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

Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Kait, who had leapt into the battlefield, accelerated Queen Bee straight toward Divin's artificial celestial body. Since they were already out in the open from the beginning, the enemy would likely notice them immediately.

No mercy or hesitation was needed. To crush everything in their path, he activated the Worker Bees.

"Emotion. Let's find the Emperor."

'Understood, Captain.'

A sense that countless gun barrels were turning their way. The first shot came from the large ship in front.

It collided with the barrier. There was no damage at all, but Queen Bee's speed dropped slightly.

'Shall I deploy the Psionic Launcher?'

"Nah, no need. We might accidentally blow up the Royal ship along with it."

'You're right.'

The bombardment wouldn't last forever. While consuming massive energy and heating the barrels uselessly, Divin's ship continued its meaningless attacks, trying to deny Queen Bee any freedom of movement.

Kait connected to the enemy's artificial celestial body. While he was at it, he also connected to the main Federation ships, and perhaps understanding his intent, the Federation ships began to share the transmission.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kait, Third-Rank Citizen of Enec Lagif."

'You... you're the one!'

"Introduce yourself. You seem to hold a fairly high position, don't you?"

'...Gazlan Vaukroy. I've been granted the prestigious title of Divin's Supreme General.'

Supreme General—what an outdated title.

Kait became aware that the impression he had of Divin was beginning to take shape. Including that confirmation, he asked:

"So, is Emperor Volparek there? If so, I'd like to speak with him."

'Silence, inferior creature! How dare someone like you try to enter His Majesty's sight—it's the height of insolence!'

"Yes, that's it. That's what I want to ask about."

The reason they stubbornly looked down on Earthlings as inferior. Even after Kait had acquired Third-Rank Citizenship, that mindset hadn't changed.

"About the fate of your Earth and the wingless Earthlings who once lived there."

'You...! How much do you know!?'

A better reaction than expected. As someone claiming to be Supreme General, he seemed well-versed in Divin's history.

"Come on, bring out the Emperor. Isn't this your chance to prove your righteousness to the Federation?"

***

Inside Di-Kigaia Zarmos, Terapolapaneshio was in turmoil. Communication was also linked to the Central Star Cluster. Kait's words had shaken Divin's Supreme General. Even if not entirely true, they clearly contained elements of fact.

The Federation Congress was also in an uproar. Asheido, visibly shaken, began issuing instructions.

'Terapolapaneshio. This information is extremely important. We'll also need a direct statement from Volparek. Don't let the transmission get cut.'

'I know! Damn it, what has Kait Third-Rank Citizen realized...?'

***

What struck Kait with a strong sense of discomfort was the fact that they had created multiple Earths. He didn't know much about the species called Divin—only that they were people who had lost their home planet.

Did they join the Federation after losing their home, or lose it after joining? Judging by Terapolapaneshio and the others' surprise, it was probably the former.

The fact that they remained fixated on a planet called Earth even after exile led him to suspect their homeland might also have been a planet called Earth.

'Kait Third-Rank Citizen! What do you mean by that!?'

"If they were originally from Earth, then their reason for creating multiple Earths becomes clearer. Under Federation law, migrating to a natural planet other than one's original home requires a fairly high citizenship rank."

Due to mainly ideological issues, Divin had hit a ceiling in improving their citizenship. Even the Emperor had only reached Ninth-Rank Citizen, Darla Strolue—suggesting they had given up on migrating to natural planets.

'B-But. The number of functional limbs is different!'

"By your standards, we may seem like different species. But to me, aside from the wings, you're eerily similar."

Earthlings had two arms and two legs, plus four functional limbs. Divin had two arms, two legs, and wings—six functional limbs in total. In the Federation, species similarity was judged primarily by limb count. Even if appearances matched, many species had no real connection.

Whether it was body modification or mutation—if they were originally Earthlings, then their reason for creating many Earths made sense. Even the attempt to replace their own lives did.

"You called it the Re-Eden Plan, right? You were waiting for winged Earthlings to be born on the Earths you created. To increase that possibility, you interfered to align with your own history. Am I wrong?"

If winged Earthlings were born on Earth, nurtured from their own lives, they could insist that Earth was Divin's home planet.

