Wild Space
The engines of the Night Raven ship hummed lowly as we fully escaped the Federation's territory and entered wild space.
But that didn't mean anything had changed dramatically. The Outer Rim was a sector the Federation hadn't fully dominated either, so we couldn't spot massive structures like Dyson Spheres.
I gazed out the window. Crossing the boundary didn't make the cosmic scenery shift in any theatrical way. The Outer Rim was a fringe the Federation hadn't completely seized, so colossal constructs like Dyson Spheres or orbital elevators were rare to begin with.
All that filled our view were the usual hazy interstellar clouds, shattered asteroid remnants, and coldly gleaming nameless planets.
But the weight of that silence felt different. There were no laws, no order, not even relay stations to send structured signals. Survival was the only rule here.
Yet inside the ship, the atmosphere crackled with tension for an entirely different reason.
The source of this tension...
I glanced sideways. Bani was staring at Eve, who had paused mid-meal to sip some water. The problem was how reverent his gaze was.
"More... water, miss...? Ah, no—want some more, Eve?"
Bani fumbled with the water bottle, sweat beading on his brow. Ever since learning Eve was a queen, he'd been awkwardly formal around her.
I get that it takes time to process, but wearing it on his sleeve like that is trouble.
We hadn't explained things to Lydia yet. With her sharp instincts, she'd suspect something immediately if she saw this.
I tapped Bani's shoulder and whispered softly.
"Bani. Let's talk later, just a bit."
Then I sent a telepathic message.
[Eve, Nahibi too.]
*
We slipped away from Lydia and gathered in the lounge. The moment the door shut, Bani let out a massive sigh of relief.
"Haa... Sorry about that. I know it's awkward, but I can't help fixating. That overwhelming sight from the dream keeps overlapping with her..."
Bani rubbed his dry face.
"I understand. But Lydia doesn't know Eve's true nature yet. Until she does, I'd appreciate it if you treated her like normal."
"I figured Lydia was in the dark... When do you plan to tell her? Or do you even plan to?"
"Of course. Like I said before, I'll tell everyone when the time's right."
"And that time is...?"
I slowly stroked Eve's hair as she sat beside me, swinging her legs. The silky strands, soft as the premium fabric in the hoodie Lydia had dressed her in, slipped between my fingers.
"Ung...?"
Eve narrowed her eyes in pleasure.
"Once Eve delves deep into xenoform territory, we'll seek out another queen to heal the body she ruined as a test subject. It'll come out naturally by then."
"Heh. So there are other queen specimens besides Eve? Is contacting them safe...?"
[Lowly creature. Too much truth leads only to ruin.]
"Hup!"
At that moment, a white blob plopped out from under Eve's clothes, forming into a round orb that floated in the air. It was Nahibi.
"That from the dream...!"
[Indeed. This one is Nariant's fourth child and Eve's new guard, Nahibi. Show proper respect.]
Nahibi declared with feigned dignity in her waves. She clearly wanted to maintain her charisma in front of Bani, who'd seen her true form.
But that solemn air shattered with a single phrase.
"Squishy-sama!"
Bani blurted it out unconsciously.
[......] "......Pfft!"
Silence fell, then laughter burst from my lips. I couldn't hold it back. She'd been posturing as the great fourth child or whatever, only to get dubbed "Squishy-sama." The honorific made it even funnier.
"Kkh... Khuk... Squishy-sama... hahaha!"
I clutched my stomach, stifling giggles. Nahibi's body flushed red, and a menacing aura targeted me.
[......I'll kill you. For real, lowly creature.]
Nahibi looked ready to lash out with tentacles and throttle me. But even in her rage, she couldn't resist Eve's outstretched hand.
"Squishy! Come here!"
Eve beckoned brightly.
[Yes.... Eve-sama.]
Nahibi instantly dropped her killing intent, turning into a docile slime and flying into Eve's arms. She was helpless against it. Even the singularity-type monster the Federation feared was just a pet slime before her queen.
