Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison-Chapter 178

Chapter 178
The Divin royalty and Supreme General, along with their crew aboard the royal ship, were all detained in Sarunzarek. The sphere was secured by Di-Kigaia Zarmos and would be dismantled inside Sarunzarek. Until that was completed, a Federation fleet would monitor the Divin fleet in this space sector.
'This is...'
"I see, that explains it."
Seeing the royalty descending en masse to Sarunzarek, Kait and Terapolapaneshio realized what had happened. They had been desperately trying to protect the sphere.
"So your real bodies are being held there. May I ask why you went out of your way to transfer your consciousness into mechanical bodies?"
"...The resurrection devices circulating outside the Federation are outdated. The regenerated bodies deteriorate easily, and their lifespan shortens over time."
"Is that true?"
'It's true. That said, even the latest resurrection devices within the Federation aren't much different. It's probably a matter of how perfectly the body information is preserved.'
Nothing stays unchanged. Life without death is the same. Even Terapolapaneshio, whose components repeatedly die and are reborn, has undergone complete reconstruction since the time it first gained intelligence, despite maintaining continuity of self.
Apparently, the body information preserved by the Federation is more perfect. After death, the body is regenerated based on that stored data, and memories synchronized at regular intervals are implanted. The body and memory are stored separately. Unfortunately, this is a technology Divin cannot replicate.
"But it's not like you're not using resurrection devices, right?"
"Of course. Even if we're in cryosleep, fundamental deterioration can't be stopped. We prolong it as much as possible, and when we reach the limit, we regenerate."
Is there any meaning in such actions? Kait couldn't understand the logic, but to Divin, it was important. Especially for the royalty.
The total Divin population numbers in the hundreds of millions. The sphere isn't large enough to store that many individuals. In other words, only the bodies of those called royalty or nobility are stored inside.
"So you intended to use all of Divin as decoys just so you alone could escape. How noble of you."
"You wouldn't understand. As long as the direct descendants of the 'Fifteen Founders' survive, Divin can always be revived. That's why the commoners gladly take on the role of helping us escape."
"Heh."
It wasn't Volparek who said that. Volparek was glaring at the noble who had spoken out of turn. From those words, it became clear that Divin was a species designed to function that way.
Before beginning the dismantling, a confirmation was needed.
"Can you return to your real bodies? If you can, you should do it now."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't want them to mess with you during the trial, right?"
A quick glance was cast behind. A figure was sprinting toward them at full speed, moving as if concealing a blade in their coat.
Before Kait could react, Sarunzarek staff restrained the person. A non-modified Earthling couldn't possibly resist the power of a mechanical intelligence.
"Let go! Just one! Let me kill just one!"
"Please, Lieutenant Carter. Calm down."
Being flesh and blood, that doesn't make for a very convincing threat.
If only he'd shown up in Kissinger χ, even as a bluff, it would've had more impact.
"Mr. Kait! Please! Just one! Let me handle one of them!"
"Could you wait until I'm done talking with them? Sorry."
That was likely Dan's greatest concession. Watching his emotional outburst, Kait once again questioned Volparek.
"So, what now? During the trial, we can't afford to keep worrying about them."
"Cowards!"
"Cowards, huh. After surrendering, you tried to sneak the sphere away and return to your real bodies later, didn't you? What exactly makes us the cowards?"
"Hmph..."
Volparek's head drooped unnaturally. Seeing that, a few other royals and nobles also slumped. Perhaps only those few had their real bodies stored within the sphere.
The sphere began to glow faintly and emit heat. The phrase "rapid thawing" crossed Kait's mind.
When he glanced at Terapolapaneshio, it waved a tentacle as if to say "I understand."
"Is this acceptable?"
As expected, the ones who emerged looked just like the Divin they had seen before. Though the mechanical bodies had been somewhat beautified, they still looked shabby. Especially the wings—their wings were noticeably smaller compared to those of other nobles.
Just then, the crew of Vengeance, who had been chasing Dan, caught up. Unlike Dan, they didn't seem to be hiding any weapons.
"Hey, Dan! Let him go!"
"Chief Nagasaki. Could you have Lieutenant Carter disarmed?"
"Weapons...? Dan?"
"Tch."
Dan pulled a large knife from his coat. Probably a personal item. However, against a body-modified Divin, such a weapon wouldn't cause serious harm.
"If you were serious, you should've come in Kissinger."
'No, that would be a problem, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen Enec Lagif. We definitely would've stopped that.'
"Oh my."
Terapolapaneshio's troubled voice descended from above. If he had come in Kissinger, it would've prompted the Space jellyfish to act.
At that voice, Tooru seemed to notice the creature above for the first time and looked up. Apparently, it had concealed itself until it got close enough, out of consideration for the Lunar Development Agency personnel.
"Wha... Jellyfish!? Why is a jellyfish here?"
'Ah.'
"Oh my."
At Tooru's muttered words, Terapolapaneshio reacted. Kait did too.
Like it was dancing, the Space jellyfish began to drift overhead. There was no doubt—it was expressing joy.
"...Hey, Mr. Crouch?"
"Yes?"
"Do those things really exist in space? I mean... flying jellyfish?"
"They do, they do. A lot of them. As far as I know, they're the strongest creatures in this galaxy."
"What!?"
Dan too was now staring up at the sky in stunned silence. Finally, a moment where Space jellyfish reality shock proved useful.
Anyway, they now understood why there had been psychic power readings around 9th-Terra.
"I see. Now you all have a reason to act."
'Indeed, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen. Our resolve is now firm.'
"Hmm..."
Kait shifted his gaze from Terapolapaneshio to Dan and the Divin. Thanks to the Space jellyfish, things were calm for now, but Dan and the Vengeance staff wouldn't give up on the lives of the Divin before them. Meanwhile, the Divin sat on the ground, sulking and staring at them.
Hmm, no solution came to mind.
For now, it seemed best to start with what could be done. Kait called out to Terapolapaneshio, who was likely summoning the other individuals.
"For now, shall we move locations?"
'Hm? Where to, Kait, Third-Rank Citizen?'
"To where their Earth used to be. You want to bring all the Divin there, right?"
'Hmm? Is there any point in doing that?'
"Of course."
At the very least, they could use it to untangle the current chaos.
Perhaps because it agreed with Kait's reasoning, or simply because Kait said so, the Space jellyfish readily accepted.
'Then let us also set the gathering point for our individuals there. That was the sector where we previously sent the fleet, correct?'
That was quick—how helpful.
Apparently, Di-Kigaia Zarmos was steadily assembling on the surface. Feeling the pressure unique to Terapolapaneshio's teleportation, Kait grew a bit anxious about what kind of scenery awaited outside.