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Chapter 664: Kindred (1)

Planet Maden of the Soro Galaxy.

A former holding of Quiad, a Class-3 human, and a planet currently inhabited by other Earthlings.

For Yeongwoo, it was inevitable that his eyes would go wide.

“Earthlings? Does that mean humans are living on that place called Maden?”

At that, Quiad nodded.

―Isn’t that only natural?

“…Natural?”

―I would say you, too, are surrounded by humans all the same. In this universe, it is perfectly natural to prioritize one’s own kind.

“But I…”

Yeongwoo trailed off, unable to continue. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

In truth, the reason Yeongwoo himself had gathered so many humans was purely because this planet-ship had been created through Earth.

Unlike the ‘spacefarers’ he had met so far, Yeongwoo had never lost his home planet, Earth, and so he had never developed any particular attachment to his own kind.

While encountering other humans in this universe was certainly surprising, it wasn’t exactly something he found especially heartwarming.

―……

Sure enough, Quiad tilted his head, having read Yeongwoo’s expression.

―It seems you can’t relate.

“I’ve wandered the universe in search of money, but I’ve never moved to find other humans.”

―I see.

“Still, if I had to choose between saving an alien or a human, I’d probably choose the human if possible.”

Though he said that, Yeongwoo couldn’t be certain what choice he would actually make if such a situation truly arose.

If he really had to choose, wouldn’t he judge based on merit rather than species?

At least, that was how Yeongwoo currently felt.

Although he referred to the virtuous as fools, ironically, he held their values in high regard.

In Yeongwoo’s view, this universe needed more virtuous individuals.

That was true even setting aside the fact that hundreds of sinners were currently aboard this planet-ship.

―A planet-ship… and one made from Earth, at that. Even I have never seen such a thing. So perhaps your way of thinking is only natural. Among the Earthlings sent out into the universe, wouldn’t yours be the most prosperous?

“Uh… I’m not sure we’re the most prosperous.”

―For a single species, it is difficult to achieve anything greater than a planet-ship.

Quiad slowly nodded.

Then, shifting his gaze to Chancellor Herisa on the screen, he issued an order.

―Herisa, you are to move to Maden immediately. You won’t be able to travel faster than the planet-ship, so it would be best to make haste accordingly.

At that, Herisa shrugged and spoke.

「That would depend on the will of the planet-ship’s master, wouldn’t it? Lord Yeongwoo, has the next destination been decided as Maden?」

It was a question asking whether he would come to Maden, as proposed, and conclude matters there.

To this, Yeongwoo answered as if there was no need to hesitate.

“That’s where our chairman can get reinstated, right? And where I can receive the rest of my payment.”

「I merely proposed the nearest suitable meeting point. However, it is certainly the optimal location at this moment.」

“Then let’s meet at Maden. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go while carrying this many guests anyway.”

At Yeongwoo’s words, Mantero immediately began plotting a course, and Herisa gave a slight nod before cutting off the communication.

The meeting on planet Maden had been set.

―The Soro Galaxy… it’s quite a distance from our current position.

Before long, Mantero, having found a route, reported with a troubled expression.

“Is there even such a thing as a close destination in this universe? How far is it?”

―It will take about four months via interstellar travel.

“Four months?”

This time, it was truly far.

And so Yeongwoo reflexively looked out at the space beyond the window.

“In that case, we’ll just have to use the ‘passage’ again. That’s what it’s there for, isn’t it?”

―But you’ve already done so within a single day… are you really sure about this?

Each time a passage was used, the centennial covenant increased by one.

However, Yeongwoo merely shrugged as if it were no issue at all.

“Ask my descendants about that.”

* * *

Two hours of travel.

And contact with yet another black hole.

As usual, the solitary black holes demanded a ‘covenant,’ and Yeongwoo readily accepted.

He was pushing the burden of the promise onto descendants who might not even exist in the future.

【Black Agreement】

|Opening new paths becomes gradually easier.

|Secured Agreements: 10

“Already ten agreements.”

As Yeongwoo muttered this, Quiad glanced sideways at the Myth Map in his hand.

―If the number of agreements keeps increasing, what happens?

“Well… originally, it should mean that multiple black holes are favorably disposed toward me, so the next black hole ought to let me pass easily…”

But now it had taken on the exact opposite meaning.

The number of agreements engraved on the Myth Map had effectively become the number of covenants between Renaissance and the black holes.

And so, every new black hole he encountered demanded that he make a covenant with it as well.

“Anyway, whatever. This covenant will be a problem for my successor to deal with. Hah-hah!”

As Yeongwoo let out a sly laugh, Quiad tilted his head.

―Why do you think that?