I finally stopped laughing and wiped my tears. If Nahibi sulked again over this, it'd be a hassle, so I needed to smooth things over.
"Ahem. Just call her Nahibi. 'Squishy' is Eve's nickname for her, and she hates it."
"Ah, aah. Then Nahibi-sama it is. My apologies."
[......]
Nahibi stayed silent in Eve's lap, eyes shut—clearly sulking hard over her botched introduction.
I sent her a telepathic message.
[Nahibi.]
[......]
[Ignoring me like this... is problematic.]
I brought my index finger close to her squishy body and poked it in.
Squish.
My finger sank into the jelly-like mass.
[Eeeeek!!!]
Nahibi shrieked in shock.
[Lowly creature! You've been daring to touch this noble form repeatedly! I'll melt your finger off!]
Nahibi puffed up threateningly. But then—
"Yeah, Kal! Stop bullying Squishy!"
Eve hugged Nahibi protectively and glared at me.
"Huh?"
Eve taking Nahibi's side was unexpected.
"Squishy's nice, why keep poking! Bad Kal!"
Eve's red eyes and Nahibi's multitude of red eyes all glared at me in unison.
Screee—
For a while, I endured a barrage of reproachful, resentful stares from those red eyes. Even I couldn't withstand a queen and her guard ganging up.
But as Bani watched the commotion, his tense expression softened. Monster and human, queen and knight—such disparate beings bickering brought him not fear, but familial warmth. He smiled in relief.
"Kal!"
Eve called again.
[Lost in thought again, huh?]
Nahibi snapped.
"Ah...."
Guess the scolding wasn't over.
"Sorry... Won't happen again."
I raised both hands in surrender.
* * *
After enduring their nagging for a while, I left the lounge with Bani. The corridor was quiet, save for the low engine hum.
"Looks like you've had it rough."
Bani chuckled heartily.
"They're all unique personalities, after all."
"Well... that's part of it, but..."
Bani trailed off.
"?"
"Never mind. More importantly, Kal."
Bani stopped and looked at me.
"Yes."
"You were a Federation soldier, right? Fought xenoforms closer and fiercer than anyone... So why protect Eve—a queen, enemy of humanity?"
That was probably the question Bani most wanted to ask since waking.
It meant denying his identity as a human and his past as a soldier.
I gazed at the stars outside for a moment.
"Well..." I opened slowly. "At first, I didn't fully understand my own feelings. Was it pity for a poor kid? Projection of my childhood self into responsibility? Or maybe just exhaustion from endless war and slaughter."
Losing Lumina, discarding my medals, drifting as a wreck. In those ashen days, a single spark had fallen.
"But after picking up Eve from the lab... what she brought me changed everything. Eating together, sleeping, laughing, chattering—
Those peaceful routines and varied moments
sank into my heart fast, thawing my frozen self bit by bit."
I clenched and unclenched my fist, recalling the warmth of Eve's body in my palm.
"Maybe I wanted to save myself through her. That's why... I want to protect Eve."
My answer was honest. No grand cause or humanity's sake—just my selfish path to salvation.
Bani nodded.
"You know that goes against the Federation's will... could make them your enemies?"
"This war was born from the Federation's greed—a tragedy that drove countless comrades to meaningless deaths. I no longer believe in their justice."
Reading the chill in my voice, Bani gave a wry smile.
"Heh~ I'm disillusioned with the Federation too after losing family, so I get it. That was too heavy a question. Sorry."
Bani clapped my shoulder.
"Go rest, Kal. I'll take the cockpit from tomorrow."
"Got it, Bani. And if you have nightmares again... I'll send just Nahibi next time. In her true form."
"Gah! That's... a fresh and terrifying threat."
We parted laughing. As Bani's figure receded,
Alone in the corridor, I stared at his back for a moment. Then murmured a low command.
I trust Bani. I saw his sincerity in the dream. But trust and precaution are separate realms. Not because he means harm, but trauma or external interference could become variables.
I hope it's just my paranoia, Bani.
Murmuring inwardly, I suppressed the chill rising in my chest.