Two-Person Galactic Journey: Earth Was Destroyed While Imprisoned in Space Prison-Chapter 207

Chapter 207
By the time Emotion's group finally reached the bottom of the hole, the measured depth had exceeded approximately one thousand meters.
At this point, Emotion understood that the underground Smallfolk possessed extremely advanced technology. She was curious about how they had arrived here, but at the very least, they were maintaining the vast cavity before them without causing any damage. This wasn't something achievable with ordinary technological standards.
Upon reaching the ground, they disconnected from the pedestal. Rutimi De and Adie Ze stepped down from the pedestal and stared intently into the depths.
"Captain, is the transmission coming through?"
'It is, Emotion.'
"That's good to hear. We're over a thousand meters underground. It seems the underground Smallfolk possess a level of technology that far exceeds our expectations."
'I see. If anything happens, let me know anytime.'
"Of course. You take care as well."
After ending the transmission with Kait, Emotion pointed her light toward the depths that Rutimi De and Adie Ze had been watching.
Within visible range, logs were stacked. They were probably trees sent by the giant beast. However, the number seemed fewer than the amount it had swallowed.
"Perhaps they've already begun processing them..."
"If this is a lumber storage area, I wonder how large it is."
Sweeping the light around revealed a fairly spacious hall. If Dolti Mu's account was to be believed, the giant beast had devoured the forest trees for three days and nights. That meant the trees it swallowed during that time were intended to be stored here.
At the very least, the depth and height suggested that it was large enough to accommodate that amount of timber without issue.
"It was only the first day, and we ended up destroying it midway. I imagine it's considerably less than originally planned."
"As for repairing the giant beast, we'll take responsibility. Still, we should at least establish a minimum level of friendship."
Rutimi De nodded at Adie Ze's words.
As for the question of whether it was right to completely destroy an entire forest ecosystem, Emotion and the others had no words. If the creatures living on this planet accepted it as part of their ecosystem, they had no right to criticize.
"The question is, how do they view the Federation?"
The Federation's technology and that of the underground Smallfolk were difficult to compare. The Smallfolk, who chose to live deep underground in spaces untouched by predators, had the technological level the Federation sought, but likely lacked a desire to explore the unknown.
Judging by their hostility toward Kait, an incomprehensible entity, that impression didn't seem far off.
'If they know of the Federation and still wish to remain uninvolved, I think that's perfectly fine. Encounters with intelligent beings who hold different values are always stimulating.'
That summed up Terapolapaneshio's stance. The Federation cherished the freedom of intelligent beings to choose—even if that choice meant not walking alongside them.
In exchange, if they chose not to join hands with the Federation, then even if Ramadite were to face extinction, the Federation likely wouldn't extend a helping hand to the underground Smallfolk. Just as they had remained bystanders when multiple Earths faced extinction.
"The problem might be if we claim to seek friendship, yet treat the surface Smallfolk as criminals."
'That won't be an issue. In such cases, the Federation follows the principle of prioritizing the species it first made contact with. In this case, that would be Rutimi De, Fourth-Rank Citizen (Darda Elra), and her people, the arboreal Smallfolk.'
"So, the judgment of Rutimi De, Fourth-Rank Citizen, and Adie Ze, Fifth-Rank Citizen (Alto Romia), becomes the Federation's judgment."
'Exactly.'
I see, so that's why Rutimi De and the others took the risk to come here. They were here to determine whether the underground Smallfolk were a species worthy of forming friendly relations. The basis for that judgment would be the reasons behind the exile of their surface kin and their views on their descendants.
Depending on the case, Rutimi De and her arboreal Smallfolk might also have been exiled. If the underground Smallfolk saw it that way, they might consider only the surface Smallfolk as kin and deem the underground ones a separate species.
"I understand your policy. Then let us head toward the residential area of the underground Smallfolk."
The criteria for becoming a Federation citizen might seem lenient, yet they were extremely strict.
By observing how other species were treated, Emotion came to understand just how fortunate she, Kait, and the Earthlings had been.
***
They proceeded slowly through the dim space.
There might be beings trying to eliminate the group, who were foreign to the underground Smallfolk. Such beings were often those engaged in physical labor at the site.
Specifically, Emotion was wary of whoever was transporting timber here. And whoever was engaged in processing it. Probably not Smallfolk. Her personal guess was that they were something based on actual living creatures, like the giant beast.
"Or perhaps ants."
"Ants?"
"No, just thinking out loud."
Strictly speaking, they were creatures corresponding to ants. For the Smallfolk living underground, these were likely the top candidates for domestication—or extermination.
A rustling sound came from the surroundings. Something was coming.
The moment they aimed their light to confirm what it was, a weak cry was heard, and the presence faded away.
"Oh?"
'Perhaps they're weak to strong light. The fact that their eyes haven't completely degenerated is probably because there's some kind of light source ahead.'
"So, the underground Smallfolk haven't lost their eyes."
'The exiled surface Smallfolk had eyes. If they had completely degenerated, it would take a long time to regain such organs.'
"That's true."
Emotion had already predicted that there would be a light source in the underground Smallfolk's living area.
In underground environments, air circulation is difficult. Perhaps they draw light from the surface and use collected plants to generate air. That was one hypothesis. Another possibility was that they periodically exchanged air with the surface. If one reason the giant beast rampaged was for that purpose, then its elastic body would make sense.
Air exchange was a matter of life and death for creatures living underground. Unlike creatures on Earth, even if they didn't breathe oxygen, it was still critical.
"By the way, Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen. What about air toxicity?"
"It's clean. Strangely so."
Adie Ze seemed to have the same question. He looked around with a puzzled expression at Emotion's response.
Whatever light source the underground Smallfolk used, the area the group was currently in had almost no light. It was clear that the creatures working here were sensitive even to the level of light from Emotion's flashlight.
If conflict could be avoided, that was for the best. Emotion decided to pick up the pace a little.
She didn't want to disturb the peace of those who lived here.
***
As they moved farther in, a greenish light came into view from the other side. It seemed they were nearing the underground Smallfolk's residential area.
'They might be dividing living zones with other creatures based on the intensity of light from the light source.'
"I see. Maybe this area is specially brightened."
So that the creatures they domesticated deeper inside wouldn't enter the Smallfolk's territory.
Even so, it wasn't bright enough to be uncomfortable for the group. Honestly, morning on the surface was probably brighter.
"Is it something like luminous moss?"
"Luminous moss? Emotion, Fifth-Rank Citizen, do you recognize this light source?"
A glowing object clung to the entire wall. It seemed Emotion's words hadn't been understood.
But before Emotion could answer that question, Rutimi De and Adie Ze were distracted by something else.
A large number of structures were visible in the distance. None seemed to use timber. When they lowered the light to observe, they saw figures resembling Smallfolk around the buildings. They didn't seem to have noticed the group.
"It looks like we've arrived."
No doubt about it. This was the nation of the underground Smallfolk.