“Huh? Well, by the time I’d have to fulfill these covenants, I’d already be…”

He had been about to say that he would have died a natural death by then, but for some reason, Quiad’s reaction seemed odd.

“What is it? Why that expression?”

―It seems you’ve already forgotten where you brought me from.

“No way. You were in Pahalufe, weren’t you, chairman?”

―Yes. A prison isolated from the universe for eternity.

“Ah.”

Only then did Yeongwoo realize what he meant and opened his mouth belatedly.

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Come to think of it, he had never asked how long Quiad had been imprisoned in Pahalufe.

Judging by the circumstances, it didn’t seem like he had been locked up for just a year or two.

“…No way. Can you surpass a fixed lifespan? Then you’re not human anymore.”

―Human? Does living long simply make one no longer human? Then what about your own skin? It has long since become impervious to bullets, hasn’t it?

“….”

It was a reply that left him speechless.

Indeed, if surpassing innate limitations meant one was no longer human, then most Earthlings currently alive would no longer be human.

“No, but still, there has to be some limit, right? The fact that you were imprisoned in Pahalufe and are still alive means…”

Just how old was Quiad?

As Yeongwoo stared at him intently, Quiad soon gave a faint smile.

―Of course, the period I was imprisoned was not particularly long compared to other prisoners. However, compared to my lifespan, it was quite long. That is why Chancellor Herisa took the risk.

In other words, it meant that they had tried to extract the human Quiad before he died in Pahalufe, and things had led to this point.

Since Yeongwoo himself also had a short lifespan, he could fully understand why Herisa had needed to hurry.

“Strictly speaking, I’m the one who took the risk. Anyway, then how long were you in prison?”

At that, Quiad slightly raised his head and answered.

―612 years.

“Six… what? Six hundred years…?”

Yeongwoo’s eyes and mouth fell open at the same time.

“No, does that even make sense? If you were imprisoned for 600 years alone, just how long is your lifespan?”

Six hundred years was enough time to circle black holes six times under the covenant.

It was an unimaginably long period.

“How can a human live that long?”

As Yeongwoo wore a look of disbelief, Quiad gazed down at the youthful planet-ship master with a calm expression.

―This universe is filled with things that cannot be understood. Extending the time one can breathe is hardly surprising.

“Well, that may be true… but no matter how much I think about it, I can’t get used to it. Does that mean I’ll also be able to live unbearably long someday?”

―If your value reaches Class-4 and you come to possess cosmic significance, you will be able to shed your innate limitations as well.

“…That damned Class-4.”

Yeongwoo’s brow furrowed on its own.

Yet strangely, it was a condition he could accept.

Every remarkable being he had encountered so far had been at least Class-4.

For instance, beings like Lemu.

And in the ‘Sea of Status,’ wasn’t it only from Class-4 onward that entities were no longer depicted in fixed forms?

In this universe, the standard for being granted significance as a great existence was precisely being Class-4 under the laws of existence.

“So if I don’t become Class-4, I might not live that long.”

―In any case, all beings live and die not by lifespan, but by destiny.

“Ha, you chairmen really do speak as if you have it easy.”

It was probably the composure that came from overwhelming strength.

But for Yeongwoo, still a mayfly in comparison, such elegant lines and composure were luxuries.

The only thing he could say—and had to say—right now was:

“So our remaining payment is fully prepared, right? By destiny, of course.”

As Yeongwoo said this and pointed outside the window, a blue planet, much like Earth, came into view.

―That is Maden.

Mantero added the explanation at just the right moment.

At this, Quiad, uncharacteristically, gazed out the window with a face tinged with sentiment.

―It has been a very long time.

Even for someone who had surpassed Class-4 and reached Class-3, 612 years was an immensely long time as a human.

“Come to think of it, this must be your first time returning to this planet in 612 years.”

―You could say that.

“But if that planet used to belong to you… doesn’t that mean someone else owns it now?”

―Most likely.

“…Most likely? Then you don’t know who the current owner is at all?”

Well, how could Quiad, who had been imprisoned in Pahalufe the entire time, know of changes outside?

But there was no way Chancellor Herisa hadn’t considered this, so there had to be a reason she had chosen Maden as the meeting place.

Soon, the Earth-ship entered Maden’s territorial range, and before long, a one-sided transmission came from the other side.

Piaaat!

「You have entered Maden’s territorial zone. Visitor, please state your business.」

A very courteous announcement.

And then, the emblem that appeared—

“…What?”

Seeing the white square that appeared at the center of the pitch-black communication screen, Yeongwoo couldn’t help but gape.

If he wasn’t mistaken, that was—

“Le…?”

Before Yeongwoo could even finish speaking the name, Quiad stepped forward toward the screen, his voice tinged with displeasure.

―…Lemu? How did that insidious bastard come to hold my planet?

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