Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison-Chapter 195

Chapter 195
According to Emotion's explanation, the Federation Congress judged that even if Adie Ze's species left the planet, there would be no immediate severe impact on Ramadite's ecosystem. That was the main reason the Federation accepted the smallfolk.
As Adie Ze said, the smallfolk were likely a defeated species within Ramadite's ecosystem. Thanks to that lucky daredevil, they avoided extinction. Just like the Earthlings from Kait's planet, there might be more species than expected that joined the Federation by chance.
Now then, what is certain is that there is no civilization on Ramadite. On the first planet of the Gourmet Journey, it was confirmed that they would have to procure ingredients themselves and cook them on their own.
That in itself isn't much of a problem. However, it's impossible to guess what any creature might taste like just by looking at them.
"So then, Adie Ze, Fifth-Rank Citizen (Alto Romia)? Could you tell us which ingredients you'd recommend?"
'Eh? Uh...'
"Oh?"
Adie Ze's reaction was oddly slow. Could it be...
"You don't know, maybe?"
'Ugh! N-no, that's not true, okay? We've already studied the taste profiles of all you Earthlings. The creatures on Ramadite aren't toxic, and composition-wise, they should suit your palates just fine.'
"So basically, you don't actually know what any of them taste like. Come to think of it, it has been a while since you left this planet, hasn't it?"
He kept insisting that his species had abandoned their homeland, but maybe Adie Ze actually wanted to see the planet of his roots. I do believe the creatures of Ramadite match Kait and the others' taste preferences. Still, perhaps deep in his heart, choosing his homeland as the first planet was an unconscious decision, driven by a mix of hidden curiosity and inherited fear toward it.
Kait didn't feel the need to press him on that. If he were the one coordinating, he wouldn't have chosen Earth. That alone felt like the answer.
"Well then, let's start hunting the ones that look promising."
"Sounds good. Let's start scanning for lifeforms. Any preferences, Captain?"
"Maybe a mid-sized animal. If it's too big, we won't be able to finish it, and if it's too small, it might be a juvenile."
"Understood. ...Hmm."
Emotion slowly scanned the surroundings.
Kait could search too, but since this would eventually become a video program, he figured it would be good to give her some screen time.
In every direction, it was nothing but forest. Kait had thought that once they landed, the Queen Bee would be their only landmark, when he suddenly felt a gaze on the back of his head and turned around.
From within the forest, something was watching them. Was it curiosity, caution, hostility, or hunger? He couldn't see it, but even after turning around, the gaze didn't break. It didn't feel like caution, at least.
"Emotion, can you identify the creature over there?"
"Yes? ...It's watching us. It's a creature similar to what Earth would call a goat. There are no signs of others nearby. Perhaps it doesn't form herds."
"No point in applying Earth's logic here, I suppose. Hmm."
Kait made up his mind and jumped down to the ground. The gaze followed him. So the target had been Kait all along.
Emotion didn't follow. This wasn't something that would make her worry about Kait. He broke off a nearby tree branch and approached the goat-like creature.
Even though he was approaching without caution, the creature didn't try to keep its distance. It must have known he noticed it. Was it careless, or just confident?
The tree trunks and branches had been blocking his view, but he finally got a good look at it. Indeed, its face resembled a goat.
"Compared to that horse-like thing earlier, this one's definitely smaller."
Even so, it was about the same height as Kait. Goat-like face, bear-like body. Rather than big or strong, the word 'thick' seemed most appropriate.
He could tell the creature was focused on him, but even Kait found it hard to read the emotions of an animal he was meeting for the first time. If it was just watching out of curiosity, it felt wrong to hunt it.
"Wanna be friends? Or... are you wondering what I taste like?"
It didn't seem angry about an intruder in its territory. If it was curious about what Kait tasted like, then in a way, they were thinking the same thing.
"Goat meat or bear meat—which one are you closer to?"
That said, he didn't really remember the taste of either from his time on Earth.
All the delicious memories from Earth had been erased during his time in the space prison, as he adapted to the daily rations. The food was so bad he had to kill his sense of taste to cope.
Thanks to now being able to eat decently again, he felt like his sense of taste was gradually recovering. The meat on Traltan 4 had been delicious too, come to think of it.
"Pameeeyyy!"
In conclusion, it was hunger.
Sharp horns and vicious claws. The goat-bear (temporary name) relied on its horns. It lowered its head and charged, horns-first, in a way that resembled some Earth animals.
"Sorry about this."
Kait's deployed barrier caught the horns firmly. The goat-bear braced its legs and twisted its head, trying to force the horns through. Its front legs dug into the ground with a crunch.
Kait channeled psychic power into the branch in his right hand and drove the tip into the goat-bear's unguarded head. For a moment, it looked like it had three horns.
The goat-bear's entire body slackened and collapsed to the ground. When he pulled the branch out, a bluish fluid oozed from the wound.
"So the blood of this planet's creatures is blue, huh..."
That really kills my appetite.
Kait barely managed to keep that honest thought inside.
***
Now then. No matter the animal, Kait's method always started with draining the blood.
He slashed one of the hind legs and the neck, then floated the body with psychic power. The blood that dripped out was blue. He sighed slightly and looked for a place to dig a hole.
"Tch... The roots are in the way. No chance of digging here."
It might attract other animals or insects, but there was no helping it. He let the blood soak into the ground. With proper handling, it might be edible, but still—blue blood?
Once the blood was thoroughly drained, Kait floated himself into the air. He could process the body here, but for the video program, he figured it would be better to cook where Emotion was.
When he returned to the Queen Bee, Emotion's gaze was fixed not on Kait, but on the goat-bear.
"Looks like you took it down cleanly, Captain."
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let's start butchering it."
'W-wait a second!?'
Then, Adie Ze—who was sharing Emotion's vision—let out a cry that sounded almost like a scream. It was clearly a reaction to seeing the goat-bear, but unfortunately, Kait and Emotion couldn't share in that excitement.
'T-that! That's one of the top animals in this area's ecosystem! Even that big one from earlier would run away if it saw this thing!'
"Oh? Now that you mention it, yeah, it did carry itself pretty confidently."
Despite not being especially large by this planet's standards, it hadn't shown any particular caution toward other animals. If it hadn't attacked, Kait wouldn't have gone after it either.
'A-as expected of Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif)! If my fellow kind saw this, they'd definitely be so shocked they'd start dancing!'
"Really? Well, if it's that well-received, then great."
Hopefully, it would appeal to more than just the smallfolk.
With that in mind, he decided to start by removing the pelt and the head.