Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Mod7
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Chapter 3 - The Incomprehensible
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As I stared blankly at the spaceship falling with its long tail of fire,
[He] approached me cautiously and gently pushed me further into the cave.
I didn't understand at first, but then,
I felt a great commotion outside.
Small birds and other flying creatures scattered, seeking shelter. Some even flew into our cave.
They were all terrified. I covered my mouth, stifling a cry of my own.
Tremors shook the forest, as if a pack of predators were closing in on their prey.
Thud thud thud-
The vibrations gradually faded. They seemed to be heading towards the crashed spaceship.
My mind raced, formulating countless hypotheses in that brief moment,
And settled on the most plausible one.
This planet attracted passing spacecraft.
When they crashed,
When they lost power, ensnared by the moon’s tentacles,
The planet’s inhabitants rushed towards them, seeking their next meal.
This meant the creatures that had been hunting me were nearby.
If I hadn't encountered [this alien] and continued walking, would I have been discovered and dragged to their lair?
We waited in silence until the forest grew quiet.
A new victim meant,
Increased safety for us.
The number of predators was finite.
When someone became prey,
Someone else survived.
“…”
But [this alien] had saved me. Or rather, he probably hadn't intended to.
If I hadn't stumbled into this cave, [he] would have left me to my fate.
It was the logical choice for survival.
Judging by his appearance, he was on the run. He wouldn't have the luxury of saving an injured prey like me.
“Th-thank you.”
Understanding our respective situations, I expressed my gratitude. Even though I didn’t know his name, and we hadn't exchanged a single word, I sensed an undeniable kindness within him.
But his appearance was anything but gentle. Along with the sharp claws he had used to point at the spaceship, he extended his left hand, which had three slender fingers.
I didn't understand the gesture at first, but then,
[He] slowly, carefully, retrieved the glowing rod from my hand.
“Ah, yes. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to take it.”
I thought he might be angry, but
Instead, he demonstrated its use, twisting the end of the rod.
The light grew brighter.
I couldn't even fathom how bright it could become.
Turning it clockwise increased the intensity,
Counter-clockwise dimmed it…
“Ah…”
After demonstrating its use, he returned the rod to me.
***
We started traveling together.
Or rather, Amy and I followed [him].
Even though I hadn't asked, he didn't reject us.
He even attempted to communicate with me through gestures, as if trying to teach me something.
“This? You want me to eat this?”
He didn’t speak.
I tried communicating in both human and mermaid languages, but [he] remained silent.
“Oh, it’s sweet…”
“Doctor, I will add this plant to the database.”
But he seemed to understand the mermaid language.
“Ah, wait! I see some wreckage from our ship.”
He didn’t respond verbally, but he listened, then answered with gestures and actions.
“There might be food there. Or other useful supplies.”
When I made suggestions,
“…”
[He] would pause, seemingly considering them, then nod.
Nodding, it seemed, was a universal sign of agreement.
So, we walked together and scavenged the wreckage.
Even though the Paradise had exploded mid-air and crashed far away, it had been a large ship, scattering containers and supplies across a wide area.
I showed [him] how to use some of the items,
Like the preserved food and other human necessities.
“You twist this like this…”
Hiss-
He flinched slightly as I demonstrated the self-heating ration pack. Human technology seemed unfamiliar to him.
“Amazing, right? You just leave it like this for three minutes. Three minutes.”
“…”
[He] imitated my actions.
Caution was essential when learning something new.
[He] learned from me,
And I…
“…Good heavens.”
Learned from him.
This planet was littered not only with debris from the Paradise but also with remnants of other alien civilizations.
There had been no signs of other wreckage near our initial crash site. But after being chased by the unknown creatures and escaping the mermaids, I started noticing strange objects everywhere.
[He] found a peculiar box, opened it with practiced ease, and retrieved its contents. It looked more like the hardened, black innards of some creature than a box.
“Amy, can you see this?”
“Observing.”
I held Amy’s head close, using her like a flashlight. She absorbed the visual information, refining her algorithms.
[He] pulled a 20cm long object from the black box. He held it up for Amy and me to see, his demeanor suggesting a certain excitement.
“Is that a weapon?”
With its pointed tip and sharpened edge, it clearly resembled a knife. About the size of a kitchen knife.
[He] placed the knife inside his hood.
Then, he rummaged through the box again and retrieved a syringe-like object, similar to the ones used on me.
It had a sharp needle and contained a yellow liquid.
“…”
[He] mimed injecting himself, as if demonstrating its use.
Then, he clenched and unclenched his three fingers, thrusting them forward in a punching motion.
“It’s like a nutrient supplement, right? I understand. It heals injuries.”
[He] paused, listening to my words, then,
Gave a hesitant nod.
It seemed to be more than just a simple nutrient supplement. But he offered the syringe to me. Even though it appeared to be a valuable item, he gave it to me without hesitation.
“Ah… thank you.”
I wasn’t in a position to refuse.
I gratefully accepted the offered items, stuffing them into my pockets.
We gathered our supplies and returned to the cave.
We were in a much better position now.
We had enough food to last for several days,
And I had learned how to use some of the technology from another alien civilization…
“…”
Despite our improved circumstances,
[He] sat quietly in the cave, leaning against the wall, lost in thought. After a few minutes, he stood up.
At first, I thought he was just relieving himself. Even aliens had biological needs.
“…”
But he started packing his belongings.
Amy and I exchanged glances, our gazes fixed on him. We both sensed something was amiss.
“Where are you going?”
But [he] continued packing in silence, preparing to leave.
Even though we had worked together for a day, gathering a decent supply of food and equipment, he only took a single day’s worth of rations and his knife before heading towards the cave entrance.
“Wait, uh… are you leaving?”
Surprised, I followed him, seeing him off.
My and Amy’s presence likely hindered his survival.
So, I didn't try to stop him. I couldn't endanger his life.
“…You saved my life.”
I expressed my gratitude one last time. If I hadn't met him, I probably would have died in that cave, even after reaching it.
“Thank you for everything. I know we’re a burden, so don’t worry about us. I’ll manage somehow.”
The crude white mask stared at me. Even though our encounter had been brief, he paused, listening to my farewell.
Then, he removed his hood, revealing his face.
As if,
Telling me not to misunderstand.
His thin, lavender skin was covered in countless scars.
He looked like a battered doll, ravaged by a cruel child. There wasn't a single unblemished spot on his body.
His bony finger pointed to a gaping hole in his shoulder and chest, amidst the numerous scars.
What had caused that wound?
Where had they taken him?
How long had he been held captive?
“…”
I didn't need words to understand.
[He] wasn't leaving because we were a burden.
He was leaving to protect us from the creatures that hunted him.