“Ah, my apologies. Our species’ fur reacts to emotional changes like this. I try to control it better than that fool Ritmiele.”
“No need to mind. So you are of the same species as Ms. Ritmiele, then.”
“It’s about blood ties. Ritmiele is still young, but she’s a talented girl. I’d be happy if you could get along with her.”
“Not just me, but all of Earthlings are indebted to you.”
The conversation with Sizwonga never seemed to end, but their destination was getting closer.
Kaito was starting to get used to the dead-ends shifting right before his eyes. After parting ways with Sizwonga, he entered the room. Behind him, he heard the sound of the passage shifting again.
Inside, Rebecca was waiting alone. Kaito glanced around to see if Alisa and her parents were there, and as if sensing his question, Rebecca spoke up.
“The three of them are undergoing modifications right now.”
“What about you?”
“I finished mine earlier. I don’t feel much different, though.”
“That’s how it is. I was the same.”
“So, there’s a modification that lets you use psychic powers? I figured you’d choose something like that.”
“I guess so.”
Kaito had chosen this modification purely out of a sense of romance, but he was a little worried that the Earthlings might want it too, especially after Rebecca had seen his psychic abilities firsthand.
But Rebecca shook her head.
“I went with the safer option—nanomachines… or ultra-fine machines, was it? Alisa wanted psychic powers and threw a fit, so it was a hassle to convince her otherwise.”
“That’s… thank you. I heard you’ve been protecting Alisa all this time.”
“It’s fine. I’ve been carrying some guilt for not being able to save you back then.”
A silence fell. Three years. It wasn’t a short time.
Rebecca was the first to break the heavy atmosphere, forcing a cheerful tone as she asked,
“So, what’s the matter?”
“The Earth’s environment… those space jellyfish—Terrapolapanesio—will restore it.”
“…Really!?”
“Yeah. But at the same time, Earth will become a Federation asset. Unless you have citizenship above the seventh-tier Tetna-Irch, you won’t be allowed to live on a natural planet. Earth won’t belong to the Earthlings anymore.”
“What…?”
“Once you reach the Federation’s residential zone, your goal should be for all Earthlings to obtain seventh-tier Tetna-Irch citizenship. A life without knowing what to do next… would be too painful.”
At Kaito’s words, Rebecca furrowed her brows.
She seemed to realize that these were parting words. With a worried expression, she asked,
“You’re not coming with us, are you?”
“There are a hundred thousand people the Divine people sold off. I have to save them. I can’t just leave it all to the Federation.”
“That might be true, but… you already saved many Earthlings, didn’t you? And originally, it was you who—”
“No, Rebecca. That’s just hindsight. I didn’t choose to come back to Earth. I was the one who abandoned you all first.”
He didn’t want to be forced into the role of a leader. He just wanted the freedom to be Kaito, alone. The fact that things turned out well didn’t mean he deserved any praise.
To Rebecca, who had fallen silent, Kaito spoke his heartfelt wish.
“You’ll guide them, Rebecca. I can entrust them to you.”
“Why…!? I’m just a support—”
“You’ve learned the same things I have. You don’t have to stick to what the organization ordered you to do. Just use the knowledge you have.”
“But—”
He avoided her pleading gaze.
He no longer intended to play a role he never wanted, even if it meant pushing that role onto someone else.
“If I ever had a role as a leader, it ended when I brought everyone to the Federation. Once I’ve helped the Earthlings, I plan to live a carefree life traveling with Emotion.”
“Emotion… that person?”
“Yeah. She’s been my partner since my exile. Someone I can trust with my back.”
“Nice to meet you, Rebecca. Former Prison guard 8979… or, perhaps it’s easier to say my name as a machine intelligence: Emotion.”
“A machine intelligence… so you’re not human?”
“No. I was originally a prison guard at the space prison, managing Captain Kaito’s daily life.”
“I see. Kaito must have been a handful, huh?”
“Yes. His behavior and thought patterns were often hard to understand, and it was always a challenge.”
“…I’m jealous.”
Rebecca’s gaze lingered on Kaito. He felt uneasy under her stare. Emotion had been the one supporting Kaito all this time, more than anyone else. Sure, she was acting as if an ex lover, but there was never such a relationship between them, not even for a moment.
Perhaps it was a side effect of being thoroughly reprogrammed to be a leader’s assistant. Maybe she couldn’t maintain her mental balance without someone to cling to. It might be hard to make her give up through logic or words.
Kaito chose to use his psychic powers to forcibly lower Rebecca’s consciousness. He caught her as her head drooped and gently laid her on the prepared bed.
“Captain Kaito? Isn’t that a bit inhumane?”
“What do you mean?”
“There was no chance of convincing her, but knocking her out…?”
“Well, yeah… but, never mind.”
“What is it? You’re treating her like a fool.”
The reason Kaito used his powers to put Rebecca to sleep was that he didn’t want to hurt her any further. If this continued, it would turn into an argument—one that would never be resolved. Sometimes, ending things without words is the best way, though that might be a bit hard for Emotion, who was still learning about emotions.
Brushing off Emotion’s complaints, Kaito left the room.
Now, he had no regrets left regarding Earth or the Earthlings.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT gadgetizedpanda.net
When Rebecca woke up, she noticed that Kaito and the others were gone and let out a deep sigh. Alisa and her parents hadn’t returned yet. They probably didn’t even know Kaito had been there.
“Really… you have no interest in Earth anymore, do you?”
A bitter smile escaped her.
From their reunion to their parting, Kaito never once asked why Earth had been destroyed. Maybe he already knew, but from the moment they met again, he showed no particular interest. It was easier to think he just didn’t care.
Suddenly, she noticed a piece of paper clutched in her right hand.
“…You really hold a grudge, don’t you?”
It was a note. It said that Alisa and her parents shouldn’t be given authority just because of their connection to Kaito or herself. While Alisa might be fine, her parents were too worldly and would likely misuse their power, so she should be careful.
The qualities of a leader, as defined by the organization:
To have no interest in power or any other worldly matters, yet possess the intelligence and physical ability to use them more effectively than anyone else.
Kaito certainly grew into that kind of person. Though his lack of interest was so extreme that he abandoned Earth altogether. It was almost amusing that within his detached personality, there remained a thirst for freedom and a lingering resentment toward the parents who sold him off.
“Honestly, you never let things go your way, do you?”
Rebecca took a deep breath, crumpled the paper, and stood up.
“Well, getting the Earthlings to seventh-tier Tetna-Irch citizenship… that’s my role, right?”
She looked in the direction Kaito and the others must have gone and smirked defiantly.
“Just like you did, once my role is over, I’ll take my freedom too.”
She wondered what that stubborn man would do if she chased after him in a similar ship.
Rebecca Lutiano let her thoughts drift toward that future and decided to make it her goal.
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