61: Departing for the Flaretanbo System
"Alright, we've arrived."
"Yes, indeed."
Several days later.
Having completed all preparations for the journey to the Flaretanbo system, we departed from the first primal colony of the Grogrobeta system.
Our first destination was the guide colony, which provides access to the faster-than-light route connecting to the Flaretanbo system—the guide beacon itself.
"Lord Vee. Confirming the journey. The cargo passengers will board the freighter bound for the Flaretanbo system…
And from this guide colony, we'll take a freighter heading toward the Flaretanbo system…
Ordinary freighters take about two full days, traveling through hyperspace, and only a few depart each day—most are cargo-heavy.
High-speed vessels don't even exist at all."
There's no denying that they're called "backwater star systems" for a reason.
Incidentally, backwater star systems and frontier star systems are entirely different things.
Backwater star systems are those, like the Flaretanbo system, that have fallen behind in development due to poor transportation links and other factors, resulting in significant delays in information transmission.
Frontier systems are the vanguard of the empire's territorial expansion, and can sometimes be more bustling than well-developed systems, especially if the empire is investing heavily in them.
In this case, the Grogrobeta system is a developed and thriving system, while the Hiratratsumi system is an average, neither particularly good nor bad, typical system.
Anyway, back to the matter at hand.
"Please present your name and identification."
"Understood."
Vilijanira presented identification for three people, and we boarded the passenger ship.
Incidentally, the ship's name is the *Dipsose*.
On this day, my companion Memokshi and I had determined this to be the safest and highest-quality vessel among those departing from the Grogrobeta star system.
"……"
"Vee?"
"Miss Vee?"
With that, we boarded the *Dipsose* and moved to the room assigned to the three of us.
Just as we caught our breath, the ship entered hyperspace and shifted to faster-than-light travel—but then Vilijaniara suddenly stared into the void with a vacant expression.
Um, something like that old internet meme called "cosmic cat" or whatever—it's that expression.
Sata. Let's unlock your power now.
"Uh, yeah, got it."
"In the name of Virijanira En Banalagenruuto P Banalashido, I authorize the true power of Sata Common Seitekusu L Seiryoo to be unlocked. I don't know what will happen, but something will. Please lend your strength to protect us, ship and all."
"Y-yes, I accept."
Then, touching the tattoo beneath his scarf—a design mimicking the Seiryoo Corporation's insignia—Virijanira activated my power.
Now that the restrictions are gone, I can fully unleash my power as a cosmic monster.
I can, that is...
"What kind of situation would even require the power of a cosmic monster, Vee?"
"I don't know... But the vague threat I sensed the moment I boarded the *Dip Sauce*, became unmistakable and inescapable the instant we shifted to faster-than-light travel. So I'm certain something will happen—either while we're still traveling at FTL speed, or right after we stop."
"..."
Seems like something's about to happen.
That kind of situation—where Vriljaniara's eyes, judging that it would be too late to release my power after the incident had already occurred.
Yeah, honestly, I already had a rough idea of what was coming by this point.
Still, I'd prefer to keep an eye out for any possibility that it might not be that way.
"Memoqui. What incidents have occurred along the route between the Grogrobeta and Flaretanbo star systems? Also, if possible, I'd like similar information for another route leading to the Flaretanbo system as well."
"Please wait a moment. Although I've already downloaded the data, I compressed it since I didn't expect to need it right away... This should be it."
"I'll take another look myself."
The most recent incident... is the one involving the remnants of the Gigarok Space Pirates causing a head-on collision.
Before that... it's either a space pirate attack roughly once a year, or a serious incident caused by crew error that didn't result in an accident.
This isn't much different from other routes.
The difference from other routes lies in...
"Vanished without a trace? It seems the data from the early days of the Flaretanbo system just didn't survive."
"Yes. There have been several instances on routes linked to the Flaretanbo system where ships disappeared entirely during travel, leaving no trace at all—and no resolution to this day."
"If the data is missing... it's hard not to suspect a major upheaval occurred during the system's early era."
The fact that the rate of unresolved disappearance incidents is slightly higher, and that data from the early era is just barely inaccessible from the outside—this must be it.
Ah, yeah, this seems pretty much confirmed now.
I mean, if this is true, then it's no wonder it became a backwater star system, or whatever you'd call it...
I've been focusing too much on arranging the ship. From now on, I should at least keep a basic eye on this area.
"Sat, do you have any idea what might be coming?"
"Yeah, well, I do."
At least I know what's coming.
If I know, I can probably handle it.
Probably.
"An alien monster's coming. One so huge it could swallow a spaceship whole."
"Looks like it, huh..."
"Yeah, I figured. Based on Vee-sama's actions."
Ninety out of a hundred, an alien monster is coming.
Not some fake like a crab or seaweed humanoid—but the real thing.
Not some weakling like me, but a monster that's lived for ages and ages.
"Move with the plan of getting through it, so keep that in mind."
"Understood."
Yeah, since I can't win, I'll just have to endure or run.
I began scanning my surroundings constantly, ready to move at any moment.
10/18 Correction of typo