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

Chapter 209

Chapter 209

They questioned the captured Smallfolk from underground.

"What is your name?"

"...Kadiri Ki."

Terapolapaneshio said nothing. That meant it wasn't a lie.

Start with the basics.

"What is your job?"

"Transportation in Kambandi. I carry things called 'Jumoku' sent from the Prison of Heaven to the processing plant."

That was also true. Apparently, they referred to the surface as the Prison of Heaven.

"Are you raising Kambandi?"

"Why are you asking such obvious things...? You people know that already!"

"Hmm?"

Emotion then realized that Kadiri Ki might be referring to someone else. Perhaps there were problems brewing in the underground in their own way.

Terapolapaneshio fundamentally disliked lies. In fact, claiming to be the group Kadiri Ki believed them to be would benefit neither the Federation, that group, nor the underground nation.

They clearly denied it.

"We don't know who you're mistaking us for... but we came down from the Prison of Heaven you speak of. I believe you may be mistaken."

"Came down from the Prison of Heaven? Don't be ridiculous."

Kadiri Ki scoffed. Well, that was the natural reaction. There was more than a thousand meters of altitude difference between the surface and here. Sending people down was one thing, but no one had ever returned—it was obvious.

But Emotion and the others had actually come down. Even if they weren't believed, they still needed to explain.

"You may not believe it, but it's the truth. Among the people you're confusing us with, is there anyone who looks like me?"

"...That's true, but..."

"These are Ms. Rutimi De and Mr. Adie Ze. They are Smallfolk who once lived in the Prison of Heaven you speak of. In their society, knowledge of this land has been lost. They wanted to learn about it, so I brought them along."

Adie Ze was born in the Federation, but even if they said so, Kadiri Ki wouldn't understand. His roots were in the tree-dwelling Smallfolk of Ramadite, so it wasn't a lie. Terapolapaneshio hadn't reacted either.

Kadiri Ki didn't seem to believe their story, but he didn't go so far as to accuse them of lying.

"Then, let me ask. Who did you mistake us for?"

"That is..."

"If we don't know, we might unknowingly come into contact with them while operating in this land."

"...The so-called 'Liberators of Darva Ni.'"

"Darva Ni? From the sound of it, that seems like someone's name."

At Emotion's question, Kadiri Ki muttered, wondering if she truly didn't know anything.

"It refers to the former imperial nephew, Darva Ni. A great criminal who advocated for the abolition of exile to the Prison of Heaven and the opening of the Heavenly Path. He lived five hundred years ago."

So, after all, a passage connecting to the surface did exist. But it wasn't easily opened. It was probably only used when banishing underground Smallfolk. And exile seemed to be a national policy.

If he lived five hundred years ago, then he must be long dead. The 'Liberators of Darva Ni' must be those who inherited the will of the imperial nephew Darva Ni.

"Sounds like a resistance group. Are they trying to overthrow the empire?"

"Exactly. Fools who moved to the terrifying Prison of Heaven and speak of abolishing the Weakling Elimination Act. They only say that because they don't know...! About those horrifying, enormous creatures!"

Indeed, Kadiri Ki, due to his job, must have seen the carcasses of beasts sent down along with the trees. Each one was certainly larger than the Smallfolk.

However, beasts on the surface fled in panic when a giant beast appeared. In other words, he was talking about the ones that failed to escape.

"Are those horrifying creatures the ones hiding inside the trees?"

"Yes! You know about them...? Then you really are from the Prison of Heaven?"

"Well, yes. Just so you know, the creatures you fear are actually considered small on the surface."

"What!?"

"Sorry, but it's the truth. Haven't any large creatures fallen recently?"

"T-This job doesn't happen very often to begin with. But yes, I've heard from elders that larger creatures used to fall in the early days... I thought they went extinct."

"They haven't. It's just that when the giant beasts you sent appear, the others now keep their distance."

"I see."

Kadiri Ki smiled faintly, finding the term 'giant beast' amusing.

In any case, it seemed Kadiri Ki was beginning to believe that Emotion and the others had come from the surface.

He paused to think for a moment, then asked Emotion and the others.

"What is your purpose in coming to this country?"

"Ah, well..."

What should she say? It was hard to say it to his face.

But she couldn't avoid it either. She organized her thoughts and tried not to provoke him.

"While we were exploring the surface, a giant beast appeared. My partner destroyed it to protect the Smallfolk living there. One purpose is to discuss the repairs related to that."

"Huh? Destroyed it...? That thing?"

"Yes. We came down here through the hole that sent it. Also, we want to investigate the roots of these two."

"Their roots?"

Kadiri Ki looked suspiciously at Adie Ze. Since he had been subdued so easily, that reaction was understandable.

Adie Ze accepted it with a calm expression. Kadiri Ki scoffed and urged them to continue.

"Where these two grew up, there were no stories about Smallfolk living underground. On the other hand, the Smallfolk we protected claimed to be descendants of those exiled from the underground nation. These two accompanied us to research Smallfolk history."

That wasn't the whole reason, but it wasn't a lie either. Terapolapaneshio didn't react.

"Have those two always lived in the Prison of Heaven?"

"No. Somewhere higher."

"Higher!?"

That wasn't a lie either. Whether as tree-dwelling Smallfolk or as Federation citizens, saying 'somewhere higher' wasn't wrong.

Unfamiliar with surface matters, Kadiri Ki looked half-convinced as he asked Rutimi De.

"Where exactly is this 'somewhere higher'?"

"On top of the trees."

A prompt reply. Kadiri Ki's eyes widened in surprise.

Apparently, something had clicked for him.

"I see... If that's the case, then we should show proper respect."

"Oh?"

"We founded a nation in this land and have faced ruin several times. Only the imperial household at the nation's center passes down the past. An old legend says that any fellow Smallfolk who falls underground with a Jumoku should be buried with the highest honors."

"Why do you know that story?"

When asked if he knew it, Kadiri Ki said it was simple.

"Because anyone working in Jumoku transport is told about it. Though it's been ages since any fellow Smallfolk have fallen."

That made sense. At some point, the tree-dwelling Smallfolk had become Federation citizens.

In other words, the underground Smallfolk must have thought the tree-dwellers had gone extinct. Whether dead or alive, any Smallfolk who appeared with a tree deserved respect.

"If you wish to know our history, you should head to the imperial household. But... you probably won't be believed."

"Well, that's the usual reaction."

"What should we do then..."

As they talked, Emotion revised her opinion of Kadiri Ki upward several times.

He was more knowledgeable about history and circumstances than expected. Perhaps he held a fairly important position in the nation.

"Hmm? Of course. Transporting Jumoku is a crucial job that supports the nation's food supply. You can't entrust it to just anyone."

When she asked just to be sure, Kadiri Ki said that and laughed heartily.