238: The tea party proceeds as usual

"Um, it was before we were hired by Lord Vee, right? So..."

Joharis begins recounting his past.

Not that there's anything particularly extraordinary about it.

He naturally emerged as a first-generation, nucleus-less slime within a colony of the Flaretanbo star system.

He was protected by the administrator of the facility that arose afterward, received education, was hired as an intelligence unit member and also as a staff member of 'Eniweatsu,' and later joined up with Virijanira, so the story goes.

Apparently, the education Joharis received mainly focused on hardware components, which is a surprising detail—but given everything Joharis has done so far, it makes perfect sense.

"So that's the gist of it,"

I see. It seems your past has been quite eventful.

No, if you're talking about dramatic ups and downs, I'd say things have been more eventful since I started working for Lady Vee...

You're right. I think it's been rougher since I started working for Lady Vee. Ordinary people shouldn't be getting involved with cosmic monsters like that.

Hehe... that's true, I guess.

That's right—His Imperial Highness once described Joharis's past as tumultuous... but compared to what comes after, it could almost be called peaceful.

Unfortunately, Joharis's life has already become far from ordinary.

"So what about you, Sat? You're a cosmic monster, after all. That would suggest Joharis's life was chaotic beyond comparison... but still..."

"No, it wasn't quite that extreme. At least not while I was at Seiryō Corporation. Though that part... well..."

I turned my gaze toward Dr. Mizeon.

Without needing further explanation, Dr. Mizeon nodded slightly in understanding.

You're right. That part touches on Seiryō Corporation's confidential matters, so I can't speak freely. However, regarding the education Satā has received, I've obtained permission from the company, so I'm able to discuss it. That said, it will be quite lengthy, and it's also quite technical...

"I see. Regarding that matter, I'll have Doctor Mizeon send an expert to your location later. I'd like to preserve the possibility that we might be able to negotiate with a friendly extraterrestrial creature."

"Understood. Let's continue this discussion at a later time."

Hmm, for some reason, this seems to be one of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's objectives.

He called me, he called Dr. Mizeon, and said we should deepen our understanding of cosmic monsters.

Perhaps somewhere in the empire, there's another cosmic monster like me, friendly and perhaps even in the middle of being educated.

"I'd also like to take a close look at Vee-chan's side of things—especially with just women present."

"Your Majesty, that is..."

"It would be helpful if you could share your thoughts on this, as it's something I'm also concerned about."

"Even Your Majesty herself..."

The conversation shifted to a direction I couldn't quite follow.

Hmm, so it's about being among only women...?

"I see. Then I shall temporarily entrust this place to the Empress, and I'll take Hivvy and Sata with me to another location."

"Yes, that sounds best."

"Oh, yes. Understood."

Apparently, I'm meant to leave this place.

Thus, I depart from this place in the manner of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

I suppose I have no intention of stepping outside the greenhouse.

Only one female machine intelligence, not Memokshi, seems to be following us three.

"……"

With the unusually lively voices of the women in the background, we walk through the greenhouse.

After walking a sufficient distance, the Emperor speaks.

"By the way, Satā. Since we're here, I should ask—what do you think of Vee?"

The question... was hard to answer.

"How... do you mean?"

"Are you fond of her? If so, in what way? I'm a little curious myself, so it'd be helpful if you could answer."

"I see."

Now, how should I respond?

Hmm, maybe I'll just answer honestly.

"I'm certain about my feelings. Seeing you in your finest attire sometimes leaves me breathless. But as for what kind of affection this is... even I can't quite figure it out."

"You're not sure?"

"Well, you see, I'm a cosmic monster. I can't determine whether this feeling is the same kind as what ordinary humans experience."

"I see. But if you observe the people around you... Ah, no, in your case, you're still too young for that, aren't you?"

"That's true. I haven't even been alive for seven years yet, so I'm a bit unclear on the matter."

Having answered honestly,

the Crown Prince looked as though he'd reached a satisfactory conclusion.

The Emperor, on the other hand, wore a somewhat troubled expression.

"Hmm, this might get a bit crude, but tell me, Satā—how does your reproductive system work?"

"Reproductive functions? Well, that aspect wasn't included in this body. I could add it if needed, but I have no intention of doing so unless it's requested."

"I see. What about the main body?"

"I'm not entirely sure myself. I suppose it exists somewhere... but honestly, I'm not even certain if gender distinctions apply to me in the first place."

"Hmm, so it's one of those peculiar dilemmas unique to a cosmic monster, huh?"

Honestly, the matter of gender has always been rather unclear to me.

Currently, I stick mainly to an adult male puppet because it's most convenient for daily life and less likely to cause trouble. But as the greenhouse caretaker, I'm more like a girl or young woman; as the powered suit, I'm completely genderless; and my main body—well, even if I wanted to distinguish male from female, there's no other of my kind to compare with, so it's impossible to tell.

I understand the functions, structure, and mechanisms, so I could make one if I wanted—but there's no point in doing so right now.

"Well then, Father, what shall we do?"

"I will remain uninvolved in this matter unless the Empress, Nei, or Vee say otherwise. This is something the individual concerned should decide."

"Is that so? Then I shall do the same."

Hmm, well, I suppose we can consider the negotiation a success for now.

Let's just go with that.

"What about the other side?"

"They still show no sign of calming down."

"I see. Then let's wait a little longer."

"Understood."

We continued walking through the greenhouse.

As we walked, there was a moment when the four of us disappeared from the sight of every guard patrolling the greenhouse.

And in that instant.

"Then, since it's just the right time, I'll join the conversation too."

"!?"

"Here he comes."

The man with cyan hair—our so-called eccentric acquaintance from the Niliani Potz system—had appeared behind us.