."
Never fire without thinking. Etching that obvious truth into his heart, Kait bowed his head to the space jellyfish who had helped him.