Chapter 12
"Hmm, hmm! This is wonderful. As both historical material and entertainment, it has more than enough value."
Adie Ze let out a delighted voice as they skimmed through the list of data Emotion had provided. The institution they belonged to made it their business to assess the value of all things, and that value would be shared across the Federation along with the content.
In this case, it was expected that museums and entertainment industries would inquire about purchasing the rights, and multiple messages arrived immediately.
Kait was suddenly reminded of similar companies that had existed on Earth, and felt a wave of nostalgia. Aside from the difference in the role of money, life in the Federation might not be so different from life on Earth.
"Well then, with the current deposit, the budget for the update will be more than sufficient. We've prepared an account for you, so please use this until your citizen account is ready."
"Thank you very much."
"Those with sharp ears are already aware that there's turmoil in the parliament regarding how to handle Earth. The value will continue to rise."
"Turmoil?"
Emotion and the assistant Cernunnos exchanged account information. As expected, the process was smooth, and Emotion was soon on her way to the factory for the update. Still, Kait thought he might have heard something rather unsettling.
On the screen Emotion had projected into the air, he could see the numbers continuing to climb. She had converted Federation figures into Earth numbers, making it very easy to understand. If he just knew the currency's value, he could probably make some estimates, but for now, they were just increasingly large numbers to Kait.
As he thought about how difficult life would be without Emotion, Adie Ze, who seemed to be viewing the same data on their own device, nodded several times.
"Hmm. With this amount, you could probably make other purchases too. What do you think? Shall I help you pick out a few options?"
"I don't intend to waste the money. It feels wrong to use it entirely for my own purposes."
"No need to worry. I wouldn't be so boorish as to meddle in someone else's play money. I just thought—how about acquiring a ship?"
"A ship?"
Kait tilted his head at Adie Ze's suggestion.
***
For Federation citizens, money was a tool used solely for entertainment. Having permanently solved issues of resources and lifespan, death to them was merely the final destination of rights and choice. They worked and enjoyed entertainment to stave off the near-eternal boredom. Perhaps even work itself was a form of entertainment.
And ships were said to be extremely important tools for both working and enjoying entertainment in the Federation.
"After all, the Federation's habitable celestial bodies aren't limited to just this one. If you achieve results through work, your citizenship can be expanded, and the places you can go will increase too."
Guided by Adie Ze, they headed to the shipbuilding dock. Perhaps because he was now separated from Emotion, Kait felt a vague sense of unease. He realized that during the past few years of life as a prisoner, he had come to rely on her quite a bit.
The shipbuilding dock had an atmosphere very similar to Dilgana's lab in Zodokia. The main difference was the sheer number of machine intelligences working there. It was immense.
"Yo, Adie Ze. Who's the guy with you?"
"A guest, Hamaat. This is Kait, Third-Rank Citizen (Enec Lagif), from the much-talked-about Earth."
"Oh, the one from the rumors. I heard the Terapolapaneshio are making a huge fuss all over the place. I've never seen them that noisy."
Kait had a very good idea why. So even space jellyfish are that into Earth jellyfish, huh?
At any rate, he was definitely intrigued by what Adie Ze had said. This was a vast world he could never have imagined back on Earth. The idea of obtaining a means to move freely through it was incredibly tempting.
How would he live? How did he want to live? In the Federation, perhaps he could find the answer.
"So? What's the modification type of our Third-Rank guest... huh?"
Hamaat, who had been handling the process, froze.
Maybe Dilgana had sent over some data.
Bringing what looked like a camera lens—probably its eyes—closer, it said one thing.
"No wonder the Terapolapaneshio folks like you."
What was that? It felt like he was being subtly insulted, or mocked.
They probably noticed that his modifications were centered around psychic abilities, but it still felt very unfair.
He glanced at the catalog that had been handed to him. It seemed to be a list of ships he could operate based on his current modification status. Should he buy a ready-made one or customize it to his liking? It was a tough decision.
"For now, may I borrow this catalog?"
"Sure. You want to take your time thinking it over, right?"
"Yes."
Of course, he had to consult Emotion as well.
That said, as Kait skimmed through the catalog, one ship caught his eye in a way he couldn't ignore. Unless Emotion vehemently opposed it, he'd probably make it his main choice.
With a hard-to-describe pressure coming from Hamaat, Kait decided to return to his room.
***
Back in his room, with nothing else to do, he collapsed onto the bed.
It was only then that Kait finally realized he had lost all sense of time since arriving on Zodokia.
Maybe because of the modifications, or the intensity of everything that had happened so far. He didn't even feel sleepy or hungry. Days spent entirely on Emotion's schedule had stretched on too long. His internal clock was practically useless.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Kait reflected on his current situation.
"I'm still alive, huh."
He was supposed to die. As one of the doomed Earthlings, a specimen drifting through the sea of stars. He had accepted that, and in a way, for the first time, he had chosen his own fate. During that journey, Kait had felt freer than anyone.
That freedom was taken from him. In a way he never expected, only the path to survival was placed before him. And apparently, it was far freer than life on Earth had ever been.
Kait was aware that he had a thick skin, but even so, he couldn't switch his mindset that easily.
—He had never really thought about how he wanted to live.
"I'm totally lost now, huh."
All he could do was let out a laugh.
He had experienced the vastness of space, gained psychic powers (though he hadn't used them yet, so it didn't feel real). And now, he had even received some grand citizenship on a planet far from the solar system.
He decided not to worry about what he had learned regarding Earth's biological origins. There was no point, and nothing would change even if he did.
From now on, he would live as a Federation citizen. He still didn't quite grasp how great being a Third-Rank Citizen was, but he figured he'd understand eventually. At the very least, he could tell he was being treated quite well.
The question now was what he would do for a living in this new, seemingly very free lifestyle.
"Well, I guess I'll talk it over with Emotion."
There was also the matter of the Earth cultural data Emotion had preserved.
They were using it for their own benefit, but somehow, it felt wrong to consume it just between the two of them.
Even now, their assets were surely increasing. What should he do?
He closed his eyes and let out a small breath.
"Come to think of it, when is the update supposed to finish... huh..."
Apparently, he was more tired than he thought.
The moment he closed his eyes, Kait's consciousness sank into the darkness of sleep.
***
"Master. Master Kait. Please wake up. You've slept too long."
"Mmm, come on, Emotion. Two more hours."
"You've got some nerve to indulge in sleep just because we're back under gravity, Master Kait. If you don't get up by the count of five, I'll administer an electric shock. I don't have the authority, but I'll do it anyway. Ready? One—"
Reflexes are a sad thing. The moment the count began, his upper body shot up. Emotion's electric shocks hurt.
Scratching his head, he looked toward the figure standing imposingly beside the bed and replied with a sleepy mind.
"Got it, Emotion. So, today's schedule is..."
He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly sensing something off. Imposingly standing?
Kait was a bit confused to realize that the person he was answering wasn't the familiar sphere, but a human figure.
"Who might you be?"
It had felt so natural that he answered without thinking. No, this must be the updated Emotion. Kait wasn't exactly slow on the uptake.
Blonde hair. Slender figure. A human woman.
That's ridiculous, he thought, blinking. Weren't you a machine?
"You understand, don't you, Master Kait?"
"Emotion... ma'am?"
"Yes. Based on your preferences, Master Kait, I've constructed a form most aligned with your tastes. How is it?"
Honestly, it's exactly my type (a total bullseye).
Kait could only cover his face with both hands and reply in a whisper.