Or perhaps they themselves didn't know how they came to be a winged people. If it was due to body modification, the chance of natural evolution producing winged people would be zero.

Then, a man appeared in Kait's view. Indeed, he had the kind of face you'd see in a religious painting.

'Kait Third-Rank Citizen. Where did you learn that information? The Re-Eden Plan is fine. But our origin—that's a legend even most Divin nobles don't know.'

"I take it you're Emperor Volparek. This is just my hypothesis. I merely inferred it from your actions, not from any legend."

'...So even among inferior creatures, there are individuals like you, overflowing with intellect. Unfortunate for us, but fortunate for the galaxy.'

Inferior creatures again.

That phrasing finally gave Kait certainty.

"You fought the wingless Earthlings over control of the planet, didn't you? And you won. Winged Earthlings are sacred and new, wingless ones are inferior and old."

'Exactly. Wingless ones like you fought our ancestors and perished. That makes us the newer, superior species, doesn't it?'

"Then let me ask. Why did your Earth perish?"

Volparek's gentle expression twisted slightly in response to Kait's question.

"Was it your so-called ancestors who destroyed it? Or did you bury it along with the wingless Earthlings to wipe them out?"

'Wrong! It was you inferior, wingless creatures who destroyed our Earth!'

It wasn't impossible. Perhaps they destroyed Earth themselves to resist Divin's domination. Kait figured they were just as corrupt as his own people.

Though he didn't think Divin were as superior as they claimed either.

"Well, whatever. If you were originally Earthlings like us, then we're not that different."

'How dare you insult us!'

"It's the truth. You tried to destroy the Earth they lived on. In the end, you did the same thing."

'They...?'

Kait pointed to Vengeance behind him. Since the transmission was active, focusing on them made their image visible.

Dan appeared, his face filled with rage. Dr. Wu looked stunned. Giolgu's face was twisted. The staff glared at the monitor, each showing different emotions.

"They're survivors of the Earth you sent your ship to—9th-Terra. They were working on the moon, so they escaped."

'No way...!?'

"That Supreme General over there called them bandits, didn't he? That's wrong. After surviving, they desperately analyzed and repaired the ship you abandoned—and made it here. They are avengers."

Dan shouted something. Looking behind, Kait saw a beam flying off in a random direction. No Federation or Divin ships were there. It must've been a misfire.

"Whether it was the wingless or you who destroyed your Earth doesn't matter. But you tried to destroy their Earth for your own convenience. That proves you're no different from the wingless Earthlings you despised."

Volparek's expression twisted horribly. It must've been the ultimate insult to them.

Well. Kait had asked most of what he wanted.

Now, he just needed to reinforce his reason for fighting. Without changing his tone, he asked calmly:

"Let me ask one final thing. You wanted to colonize Earth once winged Earthlings were born there, right? That's correct, isn't it?"

'...I admit it.'

"Then, if that had been allowed, what were you planning to do with the wingless Earthlings already living there?"

'What do you mean?'

"From your perspective, it seems you didn't intend to let a single one live."

The answer didn't come immediately. He could have said, "That wasn't our intention. We would've guaranteed them minimal freedom as subordinates." But struck by the truth, he was speechless.

Well, they were the same species who had once bet their future on a war. It was only natural they wouldn't want to let them live.

Kait's lips curled slightly.

"To you, we're either something to be sold or fertilizer for your homeland. Nothing more."

'...Kill him.'

A message from Emotion appeared in his view. Apparently, she had found Volparek's location. Cunningly, he was aboard a Royal ship separate from the artificial celestial body.

'Kill that inferior creature! He is an enemy! A natural enemy!'

Volparek's hatred overflowed, unable to be concealed. The Royal ship, including Volparek's, was now fully marked.

"Well, it can't be helped. Just like you culled our kind, let's trim your numbers a bit before continuing this conversation—in court, specifically."

Kait had no intention of exterminating billions of Divin. Reconciliation was impossible, but there were still things they needed to do.

For that, he had to thoroughly crush their will to resist.

"Now then, let's begin the survival competition, Divin!"

Kait launched the Worker Bees straight ahead. The large ship that had stubbornly continued firing was shredded along with its gun barrels and exploded.

The battle, which had temporarily calmed, began to move once again.