“If they’re planning to kill me and cover their tracks, it’d be easier to do it in space.”
[Given the Divine people’s technological level, I don’t see much difference between doing it on the ground or in space…]
“They probably think destroying this ship in space would mean instant death for me, an Earthling.”
[I see. I don’t think they can do it, though.]
“They probably think they can. They likely don’t even believe I’ve become a Federation citizen.”
People only believe what they want to believe, and they believe it the way they want to.
Kaito had been taken in by the Federation, undergone modifications, gained citizenship, and even bought a ship—all within a few days. If it weren’t his own story, even he might not believe it.
The Divine people and Gilbert probably found it easier to believe a more palatable explanation than such a miraculous series of events.
“I’m glad I didn’t bring Emotion. Your existence would’ve been hard to explain.”
[…If I’ve been of any help in your camouflage, Captain, that’s all that matters.]
Following the Divine people ships, Queen Bee also ascended into space.
With Earth beneath them, they faced off against the Divine people fleet.
There were more than expected.
“Emotion, how many ships are there?”
[Thirty-seven.]
As Kaito was about to ask about the Earthlings’ bio-signals, a communication came through. It was from one of the Divine people ships.
Connect, he thought, and part of the wall shifted into a screen.
[Well, well, Kaito Crouch. You actually came.]
“Could you back off a bit? Your ugly face is hard to stomach up close.”
[Tch! Don’t worry, you won’t have to look at it for long.]
Gilbert, clicking his tongue in annoyance, shifted slightly out of frame.
Several people in the background came into view.
“Rebecca. And… who’s that?”
[Kaito! I’m sorry. Your parents and… your sister.]
“Alisa, huh?”
His much younger sister. A girl he hadn’t seen since his parents sold him to the organization, now looking terrified as she stared at him.
[Got it? Don’t resist. Not that it matters—your poor family will die along with you!]
“I see. You’re truly the lowest of the low, incapable of even a shred of compassion.”
He could feel a vein throbbing in his forehead.
But despite his emotions, his tone remained calm. Quietly, just quietly, he stated the facts.
“My parents sold me off for a hefty sum. As far as I’m concerned, our ties are severed. Rebecca, I know you’d rather go down fighting than be used as a hostage. But Alisa does have value as a hostage.”
[Right?]
“So, what? I’m supposed to let you shoot me without a fight?”
[That’s the idea. Just wait a sec.]
“I see. You’ve made it clear you’re my enemy. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Gilbert’s face disappeared from the screen. His pale-faced parents, Rebecca and Alisa clinging to each other in tears.
Kaito cut the feed without a second thought. Part of him wanted to reassure them, but he couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“Emotion, order up. Identify the Divine people ships that don’t have Earthlings on board.”
[Understood. Right away.]
A small ship, about the size of Queen Bee, emerged from the central fleet.
Its front glowed, and something shot toward them. It was so predictable that Kaito allowed himself a small smirk as he gave the next order.
“Queen Bee. Purge 15% of the steel plates.”
The light projectile vanished upon hitting the barrier, and the steel plates that had been attached as if they’d been hit and shattered fell away almost simultaneously.
The scattered steel plates, even after being detached from the ship’s hull, remained under Kaito’s control.
A barrage of light projectiles was fired, but they had no effect on the ship’s hull. Gilbert must be enjoying this, Kaito thought with a wry smile as he waited for Emotion’s report.
The steel plates sparkled, illuminated by the light of the projectiles, creating a fantastical scene. Just as Kaito thought the enemy might be starting to feel something was off, a report-like display appeared.
[Captain, sorry to keep you waiting. There’s no sign of Earthlings on the ship marked in red. They’re on the blue one. Be careful.]
“Understood. Let’s counterattack.”
The ship Gilbert is likely on is indeed blue. Kaito had no reason to doubt Emotion’s support, so he calmly aimed at the ship marked in red.
First, the two ships at the front.
“Go, Worker Bees.”
Kaito channeled power into the steel plates. Speed was power. From bottom to top, he angled the plates to ensure they wouldn’t hit the ship carrying the Earthlings.
——It looked less like a bullet and more like a lightning-charged beam.
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Countless steel plates flew in a straight line, imbued with Kaito’s psychic power. They collided with the enemy ship’s barrier, interfered with it, and finally broke through.
Some steel plates were shattered by the barrier, but far more surged toward the enemy ship. Even those that made it past the barrier were individually deflected by the armor, but the relentless swarm of steel plates quickly stripped away the outer layer.
Once one piece of armor was breached, there was no stopping it. Countless “Worker Bees” rampaged through the ship’s interior, each one exploding outward.
The enemy ship must have had its engine destroyed, as it began to self-destruct from the inside, briefly lighting up with explosions. First the left, then the right.
“While we’re at it, let’s take some sturdy fragments.”
Kaito had the intact steel plates pick up fragments that could serve as replacements. With a bit of power, they became the next generation of Worker Bees.
[……Recycling is important, isn’t it?]
The attack craft Gilbert was on increased the density of its light projectiles. But Kaito paid it no mind, focusing instead on finding the next target.
Almost simultaneously, artillery fire came from the enemy ships. Whether out of panic or desperation, they seemed willing to take Gilbert as collateral damage.
“Let’s try this next.”
Kaito connected the steel plates, shaping them into two fists.
He moved them to either side of a ship that didn’t carry Earthlings and instructed the fists to open.
The steel plates that formed the fists scattered. If the shape of the force could be seen, it would be clear that the plates were concentrated at the fingertips of the open hands.
The giant hands, created by the force field, grabbed the enemy ship. The interference from the barrier was much stronger this time, and the artillery fire concentrated on the fingertips, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to stop them.
The enemy ship was firmly grasped in both hands and shaken like a cocktail. Apparently, the ship’s defenses weren’t designed to withstand being shaken like that, and soon the counterattacks ceased.
Kaito then swung the ship down onto another nearby enemy ship, sinking two more.
“Now, how many ships don’t have Earthlings on them?”
[Sixteen without Earthlings, seventeen with them.]
Let’s finish this quickly. Just as Kaito was thinking that, a frantic communication came through. The pale face of a Divine people appeared on the screen.
[What are you thinking!? Don’t you realize there are hostages!?]
“It’s fine, I’m only targeting the ships without Earthlings.”
Kaito calmly dismissed the threats of the Divine people, whose name he didn’t even know.
“What is that!? Is that an Earth ship!?”
Piklashkaa felt an indescribable unease but suppressed it, ordering the attack. Having gone along with Gilbert’s plan, Piklashkaa knew no excuse would work now.
Fragments from the ship’s hull had turned into weapons and sunk allied ships. From what Piklashkaa had seen while hiding on Earth, Piklashkaa could confidently say such weapons didn’t exist. If that was the case, that armament must be Federation technology. But even so. That way of fighting was just like…
“Could it be……could it be?”
At the edge of the screen, a forced communication between an allied ship and the enemy ship played.
They had outright stated they were targeting ships without hostages. That meant they already knew where the Earthlings were. It wasn’t a bluff. The four ships that had been sunk indeed didn’t carry Earthlings.
“Hey, secure a retreat route now!”
“What are you talking about, Piklashkaa!?”
“I don’t want to believe it……but that might be the Di-Kigaiya-Zalmos.”
“Are you insane!? You’re saying the Terraporapanesio is on that ship!?”
“Then what else could it be!? Those fragments are made of Earth’s alloy!”
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